Philosophy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Philosophy - Assignment Example Through this statement, we are able to know that human beings are superior when compared to animals, i.e. pigs (Hamilton, 73). Furthermore, through this statement, we are able to know that within human being, there are classes, and this class is between the wise and the fools. Socrates is a well respected philosopher, and he is considered as one of the wisest men, to have ever lived, and therefore, through this statement, Mills uses him as a symbol of wisdom. The principle of utility denotes that the behaviors or actions of people are right and good, only if they are able to promote the pleasure or happiness of an individual. This principle further denotes that the actions or behavior of people are unjust, if they are able to produce pain, or unhappiness. As a human being, there are instances whereby I have been faced with the moral dilemma (Troyer, 12). An example is a circumstance, when I was in a restaurant, and unfortunately, I had forgotten to carry my wallet with, which consisted of money. I ordered food, with the knowledge that I would pay, but unfortunately, I realized that I had no money, and a wallet had just fallen down, and the owner did not realize it. This situation, was a dilemma to me, because I had two choices, the first choice is to pick the wallet, remove money, and pay for my bill, while the second option was to pick the wallet and return to the owner (Troyer, 12). While analyzing these options, I had to choose an opt ion, that would make us both happy, my-self, and the owner of the wallet, and this option was to return the wallet. Utility appears in this sense, when I was able to act rightly, satisfying my conscious, and the happiness of the owner of the wallet, when I returned it to him. This theory denotes that workers will lose the control of their lives, and this is because of the loss of control over the work that they are doing. Therefore, a worker ceases

Stepfamilies with Adolescents - Counseling Interventions Pertaining to Case Study

Stepfamilies with Adolescents - Counseling Interventions Pertaining to Communication and Discipline - Case Study Example Parenting is the most difficult aspects of a stepfamily. It is more difficult to form a stepfamily with adolescent children compared to forming a family with younger children. The main cause could be because of developmental stages. Research indicates that children who are between the ages of 10 and 14 may have a hard time in adjusting into a stepfamily. However, both children above the age of 15 and under the age of 10 may need to have a stepparent. The older or the children who are over 15 may need little or less parenting and will be less involved in the family. Finally, the children who are under 10 may be willing to have another adult in the family. Family structure has recently transformed due to both demographic and social changes. According to the Office of National Statistic, marriage rates have drastically while the number of divorce cases has remained constant. In recent years, people become parents and have their first child easily in a cohabiting union rather than within a marriage. Moreover, between 1975 and 2004, non-marital childbirth has drastically increased, from 9% to 43%, in which two-thirds is of unmarried parents. Several factors may affect how a child adjusts to a stepfamily this include, gender of the child. Girls attend to be more difficult than boys are and they may take time in adjusting in a stepfamily. For instance, stepfamilies that include the natural mother and a stepfather, the girls are more likely than boys to oppose the new male figure. In divorced families, where there is only a single parent that is involved, mother-daughter relationships tend to be extremely close. Consequently, girls may see the stepfather as a threat to the relationship with her mother when the mother decides to remarry. Alternatively, boys would quickly adjust since they yearn for a masculine figure.  

Computer Network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Computer Network - Essay Example Moreover, there is no documentation for the current IT infrastructure. There is no documentation explaining the network setup in the company. Also, the software and the hardware are outdated. Considering that the computers are still running windows XP, it implies that the OS may not support the current versions of application software and hardware needed to run the business as per the requirements. Considering the above stated issues, it’s clear that the WLA Company IT infrastructure needs to be restructured, redesigned and updated to meet the current IT requirements. This involves updating both the software and the hardware parts of the current system, designing new network infrastructure to cater for the needs of the company and training the existing employees on how to use the lately installed networking system. To solve the above-connoted issues a network system has to be set up. This network system will consist of client computers, servers and other peripheral devices such as printers, fax machines, telephone etc. (i.e. a client/server network is set up). The best network design for this company is peer-to-peer design. But the rapid growth of the company calls for the preparation of the company for further expansion by allowing flexibility. In this regard, the best network design will be a hybrid network. With this setup, account and permission will be required to access file on the server, while at the same time, access to other computers on the network will be shared equally. This will minimize the cost of setting up the network while at the same time bringing in efficiency. The hardware and software explain below are recommended to ensure maximum functioning of the company activities. All software and hardware that will be required for WLA business is listed below and why the justification of why it is required. Garrett (2003)

A Brawl in Mickys Backyard Essay Example for Free

A Brawl in Mickys Backyard Essay If you were on the city council, how would you vote on the issue? As a city councilor, I would be reminded that I am entrusted with the duty to provide the ways and means to ensure the safety and security of citizens of Anaheim and work to maintain and/or enhance a high quality of life. I would absolutely support affordable housing for the citizens of Anaheim who need a reasonable housing solution but I would search out alternative locations where a larger affordable housing development might better serve the needs of the stakeholders involved. The proposed development would serve only 15% of citizens in need which seems like a meager attempt to satisfy the real needs of the community. SunCals possible development of condominiums mixed with affordable rentals in a resort district is an interesting experiment, and I would caution any of their stakeholders that this might not be a prudent investment. Does Disney have an obligation to support initiatives that include nearby affordable housing for its employees? Disney has a obligation to maintain a stable place of employment, compensate employees fairly, and create a safe working environment, but is under no obligation to support these initiatives. For the benefit of their shareholders they should support initiatives that could lower employee stress due to extensive commuting times and travel, resulting in healthier employees, lower absenteeism, and reduce employee turnover. Does Anaheim and Orange County have an obligation provide affordable housing for its residents? All communities have an obligation to provide for the safety and security of their citizens and work to maintain a quality of life, especially those citizens who would be considered at risk and in need of affordable housing. To the extent that Anaheim and Orange County have the resources available they should develop and promote existing programs which help to provide housing for residents that are employed locally and paying taxes into the local economy. Then step into the shoes of Disneyland CEO. How do you solve this problem? Disney is a large economic force and has extensive resources at its disposal. As CEO I would coordinate with Anaheim and Orange County in discovering a suitable locations for employee housing. As part of Disneys community relations and corporate giving, employee housing and possible employee housing ownership can be developed. Anaheim would benefit economically with increased property  taxes, Disney can benefit from tax incentives, tax deductions for corporate donations into a community housing program, and would maintain their reputation as a respected business and employer in the community, with little capital expense.

Robert Brownings Poetry | Analysis

Robert Brownings Poetry | Analysis Compare the examination of abnormal psychology in Robert Brownings poetry, and in Iain Banks novel, The Wasp Factory. Make illuminating connections with the work of Edgar Allan Poe.   The abnormal mental state of the narrators in both Brownings poetry and in Banks novel, The Wasp Factory, is intrinsic in achieving the gothic style. Whilst the protagonists insanity is more implicit in Brownings poetry, the narrators, nevertheless, display similar characteristics of psychosis and delusion. Indeed, this madness disconnects the characters from the rest of society, and this element of monstrosity is vital in creating the intrigue and terror that ensues. Inclusion of such monstrous figures destabilises the natural order: it challenges the fixed social structures and ideology, and becomes inconsistent with what the majority considers both acceptable and intelligible. Yet, whilst on the surface gothic works may appear to reinforce these seemingly grotesque characteristics, in many respects, through exposing the unnatural, they deconstruct the illogical, and thereby attempt to create a set of social norms. The first chapter of The Wasp Factory, The Sacrifice Poles, serves as a warning to the reader that they are entering into the domain of Franks psyche. The unconventional behaviour she displays is evident through her intentional replacement of common nouns with proper nouns: for instance, the capitalisation of words such as Factory and Poles. Essentially this represents the objects which Frank views as significant in the private world that she has constructed for herself. Franks tendency to fantasise is further demonstrated through the naming of her catapult- The Black Destroyer. In fact, Frank goes beyond symbolism- for instance she assigns the house with humanistic attributes through personification: powerful body buried in the rock. Of course, this description may well be representative of the dark life she lives, in regards to both her social isolation and the sinister lifestyle that she leads. The conflicting behaviour that Frank exhibits, that is her seemingly child-like behavio ur and her meticulosity with rituals, underlines her highly unusual mental state. The initial lines of Porphyrias Lover similarly imply the protagonists unusual frame of mind. The use of pathetic fallacy and personification, for instance, the sullen wind is not only effective in creating a cold and melancholy atmosphere, but may be representative of the narrators mind; consequently, there is a strong sense of foreboding. The abnormal psychology of the narrator is further exemplified through the description of how the wind did its worst to vex the lake. Likewise, the wind is awake and tears down the elm-tops for spite. Thus, the wind is perhaps an emblem of the narrators destructive capacity: it could be argued that the lake is representative of Porphyria, and the wind is representative of the narrators anger towards Porphyria. In this sense, the narrators anger is possibly a consequence of his inability to possess the femininity that Porphyria exudes. The Laboratory also reveals a narrator that exhibits an unstable mental state. The anapaestic meter of the poem po ssibly reflects her enthusiasm and engagement in producing the poison. Additionally, the tricolon Grind away, moisten and mash up thy paste is representative of her increasing exhilaration as the poison approaches completion, whilst active verbs such as grind and pound convey violent connotations, which present us with an ambience of foreboding. The exquisite blue and the gold oozings of the poison, however, are possibly an allusion to the opulence of the French court. There is a stark contrast between the murky laboratory, which is arguably representative of the decadent aristocrats, and the affluence of the court; this is perhaps symbolic of the widespread corruption that encompassed the French aristocracy. During the emergence of the gothic literary movement, history was characterised by widespread political unrest often resulting in revolution. Subsequently, the genre became very popular with writers as it enabled them to express sympathy and moral concern over such movements. I n The Fall of the House of Usher, Poes imagery describing the attrition of the house is perhaps an attempt to symbolise the narrators degenerating mental state. Also, the Haunted Palace that is occupied by evil things (that) assailed the monarchs high estate is possibly an allusion to how his mind is being possessed by the malevolent forces that ostensibly surround the house. In The Wasp Factory, Franks father also displays an abnormal state of mind, which is demonstrated through his efforts to exert constant authority over his daughter. Mr Cauldhame has ultimately left Frank excluded from society through his decision to conceal his identity and home educate him. More sinisterly, however, Angus, through experimentation, has essentially created a contemporary Frankenstein. Fundamentally, Angus has suppressed Franks innate feminine characteristics through experimental hormone therapy and has indoctrinated her with misogynistic views. This enables Mr Cauldhame to think that he is in control of what he views as the correct father- son relationship. Of course, normality has no association with Franks life: the child-like mentality that she exhibits through her fantasy, perhaps signifies that, in reality, Frank is scared of the real world in a multitude of ways. Alternatively, this fantasy world may keep Frank at least partially sane: Eric shows the stark conse quences that may result from the real world. Moreover, their use of imperial measurements is not only indicative of Mr Cauldhames compulsive disorder, but accentuates the concept that the island does not progress with time. In this respect, the Cauldhame family is a microcosm of the demise of the empire and the island is a last remnant of it. Accordingly, it can be argued that it was the demise of Angus position as a patriarch that has ultimately brought about his decision to devise an all male enclave. Angus obsession with control, therefore, stems from his fear of being replaced as the monarch of the empire because of the emergence of the new feminist movement. Thus, Angus Cauldhames behaviour is synonymous to the description found in Jerrold Hodges gothic textbook: Angus has created a patriarchal enclosure designed to contain and even bury a potentially unruly female principle'. The way in which Banks presents the reader with a typical boys story whose protagonist is, in truth, a girl is perhaps a critique of the way in which society devises fixed binary gender stereotypes, and thus is an attempt to undermine these traditional gender expectations. Frank, however, conforms to the typical gothic female character, who is suppressed by a domineering male; the irony is that Frank is both the subjugated female and the tyrannical male. A similar desire for control is displayed by the narrator in Brownings My last Duchess. This element of control, that the narrator wishes to possess over his wife, is exemplified through the poems iambic pentameter. With twenty-eight rhyming couplets, the very tight structure of the poem is possibly representative of the level of authority and control that he expects to exert over his wife. The curtain that he has drawn over his late wifes picture is again perhaps symbolic of the level of authority that he desires to exercise over his female partners. Indeed, he gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. The underlying sense of threat signifies his expectations of how his wife should behave. Ironically, however, the Duke can only, when his wife is dead, counteract what he perceives as her earnest glance. Fundamentally, his wife has been objectified from subject to object; she is simply one of his possessions. Similarly, the narrator in Porphyrias Lover demonstrates a notion of control. The sibilance in the sentence, she shut the cold out stresses how she is able to alleviate the narrators mental anguish. However, it also stresses the narrators dependency on Porphyria and this concept is reiterated through the way she was mine, mine. The use of repetition thus highlights the possessive nature of the protagonist. Certainly, it is possible that the narrator is resentful of both her social superiority and of her more commanding presence. In the nineteenth century, society was characterised by patriarchal codes, which women had to adhere to; men typically exerted absolute control over their female partners. Thus, Porphrias gay social life may also be a source of the protagonists bitterness and the only way to free himself of such powerlessness is to kill her. Browning may be attempting to indicate a reversal of gender roles; the male is the weak character through his inability to keep control of himself- let alone Porphyria. In this sense, the protagonists obs ession with maintaining control is similar to that displayed by Mr Cauldhame in The Wasp Factory. Franks aggressive behaviour also illuminates her abnormal psychology. In many ways, the buck, which Frank encounters, is symbolic of all the things that she wishes to possess: that is, ironically, an alpha-male persona. This concept of masculinity is maintained through the way that Frank hissed. This animalistic imagery, once again, highlights Franks aggressive and territorial nature, which reveals her very apparent abnormal mindset. In essence, though, this encounter is an externalisation of Franks internal battle. This externalisation of an internal conflict is perhaps representative of Franks struggle with her dual gender identity. Additionally, this attack of revenge on the buck reinforces that Frank has the capability to kill and in fact clarifies her monstrosity. More disturbing, however, is Franks admittance that it felt good; this compounds her mental disposition. This scene provides the reader with a very clear image of Franks ability to inflict suffering and destruction whi lst chillingly deriving pleasure out of it. The externalisation of internal conflicts is equally manifested in Poes work. For instance, in The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat the narrators attempt to bury the corpse symbolises their attempts to conceal the problem. In The Black Cat, the narrators attempt to hide the corpse under the wall is ultimately representative of his desire to contain his problems within. Alas, for the narrators, their failure to deal with their problems effectively, leads to the resurfacing of the initial problem, and, inevitably, their downfall. However, despite Franks seemingly grotesque and in many ways nauseating behaviour, the reader can, nevertheless, sympathise with her. Franks manipulative nature may well be an attempt to expose her abnormal mind further. However, an encounter with this element of monstrosity is sometimes known to provoke paradoxical emotions. This notion of abjection as Julia Kristeva describes is the in-between, the ambiguous, the composite. Thus, the monstrous element has the ability to induce sentiments of horror and desire, disgust and fascination. Indeed, Franks mix of monstrosity and humanity possibly provide us with a forewarning of the transgression of which we may all be capable of; this, of course, presents a poignant and unsettling dimension. The Inclusion of animals is evident in Franks encounter with the buck, and in Poes The Black Cat. Poes story, like Banks novel, perhaps includes these animalistic aspects to reiterate that by undertaking such vicious acts the narrators are in complete deficiency of a logical human psyche, and are more comparable to animals who ultimately do not work within such moral frameworks. The authors are perhaps attempting to demonstrate that the narrators are deficient in human ethics: as philosopher Daniel Dennett states, many regard human ethical knowledge as a marvellous perspective that no other creatures have. The unconventional behaviour displayed by the narrator in Porphrias Lover, is implied further through the way he debated what to do. This uncertainty accentuates that when he kills Porphyria, it is a conscious decision and not an impulsive act. The composure, which the narrator exhibits is also shown through the very orderly ABABB rhyme scheme which is ultimately suggestive of the attitude, albeit this makes him appear all the more dangerous. However, alliteration in the sentence Blushes beneath my burning kiss presents a degree of desire for Porphyria. The paradox may nonetheless simply epitomise his psychosis. In The Wasp Factor, Franks casual admittance that his killings were Just a stage (he) was going through, stress his lack of remorse; in fact, like the narrator in Porphrias Lover, Frank is essentially justifying his actions. Hence, it reveals the very apparent psychosis of both narrators. In addition, despite Brownings clues towards the protagonists madness, it is never evide nt through the tone or diction of the poem. Instead of being presented with a stereotypical mad character, like Eric in The Wasp Factory, it is more implicitly implied. Alternatively, his madness is suggested through what the narrator does not say and the fact that he perceives Porphyria as being happy and at peace: The smiling rosy little head; the narrators portrayal of events can simply not accord with reality. Undoubtedly, the narrative of Porphrias Lover could well be a figment of the protagonists imagination; if this is the case, then it clearly reinforces that the narrator exhibits an element of abnormal psychology. The concept of the narrator justifying their actions is illuminated in The Tell-Tale Heart. The narrator is essentially justifying the murder of the old man through the notion that he had an evil eye: I think it was his eye!- yes, it was this! In essence, the narrators uncertainty alludes to the concept that it is simply an attempt to justify the sinister and irra tional behaviour that the reader is about to witness. A parallel can be drawn between the way in which the narrators justify their behaviour and the notion of self-deception. In The Wasp Factory, Franks self-deception is exemplified through the way in which she has essentially created her own fantasy. Franks propensity to self-deceit is apparent through the final chapter: the factory was my attempt to construct life, to replace the involvement which otherwise I did not want. Moreover, the level of deception is explicitly expressed through her engagement in rituals, which is an attempt to affirm her position as man. Franks repetition of the secret catechisms thus helps her to create the illusion of her male persona. Ultimately, though, her attempts are futile: the juxtaposition of the bowie knife and comb that Frank carries around presents the reader with a subtle intrusion of Franks real gender identity. These two contrasting objects possibly symbolise Franks conflicting personality: the knife is representative of the destructive behavi our that she asserts to conform to her male persona, whilst the comb is representative of her inherent, albeit more restrained, feminine character. This lingering uncertainty regarding sexual identity, as Boris Kà ¼hne argues, is a source of the uncanny and presents us with a pervasive gothic feeling; this ostracises Frank from societal norms and is inevitably the major source of her monstrosity. This is also evident in Brownings Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister. Essentially, the narrator soliloquises his own inadequacies and attributes them to Brother Lawrence. Stanza four illustrates the narrators perception of his own self-righteousness, and indeed his dedication to denouncing Brother Lawrences commitment to his faith. The narrator describes Brother Lawrences ostensible lusting over the two nuns, Dolores and Sanchicha. Yet he goes on to explain that that is, if hed let it show; crucially, there is no evidence that Brother Lawrence has been looking at the nuns lecherously. Rather, the detailed account of the nuns activities must be a product of the narrators own impure thoughts, and his attempts to attribute these unchastely thoughts to Brother Lawrence can only serve to accentuate his self-deceptive and manipulative personality. The monks attempt to describe himself as the epitome of morality continues with his comment regarding the symbolic divide between their table eti quette. The crossing of his silverware, the narrator argues, symbolises his remembrance of Christs death on the cross; Brother Lawrence displays no such gesture. Additionally, the narrators absurd suggestion that Brother Lawrences drinking of the watered orange pulp in three sips supposedly denies the Arian doctrine again provides us with an illustration of his attempt to reaffirm his moral superiority. Ironically, despite the narrators belief, his attempt to condemn Brother Lawrence into eternal damnation reiterates his spiritual inferiority; this irrational behaviour provides an indication that Brownings narrator also exhibits an elementary characteristic of abnormal psychology. The quasi-religion that Frank constructs evidences the depth of her delusion and, correspondingly, her abnormal psychology. However, Franks religion has not stemmed from an intrinsic religious belief, but arguably out of a necessity to harbour some control, whilst denying any element of responsibility. Frank, in light of the failure of familial relationships, relies on The Wasp Factory to guide and ironically protect her. Frank creates a polytheistic religion: water, fire and death are all pseudo-Gods and perhaps compose Franks trinity. Indeed, Franks monstrosity is a result of her moral indifference. Since sea has destroyed what (she has) built wiping clean the marks (she) made Frank perhaps deduces that this permits her to inflict suffering on animals, which are below the pseudo-hierarchical order that she has constructed. However, the contrast to the sea destroying her dams and the sadistic killing of the rabbit is not apparent to Frank. Franks quasi-religion naturally has many Ch ristian elements: the lighting of the candles in Franks religions, nevertheless, contrastingly symbolises a destructive power. Banks notes that this was an attempt to satirise religion, and expose the ways in which we are all deceived, misled and harking back to something that never existed. Consequently, Banks ridicules all religions perhaps in a bid to create a society that is free from religious doctrine, and one that advocates logic and equality. Poes work also contains religious undertones. For instance, in The Tell-Tale Heart, the narrator essentially ascribes himself the role of God; this is reinforced by the way he describes the extent of my powers- of my sagacity. The delusion of grandeur ultimately reveals his damaged psychological state. Religious overtones are similarly apparent in Porphyrias Love. The imagery arguably possibly portrays Porphyria as an angelic entity. The way she glided in and her ability to make the cottage warm suggest a supernatural quality, with her yellow hair and bare white shoulder possibly alluding to her angelic purity; even when Porphyria is dead, the narrator describes her blue eyes without a stain. The presentation of Porphyrias purity and innocence may well be an attempt by Browning to accentuate a feeling of anguish after Porphyrias death. Conversely, the magical element that the narrator has ascribed to her may ultimately be a result of the magic in his head. In this respect, the reference to her eyes, which were without a stain, is perhaps his warped perception that Porphyria worshipped him; after all, the eyes are a window to the soul. Certainly, the notion that she worshipped him is reinforced by his absurd insistence that she is happy and at peace in his arms: the smiling rosy lit tle head. The fact that God has not said a word, however, is perhaps a direct attack on God: a sin has been committed yet no justice has been obtained. Indeed, Brownings poem was written during the Age of Enlightenment, a time where the legitimacy of the Bible was challenged and an emphasis of rationalism over religion occurred. In a rather different perspective, the God which is referenced may simply be a rhetorical God, which the narrator uses to convey his perception of how any God across all religious spectrums would view the strangulation of Porphyria as morally correct; this would clearly reinforce that the narrator exhibits an abnormal mental state. To conclude, all the texts examined contain quintessential characteristics of gothic mode and symbolism, which disclose the abnormal psychology of the narrators. The monstrous aspect pervades us with a feeling of uneasiness and revulsion. Yet, through including the seemingly grotesque and disconnected narrators, the gothic is able to defuse the transgressive, and challenge the conventional expectations of society. In The Wasp Factory, Banks perhaps attempts to satirise the way in which society constructs binary gender stereotypes and, in doing so, challenges what appears to be an illogical social norm. Similarly, Brownings Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess, through including subjugated female characters, possibly battles to expose the patriarchy that characterised Victorian society. Poes narrator in The Fall of the House of Usher, perhaps similar to Frank in The Wasp Factory, possesses a dual persona, or doppelganger, which accentuates the transgressions of which all humans may be capable of. In this way, through exposing the unnatural, the gothic advocates rationality and, as Kà ¼hne argues, acts as final safeguarding device against the invasion of the monstrous in the readers actual life.

Strength Training for Children and Adolescents

Strength Training for Children and Adolescents This essay will particular focus on the links between a child development and training load by critically discussing, bone development, muscle mass and strength, menstruation in young females, issues of obesity and physical inactivity, aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and injury. After highlighting the contemporary research surrounding these links, the findings and methodology are evaluated. To begin, a brief definition of training load is put forward. The findings founds within training load and children may not be a as straight forward as it appears as much research has looked at the link between training load and a childs development, through peered reviewed research. The ways of assessing physical activity training load and development, as well as the reasoning why they should and should not take part in exercise, with reference to bone and muscle changes. Also the implications to menstruation in young female athletes and which exercise type of exercise is better for the young. As well as the negative issues relating to injury during physical activity, with reference to the potential affects in to adulthood. Physical activity and health is also known to be beneficial, however the methods and ways in which this is done may give different results. This will be discussed through how physical activity can improve the quality of life and also how being inactive can have issues. It will be looked at through many health conditions including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, osteoporosis, cancers, and obesity, and also how physical activity can reduce the chance of getting some of these health conditions. It must firstly be mentioned what training load is. Training load is the amount of exercise completed and how much energy used (Rowland, 2005). Children and adolescents have taken part in physical activity through school in physical education classes, but there are those who enjoy exercise more than others. In each case there are physiological implications which can occur, such as developmental issue which can include, bone and muscle problems, injury and health issues such as heart disease, cancers and obesity, as well as menstrual complications in females. Also there are implications for children and adolescents who do not exercise. As children progress into adolescence, the influence of peers and peer pressure becomes noticeable and a widespread decline in physical activity becomes more of a problem. Generally boys will tend to participate in some sort of exercise or sport with friends at a higher intensity than girls (Sallis, 1993). Rowland (2007) suggested that physical activity has many benefits for the young, as it promotes health, thus making you healthy in adult life. However Rowland goes on to mention that more research is needed to look at factors such as frequency and duration of physical activity during childhood as this can determine how reliable the health outcomes maybe in adulthood. Furthermore it was suggested that in the long term that if adolescents are physical active it will enhance bone health and reduce certain cancers such as breast cancer. However Twisk (2001) discussed the onset of many chronic illnesses which start at child and that strategy should be put in to plan to reduce disease early on in life. Exercise found that one important way to stop the on set of disease, but increasing physical during childhood and adolescence. Evidence found that exercise guidelines for children and adolescents is weak, and additional it was found that only a small amount of research which found that exercising when young can be related to health in a dulthood. This can suggest that guidelines based on the public, should be more focused on health benefits, rather than how much exercise should be completed on a daily basis. Behm, Faigenbaum and Klentrou, (2008) produced a review on the recommendations of resistance training on paediatrics, with the correct training methods can be safe and improve health. Studies measuring (anthropometric) children have not found to show an increase in muscular hypertrophy with resistance training in paediatrics with cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy. Surprisingly it has been mentioned that there is no minimum age to start resistance training in children, however this does need to be structured when exercising. The resistance training in children needs to be with a qualified instruction and while being supervised. This seems in many cases to be unachievable as not every child can have instruction with exercising (e.g. a child running is exercise but does not need instruction or supervision), never the less resistance training exercise can aid in muscle strength, endurance, balance, power and co-ordination and many health benefits. Moderate stress on bones (e.g. weight-b earing exercise) builds a stronger skeleton. Heavy loads or extreme forces can retard bone growth. Therefore, power and heavy weight training should be avoided until later stages of development. Training should be closely monitored during adolescence for signs of stress / overuse. Bones are more susceptible to fractures when growth plates (cartilage sights that are not yet ossified) are still present. If bone growth accelerates faster than muscle length, then undue stress can be placed on the skeleton during growth spurts; this can be exasperated by repetitive exercises or movements. Burrows (2007) found that diseases such as osteoporosis are becoming increasingly high, however weight-bearing exercise is a good way to enhance bone mineral density, making it stronger, if this exercise is continued throughout the growth period. It has been suggested that sport needs to start at perpubertal age to obtain peak bone mass. Sports such as gymnastics and football are recommended to increase peak bone mass. Within this research area there also seems to many authors suggesting that training load will be good for muscle and bone strength, especially weight bearing training as this strengthen the body, additional some authors have mentioned professional support and instruction in training will stop the chances of getting injury, but surely injury will be enviable, as it is the individual who is doing that specific exercise or sport can have an accident. Despite this there are other issues with training load on the young, especially in females and menstruation, as Eliakim Beyth, (2003) study found when looking at exercise training, menstrual irregularities and bone development in children and adolescents. Weight bearing exercise has been know to be important in bone development, this is even more important in children and adolescents, as bone mineral density reaches around 90% of its peak by the second decade. Physical activity in childhood and adolescence can reduce the risk on bone disease such as osteoporosis in later life. However strenuous exercise in females can affect there reproductive system causing athletic amenorrhea (this is the stopping of menstruation for six months or more). This is becoming more popular as it is 4-20 times higher than the general populations, especially in the female athlete. This can lead to skeletal fractures, unstable spine and vertebral joints, as well as menstrual abnormalities. As a result fema le athletes would have to reduce training, to reduce skeletal affects, as this is more harmful to bones growth, especially if a child or adolescence is still at the rapid growth stage at this time and prevent changes in menstruation. Further issues relating to adolescents and training load are growth, maturation and strength. Bernadette (2006) study looked at whether moderate-high amounts of dance training would influence linear growth and sexual maturation if girl ages 8-11 years old, through puberty. Results found that no change of height velocity of the dancers in year one. However when controlling the groups for maturations, fat mass, lean mass and also extracurricular activities (not dancing), there where found to be no changes in growth or velocity growth in height, sitting height or leg length. Thus finding that there was link between age at menarche and hours and years of dance training. Also resulting in no affect occurring in moderate high level of dance training in linear growth or maturation. However it has been found that preadolescent boys and girls can see meaningful gains in strength with proper training. Although it has been documented that adults and adolescents can achieve significant improveme nts with strength training, training gains for children have been questioned. The argument that led to the false belief that children couldnt benefit from training was based on two presumptions. First, it was considered unlikely that notable changes in muscular strength and endurance could occur prior to puberty, due to lower levels of circulating androgens (e.g., testosterone). The underlying assumption was that higher levels of androgens were necessary for improvements in muscle size and strength to occur. Second, children naturally become stronger as they grow, and strength gains beyond that were thought improbable. Previous studies, which seemed to support this, were often limited in study design and research methodology (such as low intensity, low volume or short duration training protocols). Nevertheless, this data seemed to suggest that resistance training was ineffective in the very young population. Faigenbaum (2000) A growing body of scientific evidence in support of childrens strength training has arisen within the past decade. The literature provides strong documentation that both male and female preadolescents can improve strength significantly with well-designed resistance-training programs. Recent reviews analyze the available research by comparison. Although a relatively small number of studies were included, one review revealed that a majority of studies demonstrated strength gains between 13 and 30 percent as a result of training (Falk Tenenbaum, 1996). Another reported similar results for children and youth, and each of the studies included in this review indicated that resistance training was generally effective, regardless of participants or study characteristics (Payne, Morrow, Johnson Dalton, 1997). Gains from strength training for preadolescents are generally attributed to neural adaptations and motor learning, rather than circulating androgens. Muscle hypertrophy, or an increase in the cross-sectional area of a muscle, is not usually detected in children as a result of training. Since muscle size has been correlated with strength, studies indicating no increase in muscle hypertrophy implied that strength training was ineffective in younger participants. On the opposite side of the scale there are those children and adolescence who do not exercise. It is well known that obesity is one of the biggest health problems across the world, but with children becoming less physical active this will be inevitable, along with several other major diseases which can include coronary heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, lung disease and some cancers. Watts, Jones, Davis Green (2005) study found evidence that non physically active children are most like to become less physically active in adulthood, furthermore it is encouraged that physical activity habits in children help patterns of exercise in adulthood. Random control trails have been designed to look at exercise training in both children and adolescence. The studies found exercise does have beneficial outcomes, but it does always reduce bodyweight, it does however have more beneficial effects to changes in fat and lean body mass, thus showing the need for better asse ssment in future exercising training studies. Exercise can improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength, but little affect on blood lipids and blood pressure in obese youths. Similar important studies have found that exercise improves vascular endothelial function, which was found to be a substitute measure to predict the atherosclerotic risk in children and adolescents who are obese (Celermajer, Sorensen Gooch, 1992).Training studies have found an improvement in vascular function, however an absence in changes in lipid fractions, haemodynamic variables or glucose metabolism as exercise appears to have a beneficial effect on the vasculature (Watts, Beye Siafarikas et al, 2004) Another area which is essential in a children development is the aerobic and anaerobic development in children and adolescence. Cardiovascular function being in childhood but is also different of those of an adult. Children have smaller heart chambers and lower volume than adults, thus finding a lower stroke volume than an adult during rest and exercise. Children have a smaller stroke volume, but a child has a higher maximal heart rate compared to an adult. An adolescent, max heart could be found to be higher than an adult but not quiet as high as a childs (Sharp, 1995). Although higher heart rates can not be compensated for a childs lower stroke volume and theres a childs cardiac output is lower than in adults (Wilmore Costill, 1994). Thus suggesting that more of the cardiac output goes to working the muscle in children than it would in adults (Wilmore Costill, 1994). Children are found to be more naturally aerobic, rather than anaerobic, but unfortunately there are few studies wh ich have found that aerobic capacity in children will improve with training aerobically. Furthermore Rowlands (1992) argued that no studys have been complied which has the specific outline of 12 weeks training, over three days per week, with heart rates of 160 beats per minute over twenty minutes as a minimum requirement, as well as a large group of participants, with a control, thus being similar to an adults training schedule. Rowland found that if children complete a similar aerobic training routine and intensity to an adult, they would improve there V02 max between 7 and 26%. Which suggests children can improve aerobic fitness from an adult training program. Sharp (1995) found that children have a lower lactate production and the anaerobic threshold in children give heart rates of between 165-170 beat per minute, which is similar to a trained endurance adult. Yet sedentary adults anaerobic threshold is between 120-150 beats per minute. Which means that heart rate will be higher in a sedentary child than an adult. More evidence has supported high intensity stimulus theory that activity level in children is not related to V02 max (Rowland, 1992). As children are not as active as they once were, Armstrong Welsman (1994) stated that they are still aerobically fit, which suggest children are naturally fit. Thus, to improve a childs natural fitness, a good, strong training program is needed. Whether children exercise aerobically or anaerobic, there is the issue of heat conditions, also know as thermoregulation. Falk (2008) found that children produce more heat per kilogramme body weight than adults, but their thermoregulatory system is not as good. This is partly because they sweat less. For example, a 12-year-old boy may sweat 400ml per square meter of skin per hour, compared to an adult mans 800ml. Girls and women sweat proportionately the same, although less in absolute quantity terms. Children also tend to have higher skin temperatures, which hinder the flow of heat from body core to the periphery. However, children have a proportionately greater skin surface area the smaller they are. A young adult weighing 64kg will have a surface area of about 1.80 square meters; an eight year- old weighing 25kg will have a skin area of 0.95 square meters, i.e. 36 per cent more surface area per unit of weight. This helps to correct thermal imbalances, but can be a disadvantage whe n running in direct sun (or swimming in cold water) with the possibility of a faster rate of overheating (or overcooling). Injury is another common occurrence in children who take part in sport and exercise during there development. Adirim (2003) found that within the US around 30 million children take part in sport and exercise, and many of those have an injuries, which is due to overuse, also of those injuries over one third where of school age. With the physical and physiological differences of children and adults, this is one reason why children are more susceptible to injury. Overuse injuries are common, overuse injuries occur from the repetitive application of submaximal stresses to otherwise normal tissues. (Outerbridge Micheli, 1995) Injuries which are the most common are the ankle and knee. Overtraining and exposure to excessive levels of physical activity can cause an increased chance of injury, overuse injuries can affect normal physical growth and maturation. Prevention is the key, gradual rather than sudden increases in stresses and intensity can usually avoid physical breakdown. Early chan ges of the training program can ensure successful return to sport. In conclusion, it can be found after looking through peered reviewed research that training load can have both positive and negative aspects. In research it has found that Moderate stress on bones builds a stronger skeleton. Furthermore heavy loads or extreme forces can retard bone growth. Thus, power and heavy weight training should be avoided until later stages of development. Training load and menstruation in female athletes can have detrimental affects on reproductive development. As a result female athletes would have to reduce training, to reduce skeletal affects, as this is more harmful to bones growth, especially if a child or adolescence is still at the rapid growth stage at this time and prevent changes in menstruation. Surprisingly children are becoming more susceptible to many more health conditions as a result of falling physical activity levels, even when knowing that exercise can improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength, but little affect on blood lipids and blood pressure in obese youths. Although it has been found that children are most aerobically fit rather than anaerobic, but unfortunately there are few studies which have found that aerobic capacity in children will improve with training aerobically. Children also have a lower lactate production and the anaerobic threshold in children give heart rates which are similar to a trained endurance adult. Furthermore thermoregulation in children produce more heat than adults, but their thermoregulatory system is not as good. However to correct thermal imbalances, but can be a disadvantage when running in direct sun, with the possibility of a faster rate of overheating or overcooling. Finally injury is another aspect which occurs during a childs development, when taking part in sport and exercise. The most common injuries are overuse (joints commonly affected are ankle and knee). Children are most susceptible to injury during development as they are not coordinated and react slower than ad ults. Its also been found that instructions in training will stop the chances of getting injury. References AD Faigenbaum (2000) Strength training for children and adolescents, Clinics in sports medicine, 19(4): 593-619 Sharp NC. (1995) The health of the next generation: health through fitness and sport. Journal of the Royal Society of Health, 115(1):48-55. Falk, Bareket; Dotan, Raffy, Childrens thermoregulation during exercise in the heat a revisit (2008) Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, Volume 33, Number 2, 1, pp. 420-427(8) Outerbridge RA, Micheli LJ. Overuse injuries in the young athlete. Clin Sports Med. 1995;14:503-516 Celermajer DS, Sorensen KE, Gooch VM, et al. Non-invasive detection of endothelial dysfunction in children and adults at risk of atherosclerosis. Lancet 1992; 340: 1111-5 Watts K, Beye P, Siafarikas A, et al. Effects of exercise training on vascular function in obese children. J Pediatrics 2004; 144: 620-5 Falk, B., G. Tenenbaum (1996) The effectiveness of resistance training in children: A meta-analysis. Sports Medicine 22(3): 176-186. Payne, V.G., J.R. Morrow, L. Johnson S.N. Dalton. Resistance training in children and youth: A meta-analysis. Research Quarterly of Exercise and Sport 68

The Cosmogonic Cycle in Conrads Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

The Cosmogonic Cycle in Heart of Darkness  Ã‚   The short novel Heart of Darkness tells a story just like any other heroic myth, except better. This novel rewards an educated reader. Many find the work to be extremely confusing, and actually quite dull. Though it is a complicated book, a reader is stimulated by the symbols and linguistics used by Conrad. The most noticeable is the flaw in the Cosmogony Cycle. This cycle is an integral part of every hero’s journey. An important step in the cycle, the second step in fact, is finding a guide, either spiritual or tangible. If one were to look hard enough in most works of canonical literature, he would find all the necessary components of the Cosmogonic Cycle on the protagonist’s journey, the travel into the underworld, confronting the father figure, meeting, and saving, a female prisoner, then the journey back into the conscious. A guide is there to lead the hero. He generally is a man or woman who has been on a similar journey and knows the pitfalls where the hero may f all. Without this figure in Marlow’s journey, he fell into the temptation of staying in the unconscious "evil" domain. Conrad never gave Marlow a guide, in essence, dooming him to fail his mission. At the beginning of the protagonist’s journey it seemed as though the "two women . . . knitting black wool" (Conrad 13) in the trading center office were there to foreshadow the mortal death of Marlow. One may have drawn this conclusion because this is an obvious reference to the women who knitted while watching aristocrats executed by the guillotine during the French Revolution. I believe it meant something much more deep. A good writer, one of Conrad’s caliber, does not place superfluous scenes, words, or phrases in his or her book. He writes only what he needs to write. With that in mind, because Marlow did not die at the end of his journey, therefore the women then had to represent something else. They foreshadowed the death of Marlow’s soul. They knew he was without a spirit guide because they were aware the Trading Company had not offered him one. They also knew Kurtz hadn’t had a guide either. There were multiple uses of the word soul in the final chapter, many of which talked of the inability for a man’s soul to escape the forest.