Sticks and Stones

A The words unspoken and actions undone may possibly remain so, but what is done cannot be undone, and if you cause a situation to go from bad to worse, the consequences of your deed will come to haunt you. This is what the main character of Trezza Azzopardi’s short story â€Å"Sticks and Stones†, Lewis, has experienced. Lewis accepts things as they are, even though he wants to change them: â€Å"[†¦]he imagines he’s the kind of person that challenges teachers like Stott and Walker, the kind that the Headmaster takes seriously. (pages 9-10, lines 61-62). The quote supports the statement and also implies he is a person who blends in, and more importantly, that he does not want to stand out. Hence, he has adapted to his environment because he feels it is the safest thing to do. This has been caused by his mother, who has told him that â€Å"It’s the survival of the fittest† throughout his whole life. Paul Fry is not peer of Lewis’, but Le wis given his trait of staying in the background emphasizes with him surprisingly much.The ability to emphasize so much with Paul causes Lewis to go against his guts that tells him to mind his own matters, so it must have struck a nerve. Being able to identify with Paul so well means he has experienced something akin to Paul’s inflections, which the small portion of his past underlines: â€Å"Don’t be such a baby. [†¦]boys will be boys. It’s human nature. † (page 10, line 69). He sees himself in Paul Fry, and consequently wants to help because he had no help to claim himself.Lewis’ profession is not stated in the text, but it implicitly indicates that he is a teacher. For instance, the Headmaster catches him after class: â€Å"The next day, Harris (Headmaster) came and found him after class. † (page 10, line 79). Moreover, Paul Fry is a student and when Lewis comes home, he has new information about Paul Fry to tell his girlfriend, Anna : â€Å"[†¦]he wanted to tell her (Anna) about Paul Fry. [†¦]Later, she’d sigh when he came in from work, [†¦]†What’s happened now? † she’d ask† (page 11, lines 98-102).The jump and the whole incident lie to the past, though. The short story is about Lewis reflecting on the past, which is why flashbacks occur in the middle of the storyline. In the present, Lewis has no connection to the involved people of the event. He has quitted teaching after Paul’s death: â€Å"[†¦]on Lewis’s last day, after suggesting he should take some time off. It was the day before Paul Fry was found. † (page 11, lines 120-122) and even though he has an old letter from Anna, he has no contact to her: â€Å"†There’s a letter for you†, his mother shouts. †¦]He’s been there a month now, and[†¦]has had no phone calls, certainly no letters, no nothing at all from Anna. †(page 8, lines 18;21 -22) â€Å"Lewis puts it to his face. He can’t find the scent of her in the words† (page 9, line 40). The letter is definitely from Anna and has lost its scent, which implies that it has had one, but has now faded with time, which means it is old. The remorse of Paul’s death is so strong that it causes him to dream of his dive into the beach.This indicates it was the same day Paul died, and more so does the fact that the boys had never been all the way to Lewis’ place at the beach. The boys went out to beat up Lewis, because as Lewis tells us, he observed Paul being beat up and making no sound – hence, the death of Paul – and they wanted to shut up Lewis. The use of flashbacks throughout the plot keeps the reader at suspense. Lead on by a in media res start, Trezza Azzopardi keeps building up the suspense. The flashbacks are never out of context: they always occur at a setting relevant to it.As a natural follow-up on the flashbacks, Azzopard i’s short story ends with change in the main character’s person. That is why Lewis throws out the pebbles, because for each pebble he has felt his life was difficult. Paul Fry’s incident has haunted him for long enough and he now wants to move on. After he throws away the pebbles, the waves of the beach does not trouble him anymore and he can finally listen to the humming earth, which indicates the change. A change long awaited caused by merely one devastating mistake.

Mis Report

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Electronic Auditing Procedures to Monitor the Computer Use of Employees Essay

Imagining weight on a scale, when one goes up, the other one goes down. The natural order of life is the balance signaling there is always a price to pay for an achievement. In line with the explosion of the information and technology development, the quality of life has been literally perceived as jumping onto a higher level of realm. But on the other side of the scale is the humanity, the price to pay for such an advance achievement. Consequently there is the need to look into the matter on whether the technology should advance the humanity or it should be the otherwise. Therefore, this report will focus on the causes and the effects of the problems arisen, thus outlined few suggestions to overcome the issue before the spark triggered the fire. This report has been designed structurally from identifying the problem, the effect and subsequently discuss on the measurements to balance the order. There are lots of companies have run the electronic auditing procedures to monitor the computer use of the employees. They perceived this matter seriously because the future achievement is their priority. But is the implementation of the employee monitoring system is necessary is still under a heat debate because it deals with their privacy and individual right. We should make a clear statement that company computing systems are provided as tools for business and all information created, accessed, or stored using these systems are the property of the company and are subject to monitoring, auditing, or review. Even though the management has the authority to do so as the management is their source of income, but it is appropriate for the management to also look into their welfare as equal priority. Therefore, this report will focus on both side of the scale and dwell into both the benefits and the harms on implementing such a major monitoring system. Below (Diagram 1. 0) is the finding of a research conducted by The American Management Association as published in the Business Week, December 2012 edition. Before we dealt with the issue, it is best for us to understand on how does the system works. Then only we will proceed on the why should we or should not we implement such system. First off, the system enable the administrator to overlook or monitor the employees screen using his/her own computer, to be exact, we can know what the employees are viewing or doing with their computer. This gives the advantage for the administrator to save a screen shot of the employee’s computer to be kept as evidence in the time to come. Next, the administrator can also access in to the employees computer at any time, any will, as if we are using the employees’ mouse and keyboard. With that, the administrator can turn off or terminate the non-work related program accessed by the employees. On the other hand, the administrator can as well have access into all of the documents, folders and the program installed or downloaded into the computer, even without the employees’ consent. Diagram 2. 0 can best summarize the whole idea of the employees monitoring system. A drop of water can spoil the whole pot of milk. Sometimes precautions are essential to make sure things are in order. In nowadays life, the world is but at the fingertips. Most of the information is accessible anywhere anytime with the internet network so well established. It is no doubt the digital world evolves and still evolving in a drastic manner that brings the world into the greater level of live. But ironically, the money value for the technology drops steadily compare to the drastic development of the cyber world. We are getting a first class infrastructure development with an increasing transferring speed into the cyber world yet the subscription fee does not increase as much in parallel. The end result is the technology is now affordable even to the lowest hierarchy of the society. This easy-accessed phenomenon created another easy-influenced phenomenon where the cyber space has been widely used in reverse quality achievement so known as the cyber abuse. Cyber abuse has also become an infectious viral hit other than the gangnam style and the Harlem shake. The first and foremost situation to draw a frown on the face is the frequent visit to indecent websites, or pornography to be frank. Psychologically, such an act can retard the brain development yet catalyst sexual sensation. Though it is sensual to the eyes and the lust, but it will draw the vision into the dust. This situation also encourages sexual harassment among the colleague which will later on put a flame onto the company’s fame. Not to be pessimist, but this is what really happen in the world of reality. Though it goes mutual but a lot of families are in serious crisis because the authority put the hand on the elbow and let the spark burns the oil. The affairs among the colleague will definitely fuel up the existing official internal affairs, not to mention in depth in the report. Next is the overused of the social hub. When a thousand miles of distance only separated by an inch of screen, the company’s achievement will be a thousand light years behind the mission. Such scenario shifted the working focus to series of pointless communication resulting in miscommunication and lack of communication situation among the subordinates thus creating a plosive conversation here and there with huge blows, reaching no common goals, drowning further away against the stream. Good communications skills will no longer go verbally but upon a long sour facial expression, or even in written form. Verbal communication has always been the best medium in delivering day to day conversation, sharing thoughts and ideologies, thus nurturing a good social responsibility among the society. With verbal communication at stake, the social responsibility has also being driven onto the cliff, just a step towards rolling down the hill. We can no longer practice good discussions skills, daily conversations are no longer moderate. There is a call to climb back the cliff to rectify the problems. It is belief the implementation of the employee monitoring system can enhance the information transferring system thus improving the communication system. With the widespread of such working environment, next comes the misused of the communication and information technology. Blackmail and poison pen letter have since become threats. Dissatisfaction now leads to direct complaint to the superior without direct confrontation or discussion; even a compliment can turn into a complaint with such scenario growing firm affectively in the habit formation. Lot of reports has been lodged without thorough investigation, even worse when it is a blind accusation where the innocents have to take on the blame. A bunch of ants can also be a disaster; the growing numbers of complaints also bring chaos to the management. Worse still, most of the complaints have to be left unattended without resolution. This will also tainted our reputation and credibility as the top management because of our failure in resolving all the complaints. Another less concern issue is the online games addiction. Though such matter seems to leave no major effect but it still leaves a black dot on the blank slate. Employees with such addiction set aside practically all other activities in favor of playing computer games almost endlessly. Gamers who engage with extremely excessive daily gaming routines can find it difficult to make room for much else in the office. Some addicts allow jobs and careers to collapse in order to spend more time playing their favorite games. Furthermore, online games are not merely games, to a larger extend, they deal with gambling. With financial issue at stake, the focus is now on winning the jack pot like an ant in the hot pot. The company’s economy status is no longer the major concern as long as it does not effecting the payrolls. All of the above mentioned situations subsequently lead to the climate changes of the working environment. Workers are building and living in the virtual world of their own, reflecting the world of reality at the other side of the mirror, turning everything upside down. Another minor issue not to be missed out is the waste of time and energy. In the name of time, verily, man is in loss. The company’s performance is greatly affected when most of the task are not submitted in due time. Even when it is, the quality and the outcome do not get the end meet. Worse still when we have to bare all of the cost of the energy wasted for each and every workers’ entertainment. Based on the research conducted by The American Management Association, every company loses quit an amount of budget due to non-work related browsing. Somehow, it is understandable that the entire act can created a stress free working environment where they can channel the tense into the cyber space. Looking at the positive side, the use of the cyber space is actually one of the most powerful and effective information transferring and sharing method. The continuous development of the cyber technology has proved that the digital networking chain is indeed the key towards ultimate success if being use in proper management. Another major issue to look into is the misused of the confidential information of the company. Again, based on the finding, most of the employees confessed of leaking the confidential information to third parties, non-related to the company, or even to the archrivals of the company. It implies the information security breach where the employees can easily access and leak the information to the outsider. Nonetheless, this has also caused quite a few billions loss to the company income. Such scenario reflected on the management failure in preserving it confidentiality and information security system. Here comes the call to put all of the employees’ communication system inclusive of e-mail to be put under strict surveillance. However, it should be noted that enraged employees can cause an organization legal problems and liability in other methods such as by writing a letter, having a conversation, sending a fax or making a phone call just as easily as by sending an e-mail or misusing the Internet. So much so, we must recognize that some activities have a limited investment return. For example, with the exception of support center telephone operators, few telephone conversations are monitored because some casual or personal usage is expected and tolerated. Though the implementation of the electronic auditing procedure can benefit the company in almost every aspect but the invasion of the individual right and the employees’ privacy are the aspects not to be neglected. Ensuring proper use of organizational technology begins with outlining what is proper and what is not. Looking from the angle of an outsider, the welfare of the workers is not taken care of and it can cause a serious morale problem. Still, monitoring can be controversial because employees often view it as invasive, distracting, and stressful However, precaution steps need to be outlined to curb the problems mentioned. It can be considered as a system upgrading process to improve the company’s achievement. Our view is that we are showing a great concern towards the workers progression from time to time. There’s no doubt that the employee monitoring has become more common nowadays. However, overly intrusive practices can create the negative perception that the boss is watching. The solution, therefore, is to balance your need for protection with your employees’ desire for as much privacy as possible. So the idea is to implement the system with a little modification where the management can still monitor the employees’ computer yet the employees are still comfortable with such implementation. As the years roll by, workers can develop self awareness thus nurturing a great self discipline in carrying out the tasks assigned. In the case of e-mail, we should only use the company’s local area network emails outlook system to oversee the whole information transferring system. In a way, there is no other email service provider to be use in the office. The implementation of the system can be carried out in a specified timeframe so the employees still have the key to hold onto their privacy life. Yet the management should also take into consideration to block the access into certain website and IE download as a mean to overcome the individual morale issue while in the office. Workplaces subjected to high security surveillance basically are culturally troubled where trust is missing. Data collected during monitoring is subject to misuse in ways that could result the organization to liability. Our concern is that without proper handling and adequate corporate governance, employers may abuse the monitoring system. Human resource department should take the initiative to development a better programmer team under the management surveillance to take care of the system or it might become an individual right violation if the teams themselves misused the authority to oversee the system. It is utmost important now to develop a highly skilled, knowledgeable and professionally high etiquette team to encourage employee loyalty and lead to more satisfied employees. Managers and technology professionals must take steps to ensure the negative impact is minimized. With consideration from every point of view, it is utmost important to highlight there is a need for a change of wind. Given the risk of legal liability, productivity loss, and drain on bandwidth, it is clear why we must implement a blended and acceptable use policies and monitor resource usage. To qualify, the consent can be expressed in the written form with the business related reasons stated clearly on why it is being implemented. A great start is a good jump towards success, the best starting point for any organization should be the consultation with their legal counsel and other relevant parties to determine what type and scope of policy would be best suited for the organization. There should also be a defensive wall from accessing into improper website. Other than that, employees should also know that the monitoring system will only being carried out during the working hours. They still have their right into their own privacy life during the lunch hour and after the office hour. Therefore they can still maintain the stress free environment at the office. Again, the implementation of such system must be within the employees consent so they are aware of the situation that they are being watch at certain timeframe. The company policy should also embrace that the computer system and communications services are the property of the employer as well as include the penalties for policy violations, up to service termination. To show our concern towards both the company’s prospect and the employees privacy right, the approach to create the balance is neither the management is doing nothing nor monitor everything, but overseeing something yet the employees can still do their things at their own pace and comfort. With the implementation of this blended and modified monitoring system, let us put forth the hope of bringing the company into a greater level in the economy world.

Forces That Drives Growth in International Trade Research Paper

Forces That Drives Growth in International Trade - Research Paper Example Additionally, improvement of upcoming democracies in the realms of politics in most countries is a strong force for the growth of international trade. Primarily, according to Diaw & Lessoua (2013), the increased utilization of the internet has stirred international trade forward. More people can now access the internet today than any other time in the history of internet invention. The internet has comes with many prospect that has been of advantage to the connectivity and increased transaction of business. With internet, most of the products in overseas can be ordered online and paid online with services such as PayPal and other services hence giving international trade a force that takes into new levels. More so, internet has come up with websites that display products that oversees and in demand by a particular individual or company on other corners of the world. Websites such as Alibaba.com provide a good platform of increasing the international trade. Internet has also made communication between international traders cheaper and cheaper hence easier for them to be in commerce with each other. In overall, Internet has made thi s world smaller and smaller hence hyper-connectivity consequently increasing the international trade (Diaw & Lessoua 2013). The upcoming democracies according to Van & Lewer (2007) have also played a role in the surge in the international trade growth in the world at present. With democracy, most of these countries have had peace of late, which is an imperative component in having international trade growing and getting forward. Most important to note is that most of this countries that have come to embrace democracy are the hub of minerals and other products that are in demand internationally. Africa has been for long been torn by war and made it difficult to trade with other countries internationally hence becoming hurdle in stirring the international commerce forward. With the latest development and having peace in these countries,

State of the current economy (Economics) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

State of the current economy (Economics) - Essay Example rici declares "we are in a depression (Shinkle, p1)."   He signifies a recession as an economic decline from which an economy can eventually recover but poses that the state the American economy is in today is much worse and can’t be resolved with a quick fix. "My feeling is that . . . if (the president) doesnt fix whats structurally broken, what caused this, well be back into this after the federal stimulus has had its effect," says Morici (Shinkle, p1).   Many different aspects of the American economy have come under fire as the cause of this financial crisis, most infamous of these methods to date are credit default swap contracts and short selling. The very first credit default swap contract was constructed in 1997 by JP Morgan and it is given credit for what initiated the market to balloon up to a $45 trillion value in 2007 (Pinsent, p1). In a CDS contract, credit risk from emerging market bonds, mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds or corporate debt is transferred between two parties.   It is a bilateral contract in that both parties are obligated to carryout their end of the contract.   CDS contracts were designed because as Stephan Teak puts it in his article Did Credit Default Swaps Cause the Financial Market Meltdown?, lenders were encountered with a problem they needed solved.   He best describes the factors leading up to this revelation by lenders when he says, â€Å"When a lender provides financing in the form of a loan, it has to keep a certain amount of cash, called capital, on hand to cover any problems with the loans such as defaults. For larger financial institutions like JP Morgan, this meant havin g huge amounts of money tied up and doing nothing. The credit default swap was designed to deal with this problem (Teak, p1).†Ã‚   The basic goal of the credit default swap is to free up the unused ‘safety-net capital by selling off the risk of the loan to a third party for a premium.   Once the capital was freed-up it would be available for

Cost Of The American Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cost Of The American Civil War - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that soldiers who engage in Civil War are doing so because they believe that their actions will ultimately lead to a better society for them, their family and their friends and countrymen. This essay discusses that many of the Confederate states that seceded from the Union did so because they knew that the abolition of slavery would not only destroy their way of life, but it would drastically hinder the families of the south to be able to properly make a living. The present research has identified that the entire economic system was based upon using African American slaves in the south to create crops that were used to engage in international trade with Europe at the time as well as to provide basic products and money to other families and services in the South. Likewise, the Federal soldiers fought to conserve their country that they believed so much in. From the research, it can be comprehended that the Confederacy was a direct threat to their way of life and the nature of the conflict bridging on war threatened the safety of their land and placed an even greater threat on the lives of friends and family. The researcher states that in both cases, each side fought directly to ensure that their way of life remained intact and that nothing would threaten their financial health or their safety. The real cost of the Civil war came in the form of not only financial cost but also in the cost of lives and resources in America.  

Preoperative Fasting Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Preoperative Fasting - Research Proposal Example Patients will therefore be challenged to add personal efforts such as exercising to help them recover quicker. This can be tested by comparing two patients – one who exercises and another who does not. This hypothesis is interesting to me because it helps in making the work of the practitioner quite easier. This hypothesis will defeat any beliefs associated with level of recovery and gender. Rather, patients will be educated that for them to recover quickly, they need to pay frequent attention to their medications. This will be measured by assessing the recovering rates of people of both genders who take their medications in given format. This hypothesis will challenge patients to keep to nursing instructions without putting their trust in the experience of the nurses. There could be both qualitative and quantitative testing of the hypothesis as the working years of nurses can be calculated but then the compliance and recovering rate in patients must be done qualitatively (Kerlinger, 1986). This is an interesting hypothesis that will make patients responsible to complaining to nursing instructions. This hypothesis will promote monitored treatment to smoking addiction at the hands of health professional. This is because the level of recovery from smoking, if tested to be more efficient at the hands of professional will win more patients to following that path (Heppner, Kivlighan, and Wampold,

What would you do as an educator to make spanish speakers (parents and Assignment

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Company report about wooden chairs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

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Human Resource Management assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Resource Management assignment 2 - Essay Example While our objective remains to do the most we can for the stakeholders of the company, there are several constraints placed on us and an understanding of these constraints as well as the means by which we can work around them is essential for the management of the company. The first and primary concerns which we have with regard to the pay and remuneration package are legal concerns. Since the call centre is not expected to have directors or people at the board of the company working within it, the issues surrounding stock based bonuses and director’s salaries may be removed from the table but other issues such as performance based bonuses which cause our call centre employees to become more than motivated to pressure customers into signing up for one of our products or another may be ethically and legally questionable. Therefore we must be careful while linking the sales of our products with performance. There is also the question of broader legal issues such as age, race, gender, religious affiliations and other measures of equality on which discrimination must not take place with regard to the salaries given to employees at the same level in the company (Foot and Hook, 2005). As a worker’s rights issue, a lot has been done in the past to create equality with regard to these measures and legislation certainly exists to prevent discrimination between employees. However, it is also certain that such discriminatory practices exist in Europe as well as America despite the push from the law against it. We need to make sure that as a company we do not discriminate and this assurance can come from an external audit of our salary systems and remuneration packages. Further, if we are ever taken to court on the basis of discrimination with regard to salaries given to the employees, an external auditor can be of great use in showing that we do not engage in such practices. Understandably, ethical concerns go hand in hand with legal concerns

Nursing Theory Website Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

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Energy Drinks Essay Example for Free

Energy Drinks Essay Energy drinks are part of the human life nowadays especially to the younger generation. Like other activities such as smoking and drinking, the consumption of energy drinks also goes on increasing. Most of the energy drink manufacturers target the youths for their marketing strategies and hence the advertisements are mostly aimed at attracting the youths. Millions of dollars are spent for the energy drink advertisements. Most of the world famous celebrities like film actors/actresses and sports personalities are the brand ambassadors of energy drinks. Energy drink Advertisements The advertising campaigns are mostly ranges from extreme sports activities like, cliff-diving, surfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, racing, and break dancing to art shows, music, and video games. Most of the international cricket teams and football teams are sponsored by energy drink manufacturers like Red Bull, Pepsi, and Coca Cola. 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For example, some energy drink brands focus on extreme sports enthusiasts, others cater to students and their energy needs, and still others try to attract the video game crowd. † (Facts expert) Mouth publicity is considered as one of the most effective marketing strategy and hence attractive slogans are used in the advertisements of energy drinks. Youths are especially very much interested in songs and slogans and they will give mouth publicity attractive to the songs or slogans which they may feel special. So the ad agencies are very keen in introducing some slogans in their marketing campaigns of the energy drinks. â€Å"If most energy drink slogans are responsible for a large part of a brand’s advertising, it is essential that they be catchy and memorable. Some of the drink names themselves act as slogans—either officially or unofficially—like Crunk and GoFast!. Because most energy drinks are appealing to the younger teenage and twenty-something generation† (Facts expert) The success of a slogan campaign lies in lyrics of the slogan. The slogan must be simple and easy to say. It should reflect the theme of the energy drink to attract the customers. The lyrics should be persuasive, attractive Energy Drinks 3 and it should motivate the target people to repeat it again and again. There should not be any abusive or dirty words in the slogan. It should ignite the minds of the target people so that they will be motivated to give mouth publicity to it and thereby the brand awareness of the energy drink will be increased. Youths are always interested in taking risks and also playing adventurous sports. They need things to be happened at a rapid pace. Because of their enthusiasm and the psychological level, they like fast life and like to have more energy in their veins. So they will participate in anything and consume anything because of the reasons mentioned above. Advices to the Marketers It is a good habit to utilize the possibilities of sports and games in the marketing of the energy drinks. The modern youths are experiencing lack of physical activities and hence most of them have obesity and overweight which result in lack of self esteem and other health related problems. The marketing campaign through sports activities will definitely improve the awareness about the physical activities which is essential for the modern world. So the energy drink manufacturers should continue the marketing campaign through sports activities. â€Å"Some of the energy ingredients in the variety of energy drinks include: Royal Gelly, (Honey bee byproduct), Ginseng (Herbal root very popular in Asia), Ashwaganda, (Member of the pepper family also known as Indian ginseng), Horny Goat Weed (Chinese plant), Skullcap (North American perennial herb), Energy Drinks 4 White Willow (North American tree bark, natural alternative to aspirin), Black Seed (Ancient herbal remedy in Asia, Africa and the Middle East), Guarana (Fruit vine found in Amazon Basin with a powerful caffeine bean), Taurine (A naturally occuring acid)Additionally, healthy ingredients such as green tea and fruit juices are being added to capitalize on the better-for-you trend. Green tea and pomegranates are some of the more obvious recent attempts to tie in products that are currently hot trends in healthy eating with a traditional energy drink. † (Agri-Food Trade Service) At the same time the energy drink manufacturers must improve their commitments to the society by enriching the energy drinks with some essential nutrient which is lacking in the modern fast food culture. Most of the essential vitamins required for the health are vanishing from the current food culture and hence the energy drink manufacturers must take that social responsibility to enrich their drinks with essential vitamins required for the health. â€Å"Energy drinks – usually a mixture of caffeine, taurine, carbohydrates, B-complex vitamins and gluconolactone – have become very popular in recent years† (Energy Drinks Do Not Help Maintain Alcohols Buzz) Some of the marketing techniques of the energy drink manufacturers include: Tension, stress relief, Sobering effects, Improved love life, Stamina, Reflexes, Alertness, Virility, and Stimulates metabolism (Agri-Food Trade Service) Neither of the above mentioned claims from the energy drink Energy Drinks 5 manufacturers are proved scientifically yet. But still they keep on using the same slogans in their ad campaigns to attract a specific segment of the society and they must think of stopping such slogans. Conclusions Most of the energy drink advertisements are misleading. The manufacturers offer so many things which will never materialize through the consumption of it. The ad campaigns utilizing sports activities will definitely create awareness about the physical activities among youths. The energy drink manufacturers must think of including certain essential vitamins in their drinks which is diminishing from the modern world due to fast food culture. They should stop utilizing caffeine like ingredients in their drink. Energy Drinks 6 Works Cited 1. Facts expert (2005), Drink Advertising and Energy Slogans, Retrieved on March 5, 2009 from http://energydrinks. factexpert. com/905-energy-drink-slogans. php 2. Agri-Food Trade Service (2008), The Energy Drink Segment in North America Retrieved on March 5, 2009 from http://www. ats. agr. gc. ca/us/4387_e. htm 3. Energy Drinks Do Not Help Maintain Alcohols Buzz, (2004) Retrieved on March 5, 2009 from http://alcoholism. about. com/od/college/a/blacer0409

Protecting Children from Internet Risks

Protecting Children from Internet Risks Risk and consequences of the internet and mobile phones The Internet can be a wonderful tool for learning, but as well as accessing educational information also has the possibility those children may access inappropriate information whilst online. Within the school setting children will have some protection, as school networks will have specialist software to block inappropriate websites. Mobile phones There will be some children within the school setting who have access to the Internet at break and lunchtimes on their phones without censored search engines and it is important to be vigilant for any pupils who may be accessing and sharing inappropriate content with other children (children are more likely to be warned about bringing mobile phones on to school premises). Children are becoming more and more interested in IT by using mobile phones, laptops, iPods, computers etc and should be monitored in and out of the school. Mobile phones can be used appropriately rather than inappropriately as they could be used to communicate with their parents for forgetting work, PE clothes, school bags etc, but can also have devastating consequences for children if they are used inappropriately. Mobile phones can be used as a forum of bullying, both inside and outside the school setting. The support assistant needs to be watchful and should monitor mobile phone use in the classroom, at break ti mes and lunchtimes to see what children are using them for. Most school’s have a policy for no mobile phones to be used or brought onto the school premises, as they can be sued to send abusive and threatening text across the classroom to bully and intimidate others. Children sometimes hide their mobile phones in their pencil cases, up their blazer sleeves or under jumpers and will take any opportunity to get them out quickly when they think they are not being watched, so it is important to be vigilant at all times. The table below shows the risks and consequences of mobile phones and then Internet. Mobile phones Internet Can issue inappropriate content, pornography, cyber chatting (can lead to meeting strangers online and sharing of personal information)-paedophiles and other strangers could take advantage. Online harassment, through e-mails, chat rooms, face book and other files that can be accessed. This could lead to suicide, self harming, mental breakdown etc. Text messages- can be used to torment victims and at any time of the day or night. Cyber bullying to hurt, upset, harass or embarrass others (could lead to suicide as a result) Images or videos can be taken without others consent or knowledge and can be posted online. Identity theft- could lead to a child’s or adult’s identity being stolen as personal information has been shared. Texting- sexually suggestive or explicit messages or photographs (could lead to the victim self harming or committing suicide) The child could be located in the real world by paedophiles etc which could lead to murder, rape and other upsetting factors. Late night texting- can lead to tiredness, lack of concentration, and an inability to function in normal day to day activities at school. Pornography can be easily located through the Internet, and misleading young girls to do things like stripping, prostitution, drug taking, alcohol consumption etc Theft of expensive mobile phones could cause upset. Chat rooms- could be chatting to the wrong person and leading them to run away from home (could lead to murder) Health issues of long term usage of mobile phones. Could get involved with gambling online which could be addicted in the long term. All these negative risks and possible consequences can be controlled by positive parenting strategies for the use of the Internet and mobile phones. The following could be used to control this. Talk often to the child about their safety Set ground rules for using the Internet and mobile phones (have penalties if this is abused) When and where the mobile can be used Do not let other children use your mobile phone for the use of the Internet No sending of mean or unkind messages via mobile phones or email on the Internet Think carefully about what you search for on the Internet, once shared images they cannot be reversed Be discreet in your use of your mobile phone; do not flash it around as it is a target for thieves. Monitor your child’s Internet sites they have looked at Be a good role model Have some daily routine by only using the Internet for one hour a day Take sensible precautions Online bullying and social networking The popularity of social networking sites increase year on year, and although the minimum age to hold an account is 13 years of age, children younger than this are creating accounts or getting family members to make accounts for them. Children are being bullied when using social networking and are suffering at the hands of bullies that are now finding that there is no respite at home as bullying becomes more of a cyber issue. Social networking and cyber bullying has massive consequences for some children, with suicide as the most dramatic consequence. Social networking not only involves one or two bullies, but could also involve a wider range of children that a child is connected with. Social networking also has the possibility of adult contact or content. Support assistants should be vigilant at all times at school to listen out for any comments at school amongst the children. Schools may also give advice and briefings about staying safe online and the dangers of social networking. Cyber bullying is a form of harassment that makes use of the latest electronic technology. Primarily the harassment occurs on the web, but today’s smart phones are being used to harass people too. Cyber bullying differs from the more traditional forms of bullying in that it can occur at any time 24 hours a day. E-mail messages, videos and images can be distributed instantaneously to a worldwide audience with the perpetrator remaining anonymous, often making them difficult to trace. Children and teens are rarely concerned about Internet safety. Cyber bullying can have devastating effect on them. Suicides have been linked to the Internet. Social media sites can be sued for positive activities, like connecting kids with friends and family, helping students with school work and for entertainment, but these tools can also be used to hurt other people. Whether done in person or through technology, the effects of bullying are similar. Children who are cyber bullied are more likely to do the following. Use alcohol and drugs Skip school Experience in person bullying Be unwilling to attend school Receive poor grades Have low self esteem Have low self belief Feel worthless Have more health problems Depression Anxiety And many more Reference/bibliography www.safenetwork.org.uk www.safeinternet.org.uk (7.2) Ways of reducing risk to children and young people from the following. Social networking Internet use Buying online Using a mobile phone The following table shows ways of protecting children and young people from harm and abuse. Protection from harm and abuse Social networking Should not be able to create accounts until the child is older and wiser. Family members friends should not create accounts for the children. To be aware of the sites children young people are using. Make the child understand the risks report anything they are worried about. Understand safety messages. Keep personal stuff private. Block people who send nasty messages. Monitor sites thy have accessed. Internet use Enable confidence in the Internet through training positive experiences. Do not accept E-mails, messages or open files. Encourage children to talk to you if they experience cyber bullying. Use ground rules for using the Internet. Speak to the child to deliver positive safety messages. Talk to the child regarding inappropriate behaviour and sites. Use parental controls- safety blocks etc. Keep the computer in the family room so you can keep an eye on the child. Set Internet rules. Keep personal information private do not share anything with strangers (address etc). Teach children about cyber bullying. Buying online Be careful not to sign up to any sites do not give any personal information. Children should not be allowed to have a debit card so this would stop them from buying online. Secure your own cards, so your child cannot use it to buy goods (only register ion sites with passwords). Encourage children to speak to you if they want to buy anything online. Using a mobile phone Risk to the child’s health. They can reduce the risk by using landline phones, hands free, loud speakers etc. Buy a cheap phone, less risk of it being stolen. Know your child’s phone functions (ask company what safety measures can be put in place). Block certain sites on the Internet avoiding the child to access. Use rules, where, when how mobile phones can be used (not at mealtimes, not at school or during lessons). Do not let other children use your mobile phone. Do not send mean upsetting messages. Think carefully what you share (images) from your phone once sent it cannot be reversed. Be discreet of your mobile phone. Reference/bibliography www.socialnetworking.org.uk Guided learning activity E-safety leaflet Children today are increasingly using ICT at school and at home. It is not just about using computers and the Internet, but includes a huge range of devices, such as cameras, videos, video cameras, remote control devices, DS games, mobile phones and much more. This is often a huge worry for parents but there are many things that can be put in place to help keep children safe online. However supervision and keeping on open dialogue with the child about what they are doing is the most important thing. Many Internet providers offer systems to help keep children safe at home, but it can still be easy for children to stray onto inappropriate material, whether texts or images. One of the ways of protecting children is to place the computer in a family area of the home and not in a bedroom; this will help to monitor what the child is doing when they are using the Internet. The Internet can be an amazing resource, fun and informative. You do not need to stop the child from using the information and games available on it, but you can set simple rules for keeping them safe, make sure they understand the rules and know why they are necessary. Do not reply to nasty messages you receive Do not reply to texts from someone you do not know Keep the message you have received so you can show them to a trusted adult and make a note of the time and date you have received them Do not answer calls from a withheld number that you do not recognise Block numbers from people who are sending you nasty messages Change your number if you are being bullied Do not give your number to someone you do not know Do not send pictures to someone you do not know If the problem is serious you can report it to the police, cyber mentors or child line, parents or teachers Safety concerns regarding Internet usage and use of mobile phones Internet usage Use of mobile phones Inappropriate material (pornography) Sex ting (sending inappropriate texts that make the victim uncomfortable) Cyber bullying Inappropriate images (pornography) Online predators (strangers wanting private information- paedophiles) Strangers calling (with held numbers) Sharing personal information (could be involved in online fraud) Internet access (could access any site in the Internet) E-mail and chat rooms (chatting to strangers about inappropriate material) Video game safety (could play games designed for older children) Sharing pictures and videos Bullying (could be bullied using texts and calls) Social networking sites (accessing inappropriate sites) Harassment (constantly phoning and texting victim 24 hours) Online gaming (gambling) viruses Could be stolen if expensive S- SAFE Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information when you are chatting online. It includes your E mail address, phone number, school address, home address and password. M- MEETING Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Remember online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time. A-ACCEPTING Accepting E-mails, instant messages, or opening files, pictures or texts from people you do not know or trust can lead to problems. They may contain viruses or nasty upsetting messages. R-RELAIBLE Someone online might lie about who they are and might give information that is not true. It is best just to chat to your real world friends and family. T-TELL Tell your parents or carer if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or if you or someone you know is being bullied online or by phone.

Royal Institute Of British Architects Work Plan Stages

Royal Institute Of British Architects Work Plan Stages The RIBA Plan of Work describes the activities from appraising the clients requirements through to post construction. The stages are also used in the appointment of architects and help to identify consultant services and indicate the resource and fee total by Work Stage. The information below is in accordance with CABE principles (Creating Excellent Buildings: A guide for clients, 2003, CABE and Being involved in School Design, 2004, CABE)) and the RIBA Plan of Work. The choice of procurement route has a fundamental influence on how different Work Stages proceed. This is summarised in outline as far as possible but the exact way in which different Stages are conducted within the overall project programme needs careful consideration at the outset. It is worth noting that the RIBA Plan of Work was originally developed to reflect the needs of Traditional contract forms. The subsequent development of alternative contract forms such as PFI, BSF and partnered contracts means that RIBA Stages dont necessarily fit precisely with discrete stages in these alternative contract forms. The Achieving Excellence in Construction Procurement guide 11 Sustainability identifies the intervention points for larger programmes such as BSF including PFI. See www.ogc.gov.uk. Any project needs a vision and key performance indicators to be identified up front. They should be assessed at each stage to monitor achievement and check that they are still appropriate. For a project that wants to integrate sustainability in all aspects of a project this is even more important, as for many clients it will involve some changes to conventional methods and new ways of working need strong management support if they are to be successfully implemented. KPIs should be identified in the early project stages for the whole of the Prepare, Design, Construct and Use cycle. RIBA Work Stage (Common name) People involved Purpose of work and decisions needed Tasks to be undertaken PREPARATION RIBA Stage A Appraisal (Briefing) All client interests, architect/ lead designer (depending on procurement route) Identification of Clients requirements and any possible constraints on development. Preparation of studies to enable the Client to decide whether to proceed and to select the probable procurement method. The latter is a particularly important decision, as it will determine the way in which project resources, responsibilities and risks are apportioned between the Client and its consultants and contractors. Set up project steering group or equivalent and identify the vision and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the project. Consider funding and procurement route- BSF, Academy, DfES bid, LEA resources, school, other agencies. Traditional contract: Submit funding bid to DfES Appoint Design Team PFI/BSF contract: Prepare option appraisals Submit outline business case (OBC) Obtain OBC approval Fix budget for project Advertise in OJEU Partnering contract: Advertise for and select partnering contractor Develop scheme with client and contractor to determine budget Appoint design advisor, education expert and design champion. Set up Client organisation for briefing RIBA Stage B Preparing Strategic Brief Clients representatives, consortium/ partnering team members, architects, engineers and QS according to the nature of the project. Preparation of general outline of requirements and planning of future action on behalf of, the client with client confirming key requirements and constraints. Identification of procedures, organisational structure and range of consultants and others to be engaged for the project. The strategic brief is a key output from this stage and becomes the clear responsibility of the client. Studies of user requirements, site conditions, planning, design and cost etc, as necessary to reach decisions Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project. LEA prepares accommodation schedules in consultation with schools. Traditional contract: Sketch design proposals Cost check against budget Prepare final detailed brief. PFI/BSF contract: Select shortlist of bidders. Prepare ITN and issue to bidders Receive bids from bidders Evaluate sample designs (BSF) Evaluate and select Preferred Bidder Partnering contract: Decide Partnering Programme (workshops etc.) Cost check against budget DESIGN RIBA Stage C Outline proposals Stage C begins when the architects brief has been determined in sufficient detail (Sketch plans) All client interests, consortium/ partnering team members, architects, engineers, QS and specialists are required. Provide the client with an appraisal and recommendation in order that they may determine the form in which the project is to proceed. Ensure that it is feasible functionally, technically and financially. At this point the development of the strategic brief into the full project brief begins and outline design proposals and cost estimates are prepared. Develop the brief further. Do studies on user requirements, technical aspects, planning, design and costs as necessary to reach decisions. Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project. Traditional contract: C to F Detailed design and tender documentation produced PFI/BSF contract: C to F Negotiations with preferred Bidder to finalise contract details. Non sample designs prepared in BSF Partnering contract: C to F Final design developed jointly within budget constraints, most likely to an Agreed Maximum Price (AMP). The Brief should not be modified substantially after this point. Depending on the procurement route, changes after this stage can incur additional cost or lengthen the programme. DESIGN RIBA Stage D Scheme Design &Planning; Detailed Proposals; Submit Planning Application (Planning drawings) All client interests, architects, engineers, QS and specialists and all statutory and other approving authorities, contractor (if appointed). Determines the general approach to the layout, design and construction in order to obtain authoritative approval of the client on the outline proposals. The project brief will be fully developed and detailed proposals will be made and compiled, generally in a Stage D report. The application for full development control approval will be made at this point. Complete final development brief and full design of the project by the architect. Engineers prepare preliminary design. Preparation of cost plan and full explanatory report. Submit proposals for all approvals. Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project. Traditional contract: C to F Detailed design and tender documentation produced PFI/BSF contract: C to F Negotiations with preferred Bidder to finalise contract details. Non sample designs prepared in BSF Partnering contract: C to F Final design developed jointly within budget constraints, most likely to an Agreed Maximum Price (AMP). DESIGN RIBA Stage E Detail Design; Final proposals. All client interests, architects, engineers, QS and specialists and all statutory and other approving authorities, contractor (if appointed). Completion of the brief with decisions made on the planning arrangement, appearance, construction method, outline specification and cost of the project. All approvals will be obtained at this stage, including for Building Regulations. In effect, during this Stage final proposals are developed for the Project sufficient for co-ordination of all its components and elements to realise the construction. Full design of every part and component of the building by collaboration of all concerned. Complete cost checking of designs. Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project. Traditional contract: C to F Detailed design and tender documentation produced PFI/BSF contract: C to F Negotiations with preferred Bidder to finalise contract details. Non sample designs prepared in BSF Partnering contract: C to F Final design developed jointly within budget constraints most likely to an Agreed Maximum Price (AMP). Any further change in location, size, shape, construction method or cost after this time is likely to result in abortive work. Some procurement methods can make it easier and less costly to make changes after this Stage. DESIGN RIBA Stage F Production information Architects, QS, engineers and specialists, contractor (if appointed). Final decisions taken on every matter related to design, specification, construction and cost. For a traditional procurement process, production information is first prepared in sufficient detail to enable a tender or tenders to be obtained. Any further production information required under the building contract to complete the information for construction is then prepared. All statutory approvals should be obtained by the end of this phase. Prepare final production information i.e. drawings, schedules and specifications. Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project. Traditional contract: C to F Detailed design and tender documentation produced PFI/BSF contract: C to F Negotiations with preferred Bidder to finalise contract details. Non sample designs prepared in BSF Partnering contract: C to F Final design developed jointly within budget constraints, most likely to an Agreed Maximum Price (AMP). DESIGN RIBA Stage G Tender documents; Bills of Quantities Architects, engineers and specialists. Contractor (if appointed) Prepare and collate tender documentation in sufficient detail to enable a tender or tenders to be obtained for the construction of the Project. It should be noted that this Stage is much more relevant to Traditional forms of procurement. Prepare Bills of Quantities and tender documents Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project Traditional contract: G to H Tendering process contractor selected PFI/BSF contract: G to H PFI contract signed LEP established in BSF Negotiations with contractor for future phases in BSF Partnering contract: G to H Contract signed Maximum price (AMP) fixed DESIGN RIBA Stage H Tender action Architects, QS, engineers, contractor, client. Prepare and complete all information and arrangements for obtaining tender(s). Identify potential contractors and/or specialists for the construction of the project. Tenders obtained and appraised with recommendations made to the client body or Steering Group to allow an appointment to be made. It is important that the contractors understanding of, and commitment to, the project vision and its sustainability is tested at this stage. This can be achieved by the inclusion of this as a key selection criterion early in the procurement process. Hold pre-tender briefing for potential contractors to ensure they have a good project understanding Obtain and appraise tenders Appoint contractor Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project. CONSTRUCT CONSTRUCT CONSTRUCT RIBA Stage J Project Planning; Mobilisation (Site Operations) Architects, QS, engineers, contractor, client Building contract let and contractor appointed Production information issued to the contractor Site is handed over to the contractor Take action in accordance with the RIBA Plan of Work Appoint contractor Hand over site to contractor to prepare prior to construction Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project. Traditional contract: J to M Construction monitored by design team PFI/BSF contract: J to M Construction of first phase Facilities Management (FM) service delivery commences on completion Partnering contract: J to M Contractor, design ream and client continue to partner to achieve budget/programme RIBA Stage K Operations on Site; Construction to Practical Completion (Site Operations) Contractors, sub-contractors Contractor programmes the work in accordance with the contract and commences work on site. The client or their representative the architect in Traditional procurement administers the building contract up to and including practical completion (this is the point at which the contractor hands back ownership of the site and completed project to the client). Further information supplied to the contractor as and when reasonably required. Take action in accordance with the RIBA Plan of Work Regular site inspections of work to ensure it meets specification. Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project RIBA Stage L Completion (Site Operations) Architects, engineers, contractors, sub-contractors, QS, client This Stage is clearly separated from the construction phase. Final inspections are made to ensure specifications have been met. In addition, the final account is settled Take action in accordance with the RIBA Plan of Work Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project USE RIBA Stage M Feedback Architect, engineers, QS, contractor, client, users as appropriate At this Stage, the building has been handed over to the client for occupation. Any defects will have been remedied and the final account settled. This allows the management, construction and performance of the project to be assessed. Analyse job records and inspect completed building(s) as appropriate. Conduct studies of the building in use. These are particularly important to focus on energy in use against the design specification. Monitor performance against the vision and KPIs for the project. The RIBA Stages conclude at Stage M. For projects to be sustainable, the operational and decommissioning phases need to be separately identified and planned for by the client. For PFI/BSF procurement, these will be the responsibility of the consortium.

Looks and Love Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

Looks and Love Before I left home for college, my group of friends and I sat down for one last serious heart-to-heart. Sometime during our conversation, the question of college choice arose. Emotions escalated as we realized how far apart we would be in a short time. "Why did you choose to go to MIT?" they asked, "Why couldn't you just stay home at a state university?" Wanting to lighten the mood, I replied, laughing, "That's an easy one...the guys, of course!" And after the initial uproar of laughter died down and the comments about geeks and scrawny computer nerds subsided, I said, "I'm serious." I was. Where else would I find an intelligent and genuine guy who would be mature enough for me? When I arrived in Massachusetts and classes finally started, so did my "man mission." Most of the men I met blew the boys back home out of the water, and one lucky day, I peered past my twirling pink pen and found Him. The more I learned about Him, the more enamored I became. Yet I, a usually outgoing and assertive young woman, felt uncomfortable approaching this wonderful person in that more-than-a-friend kind of way. The worst part about the situation was that I knew exactly where my uneasiness was coming from. Unlike the guys at home, where seventy percent of the young male population had black hair and dark brown eyes, this guy was blonde and fair-skinned, a stark contrast not only to the male population back home, but to me. I am not a racist person, but the petty idea that this guy did not share like features with me, hindered me from appreciating what we did share and made me more aware of the differences between us. So where then, did this silly idea of single race relationships come from? Why did He an... ...zines remind me that this relationship would not be the most socially accepted or ordinary thing to do. But it is ordinary. I know I've fallen for this guy because of his humor and quirkiness, his intelligence, his kindness, and his character, things that I should be looking for. So now, I sit here in my baggy calf-length skater shorts and bright orange hooded sweatshirt and stare across the seats, focusing on his neatly ironed khakis and dark blue dress shirt, and think that our hypothetical relationship would die quickly. I'm still that closed-lipped girl from the beginning of the story when it comes to my feelings because I don't want to be rejected, and for some reason I feel like we might not be right for each other, even though I know we are. And it depresses me that somehow, our ad-driven society is probably convincing him of that same exact thing.

American Society Needs Affirmative Action Essay examples -- argumentat

American Society Needs Affirmative Action      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Affirmative action has been the subject of increasing debate and tension in American society. However, the debate over affirmative action has become ensnared in rhetoric that pits equality of opportunity against the equality of results. The debate has been more emotional than intellectual, and has generated more tension than shed light on the issue. Participants in the debate have over examined the ethical and moral issues that affirmative action raises while forgetting to scrutinize the system that has created the need for them. Too often, affirmative action is looked upon as the panacea for a nation once ill with, but now cured of, the virulent disease of racial discrimination. Affirmative action is, and should be seen as, a temporary, partial, and perhaps even flawed remedy for past and continuing discrimination against historically marginalized and disenfranchised groups in American society. Working as it should, it affords groups greater equality of opportunity in a social context marked by substantial inequalities and structural forces that impede a fair assessment of their capabilities. In this essay I will expose what I see as the shortcomings of the current ethical attacks on affirmative action (1), the main one being, that these attacks are devoid of proper historical context and shrouded in white male hegemony and privilege. Then, I will discuss the moral and ethical issues raised by continuing to function within a system that systematically disadvantages historically marginalized groups. With that as a backdrop, I will make a positive case for continuing affirmative action programs and discuss the practic... ...ainly valid, qualifications to the table that are not recognized under our current system of merit. Notes: 1. While it is true that Affirmative action programs address the concerns of a wide range of Americans who confront discrimination, the debate is often understood to be about race; and specifically Black Americans. For that reason the emphasis of my essay will be on affirmative action programs that involve Black Americans. 2. Since I have narrowed my discussion of Affirmative action to that bestowed to a specific racial group, it is imperative that I give my understanding of what "race" is. I am writing this essay with the understanding that race is not an immutable biological category or characteristic but rather a social construction. In America, race was constructed and employed to preserve white privilege while simultaneously oppressing Blacks.

Summarise entitlement and provision for early years education Essay

Summarise entitlement and provision for early years education. Since 2004 local education authorities, funded by the government ensured that every child in the UK aged three and four years old have been entitled to free places at nursery or another preschool setting (including childminders). From 1st September 2010 the Government extended these hours from 12. 5 to 15 hours for up to 38 weeks of the year. The free entitlement provides universal access to early childhood education and care, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to benefit from early years education. The extended hours also supports parents who wish to go back to work or develop their careers through further education by providing affordable day care. From 1st September 2013 the government extended the age so that some two year old children could also eligible for this free funding. The free early education places can be at: Nursery schools which are stand alone establishments that delivers the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) to children aged 3-4 years. It is structured in the same way as a school, with a headteacher, teachers and various other professionals. Here the children only access the 12. 5 hours of free government entitlement, in the same way a child would if attending the nursery class at the local primary school. Nurseries on school sites, nursery classes in schools and academies take children aged 3 and 4 years old, usually for the year before they start the first school year. They are sometimes attached to a primary school. They may have a separate building and playground away from the main school but share the same headteacher and staff. Both types intend to provide a grounding for the child to start school, offering a range of structured educational experiences based on learning through play. Day nurseries are usually privately run and provide care for children aged from birth to five years old. All must be registered and annually inspected by Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education). There are strict guidelines on the ratio of staff to children: 1. for under two year olds – one carer to three children 2. two to three year olds – one carer to four children 3. three to five year olds – one carer to eight children Day nurseries are usually opened from 8. 00 am to 6. 00 pm all year round. In day nurseries: 50 per cent of staff must have a childcare qualification children have the chance to learn and play with friends childcare is reliable – if one member of staff is ill, others are available to cover some day nurseries offer school pick-ups and out of school care eligible for help with costs through the Working Tax Credit funded places may be available for children in their final pre-school year part time places are often available. However, many day nurseries are not flexible if you work shifts or weekends and there can be long waiting lists. Some playgroups accept children aged between two and five, and are short sessions where children stay and play with other children their age. Registered Childminders are childcare professionals working in their own homes to provide care and education for other people’s children in a family setting. They have to be inspected and registered by Ofsted in England. Many Registered Childminders are flexible and will work to the hours that parents need. This makes Childminding a valuable childcare option for parents. All Registered Childminders in England are legally required to complete a pre-registration briefing session and must have completed a local authority approved training course to help them understand and implement the EYFS before they can register with Ofsted. They must also complete a 12 hour Paediatric First Aid Course and gain a certificate as part of their registration. Sure Start Children’s Centres are places that provide information and services for families with young children aged from birth to five years in the local community. Sure Start is the government’s programme to support young children and families. The establishment of multi-agency Sure Start Children’s Centres brings together early learning, health and family support. They actively support parents in their aspirations towards employment, education and training. The Sure Start approach ensures that every child gets the best possible start in life and helps parents choose with confidence how they balance their work and family commitments. Nannies and home-based carers: Provide care for children in your home and can look after children of any age. Early years education funding will only be available in an Ofsted inspected setting which is found to be of a satisfactory level.

Mrs Elizabeth Dole’s Presidential Election

As President of the American Red Cross, Elizabeth Dole has led an extraordinary public service career in which she has served six United States Presidents and has been named by the Gallup Poll as one of the world†s ten most admired women. Born and raised in Salisbury, North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole was apparently always diligent. She obtained excellent grades and won the prize in an essay writing competition offered annually by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Her classmates voted her â€Å"Most Likely to Succeed,† and would often remark that she would one day be a First Lady or a President. Following in her brother†s footsteps, she attended Duke University. She was elected president of the Women†s Student Government Association. Elizabeth Dole left Duke with a bachelor†s degree in political science, with recognition as Student Leader of the Year, Phi Beta Kappa and was the May Queen. She then went on to earn her law degree from Harvard Law School as well as obtaining a master†s in education and government from Harvard. Elizabeth Dole headed the White House Office of Consumer Affairs under both Presidents Johnson and Nixon. It was there that she began a career-long dedication to public safety, for which she received the National Safety Council†s Distinguished Service Award in 1989. By 1974, Nixon had appointed her a Federal Trade Commissioner. She and Bob Dole were married in 1975 while she was still with the FTC, and when he became the Vice Presidential candidate under Jerry Ford, she took a leave of absence to campaign for him. In 1980, the now married Elizabeth Dole, impressed Ronald Reagan to the extent that he appointed her director of his transition team†s human services group and a year later, promoted her to head of the White House Office of Public Liaison. In February 1983, Elizabeth Dole joined President Reagan†s Cabinet as Secretary of Transportation – the first woman to hold that position. During her four years at Transportation, the United States enjoyed the safest years in its history in all three major areas – rail, air, and highway. Some of her many safety initiatives included a new regulation which required air bags or automatic safety belts in all new cars and spawned safety belt laws in 36 states and the District of Columbia. She led the crusade to raise the drinking age to 21; directed the overhaul of the aviation safety inspection system; and imposed tougher aviation security measures at the U.S. airports, which led to tightened security measures around the world. She also oversaw the sale of CONRAIL, the government-owned freight railroad that returned $1.2 billion dollars to the U.S. Treasury. In January of 1989, President Bush swore in Elizabeth Dole as the nation†s 20th Secretary of Labor. As Labor Secretary, she served as the President†s chief adviser on labor and work force issues. She has worked to help shatter the â€Å"glass ceiling† for America†s working women and minorities, increase safety and health in the workplace, upgrade the skills of the American work force, and improve relations between labor and management, playing a key role in bringing the parties together to resolve the bitter eleven month Pittston Coal Strike. In 1993, Women Executives in State Government honored Elizabeth Dole with their Lifetime Achievement Award for her many achievements in helping women and minorities break through the â€Å"glass ceiling.† Also this year, she was selected for induction into the Safety and Health Hall of Fame International for her numerous transportation, workplace, and blood safety accomplishments. She went on to receive the North Carolina Press Association†s first â€Å"North Carolinian of the Year† Award. As President of the American Red Cross, Elizabeth Dole oversaw nearly 30,000 staff members and more than 1.5 million volunteers who comprise the world†s foremost humanitarian organization. She was a member of that volunteer force in 1991, taking no salary her first year. The American Red Cross provides 52% of America†s blood supply. While blood is â€Å"overwhelmingly safe,† to quote the Food and Drug Administration, four months into her presidency, Elizabeth Dole secured approval of the organization†s Board of Governors to launch a sweeping $148 million state of the art blood system which will be able to quickly and efficiently incorporate medical technology as it evolves. Following two years of record breaking natural disasters, Elizabeth Dole launched an aggressive relief campaign that raised $172 million dollars in 1992 to assist victims of disasters including Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki. Elizabeth Dole certainly has the political credentials as well as strong other values. She understands how to be powerful and yet remain human, warm and sincere. She understands the importance of integrity, morality, and accountability in government. With all the scandal that Bill Clinton has brought to Washington, observers say that Mrs. Dole†s strong religious and traditional values could work as a remedy. If our country will ever be ready for a female in the Oval Office it is now, with Elizabeth Dole. There will be, however, significant electoral, institutional, and constitutional ramifications if she is elected. First of all, the Electoral College will be jumbled. As Elizabeth Dole is a strong member of the Republican Party, electing a woman to the presidential office is a very democratic move. Therefore, many of the Democratic electoral voters may cast their votes in the direction of Elizabeth Dole, rather than their own presidential candidate, and vice versa for the Republican electoral voters. These electoral voters will be in a cross-pressured situation that will blur the outcome of the election to a certain degree. The institutional effects of Elizabeth Dole†s election to office will be in two major parts: (1) Her leadership of the American Red Cross as well as her association with and involvement in the American political system will adhere to a knowledge of those and similar institutions, and (2) the mass media will curb the campaigns with an instance never before been seriously tampered with. Although many may argue against Elizabeth Dole†s ability to act as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, she seems to have the confidence and the aid to do so. She is very much in favor of restoring America†s Defense capability. â€Å"The readiness of our troops is in question and a whole generation of outdated military equipment is waiting to be replaced†¦. I believe there is an urgent need to refurbish our military and resolve to develop and deploy a strategic missile defense system at the earliest possible date.† Furthermore, the Presidency has become an institution itself, containing many aids, helping in the decision-making procedure and the management of domestic policy, economic policy, foreign affairs, congressional relations, and public relations. Her knowledge both of executive power as well as working closely with executives and their aids (referring to U.S. Presidents) has given her tremendously valuable experience that readies her for her tasks as a President of the United States. Now, the mass media always has a great influence in the public opinion of politics due to their coverage and choice of material presented to this public. This can be looked upon as an advantage for Elizabeth Dole. The media will, without fail, give special attention to her campaign, for she is the first woman in American history to have a prospect of securing the Presidency. Statistics have shown that voters tend to favor those candidates who have a combination of sufficient media coverage and charisma, the latter of which Elizabeth Dole undeniably possesses. Therefore, with this ensemble and her qualifications, Elizabeth Dole will be giving the public eye something they†ve been waiting to see in a presidential candidate†¦the background, the experience, the disposition, the intelligence and the integrity to run our country with our full faith. The Constitutional effects have much to do with Elizabeth Dole†s platform as well as the intermingling of powers. The issue of a Republican woman elected President being a Democratic move could induce a more efficient process of law making in Congress. Furthermore, Elizabeth Dole is a firm believer in rolling back the bureaucracy. This refers directly to the tenth amendment of the Constitution: â€Å"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.† The founding fathers inserted this amendment for fear of the development and consolidation of a powerful and meddlesome federal government. These days, our federal government maintains numerous and indefinite powers as the states hold few. The Federal Government has become too big, too complex, too bureaucratic. Decisions once made in state legislatures, in city halls and around kitchen tables are now made in Washington†¦. What we need to do, it seems, is to remember the wisdom of our country†s founders, and the tenth Amendment to the Constitution: those powers not specifically delegated to the federal government or prohibited to the states are reserved for the states and for â€Å"we the people† – you and me! Elizabeth Dole is not a power hungry politician like the ones we today to whom we are so accustomed. She is a politically knowledgeable and powerful woman who has the ability to stand strong as the head of the world†s most powerful nation.

Heart of Darkness in the Light of Psychoanalytic Theories Essay

Psychoanalytic criticism originated in the work of Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who pioneered the technique of psychoanalysis. Freud developed a language that described, a model that explained, and a theory that encompassed human psychology. His theories are directly and indirectly concerned with the nature of the unconscious mind. Through his multiple case studies, Freud managed to find convincing evidence that most of our actions are motivated by psychological forces over which we have very limited control (Guerin 127). One of Freud’s most important contributions to the study of the psyche is his theory of repression: the unconscious mind is a repository of repressed desires, feelings, memories, wishes and instinctual drives; many of which have to do with sexuality and violence. These unconscious wishes, according to Freud, can find expression in dreams because dreams distort the unconscious material and make it appear different from itself and more acceptable to consciousness. They may also appear in other disguised forms, like in language (sometimes called the Freudian slips), in creative art and in neurotic behavior. One of the unconscious desires Freud believed that all human beings supposedly suppress is the childhood desire to displace the parent of the same sex and to take his or her place in the affections of the parent of the opposite sex. This so-called â€Å"Oedipus Complex,† which all children experience as a rite of passage to adult gender identity, lies at the core of Freud’s sexual theory (Murfin 114-5). A principal element in Freud’s theory is his assignment of the mental processes to three psychic zones: the id, the ego and the superego. The id is the passional, irrational, and unconscious part of the psyche. It is the site of the energy of the mind, energy that Freud characterized as a combination of sexual libido and other instincts, such as aggression, that propel the human organism through life, moving it to grow, develop and eventually to die. That primary process of life is completely irrational, and it cannot distinguish reasonable objects and unreasonable or socially unacceptable ones. Here comes the secondary processes of the mind, lodged in the ego and the superego. The ego, or â€Å"I,† was Freud’s term for the predominantly rational, logical, orderly and conscious part of the psyche; it works on repressing and inhibiting the drives of the id so that they may be released in sane behavioral patterns. And though a large part of the ego is unconscious, it nevertheless includes what we think of as the conscious mind. The superego is a projection of the ego. It is the moral censoring agency; the part that makes moral judgments and the repository of conscience and pride. It brings reason, order and social acceptability to the otherwise uncontrolled and potentially harmful realm of biological impulses (Guerin 128-31). Freud’s theories have launched what is now known as the psychoanalytic approach to literature. Freud was interested in writers, especially those who depended largely on symbols. Such writers tend to tinge their ideas and figures with mystery or ambiguity that only make sense once interpreted, just as the analyst tries to figure out the dreams and bizarre actions that the unconscious mind of a neurotic releases out of repression. A work of literature is thus treated as a fantasy or a dream that Freudian analysis comes to explain the nature of the mind that produced it. The purpose of a work of art is what psychoanalysis has found to be the purpose of the dream: the secret gratification of an infantile and forbidden wish that has been repressed into the unconscious (Wright 765). The literal surface of a work of literature is sometimes called the â€Å"manifest content† and treated as â€Å"manifest dream† or â€Å"dream story. † The psychoanalytic literary critic tries to analyze the latent, underlying content of the work, or the â€Å"dream thought† hidden in the dream story. Freud used the terms â€Å"condensation† and â€Å"displacement† to explain the mental processes that result in the disguise of the wishes and fears in dream stories. In condensation, several wishes, anxieties or persons may be condensed into a single manifestation or image in dream story; in displacement, a thought or a person may be displaced onto the image of another with which or whom there is an extremely loose and arbitrary association that only an analyst can decode. Psychoanalytic critics treat metaphors as if they were dream condensations; they treat metonyms- figures of speech based on weak connections- as if they were dream displacements. Thus, figures of speech in general are treated as aspects that see the light when the writer’s conscious mind resists what the unconscious asks it to depict or describe. Psychoanalytic criticism written before 1950 tended to study the psyche of the individual author. Poems, novels and plays were treated as fantasies that allowed authors to release curbed desires, or to protect themselves  from deep- rooted fears, or both. Later, psychoanalytic critics stopped assuming that artists are borderline neurotics or that the characters they fabricate and the figurative language they use can be analyzed to figure out the dark, hidden fancies in the authors’ minds. So they moved their focus toward the psychology of the reader, and came to understand that artists are skilled creators of works that appeal to the readers’ repressed wishes. As such, psychoanalytic criticism typically attempts to do at least one of the following tasks: study the psychological traits of a writer; provide an analysis of the creative process; or explore the psychological impacts of literature on its readers (Murfin 115-20). Not all psychoanalytic critics, however, are Freudian. Many of them are persuaded by the writings of Carl Gustav Jung whose â€Å"analytical psychology† is different from Freud’s psychoanalysis. Jung had broken with Freud’s emphasis on libidinal drives and had developed a theory of the collective unconscious; although, like Freud, he believed in a personal unconscious as a repository of repressed feelings (Wright 767). The processes of the unconscious psyche, according to Jung, produce images, symbols and myths that belong to the large human culture. He refers to the manifestations of the â€Å"myth-forming† elements as â€Å"motifs,† â€Å"primordial images,† or â€Å"archetypes. † Jung indicated further that the dreams, myths and art all serve as media through which archetypes become accessible to the consciousness. One major contribution is Jung’s theory of individuation which is the process of discovering those aspects of one’s self that make one an individual different from other people. It is, according to Jung, an absolutely essential process if one is to become a balanced individual; he detected an intimate relationship between neurosis and the person’s failure to accept some archetypal features of his unconscious. Individuation is related to three archetypes designated as shadow, persona and anima. These are structural components that human beings have inherited. We encounter their symbolic projections throughout the myths and literatures of humankind. The shadow is the darker side of our unconscious self, the inferior and less pleasing aspects of the personality. The anima is the â€Å"soul-image;† the source of a man’s life force. Jung gives it a feminine designation in the man’s psyche; it is the contra-sexual part that a man carries in his personal and collective unconscious. The persona is the opposite of the anima; it is our social personality and the mediator  between our ego and the external world. A balanced man has a flexible persona that is in harmony with the other components of his psychic makeup (Guerin 178-83). Through the lenses of Jungian psychoanalysis, the literary text is no longer seen as a site where the quelled impulses get through in disguise. Instead, Jung maintains that â€Å"both the individual in dreams and the artist at work will produce archetypal images to compensate for any psychic impoverishment in man and society. â€Å" He untangles texts of literature by a method he calls ?amplification’: the images of the collective unconscious are derived from those of the personal (Wright 767). Despite its monotonous rehearsing of a number of themes, psychoanalytic theory has led to a better understanding of the complexities of the relation between the human being and the artistic creativity. Heart of Darkness in the light of Psychoanalytic theories. Heart of Darkness explores something truer, more fundamental, and distinctly less material than just a personal narrative. It is a night journey into the unconscious, and a confrontation of an entity within the self. Certain circumstances of Marlow’s voyage, looked at in these terms, take on a new importance. The true night journey can occur only in sleep or in a walking dream of a profoundly intuitive mind. Marlow insists on the dreamlike quality of his narrative. â€Å"It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream – making a vein attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation† (Conrad 38). Even before leaving Brussels, Marlow felt as though he â€Å"was about to set off for center of the earth,† not the center of a continent (16). The introspective voyager leaves his familiar rational world, is â€Å"cut off from the comprehension† of his surroundings, his steamer toils â€Å"along slowly on the edge of a black and incomprehensible frenzy† (52). As the crisis approaches, the dreamer and his ship moves through a silence that â€Å"seemed unnatural, like a state of trance; then enter a deep fog† (57). The novel penetrates to those areas of darkness and dream – indeed nightmare ? with which Conrad tried to define the substance of the world. It asks questions, destabilizes orthodox assumptions, and sketches an existentially absurd experience. It involves us in dramatic, crucially difficult moral decisions which parallel those of the two central characters, Marlow and Kurtz. Although it was a coincidence that Freud and Conrad were contemporaries, coincidence is reduced when we perceive the â€Å"extraordinary parallelism of their achievements† (Karl 785). At the time when Conrad was developing his concepts about the Congo and political, personal and universal involvement in a nightmarish existence, Freud was fermenting his theories on dreams and the unconscious. Conrad’s novel appeared in 1900, only months before Freud’s book Interpretation of Dreams which formed the manifesto of the psychoanalytic assumptions. Both Conrad and Freud were pioneers in their emphasis over the irrational aspects of man’s behavioral conduct which questioned the traditional analyses. Conrad insightfully stressed the irrationality of politics and its nightmarish character which rests on the neurotic symptoms of the leader, as well as on the collective neurosis of the masses. He also believed in a human behavior that answers the call of inner desires, while justifying itself with accuracy. Both he and Freud dived into the darkness: the darkness enters the human soul when his conscience sleeps or when he is free to yield to the unconscious desires and needs, whether through dreams, as Freud argues, or in actuality through the character of Kurtz and his likes. Dreams become the wish-fulfillments of the masked self. This applies to Marlow; the very qualities in Kurtz that horrify him are those he finds hidden in himself. Kurtz’s insatiable, Nietzchean fascination with power mirrors Marlow’s as well. Kurtz’s ruthless career is every man’s wish-fulfillment (Karl 785-6). In the novel, Conrad draws an image of Africa as the â€Å"other world,† the antithesis of a civilized Europe, a site where man’s accumulated years of education and sophistication are confronted by a striking savagery. The story opens on the River Thames, calm and peaceful. It then moves to the very opposite of the Thames, and takes place on the River Congo. However, It’s not the flagrant difference between the two that perplexes Conrad but the underlying allusion of intimate relationship, of â€Å"common ancestry,† since the Thames was itself a dark place, but one that has managed to civilize, to enlighten itself and the world, and is now living in the light. The peaceful Thames, however, runs the terrible risk of being stirred by its encounter with its â€Å"primordial relative, the Congo;† it would witness the reflection of its own forsaken darkness and would hear the sounds that echo its remote gloomy history. The Thames would fall victim to the ghastly reminiscences of the irrational frenzy of the primitive times (Achebe 262-3). It would be very helpful to quote one of the most interesting and most revealing passages in Heart of Darkness when representatives of Europe in a steamer going down the Congo encounter the denizens of Africa: We were wanderers on a prehistoric earth. [? ] We glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse. [? ] They howled and leaped, and spun, and made horrid faces; but what thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity ?like yours ? the thought of your remote kinship with this wild and passionate uproar. Ugly. [? ] but if you were man enough you would admit that there was in you just the faintest trace of response to the terrible frankness of that noise, a dim suspicion of there being a meaning in it which you ? you so remote from the night of first ages ? could comprehend (51-2). Here in lies the meaning of Heart of Darkness that takes us on a journey into the unconscious world of the human beings through the psychoanalytic features inherent in the novel’s â€Å"dream story. † Marlow, a man of discipline and justice, was expecting such values to exist elsewhere. They became a kind of psychological expectations. His great revelation takes place when he discovers that not all men share his belief in an orderly, fundamentally good society. His journey from Brussels to the Congo is full of elements of the absurd, elements that hint at a world that is suddenly irrational and out of focus. In the Congo, the jungle is surrounded by a dangerous feminine aura; the long river is described in â€Å"treacherous, serpentine terms;† everything about the nature conveys a sense of a mysterious and terrifying reality (Karl 786). Marlow is fascinated by the jungle woman – Kurtz’s savage mistress – and her demanding display of sex, by her provocative measured walk. He is also drawn by her surprising sense of reality and her full acceptance of Kurtz with all the savagery he embodies. Her image contradicts with his ideal of womanhood he had known all his life: the girl back in Brussels, his aunt, the naive woman who believed in the Europeans’ grand mission in Africa. Marlow tries to resist the seductive aspect of the nature, much as he shies away from the attraction of power. Sex lies heavily on the story, although Marlow never directly talks about it. The temptation is clear in his fears, in the jungle that conceals the terrors and the calls for orgiastic, uncontrollable sex. In the novel, Kurtz represents Europe; maneuvering for power, searching for advantages; he chose the route of ivory looting. His unquenchable hunger for possession is overwhelming. In Africa, he is free of all human barriers; civilized taboos are down. He is able to gratify all his forbidden desires and dwells on ultimate corruption, debarred of all restraints. This lies at the heart of Marlow’s secret attraction to Kurtz; the latter’s will to brutal, superhuman power. Kurtz has â€Å"risen above the masses ? of natives, station managers, even of directors back in Brussels. He must continue to assert himself, a megalomaniac in search of further power. Marlow has never met anyone like him, [? ]† (Karl 787). One telling part in the novel comes with Kurtz’s death and his double scream â€Å"The horror! The horror! † (Conrad 105). Marlow, out of his deep fascination with Kurtz and his need to believe in a good human nature, attributes a â€Å"Christian† reading to these words. He understands the shriek as a moral victory: at the time of his death, Kurtz has reviewed his life and the corrupt part of him has repented. It’s arguable, though, that Kurtz’s cry might be one of anguish and despair, because he has to die with his work incomplete. In other words, he laments a fate which frustrates his plans. However, Marlow has explained the horror of this experience in human terms necessary to guarantee the flow of life. He protects the lie of Kurtz’s existence in order to preserve his own illusions (Karl 788-9). Hence, we notice that Marlow, throughout his journey, has concealed from himself the reality of his own as well as others’ needs. The jungle is the mask that bars the light of sun and sky. The landscape becomes the repository of our anxieties and the vast protective camouflage that hides our inner fears. It bars the light of our conscience and rational capacities and becomes â€Å"part of the psychological as well as physical landscape† (Karl 788). It runs parallel to our unconscious mind where our repressed desires are hidden. The â€Å"prehistoric earth,† that is still untouched by the hands of civilization, is but our rudimentary soul, in its raw, savage nature, unrefined and free of the conscious disguises. The â€Å"lurking hint of kinship† that the Europeans have felt at their encounter with the Africans is but a hint of deep connection existing between the rational and the irrational, the conscious and the unconscious. The â€Å"black and incomprehensible frenzy† of the strange bodies is a reminder of the uncontrollable libido. This â€Å"wild and passionate uproar† is â€Å"ugly† because the wilderness and passion that nurture our disguised depths are a mass of animalistic drives, and our id that hosts all unfulfilled wishes carries the wildest of motivations. Yet, one cannot but heed â€Å"the faintest trace of a response to the terrible frankness of that noise† for one cannot fully resist the temptation to gratify his impulses and instinctual needs. In Freudian terms, our superego sometimes fails to have full control over its antithesis, the id. The boundaries that separate the unconscious from the conscious are blurred. This terrible â€Å"frenzy† holds a meaning that, even the man who is â€Å"so remote from the night of first ages ? could comprehend†: the refined man is able to understand the noise because it communicates with an inherent ? although masked ? part of his soul. Thus, Africa has become a topology of the mind ? its location, its shape, its cultures, its textures, its rhythms, it hues, its wildness ? all calling forth something lost in the psychology of the white European. The darkness of the African continent, of its instinctual, shadowed, primeval underworld establishes a revealing context for an examination of the Jungian concepts in the novel. Marlow’s journey, in Jungian terms, becomes a journey of individuation: a salvation realized through bringing the unconscious urges to consciousness ? a journey which can be contrasted to that of his diabolic double, Kurtz, who undergoes a psychological disintegration into his savage self and slips into â€Å"The horror! The horror! † The shadow in Heart of Darkness is thus personified by Kurtz. Richard Hughs argues that Kurtz’s last words sum up the Jungian insight that â€Å"from the same root that produces wild, untamed, blind instinct there grow up the natural laws and cultural forms that tame and break its pristine power. But when the animal in us is split off from consciousness by being repressed, it may easily burst out in full force, quite unregulated and uncontrolled. An outburst of this sort always ends in catastrophe ? the animal destroys itself† (21). Hughs adds that the novel is composed of two journeys into the hidden self, one is â€Å"horrifying, ending in personality destruction and death;† the other is â€Å"restorative, wisdom-producing, a gateway to wholeness [? ] Conrad has seized on the paradoxical quality of the descent into the unconscious [? ]† (58). For Jung, the integration of the personality is not possible without a full descent into the unconscious and clearly the novel is about the descent into the depths, the underworld, into the very heart of darkness. â€Å"Jung’s awareness that the darkness is part of himself, that to deny the darkness would be self-mutilation, and the awareness is not erased but heightened by a recognition of that dark self: this is Marlow’s discovery† (Hughs 66). Marlow’s journey toward individuation and his encounter with the darkness of his own shadow are set against a backdrop of the personal and collective unconscious. Kurtz is not only the personal shadow of Marlow, but the collective shadow of all Europe and of European imperialism. Throughout the novel there is a dense undergrowth of Congo unconsciousness, as Marlow succinctly states, â€Å"All of Europe contributed to the making of Kurtz† (73). In the midst of this journey of individuation, we encounter Jung’s concept of the anima personified by Kurtz’s wild mistress. She is a reflection of the soul of the wilderness, â€Å"she stood looking at us with a stir, and like the wilderness itself, with an air of brooding over an inscrutable purpose† (Conrad 92). She is the savagely magnificent consort of the underworld and the feminine part of every man’s psyche. Hughs calls her â€Å"the grand archetype of the unconscious, consort of the mad Kurtz and the goal of the inner search† (268-9). Conrad’s novel descends into the unknowable darkness at the heart of Africa, taking its narrator, Marlow, on an underworld journey of individuation, a modern Odyssey toward the center of the Self and the center of the Earth. Interestingly, the narrative technique and the inherent symbolism in Heart of Darkness all contribute to the overall dream-like and nightmarish mood of the story. The use of first person narrative was essential so that Conrad could distance himself from the lived experience and for the reader could identify with a common man thrown into a bizarre situation. Lacking Marlow as the narrator, the story would lose its credibility and would appear too distant from the real experience. Through repetition, difference of tone, analogy, duplicating images, doubling of scenes and characters, Conrad could form a shape for the story. He â€Å"used heightening and foreshortening, contrast and comparison to give the novella form;† from the opening scene, when the ancient Romans on the Thames are contrasted with the modern Europeans in the Congo (Karl 789). Marlow’s calm setting on the Nellie contrasts with the alarming Congo riverboat setting. Kurtz’s two fiancees represents two different sets of values, two contradictory cultures. The jungle, as death, is in conflict with the river, as possible relief. The natives’ savagery is set off against the backdrop of the apparently civilized Europeans. The contrast reaches the two central characters as well; Kurtz’s humanitarianism contradicts his own barbarism, Marlow’s middle class sense of English justice is contrasted with the Congo reality. It is also clear in their fluctuating love-hate relationship that pervades the story. The abundance of mechanical and metallic images suggests a sense of human waste and indicates that tough objects have gone beyond flexibility and softness in order to resist the passing of time, so humanity itself must become an object in order to survive. This strong sense of an absurd existence is best represented by the ivory itself. Ivory, the purest demonstration of the color white, stands in stark juxtaposition to the darkness of the jungle. It draws the white men to Africa then turns their minds from building commerce and civilization, to exploitation and madness. Wherever ivory is present, white men plunder, kill, and turn on each other. Conrad uses symbolism to suggest meanings rather than spelling them out directly. The technicalities of his style include a frequent use of alliteration, a reliance on adjectives which emphasize the unfamiliar aspects of Marlow’s experience. Words like â€Å"inscrutable,† â€Å"inconceivable,† â€Å"unspeakable† that describe the oppressive mysteriousness of the Congo are recurrent throughout the novel. The same vocabulary is used to evoke the human depths and the unspeakable potentialities of the man’s soul and to magnify the sense of spiritual horrors (Leavis 246-7). The words and adjectives Conrad applies â€Å"beat upon us, creating drum-like rhythms, entirely appropriate to the thick texture of the jungle† (Karl 789). The darkness of the jungle goes hand in hand with darkness everywhere, alluding at â€Å"the blackness of Conrad’s humor, the despair of his irony† (Karl 789). It is the nightmare’s color: the darkness surrounding Kurtz’s death, his last words, the report by the manager’s boy, the delirious escape from the jungle, the encounter with Kurtz’s fiancee; all such incidents constitute the elements of a nightmarish dream. Even the Russian follower of Kurtz who is dressed in motley seems as a figure from another world. In his ridiculous appearance, he is a perfect symbol of Marlow’s Congo experience (Karl 788-9). In this passage, F. R. Leavis argues that Conrad makes almost every aspect of his novel contribute to its overwhelming impression, one of a strangely insane world and a nightmarish existence: [? ] in terms of things seen and incidents experienced by a main agent in the narrative, and particular contacts and exchanges with other human agents, the overwhelming sinister and fantastic ? atmosphere’ is engendered. Ordinary greed, stupidity, and moral squalor are made to look like behaviour in a lunatic asylum against the vast and oppressive mystery of the surroundings, rendered potently in terms of sensation. This means lunacy, which we are made to feel as at the same time normal and insane, is brought out by contrast with the fantastically secure innocence of the young harlequin-costumed Russian [? ] (246) Using his renowned artistic and literary craftsmanship, Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness that has become, since its publication in 1899, one of the most widely read books written in English. It has also been one of the most analyzed: scores of literary critics, ranging from feminists to Marxists to New Critics, have all tried to construct their own meanings from the pages of the book. The novel does seem to invite a wide variety of interpretations. Looking at it through the lenses of psychoanalytic theories, Heart of Darkness has proven to be a â€Å"masterpiece of concealment† and a metaphor for the theory of the unconscious as a repository of all irrational and repressed wishes. (Karl 788). The journey into the heart of the continent can also be seen as Marlow’s own journey of individuation, self-discovery and self-enlightenment. Bibiography Achebe, Chinua. â€Å"An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. † A Practical Reader in Contemporary Literary Theory. London: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1996. 262-4 Conrad, Joseph. Heart Of Darkness. Beirut: Librairie Du Liban Publishers SAL, 1994. Guerin, Wilfred L. , et al. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Hewitt, Douglas. â€Å"Conrad: A Reassessment. † World Literature Criticism. Ed. Polly Vedder. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 1992. 789-92. Hughs, Richard E. The Lively Image: Four Myths in Literature. Cambridge, MA: Winthrop Publishers, 1975. Karl, Frederick R. â€Å"A Reader’s Guide To Joseph Conrad. † World Literature Criticism. Ed. Polly Vedder. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 1992. 785-9. Leavis, F. R. â€Å"From The Great Tradition. † A Practical Reader in Contemporary Literary Theory. London: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1996. 246-7 Mudrick, Marvin. â€Å"The Originality of Conrad. † World Literature Criticism. Ed. PollyVedder. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 1992. 782-5. Murfin, Ross C. Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness: A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1989. Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. New York: Knopf, 1979. Wright, Elizabeth. â€Å"Psychoanalytic Criticism. † Encyclopedia Of Literature And Criticism. 1991 ed. 765-7.