Total Productive Maintenance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Total Productive Maintenance - Essay Example However in order to undertake an effective Total Productive Maintenance process some important factors should be taken into consideration. It is important to understand both the potential rewards and the associated risks. The main aim of this paper is to summarize what has been written so far about the Total Productive Maintenance process and to propose a methodological approach in order to conduct a research concerning this issue. The paper is also aimed at analyzing and testing the effectiveness of the contributing factors in the implementation of the Total Productive Maintenance process. TPM is combination the ideas of people operating the equipment and people maintaining it (Robert, 2002). Maintenance affects all aspects of business effectiveness - risk, safety, environmental sustainability achieved, energy efficiency, and product quality and customer service, i.e. not just plant availability and costs. Downtime has always affected adversely the capability of physical assets by reducing output, increasing operating costs and lowering customer service (Moubray, 2000) It was also found that the TPM facilitator must be motivated and proactive to make best use of their meetings with management, promote TPM and implement the training received. They must also be persuasive and have the ability to coach and train people in the TPM methodology (Ireland & Dale, 2006) In order to implement a successful TPM it is important to keep a data of the problems occurred in the equipment, the down time and the solution provided (Besterfield, Michna, Besterfield & Sacre). Hence the first developed hypothesis is: H1: The successful implementation of TPM is dependent upon the availability of past data related to equipment. Increase in employee empowerment is another important factor, which contribute to the effectiveness of the total productive maintenance. The enthusiasm of employees can be improved by setting challenging targets and specifying how to achieve them. Autonomy is the core concept of empowerment, while the management retains control through information systems, choice of processes and available tools (Agyris, 1998). Hence the hypothesis develops as: H2: Higher the level of employees autonomy higher the level of success of TPM. The information and ideas are successfully exchanged through communication between persons and groups. It is important to exchange the ideas and information in a mutually understandable manner. It is important to train the employees regarding the change to be undertaken in the organization. The third hypothesis to be tested is the role of training of employees in the TPM. H3: Is it necessary to undertake TQM with TPM. Hence as mentioned below the TPM is the 5S step-by-step program: 1 - Cleaning & Restoration: Thoroughly restore & clean. Motivation through participation. 2 - Eliminate Stains, Mixed, Contamination: Study Root Causes of Dirt, Mixing, Loss, and damage and take actions. 3 - Improve Accessibility: Achieve 1 minute accessibility time for

British Airways and its predecessor companies Essay

British Airways and its predecessor companies - Essay Example Two other airlines, Handley page, and Instone, were established using modified bombers. The three companies underwent a period of great difficulty, especially competition from French airlines, which were cheaper. To solve these problems, they merged to be joined later by British Marine Air Navigation, forming Imperial Airways. Imperial Airways began local and overseas flights immediately, flying as far as Egypt and India with a crew of 250 and a fleet of 18 crafts (Gaskell, 2010). This paper is an essay on British Airways. Later, Imperial Airways was a Brisbane, Australia route, whose duration would take grueling 12 days. The new airline added new planes such as the short S.23 C-class model, which signified that the airline was growing, as was a new carrier British Airways limited (Gaskell, 2010). After the start of the 1st World War, these two merged to form British Overseas Airways Corporation, which re-started its transatlantic flights after the war ended. In addition, they create d the BEA, a new airline to handle the European flights. At this point, the carriers needed to order new and more efficient aircraft. BOAC consequently ordered the Boeing Strato-cruiser, the Lockheed Constellation, and a Rolls-Royce engine equipped version of the DC-4. It did not take long before they ordered a jet plane, the De Havilland Comet, which dramatically reduced the length of trans-Atlantic flights (Marriott, 2010). The early 60’s saw BOAC order the Rolls-Royce Conway engine driven 707-436 to tide over until the VC-10s were ready. By 1970, with the first 747 and rapid growth, BOAC and BAL were ready to merge and work as one, establishing British Airways in 1976. BA’s most crucial year was 1976; it had a partnership with Concorde, coupled with big fleets of Lockheed TriStar and Boeing 747.

Global governance play in globalisation

Global governance play in globalisation Globalization is seen as a universal change in the lives of people either positively or negatively. In this essay I will start by defining globalization from different perspectives. As in the argument of some critics, globalization has benefits as well as limitations, Therefore it is necessary to look at those advantages and shortcomings. Another important aspect is the theory of international relations and globalization. Each of this theory emphasise on power but has different notions to its meaning. However, exercising power via globalization is seen as a challenge in the international relations theories today. Furthermore, institutions of global governance play different role in globalization as to what they are specialized in and known for. Majority of these institutions are determined to achieve their roles despite challenges. These institutions are so vast that they cannot be exhausted. Therefore, in this essay I will focus on the United Nations Organization. It is an institution with several agencies. These agencies are not liable to the United Nations Organization in terms their subsequent activities. But they are seen as part of the United Nations. Therefore, role that these agencies play in globalization is what i will also discuss in this essay. Moreover, the Millennium Declaration determined to achieve to ten objectives by 2015.The principal objective is halving rural poverty by 2015 and globalization is seen as a tool to which they will achieve their aim. How they intend carrying out this task is what i will also discuss in this essay. That is strategies used and how it was implemented .Finally, this essay will be concluded by summarising the whole point and To start with, globalization, as argued in John Baylis and Steve Smith (2001:14), is defined in five different ways, as internationalization which connotes the coexistence and reliance on two or more countries.Another is liberalization defined as the freedom of trade without governments restriction.Universalization which can be understood as the disperse of knowledge to the world.Westernization is portrayed as the American opinion of implementing globalization and lastly Deterrritorialization is observed as exchange for geography that is territorial area, distance and boarders. Furthermore, globalization can also be understood as the intensification of social worldwide relations that connect localities from distant in a way that the happenings in the locals are modified by events occurring at distance of miles away and vice versa. In other words, it is a process of amalgamating peoples of the world into a unified state.(John Baylis and Steve Smith 2001:15) In sum, globalisation can be defined as an economic, social, and political developed world that has effect on the peoples and societies mostly in the underdeveloped and third world. These latter world has benefited positively and negatively from the events initiated by the developed world. Such benefits includes communication that is the world wide web, radio transmission, satellite communication, television communication, global newspapers, which has made communication easy and flexible for people..Also the global franchise Pepsi, Guinness, Pizza Hut and the global economy as well as global disease such as AIDS, Kidney Failure, Cancer ,Etc. They are all features of globalisation. John Baylis and Steve Smith (2001:14-16) However, as argued in John Baylis and Steve Smith (2001:19), globalisation has advantages and disadvantages In term of its benefit to the world .It has made the ease of communication stress less and affordable. For instance internet access allows instant message rather that posting which take more than twenty four hours. Also the electronic mass media communication such as radio, television, telephone communication etc has allowed easy access to information and as well as relating to people within and far away. The economy system is seen as a benefit in globalization, Trade and finance are expanding. Foreign currencies like the US dollar, in Euro, Yen, are use all over the world international and in the local countries to purchase goods .Global culture allows interrelation among people from different part of the world to appreciate one and the others culture and religious which avoids ethnic and religious crisis. Moreover, in the argument of John Baylis and Steve Smith (2001:19).Though globalisation has benefitted the world in enormous ways there are limitations to what it posses. Globalisation seems to be limited to the world it was invented. Other societies that are not in the developed world are still back dated in terms of communication, economy and culture. This is as a result where ethnic and religious crises are still very common. Furthermore, it is also argued that there are limited companies from different part of the world in the international trade economy where different countries merge as a company to trade internationally, but these are rather done within a particular country. That is the global economy trade, investment as well as financial flow which are within three continents Europe, North America and Asia.(John Baylis and Steve Smith 2001: However, in the international relations theory globalization does not represent a transformation of the international system. It represents an adaptation of the means through which international interactions are exercised, combined with an increase in the number and types of actors. Therefore, one can know that globalization exist and matters as part of the structure of international relation because of the effects that it produces. A close look at these effects demonstrates that globalization is neither as independent nor causal phenomenon. Rather, globalization is best understood as a technology facilitated proliferation of the means through which power within the international system is channelled and pursued. What makes globalization a new, and essential, component of the contemporary international security are the increasingly complex conditions under which international actors exercise power. (security Dialogue 2004: 11) The classical approach to the study of international relations, realism, focuses on the nation-state as a barrier between the international system and the domestic sphere of politics. Domestic politics are seen as separated from the international system, which is characterised as anarchy or the absence of order. Realists focus on the nation-state especially the military and economic capabilities and seek to maximize power toward this end. (Security Dialogue 2004: 11) State must ensure that they can provide for their military and economic safety, and they cannot count on the goodwill of others. Institutions such as international law and formal international organizations might be useful as tools but they are not to be relied upon for security guarantees. (Mearsheimer: 1995). To realists, globalization reflects the hegemonic influence of the major powers in international politics. Realists tend to see proximity creating vulnenerability, which leads to conflict (Waltz, 1979: Measheimer, 2001) It is therefore argued that globalization, is more complicated than the realist theory alone can account for. That is if globalization is measured as the acceleration of transboundary communication, international networks, the diffusion of power, reciprocity and mutual dependence, and the expansion of universal norms and principles, a different conclusion about contemporary international politics emerges. This trend combined with the proliferation of non state actors such as the formal international organization, nongovernmental organization, and multinational cooperation to alter the playing field of international relations.(Security Dialogue 2004 :12) Neoliberal institution focuses on the unique conditions of globalization that reflect accelerating interdependence and its impact on how state perceive their interests(Keohane, 2002).In a condition of complex interdependence, state will recognize a mutual demand for cooperation, and new actors will emerge that affect international agenda setting while power becomes more diffused. Traditional measurement of power such as military capabilities will become less valuable to states as they prioritize long term benefits from cooperation over short term tactical advantages(Keohane and Nye, 2001) In recognizing a state based interest in collectively managing a globalized world, states seeks to reduce coordination problems, to establish agreed principles, norms, rules and decision making procedures, to facilitate transparency, to increase the capacity for bargaining and issue-linkage ,to enhance socialization toward an international community, and to lower the transaction costs of collective action.(security dialogue 2004:12) Another major school of international relations theory, constructivism, draws on social theory of human interaction and posits that the structure and content of international relation are the by-products of social interaction (Wendt, 1994). In this sense, not all states are alike, rather states reflect the social structures around which their peoples coalesce. Just as the domestic content of politics and culture shapes the identity of nation state, so does the nation state simultaneously shape the international environment (Wendt, 1999). The major paradigms of international relations provide an important basis for examining the relationship between globalization and security. Realists demonstrate that power matters and that there remain some key common goods that only the nation state can supply though realist are challenged to think harder about hoe power matters and how best to understand the new realities of global politics(Brown, 1998). The neoliberal institutionalist school shows that international system is increasingly complex and that states alone cannot fully provide for their own security. Neoliberals are, nevertheless, challenged to demonstrate exactly how cooperation can best be achieved Constructivist remind observers that inter-national relations are a battle not just power, interests, and agenda setting but also of ideas. The importance of material economic gains and hegemony only have meaning in so far as they are ideas given to people and societies. Consequently, people and societies have power to se ek positive or negative change for the future of globalization.(security dialogue:13) From these theoretical approaches to international relations, it is possible to delineate between the risk and opportunities that globalization provides for security provision. Realism suggests that globalization will breed suspicion, vulnerability conflict because the more interdependent people and state become, the more insecure they will be(Waltz:1979)Realism also suggests that the content of globalization reflects the relative distribution of power and favours the dominant international actors.(Security dialogue 2004: Alternatively, neoliberal institutionalism proceeds from basic optimism that managing globalization requires multilateral cooperation and states will define their quest for power in terms of mutual gains. Constructivist help observers recall the importance of identity and reinforce the fact that, while states matter, so does culture.(Huntington) These major theories of international relations share an emphasis on the role of power though each comes to different conclusions as to its meaning and consequences. Each analytical approach helps students, scholars, and policy makers to understand that the quest for power holds within it the potential for both security and insecurity, for both war and peace. Understanding the new means of excercing power via globalization is thus one of the most fundamental challenges for international relations theory today (Security Dialogue 2004:13) However, the institutions of global governance play several roles in globalization. The United Nations organization is one of other institutions with several agencies. Therefore, since the United Nations comprises of several agencies. These agencies are not liable to the United Nation in terms of the cabinet or congress.. They are independent of their roles. They are divided into separate regions which include, The United Nations Programme and Office, United Nations Regional Commission, United Nations Specialised agencies, and the Related Organization. However, the United Nations Programme and Office has the largest number of agencies in which few will be mentioned as well as the role they play in globalization. They are International Trade Center, United Nations ProgrammeHIV/AIDS,United Nations Childrens Fund, United Nations Development Fund for Women, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Human Settlements Programme, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, United Nations Institute for Training and Research, United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, United Nations Office for Project Services, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, just to mention a few.(United Nations today 2008:12) The United Nations Development Fund for women is an organization fighting for women rights in all perspective. It protest against discrimination, violence, gender inequality and propose women right to inheritance, work, voice etc. Its main role includes ending violence against women which is a situation to prevent women from being molested, rape, or beaten up as well as trafficked across borders. In achieving this they work across multiple levels and sectors as well as including men as partners in enhancing community ownership. The agency is also trying to eradicate the spread of HIV/AIDS among women, in collaboration with the National AIDS Council and Ministries which ensures women access to drugs in order to continue to live healthy.(United Nations Development Funds: 1-5) The United Nations Childrens Funds is an organization mainly for children globally. This agency ensures that the well being of children are put to check. Its role basically is to prevent a child from violence, discrimination, poverty, diseases and so on. In achieving their aim they work in collaboration with other agencies like the Global Movement for Children which is dedicated to improving the life of every child as well as promoting education, equal right for children, and prevent the spread of disease.(United Nation Children Funds 2008:1) In the United Nations High commission for Refugee, which is a global organization that has its headquarters in continents like Africa, Asia, Europe, America etc. It ensures that the well being of individual are protected locally and internationally. They include the refugees, men, women, older people, asylum seekers etc. As part of their role they raise funds from different organization like the None Governmental organization, Private sectors, Individual Citizens, and also in collaboration with the United Nations for certain amount of humanitarian funding. This helps in terms of achieving their goals. They respond to emergency worldwide where there exists internal war, earthquakes etc. They also see to the right of asylum seekers are observed and not overlooked.(United Nations High commission for Refugee 2001-2009) The United Nations population Fund is an organization that ensure the well being as well the rights of individual are protected. Her role involves alleviation of global poverty, prevention of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, equal opportunity among citizens of the country, and healthy living. They also ensure abortion is put to stop and save every birth. They also assist countries in the collection of data and population analysis which enable government of a country to take account of the need of future generations, as well as the present. Ensure gender equality among both sex in which women has a major role in which involves good education and health. This enables families, communities as well as the countries benefits from. (United Nations Population Funds: 2008) The United Nations Development Programmes is a global agency under the United Nations. They assist citizens of different countries in building a better life. They also help to build and share solution to the challenge of democratic governance for instance on the 17th of November 2009 they supported the government of Bangladesh to sustain and build on the achievements of the last decade and to remain on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, also eradication of poverty, and preventing crisis recovery as well as HIV/AIDS.(UNDP) World food Programme is a global organization whose role involve fighting against hunger world wide, saving the lives of victims at war, civil conflicts and natural disasters. It is a voluntary funded organization and also part of the United Nations. They also work in collaboration with the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development as well as Non Governmental Organization. Their main aim is to save lives and protect livelihood in emergencies, prepare for emergency, restore and rebuild lives, reduce hunger as well as to strengthen the capacity of countries to reduce hunger (World Food Programme: 2009) Another group of agencies under the United Nation is the specialised agencies, which includes, the international Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund, Food and Agricultural Organization, International Maritime Organization, United Nations Educational ,Scientific and cultural Organization, World Health organization, International Telecommunication Union, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Tourism Organization, among others. The International Labour Organization promote right to work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue in handling work related issues The organization helps in the creation of decent jobs. It is a global body responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards as well as working with its member state which includes: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bah ran, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Chad, Columbia, the Congo, Ghana, Greece, Lebanon, Kuwait, Liberia, just to mention a few. To the International Labour Organization Poverty eradication is by ensuring that employment is available to all. (International Labour Organization: 1996-2009) The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization is designed to promote international cooperation among its member states and six associates members in the field of education, science, culture and communication. Its role is to ensure and observe human rights, mutual respect as well as poverty eradication (UNESCO: 1995-2009). The international telecommunication Union is an information and communication organization where both the governments and the private sectors enhance networks and services. Its role has been global use of the radio spectrum, promotion of international cooperation in assigning satellite orbit. It address the issue of global challenges which is the climate change as well as enhancing cyber security This agency organise worldwide, regional exhibition and forums, such as the International Telecommunication World, as well as linking together representatives of governments and the telecommunications including international telecommunication Industry to have exchange of ideas, knowledge, and technology for the benefit of the global community and in particular the developing world (ITU: 2009) The related organizations include, International Atomic Energy Agency, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Preparatory committee for the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization, and World Trade Organization. The International Atomic Energy Agency is a worlds atomic peace organization. They are in collaboration with their member states as well as other partners globally in order to ensure safety, security, and peaceful nuclear technology. It is an independent international organization related to the United Nations system. These relationships are regulated by special agreement. Their role is to ensure that safe nuclear materials and activities are not used for military purpose. As part of its role, it helps countries in enhancing nuclear safety and security and to prepare for and respond to emergency as well as mobilizing peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology (IAEA 2003-2009) The organization in charge of prohibition of chemical weapon is body responsible for carrying out chemical weapons convention. It has been given the task to achieving its objectives. This is to making sure that the provision and that of international verification is carried out. The destruction of chemical weapons is seen as the conventions highest budget. The proceeds from the state-of-art technology is its major source income in destroying chemical weapons and minimizing the risk of people and the environment at every level and that of transportation and supply of ammunitions.States protect their citizens because of these dreadful and dangerous weapons. They now concentrate on the practical use of chemical weapons for peaceful and capacity buildings. Program funded by member state is also given aid in order for the organization to improve the implementation of chemical weapons to all for peaceful purpose and restricting its prohibition. (OPWC) The United Nations main role is to ensure that the well being of the people are under control. Also to prevent wars among states, and the need of people are met globally especially in the underdeveloped world . As in the argument in John Baylis and Steve Smith (2001:332). Poverty is seen as a global issue not just in the underdeveloped world. As in the argument of Ruth Lister (2004:1) deep poverty is not just a phenomenon of the global South but exists also within the affluent North. Therefore, another major aspect in this essay is the role of United Nations as an institution of global governance and the impact of globalization to reduce rural poverty? The Millennium Declaration summit of which 191 countries are members, made rural poverty reduction as their main objective to be met by the year 2015.The Secretary General of this Summit lay emphasis on globalization as the tool that will be used in order to meet the need of the poor.(United Nation :2001).Therefore, in achieving their aim the role of the United Nations as well as other agencies are of great importance. Suggestions in admitting other agencies were acknowledge and approved by the ACC in October 2001.which was formulated by the United Nations Development Group. Among these agencies are the UNFPA, United Nation Childrens Education Fund (UNICEF) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) World Health Organization (WHO), UNCDP, UNESCO, just to mention a few. As in the argument of the (United Nations: 2001). Furthermore, it is argued that United Nations Programme in addressing the issue of poverty reduction is a challenging issue. Agencies mentioned above had roles to play in one way or the other. Though, some role could be of major benefit than the other. As the suggestion made by the Millennium Declaration Goals that globalization is a means or tool in fighting against rural poverty is to be met therefore, globalization based good and services, financial economic, social as well as global public goods should be seen as benefits in the rural poor through enhanced governance system .(United Nations 2001:10) Moreover, the United Nations major role as an impact of globalization in poverty reduction is argued to be guided in three different levels. These levels includes: the international, regional and the local level. They are said to be in cooperation with one and the other. It is further argued that each of this level has important role to play in actualizing the aim of the programme, which is the coming together of the United Nations, the Private and public sectors the civil society as well as the poverty group(United Nations: Some of the plans established in accelerating globalization/poverty reduction will focus on improve Governance correlating with PRSPs and UNDAF; an institution to reform and liberalize market programmes for the welfare and protection of the poor. Linked programme for a national ICTD with greater focus on satisfying issues and bringing together the rural and urban. Exporting of crops in the rural area by enhancing its information system. Establish a procedure that will add value in rural production. United Nations: Among the programmes set up for local poverty reduction are the local awareness programme on availability of goods and services for rural poverty reduction. Establishment of interest point for the community, aid for local governance and splitting into various offices to attend to different poverty groups to global public goods- health, education etc.The quickening of Information Communication Development Technology (ICTD) for various poverty groups will create awareness and tools for information sharing device tools, improve agricultural tools and move to improve productivity akin to socially sensitive local globalization /poverty reduction programme.(United Nations: The procedure of UN system in dealing with globalization and alleviation of poverty at all levels is on ground and can be used to determine the strategy for the new globalization/poverty alleviation model. The procedures considered range from providing an avenue for debate and discussion that include the intergovernmental processes, expert group meetings; open debate, meetings prepared for major global summits (prepcoms) and various events like the joint session with the G-77, South-South forum. These are primarily arranged through the UN secretariat (especially UNDESA), funds and programme (especially UNDP) and a special agency (especially World Bank Group) which is part of their activities and provide the most important contribution of the UN system to views and approaches emerging. The extent of debate at which globalization rural poverty reduction is discussed varies and depends on the nature of the division and agency.(United Nations: The UN pays little attention to particular issues on globalization as a factor in rural poverty reduction despite the much discussion on globalization. Another branch is the research studies, statistics and seminars in different publications. The UN provides an enormous technical studies and relevant statistics to almost all the branches of globalization- poverty reduction debate. With the exception of examples given below- the mission of rural poverty alleviation is almost neglected. Other worth mentioning body in this regard are the UN research system and Training Institute that include INSTRAW (rural women and globalization); UNITAR (Globalization issues on how UN system will cope); UNRISD (social impact of globalization) have all produced much important studies to the globalization/poverty reduction debate. Nevertheless, defining the cause in stance on globalization and rural poverty reduction has been defeated by the UN plan with the exception of the World Bank, UNCTAD and UNDP- but still focus on the wider globalization agenda. This view however, is of significant to developing an assiduous approach and adopting a more socially, acceptable and human form of globalization that will build specific provisions for the nations exempted through different mechanisms such as the WTO, trade negotiations, finance for development, PRSPs etc. Field level operation of Funds, Progarammes and Specialized Agencies. These have many parts covering many forms of intervention that can always target poverty alleviation. The traditional areas include: Country project activities to yield capacity building, Seminars, Workshops Fellowship Infrastructural development The implementation of an organized approach to globalization/poverty alleviation is the UN system policy in the field under the UNDAF system. The World Bank via the PRSPs is helping to coordinate the UN system in the field. Finally, globalization as it is defined is a wide and vast phenomenon that has so much to do and achieve. Considering its characteristics and its functions, it has in one many ways achieve enormously. Moreover, in terms of how the international relations theory and globalization

Humour in The Tempest :: essays research papers

Act II Scene I has been written as a humorous scene. It is meant to be funny and light-hearted. Although a modern day audience may not laugh out loud, the humour, itself, is very obvious. Alonzo thinks that his son, Ferdinand, is dead and one of his servants/Lords, Gonzalo, is trying to comfort him, but not succeeding. Sebastian and Antonio, basically mock Gonzalo and everything he says. Gon: When every grief is entertain’d that’s offer’d Comes to the entertainer – Seb: A dollar Gon: Dolour comes to him indeed†¦ Gonzalo is trying to tell the king not to grieve too much or something will come to the entertainer of grief, but before he can say what, Sebastian interrupts with â€Å"A dollar†. This is relevant because Sebastian pretended to take the term ‘entertainer’ literally. However, Gonzalo interprets what Sebastian said as dolour, which means sorrow. To make this even more humorous, Shakespeare has made Sebastian tell Gonzalo, outright, that he has taken what he said in the wrong way. The second attempt at humour in this scene is Antonio and Sebastian talking to each other about Gonzalo not shutting up. After a short silence, they bet on who will be the next person to speak. Ant: Which, of he or Adrian, for a good wager, first Begins to crow? Seb: The old cock Ant: The cockerel * * * * (Seb & Ant settle on the bet) Adr: Though this island seem to be desert, - Ant: Ha, ha, ha! Seb: So: you’re paid. I personally found this humorous because there is no ASIDE used, which means they are not even trying to be discreet about their mockery. The third attempt at humour is when Gonzalo is trying to be optimistic by talking about how fresh his clothes are. Of course, Sebastian and Antonio see this as another opportunity to mock Gonzalo. We, as the audience, know that Ariel made all of their clothes fresh after the ship was caught in the tempest. We therefore know that Gonzalo is actually telling the truth. Gon: That our garments being, as they were, drenched In the sea, hold, notwithstanding their freshness And glosses being rather new-dyed than stained

What Led to the Rise of Political Parties in the 1790s

There are a few different reasons for the rise of political parties in the 1790’s, but the main reason is people had different views. There were many disagreements on the way that things should be interpreted from the constitution. There were two different parties, the Federalist and the Democratic Republicans. Despite their different views of the government and the economy, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were two great leaders in United States history.Throughout their political lives, they never stopped debating and representing what they believed in. People disagreeing with the government and the government’s different views on issues led to the rise of political parties in the 1790's. Thomas Jefferson spoke out in the early 90's with a strict interpretation of the Constitution and his views on the bank. It is clear that powers are delegated based on the Constitution and accepting those limits is the foundation of the United States. He believes the bank is no t favored by the Constitution.Jefferson obviously had different opinions than Alexander Hamilton. In 1790, Jefferson wrote, â€Å"†¦ Hamilton was not only a monarchist, but in support of a monarchy based upon corruption† (Document 1). Alexander Hamilton, on the other hand, has a more loose interpretation of the Constitution. He basically believes that proof is needed that the government is sovereign because, he said, â€Å"the power which can create a supreme law of the land, in any case, it doubtless sovereign as such case†.He believes that all laws made in the United States under the Constitution shall be the supreme law of the land. Hamilton also accepts the growing tension. â€Å"Mr. Jefferson is at the head of a faction, decidedly hostile to me and my administration†¦ Mr. Jefferson displays his dislike of funding the debt†¦ Jefferson and his supporters are unsound and dangerous†¦ † (Document 2). Similar article: Theories Actually Seen in Practice in Ojt

Conservative Party From 1951 To 1964 Essay

1) Labour failed to modernise its policies to a move affluent Britain and the party was constantly divided 2) The parliamentary party was split between the Left and Right: left-wing Bevan’s wanted an expansion of the public sector & hostile to Gaitskell, who did not 3) Gaitskell became leader after Wilson and agreed on a social democracy rather than a socialist one, but failed to remove Clause IV in 1961 Labour weakness enabled the Conservatives to avoid the electoral consequences of their mistakes, partially 1) Suez 1956 2) Resignation of Eden Conclusion The Labour party was dominating in votes up to 1950, however that year the difference between Labour and Conservative parties was very neglectful. There are several factors that might have contributed to Labours loss of power in 1951. The Labour government was associated with the period of austerity when people had to overcome rationing and devaluation. Additionally, many key members of the Cabinet were exhausted or unwell. Moreover, they were split internally and the event with Gaitskell that led to Bevan’s resignation in 1951, undermined the cohesion of the government. In comparison to them, the conservative party seemed to be more convincing at that period. The reign of Conservatives began in 1951 and lasted for 13 years, when Winston Churchill ran his campaign for election, and eventually, won. Here were several reasons that guaranteed his success: he agreed to maintain the post-war consensus that kept full employment under Keynesian policy and allowed to enlarge the system of social services. Moreover, Churchill’s second election victory was partially due to the gratitude of British public for being a good wartime leader. Another point is that, Conservatives reorganised the system of internal work and its campaign that was oriented toward gaining of additional votes. Also, they brought young and bright members into the government that made them stand out against old Labour government. The policy proposed by Churchill’s government was Keynesian and it guaranteed full employment due to the increased financing of projects by government and decreased taxation that led to increase of import. Additionally, growing industry, build of housing and development of welfare services guaranteed growing employment and high consumer demand; women found it easy to find a job that gave families at least 2 incomes. One of the important factors was that Conservatives finalised the austerity: rationing and licensing came to an end. However, there were some difficulties, too. Development of industry and services required more people, which resulted in immigration of low-cost workforce from colonies of GB. Consequently, up to 1962 the number of immigrants from India and African countries was about 200 000, that led to Commonwealth Immigration Act. Moreover, depressed areas continued to have the level of  unemployment above average that suggested costly measures to create intensives for workers, such as low interest loans, tax breaks and housing for key workers. But those measures could not guarantee safe functioning during difficult periods, for instance, firms closed as soon as recessi ons started. Winston Churchill was a prime-minister during 1951- 1955, even though he was very old and due to health issues was no longer dynamic. And this period is considered to be successful despite the fact that recovery of British economy was moving at a slow pace than one of Europe or USA. In 1955 the parliament was under direction of Anthony Eden, who worked close to Churchill and coordinated the work of government during his absence. He inherited good economic and political conditions, and it was hard to imagine that in 2 years he would resign in disgrace because of foreign affair matter, the very field area of government where his talent was praised for. His fiasco was caused by the Suez Canal seizure made by Gamal Abdel Nasser that was a strategically important point controlled by Britain since 1875. An attempt to intervene in Egypt with military force in secrete coalition with France and Israel was not supported by US government and would cause heavy pressure and withdrawal of its financial help from British economy. That event was humiliating failure of British foreign policy; and the secret collusion with France and Israel created a bad image for Eden. Harold Macmillan was a prime- minister from 1957 to 1964 and he followed the strategies of his fellow members. He implemented the Butler’s theory to operate a mixed economy and the policy of Keynesianism. The aims of these policies were to avoid extreme inflation and deflation by a series of government adjustments. If inflation rose too quickly, the government introduced measures to slow it down. These measures included, raising interest rates to prevent borrowing and increasing import controls to limit purchases from abroad, with the intent of reducing the trade gap. Alternatively, if demand was low, the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time would introduce ‘a giveaway’ budget whereby taxes and interest rates were lowered. The Conservatives maintained these economic policies from 1957 right up until 1964. The ‘give away’ budgets were criticised however, as they were said to be attempts to ‘buy votes’. Macmillan also introduced the policy of stop-go, which resulted in stagflation due to Britain’s lack of economic strategy. That indicated the failure of governments to develop  policies that encouraged a constantly performing economy. The policy of stop-go was about intervening of government when consumption rose too quickly. Despite any criticisms, Macmillan (also named as Supermac) created an image of full confidence in this policy and that reflected in increase of his popularity and general public approval. As the result, quality of life improved and people were able to buy luxuries. Macmillan had many qualities that gained him respect: he was decisive, portrayed his confidence through media and delivered on promises. He pulled out of the Suez affair as he knew Britain was not going the way Eden wanted to see. He promised to build 300,000 houses per year: in 1953 the number of new houses achieved 327,000 and in 1954 – 354,000. Finally, Macmillan got rid of the British Empire which saved enormous amounts of money. Though Britain was criticised for doing this, as they were said to be abandoning their empire, ultimately it was the right thing to do as too many extreme promises were made and Macmillan knew t hese could not be kept without risking the welfare of Britain themselves. Also, the empire wanted freedom and therefore it was impossible for Britain to ‘abandon’ them; they were just providing their colonies with the freedom they craved. In 1964 the last prime-minister to hold office while being the member of House of Lords. After becoming a lord he was criticized by Labour Party as an aristocrat, who cannot understand the needs and problems of ordinary families; and he had an image of rather stiffly person by contrast with the Labour leader, Harold Wilson. In conclusion, one might say that the period of 1951-64 was a great success for British economy when it came revived and more industrialized after the 2nd World War. It gave a start for new vision and policy that improved the face of the country with time.

Free Essays on Arts and Literature

Art, Literature and Society from 1955-1970 Fear and Loathing in a Clockwork Age Ah! The noble search for identity. That intangible achievement that all artists lust after and lay in torment over. And during the post war era that struggle reached incredible magnitudes. The world cried out for legions of anti-heroes, who were only virtuous in their unapologetic and brutally honest lack of virtue. And the art world provided as many counter culture messiahs as was needed to "Damn the Man". The Beats, hippies, and punks are evidence that behind the white picket fence of suburbia lay an America that wanted more out of life than the sugar coated portrayals of domesticity and patriotism it received from pop culture. The unfortunate side of authenticity often lead to the conclusion that autonomy was an impossible dream and that just mere existence required an individual to compromise his integrity. The post-war generation developed an interesting love-hate relationship with the mass culture of it’s time. Some, like Andy Warhol, embraced the inevitability of mass c ulturalization in order to control the beast (yes, this is a reference to Revelations). While others recognized the American Dream as being a hypocrisy and so chose the Golden Eternity instead. The Beat generation and early hippies sought to separate themselves from mainstream society where they believed they could start anew and fully experience life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The flower child philosophy was in fact very Transcendental, minus the stuffy New England mentality. The sexual, spiritual, and intellectual freedom and autonomy that characterized the Haight-Ashberry scene were closer to the Whitmanesque ideal than anything achieved during his life time. Postwar America was extremely prosperous from the stand point of the middle class white suburbanite. The only problem was that not everyone fit that mold. And even those who were born into that environm... Free Essays on Arts and Literature Free Essays on Arts and Literature Art, Literature and Society from 1955-1970 Fear and Loathing in a Clockwork Age Ah! The noble search for identity. That intangible achievement that all artists lust after and lay in torment over. And during the post war era that struggle reached incredible magnitudes. The world cried out for legions of anti-heroes, who were only virtuous in their unapologetic and brutally honest lack of virtue. And the art world provided as many counter culture messiahs as was needed to "Damn the Man". The Beats, hippies, and punks are evidence that behind the white picket fence of suburbia lay an America that wanted more out of life than the sugar coated portrayals of domesticity and patriotism it received from pop culture. The unfortunate side of authenticity often lead to the conclusion that autonomy was an impossible dream and that just mere existence required an individual to compromise his integrity. The post-war generation developed an interesting love-hate relationship with the mass culture of it’s time. Some, like Andy Warhol, embraced the inevitability of mass c ulturalization in order to control the beast (yes, this is a reference to Revelations). While others recognized the American Dream as being a hypocrisy and so chose the Golden Eternity instead. The Beat generation and early hippies sought to separate themselves from mainstream society where they believed they could start anew and fully experience life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The flower child philosophy was in fact very Transcendental, minus the stuffy New England mentality. The sexual, spiritual, and intellectual freedom and autonomy that characterized the Haight-Ashberry scene were closer to the Whitmanesque ideal than anything achieved during his life time. Postwar America was extremely prosperous from the stand point of the middle class white suburbanite. The only problem was that not everyone fit that mold. And even those who were born into that environm...

History of Mail and the Postal System

History of Mail and the Postal System The history of using a mail service or courier service to pass messages from one person in one place to another person in another place has most likely been occurring since the invention of writing.   The first documented use of organized  courier  service is in  Egypt in 2400 B.C., where  Pharaohs  used couriers to send out decrees throughout the territory of the State. The earliest surviving piece of mail is also Egyptian, which dates back to 255 BC. There is evidence of postal systems dating back to ancient Persia, China, India and Rome. Today, the  Universal Postal Union, established in 1874, includes 192 member countries and sets the rules for international mail exchanges. First Envelopes The first envelopes were made of cloth, animal skins or vegetable parts.   The Babylonians wrapped their message in thin sheets of clay that were then baked. These Mesopotamian envelopes date back to circa 3200  BC. They were hollow, clay spheres that were molded around financial tokens and used in private transactions.   Paper envelopes were developed in China, where paper was invented in the 2nd century B.C.  Paper envelopes, known as  chih poh, were used to store gifts of money. Of Mice and Mail In 1653, a Frenchman De Valayer established a postal system in Paris. He set up mailboxes and delivered any letters placed in them if they used the postage pre-paid envelopes that he sold. De Valayers business did not last long when a devious person decided to put live mice in the mailboxes scaring away his customers. Postage Stamps A schoolmaster from England, Rowland Hill, invented the adhesive postage stamp in 1837, an act for which he was knighted. Through his efforts, the first  postage stamp system  in the world was issued in England in 1840. Hill created the first uniform postage rates that were based on weight, rather than size. Hills stamps made the prepayment of postage both possible and practical.   History of The United States Postal Office The  United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government and has been responsible for providing postal services in the U.S. since its start in 1775. It is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the U.S. Constitution. Founding father  Benjamin Franklin  was appointed the first  postmaster general.   First Mail Order Catalog The  first mail order catalog  was distributed in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward selling goods primarily to rural farmers who had difficulty making it out to the big cities for commerce. Ward started his Chicago-based business with only $2,400. The first catalog consisted of a single sheet of paper with a price list, 8 inches by 12 inches, showing the merchandise for sale with ordering instructions. The catalogs then expanded into illustrated books. ln 1926, the first Montgomery Ward retail store opened in Plymouth, Indiana. In 2004, the company was re-launched as an e-commerce business. The First Automatic Postal Sorter Canadian electronics scientist Maurice Levy invented an automatic postal sorter in 1957 that could handle 200,000 letters an hour. The Canadian Post Office Department had commissioned Levy to design and supervise the building of a new, electronic, computer-controlled, automatic mail sortation system for Canada. A hand-made model sorter was tested at postal headquarters in Ottawa in 1953. It worked, and a prototype coding and sortation machine, capable of processing all of the mail then generated by the City of Ottawa, was built by Canadian manufacturers in 1956. It could process mail at a rate of 30,000 letters per hour, with a missort factor of less than one letter in 10,000.

Shorten The Learning Curve For Onboarding Your Team To CoSchedule

Shorten The Learning Curve For Onboarding Your Team To Have you ever heard the epic story of Hernn Cortà ©s? He was the Spanish explorer who brought about six hundred soldiers with him to conquer a mysterious new world. As legend has it, when their ships touched ground, he gave a surprising order: Burn the ships! The explorer made it clear, their only option was to move forward.  In his journal, Cortà ©s explained,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Were all in and theres no turning back.† While historians have a quibble with the nitty-gritty details- everyone agrees that their ships were scuttled and they forfeited their way home. The lesson for us marketers definitely isnt to strike out on a conquest but it is something radical. When your team is switching to , ensure there is no path back to the status quo. The old way of doing things. In this post, Im going to share three ways to shorten the learning curve for onboarding your team to . Because, lets face it, the faster your team gets rolling with , the faster your results go up, your time spent on trivial details goes down, and you look like a marketing genius while it happens. So, youre going to learn to: Be ultra-specific with what this new world of will look like. Create a desire in your team for accomplishing more (fueled by ). Remove friction between your team and adoption. To help you do this, I have a couple amazing things just for you: A free, 1-on-1 marketing demo of for you and your team, A bundle of specific resources to help you onboard your team with ease. ⠏ °Ã‚  Pick a time for your marketing demo. ðŸâ€"‚  Grab your resources. ðŸ˜Æ'  Now lets get to onboarding! in oneplace. Save 20 hrs this week alone and every weekafter. If youve ever kicked the tires on , nows the time to see what its reallylike. Schedule Your Demo Success! Your download should start shortly. Clean up the chaos with your editorial calendar! With , youll Save time with blogging, social, and email think HOURS every week Schedule your social posts in batches and increase your posting frequency super easily Get your sht together and hold yourself accountable to publishing like the boss you are! Now’s the perfect time to start your 14-day free trial to see for yourself! Start Your Free Trial

Developmental psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Developmental psychology - Essay Example In the preoperational stage, the child is in a later stage of development, early childhood, and they tend to be more and more focused on the world around them. In the concrete stage, â€Å"accommodation increases. The child develops an ability to think abstractly and to make rational judgements about concrete or observable phenomena, which in the past he needed to manipulate physically to understand† (Piaget, 2010). And the stage of formal operations can be roughly equated to adolescence. There are various tasks that Piaget attributes to each stage; for example, in the conservation task of the concrete stage, â€Å"They also see that when one of the vessels is emptied into a taller and thinner receptacle, the level of liquid is higher in the thinner vessel than in the other original vessel. Pre-Concrete Operations stage children conclude that there is more liquid in the thinner vessel† (Conservation, 2008). The results of this task may be that the child is not able to d ifferentiate between different volumes in vessels of different shapes. Although, as mentioned, some argue that there are confounding variables, Piaget has general support in today’s society. Piaget’s concepts of assimilation and accommodation are important to consider in the construction of a childs schema. Accommodation is the tougher concept, in terms of the cognitive effort that the child has to put forth. In assimilation, it is basically like the child taking in new information that fits into a sort of pre-fabricated place in their brain—it is new information that fits seamlessly with old information. Accommodation, however, is more about conflict and compromise. â€Å"In accommodation, the internal world has to accommodate itself to the evidence with which it is confronted and thus adapt to it, which can be a more difficult and painful process.   In the database analogy, it is like what happens when you try to put in information which does not fit the

Business Models On theWeb Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Business Models On theWeb - Essay Example This is because it avails diverse products and services, which enable customers to make choices that best suit their needs. Additionally, digital marketing reduces the chances of consumer exploitation, since consumers are not restricted with regard to the products or services to use. This video reveals that there are several tools that can be used for digital marketing; therefore, organizations ought to choose a tool depending on the target group, for example social networks and videos among others. Presently in digital marketing, the best tools have proved to be social networks, recorded videos and e-mails. These tools have helped to promote digital marketing because they are widely used by consumers as information tools. According to this video, in the contemporary society, most people spend a lot of time online due to availability of internet services, which favors digital marketing. The number of people communicating with friends has increased due to internet use. This has been possible by the existence of online social sites. Increased internet use has therefore promoted online businesses because companies can now easily have their products and services accessed. At the same time, digital markets have enabled customers to have easy access to information on products and services information, thus they can make informed choices. Digital markets also increase marketing efficiency of firms and companies as people from different geographical locations can be reached at the same time. The need for new business models is rising due to continuous digitization of the business world. A digital business model basically describes how companies digitally interact with customers to generate revenue. Firms should therefore develop effective digital business models with good content and realistic customer experience. The best business model should challenge the current marketing models. This article states that business models on the web are widely

Female Nudity or Male Nudity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Female Nudity or Male Nudity - Research Paper Example Regulations against nudity have primarily gone a notch higher with the FCC and the MPA putting much emphasis on what cannot be said or seen on television. The rules have become tighter with every television programme forced to adhere to these rules. The FCC generally controls the airwaves making sure that what is aired is consumer friendly and has a positive impact on the loyal viewers. The FCC has laid down concrete rules against the use of profane language that might be seen to be a nuisance to the viewers. On what can be aired on television, the FCC has strong rules against pornography and sexual scenes and any other scenes with even brief traces of nudity suggesting that such thing can lead to viewer boycotts and other media controversies (Eisenach & Randolph 145). The need for a rating system is to work hand-in-hand with the parents and informing them what the movies are really about so that the parents can make informed decisions on whether to allow their children access to such movies or not. The MPAA has significantly failed in its role and has just made decisions, which have sometimes been seen as politically manipulated. The principal role of the MPA should be to simply uphold a genuine rating system. The MPA has always rated films according to the themes that they portray, violence, drug abuse and language have been some of the themes that the MPA has emphasized on but, one theme that has had the most attention is nudity with the MPA treating films with this theme more severely compared to other themes (History of Cinema 21). It is evident from the regulations of both the FCC and the MPA that nudity has been given no chance. Both organizations have a strong stand against it and they generally cannot stand nudity. This, however, is unfair, as we have witnessed a rather biased approach towards nudity as compared to other themes on television and in the motion pictures. Male nudity has

Innovative Approaches to Corporate Management Essay

Innovative Approaches to Corporate Management - Essay Example Innovative approaches are assessed based on its impact upon its profitability. Through implementing strategic management approaches in ones company, the need for customer satisfaction will be met, not only locally but world wide. Globalization of corporations evolved and exist for many reasons. There could be a need to follow the buying trends of consumers. Another is to meet the demand of customers. In todays business field,there is a rapid emergence of global buyers and sellers. Through the help of the latest technologies, communications, wire and money transfers, receiving of payments and any other activities are made possible regardless of distance, race, and currency. devising, implementing and improving a quality management system (QMS). (PCL - Petts Consulting Ltd) This model of a quality management system approach acknowledge the facts that quality results are achieved by producing a company manual, complete with work procedures and work instructions, proper recording and keeping of quality records and tracking of inputs and outputs. The HACCP System is a systematic approach to the identification, assessment of risk and severity, and control of biological, chemical and physical hazards associated with a particular food production process or practice. (Cianci, 2000) When speaking of HACCP, it is always associated with food safety. By using and by being certified with this system, the customers of the company are always assured of the safe processing of food. Corporate Social Responsibility CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. (Baker, 2006) It is the balance between the

Movie review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Movie review - Essay Example The movie may be an animation, but it has been geared to be of interest to both adults and kids. In my opinion, this movie ought to be for ages 9 and above. There are plenty of lessons and layers packed into the vibrantly and cheerfully colored, animated package. Ted, who is the main character, decides to try to find a genuine Truffula tree to make an impression on a girl called Audrey. They reside in a city called Thneedville, which is encircled by a cement wall where every person has to buy air in bottles. In Thneedville, there exists no soil and no living thing except the inhabitants and their pets. Every person is jovial, and everything is not genuine. As a young man, the Once-Ler begins to argue that his fortune makes thneeds, which he fashioned from the Truffula trees’ tufts. After chopping down the first tree, he comes across the Lorax, who speaks on behalf of the trees, and tells him that he must not chop them down because this would cause the wrath of nature to stumble upon him. The Once-Ler in due course promises not to bring down any more trees and tries unproductively to sell his product. Finally, in a dumb luck’s stroke, the society makes a decision that a thneed is, in fact, great, and all of a sudden every person must have one. The enterprise develops, and all the trees are cut. With the natural world scraped, the people must depend on bought clean air and stay inside the city’s walls. Towards the story’s ending, the Once-Ler comprehends the meaning behind the last message from Lorax and offers Ted a gift of the last Truffula seed in anticipation of planting it and re-developing the forest. The desire of Ted to impress Audrey is now a personal task to remind his town of nature’s importance. Enter Ted, who obtains the last Truffula seed from the Once-Ler after having his own eco-conversion, is determined to make known corporate corruption, save the earth, and win the heart of Audrey.

Law specialism Incorporated - legal firms and internships Essay - 1

Law specialism Incorporated - legal firms and internships - Essay Example Statistic from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development reveals that more than 20 percent of the employers have plans to hire interns between April and September 2010, this being an increase from the summer of 2009 where only 13 per cent of the employers in the market were willing to hire these interns. On the other hand, the government has supported internships through the Graduate Talent Pool initiative that was initiated in July 2009 that aims at providing additional opportunities to the graduates that have just concluded their studies and are struggling to find work in the recession period. Although there are employment regulations governing the conduct of the organizations that are willing to employ these interns, there are no requirements for the internships to be paid. An internship charter drawn up by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development voluntarily has codes of practice details a list of six principles upon which an internship should be based to advance t he interests of the intern as well as the hosting organization. It proposes that the recruitment of the interns should be done the same way employees are recruited and proper consideration placed upon the qualifications and skills they have best fit in with the roles they are expected to fill in the firm as well as the advertisement of the internship indicating the length of the internship period. The intern should be indicted into the firm and given the necessary support to integrate them into the firm, offer supervision to the intern, answer questions and provide feedback to the necessary issues they feel need assessment. A formal performance review should be conducted formally by the firm on the intern’s period and give an evaluation of both the firm and the intern. The employees as well as the interns should be treated with the same degree of professionalism as expected in the working environment and be allowed time off occasionally to attend job interviews or complete st udy requirements that come with the completion of the internship period. At the end of the internship period, the firm should be willing to give a certification or a reference letter to the interns with details of the roles undertaken as well as the results of the performance review conducted to help such an intern in his future career development. The Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organizations at any one time has 5 interns and roughly 30 staff engaged in a wide variety of responsibilities relating to research, lobbying, campaigning and press work,  including  drafting correspondence, articles and press releases, preparing policy briefings, and managing their own policy projects, (Acevo Policy Internships, 2013 p. 1). Under The Minimum Wage Act 1998, a worker is someone who has a contract of employment either oral or written with a firm to perform certain duties, services or work for another party that has to be expresses or implied in the stipulated contract and he must be paid a minimum wage unless they are subjected to some special exemptions. Hence it is not an outright assumption that an intern is a worker due to some internship characteristics to do with work experience, voluntary work or work shadowing schemes. In the general traditional approach, internship periods last six to

Movie review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Movie review - Essay Example The movie may be an animation, but it has been geared to be of interest to both adults and kids. In my opinion, this movie ought to be for ages 9 and above. There are plenty of lessons and layers packed into the vibrantly and cheerfully colored, animated package. Ted, who is the main character, decides to try to find a genuine Truffula tree to make an impression on a girl called Audrey. They reside in a city called Thneedville, which is encircled by a cement wall where every person has to buy air in bottles. In Thneedville, there exists no soil and no living thing except the inhabitants and their pets. Every person is jovial, and everything is not genuine. As a young man, the Once-Ler begins to argue that his fortune makes thneeds, which he fashioned from the Truffula trees’ tufts. After chopping down the first tree, he comes across the Lorax, who speaks on behalf of the trees, and tells him that he must not chop them down because this would cause the wrath of nature to stumble upon him. The Once-Ler in due course promises not to bring down any more trees and tries unproductively to sell his product. Finally, in a dumb luck’s stroke, the society makes a decision that a thneed is, in fact, great, and all of a sudden every person must have one. The enterprise develops, and all the trees are cut. With the natural world scraped, the people must depend on bought clean air and stay inside the city’s walls. Towards the story’s ending, the Once-Ler comprehends the meaning behind the last message from Lorax and offers Ted a gift of the last Truffula seed in anticipation of planting it and re-developing the forest. The desire of Ted to impress Audrey is now a personal task to remind his town of nature’s importance. Enter Ted, who obtains the last Truffula seed from the Once-Ler after having his own eco-conversion, is determined to make known corporate corruption, save the earth, and win the heart of Audrey.

Value Objectivity Essay Example for Free

Value Objectivity Essay The philosophies and beliefs of a person are shaped from the day we are born all through maturity amongst our individual, ethnic, and shared encounters. Establishing what is factual from erroneous differs on our individual routine and what we allow to let sway our viewpoints and actions. Ethical decision making while essential, can sometimes be extremely difficult and challenging. This is predominantly spot-on when working with clientele that have unlike beliefs and views. For example: If one leg of a four-legged stool is missing, the stool will not stand correctly. If one leg is shorter than the others, the stool may be awkward to use. The correlation of a four-legged stool can be utilized to help better comprehend the prominence and interdependence of individual, organizational and cultural ethics and how all of these things tend to influence one another. The ethical aspects of counseling are based on a system of rules which have been constructed for a precise group of people or field of work, and were developed for the purpose of setting the standards of conduct and behavior that are to be used by professionals. Ethical connotations hardly ever have an easy answer, and often counselors must seek help from more experienced professionals, but this is not a guarantee that the anticipated result will be accomplished. The first guideline in the ACA’s (2005) Code of Ethics reads â€Å"the primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients† (Kaplan, 2014). â€Å"Competence is required of practitioners if they are to protect and serve their clients. Although the intents are to not harm clients, sometimes incompetence is a contributing factor in causing harm for practitioners† (Corey, et al, 2014). When therapists are conscious of his/her own individual morals, principals, and unsettled struggles they can successfully discuss their clientele without dropping emphasis on the requirements of the customer, but sometimes this isn’t always the case. â€Å"Standard 2.01(a) requires psychologists to â€Å"provide services, teach, a nd  conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience† (Shiles, 2009). Counselors should remain inside their span of training, be mindful of the restrictions of his/her licensed expertise, be present at essential education programs and maintain their learning, use his/her own common sense, and be able to identify when referrals should be made. It should be the disposition of counselors to always value the mixture of their clientele, novices, and study partakers. The ACA Code of Ethics (2005) section A.4.b. Personal Values states, â€Å"Counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid imposing values that are inconsistent with counseling goals† (Kaplan, 2014). â€Å"Standard C.5., states, â€Å"Counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, culture, disability, ethnicity, race, religion/spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status/partnership, language preference, socioeconomic status, or any basis prescribed by law† (Kaplan, 2014). Personal standards, t he main beliefs that describe an individual, develop over time. They are shaped by a mixture of influences as well as ones from family and friends, along with learning and religious establishments. â€Å"When it becomes clear that a client’s counseling needs exceed our competence, we must either develop the competence necessary to effectively treat the client or refer this client to another competent professional† (Corey, et al, 2014). There are going to be many instances when treating clients that the situation is going to be uncomfortable and it may be easier to just refer the clients to someone else. â€Å"The ACA Code of Ethics (ACA, 2005) authorizes counselors to conclude a treatment liaison under these three circumstances: â€Å"When it becomes reasonably apparent that the client no longer needs assistance, is not likely to benefit, or is being harmed by continued counseling† (Kaplan, 2014). Although a counselor may be competent within a certain area of expertise, they still may need to refer a client from time to time to maintain working within the boundaries of the professional role and successfully delivering the services that client’s may need. â€Å"The counselor need not accept or approve of the client’s values. Disagreement with or nonacceptance of the client’s values does not mean that the client is not accepted as a person† (Kaplan, 2014). Instances that referral may be  necessary are as such: the patron has additional needs; the therapist lacks special proficiencies; the client needs a expert; the therapist is acquainted with the client beyond a professional basis; no growth is being formulated; the client is contributing in disorderly activities that could be damaging those around them; the therapist and client aren’t forming a beneficial connection due to personality differences; and the counselor is has taken the client outside of their comfort zone. Before making a referral it’s important to explore what is the difficulty within the situation; what barriers are preventing the professional from working with the client. Purely differing with a client or not having a distinct fondness for the client is not ethical grounds to make a referral. When referral is not an option for a counselor the counselor must take additional steps to ensure that they are not only professionally competent but to also develop skills by working with colleagues that have more experience, especially when seeking new areas within the practice. These skills can be obtained by attending conferences, networking opportunities, reading books and journal articles, etc. The primary goal is for professional counselors to embrace supporting the individual’s worth, self-esteem, potential, and individuality. â€Å"In order to determine our level of competence, we must engage in an ongoing process of self-assessment and self-reflection† (Watson, et al, 2006). In conclusion, values and ethical standards are sometimes challenging to describe although people understands and practices the theory. A therapist’s ethical responsibilities to clientele start during the initial interaction or appointment, not during the beginning meeting; the point that counselors have moral accountabilities to those individuals that request help obligates a specialist to withhold the utmost respect and dignity in order to promote the welfare of the client. There are always going to be differences of opinions and values but the ultimate concern is the welfare of the client. References Corey G., Corey, M. S., Corey, C., Callanan, P. (2014). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (9th ed.). Independence, KY: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: 9781285464671. Kaplan, D.M. (2014). Ethical Implications of a Critical Legal Case for the Counseling Profession: Ward v. Wilbanks. Journal of Counseling and Development, 92(2), 142-146. Shiles, M. (2009). Discriminatory Referrals: Uncovering a Potential Ethical Dilemma Facing Practitioners. Ethics Behavior, 19(2), 142-155. doi:10.1080/10508420902772777 Watson, Z.P., Herlihy, B.R., Pierce, L.A. (2006). Forging the Link Between Multicultural Competence and Ethical Counseling Practice: A Historical Perspective. Counseling Values, 50(2), 99-107.

Elderly Care Comparative Study | Research Methodology

Elderly Care Comparative Study | Research Methodology A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ELDERLY CARE AMONG HINDUS AND MUSLIMS IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF ALIGARH DISTRICT A comparative study of elderly care among major religious community of Aligarh district Introduction: Since time immemorial, across the world history, care affairs of the elderly were totally family concerns, carried out mostly at home by women and elder themselves (Bookman Kimbrel, 2011). In the twenty first century the needs, rights, concerns and problems of elderly persons are getting more attention of people from different walks of life i.e. social scientists, statesmen, administrators and social workers etc. Aging is neither a new phenomena nor a kind of ailment rather it’s a latter part of life cycle, considered one among the most challenging phenomena around the world- irrespective of developed and developing country as well. In, India, family based care of elderly is fastest growing concern for the big chunk of elderly population, about hundred million. This study seeks to highlight the existing pattern of care affairs of elderly in the informal setting, and interaction between elders and cares in the family. Here, more emphasis has given to peep into the nuts bolts of care relations among elderly and their family members. Research problems In the last couple of decades, innovation of wide range life saving drug, its availability and accessibility to common man have improved health of elderly, consequently the raised the life span of people worldwide and in India too, in contrast to previous normal age. That demanding lot of care and support for them includes medical, financial, psycho-social, spiritual and religious care. Now India is the home of about100 million people, taking care of elderly is of course a serious affair, can’t be left as it is going on. In due course of time, by the introduction of industrialization, urbanization and modernization in India, living style has drastically changed, where institution of joint family transformed into nuclear family. The industrial revolution not just change the people living standers, rather it’s too altered the age stratification resulting, lessen the power, prestige and importance of elderly people in society, finally, the elderly turn into social elite to social problems (macionics,2013). Because, the paradox, whether the responsibility of elderly care is a family matter or of government, becoming a matter of concern in India. Literature review Significance of study From the prehistoric time, India has been a country of care, love, affection, companionship and intimacy, where elder’s status remained matter of high consideration and elders considered as nucleus of power. Till the pre-independence era, most of the families were living jointly and agriculture was the major source of income and elders were the headed the family. But, after the industrialization, urbanization and modernization, joint family turned into nuclear family. Now, their position is no more, some time their status worst to social problems. Elderly people above the age of 60, have less resources, income and high life expectancies, require more, need, concerns and cares. Objectives of the study To undertake a socio-economic, and situational analysis of the condition of the elderly people in the family. To comprehend the pattern of family based elderly care practices in terms of various parameters such as religion, area (Rural-Urban), class and gender etc. To develop an extensive list of needs and difficulties as faced by elders in the family. To decipher psycho-social and emotional conditions of elderly people and associates factors. To identify the influence of religion and religiosity on care of elderly. To critically assess the changing value systems and social institutions that impinges upon the care and social support system with reference to the elderly. To study the level of awareness among the elderly as regards policies, programmes and legislatives provisions safeguards in India. Key Words: elderly, elderly care, family based care practice, religion and religiosity Conceptual framework Research questions This study will focus on the comparison care concerns and status of elderly care in the family among Hindus and Muslims in different settings i.e. rural and urban area. Further will seek to answer the following important questions concerning family based Elderly Care. What are the existing system and patterns of elderly care in the family? What are the dimensions and the level of care provided by the family members? Who is the responsible person for the care of elderly in the family? What is the quality of the elderly care in the family settings? What are the major day to day challenges of elderly care in the family? What is the impact of structural changes in the family on elderly care? What are the sources of livelihood of elderly people? What is the attitude of elders toward the care provided by family members? What is the level of satisfaction among elderly about their care? What are the role of religion and religiosity on care relation and care of elderly in the family? What are the differences and similarities in the family based elderly care among Hindus and Muslims in rural areas. Research Methodology Scope of the study This study will focus to study the day to day pattern of care relation and care of elderly and most possible issues and challenges, encountering elderly people within the family. This study will explore the level of differences and similarities of elderly care, among Hindus and Muslims family on the one hand and rural and urban on the other hand. Universe and Sample The study will be conducted in the selected rural and urban areas of Utter Pradesh, particularly in Aligarh District. The basic respondent of the study will be elderly people (60 or more age) and their potential caregiver in the family. Sampling Frame First of all, willing elderly people for being respondent for the purpose of study will be enlisted, respective to their economic classes, religion and sex, would be helpful to have proper result of the study. Sampling Method Sample Design As elderly care is personal and sensitive issue the sample would be selected on the basis of purposive sampling stratification of the universe will be on the basis of religion (Hindu Muslim), areas (rural urban) economic class (upper, middle and lower), and sex. SAMPLE DESIGN Tools and techniques for the data collection This study would be based on qualitative as well as quantitative data. Therefore mixed approach will be adopted, includes survey research for quantitative data to have empirical analysis and qualitative methods i.e. interview schedule and case study method will be used to comprehend a comprehensive and wider description to fill the gap of quantitative data. Through, direct observation and in-depth interview of elders, issues and concerns of their care in the family would be more elaborated and will cover all aspect of their care life, includes, their living arrangement, relationship with family members, in the family References Bookman, A. Kimbrel, D. (2011) Families and elder care in the twenty-first century. Princeton University, 21 (2), 117-140. Macionics, J.J. (2013) Social problems. New Jersey: Pearson publication.

Moulin Rouge and the Disneyfication of the Avant Garde :: Movie Film Essays

Moulin Rouge and the Disneyfication of the Avant Garde At best Moulin Rouge is a lot of fun. At worst it represents the erasure of history. Moulin Rouge is set in the Paris of 1900--at least ostensibly it is. The actual Paris of 1900 is the Paris of Satie, the Paris of Ravel, of Debussy. The actual Paris of 1900 is the Paris of Matisse, and at least for part of the year, the Paris of Picasso. This is very fertile ground for a love story, a musical, anything, really. Puccini found it good enough for La boheme, after all. What we get in Moulin Rouge, though, is a Paris of 1900 filtered through the myopia of late 20th Century pop culture, especially pop music. We get an anachronistic melange of Madonna and Elton John, of Nirvana and Olivia Newton John. In other words, it isn’t the Paris of 1900. It isn’t even close. Granted, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec shows up as a supporting character and there is, in the film, a nightclub called Moulin Rouge from which the film cribs its title. But other than that, and the ubiquitous absinthe, there’s not much Parisy about Moulin Rouge the movie, much less Paris, 1900. The character of Toulouse-Lautrec speaks vaguely of the â€Å"Bohemian Revolution† but only long enough for the film to make fun of it, and never in enough detail for either a credible manifesto or a credible satire. And, of course, it has to be advocated by Toulouse-Lautrec because Hollywood still thinks dwarves are funny, especially dwarves with lisps. So why does so little of the real Paris of 1900 appear in this film? I have my suspicions that to use, say the music of Erik Satie, would have been too â€Å"challenging† for contemporary audiences. It may have been deemed out of the target demographic of the film, probably â€Å"indie† movie buffs in the 19-30 range whose introduction to the avant-garde was Trainspotting. A movie about a writer in Paris that actually dealt with other writers who were really there, other artists who didn’t have the luck to be born lisping dwarves, would never have been made. I mean, who would go to see it? Old people? The problem, of course, with always making things people can â€Å"relate† to, is that in constantly recycling what we know, we fail to ever learn or be challenged by anything new, even if that thing, new to our experience, is past history.

HIV / AIDS among Kenyan Youth :: HIV in Africa

In 2001, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest number of deaths from HIV/AIDS, with 29.4 million people living with AIDS; 10 million young people and 3 million children. Among these, 12.2 million were women and 10.1 million men. In 2002, 3.5 million new infections were reported. From this backdrop, Kenyans were interviewed on their perceptions of sex and condom use within heterosexual relationships revealing that denial and silence played a major role in the escalation of the pandemic while gender differences, culture and power were perceived as negatively impacting negotiation of sex and condom use within Kenyan communities. Kagutui ka mucie gatihakagwo ageni. (The secrets of one’s home are not to be revealed to strangers) - Gikuyu proverb AIDS was a disease that shines in hush and thrives on secrecy. It was prospering because people were choosing not to talk about it. It was this realization that provoked me to go wider, beyond my personal circle, beyond the people I worked with. The quieter we keep it the more people it will affect and stigmatize, especially while people believe that AIDS affects some people and not others (Kaleeba 29). This article is based on semi structured interviews with four Kenyan men and women on how they perceive, and negotiate sex and condom use within heterosexual relationships. It focuses on gender, culture and power, and how these dynamics are projected, if at all, in participants’ negotiation of sexual relationships within the Kenyan community. The purpose of the study is to understand the relationship between gender, power and HIV/AIDS prevention. Sub-Saharan Africa has recently recorded the highest incidences of death from HIV/AIDS with a total of 29.4 million people living with the disease. Among these, ten million are young people aged fifteen to twenty four while three million are children under the age of fifteen. In the year 2002, 3.5 million new infections were reported (UNAIDS 2). One reason for this seemingly recent rise in the number of infections is the result of years of denial and silence about the existence of HIV/AIDS. Recent statistics indicate that Botswana’s adult prevalence Sex, HIV/AIDS and Silence 45 rate for example, has peaked to 38.8 %, Lesotho 31%, Swaziland 33.4% and Zimbabwe 33.7%. In total, Africa experiences 6,000 AIDS related deaths per day and Kenya, 18 deaths per hour (UNAIDS 3). Researchers, educators and governments now suggest the need [for] culturally sensitive knowledge of sexual beliefs and practices as a way forward to understanding and evaluating patterns of HIV/AIDS transmission in different communities, in view of designing effective intervention programs (Lansky 3). This paper focuses on a study of culture and HIV/AIDS, and what effects gender differences and power might be having on HIV/AIDS

Recent Economic Developments Essay

The world is currently experiencing a dramatic change in the economy with the emerging forces in the world s most rapidly developing nations. These nations have the greatest market share in the global perspective and are a serious threat to established world corporations (Agtmael 2007). Most of the companies in the emerging economies have combined their production trends with information technology, which is encouraging innovation and creativity. Currently there are hundreds of companies from the emerging market that are global competitors. The most notable as described earlier are the Chinese and the Indians; scholars have ascertained that if the current trend in their development is not affected in a negative way, then by the year 2050, China and India would be among the three topmost powerful economies of the world (Marber 2008). Economic analyses have found that the leading companies from the emerging economies are growing at a very fast rate estimated at about 25% per year and more than 29% of their revenue is collected from foreign market, this is expected to grow up to 40% by 2010. Conclusion The social and economic changes in the world have been very critical in determining the economies of the nations. The development of the world financial market has lasted for over a century with different states changing their positions in the system. Bureaucratization is the notable early development of economic policies that saw increased collection of taxes in old empires and eventually enhanced the states ability to borrow money further increasing bureaucracy. Major phenomena that stimulated economic development were agriculture and capitalist economy, but the recent and significant of them was the industrialization which has intensely revolutionized economy. References Agtmael A. (2007). The Emerging Markets Century. How a new Breed Of World-class Companies is Overtaking the World. Free Press. Drori G. S, Meyer J. W and Hwang H. (2006). Globalization and Organizational Change. Oxford University Press. IFM (2003). World economic Outlook. Public Debt in Emerging Markets. International Monetary fund. Kahn H. (1979). World Economic Development. 1979 and Beyond. Taylor and Francis. Marber P. (2008) From Third World to Third Class. The Future of Emerging Markets in the Global Economy. Perseus Books. Staley E. (2008). World Economic Development. Efffects on Advanced Industrial Countries. International Labour Office.

Marketing of Haagen Dazs Essay

ew York City, but soon distribution expanded throughout the east coast of the U. S. , and by 1973 Haagen-Dazs products were enjoyed by discerning customers throughout the United States. n 1976, Mr. Mattus’ daughter Doris opened the first Haagen-Dazs ® Shop. it was an immediate success, and its popularity led to a rapid expansion of Haagen-Dazs ® Shops across the country. in 1983 Mr. Mattus agreed to sell the Haagen-Dazs brand to The Pillsbury Company, which remained committed to the tradition of superior quality and innovation on which Haagen-Dazs ice cream was founded. since then, it has become a global phenomenon, available in 50 countries. the same careful attention to quality that Reuben Mattus built into every Haagen-Dazs product remains today. ce cream lovers the world over now recognize the unique Haagen-Dazs logo as synonymous with the ultimate super-premium ice cream. from the beginning, Haagen-Dazs ice cream has sought to innovate and bring new frozen dessert exp eriences to its customers, including distinctive flavors such as vanilla swiss almond, butter pecan, and dulce de leche, to name just a few. Haagen-Dazs was also the first to introduce the world to ice cream bars for a grown-up palate, with the introduction of the Haagen-Dazs brand ice cream bar line in 1986. other super-premium innovations followed, with frozen yogurt in 1991 and sorbet in 1993. o this day, the Haagen-Dazs brand remains committed to developing exceptional new super-premium frozen dessert experiences, releasing new flavors every year. Origin of brand name Mattus invented the â€Å"Danish-sounding† â€Å"Haagen-Dazs† as a tribute to Denmark’s exemplary treatment of its Jews during the Second World War, and included an outline map of Denmark on early labels. The name, however, is not Danish, which has neither an umlaut nor a digraph zs; nor does it have any meaning in any language or etymology before its creation. Mattus felt that Denmark was known for its dairy products and had a positive image in the U.

Chapter 4 Back to the Burrow

By twelve o'clock the next day, Harry's school trunk was packed with his school things and all his most prized possessions – the Invisibility Cloak he had inherited from his father, the broomstick he had gotten from Sirius, the enchanted map of Hogwarts he had been given by Fred and George Weasley last year. He had emptied his hiding place under the loose floorboard of all food, double-checked every nook and cranny of his bedroom for forgotten spellbooks or quills, and taken down the chart on the wall counting down the days to September the first, on which he liked to cross off the days remaining until his return to Hogwarts. The atmosphere inside number four, Privet Drive was extremely tense. The imminent arrival at their house of an assortment of wizards was making the Dursleys uptight and irritable. Uncle Vernon had looked downright alarmed when Harry informed him that the Weasleys would be arriving at five o'clock the very next day. â€Å"I hope you told them to dress properly, these people,† he snarled at once. â€Å"I've seen the sort of stuff your lot wear. They'd better have the decency to put on normal clothes, that's all.† Harry felt a slight sense of foreboding. He had rarely seen Mr. or Mrs. Weasley wearing anything that the Dursleys would call â€Å"normal.† Their children might don Muggle clothing during the holidays, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley usually wore long robes in varying states of shabbiness. Harry wasn't bothered about what the neighbors would think, but he was anxious about how rude the Dursleys might be to the Weasleys if they turned up looking like their worst idea of wizards. Uncle Vernon had put on his best suit. To some people, this might have looked like a gesture of welcome, but Harry knew it was because Uncle Vernon wanted to look impressive and intimidating. Dudley, on the other hand, looked somehow diminished. This was not because the diet was at last taking effect, but due to fright. Dudley had emerged from his last encounter with a fully grown wizard with a curly pig's tail poking out of the seat of his trousers, and Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had had to pay for its removal at a private hospital in London. It wasn't altogether surprising, therefore, that Dudley kept running his hand nervously over his backside, and walking sideways from room to room, so as not to present the same target to the enemy. Lunch was an almost silent meal. Dudley didn't even protest at the food (cottage cheese and grated celery). Aunt Petunia wasn't, eating anything at all. Her arms were folded, her lips were pursed, and she seemed to be chewing her tongue, as though biting back the furious diatribe she longed to throw at Harry. â€Å"They'll be driving, of course?† Uncle Vernon barked across the table. â€Å"Er,† said Harry. He hadn't thought of that. How were the Weasleys going to pick him up? They didn't have a car anymore; the old Ford Anglia they had once owned was currently running wild in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. But Mr. Weasley had borrowed a Ministry of Magic car last year; possibly he would do the same today? â€Å"I think so,† said Harry. Uncle Vernon snorted into his mustache. Normally, Uncle Vernon would have asked what car Mr. Weasley drove; he tended to judge other men by how big and expensive their cars were. But Harry doubted whether Uncle Vernon would have taken to Mr. Weasley even if he drove a Ferrari. Harry spent most of the afternoon in his bedroom; he couldn't stand watching Aunt Petunia peer out through the net curtains every few seconds, as though there had been a warning about an escaped rhinoceros. Finally, at a quarter to five, Harry went back downstairs and into the living room. Aunt Petunia was compulsively straightening cushions. Uncle Vernon was pretending to read the paper, but his tiny eyes were not moving, and Harry was sure he was really listening with all his might for the sound of an approaching car. Dudley was crammed into an armchair, his porky hands beneath him, clamped firmly around his bottom. Harry couldn't take the tension; he left the room and went and sat on the stairs in the hall, his eyes on his watch and his heart pumping fast from excitement and nerves. But five o'clock came and then went. Uncle Vernon, perspiring slightly in his suit, opened the front door, peered up and down the street, then withdrew his head quickly. â€Å"They're late!† he snarled at Harry. â€Å"I know,† said Harry. â€Å"Maybe – er – the traffic's bad, or something.† Ten past five†¦then a quarter past five†¦Harry was starting to feel anxious himself now. At half past, he heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia conversing in terse mutters in the living room. â€Å"No consideration at all.† â€Å"We might've had an engagement.† â€Å"Maybe they think they'll get invited to dinner if they're late.† â€Å"Well, they most certainly won't be,† said Uncle Vernon, and Harry heard him stand up and start pacing the living room. â€Å"They'll take the boy and go, there'll be no hanging around. That's if they're coming at all. Probably mistaken the day. I daresay their kind don't set much store by punctuality. Either that or they drive some tin-pot car that's broken d -AAAAAAAARRRRRGH!† Harry jumped up. From the other side of the living room door came the sounds of the three Dursleys scrambling, panic-stricken, across the room. Next moment Dudley came flying into the hall, looking terrified. â€Å"What happened?† said Harry. â€Å"What's the matter?† But Dudley didn't seem able to speak. Hands still clamped over his buttocks, he waddled as fast as he could into the kitchen. Harry hurried into the living room. Loud bangings and scrapings were coming from behind the Dursleys' boarded-up fireplace, which had a fake coal fire plugged in front of it. â€Å"What is it?† gasped Aunt Petunia, who had backed into the wall and was staring, terrified, toward the fire. â€Å"What is it, Vernon?† But they were left in doubt barely a second longer. Voices could be heard from inside the blocked fireplace. â€Å"Ouch! Fred, no – go back, go back, there's been some kind of mistake – tell George not to – OUCH! George, no, there's no room, go back quickly and tell Ron -â€Å" â€Å"Maybe Harry can hear us, Dad – maybe he'll be able to let us out -â€Å" There was a loud hammering of fists on the boards behind the electric fire. â€Å"Harry? Harry, can you hear us?† The Dursleys rounded on Harry like a pair of angry wolverines. â€Å"What is this?† growled Uncle Vernon. â€Å"What's going on?† â€Å"They – they've tried to get here by Floo powder,† said Harry, fighting a mad desire to laugh. â€Å"They can travel by fire – only you've blocked the fireplace – hang on -â€Å" He approached the fireplace and called through the boards. â€Å"Mr. Weasley? Can you hear me?† The hammering stopped. Somebody inside the chimney piece said, â€Å"Shh!† â€Å"Mr. Weasley, it's Harry†¦the fireplace has been blocked up. You won't be able to get through there.† â€Å"Damn!† said Mr. Weasley's voice. â€Å"What on earth did they want to block up the fireplace for?† â€Å"They've got an electric fire,† Harry explained. â€Å"Really?† said Mr. Weasley's voice excitedly. â€Å"Eclectic, you say? With a plug? Gracious, I must see that†¦.Let's think†¦Ouch, Ron!† Ron's voice now joined the others'. â€Å"What are we doing here? Has something gone wrong?† â€Å"Oh no, Ron,† came Fred's voice, very sarcastically. â€Å"No, this is exactly where we wanted to end up.† â€Å"Yeah, we're having the time of our lives here,† said George, whose voice sounded muffled, as though he was squashed against the wall. â€Å"Boys, boys†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Mr. Weasley vaguely. â€Å"I'm trying to think what to do†¦.Yes†¦only way†¦Stand back, Harry.† Harry retreated to the sofa. Uncle Vernon, however, moved forward. â€Å"Wait a moment!† he bellowed at the fire. â€Å"What exactly are you going to -â€Å" BANG. The electric fire shot across the room as the boarded-up fireplace burst outward, expelling Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, and Ron in a cloud of rubble and loose chippings. Aunt Petunia shrieked and fell backward over the coffee table; Uncle Vernon caught her before she hit the floor, and gaped, speechless, at the Weasleys, all of whom had bright red hair, including Fred and George, who were identical to the last freckle. â€Å"That's better,† panted Mr. Weasley, brushing dust from his long green robes and straightening his glasses. â€Å"Ah – you must be Harry's aunt and uncle!† Tall, thin, and balding, he moved toward Uncle Vernon, his hand outstretched, but Uncle Vernon backed away several paces, dragging Aunt Petunia. Words utterly failed Uncle Vernon. His best suit was covered in white dust, which had settled in his hair and mustache and made him look as though he had just aged thirty years. â€Å"Er – yes – sorry about that,† said Mr. Weasley, lowering his hand and looking over his shoulder at the blasted fireplace. â€Å"It's all my fault. It just didn't occur to me that we wouldn't be able to get out at the other end. I had your fireplace connected to the Floo Network, you see – just for an afternoon, you know, so we could get Harry. Muggle fireplaces aren't supposed to be connected, strictly speaking – but I've got a useful contact at the Floo Regulation Panel and he fixed it for me. I can put it right in a jiffy, though, don't worry. I'll light a fire to send the boys back, and then I can repair your fireplace before I Disapparate.† Harry was ready to bet that the Dursleys hadn't understood a single word of this. They were still gaping at Mr. Weasley, thunderstruck. Aunt Petunia staggered upright again and hid behind Uncle Vernon. â€Å"Hello, Harry!† said Mr. Weasley brightly. â€Å"Got your trunk ready?† â€Å"It's upstairs,† said Harry, grinning back. â€Å"We'll get it,† said Fred at once. Winking at Harry, he and George left the room. They knew where Harry's bedroom was, having once rescued him from it in the dead of night. Harry suspected that Fred and George were hoping for a glimpse of Dudley; they had heard a lot about him from Harry. â€Å"Well,† said Mr. Weasley, swinging his arms slightly, while he tried to find words to break the very nasty silence. â€Å"Very – erm – very nice place you've got here.† As the usually spotless living room was now covered in dust and bits of brick, this remark didn't go down too well with the Dursleys. Uncle Vernon's face purpled once more, and Aunt Petunia started chewing her tongue again. However, they seemed too scared to actually say anything. Mr. Weasley was looking around. He loved everything to do with Muggles. Harry could see him itching to go and examine the television and the video recorder. â€Å"They run off eckeltricity, do they?† he said knowledgeably. â€Å"Ah yes, I can see the plugs. I collect plugs,† he added to Uncle Vernon. â€Å"And batteries. Got a very large collection of batteries. My wife thinks I'm mad, but there you are.† Uncle Vernon clearly thought Mr. Weasley was mad too. He moved ever so slightly to the right, screening Aunt Petunia from view, as though he thought Mr. Weasley might suddenly run at them and attack. Dudley suddenly reappeared in the room. Harry could hear the clunk of his trunk on the stairs, and knew that the sounds had scared Dudley out of the kitchen. Dudley edged along the wall, gazing at Mr. Weasley with terrified eyes, and attempted to conceal himself behind his mother and father. Unfortunately, Uncle Vernon's bulk, while sufficient to hide bony Aunt Petunia, was nowhere near enough to conceal Dudley. â€Å"Ah, this is your cousin, is it, Harry?† said Mr. Weasley, taking another brave stab at making conversation. â€Å"Yep,† said Harry, â€Å"that's Dudley.† He and Ron exchanged glances and then quickly looked away from each other; the temptation to burst out laughing was almost overwhelming. Dudley was still clutching his bottom as though afraid it might fall off. Mr. Weasley, however, seemed genuinely concerned at Dudley's peculiar behavior. Indeed, from the tone of his voice when he next spoke, Harry was quite sure that Mr. Weasley thought Dudley was quite as mad as the Dursleys thought he was, except that Mr. Weasley felt sympathy rather than fear. â€Å"Having a good holiday, Dudley?† he said kindly. Dudley whimpered. Harry saw his hands tighten still harder over his massive backside. Fred and George came back into the room carrying Harry's school trunk. They glanced around as they entered and spotted Dudley. Their faces cracked into identical evil grins. â€Å"Ah, right,† said Mr. Weasley. â€Å"Better get cracking then.† He pushed up the sleeves of his robes and took out his wand. Harry saw the Dursleys draw back against the wall as one. â€Å"Incendio!† said Mr. Weasley, pointing his wand at the hole in the wall behind him. Flames rose at once in the fireplace, crackling merrily as though they had been burning for hours. Mr. Weasley took a small drawstring bag from his pocket, untied it, took a pinch of the powder inside, and threw it onto the flames, which turned emerald green and roared higher than ever. â€Å"Off you go then, Fred,† said Mr. Weasley. â€Å"Coming,† said Fred. â€Å"Oh no – hang on -â€Å" A bag of sweets had spilled out of Fred's pocket and the contents were now rolling in every direction – big, fat toffees in brightly colored wrappers. Fred scrambled around, cramming them back into his pocket, then gave the Dursleys a cheery wave, stepped forward, and walked right into the fire, saying â€Å"the Burrow!† Aunt Petunia gave a little shuddering gasp. There was a whooshing sound, and Fred vanished. â€Å"Right then, George,† said Mr. Weasley, â€Å"you and the trunk.† Harry helped George carry the trunk forward into the flames and turn it onto its end so that he could hold it better. Then, with a second whoosh, George had cried â€Å"the Burrow!† and vanished too. â€Å"Ron, you next,† said Mr. Weasley. â€Å"See you,† said Ron brightly to the Dursleys. He grinned broadly at Harry, then stepped into the fire, shouted â€Å"the Burrow!† and disappeared. Now Harry and Mr. Weasley alone remained. â€Å"Well†¦'bye then,† Harry said to the Dursleys. They didn't say anything at all. Harry moved toward the fire, but just as he reached the edge of the hearth, Mr. Weasley put out a hand and held him back. He was looking at the Dursleys in amazement. â€Å"Harry said good-bye to you,† he said. â€Å"Didn't you hear him?† â€Å"It doesn't matter,† Harry muttered to Mr. Weasley. â€Å"Honestly, I don't care.† Mr. Weasley did not remove his hand from Harry's shoulder. â€Å"You aren't going to see your nephew till next summer,† he said to Uncle Vernon in mild indignation. â€Å"Surely you're going to say good-bye?† Uncle Vernon's face worked furiously. The idea of being taught consideration by a man who had just blasted away half his living room wall seemed to be causing him intense suffering. But Mr. Weasley's wand was still in his hand, and Uncle Vernon's tiny eyes darted to it once, before he said, very resentfully, â€Å"Good-bye, then.† â€Å"See you,† said Harry, putting one foot forward into the green flames, which felt pleasantly like warm breath. At that moment, however, a horrible gagging sound erupted behind him, and Aunt Petunia started to scream. Harry wheeled around. Dudley was no longer standing behind his parents. He was kneeling beside the coffee table, and he was gagging and sputtering on a foot-long, purple, slimy thing that was protruding from his mouth. One bewildered second later, Harry realized that the foot-long thing was Dudley's tongue – and that a brightly colored toffee wrapper lay on the floor before him. Aunt Petunia hurled herself onto the ground beside Dudley, seized the end of his swollen tongue, and attempted to wrench it out of his mouth; unsurprisingly, Dudley yelled and sputtered worse than ever, trying to fight her off. Uncle Vernon was bellowing and waving his arms around, and Mr. Weasley had to shout to make himself heard. â€Å"Not to worry, I can sort him out!† he yelled, advancing on Dudley with his wand outstretched, but Aunt Petunia screamed worse than ever and threw herself on top of Dudley, shielding him from Mr. Weasley. â€Å"No, really!† said Mr. Weasley desperately. â€Å"It's a simple process it was the toffee – my son Fred – real practical joker – but it's only an Engorgement Charm – at least, I think it is – please, I can correct it -â€Å" But far from being reassured, the Dursleys became more panic- stricken; Aunt Petunia was sobbing hysterically, tugging Dudley's tongue as though determined to rip it out; Dudley appeared to be suffocating under the combined pressure of his mother and his tongue; and Uncle Vernon, who had lost control completely, seized a china figure from on top of the sideboard and threw it very hard at Mr. Weasley, who ducked, causing the ornament to shatter in the blasted fireplace. â€Å"Now really!† said Mr. Weasley angrily, brandishing his wand. â€Å"I'm trying to help!† Bellowing like a wounded hippo, Uncle Vernon snatched up another ornament. â€Å"Harry, go! Just go!† Mr. Weasley shouted, his wand on Uncle Vernon. â€Å"I'll sort this out!† Harry didn't want to miss the fun, but Uncle Vernon's second ornament narrowly missed his left ear, and on balance he thought it best to leave the situation to Mr. Weasley. He stepped into the fire, looking over his shoulder as he said â€Å"the Burrow!† His last fleeting glimpse of the living room was of Mr. Weasley blasting a third ornament out of Uncle Vernon's hand with his wand, Aunt Petunia screaming and lying on top of Dudley, and Dudley's tongue lolling around like a great slimy python. But next moment Harry had begun to spin very fast, and the Dursleys' living room was whipped out of sight in a rush of emerald-green flames.