Technology Solutions for Human Services Paper Essay

Technology Solutions for Human Services Paper - Essay Example field of Human Services is broadly defined, uniquely approaching the objective of meeting human needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service populations. (National Organization for Human Services ,2009) Technology, having its roots in the application of science, can be termed as the type of knowledge that involves the implementation and origin of the technical METHODS AND the way these methods correlate with everything surrounding it such as life, society and the environment. The implications of technology have become a norm in present day world. Men and women alike do not see the passing of any of their days without the involvement of technology in it. If it is said that children born today are born having the spoon of technology in their mouths it would not be incorrect. The advent of technology has greatly improved the everyday living standard of every man in our society. The use of technology brings serious and lasting changes in just about anything concerned. The states of some phenomenon with and without implementation of technology are poles apart. Technology brings influence and enhances the usability. It is the current need of the day to incorporate technology in every aspect of life. Technology has been considered as a vital tool for assisting human services. Execution of a number of human services can be made much easier as the implementation of technology has delivered solutions to quite a number of problems that the human services’ departments are facing the world over. An attempt to classify the problems being faced in the human services’ facilitates of an organization has been made below. Furthermore, it is discussed that how can technology be used to address the problems being faced. Community Development is the process whereby social services are provided for the betterment of humanity on the

Lord of the Flies - Leadership Essay Example for Free

Lord of the Flies Leadership Essay The ideas of Leadership and human nature can best be related to an up and coming Hollywood star. They start out all innocent but the fame, fortune, and power catch up with them. It changes them, having people look up to you and knowing that they will follow everything they do allows you to understand the power that you have. They can end up going out of control and it will change them for the worst. The ability to have this kind of power, for Jack, turns him into being obsessive with being the leader of the tribe. When he does not win it makes him really jealous of Ralph. He makes everyone turn on Ralph to become the unofficial leader. The power drives him crazy and starts to beat on kids on the island for no apparent reason, it even escalades to killing them. It is human nature to have the desire for power, to lead other people, and control them, even though we don’t try to the greed can overpower us to do the wrong choices. The human nature of wanting power can come for several different reasons such as competition to be the leader of the tribe, having too much desire to be a leader, and when you are neglected by the others. A major reason there was greed to have power, in Lord of the Flies, is because there was competition in who would be it. Jack thought he was a shoe-in to be leader since he had the choir to back him up. Instead, Ralph was chosen over Jack. Jack was extremely angry that he lost and believed he deserved to be the leader. It was even embarassing to him because Ralph, who beat him out for being the leader, wasn’t even interested in winning. Jack became obsessed in having power over the tribe that he was ready to go great lengths to get what he wanted. He made some boys on the island feel like outsiders in order to get the tribe on his side. This is an example why competition is a main reason why there was a greed to have power. A large factor in Lord of the Flies, especially in Jack, is to have too much desire to be leader. When Jack used to live back in England he went to boarding school. In those days boarding schools were not the greatest places. He had boundaries on where he could go, what he could do and who he could talk too. Virtually, everyday of his life is scheduled. Once getting n this island he was free, he was free to do whatever he wanted. Because he was being confined to such a boring and routine life he wanted more than freedom. He wanted to control the freedom of others, he wanted to be leader. In his mind he was trying to prove he was responsible and could handle it, but what he did was plain cruelty and evil. You get a big impression that Jack never wants to leave this island. This is showing you that Jack you that Jack is one of the first to lose contact with civilization, its human nature to want power but he is going mad. A major key for Ralph to have power is because he was starting to get neglected by the others. At first Ralph wasn’t to fond in being chosen to be leader but knew he had some ideas on how they could get off the island. At first everyone listened to him and they were all excited to work. Then they wanted to hunt Ralph was okay with this because they could use some meat. This was a huge mistake, all they wanted to do was hunt. Ralph held assemblies to get them under control because no one was building shelters or working on the fire, they had lost all discipline The hunters were not happy what Ralph was telling him. The hunters were starting to favor the leader of the hunters Jack, because what he was telling seemed to be much more appealing to them. Jack then saw his chance to become the leader they were all frusterated at Ralph so the hunters all got together and moved out to a secluded part of the island. Those who were left behind, including Jack, were left with next to nothing. Ralph finally realized he was the lows of the lows, he was at Piggy’s level. This made him want some recognition to get back the status he once had so he joined Ralph. Once again its human nature that if you can’t beat them you join them. Ralph joined the group knowing it was wrong and through joining even lost contact with civilization. He want the power he once had as lesder but becomes a savage through it. Leadership, human nature and the effects it has is shown throughout the novel Lord Of The Flies. How much control we have over our human can make a big difference on our personality and how we react to different confrontations. The chance of having power will come at different times in our life we must choose the time we take them.

Comparing Machiavellis Prince and Martha Stuart :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Machiavelli's Prince and Martha Stuart    I believe Machiavelli's advice in The Prince was ideal for the rulers in 16th century Italy, because Machiavelli understood the motivation of most political men. Machiavelli based his theories on perfect examples throughout History. Machiavelli reverently believed his advice was essential for the uniting of Italy which was his principal desire.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Machiavelli states that in an ideal world, it is virtuous for a prince to be good. But in reality, princes who distance themselves from ethical concerns and do whatever it takes for the benefit of their states rule best. Therefore, it is better to be frugal than generous, cruel than loving, crafty than honest. Machiavelli's general rule is to be as good as circumstances allow, but be willing to resort to any means necessary for the good of the state. A prince must be willing to resort to evil if that is what it takes to overcome the change in fortune. Proper cruelty is done at one time and serves a specific purpose. Improper cruelty is repetitive and threatening to the citizens. A wise prince must be willing to practice proper cruelty in order to maintain power, but avoid improper cruelty so that his subjects do not feel hatred for him. Machiavelli emphasizes the need for the prince to win the support of the people. A feudal prince must be wise in controlling the nobles and keeping the people content.   A wise prince must not put off confrontations for another day. Even fortresses are useless if the prince does not have the support of his people.  Ã‚        Ã‚   Machiavelli makes it clear hypocrisy and deceit are legitimate methods in politics. It is not important for a prince to have good qualities; only appear to have them. The prince must have the characteristics of both the fox and the lion. The fox can recognize snares but cannot drive away the enemy while the lion can protect themselves but cannot recognize snares. In deduction, the prince must be cunning and courageous.   For Machiavelli, the wellbeing of the state has no ethical or moral implications. Anything that benefits the state is considered superior.   Machiavelli considers the appearance of being religious as the most powerful quality.

Paper Business

Harper, Savanna List', Melanie Price, Arthur Smith SENT 561 lull 29, 2013 Granular Saxons Wall-Mart Sampling Survey research is an important technique to measure consumer characteristics and opinions. The survey sample is defined as the survey demographic was any â€Å"customers† of Wall-Mart that shopped within stores. The type of survey administered chosen was a non-probability sampling survey, which is convenient for the customer to fill out on his or her terms.The collection process was identical to the distribution; through hand-to-hand transactions, mail-in, or while shopping online. The sample was a group of shoppers that totaled 10 stores in different regions, 50 per store. Once the surveys were collected, they were provided to the strategy department by way of the staff. In this research and data analysis Wall-Mart will provide an explanation of the findings and how they affect the company. Confidence Level: 1 180% 190% 1 199% I z-score: I 1 1. 28161 1. 645 11. 96 12. 5758 1 Precision I I Population Size = 150 1 What Is the sample size?Assumed= 195% 120 126 130 137 1 conservative P-150% 139 143 145 147 1 Summary of Learning Team Results Wall-Mart thought It was Imperative to gather accurate results when they administered their survey to the customers. Therefore, a basis of analysis was determined In which the retailer could gauge the survey results. Until this survey was developed, there was no standardized method for collecting Information about the Wall-Mart customer experience. When looking at the responses, Wall-Mart received the lowest average rating for question 9. In question 9 customers are asked how they rate the assistance on the sales floor.Poorly rated sales floor assistance may affect customer satisfaction ratings, and It Is Important to Improve this area to Increase customer satisfaction (Enclave, Benson, ; Squelch, 2011). The ratings Indicated that Wall-Mart received the highest rating for question number 5 In which customers were asked to rate the convenience of a 24-hour super center. The high rated response to this question may Indicate that customers are pleased with Wall- Mart because they offer a 24-hour shopping experience. Out of the 15 survey questions 10 questions average a response within 0. 0 above and below the neutral point of a score of 3. The survey rating results not only indicate a wide range for customer satisfaction improvement but also an overall customer satisfaction rating of only 56% satisfied with the Wall-Mart shopping experience Answers to the Research Questions Wall-Mart focused the survey questions on the customer experience at the store. The data was analyzed to establish a baseline of quantitative numerical value to trend throughout the year. The analysis of the data is to enable Wall-Mart to develop and define customer satisfaction strategies and vision.Out of the 15 survey questions 10 of the questions average a response within 0. 50 above and below the neutral point of a sco re of 3. The answers from the customer survey indicate a need for a strategic Lana to improve the overall customer experience at the Wall-Mart stores. The answers to the survey questions were beneficial to obtain the perception, view, and voice of the customers' experience during their Wall-Mart visit. Customer satisfaction promotes an increase in brand loyalty to Wall-Mart; therefore benefits business literacy and return on investment.The main focus is to keep the customer happy and coming back to the store (Wall-Mart Stores, Inc. , 2010). Research Challenges There are many challenges that can be faced when conducting survey research. Such as, dealing with primary research, determining the purpose and whether or not initiative or qualitative data is needed can present challenges in research. It sets the basis for the type and the direction the research should take. This includes proper place or method to distribute the survey, providing clear and concise questions or properly addre ssing cultural differences in order to effectively reach all consumers.These are some of the challenges our team faced when conducting and gathering research. Wall-Mart consumers come from all walks of life, yet, want to be provided the best customer service. Developing a line of questions that is understandable to all ages and cultures can come with barriers as well. Another challenge faced was getting accurate responses from customers due to the patience level and finding clear, concise questions that link the main research question. Steps to Minimize Challenges in Future Research There are various steps that can be used to minimize the research challenges in the future in order to be effective.The first step is determining the purpose for the research in order to decipher if qualitative or quantitative data is needed. Secondly, establish any language or cultural barriers in the beginning of the research that may cause communication issues in the line of questioning. This is appro priate because that way it provides accurate information in the responses. Another way to minimize challenges in the future will be to thoroughly set a return or time limit so customers don't feel rushed in responding. This goes along with possibly condensing the number of questions so customers do not feel overwhelmed, thus providing truthful answers.Lastly, although survey research is very cost effective, it can be very vague. The data helps determine the probability of popularity in the overall answers. However, sometimes further explanation is needed and in order to minimize the gray area. In the future, adding an additional incentive based discussion in the future can assist with the research. Rationale for the Survey Items Wall-Mart's focus is on their business problem, customer satisfaction to increase brand loyalty to benefit the business literacy and bottom-line.The organization's solution includes the use of customer surveys not only to gain quantitative analysis but also qualitative analysis to use to develop a strategic plan to increase customer and stakeholder satisfaction. The purpose of the survey is to use measurement questions to determine and obtain the customers' voice and perception. The survey is geared to improve the services and obtain customer feedback from the ratings provided. The questions used in the survey are specific to determine and obtain the customers' voice and perception of their Wall-Mart experience.The questions use a numerical rating scale to obtain quantitative data and a comment section to obtain qualitative information. Both are important to Wall-Mart to understand the wants and needs of the customer. The customer survey design is an attitude scaling survey. â€Å"Attitude scaling is the process of assessing an attitudinal disposition using a umber that represents a customer's score on an attitudinal continuum ranging from an extremely favorable disposition to an extremely unfavorable one† (Cooper ; Schneider, 2 006, p. 24). The question design is modeled from a combination of the Liker Summated Rating and basic numerical scales.These scales are used to gather ordinal and interval data from participants. The rating results may be summed to measure the customer's overall attitude toward the Wall-Mart customer experience (Cooper & Schneider, 2006). The numerical ratings are broken down into five different areas of measurement for the customer to review. A rating scale of one to five is useful in the quantitative research to obtain a rating to measure customer satisfaction to establish a useful continuous performance improvement program not only to increase customer satisfaction but also increase brand loyalty.The qualitative data is useful to obtain information along with the quantitative data to develop goals and strategies not only to retain the current customer but also to create a customer loyalty to increase business literacy (Enclave, Benson, & Cinch, 2011). â€Å"An increase of 5% in customer retention can increase profits by 25% to 95% (Market Tools, Inc. 2006, p. 3). Recommendation for Future Research There are many avenues Wall-Mart can take in the future in regard to the way the company performs research, one avenue are telephone surveys.In the future telephone surveys can be beneficial a toll-free number can be provided on the customer's receipt for them to call to leave feedback. When a phone interview is conducted by a person and not an automated system, the interviewer can ask more in-depth questions to determine the root of the score. A company can determine why a question scored so high or so little. This aspect is helpful to the company cause it allows them to know what needs to change to make a score better.For example if the parking has a poor rating, more in-depth questions may find that parking has a poor rating because there are always carts in the lot blocking spaces. This response allows the company to act on making that score better. Phone int erviews could also be useful year round, providing information for continual improvements to customer service. The company's survey that was recently conducted only allowed feedback at the end for an overall survey, adding a comment section at each question may also be helping to the company, if they choose to stay tit the current survey method.

Good cancer pain management can help patients feel better Essay

Most cancer patients suffer from pain in varying degrees during their illness. The management of this pain and its relationship in improving the wellbeing of the patient is the primary focus of this study. This paper approached the study by researching articles that dealt with pain management from different angles. After critical analysis of these articles this paper will arrive at a conclusion that addresses the research question.   The topics reviewed included: 1. The use of a clinical instruction module (CLIM) for hospice nurses to upgrade their skills (Plymale, M. et al, 2001) 2. The role of cognition in promoting the psychological well being of the patient (Chen, Mei-Ling. 2002) 3. The use of pain management autobiographies to discover how best to deal with pain management (Schumacher, K. et al. 2001) 4. Overcoming patient related barriers to pain management by educating them (Chang, Ming-Chuan. 2002) 5. Providing a description of advanced cancer pain in home hospice subjects to enable the caregivers to alleviate their suffering (Dobratz, M. 2001) The material for this study was searched from the University of Wollongong database of Medline. The key words in the search for journal articles were nursing, research and cancer pain.   Articles were chosen for their relevance to the research question and the findings they came up with. Information that was obtained from these studies enabled the writer to draw important conclusions as concerns pain management in cancer patients with pain. The research is of extreme importance to the writer. I lost my husband to cancer. The trauma we all went through watching him in pain gave me a new impetus to do all in my power to ensure that no other patient will need to go through the same suffering as he did. As I continue to practice, I would like to contribute to breaking new ground in pain management in cancer patients; especially as concerns alleviating their pain and improving their quality of life. Article 1 In an article entitled ‘Cancer Pain Education: A Structured Clinical Instruction Module For Hospice Nurses’, appearing in the journal ‘Cancer Nursing ‘,Plymale M. et al (2001) studied the effect of pain education on the quality of service by caregivers. The research aimed to determine whether educating nurses on pain management will improve their ability to assess and manage pain in cancer patients. A clinical instruction module (CLIM) based on cancer pain management and assessment skills was administered to 25 hospice nurses whose average field practice was 4.1 years (Plymale M. et al. 2001, p. 424).The course involved the nurses going round 8 stations focussing on   different aspects of cancer pain, assessing 5 cancer survivors and one actor. They carried out tests on various aspects of pain management. Prior to and after the exercise the nurses self assessed their skills in pain management using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1(not competent) to 5(v ery competent). They also evaluated the CLIM on a similar scale. (1= strongly disagree; 5= strongly agree) All participants agreed that the course helped improve their competence in the teaching items that were being addressed. The use of patients with cancer was considered more beneficial as opposed to having actors. Nurses that felt competent enough before the course did not perceive any noticeable improvement in their abilities in the post exercise self assessment. This finding is consistent with the view that hospice nurses are more competent in dealing with cancer pain management than those nurses working in hospitals. Those who assessed themselves as not competent indicated a higher assessment of themselves after the course. In a further study conducted among post instruction medical students, those trained using a CLIM on pain management did better than those schooled it traditional methods. (Sloan P.A. et al., 2001, 112)     Ã‚  There is an urgent need to introduce CLIM’s addressing pain assessment and management in the teaching courses for all nurses and caregivers in a bid to improve their skills and service delivery. The more competent the nurses the better will be the treatment of patients in prolonging their lives and alleviating the pain they go through. A significant observation of this study is the competence level of hospice nurses was higher than that of their counterparts. It is advisable to seek their input in developing manuals and modules of this nature as they have first hand knowledge that is invaluable to this area of study. Article 2 ‘Pain And Hope in Patients with Cancer’, an article written by Chen, Mei-Ling and appearing in the journal ‘Cancer Nursing’ (2003) examines the relationship between pain and hope in cancer patients. Hope is a therapeutic factor in the treatment of any disease including cancer. Patients with high levels of hope coped better with the disease than did those who dwelt on the hopelessness of their situation. The hopeful patients on average tended to live longer and had extended periods of remission. This study had three main purposes; i. Examine the effect of disease status on hope levels among patients with cancer who have pain ii. Compare the level of hope between patients with cancer that have pain and those who do not iii. Determine which dimensions of pain are associated with hope (Chen, Mei-Ling. 2002, p.62) The conceptual framework for the study was based on the ‘self- regulation model of coping with health threats’. (Chen, Mei-Ling. 2002, p.62) The main emphasis is on how people cope with their health problems in their own unique ways. Personal beliefs, religious orientation, cultural practises and previous experiences all work to determine a patient’s attitude towards his illness.(Donavan, H.S., Ward, S., 2001, pp. 211 – 216) Any one of the factors mentioned will have a bearing on the hope levels of the individual. The study employed the use of the Herth Hope Index (HHI) to assess the level of hope. It sampled 274 inpatients with cancer at two medical centres in Taiwan. 226 of them finalised the survey and the analysis was based on their responses. The study used Perceived Meaning of Cancer Pain Inventory (PMCPI) to measure the meanings that patients ascribed to their pain. Four subscales were used and these were challenge, threat, spiritual awareness and loss. The findings showed that in cancer patients with pain and those without pain, the hope levels did not differ. However, sensory dimensions of pain showed a link between the bearable pain intensity and level of hope (Chen, Mei-Ling. 2002, p. 65) The findings supported the view that the hope levels in patients were higher in those who were able to tolerate more pain. Perception of one’s pain played an important role in the way one held on to hope. Those who viewed the pain as a challenge were more hopeful than those who took it from a negative perspective. In assessing one’s reaction to treatment, it is notable that the findings showed no difference in hope levels for those patients who were unsure of the effect of treatment and those who affirmed that the treatment was working positively.

Free Essays on Superstition

Everyone has at least one superstition that they follow, whether they will admit it or not. Whether it’s from a certain religion, or a legend passed down from their ancestors. It’s in our human nature to come up with something to believe in, however obscure and ridiculous it may be. Many of these superstitions can dramatically affect a person’s life. Looking at the following examples will show what effects can come from trying to stay on the good side of the supernatural. Friday the 13th is thought of as the unluckiest day of the year. Some people take it so seriously they develop a morbid irrational fear called Paraskevidekatriaphobia. There are over 21 million people affected by this in the United States alone. Many people will avoid driving and ships will not sail. Others won’t even go to work or eat in restaurants, and you wouldn’t dare schedule a wedding on any Friday at all. Everybody knows about Friday the 13th and the story of it being curs ed, but some will let it get in the way of their normal everyday functions. One of the sadder and more pathetic superstitions is the belief that a certain small, furry animal is possessed by evil spirits. Just because of the color of its fur, people will see a black cat and try to get as far away from it as possible. Over the years people have figured out certain rules that determine whether contact with the cat will bring good luck or bad luck. Rules like, if a black cat crosses their path, it will bring bad luck, unless of course they immediately walk 12 steps backwards. If a black cat walks towards them, it’s good, if it walks away; more bad luck will come upon them. This superstition can cause people to either not own a cat because of its color, or if they have one they must take special care of it. Some very mixed up people will steal black cats on nights of full moons and especially on Halloween. They use these poor creatures for special sacrifices, hoping to release e vil s... Free Essays on Superstition Free Essays on Superstition Everyone has at least one superstition that they follow, whether they will admit it or not. Whether it’s from a certain religion, or a legend passed down from their ancestors. It’s in our human nature to come up with something to believe in, however obscure and ridiculous it may be. Many of these superstitions can dramatically affect a person’s life. Looking at the following examples will show what effects can come from trying to stay on the good side of the supernatural. Friday the 13th is thought of as the unluckiest day of the year. Some people take it so seriously they develop a morbid irrational fear called Paraskevidekatriaphobia. There are over 21 million people affected by this in the United States alone. Many people will avoid driving and ships will not sail. Others won’t even go to work or eat in restaurants, and you wouldn’t dare schedule a wedding on any Friday at all. Everybody knows about Friday the 13th and the story of it being cursed, but some will let it get in the way of their normal everyday functions. One of the sadder and more pathetic superstitions is the belief that a certain small, furry animal is possessed by evil spirits. Just because of the color of its fur, people will see a black cat and try to get as far away from it as possible. Over the years people have figured out certain rules that determine whether contact with the cat will bring good luck or bad luck. Rules like, if a black cat crosses their path, it will bring bad luck, unless of course they immediately walk 12 steps backwards. If a black cat walks towards them, it’s good, if it walks away; more bad luck will come upon them. This superstition can cause people to either not own a cat because of its color, or if they have one they must take special care of it. Some very mixed up people will steal black cats on nights of full moons and especially on Halloween. They use these poor creatures for special sacrifices, hoping to release evil... Free Essays on Superstition Everyone has at least one superstition that they follow, whether they will admit it or not. Whether it’s from a certain religion, or a legend passed down from their ancestors. It’s in our human nature to come up with something to believe in, however obscure and ridiculous it may be. Many of these superstitions can dramatically affect a person’s life. Looking at the following examples will show what effects can come from trying to stay on the good side of the supernatural. Friday the 13th is thought of as the unluckiest day of the year. Some people take it so seriously they develop a morbid irrational fear called Paraskevidekatriaphobia. There are over 21 million people affected by this in the United States alone. Many people will avoid driving and ships will not sail. Others won’t even go to work or eat in restaurants, and you wouldn’t dare schedule a wedding on any Friday at all. Everybody knows about Friday the 13th and the story of it being curs ed, but some will let it get in the way of their normal everyday functions. One of the sadder and more pathetic superstitions is the belief that a certain small, furry animal is possessed by evil spirits. Just because of the color of its fur, people will see a black cat and try to get as far away from it as possible. Over the years people have figured out certain rules that determine whether contact with the cat will bring good luck or bad luck. Rules like, if a black cat crosses their path, it will bring bad luck, unless of course they immediately walk 12 steps backwards. If a black cat walks towards them, it’s good, if it walks away; more bad luck will come upon them. This superstition can cause people to either not own a cat because of its color, or if they have one they must take special care of it. Some very mixed up people will steal black cats on nights of full moons and especially on Halloween. They use these poor creatures for special sacrifices, hoping to release e vil s...

5 College Cash-Saving Tips

5 College Cash-Saving Tips 5 College Cash-Saving Tips So the end of semester is nearly here, and I guess your bank account is getting pretty low. What with books, rent, food, and the occasional all-night party, I’m guessing you need some money-saving advice by now. It’s always hard to keep track of money when you are studying, and so we’ve compiled some great cash-saving tips for you. You’re welcome! 1. IOU If you live with your friends, you’ll know how easy it is to end up owing $10 here and there. However, if you let it go without chasing it up, you might end up losing a lot of money! Fortunately, there are some free apps out there to help. Try out Splitwise to make sure all those dollars get back to you! 2. Make a Budget Yeah, it’s boring making spreadsheets. The great thing is that you don’t have to anymore! Yep, were recommending more apps to make your life easier! Try My Supermarket to keep track of what you spend and compare prices at the grocery store. 3. Shun the Agencies Rental agencies can be really expensive to use. Try renting from an independent landlord instead if you can. Use sites like Craigslist to find independently owned properties. And be sure to check out your rights as a tenant. 4. Get it for Free! Don’t buy anything, see if someone else is giving it away first. It’s always worth checking out sites like Freecycle to see if anyone local is giving away what you want! Often you’ll find really great stuff being thrown out. 5. Get Some Paying Guests If all of your roommates are going away for summer or Christmas holidays, why not list your house on Airbnb as a way of making extra cash? Just make sure to check your rental agreement first to make sure that sub-letting doesn’t invalidate your contract.

The Second Voyage of Christopher Columbus

The Second Voyage of Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus returned from his first voyage in March 1493, having discovered the New World...although he didn’t know it. He still believed that he had found some uncharted islands near Japan or China  and that further exploration was needed. His first voyage had been a bit of a fiasco, as he had lost one of the three ships entrusted to him and he did not bring back much in the way of gold or other valuable items. He did, however, have a handful of bedraggled natives he had taken on the island of Hispaniola, and he was able to convince the Spanish crown to finance the second voyage of discovery and colonization. Preparations for the Second Voyage The second voyage was to be a large-scale colonization and exploration project. Columbus was given 17 ships and over 1,000 men. Included on this voyage, for the first time, were European domesticated animals such as pigs, horses, and cattle. Columbus’ orders were to expand the settlement on Hispaniola, convert the natives to Christianity, establish a trading post, and continue his explorations in search of China or Japan. The fleet set sail on October 13th, 1493, and made excellent time, first sighting land on November 3rd. Dominica, Guadalupe and the Antilles The island first sighted was named Dominica by Columbus, a name it retains to this day. Columbus and some of his men visited the island, but it was inhabited by fierce Caribs and they did not stay very long. Moving on, they discovered and explored a number of small islands, including Guadalupe, Montserrat, Redondo, Antigua, and several others in the Leeward Islands and Lesser Antilles chains. He also visited Puerto Rico before making his way back to Hispaniola. Hispaniola and the Fate of La Navidad Columbus had wrecked one of his three ships the year before during his first voyage. He had been forced to leave 39 of his men behind on Hispaniola, in a small settlement named La Navidad. Upon returning to the island, Columbus discovered that the men he had left had angered the native population by raping local women. The natives had attacked the settlement, slaughtering the Europeans to the last man. Columbus, consulting his native chieftain ally Guacanagarà ­, laid the blame on Caonabo, a rival chief. Columbus and his men attacked, routing Caonabo and taking many of his people as slaves. Isabella Columbus founded the town of Isabella on the northern coast of Hispaniola, and spent the next five months or so getting the settlement established and exploring the island. Building a town in a steamy land with inadequate provisions is hard work, and many of the men sickened and died. It reached the point where a group of settlers, led by Bernal de Pisa, attempted to capture and make off with several ships and go back to Spain: Columbus learned of the revolt and punished the plotters. The settlement of Isabella remained but never thrived. It was abandoned in 1496 in favor of a new site, now Santo Domingo. Cuba and Jamaica Columbus left the settlement of Isabella in the hands of his brother Diego in April, setting out to explore the region further. He reached Cuba (which he had discovered on his first voyage) on April 30 and explored it for several days before moving on to Jamaica on May 5. He spent the next few weeks exploring the treacherous shoals around Cuba and searching in vain for the mainland. Discouraged, he returned to Isabella on August 20, 1494. Columbus as Governor Columbus had been appointed governor and Viceroy of the new lands by the Spanish crown, and for the next year and a half, he attempted to do his job. Unfortunately, Columbus was a good ship’s captain but a lousy administrator, and those colonists that still survived grew to hate him. The gold they had been promised never materialized and Columbus kept most of what little wealth was found for himself. Supplies began running out, and in March of 1496 Columbus returned to Spain to ask for more resources to keep the struggling colony alive. The Start of the American Indian Slave Trade Columbus brought back many native slaves with him. Columbus, who had once again promised gold and trade routes, did not want to return to Spain empty-handed. Queen Isabella, appalled, decreed that the New World natives were subjects of the Spanish crown and therefore could not be enslaved. However, the practice of enslaving indigenous populations continued. People of Note in Columbus’ Second Voyage Ramà ³n Panà © was a Catalan priest who lived among the Taà ­no people for about four years  and produced a short but very important ethnographic history of their culture.Francisco de Las Casas was an adventurer whose son Bartolomà © was destined to become very important in the fight for native rights.Diego Velzquez was a conquistador who later became governor of Cuba.Juan de la Cosa was an explorer and cartographer who produced several important early maps of the Americas.Juan Ponce de Leà ³n would become governor of Puerto Rico but was most famous for his journey to Florida in search of the Fountain of Youth. Historical Importance of the Second Voyage Columbus’ second voyage marked the start of colonialism in the New World, the social importance of which cannot be overstated. By establishing a permanent foothold, Spain took the first steps towards their mighty empire of the centuries that followed, an empire that was built with New World gold and silver. When Columbus brought back slaves to Spain, he also caused the question of slavery in the New World to be aired openly, and Queen Isabella decided that her new subjects could not be enslaved. Although Isabella perhaps prevented a few instances of enslavement, the conquest and colonization of the New World were devastating and deadly for Native Americans: the indigenous population dropped by approximately 80% between 1492 and the mid-17th century. The drop was caused mainly by the arrival of Old World diseases, but other Native Americans died as a result of violent conflict or enslavement. Many of those who sailed with Columbus on his second voyage went on to play very important roles in the history of the New World. These first colonists had a great amount of influence and power over the course of the next few decades of history in their part of the world. Sources Herring, Hubert. A History of Latin America From the Beginnings to the . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1962Present. Thomas, Hugh. Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan. Hardcover, 1st edition, Random House, June 1, 2004.

The World System Since 1500 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The World System Since 1500 - Essay Example Military had consumed around a quarter of the Gross National Product's share and the focus from production of consumer goods and investment in the civilian sector declined more and more as the time progressed. In 1985 Soviet Union's growth rate had approached to almost zero, the currency experienced a major fall, adding more to the fact that the petroleum prices slide. To end the turmoil Mikhail Gorbachev reached concessions with the United States and started to back out by informing that they are no more interested in intervening the affairs of the allied states in Eastern Europe and also withdrew their forces from Afghanistan. And finally, in 1989, George H.W. Bush announced that the cold war era has finally reached an end. And later in that year USSR broke into fifteen different independent states. The problem or the so called sovereignty of the states is protected by the nations' acts of advancements and defense of their interests at the expense of all the other nations. And thus International Law has always been struggling to protect the world from this menace of war. But so far, it is bad to see that the International Law has failed to prevent the world from this injustice that has been the characteristic of each and every war that has taken place and the role of International law has also remain limited in influencing the actions of these independent states. In fact, the states themselves have negatively exploited the use of International Law for their own self purposes. International law has some problems not with its content or lack of awareness, but it lacks in the enforcement area; it is still unable to make sure all the time whether states are complying with their agreements that they have made and are not simply backing out or neglecting the terms as they see fit. Ho wever, its role is not at all dead but it still plays a role in the decision making of the states but so far influence is considerably less. International law contains the series of agreements that are meant to codify and enforce the code of conduct and ethics necessary for the interaction amongst the states, which has been approved by the varying members of the world community. From the statement it can be inferred that International Law itself is not imposed on different parties i.e. the nations, but they themselves voluntarily agree to be a part of it. It is important to evaluate whether over the years the International Law has remained successful and has been able to serve the purposes to the full extent or not. According to liberals, International Law has been serving well enough to strive towards the mutual benefit of all the involved parties. Constructivists argue that the interests and the identities of the states are mutually constitutive leading to the possibility that International Law achieves the mutual benefits for all simultaneously. However, liberals and constructivist still do not provide any solid reason for why states interact with one another well enough. These theories have so far undermined the individual nature of self interest and has let them open to pursue their self interest and thus states act in their best interest despite the fact that the International Law sees that the states should see the interests as one world wide common

Personal Leadership statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leadership - Personal Statement Example By using these skills, characteristics and techniques, there is the ability to work more effectively with others in a company. There are a variety of benefits by looking at skills and characteristics of a transformational leader. If I focus on these attributes, then the openness, communication and the work as a team will be better to work with. This is combined with the ability for transformation to occur with openness and willingness to work with new ideas. With innovation and experimentation, there will be the ability to change the working environment and the approaches which are taken in the workspace. While this openness is important, I also believe it is important to create a sense of leadership by guiding and sticking with the goals and vision of the company. This is able to work as a guide while monitoring what types of innovation are used as well as what maintenance is required for the company. Mediating between these two aspects is one which not only provides transformation, but also offers guidance through various skills and characters that assists and supports the company. Gong, Y, JC Huang, JL Faith. (2009). â€Å"Employee Learning Orientation, Transformational Leadership, and Employee Creativity: The Mediating Role of Employee Creative Self – Efficacy.† The Academy of Management 31. Pieterse, AN, D Knippenberg. (2010). â€Å"Transformational and Transactional Leadership and Innovative Behavior: The Moderating Role of Psychological Empowerment.† Journal of Organizational Management 81

Social media in recruitment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social media in recruitment - Essay Example For organizations, social media recruitment involves the application of social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to hire new staff. For job seekers, social media recruitment also involves the use of social media tools, but to find employment (Hegebarth, 2012:34). Overall, social media means harnessing the power of social media to identify and exploit opportunities in the employment industry. Unlike traditional methods of recruitment, social media introduces a new dynamic that involves virtual interaction. With social media, employers and prospective employees do not have to meet physically until the signing of contracts. This is a marked change when compared to traditional techniques in which physical contact was compulsory (Paik & Navarre-Jackson, 2011:479). Ernst & Young is an example of a company that is using social media to facilitate recruitment. The company has built an employer brand on social networks and successfully positioned itself as the premier place to work. It also uses social media like Skype to conduct interviews for job seekers. Finally, the firm uses its social media presence to update job seekers on latest trends in job searching. Job seekers are probably the biggest beneficiaries of social media. Over the years, they have learnt to exploit the power of social media in their quest to find the right employer (Brown & Swain, 2009:45). Currently, job seekers submit CVs online and interact with companies that have a social media presence. Job seekers take time to monitor pages and handles of companies with a social media presence to get updates on job recruitment, new opportunities, and industry status. It is now common for job seekers to hear about vacancies on social media and then apply, get interviewed (on social media) and start working. Another often underrated use of social media among job seekers is in learning how to conduct themselves in interviews. Of course there are other sources of this information in

Research Paper and Proposal on Advertising Essay

Research Paper and Proposal on Advertising - Essay Example , Tv programs are made to encourage viewers’participation (Henry 343).4Reality shows in particular require viewers to call and send text messages in order to influence the verdict of the judges(Henry 343).5 A show such as the American Idol in 2003 would attract more than 20 million calls or text messages per episode during its final weeks(Henry 343).6Marketers use the calling data to place their commercials during the most popular TV shows in order to reach out to their potential market(Henry 344).7According to Jhally, most of the advertisements broadcasted on TV are grossly misleading(217).8Although some programs purpot to unscripted, this is not always the case (Jhally 217).9The growing form of interactive viewership has allowed the advertisers to direct consumers towards certain consumption habits(Jhally 217).10Interactive viewership has also led to the formation of some cultures and social groups that shape the strategies and decisions of the corporates(Jhally 217).11 The popularity of the American reality TV shows lies on the fact they are short termed and carry a lot of drama and excitement(Henry 344).12 The fact that the characters that are staged on reality TV are real makes many people to be excited about them(Henry 350).13The stardom that is generally associated with reality shows creates a lot of appeal among the viewers(Henry 351).14 The reality TV shows and the incorporated advertisements have significant impacts on our cultures and social behavior. Many viewers, especially children, tend to have their hero from the reality TVs with whom they like to be associated with. In most cases, reality TV show participants are coached and therefore, do not portray the true selves as they make us believe (Henry 355; Rideout, Ulla, Donald1).1516 According to Victoria, Foehr, and Roberts, an average American child spends more than four hours watching television every day (2).17 Although there are a lot of researches on the impacts of watching television

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

Project Management - Essay Example There must be a staunch and dedicated leader, behind the excellence of any initiated project within the society. All the benefits behind the projects emanates from good leadership. I would want to be a team leader in the community development funds board to help in the coordination and initiation of community based development projects. The project management can help in the achieving my goals. It will enable me to schedule my entire project plan and tackle them chronologically to achieve the predefined goals. The project management would equip me with required management skills for the success of a project in progress. As project leader, I would ensure that all the key plans for success are in control. For example, clarification of the objectives, before the start of the project, it must be subject to review by the team leaders. Development of the plan would help in managing the project in phases, making it easy to accomplish a bigger task in smaller bits (Carroll 10). The risk management plans enable the planning and implementation of precautionary measures that can inhibit the smooth evolution of the proposed project. I would engage in management and motivation of team members to ensure team cohesion in achieving the goals. Effective leadership demands four types of intelligence including intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual intelligence to institutionalize moral

Sony and Samsung Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sony and Samsung - Essay Example Samsung has continually invested more than any of its rivals on its research and development, rising during the past couple of years to almost 9 percent of its revenue. It has a large and growing force of designers and engineers working in 17 research centers located all around the world (see Exhibit 6). Yun has also forced Samsung's own units to compete with outsiders in order to speed up the process for developing innovative new products. Samsung has also created the post of chief design officer to make sure that designers can get their ideas to top managers. Yun appears to be well aware of the challenges that lie ahead for Samsung. He understands that his firm must keep investing heavily into R&D and keep developing new factories in locations that offer lower costs. Sony probably restructure for a number of reasons. Companies typically restructure when they need to correct poor financial performance or to capitalize on market opportunities or to strengthen corporate value. Each of the five main change programs presented reasons why they were introduced. The changes are clearly sub-headed in the case and you'll find that towards the end of each main section, reasons are given for the next change in line. Just go through each section meticulously, and select a few relevant points to include. Centralized decision-making t... Companies typically restructure when they need to correct poor financial performance or to capitalize on market opportunities or to strengthen corporate value. Each of the five main change programs presented reasons why they were introduced. The changes are clearly sub-headed in the case and you'll find that towards the end of each main section, reasons are given for the next change in line. Just go through each section meticulously, and select a few relevant points to include. 3. To what extent did Sony's restructuring efforts centralize or decentralize decision-making within Sony Centralized decision-making tends to come from a particular group or at a particular location, usually from the senior team/HQ and is typical of hierarchical structures where information is passed down through the layers from the top. Decentralized decision-making suggests greater autonomy and the delegating of decision-making to lower levels of management or to different strategic business units. Sony seems to drift in and out of different approaches to decision-making - sometimes a centralized, sometimes a more decentralized approach. Scan the case and look for information relating to how decisions are made and look for some relevant points to include. At a couple of places in the case, there is direct mention of the terms decentralization and centralization. 4. How culturally diverse do you think the different Sony businesses were, for example, consumer electronics, entertainment, insurance, etc Include just a few brief points here and one or two assumptions. Is there likely to be different cultures in operation due to the nature of the businesses involved Would you expect a different level of cultural awareness and sensitivity in the

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

Project Management - Essay Example There must be a staunch and dedicated leader, behind the excellence of any initiated project within the society. All the benefits behind the projects emanates from good leadership. I would want to be a team leader in the community development funds board to help in the coordination and initiation of community based development projects. The project management can help in the achieving my goals. It will enable me to schedule my entire project plan and tackle them chronologically to achieve the predefined goals. The project management would equip me with required management skills for the success of a project in progress. As project leader, I would ensure that all the key plans for success are in control. For example, clarification of the objectives, before the start of the project, it must be subject to review by the team leaders. Development of the plan would help in managing the project in phases, making it easy to accomplish a bigger task in smaller bits (Carroll 10). The risk management plans enable the planning and implementation of precautionary measures that can inhibit the smooth evolution of the proposed project. I would engage in management and motivation of team members to ensure team cohesion in achieving the goals. Effective leadership demands four types of intelligence including intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual intelligence to institutionalize moral

Response Week 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Response Week 7 - Essay Example According to Gonzà ¡lez-Murphy (2013), page 3 of her book, Mexico usually demands respect towards its national who are in United States, which is no doubt a good gesture. However, when it comes to foreigners on its soil, they are not treated with respect. For example, the Mexican constitution forbids non-citizens employment rights, property rights and in other instances it is accused of not condoning human rights abuses on undocumented immigrants (Gonzà ¡lez-Murphy, 2013). Most notably, the children of illegal immigrants in Mexico are never granted citizenship like in the U.S. It is crucial to realize that a country cannot continue to lead if the immigrants it welcomes in its home do not contribute by a great margin to its development. While there are those illegal immigrants who make good use of their time and are extremely helpful to the economy, there are those who spend most of their time in criminal gangs. For example, According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics on Crime committed by illegal immigrants, most of the warrants in Los Angeles belong to illegal immigrants (Camarota & Vaughan, 2009). The list is endless, based on the statistic reports from FBI (Camarota & Vaughan, 2009). This is a problem for not only the natives in America, but also for the legal immigrants because the legal immigrants also had a hard time while applying for citizenship in the U.S, and they also have to feed their families like the illegal immigrants. America should also learn from a third world country like Kenya. According to the Professor of International relations, Gil Loescher and James Milner (2013) a few years back, Kenya welcomed millions of refugees from the worn-torn Somalia. However, several years later the country is now grappling with terrorist militants. These militants are mostly illegal immigrants from

The City Planners and the Planners Essay Example for Free

The City Planners and the Planners Essay In ‘The City Planners’ by Margaret Atwood and ‘The Planners’ by Boey Kim Cheng, both poet uses the structure of the poem and language techniques to form the difference between the place itself and its identity. The uniformity between these two poems is the feelings of the poet expresses for this place. In ‘The City planners’ Atwood describes the place as â€Å"dry August sunlight†, this portrays an imagery of no lighting, dark and negative and also suggests to the readers that she do not like where she are. Similarly, in â€Å"The Planners† where the poet expresses to the readers that he dislikes the atmosphere because â€Å"All spaces are gridded† which gives an imagery of there is no free space around this area. Both the poet highlights the identity of the city is perfect but in a negative way. Atwood uses sibilance in â€Å"cutting a straight swath in the discouraged grass. † This emphasizes that even nature is not freely grown, and it must get permission from the planners. Of no difference in â€Å"The Planners† Cheng also uses nature and the same language techniques of sibilance o â€Å"skies surrender† which is suggesting the buildings are so high that the sky is scared of it. The city gives a feeling of unpleasant but the image of the city seemed to be perfect. Both poet is starting to introduce to the readers that the city is not as perfect as they have seen, they expresses the feeling of resentment. In â€Å"The City Planners† Atwood uses sibilance of â€Å"the roofs all display the same slant’ this portrays an imagery of the roof is facing the same way. The words â€Å"same slant† which hints that the house is all the same, the image of the house, the direction its facing, and also the lighting is coming from the same way. The surrounding of this place, gives a feeling of boring and lost. Because everything is the same and she cannot recognise where she is and when will the journey is going to finish. In â€Å"The Planners’ Cheng uses personification of â€Å"The country wears perfect rows of shining teeth†, this creates an imagery of the city itself is looking so perfect but with â€Å"dental dexterity† which suggesting that the powerful people ‘they’ are creating a perfect image for the city. Both poem refers to the place is not in beauty itself and when you spend more time and being very focus at it, you will realise its flaws. Atwood and Cheng use structure of the poem to highlight the exact opposite between the place and its image. Atwood is contradicting what she said in the beginning of the poem where nature is not allowed to be grown anywhere they like. But toward the end of the poem Atwood says that the â€Å"houses, capsized, will slide†, this listing creates a strong feeling of fearfulness and how danger is this place in the future. But â€Å"right now nobody notices. † Atwood finishes the poem of using contradictions that the â€Å"panic of suburb† which hints that this place is getting closer the problem. Cheng uses irony in â€Å"The Planners† where â€Å"history is new again†, history is something that is true which is happening in the pass. No one can change history. The planners can only change the image (identity) of the place but they can never change its pass. History is something that will remain in people’s mind as memory and therefore they can remember it forever. Both poems show the difference between the identity and its background and what the place really are. Atwood and Cheng express the difference of the identity to itself of the place. The contradictions and irony hints that the image of the place and itself can be very different. Give the message to the readers that do not judge a someone or a something by its appearance because the external may look perfect but its internal or the interior can be vice versa.

RENT the Musical :: Rent Musicals Movies Broadway Plays Essays

RENT the Musical There's a scene in the new musical "RENT" that may be the quintessential romantic moment of the '90s. Roger, a struggling rock musician, and Mimi, a junkie who's a dancer at an S/M club, are having a lovers' quarrel when their beepers go off and each takes out a bottle of pills. It's the signal for an "AZT break," and suddenly they realize that they're both HIV-positive. Clinch. Love duet. If you don't think this is romantic, consider that Jonathan Larson's sensational musical is inspired by Puccini's opera "La Boheme," in which the lovers Mimi and Rodolfo are tragically separated by her death from tuberculosis. Different age, different plague. Larson has updated Puccini's end-of-19th-century Left Bank bohemians to end-of-20th-century struggling artists in New York's East Village. His rousing, moving, scathingly funny show, performed by a cast of youthful unknowns with explosive talent and staggering energy, has brought a shocking jolt of creative juice to Broadway. A far greater shock was the sudden death of 35-year-old Larson from an aortic aneurysm just before his show opened. His death just before the breakthrough success is the stuff of both tragedy and tabloids. Such is our culture. Now Larson's work, along with "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk," the tap-dance musical starring the marvelous young dancer Savion Glover, is mounting a commando assault on Broadway from the downtown redoubts of off-Broadway. Both are now encamped amid the revivals ("The King and I") and movie adaptations ("Big") that have made Broadway such a creatively fallow field in recent seasons. And both are oriented to an audience younger than Broadway usually attracts. If both, or either, settle in for a successful run, the door may open for new talent to reinvigorate the once dominant American musical theater. "RENT" so far has the sweet smell of success, marked no only by it's $6 million advance sale (solid, but no guarantee) but also by the swarm of celebrities who have clamored for tickets: Michelle Pfeifer, Sylvester Stallone, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, Ralph Fiennes...name your own biggie. Last week, on opening night, 21 TV crews, many from overseas, swarmed the Nederlander Theatre to shoot the 15 youthful cast members in euphoric shock under salvos of cheers. Supermogul David Geffen of the new DreamWorks team paid just under a million dollars to record the original-cast album. Pop artitsts who've expressed interest in recording songs from the 33-number score include Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men. A bidding scrimmage has started for the movie rights among such Hollywood heavies as Warner Brothers, Danny DeVito's Jersey Films, Fox 2000 and Columbia. The asking price is $3 million, but bonuses for length of run, RENT the Musical :: Rent Musicals Movies Broadway Plays Essays RENT the Musical There's a scene in the new musical "RENT" that may be the quintessential romantic moment of the '90s. Roger, a struggling rock musician, and Mimi, a junkie who's a dancer at an S/M club, are having a lovers' quarrel when their beepers go off and each takes out a bottle of pills. It's the signal for an "AZT break," and suddenly they realize that they're both HIV-positive. Clinch. Love duet. If you don't think this is romantic, consider that Jonathan Larson's sensational musical is inspired by Puccini's opera "La Boheme," in which the lovers Mimi and Rodolfo are tragically separated by her death from tuberculosis. Different age, different plague. Larson has updated Puccini's end-of-19th-century Left Bank bohemians to end-of-20th-century struggling artists in New York's East Village. His rousing, moving, scathingly funny show, performed by a cast of youthful unknowns with explosive talent and staggering energy, has brought a shocking jolt of creative juice to Broadway. A far greater shock was the sudden death of 35-year-old Larson from an aortic aneurysm just before his show opened. His death just before the breakthrough success is the stuff of both tragedy and tabloids. Such is our culture. Now Larson's work, along with "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk," the tap-dance musical starring the marvelous young dancer Savion Glover, is mounting a commando assault on Broadway from the downtown redoubts of off-Broadway. Both are now encamped amid the revivals ("The King and I") and movie adaptations ("Big") that have made Broadway such a creatively fallow field in recent seasons. And both are oriented to an audience younger than Broadway usually attracts. If both, or either, settle in for a successful run, the door may open for new talent to reinvigorate the once dominant American musical theater. "RENT" so far has the sweet smell of success, marked no only by it's $6 million advance sale (solid, but no guarantee) but also by the swarm of celebrities who have clamored for tickets: Michelle Pfeifer, Sylvester Stallone, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, Ralph Fiennes...name your own biggie. Last week, on opening night, 21 TV crews, many from overseas, swarmed the Nederlander Theatre to shoot the 15 youthful cast members in euphoric shock under salvos of cheers. Supermogul David Geffen of the new DreamWorks team paid just under a million dollars to record the original-cast album. Pop artitsts who've expressed interest in recording songs from the 33-number score include Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men. A bidding scrimmage has started for the movie rights among such Hollywood heavies as Warner Brothers, Danny DeVito's Jersey Films, Fox 2000 and Columbia. The asking price is $3 million, but bonuses for length of run,

Boosting the Economy: 0% Financing on New Cars :: Market Economics 9/11 Essays

Boosting the Economy: 0% Financing on New Cars The economy had been moving in slow motion for the last year and the dreaded "R" word, recession, had been put into circulation by the media and consumer analysts. Then, of course, the events of September 11th occurred and the economic slow down sounded just fine as opposed to the economic standstill that many feared. Staring into the face of recession and contemplating the national tragedy, corporate America was desperate to find a way out. Not that they were alone, but Joe Schmoe, a blue-collar worker, couldn't do much to change nation's economic dilemma. And good old Uncle Sam hand his hands tied with the terrorist problems. Even so, saying that the government was going to take action is just to say that the government would help corporate America take action. Of course the answer was to get and keep America spending; keep money circulating. But how was the question that loomed. As we know, many of the major automobile companies decided that they would offer 0% financing on new cars in order to lure Americans to spend money. At this point we don't know what the final effects will be, whether this action will actually stimulate the economy and keep America from a recession. However, there is much to speculate on concerning the possible effects. And it is interesting to consider exactly who might be reaping the benefits from this action. In addition, this type of economic action seems to have elements that fall into a category of similar capitalistic avenues that many authors read this semester have analyzed in the past. Benefits Now, why should we think that this action will benefit the economy? Again, in the face of recession the goal is always to get people spending and keep money flowing. New automobiles are a high dollar item that can get money circulating in a hurry. New automobiles are also an item that the majority of the population cannot afford without financing. This makes the idea of buying an automobile with no finance charges very appealing. From the big picture perspective, the idea is that enough automobiles would be sold to keep money circulating and to keep consumer confidence high so that we could talk ourselves out of a recession. Basically, the remedy for recession is keeping people believing that the economy will be okay, consumer confidence, and therefore they will not be reluctant to spend and money will circulate.

Plato’s Republic Essay

Plato’s Republic is a book in which Socrates, as a character, explores the nature of poetry. Although Socrates completely supports everyone’s obligation to explore various notions, (leading to his being charged with â€Å"corrupting the youth,†) the idea that poetry can be detrimental, as it may influence the minds of the youth is also proposed. This means that certain fictional readings, which would install themselves into the minds of their believers as delusions were likely to result from the reading of certain fantastic poems. In Cervantes’ Don Quixote, access to unlimited writings, however, corrupted the mind of the novel’s protagonist, who became quite crazy, as his mind became filled with ideas of the business of knights, which occurred as he read books that, according to other characters of the book, should have been banned. Plato’s Socrates was often engaged in the business of encouraging people to challenge accepted notions, and explore other ones. But poetry, when it relates fictional stories, would have had the potential to negatively influence the malleable minds of a younger audience. â€Å"Plato was concerned with the ability of a text to convince in the face of its fictionality,† Frederick de Armas wrote in Cascardi’s novel, The Cambridge Companion to Cervantes. And Plato’s concern was not without merit, when applied to the story of the man from La Mancha, who is driven insane by the fictional stories that he enjoyed. Unfortunately for Don Quixada of La Mancha, fantastic books and stories of chivalry and â€Å"knight-errantry† were permitted in Spain, and he got his hands on a great many of these stories. Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote is the story of a man, who, accompanied by his loyal squire, participate in activities based on the delusions inspired by the books that he read. Don Quixote was at first a normal, honorable man, but after reading a great many books and stories about the chivalrous and challenging adventures of knights, he became of the opinion that he was indeed a knight himself, and that the stories he had read were actually incorporated into the whole world. He would produce such beliefs, based on the readings that he had scoured, that simple objects and people of the world were actually characters present in the adventures of the greatest knight who ever was, as he often thought of himself. Every belief that he had throughout the body of the book was tied to the stories of the chivalrous activities of knights that he had read. And these stories prompted him to dress in Medieval military attire (such as chain mail, accompanied by a helmet with a visor, a lance, and a shield), and partake in the activities of the extinct knights that he had read about. The books, which captivated his mind, led Don Quixote de La Mancha to believe notions as preposterous as windmills being giants, and every woman around being damsels in distress. His faithful squire, Sancho Panza was captivated by the stories that his master told him of knight-errantry, and it helped to corrupt, or make him delusional as well. The books, stories, and poetry on the subject of knight errantry were completely to blame for the downfall of Don Quixote’s mind, which in turn, dragged down that of Sancho Panza’s. But there were character from Quixotes hometown, such as his niece, housekeeper, and a man of the church who recognized that it was the fictional adventure books that caused a once respected man to go insane. His niece and housekeeper had noticed that the books were corrupting him from the start. â€Å"‘Senor Licentiate Pero Perez,’ that was the curate’s name, â€Å"some misfortune must certainly have happened to my master; for six days, both he and his horse, together with the target, lance, and armour, have been missing; as I am a sinner, it is just come into my head, and it is certainly as true as that everyone is born to die, those hellish books of knight-errantry, which he used to read with so much pleasure, have turned his brain: for, now I remember to have heard him say to himself more than once, that he longed to be a knight-errant, and stroll about in quest of adventures. May Satan and Barrabas lay hold of such legends, which have perverted one of the finest minds in all La Mancha,† the housekeeper of the illustrious knight, Don Quixote remarked after her master returned from his very first enterprise in the field of knight-errantry (Cervantes, Part 1, Chapter V). It is very straightforward, from the words of his housekeeper, that Don Quixote’s intense readings about the stories of knights and chivalry were very detrimental to his mind. Indulging in these stories over, and over, he went mad, and believed himself a universal character of the topics on which he read. Plato may have held that expression of fictional ideas had the ability to be completely detrimental to the youthful minds that absorbed various notions, and that is why (in Don Quixote) the man of the church, the barber, and Don Quixote’s niece and housekeeper set to burn (except for a few books, which they themselves prized) all of Don Quixotes library, which was filled with books on the subject of knight-errantry. In the writings of Plato, poetry had the unfortunate ability to do to young, easily-influenced people what the books of knight-errantry did to Don Quixote. This was the ability to propose delusions that would survive alongside actual beliefs which were based on true phenomena. Poets had the ability to harm the minds of the youth who indulged in their poems, just as did the writers of the chivalrous stories in Don Quixote. If it had not been for the fictional stories that Don Quixote read over and over, he would likely have not held that he himself was a character of the genre, which, at the time, was represented only in fiction. The various authors’ narrations on the fictional activities of knights were indeed what captivated the mind of Don Quixote, and caused him to go insane. Early in his adventures, his squire, Sancho Panza was bewildered by some of the delusional and fictional properties that Don Quixote extended to various environmental phenomena. His readings had him believe that a row of windmills were giants that served to hinder his own progress. â€Å" ‘Fly not, ye base and cowardly miscreants, for, he is but a single knight who attacks you,’† Don Quixote yelled at the windmills, which were, due to his mental captivation by the activities of knight-errantry, on which he had read, not windmills, but giants. This was his final warning to the giants before he charged, and rammed his lance into the propeller of a mill, shattering it, and falling to the ground, along with his trusty steed, Rocinante (Cervantes, Part I Chapter VIII). Plato’s theory, expressed in The Republic, about the detrimental and negatively influential properties of poetry are undermined in Spain at the time of the story of the knight from La Mancha. The people who collected in Don Quixote’s house, following his very first adventure (which left him immobilized, and without a weapon after he attacked a group of merchants who he perceived to be evil) were of the opinion that Plato proposes in The Republic, which is that fictional stories can be dangerous when imposed upon malleable minds, like those of the youth (or those of unstable characters, such as the prime one seen in Cervantes’ work). Although it is quite likely that the novel was composed because of its entertaining qualities, Cervantes certainly wanted to parallel the story of Don Quixote to the warnings of Plato in his views on poetry. â€Å"In this work, Plato argues that poetry inspires undesirable emotions in society and should be censored from adults and especially children for fear of lasting detrimental consequences,† Schatzie Speaks writes in her article, entitled Aristotle vs. Plato on the Dangers of Poetry. â€Å"Plato believes that since children have not yet acquired proper formation of character and knowledge of the world around them, every new experience makes a profound impact upon them. Children have no ability to know what emotions should be tempered and which should be expressed, and certain expressed emotions can have lasting consequences later in life. Plato finds it necessary to limit the types of poetry, works which he deems induce profound emotions in individuals, to protect children and future society. † Poetry, unfortunately for the knight in Cervantes’ novel, and many of those whom he encountered, was not limited, but embraced by the knight himself, and it had the very effect that Plato warned that it might. â€Å"He states that scary stories,† Speaks continues, â€Å"such as gods coming to the world in disguise and harming people, must be avoided to eliminate timidity, as such tales will induce profound fear. Furthermore, children must not be told tales detailing the horrors of death for they will then grow up to fear death and lack courage. † Plato’s critique of poetry is justified in Cervantes’ story of Don Quixote, who found himself fully subjected to the negative aspects of poetry (such as its ability to conjure up thoughts and delusions that may not actually exist). It was because fictional tails of such fantastic adventures of knights were allowed in Spain that Don Quixote was able to get his hands on these books, and fall under their spell. They inspired vast delusions in him, just as Plato said such writings could if they were not censored. Works Cited De Cervantes, Miguel. Translation by Rutherford, John. Don Quixote de la Mancha. Penguin Books, New York, 2003 De Armas, Frederick A. Cervantes and the Italian Renaissance. In Cascardi, Anthony J. The Cambridge Companion to Cervantes. Cambridge University Press, 2002. Plato. Edition by Cooper, John M. The Republic. In Plato, Complete Works. Hackett Publishing, Indiana, 1997. Speaks, Schatzie. Aristotle vs. Plato on the Dangers of Poetry. Viewed 23, July, 2009. http://hubpages. com/hub/The-Emotions-Surrouding-Poetry–Aristotle-vs-Plato

Cox’s Container Company (CCC) Essay

In the modern constant changes business environment, company needs to change constantly to remain competitive in the market. If not, the company will be facing survival risk. There are no mercy and exception for Cox’s Container Company (‘CCC’). CCC faced increasing competitions over the past 5 years and profits are in declining trends due to reduce in margins. Harold Cox was clueless on how to rectify the problems. He has delegated the task to Erica Wilson to review CCC’s operations and oversee organization changes. Under her control and management, new central administration department was formed to implement budgeting system and company-wide information system. First time in the history of CCC, Wilson recruited external appointees to hold managerial post in the new central administration department. However, no one seemed very keen on the new system and encountered strong resistance from Abdul Aziz, manager of production department who incharged 2/3 of CC C’s total staffs. After so many years since CCC was established, Harold Cox had done not much changes to CCC’s structure and culture. CCC still practicing simple structure with flat hierarchy and decision-making is highly centralized in the hand of the Cox family. This allows Cox to run the operations flexibly, direct communication to avoid message being misinterpreted and wrongly manipulated, wide span of control as all managers reporting to him and expedites the decision-making process without going through layers of people. However, simple structure is more suitable for start-up or small firms for flexibility, control early growth and developments whereas centralization discourage innovation and no creativity. As CCC grows larger in size, it also more difficult for Cox to control and coordinate them effectively. According to General Sir Iain Hamilton once said ‘No one brain cans effectively control more than 6 or 7 other brains’. Moreover, when information and data are overloaded, he may not has sufficient times to handle and analyze to make full use out of it. Culture and authority of CCC is power culture and traditional authority. With Harold, there are addition of charismatic authority found on his supports to ethnic minorities. Power culture (Handy, 1993) depends on a central power source, few rules, informal system and decision are based on a balance of power rather than logic whereas traditional authority are the ability and right to rule is being passed down, i.e. CCC being passed down to Cox family member. Similarity of those are being very dependent to a single person and capability of that person are very much to determine the direction and successfulness of the company. In the history, many of the family businesses that stagnated and were eventually annexed in Britain after the Second World War were power cultures that had die in the centre. Hence, CCC might has going concern issues if successor of Harold is not as good as him and not supportive towards ethnic minorities. Besides retirement of Harold, majority of staffs in production department have worked for CCC for more than 10 years will have similar timing of retirement. This might be a risk of CCC facing shortage of production staffs in the future and affect productivity. Internal promotions have advantages of saving in times and costs of induction program for new staffs, boost morale and motivate staffs to perform. But, all senior positions in the production department have been filled through promotion of shop floor employees with no proper evaluation on competency and professionalism will affect company performance. It is not only no new ideas being introduced, it might be challenges for them to adapt to new technologies and working practices, i.e. new system implemented by Erica. Most importantly, senior manager are the person that make decision on behalf of the company and the effect that decision outcomes have on the lives of all organization members (Henry Mintzberg, 1989 cited in Huczyns ki and Buchanan, 2013). Another areas to pay attention under Cox management will be informal group formed due to empowerment for each functional department as form of motivation to improve performance. As Aziz being the manager of production department and ethnic minorities relying much on Aziz to safeguard their interests and benefits. This dependent relationship created Aziz as transactional leader. A leader who treats relationships with followers in terms of an exchange, giving followers (ethnic minorities), what they want (safeguard their interest and benefits) in return for what the leader desires (Aziz had easily established his identity and enjoying autonomy within the production department) following prescribed tasks to pursue established goals. Indirectly, Aziz has the capability to influence his staffs’s behaviour and contribute to mutual need satisfaction. In the other hand, in the opinion of Aziz, there are informal group being formed under John Straw to run the whole company on his own interest without knowing the complexities of production which was a formal group created consciously by management to carry out a specific task (implementing new system) and accomplish CCC’s goal (improve CCC’s operations). According to Homans (1951 cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, 2013), informal group formed according to their self-interest which may not work together to achieve the common goal. As Wilson was given the authority to make changes to CCC’s operations. She has her own management style to run the whole process of changes. She is an autoratic leader by accomplished the task entirely on her own and conclusion drawn based on her own judgement with no consultation and input from anyone. Autocratic leadership will be good when time is short but lack of creativity. She also moved CCC’s structure towards mechanistic structure with standardization, many rules and little autonomy, i.e. budgeting system to replace the rather informal system and requires all departments to inform the central administration department twice daily basis of work in progress. Different structures give rise to different culture (Handy, 1993). Thus, culture also change from power culture to role culture. Role culture also emphasize on the importance of rules, procedures and its operation are driven by logic and rationality. Authority of CCC will be legitimate authority that based on formal and written rules. According to Weber (1947 cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, 2013), an organization based on legitimate authority would be more effecient than one based on either traditional or charismatic authority. This was because its continuity  was related to formal structure and the position wi th it, rather than to a particular person who might leave or die. Since Wilson is the sole decision maker on what and which area needed for change to improve CCC’s operations. She had conclusion drawn based on her own judgement and interpretation from her personal experience, expectation and belief with no feedback obtained. Feedback will be important and enable for her to complete the survey more holistic. According to John Mezias and William Starbuck (2003 cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, 2013), management perceptions are often wrong due to selection of information that fits their expectations and pay less attention to information that does not. Generally, group decision are better than individual decision. It will be more advisable to involve relevant CCC’s staffs like Aziz contributing their diverse skills, knowledge and experience in production process for Wilson to understand the situation clearly to make better decisions and more alternatives to solve problem faced by CCC. In addition, staffs particularly Aziz felt recognition and respect through participation, understand the decision better and wider acceptance of decision make by Wilson. Likewise, if CCC’s staffs knew that Harold is more interested in finding issues that fit into causing declined in profits of CCC rather than finding out the facts with no further verification of the accuracy and basis of the report and conclusion drawn as Harold also unsure how to proceed. In addition, many people believe that making the right decision late is the same as making the wrong decision as Harold is anxious to improve the profitability of CCC. CCC’s staffs will be demoralized and demotivited, then CCC is infected with destructive cynicism. Wilson also has not informing staffs on the needs, benefits and objectives of implementing the new systems. As no clear direction and understanding the  need of change, staffs were not very keen on the new system and the degree of new system would affect their current working practices. They might also felt that they are being push out of their comfort  zone and found it stressful and frustrating to cope with the new system. As a result, readiness for change from staffs will be low and leads to high in resistance to change. With no support and collaboration from staffs these make implementation more difficult. Wilson has had making it worst with the survey was being conducted in some secrecy way created negative atmosphere in the company. The intention of Wilson to recruit John Straw, Eric Long and Simon Pedder to hold managerial post in the new central administration department is to have new blood to bring in innovation and creativity. With their experienced in previous company, they will be able to contribute an effective operational and cost controls for CCC. However, due to background and experience of them have no relevancy in manufacturing or production, it may not be convincing enough for staffs to trust and follow their instruction. Later encountered strong resistance from Aziz which has worked more than 10 years in production line and very defensive of production department has no issues on getting orders out on times and achieved zero defects. They may also have different culture and shared different values as other staffs. Communication climate (Jack Gibb, 1961 cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, 2013) exercised by Cox and Wilson was one way and closed communication climate where information was withheld, no sharing of the finding of the survey, strategies and problem faced by CCC have make no awareness to staffs. Staffs might felts discrimination, distrust and doubtful on self worthiness after long services of contribution to CCC. Misunderstanding easily created between staffs and management might led to minimum staffs engagement and  supports to comply with changes implementation and making it more difficult and may not align with CCC’s objectives. During the process of implementing the new system in CCC, there are no top management briefing conducted which is considered one of the best way to encourage staff engagement especially it is from Cox as he is regarded highly within ethnic minorities. With his traditional and charismatic authority, he is able to influence staffs behavior and engageme nt to comply with the changes implementation. 5 Once there are no effective communication internally within CCC and due to differentiation in culture, perception, politic and staff’s legitimate interests. Conflict between staffs is inevitable as each attempts pursue its own objectives. A company needs conflicts as a positive forces for managers to think, critisicism for self refection and innovation for effective performance. However, if conflict do not handle properly between Aziz and Straw team under Wilson new management. As perception of Aziz towards implementation of formal system and tight reporting is form of threatenning their’s interest and change of structure also changes the balance of power and autonomy possed by Aziz. It will be turn out to be dysfunctional conflict and hinders company performance as Aziz has the ability to influence behavior of 2/3 of CCC’s total staffs on level of productivity. If failure in resolving the conflict, CCC will have survival issue in the long run due to deteriote o f company performance. Hence, changes and continuing to change within internally is a must for CCC to survive in the long run to cope with complexity and be responsive to environment uncertainty. Do nothing will not be an alternative and choice for CCC. As globalisation and expansion of CCC, simple structure with flat hierachy and power culture may not be as responsive to opportunities and challenges in the long run. Second alternative will be remain with Wilson’s coercive change strategy to  implement the change even though without support of Aziz. According to Doug Stace and Dexter Dunphy (2001, cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, 2013) , where organizational survival depends on rapid and strategic change and short of time, dictatorial transformation is appropriate. In the later or appropriate stage, Wilson may implement technology into producing containers using the techniques of mass production to standardised quality of products, elimination of waste and reduction costs which will go well with mechanistics structure. Mass production has characterics of boredom of repetitive of works and low morale led to high levels of absenteeism and complaints. The solution to boredom were job  rotation and job enlargement in term of installation of machine, enhancement, integration and inspection.  Third alternative of change management strategy will be the role of the change agent. This approach will need involvement of top senior management who are credible and acceptable. In this case, Harold Cox will be the most appropriate and suitable person. He with his power and charismatic leadership, he is able to influence and motivate ethnic minorities to support and cooperate with him for fact finding and proceed with the changes make to CCC’s operations. He may also appoint professional consultants to carry out the investigation or combination of both. The first alternative is not preferred due to successfulness and survival of CCC very dependent on one person whereas third alternative also not the most preferred but still workable but will be time consuming. If involving external consultant then Harold needs to manage the external consultant of their own commercial interest as well as costing issues. As there are no correct way or one way solution, the most preferred will be the second alternative. The second alternative will be able to achieve the company objective and long term goal as explained above. For making the transitional  more harmony and smooth, Wilson should be more sensitive on culture differences. She should educate staffs with training and practice open two ways communication as well as get more participation and encourage more involvement of staffs in carrying out the survey and implementation. Besides implementing rewards system will be able to motive staffs to performance and aligh with company to achieve comm on goal. According to Meaney and Wilson (2009 cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, 2013), the successful rate of planned change programmes is less than 40% and that estimate may be optimistic, and 2/3 fail to achieve their objectives (Gardini et al., 2001 cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, 2013). In order to meet company’s objective and successful with change. The  following plan of action is recommaned by John Kotter (2007 cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, 2013). 1. Create urgency Wilson should inform all staffs on problem faced by CCC with evidence. Developed scenarios and consequences, if no full cooperations and supports from staffs. 2. Form a powerful coalition Wilson should involved Aziz to form a coalition, for him to lead the change on his production department to achieve maximum results. 3. A clear vision †¢ A clear vision of change must be developed by Wilson with achievable  startegies and realities plans to inspire all staffs to change, to align with company’s goals. 4. Effective communication †¢ Vision must be communicable and communicating in two way and openly, this can be done through compulsory training to ensure familiarity and responsive from staffs. 5. Remove obstacle †¢ Harold and Wilson should have an honest dialogue with Aziz to problemsolved resistance from him and seek for collaboration. If not, backup plan must be in-hand for Aziz leaving for change to be implemented successfully. 6. Motivation and rewards †¢ Carry out change in stages to avoid unbearable failure. Once short term milestone has achieved, recognized and rewards those involved as motivation to more forwards. 7. Assessment †¢ Periodic assessment needed to ascertain improvement, enhancement and amendment in placed to cope with changes from environment and market to achieve company’s goal. 8. No anchoring †¢ Even though tradition is a powerful force but management should walk their talk to ensure new changes and culture are planted. Making it happen and making stick. The above should take placed in sequence and staffs need time to adopt and familiarised with the new of structure and culture. Thus, Wilson should understand that changes can only be carried out in stages and not to rush in order to change effectively and efficiently. References Handy, Charles B. (1993) Understanding Organizations, Chapter 7: On the Cultures of Organization pp180-216. London:Penguin. N. Anand and Richard L. Daft (2007) What is the Right Organization Design?. Elsevier Inc. Nigel Bassett-Jones and Geoffrey C. Lloyd (2005) Does Herzberg’s motivation theory have staying power?. The Journey of Management Development. Dexter C. Dunphy, Doug A. Stace (1988) Transformational and Coercive Strategies for Planned Organizational Change: Beyond the O.D. Model. Organization Studies. Andrzej A. Huczynski and David A. Buchanan (2013) Organizational Behaviour Eigth edition. Person Education Limited.

Heart of Darkness Active Reading Guide

Conrad1. * Fifteen days after leaving the outer station Marlow â€Å"hobble[s] into the Central Station†, which was being run by â€Å"the flabby devil†, referring to the greed of the Europeans. There he finds out that his ship had been sunk when they tried to take off before he got there. He also meets the manager of the Central Station who is only employed because he never gets sick, and the brick maker who doesn’t actually make any bricks. He overhears a conversation between the manager and his uncle, who is leading the â€Å"Eldorado Exploring Expedition† that passes through the station.They are talking about Mr. Kurtz. This all occurs two months before they reach Kurtz’s station. * Marlow then takes off in his newly repaired boat (Conrad 21). Fifty miles before Marlow reaches the Inner Station where Kurtz is, he comes across a hut on the side of the river. They approach and see a sign on a pile of wood that says â€Å"Wood for you. Hurry Up. A pproach Cautiously†. Then inside a hut, Marlow finds a book entitled An Inquiry into some Points of Seamanship inside of which are notes written in what Marlow says â€Å"looked like cipher† (38). Eight miles before Marlow and his crew reach Kurtz they get stuck in a heavy fog, and are unable to move for quite a bit of time. Then once the fog lifts they are able to proceed, but find themselves stuck once again one and a half miles before reaching Kurtz. Here they are attacked by the natives. They blow the whistle on the boat and the natives are scared away (47). * Finally, Marlow reaches the Inner Station. The first person that he meets is the Russian/Harlequin, who idolizes Kurtz. He then meets Kurtz who is taken aboard the steam boat. Kurtz dies aboard the steamboat, and Marlow returns to Europe. In Brussells, Marlow goes to visit Kurtz’s intended. She is distraught over Kurtz’s death, so Marlow lies to her about the reality of what really happened, sayi ng Kurtz was a good and honorable man (75-79). 2. * While Marlow is in the Central Station, page 23, he is required to repair his ship which had sunk before he reached the Station. Marlow says: I went to work the next day, turning, so to speak, my back on that station. In that way only could I keep my hold on the redeeming facts of life. Still, one must look about sometimes; and then I saw this station, these men strolling aimlessly about in the sunshine of the yard.In this passage, when Marlow states he is turning his â€Å"back on [the] station† he is referring to the lack of work that goes on at the Central Station, and how his hard work repairing his steam boat looks in contrast. When he says that work allows him to â€Å"keep [his] hold on the redeeming facts of life† it lets the reader know that he values work, and thinks it encourages people to become better. * Still at the Central Station, Marlow makes another comment on the work ethic of the Europeans who are at the station saying that their pretending to work was as unreal as everything else—as the philanthropic pretence of the whole concern, as their talk, as their government, as their show of work†¦They intrigued and slandered and hated each other only on that account—but as to effectually lifting a little finger—oh no† (25). His sarcastic tone toward the end of the excerpt, shows that he views their refusal to work as silly and ridiculous. The way he can so easily see through their pretence also shows how little effort they put into everything in the Congo, because they are driven by greed, and greed alone. When Marlow comes across the book in the hut on the side of the river he exclaims that it was â€Å"not a very enthralling book; but at the first glance you could see there a singleness of intention, an honest concern for the right way of going to work, which made these humble pages, thought out so many years ago, luminous with another than a profe ssional light† (39). The fact that Marlow is so impressed by the book because it appreciates hard, honest work, shows what an anomaly this outlook is down in the Congo. Marlow appreciates the book so much because the book lines up with his same views on work. On page 18, when Marlow is talking to the Chief Accountant, the Accountant mentions how he is able to keep such clean clothes saying I’ve been teaching one of the native women about the station. It was difficult. She had a distaste for the work. This is more representative of the European’s view of work than of Marlow’s. The Europeans believe that work is something for slaves and people who aren’t as privileged as they are. Overall, Marlow believes that work is highly beneficial to a person. When someone works, they are kept sane, and are kept honest.Not only are they more sensible, and productive, it makes one a better person in the long run, unlike the ridiculous Europeans overcome by greed a nd laziness. 3. * One reference to futility in the novel occurs after a fire starts in the Central Station. The people in the camp are rushing to put it out, and as one of them ran past Marlow he notices â€Å"there was a hole in the bottom of his pail† (24). This shows how ineffective much of what the Europeans were doing, as a pail with a hole is not able to transport nearly as much water as an intact bucket.This also shows how ignorant the Europeans are about matters in the Congo as the man holding the bucket is not aware of the hole in it, even though that detail is so vital to his plight. * When Marlow needs to fix his ship, he only needs one material to fix it, which would be rivets. However, there are none to be found at the Central Station. Marlow says that at the Outer station, â€Å"You could fill your pockets with rivets for the trouble of stooping down†, but â€Å"there wasn’t one rivet to be found where it was wanted†.This example shows yet a gain the ignorance of the Europeans. They have an ample amount of something that is quite unnecessary in one place, but are blind to the needs of those in other places. Just like they have an ample amount of people digging for ivory in the Congo, but they pay no attention to the needs of the natives. * Only 8 miles from the inner station, Marlow and his ship get trapped in the fog. Marlow has a conversation with his manager: â€Å"[The manager] muttered something about going on at once, I did not even take the trouble to answer him.I knew, and he knew, that it was impossible†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢I authorise you to take all the risks,’ he said, after a short silence. ‘I refuse to take any,’ I said shortly; which was just the answer he expected† (43). This conversation is an excellent example of futility, because the conversation is merely for show. There was no actual reason for the conversation to take place, because the conclusion had already been arrived at. Th is is similar to when Marlow sees the men blowing up parts of the cliff to build a train track, even though the cliff was not in the way (16). 4.When Marlow first comes to the Inner Station he describes it by saying, â€Å"Through my glasses I saw the slope of a hill interspersed with rare trees and perfectly free from undergrowth. A long decaying building on the summit was half buried in the high grass; the large holes in the peaked roof gaped black from afar; the jungle and the woods made a background. There was no enclosure or fence of any kind; but there had been one apparently, for near the house half a dozen slim posts remained in a row, roughly trimmed, and with their upper ends ornamented with round carved balls.The rails, or whatever there had been between, had disappeared. Of course the forest surrounded all that. The river-bank was clear, and on the water side I saw a white man under a hat like a cart-wheel beckoning persistently with his whole arm. Examining the edge of the forest above and below, I was almost certain I could see movements—human forms gliding here and there. I steamed past prudently, then stopped the engines and let her drift down. The man on the shore began to shout, urging us to land. ‘We have been attacked,’ screamed the manager. ‘I know—I know. It’s all right. yelled back the other, as cheerful as you please. ‘Come along. It’s all right. I am glad. ’ His aspect reminded me of something I had seen—something funny I had seen somewhere. As I maneuvered to get alongside, I was asking myself, ‘What does this fellow look like? ’ Suddenly I got it. He looked like a harlequin† (53). And then later states, â€Å"You remember I told you I had been struck at the distance by certain attempts at ornamentation, rather remarkable in the ruinous aspect of the place. Now I had suddenly a nearer view, and its first result was to make me throw my head back as if before a blow.Then I went carefully from post to post with my glass, and I saw my mistake†¦I had expected to see a knob of wood there, you know. I returned deliberately to the fist I had seen—and there it was, black, dried, sunken, with closed eyelids—a head that seemed to sleep at the top of that pole, and with the shrunken dry lips showing a narrow white line of teeth, was smiling too, smiling continuously at some endless and jocose dream of that eternal slumber† (58). This passage shows excellent impressionistic style, because of the unreliability of the narrator.The scene is described exactly as it first appeared to Marlow. He first sees the heads on the poles, and thinks that they are knobs of wood so instead of saying, â€Å"I saw something on the poles that I later found out were human heads†, Conrad allows the reader to believe that they are indeed, only knobs of wood, for as long as Marlow believes that they are knobs of wood. It is also s hown in the slightly erratic narration, which doesn’t follow an exact order, but instead jumps around wherever Marlow’s mind happens to be at that exact moment in time.Another clue, would be Conrad’s use of commas. Impressionist writers tend to use a wide variety of commas, which some believe are also symbolic of the short brush strokes of impressionistic painters. 5. Kurtz shows interest in two very different women in the novel. The first we are introduced to is his native lover. she is described as being â€Å"savage and superb, wild-eyed and magnificent; there was something ominous and stately in her† (62). This woman is powerful and wearing â€Å"the value of several elephant tusks upon her†.She shows her emotions openly, but does not allow weakness to show through. Kurtz’s intended on the other hand is described as having â€Å"a mature capacity for fidelity, for belief for suffering†¦This fair hair, this pale visage, this pure br ow, seemed surrounded by an ashy halo from which the dark eyes looked out at me† (76). The intended is more meek, and full of suffering. She claims that she is the only one who understood Kurtz, and Marlow feels the need to protect her from the truth.With the native lover, one of the men onboard says that he would have shot her if she had intended to board the boat. One of the women inspires fear, while the other inspires pity. But they are both very similar in their fierce loyalty to the man they love, Mr. Kurtz. 6. * The first motif that I noticed was that of the â€Å"savages†. They are often referred to by names which are not usually used to describe a human, because they were not thought to be human the way the Europeans were thought of as human.The first example that I found was on page 6 when Marlow is describing what his occupation includes, â€Å"Sandbanks, marshes, forests, savages—precious little to eat fit for a civilized man†, which implies th at he believes that food that the natives find acceptable, wouldn’t be good enough for him, because he is better than the natives. The second example was on page sixteen when Marlow describes the faces of the chain gang that walks past him saying, â€Å"They passed me within six inches, without a glance, with that complete, deathlike indifference of unhappy savages. This shows the way they group all of the â€Å"savages† into one conglomerate mass, saying there is no difference between one of them, and the next. The third example was one page eighteen. Marlow walks through a group of dying natives, and picks out one in particular. â€Å"While I stood, horror-struck, one of these creatures rose to his hands and knees and went on all-fours towards the river to drink†. This sentence doesn’t refer to the native as something resembling a human. The words â€Å"creatures†, â€Å"hands and knees† and â€Å"all-fours† are phrases that are on ly used to describe animals, which reflects on the European opinion of African natives.The fourth example was a comment made by the Chief Accountant when he has a sick native recuperating inside his â€Å"office†. â€Å"When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages—hate them to the death†. This comment puts his work, and his accounting, over the well being of human beings. Meaning he values the lives of the natives less than he values his work. The last example was on page 24 when Marlow talks of viewing the man who was beaten, when a fire starts in the Central Station.He says, â€Å"A nigger was being beaten nearby. They said he had caused the fire in some way; be that as it may, he was screeching most horribly. I saw him, later, for several days, sitting in a bit of shade looking very sick and trying to recover himself: afterwards he arose and went out—and the wilderness without a sound took him into its bosom again†. This shows the treatment of the â€Å"savages†. The fire obviously started for absolutely no reason, but still they insist on blaming the fire on the native, rather than on one of their own. The second motif that I chose, was that of the jungle. The jungle is obviously a main part of the story, because most of the land around the Congo River is jungle. The first instance that I found was on page six of the novel Marlow says â€Å"all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men. † The jungle is often referred to as wilderness, which is a good example of what it represents. The jungle is the wild aspects of the world, and the uncivilized parts of the earth. he second example was on page 23. Marlow speaks of the difference between the station and the surrounding area, â€Å"And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion. † This quote is interesting, because Marlow speaks of the Europeans in the Congo as an â€Å"invasion†. Meaning, the forest is a separate entity, and is not just there for the Europeans to take as they please.The third example is on page 24, when Marlow is talking about the native that was beat for the fire he says â€Å"the wilderness without a sound took him into its bosom again†. This shows that the wilderness is only cruel to those that aren’t used to it, meaning the Europeans. it is a kind home to the natives just as Europe is a kind home to the Europeans. The fourth example was page 27 where Marlow says, â€Å"Could we handle that dumb thing, or would it handle us? I felt how big, how confoundedly big, was that thing that couldn’t talk and perhaps was deaf as well†.Marlow usually describes the forest as being silent, which is usually associated with a sense of for eboding. This shows the unknown threats and dangers that can be found in the jungle. The last example was on page 33 where Marlow describes the silence again saying â€Å"The high stillness confronted these two figures with its ominous patience, waiting for the passing away of a fantastic invasion†. * The third motif that I chose was the river. This is the most integral part of the story, because it is the primary mode of transportation.On page five he asks, â€Å"What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unkown earth! † The river is a connection between civilization and wilderness, ancient times, and modern. The second example is on page 14 where he says, â€Å"Nature herself had tried to ward off intruders; in and out of rivers, streams of death in life, whose banks were rotting into mud, whose waters, thickened into slime, invaded the contorted mangroves, that seemed to writhe at us in the extremity of an impotent despair† . Here he is describing the rivers as the embodiment of the suffering the Europeans are causing.The third example is spoken by the unknown narrator who describes listening to Marlow, â€Å"I listened on the watch for the sentence, for the word, that would give me the clue to the faint uneasiness inspired by this narrative that seemed to shape itself without human lips in the heavy night-air of the river†. Here he uses personification, by saying that the river itself was actually the one telling Marlow’s story. The fourth example is on page 34 when he says â€Å"Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth, and the big trees were kings. This again shows the connecting power of the river from ancient times to modern. The last example was on page 35 where Marlow says, â€Å"The reaches opened before us and closed behind, as if the forest had stepped leisurely across the water to bar the way for our return†. He views the river as a one way path into â€Å"the heart of darkness†. 7. * The first example of assumptions made in the book would be Marlow’s interaction with his Aunt. Because his Aunt has only heard what the companies are telling the world, she believes that the sole purpose of expeditions to Africa is to civilize the â€Å"brutes† who live there.This is, in her mind, a worth while undertaking, so she praises Marlow for his decision. However, if she had actually understood that the reason that the Europeans were in the Congo was to destroy the country in their search for ivory, and mistreat the natives, then her reaction, may not have been as kind. * The second example would be the first interactions between Marlow and the brick maker in the Central Station. Because the brick maker believes that Marlow has connections with officials who are high up in the company, the brick maker is extremely nice to Marlow and immediately attempts to be friend him.He only does this, because he assumed that being friends with Marlow would allow him to get a boost in his standing with the company. * The third example would be the interaction between Marlow and Kurtz’s intended. Marlow who has quite a misogynistic view of women says, â€Å"It’s queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there had never been anything like it, and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether, and if they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset. Because he has this preconceived notion of women being so fragile, he acts cautiously when he meets Kurtz’s intended, and eventually, this preconceived notion causes him to lie to her about exactly the kind of man that Kurtz really is. 8. â€Å"The horror† that Mr. Kurtz refers to would partially be his involvement in the European presence in the Congo. Unlike the other managers of stations, Kurtz is not completely detat ched from the natives. He gets to know them on a personal level, until they idolize him as a God, and I believe that eventually he began to feel remorse for the way that he was using them.He could never have a real, true relationship with them, because he still had to report to a company, so the main basis of their relationship would always be extortion. Kurtz eventually realized how wrong this was, but at that point he was so involved that there was no way he could reverse the damage he had done there. I feel that he was also, in his last dying breath, attempting to continue the legacy that he had managed to build for himself. Throughout the entire book it seems as if people idolize him for his speeches, but are never able to give real substance for why he is this fantastically, amazing person they describe him to be.This would be a great example. No one will ever be able to explain exactly what â€Å"The horror! The horror! † refers to, but the words are just haunting enoug h that Marlow will never be able to go a day without contemplating what they could possibly mean. In this way, Kurtz is ensuring that his legacy will live on. 9. I believe that the frame structure is very important, because it gives credibility, and a sense of meaning to the story. A story being relayed by the person who experienced it may or may not be interesting or of extreme importance.But, because Conrad chose to have another narrator relaying Marlow’s story, it shows that Marlow was not the only one who thought that the story was worth hearing. It lends that the narrator heard the story from Marlow, and decided it was worth while enough that other people besides those that heard it from Marlow, should hear the story. It also allows Conrad to skip over the least important parts of the story, and only leave those details that are crucial to the story line. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph, and Robert Kimbrough. Heart of Darkness: An Authoritative Text, Backgrounds and Sources, Essays in Criticism. New York: Norton, 1971. Print.