Bronte, the play

Bronte, the play, is a recent work, with one of its very first productions being staged at the Oxford Playhouse. The idea of it was to provide the audience with an insight into the lives of the three Bronte sisters, Emily, Charlotte and Anne. They of course wrote books themselves, including Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Renowned of course for being secluded, they wrote at a time when women writers were scorned by publishers; their only way of expressing themselves was indeed through their work. However, whilst the play was written by Polly Teale so that it showed the hardship that the sisters each had to endure in order to have their work published, I will be seeing whether the performers helped this any further. Right from the very start, we as an audience were given a different view on the actual play. The three sisters were in fact standing on stage in normal modern day clothinhg. They said at this point that they did not want the audience to believe this as a real play, and that they were just playing the Brontes- and in doing so showing the audience very similar to what their life may have been like. This I believe was extremely effective, as it was interesting. It was interesting because it allowed the audience to genuinely watch the play almost like a critic and see the ways in which the actors and actresses depicted the lives of the Brontes and of those around them. The most noticeable connection between the actresses was, I thought, how close they actually appeared as sisters. This was especially well done as for most of the play when one was in a scene, the other two would almost certainly be there. They were indeed united on all fronts, such as the way in which they tried to stand up to their father. Also, there seemed to be an informal pecking order within the sisters. Diane Beck and Fenella Woolgar, playing Emily and Charlotte respectively, seemed to be vying for the dominance, whilst Anne (Catherine Cusack) was very much the ‘other' sister. Woolgar and Beck were excellent in highlighting this. Later on we will see this rivalry between the sisters in their writing. However, this bond showed that whilst they undoubtedly loved and cared for their father very much, their bond was simply too tight. This was effective; and this was due to the actresses. You can read also Analysis of Literary Devices of Jane Eyre All of the actresses here created this in their own ways; Beck did so by trying convey her Emily as the leader of the pack- Woolgar did the same also and as well as this tried, and succeeded in creating a rivalry between the two of them. Cusack's Anne. However this bond was not shared with their brother Bramwell. Both he and his sisters felt that the other side had wasted their lives. Bramwell felt that his sisters had no life, confined to the house, and the sisters felt on the other hand that Bramwell was shallow, as his life consisted of little more than drink. This tension reared its head finally in one scene in particular. This was where he pinned Emily down on the floor and taunted her of the fact that she was still a virgin. This was extremely well done as at a couple of points during the scene, the audience were unsure as to whether Bramwell was actually about to rape his own sister. The other sisters were of course torn between stepping and protecting Emily, as possibly getting roughed up themselves, or simply standing by and watching Bramwell. We can see this emotion on the stage as the sisters deliberate what to do; such was the quality of the acting that was portrayed by their bond. Yet, it is interesting to note that Charlotte was in fact the more reluctant of the two other sisters to in fact go and aid Emily- this added further spice to the plot. Also, however, Emily translated this pain through her own writing into her books. She believed that this helped to channel her anger, and therefore by doing this she showed that she was indeed feeling better. This reflected itself onto the audience, and their own particular feelings regarding the attack. The most important character in the play except for the sisters is undoubtedly Bertha. Although not an actual person in the play, she represented the feelings and anxieties of all of the sisters within the play. One prominent part was straight after the sex attack where Bertha was mirroring the anxieties of Emily. Bertha called out ‘He beat me, he beat me like a dog'. She cried in a moaning voice too. The actress playing Bertha was perhaps the most accomplished, despite being just 20. She played ‘Ellie' in About a Boy also. Her experience shone through as well; she was not afraid to moan, and to move fluidly like a snake as she did, and this was good as this contradicted the rest of the play. It added a sense of realism, as we were truly allowed to see into the deep thoughts of both Emily and of Charlotte. Another important part with this ‘character' was at the very end of the play. At this part, she throws feathers everywhere across. Throughout the play at certain she had thrown small handfuls on stage. However, it seemed as thought at the end she was letting all of her emotion and stress out on stage, as though she had finally exploded with anger. It appeared as though she had literally gone mad also. The actress here was extremely effective, not only because her actual action was so random, but also because the way which she so carelessly threw away the feathers was good as it showed that she also seemed to know not what she was doing, just like Charlotte or Emily letting the ink ooze from their pen onto the page. Thus in conclusion it could be said that whilst the play of Bronte itself was indeed extremely thought-provoking and even gain an entertaining into the lives of the Bronte sisters, it was undoubtedly the performers who made this possible, through their own separate ways. The skills required needed to be of the highest quality. The performers had this; and thus made the production effective.

History of Love Essay

The fear of losing something, whether it is one’s own life, the lives of love ones, or memories, is what drives many of the things people do. The characters in The History of Love are from different generations and have gone through different experiences but they all strive to sustain love, avoid death, stave off misery, and find a bearable truth in the sometimes unbearable reality of living. They are linked together through the theme of survival. Through different methods, they seek to physically survive and keep their love for others alive. To begin with, Bird attempts to help his sister and mother physically survive when the world ends. Bird believes that the world will end by a flood. He goes around the neighborhood looking for â€Å"things that people have thrown away with the garbage† and â€Å"Styrofoam because it floats† to build an ark (151). Bird believes that with the ark, his mother and Alma â€Å"don’t have to worry† about survival when the flood comes (204). Secondly, Alma Singer demonstrates a strong desire to physically survive and preserve her memories and connection with her deceased father by taking interest in surviving in the wilderness and reading The History of Love. When she discovers that her father loved the outdoors, Alma decides to become an expert at surviving in the wilderness in order to keep her memory of her father alive and maintain a connection with him. She learns survival skills by purchasing and closely reading a book called Edible Plants and Flowers in North America, memorizing the Universal Edibility Test, and practicing assembling her father’s tent in record time so that she can survive in places like the Peruvian Andes â€Å"like [her] father† (42). In addition, her memories of her father become more† faint, unclear, and distant† as each year passes and it does not help that her mother threw away most of his belongings (190). She turns to the book, The History of Love, hoping to â€Å"find out something true about [her] father, and the things he would have wanted to tell [her] if he hadn’t died† (181). Alma tries to keep her love and memories for her father alive by find meaning out of the passions and belongings of her father. In contrast to Alma, Charlotte Singer survives and continues her love for her husband by creating a world that focuses on her memoires and feelings for her husband, David. She survives by never falling out of love with him and keeping her love as alive â€Å"as the summer they first met† (45). She holds on to her memories and love for her husband by following sculptor and painter Alberto Giacometti’s idea that in order to â€Å"paint a leaf, you have to sacrifice the whole landscape† (45). In attempt to â€Å"hold on to a certain feeling†, Charlotte insulates herself with memories of her life with David by building a world out of them where â€Å"she [knew] how to survive in, even if no one else could† (181). As a result, she â€Å"sacrificed the world† and her connection with her children and other people (46). Similar to Charlotte, Leo’s unwavering love for Alma Mereminsky allows him to physically survive the Holocaust in Europe. With the Nazi invasion of Slonim, Leo was forced into a constant state of running and hiding. In order to survive, he hid in â€Å"trees, cracks, cellars, and holes† and lived in forests, subsiding on â€Å"anything he could put in [his] mouth† such as bugs, worms, and unclean water from puddles (12, 226). During the winter, he would hide in potato cellars for warmth and eat raw rat meat. Despite these horrible experiences, Leo’s deep love for Alma M. and his hope to reunite with her motivated Leo to want to live â€Å"very badly† and ultimately enabled him to survive the Holocaust (226). Just as Leo used the writing of The History of Love to help him survive his separation from Alma M. during his youth, at the end of his life he uses writing once again to help him survive. Leo uses writing and imagination to survive loss and loneliness. At the end of his life, he writes Words for Everything, his life story. He uses this creative process as a way to cope with the separation and loss of his parents, siblings, â€Å"the only woman [he] ever wanted to love†, son, time, and childhood home, among many other things (168). Leo also uses his imagination to survive loneliness. During his childhood he used imagination to cope with being â€Å"different than others† and later in his life, he uses it to create a friend, Bruno. Bruno, Leo’s â€Å"old faithful† is revealed to be â€Å"the friend that [he] didn’t have† and â€Å"the greatest character [he] ever wrote†, based on his childhood friend who was killed in Slonim during the Holocaust (6, 249). Bruno, someone Leo â€Å"invented so [he] could live,† was resurrected in his imagination to compensate for his inability to relate to the world and assuage his own loneliness (167). Leo uses writing and imagination to survive in different stages of his life. For the characters of The History of Love, there are different contexts and methods for survival. For Bird, it is important that his mother and sister physically survive the flood that he believes is coming. To Alma Singer, her obsession with physical survival in the wilderness stems from her attempt to keep her connection, memories, and love for her father alive. Simultaneously, Charlotte closes herself from the world so that she can preserve her love and memories of her deceased husband. Bird, Alma S., and Charlotte’s connection and methods for survival all underline Leo’s journey of survival. In the early part of his life, Leo uses his love for Alma Mereminsky to physically stay alive during the Holocaust. At the end of his life, he uses writing and imagination to survive separation, loss, and loneliness. Each character has their own story but they are connected through a strong will for their own survival and the survival of their loved ones and irreplaceable love and memories of them.

Parenting Skills Essay

Review Questions 1. What are the differences between being a biological parent, an adoptive parent, and a foster parent? A biological parent are your real blood parents, an adoptive parent is your parent till you’re 18, and a foster home basically is somewhere to stay and home family till you get adopted not really a permanent situation. 2. What financial needs are parents obligated to provide and which are optional? Up to the age of 18 (unless they move out before) Then clothes, school, food, place to live ,utility bills etc, some kids have activities which would be provided by giving pocket money, educational toys and books, toiletries. Christmas presents are optional but cover fun toys etc after 18 I would hope she will have a job and can contribute towards bills etc. 3. What other needs might a child have that a parent is expected to provide? Toys for them to play with, love, support, food and a safe place to grow up in. 4. What are the qualities of a nurturing parent? A nurturing parent w ould never give up on their child and go throw everything with them. Would do anything for them even in the worst situation. Critical Thinking Questions 1. What qualities make a person a good parent? A bad parent? A good parent would be there for their child and do whats best for them. A bad parent wouldn’t show any love or care. 2. Which parental responsibilities do you think would be the most challenging? Why? I think letting go over your child and letting them go off on their own, because you will think they’re not safe or okay without you. 3. Which parental responsibilities do you think would be the most interesting to you? Why? I guess getting them their first pet. I love animals and when I do have kids one day I would love to teach them how to take care of the pet. 4. What are some things that people can do to prepare for parenthood? Nothing, because you wont know what to expect until it happens.

Persuasive Message - form of letter writing Assignment

Persuasive Message - form of letter writing - Assignment Example Youre hotel room has more complimentary services such as a welcome drink and fresh fruit basket, breakfast buffet on the house with priority seating for lunch and dinner services. And, to insure a truly relaxing experience for you, we will schedule an hour long massage for you on your first day of stay with us. Imagine enjoying all of these luxurious amenities and services for a full week. Getting away from the city stresses while still remaining within the city is something that you cannot pass up. And the best part is, you dont have to be a business magnate to afford it. All of these heavenly pampering services can be yours once you book a stay with us at Azure Resort Hotel where we promise to give you A PIECE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. Being one of our early patrons at our hotel opening, we are giving you 75 % off on our published room rates with an additional 65 % discount on room service and restaurant menus and beverages. This offer will not last long so I urge you to call us at 1234567 as soon as possible for further

Recruitment & Staffing Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Recruitment & Staffing Proposal - Assignment Example One of the recruitment approaches that can be used is gamification. Top companies increasingly use this method, and it can help obtain quality and talented individuals into the company. It is the approach involving developing enjoyable, engaging and fun components to test skills by striking into a competitive spirit always like a game (Smith & Mazin, 2011). HSS interest is recruitment of top level employees and through gamification models, the company can benefit since there is a provision to the employer with a preview of how the senior applicant may perform or manage when doing that particular job. This is a positive outcome should the HSS company consider this recruitment approach. There are occasions when the organization hired a candidate only to find once in the job that he wasn’t okay. This approach helps solve such problems. The second approach of recruitment that human resource can adopt to help the company is employee referral programs. Reward can be used to entice w illing employees in assisting the human resource achieve its aim. The final approach that the HSS human resource will apply is mobile recruitments and social networks this is another current trend in recruitment. Human resource at HSS may explore this option. It involves sourcing for suitable applicants from company’s social sites (Smith & Mazin, 2011). The company through the human resource will observe and identify events across your social networks. They will monitor responses, questions, comments and other various interactions. This can provide indications where to focus and channel social media recruitment efforts. The approach also involves engaging top candidate and identifying where your social networks are very active; involve the best applicants with valuable content such as videos, webinars and blog posts There is three recruitment approaches that could be considered by HSS human

Management accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Management accounting - Essay Example Methods such as standard costing and budgetary control are associated with developments in management accounting - this is thought to have been as a result of the traditional rise of large and multi-divisional business activities. This observation is in line with what Chandler (1977) set out, when he maintained that modern management originated from the economic history. The economic history took the position that was previously taken by market mechanisms by introducing an institution with new features, a modern business enterprise or the managed creature. Essentially, by planning and coordinating of the activities in an organization across space and time, as well as internally capturing efficiency benefits and cost, the managed entity displaced, forestalled, and essentially redesigned market relationships (Coase, 1937). Consequently, management brought about oligopoly since it was possible to create large-scale entities whereby managers manage other managers through the process of a dministrative coordination. The organizations that followed these structures were capable of running economically to the extent of redesigning and dominating their sectors, as well as their staff. In essence, the administrative coordination brought about a new source of power, which has eventually redesigned the limits of the organizational and economic scenes. In view of this, it is evident that Chandler contributed towards an explanation of the origin of the modern management by shedding light on how different forms of administrative coordination were, at the outset, developed (Hoskin and Macve, 1990). Chandler specified the Springfield Armory as the origin of the development of single-unit management, which was allegedly done in the perspective of introducing an interchangeable part manufacturer. In essence, this location could have been an unacceptable source of the management; however, the administrative coordination could not have originated from the reaction from technical in ventions, but it must have originated from a distinct and disciplinary intervention. Ideally, in this case, the administrative coordination was put into practice through coordination, problem planning as well as control of staff and plant throughout the extended moment and space. In addition, another important contributor of the modern management, just as Chandler maintained, is George Whistler who was associated with the Western Railroad. Chandler (1977, p. 97-98) ascertained that Whistler was the first to embrace cautiously defined, modern, and an internal organizational structure, in 1841. This development was the first American business enterprise to function under a formally designed administrative structure, overseen by full-time and paid staff. After Whistler, the Pennsylvania (PRR) was the subsequent key railroad where severance of operating and financial functions was a remarkable development that led to the establishment of a form of organization described by Chandler (197 7) as â€Å"decentralized line-and-staff division.† (p. 105). In addition, the unrelenting examination and production of comprehensive flows of information in both human and physical assets reduced operating cost and enhanced efficiency. According to Chandler (1977) the most momentous contributions to accounting was made by Pennsylvania

The current business environment is characterised by the importance of Essay

The current business environment is characterised by the importance of the investor and the drive for shareholder value - Essay Example When we talk about 'The current business environment is characterised by the importance of the investor and the drive for shareholder value' we will be talking in the perspective of Business and accounting managers. Henry Mitzberg, the Cleghorn professor of Management Studies, Mcgill University, started the debate by putting the blame on the students of Business Schools. He states that the 'Shareholder value is an antisocial dogma that has no place in a democratic societyIt breeds a society of exploitationsit is bad for business (Mitzberg, 2004, p 154). He alleges that the students of business schools get the impression that the organisations' share price is the only performance measure worth worrying about. Dr. Nick Tiratsoo of Nottingham University Business School has published a paper 'Mitzberg, shareholder value, and the business school: who has a case to answer' where he, tries to explore Mitzberg's argument about shareholder value and the business schools. He states, 'The conclusion offered that Mitzberg has substantially overstated his case, and thus clouded rather clarified a necessary debate about how business schools are to evolve in the future'. A corporation is essentially defined in terms of its legal status and the ownership of assets. Corporations are typically regarded as artificial persons in the eyes of the law. Corporations are notionally owned by shareholders. Managers and Directors have a fiduciary responsibility to protect the interests of the shareholders. It was Milton Freedman, who in his classic article 'The Social responsibility of business is to increase its profit vigorously' argued against the notion of social responsibilities of corporations. He professed that only the human beings have the moral responsibility for their actions. Its managers' responsibility to act solely in the interest of the shareholders. Social issues and problems are the proper province of the state rather than corporate managers. Freedman defines, 'A stakeholder in an organization is . Any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievements of the organizations' objectives.' Shareholder Value as defined by Value Based Management.net 'the definition of shareholder value is the value of the company minus the Future claims (debts). The value of the company can be calculated as the Net Present Value of all Future cash flows plus the value of the non operating assets of the company'. There is a great debate on the importance of Stakeholders Value over Shareholders Value. The Shareholder Value perspective emphasizes on Profitability over Responsibility. It relates the success of an organization by its share price, dividends and economic profit. The Stakeholders perspective on the other hand emphasizes on Responsibility over Profitability. It suggests that an organizations success should be measured by the satisfaction of its stakeholders i.e. customers, employees, society in general and also its shareholders. Sir Brian Pitman, senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley on his speech

INDIVIDUAL INTERNATIONAL INTERVIEW & PAPER Assignment

INDIVIDUAL INTERNATIONAL INTERVIEW & PAPER - Assignment Example It lies within the latitudes 24 and 37 degree north and longitude 62 and 75 degree east. The country consists of five provinces - Baluchistan, Punjab, Sind, Khyber Pakhtun Khwa and Gilgit/Baltistan - and its capital is named Islamabad. Pakistan has one of the richest and most diverse cultures in the world. It is because this land had seen a number of invaders in the past including Whites, Persians, Turks and Mongols who had spread their own culture across this land. For this very reason we get to see diversity in culture throughout Pakistan with different ethnic groups having their own preferences when it comes to food, dressing, lifestyle etc. Increased globalization has brought further diversity to the country with Western culture increasingly being adopted by the people (â€Å"Pakistan Culture†, 2009). Ali himself comes from a Westernized background with many of his friends educated abroad, who love hanging out at international food chains and who openly drink. This defies my research since I found that alcohol was banned in Pakistan. But then there are so many things that are banned in the US too but still people do them. Religion shapes many of the Pakistan’s customs. ... Employment forms in Pakistan range from menial labor to jobs at multinational companies. The minimum wage per month of a Pakistani is Rs.10,000 (USD 100) and that is why many families live below the poverty line. Entrepreneurship has seen a rise in recent times and many people have switched to self created jobs. Induction of multinationals have brought good fortune to locals and created highly paid jobs. But people like Ali have moved out of the country for better job opportunities and better lifestyles. Since Pakistan is a developing country, the road network is not that of an international standard and is absent in much part of the country. Public transportation through buses is the most common means of traveling, with the slightly stable families using motor bikes and the ones economically sound use petrol and gas driven cars. Pakistan also has a sound air that connects cities and countries. Though a railway network is also present, the experience is not worth trying, says Ali. In frastructure within Pakistan varies from city to city. From mud houses to high rises, one can find it all. The metropolitan city homes a number of high rises and is a safe abode for businesses and other activities. Recently a sky-scraper by the name of Centaurus and designed by a British architectural company was officially inaugurated in the capital city. These developments hold a brighter future for the country’s growth and economy. Pakistan is one of the two countries of the world, made on religious lines of Islam and that is what is practiced by the majority of citizens. Almost 98% of Pakistanis are Muslim while the remaining 2% are either Hindu, Christians or other minority groups. My research led me to believe that Pakistanis were taken by religion in every aspects of life but

Interagency Networks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Interagency Networks - Essay Example The principle challenge that lies in any country is creating coordination and integration between the numerous national instruments through the interagency process. This is a major challenge faced even by the United States, a country whose power has global influence unmatched by any other country. The problem can become greater in the current century as strategy makers both of civilian and military stature struggle with geopolitical issues that will be needing fluency in fitting together all the elements and levers of power. Today, the U.S. has embassies, consulates and memberships in most international organizations. It has a singular military command system that has reach in every part of the world and even the outer space. It initiates and makes agreements that endorse peace, human rights, democracy and protection of the environment. All the instruments of American power are implemented to create a global impact. In spite of all these, there remains â€Å"the challenge of strateg ic integration, of bringing the instruments into calculated effectiveness†. The political leaders and the national security staff continuously attempt to achieve consistency with limited success through the interagency process. For any kind of policy formulation and implementation, the participants are governments or their agencies which mean governments function through the cooperation of subordinate agencies. The roles of governments for solving national and international problems are always under scanner. However, it is also needed that any structure that is created as advisory body of the government and to make strategic decisions for policy implementation should also be scrutinized. Governments function through institutions, hence officials of each institution should be categorized into coherent groups to assist the government. The challenge here is to organize the officials in an efficient manner, and to ensure positive outcomes of organizational decisions. The solution lies in performing functions in a better process, better organizations and more coherent allocation of government’s instruments. However, there is no common perspective on what is the best approach towards organizing a government’s myriad functions. Also, there is no concrete proof how well modifications in the working process of the government have worked. The demand to bring changes is â€Å"as often based on statements of belief or intent as on clearly defined calculations of institutional cause and effect† (O’Faircheallaigh et al., 1999, p.72). An organization is formed because of the

Discussion Board Question for criminal justice Essay

Discussion Board Question for criminal justice - Essay Example If Simpson was poor and Caucasian, the likelihood of him being found guilty of murder is as high as they would be for a black of medium wealth. My views on race have changed after an analysis of the DNA structure of people from different races. This test revealed that, however different people of different race may appear, the differences in genetics between them are negligible. After this, I shall take the racial and ethnic differences as lightly as possible given that they are not determinants to anything in life. Unlike in the past, today’s society has drawn dividing lines between people of different illnesses, political orientation, sexuality and addictions. On the basis of sex, many women are prevented from attaining positions in society that they could comfortably fulfill without the barriers set up by society. Political affiliations also determine the success of an individual especially on a business perspective. In terms of illnesses, many of those suffering from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and arthritis are secretly discriminated against. Those with addictions such as alcoholics and drug addicts are generally viewed as unfortunate members of society who cannot stand up for themselves in many ways. A course in Ethnic Groups and Minorities is of course necessary given that Obama’s rise to the top is one is a million story of a member of the minority groups breaking free of the stereotypes labeled against his group. Stereotypes have changed by a very small degree given that, even today, racial conflicts still show up in isolated cases. The discrimination in today’s society is more secretive as people fear being labeled as enemies of unity. The fact that America elected and African American to the presidency does not in any way mean that America is ready for elections to office of other minorities. Obama’s story is quite dramatic and his entry into the highest office on the land was aided by his having faced weaker

Aam Road Safety Campaign Essay Example for Free

Aam Road Safety Campaign Essay In effort to decrease the number of road accidents during festive seasons, The National Road Safety Council (MKJR), launched its annual National Road Safety Campaign 2013 which was held on 4 February 2013 at the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), Kuala Lumpur. In-conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration this year, the event was implemented by the Road Safety Department (JKJR) in partnership with huge names deriving from government agencies and key players of the automotive industry. YB Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha, Minister of Transportation, graced the event as the Guest-of-Honour to launch the campaign in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The launching of the event campaign was also attended by the Chairman of the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM), YM Tunku Datuk Mudzaffar Tunku Mustapha, Treasurer of MKJR cum committee member of AAM, En. Ahmad Ismail Bin Haji Amin together with the AAM Chief Executive Officer, Madam Melinda Ngew. See more:Â  Perseverance essay The annual campaign aims to highlight the consequences of dangerous driving by creating awareness of safe driving habits, to ultimately reduce the number of accidents and casualties on the road and develop a safe driving culture. The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) also played a vital role in making this annual road safety campaign a success by promoting road safety through the sponsoring of the AAM child-seat for the flag-off ceremony. Apart from the campaign launching ceremony, participating agencies and companies were also invited to set up their own booths and conduct their road safety campaign activities and promotions. AAM also took the chance to promote road safety, through road safety services products (AAM 3-in-1 torchlight the AAM compact fire-extinguisher). As a follow-up to make success the road safety campaign, several state level road safety campaigns were also held. The National Road Safety of Kuala Lumpur (MKJR WPKL), co-joint by the Road Safety Council of Kuala Lumpur (JKJR WPKL) extended the effort by organizing the Kuala Lumpur Road Safety Campaign 2013 at the Plaza Sg. Besi Toll, which also involved government agencies and huge automotive companies. Inspections were done by the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalanraya (JPJ) to motorcyclists, which involves license checking and replacing new helmets for motorcyclists wearing old helmets, fully-sponsored by the Road Safety Department of Kuala Lumpur (JKJR WPKL) The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM), also took part in the event campaign through the involvement of the committee member, En. Ahmad Ismail B. Haji Amin who also helped at giving away brand new helmets for the motorcyclists.

IP addressing scenario Essay Example for Free

IP addressing scenario Essay According to the scenario, the company will have a single, physical location with approximately145 hosts on the network. In this case, I would suggest using a class C address such as 192. 168. 0. 0. Reason why is because you can put all the devices on a single subnet with the subnet mask 255. 255. 255. 0/24. This would allow for 253 usable host addresses, which is more than needed in this case. Whether you should dynamically or statically assign those IP’s goes, I suggest assigning it dynamically. Unless you don’t mind MANUALLY managing 218 hosts, you should definitely go with DHCP. The router will be well capable of handing out addresses for 145 hosts. Since there is only one location used in this case, only one network should be used as it will only complicate things to have more than one network. Since DHCP is being used as the suggestion, whether we should use a router and/or firewall, or utilizing Windows Server†¦the answer is yes. The router for dishing out the IP addresses and the firewall should be used for security purposes. Using Windows Server just for DHCP is rather overkill. Using these suggested methods should also accommodate for at least 50% growth within the next few years. Windows 2008 Network Services To understand the functions of DNS and DHCP, first we must acknowledge their necessities. Humans in general are fairly decent at remembering certain numbers, like home addresses, phone numbers, and Social Securities. And even those simple tasks are becoming difficult for us because of technology doing all the remembering for us. We are becoming lazier and more dependent on computers. If we can’t even do these menial tasks efficiently, how would you expect us to remember dozens of IP addresses for websites? This brings to a solution. Also known as name resolution, it allows us to enter the name of a website, and then the resolution service finds the IP address for that website and directs the request to that address. Domain Name System is the service that provides name resolution on networks and the Internet. When you specify a site address in your browser on your local network, a DNS server intercepts that request and checks its cache. If the IP address is in the cache from a previous request, the request is completed and your browser is directed to the IP address. If the address is not in the cache, DNS makes a query to the next DNS server above it until a server in the upstream chain is able to return the address. Dynamic Host Control Protocol is a service that automatically assigns IP addresses to devices that connect to the network. If a device is configured to automatically obtain an IP address, it sends out a request for an IP address when it connects to a network. The request may get more than one offer of an IP address, and the computer typically accepts the first offer that it gets. This relieves the network administrator of having to manage each device. Setting up a DHCP is really not necessary for either 2 computers even 5 computers as you could easily assign them statically. However, when it comes to managing 25 computers, I would absolutely assign it DHCP as it may become confusing have to track that many different devices.

Analysis Of The Indian Hotel Company Limited

Analysis Of The Indian Hotel Company Limited The Indian Hotel Company Limited (IHCL) is an Indian based Hospitality Company which provides accommodation services in four different market segments globally. The company has its headquarters in Mumbai, India. It is listed in Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Company strategies The growth strategy of the company is to operate 20,000 rooms from the current 14,000, in 25 major destinations around the world. They target on a group turnover of US$ 2 billion, from which 33% would be from international operations by 2012. Company operations The company portfolio comprises of 4 brands; The Taj hotels which concentrates on luxury market, The Vivanta which is upper upscale, The Gateway hotels which is upscale and Ginger their budget hotels. The company operates Indias only wildlife lodges called Taj safaris in joint venture with CC Africa. Company Background The Indian hotel company limited (IHCL) was established in 1902 by Mr Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata. In 1903 the first hotel Taj Mahal Palace was opened in Mumbai. The year 1974 saw an expansion of the company by opening its second property at Goa and went on adding properties at a rapid rate fuelled by the Tourism growth in India. Till date it has added 104 properties across the globe to its portfolio. The company is listed on Bombay stock exchange (BSE).Tata sons limited which is the parent company holds 28.5% equity capital in IHCL. Parent Company The Tata Sons limited was founded in 1868 by Jamsetji Tata. It has its presence in various sectors such as Steel, Automobiles, Information technology, Communication, Power and Tea. It operates in more than 85 countries across 6 continents. It has a group turnover of over Rs.124, 970 crores ($24.5 bn). It accounts for nearly 6% of the total market capitalisation of Bombay Stock exchange (BSE). Stakeholders Shareholders Key people Mr. Ratan Tata: Chairman of Tata sons Limited He became the chairman of the Tata sons in the year 1981 which is the largest Indian conglomerate. The group comprises of companies namely Tata motors, Tata steel, IHCL, Tata consultancy services (TCS), Tata Power, Tata tea, and Tata Telecom. He graduated from Cornell University in architectural and structural engineering and joined the company in the year 1962. In 1971 he was appointed as the director in charge of NELCO which was in strong financial crisis. His risk taking capability and vision made him the successor of JRD Tata. Tata sons under his leadership made a number of acquisitions such as Chorus steel, Jaguar motors and Land Rover. This made the companys presence in global market. Mr. Raymond.N.Bickson : MD and CEO of IHCL He joined IHCL in the year 2003 as chief operating officer of the luxury segment. In the same year he assumed the responsibility of MD and CEO of the company. He carries more than 30 years of international hospitality management experience. Prior to IHCL he worked nearly 15 years as a vice president and general manager for The Rafael group. An American national, Mr. Bickson attended the École Hà ´telià ¨re Lausanne in Switzerland and Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School. He is an active member of Leading hotels of the world and World travel tourism council. During his tenure, IHCL went through rapid expansion by acquisitions, managing contracts and joint ventures at domestic as well as international market. Mr. Anil P Goel : Executive Director Finance He overlooks the Taj Groups Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Purchase and Legal Secretarial function. He is a non-executive director for Taj GVK limited. Mr. Abhijit Mukerji : Executive Director Hotel Operations He oversees hotel operations of the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces which include Taj Luxury Hotels India and International, Taj Business Hotels, Taj Leisure Hotels, Taj Spas, Taj Trade and Transport and Indi travels. Mr. Ajoy K. Misra : Sr. Vice President, Sales and Marketing He represents Taj in industry organizations such as the World Travel and Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTC II), World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Hotel Association of India (HAI), Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He served as General Manager of the Taj President in Mumbai and Area Director in the Sri Lanka and Maldives region. Mr. Prakash V. Shukla: Sr. Vice President, Technology and Chief Information Officer. He is currently responsible for total IT deployments at the Taj Group and is on MDs management committee. Mr. H.N. Shrinivas: Sr. Vice President Human Resources Mr. Shrinivas has worked for 18 years with the Taj in Human Resources, Learning Development and Business Excellence functions. He holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the National Institute of Social Sciences, Bangalore, and a Masters in Industrial Law from Bangalore University. Mr. Veer Vijay Singh : Chief Operating Officer Upper Upscale Hotels He is responsible for the Operations and Overall Performance of 36 hotels in 26 locations spread across seven countries under upper upscale category. He graduated from IHMCTN, New Delhi and had the opportunity to enhance his skills by attending training programmes conducted by Cornell University Singapore, INSEAD Harvard. Ms Jyoti Narang : Chief Operating Officer Luxury Division Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces She is responsible for the overall development and operations of the luxury category hotels. When she was the Chief Operating officer for the upper upscale division, she was instrumental in pioneering the launch of Taj Safaris which is a unique concept that offers adventure tourist a distinctive wildlife experience. In 2008, Ms.Jyoti was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of The Gateway Hotels, the new upscale brand of the group, and was involved in developing the concept and launching the brand. Mr. P.K.Mohankumar : Chief Operating Officer Gateway Brand Mr. P. K. Mohankumar has over 35 years of experience in hotel operations with the Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palace. He is an alumnus of Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai and has participated in several senior leadership workshops conducted by Harvard Business School, Michigan University, USA, Cornell University, Singapore and IIM, Ahmedabad. Currently, he is the Chief Operating Officer of the Gateway hotels, and is responsible for the operations and performance of 19 properties in India. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3hid=102sid=ce8939c4-8df1-4962-9afe-f373f4140a95%40sessionmgr112 accessed on 23 Nov Sustainable Tourism EARTH (Environment Awareness Renewal at Taj Hotels) The EARTH program was launched in August 2008, put forward to reduce the impact of the Hotel groups daily operations on the environment. EARTH programme has received certification from Green Globe. Currently 55 properties under IHCL are certified and the company is looking forward to put all the hotels under the certification by 2009-2010. The company focus on improving energy efficiencies, water management, solid waste management which helps to reduce the strong impact on environment. Porters five forces Competition plays a major role in todays world. Competition can have both beneficial and unfavourable effects. Competition for profits goes beyond established market rivals to include four other forces as well. They are Customers, Suppliers, New Entrants, and Substitute products. To understand industry competition and profitability, we must analyse the industrys structure in terms of the five forces. Threat of new entrants: New entrants can put pressure on prices, costs, and the rate of investment necessary to compete. Due to globalisation and rapid economic growth of Indian market a favourable market has emerged for International hotel chains. Hotel chains like Four seasons, Marriott International Inc., Starwood Hotels and Accor Hotels have recently came up with projects across India. New International hotels such as Shangri la, Mandarin, Movenpick and Ritz Carlton are in pipeline. Entry of non-hospitality companies into hotel sector can be a threat; such as Reliance Industries. Due to dilution in the market the profitability of IHCL can be at stake. Bargaining power of suppliers: Suppliers have more power if they have the monopoly or do not depend heavily on the industry for its revenues. As hospitality industry is hugely labour oriented, their trade unions and labour suppliers are powerful. As hotels chains are looking for rapid expansions and prime properties, the power of property owners is high. Inbound tour operators are having an upper hand as they provide huge volume of business to the hotels. Infrastructure suppliers have moderate power over the company. Bargaining power of buyers: Powerful customers demand more value by forcing down prices for better quality and more services. This results in higher operating costs thereby bringing down profitability. Corporate clients due to their huge volumes have negotiated rates. Company had to come up with loyalty programme for retaining customers which incurs costs. The threat of substitutes: A substitute does the same or a similar function as an industrys product by a different means. The threat of a substitute is high when it offers an attractive price and service to the similar industrys product. Luxury serviced apartments, camping and lodges are in demand. The Governments introduction of bed and breakfast hotels can really be a threat. Web 2 which enables video conferencing is an emerging product which can be a threat to MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Events) Rivalry among existing competitors: Rivalry among hotel chains results in discounting of price, new product launch, advertising campaigns, and improvement in service. If there is high rivalry the profitability of the company can be affected. The hotel products are highly perishable, which creates an urge to cut prices and sell the inventory below its profitable rate to cover the fixed cost. Internal environment of the company: The internal environment of the company can be divided into two types they are Tangible and Intangible resources. Tangible resources include assets which can be seen and felt, like physical properties, Yachts, Flights, and other fixed assets which spread around 5 continents. The intangible resources are the one which cannot be seen or felt but play a major role in the business like the brand value, Leadership style, Human resource etc. IHCL being the subsidiary company of Tata Sons Limited, which has a company background since 1868. IHCL itself operates in hospitality sector in India for last 108 years, and have the market share of 22% in India shows the brand value of the company. In terms of leadership style the company has a style of innovations and pioneer of Luxury property and wild life lodges (Joint venture with CC Africa) and budget hotel chains (Ginger Hotels), Spa resorts and properties in India. The human resources in the company is around 20,000, which includes permanent staff, Fixed term contract workers and other Executives and Corporate staff. The company has various staff development program such as TMTP (Taj Management Training Program) SPEED PLUS, HOMT for standardization of operations throughout the company. External Environment: It can also be called as Operating environment. Factors which influence organizations opportunities and risks; such as conditions, entities and events consists of its external environment. PEST Analysis Political: Political instability in some parts of India made foreign investors cautious; in turn brought down investment from abroad and business travel. Due to the recent terror attacks on hotels in Mumbai, there has been a drastic drop in tourists arrivals. Most of the Embassies have send travel advisory regarding African and Asian countries which has reflected tourist inflow. As Government of India has reduced the tariffs and duties on various items, trade relations have improved. It encouraged travel and trade which resulted in growth of hotel industry. The Ministry of external affairs has implemented visa on arrival for several countries in an effort to promote tourism. The government has released a five-year tax holiday to promote the growth of new hotels. External Commercial Borrowings have been eased by the Ministry to elucidate the problem of liquidity being encountered by the hotel industry due to economic slowdown. The Ministry of Home Affairs has agreed to grant Long Term Tourist Vi sa of 5 years duration with Multi-entry facilities carrying a condition of 90 days on each visit to the nationals of the following 18 countries which are France, Iceland, Germany, New Zealand, Luxembourg, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Argentina, Finland, Brazil, Spain, Chile, Switzerland, Mexico, Norway, and Vietnam on request of tourism ministry. Economical: Early 1990s saw economic liberalization which led to a boom in the hospitality industry. The Government has allowed Foreign direct investment and Foreign institutional investment; which favours business travel. Compared to other South East Asian countries; tax structure in India is very high. Inadequate infrastructure facilities like Airports, Communication facilities and commuting facilities is a challenge for the Tourism sector. The effect of recession is causing serious problems for many hotels especially luxury hotels in particular. Hotels in certain global markets, mainly those operate in leisure sector, are less affected. All geographies are not equally affected by recession.(have to include graph from the site quoted in link , leading hotels of the world) Social: Indian customers are highly sensitive to price. A lot of them tend to compare services offered with price. Hoteliers face a challenge to design price strategy in each sector. There is a conflict between local community and hotels on space availability especially at beach destinations. The company has got an advantage of worlds largest concentration of young educated work force and thus decreasing the labour costs. Two religious communities being Hindus and Muslims have religious sentiments towards beef and pork which is consumed by foreign tourists. This raises conflicts between the organization and religious groups. Large scale tourism operation results in environmental pollution and an increase in carbon emission. Technological: The launch of E-commerce has revolutionized the hotel sector by reducing cost and increasing functionality. The introduction of Global Distribution System allows customers to access current time availability of products. The growing influence of video conferencing has got negative impact on MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events) division. It is possible to get critical information on clients and products while away from desk due to wireless technology. This has improved customer relationships, saved time and increased revenue and profit. Indian Tourism Scenario Despite a drop in FTAs in India due to economic slowdown, domestic tourism has showed an impressive growth of 15.5 % in the year 2009.Domestic tourism supported the industry during unfavourable condition. Indias performance in tourism sector has been remarkable. During the period 1997 to 2009, India perceived an increase in the Foreign Tourist Arrivals from 2.37 million to 5.11 million. Because of global slowdown, terrorist activities and H1N1 influenza, growth rate in FTAs during 2009 fell by 3.3 per cent. The global tourism fell by 4.3 per cent. The plummet in India was less than that of the scale of global slowdown. Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism increased from Rs. 10511 crore in 1997 to Rs. 54,960 crore in 2009. The growth rate in earnings in 2009 vis-a-vis 2008 was 8.3 per cent. The percentage share of India in International tourism receipts has nearly doubled in past 12 years. Solutions: The Company has got only insignificant investments at political instable locations. To prevent future security threat the company has sought advice of security experts and invested heavily on improving security infrastructure. To reduce the conflict between local community the company has come up with corporate social responsibility. For instance the company works closely with NGOs to develop and train underprivileged housewives to earn their livelihood. The company tries to promote Indian culture by encouraging local artisans and craftsmen. This helps the local community in broadening their own outlook. Foreseeing sustainable tourism IHCL has come up with EARTH initiative to reinstate its vision and to preserve nature. To overcome the revenue loss due to video conferencing the company came up with new strategy of marketing in- house video conferencing facilities for corporate clients. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths IHCL has a very dominant position in Indian hospitality industry with largest distribution of hotels around the country. Its key advantage is the established Taj brand name. It has got a much diversified hotel and brand portfolio catering to different market segments which helps in capturing wider customer base. The company has got sales and marketing reach globally. The parent company being Tata sons limited which is one of the largest companies in India is an added advantage. Their presence in every segment namely luxury, upper upscale, upscale and budget allows more flexibility and stability. They have a well-diversified business model of subsidiaries, associates, joint ventures and management contracts which help in reducing risk and fuels faster growth. This asset light policy will help in revenue stability during economic turndown. Presently 45% of IHCL hotels are operated through joint-ventures, 40% are management contracts and 15% are owned in part or full by IHCL. Source: Adapted from HotelierIndia Nov 2010, Press Release The company has introduced a strong loyalty programme which helps in retaining customers. The companys alliances and partnerships have helped it in entering into new markets such as wildlife lodges and air catering. They have the advantage of very strong corporate purchase chain whereby they can considerably reduce raw material cost. As the parent company is present in the production of FMCGs they are able to procure items in a much competitive price. The company even have introduced loyalty programmes in conjunction with all leading airline companies. Weakness The less established brand name of the company in international scene can be viewed as a weakness. Nearly 75% of the companys income is generated by domestic operation resulting greater dependency on Indian market. In domestic market even though company has its presence in more than 15 states; 66% of their revenue and nearly 90% of profits come from top six hotels in four cities. Even slight fluctuation in the countrys economy can affect profitability. The high dependency on higher-end luxury market can also be viewed as a weakness. Nearly 54% of the revenue is generated by these properties. Comparative size in line with international chains and insignificant international presence is a setback. The hotel industry in India is heavily staffed. In spite of international average 1:1 in India it stands at 2.1:1. Investments in acquiring international hotels have resulted in huge debt for the company. Opportunities Rapid growth in inbound and domestic tourism is a great opportunity for the company. Domestic tourism is growing at a phenomenal rate of 15.5% annually. Growing demand for budget and mid-segment hotels due to the growth of Indian middle class can be viewed as an opportunity. Healthy salary increases in corporate world is expected to create demand for leisure tourism. Launch of incredible India in both domestic and international market to promote destinations can be a boost in business. The introduction of medical visa may promote more volume and extended stay in all key destinations. The companys entry into new markets such as wildlife lodges, luxury residences, and spas will create new growth prospectus. Budget airlines now have connectivity across the country with competitive rates and attractive offers which will inspire domestic tourism. Increased business opportunities in India again have paved path for growth of conference and event tourism. Threats Growing presence of international hotel chains such as Marriot international, The Four seasons, Accor group, Shangri-La, Dreams resorts and spas etc. can be considered as growing threat to the company. The expansion plans of Indian hotel chains like ITC India limited, The Leela group, The East India Hotel Company and The Lalit may affect the market share of the company. Due to the arrival of international airline operators and affordable international travel, there has been massive growth of outbound tourism mainly to south East Asia, Europe and Australia. This has increased risk for domestic leisure segment. Due the companys portfolio of foreign currency debts, it is vulnerable to fluctuations in currency and interest rate risks. The debt equity ratio of the company shows drastic hike from the previous years which can really be a threat . Source: Adapted from Annual Reports Debt to equity ratio indicates how the firm finances its operations with debt relative to the book value of its shareholders equity (Fabozzi and Drake 2009 pp80). This indicates the comparison of equity and debt the company is using to back its assets. If the ratio is high then the company is said to be chancy as it is financed more by with debts and it might become even worse if the interest rates are high. The company stands at a threat as the debt equity ratio shows a trend of escalation from .52 to .99 within a span of 4 years. Strengths and Opportunities Due the companys presence across the country in different market segments it can capitalize the growth of domestic tourism. As the company has a well-established budget and mid-market segment hotels, it can benefit from the growing spending power of Indian middle class. Only IHCL has presence in wildlife lodge segment which shows growing demand every year. Loyalty programmes in tie-up with leading airline companies have resulted in greater exploitation of tourism growth in India. Companys entry into wellness tourism by establishing Spas in its existing properties can milk governments plan to issue medical visa. Strengths and Threats By virtue of the companys loyalty programmes and corporate tie-ups they would be able to hold to their market, even though new international players could stand a threat. IHCL have huge expansion plans in answer to other domestic hotel chains. By their plans to expand internationally it can lower the risk of outbound tourism. Weakness and opportunities Since domestic travel became cost effective, domestic leisure tourism turned robust and distributed, consequently reducing risk of concentration of revenue from key city hotels. Weakness and Threats To oppose the dependence on high end luxury market, the company has entered into budget segment which is stable comparing to the later. The company have international expansion plans other than existing properties outside India so that it will be resistant to domestic economic fluctuations. Diversification The IHCL has diversified its operation in hospitality sector from the hotel operation to other sectors like Air catering, Spa operations, Wild life lodges, Yachts, Charted Flights and Taj Khazana. TajAir TajAir is a charter flight operating company owned by IHCL, the subsidiary company of Tata Sons Limited4 pioneer aviation operator in India. TajAir at present owns 3 Air crafts which can be chartered by guests for domestic and international air travel. Ginger Hotels The Ginger Hotels are self-service budget hotels operated by IHCL which targets mid-market sector. Spas Jiva Spas the subsidiary of IHCL which operates at more than 25 Taj hotels at 20 different destinations which offers different rejuvenating treatments and massages. Taj SATS Taj SATS is an air catering division of IHCL in collaboration with Singapore Air Terminals which caterers to domestic and international flights operating from 6 different cities. Taj Safari Taj Safari is a wild life lodge which operates in collaboration with CC Africa which is one of its kinds in India. Taj Khazana Taj Khazana is a signature boutique store of Indian handicraft, Jewellery and garments which operates at selected IHCL properties. Current Situation The Company has decided to raise Rupees 850 crores by issuing shares and warrants to the promoter company Tata Sons Ltd to fuel its rapid expansion plans. Since the market is strong now the company has decided to raise its room tariffs by 10-15 percent. The company announced the roll-over of 19 hotels under its new brand Vivanta by Taj Hotels and Resorts. The introduction of Vivanta which is a brand architectural exercise by the company will be slotted in the 5-star upper upscale segment in the Indian hospitality industry. To exploit the on-going spree by Indian households on food and beverage spending, the company has rolled out several new FB outlets in collaboration with world renowned chefs and restaurateurs. To meet the current demands, they have invested a major share in Serviced Apartments, Wildlife lodges and Spas. To achieve their goal of generating 33 per cent of total revenue from international operations, they are engaged in Management contracts and Joint venture oversees. To capitalize the high demand of mid-market segment, IHCL has unveiled more than 20 budget hotels across India named Ginger Hotels In order to recover the loss of revenue due to the dip of tourism in India, the company has gone into a new strategy of putting hold on salary hike and the incentive for the executives and freeze new recruitment in the company and predicts a profit of 15 cr.

Pouring Postmodernism into the Computer :: Internet Technology Essays

Pouring Postmodernism into the Computer "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it," has become a standard reply to questions that are hard to answer, now serving as the definition of more than just pornography. Postmodernism seems to at times share this elusive definition. To paraphrase Lyotard, its refusal to take solace in and unified form and conventions are partly responsible for its apparently shapeless definition. Paraphrasing Sherry Turkle, computer culture realizes postmodern concepts, especially a realization of those concepts pertaining to the nature of the self (17-19). For Turkle and others, partaking in chat rooms, creating identities on the computer, and the structure of computer software itself all concretize a previously abstract set of postmodern concepts. Before summarizing segments of Turkle's Identity in the Age of the Internet, a short background on postmodern concepts of the self is helpful. Postmodern thought rejects the idea of a deeper self that can be discovered by rationally peeling away surface layers of that self. The idea that truth can be found by this process, on a personal level or in a narrative structure, is a point of contention. As Stephen Frosh says in Social Experience and the Constructed Self, "More generally, postmodernism opposes all tendencies to take refuge in any illusion of wholeness or of received wisdom†¦" (277). Thus, enlightenment-age scientific approaches to uncover knowledge fall under the "illusion of wholeness and received wisdom." Instead, postmodernism perceives the world through a large network of interconnected but meaningless things and experiences (Frosh, 282). Frosh's opinion of self and action is also revealing: "†¦gone is the differentiation between the self and its expression†¦.Meaning does not precede these practices, but is enigmatically created by them†¦" (280). This is to say that in the writing of a book for example, meaning is produced by the text. The author ceases to be a sort of creator, with a preconceived plan. The book's meaning is transitory, as readers may have several different experiences with a book, regardless of the author's intentions. Finally comes the idea of the self as a social construct. To make sense of the world around us, some have suggested that the self is created in order to give a reference point for existence. Self-construction gives our lives meaning because it allows us to make sense of what surrounds us. I am me. That house across the street is not me, neither are the people who live in that house. Pouring Postmodernism into the Computer :: Internet Technology Essays Pouring Postmodernism into the Computer "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it," has become a standard reply to questions that are hard to answer, now serving as the definition of more than just pornography. Postmodernism seems to at times share this elusive definition. To paraphrase Lyotard, its refusal to take solace in and unified form and conventions are partly responsible for its apparently shapeless definition. Paraphrasing Sherry Turkle, computer culture realizes postmodern concepts, especially a realization of those concepts pertaining to the nature of the self (17-19). For Turkle and others, partaking in chat rooms, creating identities on the computer, and the structure of computer software itself all concretize a previously abstract set of postmodern concepts. Before summarizing segments of Turkle's Identity in the Age of the Internet, a short background on postmodern concepts of the self is helpful. Postmodern thought rejects the idea of a deeper self that can be discovered by rationally peeling away surface layers of that self. The idea that truth can be found by this process, on a personal level or in a narrative structure, is a point of contention. As Stephen Frosh says in Social Experience and the Constructed Self, "More generally, postmodernism opposes all tendencies to take refuge in any illusion of wholeness or of received wisdom†¦" (277). Thus, enlightenment-age scientific approaches to uncover knowledge fall under the "illusion of wholeness and received wisdom." Instead, postmodernism perceives the world through a large network of interconnected but meaningless things and experiences (Frosh, 282). Frosh's opinion of self and action is also revealing: "†¦gone is the differentiation between the self and its expression†¦.Meaning does not precede these practices, but is enigmatically created by them†¦" (280). This is to say that in the writing of a book for example, meaning is produced by the text. The author ceases to be a sort of creator, with a preconceived plan. The book's meaning is transitory, as readers may have several different experiences with a book, regardless of the author's intentions. Finally comes the idea of the self as a social construct. To make sense of the world around us, some have suggested that the self is created in order to give a reference point for existence. Self-construction gives our lives meaning because it allows us to make sense of what surrounds us. I am me. That house across the street is not me, neither are the people who live in that house.

The Holy Bible is Fact, Not Fiction :: Holy Bible Essays

The Holy Bible is Fact, Not Fiction The Hebrew word used for "day" is the word yom. Every other time the word is used in the Old Testament in conjunction with a number, a literal, 24-hour period of time is being described; what we know as a day. The word is never used metaphorically in the Bible. The verses most commonly used to say that the word day in Genesis could mean more than a 24 hour period are Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3, which quotes Psalm 90:4. Psalm 90:4 - For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night. 2 Peter 3:8 - But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. Notice the phrases "are like" and "is like." The Greek word used in 2 Peter is 3:8 for that phrase is like is the word hos, a word used in a figurative comparison - the word as. We must always keep things in the proper perspective: Science is of men; the Bible is of God (2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"). The almighty, all-powerful, omniscient, omnipresent God we worship obviously has the ability to create the world in an even shorter time; He could speak one word and it ALL would come into existence. He says in His Word that He created it in six days, why can't we let Him speak for Himself and take it at face value. God's Word is infallible, people ARE NOT. Exodus 20:11 - For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 31:16-17 - 'So the sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.' "It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed." If we were to assume that Creation lasted more than 6 24 hour days, the "sign" the second passage speaks of would be a pretty poor sign - a comparison between a 6000 year creation and our 7 day week wouldn't be very meaningful.

Modern Day versus Civil War Racism in America :: Race

Today racism still exists, but not to the extent that it did during Civil War times. There is still the same amount if not more racism today even though it is very subtle in how it is displayed and also, due to laws that protect US citizens from it. Racism can be displayed through the media, marriage, and even at public schools. Usually television commercials are used to bring the good out of different products and the people that consume or sell the product, but sometimes the commercial will bring out the good in the product, but bring out the bad in the person. One example of this kind of advertisement would be a McDonald’s commercial that aired not too long ago. The setting was in a McDonald’s restaurant with two young, blank males. Each talking about how great a chicken dish was off the 1.00 Menu, but at the same time some foul language was being bleeped out. This helps contribute to some people’s beliefs that all black men do not care about the use of their language in public. Although, the use of foul language from rap music may trigger this, but how racist can this get? The media will also show racism in everyday situations. During a 20/20 episode that aired lately there were different situations that helped bring out the racism in everyday, white Americans. The first situations were about a group of young, white, teenage boys that stated to vandalize a car in this parking lot. During this several bystanders took a look and kept on walking by and only some people called the police. The second scenario was another group of teenage boys, but this time they were black. The setting was in the same parking lot, but there was not vandalism going on these young boys were just sleeping in the car. Again several white bystanders walked by and almost all of them called the police on the sleeping boys. These young men were just taking a nap in their car, not causing any problems. The third and last scenario was the same black boys, but this time they were vandalizing a car and every single one of the bystanders called the police like the world was goi ng to end if they did not. This shows the racism when it comes to the difference between white and black men in certain situations.

College vs High School Essay

A major part in someone’s life is going away to college and can be a frightening time for some people. Some say that college and high school are very common; I have found them to be very different in many ways. I enjoy college more than I did high school. I have more control over my education in college. I noticed that freedom, the amount of work, and responsibilities have changed since I’ve been in college. The freedom of a high school student is unfortunately limited. The curfew of a high school student is usually set during the weekends. By law a child under the age of eighteen has to be in the house by midnight. For example, my mother would set me a curfew and if I did not obey it, I would be grounded and not be able to do anything for a couple of weeks. I believe a high school student does not have any freedom because they live with their parents’ and have to follow the guidelines that were made. A college student has a ton of freedom. Most college students do not live at home with their parents so they are able to do whatever they want, whenever they want. They have the choice to decide if they want to attend class that day or not. Unlike high school students, college students do not have classes for eight hours a day consecutively. They are able to decide what they are going to do with the rest of their time off for the day. The amount of work in high school was not as much as there is in college. For example, a high school student is tested bi-weekly. Therefore there are plenty of grades that make it easier to have a better grade in that class. I believe high school was easier and more lenient due to the fact the teachers were more personal with their students. For example if I needed help with a math assignment I could go to my teacher after school each day if I needed it. In college a student would go to their academic support center, email the teacher or ask a friend. In high school you were told what classes you had to take and only got to choose a couple classes that you wanted. In college you can choose to take any class you want as long as it doesn’t interfere with your prerequisites or the class is not full. Now that I have been able to choose the classes I have wanted I found that I am much more interested in them. In high school I would always dread going to that one math class or social studies class because the subject didn’t interest me. The hardest thing so far about college is trying to manage my time. Now that I have more freedom I also have more bills. Finding time to work, go to school, do homework/study, and trying to find time to hang out with friends has become more and more difficult in the past few months since I have started college. In high school you would go to school go home and do home work for a hour or two and leave the house for the rest of the night. If you ever needed money your parents would just hand it to you and now if you need money from your parents it can take a week to get to you. Although college has been a huge change to my life and I have had a couple rocky parts on the way I have found it to be an exciting new experience.

Classical Analysis

Alyssa Huskinson COMS 100B, Fall 2012 8 October 2012 Classical Analysis In an Absolut World Absolut vodka is based on 500 years of tradition originating in Sweden. Under the original name â€Å"Absolut rent branvin,† which means â€Å"absolutely pure vodka,† Absolut was introduced in the United States in 1979 and since has become one of the world’s most famous spirits. The advertisement campaign, In an Absolut World, was just another successful entry in the company’s advertising history, and Absolut advertising continues to be recognized as pure genius (cite).The purpose of the In an Absolut World campaign was to convey the idea that Absolut is indeed in a world of its own. The campaign challenges customary view points by presenting a refreshing optimistic perspective of everyday life, in a world of its own. One specific artifact, called the â€Å"taxi† piece, illustrates a few people leaving a bar and having to navigate the aisles of persuasion by choosing which cab to take home (since, in this particular world there is a sea of taxis from which to choose).The question to be answered remains: what if everything in the â€Å"real† world was a little more â€Å"Absolut† and perfect? The message presented across the various examples within the campaign remains constant, as to reveal a work of art, for the audience to explore and communicate within the world of Absolut. Kenneth Burke (year) defined the rhetorical function of language as â€Å"a symbolic means of inducing cooperation in beings that by nature respond to symbols† (p. #).If this campaign sparks any response in beings, then according to Burke, in an Absolut/absolute world, the power of language is identification. This campaign visually indentifies the language of the text as being luminescent, while asking a question about what would happen if everything in the real world could be perfect. The allure of Absolut vodka captivates the audience by con veying a unique invitation to be a part of the Absolut World. With the inception of the Internet and increased availability, advertisements have the opportunity to influence society in a tremendous way.In these advertisements, â€Å"Drinkers are invited to imbibe ‘in an Absolut World,’ a fanciful, even surreal, place where common sense prevails and just deserts are always on the menu,† (Elliot, 2007, p. #). The advertisements in the campaign were created to show the view of Absolut’s World, so that the consumer has the opportunity to respond and react. [You’ve given us a somewhat abrupt transition from campaign-level (general) to artifact-level (specific)†¦try to ease me into it a bit more gently.I think a new paragraph is in order as well. ] The basis of the content in the artifact being analyzed here represents an example of the perfect world as Absolut sees it; in this example, a parking lot is full of taxis lined up and ready to go, and the patrons of the bar have multiple options for transportation home (none of which include driving themselves). The scene in this artifact takes place at night, under the glow of the street lights, which capture the mystic notion of the evening lifestyle.The taxis here are symbols for transportation, but they also portray the message of the Absolut World. [This last statement is quite powerful, but I don’t feel as if you developed it enough to leave it alone yet. What do you mean that they portray the message? Here’s what I THINK you’re saying: the taxis are how we know that we are viewing an idealized world, not the real world. In an idealized world, no one who enjoyed Absolut would have to worry about how she/he would get home safely, because the taxis would be there.The taxis deliver to real viewers and the fictional people in the artifact. ] This powerful campaign provides a framework for the culture of Absolut to establish a different viewpoint about the worl d in which people live; not only does this campaign function on multiple business levels, but it also speaks to consumers on a personal level by capturing pure emotions. This artifact depicts the desire for the perfect life. If taxis were always available, then would there be less drinking and driving? Could the Absolut world be the answer to drinking and driving?Given the opportunity, would people still take taxis home from the bar or use a designated driver, or is this notion of â€Å"absolute safety† real only In an Absolut world? According to the Center for Disease and Control (year), U. S. drivers got behind the wheel after drinking too much about 112 million times in 2010; of those 112 million, 4 out of 5 men were responsible (81%) for that statistic. [I think you should mention here that one way to ensure a complete end of drinking and driving would be to end drinking; however, such a solution would be ighly negative to Absolut’s bottom line, which is why a perf ect world according to Absolut still has drinking in it. The fact that they would ignore one solution to the social problem (drinking and driving) while advocating a second solution calls their credibility (ETHOS) into question, which also damages the effectiveness of the artifact. Don’t forget to connect to your method! ] Given the description, then, doing things differently can lead to extraordinary growth. Absolut’s message promotes a different impression of the brand.To establish this kind of message, it can be anticipated that it is useful to recall the past and to make guesses at the future (Stoner & Perkins, 2005). The In an Absolut World campaign comes from a credible company; the new campaign started after the successful 25 year run of another campaign, â€Å"Absolut _______† (which included memorable pieces such as â€Å"_____† and â€Å"_____†) (cite). [It’s another point about ethos, as far as I see it. Absolut built on the credi bility it had from the â€Å"Absolut ______† campaign to convince the audience to accept the â€Å"Absolut World† concept. Cicero’s canon of invention proves to be a useful lens with which to view and understand the artifact; given that the purpose of the piece is persuasion, the rhetor uses pathos and logos to enhance the article (in addition to the previously mentioned ethos that is also used). The need for a sober driver in any given situation is a logical argument. As indicated by the artifact’s warning to â€Å"Enjoy with Absolut Responsibility,† the company knows that drinking and driving leads to X deaths in the United States annually (cite).Absolut’s advocacy for a world where drinking and driving never mix is a suggestion based upon sound logic, and Absolut hopes the audience will respond favorably to that logic. Also, the artifact maintains a call of action to join the Absolut World—and in this perfect world, the creators as k their consumers to maintain the illusion. According to the New Scientist article, persuasion is a key element of all human interaction, from politics to marketing to everyday dealings with friends, family and colleagues. Persuasion is a basic form of social interaction,† says Eric Knowles (year), or a way in which people â€Å"build consensus and a common purpose† (p. #). Therefore, Absolut needs those who view the artifact to be persuaded not just to buy Absolut vodka, but also to believe in Absolut’s version of the world, in an attempt to bring that â€Å"Absolut† world to reality. Such lofty goals require expert use of ethos, pathos, and logos. According to Kenyon and Hutchinson (2007), Absolut advertisements include various socio-cultural references.The artifact simultaneously requests the responsibility of viewers in the real world, and celebrates the responsibility of the participants in the Absolut world. [Again, a really elegant point, but the ex planation that followed, the part you wrote (and I deleted), did not help make that great point concrete. Instead, you should point to pathos. The people in the Absolut world are presented as smart, responsible, and fun (you would include examples from the text to make that point†¦they are smiling and safe†¦whatever).The viewer in the real world wants to be seen as smart, responsible, and fun. Absolut creates here a feeling of wanting to be included and celebrated, which once again draws the audience closer to the brand. ] Absolut vodka has managed to maintain (and grow) the brand’s credibility, the emotions of the audience, and the logic of the message; therefore, the â€Å"In an Absolut World† taxi artifact is a successful example that builds a world of its own.This campaign and this artifact specifically make the viewer excited about the perfect world, while accepting and participating in the real world. Thus, the artifact has two results: the viewer feels positive about Absolut and may choose Absolut over another vodka brand, and the viewer might choose to embrace the Absolut world and the Absolut responsibility of avoiding drinking and driving. Would it really be so bad if the Absolut World intertwined with reality?Life is not designed to be easy, but if in fact it was the perfect, then imagine how different society would be. [Alyssa, you have lovely ideas†¦you just need to work on making the ideas full and complete, and then making sure your organization is seamless and smooth. ] +168/200. Works Cited Burke, G. K. (1932) â€Å"Towards a Better Life: Being a Series Epistles or Declamations, a Novel,† Harcourt, Brace and Company Ltd. CDC Features – Drinking and Driving: A Threat to Everyone. (n. d. ). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Retrieved October 5, 2012, from http://www. cdc. gov/Features/VitalSigns/DrinkingAndDriving Eight ways to get exactly what you want – life – 07 May 2008 â€⠀œ New Scientist. (n. d. ). Science news and science jobs from New Scientist – New Scientist. Retrieved October 5, 2012, from http://www. newscientist. com/article/mg19826551. 400-eight-ways-to-get-exactly-what-you-want. html Elliot, S. (2007, April 27) â€Å"In an ‘Absolut World,’ a Vodka Could Use the Same Ads for More Than 25 Years,† The New York Times. Retrieved Oct. 3, 2012. www. nytimes. com. Kenyon, J.A. , & Hutchinson, L. P. (2007) â€Å"Exploring rhetoric: alcohol and Absolut Vodka advertisements,† British Food Journal, Vol. 109 Iss: 8, pp. 594 – 607. Retrieved Oct. 3, 2012. www. emeraldinsight. com. Stoner, R. M. , & Perkins, J. S. (2005). â€Å"Making Sense of Messages: A Critical Apprenticeship in Rhetorical Criticism,† California State University pearsonhighered. com/educator/academic/product/0,3110,0205564518,00. html The official ABSOLUT website. (n. d. ). The official ABSOLUT website. Retrieved October 5, 2012, from htt p://www. absolut. com

On issue of reconstruction of Iraq after war Essay

One year after the war on Iraq was launched; the promise of improved human rights for Iraqi citizens remain far from realized, concludes a new report by Amnesty International. Twelve months on from the invasion of Iraq by the US-led coalition, the Iraqi people still suffer from serious human rights violations. The past year has seen scores of unarmed people killed due to excessive or unnecessary use of lethal force by Coalition forces during public demonstrations, at check points and in house raids. Thousands of people have been detained, often under harsh conditions, and subjected to prolonged and often unacknowledged detention. Many have been tortured or ill-treated and some have died in custody. Violence is endemic, whether in the form of attacks by armed groups or abuses by the occupying forces. Millions of people have suffered the consequences of destroyed or looted infrastructure, mass unemployment and uncertainty about their future. There is little or no confidence that all those responsible for human rights abuses, both past and present, will be brought to justice. After a year of war, lawlessness, spiralling violence and economic hardship, Iraqis face an uncertain future. For the next year to be better than the last, the occupying forces, Iraqi political and religious leaders and the international community must make a real commitment to protecting and promoting human rights in Iraq. A year after the war began Iraqi civilians are still being killed every day. Over 10,000 Iraqi civilians are estimated to have been killed since 18 March 2003 as a direct result of the military intervention in Iraq, either during the war or during the subsequent occupation. The figure is an estimate as the authorities are unwilling or unable to catalogue killings. Scores of civilians have been killed apparently as a result of excessive use of force by US troops, or have been shot dead in disputed circumstances. No US soldier has been prosecuted for illegally killing an Iraqi civilian. Iraqi courts, because of an order issued by the US-led authority in Baghdad in June 2003, are forbidden from hearing cases against US soldiers or any other foreign troops or foreign officials in Iraq. In effect, US soldiers are operating with total impunity. Iraqi civilians have also faced danger in the form of attacks, apparently carried out by armed groups that have been a growing feature of life in Iraq since the occupation began. The attacks have targeted the US military, Iraqi security personnel, Iraqi-controlled police stations, religious leaders and buildings, media workers, non-governmental organizations and UN agencies. They have resulted in the deaths of at least hundreds of civilians. To the extent that these bombings are part of a widespread or systematic attack on the civilian population of Iraq in furtherance of an organization’s policy, they would constitute crimes against humanity. The lack of law and order continues to be a major concern in many areas of Iraq. Ensuring justice is fundamental for the countless victims of human rights violations in Iraq. Iraqis have suffered decades of grave violations by their government as well as abuses committed during the course of several conflicts, including the recent war and its aftermath. Fundamental changes to Iraq’s legal, judicial and penal systems are needed. Human rights must be at the centre of all efforts to rebuild and reconstruct Iraq. A failure to fully protect human rights in the process of change would be a betrayal of the Iraqi people, who have suffered so much in the past. CURRENT RECONSTRUCTION MOVEMENT The hopes to American and British plans of reconstruction of Iraq have cast serious doubts whether it will serve the rights of the Iraqis or the economic ends of US and UK. George Bush and company having a clear idea of the destruction they will unleash on the Iraqi people is beyond doubt. However, that does not deter them from following this disastrous course of action. The US government is prepared to spend around $12bn on attacking Iraq. So far it has only offered $65 million to provide them with the basics of life. This $65 million is expected to last less than 6 months but that is all right according to the calculations of the Bush administration. By then, the world media would have moved on to some new crisis, just as Afghanistan is now relegated to the inner most pages of newspapers. This $65 million should help contain the misery of the Iraqi people within some parameters for the brief period of time that they expect the world to pay attention to Iraq. The real â€Å"reconstruction† of Iraq has the US and UK, along with their cronies, salivating. In the name of reconstruction they will receive lucrative contracts for their respective private sectors. In the case of Iraq, the oil company Halliburton, which incidentally was headed by US Vice President Dick Cheney between 1995-2000, has already been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to clean up the Iraqi oilfields after the devastation of war, especially if a retreating Iraqi army puts them to fire. Other American and British oil companies are likely to exert complete control of Iraqi oilfields. Since the market for oil is relatively price-inelastic, and does not lend itself well to brand differentiation, control of supplies is everything in this industry. The prizes don’t come any bigger than the Iraqi oilfields. Other equally substantial payoffs await these companies in the future. For instance, apart from the immediate profits and control of natural resources, first mover advantages in these markets are bound to be enormous. As Steven Schooner, a George Washington University law professor maintains â€Å"the most sophisticated firms that come in first, and establish good will with the locals obviously will reap huge benefits down the road. These are going to become brand names in Iraq.

What are the arguments for and against the state taking on responsibility for social welfare?

The different arguments for and against the state taking on responsibility for social welfare have been powerfully put across by people of opposing political persuasions in Britain over the last 60 years. In this essay, therefore, I intend to use Britain's welfare state to exemplify arguments for and against the state taking primary responsibility for social welfare. The welfare state in Britain was introduced in 1945 by the newly elected Labour government. Although this was the first comprehensive attempt at creating a functional welfare state it is important to note that it was not an entirely new policy. In fact, we can trace back to 1601 to find an early attempt at implementing a state welfare provision – the Poor Law. The theory behind this legislation was that the poor were to be categorized into the deserving (â€Å"the impotent poor†) and the undeserving (â€Å"the persistent idlers†). There were many obvious flaws in the methodology and logic in the implementation of the Poor Law but it must be recognised that this was an early attempt at providing a social welfare system. This demonstrates that for hundreds of years a case has been made for some measure of state social welfare provision. It is also vital not to underestimate the impact the studies carried out by social researchers such as Rowntree (1901) and Booth (1902) had on the forming and implementation of a social welfare provision in 1945. The Beveridge report (1942) pointed to the â€Å"chaotic† and â€Å"piecemeal† introduction of changes into the system and stated the need for a new and more comprehensive system to be installed. Beveridge's report was underpinned by the need to cure the â€Å"five giants†. Beveridge identified these â€Å"five giants† as: Idleness, Squalor, Ignorance, Want and Disease. He identified the need for a state commitment to securing full employment to combat idleness. He argued public housing must be available for all citizens to rent. To cure ignorance he suggested the need for a free education system for anyone up to the age of 15. He suggested the implementation of a national health service to help cure disease. Finally, Beveridge argued that National Insurance benefits should be handed out to all in need. The welfare state had to be introduced in a series of acts, notably the National Health Service Act (1946), the Education Act (1944), the Family Allowance Act (1945). At the time there was much reluctance towards carrying out all of the proposals. The arguments against this degree of state provision stemmed from concerns about cost and the fundamental principles of welfare (e. g. how decisions are made and who should be entitled to receive welfare). Because of the reluctance that grew from the fact that these arguments were never resolved. Beveridge's suggestions were never fully implemented but his ideas still clearly formed the inspiration for the future of welfare reform. One of the main criticisms of Beveridge's proposals and of the concept of a welfare state is that a number of important assumptions have to be made for it to function successfully. For example, within the report, Beveridge makes the assumption that married women would be full time housewives and that for most of their lives women would not be employed. Therefore, married women would only receive benefits through men, thus, creating a culture which encourages women's reliance on men. Because of this feminists have argued that the British welfare state relied on a â€Å"familial ideology† and treated women as second class citizens. This example of the role of women within the welfare state illustrates the point that any welfare system is not neutral that is based on ideological assumptions. These assumptions will influence the way that different members of the public will respond to state provision of welfare. Another example of these ideological assumptions would be the 17th century belief that only the â€Å"impotent poor† deserve state welfare. The economics of Britain's state welfare system have also come under a lot of criticism. These critics argue there are some fundamental flaws with the economic ideology underpinning the system. Firstly, for the welfare state to operate properly and fairly their must be nearly full employment in the country where it is based as, in theory, this will maximize tax revenue and minimize unemployment benefits. This system worked relatively effectively until the early 1970's. However, due to the relative decline of the UK economy, Britain suffered an economic crisis and unemployment started rising rapidly. Since then mass unemployment has been a serious problem within British society. Critics suggest that this is proof of how dependent a welfare state is on a prosperous economy. Basically this meant that the welfare state was reliant on capitalism – rather than contributing to the undermining or softening of its most brutal aspects . The New Right have made strong arguments against state welfare provision. The 1979 election brought into power a conservative government that had a new and radical approach to public expenditure and the welfare state as a whole. Probably the most notable change in policy brought in by the New Right was the end of the commitment to full employment that previous governments had encouraged. The New Right believed in a â€Å"natural level of employment†. They felt that this â€Å"natural level of employment† was being undermined by wages being too high due to the actions of trade unions. Therefore, they argued that the market would solve unemployment by creating downward pressure on wages. Because of this, the differential between wages and benefits was increased by creating downward pressure on benefit levels and therefore welfare expenditure. However, despite this right wing shift in political thinking, there was no major change in welfare expenditure until the late 1980's. The year 1988 was an important one in terms of implications for the welfare state as it represented a far more radical application of New Right thinking towards the welfare state. Firstly, the New Right introduced a shift from the previous system of universal provision towards a system based more upon selective provision. For example, some of the benefits that were previously available to everyone (universal) became only available to some via a â€Å"means test† (selective). This was a big move that completely contradicted the universal method employed by previous more left wing governments. Another change made by the New Right was the introduction of privatization and marketization. An example of this is the case of the sale of council houses. The public housing stock was privatized and sold off in an attempt to create a market for the council housing which had originally in Beveridge's thinking, been intended for public ownership and private rent. Another major shift made by the Conservative government was towards community care. There was a trend for mentally ill, elderly and disabled people to be moved from institutions to care in the community. However, what this basically meant was that rather than institutional care the responsibility was shifted onto the family. It is also very important to note that care in the community was considerably cheaper for the state to maintain than institutional care. The New Right also consciously made an effort to change the public's perception of welfare – shifting away from the view that the state is the only provider of welfare. The responsibility of the state was reduced through the encouragement of private provision and by emphasizing the importance of the charitable and voluntary sector. This is one of the central strands of the argument against state welfare provision. At this juncture it is important to consider the effect privatization has had on society and the welfare state. Since the New Right introduced new policy pertaining to welfare in 1979 there have been a number of examples of the UK government seeking to encourage private provision of welfare. People have been encouraged to take out private insurance plans for their welfare needs and the number of people covered by private health insurance rose from 2. million to 5. 2 million between 1976 and 1986 (Julian Le Grand, 1990). In the mid 1980's the Conservative government tried to shift sickness insurance and pension insurance into the private sector also. These plans, however, never came to fruition owing to major criticism and insurance companies expressing a reluctance to take up policies for all employees Hutton (1996) strongly criticizes the New Rights welfare expenditure policy. He argues against the belief that public expenditure should be reduced during troubled times for the economy. Hutton believes that the cuts are spurred by political ideology rather then by economic need. In Hutton's words â€Å"apart from Iceland, Britain runs the meanest, tightest, lowest-cost social security system in the world†. Hutton alleges that the twenty-first century will see a large rise in the amount of tax revenue available to fund welfare payments. The voluntary sector must also be discussed when considering arguments for and against the state taking on responsibility for the welfare state. Organizations such as Barnados, the Salvation Army and the NSPCC provide voluntary care. They serve a different role to statutory bodies set up by Parliament, but the views of these voluntary providers are respected and need to be taken into account as well. These organizations tend to have specialized expertise and experience in certain areas and the government can benefit from this knowledge. A major bonus of voluntary provision is that they are often very cost effective as unpaid volunteers are often used. It is estimated by Knapp (1989) that the total amount of public-sector support for voluntary provision between 1983 and 1986 was i3151 million. However, there are also inherent weaknesses in voluntary provision. The biggest and most blatant problem stems from the nature of voluntary work as it cannot be guaranteed. Critics also point to the fact that voluntary work may be unequally provided across the country. The service can therefore be inconsistent and the advice from the voluntary sector to government might differ depending on the region. It is also suggested that due to financial restrictions the voluntary sector will never be anything more than a secondary level service that relies on the state or private sector provision. Social security benefits are the most redistributive aspect of the welfare state as they distribute income to the poorest people in the country. A point in favour of a social welfare system, from a socialist or social democratic perspective, is that the social security benefits can be used to redistribute wealth to make society economically fairer by heavily taxing the rich and giving it to the poorest people in society. On the other hand, opponents see this as a Robin Hood aspect of state social welfare which demotivates both the richest and the poorest people in the country – encouraging idleness (one of the â€Å"five giants† beveridge was trying to eradicate) amongst the poor and encouraging the rich to leave the country. The New Right when in power, therefore, cut back on the redistributive aspects of welfare provision. The one-off grant system that was previously in effect was replaced in the 1986 and 1988 security acts and 16 to 18 year olds entitlement to income support was revoked. In current political debates the Conservative party, now in opposition frequently accuse the Labour party of redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor via â€Å"underhand† or â€Å"stealthy† methods. This is an indication that the argument about the extent to which the state should take responsibility for social welfare remains highly contested. Where you stand on this issue is fundamental to your political beliefs and how you will vote.