What Makes A Human Essay - 1346 Words

When we look forward and anticipate the future through the means of science fiction, it seems that contributing largely to our contemporary definition of â€Å"human† is our imperfections. The very fact that we posses these imperfections is the reason that writers imagine a future where those imperfections may be eliminated; knowing that there is room for improvement drives human curiosity and ingenuity forward. So now we imagine a future where humans are perfect, ageless, precise. Would these things really still be human or closer to real life cyborgs? Maybe this question is too ethical, lacking in empirical evidence to give a non-angled answer. But for myself, what makes a human different from a machine is that we are not built off of automatic judgments, we are not ageless, and we all carry collective, as well as our own individual imperfections. For it is these imperfections that remind us that we were not constructed in factories, but are rather shaped by our biology and given environments. As humans, we do in fact posses many automatic functions, many of which are linked to the autonomic nervous system which controls and regulates bodily functions such as our heartbeats, blood circulation, and breathing patterns. As Descartes puts it, â€Å"Our own bodies can move without the guidance of volition.† So in this sense, the human body has a mechanical side to it, but when it comes to our reasoning of the world, being creative, and solving problems, these are functions that are notShow MoreRelatedWhat Makes Us Human? Essay1377 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"What makes us human?†, is an unanswered question asked by many. Is it because of our ability to have empathy for others? Or is it because of our cognitive ability which allows us to look into the future? One of the main arguments made that separates humans from animals is our communication style; our language. Is language inherently unique to human? To answer such a question, we first ope rationally define language as; â€Å"a system of communication based upon words and the combination of words intoRead MoreWhat Makes Us Human?1394 Words   |  6 PagesWhat Makes Us Human Being a human is a lot more complex than people believe it to be. Although we can be similar, we’re unique to any other mammals or animals in the world. Humans are a difficult species to understand. We’re constantly changing and creating or discovering new things, throughout our world. Being a human isn’t always easy; we get things thrown at us suddenly like sickness or death, things go wrong such as failing a test or going through a breakup, and the most challenging thing;Read MoreWhat Makes Us Human?1228 Words   |  5 PagesWhat makes us human? For thousands of years, we have struggled to describe what it means to be human. Is it the way we walk, the size of our brain, the tools we use, or our capacity for emotion? All of these can make a difference when it comes to understanding our ancestry and what makes us special. Brain size is a determining factor in the intelligence of a species. Many people would think that the larger the brain, the smarter the species; however, a species can have very large brains andRead More What Makes Us Human?1718 Words   |  7 PagesHumans are extremely complex and unique beings. We are animals however we often forget our origins and our place in the natural world and consider ourselves superior to nature. Humans are animals but what does it mean to be human? What are the defining characteristics that separate us from other animals? How are we different? Human origins begin with primates, however through evolution we developed unique characteristics such as larger brain sizes, the capacity for language, emotional complexityRead MoreWhat Makes Us Humans?1069 Words   |  5 Pages Thought is what makes us humans. Our rationalism, our ability to make decisions based on our own reason and knowledge, is what makes humans human and not animals. Now a day we all have access to the largest library, the largest source of knowledge the world has ever known: the internet. Over 2,000 years ago we had the Library of Alexandria, a place where intellectuals would gather to discuss ideas and conduct research from over half a million books, a place where knowledge could grow. InRead MoreWhat Makes Us Humans?999 Words   |  4 PagesWhat makes us humans? Ask science, and we may receive a straightforward lesson on anatomy, but if we ponder the question deeper, we eventually find that it is actually a variety of intrinsic properties that define who we are as humans. In the novel â€Å"1984,† George Orwell enlightens us to what these qualities are and pushes us to decide whether the people of Oceana that lack these qualities are even human. The core characteristics of humanity as we know it are humor, imagination, spirituality, sexualityRead MoreWhat Makes Us Human?1905 Words   |  8 PagesHumans have made tremendous strides in learning about our early ancestors, but many questions remain about how and why we are what we are today, and there are as many theories. Chris Stringer, author of Lone Survivors, attempts to answer some of those questions. The question of â€Å"what makes us human† is a complicated one, with many different answers . Human beings evolved into what we are today not only through evolutions in genetics, brain size and body size, but also through our behaviors. So muchRead MoreHuman Nature : What Makes A Human Person?1511 Words   |  7 PagesHuman nature, the essence of what makes a human person what they are, is something that everybody has. Every person is innately a person, but how they put their personhood into action is the biggest indicator of their character, or the projection of a person’s human nature. At their core there is human nature, but their actions are what direct this source of humanity. The quality of someone’s actions is shaped by their environment and sometimes their biological makeup as well. Human nature doesRead MoreWhat Makes One Human and What Makes One Animal? Essay1635 Words   |  7 PagesGulliver’s Travels exposes the interdependency between both human and animalistic behaviors. In these travels, the word â€Å"human† does not necessari ly belong to a certain species, but is rather a characteristic of reason based on the social norms of a particular society. It also claims that animals lack reason and therefore are subdued by those with reason. Since Gulliver finds that humans are the only animals capable of reason, he sees humanity in the Houyhnhnms, who are completely governed by reasonRead MoreWhat Makes Humans Truly Unique?1551 Words   |  7 PagesWhen asking, â€Å"what is it that makes humans truly unique?† you must first ask yourself what unique means. In the grand scheme of the universe, humans may not be that unique but here on Earth we are very much so. We shape the world around us every day, for better or worse. We are by no means the most abundant species on the planet, (that title goes to ants), but we are the only species on Earth protecting other species. So in this case, unique means more progressive and more biologically advanced

I Don t Like Cops - 762 Words

Although several youth shared personal stories of their negative interactions with SROs, there are other youth that were neutral towards SROs. One youth in particular did not have empathy nor respect for law enforcement as a whole (let alone a SRO), he said, â€Å"Everytime I’m with a cop, I’m always getting arrested for no reason. [We’ll] be co-operating and they’ll be throwing my (expletive) on the floor. They’ll tighten the cuffs even more for no reason while we’re cooperating and shit. That’s the reason why I don’t like cops.† Another youth expressed neutrality by stating, â€Å"Some of them are good to an extent. Some of them, just like how there’s good people, there’s bad people that abuse their power like a dictator.† Authoritative Separatism Youth expressed their discontent with the current SRO on their school campus. Youth informed the researcher that the former SRO was more genuine with his interaction. For example, many of the youth responded, â€Å"He actually played football with the kids out there†, â€Å"Like he’ll talk and have a conversation with you†, and â€Å"He would talk to you. Like when you talk to a cop, there’s somewhat or a little bit of intimidation. With him [Burns], you don’t feel like that. You feel like you’re talking to a normal person.† Allowing SROs the capability to develop personal relationships with youth can ease the existing tensions and lessen the stigma surrounding police officers as a whole. Although SROs are easily distinguishable through their policeShow MoreRelatedRacism Is A Big Problem1249 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States.â€Å"Racism Really† I chose this title because I wanted to know more about racism. Such as, what happe ned during the Ferguson destruction, and why is that so many white cops shoot at innocent men, and how long has this been going on. The ‘really† part is about why would you really want to do this. Do you know you can go to jail or police can get fired for harming innocent people. What do white cops have against black men? I think that white cops don t like black men because they think thatRead MoreThe Bus Lane At Lion s Park Train Station1036 Words   |  5 Pagesthere, I thought, happy to be done with another stressful day of classes. After most of the other passengers disembark to board the train, those of us which stay on the bus each have our own seats. The bus driver steps off the bus, as he does each day, to smoke a cigarette. Each day I contemplate how the complex interplay of individuals can become simple routine, reduced to the same exhausted ride to school every morning, matched to the seemingly endless ride home every afternoon. I wouldn t be ableRead MoreRacial Injustice And Police Brutality1208 Words   |  5 Pages I stand here today to present you with the issue that needs to be addressed immediately: racial injustice and police brutality. America is base on the fundamental principle of equality and freedom to be individual. However, this cannot happen due to the unjust to we, the blacks. Our ancestors helped through the civil revolution, many great people- such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, President Obama that try to create equality for people. America is a place where people of differentRead MoreBlack : A Black Person1199 Words   |  5 Pagesseems blunt, in your face, politically incorrect even, but it is unapologetically exactly what I am. As a black person, most of my youth has been spent trying not to be defined by the color of my skin, but unlike Caucasian skin, it is something that cannot be ignored or disregarded, it is the first thing that people see when they see my face, and so being black has gone beyond merely what I am but who I am. Being black especially in our country comes with a lot of assumptions and beliefs aboutRead MoreRacism, Hatred, Skin Color, And Judging Are All Parts Of Racism947 Words   |  4 Pagesis that there have been a lot of immigrants coming into this country. They are coming into this country and taking numerous jobs. The problem that America has they don t like the fact that people who were not born in this country taking their jobs. First of all, the reason immigrants are taking those jobs is because Americans don t like hard labor. Immigrants are willing to take these jobs and be happy of what they can afford. Another reason why this country has hatred towards other race, becauseRead MoreGender Inequality For Women Working1209 Words   |  5 Pagesand same tasks, in some jobs women do a better job at what they do than men, but they don t notice that. Even tho women are being hired 51% of the women hired to work in the US labor force is mainly given the position at a healthcare department or something very basic. Are men afraid of women taking their jobs? Of society thinking less of them because a women can make more money than them? This doesn t just affect the normal people, it affects everyone even movie stars and singers. SectionRead MoreMad Max : Fury Road980 Words   |  4 PagesReflecting on my childhood, my sister would say a shark was under my bed and I was so scared of sharks. Doing this, she was able to keep it as a threat and use it to get what she wanted. If she wanted a drink, she would make me go get it. If I didn t, she would say she would tell the shark what I did. This is also like in Mad Max and the Pedestrian. The Immortan Joe, Aunty Entity, the Cop Car, and Emptiness are use paranoia to keep themselves in control. First, In the movie Mad Max: Fury Road,Read MorePolice Brutality And The Police851 Words   |  4 Pagesmind, in October 2015 alone, there was 81 deaths by the police. With that being said, who’s to protect us from whose protecting the block? I don t care who you are, you have to be able to realize nowadays that the police brutality is getting out of hand, that the power surge is growing and growing. Look around, there s an increase of civilians death via cops, an increase of reports of police wrongdoing, and an increase of more officers standing trial for a case relating to police brutality. Read MoreCommunity Policing At The Cops795 Words   |  4 Pagescommunity policing in their mission statement community partnership(arguably the most important part) is the least used in many departments(Maguire, Katz, 2002). Many departments inflate their involvement in community policing especially since the COPS(community oriented policing services) give federal grants to departments who use this. Actually billions have been spent on community policing and millions on researching it but no definitive evidence of its success on crime has been made by the earlyRead MoreResponse Paper : The Milwaukee Police Department 911 Words   |  4 PagesChukwudalu Ejimbe CRJ 204 1400 Spring 2016 RESPONSE PAPER # 2 1. In Part One of Cops see it differently, Chief Flynn from the Milwaukee PD says that â€Å"at the level of cop working in neighborhood, race is irrelevant. It’s just people.† He argues that police in his city are not biased against Black residents, but rather that the majority of crimes happen in neighborhoods that are overwhelmingly African American. What evidence is presented

Appreciation of Microsoft Office 2007 Free Essays

APPRECIATION OF THE MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007 Introduction In the early productions of the Microsoft Office applications, users utilized a scheme of toolbars, menus, and task panes to get their work completed. The prior Microsoft Office applications worked fine when the applications had a small amount of commands. Now that the programs have been so much more revolutionized, the older features do not work as well. We will write a custom essay sample on Appreciation of Microsoft Office 2007 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Microsoft Office wanted to create a more orderly computer unit that limits disruption. The reason for that was so that Microsoft Office users would commit more time focused on their work. Microsoft knowing that they wanted to make this possible developed a domino effect approach that would make it much easier to generate great results using the Microsoft office applications and that gave rise to Microsoft Office 2007. Microsoft Office 2007 Microsoft Office 2007is one of the sets of desktop applications and servers as an office suite, and is a new system recently launched by Microsoft Company. The office 20007 contains a number of new features, the most notable of which is the entirely new graphic new interface called the fluent user interface. It went in place of the menus as well as toolbars that have been the cornerstone of office since its inception with a tabbed toolbar, known as the ribbon. As a matter of fact, Microsoft Office has made enormous improvements to enhance its features. One of the new main features is the ribbon, this feature consists commands organized into a set of tabs. These tabs make things easier when it comes to using the application features because they categorize the commands in a way that communicates straight to the daily tasks people perform in these applications. Another main new feature is the Microsoft office button. This button is new and efficient because on the older versions of Microsoft you had to find the tab that said file and search for what commands you wanted. With this new Microsoft button at the click of a button everything you want to accomplish is right there for you, no searching necessary. Two other new features is the gallery and Contextual tabs. The gallery consists of spreadsheets, presentations, documents, or Access databases. In an attempt to appreciate the introduction of Microsoft Office 2007 to me as a user, comparisons will be used between Office 2007 and other Offices before it- Microsoft Office 2003, 2000, 1997 e. . c. most suites or programs of Microsoft Office 2007 allow users to evaluate the product. The trial version of 2007 Microsoft Office system can be installed by using a 25-character trial product key available from Microsoft while you download the free office software and you can use the Microsoft office 2007 programs with full functionality for 60 days. The c omparisons will be made in respective of their set of applications such as the Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft project, Microsoft Power Point, and Microsoft Access. Microsoft Office 2007 vs. Microsoft Office 2003 Firstly, the Office 2007 and Office 2003 will be compared on the basis of Microsoft Office Word. When comparing Microsoft Office Word 2003 and 2007, there are barely many differences between these two applications. The traditional Microsoft Office Word 2003 has a very basic look which is similar to Microsoft Office Word 2000, which a little bit of color changes. There are some major improvements in the Microsoft Office Word 2007 in terms of how the interface’s appears. Word 2007 is now having more colorful interface, and it reorganizes all the little applications. This takes a while for users to get use to it. Another major change is that Microsoft Office Word 2007 now supports a new document format known as DOCX. However, users can still save in DOC. Format, which will allow the old software to open the documents. Other good features such as live preview, which users can preview the section of the document when picking up a new font for the documents. Other little new features are ribbon, quick access tool bar, title bar, application close button, maximize/ restore button, minimize button. It seems Microsoft Word’s improvements are apparently endless. For example, from the toolbars located at the top of the Microsoft Office Word window to the professional business templates for documents such as, resumes, and memos. Ms Office PowerPoint 2007 and Ms Office PowerPoint 2003 Microsoft Office Power point 2003 and Microsoft Office Power point 2007 do not have any major difference. The difference is mostly in templates. Users can relatively have more choices of templates in PowerPoint 2007 than PowerPoint 2003, and it also has more effects for the templates. In Office PowerPoint 2007, tabs are designed to be task-oriented, and groups within each tab break a task into subtasks. Command buttons in each group carry out a command or display a menu of commands. In 2007, Users can also temporarily hide the Ribbon. However, the Microsoft button function is the same as the Microsoft Office word 2007, so as the mini tool bar will appear when working the slides. Tabs will only appears when the users need it them. Also the users can put commands and customize the toolbars. Despite more shapes and more research tool has been implemented into the new 2007, users can also design elements with galleries. Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Microsoft Office Excel 2003 Microsoft Office Excel is a powerful and widely used tool that helps people analyze information to make more informed decisions. Using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Excel services, one can have an opportunity to share and manage oneself analysis and insight with co-workers, and partners with grater confidence. Similar to Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office Power point, Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and 2007 have very similar functions. In Microsoft Office Excel 2003, Enhancements have been made to the list functionality, which make lists easier to use. It also added automatic filter and border. When users want to create a list, they just simply highlight the data, and then select Data ; List ; Create List. When users click into the list, they will see the new List toolbar, which will help the users to work with the list. Users can toggle the total row on/off, and use the dropdown menu of functions to choose from in the total row, such as Average, Count, Sum, etc. | | | | Whilst Microsoft office Excel 2007 also has a different ribbon compare to Excel 2003. There are seven tabs across the top which represent all the core tasks you do in Excel. All the related items have been group together under each tab for convenience of the users. Number three is the command button. It is a box to enter information or a menu. Conclusion Office 2007 may not be right for you, but there is no arguing the fact that it is a huge improvement over previous versions of Microsoft office. This may not hold true for the user interface, but that is simply a matter of preference. I, for one, could not be more satisfied with any of Microsoft’s products. The changes to the user interface are exactly what I wanted to see. I have always been annoyed with the old menu system and having to navigate through it all only to encounter an enormous dialog box that you have to wade through. The new system is so much more smooth and flowing, and it exposes everything so that there is no navigation or searching required. It is all right there at the click of your mouse. So, the opinion is, Office 2007 is good for users who can put forth enough effort to get used to the user interface, but bad for those who prefer the traditional menus. I would encourage you to at least give it a try on computers that have it before deciding to buy it or not. If this isn’t possible, you can download a 30-day trial version from Microsoft’s website. Chances are that if Office 2007 isn’t for you, you already know it. The only catch is, if you want to take advantage of all the new features, the ribbon comes with it. No matter what you choose, I hope that you can benefit from and enjoy your choice as much as I enjoy Office 2007. References: Bonfield, B. and Quinn, L. S. Microsoft Office vs. Open Office. Accessed from; http://www. idealware. org/ [Date accessed: 04. 04. 10]. How to cite Appreciation of Microsoft Office 2007, Papers

Sustainable Procurement - National Bank of Australia Limited

Question: Describe the Report for Sustainable Procurement for National Bank of Australia Limited. Answer: Introduction The National Bank of Australia is among the top most banks in Australia. The Bank was established 150 years ago and since then the bank has been serving a large number of customers across the country. Today, the Bank has over 35000 employees, 10 million customers and over 800 branches across Australia. Also known as the National Australia Bank, it is the biggest business bank that has been supporting SMEs and corporates to start, function well and grow considerably. It has funded a large number of infrastructural projects over time. Some of these include, schools, roads and hospitals etc. The administration of the NAB believes in innovating the services it has been offering consistently with the provision of the best in class services to customers (NAB Official Website, 2016). With headquarters in Australia and a strong leadership team, the NAB has grown considerably in the past few decades. The bank has a well defined corporate responsibility policy and a strong Human Resource Management. The primary goals and objectives of the bank include the provision of better services for individuals, businesses, the economy and the community as a whole. The values of the bank include motivating its employees, provide excellent services and products to customers, formation of a will to win, ensuring the right thing is done and showing respect for the customers. The Bank is very passionate for the Values that it has set in for the people (NAB Official Website, 2016). The Vision of the Bank includes transforming customers into advocates of the Bank, increasing engagement of the people and getting an attractive return on equity. The Strategy of the bank includes increasing the amount of Australian Banking operational expenses and hiring the ideal number of employees to serve the varied segments. In addition to this, the strategy also highlights the hiring of best bankers to serve priority segment customers, raising the amount of marketing spend, laying target on priority segments and putting the focus again on big projects and initiatives. Furthermore, a line of broad strategies have also been laid by the bank through making it simpler for customers to get services or products from the bank, increasing the depth of bank and customer relationships, providing innovative solutions, driving the performance, ensuring the execution is done well and the transformation of the processes in such a manner that they are faster and more reliable (National Austr alia Bank, 2015). The internal environment of the company is healthy. The bank has taken up a number of initiatives to promote the wellbeing of employees. Some of the primary strategies adopted by the bank include development of employees, training, increasing diversity, planning and development of successors and proposing of graduate programs for the talents students. Along with this, the bank has also been promoting ethical code of conduct and ensuring mental health and well being of one and all. The board of directors of the company also showcases diversity and healthy lifestyle (National Australia Bank, 2015). With regards to the external environment of the Bank, digital transformations are a challenge in which the company operates. Along with this, the bank has been facing fierce competition from other private and public banks. It is noted that regulatory change and maintenance of funding index has been an issue for the company for quite some time now. Furthermore, it is extremely crucial to manage the non core businesses of the bank that have been giving a considerable amount of support to the organization. Lastly, there is a dire need for transformation of technology and integration of some of the recent technological advancements in order to get the best out of the market (National Australia Bank, 2014). Stakeholder Identification According to the Annual Report of the National Australia Bank, the bank offers the dividends to its shareholders in a number of ways. The distribution of dividends has been done religiously and consistently, giving a stronger image to the bank as a whole. Some notable names have been identified in the list of the stakeholders at the NAB. The stakeholders of the bank have a considerable amount of say in the overall functioning and have an impact on the strategic direction of the bank as well. The Bank has both Internal and External stakeholders. For the external stakeholders, the information about the company is made available in the website and the annual review, however, the internal stakeholders are informed through the intranet of the bank. With regards to the identification of the stakeholders, the bank clearly mentions them as individuals, group of people and companies who are affected by the activities of the banks products or services. A strong communication channel is maintained between all internal and external stakeholders of the company and consistent reports on the Corporate Responsibility are also shared. Apart from this, the bank also holds an Annual Stakeholder Engagement Program to invite issues and discussions related to the business of the company (National Australia Bank Limited, 2015). Some of the key stakeholders of the company include, customers, employees and contractors of the bank, investors (who have a share in the company, funding managers and superannuation funds), analysts, governmental regulatory bodies, associations, industry associations, suppliers, NGOs and community partners of the bank and the media in general (NAB Official Website, 2016). Risk and Opportunities Risk Management Fundamental Steps Source: MITRE NAB is committed to maintaining an ongoing focus on risks and managing them actively. With the help of Risk Committee the NAB Board oversees the risk management framework. The Risk Committee is made up of non- executive board of directors who are independent. The Board of Directors at NAB are accountable for systematic functioning of the Organisation and manage risks. These risks are managed with the help of a pattern calledThree Lines of Defence. They are: Line Management, Risk and Internal Audit. The Line management handles the risk that comes from within the business (Internal Risks), In the second model, the management is accountable for ensuring that risks and the environment are appropriately handled, make policies and develop tools to manage the risks, they monitor and challenge the team to perform keeping in mind the risks involved and minimise them. The team also informs the team on minimum standard expected and provide in-depth understanding. The function of the internal audit is to monitor the first and second line risks and a periodic review of the same. They also evaluate the general efficacy, manage the risks and the environment as well as encourage self- assessment. Below are a list of nine risk categories which can potentially harm the companys image. These risks are connected to each other therefore the management evaluates them collectively from time to time in order to deliver optimal customer satisfaction. Credit Risk: Credit risks are those where a party or customer fails to meet the standards of NAB based on their accepted terms and conditions. Operational Risks: These risks occur when the functions of the organisation are inadequate. Theses risks may also occur as a result of external aspects and people. Compliance Risk: When there is a failure to comply with company laws, regulations, licensing conditions, code of conducts in the industry which are self regulatory, internal policies various processes and framework. Balance Sheet and Liquidity Risk: This involves risks related to the book activities in NAB. It includes various other external aspects such as foreign exchange, interest rates, foreign equity, providing funds and liquid assets. Traded Market Risk: These risks are caused by uncertainties in the market trends, foreign exchange, interest rates and credit spreads which finally has a harmful effect on NABs book trading activities. Life Insurance Risk: When the bank has to pay a higher amount to its customers ,from that which is collected as premiums as well as the income earned from investments this becomes a big reason to worry and can cause considerable damage to NAB. Regulatory Risk: This happens when the legal changes are not accurately monitored. This affects NABs relationship with the regulators. As a result they fail to help the Regulatory board in developing upcoming legislative activities and make the necessary changes. Defined benefit pension risk: This happens when there is a deficit in the pension schemes that are given as benefits. This deficit happens when the assets of the pension are lower than the existing pension requirements. Strategic Risks: These are positioning strategies that the organisation makes depending on the expectation in future environmental changes. Then there are executory risks where the company fails to execute the strategies planned. The following table showcases the degree of risks and a detailed classification of the risks on certain grounds: Risk Consequences Likelihood (Low/ Medium/ High) Magnitude (Low/ Medium / High) Recommendation to reduce/ mitigate Strategic Risks Monetary losses Low Medium Constant monitoring of environmental changes Traded Market Risks Fall in interest rates High High Evaluating Market trends constantly Operational Risks Impact Companys image and Revenue Medium Low Constant communication and expectations of the Management Regulatory risk can be analysed and discussed at length in order to understand how this can impact the company and its reputation. Regulatory Risks are risks that are connected to the laws made by the government or any Regulatory body. These changes can be in the form of increasing the costs for a firm in order to continue to operate, policies that can decrease the attractiveness of the offers of the bank. The regulatory body can decide on the interest rate that banks must charge their customers or limit the margin that investment accounts can possess. There may be regulations in the manner in which the banks can operate, these regulations have major consequences to the business. Their revenue gets affected, the banks can lose their customers as a result of change in policies that decrease the attractiveness of the packages. Then there are risks involved in ignoring regulatory changes.Ignorance can not be accepted as an excuse to fail to meet regulatory rules. If the company does not stand to meet the new policy changes by the Regulatory body it can damage their name publicly because the government may take legal proceedings against the bank. This is a serious risk, therefore it is important that the Bank makes sure that they comply with government policies and updated laws at all given time to avoid making such blunders. (NAB official website) Control Strategy and Action Plan Operational risks are those where the roles are not well defined. When a company does not have their regulations in place for an appropriate functioning or a well defined list of who your potential customers for credit loans must be, then the bank suffers a great deal. Let us look at a few control strategies in order to mitigate the risks and its influence on the bank. Governance: The Board of directors define main objectives of the bank and monitors its effectiveness, by evaluating if these objectives are in place. They also oversee its progress in achieving these objectives, periodically. A complete operational risk culture is discussed in the bank which enables them to follow a roadmap to implementing these risk management strategies. When the risk strategy is successfully executed it results in the bank employees to be consciously incorporate risk awareness in every aspect of the operations in the bank. Strategy, Structure and Execution is set by good governance. Strategy: The operational risk strategy formulated by the bank helps the proper workings of the bank in other management divisions and gives a clear direction about the policies, procedures for a regular risk management process. Appetite and Policy: The real sign of an ideal policy structure is to make sure that the behaviour of the bank is in correspondence with risk appetite. Having a strategy ensures well informed business practices and banks investments. Clear Definition and Communication Policy: It is important for the top management to have a strategy in hand. Identifying risks, developing policies, assessing, deciding and implementing must be done at every levels. Furthermore the management must see to it that these decisions, assessments and policies with regard to operational risks are communicated to the rest of the employees. Periodic Evaluations based on Internal/ External changes:Regular assessment and evaluation will improve risk performance on a superior level. A thorough review of the policies must be done based on internal operations and external factors must be done to ensure that the bank is being taken in the right direction. Structure: A complete risk scenario must be present while making the structure for operational risk management.Providing a hierarchical structure that holds the ongoing risk processes, different forms of measurement models to evaluate the regulatory and economic assets, developing risk assessment theories, risk information collected through individual assessment throughout the organisation etc; are all ways to handle risks throughout the organisation. Execution: Once the structure has been formulated, the time comes to finally implement those concepts into action plans. This will include, firstly, identifying the operational risk on a regular basis, after identifying the risks a target for tolerance level of risks must be established. Finally the risk factors are mitigated and a procedure to internally control operation is established in a way that the risk tolerance is reduced to an accepted level. Following which regular monitoring and evaluation must be done and then to check how effective the risk management strategy has been (MetricStream, n.d.). Monitoring, Review Plan Elements of Monitoring and Review Let us look at what some of the elements are: Reporting to others: There must be a clear hierarchy of activities in the monitoring and reviewing process. Once the information on a certain risks, say, operational risk is gathered, then these aspects need to be included in the governance in order to create openness and accountability. Involve stakeholders: It is important to engage stakeholders in every decision making activities, making them a part of the monitoring and reviewing process in order to achieve success. The benefits of the monitoring procedures on operational risks or any other risk must be clearly communicated to the stakeholders. This will enable them to provide complete support and a chance to willingly participate. When stakeholders are informed and allowed access to such strategies, it adds credibility to the policies. Monitor Progress: Constant monitoring allows the bank to access appropriate information which enable the management to check the progress as well as review and make adjustments to the implementation as required. It is crucial to track the implementation process regularly therefore the implementation plans must define the kind of data that would be required and the procedure to be used. Taking advice from experts during the data collection process will add credibility to the methodology. Review Regularly: Reviewing is a critical aspect of the mentoring process. It helps to evaluate the manner of implementation with regard to important issues. Reviewing is necessary in operational risk managements, checking governance effectiveness and also policy outcomes. Once the review is done, the findings can be used to improve the situations through better implementation. Evaluate the end result: In order to determine the success of all the strategies and planning that has gone into risk management strategies and plans it is important to assess the end result. The proof of effectiveness of the implementation would be visible in the end results. In order to know if the structure developed is working for the bank or not or if they are being implemented or not, A regular monitoring is vital. In addition periodic reviews help the organisation to march towards the right direction. Appropriate monitoring and reviewing warns the organisation about the upcoming issues, encourage better performance induce accountability. Let us examine the strategies for Monitoring. Strategies to achieve Success Evaluation Questions: Monitoring should make us ask some very significant questions such as, Are we doing the right thing?, Is it being done in the right manner? and finally, Are there better ways of doing it. These questions will evaluate the effectiveness of policies in respect to its impact on the world and its outcome on the target beneficiary. They also evaluate on the processes through which the outcomes are being achieved. Finally, they cause the organisation to examine healthy practices,sustainability and other alternative options to achieving the expected outcomes. Understanding the goals: In the planning process, the goals and the results of implementing the policies related to the risks must be clearly discussed and arrived at a consensus. In order to be successful in the implementation process it is important to understand how successful outcomes look like. Inviting Experts: Monitoring and Reviewing must be considered critical to implementation. Roles must be clearly allocated to the chief participants who will hold accountability and work in collaboration. In the planning processes it is important to decide the people who will be involved in the reviewing process and who will handle the information collected. Evaluation activities must be taken into consideration while governance arrangements are being made. As mentioned above the participation of every stakeholder will make the process credible. Apply the Results: Post review, these findings must be used in the best manner possible. Depending on how the recommendations are being used and in which context, the results must be specific to target audience. The application of the findings must be correspondent to the initial goal of the Organisation. This process will help to recognise if any initiative must be discontinued or if corrections are required. Review and Monitoring helps to improve the policy decisions in future, recognise areas that require more focus and how certain measures are sustainable for the external as well in internal environment. They help to understand in which direction an initiative is moving forward and reasons for celebrating milestones (Australian Government, 2013). Enterprise Risk Management Plan Banks are exposed to several risks such as the growing competition from other credit units and unwarranted changes in interest rates.Banks are subject to Regulatory law changes and technological advancements. Keeping these factors in mind we will propose a Risk management plan that will help the Bank in its operations with regards to these risks. Internal Control and Risk Management: Proper risk management policies and internal control is key to any successful Banking system which is safeguarded. An effective plan will help the bank to internally control and safeguard the Banks resources, create dependable financial reports and ensure compliance with laws. This will help to avoid errors as well as enable timely detection of errors if they do surface. General Control Environment: The general control environment sets the mood in the Bank and causes the people to be conscious about control. It is the root of all internal control aspects which provides regularity and a proper structure. An Effective General control environment is set by responsible Management team and Board of Directors through their integrity, efficiency and their participation in the business aspects of the Bank. In order to have a good risk management programme, a healthy and stable general control environment is necessary. If it is ineffective then the financial aspects and approvals of the bank suffers. The level of control consciousness of the senior management also decides the functioning of certain control activities. Specific Internal Control Environment: On establishment of a stable General Control Environment, Specific Control Environment must be developed in order to handle the occurrence and the potential damage from losses. Specific Control can be divided into two broad categories; Preventive and Detective. Preventive measures are assurance of valid transactions being processed and various other forms of controls such as: Authorised transaction limits, transactions being approved by supervisors, duties being divided and rotated, reviewing and testing scheduled and unscheduled transactions, protection of information through the computer by protecting it with passwords. Detective Controls on the other hand assures that errors are detected and is solved. Some of the measures include: General ledger and subsidiaries are reconciled, checks and deposit forms accounted for, file maintenance review and transaction outcomes and day-to-day comparison of financial outcomes etc (Abound Resources, 2011) Recommendations and Conclusion Banking strategies and risk management has become a vital topic worldwide since 2008 and is not peculiar to banks or financial professors alone. Most of the risk management reports by major international institutions such as OECD, European Union and the Basel Committee, all focus on just one thing, that they will never allow such a situation again with regard to risk management. However, the matter of importance is not to avoid risks but to understand the level of tolerance of risk. No business can avoid risks but they can definitely minimise those risks and also minimise its impact on the bank. Organisations typically face risks at three different levels: Internal Risks: These are risks that can be fully prevented and are under the control of the bank. The bank must chalk out the right level of evaluation and implementation of their goals in order to maintain harmony within the organisation. External risks: There is less that the bank can do with regard to external factors causing risks to the bank such as a change in the financial markets, value of currency dropping which can affect the credit system in the bank etc. Strategy Risks: There are some risks that the bank voluntarily takes such as credit risks. Even though there are chances of a huge loss the possibilities of high returns are exceptional. However risks in this category can be avoided to some extent by conducting a thorough research on the persons credit ratings, his job, bank statements and an evaluation of his financial condition as well as the company he is working for. Knowing these details can give the bank an idea on the customers future ability to make payments to the bank. Finally, it is important that NAB focuses more on their internal risks and strategies in order to manage risks since these are two areas they have a control over. There is little or no room for control over the external factors, however NAB can plan their way forward based on a thorough evaluation of market trends, international financial market trends and global economic condition. Such an assessment will ensure smooth operation of the Bank. References Abound Resources. 2011. Sample Financial Institution Risk Management Policy. [Available https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/166442/file-18460940-pdf/docs/sample_credit_union_-_risk_management_policy_program.pdf%3Ft%3D1422311019000] [Accessed 14 October, 2016] Australian Government. 2013. Cabinet Implementation Toolkit. 5. Monitoring, Review and Evaluation. [Available https://www.dpmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/pmc/implementation-toolkit-5-monitoring.pdf] [Accessed 14 October, 2016] INSEAD. Banking Strategies and Risk Management. [Available https://www.insead.edu/executive-education/interviews/banking/banking-strategies-risk-management] [Accessed 14 October, 2016] Kaplan. R. S and Mikes. A. 2012. Managing Risks: A New Framework. [Available https://hbr.org/2012/06/managing-risks-a-new-framework] [ Accessed 14 October, 2016] MetricStream. n.d. Operational Risk Management (ORM) Framework in Banks and Financial Institutions. [Available https://www.metricstream.com/solution_briefs/ORM.htm] [Accessed 13 October, 2016] MITRE. Risk Mitigation Planning, Implementation and Progress Monitoring. [Available https://www.mitre.org/publications/systems-engineering-guide/acquisition-systems-engineering/risk-management/risk-mitigation-planning-implementation-and-progress-monitoring] [Accessed 14 October, 2016] Accessed 14 October, 2016] NAB Official Website. 2016. Our Values. Retrieved from: https://www.nab.com.au/about-us/corporate-responsibility/responsibility-management-of-our-business/high-performing-diverse-and-inclusive-workforce/our-values NAB Official Website. 2016. About Us. Retrieved from: https://www.nab.com.au/about-us NAB Official Website. 2016. Stakeholder Engagement. Retrieved from: https://www.nab.com.au/about-us/corporate-responsibility/responsibility-management-of-our-business/stakeholder-engagement National Australia Bank. 2015. Annual Review 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.nab.com.au/content/dam/nabrwd/About-Us/shareholder%20centre/documents/annual-review-interactive.pdf National Australia Bank. 2014. Annual Review 2014: Examples Database Retrieved from: https://examples.integratedreporting.org/fragment/310 National Australia Bank Limited. 2015. Group Corporate Responsibility Policy: Group Risk Return Management Committee. Retrieved from: https://www.nab.com.au/content/dam/nabrwd/About-Us/nab-group-corporate-responsibility-policy.pdf

International Travel free essay sample

No matter how much you read ahead of time, youll be confronted with culture and custom that you are unprepared for. The farther removed the culture is from your own, the more you can expect to be surprised. Novice travelers will struggle with the basics everything from getting a cab to finding a public bathroom can offer a challenge. Veteran travelers will be more secure with the small stuff and that may offer them a firm-enough foundation to give them the confidence to try the more challenging things. That is where we were on our recent adoption trip to China: Veteran third-time travelers who were confident that we could do anything and blend right in. Our trip to the real Chinese restaurant taught us otherwise. It was our second week in China. We were there with our two previously adopted Chinese children, ages ten and eleven, and wed just added a new family member. We will write a custom essay sample on International Travel or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She was a new daughter, age twelve, and she spoke not a word of English. Things had been going very well, and our new daughter was really fitting in seamlessly. This being our third trip, we felt pretty cocky. We snickered good-naturedly as first-time travelers timidly peeked outside the doors of the hotel onto the Chinese thoroughfare. They might make a run for the McDonald’s now and again, or go all the way up the block to KFC, but actually heading out into the big city, sans guide, was not on their bucket list for the time being. That was not for us. We decided that wed all head out to an authentic local restaurant, the sort frequented by the Chinese rather than by westerners; the type with plastic curtains rather than doors; a restaurant with no western influences beyond the ubiquitous presence of Coca-Cola products. Three hungry children herded between us, my wife and I set out to find just the right place. We headed out the less-frequently-used rear entrance of Guangzhous China Hotel, which spilled out onto the broad Panfu Avenue, a typical busy main thoroughfare. It was filled with small shops and stalls, looking shabby and temporary to Western eyes, though in reality, permanent centers of street commerce. We wound our way through typical robust foot traffic, straining to keep the kids together amidst the crowds. We passed up several restaurants close to the hotel in an effort to separate ourselves from the tourist-oriented places, but several blocks away we came upon the Liushen Xiguan restaurant, which translates roughly as â€Å"Traditions of the Six Gods† restaurant. It was clad in gold paint, trimmed with red cloth, and several large Buddhas smiled at us as they stood sentry on the sidewalk. The wall in the entryway was covered with awards given by the local of chamber of commerce, and as an added benefit, the awards each offered a picture of the winning dish. Velvet padded bamboo chairs lined the wall in the waiting area. Peeking through the windows, we could see that the dining area was enormous. Such a place was likely to have good food, was clearly worth a stop. It was 4:50 when we asked to be seated, but oddly, the dining room was dark and the hostess desk was empty as were the tables. No table cloths or place settings were to be seen, and the chairs were upended and sitting atop the tables. A hostess apprehensively approached us to talk. After much arm flapping and hand gesturing, we came to understand that the restaurant would not open until five P. M, although we could not see how it would do so. Not a soul was to be seen besides the hostess, and nothing was prepared for customers. We began to have second thoughts and we started to wonder if wed misunderstood the hour that service would start. We decided to wait for a bit, if only to rest. At the stroke of five the lights came on to illuminate a dozen employees rushing from the kitchen, bearing ornate livery for the tables, and tools of the trade for the hungry guests. The dining space went from abandoned warehouse to friendly, well-lit, white linen appareled eatery in a matter of moments. Once seated, we began to notice differences from what we expected in a restaurant. Soup bowls appeared, as well as a pot of tea, tea cups, and a large empty ceramic bowl. We watched the other tables to see what use our fellow diners would have for the bowl. Some diners were watching us. Perhaps they didnt know what to make of the empty bowl either? More likely, they were wondering what a couple of Americans were doing here staring at them too. Other diners were taking the cups, bowls, and spoons and washing them in the tea, using a rather practiced method. The used tea was discarded into the empty bowl. I wasnt sure if this meant we needed to do our own dishes, or if it was simply a custom. To be on the safe side, we started washing. I noticed curious grins. Was I doing it wrong? Did we appear like children playing in a wading pool? Unblemished by the bemused stares, we toweled ourselves dry, and with confidence in the cleanliness of our place settings, we dug into the menu. There were thirty pages of menu items. Many had pictures and some had English translations, though mostly the translations read â€Å"Pork and vegetables in sauce† or â€Å"Chicken with vegetables in sauce†. While Im certain that was accurate, it was of little value in helping us to choose from amongst the twenty five varieties of â€Å"Pork with vegetables in sauce†. We struggled with the pictures and each made the best possible dinner choices we could, with a few appetizers added in. The waitress took our order promptly and returned in a few minutes with my meal, and nothing else. No appetizers. No other orders. Just mine. She placed it in the center of the table and left. My meal was far larger than I expected. In fact, it was large enough to feed us all. Suddenly we grasped what we had missed. The table top was essentially an enormous lazy Susan. It appeared that we would be eating family style. Other tables were sharing food as well, so we set out to share the barbecued pork I had ordered. A few moments later the next meal appeared, and shortly thereafter, the next, and then the next, each meal large enough to feed a family of five. Even the items wed been led to believe were appetizers seemed enormous. Before long, we had enough food for forty people. There was so much, that the server was barely able to find room for the last steaming bowl of fried rice. Ive been to weddings that served less food than wed purchased. We were clearly the center of attention now as we made an effort to at least put a dent in the spread we were responsible for. The pictures didnt do the food justice, nor were they worth the thousands words Id so often been promised. The fried rice was filled with boldly colored fresh carrots, peas and sprouts, and those turned out to be the only vegetables on the table that we easily recognized. We were served steamed and pan-fried dumplings, bursting with juices and filled with meat stuffing. There was a whole roasted chicken, the bright yellow color of a school bus. When I say whole, I mean it. Chicken in China often comes with feet, head and beak attached. It appeared that our dinner had walked straight from the barnyard to the oven. A second chicken was served in pieces which had the bright red color of a fire engine. Both birds were juicy and offered bold flavor, the yellow one having been seasoned with a curry and the red one more of a peppery spice. The seafood dish seemed a bit more tentacle-filled than we were used to, and it went largely unloved. I still have no clue to this day what was in it, though I will admit that the description â€Å"fish with vegetables in sauce† seemed unerringly accurate. Our crisp pork on a platter seemed straightforward. No sauce or vegetables, though I could swear that the translation of the dish said they were included. Our meal was rounded out by a course of tea smoked duck. The dark meat had been roasted over a tea leaf fueled fire and had a deep rich flavor. After some of our other mis-translations, I would not have been surprised to have had it served in a pipe for actual smoking, but it wound up being the best part of the meal. I do hope it was duck though. We left a great deal of food on the table. In very American fashion, we asked for containers to take the remaining food for thirty back to our hotel. That doesnt seem to be the norm in China, but we packed up our bags and loaded up with more victuals than a United Nations food convoy. I was concerned about the cost, but for all the entertainment that our endeavors provided for the patrons, perhaps they should have paid us. The price was thankfully low; bless you generous exchange rate. One last problem appeared. The tip. It is insulting to over tip in China. After having the experience of being publicly chastised by a cab driver for over tipping, I was leery. Loaded down as we were, there could be no quick escape should I insult the staff with too many Yuan, or too few. The Six Gods must have been watching out for us though. The older hostess (manager, cook, waitress, cashier no real idea) took pity on me and selected a bill to leave as a gratuity. It was far less than I would have chosen. Id have given her double that just for getting me out with my remaining dignity intact. We wound our way back to the hotel, filled with a good meal, good stories, and a good deal of new knowledge about how things are done in China. I mentioned the experience to our guide, who filled in a few of the blank spots. He was happy to hear that we were treated well by the local people. I was happy for the experience. A few days later, we coaxed some other group members to come out with us to the restaurant. We displayed our dining skills for them without ever mentioning the difficulties with which they were acquired. After all, that is how veterans maintain their mystique.

The male gaze Essay Example

The male gaze Essay Example The male gaze Essay The male gaze Essay John Bergers Ways of Seeing resonates with Picassos Les Demoiselles dAvignon and Rembrandts Bathsheba at her Bath because the male painters view the women as objects and have created highly sexualized images. In contrast, the two female painters Catherine Wiley and Sofonisba Anguissola have depicted women as modest, more realistic and personalized in Summer Day at Newport and in Portrait of Sister Minerva. The phenomenon of the Male Gaze can best be seen by comparing a male view of a women and a females view of a women in paintings. In these four images Picasso and Rembrandt put their own wants and needs in the paintings, whereas Wiley and Anguissola focus more on how a women would like to be viewed with equality and pride. Bathsheba at her Bath by Rembrandt truly shows the male gaze which enables women to be a commodity (What is the male gaze at http://finallyfeminism101. wordpress. com) that men desire. In his painting he depicts a women solely on display for a males pleasure. He does this by using light to highlight her nude body, but he completely obscures the face of the women in darkness. Also, Rembrandt publicly displayed this private act of bathing for the male gaze. This is similar to Scott Russell Sanders discussion of naked women on display in his college dorm room. The women in those pictures like Rembrandts Bathsheba were on display in an artificial way, The paper women seemed to gaze back at me, enticing or mocking, yet even in my adolescent dither I was troubled by the phony stare, for I knew this was no true exchange of looks ( Scott Russell Sanders, Looking At Women, Georgia Review, Spring 1989, page 255 line 15). In Rembrandts painting the female is not looking at the viewer, in fact she is looking away and appears bashful. It is as if she does not want to be seen as an object but she has no control in the male painters creative process. As Rembrandts puts his wants and needs into the his painting, Anguissola views women as more modest and respectful of themselves. In Anguissolas painting of Portrait of Sister Minerva, the women is fully covered and clothed from her neck to her wrists. She focuses on the beauty of a womans face not the curves of a womans body. Anguissola captures the rich essence of the fabrics and colors that the women presents. In Rembrandts painting the woman is wearing an arm band and a necklace which employs a more sexual objective of the womans body, as well as giving her a very erotic feel that emphasizes the focus of her nude body. As for Anguissolas piece uses the Jewelry as an accessory to accent the power and confidence she has for herself. As seen in one of the responses to What is the male Gaze? angrygirl states, I think women have much more power now then ever before. I think not only do we know about the male gaze, but many of us control it and use it to our advantage (What is the male gaze at http://finallyfeminism101. wordpress. com). Anguissola shows that the women knows how the male gaze works and by not giving into the nudity that the male sex wants she simply gives them the opposite in which, they want more. Similarly to Anguissolas painting, Wiley portrays women as elegant and humble. Although you cannot directly see the faces of the two women in Wileys painting of Summer Day at Newport, she uses very soft pastel colors which illustrates these women as proper and very delicate. The brushstrokes of Wileys painting captures the emotional feeling of the womens appearance. It is as if she has put her own strength and feeling into the women she is painting, in which, she wants to evoke their best assets. The image that Wiley is portraying is respectful to the womans body. She dresses the women in conservative day dresses with an umbrella over their heads, inferring that they present themselves as classy and sophisticated. Wiley also shows the two women conversing and being friendly with one another exhibiting them as the mere opposite of how Picasso would. Picasso creates these women as if they would never interact with each other. This exemplifies the mind set of a female artist and a male artist because Wiley simply paints the two women as friends and Picasso does not capture those types of nuances. In Picassos piece Les Demoiselles dAvignon he tries to show his anger towards women. In this painting he presents the five women as if their faces were blocked out, almost as if he does not care how they look. He positions them provocatively with their legs spread wide open and their arms behind their heads with their chest prompted forward, giving the painting the feel that these women are not personalized. They have no individual qualities to them. All of the women are presented in the same way. All which are not real women, they are insignificant faceless objects that really have no purpose but to pleasure men. As Scott Russell Sanders states, It is the nature of the show to reduce the woman, discard her individuality, her soul, make her into an object, thereby enabling the man to handle her with greater safety, to use her as a toy ( Scott Russell Sanders, Looking At Women, Georgia Review, Spring 1989, page 226). In Picassos painting the women are being used as a toy, because he did not give distinct curves and detail to the womans body it allows any man to look at the painting and see whatever shapes they desire. Whereas in Wileys painting of the two women shows exactly what the men can see and nothing more. Picasso also puts these distorted masks on the women, simply portraying that the women are nothing more then an object and should not be viewed for the beauty that they have but for what men make of them. The two male artists and the two female artists both have very different views of women and how they should present themselves to others. Whether it be seductive and sensuous or suave and dainty, both show a very different definition and view about the Male Gaze.

Organisational Behavior in Hospitality Industry Essay

Organisational Behavior in Hospitality Industry - Essay Example Therefore, it would not be wrong to assert that organisational behavior impacts employee loyalty and vice versa. The scope of this paper is to assess the positive or negative impact of organisational behavior upon employee relations and to what extent employment relations are flexible to adapt to the changing trends of service training and leadership. This paper describes a unique combination of how and why managers despite using supportive leadership vision remains unable to make effective usage of managerial control strategies to change, maintain or build a specific type of 'employee committed' culture and face challenges in the form of high turnover rate. Various factors that affect employee loyalty in the British hospitality workplaces in the context of national and private service sector patterns cannot ignore the fact that employment in service sector is subject to regulation in areas such as minimum wages, lack of pay and reward system, traditional managerial approach, gender issues etc. But beside regulations what matters, is the different economic, social, legal and political factors that create particular cultures and diverse employment systems to understand the context in which employee loyalty can be understood and measured. Despite the efforts to make employment relations in the British service industry from 'vulnerable' to 'secure', there is a difference when national service sector is compared with the private one. On one hand, employment policies and practices are responsible for conforming to the management-driven ungoverned individualism thesis which is based on cost-control, whereas on the other they reflect a more af filiated and liberal managerial approach within a customer-service attribute. It is not necessary to alienate employees, however they may trade off low pay for other compensations demonstrating enfranchised pragmatism. The employment relationship is based upon transactional, relational, and exploited recruitment. What is important in employee management is to realise that front-office or other hotel employees are different and they are subjected to a unique compelling task that trade unions face. Managers need to develop an attitude to measure their attempts in recruiting members and organise workplaces while understanding the nature of the common barriers between managers and employees. This help them to visualise what they do not share as commonly held assumptions of 'good' employment relations. This paper analyses the leadership and management style adopted in circumstances which escorts the managers to face challenges like employee shortage and lack of loyalty. The impact of Leadership on Employee Loyalty There was a time when managers used to deploy strict procedures and peer support while approaching bureaucratic managerial style. Contemporary management has no room for bureaucracy and prefer charismatic leadership, and when it comes to hospitality management, leadership does not require a simple set of traits to function but is more likely to be dependent upon a range of interacting elements that require genetically as well as culturally determined traits like attitudes towards employees, rational expectations, accent and emotions towards

Charcter Analysis of the short Story The Enormous Radio Essay

Charcter Analysis of the short Story The Enormous Radio - Essay Example Moreover, the new radio turned out to be too sensitive to electronic devices at first, and when it was repaired, it started to transmit the conversations of other people in the apartment. Irene picked up the habit of listening to these conversations, and got very upset by the evening. Jim repairs it again and gets the radio back to working condition. Irene appears to be a contented housewife, enjoying her day to day chores and the free time in which she listens to the radio. But the peaceful atmosphere gives way to subtle nuances of conflict, as she keeps listening to the conversations of other people. She appears shocked by the evening when Jim arrives. She asks him to go up to 16-C where Mr. Osborn is beating his wife. When Jim tries to chide her, she tells him how terrible the lives of the people in their apartment had. Almost all of them were quarrelling over money matters and leading hypocritical lives. She tries to get the reassurance from Jim that their life had not been like that. She asks him: â€Å"†¦ we have always been good and decent and loving to one another, haven’t we†¦.Our lives aren’t sordid, are they, darling? Are they?† This reveals the inner conflicts Irene had regarding her family life. She is not totally unaware of the scars that remain after hypocritical phases of life, but she tries to overcome that with the good aspects of her life. It is the revelation that all the families around her are going through some sort of self-deception and misery which upsets her. She tries to contrast the relative peace and order in her family and hope against hope that her family life would not end up being a show off. On the day the radio is repaired at last, a bizarre argument is picked up by Jim, which Irene tries to neglect. But in his fury, he accuses Irene of lying to him about paying the clothing bills. He makes his resentment regarding the extra expenses

What does Buctler and Hamnett's (2011) study add to our understanding Literature review

What does Buctler and Hamnett's (2011) study add to our understanding of ethnic minority aspirations for social mobility in the 'new East End' - Literature review Example The aspiration that the ethnic minority had in mind was to move from the low class to the middle class. This is because they lacked the social mobility (Grusky, Ku and SzeleÃŒ nyi 2008). This paper is going to analyze what Buctler and Hamnetts (2011) study add to the understanding of ethnic minority aspirations for social mobility in the new East End. London is among the global city that is leading in the whole world. This is because of the position that it takes, the financial flow and migration that takes place on the two end sides of the labor market at the top and the bottom (Butler and Hamnett 2011). On one, hand, there are those workers that are highly paid and those that are poorly paid. For example, those that are highly paid came from US, France, Germany, Japan, China, on the other hand, the less skilled are the large masses from Africa and Asia. Those in good living environment with wealth are the whites while the rest are non-white. During these periods, there has been great de-industrialization, which has shaped East End dramatically (Grusky, Ku and SzeleÃŒ nyi 2008). There has been a prominent social division in East End and the West End in terms of races. The east was made of the poor and deprived ethnic minority. While, on the other hand, the west was full of wealth and power. The people on the west end were mostly the whites. With the development of the docks in the nineteenth century the working class of individuals became much established than the previous centuries (Harvey 2005). East End had been an abiding area for the whites who are in the working class. They had a tight social link that was on the basis of kinship and class. But as the transformation transpired more began to suburbanize out to areas like Woodford and other areas elsewhere. East End remained to retain the old traditional characters (Harvey 2005). The dramatic

Kenyan Hospitality And Travel Industries

Kenyan Hospitality And Travel Industries The Republic of Kenya is located along the Equator of the eastern side of Africa, boarding the countries of Somalia, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania. The country covers an area of 582,264 km2 and house approximately 28.8 million people and growing at a rate at a rate 6f 1.6 annually. The climate take a tropical origin which tourist can experience sunshine all year round ,however the temperature may differ throughout the country for example warm humid at the cost ,cool humid at central high lands and hot dry in the north and east. Rain on the other hand is seasonal for which the heaviest occur during the months of April to June. Kenya is a country rich in culture which gives home to a number of different tribe, religions and approximately 45 different ethnic groups. Some of these larger populated ethnic and religious groups include: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14% and Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Indigenous beliefs 10% and Muslim 10% respectively. (About.com) The native language of Kenya is Swahili which is also known as Kiswahili which is widely spoken among natives however English is becoming the official language of Kenya. This cosmopolitan country has a number of different amenities to bring to the tourism arena. With tourism being one of main finical drivers Kenyas economies, they engaged in the following types of tourism which are: Domestic, Culture, Business and Community and Eco Tourism. This type of tourism helps in a number of different ways. Firstly, it helps to educate the natives about their country and what it has to offer. Secondly, it gets them more involved in the tourism sector. Domestic tourism also helps in balancing off the tourism industry in low period of nation and international guest and tourist arrival. Kenyas tourism industry is closely bonded to environment, culture and the community, wildlife in relation to eco tourism in particular is one of the top tourist drivers. Safaris, national parks and forests, show the countless species of Flora and Fauna that can be found throughout the country. Tourist can also experience true tribal life through the community national parks where rich Kenyan culture is displayed together with tours and hikes through deserts, mountains rainforests, beaches etc. BUSINESS TOURISM In addition to wild life, the accommodation and conference sector play an important role in the tourism sector. Hotels range from budget, express, luxury and national parks where sleeping under the element is now possible. These establishments offer first class service together with computer, telecommunication and internet services. ANALYSIS HOSPITALITY TOURISM INDUSTRY IN KENYA Tourism in Kenya dates back to pre-independence days and as recorded in history as early as the 1930s (Tourism in Kenya). In the past, the bulk of the tourist that visited Kenya did so mainly to take part in the gaming industry in the game hunting expeditions, while the other visitors represented the typical old tourist that travelled for sun, sand and sea which is one of the tourism products offered by Kenyas tourism industry. In particular, the tourism industry in Kenya traditionally attracted first world rulers. e.g. The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II and the President of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt. INFRASTRUCTURE In the 1930s, Kenyas infrastructure was less than ideal or/and adequate to facilitate this new trend, tourism. Nevertheless, the tourism industry was steadily growing. Kenya gained independence in December 1963 (Kenya Timeline) after which the infrastructure developed a bit but still required improvements. The government with cooperation of both the public and private sector worked cohesively to fully develop the infrastructure that in turn made Kenya more attractive to tourists. Approximately 10% of the country has been reserved for the preservation of the natural attractions and wildlife in Kenya which helps to boost tourism. (Tourism in Kenya) The tourism industry has evolved with the emergence of the new tourist, which brought along new forms of tourism for the country notably sports tourism, community and culture tourism etc. Eco tourism is the prevailing form of tourism accompanied by 10% of the natural reserve dedicated by the government. Kenya Eco tourism attractions:- Game viewing expeditions (Flora) -the evolution of the new tourist brought along the new game viewing expeditions, where the tourist no longer hunt the animals but view the animals on a Safari. Kenyas popular animal attractions are commonly called the big five which includes: elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and the leopard (Tourism in Kenya) Plant watching (Fauna) The viewing of trees and flowers in Kenya is part of the Kenyan agricultural industry, which is the main contributor to the Kenyan GDP. Kenya climatic seasons are similar to those in the Caribbean with a dry and rain season annually. The rainy season in Kenya is responsible for the boom in the fauna of the country. This is the season where the trees and flowers bloom whereas the dry season is quite different. The trees drop their leaves and the flowers dry up. A tourist that visits Kenya in the dry season would have a different experience to a tourist that visit in the rainy season in regards to the country fauna. Safari this allows the tourists to observe and understand the native people and their natural lifestyle. ECONOMICAL FACTORS Multiplier Effect Kenyas tourism industry is heavily dependent on other industries to be a successful industry. The tourism industry is mainly dependent on the agriculture industry. This sector is predominantly responsible for providing the food and beverages that are served to the tourists. NEGATIVE FACTORS AFFECTING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY Lacks of awareness of the people The people of Kenya are included in the decision making process or informed about tourism development initiatives. As a result of this, nationals act negatively towards the tourist. Socio-culturally With the improvement in the tourism industry and the influx of tourist into country, the ways and attitudes of the new world, have negatively affected the culture Kenya by the increase of prostitution, lack of traditional rituals and performances. Terrorism Threat The bombing of the US Embassy in 1998 and attempted bombing in Mombasa 2002, prompted countries to issue negative travel advisories which greatly affected the tourist arrivals to Kenya as depicted in the statistical data. Kenya is a country with a diverse range of tourism products that cater to many types of tourism as mentioned previously. The country is heavily focused on maintaining its natural aspect as well as developing in a sustainable manner keeping with its eco tourism trend as it foremost tourism product. Overall the tourism industry is slowly increasing despite the negative factors that are occasionally experienced; they were able to press forward. IDENTIFICATION DISCUSSION OF TERRORISM IN KENYA WHAT IS TERRORISM? According to the U.S. Department of State terrorism is premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience. Likewise, international terrorism is defined as terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country. ( ) TERRORISTS ATTACKS IN KENYA US EMBASSY ATTACK Around 10.30am on August 7th, 1998, Kenyas US Embassy in Nairobi, was bombed by terrorists where an estimated 12 Americans and 227 Kenyans were killed. Approximately 5000 people in the vicinity at the time of the blast were injured. The destruction spanned a two to three block radius and the Al Qaeda terrorist group were the suspects behind the incident. MOMBASSA ATTACK The Al Qaeda terrorist group again launched another attack in Kenya this time at an Israeli owned hotel. About 8.30am on November 28, 2002, 2 Israelis and 12 Kenyans were killed and over 80 people were injured in the bombing of the Paradise hotel in Mombasa. This attack was only the first part as a missile attack on an Israeli aircraft was concurrently taking place however, this mission failed. WHY DO TERRORISTS TARGET KENYA? Geographic location, poverty and unstable neighbours are some key elements that have contributed to past terrorist attacks faced by Kenya. Kenyas unique geographic location acts as a passageway from the Middle East and South Asia to East Africa and beyond. Therefore, Kenya had to cater for the many activities that would now exist because of this pathway so an extensive seaport was constructed as well as two international airports, one in Mombasa and one in Nairobi along with rail, road and communication infrastructure. With these additions, travel and entry into and around Kenya is quite easy and usually obscure due to its penetrable borders coupled with its surrounding neighbours and unmonitored coastline. In particular, the Arabs in Kenya that occupy the coastal areas are closely linked to the Arabs in the Middle East as they both share a common religion and language. This has made it quite convenient for terrorist to blend into the community. For these reasons, Kenya is a preferred choice for terrorist to strike. Due to poverty and the high rate of unemployment that exists in Kenya, the youths are targeted by terrorists for recruitment to carry out their activities. The terrorists are able to lure these young people by giving them money to join their cause. In this way, they gain new recruits who would provide them with the relevant local information needed to proceed with their activities. Again, Kenya is seen as an ideal destination for terrorists to attack. In Somalia, Kenyas neighbouring country, political instability is quite prevalent. For the past 14 years, Somalia has not been run been run by a government and this has given way to terrorists to move across the border. This has therefore hampered Kenyas security. Immigrants from Somalia reside in Kenya making it easier for terrorists to blend in and thereby bring terrorism into Kenya. Another challenge for Kenya is its ties to the US which make them susceptible to terrorists attacks. Kenya, among other countries, has been selected by the United States Agency for International Development to be provided with the necessary resources to fight HIV/AIDS. ( ) Also, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention located in Kenya is the TERRORISMS IMPACT ON THE HOSPITALITY TOURISM INDUSTRY IN KENYA Tourism, one of the foundation blocks of Kenyas economy, constitutes 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and has been adversely affected by the repercussions of terrorism. Firstly, the influx of tourist to Kenya can be estimated to over 500,000 visitors each year. Europe and the United States of America (USA) represent Kenyas traveller generating region with 70% of the market being Europeans (Switzerland, Italy, Belgium France and Britain account for the bulk of tourists). In addition, visitors come from Japan, Asia, Scandinavia, and other African countries. USA, Germany, Great Britain and some other countries, upon receiving the news about the terrorist attacks on Kenyas US Embassy in Nairobi, immediately issued travel advisories to their citizens and imposed travel bans to refrain travel to Kenya as it was deemed unsafe. Moreover, the extensive media coverage of the attacks particularly focused on Kenyas vulnerability to terrorism severely tarnished its image. These responses lead to a decline in travel to Kenya and some neighboring countries as travelers feared the spillover of the terrorist attacks. For example, tourism businesses were terribly affected by the travel warnings. Tourism brought in US $500 million in annual revenue and was losing at least $1 million everyday due to the decline in tourism. ( ) Consequently, Kenyas tourism industry was paralyzed. Kenya suffered a decrease in tourist arrivals. This had a ripple effect on all sectors of the industry. The cancellation of leisure trips and business conferences were rapidly on the rise. Kenyas reputation plummeted and this lead to the loss of its competitive value. Kenya was no longer an option to be considered for vacation or investment. Tourism catered to the employment of 500, 000 Kenyans ranging from tour operators, tour guides, travel agencies, safari driver, dancers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, small business operators to airport and airline personnel. Subsequently, there was a significant increase in unemployment as many Kenyans lost their jobs. Employees that were still employed received salary cuts. For instance, at the Carnivore restaurant; all of the 330 staff had their salaries reduced, including Dunford the chairman (National Geographic 2010). The bombing of the US Embassy had a massive impact on Kenyas infrastructure. The Embassy was stationed at the crossroads of two streets in Nairobi, adjacent to the Ufundi Building and the Co op Bank Building. The explosion destroyed these three buildings and other buildings and amenities within a two to three block radius.( ) The rubble consisted of broken glass from windows, window frames, furniture and fixtures, concrete block walls, cars, buses, electric poles, street lights and the list goes on. The transportation sector within Kenya suffered major setbacks as the streets were seriously damaged and likewise vehicles. Additional problems surfaced as resources (medical) were delayed as it was difficult to get in and around Nairobi. Access was restricted to rescue and emergency personnel. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, was known for its many tourist attractions but these business operations declined as a result of the bombing. With the loss of power and telecommunication, tour oper ators, travel agencies and hotels were unable to update their websites or communicate with potential visitors who would usually book their reservations, tours or tickets online. Another hindrance to Kenyas tourism industry in light of the terrorist attacks is the slump in foreign direct investment (FDI). Investors were inclined to nullify their FDI in Kenya due to some of the shocks felt by the terrorist attack such as the direct destruction of infrastructure, the rise of operating costs due to an increasing need of security measures, and the rise of recruiting costs due to missing incentives to work in terrorism prone regions. ( ). This further contributed to the loss of revenue specifically for tourism development initiatives. An important issue on the agenda of Kenyas government to combat terrorism is now the introduction of more security. The notion about safety is not confined to the citizens of Kenya alone but is extended to the tourist as well. For this purpose, government spending had to be diverted from productive investment designed to promote growth, eradicate poverty and sustain tourism development. ( ) Expenditure on high tech security equipment such as surveillance cameras, metal detectors and screening machines had to be implemented as strategies to counteract terrorism. Kenyas financial costs continued to escalate in aftermath of the terrorist attack as more funding was required for the cleanup, restoration and reconstruction of the infrastructure, buildings and other amenities destroyed in the blast including tourists facilities. As an illustration, Similarly, another expense incurred is that of extensive advertising to attract more and new tourists to Kenya. This strategy was employed to portray Kenya as a once again safe place and to neutralize the negative media attention received after the bombing. Apart from the above mentioned negative effects of terrorism on Kenyas tourism industry, some positive effects were identified. With the decrease in tourist arrivals to Kenya, domestic tourism was being promoted. Locals provided a portion of revenue needed to sustain some tourism businesses. Likewise, a new must see tourist attraction was developed. The August 7th Memorial Park was constructed on the site where the US Embassy was once situated. This memorial was built to commemorate the lives that were lost and represents a tribute to the courage of the several thousand others who have had to cope with permanent injury and/or the loss of loved ones. It is a place where people come to reflect, remember and relax. ( ) This attraction is quite similar to the September 11 attraction Ground Zero which has been included in many tour packages offered by tour companies in New York City. With regard to the Kenyas transit route region, terrorism is no exception. The negative effects of US embassy bombing trickled down to the airline industry. Flight cancellations increased as airline travel declined. There were numerous staff cuts and a major loss of revenue for the industry. For instance, the suspension of British Airways regular and charter planes flying to Nairobi, coupled with travel advisories, closed down access to 90% of Kenyas overseas markets (The Effect of Terrorism 2004). Car rental companies were also affected. KENYAS RESPONSE TO TERRORISM There is a need for the development of an anti-terrorism legislation in Kenya: following the 1998 bombing of the US Embassy in Kenya the government recognized that there were no adequate measures in place to deal with such acts and therefore the need to develop and implement legislation to deal with terrorism was essential. According to Kenyas Counter Terrorism committee, the Government on two occasions made attempts to implement such laws with the Suppression of Terrorism Bill in 2003 and the Anti-Terrorism Bill in 2006 respectively. However, both bills failed to be introduced to parliament. (Google 2010) Another point to be considered is the need for revamped management policies to be set in place for Kenyas border line and costal security control. Google 2010 also stated that the need for heightened security is vital in these areas, for example: the border between Kenya and Somalia poses a great threat to Kenyan nationals and tourist due to fact that Somalia has been without a government of over fourteen years and is known to be politically unstable. This can be done by putting measures in place such as; heightened security checks for persons entering Kenya through Somalia, denial of entry for suspicious entrants and denial to unnecessary travellers especially during the peak tourist seasons. Proper execution of security in these areas may allow tourists to feel safer and therefore increase overall visits to Kenya. The tourism board of Kenya could try to mitigate some of the negative impacts of the past terrorism attacks on the country by creating a new image for the destination. In order to effectively do this, Kenyas perspective about tourism has to be more holistic. For instance with respect to community tourism, the Maasai Mara tribe not only protects the environment but they engage in certain practices to reduce harm to the environment. Though terrorism would ultimately have a devastating impact on any country being affected, repositioning Kenya in the minds of tourists by focusing on the positives of the destination rather than the negative aspects of terrorism can aid in the process of moving forward. In addition, the tourism board can also shift some of their attention to local tourist by creating special packages in such a way that would be attractive to the local population. Another option to combat this issue of terrorism in Kenya should be the development of crisis management portfolio. This would first of all distinguish terrorism from other forms of crisis. It should then outline in detail the measures that should be implemented before and after such a crisis. Next the portfolio should assist in painting a clear and clutter free process that should be followed after an act of terrorism to facilitate a timely recovery for Kenyas image. Since terrorism severely tarnished the image of Kenya, it is very crucial that only specific and highly qualified individuals should address the public and media issues. Hence the reason, the portfolio should also outline all individuals that should be involved in this process with clearly defined roles and objectives. CASE STUDY SEPTEMBER 11 AND KENYA BOMBINGS Both the September 11 attacks on the United States and the US Embassy and Mombasa bombings in 1998 and 2002 respectively were carried out by the Al Qaeda terrorist organization. NEGATIVE EFFECTS Both the US and Kenya bombings resulted in a decline in outbound and inbound travel. The airline industry in both countries experienced significant revenue losses following the decline in travel. Businesses that were dependent on tourism as their main source of revenue suffered and were unable to continue operations. Staff cuts were also experienced again due to the decrease in travel because of the acts of terrorism faced by both countries. POSITIVE EFFECTS Both countries introduced new high tech security equipment and measures to combat the threat of terrorism. Both countries were able to develop a new tourist attraction, Ground Zero and August 7th Memorial

Going Beyond the Pale with William Trevor Essay -- Essays Papers

Going Beyond the Pale with William Trevor In William Trevor’s short story ‘Beyond the Pale’, the reader is presented with a text that seethes with the angst of a writer whose country’s Colonial past has been gnawing on his bones. Although there is nothing unusual in this (especially in Irish writing), Trevor manages to fumble the ball in the course of his didactic strategy and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory: what should have been a successful indictment of British Colonial Rule in Ireland becomes nothing more than the grumbling of an intelligent writer who cannot negotiate his patriotic feelings. The story is presented as a first-person narrative by one of four English holidaymakers who regularly visit a small hotel, Glencorn Lodge, in County Antrim (see the Map of Ireland). All the details the narrator, Milly, supplies the reader with in the introductory paragraphs indicates a lack of Irishness in the whole make-up of this group’s holiday: Glencorn Lodge is a Georgian building, the driveway of which is lined with rhododendrons (a non-indigenous species of plant); the couple who run Glencorn Lodge - the slyly named Malseeds - are English; the garden has figs, the greenhouse has apricots and peaches - and the greenhouse is presided over by ‘old Mr Saxton, another aptronymous character. Essentially the reader is given a picture not of Ireland, but of the remnants of Imperial supremacy. So far, so good. Trevor is in control, and he has created a good backdrop for his tale. Where does it all go wrong? Quite simply, Milly, the narrator is not up to the task of telling the story Trevor wishes to unfold: for subtlety she is fine, but it is when events become more action-oriented that Milly fails to prove herself the correct storytelling device for this narrative. As the story progresses, we learn much of the four characters’ past, both together and apart - Milly is ideal as a teller of the more dubious or purely speculative elements of a character’s past. Further details indicate a lack of Irishness in this ritualized holiday along the way - for example, Strafe, one of the male characters, drinks ‘whisky’ rather than ‘whiskey’, the former indicating Scotch, the latter indicating an Irish or American distillation. In the midst of their holiday world, it is noticed that an intrusion has occurred: a red-haired man, ‘uncouth-looking’, has appeared, ... ...ard because, essentially, he is trying too hard to make the reader feel sympathy not for the English conscience (Cynthia), but for Ireland itself. Having a an admission of guilt (albeit on behalf of a nation) from one English conscience described by an English consciousness that is consumed by its obliviousness towards any reason for feeling guilt (both at a personal and national level) is an ambitious idea - one which Trevor should have pulled off. The urge to preach (which can only be regarded as some attempt to justify guilt that Cynthia feels, and, by extension, Britain should feel) should have been stifled, completely repressed. The subtle detailing of the early part of the narrative displays Trevor’s ability to deftly sketch the particulars of a scene without descending to caricature, and to embed his agenda while doing so. The loss of subtlety in the final pages (and Cynthia’s monologue does cover a number of pages) is actually a loss for the reader, because whether a reader of this story is British, Irish or otherwise, one can only leave the tale wondering who Trevor had in mind when he wrote it, and who ultimately would gain in the way he obviously intends for the reader.

Part Five Chapter IX

IX The journey took Krystal back to her childhood. She had made this trip daily to St Thomas's, all on her own, on the bus. She knew when the abbey would come into sight, and she pointed it out to Robbie. ‘See the big ruin' castle?' Robbie was hungry, but slightly distracted by the excitement of being on a bus. Krystal held his hand tightly. She had promised him food when they got off at the other end, but she did not know where she would get it. Perhaps she could borrow money from Fats for a bag of crisps, not to mention the return bus fare. ‘I wen' ter school ‘ere,' she told Robbie, while he wiped his fingers on the dirty windows, making abstract patterns. ‘An' you'll go to school ‘ere too.' When they rehoused her, because of her pregnancy, they were almost certain to give her another Fields house; nobody wanted to buy them, they were so run down. But Krystal saw this as a good thing, because in spite of their dilapidation it would put Robbie and the baby in the catchment area for St Thomas's. Anyway, Fats' parents would almost certainly give her enough money for a washing machine once she had their grandchild. They might even get a television. The bus rolled down a slope towards Pagford, and Krystal caught a glimpse of the glittering river, briefly visible before the road sank too low. She had been disappointed, when she joined the rowing team, that they did not train on the Orr, but on the dirty old canal in Yarvil. †Ere we are,' Krystal told Robbie, as the bus turned slowly into the flower-decked square. Fats had forgotten that waiting in front of the Black Canon meant standing opposite Mollison and Lowe's and the Copper Kettle. There was more than an hour to go until midday, when the cafe opened on Sundays, but Fats did not know how early Andrew had to arrive for work. He had no desire to see his oldest friend this morning, so he skulked down the side of the pub out of sight, and only emerged when the bus arrived. It pulled away, revealing Krystal and a small dirty-looking boy. Nonplussed, Fats loped towards them. †E's my brother,' said Krystal aggressively, in response to something she had seen in Fats' face. Fats made another mental adjustment to what gritty and authentic life meant. He had been fleetingly taken with the idea of knocking Krystal up (and showing Cubby what real men were able to achieve casually, without effort) but this little boy clinging to his sister's hand and leg disconcerted him. Fats wished that he had not agreed to meet her. She was making him ridiculous. He would rather have gone back to that stinking, squalid house of hers, now that he saw her in the Square. †Ave yeh got any money?' Krystal demanded. ‘What?' said Fats. His wits were slow with tiredness. He could not remember now why he had wanted to sit up all night; his tongue was throbbing with all the cigarettes he had smoked. ‘Money,' repeated Krystal. ‘E's ‘ungry an' I've lost a fiver. Pay yeh back.' Fats stuck a hand in his jeans pocket and touched a crumpled bank note. Somehow he did not want to look too flush in front of Krystal, so he ferreted deeper for change, and finally came up with a small amount of silver and coppers. They went to the tiny newsagent's two streets from the Square, and Fats hung around outside while Krystal bought Robbie crisps and a packet of Rolos. None of them said a word, not even Robbie, who seemed fearful of Fats. At last, when Krystal had handed her brother the crisps, she said to Fats, ‘Where'll we go?' Surely, he thought, she could not mean that they were going to shag. Not with the boy there. He had had some idea of taking her to the Cubby Hole: it was private, and it would be a final desecration of his and Andrew's friendship; he owed nothing to anyone, any more. But he baulked at the idea of fucking in front of a three-year-old. †E'll be all right,' said Krystal. †E's got chocolates now. No, later,' she said to Robbie, who was whining for the Rolos still in her hand. ‘When you've ‘ad the crisps.' They walked off down the road in the direction of the old stone bridge. †E'll be all right,' Krystal repeated. †E does as ‘e's told. Dontcha?' she said loudly to Robbie. ‘Wan' chocolates,' he said. ‘Yeah, in a minute.' She could tell that Fats needed cajoling today. She had known, on the bus, that bringing Robbie, however necessary, would be difficult. ‘Whatcha bin up ter?' she asked. ‘Party last night,' said Fats. ‘Yeah? Who wuz there?' He yawned widely, and she had to wait for an answer. ‘Arf Price. Sukhvinder Jawanda. Gaia Bawden.' ‘Does she live in Pagford?' asked Krystal sharply. ‘Yeah, in Hope Street,' said Fats. He knew, because Andrew had let it slip, where she lived. Andrew had never said that he liked her, but Fats had watched him watching Gaia almost constantly in the few classes they shared. He had noticed Andrew's extreme self-consciousness around her, and whenever she was mentioned. Krystal, though, was thinking about Gaia's mother: the only social worker she had ever liked, the only one who had got through to her mother. She lived in Hope Street, the same as Nana Cath. She was probably there right now. What if †¦ But Kay had left them. Mattie was their social worker again. Anyway, you weren't supposed to bother them at home. Shane Tully had once followed his social worker to her house, and he'd got a restraining order for his pains. But then, Shane had earlier tried to heave a brick through the woman's car window †¦ And, Krystal reasoned, squinting as the road turned, and the river dazzled her eyes with thousands of blinding white spots of light, Kay was still the keeper of folders, the score-keeper and the judge. She had seemed all right, but none of her solutions would keep Krystal and Robbie together †¦ ‘We could go down there,' she suggested to Fats, pointing at the overgrown stretch of bank, a little way along from the bridge. ‘An' Robbie could wait up there, on the bench.' She would be able to keep an eye on him from there, she thought, and she would make sure he didn't see anything. Not that it was anything he had not seen before, in the days that Terri brought strangers home †¦ But, exhausted as he was, Fats was revolted. He could not do it in the grass, under the eye of a small boy. ‘Nah,' he said, trying to sound offhand. †E won' bother,' said Krystal. †E's got ‘is Rolos. ‘E won' even know,' she said, although she thought that was a lie. Robbie knew too much. There had been trouble at nursery when he'd mimicked doing it doggy-style on another child. Krystal's mother, Fats remembered, was a prostitute. He hated the idea of what she was suggesting, but was that not inauthenticity? ‘Whassamatter?' Krystal asked him aggressively. ‘Nothing,' he said. Dane Tully would do it. Pikey Pritchard would do it. Cubby, not in a million years. Krystal walked Robbie to the bench. Fats bent to peer over the back of it, down to the overgrown patch of weeds and bushes, and thought that the kid might not see anything, but that he would be as quick as he could, in any case. †Ere y'are,' Krystal told Robbie, pulling out the long tube of Rolos while he reached for them excitedly. ‘Yeh can ‘ave all of 'em if yeh jus' sit ‘ere fer a minute, all righ'? Yeh jus' sit ‘ere, Robbie, an' I'll be in them bushes. D'yeh understand, Robbie?' ‘Yeah,' he said happily, his cheeks already full of chocolate and toffee. Krystal slipped and slid down the bank towards the patch of undergrowth, hoping that Fats was not going to make any difficulties about doing it without a condom.