Reinventing Goverment by David Osbourne Ted Gaebler free essay sample

Critical review of work on how innovative capitalism can transform public sector at home abroad. David Osborne and Ted Gaebler, in Reinventing Government: How the Entrepreneurial Spirit Is Transforming the Public Sector, offer an invigorating and hopeful look at examples of fresh governmental ideas and practices to replace old and ineffective ideas and practices. The authors present an accurate portrait of the failures of the old governments, and clearly describe new approaches which have proved effective in dealing with a number of problems both on the local and global levels. They should be praised for such efforts. At the same time, their book should be read with a highly critical eye, particularly with regard to the simplistic nature of their analysis of the world, their overly optimistic conclusions, and their failure to adequately address the profound problems of the most disadvantaged who will be left out in the

The History of WWI Hospital Ship, the HMHS Britannic

The History of WWI Hospital Ship, the HMHS Britannic In the early 20th century an intense competition existed between British and German shipping companies which saw them battle to build larger and faster ocean liners for use in the Atlantic. The key players including Cunard and White Star from Britain and HAPAG and Norddeutscher Lloyd from Germany. By 1907, White Star had given up the pursuit of the speed title, known as the Blue Riband, to Cunard and began focusing on constructing larger and more luxurious ships. Led by J. Bruce Ismay, White Star approached William J. Pirrie, head of Harland Wolff, and ordered three massive liners which were dubbed the Olympic-class. These were designed by Thomas Andrews and Alexander Carlisle and incorporated the latest technologies. The first two ships of the class, RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic, were laid down in 1908 and 1909 respectively and were built in neighboring shipways in Belfast, Ireland. Following the completion of Olympic and launching of Titanic in 1911, work began on the third vessel, Britannic. This ship was laid down on November 30, 1911. As work moved forward in Belfast, the first two ships proved star-crossed. While Olympic was involved in a collision with the destroyer HMS Hawke in 1911, Titanic, foolishly dubbed unsinkable, sank with a loss of 1,517 on April 15, 1912. Titanics sinking led to dramatic changes in Britannics design and to Olympic returning to the yard for alterations. Design Powered by twenty-nine coal-fired boilers driving three propellers, Britannic possessed a similar profile to its earlier sisters and mounted four large funnels. Three of these were functional, while the fourth was a dummy which served to provide extra ventilation to the ship. Britannic was intended to carry around 3,200 crew and passengers in three different classes. For first class, luxurious accommodations were available along with lavish public spaces. While the second class spaces were quite good, Britannics third class was considered more comfortable than its two predecessors. Assessing the Titanic disaster, it was decided to give Britannic a double hull along with its engine and boiler spaces. This widened the ship by two feet and necessitated the installation of a larger 18,000-horsepower turbine engine in order to maintain its service speed of twenty-one knots. In addition, six of Britannics fifteen watertight bulkheads were raised to B deck to aid in containing flooding if the hull was breached. As a lack of lifeboats had famously contributed to the high loss of life aboard Titanic, Britannic was fitted with additional lifeboats and massive sets of davits. These special davits were capable of reaching lifeboats on both sides of the ship to ensure that all could be launched even if it developed a severe list. Though an effective design, some were blocked from reaching the opposite side of the ship due to the funnels. War Arrives Launched on February 26, 1914, Britannic began fitting out for service in the Atlantic. In August 1914, with work progressing, World War I began in Europe. Due to the need to produce ships for the war effort, materials were diverted from civilian projects. As a result, work on Britannic slowed. By May 1915, the same month as the loss of Lusitania, the new liner began testing its engines. With the war stagnating on the Western Front, the Allied leadership began looking to expand the conflict to the Mediterranean. Efforts to this end began in April 1915, when British troops opened the Gallipoli Campaign at the Dardanelles. To support the campaign, the Royal Navy began requisitioning liners, such as RMS Mauritania and RMS Aquitania, for use as troopships in June. Hospital Ship As casualties at Gallipoli began to mount, the Royal Navy recognized the need to convert several liners to hospital ships. These could act as medical facilities near the battlefield and could transport the more severely wounded back to Britain. In August 1915, Aquitania was converted with its troop transport duties passing to Olympic. On November 15, Britannic was requisitioned to serve as a hospital ship. As suitable facilities were constructed on board, the ship was repainted white with a green stripe and large red crosses. Commissioned at Liverpool on December 12, command of the vessel was given to Captain Charles A. Bartlett. As a hospital ship, Britannic possessed 2,034 berths and 1,035 cots for casualties. To aid the wounded, a medical staff of 52 officers, 101 nurses, and 336 orderlies was embarked. This was supported by a ships crew of 675. Departing Liverpool on December 23, Britannic coaled at Naples, Italy before reaching its new base at Mudros, Lemnos. There around 3,300 casualties were brought on board. Departing, Britannic made port at Southampton on January 9, 1916. After conducting two more voyages to the Mediterranean, Britannic returned to Belfast and was released from war service on June 6. Shortly thereafter, Harland Wolff began converting the ship back into a passenger liner. This was halted in August when the Admiralty recalled Britannic and dispatched it back to Mudros. Carrying members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment, it arrived on October 3. The Loss of the Britannic Returning to Southampton on October 11, Britannic soon departed for another run to Mudros. This fifth voyage saw it return to Britain with around 3,000 wounded. Sailing on November 12 with no passengers, Britannic reached Naples after a five-day run. Briefly detained in Naples due to bad weather, Bartlett took Britannic to sea on the 19th. Entering the Kea Channel on November 21, Britannic was rocked by a large explosion at 8:12 AM which struck the starboard side. It is believed that this was caused by a mine laid by U-73. As the ship began to sink by the bow, Bartlett initiated damage control procedures. Though Britannic had been designed to survive taking heavy damage, the failure of some watertight doors to close due to damage and malfunction ultimately doomed the vessel. This was aided by the fact that many of the lower deck portholes were open in an effort to ventilate the hospital wards. In an effort to save the ship, Bartlett turned to starboard in the hope of beaching Britannic on Kea, approximately three miles away. Seeing that the ship would not make it, he ordered abandon ship at 8:35 AM. As the crew and medical staff took to the lifeboats, they were aided by local fishermen and, later, the arrival of several British warships. Rolling on its starboard side, Britannic slipped beneath the waves. Due to the shallowness of the water, its bow hit the bottom while the stern was still exposed. Bending with the weight of the ship, the bow crumpled and the ship vanished at 9:07 AM. Despite taking similar damage as Titanic, Britannic only managed to remain afloat for fifty-five minutes, approximately one-third the time of its older sister. Conversely, losses from the sinking of Britannic numbered only thirty while 1,036 were rescued. One of those rescued was nurse Violet Jessop. A stewardess before the war, she survived the Olympic-Hawke collision as well as the sinking of Titanic. HMHS Britannic at a Glance Nation:  Great BritainType:  Hospital ShipShipyard:  Harland Wolff (Belfast, Northern Ireland)Laid Down:  November 30, 1911Launched:  February 26, 1914Fate:  Sunk by mine on November 21, 1916 HMHS Britannic  Specifications Displacement:  53,000 tonsLength:  882 ft., 9 in.Beam:  94 ft.Draft:  34 ft. 7 in.Speed:  23 knotsComplement:  675 men Sources WebTitanic: HMHS BritannicHMHS BritannicLost Liners: HMHS Britannic

Reader response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reader response - Essay Example The report stresses on the fact that bad writing does not only mean not being able to write, rather more importantly it means not being able to convert an idea into fine words. In another article by (Fried), the importance of good writing is further stresses in the business world especially, where bad writing means a direct and instant loss in productivity and customer dissatisfaction. In the article, bad writing is sarcastically described as â€Å"stale, soggy rice cakes†, which are devoid of taste and nutrition. In an order to increase the number of customers, business people have got to rely on using writing skills that are persuasive and creative. (MBA Jargon Watch) may be considered a beneficial source in an order to build up on the type of vocabulary which is needed in the business world to create an attractive and good piece of writing that would be able to woo the customers. Many words introduced by (MBA Jargon Watch) may seem new to the business world writers and they may be ignorant of them as well, due to which bad writing comes on all geared up to spoil a company’s future. All three articles stress on the ultimate importance of good writing in the business world and appreciate the usage of creative writing

Learning from the past Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Learning from the past - Essay Example Global warming seems to be one of the biggest threats to humanity in today’s world, because if we allow it to continue without taking any measures, the consequences can be catastrophic. Global Warming Global warming phenomenon has been around for a considerable period of time. Its history can be dated back to the 1880s. People in that period, had come to realize that burning fossil fuels such as coal, results in the emission of Carbon dioxide gas and other harmful gases, which can damage the earth’s atmosphere. The concept of greenhouse effect was initiated during that period; the greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide when released into the earth’s atmosphere aid in the depletion of the ozone layer which can increase the earth’s temperature, thus causing major climatic changes. During the early 1900s, increase in the temperature of the earth was even recorded by the scientists and considerable thought was given to this phenomenon that was global warming. (Richard Courtney) The swift industrialization that started in the 1800s contributed a lot to the warming of the planet. It was the first time that people had started to burn fossil fuels in such large quantity to produce energy, which led to the emission of various harmful gases and waste into the atmosphere, and damaged the ozone layer surrounding the earth. This was the one major drawback of industrialization, which although had changed the situation around the world. Rapid deforestation and burning of coal and gases has led to the fast reduction in non-renewable sources of energy, as well as contributed greatly to global warming. During the start of industrialization, many people did not really understand the amount of damage that was being done to the atmosphere, until the scientists actually started to carry out tests and investigations, which showed them they are indeed endangering the planet with their activities. The concept was derived that the people were beginning to pu sh the earth’s resources to the maximum limit. Trees were, and still are, being cut down at a rapid rate to produce energy, and so were coal and other fossil fuels. Nature had been patient for some time with the continuous damage being done to the environment, but for some time now it has started to show signs of impatience. This had to happen because constant meddling with the earth’s natural cycle had to have negative consequences, which have resulted in global warming. This is basically a rise in the temperature of the earth, leading to climatic changes such as melting of ice caps in the northern regions. This can result in massive floods, plus the colder regions will get colder, while warmer regions will get warmer. The balance has been disturbed and it will be really difficult to put it back. Average temperature readings of the earth, taken every once in a while, have showed that the temperature of the earth is spiking; though at a small rate, it is still dangerou s. (How it began?) Though global warming has been on the go since the 1800s, measures have been taken continuously to reduce it, without being so harsh on the world’s economy. In 1987, an act was passed by Montreal Protocol of the Vienna Convention, which banned the releasing of the harmful gases into the atmosphere, which can damage the earth’

Movie Analysis Of The Others Film Studies Essay

Movie Analysis Of The Others Film Studies Essay The Others is a film written and directed by Alejandro Amenabar. This supernatural thriller was produced in 2002, and like most films of its genre, it combines suspense, shock and unexplainable events into a truly spine tingling production. There are many aspects of fear, and the techniques used to set a chilling moment vary largely. However Amenabar believes that, leaving something to the imagination is the essence of real horror. This is achieved in the film The Others by using many presentational devices. During the opening sequence a very peculiar atmosphere is produced, slightly nervy images are shown of people looking distraught; however this contrasts with the soft cheerful melody in the background. This contrast makes the music very eerie, due to the natural feeling of something isnt right, which builds suspense because you dont understand whats wrong. The first image shown in this sequence depicts the creation of the world; the image is very open due to it being the start of life and freedom, the image is also well lit. The other images are very different, there images shown are; two children huddled on a stairway, somebody locking a door, a scared girl pointing into the dark, a dark figure reaching out to a petrified boy, a broken toy angel and a secluded house. These images create unease, the poor lighting mainly focuses on the people making them looked trapped by the unknowing dark, and this is also achieved by the picture of the secluded house also seemingly trapped by the f og. The people also look like their looking at something and coupled with the moving light which seems almost to search the images, gives the impression theres more in the images then we can see. This and also the title, The Others, gives us the impression that the people in this film are trapped with other unknown supernatural beings, giving the viewer a feeling of insecurity. Right from the beginning of the film tension is built, the opening sequence finishes and the music stops. The silence lacks any atmosphere, giving us the impression nothing is going to happen, and then suddenly it jumps to a shot of grace screaming. This shock makes the audience jump, also making them suspect more shocks. However the first three scenes lack these, making the tension increase, and as the pace of the music increases, the audience are on the edge of the seats suspecting the worst. They start to imagine what they believe is going to happen, fearing it. But they are dealt with continuous anti climaxes, but the tension builds as they all know something is going to happen soon, then when the music stops and all seems calm they are dealt with a shock when they least aspect it. The first scene also gives our first look of the outside of the house. Its looks very isolated, and with the additional fog surrounding all, the large house almost seems like a prison. This feeling is completed in scene two when the servants meet the children. Grace starts to lock all the doors, Amenabar also adds to the feeling of imprisonment by reducing the light significantly by making the servants shut the curtains. This creates anxiety and due to the strong character of grace the audience may start to fear for the unmet children. We start to feel anxious to meet the children, Amenabar uses this to create unease. The music stops and unexpectedly an eerie chanting starts, at this point we dont know what to expect and the camera pans around to behind the servants so we cant see what the servant can, this creates even more tension. Furthermore, a major way Amenabar creates tension and suspense is via the use of lighting. The setting of the film is encaged in darkness; this is due to the children being photosensitive. However this darkness creates uncertainty for the characters and the audience inhibiting what they can see happening. This senses of unease increases as the characters become more suspicious of the others in their house. The use of light is especially apparent in a scene I will refer to for the purpose of this essay, the bedroom scene. In this scene both Anne and Nicholas are in bed, suddenly Anne wakes up Nicholas complaining that Victor had been messing with the curtains. However during this scene, due to the lighting, only the childrens faces are visible. This makes the audience ponder the question if there really is someone by the curtains. In this scene, Amenabar deliberately makes the scene uncertain allowing it to be interoperated in two different ways; this is particularly evident when Anne is talking to Victor. This is achieved by the use of camera angles, both the audience and Nicholas can hear a strange voice, but due to the camera showing only the back of Anne, we cant tell if she is putting it on her not. Additionally when Nicholas believes Anne is just trying to scare him, she tells Victor to touch his cheek. As this is happening, the director uses background music to build up tension. Furthermore the camera zooms into Nicholas face so the audience is unaware of what is happening in the room. Suddenly there are numerous unsettling sounds such as banging footsteps; this combined with the climaxing music increases the tension. As the tension is at a peak silence echoes, and a mysterious hand reaches out for Nicholass face. Nicholas erupts into hysteric screams, this stuns the audience. In addition, sound is also used to create suspense. This is especially effective in the scene I will refer to as the piano scene. The scene starts with grace sat on the stairs, crying in the darkness of a candle. However faint music suddenly becomes audible, so grace goes to investigate. Tension is built for the audience as they can see the apprehension and fear Grace has of what she will find as she creeps down the stairs clutching a shotgun. The music leads her to the piano room, and as she reaches for the door handle the door creaks open and the music suddenly stops. However every door in her house is usually locked, this strange change gives the audience a feeling that there is something wrong. As Grace inspects the room, the director again plays music giving the audience the impression something is there. However as the music dies, the audience are dealt with an anticlimax. Grace leaves the room, and as the camera starts to zoom in on the door it suddenly slams shut while an eer ie scream can be heard. Due to the audiences tension being released as grace realises there is nothing in the room, this creates an expected shock. Grace, who fell to the floor, stands up and tries to open the door in fright, however it is now locked. When the summoned house keeper unlocks the door, the room is scanned by the camera, but there is nothing to be seen but a previously closed piano gleaming in the moon light. Grace is physically shocked; this can be seen as she brings her hands to her chest. Another notable effect regarding lighting in this scene is that, at the beginning Graces face is extremely orange. This saturated look looks remarkably like old photos, which is relevant as the audience will later find out that she is in fact deceased. Lastly, these effects are also apparent in the Grave Scene. In this scene, camera techniques are used very efficiently. The main method used is a technique called crosscutting; this is where the camera shot switches between scenes, it is used to show things happening at the same time. This technique creates suspense because it allows the audience to gather information the characters dont know. This technique can also increase the urgency of a scene. This is applied to this scene as, Nicholas and Anne go looking for their father. Lost within the fog, often used in horror films to present something being hidden, they find some gravestones. As she reads their inscriptions, her facial expressions clearly show the feeling of shocked and fear. However the scene suddenly cuts to Grace, who also goes through the same emotions as she discovers a picture of her servants, sat dead. The scene then cuts back to the children, as Anne stands speechless the servants miraculously appear. As Anne shou ts at Nicholas to run the camera pans onto him. Here the director uses another technique; he switches the focus between the foreground and the background. At first Nicholas can be seen clearly with the servants not in focus in the distance, however these switch so the servants can be seen clearly and Nicholas instead is not in focus. This creates a great amount of suspense, this because this effect gives the impression that the servants are getting considerably closer, where as Nicholas is yet to move. As Anne and Nicholas finally run away, the scene once again cuts to Grace who is distraughtly looking for her children, here the two split scenes merge as the kids run into her. The climaxing music also adds to the tension in the scene. In conclusion Alejandro Amenabar uses various presentational devices to create suspense during the film. These include the use of lighting, camera angles and sound. However unlike most modern films of this genre special effects arent really used, but this does not affect the overall apprehension created during the film. Tension is created in every scene using a wide variety of techniques, therefore I believe that Alejandro Amenabar creates suspense effectively, making The Others a great film to watch.

Constitution Rights Essay

â€Å"In the United States, due process refers to a set of established legal principles, derived from the Constitution, that seek to protect the rights of citizens. † Inga Johannsen was put in a situation in which she was discriminated invidiously. Citizens of the United States were treated unequally, ending in a very unfair result for Johannsen. The study that was found in Utopia was said to be too new to be fully evaluated, meaning, Inga should not have been fired until at least further evidence of this study was said to be accurate, if anything. If the situation was different, for example, Inga had just been hired by the school district; the results may not have been such discrimination towards her personally. However, being said that she has been working for four years and 364 days, the scenario is 100% unfair and self-discriminating. The time Inga has been with this district is a proven fact that she is indeed a very well teacher for second graders, or she wouldn’t still be working. I believe that to fire someone who’s been so dedicated to their job and has offered the school district itself so much of their time over a hair color is simply wrong. This is a new study that was just found through the think tank and should only be in affect for those whom are trying to be placed as a teacher in the future. Inga wasn’t given the chance to see if this particular study was found to be accurate, which could have resulted in her changing her hair color instantly. The due process isn’t providing Inga with any fair procedures, which is entirely why it is going against itself in this situation. The second she said she wouldn’t be changing her hair color, the only solution the school took was to fire her. Something could have been easily worked out for her considering her experience and history. Inga was an individual whom was unmistakably acted against on as an individual. In my point of view she has been neglected her of â€Å"life, liberty or property. † The government has every right to forbid Billy Barroner’s advertisement for his bar. Yes, he is promoting alcohol to underage students, however; Barroner is also going against legal or moral ownership rights. This rights were failed to be mentioned in the scenario but could have been brought up by the government if Billy tried to argue the case. Underage drinking is a serious manner in many colleges. Binge drinking can lead to serious health issues and in some cases, future alcoholism. To promote this on a campus isn’t morally correct and is going against the drinking age law. Other actions could have been put into affect for Billy’s business. One action Billy could have taken would have been to promote his business elsewhere, which would have resulted in almost the same traffic flow. He could have attempted to advertise his special in town, where it would be targeted towards people off age, but college students would still be able to see as well. It would have been beneficial for him due to the fact that students don’t stay on campus, they do go into town as well. Some may argue that the government went against his rights, considering it’s a free country and we are granted the freedom of speech; however there are laws and rights that Billy didn’t obey. The government in this situation was very fair and reasonable; Billy just took the action without thinking of the consequences and the drinking age law.

Early Years Foundation Stage for Childminding Essay

The EYFS is set to ensure all children in early year’s settings including children with disabilities and special needs have the best possible start in life which they deserve. A child needs to not only have a safe, secure and happy childhood but also one which is rich in positive parenting and high quality learning. These will provide the foundations and tools a child needs to reach their full potential. The EYFS must be followed by all early years’ providers to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. The EYFS is set to help prepare children for school, physically and emotionally and set a foundation for a positive progress through school and life. Children develop at a raid rate between birth-5 years and experiences between this time have a dramatic impact on their future. Key Points of the Early Years Foundation stage †¢ Good quality and consistent care within all early years’ settings to ensure every single child makes good progress. †¢ A secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each individual child and are assessed and reviewed regularly †¢ Partnership working between practitioners and with parents and/or carers †¢ Equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported. EYFS requirements for learning and development †¢ All Early year providers must help children work towards the early learning goals, the knowledge, skills and understanding a child should have by the end of the academic year in which they turn five. †¢ Shape activities and experiences within the setting to enable every child to have the best chance of reaching these learning goals. †¢ Set in place assessment arrangements and requirements for measuring progress and for reporting to parents and/or carers. EYFS requirements for safeguarding and welfare Early years providers must set in place requirements to ensure a child’s safety and promote their welfare taking into account the following points. †¢ Every child is different and unique and children who are constantly learning will become more confident, independent, and grow in self-esteem. †¢ Positive relationships enable children to be strong and independent †¢ A nourishing environment which responds to a child’s individual needs will enable them to learn and develop well. This will also be the case through a good strong partnership between parent/care and care giver. †¢ Children learn and develop in different ways and at different speeds.