The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens Essay Example

The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens Paper In The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens written by Janet Frame, an idea worth learning about is how people, including the readers, will not or do not reach their full potential due to being trapped or restricted. By using the kea in the text, Frame Is able to show the significance of the Idea as the Kea compares the life of the readers to itself. Frame portrayed the importance of this idea through the use of connotative language, metaphors and contrasting language. Frame shows how people, including the readers, will not or do not reach their full attention due to being trapped or restricted Is an Important Idea through connotative language. Connotative language was used in the text to portray and enhance the negative meanings and ignorance within the text. Connotative language Is used throughout the poem but a specific example of Its use may be found within the sentence: While the peach-faced lovebirds huddle together close to the earth In this sentence, the words with connotations are huddled and close. The word huddled refers to the contact between the two birds and close to the distance or pace between those birds and the earth. In context, the words may seem positive, but are negative because the Minimal meaning Is of how people solely stay nearby each other and will only keep notice of, as well as keep close to, the ground. Through deeper meaning, this means that even though people may be trapped, they have chosen to, pretended to, or do not notice themselves being imprisoned and will tolerate the conditions they are In. We will write a custom essay sample on The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Their Ignorance is what limits and encases them, whether or not they are aware. Negative connotations used within the text may also e found in the first stanza as while my neighbor three cages away cries, Woe O Woe. This example consists of connotative words, including cages, cries and woe. All these words have negative meanings attached to them as cages imply Imprisonment and restrictions, cries imply deep sorrow and troubles, and woe with grief and distress. The meanings of these words are relative to the idea of being unable to reach our full potential or aspirations as the words include meanings that would restrict an average person from fulfilling his/her goals. Frame portrays the Idea with the thoughts of how being trapped also means to be limited and all the negativity of the feelings involved will bring a person from achieving and reaching their own best. By being unable to distinguish whether or not they are free, it will either bring confusion to the person affected or go by unnoticed and is another reason as to why the mall idea of limitations Is worth learning about. By using connotative language such as those In the examples shown, Frame Is able to implement more negativity into the text so the reader is able to truly grasp how readers being trapped is. This feeling will then enumerate with the feelings the reader will have when questioning his/her own freedom. Through Frames use of connotative language, she has shown the Importance of the Idea and why It was 1 OFF poem. Janet Frame used also used metaphors as a technique within the text. By using this technique, Frame is able to show the comparison between the kea and the readers/ people. An example of the use of metaphors may be found within the beginning of the second stanza: l too, like you, have a ceiling of wires to my aspirations. Through this example, Frame is able to give the readers a sense of imprisonment and limitations of their freedom and choice. Frame purposely used metaphors for a psychological reason; to make the readers question their own freedom as well as others. Through the strategic use of the seas current state, Frame makes a direct comparison and portray the significance of the idea by the use of metaphors so the readers would recognize the mutual states between the kea and herself/himself. Frame also used a metaphor in the last stanza of the text to enhance and deepen the dead and its significance by the lines If you were to write a poem about me you would say, Pity the seas imprisonment. But it would be yourself you pitied in your own prison. This metaphor develops the idea of the readers and people being caged and restricted, therefore not being able to reach their full potential or aspirations and adding to the idea of limitations. This metaphor also compares the mutual states between the readers and people, and the kea. These metaphors are worth learning about as they may be related back to modern society because many people, including he reader, have restrictions and limits to their full potential and aspirations, whether or not they are the cause of it. There is a vast range of factors that limits us as humans, such as family, friends, culture, religion, our surroundings, educations, wealth, health and even ourselves. Within peoples everyday life, these restricting factors may occur, but may go unnoticed by those affected by it. Another notable technique used by Frame was contrasting language. Contrasting language was used to deepen the comparisons between the readers and people, and the kea. It was also used to deepen the significance of the idea and develop the thoughts of the readers and his/her freedom. In the first and last line of the poem, l have learnt how to walk upside down like a fly and you have not yet learned to walk upside down like a fly, Frame deliberately used contrasting language so the reader would have closure that would have been linked with the beginning. This adds to the structure of the text, therefore the readers would be more considerate of the poem as a whole and acknowledge the main idea and significance of the poem while reading links and connections between the multiple language features. In this example, you are able to notice that she has shown the idea of restriction by comparing the difference in skill between her readers/people and the kea. In the poem, this shows that even though we seem to be free and the kea trapped, the kea has gained more skill than we have. The thoughts the readers would have when reading the contrasting language and meaning behind it, make it an idea worth learning about. Contrasting language was also used later in the first stanza, as well s the last as l can sense, though not see, the sky. And you can both sense and see the sky. By this example, Frame expresses the senses and the limitations of them. Another sense, is able to recognize where it is, whereas the readers are able to both sense and see the sky. This reinforces the idea of how we are free but also trapped. Frame has used contrasting language here to provoke the thoughts of the readers about their freedom and choice. This technique relates to the idea worth learning about beca use through the use of contrasting language, Frame influences he idea of imprisonment and limitations. People of modern society will assume they are free because they can both sense and see the sky but are actually controlled by limiting factors in their lives that prevent them from reaching their aspirations and reach their full potential. In Frames mind, she created this commendable poem to compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the readers and people, and the kea. The idea of how the people, including the readers, can not reach their full potential due to limitations is definitely an idea worth learning about in The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens by Janet Frame. Frame emphasizes this idea through the use of connotative language, and by adding deeper meaning to her text, is able to show the significance of the idea. She also used metaphors by making direct comparisons for the reader to develop more of an understanding. To then further develop the idea, Frame used contrasting language, in order for the reader to consider more carefully the idea. By using these techniques, Janet Frame is able to portray the significance of the idea and why it was worth learning about.

Shelley essays

Shelley essays The Romantic Period, which lasted about 45 years, gave birth to a new genre of literature, political thought, and it began a new era of history. Many authors contributed to the new ideals that characterize The Romantic Period. One author in particular was Percy Shelley who had written during The Romantic Period. The romantic ideals and characteristics can be found in the writings of Shelley. One of the ideologies of The Romantic Period was the creativity of the imagination, and Shelleys writings are littered with examples of this ideology. One example of this is in Shelleys poem To Sidmouth and Castlereagh, in this poem Shelley refers to these men as Two vipers tangled into one (20). Through this description Shelley indicates what he thinks of these two men by attributing non-human characteristics to them, and thus gives an example of the use of Shelleys imagination. Another example of Shelley giving humans non-human characteristics is in the poem Ode to the West Wind in which Shelley gives himself these characteristics as What if my leaves are falling like its own! (58) Also in the poem The flower that smiles today, Shelley gives a flower positive human characteristic, The flower that smiles today. (1) Even in the poem O World, O Life, O Time, Shelley imagines that he must deal with the challenges that each brings to him, O World, O Life, O Time, On whose last ste ps I climb. (1-2) It can be seen that Shelleys imagination provided him with a strong basis for his writings. Another characteristic of The Romantic Period that is seen in Shelleys writings is the theme of the supernatural. The mention of gods, death, or characters of myth are present throughout Shelleys works. An example of the supernatural in Shelleys poems is in the poem Alastor ...

Hayek's Economic Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Hayek's Economic Theory - Essay Example history. The Hayekian business-cycle theory is a fusion of the Austrian theories regarding money, capital as well as prices, generally conceptualized as the Austrian theory of business cycles, which itself was based on Mises’ theory of money and credit (Boeettke, 1992). The Austrian theory of trade cycles was inspired by Knut Wicksell’s contributions on the relationship between money and interest while Ludwig von Mises became the first economist to bring together Wicksell’s monetary dynamics with Bohm-Bawerk’s capital theory, which led to the first Australian trade-cycle theory. Hayek developed and made the theory official while reinforcing it with insights from David Ricardo and John Stuart Mill in 1967. Generally, Hayek argues that any monetary disturbance such as an increase in the stock of money reduces the interest rates to levels below the equilibrium thereby stimulating an increase in capital and reallocation of resources in the manufacture of intermediate (capital) goods rather than consumption goods (White, 1999). Consequently, this triggers a rise in the cost of capital goods and a subsequent drop in the price of capital goods, and later the entire structure of the production system, which entails the conversion of raw products into finished products for utilization by consumers, is completely shifted (Zera, 2013). In that respect, the Hayekian Economy theory demonstrates how a monetary disruption can prompt an inter-temporal disco-ordination in economic activities, the manner in which the disco-ordination eventually becomes recognized and addressed through money-induced disco-ordination. Hayek conceptualizes that the injection of new money through credit markets inhibits the level of interest thereby inducing an inter-temporal misallocation of resources, thus, leading to the production of capital goods that are

The Impact of Leadership Styles on the Organisation Performance Abu Dissertation - 1

The Impact of Leadership Styles on the Organisation Performance Abu Dhabi Municipality - Dissertation Example The latter, in turn, also helps the organisation in attaining the desired level of success. Most of the studies conducted in relation to leadership and its effects on the success of the organisation have been conducted in the context of private organisations (Palestini 2009; Gardner, Avolio and Walumbwa 2005). Nevertheless, the importance of leadership is also evident as regards the members of the public sector. The importance of the concept of leadership in the public sector, however, has long been recognized. It has become one of the most important issues that must be addressed as various states have discovered a gap in relation to the manner by which their public sectors function vis-a-vis the needs of their constituents (Morse and Buss 2008; Christensen 2007) . Undoubtedly, different nations all over the world have discovered that there is something missing with the culture by which public sector is based upon and the fulfillment of public interest (Raffel, Leisink and Middlebroo ks 2009; Van Wart 2003). Usually, complaints as regards the lack of dedication to the values of the public service and the manner by which the interests of the people are taken into consideration are the most evident. In this sense, the common recommendation is to turn to a certain kind of leadership to cater to the said gaps as regards public service and the promotion of the citizens’ interest (Bass 2008; Koch and Dixon 2007). Leadership in the public sector is also affected by a number of factors that are not present in the experiences of private organisations (Koch and Dixon 2007; Gill 2006; Morse and Buss 2008). According to researches conducted in relation to the topic at hand, the following are the most common factors and issues that affect leadership in the public sector: (1) increased demands for the provision of solutions in relation to problems commonly experienced in the public sector; (2) the need for personalized services in a sense that it must cater to the need s of the citizens; (3) the importance of balancing the needs of the public, private and voluntary sectors; (4) the need to respond to pressures as regards continuous improvement, innovation and learning; and lastly, (5) coping with institutional architectures that are complicated (Christensen 2007; Koch and Dixon 2007). The concept of leadership is an essential part of the concept of good public governance. To understand the former, governance pertains to the manner by which the agency of the state (the government) institutionalizes the values of their nation as stipulated in the highest law of the land (in most cases, the Constitution) (Bason 2011; Wallis, Dollery and McLoughlin 2007). In view of this, governance then entails the adherence to the following principles: the separation of powers, system of checks and balances, the development of ways by which power is transferred, accountability and transparency. However, to ensure its proper incorporation, it is of paramount importan ce that these values must be embedded into the system and work of each and every public official. Succinctly, leadership is indeed at the core of the concept of good governance (Berman, Bowman and West 2009). The importance of leadership in the public sector has also been underscored in a sense that the leaders are important as the people look up to them for the solution of

Town and Milton Fl. Essay Example for Free

Town and Milton Fl. Essay Physical system Human system Convince someone to move to a U. S. city of your choice, by describing the location using terms from the lesson. Be sure to include the name of the city and state you are writing about and make your response at least one paragraph in length. Part-1 1. Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts-3,349 miles 2. St. Louis to Ft. Clatsop near the Pacific Ocean-1,400 miles 3. Omaha to San Francisco-1,430 miles Part-2 If I had to describe the town I live in I would describe it as a little ole farm town that neighbors with a more city oriented town to the West, then two more farm towns to the North of them, and one to the East, and finally some more city oriented/beach style areas to the South. The relative location for Milton Fl. would have to be Baker Fl. they share the same type of features and style of people. Milton Fl. s a place of farm land, rivers, stream, creeks, and little restaurants in the city limits. Milton and its surrounding towns and cities share a common region of the language, characteristics, climate, and culture. Our human system is filled with all sorts of people with different characteristics and they all work in a unity to supply, fix, and protect our area. They would be trades workers like roofers, mechanics, drivers, farmers. People like our firemen and women, police, and emergency services. Part-3 I think if you are a city person then Milton is not the area for you but if you like the country with rivers in your back yard and a gator on the other bank than this is the area for you. Milton is a fun filled city but it is also filled with hard working families and animals as well. Overall Milton will be my resting place for new comers just spend some time on our river banks and farm fields and you will not want to leave.

Management Principles in the Construction Industry

Management Principles in the Construction Industry Task 1 Management Techniques (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) Define and attribute three established definitions of management Fredrick Taylor observed that workers were often working beneath their potential and he designed a four stage method to overcome this problem; Break the job into its smallest elements Select the most qualified employees to do the job and train them to do it. Monitor the employees to ensure that they follow the prescribed methods. Continue in this way, but only use the employees that perform the work well. In 1911, Taylor published principles of scientific management in which he described methods of work designed to increase productivity. Many studies were performed at the Bethlehem steel company in Pittsburgh where he examined the time and motion details of work operations. He developed better methods for performing specific tasks and trained the workers to perform them. In one experiment he increased the output of a worker loading pig iron onto a rail car. He broke the task down into its smallest operations, timing each one with a stopwatch. The task was then redesigned, reducing the number of movements as well as the effort required and the potential sources of error. Work breaks were introduced at specific intervals for a specified duration and a differential pay scale was also used to improve the production rate. The workers output rate increased from 12 to 47 tons per day! Taylor was known as the father of scientific management. Frank (1868 to 1924) and Lillian (1878-1972) Gilbreth The Gilbreths, a husband and wife team, developed ways to increase workers output. They believed that it was possible to design work methods whose durations could be estimated in advance, rather than using time studies based on observation. One of his studies related to bricklaying. He filmed all of the required movements to perform the task. This enabled him to determine the tasks that made up each stage of the process. As a result, he designed and patented special scaffolding to reduce the amount of bending and reaching. This changed an 18 stage process into a five stage process, increasing productivity by around 200%. The Gilbreths defined motion study as breaking work down into its fundamental elements, studying the elements both separately and both in relation to each other so as to minimise waste. They defined time study as a scientific analysis of methods and equipment used for a task, development of the best way of doing it and determination of the time required to perform it. Frank Gilbreth is known as the father of time and motion studies. Administrative Management Administrative management considers the running of the total organisation. Some of the major contributors are: Henri Fayol (1841 to 1925) was a French engineer. Fayol was the first to distinguish the four management functions: Planning Organising Leading Controlling Fayol was known as the father of modern management His principles of management included, division of work, authority and responsibility, discipline and order, unity of command and direction, subordination of individual interests to general goals, job security and remuneration of personnel. Max Weber (1864 to 1920) was a German sociologist and economist Weber outlined the concept of bureaucracy. He saw bureaucracy as the most logical and appropriate structure for large organisations. Bureaucracies are based on authority which comes from law, procedures, rules, etc. He believed that efficiency in bureaucracies comes from: Hierarchical structure Clearly defined and specialised job functions Use of strict and systematic rules and procedures Appointment of employees to job based and technical expertise Promotions of employees based on competence Clearly defined career paths His work is the foundation of contemporary organisation theory. Mary parker Follett (1868 to 1933) was an American lecturer and management consultant Follets concepts included: The universal goal The universal goal of organisations is an integration of individual effort into that of the whole company. The universal principle The universal principle involves reciprocal response emphasising feedback to the sender, ( the concept of two way communication). The law situation The law of the situation emphasises that there is not a single best way of doing anything, but that it all depends on the situation. Behavioural orhuman relationsManagement, which appeared in the 1920s, dealt with the human aspects of the organisations. Initially, it was a reaction to the shortcomings of the classical theories of management. Behavioural research began with the Hawthorne studies which were conducted between 1924 and 1933 at the Hawthorne plant of the western electric company in Cicero, Illinois by Elton Mayo and his colleagues. Elton Mayo (1880 to 1949) Mayo believed that work satisfaction depends more on working conditions and attitudes than on the level of remuneration. He rejected Taylorism and that work should be considered as a group activity. He proposed that workers needed recognition of their efforts and tnat a sense of belonging was more important than the physical working conditions. Mayo identified the Hawthorne effect. This is the bias that occurs when people know that they are being observed. The Hawthorne studies The Hawthorne studies included the Illumination experiments. The aim of these studies was to investigate the effect of operating conditions on productivity. Illumination experiments were carried out to establish whether better lighting conditions would lead to increased productivity. It was found that employees productivity increased whether the light were turned up or down. However, the increased productivity was found to be a result of the attention received by the group, not the working conditions. Another study found that employees do not work as fast as they can when they are being paid piece rate wages. Instead, they will perform informally to a level set by the group. The conclusion was that there was no direct cause and effect between operating conditions and productivity. Worker attitude and peer pressure was found to be more important. 1.2  Explain the principles and processes of management: forecasting The Principles and forecasting of Management Principles of Management The principles are; To command Maintain the activity among the personnel. Forecasting To be able to predict the outcomes of business behaviour or industry sector through the use of experience, qualification or with the use of statistics or other previous records. (The go to place for management) Forecasting is an effective practice use as a starting point for management planning and decision making. General types of forecasting include trend examination, regression analysis, Delphi technique, time series analysis, correlation, exponential smoothing, and input-output analysis. Daily business planning Planning is an incredibly effective way for managers to stay focused on achieving their own goals and the goals of the organization for which they represent. Organising Build up the structure, both material and human, of the undertaking. Motivating To encourage and inspire other to carry out tasks or jobs to be completed and maintain momentum or the working pace of the operatives. Controlling Seeing that everything occurs in conformity with established rule and expressed command. Coordinating Binding together, unifying and harmonizing all activity and effort. Communicating Henri Fayol published 14 principles of management these principles are: (Fayol) Division of Work. Specialization allows the individual to build up experience, and to continuously improve his skills. Thereby he can be more productive. Authority. The right to issue commands, along with which must go the balanced responsibility for its function. Discipline. Employees must obey, but this is two-sided: employees will only obey orders if management play their part by providing good leadership. Unity of Command. Each worker should have only one boss with no other conflicting lines of command. Unity of Direction. People engaged in the same kind of activities must have the same objectives in a single plan. This is essential to ensure unity and coordination in the enterprise. Unity of command does not exist without unity of direction but does not necessarily flow from it. Subordination of individual interest (to the general interest). Management must see that the goals of the firms are always paramount. Remuneration. Payment is an important motivator although by analyzing a number of possibilities, Fayol points out that there is no such thing as a perfect system. Centralization (or Decentralization). This is a matter of degree depending on the condition of the business and the quality of its personnel. Scalar chain (Line of Authority). A hierarchy is necessary for unity of direction. But lateral communication is also fundamental, as long as superiors know that such communication is taking place. Scalar chain refers to the number of levels in the hierarchy from the ultimate authority to the lowest level in the organization. It should not be over-stretched and consist of too-many levels. Order. Both material order and social order are necessary. The former minimizes lost time and useless handling of materials. The latter is achieved through organization and selection. Equity. In running a business a combination of kindliness and justice is needed. Treating employees well is important to achieve equity. Stability of Tenure of Personnel. Employees work better if job security and career progress are assured to them. An insecure tenure and a high rate of employee turnover will affect the organization adversely. Initiative. Allowing all personnel to show their initiative in some way is a source of strength for the organization. Even though it may well involve a sacrifice of personal vanity on the part of many managers. Esprit de Corps. Management must foster the morale of its employees. He further suggests that: real talent is needed to coordinate effort, encourage keenness, use each persons abilities, and reward each ones merit without arousing possible jealousies and disturbing harmonious relations. 1.3  Identify the motivational needs of individuals and groups, leadership styles and concepts of team working. Motivational Needs Organization of goals, function within addition to ideals among employees, teams and company is the generally essential part of motivation. The better the arrangement and personal union with organizational aim, the healthier the podium for incentive. Anywhere persons find it hard to support and unite with the organizational aims, and then mainly motivational ideas and actions will have a reduced level of success. Motivation is a difficult subject. It differentiates for each person. Motivational receptivity and potential in everyone differs from day to day, from situation to situation. Get the alignment and values right, and motivational methods work out better. Motivational methods of every sort will not work if some people or organisations are not aligned. People are more interested or gravitate towards something they can relate to and something they can believe in. Times have changed. People want more. Motivational and inspirational quotes, poems, posters, motivational speakers and stories, team building games and activities, all develop employee motivation for sales and business staff in all kinds of organizations. Motivational and inspirational experiences improve employees attitudes, confidence and performance. Leadership styles Charismatic Leadership Charismatic Leaders use a wide range of methods to manage their image and, if they are not naturally charismatic, may practice assiduously at developing their skills. They may engender trust through visible self-sacrifice and taking personal risks in the name of their beliefs. They will show great confidence in their followers. They are very persuasive and make very effective use of body languageas well as verbal language. Participative Leadership A Participative Leader, rather than taking autocratic decisions, seeks to involve other people in the process, possibly including subordinates, peers, superiors and other stakeholders. Often, however, as it is within the managers whim to give or deny control to his or her subordinates, most participative activity is within the immediate team. The question of how much influence others are given thus may vary on the managers preferences and beliefs, and a whole spectrum of participation is possible, as in the table below. Situational leadership The best action of the leader depends on a range of situational factors. When a decision is needed, an effective leader does not just fall into a single preferred style, such as using transactionalor transformationalmethods. In practice, as they say, things are not that simple. Factors that affect situational decisions include motivation and capability of followers. This, in turn, is affected by factors within the particular situation. The relationship between followers and the leader may be another factor that affects leader behaviour as much as it does follower behaviour. Transactional Leadership The transactional leader works through creating clear structures whereby it is clear what is required of their subordinates, and the rewards that they get for following orders. Punishments are not always mentioned, but they are also well-understood and formal systems of discipline are usually in place. The early stage of Transactional Leadership is in negotiating the contract whereby the subordinate is given a salary and other benefits, and the company (and by implication the subordinates manager) gets authority over the subordinate. When the Transactional Leader allocates work to a subordinate, they are considered to be fully responsible for it, whether or not they have the resources or capability to carry it out. When things go wrong, then the subordinate is considered to be personally at fault, and is punished for their failure (just as they are rewarded for succeeding). Transformational Leadership Transformational Leadership starts with the development of a vision, a view of the future that will excite and convert potential followers. This vision may be developed by the leader, by the senior team or may emerge from a broad series of discussions. The important factor is the leader buys into it, hook, line and sinker. The next step, which in fact never stops, is to constantly sell the vision. This takes energy and commitment, as few people will immediately buy into a radical vision, and some will join the show much more slowly than others. The Transformational Leader thus takes every opportunity and will use whatever works to convince others to climb on board the bandwagon. In order to create followers, the Transformational Leader has to be very careful in creating trust, and their personal integrity is a critical part of the package that they are selling. In effect, they are selling themselves as well as the vision. The quiet Leader The approach of quiet leaders is the antithesis of the classic charismatic(and often transformational) leaders in that they base their success not on ego and force of character but on their thoughts and actions. Although they are strongly task-focused, they are neither bullies nor unnecessarily unkind and may persuade people through rational argument and a form of benevolent Transactional Leadership. Servant Leadership It is easy to dismiss servant leadership as soft and easy, though this is not necessarily so, as individual followers may be expected to make sacrifices for the good of the whole, in the way of the servant leader. The focus on the less privileged in society shows the servant leader as serving not just their followers but also the whole of society. Servant leadership is a natural model for working in the public sector. It requires more careful interpretation in the private sector lest the needs of the shareholders and customers and the rigors of market competition are lost. Task 2 Leading by Example (2.1, 2.5, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5) 2.1  Describe in outline the main markets, activities and services provided by the construction and built environment sector. The Main Markets New build Housing The housing market is the supply and demandfor homes, normally in a particular country or county, a primary element of the housing market is the average house prices and activity in house prices. The availability of housing and the amount of housing stock fluctuates house prices sectors include the rented sector. Buy to let investment and the requirement from tenants, government intervention controls and Influences the Housing market Interest rates also influence the cost of erratic mortgages market conditions and mortgage activity, plays an important part in whether people are eligible for mortgages financial progress, incomes and unemployment rates population and geographic trends also have influences in this market place The UK Housing Market is habitually unpredictable because of a variety of factors. The UK Housing market often has influence over wider economy. E.g. when house prices are decreasing, consumer spending tends to fall because the housing market always dictates for the economy and individual homeowners, it is essential to try and predict or foresee the future movements in the housing market. Industrial Commercial Markets This industry consists of units generally occupied in the construction and development of commercial and industrial non-residential buildings. This category also consists of elements occupied in carrying out additions, alterations or renovations or general repairs or remodelling to commercial and industrial buildings or in organising or managing the construction. Establishments mainly engaged in the construction of institutional non-residential buildings such as schools hospitals and other government buildings. Infrastructure Markets The general dependable systemsof a community or countries population, including utilities, water, sewage, roads, etc. These systems are considered paramount for enabling growthin an economy. Building and developing an infrastructure often requires huge investment, but the economies of scaletend to be significant. 2.5  Define and explain the application of a mission statement, strategy, corporate planning, policy and objectives to the activities of a practice or firm A mission statement is a formal short statement of the purpose of a company or organisation. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organisation, spell out its overall goal, provide a sense of direction, and guide decision making. It provides the framework or context within which the companys strategies are formulated. Historically it is associated with Christian religious groups; indeed, for many years a missionary was assumed to be a person on a specifically religious mission. The word mission dates from 1598, originally of Jesuits sending members abroad. Corporate planning Corporate planning is the continuas process of making present risk-taking decisions systematically and with the greatest knowledge of their futurity; organising systematically the efforts needed to carry out these decisions, and measuring the results of these decisions against the expectations through organised, systematic feedback. Planning at the highest level in an organisation, involving an analysis of the current situation, the setting of objectives, the formulation of strategies and tactics, implementation and evaluation. 4.3  Describe what is meant by multi discipline non adversarial working in project teams (Lathem Report). Multi discipline means a person firm of group offering multiple disciplines in which they specialize. If a task requires more than one type of specialist/function, it requires multi-disciplined group or person. Non- adversarialmeans there is a spirit of co operation, a passive stance, the parties are willing to reach a mutually satisfying resolution to a problem. There is persuasion rather than coercion. The Lathem report The Lathem report was an influential report written by sir Michael Lathem. Commissioned by the United Kingdom Government and industry to review procurement and contractual arrangements in the construction industry. It tackled the most controversial issues facing the industry during a period of lapse in growth as a whole. The Lathem report of July 1994 was sponsored by UK Government and industry following several poorly performing projects. The inefficiencies identified pointed to the need for partnering and collaboration in the construction sector. The Lathem report 1994 `constructing the team` a joint industry government report was based on a simple concept that through teamwork the construction industry could delight its consumers. The report acted as a wake up with all the urgency of an emergency siren. This was a report that had to be listened to, the industry couldnt but help but hear the cries for reform. The industry was ineffective, adversarial, fragmented, and incapable of delivering for its customers` and lacking respect for its employees` more than just ringing alarm bells the Lathem report set the agenda for reform and gave the industry targets. From this a raft of initiatives flowed. The report led to the establishment of the construction industry board to oversee reform and subsequent initiatives were the Egan report 1998 `Rethinking construction` the construction best practice programme, The movement for innovation` and construction excellence` all designed to drive the industry forward. 4.4  Evaluate the concept of sharing best practice and benchmarking the performance of a practice/firms activities Best practice is a method or technique, method, process, activity, incentive, or reward that is believed to be more effective at delivering a particular outcome than any other technique, method, process, etc. When applied to a particular condition or circumstance. The idea is that with proper processes, check, and testing, a desired outcome can be delivered with fewer problems or unforeseen circumstances, best practice can also be defined as the most efficient and effective way of accomplishing a task , based upon repeatable procedures that have proven themselves over time for large numbers of people. A given best practice is only applicable to a particular condition or circumstance and may have to be modified or adapted for similar circumstance. In addition, a best practice can evolve to become better as improvements are discovered. Despite the need to improve on processes as the environment changes , best practice is considered by some as business buzzword used to describe the process of developing and following a standard way of doing things that multiple organisations can use for managements, policy, and software systems. As a team becomes more popular, some organisations have begun using the term best practices to refer to what are in fact merely `rules` causing a linguistic drift in which a new term such as good ideas is needed to refer to what previously would have been called `best practice`. 4.5  Explain how sustainable Construction and environmental Management/Conservation Issues impact on the organisation and operation of a project/organisation. Sustainable construction Environmental management The strategy for sustainable construction is a joint industry and government initiative intended to promote leadership and behavioural change, as well as delivering benefits to both the construction industry and the wider economy. The output of the construction industry has a major impact on our ability to maintain a sustainable economy overall and has a major impact on our environment, moreover, it is clear that we cannot meet our declared environmental targets without dramatically reducing the environmental impact of buildings and infrastructure construction, we have to change the way we design and build. The business case for sustainable construction agenda is based upon increasing profitability by using resources more efficiently, firms who offer sustainable products and ways of working are more likely to secure building contracts, by enhancing their company image and profile in the market place by addressing issues related to corporate and social responsibility, and sustainable construction. Construction companies competing in this market place must address issues such as: Design quality Energy Health and safety Materials Procurement Skills Social responsibility Surface water management Waste Water use Facilities management Task 3 Organisation (2.2, 2.3, 2.4) 2.2  Identify the roles of the different professions/disciplines within the design construction and installation team and the main cycle of work activity. Design Client, lead consultant, CDM coordinator, Cost consultant, Lead designer, Architect structural engineer, services engineer, contractor Construction Principle contractor, managing director, contracts manager, project manager , site manager, assistant site manager, foreman. Labourer. Installation teams Surveyor, setting out engineer, groundworks subcontractor, brickwork subcontractor, steel frame subcontractor, concrete slab subcontractor, floor screed subcontractor, carpentry subcontractor, mechanical and electrical subcontractor, cladding contractor roofing contractor, telecoms contractor, scaffolding contractor, dry lining subcontractor, British gas southern electric. 2.3  Produce an organisation structure that includes examples and explanations of direct line, lateral functional and staff relationships and also explain with examples, span of control chain of command centralised versus decentralised and job design. Directors Managers Managers Section heads Section heads Section heads Section heads Section heads Section heads Managers Explanations of direct line. The director Directors have many business responsibilities for ensuring the success of their company, in areas such as health and safety, employment law and tax. The contracts Manager He / she will be responsible for the successful procurement, progress and completion of several contracts at any time. Planning and Control Planning Designing a methodical process for accomplishing the goals of the organisation / preparing the organisation for the future Organising Arranging the resources to carry out the plan / the process of creating the company structure, establishing relationships and allocating resources to achieve the organisational goals. Directing Guiding, leading and supervising employees to achieve the organisational goals Controlling Verifying that actual performance matches the plan/ if it does not match the actual plan then corrective action needs to be taken. Lateral functions There are also lateral functions in the job functions and personal roles in the areas of design, planning and construction there are senior managers and operative in all areas who need to liaise and work together to achieve the goals of the organisation. 2.4  Identify project based organisation structures. Health Safety Consultant CDM Coordinator Subcontractors Employees Subcontractors Subcontractors Subcontractors Subcontractors Subcontractors Subcontractors Assistant Manager Site Manager Project Manager Section heads CDM Coordinator The CDM co-ordinator is there to advise and assist with CDM duties  on notifiable jobs. They will: advise on selecting competent designers and contractors; help identify what information will be needed by designers and contractors; co-ordinate the arrangements for health and safety during the planning  phase; ensure that HSE is notified of the project; tell if the initial construction phase plan is suitable; and prepare a health and safety file (this contains useful information  needed to enable future cleaning, maintenance and alterations to be carried out  Safely). The appointment of the CDM co-ordinator is better done soon as possible, but no later than the initial design/preparation stage. Health and Safety consultant Normally familiar with working within a construction site environment, roaming various sites to ensure that health and safety standards are being met according to statuary regulations and company and client standards. The Project Manager A project manager is often a client representative and has to determine and implement the exact needs of the client, based on knowledge of the firm they are representing. The ability to adapt to the various internal procedures of the contracting party, and to form close links with the nominated representatives, is essential in ensuring that the key issues of cost, time, quality and above all, client satisfaction, can be realized. The Site Manager He /She will be responsible for the day to day running of the site the job normally involves Producing the site layout plan Setting up the dimensional control of the works Interpreting the drawings and specifications Liaising with the architects and engineers Checking the quality of the work Ensuring a safe site environment Planning 3.1  Describe techniques used to organise the layout, resourcing and accommodation of the project The techniques used to organise the layout of the project is called a site layout plan. All construction projects of any notable size require the provision of substantial amounts of temporary facilities (TF). One of the initial tasks to be undertaken on any construction site is the construction of the temporary accommodation and associated site compound. The compound is required for safety and security whilst various types of temporary facilities are required the most common being, Office Accommodation   Ã‚  Ã‚   (Reception, General Office, Engineers Office, Project Managers Office etc.) Welfare Facilities Accommodation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Canteen, Toilets, Showers, Drying Rooms etc.) Storage Accommodation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Valuable and Hazardous Materials storage facilities) 3.2  Describe with examples, methods of work planning, monitoring and progress control u

Uneasy Homecoming Assignment

Murray Leinster (June 16, 1896 – June 8, 1975) was a pen name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins; His father was an accountant. Although both parents were born in Virginia, the family lived in Manhattan. He began his career as a freelance writer, an award-winning American writer, of science fiction and alternate history. He wrote and published over 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.In World War I, Leinster served with the United States Army (1917–1918). In 1921, he married Mary Mandola. Uneasy homecoming is a book, which genuinely would suit most individuals, and is a very hooking short fiction novel to grasp hold of, as I am not one for that particular genre of book, however once I got into it I honestly couldn’t stop reading it. This is why its unquestionably one of my favourite books I’ve read for a long time!In this evaluation I intend to focus on â€Å"Uneasy Homecoming† and to ana lyze Jenkins, influence and effectiveness of techniques he uses throughout the story, to understand how he maintains the level of anticipation and suspense achieved which is very nerve racking. A short summary of Uneasy Homecoming by the author Will Jenkins, This story is focused on Connie who has arrived at her part of town, where her friends lived, after a two-week holiday. Upon reaching her house, which was the only one on the other side of the bay, her nearest neighbour’s houses were built across the bay.Once she was inside her home, she knew that her partner (Tom), would be reaching home around midnight (But Connie felt unsettled and nervous without him). Connie went outside into the garden and failed to see someone or something move by the garage, furthermore, there was a motorbike leaning against the garage wall while walking back towards the house Connie once again failed to notice the pantry window which was wide open, she quickly turned on all the lights to reassure herself, she phoned Mrs.Winston her older lady friend for some comfort talk however this soon disappeared when Mrs Winston stated â€Å"I do hope your house is alright, its been dreadful here! Didn’t you hear? † As several other houses had been burgled including Mr Saddlers shop was robbed and Mr Field the cashier was almost beaten to death, Mrs Winston offered for her to stay around until Tom was home however that meant for creepy Charles coming to pick her up and she definitely didn’t want that so she declined the offer, of support.She started for the stairs in the dark once she’d reached the top she switched that light on as well, she went into her room and noticed that someone had been in there and smoked cigarettes and casually dropped the buts on the rug, moreover the bedspread was ruffled as if someone had been lying down on it. Connie questioned herself as to what could possibly be under her bed†¦ as she peered under the bed she found a bulg ing bag †¦ FULL OF STOLEN LOOT! She dragged it out and emptied its contents onto the floor and instantaneously recognised some of the items.She went to the bedroom door; her house had been used as a hiding place for the burglaries had been taking place whilst her and Tom had been away. Mr. Field must have recognized the burglar. They’d know that she would be at home found the loot and phone the police? The pantry was dark as she was whimpering afraid to enter, but she soon realised the pantry window was broken for forced entry. There was a thump and her heart suddenly stopped beating. The refrigerator cut off. It was a coincidence of course. She felt along the walls to get to the phone though she couldn’t see the dial.He was in the house and he knew he had to kill her. She saw the back door where he forgot to shut it properly; the key to the door was missing. As she fled treading on the grass careful not tread on the gravel, as this will make sounds and alert the intruder, he still hadn’t guessed that she was outside. Connie saw the motorcycle and got the gasoline out found a book of matches in her pocket and struck it and ran away, because this would be seen across the bay and alert people that Connie’s house was on fire, she saw the figure trying to plunge out but itdidn’t work. ‘He could’ve murdered her, Connie,’ yet Mrs Winston was the mother of ‘him’. The protagonist in this fictional novel is Connie as the whole story is purely based about her feelings and what’s happening around her. The story is set in a village (she lives near close friends) and she lives across the bay from all of the other houses and is quite isolated from the community a perfect setting for a fiction horror novel especially because classic horrors happen in eerie places like these.In addition to that Jenkins expertly interweaves this theme of female vulnerability and crime with being on her own, lonesom e without a man/husband (Tom) to support her through the evening in a creepy mansion with no other neighbours around, this creates the impression of a tense atmosphere because Connie is alone, far from any other houses, which means that there was not anybody close to her if she needed any help.I also felt sorry for her at times and think that the tension in the story would be totally different if her husband, Tom, had arrived home first as woman are more vulnerable to darkness and predators than men, to show the reader the defenseless side of Connie, being on your own and experiencing a man trying to murder before she releases information to people of the village of his doings and whereabouts. I think the author purposely makes the protagonist a woman because compared to men women are seen as frail and weak especially in a horror movie.in the setting Jenkins has described. Women are weaker character than men and would generally feel more fear than a male character if he were to be t he protagonist, the male would challenge the intruder whereas the female is trying to hide herself in the shadows in fear Jenkins really emphasizes this in Connie’s emotions when in the story it suggests â€Å" she felt a need to be quiet to hide herself† this is very effective because it shows how much terror she has within her.I also noticed that throughout â€Å"Uneasy Homecoming† Connie does not hold back in expressing her fear. Many times in the short story the writer shows expression such as â€Å"Connie found herself weeping†. Consequently this made me think that something was about to happen, therefore, I felt sorry for her at times. An effective technique that W. F. Jenkins uses is in the short story he allows the reader to know more than the main character and that she might be in danger. For example, †she had looked straight at the back door without seeing what there was to be seen†.This kind of phrase gives me a feeling to urge Con nie to safety. The theme of crime really pushes all boundaries when it comes to crime/horror novels and to be fair he situation gets even worse for Connie because not only is she unaccompanied yet shes got the fright of a unexpected man using her house daily while she was away, now she has to face him which makes the atmosphere more jumpy and the reader is anticipating and predicting what could happen next and are on the edge of their seat. Jenkins cleverly stresses this.Jenkins word choice is vital for this particular genre of short story because every aspect is described in detail, which is essential because he describes with powerful words in short sentences like â€Å"She recognized him† or things like this as well â€Å"Connie noticed nothing† these are short effective sentences, because, essentially in short stories you cant drag on for long sentences as you have a short story to write not a long one therefore you word choice has to be chosen very carefully and a ccurately to sustain the reader attention.I have chosen 5 quotations from the book: â€Å"The red dying sun, cast long shadows across the road† (P1), the time of day is very important in uneasy homecoming the writer deliberately sets the short story at night with a â€Å"red dying sun† a sign of danger in the air and the perfect setting for a horror books or movies. In the story he wrote â€Å"The red dying sun, cast long shadows across the road† this is important because it put a picture in my mind of an evening with a fading sun and unusual shaped shadows, that seem to move, creating a tense and unsettled atmosphere.â€Å"She recognized him† (P8) another positive point about this key quotation is the sentence structure and paragraphing, throughout most of the story the sentences are short, slowing down the action, â€Å"She recognized him† this an example of a short sentence and a short paragraph these keep the reader on the edge of their seat, i n contrast when the reader does come to a large paragraph it gives a long vivid it gives a long vivid description. In that specific quote its only three words therefore making it short, punctual and straightforward and tells you directly what’s happening and he is really emphasizing this command.â€Å"In the lighted living room, she had the feeling of someone staring at her, from the dark outside†(P4) its like her 6th sense is working hard because she knows her thought is ridiculous and its in her head however, unfortunately she needs a logical explanation, what is more is, her coherent reasoning is not there, â€Å"The lighted living room† is quite eerie especially with contrast to â€Å"The dark outside† it’s the perfect situation to think that there is someone or something staring at her but its an illusion as well as because shes alone in a mansion like house with just her inside it in her position I could understand.â€Å"She hastened despera tely to turn out the rest. The dining room. Lights out, the windows were locked. The pantry. It was dark.Whimpering she was afraid to enter†(P7), one of the adjectives is hastened, it is so much more effective than any other word Jenkins could’ve used because it means (at no expense/ be quick to do something and then the fact she did it desperately shows us how much she needed to turn all the lights out on the other hand she was feeling very susceptible and open to anything that could potentially happen, as we read further on in that quote each sentence is getting shorter and shorter almost to show the restlessness in how she was switching everything off and Jenkins has cleverly intertwined that in his sentence structure.â€Å"The men who prey on others†(P10) throughout the â€Å"Uneasy Homecoming† the main character played a very important part in creating a tense atmosphere. The main character, Connie, developed a sense of fear about man hunting women. T he writer develops this character by writing such things as â€Å"the unnerving realization that the fears she’d had about Them, â€Å"The men who prey on others†. This phrase in particular shows that Connie is a worried, insecure person who frets about becoming a victim of â€Å"Them†. The capital letter is there to show the importance Connie gives these people.This person or people are constantly on Connie’s mind worrying her during the novel. I think the main reason why the author uses words like; ridiculous, silly, absurd and nonsense when Connie is scared is mainly because Jenkins wants you to think that it is nonsense to dismiss the idea out of your head and Connie’s too. Jenkins in his book uses many figures of speech and I think that this is a good thing and to be fair I observed right from the beginning of the story. More importantly this makes it interesting for the reader some of them are interesting others aren’t, here are two, which really grabbed my attention.â€Å"Her knees were water† (P5) this got me because it s not literately saying her knees were water its an expression almost to say she was so scared her knees were shivering, a really powerful figure of speech which got me on the edge of my seat. â€Å"There was a thump† (P5) this is an example of a really great and influential figure of speech because it uses onomatopoeia in it a thump gets me scared because Im wondering why she heard that when and where! Which interests me a lot. In his short fiction horror novel Will F Jenkins uses a lot of diverse literary techniques.Another technique the writer uses is noises in the story or lack of them. Continuously throughout the story one particular noise is mentioned, â€Å"the hum of the refrigerator†. This noise creates a tense atmosphere because it is the only sound Connie can hear if this is then interrupted something or someone must be in the house. The author helps to create a sense of realism within the book because he knew what the readers wanted and genuinely didn’t go over the top. My favourite part of the novel has to be the hunt. The hunt is the part of the story where the burglar patrolling the house looking for Connie.Connie just narrowly escapes. During the hunt Connie is terrified, many points are made about her fear such as â€Å"She felt that she would lie down at any instant and scream†. It is remarks such as these that created a tense atmosphere throughout the hunt. My favourite sentence must be â€Å"Connie bent and peered under the bed† simply because it’s a silly idea yet so influential and significant furthermore it’s the fact that shes worked herself up into such a state about it when she does know deep down there nothing under there. More importantly I can relate to this, as will many others.A cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction, which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction. In Uneasy Homecoming the author tries to almost end it on a cliffhanger â€Å"But Mrs. Winston was the other of one of them† it ends on something for your brain to work out I loved the way he put that last sentence because I had to think for the answer and I fully enjoyed it, generally I think he ended it like that for importance and above all it’s a much better ending rather than just giving the game away.Having analyzed Jenkins, his novel is wonderful and it is clear that suspense and tension are ever present throughout Uneasy Homecoming, Jenkins carefully chosen themes, word choice and literary techniques all input in helping to sustain the theme of female vulnerability, darkness and being alone which I think are the main three point Jenkins tries to really focus on which keeps the story level headed, the writer does use various techniques to create a tense atmosphere i n the story.Although the writer created a very entertaining tense atmosphere, the ending was not nerve wracking enough compared to the other nail biting moments in the story. If the burglar had found Connie, I feel that it would have been a better ending. Overall I would give congratulations to W. F. Jenkins for the creation of a suspend-filled story of an uneasy feeling.

Succubus Shadows Chapter 10

I woke to blackness. Blackness and suffocation. I was in a small room, a box really, crammed in so tightly that my arms wrapped around me and my knees were drawn to my chest. Weirdly, my limbs seemed too long. My whole body did, actually. My body changed all the time with shape-shifting, but this wasn't what I'd been wearing with Roman. This was different. For a moment, that horrible space seemed to close in around me. I couldn't breathe. With great effort, I tried to calm myself down. There was enough air. I could breathe. And even if I couldn't have, it wouldn't have mattered. The fear of suffocation was a human instinct. Where was I? I didn't remember anything after the bedroom. I recalled the light and the music and Roman bursting in too late. I'd felt his power build up, like he was about to take action, but I hadn't seen the conclusion. And now, here I was. Before my eyes, two identical luminescent forms suddenly appeared, like torches being lit in the darkness. They were tall and thin, with willowy, androgynous features. Black cloth wrapped around their bodies, seeming to glow with a light of its own, and long black hair flowed from their heads, blending in and losing itself in the cloth. Their eyes were a startling radioactive blue, too blue for any human, and seemed to bug out of those long, pale faces that were neither male nor female. It was weird too because it was like they stood before me in a large room, as though they were ten or so feet away from me. Yet, I was still crammed into the confines of my box and its unseen walls, barely able to move. Aside from them, everything else was pure, unfathomable blackness. I couldn't even see my own body or any other features of the room. My brain couldn't get a grip on this spatial hypocrisy. It was all too surreal. â€Å"Who are you?† I demanded. â€Å"What am I doing here?† I saw no point in wasting time. The duo didn't answer right away. Their eyes were cold and unreadable, but I saw a bit of smugness in their lips. â€Å"Our succubus,† one said. His – my brain decided to assign them a gender – voice was low and raspy, with a lisp that reminded me of a snake. â€Å"Our succubus at last.† â€Å"Harder to catch than we thought,† added the other, voice identical. â€Å"We thought you would have succumbed long ago.† â€Å"Who are you?† I repeated, anger kindling. I squirmed in a futile attempt at escape. My confines were so tight that I didn't even have the space to beat my fists against the nonexistent walls. â€Å"Mother will be pleased,† the first one said. â€Å"Very pleased,† confirmed the other. The way they alternated phrases reminded me of how Grace – Jerome's former lieutenant demoness – and Mei used to interact. That had had a charming, moderately creepy The Shining feel to it. This†¦this was something else. Something terrible and icy, burning my senses like nails on a chalkboard. â€Å"Mother will reward us,† the first said. I decided to call them One and Two for the ease of mental processing. â€Å"She will reward us when she is free, when she escapes the angels.† â€Å"Who's your mother?† I asked. A troubling suspicion was beginning to form. â€Å"We will avenge her until she can do it herself,† said Two. â€Å"You will suffer for betraying her.† â€Å"Nyx,† I murmured. â€Å"Nyx is your mother. And you're†¦you're Oneroi.† They said nothing, which I took as affirmation. My head reeled. Oneroi? How had this happened? Oneroi were a type of dream demon – but not demons like the ones I interacted with. Heaven and Hell were forces in the universe, but there were others, others that mingled with and often ran parallel to the system I existed in. Nyx was one such force, an entity of chaos from the beginning of time, when the world had been created from disorder. And the Oneroi were her children. I knew a few things about them but had never seen them – or ever expected to. They visited dreams, feeding on them. Nyx had done this too, but the manner had been a little different. She had manipulated people into seeing the future in their dreams – a twisted version that didn't unfold the way the dreamer expected. It had led to crazy actions that spawned chaos in the world, allowing her to grow stronger. She'd also fed on my energy directly, taking it in its purest form and distracting me with dreams of my own. But Oneroi fed on the dreams themselves, deriving their power from the emotions and realities fueled by the dreamer. My understanding was that they also had the power to manipulate dreams but rarely had reason to. Humans provided plenty of hopes, dreams, and fears on their own. They needed no outside help. That was the extent of my Oneroi knowledge, but it was enough. Feeling even a little informed about the situation empowered me. â€Å"That's what this is about? You took me because of Nyx? I wasn't the one who caught her. The angels did.† â€Å"You helped them,† said One. â€Å"Led them to her.† â€Å"And then refused to save her,† added Two. With a pang, I remembered that horrible night, when Carter and his cronies had recaptured Nyx after her devastating free-for-all in Seattle. An angel had died that night. Another had fallen. And Nyx had promised to show me a future and family with a man I could love, if only I would give her the rest of my energy and let her break free. â€Å"She was lying,† I said. â€Å"She was trying to make a deal when she had nothing to offer.† â€Å"Mother always shows the truth,† said One. â€Å"Dreams can be lies, but truth is truth.† I decided pointing out the redundancy of that statement was useless. â€Å"Well, I'm sure she'll appreciate the Mother's Day gift, but you're wasting your time. Jerome will come for me. My archdemon. He won't let me stay here.† â€Å"He won't find you,† said Two. This time, I could definitely see smugness. â€Å"He can't find you. You no longer exist for him.† â€Å"You're wrong,† I replied, with a bit of my own smugness. â€Å"There's no place in this world you can take me where he can't find me.† That was, of course, assuming they hadn't managed to hide my immortal aura. To my knowledge, only greater immortals could do that. I wasn't sure where Oneroi fell in. One actually smiled. It was not attractive. â€Å"You aren't in the world. Not the mortal world. This is the dream world.† â€Å"You're one of many dreams,† Two said. â€Å"One dream among all the dreams of humanity. Your essence is here. Your soul. Lost in a sea of countless others.† My fear stopped me from offering commentary on his sudden shift into metaphor. The metaphysics of the universe and its layers and creation were beyond me. Even if someone had explained them to me, it was something past the comprehension of a mortal, lesser immortal, or any other being who was made-not-born. I had enough understanding, though, to recognize some truth in their words. There was a world of dreams, a world without form with nearly as much power as the physical one I lived in. Was it possible to trap my essence in it and hide me from Jerome? I was unsure enough that I couldn't write it off. â€Å"So, what?† I asked, attempting haughtiness but mostly sounding as uneasy as I felt. â€Å"You'll just keep me in this mime box and feel better about yourselves?† â€Å"No,† said One. â€Å"You're in the world of dreams. You will dream.† The world dissolved again. It was my wedding day. I was fifteen years old, jailbait in the twenty-first century but more than old enough to be a wife in fourth-century Cyprus. And more than tall enough too. The Oneroi had sent me into a memory or a dream of a memory or something like that. It was a lot like the dreams Nyx had put me in. I was watching myself like a movie†¦yet at the same time, I was in myself, experiencing everything quite naturally. It was a disorienting feeling, made worse by the fact that I had never wanted to see my human self again. Selling my soul had come with obvious downsides, but there had been perks too: the ability to shape-shift and never again have to wear the body that had committed such grievous sins in my mortal life. Yet, there I was, and I was unable to look away. It was like being in A Clockwork Orange. My younger self had been about five feet ten inches tall by today's standards and a giant of a woman in an era where people had been shorter. When dancing, I'd been able to put that long body and all those limbs to good use, moving gracefully and effortlessly. In everyday life, though, I'd always been painfully conscious of my height, feeling awkward and unnatural. Watching my old self walk now, from the outside, I was astonished to see I didn't appear as clumsy as I'd always believed. That didn't negate the revulsion I felt at seeing the thick, waist-long black hair or passably pretty face. Still, it was kind of a surprise to watch reality (if this was reality) and memory meshed. It was just after dawn, and I was carrying a large amphora of oil out to a storage house beyond my family's home. My steps were light, careful not to spill any of it, and I again marveled at the way I moved. I set the vessel down beside others inside the shed and started to head back toward the house. I'd barely taken two steps outside when Kyriakos, my husband-to-be, appeared. There was a covert expression on his face, one that instantly told me he had sneaked over here to find me and knew perfectly well that he shouldn't have. It was an uncharacteristically bold move for him, and I chastised him for the indiscretion. â€Å"What are you doing? You're going to see me this afternoon†¦and then every day after that!† â€Å"I had to give you these before the wedding.† He held up a string of wooden beads, small and perfectly formed with tiny ankhs engraved on them. â€Å"They were my mother's. I want you to have them, to wear them today.† He leaned forward, placing the beads around my neck. As his fingers brushed my skin, I felt something warm and tingly run through my body. At the tender age of fifteen, I hadn't exactly understood such sensations, though I was eager to explore them. My wiser self today recognized them as the early stirrings of lust, and†¦well, there had been something else there too. Something else that I still didn't quite comprehend. An electric connection, a feeling that we were bound into something bigger than ourselves. That our being together was inevitable. â€Å"There,† he said, once the beads were secure and my hair brushed back into place. â€Å"Perfect.† He said nothing else after that. He didn't need to. His eyes told me all I needed to know, and I shivered. Until Kyriakos, no man had ever given me a second glance. I was Marthanes' too-tall daughter after all, the one with the sharp tongue who didn't think before speaking. But Kyriakos had always listened to me and watched me like I was someone more, someone tempting and desirable, like the beautiful priestesses of Aphrodite who still carried on their rituals away from the Christian priests. I wanted him to touch me then, not realizing just how much until I caught his hand suddenly and unexpectedly. Taking it, I placed it around my waist and pulled him to me. His eyes widened in surprise but he didn't pull back. We were almost the same height, making it easy for his mouth to seek mine out in a crushing kiss. I leaned against the warm stone wall behind me so that I was pressed between it and him. I could feel every part of his body against mine, but we still weren't close enough. Not nearly enough. Our kissing grew more ardent, as though our lips alone might close whatever aching distance lay between us. I moved his hand again, this time to push up my skirt along the side of one leg. His hand stroked the smooth flesh there and, without further urging, slid over to my inner thigh. I arched my lower body toward his, nearly writhing against him now, needing him to touch me everywhere. â€Å"Letha? Where are you at?† My sister's voice carried over the wind; she wasn't nearby but could no doubt show up if she sought me. Kyriakos and I broke apart, both gasping, pulses racing. He was looking at me like he'd never seen me before. Heat burned in his gaze. â€Å"Have you ever been with anyone before?† he asked wonderingly. I shook my head. â€Å"How did you†¦I never imagined you doing that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I learn fast.† We stood there, locked in time for a moment. Then, he pulled me back to him, his lips crushing mine once more. His hand returned to my dress, hiking it up over my waist. He held my bare hips firmly and pressed himself to my body. I felt him hard against me, felt my body respond to something that seemed both new and natural at the same time. The fingers of one hand slid over, feeling the wetness between my thighs. His touch felt like fire, and I moaned, wanting him to stroke me there more and more. Instead, he turned me around so that I faced the wall. With one hand, he kept the skirt of my dress up, and with his other, I had the vague impression of him fumbling with his clothes. Then, a moment later, he pushed himself into me. It was a shock, like nothing I'd experienced before. I'd meant what I'd said earlier: that I'd never been with another man. And even wet with desire, it still hurt to have him inside me that first time. He seemed too big and me too small. I cried out at the pain, an odd sort of pain that didn't diminish the fire that had been building within me. His thrusts were hard and urgent, no doubt fueled by feelings he'd long been holding back on. And after a while, the initial pain seemed irrelevant. Pleasure began to grow as he moved into me over and over, and I adjusted myself so that I bent over more and let him take me more deeply. He thrust more forcefully, and I again exclaimed in surprise and blissful pain. I heard a muffled groan, and then his body shuddered as he spent himself, his movements at last slowing down. When he was done, he pulled out and turned me around. It was the first time I'd seen him naked in all of this. There was blood and semen on both of us, which I tried to clean off my thighs before finally just letting my dress fall back over me. I'd be bathing before the wedding anyway. Kyriakos had just finished putting his clothes back on when we heard my name again. This time, it was my mother. He and I stared at each other in wonder, scarcely believing we'd just done what we had. I was aglow with love and the joy of sex and a whole host of new feelings I wanted to explore in more detail. Fear of my mother drove us apart. Stepping back, he grinned and pressed my hand to his lips. â€Å"Tonight,† he breathed. â€Å"Tonight we†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Tonight,† I agreed. â€Å"We'll do it again. I love you.† He smiled at me, eyes smoldering, and then hurried off before we were caught. I watched him go, my heart filled with joy. The rest of the day went by in a dreamy haze, partially because of the flurry of wedding activity and partially because of what had happened with Kyriakos. I'd had a vague idea of what would occur on our wedding night, but my imaginings had never come close to the real thing. I practically danced my way through the rest of the day, impatient to truly be Kyriakos' wife and make love again and again. The wedding was taking place at our home, so there was enough work (along with my own preparation) to almost keep me distracted. As the ceremony time grew nearer, I was bathed and dressed in my wedding gown: an ivory tunic of fine material, wrapped with a flame-red veil. I had to kneel a little for my mother to adequately adjust the veil, earning a number of jokes about my height from my sister. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered except me and Kyriakos being together forever. Soon, guests began arriving, and my heart rate increased. Anticipation and the day's heat made me sweat, and I fretted about ruining the dress. Someone called out that Kyriakos and his family were approaching. The excitement in the air grew palpable, shared by everyone now. Yet, when Kyriakos arrived, he barged right into the house, going against the traditional procession and stately ceremony that should have taken place. For half a second, some girlish part of me thought that Kyriakos – in his burning love for me – couldn't wait through the drawn out process of a ceremony. I was quickly enlightened. With a face flushed with fury, he marched up to my father. â€Å"Marthanes,† Kyriakos growled, finger in my father's face. â€Å"You insult me if you think I'm going through with this wedding.† My father was clearly taken aback – not an easy thing to accomplish. People chastised me for my sharp tongue, but that was largely because I was a woman. I wasn't half as bad as my father, and he'd intimidated a lot of men twice his size. (It was a sad irony that while I was tall for a woman, my father was short for a man.) A few moments later, my father recovered his usual bluster. â€Å"Of course you are!† he exclaimed. â€Å"We've made the betrothal. We paid the dowry.† Kyriakos' father was there, and judging from his fine clothes and surprised expression, this was all news to him too. He set a hand on his son's shoulder. â€Å"Kyriakos, what's this all about?† â€Å"Her,† said Kyriakos, pointing his finger at me. His gaze swung to my face, and I flinched from its force, as though I'd been slapped. â€Å"I will not marry Marthanes' whore of a daughter!† There were gasps and murmurs from those around us. My father's face turned bright red. â€Å"You're insulting me! All of my daughters are chaste. They're all virgins.† â€Å"Are they?† Kyriakos turned back to me. â€Å"Are you?† All eyes turned to me, and I blanched. My tongue felt dry. I couldn't muster any words. My father threw up his hands, clearly exasperated by this nonsense. â€Å"Tell them, Letha. Tell them so that we can end this and get our dowry back.† Kyriakos had a dangerous glint in his eyes as he studied me. â€Å"Yes, tell them so that we can end this. Are you a virgin?† â€Å"No, but – â€Å" Chaos erupted. Men shouted. My mother wailed. The guests were a mix of stunned shock and delight over a new scandal. Desperately, I tried to find my voice and shout above the din. â€Å"It was only with Kyriakos!† I cried. â€Å"Today was the first time!† Kyriakos turned away from where he'd been telling my father the dowry would not be returned. He glanced over at me. â€Å"It's true,† he said. â€Å"We did it today. She spread herself as easily and knowingly as any whore, begging me to take her. There's no telling how many men she's offered her body up to – or how many she would even when married.† â€Å"No!† I exclaimed. â€Å"It's not true!† But no one heard me. There was too much arguing now. Kyriakos' family was raging over the insult. My family was bristling against the name-calling, and my father was trying his best to do damage control, though he knew perfectly well that my own admission had damned us. Premarital sex was not so out of the ordinary for lower classes, but as a tradesman's family, we modeled a lot of our customs on our betters among the nobility – or pretended to. A girl's virtue was a sacred thing, one that reflected on her father and family as a whole. This disgraced all of them – and had serious repercussions for me. As Kyriakos well knew. He had moved toward me so that I could hear him through the noise. â€Å"Now they all know,† he said in a low voice. â€Å"They all know you for what you are.† â€Å"It's not true,† I said through my tears. â€Å"You know it isn't.† â€Å"No one will have you now,† he continued. â€Å"No one worth having. You'll spend the rest of your life on your back, spreading your legs for whoever comes along. And ultimately, you'll be alone. No one will have you.† I squeezed my eyes shut to try to stop the tears, and when I opened them again, I was surrounded in blackness. Well, not entirely in blackness. Before me, the Oneroi glowed more brightly than before, lit from within by that eerie light. â€Å"An interesting dream,† said Two, with what I think passed for a smile. â€Å"One that gave us much to feed on.† â€Å"It's not true,† I said. There were tears on my cheeks in waking, just as there had been in sleep. â€Å"That wasn't true. It was a lie. That wasn't how things happened.† The dream was muddling my brain, almost making me question myself, but my own memories soon won out. I remembered that day. I remembered kissing Kyriakos by the building and how we'd then gone separate ways, strengthened by the knowledge that we would soon be man and wife, making our wedding night that much sweeter. And it had been. It hadn't been rushed against a wall. We'd taken time to learn and explore each other's bodies. He'd been on top of me, staring into my eyes – not my back. He'd told me I was his life. He'd told me I was his world. â€Å"It was a lie,† I repeated more firmly, fixing the Oneroi with a glare. â€Å"That's not how it happened. That's not how it happened.† I knew I was right, yet I felt the need to keep repeating it, to make sure the words were true. One gave a small shrug, unconcerned. â€Å"It doesn't matter. I told you: Mother shows the truth. But dreams? Dreams are dreams. They can be truth or lies, and all provide food for us. And you?† He smiled a smile that was the mirror of his twin's. â€Å"You will dream†¦and dream†¦and dream†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 

Standing Female Nude Essay Example

Standing Female Nude Essay Example Standing Female Nude Paper Standing Female Nude Paper Essay comparing a similar theme in three different poems from the section Standing Female Nude The theme Ive chosen to consider is how Carol Ann Duffy adopts different personas and displays the character effectively through the use of language, style and content. The three poems Ive chosen are Standing Female Nude Comprehensive and The Dolphins. Ive chosen these poems because they all have entirely different characters which are all shown effectively by Carol Ann Duffy. To begin with the poem Standing Female Nude is from the perspective of a French prostitute being drawn by an artist. The prostitute clearly has no interest in the art, only with earning money He is concerned with volume, space, I with the next meal. The prostitute very bluntly, not interested in the artist or where the picture is going to be displayed, not seeing what is so spectacular about the picture of the river-whore They call it Art. Carol Ann Duffy adopts the persona of this prostitute very well, beginning with her use of style. The poem is divided by four seven line stanzas. There is no rhyming pattern; this allows Carol Ann Duffy to elaborate and focus on the language. The lack of rhyme could also reflect the prostitutes down to earth, blunt character, ignoring the fancy rhymes and riddles and getting straight to the point. There is enjamberment in the poem, perhaps reflecting the prostitutes careless personality. There are also several caesuras throughout the poem, perhaps showing these are the prostitutes thoughts the way what she is thinking back and forth so abruptly. This gives use better insight to the prostitutes character, making Carol Ann Duffys persona even more direct and realistic. The language used in the poem is also a very good reflection of the prostitutes characteristics. Belly nipple arse in the window light they call it Art magnificent, she murmurs, moving on. It makes me laugh The prostitutes mocks the upper class that see so much in a picture of a prostitute, which in reality she is simply standing naked in front of an artist to get some money for her next meal. The content of the poem is made very coarse and realistic by Carol Ann Duffys effective use of the persona. I found her choice of perspective of character very effective and unique, as not many people about what is exactly behind the walls of portrayal art. By considering the actual life of the art viewed and praised by even the Queen of England, Carol Ann Duffy has chosen the ideal persona to adopt to create the ultimate effect on the reader. The second poem Ive chosen to convey the theme of persona is Comprehensive. I found this poem ideal for supporting my chosen theme because throughout Comprehensive several completely characters are present; all personas are displayed effectively through the use of style, language and content. Comprehensive is a poem including seven different teenage characters, three British teens and four foreign who immigrated to Britain. All of whom are talking about life, culture, their histories or hobbies. With Carol Ann Duffy giving the British teenagers a stereotypical, dull and colourless impression, the foreigners seem to have more depth to their character, more ambition and respect of culture. Some of my family are named Moghul emperors I have hope and ambition Its boring probably work in Safeways worst luck Michelle. Its just boring The title potentially has a double meaning, Comprehensive implying a school or a comprehensive view on culture. Carol Ann Duffys use of style is particularly effective in this poem while adopting the several different personas. the style of the poem is divided by seven stanzas, all separated; contrasting with the title Comprehensive. Every stanza represents a diffferent character, all with different lengths and language, displaying the contrast between every character even more so between the foreign and British, one British teen placed deliberately between every foreign teens stanza. Carol Ann Duffys use of language in the poem also shows her versatility while adopting different personas. Using the first two teenagers used in the poem as examples, the contrast between both characters is clear. An unnamed African teen uses long and extensive sentences, with a lack of time and use of tenses. When my sister she could only speak English. We talk a lot about the things we used to do in Africa and then we are happy. What he/she is saying is quite vague and unclear, displaying his/her lack of experience in the English language. The second character named Wayne uses short, blunt sentences, showing his lack of intelligence. I dont suppose Ill get a job. Its all them coming over here to work. Arsenal. Paki-bashing and pulling girls knickers down. Although Wayne is originally British, his lack of vocabulary and use of short sentences imply he isnt fluent in English. Here Carol Ann Duffy sets an ironic and humorous twist through the use of language and structure by making the British teen just as inexperienced in speaking English as the African teen. But, of course, Wayne speaks this way due to sheer stupidity and laziness, whereas the African teenager speaks this way because it isnt his/her first language. The British teens talk of offensive hobbies, bleak future careers Safeways etc, with no mention of culture, positive past experiences or family memories. I believe Carol Ann Duffy is making an agreeable point in this poem as thwe pattern continues between cultures; that although immigrants are heavily criticized and labeled, their beliefs, passion for culture and ambition on a whole is far stronger than ours in comparison. Tying these points with my chosen theme, Carol Ann Duffys effective adoption of personas is the prime reason for her subtly pronounced points and opinion to come across in the poem. The final poem Ive chosen to discuss to tie in with the theme is The Dolphins.

Free Essays on The African Slave Trade

The course of human history is marked by terable crimes. How was it possible? How could it have gone on for so long, and on such a scale? A tragedy of such dimensions has no similar effects in any other part of the world. Here is how it became. The African continent was stripped of its human resources by all possible routes. Across the Sahara, through the Red Sea, from the Indian Ocean ports and across the Atlantic. At least ten centuries of slavery for the benefit of the Muslim countries. Then more than four centuries of a regular slave trade to build the Americas and the prosperity of the Christian states of Europe. Four million slaves exported via the Red Sea, another four million through the Swahili ports of the Indian Ocean, possibly as many as nine million along the trans-Saharan caravan route, and eleven to twenty across the Atlantic Ocean (1). Of all these slave routes, the "slave trade" in its purest form, i.e. the European Atlantic trade, attracts most attention and gives rise to most debate. The Atlantic trade is the least poorly documented to date, but this is not the only reason. More significantly, it was directed at Africans only, whereas the Muslim countries enslaved both Blacks and Whites. And it was the f orm of slavery that indisputably contributed most to the present situation of Africa. It permanently weakened the continent, led to its colonisation by the Europeans in the nineteenth century, and engendered the racism and contempt from which Africans still suffer. While specialists squabble about the details, the basic questions raised by the enslavement of the Africans have scarcely varied since the eighteenth century, when the issue first became the subject of public debate as the result of the efforts of abolitionists in the Northern slave states, the demands of black intellectuals, and the unremitting struggle of the slaves themselves. Why the Africans rather than other peoples? Who exactly should be held re... Free Essays on The African Slave Trade Free Essays on The African Slave Trade The course of human history is marked by terable crimes. How was it possible? How could it have gone on for so long, and on such a scale? A tragedy of such dimensions has no similar effects in any other part of the world. Here is how it became. The African continent was stripped of its human resources by all possible routes. Across the Sahara, through the Red Sea, from the Indian Ocean ports and across the Atlantic. At least ten centuries of slavery for the benefit of the Muslim countries. Then more than four centuries of a regular slave trade to build the Americas and the prosperity of the Christian states of Europe. Four million slaves exported via the Red Sea, another four million through the Swahili ports of the Indian Ocean, possibly as many as nine million along the trans-Saharan caravan route, and eleven to twenty across the Atlantic Ocean (1). Of all these slave routes, the "slave trade" in its purest form, i.e. the European Atlantic trade, attracts most attention and gives rise to most debate. The Atlantic trade is the least poorly documented to date, but this is not the only reason. More significantly, it was directed at Africans only, whereas the Muslim countries enslaved both Blacks and Whites. And it was the f orm of slavery that indisputably contributed most to the present situation of Africa. It permanently weakened the continent, led to its colonisation by the Europeans in the nineteenth century, and engendered the racism and contempt from which Africans still suffer. While specialists squabble about the details, the basic questions raised by the enslavement of the Africans have scarcely varied since the eighteenth century, when the issue first became the subject of public debate as the result of the efforts of abolitionists in the Northern slave states, the demands of black intellectuals, and the unremitting struggle of the slaves themselves. Why the Africans rather than other peoples? Who exactly should be held re...

Role of Reforms in American Society since 1877 to Present Assignment

Role of Reforms in American Society since 1877 to Present - Assignment Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that populism is perhaps the most serious reform movement which greatly threatened the two-party system in American history. Populism was established on the basis of the panic movement of 1873.in this regard, many farmers especially those in the Mid-West and South greatly felt the impact of the Panic. They felt sidelined from the recovery benefits, as the only ones who benefited were the financial and industrial class of the East. Basing on free coinage of silver and the government ownership of railways, the Populist Party was established. They nominated J.B. Weaver for the presidency, who became a major threat to the Democrats. This prompted the Democratic Party, under William Jennings Bryan to adopt some of the populist reforms agenda with the quest to garb the Populist vote in 1896.this witnessed the demise of popularism in the Southern states. Progressivism is the period between the 1890’s to 1920’s mark ed with social activists plus political reforms. The movement was majorly aimed at purifying the government by eliminating corruption. Many progressivism proponents advocated for major reforms in the local government, medicine, education, industries, churches, insurance, finance and several other areas. The movement initially began its operations at local levels and later penetrated the national arena. Its main supporters came from the middle-class people mainly business people, lawyers, physicians, teachers, ministers among others. The significant reforms championed by this movement include the direct election of senators, the Prohibition, the Women’s suffrage, the Sixteenth Amendments and the Nineteenth Amendments among others. The New Deal, on the other hand, is a progression of economic programs between 1933 and 1936, which were implemented in the United States.

Answer the questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Answer the questions - Essay Example The scope entails establishing the capability of the system to interact with other elements within the environment with which the system operates is essential. The requirements of the users must be assessed effectively to ensure that they are incorporated within the operation of the system. The identification of system weaknesses is fundamental in seeking to establish a properly functioning system to undertake the required functions. Limitations into the process of system analysis are the regulations that exist with regard to the technology that can be utilised in establishing a functioning system. Technological differences between the system and the applications being utilised presents a significant challenge to system analysts Fact-finding measures are essential in the determination of the functions that a system can undertake, with regard to the user requirements. Use cases provide a platform upon which system usability is commonly analysed. Information gained from fact-finding and use cases is essential in system analysis, as it is the fundamental base upon which decisions regarding the system are made. Technological discrepancies are commonly solved by undertaking an analysis of the available technology during the feasibility study. These social settings provide an individual with guidelines through which daily activities are based upon. Before undertaking any personal activity, one requires to make an analysis of the activities involved in order to determine which one comes before the others. The consideration for the environment within which one undertakes his/her activities is essential in ensuring that no harm comes to the society. The limitations that an individual experiences in life come from the knowledge possessed, and the values held by the individual. The fundamental assumptions within the context of this project include the capability of an individual to undertake an object analysis of self, and the capability to undertake the