The Destructors and Lord of the Flies

The Destructor and the Lord of the Flies Being a successful leader doesn't mean that you have to be aggressive and to use the power of authority. Both, in the destructor story and Lord of the Flies novel we could find some similarities in the way how the young children managed to be leaders and to achieve what they wanted. In the Lord of the Flies we can find two characters of two young children that used to be leader. In one side we had Ralph whose aim was how to escape from the island and in the other side we had Jack whose grief was how to secure food.Ralph was very calm and well educated boy but he had one problem hat he couldn't managed to have under control Jack. This might be because of lack of knowledge since he was too young. Ralph ideas of taking care about the fire was brilliant, this is because if we have a list of equipment's that we need to survive in such places in the first place should be a mirror or light that would reflect the light , so that would be a chance for them to be identified from a long distance.Jack character was too aggressive and he wanted to be a leader and to take things under control, but the problem was that he didn't see any long term solution besides securing food. He was not cooperative with the others and wanted to control situation using his power which in most of cases doesn't work and this was shown as well since he started to get control in his tribe, some of them lost their lives. In the end of the film we can conclude that Ralph idea that he gave when he took leadership was realized.Soldiers wouldn't saw them, if there were not any fire on the field. In the Destructor story we can find some other characters of young children. In one side we had Blackleg who was appointed as a leader of a gang with voting but since he didn't have any new ideas he didn't manage to keep the leadership. When T comes and he gave his idea he immediately keep leading and he achieved to realize his goal by managing the team by delegating d uties to each of them in order to make them all involved.Finally we could say that having a good ideas and being creative and being able to manage and implement in proper way this is how usually works in many cases but you need to have an experience and to be able to keep things under control. In Jacks case he proved that being a leader and using authority and power doesn't really work and possibilities to fail are more than to win. Shaped. The Destructor and Lord of the Flies By Shipped

Expository/Persuasive Writing: Romeo & Juliet Essay

Is Romeo & Juliet still relevant to a modern audience? Romeo and Juliet’s story is still relevant today, as people in society and religion have similar experiences with what they went through. For example: -Gang warfare (Capulet vs Montague) -Strength of love (Romeo & Juliet) -Strength of friendship (Romeo & Mercutio). Don’t you agree? Romeo and Juliet is a play that shows how prejudice leads to escalating violence, In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare teaches that families can divide a relationship. It took both families the deaths of their own children to realize the family feud had to be ended immediately. The two key factors of this message: Love is blind Vengeance never ends well. ‘Romeo and Juliet were silly kids who asked for trouble and got it’ is this fair to say? Was this Love or Stupidity? It was love alright. Love at its purest and most intense. I think that’s why Shakespeare chose such young people to be the lovers. And yes, they’re stupid. Young love often is. Unfortunately for Romeo and Juliet, they die before they get wiser, or more disillusioned. What lessons can we learn from Romeo and Juliet? We can learn that Romantic love can be beautiful and ennobling, Passion Can Overtake Reason and Common Sense, Immaturity and inexperience can lead to tragic endings, Judge People by their character and personal qualities, not by their name or social standing and Innocent children sometimes pay for the sins of their parents.

Tina Turner

Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have earned her the title The Queen of Rock ‘n' Roll.[1][2][3] Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.[4] Success followed with a string of hits including â€Å"River Deep, Mountain High† and the 1971 hit â€Å"Proud Mary†. With the publication of her autobiography I, Tina (1986), Turner revealed severe instances of spousal abuse against her by Ike Turner prior to their 1976 split and subsequent 1978 divorce. After virtually disappearing from the music scene for several years following her divorce from Ike Turner, she rebuilt her career, launching a string of hits beginning in 1983 with the single â€Å"Let's Stay Together† and the 1984 release of her fifth solo album Private Dancer. Her musical career led to film roles, beginning with a prominent role as The Acid Queen in the 1975 film Tommy, and an appearance in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. She starred opposite Mel Gibson as Aunty Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome for which she received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, and her version of the film's theme, â€Å"We Don't Need Another Hero†, was a hit single. She appeared in the 1993 film Last Action Hero. One of the world's most popular entertainers, Turner has been called the most successful female rock artist[5] and was named â€Å"one of the greatest singers of all time† by Rolling Stone.[6] Her albums and singles have sold nearly 180 million copies worldwide.[7][8] She has sold more concert tickets than any other solo music performer in history.[9][10] She is known for her energetic stage presence,[2] powerful vocals, career longevity,[9] and widespread appeal.[11] In 2008, Turner left semi-retirement to embark on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour.[12][13] Turner's tour became one of the highest selling ticketed shows of 2008-2009.[8] Turner was born a Baptist, but converted to Buddhism and credits the spiritual chants with giving her the strength that she needed to get through the rough times.[14]

Marks and Spencer is one of the leading and the most recognized name Research Paper

Marks and Spencer is one of the leading and the most recognized name in the fashion industry - Research Paper Example The company, by applying prudent marketing techniques, has been able to grab market share of around 11.7% by value and 12.4% by volume. Marks and Spencer has also been actively involved in the business of marketing and selling edible products which has earned the company immense revenue in the past few years. Through its unmatchable food quality, Marks and Spencer is now regarded as one of the finest when it comes to quality food products. The financial outlook of the company also looks quite stable. During the financial year of 2012, the company has been able to increase its revenue by an impressive 2.0% to a striking ?9.9 billion though the operating profit of the company took a slight downward plunge of about 1.2%. In addition, the financial ratio analysis of the company and the comparison of the company with its competitor also show that a positive financial outlook can be forecasted. INTRODUCTION The paper presents evaluates the financial performance of Marks and Spencer, a high ly recognized name in the fashion market. Marks and Spencer is a listed company and has been operating lucratively for the past many years. The company operations have been highly successful in the past many years and it portrays sound and stable financial outlook. Following is a brief and recent financial highlight of the company Financial Highlight of the Company The paper primarily discusses the financial outlook of the company as evaluated through its financial statements. The initial section of the page discusses the key operations of the company and under what conditions it is operating in the UK market. The paper briefly discuses the historical financial performance of the company focusing group revenue and profit before and after tax. Moving forward, the paper presents a comparison of the current and last year financial performance of the company through financial statement ratio analysis. The primary reason to conduct a ratio analysis is to quantify the results of the opera tions of a company and compare them with that of the prior year(s) in order to assess different aspects of the financial feasibility. The ratios are divided into profitability, liquidity and gearing ratios. The paper identifies the areas, through ratio analysis, where the company is performing well and where it needs improvements. In conclusion the paper presents a comparison of the financial and operational performance of Marks and Spencer with one of its primary competitors, Debenhams. Major financial ratios are compared and in addition, historical share prices are also analyzed of both companies in order to identify which company has a better market capitalization and better reputation from investor’s perspective. For the purpose of the financial analysis, the historical financial information from the financial year 2012 till 2008 has been used. RECENT ANALYSIS OF UK RETAIL INDUSTRY During the current financial year 2012, the UK retail industry witnessed a mix trend. As re ported by the Marks and Spencer in its press releases, the start of the current financial year was better than expected and the company reaped great profit. However it was observed that later half of the current year proved to be more difficult for doing business, especially the month of August and September. During that particular period, the share price of Marks and Sp

The Advantages and Disadvantages during the Simulation Essay

The Advantages and Disadvantages during the Simulation - Essay Example Financial Statement represents information exhibiting firms’ performance. The balance sheet shows financial position of the firm at one point in time while income statement shows the profit and loose for the previous year (Curkovic, 2000). The 21st-century car challenge is a simulation that illustrates the various impacts of engineering decisions in an automobile industrial and global environment. Engineering decisions impact the financial performances of each competing company and are assessed by customers. Using a good business strategy is the key to win in this simulation. As I did this simulation as a member of the Red Team, we need to define product by making decisions about engineering and sell it by taking marketing decisions, also manufacture, invest, and decide on quality, human resource and loans in order to optimize profitability and return on capital employed (Mega learning, 2012). This report will be divided to be 4parts: advantages and disadvantages of the strategy we did, alternative options, the optimum strategy, and conclusion. At the first period, the Red Team faced to the problems of the high cost of non-quality, a low competitive advantage in the next period, low EBIT, the low value of share price compared with competitors, high rate of stocks, and low percentages of employee morale. Because we focused on IMAGE cars and Family cars only, so we used the strategy of beyond current expectations by improving their quality through invested much in engineering and marketing and we did not invest in manufacturer facilities and Human Resource and Quality due to the limited budget. We decided to solve problems in the next period by using product development and market development strategies with the focus of IMAGE cars as the main product. The share price and EBIT grew up as a result but other products still had a lot of inventories.  

Free Trade Agreements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Free Trade Agreements - Essay Example The per capita consumption in U.S tripled by introduction of free trade practice. Americans are depending on different countries in the world for different needs. Americans importing cameras and car from Japan, shirts from Bangladesh, videocassette recorders from South Korea, paper products from Canada, fresh flowers from Ecuador, Oil from Kuwait, steel from China and Computer Programmes from India. In 2001, U.S imports of goods and services totalled $1.6 trillion. Not only in importing goods, Americans are number one in world exporters. They sell computers, bulldozers, financial services, movies and thousands of other products to entire world. They are selling $1.3 trillion worth goods to different parts of the world. In the past three decades, the U.S imports and exports increased from 11 percent to 30 percent. And also financial investment is gown from less than 1percent to 3percent. One of major concern of the Americans was the large import from different countries may destroy the jobs and nation becoming dependent on others. But the trade is the great generator of economic well-being. It improves the competition, through the productivity and quality will improve. It will avail cheaper and better good for the consumers. By spurring economic activity and reducing cots, trade helps create jobs. By enhancing productivity and quality, the U.S companies makes vibrant in world market. Imports are the real fruits of trade because the end goal of economy activity is consumption. Americans view the free trade as an unfair trade. The cheap imports hurts the higher cost US suppliers, but consumers will gain from this. The U.S traders become more dependent on other countries. The domestic industries will fell down. It will destroy the jobs of factory workers, farmers and reduce the wages. On wrong heading into a trade, will sap the US economy and sour its relationship with other countries. The American live and work in a highly dependent Society. People buys good from thousands of sources, including different part of the world. U. S accepted specialisation and trade and as it rewards the standard of living is higher than any other country in the world. English economist David Ricardo explained the benefits of specialisation and trade. In his theory he explains, an average American worker produces 100bushels of soybeans or five pairs of shoes and a Chinese worker produces 8 bushels of soybean and 4 pair of shoes. U.S is more productive than China in both industries, but specialization and trade both the counties can gain more. By shifting American worker from shoe factory to soybean farm produces a gain of 100 bushels of soybeans at the cost of five pairs of shoes. Shifting two Chinese workers from farm to factory raises show out put by eight pairs but cuts soybean production by 16 bushels. The net effect is an increase of 84 bushel of soybean and three pairs of shoes. In this example both the countries should specialised on their own products and this will maximise the production. Both countries can divide the production between themselves and it will offer better than they were by their own. The specialization of trade arises out of the profit motive. Each country can expertise their own advantage and support to the countries for their needs as expertise on their product. By the country can offer better living standards to the people. If we consume only what we produce,

Business Research Method2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business Research Method2 - Essay Example The metamorphosis of education industry is visible at all levels such as primary education, secondary education, higher education, adult education and alternative education. The change has been with the curriculum, learning modalities, teaching, technology, and economics. Education at preschool levels: Education at the preschool level has seen enormous changes in the last two decades. Preschool or Childcare was initially started with an intention to serve those working couple who have to leave the child in a creche, which can take care of the child during the day. Gradually these creche started converting themselves into education providers for the little toddlers. Creches not only provide care for children of working mothers but also play an educational role, with the pre-school education play a key part in child's development (Vlok 1996, pg.403). These schools fulfills the basic issues which the parents would like their children to achieve including personal, social, and emotional development apart from communication, knowledge and understanding of the world Since the initiation of the globalization process, the education industry has changed completely. Now educational institutions can spread their wings globally to any part of the world where potential exists including in developing but potential countries like China, India, etc. Educational institutions try to enter new markets through entry strategies like the franchisee system. According to a report â€Å"the preschool industry in India accounts for 985million$ and the largest chain of pre schools in India comprises of just 550 schools, less than 4% of the total market potential of 15,000 preschools†. (Kumar 2008). Though the above mentioned fact, it is very clear that in a country like India there is a huge potential to start preschool businesses. Modern pre schools which would like to distinguish from the rest and stay away from cut throat competition, now offers other extra curricular activitie s to the children who enroll with them like playing, teamwork, self help skills, scientific thinking, creative arts, etc. As far as the pre school industry is concerned the competition is from the unorganized sector. Parents wanting to put their wards in the best schools located at far away places have left many a school go vacant in the UK. In December 2008, revised school admission code was formulated and was presented in the parliament. One of the agenda is to â€Å"improve the application process so that parents can apply for a school place to the local authority in which they live, instead of the authorities where their preferred schools are located† (nfer.ac.uk) With the visible improvement in the lifestyle of the people, the demand for a well structured, branded pre-school will grow leaps and bounds in the years to come. â€Å"The preschools which have a good track record and look for new things to inculcate in their curriculum remain successful. Moreover, the educati on and training sector is ever growing and everyone wants to try his or her hand at it.† (Arora 2010). The other issue plaguing the pre-school sector is the shortage of teachers, which has become a universal challenge. The global teaching force in primary education has expanded since 1971 but, has slowed down ever since 2000. In primary education sector, education providers who can provide a decent pay to the teachers could stay afloat in serious competition.

Anaylize the Development of a story- To Build a Fire, by Jack London Essay

Anaylize the Development of a story- To Build a Fire, by Jack London - Essay Example A Chechaquo traveler starts his journey for Henderson Creek in the Yukon Territory of Alaska under the temperature of fifty degrees below zero (London, p.104-105). He begins his journey to meet his friends at an old claim with his native husky dog although; he had been advised not to travel alone in Klondike in such an extreme weather of minus fifty degree at Sulphur creek. The author has devised this pattern at the beginning to acknowledge his readers about the association of human determination verses fate. As nature impacts immensely on the plans of a man and throughout his life the destiny remains like an oasis for him. Thus, the author has depicted the zeal of a man for accomplishments and life along with his struggle to survive even in the worst case scenario. This story is about a one day journey probably few hours after 9 am. The unknown traveler observes the extremity of weather by spitting and his spit is frozen in the mid air before it lands on the snow covered ground. His nose and cheeks are frozen and he expects frost bite, if he did not warm them. He travels with determination in an unknown zone despite of the cold to reach his destiny leaving the main trail and carefully avoiding the soft patches of the creek. The author has demonstrated amorality and responsibility in the later part of the story. He has woven the storyline in such a fashion to furnish his naturalist inclinations and to show the human planning, thinking and action process as inevitable to fate’s or nature’s decisions. Therefore, man even with his vigilant planning and meticulous decisions cannot avoid or forgo the misery destined for him. Extreme cold weather is the antagonist of the story; thus, the author has developed acceptance in the readers to expect the worst from the nature without being judgmental about it. Around twelve O’clock he sat down to eat his lunch but to his horror his fingers, toes

Project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Project management - Essay Example Besides, there is also a requirement for effective risk and problem management in every phase of project life cycle (Richardson and Butler 1-97). Based on this aspect, paper discusses a distinguished project namely RMS Titanic project. THESIS STATEMENT The objective of the paper is to analyse the life cycle of the project. Furthermore, the paper also describes the procedure of resource management, risk management and management of problems throughout the project. ABOUT RMS TITANIC PROJECT Titanic was regarded as the biggest passenger ship around the world. RMS Titanic was a legendary project and was the first ship to use SOS. The RMS Titanic project was initiated by White Star Line organisation in collaboration with Harland and Wolff dockyard. The project started in the year 1910 and finished in the year 1912. Nevertheless, on 15th April in 1912, the RMS Titanic sank in the Atlantic sea. The incident resulted in death of about 1517 people and loss of valuable resources, time and effo rt. At that time, the managing director of the organisation, i.e. White Star was Bruce Ismay. The model of Titanic was designed by Thomas Andrew and the captain of the ship was Edward Smith. These people are the key stakeholders of the project RMS Titanic and were liable for ensuring that every operation is done according to plan (Jones 59-80). PROJECT LIFE CYCLE OF RMS TITANIC The lifecycle of any project consists of five typical phases. The first phase is idea generation phase. In this phase, the project is planned according to expected business requirements and outcomes. The second phase is designing phase, where the architecture and design of a project is decided according to the business requirements. The third phase is construction phase, where the project is implemented according to agreed requirements and prior decisions regarding design. The fourth phase is testing phase where the project is tested to recognise predicted risks as well as procedures for mitigating them. Fina lly, the fifth phase is launch phase, where the project is launched for real time performance (Seacord and Nwosu, â€Å"Life Cycle Activity Areas for Component-Based Software Engineering Processes†). Idea Generation of Titanic Project. During 1908s, White Star was confronting tremendous business pressures due to increased competition in the area of technology and also due to emergence of new entrants in the business segment of the organisation. Furthermore, White Star also faced considerable challenges because of aging technological structure and substandard customer services. As a result, it lost considerable amount of market share and customers. In order to deal with these business issues, White Star developed a business strategy which can leverage emerging technology and can enhance the number of customers. White Star concentrated on improving the quality of journey and passenger experience as a part of its reaction to the competition. This business strategy necessitated h igh investment in new technology. Hence, in order to enhance the business performance, White Star invested in new super liners and attempted to exploit the travelling market in the Atlantic route. The outcome of this investment was initiation of RMS Titanic project which was mostly intended to address the requirements of three passenger classes with topmost priority on upper class customer segment. Therefore, in RMS Titanic project, the emphasis was on the comfort of passengers, rather than the speed

HRIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HRIS - Essay Example This problem could potentially affect all areas of business for many companies. 2. The reason why so many organizations found themselves vulnerable to the Y2K bug is because they were not disciplined when it came to phase containment. The problem was not only a result of initial legacy systems; many replacement custom systems simply replicated or converted the old programming logic without fixing them. Along with a company's unwillingness to research to find a true fix to the problem, many waited too long and were left rushing to find a solution. The warnings of experts and futurists only added fire to the alarm felt by already panicked companies as many turned to extremely expensive quick fixes. Many of these quick fixes ended up costing billions more than if companies had simply stayed disciplined to phase containment from the beginning. 3. Phase containment can be maintained by acting immediately to any kind of problem as soon as it presents itself. The term "pay a little now, or a lot later" should be applied to every aspect of business along with the realization that even if a maintenance cost may seem expensive at the time, it will end up saving money in the long run. Keeping in close contact with employees and everyone who uses the HRIS software can help keep everyone aware of problems as they present themselves. Part B. 1. Based on the out of date process detailed in figure 4.5 many changes can be made. There are many manual processes required for this HR model and as research has proven manual processes often contain large amounts of human error. By analyzing the current system, businesses can evaluate "where they are now" and what can be done to improve their system. For example a business may use interviews, focus groups, or surveys to help assess their system to see what aspects can be streamlines or eliminated. Looking at Figure 4.5 it may be seen that instead of manually filling out a time card each day, employees could clock in and out with a computer or their hours could be paid through a salary system to avoid any miscalculations, unreadable written information, or typos. The company could download a kind of fact checking system to make sure that the hours employees clocked in and out for were properly documented, eliminating the need for a payroll assistant. By setting up a salary system, there would be no need to hire anyone to calculate payroll, because it would be the same amount of money every time. Then, if an employee notifies payroll of a mistake there will be no need to have to go in and manually recheck what was entered because it would all be electronically calculated. 2. Based on the Hacket Best Practices Benchmark Study of Human Resources' estimate that $17 is wasted in every manual HR transaction this new process can save a company a fortune. If every step in the 6 step model represents a transaction then the company could potentially be wasting $102 for each employee whose payroll they process. With the new improved system the company could save all of this money by eliminating unnecessary transaction steps. If a company pays 10,000 employees once a month, they would save 1,020,000 per month and 12,240,000 per year. 3. Overall, based upon my analysis of this

Descriptive writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Descriptive writing - Essay Example There are shops on two sides, open to the public, with no doors or windows, as if to suggest that there is no distinction between shopping and standing around in the station. Indeed so it seems in reality, since most of the customers appear to be just passing the time, gazing at the magazine titles and tourist trinkets with an air of distraction. An old lady struggles to push her suitcase between the aisles until a city gentleman in a sharp suit helps her to reach the checkout. They make an incongruous pair, the businessman and the old lady, who are now chatting amiably in the queue. He must be six feet four, at least, while she is tiny, craning her neck to speak to him. I wonder what they are talking about, since they surely have very little in common. Perhaps she has a son the same age, or perhaps they are just exchanging pleasantries, as people do, when they meet a stranger in a public place such as this. A melodic jingle sounds, and a female voice announces some delay affecting the London Express. The accent is decidedly Scottish, in keeping with the Edinburgh setting, but at the same time cool and unemotional. The apology for the delay and the â€Å"inconvenience that this may cause† sounds studiously sincere. A moment later the same message, in the same lilting tones, is repeated. This time the stopping service to Dundee is mentioned. It is a tape recording, endlessly repeating the comings and goings of the trains. The disembodied voice is tireless in its efforts to reassure the customers, announcing delays and arrivals, exhorting passengers to look after their luggage, and alerting them to imminent departures. Three uniformed station workers guard the turnstiles. One of them opens a special gate for the disabled, people with dogs, or the odd passenger who is overloaded with luggage. The other two are just standing there, gazing at the noticeboard with the same vacant expression that the crowds of waiting passengers share. They are mesmerised by the

Ethical Issues in Testing and Assessment Essay Example for Free

Ethical Issues in Testing and Assessment Essay Counselling psychology plays an essential role in the life of most individuals nowadays. Even various institutions like schools and corporations also used this field of psychology especially in dealing with their students and employees. Counselling psychology is responsible for conducting various tests and assessments in order to measure the intelligence, personality and other related factors concerning the behaviour of an individual. Nevertheless, ethical issues are often associated with these tests and assessments due to the sensitive cases that are involve in it. A good example is the MMPI that is a kind of personality test. MMPI is a test that is designed to measure the pathological personality traits of an individual. It has been widely recognized and used as a personality assessment technique. The administration of this assessment takes about an hour and a half wherein the individual who would receive this test have to answer a large number of items that would reveal their personality (Butcher Hostetler, 1990). The validity and reliability of the MMPI has been debated. This is due to the fact that some argues that personality is very difficult to measure especially since it often deals with psychological construct. Moreover, ethical issues also become observable when this MMPI is not use for its intended purpose. The main objective of the MMPI is to give substantial result about the personality of an individual but some use it in terms of employment. The result of the MMPI becomes a basis for certain institutions or companies to discriminate individuals from a certain position (A Guide to Psychology and its Practice, n.d. ). This becomes unethical since the MMPI is not similar to employment tests and thus, it does not give reliable results on whether a person should be hired or not for a particular occupation. Furthermore, personality test like the MMPI often fails to recognize that the personality of an individual has a lot to do with its cultural background. The MMPI should not be implemented universally since there should be discretion in using it depending on the type of culture that an individual has. This is essential in order to get reliable results from this personality test. Lastly, ethical issues also exist in the administration and examination of the MMPI. This is due to the fact that psychologists who conduct these tests should not be subjective in interpreting its results. They should also observed confidentiality with regards to the result of such assessment as well as the necessary precaution in taking care of the important documents that concern the individuals whom they administered these tests. References A Guide to Psychology and its Practice. (n. d. ). Psychological Testing. Retrieved August 11, 2008, from http://www. guidetopsychology. com/testing. htm. Butcher, J. N. Hostetler, K. (1990). Abbreviating MMPI Item Administration: What Can Be Learned From the MMPI for the MMPI – 2? Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Retrieved August 11, 2008, from http://www1. umn. edu/mmpi/Reprints/Abbreviating%20MMPI%20item%20administration. html.

Consent And Informed Consent Nursing Essay

Consent And Informed Consent Nursing Essay The Mosby pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Health Profession defines consent as, permission given by an individual acknowledged as legally competent. Informed consent is a requirement necessary prior to any invasive procedure to be performed. Simpson (2011) highlights consent is permission given by the client for a procedure to be implemented. While, Wilhite (2010) explains that informed consent is a process where clients are informed of the risk, benefits and alternative treatment empowering client to play a part to make informed and autonomous decisions proceed for the treatment. As demonstrated by Hall et al. (2012) informed consent encompasses and intersect three different concepts; ethical, legal and administrative factors. Ethically, it safeguards and supports the autonomous decisions made by the client. Hereby, Bosek and Savage (2007) and Rumbold (2002) cites Gillon (1986) defined autonomy as a major ethical principle based on respect for an individual who is capable to think and decide independently for informed choices. Legally, it acts as defence against assault or battery as also supported by Staunton Chiarella (2008). Lastly, administrative purpose ensures that ethical and legal aspects of informed consent are implemented and appropriately documented. In the writers opinion, most sourced definition and concepts are consistent and capture the overall essence of informed consent. However, the definition of informed consent from Mosby pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Health Profession lacks the knowledge of information giving and only pointed to invasive procedures. As much as possible, informed consent in nursing procedures should also be included. Consent differs from informed consent. Consent is the act of asking approval to proceed onto a procedure. Conversely, informed consent is a process in which all information relayed is understood by the receiver and decides independently. The act of securing an informed consent is to protect clients rights which resemble the ethical principle of autonomy and avoid any legal ramification to the nurse (Wilhite, 2010). As practicing nurses, we should act as advocates, and build rapport with our client to facilitate the process of obtaining informed consent; Tschudin (2002) affirms that it is also a caring act that involves connecting one another. The next few paragraphs, the professional, ethical and legal drivers will be identified and explained. Professional drivers for nurses are indicated in the professional code of ethics and conduct. It serves as platform for self-regulation, a professional responsibility to ensure that the right and quality duty of care is carried out (Bandman and Bandman, 1995). This corresponds with the ethical theory of Deontology, Thompson et al. (2006) refers Deontology as actions that is based on duties, principles and duties. His view is further reinforced by Bosek and Savage (2007), which emphasise that ones moral duties and responsibilities act is consistent with the right actions. In the Singapore Context, the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB) Code and Ethics and Professional Conduct (1999) value statement 2 states Nurses shall respect the clients right for self-determination and provide them with whatever information they require to make informed decisions concerning their own care. It accentuates ethical principle of upholding autonomy of the client when nurses are securing informed consent. Staunton Chiarella (2008) adds that when a client is asked to give consent to treatment, the nurse is compelled to provide sufficient information. In value statement 2.4, it says nurses should obtain consent for nursing intervention where necessary and collaborate with other members of the health care team to obtain consent for medical treatment. When client are incapable to make informed choices, consent should be sought from family members or significant others. The holistic process of securing an informed consent is encouraged and to be obtained from relatives if otherwise. However, McHale (2009) argues if an adult client ability to decide is deficit or without any represented decision maker; that is appointed by the court or client himself, treatment can proceed in the client best interest and minimise harm caused. This resembles the ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. Beauchamp and Childress (2009) refer beneficence and non-maleficence as acting for the benefit of others following a moral duty and the act of not causing any form of harm. In the context of United Kingdom (UK), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Conduct, Performance and ethics for nurses; Regulation in Practice (2012) declares the regulation of consent taking comprises various aspects of situations, issues and policies. Situational events such as emergencies, issues concern with refusal of consent by competent or incompetent client and minors under age of 16. Lastly, policies of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act (2005) are incorporated. It embodies the ideal guidelines and procedures of obtaining informed consent. The writer infers SNB say on informed consent taking as ambiguously written, In terms of the choice of words used such as whatever information and where necessary. The writer argues against that whatever information may be misleading on how adequate is whatever information to be disclosed and where necessary is to abide by the convenience of the nurse or clients rights. Conversely, the writer remarks that NMC consent taking procedures are specifically and descriptively written in every section on the regulation. It is used to assist healthcare professional when faced with any moral dilemma or uncertainty. Both professional code of ethics and conduct stresses on the ethical principle of safeguarding autonomy of the clients and protects the nurse against liability of torts. Legal drawbacks related to failure to obtain informed consent may be imposed to the healthcare professionals and face the following claims; battery and/or assault and false imprisonment (Staunton Chiarella, 2008). Fleming (1998) as cited by Aveyard (2002) defines battery and assault as deliberately touching, inducing harm, injury or offensive contact to a client without clients consent. False imprisonment is defined as individual is physically detained from leaving the place (Kelly, 2011). Following a given example, battery may be claimed towards Nurse Jane when she performed a sponge bath intentionally, when the competent conscious adult client who is on complete rest in bed order has refused it. Ethically, Nurse Jane has applied the principles of beneficence, that it is her client best interest that she feels clean fresh after sponge bathing. However, clients autonomy was tempered by not allowing her time to decide and Nurse Jane forced a treatment in contradiction of clients will. Thus, contributing to the liability for tort of battery. In this instance, Nurse Jane has also committed a Paternalistic act. Rumbold (2002) outlines Paternalism as the decisions and preferences of the client are ignored and clinicians act on behalf of the client. The autonomy and beneficent act may conflict and risk becoming a paternalistic act. To prevent paternalism, several writers, (Simpson 2011; Slowther 2007; Aveyard 2002) implies that healthcare professionals should respect clients autonomous rights when treatment is refused even so, if it leads to death. As a practicing nurse, Jane should adopt the caring act and gradually give details about the nature of the intentional procedure. Allowing the client time to decide and promote autonomy. The tort of false imprisonment can be liable to the nurse when a competent client is not committing harm to self or others is detained without his consent (Kelly, 2011). It is similar to a situation whereby a nurse falsely imprisons a competent adult client to the bed raising the side rails of the bed preventing him from getting off the bed without his consent. However, Staunton Chiarella (2008) debates in a contrasting situation whereby after approaches to decrease hostility and violent in an incompetent client failed, the use of restraints are allowed without his consent to protect him and others from potential injuries. The clients next of kin and physician in charge needs to be informed of the reason why he is being restraint at that point of time. It is essential that nurses documents the incident to prevent any liability for the tort of false imprisonment or battery. Moving on, the writer explains how informed consent is obtained and criteria for informed consent to be met via an illustrated example of Nurse Kelly, practising on the surgical floor and had been ordered to insert a urinary catheter for her competent adult client. The criteria(s) that should be met when obtaining consent are; client retains the mental capability to make legal decisions, information given by client is suitable and satisfactory. Lastly, client willingly consents without external pressures or coercion (Thompson et al. 2006). Insertion of urinary catheter is an invasive nursing procedure involving a piece of foreign body into the anatomy of the client. Before commencing on the procedure, Nurse Kelly should alley anxiety of the client by introducing herself; gradually explain the purpose, risk, benefits consequences for inserting the urinary catheter and any reasonable alternatives that is available (Wilhite, 2010). Allowing her some time to decide and make the informed choice. Hence, Nurse Kelly is promoting clients autonomy by allowing client to make optimum decision in the best interest of the client. Nevertheless, Nurse Kelly clients may choose to refuse treatment. Hall (1996) supports, nurses are offering the freedom to refuse when permitting client the autonomy for consent to treatment. This situation often causes great stress and dilemma to the nurse as she has the duty carry out the care to safeguard her client from harm and at the same time, to respect her clients autonomy and the right to refuse. To resolve this dilemma, Nurse Kelly may want to view the decision to refuse, from her clients perspective and the reason for refusal of treatment (Slowther, 2007). At this present times, Chavarriaga (2000) and Cole (2012) admit that the use of implied consent is commonly implemented within the nursing practice. Cole outlines Implied consent as the behaviour of the conscious client is consistent with the nursing procedure that is about to be implemented. It is recognised that the usual nursing procedure such as taking vital signs seen as non-invasive and quick procedure that would not cause any potential harm. However so, the practice of implied should be discourage as much as possible so as to protect patient autonomy and promote meaningful decisions and prevent potential battery can be imposed to the nurse for unrightfully touching. Obtaining informed consent for nursing procedures often seen as a rigid process (Aveyard, 2002). Therefore, as much as possible, it is a better practice in clinical area to practice obtaining informed consent prior to any nursing interventions to uphold the professional obligations as practicing nurses. In a true emergency situation it is an exception area whereby obtaining informed consent is withheld as supported by these writers (Simpson, 2011; Michael, 2002; Chavarriaga, 2000; Hall, 1996). In this exceptional case, consent taking is implied as the ethical principle of beneficence and non-maleficence is prioritised over clients autonomy. It is the Doctrine of necessity where immediate treatment is necessary to preserve the life and prevent harm to the client and it is assumed that client would consent if able to do so (Staunton Chiarella, 2008) In another situation, Michael (2002) insists that when client is scheduled for a surgical procedure that is being done by the physician. It is the responsibility of the physician to secure a written informed consent and not the nurse. As argued by Michael, nurses play a part as a witness and clients advocates during the process of informed consent taking with the physician. Beforehand, nurses could assess for outstanding impairments or limitations such as; language barrier or hearing impairments that would be a hindrance to clients understanding during the process of informed consent (Wilhite, 2010). These are initiatives taken by the nurse to assist and encourage clients autonomy. On balance, literatures referenced are in favour for nurses playing a major role in securing informed consent (Wilhite, 2010; Chavarriaga, 2000; Simpson, 2010; Aveyard, 2002; McHale, 2009; Michael, 2002 Hall et al., 2012). Legal nurses (Wilhite, 2010; Simpson, 2010 Michael, 2002) who authored the literatures emphasise and define on the major role of nurses securing informed consent, Philosopher (Aveyard, 2002 p.243) reaffirms that nurses are required to obtain informed consent prior to nursing care as she views that nurses should not be mechanistic but should be determined by the need of individual patients. Finally, this essay has explained the central importance of whether nurses should or should not play a key role in securing an informed consent. The writer for one believes that nurses should play a major role to secure informed consent for nursing procedures to a greater extend. We are compelled as it is stipulated and articulates in the SNB and NMC code of ethics and conduct. When informed consent is obtained, it acts as a safeguard against legality issues; battery and false imprisonment. However nurses may be faced with obstructions such as time constrains and may choose to obtain implied consent instead. Nurses may face with dilemma when client abuse the freedom of choice and refuse treatment. In spite of those constrictions, in reality, nurses are bounded by guidelines to follow. Thus, nurses have to try their best to accomplish it.

European Union

European Union What are the most important issues facing the European Union today and why? The European Union is an integration of European states that encompasses different histories, institutions, political systems and economies. At present the EU boasts 27 member countries with a combined population of over 500 million. The creation of a single currency, the euro, has led these citizens to depend heavily on the union for the success of their respective economies. Furthermore, many others nations out with EU jurisdiction rely on the EU for trade, finance and investment aid. Political historians such as Leonard (2005) have argued that the EU has been in a state of crisis since its inception. However, despite such problems, the EU has emerged as a strong, steady and powerful force in the global political arena. The dawn of the 21st century has brought with it fresh challenges for the EU to address. Many of these issues were outlined by EU President Jose Manuel Barroso in a speech at the European Parliament in 2007. Barroso cited economic reforms, unemployment, social justice and climate change as being matters of pressing concern (2007). This essay serves to highlight these problems and explain why they are the most important issues facing the European Union today. One of the major problems facing the EU is the ever increasing levels of unemployment affecting the majority of the member states. Barroso (2007) stated that close to 20 million EU citizens were classed as unemployed. More worryingly, Barroso stressed that many of those out of work were of a younger demographic. Modigliani (2005) warned that such rates of unemployment can lead to resources being wasted, a decline in output and thus a loss in savings and investment within the economy. Modigliani also hastened to add that unemployment levels can lead to complicated and long-standing social problems as individuals affected can grow despondent and discouraged by the lack of job opportunities. Therefore, unemployment is an important issue impinging on all of the EU states. Bertola (2000) alluded to labour market participation rates, wage inequality, employment dispersion across EU regions and market performance as being the major causes of high unemployment levels within the EU. Labour market performance is guided by government and institutional policies in the EU which in turn control minimum wages, taxation and unemployment benefits. Room (2006) and Barroso (2007) argue that although there are many ways to reduce unemployment, such as wage differentiation and geographical mobility, such measures could alter the economic and political equilibrium currently in place in the EU. Additionally, Wallstrom (2007) is quick to point out that although the elimination of unemployment subsidies across the EU states would reduce unemployment levels, it would in consequence increase the poverty and crime rates thus leading to accelerated levels of social exclusion. As a result, these repercussions have raised alarming concerns for both public and politicians alike as the EU struggles to implement a programme of reform to address the situation. Access to the member states products, capital and labour resources could provide economic efficiency but the levels of regulation required would prove extremely hard to sustain. In response to the growing problems with unemployment, the EU Commission has proposed some measures designed to tackle the issue. These include a revamp of the member states growth and job strategies as well as increasing investment on research and development. It is hoped that this in turn would lead to increased economic output and thus the creation of jobs in the process. However, Wallstrom (2007) argues this could prove a difficult task given the heterogeneous social and economic structures of the EU member states. Additionally, the collapse of the world economy in 2008 has lead to a global recession and has seen employment levels in the EU increase dramatically. The Employment in Europe Report (2009) estimated unemployment levels in Europe would break the10% mark in 2010 and would continue to rise. The issue of climate change has come to the fore spectacularly in the 21st century and is another important issue facing the European Union. Changes in climate variations are occurring around the globe raising genuine concerns about the stability of the planets ecosystem. According to Schroter (2005) these deviations may have a direct affect on levels of food production and water supplies. For example, Berkhout (2005) noted harvest failure within a country can impact the price of certain food commodities in the EU due to imports. Brandt (2001) explains that these growing concerns lead to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol an environmentally friendly policy sanctioned via the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change designed to bring greenhouse gas emissions under control in 1997. In the summer of 2003, a heat wave engulfed much of Europe resulting in record temperatures being recorded. Beniston (2004) stated that the heat wave bore a resemblance to the type of temperatures anticipated by the end of the 21 century. Beniston (2004) concluded that due to an enhanced atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gas, summer temperatures could be expected to increase by 4 degrees celsius on average. According to Christiansen Wettestad (2003), the EU generates one of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for 25% of the worlds production. Brandt (2001) states the EU expects that there will be a 0.8% increase in CO2 emissions annually. Furthermore, the EU faces additional problems with its failure to persuade its members to adopt the carbon tax due to the many rules and regulations incorporated in the policy (Christiansen Wettestad, 2003). The use of fossil fuels is another factor that leads to global warming and can have a detrimental long term affect on the climate. Kruger Pizer (2004) cite that increased emission levels due to the development of the transport sector have led to further issues for the EU to address. These substantial growths in emission output can have a direct impact on allowance prices if the EU attempted to meet Kyoto Protocol targets by using offset purchases. The growing carbon market is another area of concern for the European Union. Howse Eliason (2008) argue that it is crucial levels of carbon footprint are monitored in order to reduce emissions in the air. According to Kruger et al. (2007) the European Union launched an emissions trading program in 2005 with the aim of meeting the Kyoto Protocol targets for tackling climate change. However, the complexity of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is causing the member states to experience various political and economic challenges as they attempt to meet the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol. Howse Eliason (2008) cite that an investigation carried out by the Financial Times concluded that a number of companies operating within EU boundaries receive unjust carbon credits and that this is causing an unfair subsidy distribution in EU states. Howse Eliason, (2008) claim this is an issue because the results do not coincide with emissions reduction. Therefore, the EU needs to devise strategies to regulate such outcomes. The issue of security is another obstacle facing the European Union. Kicinger (2004) writes that external threats to security present far greater problems than those posed internally. To put it simply, this is because these threats cannot be predicted. One such threat is terrorism. Wallstrom (2007) argues that although Europes policy of passport-free travel is beneficial for business and tourism, it allows cross-border terrorists and criminals freedom of access within the member states. Terrorism is a major issue because innocent peoples lives are at stake. Schilder Hauschild (2004) note that EU states are also used as a base to plan and devise terrorist attacks. These criminals deploy state of the art resources, have well maintained networks and are capable of resorting to horrific levels of violence. Kicinger (2004) writes that Al Qaeda an Islamist fundamental group formed in the late 1980s and renowned for its terrorist activities housed logistical cells in the EU member states of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. Therefore, the concentrated effort of the EU to tackle such problems is crucial. Another security concern for the EU is the technological advancements in modern arms. This puts the current security measures in place by the EU in question. Flow of trade and investment within the European states has given rise to the prosperity of the EUs inhabitants. However, in spite of the advantages that free trade has brought, it has also heightened the threat of internal terrorism. Europe is now a playground for organised crime and is rife with drug trafficking, illegal immigrants and prostitution (Schilder Hauschild, 2004). Cross-border and neighboring threats also add to the security concerns of the European Union. Disputes in Kashmir and the Korean Peninsula as detailed by Schilder Hauschild (2004) affected the EU member states both directly and indirectly. The European Union Commission has pledged to combat the security threat and via foreign policy and crisis management initiatives have made provisions for security. According to Barroso (2007), these include securing borders with member states and with international countries more effectively. Moreover, the EU is attempting to forge policies and agreements with their transatlantic partners in order to minimise any threats posed to security although this is proving a difficult task to achieve. In conclusion, since its formation in 1993, the European Union has served to address a great number of important issues. These issues are not solely confined to the borders of EU but are commonly dealt with throughout the world. This essay has highlighted the EUs growing problems with unemployment levels, focused on the pearls of climate change and has detailed the threat of terrorism to the EUs stability. These are just a few of the important issues facing the European Union today.

Sir Donald Bradman Essay -- Sports Baseball Bradmand Essays

Sir Donald Bradman Sir Donald Bradman, who died at the age of 92, was the greatest cricketer of the 20th century and the greatest batsman ever lived. He was arguably the most famous athlete in the eyes of most Australians, as sports has played the major role in giving the young nation of Australia global standing, self-belief and a sense of identity. Sir Donald Bradman is an Australian sporting hero. His achievements on the cricket field from 1928 to 1948 are still among the world's best. The tragic boxer of Les Darcy and champion galloper Phar Lap played a part, making up a trinity of Australian sporting legends, but nothing could match the phenomenon of Bradman. His battling statistics are incredible, incomparably ahead of everyone else playing the game. He creases in major cricket for 338 times, but in 117 of those innings returned with a century. He was better than twice the ratios achieved by such greats such as Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton, Denis Compton. His first class average was 95.4, where his nearest rival is 71. Most famously, he went out at the Oval in his last ten innings needing only four to finish with an average of 100, and was bowled second by Eric Hollies, of Warkwickshire, for a duck. It was as though the cricket god had reclaimed the invulnerability they had given him. His final average is 99.94 remains so resonant in cricket history, that the Australian Broadcasting Commission uses it as its post office box number. Donald Bradman had embodied the Australian dream. He was a country boy, born in Cootamundra in rual New South Wales. Donald bradman was the blond, blue-eyed baby of the family, with other three older sisters and a brother. His father was a carpenter and farmer whose earnings was average. None of bradman’s school friends lived there him, so in those solitary moments, he had invented a game that involved throwing a golf ball at the base of the family water tank and whacking it with a cricket stump. The ball fizzes off the tank at high speed at unpredictable angles. Donald left school at fourteen and didn’t started to play cricket seriously until he was eighteen. His headmaster had commented that he was a truthful, honest, industrious and unusually bright. He began work at a real estate agent in Bowral. In 1923-1924, he played no cricket at all and little in the following summer. Most of his free time was given to ten... ...cted and admired through out the world for not only her personal qualities and family values, died in September 1997, after 65 years of loving marriage. This had simplify for Sir Donald Bradman that the 'best partnership of his life' was over. Donald Bradman was knighted in Melbourne at 1949, and went into the role cricketing elder statesman. He's the only Australian ever knighted for services to the game of cricket. He gave up his stockbroking career and became a selector and administer, dealing firmly with the throwing crisis that convulsed the game at the end of 1950s. After being knighted in 1949, Sir Donald Bradman wanted a very private life. The Wisden panel in 2000 voted Sir Donald Bradman as the cricketer of the century, with unanimous hundred percent votes. He'll be long remembered for his sporting skill, gentle manner and good humour. His reputation as a cricketer has never been questioned. The memory of Don Bradman is revered like no other wherever the great game of cricket is played. He is no doubt a legendary sportsman, which will remains enigmatic in our heart forever. Cricket has known great man and fine players, but there has been and can be, only one Bradman.

Legalizing Prostitution Will Not Work Response to Mark Liberators Arti

Legalizing Prostitution In the article 'Legalized Prostitution' the author, Mark Liberator, shares his views on legalizing prostitution. He believes because of women's specialized roles in society, they should be allowed to use sex as a service that can be bartered for goods and money, and by using these specialized roles, the author explains that allowing prostitution in the United States could lower a majority of murder and rape cases, and can decrease the amount of suicides and divorces. By making prostitution legal, Liberator also thinks that it will allow law enforcement to respond faster to more important crimes, help women that use prostitution as a career path, and will prevent teens from being trapped into prostitution. Though Liberator states his case strongly, and has statistics that help prove his point, his logic has holes that could even make cocaine, heroin, and other illegal drugs legal. Liberator states that our primal desires should not be ignored or suppressed, but instead should be manag ed. If this is the case, then should our first instincts to lie, cheat, steal, and kill should also be managed? No. Managing these things, and not suppressing them, means that we are making it legal to rob stores, lie about it, and kill anyone who disagrees with our reasons as to why we?ve committed the crime. Not only that, but if we make prostitution legal, it is possible that there could be an overflow of prostitutes, that would create larger drug chains, which could ruin our countries credibility as a safe place to live. I feel that legalizing prostitution is the first small step to that future, and that we should avoid making prostitution tolerable in America. Liberator starts his argument by giving a quick study on c... ...lizing prostitution will do nothing more than encourage the spread of STD?s. In closing, the argument that the author presents falls weak in most aspects. Though he seems to have positive end results to the issue, the immoral act of prostitution still is part of the solution. As proven before, legal prostitution could lead to an excess of prostitutes that could ruin the appearance of our country, it does not control ones animal-like impulses, but merely lets them run wild, it uses sex as a drug that could lead to an increase of sex ?junkies?, the crime rate could possible increase, rather than decrease, and the spread of STD?s will not be effected positively. The best way to fix the issue of prostitution is to continue fighting it, till eventually the message gets across that prostitution is wrong, and does not lead to a profitable life financially, or morally. Legalizing Prostitution Will Not Work Response to Mark Liberator's Arti Legalizing Prostitution In the article 'Legalized Prostitution' the author, Mark Liberator, shares his views on legalizing prostitution. He believes because of women's specialized roles in society, they should be allowed to use sex as a service that can be bartered for goods and money, and by using these specialized roles, the author explains that allowing prostitution in the United States could lower a majority of murder and rape cases, and can decrease the amount of suicides and divorces. By making prostitution legal, Liberator also thinks that it will allow law enforcement to respond faster to more important crimes, help women that use prostitution as a career path, and will prevent teens from being trapped into prostitution. Though Liberator states his case strongly, and has statistics that help prove his point, his logic has holes that could even make cocaine, heroin, and other illegal drugs legal. Liberator states that our primal desires should not be ignored or suppressed, but instead should be manag ed. If this is the case, then should our first instincts to lie, cheat, steal, and kill should also be managed? No. Managing these things, and not suppressing them, means that we are making it legal to rob stores, lie about it, and kill anyone who disagrees with our reasons as to why we?ve committed the crime. Not only that, but if we make prostitution legal, it is possible that there could be an overflow of prostitutes, that would create larger drug chains, which could ruin our countries credibility as a safe place to live. I feel that legalizing prostitution is the first small step to that future, and that we should avoid making prostitution tolerable in America. Liberator starts his argument by giving a quick study on c... ...lizing prostitution will do nothing more than encourage the spread of STD?s. In closing, the argument that the author presents falls weak in most aspects. Though he seems to have positive end results to the issue, the immoral act of prostitution still is part of the solution. As proven before, legal prostitution could lead to an excess of prostitutes that could ruin the appearance of our country, it does not control ones animal-like impulses, but merely lets them run wild, it uses sex as a drug that could lead to an increase of sex ?junkies?, the crime rate could possible increase, rather than decrease, and the spread of STD?s will not be effected positively. The best way to fix the issue of prostitution is to continue fighting it, till eventually the message gets across that prostitution is wrong, and does not lead to a profitable life financially, or morally.

Critique of What I’ve Learned from Men

In Barbara Ehrenreich's article â€Å"What I've Learned from Men† she discusses that women can learn a lot from men. How the lack of toughness in a woman's personality can negatively affect their progression and position in life. The author also discusses how some of the â€Å"ladylike† qualities can prove to be hindering to progress. Barbara's article is persuasive because the writing style was appealing, the evidence was logical, and the article was well structured and easy to follow.The article's extreme sarcastic and humorous tone helps transmits the wanted concept, unlike most feminist articles which consists of redundant repetition of needed freedoms, mistakes and needs. A great example of this humorous approach is how the writer avoided falling into the â€Å"ladylike† category by saying, â€Å"We're still too ladylike. Let me try this again- We're still too damn ladylike† (Ehrenreich, 2005, p. 308), using a swear word (damn) to break the existing f emale stereotype.The sarcasms was emphasized in the introduction, where countless differences between the genders have been listed, such a light hearted start give a sense of acceptance of what is to come. On a more serious note, the article discusses, with evidence, important issues. How women think it is their responsibility to â€Å"niceness† attitude in a conversation, and how this alleged responsibility negatively affected the author first hand.Another issue is sexual harassment; the writer speaks from personal experience as she explains the story of the professor that sexually harassed her over the course of a 20 minute conversation; where she did not react as she was maintaining â€Å"nice† environment (Ehrenreich, 2005, p. 308). Such a story appeals to logic, one may wonder, â€Å"How can highly educated prestigious professor react in such an unethical manner? † Examples like this indicate that change must take place to avoid these predicaments.This shor t example also appeals to the emotional side of thinks, as one can sympathize with her position. Finally, the essay was well structured and easy to follow, which made the transmission of the writer's ideas simple. The writer hooks the reader and establishes her agenda in the first couple of paragraphs (through both humorous and direct language). The author then lists her evidence, and also stats her recommendations of â€Å"cutting back on the small acts of deference that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ehrenreich, 2005, p.  308).Lastly, the writer was able to formulate a successful conclusion; she put her recommendation to action by reliving the scenario that took place with the â€Å"prestigious† professor, stating what she would have done differently, how she would take control from the very start by moving her chair away from the professor, reacting negatively to his hollowness and ending it with a confident exit.It is an essential to think about why women are usually sexually harassed . Maybe the answer is for women to toughen up, and step forward to take praise as the writer Barbara suggested. Imagine a male dominated world where sexual harassment is extremely common. Would you like to raise a daughter in such a world? Critique of What I’ve Learned from Men In Barbara Ehrenreich's article â€Å"What I've Learned from Men† she discusses that women can learn a lot from men. How the lack of toughness in a woman's personality can negatively affect their progression and position in life. The author also discusses how some of the â€Å"ladylike† qualities can prove to be hindering to progress. Barbara's article is persuasive because the writing style was appealing, the evidence was logical, and the article was well structured and easy to follow.The article's extreme sarcastic and humorous tone helps transmits the wanted concept, unlike most feminist articles which consists of redundant repetition of needed freedoms, mistakes and needs. A great example of this humorous approach is how the writer avoided falling into the â€Å"ladylike† category by saying, â€Å"We're still too ladylike. Let me try this again- We're still too damn ladylike† (Ehrenreich, 2005, p. 308), using a swear word (damn) to break the existing f emale stereotype.The sarcasms was emphasized in the introduction, where countless differences between the genders have been listed, such a light hearted start give a sense of acceptance of what is to come. On a more serious note, the article discusses, with evidence, important issues. How women think it is their responsibility to â€Å"niceness† attitude in a conversation, and how this alleged responsibility negatively affected the author first hand.Another issue is sexual harassment; the writer speaks from personal experience as she explains the story of the professor that sexually harassed her over the course of a 20 minute conversation; where she did not react as she was maintaining â€Å"nice† environment (Ehrenreich, 2005, p. 308). Such a story appeals to logic, one may wonder, â€Å"How can highly educated prestigious professor react in such an unethical manner? † Examples like this indicate that change must take place to avoid these predicaments.This shor t example also appeals to the emotional side of thinks, as one can sympathize with her position. Finally, the essay was well structured and easy to follow, which made the transmission of the writer's ideas simple. The writer hooks the reader and establishes her agenda in the first couple of paragraphs (through both humorous and direct language). The author then lists her evidence, and also stats her recommendations of â€Å"cutting back on the small acts of deference that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ehrenreich, 2005, p.  308).Lastly, the writer was able to formulate a successful conclusion; she put her recommendation to action by reliving the scenario that took place with the â€Å"prestigious† professor, stating what she would have done differently, how she would take control from the very start by moving her chair away from the professor, reacting negatively to his hollowness and ending it with a confident exit. It is an essential to think about why women are usually sexually harasse d.Maybe the answer is for women to toughen up, and step forward to take praise as the writer Barbara suggested. Imagine a male dominated world where sexual harassment is extremely common. Would you like to raise a daughter in such a world? Ehrenreich, B. (2005). What I've learned from men. In A. Abusalim, N. Bilikozen, T. Ismail, & S. Sayed (Eds. ), Where I stand: The center and the periphery (1st ed. ) (pp. 307-311). United Arab Emirates: Oriental Press.

Ethics in Nursing Essay

Nurses are to provide compassionate, competent, and ethical care, and follow the moral principles and guidelines set out by the College of Nurses and the Canadian Nurse’s Association’s code of ethics. The nursing profession is a self-sacrificing one, and nurses take on the Nightingale Pledge, to elevate the standard of their practice and dedicate themselves to those committed in their care (Keatings & Smith, 2010, p. 64) However unfavourable working conditions, inadequate patient to nurse ratios, and intensive job-related stress can lead to poor performance of daily routines, and adversely patient safety (Ozata et al., 2013). In the situation regarding Mr. Gurt who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, it is vital for the nurse to weigh him at the beginning of each month. This is her obligation under her employing institution’s standards of care, as well under the autonomy of her practise in which any deviation from this could result in exposure to liability ( Austin 2006, p. 62). In order for the nurse to properly care for Mr. Gurt, assessing his accurate weight is essential in providing a care plan that will focus on his overall wellness and healing. Because Mr. Gurt is frail, and has stage one pressure ulcers on both heels and his coccyx, it is imperative that he has every opportunity to build up his skin integrity and prevent future disruption of his skin surface. Complications that may arise because of the nurse’s neglect in failing to weigh him, may contribute to other underlying problems. General health concerns Mr. Gurt would be facing on top of his current co- morbidities would include a decline his general appearance, gastrointestinal, neurologic, integumentary, and musculoskeletal systems (Holloway, 2004, p. 80). By recording a weight of 70kg with a height of 170cm, the nurse calculated Mr. Gurt’s Body Mass Index (BMI) at 24.2 which is borderline overweight, when in fact it was 14.5, with 18.5 being the baseline for being underweight ( http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/ obesity/ BMI/bmicalc.htm., n.d.). According to this value, it would be likely that Mr. Gurt would suffer from imbalanced nutrition, less than his body requirements leading to other complications and failing to thrive. Nanda defines failure to thrive as the progressive functional deterioration of a physical and cognitive nature. The individual’s ability to live with multisystem diseases, cope with  ensuing problems, and manage his care are remarkably diminished (Ackley & Ladwig, 2011, p. 350). To add on to potential problems, drug doses are given based on factors such as age, gender, and the weight of a patient (Raman-Wilms, 2013). Since Mr. Gurt is elderly and suffering from the effects of Parkinson’s with an imbalance of neurotransmitter activity between dopamine and acetylcholine, there may be fewer receptors and a decrease in neurotransmitters to take up his drugs (Raman-Wilms, 2013). Levadopa a dopaminergic medication which treats the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease should be reviewed with body weight changes (Raman-Wilms, 2013). A study looking into the factors of weight loss in Parkinson’s looked at the effects of dopaminergic treatment which suggested that the drug had a lipolytic effect and body mass fat was decreased with the advancement of Parkinson’s symptoms (Lorefalt, 2004, p.186). The potential magnitude and likelihood of harm occurring in this case is significant as drug tolerances, adverse effects, and toxic effects are high, making the liver and kidneys susceptible to disease (Urquhart, 2014), as Mr. Gurt’s body mass index indicates he is underweight and a higher risk for drug overdoses. Effectiveness of this drug will diminish over time in which the adverse effects may become severe and may include palpitations, abdominal movement, dizziness, and confusion (Raman-Wilms, 2013, p. 331). Incorrect doses of his medication could lead to physical and psychological issues based on the nurses documented weight and his actual weight. Failing to weigh Mr. Gurt will have a great impact on his nutritional needs, but will also affect his ability to heal his pressure ulcers on his heels and coccyx. Mr. Gurt is emaciated which may be in part to dysphasia, tremors, still muscles, and slow movements among other symptoms of Parkinson’s (Wilk & Newmaster, 2013, p. 288). As well, Mr. Gurt’s weight is evidence that he is not receiving the nutritional intake his body’s immune system requires to create the proteins and blood cells (macrophages the body’s first line of defence), needed to attack and repair his wounds, and prevent the risk for infection (Raman-Wilms, 2013). The nurse’s blatant disregard to weigh Mr. Gurt puts him at greater risk for infection and is a form of negligence. Negligence in nursing can be unintentional, however it is important to understand the effects this has on health professionals practicing in Ontario. A registered nurse is responsible to follow the standard of care when performing nursing  acts under autonomy within their scope of practise (College of Nurses, 2004) (CNO, 2004). Standard of Care is the legal benchmark against which a person’s conduct is measured to determine whether a person has been negligent and whether the person’s conduct or actions in a given situation have met those expected of a competent health care professional (Keatings & Smith, 2010). The College of Nurses is the governing body for registered nurses that protect the public through regulating the nursing profession (CNO, 2014). A practising nurse is obliged to follow the standards of care and ethical guidelines set out by this governing body (CNO, 2014). The College of Nurses lists seven ethical values which are all important, but recognizes that client well-being is a primary value (CNO, 2014). The College of Nurses connotation of client well-being is to promote the patients health, while preventing or removing harm (CNO, 2014). In the case regarding Mr. Gurt, where the nurse is required to weigh him monthly and record the data, she is morally responsible for the patient’s well-being and for any adverse outcomes regarding his health for failing to provide safe care. The nurse’s complacency in failing to weigh Mr. Gurt, a simple act, would be of concern in investigating her moral responsibility in providing ethical care in her work environment. The nurse’s ethical duty is to advocate for her patients and provide safe, effective, and ethical care (CNO, 2014). Possible outcomes that could arise for the nurse in failing to provide ethical care include: her co-worker filing a complaint to the College of Nurses, a discipline hearing with the College of nurses, and possibly a lawsuit (CNO, 2014). Potter & Perry note the criteria nurses can be found liable for negligence as summarized; the nurse owed the duty to the patient; to whom that duty was not carried out; and the patient was injured for failing to carry out that duty (Potter & Perry 2013, p. 96). A common negligent act is failing to monitor a patient’s condition adequately (Potter et al., 2013, p. 97). For a nurse to be sued, and in the case with Mr. Gurt, the nurse had carelessly not performed a duty which was vital to his ongoing care. While the ability to predict harm is evaluated is this case, the nurse had committed a wrong doing to Mr. Gurt and could be tried as an unintentional tort. (Potter et al., 2013, p. 97-98). According to the Criminal Code, 1985, if Mr. Gurt was to pass away as a result of improper care or toxic levels of medication being given due  to the nurse failing to weigh him, the nurse could also face criminal liability if the nurse was proven to have a reckless disregard for her patient (Potter et al., 2013, p. 99-100). The best way for nurses to avoid being negligent is to follow the standards of care; be self aware and to reflect on their nursing practise; to follow the ethical framework established by the College of Nurses; and to continuall y educate themselves on best practices, assessments, and evaluations within their nursing abilities (Potter et al., 2013, p.98). With that in mind, one final thing I would suggest is to have professional liability and legal assistance protection insurance coverage. References BIBLIOGRAPHY l 4105 Ackley, J. A., Ladwig, G. B. (2011). Nursing Diagnosis Handbook (9th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby/Elsevier Canada. Austin, S. (2006). Ladies & gentlemen of the jury, I present†¦ the nursing documentation. Nursing, 56-64 Calculate Your Body Mass Index. (n.d.).Calculate Your BMI. Retrieved June 4, 2014, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm.(n.d.). College of Nurses of Ontario/Ordre des Infirmià ¨res et Infirmiers de l’Ontario. (2014). College of Nurses of Ontario. Retrieved June 15, 2014, from http://www.cno.org/ Holloway, N. (1999). Medical-Surgical Care Planning. Orinda: Springhouse Corporation. Keatings, M. (2010). Ethical & Legal Issues in Canadian Nursing (3rd ed.). Toronto:Mosby/Elsevier Canada. Lorefalt, B., Ganowiak, W., Palhagen, S., Toss, G., Unosson, M., Granerus, A.K,.(2004). Factors of Importance for Weight Loss in Elderly Patients with Parkinson’s disease. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 180-187. Ozata, O., Oztu rk, Y.E., Cihangiroglu, N., Altunkan, H. (2013). The Development of a Scale of Malpractice Trend in Nursing and Validity and Reliabilty Analysis. International Journal of Academic Research, 57-65. Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Kerr, J. C., & Wood, M. J. (2009). Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing (4th ed.). Toronto: Mosby/Elsevier Canada. Raman-Wilms, L. (2013). Guide to Drugs in Canada (4th ed.). Toronto: Dorling Kindersley. Urquhart, B. (2014). Exploring how kidney failure impact’s the body’s systems. Western News. Wilk, M. J., Newmaster, R. (2013). Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker.Toronto: Mosby/ Elsevier Canada.

Assessment Task Facial expression Essay

Electronic communication plays vast roles in the way individuals communicate in today’s society, this has created a significant change to the quality of interpersonal communication. Using instant text messaging as a channel of communication detracts from the quality of interpersonal communication as it eliminates important components conveyed through face-to-face communication. Eye contact, body movements and facial expressions are all important elements that contribute to interpersonal communication. Eye contact can provide important information through non-verbal communication it can convey and enhance messages that may not be interpreted verbally. Body movement enhances information that is being expressed or received and sends strong messages through verbal and non-verbal communication. Facial expressions can communicate non-verbal signals with only minor movements of the face. When exchanging information these non-verbal signals can help display emotion and response. These important components of interpersonal communication play fundamental roles in communicating information and cannot be expressed through electronic pathways such as instant text messaging. Eye contact and eye behavior is an important element in interpersonal communication. Understanding information can at times be a difficult process, some would say without eye contact it makes it hard to verify whether the information they are conveying is being comprehended (Davidhizar 1992). Eye contact plays a fundamental role through non-verbal communication as it can be substituted for verbal communication. Using a direct gaze or certain eye behavior can be interpreted as many things such as signaling or acknowledging an individual (Davidhizar 1992; Eunson 2012). Additionally eye contact in verbal communication can enhance the information being expressed engaging the listener and helping them comprehend the information promptly (Davidhizar 1992). Absence of eye contact in interpersonal communication can result in misinterpreted information. It is likely that the sender of the message will interpret that the listener is disinterested and has minimal concern as to what is being communicated (Davidhizar 1992). Interpersonal communication is a process in which senders and receivers exchange messages between each other either verbally or non-verbally. This can be enhanced by visual elements to share information and feelings (Gardner and Kleiner 2009). Therefore using interpersonal communication through an electronic communication channel such as instant text messaging is not a sufficient way in making sure information is received adequately as eye contact is a vital element that is absent in the communication channel. Body movement is a powerful tool and strong indicator as to how we communicate with others. Eunson (2012, p. 267) states ‘ orientation, or the attitude, inclination or body angle we adopt in relation to others, can send powerful nonverbal messages’. There are various types of movements that can be indicated through the body as communication. Affect displays is a main type of movement of the body. These are movements of the face, hands and general body (Devito 2012). Face movements can include certain facial expressions such as frowning or smiling, hand movements that help illustrate verbal messages for example, referring to something to the left or right and the general body can illustrate body tension or relaxation (DeVito 2002). Affect displays help communicate emotional meaning at times during communication. They can be done intentionally to help display the message such as smiling to express enjoyment or approval (DeVito 2002). Alternatively Affect displays may be done unintentionally when messages are being communicated the sender or receiver may smile or frown unconsciously (DeVito 2002). When exchanging information and messages through instant text messaging the movements of affect displays cannot be communicated and visible to the sender or receiver. Consequently making instant text messaging an un-reliable way of exchanging information effectively. Facial expressions through non-verbal communication are a sufficient way in listening, expressing emotion and giving feedback. Non-verbal communication is a vital element of interpersonal communication as it helps express emotion and personality through the process of exchanging information (Eunson 2012). Non-verbal signals such as facial expressions can be defined as non-verbal behavior. Ellgring (1989, p.5) describes it as ‘ A code matches signs of one set to signs of another set’. When a person uses facial expressions it can convey many emotions, this can be done with only minor movements of the face. Some emotions that can be expressed are happiness, surprise, fear and anger (DeVito 2002). Facial expressions are relied upon to comprehend messages sufficiently and to understand one another especially in non-verbal communication (Goldmann and Mallory 1992). Ekman (cited in Calero 2005, p. 64) states â€Å"when a facial expression is used as a signal – such as winking an eye as a gesture of approval, or sticking out the tongue to signify playful distaste – they are very easy to comprehend†. Instant text messaging has become a more widespread and convenient mode of communication in every day life (Huang et al 2007). However when messages are being communicated through an electronic channel such as instant text messaging comprehension of information can at times be misinterpreted or difficult to understand (Galushkin 2003). When communicating face-to-face receiving verbal and non-verbal signals aids the sender or receiver to interpret information sufficiently (Huang et al. 2007). Accordingly facial expressions play a vital role in sending and receiving verbal and non-verbal signals (Huang et el. 2007). This making face-to face communication a more efficient and effective way of exchanging information and messages, than electronic communication. Eye contact, body movement and facial expressions are fundamental features in the exchange of information in interpersonal communication. Using eye contact effectively in communication guarantees information is being interpreted sufficiently and the sender or receiver is engaged in what is being expressed. The use of body movement in communication aids in the interpretation of information and sends powerful messages that can communicate emotional meaning. Facial expressions such as frowning or smiling help communicate emotion and personality through the exchange of information. They are sufficient in making sure messages are clearly understood especially in non-verbal communication. Therefore the elements of eye contact, body movement and facial expressions are all significant mechanisms to ensure adequate communication. Electronic communication is unable to utilize these elements of information transfer, and can therefore be considered an inferior method of communication when compared to face-to-face communication. References Calero, H 2005, The Power of Nonverbal Communication How you act is more important than what you say, silver lake publishing, Aberdeen, WA. Davidhizar, R 1992, Interpersonal communication: A review of eye contact, The University of Chicago press, Vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 222-225, Viewed 22 August 2013, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30147101. Devito, J A 2012, Human communication: The basic course, 9E, Pearson, New York. Ellgring, H 1989, Non-verbal communication in depression, Cambridge University press, New York. Eunson, B 2012, Communication in the 21st century, 3rd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Queensland. Galushkin, I 2003, Text Messages: A potentially rich medium in distributed organizations, prismjournal, Vol.1, no.1, pp. 1-13, viewed 30 August 2013,http://www.prismjournal.org/fileadmin/Praxis/Files/Journal_Files/issue1/refereed_articles_paper4.pdf. Gardner H, Kleiner F S 2009, Understanding interpersonal communication: A concise global history, Cengage learning, Boston, MA. Goldmann, R W, Mallory J R 1992, Overcoming communication barriers: communication with deaf people, Library trends, Vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 21-30, Viewed 2 September 2013,

Religion in Film: a Comparison of Fight Club and Antz Essay

At first glance, David Fincher’s â€Å"Fight Club† and Dreamworks Studio’s â€Å"Antz† could not be more diametrically opposed to each other in form and genre. One is a dark commentary on the vacuity of modern life, fraught with homoerotic subtext; the other is a brightly animated cartoon where the bad guy dies, the good guy gets the girl, and everybody lives happily ever after. I intentionally chose these two films, however, for their thematic similarity, to examine the recurring motif of striving for identity in a society of conveyer belt roles where the value of the individual is quickly depreciating toward extinction. By analyzing both films through a theological and Freudian lens, I intend to reveal the tension that has always existed between possessing the freedom of choice and submitting to an oppressive, delineating structure. â€Å"Antz† opens up with a disembodied voice announcing its anxieties. As the camera penetrates layers of New York underground, the voice is revealed to belong to a lonely ant. He is in therapy. We soon learn that his name is â€Å"Z† and he is a disgruntled worker ant, airing his frustrations over working all his life and never quite feeling satisfied. One is expected, as an ant, to devote all his efforts toward the good of his colony and deal with his needs being ignored. This is a common grievance, felt among the spectrum of classes and races. Regardless of status, hardly anybody ever feels he is getting his. Before we have time to dismiss Z’s grouchiness as trivial angst, the camera pans out and introduces us to the â€Å"gung-ho super organism† of ant life. What we see is a hyper complex built by and on millions of bodies that link together to drive the meticulous engine that runs and perpetuates the system. It is impossible to make out any one creature from the swarm of activity. We see elevator pulleys marked with phrases lik e â€Å"Let’s Work† and â€Å"Conquer Idleness,† a chilly reference to the Nazi motto that likewise drove millions of human souls to a state of dejection reflected in the demeanor of the worker ants, as well as Ed Norton’s character from Fight Club. We see ants producing their bundled babies for appraisal, where they are systematically (one might say, arbitrarily) assigned a role in the microcosm. Roles like â€Å"worker† and â€Å"soldier† are shouted out at random and these tiny cocoons, before even having a sense of their individuality—what Freud called recognition of self as separate from the mother (colony)—they are deprived of it. They are then designated a place in the hierarchy that will forever  determine their value by output. This systematic allocation of significance by measure of the whole in turn leaves the individual feeling utterly insignificant (Brintall 303). This is the way of life and up until now it went largely unquestioned. As everybody will tell Z, one ant is meaningless. It is not about him it’s about â€Å"us, the team,† working endlessly to build and acquire more, and he would do best to content himself with it and be happy. Don’t think too much. Think ing leads to rogue individualism that puts the whole microcosm in jeopardy. There appears to be no room for pleasure in this life. Even activities intended to relieve pressure and stress, such as dancing and drinking, are normalized, structured. Socializing too has its place, as the ants are transferred from one ghetto to the next. Ants dance in a group and any who desist are either bullied back into submission or removed entirely. If one may speak of computerized ants in a sexual nature, we can observe how the libidinal economy is so tightly controlled in their environment that all drive toward freedom and creativity is squelched. Inner desires have been buried under dirt and exhaustion and thus, if Freud was correct and our energy drive must be pointed somewhere, the eros is redirected toward work, ungratifying as it may be (Brintall 296). It is transferred into idolizing the strength inherent in uniformity, as personified by the macho General Mandible, who’s face comes as close to sexual gratification as an ant’s could when glancing out at the swarming and sweating organism. Although pleasure is at odds with pain, when all prospects for it are denied, pain—the endurance of reality—becomes the only frontier where any pleasure can surface (Brintall 299). It is through pain that the Narrator in â€Å"Fight Club† asserts his identity, his masculinity and his divorce from the whole of society. He feels the punch, not the corporation he slaves for. That scar, that bruise, that burn is on his body and his alone. But this is later in the plot, which it makes little sense to spend time recapitulating, as you are most likely already familiar with it. Rather, I would like to isolate and review specific incidents to connect them with themes of religion and sociology. Though the repressive system of collectivism is not stated as overtly in black and white as in â€Å"Antz,† it is clear that the totalitarian regime in â€Å"Fight Club† is modern consumer culture. Having returned home (after successfully realizing his alter-ego Tyler Durden) to find his apartment  blown to pieces, the Narrator (who’s name is necessarily inconsequential) laments the loss of his beloved designer wardrobe and catalogue dining room set. What are we, asks Tyler? And the answer is infamous: we are consumers. Consumers who exhaust themselves to emptiness, working to fulfill a false dream, to acquire and acquire, believing each new possession will bring them closer to feeling complete. Human beings work to be the masters of their domain, a domain filled with the products of other human labor and frustrations of their own lack and inability to conquer it fully (Brintall 297). All creative energy and hope is transferred into consumerism, an oppressive system we ourselves helped create and perpetuate and thus permit it to establish mastery over us. And what are we told when we inevitably find ourselves feeling even more empty than where we started? To lighten up and not dwell on â€Å"it.† What is this â€Å"it†? This is the â€Å"it† that keeps the Narrator up at night; the â€Å"it† that inspires Z to run away in search of freedom, in search of release; the â€Å"it† that leads both characters into the next stage of their development in their search for meaning and identity; the elusive â€Å"it† that excites the first blow and enables both the main characters to opt out of being just another avatar in the assembly line of human souls and go in search of something better, something else. For Z, it is a perfect utopia where insects can choose their own roles in life instead of being handled by the institution. For Tyler, it is a dystopia, perfect in its chaos and lack of oppressive structure. Each character makes a conscious choice to pursue a different course in life, meaning to demonstrate how individuality is a by-product of free will. But how free are human beings, really? Closer inspection reveals that neither character liberate s himself from structure, and especially not from idolatry. His focus simply shifts toward romanticizing a more bohemian lifestyle (or perhaps it is the audience’s focus that shifts). Although â€Å"Fight Club† is rarely referred to as romanticized. In his commentary about the film, director David Fincher talks about the meticulously sloppy care devoted to the film by exposing it to durations of harsh light, stretching contrast, and similar distortion techniques used to achieve the washed-out, deconstructed picture—a nod back to the film noir genre that characterized the inescapable dreariness and nihilism of the war-time era when life was so desperately devoid of all purpose or intrinsic value. But Tyler encourages  us to send all our pre-constructed notions of value and purpose to hell, and face reality. The reality is that there is no greater meaning, no utopia â€Å"beyond the mast and across the river,† as swears Z, and that putting one’s faith in redemption or God is useless, seeing as how in all pro bability â€Å"God hates you.† It is not surprising he feels this way, given the direct correlation between God and the father. Both films are interlaced with the issue of fatherly abandonment. When the scene first opens up on Z reclining in his therapist’s office cavity, we are subjected to the comical farce of an ant theorizing that his anxieties are most likely rooted in his childhood abandonment issues: his father crawled out on him when he was just a maggot. One cannot help but feel the cinematic hilarity of a tiny ant who’s immense feelings of inadequacy are not only mirrored by our own, but are actually in consensus with our estimation of an ant (and thus ourselves). In a similar exchange between the Narrator and Tyler Durden, the former recalls his father’s proclivity for fostering families all over and then walking out on them. To which Tyler, soaking nonchalantly in a tub in front of his ‘friend’, cogently replies the man is â€Å"setting up franchises,† as though the nurturing of children was nothing more than a simple business transaction. So how can these â€Å"thirty year old boys† be expected to enter into, as Freud wrote, normal, heterosexual society when their lives have been devoid of the strong authority of the father? (Freud handout) After all, â€Å"Our fathers were our models for God,† points out Tyler, â€Å"If they left, what does that tell you about God?† But to abandon our search for the divine is impossible, for in religion there lie answers. With the help of religion we can extract meaning. We see the Narrator attending support groups for the terminally ill in an attempt to establish a connection and find meaning, once again with pain as the currency. By witnessing the pain of other people’s realities, he finds pleasure, he finds acceptance and release—and sleep. These groups are for him akin to communion, a place where pent-up energies can be redistributed. Whatever the grievance, whatever is lacking in this life, a spiritual gathering maintains the possibility for ho pe. Religion thus becomes not just an outlet, a place where the eros can stir and the soul can come alive, but a way to compensate for the â€Å"longing for paternal protection,† the feeling of emptiness rooted early in childhood. Even as Tyler argues that religion is ineffectual, we realize  that in a society where children’s mental and social development is outsourced to vacuous advertisements, those products and ads take the place of the father—and eventually God himself. As â€Å"Fight Club† evolves and membership in the bloody communion grows larger and larger, we see the film come full circle. What began as a search for meaning beyond identification with a repressive system of consumerism, swelled into its own macrocosm (not unlike institutionalized Atheism) fueled by identical and nameless, yet willful, automatons. They are still participating in a society that extinguishes rogue individuality, but they are doing so by choice. Still, human beings need something to elevate and hold up as God, as the ideal. So they elevate Tyler Durden. They elevate fight club, the reality of owning your pain because pleasure is a blinding myth. Are human beings therefore truly free to make their own choices, is the abiding theological and sociological question. The task of determining the controlling force of society—religious collectivism, political collectivism, even anarchical collectivism—nags at our notion of free will. Of course in â€Å"Antz,† it being a kid’s film after all, the tyranny is embodied in one character. In â€Å"Fight Club† it is intentionally disembodied, in-your-face yet still invisible. â€Å"Our great war,† Tyler advocates, â€Å"is a spiritual war.† One might think if we just do away with consumerism, religion, any system, the subconscious would be free to express its most inner desires. But we discover this is not so. There doesn’t seem to be any more meaning or truth in the Ikea catalogue than in the eventual culmination of Project Mayhem, which conspires for the destruction of all authority and material idols—what Freud would deem the death drive. Though the characters in â€Å"Fight Club† have been so disheartened by the lacking prospect of creativity and purpose, and now seek to destroy everything they’ve ever identified with, they are still not free. Perhaps it is only through losing oneself in God, in work, in different institutions, each with their own offerings of value, that one can seek out one’s unique identity. It is possible that the hope for something better—be it called enlightenment, utopia or deeper understanding—allows one to exercise free will in the pursuit of meaning and pleasure, if never finding either itself. Works Cited 1. Anker, Roy M. â€Å"Narrative.† 2. â€Å"Antz.† (1998, dir. Eric Darnell) 3. Brintnall, Kent. â€Å"Psychoanalysis.† 4. â€Å"Fight Club.† (1999, dir. David Fincher) 5. Freud, Sigmund. â€Å"Civilization and Its Discontents.†