Report essay example (reading habits)

          The discussed survey was conducted among college students, aged 20-23, from Some University in Somewhere. The interviewees were asked to fill a questionnaire, comprising of questions related to their current, as well as past reading habits. The report describes answers that show the most prominent or surprising tendencies. 

          As an answer to the first question, which dealt with favourite literary genres, almost 19% of the students picked romance as their preferred type of fiction. Novels, thrillers, and fantasy books were chosen by 16% of respondents each, followed by travel books (12%), comics (9%), historical books (6%), chic-lit (3%), as well as fan fiction (a story written usually by a fan of and based on a book or TV series, etc.), chosen by 3% of students. The answers suggest that developed plot, description of interpersonal relationships, and mystery (related to both criminal activity and scientific innovations) are the elements that draw students’ attention when choosing a position they would like to read. 

The next question sheds perspective on the preferred form of read text. A vast majority (72%) claims that traditional, paper books are their favourite. The remaining chose between e-books and Internet blogs (14% each). The result clearly indicates that despite various technological advances regarding reading and writing, young adult students still largely prefer conventional forms of books.

          The query related to the issue following - the part of the day that is most comfortable and preferable for reading - resulted in presented answers: 73% of the interviewees tends to read in the evening, 18% favour afternoon, and the remaining 9% prefers reading during nighttime. Similarly to the previous outcome, there seems to be a clear tendency towards choosing a specific answer.

          The results regarding visiting libraries proved to be not disparate. Only one person confessed to visiting libraries, while the rest stated that they do not. One student specifically declared that they prefer buying to renting since they do not like being put under time pressure while reading. Such acknowledgement signifies that the students prefer obtaining their own paid for book, than renting a public, free copy.

          The last issue, reading habits the students had during their childhood, produced a concerted answer - all respondents asserted that they used to read a lot when they were younger. The unity suggests that when the students were children, they had means, as well as were willing to choose reading as one of their preferred leisure activities.

          The data reviewed above leads to following conclusions. Students from Bydgoszcz prefer longer, developed stories to books discussing specific subjects or shorter texts, and they are most likely to read them in a classic form rather than by using electronic devices, usually by the end of the day. Libraries do not seem to be popular among the respondents, indicating that they would rather purchase their chosen copy; they were also avid readers earlier in their life.

Description of Moloch in "Howl"

"Moloch" is depicted as an embodiment of evil - yet the name does not refer to the devil or widely understood wrong deeds, but rather to the state of society, financial system, and politics.
To introduce his meaning of "Moloch", Ginsberg uses undoubtedly negative connotations, mostly related to emotions ("Solitude! Filth! Ugliness!"; "Nightmare of Moloch! Moloch the loveless!").
The author also provides examples, even if not directly, of Moloch. At the beginning, he mentions "boys sobbing in armies", which is a reference to the army, followed by "Moloch the vast stone of war! Moloch the stunned governments!" - a description of a (probably corrupt) government, constantly engaging the citizens in wars and military conflicts. "Moloch whose blood is running money!" describes the core need fuelling the society, money, and, therefore, banks. Similarly, Ginsberg brings up "Moloch whose love is endless oil and stone! Moloch whose soul is electricity and banks!" - referring to one of the most profitable industries, the oil industry, and reminding the reader of how trade and material goods can replace spiritual life, becoming one's "soul". Later, the author mentions "Moloch whose skyscrapers stand in the long streets like endless Jehovahs! Moloch whose factories dream and croak in the fog! Moloch whose smokestacks and antennae crown the cities!", meaning to depict an industrial area, stale and soulless, that has erased natural landscapes. Finally, through "Moloch in whom I sit lonely! Moloch in whom I dream Angels! Crazy in Moloch! Cocksucker in Moloch! Lacklove and manless in Moloch!" he presents the emotional state Moloch puts him in, leaving him isolated and longing for a different way of living, and slowly depriving him of his own nature, positivity, and even sanity.

Obraz przemocy wobec najmłodszych na podstawie reklamy "Don't Wait Until You're Certain"

Przemoc wobec najmłodszych jest zjawiskiem obecnym zarówno w krajach i rejonach ubogich, jak i wysoko rozwiniętych. Jak wynika z raportu fundacji Ark of Hope For Children, rocznie na świecie fizycznie i psychicznie krzywdzącego traktowania doświadcza czterdzieści milionów dzieci. Wpływ na występowanie przemocy ma wiele czynników, często trywialnych, bądź niezrozumiałych dla osób trzecich. Jak wiele innych negatywnych zjawisk dotyczących osób bezbronnych, temat znęcania się nad dziećmi był wielokrotnie poruszany w rozmaitych produkcjach, począwszy od filmów (m.in. dramat biograficzny "Mommie Dearest", opowiadający o dzieciństwie aktorki Christiny Crawford), poprzez nowele, utwory muzyczne, i inne formy przekazu, mające na celu poruszyć ów problem i wywołać dyskusję na temat jego przyczyn i sposobów zapobiegania.
Ze względu na niekwestionowaną popularność telewizji, kwestia przemocy wobec dzieci jest również przedstawiana w spotach reklamowych, najczęściej wykonywanych na zlecenie fundacji zajmujących się ofiarami tego typu, jak brytyjska National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). Jedną z takowych produkcji, zrealizowanych na zlecenie właśnie NSPCC, jest "Don't Wait Until You're Certain" (tłumaczenie moje: "Nie Czekaj, Aż Się Upewnisz"), wyemitowana w brytyjskiej telewizji po raz pierwszy w roku 2013, w niekonwencjonalny sposób obrazująca tożsamość i odruchy dzieci, które przeżyły, bądź przeżywają dramat przemocy psychicznej i fizycznej.
Reklama ta wykorzystuje naturalne zachowania dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym i wczesnoszkolnym, takie jak zabawa lalkami i zadawanie pytań, kontrastując ze sobą niewinne pytania z wyrażeniami, które zasłyszały one od rodziców bądź opiekunów, takimi jak: "Shut up, you're doing my head in! I'm warning you!" (tłumaczenie moje: "Siedź cicho, boli mnie już głowa! Ostrzegam cię!"), w celu zobrazowania oddziaływania przemocy na odruchy i wypowiedzi ofiar. Jednocześnie, nawiązując do tytułu, spot ten zachęca potencjalnych świadków do przywiązywania uwagi do tego typu sytuacji, które często bywają lekceważone ze względu na umniejszanie ich wagi przez tłumaczenie ich dziecięcą wyobraźnią, bądź frazami usłyszanymi w filmach, lub z ust rówieśników.
Jedną z najpopularniejszych polskich organizacji zajmujących się tego rodzaju przemocą jest powstała w roku 1991 Fundacja Dzieci Niczyje. Porady zamieszczone na jej witrynie internetowej odnoszą się w dużym stopniu do tego, na jakie zachowania dziecka, sugerujące, że może ono doświadczać agresji, powinno się zwrócić uwagę. W sekcji "Jak rozpoznać przemoc" poruszona zostaje kwestia cierpienia emocjonalnego: "Przemoc emocjonalna to powtarzające się poniżanie, upokarzanie i ośmieszanie dziecka; wciąganie dziecka w konflikt osób dorosłych, manipulowanie nim; brak odpowiedniego wsparcia, uwagi i miłości; wymagania i oczekiwania wobec dziecka, którym nie jest ono w stanie sprostać." Dalej, autor tekstu wymienia objawy tego typu zachowania ze strony dorosłych, wśród których są także "objawy hipochondrii, histerii, obsesji lub fobii", co poruszone zostało właśnie w początkowym fragmencie reklamy NSPCC. Słowa dziewczynki: "Rabbits are scary. It's like they're looking for people to eat and I don't really like it." (tłumaczenie moje: "Króliki są przerażające. Wyglądają, jakby szukały ludzi, których mogłyby pożreć, naprawdę mi się nie podobają.") Uprzedzenie dziecka względem rzeczy, sytuacji, lub - jak w omawianym przypadku - zwierząt powszechnie uważanych za przyjazne bądź urokliwe, może być objawem histerii i irracjonalnego strachu wywołanego właśnie agresją ze strony opiekunów. Warto zauważyć, że dziewczynka nie używa przestraszonego tonu, a raczej mówi o swoim strachu w sposób neutralny, co wpisuje się w oparty na sprzecznościach koncept reklamy.
W dalszej części spotu słowa dwójki kolejnych dzieci zdają się nie mieć ukrytego znaczenia i nie odnosić się pośrednio do sposobu traktowania ich przez dorosłych. "All pigs are pink, even boy pigs" (tłumaczenie moje: "wszystkie świnki są różowe, nawet te, które są chłopcami") i "Do babies mummies teach them how to laugh, or do they know already?" (tłumaczenie moje: "Czy mamy uczą małe dzieci się śmiać, czy może one już to potrafią?"), mimo iż są po prostu obrazem ciekawości świata w młodym wieku, sugerują widzowi, jak łatwo jest zbagatelizować sugestie dotyczące przemocy w wypowiedziach jej ofiar, sprowadzając je do zwykłych pytań dziecka, które dopiero poznaje otaczający je świat, lub do wyimaginowanych obrazów.
Świat fantazji jednakże odgrywa istotną rolę w kształtowaniu się tożsamości młodych ofiar agresji. Alicja Karawaj w swoim wypracowaniu pod tytułem: "Wyobraźnia dziecka w wieku przedszkolnym" stwierdza, iż: "Wyobraźnia dziecka przedszkolnego charakteryzuje się dużą ekspansywnością jego stanów wewnętrznych. Przeżycia emocjonalne dzieci stanowią źródło wielu wyobrażeń, a wyobrażenia potęgują siłę uczuć, zwłaszcza lękowych." Również i ten aspekt pojawia się w produkcji NSPCC, kiedy to dziewczynka, podczas zabawy lalkami, mówi o niej: "Dolly's having a vodka" (tłumaczenie moje: "Dolly napije się wódki"). Warto zaznaczyć, że prócz uzewnętrzniania się emocji dziecka podczas zabawy i próby naśladowania sytuacji najpewniej przez nie zaobserwowanej, słowa te sugerują widzowi także problem nadużywania alkoholu poprzez rodziców bądź opiekunów. Uzależnienie od alkoholu, lub innych substancji wymienione zostało w artykule: "Przemoc wobec dziecka w rodzinie" autorstwa Aleksandry Sobkowskiej jako jednak z przyczyn występowania agresji wobec dzieci.
W jednej z końcowych scen spotu, siedzący na schodach chłopiec szeptem wypowiada słowa: "It's a secret, I'm not allowed to tell" (tłumaczenie moje: "To tajemnica, nie mogę o tym mówić). Obniżenie tonu głosu ma znaczenie symboliczne, odnoszące się jednakże nie tylko do ogólnie przyjętego sposobu mówienia o rzeczach, o których wspominanie zostało zabronione, ale także do biernej postawy osób trzecich wobec problemu przemocy względem nieletnich. Brak reakcji na ów problem obrazuje się ‒ przede wszystkim ze względu na tytuł ‒ jako puenta, główny problem przedstawiony w omawianej reklamie. Wyniki badań, przeprowadzonych przez TNS OBOP w roku 2012, opublikowane na stronie internetowej kampanii "Jak Reagować" sugerują, że: "[...] jedna trzecia badanych uważa, iż nie powinni się wtrącać w to, jak rodzice postępują z dziećmi i w sytuacje stosowania kar fizycznych. Najczęściej powodem braku ich reakcji jest niechęć do wtrącania się w sprawy innych (29%). Niemal połowa respondentów (47%) nie zareagowałoby, uznając zasady nietykalności rodziny lub nie czując się "uprawnionymi" do tego. Powodem braku działania u prawie jednej czwartej badanych (23%) okazał się być strach." Słowa dziecka interpretować można także jako parafrazę wypowiedzi rodziców bądź opiekunów, którzy zakazali mu otwarcie mówić lub skarżyć się innym na sytuację, w której się znalazło. Zniechęca to osoby z jego otoczenia do reakcji, gdyż nie mają one pewności co do swoich podejrzeń, co również przedstawione zostało w tytule..
Podsumowując, spot reklamowy "Don't Wait Until You're Certain" zgodnie z rzeczywistością obrazuje tożsamość dziecka, które doświadczyło, bądź doświadcza, przemocy fizycznej lub psychicznej. Zachowania ukazane w produkcji zawierają w sobie szereg cech charakterystycznych dla najmłodszych zmagających się z ów problemem. Wplecenie fraz zasłyszanych ze strony agresywnego opiekuna (opiekunów), a także zobrazowanie zjawisk zaobserwowanych przez dziecko pomiędzy odruchy i sytuacje typowe dla jego wieku pełni rolę metaforycznego przedstawienia tożsamości ukształtowanej przez dramat przemocy.

How The American Dream Relates To An Immigrant's Experience

The United States is often called "a nation of immigrantsin Built - also literally - by people from all over the world, it still attracts foreigners who come to America, usually with a certain idea for their future. One might ask: why is this specific place so attractive to immigrants? Is this the legendary American Dream fuelling the urge to arrive? How does it merge with their mindset before and experience after the arrival?
To answer those questions, we need to explain what the American Dream is in the first place. Rather than an actual dream (though it might be for some), it is a series of beliefs, originating from the times when the US was still a newly established country. To get into even more detail, it is a stance that everyone can achieve success and life they have always wanted - no matter where they come from or who they are, hard work and determination will provide them with an affluent lifetime. It is the idea of equal chances that makes The United States a destination for those, who, due to segregation and other obstacles, would not achieve much in their native lands.
When we mention "hard work", job opportunities come to mind first. Being able to earn a decent amount of money, usually much higher than in other countries, without having to worry about one's social status, gender, or race, might be something American-borns or most Europeans take for granted. Yet, what we perceive as a right, others need to travel the world for. A chance to shape an immigrant's future without rules other than own engagement is definitely a part of both the American Dream, and their own aspirations.
Still, equality does not only refer to pursuing a chosen career; it is always intertwined with personal freedom. "The land of the free and the home of the brave" - as some call The United States - guarantees every person that is over eighteen (or, in some cases, twenty-one) years old a right to decide how to lead their life; even if they fail miserably, it will be the consequence of their conscious decisions. They can choose to follow celebrities through the TV and magazines, or simply spend the time in a more productive way - but it is not so obvious in many African or Asian countries. When the phrase "democracy" is censored in search engines (China), or you need the leader's own permission to leave the country (North Korea; usually limited to government workers), America once again becomes a fantasy of many. When a person risks persecution for browsing internationally available websites, or death when trying to leave the country, it sets a whole new perspective not only on how valuable American freedom is but also at the minds of those who founded it, revealing them to be truly ahead of their times.
Finally, it might seem that the definition of American Dream has expanded lately. While it still holds the same basic principles, we cannot omit the role of popular culture that delivers a specific image of the States. Hollywood, the Wild West, casinos, and pop music are what many foreigners perceives America to be like. These aspects, seen as rather positive, match the definition of freedom (gambling, cowboy culture), achieving success (Hollywood), and equality (even if in its most trivial form, like male, female, and even child celebrities of every race and background). Those glamorous and fun images are, sadly, most of the time connected with other, negative situations, but so is working hard and trying to stay focused. If anything, Hollywood Hills simply add even more to the fascination with starting over in The United States.
It is no doubt that the American Dream relates to peoples' experience as immigrants in North America, in two main aspects - jobs and personal freedom. We can only wonder how the country would look like today if different values have been included in The Declaration of Independence. What is certain is that "all men are created equal" and "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" are merits that seem to have gained a wide acclaim and that have been attracting those firm about leading a self-determined and secure life.

The governement should not be able to access cell phone data [argumentative essay]

The easiness of communication and almost effortless access to information have had a great impact on the lives of people in the 21st century. Even though immediate, global flow of data certainly helps improve relations between members of various cultures and citizens of countries around the world, it also possesses risk of the the personal content being easily obtained not just by intelligence agencies, but legally elected governments. The opponents of the idea of the state collecting cell phone data
claim that such procedure violates basic human rights and helps criminals develop alternative means of communication, unbeknowst to the police. Others argue that it is the first step to estabilishing a totalitarian regime, as well as to teaching citizens to censor themselves on a daily basis.
The right to privacy is one of the most important values that uphold human dignity. Supporters of surveillance often raise the arguement that if a person has nothing to hide, they should not be afraid when their phones are being monitored. However, such logic can easily be dismissed. Why do people lock the bathroom door? Why do they cover their bodies with clothes? These activities, among many others - especially being able to talk with the other person without the conversation being tracked
by the authorities - fulfill the natural desire for security and confidentiality.
Furthermore, a law allowing the government to collect cell phone data would inspire lawbreakers, particularly larger terrorist groups like The Islamic State, to estabilish new channels of communication since they would be aware of their activity being observed. Journalist Don Reisinger warns that: "[...] they've built their own "customized" tools to communicate. Those tools include an encrypted email application called Mojahedeen Secrets, a mobile app called Tashfeer al-Jawwal, and even an
Android-based news app for "terrorist-related actions," called Alemarah." 1 It means that, ironically, regulations designed to stop criminals would actually benefit them, as their technology would make it harder for intelligence agencies to track their steps.
What is more, legal monitoring of information shared by people is characteristic of totalitarianism. For instance, wiretapping was one of the main aspects of the regimes of Fidel Castro and other like-minded leaders.2 Supervising cell phone data would not just allow authorities to gather even more knowledge, since they would be able to track online activity and text messages as well, but would help construct a new totalitarian state.
Finally, lawful cell phone surveillance would spark the destruction of one of the modern world's most important qualities, the freedom of speech and expression. Knowing their communication might be observed, people would subconsciously develop a fear of expressing creative or controversial ideas. Such self-censorship would be devastating to human artistry and discourage citizens from resisting opressive or wrongful conditions.
In general, allowing governments to collect cell phone data would lead to depriving people of their basic rights and freedom of thought. As Evgeny Morozov once said: "Surveillance might reduce crime - even though the evidence here is mixed - but no studies show that it results in greater happiness of everyone involved."
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1fortune.com/2016/05/03/terrorists-email-social-media/

The causes of divorces [example cause-(effect) essay]

A high divorce rate in developing countries sparks questions related to the causes of the phenomenon. Whether the decision to end the marriage is based on severe or rather trivial concerns, the responisibility for separation is usually caused by the other person's behaviour.
First, the most common reason for leaving the partner is adultery. Although there are many types of relationships, the union of two people is the foundation of marriage. Not everyone is comfortable with their spouse having a romantic relationship with someone else, and even though polygamous relationships are present, the majority of people do not tolerate cheating.
Next, the decision to end the union might be motivated by one - or both - of the spouses' infertility. Not every childless marriage remains so by choice. Even if some couples decide to stay together, there are also people who get overcomed by the desire to have a child and decide to find a healthy partner.
Furthermore, various addictions can also contribute to a divorce. If substance dependence becomes so severe that the person starts abusing their husband, wife, or children, leaving the abuser is, in most cases, the only way to save the physical and mental health of the victims.
Finally, the relationship might end because one party has fallen out of love with the other - more often than not, they might have also already developed a romantic interest in someone else. If the spouse realizes they are not their partner's significant one anymore, they usually face serious issues with self-esteem and jealously; the best way for the couple to stop being surrounded by such negative emotions in their relationship is to end it.
To sum up, although there are many different causes of ending the marriage, the demeanour, behaviour and well-being of the spouse plays an important role in making such a decision. Not everyone is capable of succesfully fighting the difficulties they are likely to face in their relationship. What is more, leaving the partner might - just like in case of being abused by an addict - be the only way to achieve happiness in the future.

Causes of eating disorders

Distorted perception of one's own body is considered to be a mental issue which ultimately leads to a variety of physical problems. Eating disorders, as those are called, even though usually associated with women, are a serious threat for both sexes' health and development.
The influence of the famous happens to be the most prevalent cause of such condition, especially among young people. Teenagers and young adults, to whom healthly nutrition is crucial, tend to mimic their idols' physical image, which often also includes trying to achieve a similar body shape. Celebrities, who more often than not have gone through numerous plastic surgeries and used, not necessarily cheap or even safe, drugs supposed to help them lose weight, usually lie that their physique is natural - causing the fans to start a rigorous diet that has not been approved by a specialist, or even starve themselves (which is the main symptom of anorexia).
The impact of others appears to be an important factor entailing an eating disorder; in many cases, a person whose love interest is attracted to skinny people (or even openly states that they find unhealthy low weight attractive) tries to draw their attention by dieting and drastically changing their body shape in a short period of time. Such process usually involves excessive exercising or forcing consumed food out of the body - a characteristic behaviour of a victim of bulimia.
The need for acceptance and praise also plays a role in developing an eating disorder. One might believe that changing their physical apperance is what is essential to gaining friends or even improving their social status. In this case, counting calories and exercising is likely to become an obsessive behaviour, continuing for a time long enough to cause health problems and affect mental functions.
Finally, being even slightly overweigth can result in a low self-esteem. Instead of seeking professional help, a person desperate to feel comfortable in their own body might start to force it to look differently, without considering any possible negative consequences of their way of achieving the goal. Such irresponsibility is a major and characteristic obstacle in overcoming unhealthy eating habits.
Causes of eating disorders are not intricate and do not differ much from one another - the opinion and influence of others is usually the key factor in developing them. Effects, however, vary in intensity, and can affect multiple aspects of one's health.
Anorexia and bulimia result in severe problems with internal organs, such as heart and liver, as well as with a bone structure, leading to multiple fractures from minor injures; smaller changes, like weakened hair and purple spots on the skin are present too. The disorders also disturb a mental well-being, forcing the sufferer to strictly count calories, weight themselves daily, and induce a manic fear of gaining even a little weight. False perception of one's own body, a result of the said obsessions, prevents the person from recognizing the hazardous state they are in, which, at the same time, allows them to continue dieting. If left without a specialist's supervision and help, a victim of an eating disorder is almost certain to die from malnutrition and organ failure.
In conclusion, the enviroment and level of self-esteem of the person play an important role in triggering unhealthy eating habits. Whether it is the desire to look more like a certain public figure, or the effect of detracting self-values, both bulimia and anorexia can result in a variety of physical and mental struggles.

How to mend a broken heart [process essay example]

Being heartbroken is a common condition, occuring in people of nearly all ages. Whether it is caused by an inability to confess the feelings for the other person before they fall in love with somebody else, or witnessing a spouse of thirty years cheating, following four simple steps will hopefully help you mend your broken heart.First, do not surround yourself with objects that might remind you of your partner. Although you will probably feel nostalgic and want to save the remnants of the relationship, being constantly exposed to them is certain to bring - among many happy ones - painful memories of ending your relationship (or, in case of unreciprocated love, remind you of the absence of your loved one). It is not necessary to destroy or remove anything completely; simply store all the photographs and gifs in a box and then hide it in the attic or any other place you do not visit often.
Second, try to find new a hobby or a part-time job. The more occupied you will be with tasks that require concentration and dedication, the less time you will spend thinking about your relationship and the person you loved. Nevertheless, do not indulge in behaviours that might actually help you stop focsuing on the pain, but are hazardous to your well-being, like excessive drinking and taking heroin. The relief caused by substance abuse does not last long and can lead to a severe addiction.
Next, make sure to maintain civil relations with your ex-partner, even if you ended your relationship in anger or because of their despicable behavior. Do not, under any circumstances, try to take revenge on them. Hate and vindictiveness will only increase your pain and might even cause you legal problems if you decide to physically harm anyone.
Finally, remember that even if you used to perceive the person that hurt you as perfect or the relationship has been a happy one for a long time, there are many people that can make you happy again. Refusing to recognize positive traits in others because the one you loved seemed flawless will make it difficult for your broken heart to heal. No matter how many times you have been betrayed and hurt, there is still a chance for you to find someone you can share your life with.
Follow the steps mentioned above and you will be certain to heal from the trauma and pain caused by an unfortunate infatuation.

Example book review (Harry Potter and The Cursed Child)

"Harry Potter and The Cursed Child", written by J.K. Rowling with the help of two other authors, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany is, undoubtedly, a must-have for many fans of the saga. Set twenty years after the ending of the last of seven books, "The Cursed Child" reveals the story of Harry's youngest son, Albus Severus, and another student, Scorpius Malfoy, as they become best friends, despite the odds between their families.
Unlike the first seven volumes, the story of Albus is written in a form of a stage play, which not only lets the reader explore a less known genre of a written text, but also gives them an insight into Rowling's skills, as she has never written or co-written a play before.
However, the author's popularity and abilities are not the only merits of the book. Thanks to the simplistic, yet not infantile style, readers will most likely get fascinated with the story after the first few pages, learning about Albus' relationship with his famous father. What is more, the father-son bond is not as strong as one would expect; it reminded me how even a seemingly perfect family can have unpleasant - and thoroughly hidden - secrets.
In later chapters, the plot centers on Albus and Scorpius' decision to steal the last magical time turner in order to come back to the past and save the life of Cedric Diggory, whose death was one of the main causes of Harry's depression. Sadly, playing with time turns out to be hazardous and leads to plethora of unexpected events which might change the future forever. The importance of a detail is another thing I learnt from "The Cursed Child" that I believe I will never forget -
even the smallest
decision has its consequences, often disproportionately severe.
If you are looking for a book that is both easy to read and certain to make you think deeply of the other side of - apparently - obvious circumstances, "Harry Potter and The Cursed Child" is a perfect choice. It is surely an interesting and highly anticipated read for the fans of J.K. Rowling's world of wizards, but also a thought-provoking story for those that are not necessarily familiar with the saga.

Art vs Life in "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Art becomes interwinded with people's lives in many ways, especially because nowadays its definition keeps broadening, and it is accessible to everyone, sometimes even without any special effort put into reaching it, as it surrounds us. Is there anyone who has not been intrigued by a photoshoot seen in a random newspaper, or who could not stop humming a song heard while on their way to work?
But, obviously, art is not just something we randomly encounter only to forget about it after a while. It might become a hobby for someone who has just started being interested in photography, a direction for an amateur writer who tries to mimic the style of their favourite storytellers, and, finally, a job when a musician or an actor gains - whether deserved or not - popularity. Still, one question remains - is there a bigger dedication to art than making a living out of creating one's own? Is it possible for it to become an actual way of living, even if marked by being exposed to criticism or seclusion? If we take aesthetism, an artistic movement from the second half of the 19th century which also comprised of certain moral and intellectual values, into consideration, the answer most definitely will be 'yes'.
One of the most popular and significant personalities of that period of time, also associated with the term 'art for art's sake' and the insight into creating it described, was Oscar Wilde, an Irish playwriter and poet. A flamboyant personality, gifted with sense of humour ('There is only one thing in life worse than being popular, and that is not being popular.'), and fascinated with then-condemned, 'dark' behaviours like homosexuality, Wilde was a dandy, whose goal was to see the two - art and life - meet, and become truly intertwined, merging with each other, and whose way of living gathered a lot of rebuke and even disdain from the Victorian society.
His well-known novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, also depicts the coorelation between artism and reality. The main character does not exclude himself entirely from the society and, in fact, takes pleasure in being able to split his life between hedonistic unconcern and victorian prudishness, which reflects the author's own experiences. As stated in Nicholas Frankel's The Picture of Dorian Gray: An Annotated, Uncensored Edition: "In the wake of the Cleveland Street Scandal, Wilde had particular reason to be cautious in his published writings. Like Dorian, he was harbouring his own secrets. Since at least 1886, Wilde had been leading a secret double life, designed to conceal his sexual orientation and extramarital affairs from from close family members and "respectable" society." Mimicking this characteristic aesthetic rethoric of divided existence, Oscar Wilde describes events in Dorian's life, as well as his choices, that eximplify various obstacles preventing artistic vision from being fully conjoint with everyday life.
The novel begins with a preface dedicated to help the reader understand the novel, but also art in general, properly. It describes the artist as a creator dedicated to the sole beauty of their creation, rather than to being a moralist or a teacher, which is a clear reference to the 'art for art's sake' mantra. However, the novel gives an impression of being an ironic sight into the society, as there are, undoubtely, similarities between the plot and Wilde's life. Whether including the author's thinly-veiled outlook on victorian morality in the story was a deliberate process or not, it might leave the reader slightly confused, but also suggest that there is a kind of picture inside of a picture - an aesthetist's double life emerging in a form of contradiction between the preface and the rest of the novel.
On the first pages of the book, Dorian Gray's life is at the verge of change. Finding inspiration in his fascination with the young man's beauty, Basil Hallward decides to paint a portrait, not only to commemorate Dorian, but also to try to put into practise the new ways of artistic creation the painter has discovered under the influence of his subject. After the portrait has been completed, the boy, who has already encountered Lord Henry's views on life, differiating from Victorian characteristics, looks at the oil likeness of himself, and wishes that, instead of him, the portrait could face the inevitable consequences of passing time. However, it is not the fact of this scenario becoming reality, but Dorian's dream itself, that reveals another (yet first in the actual plot) moment of art being in a way separated from reality. It is no secret that every human being's physical beauty fades over time, and that most probably Wilde's main character was not the only young person that wished to stop this process - but the only one that succeded, as such desire can be fullfilled only in a world of fantasy, or in art, which, surely, also includes a novel. Music, poetry, sculpture - and paintings, are amongst numerous others artistic meanings of preserving, not necessary just human beauty, but the moment. While it is not possible to stop time, there are cenrtainly methods, in the world of art, to ensure that at least short excerpts from the past can be maintained and not forgotten.
Next, as James Esch words it in his essay, Notes on 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', "Rushing headlong into a love affair with Sibyl Vane, Dorian is influenced by her acting; and his romantic attachment and idolization influences her in ways Dorian never anticipated. In fact, she decides to sacrifice her art for the reality of his love, which is anethema to him." Sibyl, a young, but undoubtely talented actress, gets mentally detached from her performances, the distraction being a strong infatuation. Love is considered to be the biggest source of artistic inspiration - from ancient forms of paintings to popular songs on the radio, the stories of lovers have been told and shown countless times, but, obviously, not all of them picture positive themes or endings. One of the most popular tragic love tales, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is also being performed in the novel by Sibyl. The woman, rapt with her feelings for Dorian, cannot focus on the role, spoiling the play.
In this case, love embodies real life; it does not become an inspiration, but rather an obstacle in an artistic craft. Reality, whether in a form of feelings, or many different physical aspects, can deter a person from creating. Even though, with the exception of various generes of fantasy, the world surronding the creator is usually their strongest muse, art is fundamentally just one of many parts of human life, and more often than not, gets relegated to the background by the others.
The story of Sibyl Vane proceeds as Dorian decides not to continue his relationship with the actress, citing the downturn in her acting skills as the main reason. The deeply hurt and heartbroken woman decides to take her own life. Seeing Dorian's attitude towards Sibyl's death, Basil becomes aghast. The young man percieves the tragic event as an ultimate artistic expression, a tragic sacrifice. His demeanor might fit the aesthetic narrative, but only in his own eyes. The artistic perception, together with his hedonistic aspirations, seems to have deprived him of the ability to correctly understand the situation - his former lover's untimely death was not caused by an urge to create an image of a suffering performer, but by her pain itself. There was nothing romantic or tragically beautiful about her suicide; yet again, life has proven to alienate itself from the creator's world.
As time passes, the once beautiful portrait becomes notorious, changing with every of Dorian's bad deeds. It no longer pictures a beautiful young man, not even a little smirk the likeness has developed after Sibyl Vane's death. Oscar Wilde describes it as "some foul parody, some infamous, ignoble satire". The painting is now more like a mirror than ever before - but instead of the character's body, it reflects his soul. Portraits changing by themselves exist, of course, only in fiction, but an individual percieving and opinion on art are nothing sort of unreal. If the readers had a chance to see the portrait, as gruesome as it was by the end of Dorian's life, most of them would probably despise it, not putting a deeper thought into its author skills, and focusing only at the details of Gray's apperance. A question arises - does a creation deserve disdain solely because it pictures something repulsive? Is this another clash, another 'art versus life' situation, where something natural and ingrained in human brain, like general sense of beauty, makes some pieces of art seem less valuable, despite talent and dedication put into creating it?
The novel ends with the death of Dorian Gray. It was neither a sacrifice in the name of art, as he thought Sibyl's death to be, nor was it caused by opium or the character's lifestyle in general. Dorian, still as physically beautiful in his late thirties as years ago, becomes overwhelmed by guilt. After an internal battle between the desire to lead a sinless life and the unwillingness to admit to his mistakes, he furiously stabs the portrait. What is left is the painting being as astonishing as it was when Basil painted it, and a dead gnarled man lying on the floor - the real Dorian Gray. The life becomes what it is supposed to be - not free from harm and passing time, and so does art, unchanging, confined to its own world.
'Art for art's sake', living one's life as it was a play will definitely remain singature values of aesthetism. But they probably would not emerge without being triggered by something certainly opposite, like the ethics of Victorian society and rather rigorous norms of creating art. Hence the idea of double life, of remaining pure in a physical aspect, but provocative and sometimes even corrupt inside. This conflict was clearly visible in The Picture of Dorian Gray, where it was shown as the idea of art and life usually not being fully compatibile. Whereas creative process is most often inspired by reality, and way of living can also be devoted mostly to it, it is not possible to treat them as one combined matter - just like in case of aesthetists like Oscar Wilde, whose life is a great example of an artistic mind, who became even more salient as he was surronded by Victorian mentality and ethics.

Being an only child has both advantages and disadvantages

Modern families tend to differ a lot from those our grandparents or parents were raised in. While people who are now elders most of the time grew up surronded by multiple siblings, younger marriages often decide to have only one child or even remain childless. Such decision shapes not only the parents' life, but also the child's, if they decide to have one, as the enviroment a person grows up in can affect their behaviour and well-being. Being an only child has advantages as well as
disadvantages, both while growing up and in adult life.
To begin with, since the parents of an only child do not need to divide their attention between numerous children, they can provide their offspring with extra care. The parents might pay strict attention to the grades and achievments, and in case of the child having problems with a given subject, find a more judicious way to help them. Yet, the effort is not limitied only to performance at school. When there is no need to provide for other minors, the child can be given more toys and treats,
or gadgets of better quality.
Secondly, an only child - even thought they might possess a lot - does not have to share their belongings with brothers and sisters. Children tend to grow attached to their favourite toys and be reluctant to let others play with them. If they are the only ones to use their dolls or toy-cars, they do not experience jealously or fear of the things being lost or broken by someone else. Not having to share their possessions with siblings is even more crucial for teenagers. During teenagehood, one
values their personal space and individuality, and might perceive constant presence of other teenagers or younger children as tiring and intrusive.
However, if there are no children of similiar age in the neighbourhood, and contact with cousins (in case of there being any) is not regular, only children might find making friends with people their age and maintaining existing friendships difficult. As daily contact with other minors does not start until kindergarden or middle school, they develop certain social skills later than those who grew up with brothers and sisters. Moreover, in such case, being suddenly exposed to school environment
might be distressing, which can lead to fear of participating in classes and refusing to attend school.
In addition, being an only child can deprive a person of close bonds and cause the feeling of isolation. If the parents or friends are not present for a longer time, the child can develop a sense of loneliness, which can be harmful to their evolving personality and might negatively affect skills that have yet to emerge. Later in life, if the parents are no longer alive or not able to see the child on a regular basis, and the person has no family of their own, they might be left with no close
relatives they could trust or rely on in case of emergency. They can also be affected by lack of social interactions, just like children, and suffer from detrimental consequences which might vary from occasional sadness to depressive thoughts and lacking the sense of purpose.
Taking everything into account, remaining an only child provides the person with both positive and negative consequences that affect their entire lifetime. While a child can experience more attention from their parents and do not need to be concerned about privacy, an adult without a sibling will likely be afflicted with loneliness and might lack a reliable companion.

EDs

Eating disorders
short speech (fragments }:->)

Today, I'm going to talk about something that isn't usually percieved as mental illness, despite being classified as such. Also, it is one of the rare cases where you're not born with it but may develop the illness. Once you do, it gets so deeply ingrained in your brain and sense of self that you will probably fight (?) all the attempts of help.

When you think of eating disorders, you probably picture a person, usually a girl, that looks just like skin and bones and hides or throws away their food. You're right but not entirety - whereas anorexia is the most known eating disorder, there is also its complete opposite, obesity, as well as bulimia.

Let's start with overeating. It is a known fact that food can be addicting, for many reasons, not just physically addictive ingredients. Candies are tasty, but the sugar they contain boosts our mood. Have you ever wondered why exactly we like ice cream and jelly beans? It's not just the taste we enjoy, but also the sugar itself. There's no wonder why the phrase 'eat your sadness away' exists.
You can see the lethality and addictiveness of drugs compared to sugar.
In 2013 heroin and cocaine together cause twelve thousand deaths, while 19 thousand deaths were related to sugar.

Of course, it's not just sweet things that lead to gaining weight. Meals with fat and carbons can be delicious too, and when something is delicious, you want more of that, and that's fine. Unless you're not hungry anymore, in fact, you're already full, but still keep opening your fridge. You might not notice you’re addicted in time. When an obese person realizes they have a problem they might think there's nothing they can do about it, because the urge to eat is too strong.

It is also very important, but difficult, to simply accept the fact that it might be necessary to start fighting unhealthy habits. The denial is one of the biggest obstacles in overcoming eating disorders. There’s no point in wasting your energy on blaming someone or something, yet it is easier than admitting to having a problem.

Another reason the obese don't consider treatment are various fat acceptance movements. You should never accept something that's a threat to health because even if you feel good in your body, there's nothing beautiful about your internal organs especially heart and liver being damaged. But still, as long as a person wants help, there's hope for them.

But what if they don't? That seems to be the case with anorexia and bulimia. They are somewhat similiar, and both will probably lead you to an early grave, but 'work' a little different. It is hard to say which one is more damaging to health, but I would say bulimia, as binge eating and then forcing the food out of your body is still less natural than simply not eating at all.t in the mind, yet damage the body.

But how is it possible to surpress such natural instinct as hunger? Because it's no different than a schizophrenic hearing voices - the thinking process has been distorted, as losing weight becomes more important than health. that's why both anorexia and bulimia have been classified as mental illnesses.

Sadly, just like with fat acceptance there are groups, luckily not praised by society, called pro-ana and pro-mia that promote so called 'safe' anorexia and bulimia. There's nothing healthy in starving yourself or forcing your stomach acid up your throat, but an affected person doesn't care anymore. I would compare such groups to a someone giving you an advice on how to take drugs without anyone noticing, it's that irrational. You can even but merchandise related to pro-ana, like bracelets with 'keep calm and don't eat' written on them and then wear it on your malnourished wirst.

And what about men? While it is easy to imagine an obese man, those struggling with anorexia and bulimia tend to seem invisible to society, even though they make one third of the cases.
One of male celebrities that wasn’t afraid of speaking about his battle with bulimia was Elton John. He revealed that "rushing to the bathroom after every meal helped him not feel guilty about overeating", which is characteristic for bulimic people. He also stated that his friend, princess Diana, who also suffered from eating disorder, helped him recover.

We should also take the risk of addiction into consideration - when an unhlealthly skinny person seems aloof, and their respones are inconherent or even awkward it might be caused by their abuse of opiate painkillers as they stop food cravings.

There are many factors that lead to eating disorders, but I believe we shouldn't judge the affected, especially those that don't want to eat. Yes, they might have been gullible thinking everyone can look like a model on a magazine cover, or maybe they were influenced by famous people like Eugenia Cooney or Beth Ditto and yes, there are obese people that aren't helpless, but simply lazy, like the man who sued McDonalds.

What's the conclusion? The first step, that is usually the hardest, is to make the victim of an eating disorder consider advice or help. The obese think they can't be helped, but the underweight simply don't want to - help means gaining weight and, while they usually realise they're hurting themselves, the desire to stay skinny is stronger, even if it means death. What I would love to see is one of the biggest lies being finally debunked - that you can be healthly at every size.

Doomed artist - Chatterton and romantic poets

Every artistic movement has its respectable name. Thinking of Salvador Dali and his work (who has not seen the infamous 'clocks' painting?) brings to mind one word: surrealistic. It is, in fact, a fairly correct description, as Dali is one of the best known representatives of surrealism. Lev Tolstoy, however, based his novels on everyday life, avoiding exaggeration or idealisation. His way of writing is characteristic for literary realism. Those two examples of thoroughly different artistic movements show that their names actually reflect characteristics of the content their representatives created.
But how should we name something between surrealism and realism? The fascination with the paranormal and imagination, glorious ideas, but also with the variety of human emotions and the need to express them? These are features that connect the work of Juliusz Słowacki, William Wordsworth, John Keats and numerous other writers and poets. The word 'romanticism', first popularized by German poet August Schlegel, seems to describe the movement very well. Although love, usually unrequited, was also present in romantic literature, the name does not origin from unreturned passion, but rather from (not necessarily nihilistic) idea of sadness, hopelessness and heroic fight.
All those features explain why their embodiment - a romantic poet - is also called a doomed artist. This term, however, is not limited to describing poets living and writing between 18th and 19th century, even though they are associated with it most often. In fact, even in modern times, there are many 'doomed' artists - struggling with lack of understanding and acceptance from others, having ideals they firmly stand for, sometimes even, through their art, introducing us not only to their views on the world around them, but to the one they have created themselves.
Yet, as stated above, romantic poets are the most prominent examples of this idea. And, among them, there are those who are 'textbook' doomed artists – one of them being English poet Thomas Chatterton.
He was born and raised in Bristol. His childhood was marked by absence of his father, who died when Thomas' mother was still pregnant. Surprisingly, in the 18th century, the young poet's untimely death – which is considered a suicide, fulfilling the narrative of a misunderstood and depressed artist - was not widely noticed, even though he is now recognized as one of the most famous romantic poets. However, him turning to political journalism by the end of his life, was not the cause of that; instead, it can be explained by the fact that Chatterton was a forger - he published his work under a changed name, pretending to have discovered poems written by a medieval priest, Thomas Rowley.
 Despite Chatterton’s legend and talent, there are, undeniably, other English poets that are import_ant figures in romantic literature: John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelly, whose literary work, just like in the young forger’s case, was recognized and acclaimed short before or after their early demises. Moreover, both of them were influenced and in awe of Lord Byron – considered to be one of the most import_ant and widely recognized authors in the history of Great Britain. But it was not only a shared passion for poetry that intertwined their fates – it was the fate of a romantic artist itself.
Keats’ parents struggled with financial problems. When their children were still minors, Mr. Keats died in an unfortunate accident; his death was soon followed by passing of Mrs. Keats. John and his siblings were then placed under the care of their grandmother, yet shortly after he decided to start a career in medicine in order to ensure financial independence. Despite being successful as a young surgeon, Keats’ heart’s biggest desire was to become a poet, which lead to the beginning of his own medical problem, depression – because of his job he did not have enough time to pursue his writing career. The decision to leave the medical field for good caused him some financial problems, and therefore he was forced to move in with his brothers.
 Even though his first publication, Poems, received unfavourable reviews by critics, John Keats did not hesitate to keep writing; one of his best known poems remains Ode On An Grecian Urn, a poetical praise of truth and beauty. He put his pen down just few months before his death of tuberculosis at 25. At his deathbed, he asked his friend to engrave, instead of his real name, ‘The Young Poet’ on his tombstone.
Keats fellow writer, however, Percy Shelley, did not experience a troubled childhood, but rather a troubled youth. His poor performance at school, along with some of his physical features, were the cause of him being constantly tormented by other students. This might have triggered his inappropriate, and sometimes even dangerous, behavior, such as causing an explosion at school. Later in his life, he became involved in various love affairs, finally settling down with his sister’s friend, Harriet. They marriage did not last long, mostly because Harriet’s sister negative influence on her, and Shelley ended up leaving his wife while she was pregnant with their second child.
Years later, together with his second wife, Mary (the author of Frankenstein), he met Lord Byron. This encounter had a great impact on Shelley’s style of writing. It is worth noticing that inspiration played a huge role not only in his work, but in romanticism in general – whether it meant admiring other poets, wanting to praise the nature, or being driven by internal struggle, but also overwhelming social issues, as in Shelley’s Masque of Anarchy, later praised by Karl Marx.
His life was cut short when the boat he was navigating sank in the sea. The cause of the accident was never fully understood; some believed he was killed by political opponents, whereas others claim Shelley never recovered from the troubled relationships with others he had in the past, and, just like Chatterton, committed suicide.
Those three indisputably talented poets, along with Lord Byron, can help us understand the true nature of the romantic era, which manifested itself not just as a specific literary style, but mostly as a story of an artists’ life. Chain of events in a romantic poet’s life, who might have been born in a poverty, or a wealthy family, physically healthy or not, always sparked similar outcome – the struggle of being rejected by their environment and society, feeling constantly misunderstood even by loved ones, in many cases because of held ideals, but also when trying to express the blend of emotions, as personality was a factor that shaped the poet as well. Being caring, introverted, engaged in own fantasy were the traits such person seemed to possess, yet I did not mean he or she was weak, but rather vulnerable to the whirl of emotional challenges and demands the world offered them.
It does not, obviously, mean, that romantic poetry is not worth appreciation, as, just like any other literary period, it was the time when a great amount of admirable work was created, and which is enjoyed to this day. It is simply the vital and outward representation of romantic ideals through a person’s life that makes the image of a doomed artist extraordinary and causing a lively discussion today, as well as at the turn of 18th and 19th century.

Cars liberate us rather than enslave us

It is hard to imagine any modern society without cars, Whether it is an old truck driven by a lumberjack, or a celebrity's newest Ferrari, cars are now a permanent feature in our lives. Nonetheless, in my opinion, despite constant use, people have not become enslaved by their vehicles, but rather liberated.
To begin with, cars are more convenient than public transport. Commuting by train or bus means having to come to the bus stop on a specified time, waiting there, sometimes in a piercing cold, being aware of delays, and, finally, spending the journey in a company of noisy and usually unpleasant smelling people. Passing such overcrowded bus in a comfortable car, with air conditioning and music you like - not the noise teenagers play from their phones - surely is more tempting than using public transport.
Secondly, you can go anywhere you want by a car. For instance, a car can cross long distances, but it is unlikely that it will take you to the exact place you want; the passenger still has to commute from the train station to their destination. It is also impossible to walk or cycle hundreds of kilometers. If you drive a car, neither the distance, nor the location is a problem anymore.
Thirdly, by owning a car you are no longer dependent on others. There is no need to pay for a ticket or to ask someone for a ride. Moreover, time is no longer an obstacle - by driving yourself you can go to the chosen place even in the middle of the night, which is not the case when relying on someone else.
In contrast, there are people who say that cars are a waste of money; we buy the newest and the most expensive ones, even if we do not need such advanced vehicles, simply to impress others, which is a form of enslavement. But we do the same with any other valuable thing we own, not just cars. Competing, even in a form of impressing, is a part of human nature, and thus such argument should not be used against owning a car.
To sum up, I believe that cars give us a lot of liberty. They spare us from constantly relying on other people, as well as make travelling more comfortable, and, what is most important, help us save the time ans energy we would lose while using other forms of communication.

Advantages and disadvantages of having a summer job

These days, devoting our free time in summer to work is nothing unusual. The hottest months of the year bring to mind a deserved rest and getting up late, but, for those who need it, holidays can also be a great opportunity to find a short-time job.
One major advantage of having a summer job are additional earnings. Whether someone needs extra income to provide for their family, wants to add it to their savings, or simply buy a new mobile phone, working in summer is an easy way to earn money, as there are many businesses willing to hire more employees during holidays.
Furthermore, spending summertime working is a great opportunity to gain job experience, which, most of the time, is crucial when trying to get a full-time job. If an employer read your resume and learns that you used to work before, especially in a similar field, your chances of getting hired will be highly increased.
On the other hand, while consisting of relatively easy tasks, summer job can be time consuming. For those who already work full-time, or students, holidays are a time of rest and having fun. Being employed reduces chances of fully relaxing, most of the time needed before coming back to daily chores.
Apart from that, it is usually young people who seek this kind of employement, many of them still being in high school, or university students. Employers might take advantage of their lack of experience in business, and deliberately pay them less or extend their working hours, hoping that they will not realize that or will be afraid to speak up.
On the whole, there are both advantages and disadvantages of having a summer job. Additional earnings are helpful in a variety of situations, but, like most of the things associated with money, it can be tiring and risky.