Definition and examples of Alphabet

An alphabet is made up of the letters of a language, arranged in the order fixed by custom. Adjective: alphabetic. The basic principle of alphabetic writing is to represent a single sound (or phoneme) of a spoken language by a single letter. But as Johanna Drucker notes in The Alphabetic Labyrinth (1995), This phonetic writing system is at best an approximation. The orthography of English, for instance, is notoriously plagued by inconsistencies and peculiarities. The First Alphabet In about 1500 B.C., the worlds first alphabet appeared among the Semites in Canaan. It featured a limited number of abstract symbols (at one point thirty-two, later reduced to twenty-two) out of which most of the sounds of speech could be represented. The Old Testament was written in a version of this alphabet. All the worlds alphabets descend from it. After the Phoenicians (or early Canaanites) brought the Semitic alphabet to Greece, an addition was made that allowed the sounds of speech to be represented less ambiguously: vowels. The oldest surviving example of the Greek alphabet dates from about 750 B.C. This is, via Latin and give or take a few letters or accents, the alphabet in which this book is written. It has never been improved upon. (Mitchell Stephens, The Rise of the Image, the Fall of the Word. Oxford University Press, 1998) The Greek Alphabet [T]he Greek alphabet was the first whose letters recorded every significant sound element in a spoken language in a one-to-one correspondence, give or take a few diphthongs. In ancient Greece, if you knew how to pronounce a word, you knew how to spell it, and you could sound out almost any word you saw, even if youd never heard it before. Children learned to read and write Greek in about three years, somewhat faster than modern children learn English, whose alphabet is more ambiguous. (Caleb Crain, Twilight of the Books. The New Yorker, Dec. 24 31, 2007)The Greek alphabet ... is a piece of explosive technology, revolutionary in its effects on human culture, in a way not precisely shared by any other invention. (Eric Havelock, The Literate Revolution in Greece and Its Cultural Consequences. Princeton University Press, 1981) While the alphabet is phonetic in nature, this is not true of all other written languages. Writing systems ... may also be logographic, in which case the written sign represents a single word, or ideographic, in which ideas or concepts are represented directly in the form of glyphs or characters. (Johanna Drucker, The Alphabetic Labyrinth. Thames, 1995) Two Alphabets English has had two different alphabets. Prior to the Christianization of England, the little writing that was done in English was in an alphabet called the futhore or runic alphabet. The futhore was originally developed by Germanic tribes on the Continent and probably was based on Etruscan or early Italic versions of the Greek alphabet. Its association with magic is suggested by its name, the runic alphabet, and the term used to designate a character or letter, rune. In Old English, the word run meant not only runic character, but also mystery, secret.As a by-product of the Christianization of England in the sixth and seventh centuries, the English received the Latin alphabet. (C.M. Millward, A Biography of the English Language, 2nd ed. Harcourt Brace, 1996) The Dual Alphabet The dual alphabet--the combination of capital letters and small letters in a single system--is first found in a form of writing named after Emperor Charlemagne (742-814), Carolingian minuscule. It was widely acclaimed for its clarity and attractiveness, and exercised great influence on subsequent handwriting styles throughout Europe. (David Crystal, How Language Works. Overlook, 2005) The Alphabet in an Early English Dictionary If thou be desirous (gentle Reader) rightly and readily to understand, and to profit by this Table, and such like, then thou must learne the Alphabet, to wit, the order of the Letters as they stand, perfectly without book, and where every Letter standeth: as b near the beginning, n about the middest, and t toward the end. (Robert Cawdrey, A Table Alphabetical, 1604) The Lighter Side of the Alphabet Educational television ... can only lead to unreasonable disappointment when your child discovers that the letters of the alphabet do not leap up out of books and dance around with royal-blue chickens. (Fran Lebowitz) Writers spend three years rearranging 26 letters of the alphabet. Its enough to make you lose your mind day by day. (attributed to Richard Price)Dr. Bob Niedorf: Name as many mammals as you can in 60 seconds. Ready? Go.George Malley: Hmm. 60 seconds. Well, how would you like that? How about alphabetical? Aardvark, baboon, caribou, dolphin, eohippus, fox, gorilla, hyena, ibex, jackal, kangaroo, lion, marmoset, Newfoundland, ocelot, panda, rat, sloth, tiger, unicorn, varmint, whale, yak, zebra. Now varmint is a stretch; so is Newfoundland (thats a dog breed); unicorn is mythical; eohippus is prehistoric. But you werent being very specific, now, were you, Bob?Dr. Bob Niedorf: Well! Ahh, Ill, uh--Ill try to be more specific.(Brent Spiner and John Travolta, Phenomenon, 1996) EtymologyFrom the Greek,  alpha  Ã‚  beta Pronunciation: AL-fa-BET

Essay Miss Selfridge Fashion Forecasting Report - 2890 Words

Assignment 2 The Summery of the Group Work A fashion forecasting report was conducted for Miss Selfridge Company to enable the development of new fashion ideas that would appeal to its customers. After getting familiar with the classic Miss Selfridge style and its history the research process had begun. One of the most useful resources for ideas were the Fashion weeks, showing collections of famous and up and coming designers in New York, London, Paris and Milan. The most coveted pieces, cuts, fabrics and colours were noted and further observed on reputable websites / such as Vogue.com, Style.com and Wsgn.com. /and in magazines / Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, Bazaar etc. /. The blogs of well-known fashion bloggers were also visited where†¦show more content†¦/Brassington, 2006, p.350/ The lifecycle of a product changes according to the changes in customer behaviour so predicting and anticipating the target audience`s reaction is crucial. The concept of the diffusion of innovation (Rogers, 1962) analyse the speed at which a new innovation – product – sweeps across the market as a whole. It is also very effective in the classification of customers depending on their speed of adoption. For Miss Selfridge the Innovators are the â€Å"shopaholic fashion followers†, who devote time and money to achieve the â€Å"just off the catwalk† look when the new season starts. Innovators are not the usual high street shoppers; they belong to a high social class with financial background to afford often couture, designer items. They are going help to get the product off the ground and in the process of gaining acceptance. They are the first â€Å"adverts† for the spring summer styles of 2012. Miss Selfridge`s Early adopters are the mid-20s high shoppers who are enthusiastic about fashion and while buying designer items they also visit high street stores. All the 3 trend developed will appeal to these customers who will have a major role in maximizing profit. They are also the ones who spread word-of-mouth recommendations about value, quality and benefits and together with the innovators they are the best advertisement for the company. The developed trends will thriveShow MoreRelatedAnalylis Primark22310 Words   |  90 Pages.......................................... 86 References ................................................................................................................................................ 93 PRIMARK Executive Summary This report consist of Primark Company‟s Strategic aspects. It contain detail analysis of Primark policies and future aspects. All strategies are derived accordingly the current market situations and competitive environment. So to round things off, Primark overallRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesworldwide, including China and India, and had regular summer 2 3 The Ministry of Sound was aiming for a stock market listing within a couple of years. Then things started to go wrong. The dance music on which the Ministry was based was going out of fashion. Dance music (including house, trance, techno, breaks and drum’n’bass music) saw its share of the UK singles market fall to 15.4 per cent in 2002, down from 34 per cent in 1991. Dance clubs were closing or downsizing, while live music audiences were

Bob Dylan Modern Times free essay sample

Here it is. After five years of waiting, Bob Dylans fans have their answer: Yes, hes still got it. â€Å"Modern Times† is hope for those of us who enjoy great music and disdain todays lack thereof. The fact that Bob Dylan can produce an album so worthy of acclaim 40 years into his career kindles the bright flame of optimism in the hearts of fans everywhere. The title â€Å"Modern Times† is a bit of a mystery. It seems to refer to â€Å"modern† not as in â€Å"current† but as in that mid-century â€Å"modern† we learn in English class. The cover photo of an old New York taxi hints at this, but the point is shown through the music. The sound moves from rock and roll to crooner style, to blues, to songs like â€Å"Nettie Moore,† which have no peer. In his great tradition of single-handedly revolutionizing sound, Dylan takes classic styles and makes them his own, refreshed and reborn. We will write a custom essay sample on Bob Dylan Modern Times or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With the shortest song just under five minutes, Dylan remains the king of lyrics. The words are streams of images and love poems, biographies and aphorisms. A large part of the flow is religious scenes and statements. Only musics greatest poet could work such visions into his songs without making it a Christian-rock album. This talent is used to provoke quite different scenes, too. It is doubtful that anyone else could work in a line like â€Å"The buying power of the proletariats gone down† and get away with it, which is reminiscent of his younger compositions (including 1965s â€Å"Ballad of a Thin Man† with its line â€Å"tax-deductible charity organization†). Dylan seems to have developed an affinity for electric guitars and memories of his youth, with as many as three guitars going at once and several mentions of his father. This is a far cry from his beginning: 43 albums and 44 years ago, he was a solitary acoustic finger picker with songs about dying, sorrow and the like. Some aspects of his earlier days do remain. â€Å"The Levees Gonna Break† seems quite similar to â€Å"Love and Theft† and â€Å"Summer Days.† Creating songs with the same sound but different lyrics is a method often utilized by Dylan in his younger days. Such classic reworked pairs include â€Å"Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues† and â€Å"Talking New York.† Each only builds strength though its familiarity with the performer and listener. In these â€Å"modern† times, Bob Dylan finds his best creative outlet in a mix of old sounds, familiar methods, and new inspirations. If it takes another five years for him to mull over what he has to say, we will be grateful for another morsel to add to his remarkable collection.

Integrating Poetry into a Learning Process

Poetry plays an important role in a learning process, specifically when poems are applied to teaching various disciplines. Although children sometimes prefer narrative verses to the lyrics ones, they can contribute greatly to improving pronunciation and spelling, as well memorizing various terms.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Integrating Poetry into a Learning Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is very important for teachers to introduce poetry in an oral form for children to develop their reading and speaking skills. Rhythm and rhyme, therefore, are crucial for attracting children attention and engaging them into accomplishing various assignments. Using rhythmic patterns allows children to develop a new understanding of various issues in reading, as well as invent new means of comprehension. Poetry, as an emotionally colored means of written text, comprises imagery and sound that contribute to advance ment of children’s intellectual and response mechanisms. Therefore, due to such important attributes of poetry, as rhythm, repetition patterns, and rhyme, children can significantly promote their understanding of complicated terms. More importantly, it also contributes to their memorizing skills. The interaction between children and poetry is characterized by strong materials (Glazer and Williams 271). These comprise good plots, rich settings, well-developed characters, vital and educative themes, and artistic styles that employ bold and creative language (Glazer and Williams 279). This element of novelty is developed by the author, who first understands and comprehends the nature of the audience, or the child age bracket (Glazer and Williams 282). The authors then proceed to prepare the content. It is a common argument among children poets that they create good pieces, irrespective of whether the children like them or not. According to Glazer and Williams (284), authors argu e that their compositions are built of strong materials, and the likes and silikes of children cannot be used as a basis for determingn the quality of the literatur. They further claim that poetry should be judged as literature on its own merit, and children should them be given the most appropriate literature (Glazer and Williams 298).Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lukens defines poetry as a concise, intense, and flamboyant type of literary work that employs the elements of sound and language to develop emotion and targeted notions. Poetry is aimed at developing emotional intensity through the use of rhythmic or figurative language. All forms of poetry, including children poetry use various styles to bring out the intended emotion. These styles include: â€Å"alliteration, metaphors, similes, symbolism, personification, assonance, consonance, allusion, onomatopoeia, in ternal rhyme, and rhyme scheme† (Likens 8). There are various forms of poetry including narrative poems, free verse, ballads, diamante, and cinquam. While considering poetry language and its value for developing children’s comprehension and memory, specific emphasis should be placed on literary and figurative devices. In particular, literary images include tactile, auditory, visual, kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory ones where figurative tools are composed of such stylistic devices as metaphor, personification, and simile (Russell 50). These qualities can help children broaden imagination and acquire new experience in operation various notions. Poetry language, therefore, is a powerful skill in exploring new dimensions of learning approaches. Visual tools represented in poem can help children to see the objects and describe them in the most effective way whereas tactile devices appeal to children’s sense of touch (Russell 50). Auditory skills can also be deve loped by reading and listening to poems. For instance, the poetic texts can allow children to distinguish a variety of animal sounds. Finally, there are poems performing kinesthetic functions that refer mostly to motions and actions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Integrating Poetry into a Learning Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such poetic works are helpful in case they are combined with the actions mentioned in the poem. The introduction of rhythmic patterns is helpful because they promote children memorizing skills. In this respect, poetry language can be indispensible to learning new figures in mathematics, natural phenomena, or the names of animals. Using metaphors, simile, and personification complements the meaning of the poetic works, as well as provide children with greater understanding of how various phenomena could be explained. Children are not attracted to reading as easily as grownups; therefore, their reading materials should not include difficult terms or abstract concepts. According to Hillman (34), poems and other literary works that are targeted at children display five key features. First, their characters are either children or portray childlike characteristics. Second, their context is based on typical childhood experiences that are expressed from a child’s perspective. Third, they use straightforward and direct plots that focus on the action or intended emotion. Fourth, they send out an image of innocence and optimism, such that they leave the audience emotional and happy. Fifth, they are based on both real and fictional events in order to enhance the sense of imagination. These characteristics are common among children authors since they portray the way that adults converse with children, using short and simple texts. Over the past few decades, there has been increased interest in the features of children poetry, which has led to a lot of research in that field (Russell 34). One of the areas under study involves the typical methods used to express children’s poetry.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These include vivid illustrations, humorous narrative, and simple and memorable lines. According to Russell (50), most of children’s poetry uses simple words and lines that children can comprehend and use in their activities. Complex terms and nonfigurative notions in poetry tend to discourage children from advancing their interest and comprehension of the concepts of poetry. Since children have low education level and minimal life experience, any poetry directed at them should have straightforward wording and language that the children can grasp with ease. Children still have a lot to learn, and their comprehension for poetry is still undeveloped. Children are more attracted to poetry that is written in their language compared to poetry that uses profound language that is beyond their age. Hence, children can only be interested in literary work that uses simple language to explain the idea, image, and action in poetry. Russell (58) also notes that children link poetry to fun , hence, children should find poetry amusing for them to be interested in it. Humor is a vital component that authors use to seize the attention of children and cause them to read. Children’s poetry is most successful in getting through to the readers if its combines simple words to describe situations that are familiar to the children with humorous narrative. Russell (62) states â€Å"children love silly nonsense that tickles their funny bones† to emphasize the vital role of humor in children poetry. For children authors to appeal to children with their poems, they need to consider the element of entertainment in the form of humor, since children are open and willing to try out fun things. Another area that has attracted a lot of research is the literary devices employed in children’s poetry. Such elements include lively imagery, rhythm and rhyme, personification and word-play. While rhythm and rhyme make the poems melodious, fun and easy to remember, lively im agery stimulates the various senses when children are reading poems (Lukens 76). Studies claim that imagery is one of the most valuable devices in children’s poetry (Lukens 76). In addition, research shows that children pay a lot of attention to imagery in poetry. Lukens (75) states that imagery is the most recurrently employed literary device, and most essential in the development of the setting and mood of the poem. Imagery also aids in enhancing the understanding of a concept and stretches the insight of the children when reading the poem (Lukens 86). Russell suggests that personification is a vital element in children’s poetry, especially for the very young. Personification involves the issuing of human qualities to inanimate objects, which makes poetry lively and attractive to children readers. Instances of personification such as a dancing cat or a talking car appeal to the animalistic view of children since it allows them to relate to poems that have both human and inanimate characters (Russell 91). Word play is also a vital component of children’s poetry that allows children to make up words as part of their learning process. Word-play employs the manipulation of words that make up the poem in a playful manner in order to appeal to the children. Children poems should aim at encouraging children to play with words, which add both humor and delight to the reading process. Word-play is most useful when reading the poems aloud, which enhances the pleasure of listening and uttering the words. Such sound patterns as rhythm and rhyme are inherent components that allow children to work out strategies for memorizing notion, definitions, and word combinations. Use of alliteration, consonance, assonance, and repetition provides more perspective for reading comprehension, as well as allows children to define which syllables are stressed and which ones are not. Other literary elements that are used in children’s narratives include plot, characterization, style, setting, theme, and point of view. Poems do not employ all these elements, though the ones used like theme and plot help to develop a memorable reading experience. Plots are vital in constructing the conflict, which builds the narrative to a happy ending in order for it to e appealing to the children. According to Lukens (99), plots involve a struggle that is overcome. These struggles can be in the form of person verses person, nature, society, or self (Likens 102). Based on the entities involved in the struggle, authors can employ the element of personification to portray diverse views of the scenario. Themes are vital elements that determine whether the children find it easy to understand the flow of the poem. Most of the themes considered in children’s poetry involve simple life experiences that they are familiar with. This allows them to relate to true experiences or familiar thoughts as the authors encourage them to use the element of imagery. Th e content of a poem can be based upon an experience like playing with friends, playing a video game, or facing punishment from parents. Such themes that provide content which is familiar to the children are useful in making successful children poetry. The development of children is based on the ideas of freedom and emotion that are expressed in their learning material (Glazer and Williams 301). As a result, authors should focus on delivering literature that is valuable in enhancing the productivity of the children. The focus of researchers on children literature is due to the challenges faced by authors who prepare their reading material. The content for children literature does not employ intricate concepts and vocabulary like that used for adult reading material. Hence, studies revolving around the appeal of children literature, and especially poetry, have revealed interesting concepts. The studies analyzed in this paper focus on the characteristics of children’s poetry bas ed on the analysis of techniques used to obtain the appropriate content. The deduction obtained emphasize on the use of familiar situations to develop themes and content for the poems, in order for the children to identify with them. In addition, there are specific expression techniques that appeal to children such as simple and memorable lines, humorous narrative, personification, and imagery. Lastly, authors also consider the plot and theme of the poems, since this provides the environment where the various styles like rhyme and word-play can be employed appropriately. Verses do not necessarily focus on explaining certain meanings and definitions. Rather, there are poems that seek to deliver comic themes that do not have sense, but which should be read by children to explain what rhyme, rhythm, and meter mean (Russell 52). The children poetry, therefore, can be used in form of a play to amuse children and attract their attention. With regard to the above-presented characteristics, poems can represent various themes and topics, including the once originating from real life and the ones coming from history (Russell 52). There are also narrative poems that cover story poems based on themes about various characters and plots and lyric poetry that is premised on ancient Greek poetry. Due to the variety and great availability of poetry, teachers heavily employ it in a learning process. Reading poetry aloud is among the most efficient strategies because children’s oral language forms the basis for later development of literacy. Reading activities should be based on understanding meaning, as well as all unknown words (Russell 52). Attention should also be given to punctuation, stress, and rhythmic patterns. It is also important to use poems for dramatic performance. Use of special effects, as well as decorations, can enhance children’s motivation to take part in the activity. Choral poetry is another approach that can be applied by teacher to encourage children’s participation. Incorporating gestures, movements, and body language will help children understand how to work in teams. Choral pronunciation of poetry can also teach children to adjust to the rhythm. In addition, there could be various options while reading poems in groups, including solo, unison, or three-to-five people groupings. During such activities, perfection of pronunciation and sense of rhythm should be the main purpose. Once all the approaches and activities are properly managed, children may proceed with making up simple verses, which also contributes to the development of imagination. In conclusion, such qualities of poetry as rhythm, rhyme, as well as use of imaginary and figurative devices, contribute to learning experience of children. Specifically, teachers can introduce various activities, including reading aloud, pronouncing words, and developing performances. Integrating poetry into a learning process is indispensible to developing children†™s memorizing skills and enhancing their understanding of various notions that relate to auditory and visual phenomena. Applying poem to learning various disciplines, therefore, can contribute to broadening children’s imagination. Overall, poetic language is much simpler than prose narrative because it has repetitive patterns. Works Cited Glazer, Joan I. and Gurney Williams. Introduction to Children’s Literature. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 1979. Print. Hillman, Judith. Discovering Children’s Literature 3rd Edition. New Jersey; Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall, 2003. Print. Lukens, Rebecca J. A critical handbook of children’s literature. London: Good Year, 1986. Print. Russell, David. L. Literature for children: A short introduction. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2005. Print. This essay on Integrating Poetry into a Learning Process was written and submitted by user Maya D. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

An Employment Law Compliance Plan for Landslide Limousines

An Employment Law Compliance Plan for Landslide Limousines Mr. Bradley Stonefield must observe all employment laws in Austin, TX for the new limousine service. Throughout processes that would involve the 25 employees, Mr. Stonefield must ensure compliance with the law for the success of the business. Failure to comply with these laws could result into long legal tussles with employees and their representatives and cause financial ruin to the company.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on An Employment Law Compliance Plan for Landslide Limousines specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This memo focuses on relevant employment laws as well as how they are legally used. In addition, the memo explores consequences of failure to comply with the employment laws. These laws are different, but an employer must observe all of them, including others not covered in this memo. The memo focuses on four employment laws that Landslide Limousines must observe. These employment laws include Texas Pa yday; Texas Minimum Wage Act; the Texas Child Labor Law; and Employment Discrimination. The Employment Laws for Austin, TX and Consequences of Noncompliance Texas Payday Texas Labor Code has a provision for the Texas Payday Law. The law accounts for all private business organizations, irrespective of their sizes. Any person that engages in service provision for payment is regarded as an employee, apart from relatives and independent contractors. There are specific payments that fall under the Texas Payday Law. The company will account for all compensations irrespective of how they are calculated; commissions and bonuses based on the agreement; and specific fringe benefits due based on a written agreement or the company’s policy. Noncompliance with the Texas Payday Law has severe consequences to an employer. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) investigates and determines if an employer did not obey the law and acted in a bad faith. The TWC reviews administrative penalty again st the employer equivalent to the wages claimed or $1,000, whichever is less. At the same time, any employee who files a complaint in a bad faith may also bear similar penalties. Overall, it is against the law for an employer to fail to pay wages after receiving notification from TWC and to hire or continue to employ a person with the intent of not paying due wages.Advertising Looking for coursework on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Texas Minimum Wage Act The TWC offers information to both the employer and employee on the Texas Minimum Wage Act, and their respective duties, rights and remedies under the Act. The Act requires an employer to have a minimum wage for non-exempt employees, provide written statements of employees’ earnings, recognize the TWC as an agency responsible for providing information on Texas minimum wage provisions, offering civil remedies and exempting certain employers from th e Act. Currently, Texas has adopted the Federal Minimum Wage of the year â€Å"2009, which was $7.25 per hour†. The Act does not bar employees from bargaining for higher wages. Employers could include tips, meals and lodging costs to the minimum wage, but only under specific restrictions. An employer may not compensate workers who reside on the business premise for on-call time together with the normal working hours. In some instances, an employer may continue to pay sub-minimum wages to employees who have certain medical conditions, particularly mental illness. Any employer who pays lower than the legal minimum wage may face legal action from employees. An employee can file a complaint within two years from the due date to claim the unpaid wages and any amount incurred as damages. In addition, the employer must bear legal costs. The Texas Child Labor Law The law considers employees under the age of 18 years. The Texas Child Labor Law protects children from harmful employment . In addition, it does not allow any child under the age of 14 years to be employed, except under certain situations.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on An Employment Law Compliance Plan for Landslide Limousines specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The TWC also controls all issues related to child employment with the aim of protecting the rights to education, health, safety and well-being. The TWC has a right to inspect the working condition for children, and employers who hinder investigation could face criminal charges. Businesses must observe the state law, â€Å"except entities subjected to the Federal law of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)†. Driving Under the Texas State Law, children may be employed to operate a motor vehicle for a commercial purpose under specific conditions. The child may work under direct supervision of their parents or legal guardian in their business. The child must have a valid driver’s license. Children may work in businesses where they do not require a commercial license to conduct the job. Finally, a child cannot operate a vehicle with more 15,000 pounds of total weight and has over two axles. In addition, Texas State Law requires children between the age of 14 and 15 years old not to work for more than 8 hours in a day, 48 hours in a week and cannot report to work before 5 a.m. Still, children cannot work after 10 p.m during school days and past midnight on other days. Any violation of the â€Å"Texas Child Labor Law is a Class B misdemeanor†. Nevertheless, if a person employs a child who does not meet the minimum age requirement for â€Å"a type of employment, but did so in good faith relying on an apparently valid certificate of age, then that may be a defense against prosecution†. Therefore, noncompliance with the Texas Child Labor Law is a criminal offense with criminal penalties. In addition, the TWC may evaluate all administr ative penalties against the employer of up to $10,000 per violation. Employment Discrimination A former, current, or prospective employee can complain against an employer in the State of Texas under the Texas Labor Code. The TWC reviews many cases related to employee discrimination on the following areas:Advertising Looking for coursework on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Not hired due to a disability Gender Nationality of origin Race or ethnic Harassment based on age differences Denial of benefits due to pregnancy Retaliation against employees because of filing a complaint For example, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits discrimination based on employee age, particularly employees who are over 40 years of age. Employers must not discriminate because of age when hiring, promoting, discharging, compensating, or on other terms of the employment policy (Ray, Sharpe, Strassfeld, 2011). Employers who fail to comply with this Act may be fined up to $500 or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding a year or face charges on both counts. The TWC shall review all discrimination complaint and works with its Civil Rights Division (a neutral investigator) to ascertain if any discrimination took place under the Texas Labor Code. The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for solving any employment discrimina tion in the State of Texas. It is against the Texas Labor Code for any employer to retaliate against employee because of filing a discrimination complaint, supporting a complaint, opposing discrimination or engaging in a proceeding. Therefore, an employer cannot dismiss, demote or harass any employees on such grounds. Texas Labor Code on employee discrimination affects employers with more than 15 employees. Recommendations on how Landslide Limousines can be compliant The Texas Workforce Commission is responsible for ensuring that all employers in Austin, TX adhere to the Texas Labor Code. These laws were enacted to protect both the employer and employees from any forms of abuse and exploitation. Failure to comply with the Texas Labor Code has legal penalties and financial implications for the company. Mr. Bradley Stonefield, therefore, should consider the following recommendations when handling employee issues for Landslide Limousines. Both the employer and employees should underst and the Texas Labor Code to allow them to observe their rights and obligations Landslide Limousines should not employ any child because of difficulties in meeting requirements associated with child labor in Texas The company must not discriminate any potential employees based on their age, nationality, race, gender and disabilities among others In case of any employment discrimination against Landslide Limousines, the company should not retaliate against employees, potential employees or former employees The employer and the employee must understand the role of Texas Workforce Commission, Civil Rights Division, and the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Employees and the employer must not act in bad faith against each other References Gould IV, W. (2013). A Primer on American Labor Law (5th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Ray, D., Sharpe, C., Strassfeld, R. (2011). Understanding Labor Law (3r ed.). New York: LexisNexis. Texas Workforce Commission. (2014). Employment Law: Discrimination, Wages Child Labor. Web.

Congratulations to the MCA award winners - Emphasis

Congratulations to the MCA award winners Congratulations to the MCA award winners Congratulations to all the winners at the MCA Awards Dinner 2012, which was recently held at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London. The Platinum Award winner was PA Consulting, for its work with the Ministry of Defence to improve protection against explosive devices, which is now saving lives in Afghanistan. Emphasis sponsored the Customer Engagement award, which went to Transform (pictured here with Emphasis CEO Rob Ashton), for its work with Argos. Transform gave the high-street retailer a new strategy that brought it closer to its customers through texts and its own TV channel. We were delighted to entertain guests from Boxwood, Ernst Young, Grant Thornton, Marks Spencer and Nabarro at our table, and look forward to seeing you all again soon. For the full list of winners, click here.

Quantitative research article critique Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quantitative article critique - Research Paper Example he discusses aspects of the Charter schools as established by the Texas’ legislature, explores their operations, and explains that the legislature established Charter schools in the year 1995, allowing the special schools to operate independently from state regulations that govern district schools. A series of registrations under the Charter followed and the state legislature had to increase the minimum number of Charters to be offered. Schools that specialized in education for at-risk students were however excluded for the limitation on the number of Charters to be offered. Five years after the Charter legislation, the state had offered 178 charters, out of which 140 were operational. The rest had planned to commence operations later while six of the awarded schools had returned their charters and the board had revoked charters for three schools because of administrative or financial technicalities. Almost half of the charter schools served secondary schools while 21 percent served elementary schools, 18 percent served all grades, and 12 percent served other special grades. The schools had an average enrolment rate of 198 students, a rate lower than that for normal public schools. Enrolment however has a wide range and deviation. Analysis of students’ characteristics shows that chatter schools had higher proportions of minority students than normal public school did. Charter schools that offer services to at-risk students however had significant contribution to the observed proportion because of the higher incidence of minority students. Other types of charter schools however have lower percentages of minority students (Clark, 2000). Attendance at elementary and middle levels of chatter schools was similar to attendance in ordinary public schools but is lower at high school level. Higher student mobility was also reported among charter schools. Faculty composition of schools identifies more non-certified teachers in charter schools that among traditional

American history Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

American history - Research Paper Example s abolished more than one hundred and fifty years ago, the legacy of slavery continues to have important ramifications on the lives of African-Americans today. Accordingly, African-Americans have lower-life expectancies than their white counterparts and the insidious legacy of slavery has many ramifications. Seeking to understand the paradox of American liberty and a shameful legacy of slavery, Edmund S. Morgan does an excellent job highlighting an oft-ignored aspect of American history with ramifications on the lives of Americans today (see Williams and Tucker 2000; Morgan 3-13 ). Seeking to highlight the American history of slavery, Edmund S. Morgan demonstrates that while the United States evolved during the concept of freedom and liberty from colonial Britain, to a large extent â€Å"Americans bought their independence with slave labor† (3). Many of the founders – paternally referred to as the Fathers of Independence – were slaveholders themselves and their concept of freedom pertained only to a certain class of people. Most often, their notions of freedom were limited and excluded non-whites, women and those without property. Thus, this concept of freedom, so engrained in the American psyche and so much a part of the American historical narrative, was a limited sort of freedom which was inherently exclusionary and certainly not universal. Furthermore, when Thomas Jefferson, the world-renowned spokesperson for American freedom and liberty, discussed the abolition of slavery, â€Å"he found it inconceivable that the freed slaves should be allowed to remain in the country..† (8). Exploring racial discrimination in both England and the American colonies during the late period of British rule in the Americas, Morgan argues that the dual and polarizing concepts of slavery and freedom were both â€Å"intertwined and interdependent, the rights of Englishmen supported on the wrongs of Africans...The American Revolution only made the contradictions more

The Fossil Fuels Essay Example for Free

The Fossil Fuels Essay Fossil Fuels are a non-renewable energy source. They are found in Earth’s depositions made over millions and millions years ago and are called non-renewable because they can’t be used again once they are spent. There are three major forms of fossil fuels: coal, oil and natural gas. COAL Coal is made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and some amounts of sulphur -Three main types of coal: †¢Anthracite : the hardest and has the most carbon in it, meaning higher energy content †¢Lignite: softest, low in carbon, but high in oxygen hydrogen †¢Bituminous: All of the above found in similar amounts Coal is mined out of the ground using various methods. Some coal mines are dug by sinking vertical or horizontal shafts deep underground, and coal miners travel by elevators or trains deep underground to dig the coal. Other coal is mined in strip mines where huge steam shovels strip away the top layers above the coal. The layers are then restored after the coal is taken away. The coal is then shipped by train and boats and even in pipelines. In pipelines, the coal is ground up and mixed with water to make whats called slurry. This is then pumped many miles through pipelines. At the other end, the coal is used to fuel power plants and other factories. OIL Oil is the second main type of Fossil Fuels, and is formed 300 million years ago, same as coal did. It has been used for more than 5,000-6,000 years. Oil contains carbon, same as all Fossil Fuels and is found on the bottom of the sea. How? Well, the carbon found on the sea bottom, eventually turned into oil under great pressure and heat. As the earth changed and moved and folded pockets where oil and natural gas can be found were formed. To find oil and natural gas, companies drill through the earth to the deposits deep below the surface. The oil and natural gas are then pumped from below the ground by oil rigs (like in the picture). They then usually travel through pipelines or by ship. NATURAL GAS Natural gas is lighter than air. It is mostly made up of methane. Methane is a simple chemical compound that is made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Its chemical formula is CH4 – one atom of carbon along with four atoms hydrogen. This gas is highly flammable. Natural gas is usually found near petroleum underground. It is pumped from below ground and travels in pipelines to storage areas. Benefits of Fossil Fuels Fossil Fuels bring a lot to the world. Currently they are the most used source of energy. There are reasons for that. To start with, they produce large amounts of energy from a little amount of fuel. That is highly economically beneficial. Also, just the fact that Fossil Fuels are the most common used means a lot Industrial revolution has popularized the usage of fossil fuel in the entire planet. That resulted in most of machines, devices, vehicles depend on the fossil fuels, may it be coal, petroleum or natural gas. Also, it is much simpler to use and extract energy when most of the machinery is set for Fossil Fuels what makes them easily available too when you think about it. Sustainable fuel sources like solar, wind or geothermal have complex process to harness energy from them. Limitations of Fossil Fuels Unfortunately, Fossil Fuels carry more limitations than benefits. It is up to each person to decide if the benefits are really dominant over limitations. They are non-renewable which their main limitation is because as they are extracted to an unlimited level it is for sure that they will deplete some day or the other. Since they are non-renewable it is likely that fuels expenses will face a hike in near future. It would take millions of years to replace coal, and oil, and we are using them quickly. Fossil fuels are the major energy source, as previously mentioned, but still when over consumption takes place lead to disastrous effects such as air pollution. Also, burning of fossil fuels releases: carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide etc. Those have severe consequences on the habitats. Then they also affect human health, because of all the substances are released that we breathe in. Also, the ozone layer is being worn-out due to the release of greenhouse gases from the fuels. Hence, ozone holes are being created from which harmful UV rays enter the earth surface that affect human life causing diseases like cancer. Environmental Risks As it is possible to tell from all the limitations mentioned, the Fossil Fuels really do put the Earth in a great environmental risk every day. Other than previously mentioned, there are also a few examples of Fossil Fuels having an impact on the environment. For example: acid rain. When burnt, sulphur dioxide gas is also produced which is the factor for acid rain. Acid rain leads to destruction of monuments made up of brickwork or marbles, even crops are affected due to acidification of loams. Then the coal mining results in destruction of abundant lands and also endangers the lives of mineworkers. The natural gas causes nasty smells and also a lot of problems with transportation. Also, there is a great impact on the aquatic life. Transportation of crude oil causes oil spills over seas reasoning to hazards to the aquatic life by lessening the oxygen content of water. Renewable types of fuels are much better than Fossil Fuels. Yes/No? As the years go on, and the amounts of Fossil Fuels are decreasing, a new, non-renewable energy has been introduced. It is a great question whether it is better and even doable to switch completely to the renewable energy. Renewable energy is the energy which is generated from natural sources i.e. sun, wind, rain, tides and can be generated again and again as and when required. They are available in plenty and by far most the cleanest sources of energy available on this planet. For eg: energy that we receive from the sun can be used to generate electricity. Similarly, energy from wind, geothermal, biomass from plants, tides can be used to fulfill our daily energy demands. [4] There are pros and cons to this new, renewable energy. To start with the pros, firstly and most importantly, all the sources for this type of energy are in an abundant quantity and free to use. Then they are much more environmentally friendly, meaning much lower pollutants emission. Also, renewable energy helps in stimulating the economy and creating job opportunities. The money that is used to build these plants can provide jobs to thousands to lakhs of people. The cons of this renewable energy are that it is not easy to set up a plant for the extraction of energy and that it would cost a lot more because we will have to adapt everything we have to something new, more complicated. Then, almost every type of renewable energy is dependent on the weather conditions, parts of the day, week, and months. It is not reliable all the time. With all of this stated and the pros and cons of the non-renewable energy I must conclude that renewable types of fuels are better. Yes, there are limitations to both but the crucial thing with the renewable energy is that it saves the environment in a much greater measure and that is what matters the most. The cost for the switch to renewable energy will cost a lot but it pays of much more because if we don’t nurture the place we live in it will no longer be a nice place to stay in. Governmental actions There are steps being taken because people nations worldwide are becoming more aware of the environmental risks for which the Earth is being exposed to with the non-renewable energy consumption. Besides the new movements, actions and propaganda for lowering the Fossil Fuels usage, there have been laws brought by many nations together to save the environment, such as the Clean Air Act. This act focused on the reduction of sulfur, nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions. An example of newer actions is Denmark whose goal is to completely get rid of the usage of Fossil Fuels by 2050. From 1980 till 2010 the share of renewable energy in Denmark rose from 3 % to 19 %. With this strategy the rise will continue to 33 % by 2020, meaning a full third of our energy will be produced by green energy primarily wind and biomass. And finally, up until 2050 the fossil fuels energy will be almost non-existent.

The Life and Literary Work of Kate Chopin Essay example -- Biography B

The Life and Literary Work of Kate Chopin Courageous . . . daring . . . innovative . . . all aptly describe Kate Chopin, American short story writer, novelist, poet, and essayist. Timeless classics, Kate Chopin’s works of the late nineteenth century remain rare jewels and priceless gifts to the literary world today. Born Katherine O’Flaherty on February 8, 1851, in St. Louis, Chopin was the daughter of a prominent Irish merchant and an aristocratic French-Creole mother. Chopin’s roots in, and familiarity with, two distinctly different cultures were important on both a personal and creative level throughout her life. As a member of a slave-owning family and an elite social circle, Chopin was exposed to people of diverse color and background, many of whom provided the basis for her later writings. Kate Chopin was one of five children; and the only one to survive past the age of twenty-five. Chopin’s father was killed in a train accident when Chopin was only four years old, leaving her to be reared under the strong maternal influences of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. These determined women and life’s harsh losses taught Chopin valuable lessons of strength and independence. Kate Chopin’s formal education began when she was five years old at Sacred Heart Academy, a catholic school, and she graduated at seventeen. She had been an honor student, was widely read, and spoke two languages fluently. Upon graduation, Chopin entered the social life of St. Louis, and was noted to be "one of the acknowledged belles of St. Louis, a favorite not only for her beauty, but also for her amiability of character and her cleverness" (Seyersted 23). By this time, she loved (and was accomplished at) reading, music, and wr... ...sity Press, 1971. Kunitz, Stanley J. & Howard Haycroft, eds. American Authors 1600-1900, A Biographical Dictionary of American Literature. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1938. Magill, Frank M. Great Lives From History, American Women Series II. Pasadena: Salena Press, 1995. Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 6: American Naturalism: Kate Chopin (1851-1904)." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature A Research and Reference Guide. WWW URL: http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap6/chopin.html (May 28, 1998). Seyersted, Per. Kate Chopin, A Critical Biography. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1980. Toth, Emily. "A New Biographical Approach." Approaches to Teaching Chopin’s The Awakening. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1988. Voetteler, Thomas, ed. Short Story Criticism. Volume 8. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1991, 63-65.

Themes of Romeo and Juliet

Themes of â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† Love as a Cause of Violence The themes of death and violence permeate Romeo and Juliet, and they are always connected to passion, whether that passion is love or hate. The connection between hate, violence, and death seems obvious. But the connection between love and violence requires further investigation. Love, in Romeo and Juliet, is a grand passion, and as such it is blinding; it can overwhelm a person as powerfully and completely as hate can.The passionate love between Romeo and Juliet is linked from the moment f its inception with death: Tybalt notices that Romeo has crashed the feast and determines to kill him Just as Romeo catches sight of Juliet and falls instantly in love with her. From that point on, love seems to push the lovers closer to love and violence, not farther from it. Romeo and Juliet are plagued with thoughts of suicide, and a willingness to experience it: in Act 3, scene 3, Romeo brandishes a knife in Friar Lawrence's c ell and threatens to kill himself after he has been banished from Verona and his love.Juliet also pulls a knife in order to take her own life in Friar Lawrence's resence Just three scenes later. After Capulet decides that Juliet will marry Paris, Juliet says, â€Å"If all else fail, myself have power to die† This theme continues until its inevitable conclusion: double suicide. This tragic choice is the highest, most potent expression of love that Romeo and Juliet can make. It is only through death that they can preserve their love, and their love is so profound that they are willing to end their lives in its defence.In the play, love emerges as an amoral thing, leading as much to destruction as to happiness. But in its extreme passion, the love that Romeo and Juliet experience also appears so exquisitely beautiful that few would want, or be able, to resist its power. Fate From the beginning, we know that the story of Romeo and Juliet will end in tragedy. We also know that the ir tragic ends will not result from their own personal defects but from fate, which has marked them for sorrow. Emphasizing fate's control over their destinies, the Prologue tells us these â€Å"star-crossed lovers'† relationship is deathmarked.In Act l, Scene it, as Lord Capulet's servant is searching for someone ho can read the guest list to him, Benvolio and Romeo enters Completely by chance, Capulet's servant meets Romeo and Benvolio, wondering if they know how to read. This accidental meeting emphasizes the importance of fate in the play. Romeo claims it is his â€Å"fortune† to read † indeed, â€Å"fortune† or chance has led Capulet's servant to him † and this scene prepares us for the tragic inevitability of the play. The lovers will be punished not because of flaws within their personalities but because fate is against them.Ironically, the servant invites Romeo to the Capulet's house, as long as e is not a Montague, to â€Å"crush a cup of w ine. † Only fate could manufacture this unlikely meeting with Capulet's illiterate servant, as only fate will allow Romeo to trespass into the Capulet's domain and meet Juliet. In Romeo and Juliet, death is everywhere. Even before the play shifts in tone after Mercutio's death, Shakespeare makes several references to death being Juliet's bridegroom. The threat of violence that pervades the first acts manifests itself in the latter half of the play, when key characters die and the titular lovers approach their terrible end.There are several ways in which the characters in Romeo and Juliet consider death. Romeo attempts suicide in Act Ill as an act of cowardice, but when he seeks out the Apothecary in Act V, it is a sign of strength and solidarity. The Chorus establishes the story's tragic end at the beginning of the play, which colours the audience's experience from the start – we know that this youthful, innocent love will end in tragedy. The structure of the play as a tragedy from the beginning makes Romeo and Juliet's love even more heart breaking because the audience is aware of heir impending deaths.The Journey of the play is the cycle from love to death – and that is what makes Romeo and Julie so lasting and powerful. Age Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare establishes the ideological divide that often separates youths from adults. The characters in the play can all be categorized as either young, passionate characters or older, more functional characters. The youthful characters are almost exclusively defined by their energy and impulsiveness – like Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio, and Tybalt. Meanwhile, the older characters all view the orld in terms of politics and expediency.The Capulet and Montague patriarchs are certainly feisty competitors, but think in terms of victory as a concept, ignoring the potential emotional toll of their feud. Friar Laurence, who ostensibly represents Romeo and Juliet's interests, sees their union i n terms of its political outcome, while the young lovers are only concerned with satisfying their rapidly beating hearts. While Shakespeare does not posit a moral to the divide between young and old, it appears throughout the play, suggesting that the cynicism that comes with age is one f the many reasons that humans inevitably breed strife amongst themselves.It also implicitly provides a reason for young lovers to seek to separate themselves from an ‘adult' world of political violence and bartering. Revenge Romeo and Juliet suggests that the desire for revenge is both a natural and a devastating human quality. From the moment that the play spirals towards disaster in Act Ill, most of the terrible events are initiated by revenge. Tybalt seeks out Romeo and kills Mercutio from a half-cooked desire for revenge over Romeo's attendance at he masquerade ball, and Romeo kills Tybalt to avenge Mercutio.Romeo's desire for revenge is so overpowering that he does not pause to think abou t how his attack on Tybalt will compromise his recent marriage to Juliet. Of course, the basic set-up of the play is contingent on a long-standing feud between the Montagues and Capulets, the cause of which no longer matters. All that matters is that these families have continued to avenge forgotten slights for generations. Though Shakespare rarely, if ever, moralizes, Romeo and Juliet certainly presents revenge as a senseless action

Wal-Mart Negotiation Analysis

Although it was several years ago now, in 1988 a 24-year old man was injured at his local Wal-Mart store after tripping over several rocking chairs. The man claims that as he turned the corner of an aisle he tripped over three 1. 5 foot-high children’s rocking chairs, which caused several injuries, some of which were lacerated forehead, several strains and sprains, a jaw injury and even blackout spells (Laska, 2000). This example of a negotiation lawsuit would classify as a distributive negotiation because of several different reasons. First, the only item of value being discussed is settlement money, and in order for the negotiation to be considered an integrative negotiation, the opposing parties typically have additional items of value to discuss for trade. Also, there is no personal relationship between the opposing sides of the negotiation, which in this particular case are the Wal-Mart Corporation and the injured man. Finally, a distributive negotiation is considered to be a win-lose scenario and clearly, either the man or the Wal-Mart Corporation would win the negotiation. Originally, the injured man sued the company for $100,033. 57, and although the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in his favor, the amount was lowered. The jury determined that although his injuries were worth compensation, $73,525. 18 was considered a more appropriate sum. In addition, the plaintiff’s wife was awarded $10,000 for loss of consortium. Even though some people may feel as though an injury due to tripping over a child’s toy is a case that does not hold much water, fortunately for the injured man his case was fairly cut and dry. The store could have prevented the injury if the rocking chairs were properly displayed. Therefore the store was responsible and held liable. This type of negotiation is intended for the benefit of one party and is typically settled out of court because companies try to avoid court appearance when possible. Integrative Article: NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Although the National Basketball Association will be facing changes to their Collective Bargaining Agreement within the next year, the most recent negotiation, which is held between players and teams, was held in 2005. This negotiation is intended to discuss important terms in the players’ contracts, which include salary amounts, length of contracts, rookie salary terms, and salary caps. On the other end of the negotiation, the teams are interested in discussing factors such as trade rules, the escrow level, and the allowed tax on the teams (Morton, 2010). This article demonstrates an integrative negotiation because it is more of a win-win scenario for the opposing parties, which as previously mentioned, include the players and the teams. Since both parties have much to gain from the agreement, they are willing to put more on the table. Also part of an integrative negotiation, both parties have not only their best interest in mind, but also the interest of the opposing side, primarily because of the relationship established between the two. The players and teams are interested in the well being of each other because both are affected by each other. This demonstrates why distributive negotiations are different from integrative, because there is no relationship between the two parties. Although integrative negotiations are often successful, most negotiations are distributive because most opposing parties are not interested in the other. This type of negotiation technique is intended for a established pair of negotiators. Examples in the Workplace Considering that I work in a childcare center, negotiation strategies are not commonly used. However, a childcare director would have a few different scenarios in which negotiation techniques could be beneficial. Although in society today, distributive negotiations are much more common, integrative negotiations are used more often in childcare, in fact, they are used more often in most workplaces. One example of how integrative negotiations are used is through a request for a pay raise. Just like the article examining the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, I have used integrative negotiation techniques in the past when I asked for an hourly pay raise. Instead of demanding a raise, which would be more like a distributive negotiation, I discussed how both the center that I work for and myself would benefit from a raise. I explained what I had to offer the company in exchange for the raise, while the benefit to myself is obviously of monetary value. It is similar to the saying, you will catch more bees with honey than vinegar, I will have more success in getting what I am asking for by being professional and polite than by having high expectations and demanding to get what I ask for. Although both types of negotiation techniques can be successful in the appropriate setting, integrative negotiations are more practical for my line of work.

Job Shop Layout Essay example

Job Shop Layout Essay example Job Shop Layout Essay example Job Shop Layout Excel Case Problem MBAA 607 Operation Analysis By: Audra Halim Due Date: 4/7/15 a) The total number of feet all workers combined must move during a day’s operation with the current, baseline layout is 72,720 feet b) . NEW LAYOUT B C1 C2 Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 F W C3 Area 4 Area 5 Area 6 R S G A Area 7 Area 8 Area 9 Area 10 c) The total number of feet all workers combined must move during a day’s operation with the new layout is 33,720 feet d) (72,720-33,720)/72,720*100= 53.63%. I would expect at least with the new joint over the old joint is 53.63% improvement because with all other things equal, the operation cost of the old joint is 72,720 and the new joint 33,720, we can calculate that at least we should have improvement at least 53.63% from the reduction in the operation cost. e) Since, I cannot change the location of all cashier, I need to see which work areas that cashier goes a lot. From the from/to matrix, we can see that the highest number of worker-trips made from cashier is to warmer so that is why I put the warmer (w) in area 5 and I put here so it will be closed with all the cashier. The next thing that I look is which work area that has the highest number from warmer and I see that number of worker-trips made from warmer to fryer is the highest so I put fryer (F) in are 4 rather than area 1 because area 4 has shorter distance than area 1 from area 5. I don’t put the fryer in area 9 because I need to put the fryer (f) and beverage dispenser (B) next to each other and when I try to put in area 9 (f) and in area 10 (B), it has higher cost. Next thing, I look is which work are that has the highest number from fryer and it is beverages so I put beverages in

6 Things To Consider If You Want to Work from Home Full-Time

6 Things To Consider If You Want to Work from Home Full-Time Working from home seems like nothing but a blessing: all of the sweatpants and none of the commute. But there are a few not-so-great aspects to bear in mind as well. Here’s a list of a few things to consider while you’re setting up a home office for yourself. 1. You’ll be alone. A lot.You will get lonely at some point- that’s inevitable. It might take a while to get used to the silence and the peace. If you can’t get used to it, you could consider a coworking space or a coffee shop as part of your routine. You also might find that you miss the face-to-face of meetings and staying connected. It will be more important than ever to stay connected- even if only through Skype and Google Hangouts and other messaging venues.2. You’re in charge.No boss is going to tell you what to work on or when you can and cannot take a break, which is great! But no boss is going to keep you on your toes either. That responsibility will now fall to you. Instead of losing hours and hours on Twitter, you’ll have to keep yourself on task- otherwise your work will suffer and you won’t be self-employed for long. So cultivate some serious self-discipline, including rewarding yourself with breaks and respecting your need for time off.3. You’re the main negotiator.There’s no HR department making things easy and equitable. You set your rate and negotiate your contracts and make your own boundaries. No one is going to do it for you. Try raising your rate for new clients and cutting your existing clients a break until you build your business. At the same time, don’t forget to give yourself the proper raises and reviews.4. You need to be cutting edge.You’re not going to learn things in meetings or at the water cooler anymore. It will be on you to keep track of the latest advances and innovations in your field. You don’t want to fall behind the curve, or you won’t be competitive for bids.5. Money wil l be less stable.You can make a great living freelancing, but you should keep in mind that that living might sometimes be erratic. You will have flood months and famine months. This means you have to have a good savings in the bank for emergencies and lean times. Make sure you have enough to float yourself through any lulls or catastrophes.6. It’s always casual Friday.Okay, but it really is true that you can wear sweatpants any time you want- unless you have a client meeting or, you know, have to venture out into the world. Be careful what you wish for though. If you start to feel sluggish and unproductive because of your new, ahem, uniform, then try taking a shower in the morning and dressing in something smart whenever you need an extra boost.

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 17

Case Study Example The players usually leave the portfolio companies in the form of IPOs and ensure that the companies have perfect management teams and business models that are sustainable and can stand the test of time. However, the companies will be considered to have a lower value in case they attempt to go back to the public. In general, the players were tasked with ensuring that the companies were well nurtured and became ready to be scrutinized by the public capital market after an IPO. Investment bankers will also apply their expertise in assisting the companies to go public or to make consequent. As such, they introduce the firms to the investors. The Investment banks did this by providing advisory, financial services and they helped the companies price their offerings and underwrite the shares. It was often done in the form of a road show. On the other hand, the portfolio managers also have the special role of acting on behalf of the investors. They are expected to help them buy companies that are fairly priced. This is achieved through selling companies that have become overvalued because buying or holding onto an overvalued stock will directly lead to a great loss. Sell side analysts have their own clients who include portfolio managers. Their main roles included the publishing of research belonging to public companies. As such, investors will monitor the performance of public companies objectively. This will help them to determine the suitability of the stocks as a form of investment at any particular point. Buy side analysts possess some roles similar to those of the sell side analysts. They were assigned to a particular company to conduct company research. Accountants are faced with the task of auditing the financial statements of the companies. They make sure that these companies comply with standards that have been laid down. Therefore, they act as real representatives of the true status of

'How far do you agree that poverty has a direct link to health' Essay

'How far do you agree that poverty has a direct link to health' - Essay Example Karl Marx, a great philosopher, believed that societies progress through a coherence of class struggle between the rich who controls societal systems and underprivileged members of society who act as their subjects. According to Marx, the scenery of societal systems could be improved through the idea of socialism where all members of the society enjoy a fair and equal share. The essay will examine how the societal systems contribute to poverty whose impacts are felt in access to health care. This essay offers valuable and elaborate guidance for health service providers. The assessment of the aspects poverty in relation to access to health care shows a close link both abstractly and operationally. Link between Health and Poverty Access to good health care is dependent on the financial status of an individual. Poor people have limited access to health care facilities as compared to the rich people. It is worth noting that material deficiency and the numerous social disadvantages associ ated with poverty makes it impossible for poor people to access health care (Pieratt-Seeley, 2002, p. 232). Due to the strong connection between poverty and health, there have been deliberate efforts to reduce poverty as one of the ways to make it possible for all people to access health care. ... These mechanisms can help clarify why the impacts of poverty on health may continue to hit if poverty is considered in relation provisions rather than as an absolute deficiency (Saunders, 1998, p. 13). Assessing the links between poverty and health is significant for policy makers since it draws consideration to the likelihood that poverty can be associated with adverse health outcomes. It also helps in examining the distribution of income and health inequalities. Moreover, social aspects of health and social environment give rise to the values and practices that control health conditions and costs (Saunders, 1998, p. 17). Since the health sector has minimal authority over most powerful influences on health, such as education, food, shelter, environmental risks, and work conditions, it meets the practical difficulties of recognizing how it can successfully work to disrupt the brutal cycle of poverty to access to health care (Pieratt-Seeley, 2002, p. 234). Marx criticized capitalism s ystem arguing that it resulted in class struggle where some enjoyed prime services at the expense of the underprivileged (Pieratt-Seeley, 2002, p. 234). The basic principle of human rights, which include health, upholds all people equally. The issue of the guidelines to be adopted in human rights has been controversial due to differing policies, culture and beliefs in the society (Young, 1999, p. 269). Marx stipulated that the human dignity should be respected including other necessities of life. He argued that capitalism results in discrimination, which may cause high poverty levels in a country due to poor policies and implementation of the government policies, high incidences of impunity, skewed

NATURAL HAZARDS VOLCANOES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

NATURAL HAZARDS VOLCANOES - Essay Example (Adams, 1981). 2. Volcanoes are very likely to erupt on these islands due to the existence of ‘live’ volcanic centers. It is more likely to occur in other countries such as Nevis, Eustatius and Saba in the near future because they have live volcanic centers. (University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre) 4. When a super-volcanic eruption occurs, usually it covers extensive areas with volcanic ash and lava that results in a prolong weather change such as the reduction in the temperature of the atmosphere and the earth’s surface, referred to as ice age or glacial age, which can threaten the life of species. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Volcanic eruptions, though disruptive and destructive to human, the environment and animal life, provides immense benefits to people who live near to them. The ash that is thrown when there is a volcanic eruption can be very harmful to the environment shortly after, however in the long term the ash layer converts to a very fertile soil, which contains many useful minerals. Volcanoes can produce very magnificent scenery like the beautiful sunsets from explosive eruptions.   They also create beautiful lava fountains, stunning eruptions and plant-rich environments. People will return and live after a volcanic eruption because of the fertile soil around the volcano, where they use the rich soil for farming.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The resources that are produced from volcanic eruptions are used for energy extraction, also called geothermal resources.   Energy is produced as a result of heat from the earths crust.   The great advantages are that this energy is very clean and the resources are almost inexhaustible. Another great economical benefit of volcanic eruptions is that it generates tourism. This translates to jobs and foreign exchange income. This can also result in an improvement in people’s standard of living.

Influence of Money and Media on Elections

Influence of Money and Media on Elections During elections, electoral networks drive the â€Å"every vote counts† campaign, but the voter appeal is lost due to the high value placed in high-proficiency media and the conniving, slick interest groups that use propaganda to persuade voter turn-out. There lie many problems in the world of politics. Nasty campaigning and slamming ones opponent have become a commonplace in todays society. The root of these distinct problems doesnt stem directly from the candidates themselves, but rather the national committees for the Republicans and Democrats that represent them. The money which is spent by the massive institutions to their partys candidate in each election is overwhelming, but also impacts the public persona which is seen through the exorbitant and high-priced media campaigns that seduce public interest There are very specific rules that are governed rigidly regarding campaign financing. However the major national committees for the Republicans and Democrats have found ways around this system. The campaign financing rules are simple. Individual people are permitted to give $1000 per candidate per election, whereas interest groups are allowed to donate up to $5000 per candidate per election. In comparison to the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by both major parties, these are relatively small amounts of money. These national committees of the major parties use non-federal accounts to accumulate what is known as â€Å"soft money.† There are no limits on how much a party can spend at local levels for grass roots party building. The money in the non-federal regulated accounts is funneled to states, which are used to endorse or bash one of the candidates. Each major political party spends soft money in places where they have available seats in office and where they know they can retain them. This allows them to ensure more political influence in Congress. If a party feels they cannot steal a seat from the other party, the committee is less likely to spend soft money to keep up. The significance of this is that the candidate who spends the most money often wins. Though the large corporations and interest groups are the source of the influence, the political candidate is the face that the American people see to represent their party. This reality has caused voters to doubt whether their individual vote even counts. With each election, more Americans feel that the ultimate cause of who wins is determined by the amount of political wealth and media attention they have acquired. The solution to the problem is simple reform of the laws which govern campaign financing. While the answer may be simple to achieve, the solution is quite a different story. The major parties control the lawmaking body of the United States. Many of these congressmen owe their political position to what is known as soft money. This soft money comes from interest groups and major corporations; leaving the legislators in a very tough position. However if they were to reform the laws, the roles of these interest groups and the money of these corporations would be greatly diminished. It would provide a level playing field in all congressional districts around the nation. Eliminating soft money from politics would be to restore purity in a sense to the political process. Reforming the laws would ensure that political parties can not influence elections through money. It would also prevent interest groups and large corporations from controlling large aspects of todays government. For instance, the new law could set limits on how much money can be spent on television and radio advertisement. When this amount of money has been reached, the candidates could use no more political money for this type of advertisement. By the same token any amount of money could be spent on pamphlets and brochures. Educating voters on the issues and specific candidates stance on those issues is more alluring than oppressing and berating ones political opponent through media advertisement. This would allow the American people to decide based mainly on the issues presented, not through biased media influence. Campaign finance reform is a very hot topic. It seems that many people are jumping on the bandwagon hoping for some good press when a law is finally passed. With our most recent 2008 election, the candidates were undoubtedly fighting for votes in a close election, since the two of them set a record in soft money spent during an election. We need to fight to make politics about prevalent issues and leadership once again and take our country back from large corporations and interest groups that have assumed control through their large resources and persuading media influence.

Racism in Strange Love :: Racism Media Television TV

Racism in Strange Love Do you like having racist jokes made about you right in front of you face and have no idea what the person is saying? In an episode of the Strange Love this situation is demonstrated. Racism is wide spread through out the world and an issue that is brought to our eyes in the show. The issue of interracial dating is also a main topic in the show. Strange Love is a show that most people would watch to get a laugh out of a crazy relationship that came out of another show, but when watching the show I see another part of it and that is racism. The show also to tries to get the thought of interracial relationships more wide spread. -Strange Love was created by the same group of people that had made the show Surreal Life, during the first season a strange relationship came about between Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen. One of the first episodes is showing Flavor Flav leaving the United States and goes to visit Brigitte in Italy and go to a very high class dinner and Flavor does not get the introduction that Brigitte is hoping for him to receive, most of the people are appalled to see the two in a relationship. The episode following that has Brigitte coming with Flavor Flav back to the United States and she accompanies Flavor on stage with Public Enemy. Flavor comments before they go on that his band has no idea that she will be on stage, and she will be the first white woman to ever be on stage with the band. After the band has finished there performance they are backstage and make comments to Flavor about bringing a white woman onstage with him, this leads to Flavor becoming outraged and destroying the backstage area for the band. The episode doesn’t necessarily comment on the topic of racism but just the reaction or the crown and the comments that they make about Flavor are very racist and suggest that they don’t approve of and interracial relationship. Much of the crowd did not even give the couple the time of day and eluded the couple if they were approached.

Analysis of Biff in Death of a Salesman

Camilla Tanzi Year 12 An analysis of the character of Biff. Biff Loman is portrayed as the root of Willy’s mental illness and instability. He is also the only member of his family who acknowledges his own failures in life. On the whole, Biff Loman stands out as the most intriguing and strong character in â€Å"Death of a Salesman. He is not a successful man and never will be, he is however able to admit this, even in a harsh society as the one of the 1960s America. Biff knows he is a â€Å"nothing† and tries to make his father see that he is â€Å"no good.I am a dime a dozen, Pop, and so are you. † He begs for Willy to communicate with him and accept him for who he is. Although Willy is forced by Biff to see some of his own failures, he never accepts that Biff will turn out the same way. At the end of the play, Biff seems to have developed a strength of his own; he has faced and accepted the truth about himself and his father. Now that he acknowledges his proble ms, there is a hope that he will be able to reach his potential. If â€Å"Death of a Salesman† offers any hope, it is only through the character of Biff. Also read: Expressionism in Death of a SalesmanMiller implies there is a chance that he will one day be able to live a normal life, away from the shadow of Willy Loman. Biff stimulates reactions out of his father’s lunacy and is portrayed as the main cause of Willy’s problems. We understand that Willy has been a bad influence on his son and in spite of this; he has big ambitions for Biff and does not want to admit that he will never reach the goals he wishes for him. Being Willy’s oldest son, Biff seems to be the perfect child to his father.However, as the play develops and especially when it shifts from Willy’s dreams to the reality, we see a change in his attitude towards his son. When Biff was the star rugby player, the only thing that mattered to Willy was his success in the sport. As a matter of fact, when Bernard informs Willy and Biff about the possibility of him being â€Å"flunked in math†, Willy’s reply is stiff and arrogant:  "Don’t be a pest, Bernard! (To his boys) What an anaemic! † The use of the word â€Å"anaemic† is a perfect example to show what the man’s morals are; he considers Bernard a teenager who lacks vitality, boring.The author could possibly be implying that Willy is actually envious of Bernard and even though he doesn’t want to admit it, his is just jealousy when he shows aversion towards him. Willy has different ambitions for his sons’ futures than most people had for theirs at the time; he believes that sport will be enough to help Biff succeed in the business world, make him rich and notorious; â€Å"That’s just what I mean, Bernard can get the best marks in school, y’understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y’understand, you’re going to be five times ahead of him. Arthur Miller provides us with a lot of evidence that Willy has been a bad influence on Biff. While Biff is in some ways desperate to impr ess his father, he is also conscious about the fact that Willy has failed his attempt to be successful in his career. He considers his dad’s dreams materialistic and unreachable. As a matter of fact, in the Requiem, even after his father’s death, Biff says: â€Å"He had the wrong dreams. All, all wrong. † Unlike Happy and Willy, Biff is self-aware and values facts; Willy never was a successful salesman and he never wanted to face the truth.On the other hand, Biff is conscious about his failures and the weaknesses of his personality. During an argument with his father, Biff admits that his dad made him â€Å"so arrogant as a boy† that now he just can’t handle taking orders from a boss. I think this is what truly differentiates Biff from the rest of his family; he is honest and sincere about himself and would rather work on a ranch than try to be successful in a work field that he knows will never accept him. Biff is also the only character that acts as a reminder that the American Dream is not an every man’s dream.Bernard has become a successful lawyer as his father Charley, Willy and Happy try to pretend they have too, but Biff is the only one who surrenders to his destiny. Rather than seeking success and money, he wants a basic life working on ranches. He does not try to push into the crowd of people aiming for a good job and a wealthy life-style, but instead wants to be seen for who he truly is: â€Å"Happy: The only thing is- what can you make out there? Biff: But look at your friend. Builds an estate and then doesn’t have the peace of mind to live in it. In a way, Miller is trying to tell us that Americans are made victims of the country’s success. â€Å"Death of a Salesman† seems to argue that America as a whole does not value people who look for simple pleasures such as working in the countryside, and the American Dream pushes people to only aim for jobs in the industry. It is ironic how Ber nard turns out to succeed as a successful and well-known lawyer. It is ironic because during high school Willy used to mock him for studying hard and always praised Biff for not studying at all.Bernard is presented as a weak and shy character and Miller wants us to believe that Biff will turn out to be successful rather than him and not the contrary. However, things turned out differently to how both Willy and Biff expected them to. Bernard’s success irritates Willy because his own sons’ lives do not measure up to Bernard’s: â€Å"(after a pause): I’m- I’m overjoyed to see how you made the grade Bernard, overjoyed. It’s an encouraging thing to see a young man really-really- Looks very good for Biff- very (He breaks off, then) Bernard- (He is so full of emotion, he breaks off again). Once again, Biff is the cause of his father’s despair; he does not want to pursue Willy’s dreams, he wants something other than material things fr om life, and this destroys the man. Biff has learnt from his father that to be â€Å"well-liked† and attractive are the most important ingredients for success. Up to now, I have only analysed the differences between Biff and Willy, however, it is also very important to highlight the few similarities between the two characters. When he was a teenage boy, Willy’s authority on Biff was evident.We find that when the three Loman men are talking about Bernard, Biff echoes small bits of his father’s view on life when he says that his friend is â€Å"liked but not well-liked†. This implies that Biff once used to have respect towards Willy; he admired his strong personality and approved his view on the business world. Biff Loman is aware that he will not succeed as a salesman or any other job without his maths degree. On the other hand, his father is convinced he will and does not what to face the reality of facts. However, towards the end of the play we see a cha nge in both the men’s attitudes.As a matter of fact, they have switched opinions; â€Å"Biff: (horrified, gets down on one knee before Willy): Dad, I’ll make good, I’ll make good. (Willy tries to get to his feet. Biff holds him down. ) Sit down now. Willy: No, you’re no good, you’re no good for anything. † Biff is now desperate and is obviously worried for his father’s mental health and tries to encourage him to be positive in any way he can- even if this involves lying to himself about his potential. As I previously mentioned in my introduction, Biff seems to be the only character that offers any hope whatsoever in â€Å"Death of a Salesman†.At the beginning of the play, he tells the audience about his dreams of living in the south: â€Å"What the hell am I doing, playing around with horses, twenty-eight dollars a week! I’m thirty-four years old, I oughta be makin’ my future. That’s when I coming running home. And now, I get here, and I don’t know what to do with myself. † This clearly shows that biff aspires to better things, but does not know what to do in an industrial city as New York. He wants to succeed and build a future, but at the same time he enjoys the pleasures of living in the countryside and not having any stress.Here is where we understand that Biff is fundamentally lazy. He would like to have a nice and wealthy life, but he just does not have the strength or the motivation to work for it. On the whole, through the illusions that Willy believes, he cannot see Biff as a â€Å"nobody† and cannot accept that he won’t be successful as he hopes. Eventually, Biff finally sees the truth and realises that he is â€Å"no great leader of men†. He also comprehends the delusions that Willy lived on. Biff is destined to no greatness, but he no longer has to struggle to understand what he wants to do with his life; â€Å"I know who I am, kid. â₠¬ 

Growing Pluralisation and Fragmentation of Policing Essay

This essay aims to explore Button’s (1996) claim that ‘the growing pluralisation and fragmentation of policing†¦has challenged the public police’s claim that to be the primary policing force’. In order to do so, it will provide a general definition of both the public and private policing bodies within the United Kingdom, followed by a brief look at the history of the public Police, their progression and integration with private agencies. The essay will go on to discuss pluralisation and fragmentation, and how these are reflected within the context of the topic. Finally it will identify how various financial constraints have resulted in cutbacks and forced ‘hybrid’ policing in many areas. It will conclude with a reiteration of the main points, supporting Buttons claim that the public Police are not the primary policing force. Within this essay it is not possible to draw a definitive distinction between public Police and private policing bodies or indeed the perimeters in which each work, it is however important to understand the difference between the Police and ‘policing’ – a social function that Reiner (ibid:722 in Button 1996) describes as: ‘An aspect of social control processes which occurs universally in all social situations in which there is at least the potential for conflict, deviance, or disorder.’ Today the word ‘Police’ is used in many civilised countries to describe an organisation whom uphold the law and order in society (Met Police, 2012). Button (1996) describes the Police as: ‘The body of men and women employed by the state who patrol the streets, deal with crime, and ensure order and who undertake a range of other social type functions’. It could it be reasonably argued that the primary difference between public and private police is legislative powers i.e. public police have powers of arrest for arrestable offences not committed within their view where there are reasonable grounds for suspicion (private police can`t make these kinds of arrests) (Citizens Advice Bureau 2012). Circa 1856 members of public, ordinarily the victims, largely conducted policing activities. Any person suspected of committing a crime would be taken to the ‘Parish Constable’, an unpaid position to uphold order (Victorian crime and punishment, 2006). The Police as we know them today were formed in 1829 following the collapse of the ‘Parish Constable’ system (Met Police, 2012). Home Secretary of the time, Sir Robert Peel, was responsible for passing the first Metropolitan Police act forming the Metropolitan Police force, although this only really came to fruition in 1839 when the new City of London Police took control of all independent police activities (Met Police, 2012). G4S (2012) explain that private Police enterprises started out as a very basic, 4-man bicycle team, providing a guard-protection force. ‘The earliest roots in the UK appeared in 1935 when a former cabinet minister launched ‘Night Watch Services’. Historically, pre World War II, private security was frowned upon, seen as thuggery, sneaks and spies with private interests, however, since the War private security has been accepted as a supplement to the much-overburdened public Police. More recently governments have actively encouraged the commercial private sector support to Police, accepting that the extensive and complex nature of crime requires more than the Police have to offer (Bayley and Shearing, 1996). To fully address Button’s statement, it is necessary to understand the definition of pluralisation and fragmentation, and importantly how this is represented within the context of the statement. It is generally accepted that, in many countries, ‘policing’ is now both authorised and delivered by diverse networks of commercial bodies, voluntary and community groups, individual citizens, national and local governmental regulatory agencies, as well as the public police (Jones and Newburn, 2006). Jones and Newburn (2006:6) continue, suggesting that there has always been an array of policing bodies however the last decade has seen a rapid increase in ‘visible’ policing providers. While Bayley and Shearing (1996) note that: ‘In the past 30 years the state’s monopoly on policing has been broken by the creation of a host of private and community-based agencies that prevent crime, deter criminality, catch law-breakers, investigate offences, and stop conflict. The police and policing have become increasingly distinct.’ It is this fragmentation or use of numerous agencies to uphold law and order within the community that Button refers to as pluralisation. Whilst we can say that policing bodies have been coexistent for some time; in recent years heavy financial constraints placed upon the public Police have forced a much larger, lateral, recruitment of private agencies to assist in back room and specialist Police departments. Newburn and Jones (2002) suggest that this may be due to: ‘Increasing constraints on police expenditure and that, as a consequence, other forms of provision have expanded to fill the gap.’ This largely came to the public eye in 1983 when the Home Office issued a circular (114/83, Manpower, Effectiveness and Efficiency) outlining the need for the Police force to demonstrate value for money in line with other public services (Smith and Henry, 2007:27 in Johnston, 1992). During the 1980’s Conservative administrations offered national police forces, financial incentives to, where possible, employ civilians in positions that did not require police power, training or experience (Jones and Newburn, 2002). This, however, is not a new concept, as explained by Jones, Newburn and Smith ((1994) in Jones and Newburn, 2002), ‘the employment of civilians in the police service has a long history, dating back to the early stages of this century’. Changes forced by financial shortages are highlighted by Houghton (2012), suggesting that due to budget constraints policing bodies have been forced to look at radical options such as privatisation as opposed to more common measures previously used like a minimum rate of change. Chief Superintendent Phil Kay was quoted in the Guardian (2012), as overseeing the joint West Midlands/Surrey â€Å"transformation† programme, designed to deal with the challenging financial conditions the force currently faced. As part of the programme West Midlands and Surrey constabularies intend to out source a variety of policing activities such as investigating crimes, developing cases, managing intelligence, as well as more traditional back-office functions, such as managing forensics, finance and human resources. In 2010/11 the Police Officer training course profile consisted of a 95 day course followed by three further 5 day interventions over the full 2 year probationary period. The total cost of training a police officer under this model was estimated at  £16,694 (the Met, 2011). These figures are in addition to a starting wage in the region of  £28,000 –  £32,000 per annum, housing allowance, contributions to private health care, free eye tests/spectacles and a London based Police Officer could expect to receive an additional  £6,500 per annum (The Met, 2012). In 2009-2010,  £1 from every  £7 of tax paid in England and Wales was used to pay a Police pension (The Telegraph, 2012). It is difficult to determine an accurate figure as to the raw cost of just one Officer per annum. However, when you begin to assess a similar monetary breakdown for a private contractor conducting a policing activity, such as a public space CCTV operator, the costs are poles apart. Individuals can complete a 30 hour course that will impart sufficient specialised knowledge for the user to be deemed competent and ‘possess the legal and technical expertise to operate CCTV systems according to the latest industry standards and the BS standard’, for a cost of approximately  £150 (AAB Training, 2012). Following the introduction of the Private Security Industry Act in 2001, to legally operate CCTV within a public space, operators must hold a current SIA licence, available at a cost of  £220 (SIA, Home Office, 2012). In a recent paper the Home Secretary, Right Honorable Theresa May MP (2010), claimed that: ‘Spending on the police has increased by 24% in real terms since 2000/01 and stands at  £13 billion a year today. Over the past decade the focus on public spending has been on money rather than value for money†¦ Government and police forces have wasted money.’ In the UK, Police are continually trying to ensure that there is a â€Å"visible presence†, a member of the uniformed police, on the streets. However in 1985 Bayley documented that in the United States of America, due to ‘staffing and deployment rules, 10 additional officers must be hired in order to get one extra uniformed police officer on the streets around the clock throughout the year’ (Bayley 1985, as cited in Bayley and Shearing, 1996). They continue to state that the incremental cost of a unit of â€Å"visible presence† on American streets is, therefore, about $500,000 – 10 times a patrol officer’s average annual salary plus benefits (Bayley and Shearing, 1996). More recently in the UK financial constraints on the public Police have resulted in numerous cases of ‘outsourcing’ of back room and support staffing from the private sector. G4S have won several contracts to support the Police including a support services contract with the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies. Managing Director of G4S Policing Support Services, John Shaw states: ‘Clearly in these times of austerity forces are investigating alternative ways of delivering the support services that underpin effective and efficient police operations and we are confident that by working with G4S the three forces will be able to make considerable savings which they will be able to redirect to frontline policing (G4S, 2012)’. ‘Many UK forces face budget cuts and had considered outsourcing work to save cash and bridge a 126 million pound funding gap.’ (Reuters 2012). As we can see, budgetary constraints have forced the public Police to investigate various options in order to maintain society’s persistent desire to see the Police force ‘policing’, as in on the streets. This need to reassess and outsource has naturally left a ‘grey area’ in the classification between the state, tax funded, public Police force and commercial, private policing bodies. Loader’s (2000) theory, that this shift in approach, ‘Police to policing’, is a transformation. He describes policing bodies that range from Government Police, through to ‘hybrid’ agencies, government provided services including CCTV monitoring etc. etc. (Loader, 2000, as cited in Mazerolle and Ransley, 2005). In 2003, following a Government Green paper, Policing: Building safer communities together (Tim Newburn, 2012), the first key, high profile, ‘hybrid’ style organisation designed as an integral support unit to the Police was formed. Whilst the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) was created and is funded by the central Government it remains operationally independent of the Police. Again a ‘grey area’ emerges as recruitment is often from within the various established Police departments, NCIS, NCS MI5. The emergence of such hybrid policing is one of the largest and least studied changes affecting law enforcement. Largely as a result of privatisation and contracting-out, Britain now has the following semi-private, semi-public bodies: the Atomic Energy Agency Police; the Transport Police; the Customs and Excise Investigation Division; the National Rivers Authority, the Post Office Investigation Department; and so on and on (The Economist, 1997). Whilst many see the ever increasing ‘privatisation’ of the public Police force and their roles, it is important to remember that this is not a new concept. Private security agencies have been assisting in law and order in the UK for centuries; many have come to rely on them, seeing them as an integral part of homeland security. The Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, recently stated that the future of policing should be based upon the principles set out by Sir John Peel, suggesting that ‘Public–private partnerships can be really important for the police, especially on things like new technology, and the police will need new contracts (The Telegraph, 2012)’. On one hand the continued employment of private sector personnel to conduct backroom and technical policing activities fulfills the need of Police Officers to be seen to be ‘policing’ however in doing so it fuels the fire for the pluralisation and ‘hybrid’ policing bodies that are becoming increasingly common throughout the UK. As Button suggests ‘Policing has become pluralized. Police are no longer the primary crime-deterrent presence in society; they have been supplanted by more numerous private providers of security (Bayley and Shearing 1996: 588).’ In conclusion, there are many things that have shaped and changed the way in which the Police force operate and the manner in which they uphold the law. However, the role of the Police Officer has changed dramatically over the years, the UK population has increased exponentially, they have faced severe manning and budgetary cutbacks, coupled with the rapid pace of evolving criminality, all of which have forced the Police to assess what are the core functions that cannot be filled by anyone other than a uniformed, lawful, Police Officer with powers of arrest. As a result out sourcing to experts and or backroom personnel is rapidly becoming the norm. In essence Button’s claim is true, due to financial constraints and social change, the public Police are no longer the primary policing force, more accurately it is a ‘hybrid’ of both the public Police assisted by numerous private and Governmental agencies. References AAB Training, (2012), ‘CCTV Training Courses’, http://www.aabtraining.co.uk/security_training/cctv_training.php, (Accessed 30th October 2012) Button, M. (2002) Private Policing, Cullompton: Willan David H. Bayley; Clifford D. Shearing (1996), ‘The Future of Policing’, Law & Society Review, Vol. 30, No. 3, 585-606 G4S (2012), ‘Electronic monitoring for Scottish Government’, http://www.g4s.uk.com/en-GB/Media%20Centre/News/2012/09/21/Electronic%20monitoring%20for%20Scottish%20Government/, (Accessed 17th October 2012) G4S (2012), ‘History’, http://www.g4s.uk.com/en-GB/Who%20we%20are/History/, (Accessed 17th October 2012) G4S (2012), ‘Police outsourcing statement’, http://www.g4s.uk.com/en-GB/Media%20Centre/News/2012/08/22/Police%20outsourcing%20statement/, (Accessed 17th October 2012) John Houghton, (2012) â€Å"The â€Å"not so new† plans to privatise policing†, Safer Communities, Vol. 11 Iss: 4, 191 – 194 Les Johnston (1992) in David J. Smith and Alistair Henry, (2007), ‘Transformations of Policing’, The Trajectory of Private Policing, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd Loader, (2000), From Police to policing: transformation and pluralisation, in L. Mazerolle and J. 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