The Issues of Erotic Desire in Phaedrus and De Rerum Natura †Philosophy Essay

The Issues of Erotic Desire in Phaedrus and De Rerum Natura – Philosophy Essay Free Online Research Papers The Issues of Erotic Desire in Phaedrus and De Rerum Natura Philosophy Essay Erotic desire in Phaedrus, and De Rerum Natura is intrinsically connected with pleasure. But had Plato examined De Rerum, and Lucretius, Phaedrus, they would have been troubled by the place and role of erotic desire in the other’s work. Superficially, erotic desire in the two works differs little; both would appear to the undiscriminating reader as a variance of lust, or perhaps love. But on a deeper level, when comparing the importance of erotic desire in the works, and the relation to the conception and attainment of the summum bonum, the greatest good, ideological conflicts are revealed. The differences between the place, conception, and role of erotic desire in the two works are determined by the view of the summum bonum, which largely hinges on the question of the mortality of the soul. To get a firm grasp of the topic, it is useful to first look of the two author’s definitions of erotic desire, with short expositions on the place and role of erotic desire in the two works, irrespective of each other. What is erotic desire in Plato’s Phaedrus? Erotic desire, as defined in Socrates’ Second Speech, is: â€Å"†¦ the fourth kind of madness- that which someone shows when he sees the beauty we have down here and is reminded of true beauty; then he takes wing and flutters in his eagerness to rise up, but is unable to do so; and he gazes aloft, like a bird, paying no attention to what is down below†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (37) Erotic desire is a kind of ‘madness’ brought on by the recollection of ‘true beauty’. With Plato, erotic desire exists in a world where immortal forms are the ideal. Erotic desire is the manifestation of the longing for those perfect forms. The summum bonum is the knowledge of the truth, represented by the forms, and erotic desire is the feeling brought on in the physical world by the recollection of those forms. It is important to note the reaction of the man ‘reminded of true beauty’, and its relation to the definition of erotic desire. The man’s reaction is the first step in a process which Plato refers to as, â€Å"lov[ing] boys philosophically† (36). It is not the path of the man who â€Å"surrenders to pleasure and sets out in the manner of a four-footed beast† (39). The ideal relationship, in which a man ‘loves boys philosophically’, is never consummated, though those that love ambitiously are only a step or two below the ideal (48). This implies, since both begin the ascent back into ‘heaven’, that the erotic desire and the close relationship results, rather than strict philosophy, is the most important mechanism for the regrowth of the soul’s wings and the return to ‘Reality’. This clarifies the concept of erotic desire somewhat. Erotic desire becomes a love for another person, a love that leads one to look for a higher truth, no matter the circumstance. Man on earth is incomplete, he has lost the sense of truth and virtue he had while in ‘Reality’. Erotic desire becomes a desire for completeness that is achieved through union with another. The summum bonum is this completeness, this knowledge of the truth. But what of â€Å"practice[ing] philosophy without guile†, the other way that Socrates mentions the soul can regrow its wings? The philosopher is already as complete as possible, â€Å"since [the philosopherâ €™s mind’s] memory always keeps it as close as possible to those realities† (37). What place does erotic desire have in Plato’s Phaedrus? Erotic desire has a central place in the philosophy of Phaedrus. Socrates’s second speech, where erotic desire is discussed, occupies the literal center of the dialogue. However, erotic desire’s importance is more than just nominal; erotic desire is key to the philosophy of Socrates’s second speech. Socrates’ proof begins: â€Å"Every soul is immortal. That is because whatever is always in motion is immortal, while what moves, and is moved by, something else stops living when it stops moving.† (29) Motion is connected with life; immortality, with perpetual motion. The speech of Socrates is based on this principle, which proves the immortality of the soul. Motion is the important element to focus on. Erotic desire is the manifestation of the longing for the perfect forms that define the immortal soul’s existence; in Platonic terms, the forms exist in the collective as ‘Reality’ (34). The knowledge of these forms, and the sight of them in ‘heaven’ is the Socratean summum bonum. Truth is the greatest good, and erotic desire leads to truth. The soul’s attraction to the truth, in Plato’s terms, ‘forms’ and ‘Reality’, is paralleled by the body’s attraction to reminders of these things, in this case, the erotic desire for ‘beautiful boy’. Erotic desire is essentially a force for motion toward the forms. Since Socrates describes erotic desire earlier as, â€Å"tak[ing] its name from th e word for force†, this should be no surprise (18). It is a natural desire for the soul to want to move toward the forms, as Socrates says that the mind of the soul is â€Å"nourished by intelligence and pure knowledge† (33). ‘Nourish’ connects the forms and the soul in a physical way, in a way equational to the connection between the man and the ‘beautiful boy’. What is erotic desire in Lucretius’s De Rerum Natura? Lucretius defines erotic desire in different terms than Plato. Erotic desire is the â€Å"mind’s wound†, when man’s body, â€Å"strives for union with [her body], wants to fill that body with his own, pour out that seed into the other†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (149). For Lucretius, erotic desire contains elements of lust; it is a hopelessly physical attraction. Throughout the work, Lucretius talks of seeds, most notably with reference to atoms, and the theme continues through his discussion of erotic desire, â€Å"once we are men mature and strong, becomes an active force, compulsive, driving† (149). The ‘seed’ is the ‘driving’ force behind erotic desire in the work. There is no pretense of a higher love in De Rerum, no mention of souls, or wings or forms, but as Lucretius’s focus in his work is on the mortality of the soul, the transience of existence, there is no pla ce for such things. The main unit of Socrates’s world is the soul, while the main unit of Lucretius’s world is the atom. Both units are immortal, but only Socrates’s unit allows for an individual, perpetual existence. Erotic desire has a place in the Lucretian world view, but not a major one. Insofar as the Lucretian philosophy looks to maximize pleasure, erotic desire can bring pleasure, but remember that the greatest pleasure, the summum bonum, is the absence of all pain. Erotic desire can be the first step down into the abyss of â€Å"passionate love† (150). As Lucretius says, â€Å"What could be more contrary to nature? Nothing else inflames us, once we have it, with desire of more and more and more† (151). Love has the potential for immense pain along with its pleasure, and immense pain is exactly what Lucretius looks to avoid. Love is unnatural, not only through its ‘desire of more and more and more’, but also through the pain it almost always brings. What is more unnatural in the Lucretian system than the seeking out of pain? But the danger of falling in love is not enough for Lucretius to counsel against erotic desire, represented by Venus, â€Å"Avoiding passionate love, you need not miss all the rewards of Venus† (150). Lucretius is direct in his ‘prescription’, â€Å"The only thing to do is to confuse the issue, cure the hurt by many more- what does the adage say, Safety in hordes? Ah, that’s the right prescription† (150). Love is like a sickness, also the â€Å"germinal seeds of madness†, and must be treated with a ‘prescription’ (150). The ‘prescription’ is promiscuous sex, which stands opposed to Socrate’s condemnation of those who ‘set out in the manner of the four-footed beast’. How does the role of erotic desire differ between Phaedrus and De Rerum Natura? Erotic desire fits into the two works differently, and this is largely the result of differences in the two works’ conception of pleasure. Socrates says, â€Å"the truth is my subject,† and it is the truth, in the shape of the forms, that is the ultimate pleasure in Phaedrus (34). The result is a more abstract view of the pleasure in erotic desire; it is very much connected with the idea of forms, and the recollection of the ‘truth’ brought on by the ‘beautiful boy’. It is also one of the few ways the soul can regrow its wings, and ascend back into the realm of ‘Reality’. Erotic desire is key to the world view of Socrates’s Second Speech. Within Socrates’s concept of erotic desire is a firm belief in the immortality of the soul; erotic desire allows the fallen to rise again, it is a redeeming force. But Lucretius goes to great pai ns to prove the mortality of the soul, and thus erotic desire plays a somewhat different role in De Rerum. The soul is instead replaced by ‘seeds’, and their physical connotation. Lucretius compares erotic desire to the â€Å"mind’s wound†, and much like blood spurts from the body’s wound, the seed spurts from the mind’s. Erotic desire is a physical pleasure, in a world where everything is physical, and it is only one of a multitude of physical pleasures. But more crucial is that in the work of Lucretius, the summum bonum is the absence of all pain. This is in contrast to the Socratean summum bonum of knowledge of the ‘truth’. Socrates’s philosophy accepts that pain can follow erotic desire; he makes clear that it is a pain of the soul, â€Å"[the wing’s] feathers prick[ing] at its passageway† brought on by the absence of the ‘beautiful boy’ (40). Because the soul is immortal, pain in the present can be endured for the greater everlasting pleasure. All this pain is endured for the greatest good. Lucretius’s philosophy is consistent with the delay of gratification for a greater pleasure, but the soul in Lucretius is mortal and erotic desire provides no such opportunity. Though in Lucretius, erotic desire is a perfectly legitimate pleasure, so long as it does not develop into ‘passionate love’, which carries the potential for great pain. In a superficial way, relative to a discussion of immortal forms, Lucretius views erotic desire as a force that distorts the truth, as it causes the lover to overlook flaws in their love. It may seem obvious, but pleasure and erotic desire are inextricably linked. Imagine the discussion between the two writers; focus on the intensity of it. See how deep into their philosophies erotic desire gets them? It gets to the heart of the matter, to the ‘greatest good’, and the mortality of the soul. How is the summum bonum to be achieved? Is a part of us immortal? The two men would have disagreed. The soul is immortal for Plato, and mortal for Lucretius. Plato’s ideal is a man full of erotic desire, of that ‘passionate love’ which Lucretius denounces, but his soul will be the better for it, because it leads him to a greater good. The man of Lucretius would see no higher good in erotic desire, just a pleasure with pitfalls. For Plato, erotic desire leads to the truth, but for Lucretius it leads astray. As the two works, in the discussion of erotic desire, seem to be defined by the question of the mortality of the soul, the works, in this light, provide insight into how crucial a role time, or the lack of it, plays in the conception of the summum bonum. There is a troubling undercurrent that runs through both works. In this context, both works imply the instability of human experience. In Plato, the soul exists in the perfect world of forms, and then falls into the imperfect world of man; the cycle repeats endlessly. For Lucretius, man may take pleasure in the moment, but pain is always around the corner. Though ideologically different, both philosophers accept that stability is difficult to realize. Again, the issue hinges on the mortality of the soul, because stability can only ultimately be achieved in death. Research Papers on The Issues of Erotic Desire in Phaedrus and De Rerum Natura - Philosophy EssayHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementMind TravelComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoQuebec and CanadaCapital PunishmentEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenResearch Process Part OneHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

25 Subordinating Conjunctions

25 Subordinating Conjunctions 25 Subordinating Conjunctions 25 Subordinating Conjunctions By Mark Nichol If you’re having trouble developing sentences with sufficient variety to keep your writing fresh, take a ride on A WHITE BUS. No, I’m not shouting at you; A WHITE BUS is a mnemonic initialism that reminds you about a set of conjunctions with which you can begin dependent clauses. (A dependent clause is a phrase that must be attached to an independent clause a series of words that can stand on its own as a sentence to make grammatical sense.) Below, you’ll find the words or phrases that the letters in A WHITE BUS represent, and sample sentences in which they’re employed. A 1. â€Å"After dinner, we’ll go see a movie.† 2. â€Å"Although I’d rather not, I’ll make an exception.† 3. â€Å"As you know, she’s rather eccentric.† W 4. â€Å"When we’re done, let’s get some ice cream.† 5. â€Å"Whenever I go, I try to see something I’ve never seen before.† 6. â€Å"Whether or not you agree, I think it looks fine.† 7. â€Å"Where I go, they always have sales.† 8. â€Å"Wherever I go, I try to enjoy myself.† 9. â€Å"While I’m there, I play music on a jukebox.† H 10. â€Å"How is it that even though you go there all the time, you’ve never noticed that before?† I 11. â€Å"If you find out, please let me know.† 12. â€Å"In case you hadn’t heard, I couldn’t care less.† 13. â€Å"In order to enjoy your trip, take your time and enjoy the sights.† T 14. â€Å"That I like wearing red that has never been in dispute.† 15. â€Å"Though I’m flexible, I draw the line about that.† E 16. â€Å"Even if it is true, I’ll forgive him.† 17. â€Å"Even though I’d heard the song before, I hadn’t known who sang it.† 18. â€Å"Ever since I met her, I haven’t been able to think about anything else.† B 19. â€Å"Because I’ve been there before, I’d rather go somewhere else.† 20. â€Å"Before I saw the house, I was ready to just rent an apartment.† U 21. â€Å"Unless you’re willing to wait, you’ll have to come back tomorrow.† 22. â€Å"Until we find it, we can’t leave.† S 23. â€Å"Since then, I’ve had a different opinion of him.† 24. â€Å"So sure were you of your theory about them, you ignored evidence that you were wrong.† 25. â€Å"So that I’m sure I understand you, please repeat what you said.† Sometimes, ON, representing â€Å"only if† (â€Å"Only if I get to drive will I go with you†) and â€Å"now that† (â€Å"Now that we understand each other, things are much better†) precedes A WHITE BUS in the mnemonic phrase. Note, too, that the order in which the dependent and independent clauses appear can be reversed (though often, the comma separating the clauses is then not necessary). However, because the independent clause generally contains the essential information, the sentence is usually more effective when the independent clause trails the dependent clause. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Use â€Å"That,† â€Å"Which,† and â€Å"Who†Grammar Quiz #21: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses5 Examples of Insufficient Hyphenation

What Are the Attributes of a Good Supervisor Research Paper

What Are the Attributes of a Good Supervisor - Research Paper Example A good supervisor should be discreet, impartial, and hardworking; for he is in charge of several employees. Employees develop conflicts of interest and it is the jurisdiction of a supervisor to ensure that all the employees work as a team. On condition that a supervisor is self-driven and treats his employees well and without partiality; then it means that they will eventually work hard and exploit their potential fully. This is a positive attitude towards the success of an organization. For instance, promotion should be awarded to the hardworking employees but not to relatives or corrupt officials. Not all supervisors are good, some have developed undesirable habits in the process of running their organizations where they don’t observe equality and they further appoint their employees using the cache system. Here, merit to the position under concern is not considered but a person is employed on a kinship basis. Others are corrupt and receive bribes so as execute some of their duties which are supposed to be their responsibility. First, a good supervisor should possess’ excellent organizational skills for he is the person who is responsible for organizing business meetings with several other companies, so he is required to give his secretary instructions on when and where the meeting should be held. In case that an employee is sacked or is not feeling well, then the supervisor has to oversee that a replacement is done before it is too late. It is very important that a supervisor associates with his employees according to the expected norms. He further has the responsibility to ensure that he hires the right person who is competent and well experienced and can sufficiently execute the work as expected. Additionally, a good boss should be very free with his junior’s as good communication facilitates efficiency and effectiveness.  Ã‚  

Organzition and Adminstraion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organzition and Adminstraion - Essay Example This paper looks into the US judicial system in terms of its administration and organization, as well as the various issues and concerns that beset it. Further, this paper presents possible solutions to the issues and concerns, along with an organizational model that would best answer the department’s prevalent concerns. The US federal courts comprise the Judiciary Branch of the government, which is organized under the US Constitution and the laws of the US federal government. The federal government as well as each of the forty-nine states has its own criminal justice system, which all respect the rights of the individual as set forth in the court interpretation of the US Constitution, and as defined in case law (Barnett, 2008). State constitutions and laws provide the definition of the criminal justice system of each state, and delegate the authority and responsibility over criminal justice to various jurisdictions, institutions and officials, as well as provide guidelines and definitions of criminal behaviors, groups of children and acts under the jurisdiction of juvenile courts (Ibid.). Further, for the processing of criminal justice that were not established by the State, municipalities and counties define through local ordinances prescribing the local agencies responsible for such cases. The US Congress, on the other hand, has also established a criminal justice system at the federal level to respond to such crimes as bank robbery, kidnapping, and even transporting stolen goods across states (Ibid.). The US justice system has three main components – the police, the courts and the corrections, reflecting the basic processes that justice is served under the US government. Each component functions a vital part in the whole system and is essentially indispensable. In other words, the system is not complete if any of the three components missing. The US

Tv Production Notes Essay Example for Free

Tv Production Notes Essay A clear understanding of the process message (desired effect) will help you decide on the most appropriate type of production (single-camera or multicamera, studio or field, recorded or live, continuous or discontinuous takes for postproduction) and t he medium requirements. A careful script analysis should lead to a locking-in point- an especially vivid visual or aural image-that determines the subsequent visualizations and sequencing. Visualization (mentally seeing and hearing key images) is crucial for the successful translation of script to screen event. The floor plan or location sketch enables the director to plan camera and talent positions and traffic. The storyboard shows drawings or computer generated images of key visualization points of an event with accompanying audio information as well as the proper sequencing of shots. When preparing the show for the actual production day, you must interpret the floor plan for location sketch and mark the script. The important aspects of god script marking are readability and consistency. Precise and easy-to-read script markings help you and other production personnel anticipate and execute a great variety of cues. The director’s immediate support staff normally compromises a floor manager, a PA (production assistant), and, in larger productions, an AD (associate or assistant director). The facilities request is an essential communication device for procuring the necessary production facilities and equipment. The production schedule shows the preproduction, production, and postproductions dates and who is doing what, when, and where. 9ik The time line shows a breakdown of time blocks for various activities on the actual production day. To facilitate communication between the director and the technical and nontechnical personnel, the director must establish a specific routine and stick to it. E-mail messages must be immediately acknowledged by the recipient. VOCAB: AD: assists the director in all production phases DP: major motion picture production, the DP is responsible for the lighting. In smaller motion picture productions and in EFG, the DP will operate the camera. Facilities Request: a list that contains all tech. facilities needed for a specific production Floor Plan: a diagram of scenery and properties drawn on a grid pattern Location Sketch: a rough map of the locale of a remote shoot. Locking in: an epically vivid mental image-visually or aural during script analysis that determines the visualizations and sequencing. Medium Requirement: all content elements, production elements and people needed to generate the defined process message Process message: the message actually perceived by the viewer in the process of watching a television program. Production Schedule: the calendar that shows the preproduction, production and postproduction dates and who is doing what, when, and where. Sequencing: the control and the structuring of a shot during editing Storyboard: a series of sketches of the key visualization points of an event, with the corresponding audio information Time Line: a breakdown of time blocks for various activities on the actual production day, such as call crew, setup, and camera rehearsal. Visualization: mentally converting a scene into a number of key video images and sounds, not really in sequence.

Discours Des Droits De Lhomme Au Sens Dun Retour A Aristote :: French Philosophy Essays

ABSTRACT: It is interesting to see Aristotle's observation of natural law in order to renew the ideal of law against the Marxist theory of society, to renounce the normative theory of the nation, and to study the liberal theory of information. All this allows us to expect the realization of social justice and human rights from the institutionalization of markets (agora) and the precondition of the boundary of the general culture (paideia), namely the communitarian ethics and the moral reformation against the genealogist tradition. We find in the tradition inaugurated by Aristotle the function of ethical discussion about the common good, thus imbricating the differences stratified by the economic evolution in the polis. La reprà ©sentation simplificatrice de la philosophie moderne comme historicisme, qui retire au droit le rà ´le des normes, devrait susciter chez les nouveaux dà ©fenseurs des droits de l'homme une sympathie à   l'à ©gard des critiques les plus radicaux. Non pas que l'historique doive juger selon les crità ¨res du droit, mais c'est l'histoire elle-mà ªme qui devient "le tribunal du monde", et le droit lui-mà ªme doit à ªtre pensà © à   partir de son insertion dans l'historicità ©. La thà ©orie marxiste de la socià ©tà © renonce à   formuler une thà ©orie normative de l'Etat. La critique marxienne des droits de l'homme s'inscrit dans le projet d'instaurer une domination totale de l'Etat sur la socià ©tà ©. Dans l'organisation des systà ¨mes totalitaires existants, on peut trouver, sur le plan pratique, la preuve que les productions de la subjectività © moderne, loin d'à ªtre à ©mancipatrices, tendent à   asservir l'homme et à   dà ©truire sa dignità ©. Pour rà ©nover l'idà ©e de droit, le retour aux classiques, notamment le retour à   la conception aristotà ©licienne du droit (tà ©moin l'oeuvre de L.Strauss), apparaà ®t le moins contestable. Par la considà ©ration du juste naturel qui est un principe de la loi et du meilleur (juste) rà ©gime, Aristote prend pour norme l'ordre cosmique qui, en tant qu'indà ©pendant du sujet, constitue une dimension de l'objectività ©. Contre le "droit subjectif", le droit naturel antique propose le modà ¨le d'un "droit objectif", qui se laisse bien plutà ´t observer et dà ©couvrir dans la nature. L'observation de la nature rend possible la dà ©termination de ce qui est juste et bon. L'Ethique à   Nicomaque enseigne que si la forme du gouvernement (ou le rà ©gime) varie selon les lieux et les à ©poques - cependant il n'y a qu'une seule forme de gouvernement qui soit à   chaque fois la meilleure selon la nature - le droit naturel concerne ce qu'il y a de meilleur et par rà ©fà ©rence à   quoi on peut contester une organisation à ©ventuellement pire de l'Etat.

History of Panama Canal Essay

Christopher Columbus was on his fourth voyage and he was looking for a way to China. That’s when he came across the country named Panama, which stretches only 60 miles, where he found Indians who had tons of gold. But he was looking for a way to China so he sent his brother Bartholomew to search for more gold. At first Indians were willing to lead the Spaniards to the gold, but eventually they got tired and led the Spanish back to the coast. When the Indians did this they were abused. Eventually the Indians fought back and drove of the Spanish. Balboa is one of the people who found tons of gold and sent it back to Spain, but saved a lot for himself. With his earnings he decided to Balboa decided to settle in Hispaniola as a planter. But after some time he ended up in debt and had to abandon his life as a planter. Trying to escape his creditors Balboa hid in a ship and tried to escape, from Santo Domingo to San Sebastian, and was successful. When they arrived at San Sebastian, they discovered that it had been burned to the ground. Balboa convinced the others to travel southwest with him to a spot he had seen on his earlier expedition. In 1511, Balboa founded a colony, the first European settlement in South America – the town of Santa Maria de la Antigua del Darien. Balboa married the daughter of Careta, the local Indian chief. Soon after, in 1513, he sailed with hundreds of Spaniards and Indians across the Gulf of Uraba to the Darien Peninsula. Balboa headed an overland expedition west through very dense rainforests. Along the way they fought many local Indians and destroyed one Indian village, killing hundreds of Indians. Balboa was the first European to see the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. Balboa and his men then traveled to the ocean and claimed it and all the land that touched it for Spain. The building of the Panama Canal came to light during the 1530’s. As they began to transport their riches back to the Spanish homeland, they were always interested in more efficient routes. It was suggested to Spanish Ruler Charles V that Panama might serve as an ideal place to construct a water passage joining the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This would considerably cut the time it took to otherwise sail around the southern edge of South America. But wars back home put the idea on hold. In 1845 French company called the Compagnie de Panama wanted a railroad built by Colombia across Isthmus and administer it for 99 years. However in 1848 they couldn’t pay for it and lost their rights regarding the railroad. In 1848 the California gold rush occurred. This alone caused heavy traffic across the Isthmus of Panama. Later that year in December, U. S Company, the Panama railroad company negotiated a new contract with Bogota, Colombia to build the railroad across the Isthmus in 6 years. Part of the contract said that the trip would be guaranteed in less than 12 hours. The railroad was built and completed the journey in 4 ? hours. But Matthew Fontaine Maury, leading U. S. government scientist wrote to congress that the railroad Isthmus of Panama will lead to the construction of a ship canal between the two oceans, for a railroad can’t do the business which commerce will require it. Railroad was expensive it cost $250 in gold to ride the 47 miles. It cost 10-15 cents a pound to carry a passenger’s baggage. Express freight and merchandise was charged $1. 80 per cubic foot. Railroad Company made more than $7 million. This was too expensive for normal people and Maury’s words of 1849 came true as men from around the world began to arrive to build the Panama Canal. The first country to try and build the canal was France. Ferdinand de Lesseps, who supervised the Suez Canal, was interested in building the Panama Canal. He joined several French businessmen to form a private company with an impressive name: the Societe Civile Internationale du Canal Interuceanique du Darien. The societe sent Lucien Napoleon- Bon parte Wyse, grandnephew of the 1st French emperor, Napoleon Bon parte to Panama in early November 1876, to survey the site for a canal and, more important, to secure the permission of Colombia for such a project. Colombian government and Wyse had an agreement. That for an initial payment of nearly $200,000 as well as yearly rental fee, societe was granted permission to build and administer a canal for 99 year lease. Colombia gave societe a belt of land 200 meter wide across the entire width of Panama. However at the end of 99 years the canal and land would be returned to Colombia. In 1873 U. S. had conducted surveys of a potential route across Panama, but had rejected it. Wyes never did surveys, and decided to use the notes of U. S. surveys instead. After that he left Panama for home to report to Lesseps. The French plan was simple a channel across the Isthmus at sea level. They would follow a route that ran close to the existing Panama railroad. They planned to use the railroad to transport supplies and haul away the excavated dirt. Once the excavation had reached sea level the canal itself would be dug another 27 ? feet deep, and 72 feet deep at its bottom. They planned to complete the canal in 12 years. However the idea of sea level canal was impossible to achieve. Charges river valley, through which and canal would have to go through stood at an altitude of 80-100 feet above sea level. Nobody including de Lesseps ignored this problem and said it was not serious. However the French never finished the sea level canal. 1000’s of men died of malaria, yellow fever and other diseases. Eventually in 1889 the French court also declared the French canal company was bankrupt. In 1903 Panama declared its independence from Colombia and wins it with the help of U.  S. Soon the Hay- Bunau – Varilla treaty was signed which gave U. S. the right to build a canal through Panama. At this time President Roosevelt was in charge. Roosevelt wanted to build the canal to increase America’s navy power, and it made the trip from the east coast to the west coast of the U. S. much shorter than the route taken around the tip of South America. 1904, the Americans’ first year in Panama, mirrored the French disaster. The chief engineer, John Findlay Wallace, neglected to organize the effort or to develop an action plan. The food was putrid, the living conditions abysmal. Political red tape put a stranglehold on appropriations. Disease struck, and three out of four Americans booked passage home. Engineer Wallace soon followed. The Americans had poured $128 million into the swamps of Panama, to very little effect. Wallace’s replacement was John Stevens. Stevens had built the Great Northern Railroad across the Pacific Northwest. In rough territory from Canada to Mexico, he had proven his tenacity. And his new plan of action would ultimately save the canal. Stevens began work not by digging, but by cleaning. Thanks to the work of WILLIAM GORGAS, the threats of yellow fever and malaria were greatly diminished. Then on February 12, 1907, a dispirited Chief Engineer Stevens resigned, and Goethals took over as the chief engineer. Colonel George Washington Goethals, an Army engineer with experience building lock-type canals, assumed the Chief Engineer’s post. Demanding and rigidly organized, Goethals quickly picked up where Stevens left off. America had to face a couple of problems. First they had to dig at the Culebra Cut, where 100,000,000 cubic yards of earth and rock would have to be removed. The workers there made ten cents an hour — moved as much as 200 trainloads of spoil a day. When mudslides filled the Cut repeatedly, Goethals simply ordered it dug out again. There were accidents of all sorts, lost equipment, and deaths, but there was progress. The engineering problems were enormous. Because the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are at different elevations, a series of three sets of water-filled chambers, called locks, that raise and lower ships from one level to the next, had to be excavated and constructed.

Fractures of the Distal Tibia: Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis

Injury, Int. J. Care Injured (2004) 35, 615—620 Fractures of the distal tibia: minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis D. J. Redfern*, S. U. Syed, S. J. M. Davies Department of Orthopaedics, Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust, Surrey, UK Accepted 9 September 2003 KEYWORDS Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis; Plate ? xation; Fracture; Tibia; Metaphysis Summary Unstable fractures of the distal tibia that are not suitable for intramedullary nailing are commonly treated by open reduction and internal ? ation and/or external ? xation, or treated non-operatively. Treatment of these injuries using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) techniques may minimise soft tissue injury and damage to the vascular integrity of the fracture fragments. We report the results of 20 patients treated by MIPO for closed fractures of the distal tibia. Their mean age was 38. 3 years (range: 17—71 years). Fractures were classi? ed according to the AO system, and intra-articular extension s according to Ruedi and ? Allgower. The mean time to full weight-bearing was 12 weeks (range: 8—20 weeks) and to union was 23 weeks (range: 18—29 weeks), without need for further surgery. There was one malunion, no deep infections and no failures of ? xation. MIPO is an effective treatment for closed, unstable fractures of the distal tibia, avoiding the complications associated with more traditional methods of internal ? xation and/or external ? xation. ? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction Unstable fractures of the distal tibia with or without intra-articular fracture extension can present a management dilemma. Traditionally, there have been a variety of methods of management described and high rates of associated complications reported. Non-operative treatment can be technically demanding and may be associated with joint stiffness in up to 40% of cases as well as shortening and rotational malunion in over 30% of cases. 14,20 Traditional operative treatment of such injuries is also *Corresponding author. Present address: 16 By? eld Road, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 7AF, UK. Tel. : ? 44-(0)20-8847-1370; fax: ? 44-(0)20-8847-1370. E-mail address: david. j. [email  protected] com (D. J. Redfern). associated with a high incidence of complications. Intramedullary nailing remains the gold standard for treatment of most diaphyseal fractures of the tibia. However, although some authors have described good results with intramedullary nailing in the treatment of distal peri-articular tibial fractures, it is generally considered unsuitable for such injuries, due to technical dif? culty and design limitations. 17,20 Traditional open reduction and internal ? ation of such injuries results in extensive soft tissue dissection and periosteal injury and may be associated with high rates of infection, delayed union, and non-union. 5,11,13,18,19,22 Similarly, external ? xation of distal tibial fractures may also be associated with a high incidence of complications, with pin infection and loosening in up to 50% of cases and malunion rates of up to 45%. 20 Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) may offer biological 002 0–1383/$ — see front matter ? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. oi:10. 1016/j. injury. 2003. 09. 005 616 D. J. Redfern et al. advantages. MIPO involves minimal soft tissue dissection with preservation of the vascular integrity of the fracture as well as preserving osteogenic fracture haematoma. 3 MIPO techniques have been used successfully in the treatment of distal femoral fractures. 9,10,23 Experience of the application of these techniques to fractures of the distal tibia is less extensive and opinion regarding optimal technique differs. Some authors advocate temporary external ? xation prior to de? itive MIPO and routine ? xation of associated ? bula fractures. 7 Others advocate a more selective approach to the role of external ? xation and ? bular ? xation. 2 Purpose We report our experience with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis in the treatment of closed, unstable fractures of the distal tibia that are unsuitable for intramedullary nailing. Patients a nd methods We undertook a review of patients treated by MIPO for unstable fractures of the distal tibia in our hospital, between 1998 and 2001. Twenty-two patients were identi? d, of whom 20 had followTable 1 Patient Detailed patient data Age (years) 71 46 20 32 27 26 34 23 26 26 50 59 27 39 54 67 25 24 67 46 Mechanism of injury Fall Fall Football Motorcycle RTA Twisted Motorcycle RTA Rugby injury Rugby injury Football injury Motorcycle RTA Fall Fall Fall Fall Fell from wheelchair Fall Motorcycle RTA Motorcycle RTA Fall Fall Fracture classi? cation AO/R&A 42-A2 42-B1 42-A2 42-A2 42-B1 42-C1 42-B1/grade 42-A1/grade 42-B1 42-B2 42-A1 43-A3/grade 42-A1 42-A1 42-B1 42-A1 43-B1 42-A1 43-B1/grade 43-B1/grade up available. Their mean age was 38. 3 years (range: 17—71 years). There were 18 males and 4 females. The mechanism of injury was: fall (12); motorcycle accident (6); rugby/football injury (4) (see Table 1). Fractures were classi? ed according to the AO system12 and distal intra-articular fracture extension classi? ed according to Ruedi and Allgower18 ? ? (Table 1). All 20 fractures involved the distal onethird of the tibia and in 5 cases the fracture clearly extended distally in to the ankle joint (Ruedi and ? Allgower grade I in 3 cases and grade II in 2 cases). It ? is important to note that although 16/20 of the fractures were classi? d according to the AO system as 42 (diaphyseal), this is somewhat misleading as the ‘essence’ of these fractures was metaphyseal. Within the strict AO system12 de? nition of a metaphyseal fracture of the distal tibia (43), the centre of the fracture must lie within a square of sides equal to the widest metaphyseal distance, and the centre of many of our fractures lay just outside of the ‘metaphys eal square’ (Fig. 1a). The fracture pattern was however predominantly long oblique or long spiral and as such extended well into the distal metaphysis ? extension into the joint (Fig. 1). Indications for use of MIPO technique These included distal diaphyseal, or metaphyseal fractures of the tibia that were considered unsuitable Time to callus (weeks) 8 7 8 8 8 8 10 10 8 8 11 8 12 12 8 8 10 8 10 10 Time to FWB (weeks) 12 13 12 14 8 20 12 12 10 17 9 14 13 12 N/A 12 10 13 10 12 Time to union (weeks) 26 24 20 22 20 20 24 18 28 29 24 26 24 20 24 20 20 22 24 20 Complications 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 I I II I II — Metalwork discomfort — — — — Super? cial infection Metalwork discomfort Metalwork discomfort — — Malunion CRPS (type 1) — — — — — — — R&A: Ruedi and Allgower. ? Fractures of distal tibia 617 Figure 1 (a) AP and lateral radiographs of the distal tibia for case 8 (42-A1, R&A grade 1). (b) AP radiograph (case 8) at 10 weeks post-operatively showing callus formation (A); AP radiograph (case 8) at 18 weeks showing radiological union (B). for intram edullary nailing due to the distal nature of the fracture and/or intra-articular or peri-articular fracture extensions. gical evidence of callus. All patients were followedup for a minimum of 12 months. Operative technique Management protocol Initially, patients were managed in a plaster splint with elevation until de? itive ? xation could be undertaken. Surgery was undertaken on the next available theatre list and only delayed if soft tissue swelling or anaesthetic concerns dictated that this was necessary. Intravenous antibiotics were given at induction of anaesthesia and two doses following surgery. Post-operatively, patients were not routinely splinted unless deemed unlikely to comply with a partial weight-bearing regime. The majority of patients were encouraged to partial weight-bear on the limb (10—15 kg) from the ? rst post-operative day. Early active and passive knee and ankle motion was encouraged. In the majority of cases, patients were discharged from hospital 24 h following surgery. Clinical and radiological review took place at 6—8 weeks to assess for evidence of callus formation. Patients were allowed to proceed to full weight-bearing on the basis of clinical and radiological evaluation but not before there was radioloSurgery was performed with the patient supine on a radiolucent table. Routine preparation and draping of the injured limb was performed. Both indirect and direct techniques of fracture reduction were used depending upon the nature and pattern of the fracture. Reduction techniques employed included the use of manual traction, the AO femoral distracter, the AO articulated fracture distractor, and direct reduction with fracture reduction forceps across the fracture (via two stab incisions). A 2 cm incision was made proximal and distal to the fracture on the medial border of the tibia. An extraperiosteal, subcutaneous tunnel could then be fashioned between these two incisions using blunt dissection. A pre-measured and pre-contoured narrow 4. 5 mm DCP was then positioned in this extra-periosteal subcutaneous tunnel (Fig. 2). Accurate plate contouring and positioning was con? med by ? uoroscopy. The length of plate selected is important and should be as long as is reasonably possible given the particular fracture pattern. As the length of plate is 618 D. J. Redfern et al. Figure 2 Pre-contoured plate insertion with fracture reduction maintained by direct technique. increased, the strength of the ? xation construct is also increased. 21 A cortic al screw (4. 5 mm) was then inserted through a screw hole at one end of the plate via the incisions already made for plate insertion. At this stage, axial fracture alignment was con? rmed before inserting any further screws. Subsequent screws were inserted close to either side of the fracture via stab incisions. Further screws may be used depending upon the characteristics of the fracture. If possible, a lag screw was also inserted across the fracture (via the plate) in order to further reduce the fracture gap and add to the rigidity of the ? xation. However, because the technique employs a bridge plating principle, interfragmentary lag screws were not felt to be obligatory. It is not necessary to place screws through all of the remaining holes in the plate as this does not further increase the strength or rigidity of the ? ation construct4,21 but does require further skin incisions, providing more potential portals of entry for infection (Fig. 1b). The ? bula was not ? xed unless necessary for accurate reconstruction of length such as encountered with some severely comminuted fractures. With fractures extending into the ankle joint, careful attention was paid to restoration of the articular surface cont inuity and 3. 5 mm cortical screws inserted through stab incisions or formal open exposure as required. In only one case was it deemed necessary to ? x the ? ula in order to accurately reconstruct length before proceeding to minimally invasive plating of the tibia. The mean hospital stay was 6 days (range: 2—31 days). The mean time to radiological evidence of callus formation was 9 weeks (range: 7—12 weeks). Sixty percent of patients achieved radiological callus by 8 weeks and all by 3 months (Table 1 and Fig. 2). The mean time to full weight-bearing was 12 weeks (range: 8—20 weeks) and the mean time to union was 23 weeks (range: 18—29 weeks). There were no non-unions and one malunion in whom there was >58 of varus angulation. There were no cases of failure of ? xation. Three soldiers have subsequently had their metalwork removed due to discomfort during training, and have reported no further symptoms. One patient required exchange of a distal screw that was too long and was impinging upon the distal tibia—? bula joint. A further patient developed type I complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). He required guanethidine blocks to control his pain. There were no deep infections (one super? cial infection which resolved on oral antibiotics). Sixteen of the 20 patients were employed at the time of their injury. Six patients were soldiers. All patients in this study have subsequently returned to their pre-injury occupations/level of activity. Discussion Results Of the 20 patients presented, 12 were operated upon within 24 h of the injury, and 16 within 72 h of the injury. Surgery was delayed in the remaining four patients due to: transfer from another hospital (1); swelling at the site of injury (1); medical problems (1); and for further imaging (1). The surgery was performed by, or supervised by, one of six consultant orthopaedic surgeons in the department. Favourable results have been described using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis techniques for ? xation of distal femoral fractures. 9,10,23 Cadaveric and animal studies have emphasised the importance of minimising the degree of soft tissue damage in the region of long bone fractures. 3,16,24 Recently, Borrelli et al. 1 have demonstrated that the distal metaphyseal region of the tibia has a relatively rich extraosseous blood supply, provided primarily by Fractures of distal tibia 619 branches of the anterior tibial and posterior tibial arteries. They also demonstrated that open plating in this region produces signi? cantly greater disruption of this extraosseous blood supply than minimally invasive plate application. Helfet et al. 7 described their experience with MIPO in 20 closed pilon fractures and advocated routine use of external ? xation acutely, followed by de? nitive ? xation 5—7 days later once the swelling has subsided. They also advocated the routine ? xation of associated ? bula fractures. They splinted the limb post-operatively but allowed toe-touch weight-bearing (20 lb) from the ? rst post-operative day. Their patients achieved full weight-bearing at an average of 10. 7 weeks (range: 8—16 weeks). Malunion occurred in 20% of cases although all patients had a good functional outcome and none required any further surgery. Collinge et al. 2 have reported their experience using MIPO in 17 tibial shaft fractures. Twelve cases had open injuries and ? ve of these required bone grafting at a later stage such that they suggested that this should be considered at an early stage in such injuries. The ? ve patients with closed injuries had complete union after the index procedure with no cases of malunion or infection. These closed injuries all achieved a good functional outcome. They routinely splinted the limb post-operatively with weightbearing commenced at approximately 12 weeks. In this series, we con? rm that good results can be obtained with this technique in the treatment of closed tibial fractures with intra-articular or periarticular fracture extensions, which are not suitable for intramedullary nailing. However, intramedullary nailing still remains the treatment of choice for most uncomplicated diaphyseal fractures of the tibia. We would not advocate the routine use of external ? ation in the acute management of such injuries, except in some open injuries with extensive soft tissue damage. Early de? nitive surgery negates the need for any form of temporary ? xation other than a POP back-slab for closed fractures. This avoids the added risk of complications arising from the use of such devices. It is our experience that ? xation of the ? bula is not necessary except to aid in reconstructi on of length when there is extensive comminution of the tibial fracture. In the current series (and those of Collinge et al. 2 and Koury et al. ), a 4. 5 mm DCP has been used with satisfactory results. However, this is a relatively bulky implant and lower pro? le plate designs might be expected to result in a lower incidence of postoperative metalwork discomfort along this subcutaneous medial aspect of the tibia, especially in the region of the medial malleolus. This in turn may reduce the need for subsequent implant removal. Other recent developments in plate design include pre-contoured and locking plates (e. g. LCP system, Synthes), which may offer signi? cant advantages. The ‘internal ? ator’ design of locking plates has the advantage that screw insertion does not draw the bony fragments to the plate (as occurs with traditional non-locking plates) and hence, the precise contouring of the plate is less important in achieving accurate fracture reduction. 6,15 For the same reason, the footprint of the locking plates should also be signi? cantly smaller than traditional non-locking plates, hence preserving periosteal blood supply to the fracture. 6 In the majority of cases, we have found it possible to safely mobilise patients, partial weightbearing (10—15 kg), from the ? st post-operative day without external splintage of the limb. This also allows early mobilisation of the knee, ankle and subtalar joints. Conclusion Whilst intramedullary nailing still remains the treatment of choice for most uncomplicated diaphyseal fractures of the tibia, minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis offers a reliable and reproducible technique in the treatment of closed unstable fractures of the distal tibia with intra-articular or periarticular fracture extensions. This technique may avoid the signi? ant complications encountered with more commonly used techniques of internal ? xation and external ? xation in such injuries. References 1. Borrelli J, Prickett W, Song E, Becker D, Ricci W. Extraosseous blood supply of the tibia and the effects of different plating techniques: a human cadaveric study. J Orthop Trauma 2002;16:691—5. 2. Collinge C, Sanders R, DiPasquale T. Treatment of complex tibial periarticular fractures using percutaneous techniques. Clin Orthop 2000;375:69—77. 3. Farouk O, Krettek C, Miclau T, Schandelmaier P, Guy P, Tscherne H. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and vascularity: preliminary results of a cadaver injection study. Injury 1997;28:S-A7—S-A12. 4. Field RJ, Tornkvist H, Hearn TC, et al. The in? uence of ? screw omission on construct stiffness and bone surface strain in the application of bone plates to cadaveric bone. Injury 1999;30:591—8. 5. Fisher WD, Hambledon DL. Problems and pitfalls of compression ? xation of long bone fractures: a review of results and complications. Injury 1978;10:99—107. 6. Frigg R. Locking compression plate (LCP). An osteosynthesis plate based on the dynamic compression plate and point contact ? xator (PC-Fix). Injury 2001;32:S-B63—6. 7. Helfet DL, Shonnard PY, Levine D, Borrelli J. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis of distal fractures of the tibia. Injury 1997;28:S-A42—8. 620 D. J. Redfern et al. 8. Koury A, Liebergall M, London E, Mosheiff R. Percutaneus plating of distal tibial fractures. Foot Ankle Int 2002;23: 818—24. 9. Krettek C, Schandelmaier P, Miclau T, Tscherne H. Minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) using the DCS in proximal and distal femoral fractures. Injury 1997;28:S-A20—30. 10. Krettek C, Schandelmaier P, Miclau T, Bertram R, Holmes W, Tscherne H. Transarticular joint reconstruction and indirect plate osteosynthesis for complex distal supracondylar femoral fractures. Injury 1997;28:S-A31—41. 11. McFerran MA, Smith SW, Boulas HJ, Schwartz HS. Complications encountered in the treatment of pilon fractures. J Orthop Trauma 1992;6:273—85. 12. Muller ME, Nazarian S, Koch P, Schatzker J. The comprehensive classi? cation of fractures of long bones. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1990. 13. Olerud S, Karlstrom G. Tibial fractures treated by AO compression osteosynthesis. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl 1972; 1:1—104. 14. Oni OO, Stafford H, Gergg PJ. A study of diaphyseal fracture repair using tissue isolation techniques. Injury 1992;23: 467—70. 15. Perren SM. Editorial. Injury 2002;33:S-A-VI—S-A-VII. 16. Rhinelander F. The normal microcirculation of diaphyseal cortex and its response to fracture. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1968;50A:784—800. 17. Robinson CM, McLaughlan GJ, Mclean IP, Court-Brown CM. Distal metaphyseal fractures of the tibia with minimal involvement of the ankle. Classi? ation and treatment by locked intramedullary nailing. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1995;77B:781—7. 18. Ruedi T, Allgower M. Fractures of the lower end of the tibia ? ? into the ankle joint. Injury 1969;1:92. 19. Ruedi T, Allgower M. The operative treatment of intra? ? articular fractures of the lower end of the tibia. Clin Orthop 1979;138:105—10. 20. Russell TA. Fractures of the tibia and ? bula. In: Rockwood CA, Green DP, Buckolz RW, Heckman JD, editors. Fractures in adults. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott; 1996. p. 2139— 57. 21. Sanders R, Haidukewych GJ, Milne T, et al. Minimal versus maximal plate ? xation techniques of the ulna: the biomechanical effect of number of screws and plate length. J Orthop Trauma 2002;16:166—71. 22. Tornetta III P, Weiner L, Bergman M, et al. Pilon fractures: treatment with combined internal and external ? xation. J Orthop Trauma 1993;7:489—96. 23. Wenda K, Runkel M, Degreif J, Rudig L. Minimally invasive plate ? xation in femoral shaft fractures. Injury 1997;28:SA13—9. 24. Whiteside L, Lesker PA. The effects of periosteal and subperiosteal dissection. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1978;60A: 26—30.

Going It Alone

Going It Alone For some reason, todays quote resonated with me. Whether introverted or extroverted, a writer has to feel comfortable being alone for hours and days on end. While we see lots of blog posts about how a writer needs his tribe or his team, the bottom line is he writes alone. Hes rejected alone. Hes accepted alone. Theres a tremendous amount of alone time in his career, and he has to accept, maybe even enjoy, that experience or he wont last long. All this alone time is probably why writers are indeed so introverted. We enjoy keeping company with ourselves, inside our thoughts. Its safer there. But that also explains why writers, when they venture out of their seclusion, tend to congregate with other writers. This is a trend that is helpful . . . only to a point. After that point, however, its detrimental. In case after case, I see writers pitching their books to other writers when they ought to be pursuing readers. Unless they write FOR writers, in how-to books, or their fiction is about a writer, they are not reaching their targeted audience. Writers are an incestuous lot. Conferences, promoting their books, chatting online. They gravitate to each other, but it becomes a habit because its so comfortable, and we tend to overdo it. And theres been a trend of late to host events where dozens of writers appear at a festival of sorts. Ive been invited to several of them. This is my opinion, keep in mind, but I see these events as not being very effective, possibly even handicapping or detrimental. At least depressing. And this is why: 1) Appearing with thirty or forty authors dilutes you, your voice, your work. The faces start to blur. Attendees remember you as part of a mass, not as you. 2) Attendees can only buy so many books. Lets say two books per attendee. Do the math. Thirty authors x 2 books per attendee = 60 attendees minimum. But lets say a productive day for you means ten books. That means 300 attendees minimum assuming one or two authors dont run away with the show. 3) Such events try to snare one or two well-known authors. Those names draw readers . . . to them, not you. Thats the name that will be remembered when the readers go home. Branding doesnt mean you and others. It means you. Dare to appear alone. Dare to promote yourself as unique, powerful, intriguing and worth reading. Embrace your aloneness. Theres nothing wrong with being alone. Like I preach to shy writers across the country, learn to love who you are. Be unique, be confident in your own skin. Because attempting to blend into dozens, even hundreds, of like souls will only make you fade into the masses. You are better than that.

The Smartest Job Search Strategies for Any Job Search

The Smartest Job Search Strategies for Any Job Search You may think the best way to get a job is to search online, update your resume, and blitz it out in response to as many postings as you can find. But you’d be wrong. As it turns out, about 80% of jobs are not posted online. So no matter how many applications you send out, you’re still only working with about 20% of what’s out there. There are also a number of common myths and misconceptions that can derail even the most tenacious of job seekers. Debunking these can do a world of difference. Here’s two things to remember:You don’t need a great deal of experience (or sometimes even any) to get your dream job.You don’t have to settle until you get that job.So where does that leave you and your job search?You must always be prepared with a pitchThe best thing for job seekers to do- and this won’t come as much of a surprise- is network. Network, network, network. That means first and foremost, coming up with a convincing and charming eleva tor pitch. An answer to the ubiquitous question: â€Å"So tell me about you.† You’ll need to craft this perfectly to show your goals, experience, selling points, and just how perfect you are to match a potential employer’s needs. Then you’ll need to rehearse it until it comes out of your mouth as naturally as an exhale.Be sure to include a goal statement at the end. â€Å"I’m †¦. and interested in †¦. and currently hoping to transition into †¦ ideally in the X industry.† Stating your job search need as a goal ensures that you’re never outright asking anyone for favors; you’re simply stating who you are and what you’re looking for, which won’t annoy or offend any potential contacts.The shorter and simpler, the better–just be smartWhen you’re working on your resume, be sure to err on the side of brevity. DO include bullet points to maximize easy reading, but don’t include too many - and make sure the ones you do include are each doing something for you. Make them as results-driven as possible, rather than heavy on the job description. Lead with your best bullet.Once you get an interview, be sure to be as well prepared as you were for networking. Though, there, the big question is â€Å"Tell us a little about your biggest weakness.† You may have been told that the best strategy here is to claim that you’re an incurable perfectionist. The internet, more often than not, will counsel you in this direction. But the Internet is wrong. You’ll just sound insincere. The better strategy is to choose something you’ve actually been working to improve. Explain how it was a challenge to you in the past, and what you’ve been doing, actively, to turn it into a strength instead. Give an example of your progress just to prove you’re not full of baloney.It’s okay to make demandsOnce you get an offer, be sure not to roll over and accept the salary without question. It is okay and expected to negotiate. A few tips:Don’t be the first person to suggest a number. The person who speaks first in this arena alwaysIf they ask you to give a number first, deflect. Say that you’re negotiable, but you’d like to hear their range to see whether it fits for you.Do research before going into negotiations. Figure out what is standard at that company and in that position within the industry. And don’t ask for a number extremely outside of that range.Tell them instead that you’re being considered in the range of the top third of that bracket, but ensure that you’re negotiable.If you let go of some of the most common misapprehensions and job search myths, you should have a much better, clear-eyed approach that will likely start to get you the results you need.

New Imperialism in Africa (Sudan and Egypt) Essay

New Imperialism in Africa (Sudan and Egypt) - Essay Example There were spurts of resistance to foreign invasion and dominance throughout Africa. Iweriebor (n.d.) points out that colonization of Africa was primarily orchestrated by European powers. The drive for conquest and colonization of Africa was for obtaining economic, political and social advantages among competing European powers. The underlying source of competitive powers among European states was the capitalist incentive. European powers were searching for natural resources, markets and ultimately profits in order to obtain economic, political and social dominance over one another. Specifically, Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Portugal were aggressively attempting to gain dominance in Europe and it was believed that acquiring foreign territories globally would improve economic, political and social prowess. The social problems that colonizing Africa was intended to address were unemployment, displacement, homelessness, poverty and many other social issues arising out of i ndustrialization. Roger, L. and History Guy Media. â€Å"The Wars of Sudan: From Egyptian Conquest to the Present†. Master of Arts Military History, Norwich University, 2011. http://www.historyguy.com/wars_of_sudan.htm (Retrieved March, 29th 2012). ... n 1875 and 1877, with Egypt’s control of Sudan, Sudan became involved with Egypt’s retaliation when Ethiopia attempted to take control of the coastal area of the Red Sea. Between 1881 and 1885, Egypt was a protectorate of the British. During that time, the Mahdi, a Sudanese religious official started a resistance movement against Egypt’s control over Sudan. The British deployed military aid to Egypt. It was only after a long drawn out war that the Egyptians and the British would withdraw. The Sudanese War lasted from 1896-1899 marking the return of the British and the Egyptians who defeated the resistance movement rejuvenated by the Khalifa, successors to the Mahdi. During the Second World War, Egypt and Britain controlled Sudan. The British in particular, began a movement to affect the liberation of Ethiopia from Sudan. Essentially, division in Sudan during the joint occupation of Egypt and the British had long-lasting consequences for Sudan with civil wars, and uprisings dividing the country most notable was the Darfur War from 2003-2010. 2011, independence referendum resulted in even more unrest within Sudan. CIA World Factbook. â€Å"Sudan.† Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/su.html (Retrieved March, 29th, 2012). Sudan received independence from Britain in 1956 and the consequences of imperialism and colonization of Britain is evidenced by the country’s economic, social and political struggles since that time. Politically, there is a struggle between Islamic and non-Arab Sudanese in the South seeking political and social dominance in Sudan. As a result, Sudan has suffered through two protracted civil wars during the greater part of the 20th century. The results have been devastating as Sudan