Category: Christmas

Introduction

Precise scheduling and estimation of costs and resources necessary for a business project are crucial elements of successful project management. For a manager, it is vital to be able to collect data about the activities obligatory for work to be completed and estimate the amount of workforce, time, and resources to provide the result by a deadline. The project management methodology helps identify the most effective ways to achieve results in particular conditions.

The paper analyzes the tree trimming project managed by a Christmas tree timber Thomas Johnson. The actions of the manager will be examined from his schedule completion, project performance, as well as the alternative utilization of other methods and techniques. Proper carrying out of cost estimating and earned value methodology, projects management techniques for scheduling the activities are crucial for the successful performance within the project.

Schedule Analysis

The success of any project lies in the accurate application of scheduling and estimating techniques. However, as Wilson (2014) suggests, the successful result does not only depend on the correct identification of necessary resources, estimating costs, and the decision of a sequence of activities. It is also essential to design and initiate schedule, cost, and quality controls (Wilson, 2014, p. 9). This idea helps to analyze the work of a project manager in a proposed situation. According to the suggested scenario, a timber Thomas Johnson counted the Christmas trees in the field which was about 24,000.

He trained his crew to trim the trees with special machetes and agreed with the customer for a $30,000 lump sum for the work to be completed. Upon receiving the first partial payment after five days of work on the project, Thomas calculated that approximately 6,000 trees had been trimmed that makes 25% of work done, with the payment for this part of work equal to $7,500. Regarding these calculations, Thomas project is on schedule because for 25% of completed work he received 25% of total agreed payment. Thus, the work activities are planned and carried out according to the project schedule.

Earned Value Utilization Analysis

In project management, it is important to accurately evaluate the budget earned on different steps of work proceeding to analyze the schedule variance and the stage of the project completion. From this perspective, earned value as a budgeted amount of cost for work scheduled to be accomplished plus budgeted for the level of effort or apportioned effort activity done during a given period (Kezner, 2017, p. 514).

To utilize earned value in schedule analysis properly, a manager should include it in a calculation of schedule variance where planned value has to be deducted from the earned value (Wilson, 2014, p. 232). However, Johnson does not utilize the concept correctly because he evaluates his schedule performance according to the share of earned value in the total sum. The manager in the suggested scenario does not identify planned value in his project.

Schedule and Cost Variance

One of the primary responsibilities of a project manager is the establishment of control over the activities during the process of project work. According to Wilson (2014), a manager can control the process of work with constant readiness to adjust the achieved results to the requirements and adding improvements to cost and schedule (p. 4). Therefore, the recognition and control of schedule and cost variance within a project contributes to its successful performance.

Upon the fifth-day partial work completion, Thomas should estimate the schedule variance deducting planned value for the period from the actual earned value. If the result is zero, the project is on schedule. However, if it is negative, it means that the project is behind schedule when the positive schedule variance shows that the work is over schedule (Wilson, 2014). To set up cost variance, Thomas should use the formula CV=EV-AC, where CV stands for cost variance, EV  earned value, and AC  actual cost (Wilson, 2014, p. 232). These calculations would help the manager to evaluate his project according to budget spending and would enable him to adjust the activities accordingly.

Methods for Changes in the Project

In case of any changes applied to the project upon the customers request, there should be specific methods considered to address the changes without cost or schedule losses. Any change in a project scope should be carried out within the established rules that do not contradict with the initial goal set before the manager (Kerzner, 2017). If Thomas was asked to change the form of the trees trimmed, he should use the method that requires an assessment of the customers needs and the added value (Kezner, 2017, p. 751).

Also, it would be necessary to analyze the available resources in comparison to the required ones, as well as the time and costs needed to carry out the changes. Thomas had already trained the team to trim the trees into a cone shape. If he were asked to change the shape, he would have to spend time and costs to train the team a different technique of trimming and probably would need additional tools, other than machetes. All these variables should be taken into consideration when applying the project scope change.

Agile Methodology Applied for the Project

Thomas could accelerate the completion of his project if he utilized the agile methodology in his work. This method is designed to eliminate diverse problems in traditional management concentrating on constant improvements during the project life cycle, tending to complete work before schedule, and adjusting work according to requirements (Krezner, 2017). Prioritizing people and collaboration and utilizing participative leadership style, Thomas would be able to improve the productivity of his teams work by the inclusion of each of them into the process.

Analysis of the Project with the Estimated Quote

Assuming that the original sum agreed with the customer was estimated, Thomas performance on the project could be evaluated as an insufficiently accurate. If the cost was an estimate, the timber should have adjusted the costs according to the completion of a part of project and negotiate changes with the customer. Utilizing top-down methodology of cost estimating on the later stages of the project development would help Thomas recognize the weak and strong sides of the project and make necessary adjustments.

Conclusion

Concluding the discussion, it is obvious that the trees trimming project manager could have used diverse methods and techniques of project management to improve his performance. However, the calculations made at the initial stages of work activities showed that the team is on schedule. However, Thomas did not utilize the concept of earned value correctly, not taking into consideration the planned value of the project. A utilization of agile methodology and proper schedule and cost variance analysis would help Thomas increase the level of productivity of his workers and meet the requirements and changes of the customer.

References

Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling (12th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.

Wilson, R. (2014). A comprehensive guide to project management schedule and cost control: Methods and models for managing the project lifecycle. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

The story Eating Christmas in the Kalahari written by Richard Borshay Lee raises the problem of social equality and cultural differences and their values. The author managed to disclose the most important human features valued by all nations, such as kindness, generosity, and openness. The problem of intercultural differences was vividly demonstrated in the example of national customs and traditions of the Bushmens society.

The story highlights the attitude of the particular national society of Bushmen to the arrogance and social inequality in the modern world. The Christmas story that happened according to the traditions of the tribe closely interacts with anthropological problems existing nowadays. The author tried to underline the complete disrespect of the Bushmen to the arrogance of the guests visiting their territory or living with them. It may seem cruel and cynical that these people got used to mock everyone, but this very habit helps other nationalities to understand their mistakes and get rid of arrogance forever.

&when a young man kills much meat, he comes to think of himself as a chief or a big man, and he thinks of the rest of us as his servants or inferiors. We cant accept this.

The author underlined the fact that people should overcome this lesson of line and become more open and frank to those who surround us, no matter what nationality they are.

The story is really thought-provoking while it teaches everyone to evaluate what they have and strive for self-improvement. Arrogance will never result in cultural friendship and mutual respect. The example of Bushmens lesson showed that every person could understand his faults; it is important to establish rapport in order to realize how to change ones world look.

&we always speak of his meat as worthless. This way we cool his heart and make him gentle.

Eating Christmas in the Kalahari disclosed the contact between two different societies which have very much in common though are different in views and values. The author managed to show that the Bushmens society directs its morality at the improvement of human inner qualities. They explain that all people are equal at any situation, whether you killed a big animal or not.

We refuse one who boasts, for someday his pride will make him kill somebody.

The story managed to show the way how people can fight such negative features as arrogance and envy; the author underlined the value of generosity and kindness in ones attitude to others. The Bushmen tactic of humiliation appeared to be quite effective, even from the point of view of anthropology. It showed that intercultural barrier could be broken if everyone would understand the value of social equality and openness to each other. The problems of social interactions and national misunderstanding seem to be very popular nowadays as in the modern world, the status of the nation is measured by the wealth of the country rather than by humanity and frankness to one another. It is important to stress that the story Eating Christmas in the Kalahari is very close to life and can be used as an example for anthropological study.

References

Lee, R. B. Eating Christmas in the Kalahari. (n. d.) Web.

The story tells of miserly Ebenezer Scrooges ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The story is told from the point of view of the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge. One of the key themes in A Christmas Carol is repentance and redemption. The Ghost of Christmas Past showed Scrooge his childhood, teenage years, and importantly, the moment when he could have chosen a different path in life. This leads Scrooge to repent for his past choices and dedicate himself to living a better life. The Ghost of Christmas Present reveals how Scrooges current choices are affecting other people, leading him to further reflect on his past and present behavior. Ultimately, these experiences help Scrooge redeem himself and become a better person.

After his transformation, Scrooge is a changed man, he is full of love and kindness, and he regrets his previous ways. His repentance and redemption are complete when he dies surrounded by loved ones who cherish him; the Ghost of Christmas Pasts rehabilitation of Scrooge. It similarly takes Scrooge on a journey through his past, showing him how he became the cold-hearted man he is today (Thompson 268). By the end of their time together, Scrooge has learned from his mistakes and is beginning to repent for his ways. The lead character in the story is Ebenezer Scrooge; the ghosts that led Scrooge to repentance and redemption include the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come (Thompson 270). These spectral guides revealed to Scrooge the joys and sorrows of his own life, current events among the poor and a glimpse of what could become of him if he did not change his ways. Taken together, these remembrances persuade Scrooge to live out the rest of his days in charity and goodwill.

The Ghost of Christmas Past showed Scrooge scenes from his past, including happy memories and painful ones. This led Scrooge to see that his miserly ways had cost him dearly (DeVito 34). The ghost showed Scrooge the consequences of his choices in the present, including how they would affect people around him. This was the final push that led Scrooge to repent and seek redemption. Before his transformation, Scrooge was described as wrenching, scraping, covetous, clutching, grasping, and old sinner! Who cared more about money than anything else (Dickens 8). Scrooge was very different before the ghost visited him. He was mean, bitter, and lonely. Scrooge, at one point, mentioned that anybody who was for the idea of merry Christmas should be boiled and buried (Dickens 39). He refused to celebrate Christmas or enjoy life, but after the visit from the ghosts, Scrooge became a kinder, more generous man. He started to enjoy life again and even celebrated Christmas.

Ghost of Christmas Present is the most jovial and friendly of the three- after all, he is there to show Scrooge the joys and wonders of the festive season. Christmas Present revealed some disturbing things that were happening at that moment. For instance, he showed Scrooge how the Cratchits were celebrating Christmas despite their poverty (Dickens 79). He showed Scrooge how his nephew Fred was celebrating Christmas with friends and family. Similarly, he was shown how his nephews were speaking badly of him at the party (Dickens 57). Finally, he showed Scrooge scenes of future winters where no one would mourn his death because he had been such a mean and miserly person (DeVito 14). He showed Scrooge the joys and happiness that could be found during the Christmas season, reminding him of what he had lost over the years (McLaren 31). These experiences helped Scrooge realize the error of his ways and inspired him to change his life positively. Christmas Present played a pivotal role in Scrooges redemption and repentance.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the third and final spirit who visits Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickenss A Christmas Carol. This spirit represents Scrooges own future self and shows him what will become of him if he does not change his ways. The ghost takes Scrooge to several different scenes. The first is a graveyard, where Scrooge sees his own tombstone (Dickens 82). Scrooge saw a neglected grave with his name written; he could not believe it and asked himself whether he was the man who lay upon the bed (Dickens 83). The second is a scene in which two men are discussing the recent death of a fellow named Ebenezer Scrooge. The men speak unkindly about Scrooge, gleefully sharing stories of his stinginess and generally feeling glad that he is gone and guessing his funeral to be cheap. I have not heard, said the man with the large chin, yawning again. Left it to his company, perhaps, he has not left it to me, that is all I know (Dickens 71). The image of Scrooge on his knees crying at his own tombstone is a powerful portrayal of repentance and regret (Thompson 268). Scrooge Mourns himself shows the true nature of regret, which is not simply feeling sorry for oneself, since when he was alive, he could not imagine being buried in such a tomb.

There are a number of symbols and images used throughout Dickens A Christmas Carol that helped in pointing to some deeper themes in the story. One example is the use of fire and flames; whenever Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by a ghost, there is always a roaring fire in the room, lending an eerie feeling to the scene. However, the image of fire symbolizes hope and rebirth (Nizomova 11). Conversely, the fire is used to symbolize a number of things in the story, most notably, redemption. As Scrooge is redeemed by the end of the story, so too are the Cratchits. After all, it is through their shared experience of grief and loss that they come to understand each other and ultimately bond as a family, fire has connotations of hope and change (McLaren 15). As Dickens vividly describes the scene where Marleys ghost first appears to Scrooge, readers get a sense of foreboding and despair.

Works Cited

DeVito, Carlo. Inventing Scrooge: The Incredible True Story Behind Charles Dickens Legendary A Christmas Carol. Cider Mill Press, (2017).

Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. (n.d.).

McLaren, Mary-Rose. A Christmas Carol. (2019).

Nizomova, Shodiyevna Shohista. Symbolic Interpretations of Water and Fire in Modern Poetry. Middle European Scientific Bulletin 11 (2021).

Thompson, Terry W. The Belshazzar Allusion in Charles Dickenss A Christmas Carol. The Explicator 75.4 (2017): 268-270.

It’s that time of year again, after a long anticipated wait for the release of this year’s John Lewis and Waitrose Christmas advert, ‘Excitable Edgar’, has finally hit our screens. This funny and heartwarming story for tales an adorable dragon Edgar, who just wants to celebrate Christmas. However, Edgar’s over excitement leads him to be excluded from the village (Barr, 2019). Fear not! His best friend who is compassionate, empathetic and caring, oh! And of course a girl, happening to be wearing a dress, nonetheless it is blue, manages to save him and make Christmas perfect after all. This is just one example of gender stereotyping, albeit not the worst in our favorite Christmas adverts. Gender stereotyping is “A generalized view or preconception about attributes or characteristics, or the roles that are ought to be possessed, or performed by women and men” (OHCR, 2019, p.1). Gender stereotyping has brought about gender inequality and is involved in contributing to a number of issues such as pay disparity, sexual violence, suicide in men etc (ASA, 2017).

Ultimately, this essay is going to argue that gender stereotyping has a wide range of negative implications and is detrimental to society as it results in gender inequality and gender bias. It will do this by outlining what gender stereotyping is, its prevalence in Christmas adverts and will discuss a few of the many implications it has in the world that are proposed to be the result of gender stereotyping in advertising. Before beginning, this essay will predominately refer to the terminology ‘women’ and ‘men’, this does not reflect the belief that gender is binary however most research conducted in this area is limited to these two genders.

Gender Stereotypes and Their Effects

Gender stereotypes reflect pervasive expectations regarding men and women’s traits, behaviours and roles (Rudman, Glick & Phelan, 2008). They are harmful if they constrain the capacity to develop personal abilities, pursue professional and educational opportunities and make choices about life (ASA, 2017; EIGE, 2019). They do not exist in seclusion, male and female stereotypes reinforce each other. If men are strong and aggressive then women are weak and passive (ASA, 2017). This is linked to social role theory, which creates a benchmark for how men and women are generally thought to behave (Eagly, 1987). Over the years, it is predominately women who have been subjected to the consequences of gender stereotyping, such as the underrepresentation of women as leaders, they account for less than five percent of chief executive positions (CEO’s) in the US, UK and Europe (Edgecliffe-Johnson, 2018). Men are also impacted, the stereotype of men being physically strong and stoic has led to certain expectations and behaviours that are linked to depression and suicide (Wyllie et al., 2012). These oversimplified stereotypes fail to acknowledge individual characteristics or those who do not conform to expectations of their biological sex. This has led to widespread discrimination and violence against e.g. transgender people, (an umbrella term that described people whose gender identity does not match their biological sex assigned at birth) particularly trans women or of color (Roberts, Ho, Rhodes & Gelam, 2017; Bradford, 2018). Gender stereotypes manifest themselves in a number of ways, parents, schools, employers, communities, etc., however one way in particular and of interest here is the media, namely advertising.

Gender Stereotyping in Christmas Adverts

Escaping gender stereotyping in Christmas adverts is far to challenging to even comprehend, especially for women. As everything to do with the festive season, whether it is cooking, shopping, caring is associated with women (Glosswitch, 2018). If you like casual sexism, they you are in for a treat with the ASDA 2012 Christmas advert ‘behind every Christmas is a mum’. This festive adverts portrays a mother flooded with preparations like shopping, cooking, wrapping, making beds while the husband fades into the background (Sweeny, 2013). The advertising standards authority (ASA) received 620 complaints from both mum and dads complaining that this advert was sexist and that it reinforced outdated stereotypes that a women’s job is to do domestic work and men are too incompetent to help with Christmas (Nagesh, 2018).

In the Morrison’s advert we see the main character portrayed as an all- knowing boy, while the women do the food shopping and prepare the supper, perfectly reinforcing the view that a women’s place is in the home. However, the father does make an appearance at the supermarket to select the wine, as a woman could not be capable of making such a knowledgeable and decisive decision (Zawisza, 2016). The John Lewis Christmas advert, while appearing to tick the diversity box, portrays a warm adorable mother and children watching from the window inside their father heroically assemble their new trampoline (Zawisza, 2016). Boots ‘tis the season to be gorgeous’ represents how women are allowed to both pamper themselves while also doing the chores. In one scene, generously a woman is allowed to peel the Brussels sprouts while having a bath (Gloswitch, 2018). The Sainsbury’s ‘greatest gift’ is one of my personal favorites. It renders a touching story of an overworked father, whose only wish for Christmas is to find time to spend with his family (Zawisza, 2016). However, through a knowledgeable and inventive moment he solves the problem in a technological way by cloning himself. What could be better, everyone is happy, not only the wife and children at home but also his boss, of course a male, is also thrilled.

I mean what happens in same sex relationships? Does this mean that lesbian couples execute the most amazing Christmas ever witnessed due to their dual-gonadal capabilities; do gay men just sit at the table waiting for Christmas to magically appear? (Davies, 2012). Do non-binary individuals just not have Christmas? The answer I think is no. These are just a few examples of how our favorite Christmas adverts innocently and comically portray outdated gender stereotypes; I mean really what could be the harm with that?

The Implications of Gender Stereotyping in Adverts in General

Well a lot actually! Research demonstrates that exposure to traditional portrayals of women in advertising, results in a number of negative effects on female audiences. These include a reduced sense of ambition, which is linked to a decreased achievement. Women who viewed traditional adverts i.e. women at home and men at work, deemphasized achievement and were in favor of homemaking compared to men and to women who had seen reverse role commercials (Geis, Brown, Jennings & Porter, 1984). They reduce attitudes towards women’s participation in politics, viewing women as homemaker’s resulted in less favorable attitudes towards political participation (Schwarz, Wagner, Bannert & Mathes, 1987). Reflecting that only 24.3% of all national parliamentarians are women as of February 2019 (UN women, 2019). And they reduce the prospect of becoming a leader, women exposed to gender stereotypical adverts preferred a follower role compared to a leadership role in an upcoming leadership task (Davies, Spencer & Steele, 2005). However, it is not that women don’t want to become leaders, as women exposed to media images of women in counter stereotypical roles reported less negative self-perceptions and greater leadership aspirations than women exposed to images of women in stereotypical roles (Simon & Hoyt, 2013). It is that their stereotype reduces their potential to become leaders. This stems from role congruity theory, which states that men are assertive, decisive, and strong etc., making them destined to be leaders where as women are warm, sympathetic and caring i.e. they do not fit the prototype of a leader, resulting in prejudice. However a report found that women scored at a statistically significantly higher level than men on majority of leadership competencies (Zenger & Folkman, 2019).

Research demonstrates that women are often viewed as being incompetent leaders. However this is not the result of a gender-based inability but the result of what has been termed the ‘glass cliff’ (Ryan & Haslman, 2005). This is the tendency to favor women for leadership positions in times of crisis, when the outcome is more likely to result in failure, just look at Theresa May. The US companies weakly performing fortune 500 companies are more likely to promote women CEO’s (Cook & Glass, 2014). Thus, the glass cliff is everywhere, women are not being selected because they are expected to improve company performance but on the basis that the company is failing.

Therefore, exposure to stereotypes both distorts women’s evaluations of themselves but also the views of those around them i.e. those appointing the women based on the viewed they hold of women being incompetent.

Male Stereotype More Aspirational than Female – Gender Bias

These effects can also be seen in an academic setting, revealing the authors gender of an essay, resulted in men being evaluated higher than women (even though the essay was identical) (Goldberg (1968). Thank goodness we have anonymous marking then. Men are more likely to be viewed as high achievers and famous based on their stereotypes, participants were more likely to acknowledge ordinary and frequent surnames as familiar and famous when they belonged to men than women (Banaji & Greenwald, 1995). However these studies were conducted over twenty years ago and society surely has progressed by recognizing such biased judgment?

Sadly, this is not the case as Begeny and Ryan (2018) found that gender bias, the tendency to prefer one gender to the other, is still a major issue in the veterinary profession, a profession where female participation has increased significantly (Reiners, 2019). However the interesting part is those who didn’t think gender bias was still an issue were more likely to give ‘Mark’ a higher salary and rate him as more competent than ‘Elizabeth’, even though the professional summaries were identical apart from the name. We can see how men and women are judged on pre-determined expectations, which lead to a number of negative consequences for women i.e. men being seen as more competent, and necessitating achievement due to having a penis (Schmader, 2002). This is not to say that this is the result of advertising alone but advertising is one way, which repeatedly exposes stereotypes

The fear of confirming these pre-determined expectations of negative stereotypes has also resulted in women avoiding domains that are inconsistent with their stereotype due to a fear of confirming the negative stereotype e.g. women being bad at maths. This has been attributed to what is known as stereotype threat WHICH IS. For example, men and women watched gender stereotypical TV commercials and then did a non-diagnostic math’s test. Women who watched the stereotypical advert scored lower than men although none of the commercials had anything to do with mathematical ability Davies, Spencerr, Quinn, & Gerhardstein (2002). Therefore these apparent gender differences are the result of external factors that hinder academic performance rather than an accurate biological difference (Schmader, 2002 reinforce the stereotype). This leads to a reduced interest in quantitative domains and non-traditional jobs e.g. engineering and therefore accounts for the underrepresentation of women in STEM.

If women are brave enough to enter they are at increased risk of backlash from their male counterparts. Female engineers felt that male colleagues cues feelings of incompetence and showed a lack of acceptance in daily work, this led to mental exhaustion and psychological burnout (Hall, Schmader & Croft, 2015). This prevents them from acquiring the experience and skills needed for the best paid jobs e.g. management and banking (restrain women academically and professionally). Men are also discouraged from entering into stereotypically female domains as they encounter backlash when they express gender deviant behaviour. Men’s heterosexuality is often called into question when they enter gender incongruent occupations (Rudman, Mescher & Moss-Racusin, 2013). Male elementary educations were more likely to be seen as uniquely gay and a greater safety threat to children compared to women. Such social penalties have been liked to homophobia and reduced likeability having big consequences for society (Moss-Racusin & Johnson, 2016). Therefore this fear of backlash can result in reduced success and limits enthusiasm for stereotypic inconsistent domains.

Men are not immune to the negative effects of advertising. The Samaritans report indicated that three times as many men commit suicide as women and one of these reasons is due to the stereotypical ideas of masculinity. The stereotypes of men being in control, strong and the breadwinner clash with real men’s experiences of modern life and lead to feelings of inadequacy and confusion (Wyllie et al, 2012). The campaign against living miserably aims to reduce male suicide, and it runs a campaign called hash-tag man-dictionary, which is designed to expose masculine stereotypes in advertising and encourage men to talk about mental health issues (Calm, 2014). Men showing emotion and being open to discussion is often discouraged and this is something that needs to change in our society and one way to do this is through advertising.

In conclusion, this essay has demonstrated what gender stereotyping is, described it’s portrayal in Christmas adverts, and has touched on some of the negative implications associated with gender stereotyping in advertising. ‘Apparent’ sex differences are exaggerated and over-emphasized and can be explained by external factors such as stereotype threat. Normalization of gender stereotypes leads to real-world psychological, physical, economic, social and political harm for individuals and groups. This essay does not suggest that it is advertising alone, which contributes to these effects but that advertising is one way that repeatedly exposes people to negative stereotypes. Resulting in gender inequality and bias that still in 2019 pervades our society. Advertising agencies have ignored one large segment of people and this is the LGBT consumer (Grau & Zotos, 2016). Therefore, as well as focusing on broadening depictions of gender in advertising they need to be more inclusive in order to reduce harm. Thankfully the ASA have implemented tougher guidelines in order to combat gender inequality. Tis the season to be jolly, or is it? Well of course it is its Christmas! However please take these festive scenes with a pinch of salt, as you have been exposed to the negative implications that normalizing these gender stereotypes can have.

I think that globalization happened in the article because the London Missionary Society brought the holiday tradition into southern Tswana and it spread into the Kalahari Desert. If globalization doesn’t bring the Christmas tradition from the London Missionary Society maybe Lee might not go to Kalahari and explore their tribes and cultures. Even though Lee had been staying in Kalahari for almost three years the Kalahari people still consider him an outsider. Lee also has not shared his food with the Bushmen although he has plenty of food. In return, he wanted to celebrate Christmas together with the Bushmen and have the initiative to buy an ox to make the people happy. But what he gets from his goodwill is a complaint about the ox that is too skinny and nearly died. I noticed that the people’s ego in the village is still high. They want to be the best and be known by others. However, they don’t think about other people’s feelings. For example, after Lee bought an ox, many people came to him and said bad things to him. Lee feels as if he is being insulted even though he wants to make the Bushmen people happy. According to him, usually, if a person offers something, he or she will accept it with a grateful heart and rarely criticize. This celebration and the behavior of the people are very different in Indonesia. Indonesians are very welcome and they are happy whenever people want to celebrate Christmas or different events that involve a lot of people.

This article is worth my reading time because I can know what happens in Kalahari every Christmas how people in Kalahari respond to what other people have and also how they interact with one another. What I learned from the article is that we don’t need to take what other people talk about us too seriously because instead of making us happy, it can make us down. Maybe that is their way of communicating with us.

I also noticed when Lee asked Tomazo why he didn’t tell Lee about how Bushmen communicate. As an Anthropologist, Lee needs to be more aware and thoughtful of his surroundings. With Lee staying in Kalahari for almost 3 years, he needed to know how the people communicate but Lee still didn’t know about it and instead almost got mad at his friend for not telling him about how the Bushmen communicate.

“Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society. Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it.” (Augusto Boa, 1992). The Greek Theater is a theatrical tradition that flourished in ancient Greece between the years 600 and 200 B.C. The idea of acting and singing on a stage was introduced in the festivals where Greeks worshiped Dionysus, the god of wine and grape cultivation, with performances to have satisfactory harvests throughout the year. These acts were performed in a theater that consisted of three parts; a stage called orchestra, a background stage that was decorated called skene, and the theatre where the audience was sitting. Theaters turned out to be a method by which actors could express their feelings or artistically tell a story. Moreover, theaters had an educational purpose, in which the audience learned from the stories that were performed. As the audience listened and observed, they were acquiring gestures, knowledge, and vocabulary from the high-class people.

The theater was a mirror that reflected Greek society. It was ethical to assist, it was considered rude not attend to the festivals. In addition, they were observing tragedies, plays that show sorrow and pain, that happened every day, from an unrequited love to an unwanted war. Ancient Greeks treasured the power of word-to-word since it was their primary method of communication and storytelling. Therefore, it was primordial to obtain as much information as possible from the acts as for many spectators, it was the only way to learn.

A movie in which I saw a character transformation was How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). The film tells the story of the Grinch, a hairy green fur creature that has a smile from ear to ear. Exiled from Whoville, he has been living in a cave on top of the mountain with his loyal and only friend, his dog Max. Bad experiences with other children when he was just a child made him escape. This led to his isolation which later caused a thirst for revenge and an uncontrollable hate for Christmas.

The main character, the Grinch, suffers many transformations. When he was a baby, he was picked up by two lovely old ladies, the Grinch would have wanted to have a normal childhood and education, make friends, and fool around with the adorable Martha. But the other children behaved so badly with him that they pushed him into exile. That was how the Grinch became a grumpy hermit and a cruel joker who hates Christmas and everything that has to do with it. After many years passed, a little girl called Cindy Lou wants to know more about that creature that everyone considers a monster. She meets the Grinch in the postal office where her dad works, where of fright she falls to a recycler, but the Grinch with the insistence of Max saves her, showing her that he is not as bad as the people in Whoville say. Therefore, Cindy postulates the Grinch as the master of ceremony for Christmas and she goes to the top of the mountain to invite him to the ceremony. But, his hopes of being appointed master of ceremonies are spoiled by the mayor’s fault, and the Grinch returns to his lair, determined to take revenge. He dresses as Santa Claus to steal all the presents in the Whoville, but the people come together, and they understand the very purpose of Christmas, leaving the presents behind. To the Grinch to see that this did not affect the villagers causes him sadness. Until, Cindy finds the Grinch and he understands that what he did was wrong, and they give the presents back to the town, ending in a happy ending.

His transformations impacted me since he was misunderstood and had no one to rely on, that is why he became “bad” in the first place, due to the bullying that he suffered from his schoolmates as a child, in particular by whom the major of Whoville when they were little. This led to his exile to the top of the mountain. This made me reflect on how many people take the wrong path or they turned around because they need someone, to guide them, to protect them, or simply someone to hug them and tell them they will be okay.

Furthermore, when Cindy invites him to the ceremony, the Grinch is nervous to go, but he is happy that he will not have to hide to go to the city, and also, he will be able to see Martha, the love of his life. But the major played with his mind triggering the bad memories he had as a child. This unleashes the fury of the Grinch, who starts destroying the village and plans his revenge, to destroy completely Christmas. He dresses up Santa Claus, builds a sled, disguises his reindeer dog, and goes from house to house with a huge empty sack to steal all the presents, trees, sweets, and turkeys and thus ruin the inhabitants of Whoville on Christmas morning. But it will soon discover that the Christmas spirit is more than just toys, songs, parades, and other presents. Leaving the last moral of the movie, that Christmas is not about presents, it is more than that. It is about union, family, and friends.

That the drought is significantly impacting Australian farmers, so movements and activism for greater support are vital.

Over this most recent Christmas break, I had the opportunity to spend some time with my family in central Queensland. The Svensson family comes from a long line of graziers and farmers, with this past year being especially hard as my uncle has no choice but to spend his months on highways driving hundreds of head of cattle just to find food. There is no chance of water along the highway for the herd, which leaves no choice but to be sourced from elsewhere and trucked in daily. Some of these cattle have been on the road for almost 12 months, just to avoid the inevitable of either being sold or put down.

This story is only one of the tens of thousands of families such as my own throughout Australia, specifically in Queensland and New South Wales, who are in desperate need to prepare themselves for the seventh consecutive year of overwhelming drought this 2019.

Today I will contend that the drought is significantly impacting Australian farmers, therefore movements and activism for greater support are vital.

So, despite the greater public awareness being brought to the foreground through endless amounts of media attention, corporate support, and individual contributions in 2018, via campaigns such as the rural aid movements ‘Buy a bail’ and the ‘Hay Mate’ flight campaign in conjunction with Qantas, as well as the Woolworths and Coles drought milk subsidies, we see 2019 start with the plight of the farmers being seemingly put on the back burner with organizations abandoning the programs that kicked off and were rather successful in 2018, much like the 30-cent milk subsidy from Coles being deserted.

So how is the drought really affecting Australians? And what can we as a society do to help as the new year begins?

Drought has direct and substantial impacts on the Australian economy. As reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, drought reduces livestock numbers, destroys crops, and results in soil erosion and loss, leading to the contribution of agricultural production to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) falling from 2.9 to 2.4% between 2002 to 2009.

Australia is the driest and has one of the most variable rainfall patterns. Meaning that we are particularly vulnerable to the enormous economic and social effects of drought because it has a relatively large agricultural sector

One other economic aspect is the effect on productivity. Farms and farmers cannot be productive at their usual levels while they are focused on survival. Sound business decisions cannot be excepted whilst a business is running in survival mode.

However, there are substantial spillover effects on other groups as economic stress spreads across the local economy.

How do we sit here and expect the families who are, without a doubt, the fundamental backbone of Australia’s economy to survive on profits less than $13,000 in this next financial year, whilst major Australian businesses find themselves having record profits in the same period?

It is not unknown that droughts can and do have a range of effects on social fabric and health, including impacting significantly mental health, such as post-traumatic stress and suicidal behavior.

The impacts of suicide are extraordinarily destructive, not just on the immediate family, but on friends and the wider close-knit community too. And yet, we as a society appear not to be connected to the rising suicide rates of up to 15% for rural males as the severity of drought increases, as concluded by a study conducted in New South Wales by Ivan Hanigan.

The analysis also suggests that governments have a role in ensuring that adequate services are available to all residents of drought-affected areas. However, as 2019 is an election year – when was the last time that this minimum expectation was worthy of making it to the news?

In recent times, the “Big Dry” as it is called, has served as a reminder of the wide-reaching impacts that drought can have on water supplies, and …

Water scarcity too in our major cities has been aggravated by the drought and remains an ongoing challenge. This pressure on urban water supplies as the population only continues to grow is then also expected projected to intensify as droughts increase in both frequency and brutality

And whilst some of you will now be thinking that the environmental impacts of farming are already well proven. Can you honestly say that as a society we are prepared in this generation to adopt the thinking that underpins the sustainability of the human race while doing so, what is our obligation to support the farmers who provide the food that we will go home and eat tonight or the wool in the blankets that will keep us warm this next coming winter?

Overall, drought is undoubtedly tough for those in the agricultural sector, financially and mentally, but rural communities are resilient, at least in terms of social cohesion. In part, this is likely to be due to a high level of engagement in community organizations, whereby residents pull together in a time of crisis. However, it is important to ensure that basic services are not neglected or lost permanently during a prolonged, but temporary, climatic event.

I urge you all to consider the impact of the drought on our farmers when you have your next latte or steak, and for us not to be a passenger in this journey and hold big corporations ethically responsible and to ensure that the government legislates to ensure ongoing support for this very important sector of our economy and that this issue is not a political football

Reflection

After going back to my home country for Christmas break, I have been enjoying my holiday to the fullest that I forgot I have an upcoming essay due on the first day back to school. After coming to the realization that the essay is due within exactly 24 hours right before I board the flight back to Birmingham, which flight is 17 hours long, meaning that I would not have wi-fi for the upcoming 17 hours, I then started panicking and began brainstorming about what I have done over the past year on the plane. The long contemplation started from looking back at the beginning since I came to the United Kingdom in my first year to the end of the winter term of my second year.

I believe that every student has seen other students of different races all around on campus no matter where and which university they attend to. Being an international student myself, I have always wondered about the lives of other international students who are also studying at the University of Birmingham Law School. I doubt if they are facing the same problems as I am or if it is just me. Therefore, I chose to work on this topic for my blog.

What inspired me to write the sub-topics are the actual problems that I have been facing for the past year and the legal system of Hong Kong. For example, I just had conversion exams on criminal procedures in Hong Kong during the Christmas break, which inspired me to write about PCLL and also complain about the hectic schedule. Writing this blog is like writing my own summarised version of a diary and I find it easy to come up with different ideas as it is an actual representation of my life doing law as an international student in the United Kingdom.

Finally, after deciding the topic for my POW, which is confession on the life of an international student doing law at the University of Birmingham, I have decided to start my work after a long while of procrastination by choosing which type of POW I should do. I was struggling hard between blog and artwork as I am really passionate about art. However, it might be too vague to express what I have encountered last year over merely an artwork, thus I decided to write a blog on this topic according to my own experience so that it would be more relatable and interesting.

What I have learned from my feedback is that one of the keys to constituting my POW as a good blog is to have a focused target audience. The target audience for my blog is any students in general especially international students. I hope that this blog not only will help the audience to learn more about what it is like to study law, but also motivate them to provide help or provide assistance to foreigners as international students in particular may not be familiar with the environment or are not proficient in different languages.

It is important to note that keeping a blog relatable is also one of the keys to constituting a good blog. What makes my blog different from an essay is that essays are usually formal and narrative, which is the exact opposite of my blog – the usage of first-person pronouns and having short paragraphs keep the blog in a good flow so that it is easier for people to read. The usage of media such as inserting memes and other images of no copyrights between the paragraphs also helped keep the blog more engrossing to the audience.

However, I have faced several difficulties by far. The most obvious one is on quoting legal resources in the blog. D despite several attempts at drafting the blog, I could not find spaces to add legal resources to my blog. Back then I was panicking about my other essay on tort law and contract law that is also due soon, all of a sudden I decided to go through some of my notes as a break from this essay. Reading the notes on offer and acceptance and negligence inspired me to quote the most infamous cases and the most memorable cases to me in the blog: Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co and Donoghue v Stevenson, which fulfilled the requirement of quoting legal resources.

The most significant thing that helped this essay is that I shared my POW with many people of different target groups so that I can receive feedback from different perspectives. Their feedback helped me to understand how I can do better in my final drafts such as improving the tone and the language of the blog and helped me recognize the focus of the blog. It helped me to know whether the blog is understandable to students that are not doing law as well.

All in all, I believe there is still room for improvement. For instance, R v Brown could also be mentioned in order to add more legal knowledge for those who do not do law as the case is equally infamous in criminal law. Yet, the blog is still very experience-based overall, more evidence on legal research on the difference in legal system between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom such as the legislative council versus the parliament could be shown in order to improve.

Ultimately, I should bear in mind that it is of utmost importance to have good time management and never rush your essay last minute. I believe most of the students have experienced completing your assignment last minute under immense stress. In my opinion, I should have reserved at least a week to brainstorm, draft and finalize their work instead of cramming all the stuff that comes to their brain on first thought.

It’s never too early for Christmas shopping!

For the average person, Christmas is still far away. And if you ask Alexa or Siri to play a Christmas carol, she may look at you a little askance. But if you’re in the corporate space – or even if you’re the official family gifter – you’re already jingling those bells and counting those coins. After all, it takes time to buy the perfect Christmas present.

If you’re shopping for immediate family, wholesale Christmas gift hampers may feel tacky. Think about it. Your mother-in-law is unlikely to be impressed if she gets the same gift basket as her cousins in the North. On the other hand, if you have six nieces all aged five years and under, it’s not unreasonable to order baby hampers in bulk and just change the name on the box.

So yes, there are instances where a gift basket doesn’t go astray. Still, if you’re buying more than ten hampers, you need to start doing your logistics early. If you wait for the Christmas delivery rush, your gifts will arrive too late, and you may have to pay extra for premium shipping. So even as you pick a gift for each loved one, note their address and schedule.

Pre-planning saves Christmas

If you want these gifts delivered to their doorstep, whether or not you want to surprise them, it can be helpful to find out when they’ll be home so you can book the delivery truck accordingly. Also, if you ship all your items in one go, you might receive a discount from your gift hamper provider. Many of these companies have gift concierges that can help you tailor your presents.

But let’s step back into the corporate space for a moment. If you’re Christmas shopping on behalf of your employer, Christmas gift baskets are a convenient shortcut. Except you don’t want recipients to feel their presents are generic. One way to customize each gift is to include corporate branding. Some hamper firms will print your company’s logo onto the gift box.

This way, you can clearly distinguish gift packs for different clients. You can also use a different gift set for internal gifts (your staff) vs external gifts (for clients and partners). Apart from the logo, you can also have the gift box branded in company colours, or tied off with a company-coloured ribbon. It’s all in the little things.

The inside counts

Now let’s think about the content of your gift basket. Most hamper companies have a selection of Christmas-sy gift boxes. They’ll have the usual fruit cake, chocolate, cranberry-laced goodies, and maybe even some fruit cake. These hampers have a basic ‘menu’, but they allow you to add items according to your preference. So, for example, you could add champagne or cookies.

You still have four months to go, and that’s plenty of time to review your giftee’s preferences. Do they like chocolate, cheese, or Christmas crackers? If they’re drinkers, do they want sparkling Sauvignon or aged whisky? Are they vegans that would rather have rice crackers and figs?

Do a little research to ensure nobody receives a potentially offensive present. Finally, double-check the addresses, contact details, and names of the people you’re gifting. You don’t want to dim their excitement by spelling their name wrong.   

A man became a legend centuries ago and now in the 21st century he is still a legend but the story of how or who made him has gone from a real Saint to an animated whimsical figure. He has been loved through the years for his acts of kindness and ability to lift people’s spirits. He was a Christian Bishop who would leave simple gifts for families on doorsteps in secret. This is where the Santa Claus legend came from.” He was in real life in his time as a Bishop in Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey, he was known as Nicholas the wonderworker.” says Brian Handwerk from the article from St. Nicholas to Santa Claus: the surprising origins of Kris Kringle. This was because of all the good works and achievements during his time as a Bishop. Now, the legend of Santa Claus is because people continued to follow his benevolent nature using the name, which stemmed from His days of giving and spreading goodness and cheer.

This wonderworker was “believed to be born sometime around 280 A.D in Patara.” says the history editors from the article Santa Claus. The name St. Nicholas has made its way around but with a few changes to the name. “The name Santa Claus evolved from Nick’s Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas.)” Says the history article. For years and years, this guy has been a light of gifts for children and also a legend throughout history. The name Santa Claus became a jolly and bright man because of a man named St. Nicholas.

Although Santa Claus is supposed to be made the name actually came from a real-life person. Kids all over the world believe in Santa Claus but most people don’t know where the name came from that’s why it’s so important to express later in life where the name Santa Claus came from. Now today “about 85% of young kids in the U.S. believe in Santa.” Said Jacqueline Howard in the article How many kids still believe in Santa? Through the years this make-believe character has brought joy to kids and to think that one man came to bring this name to the world. St. Nicholas comes around but not as often as Santa. Most people formally know him as Santa Claus.

Santa Claus is just one of the magical characters that we believe to be real as children. You don’t just have Santa Claus you have the Easter Bunny the tooth fairy and more. Yet I believe Santa Claus is the most famous, especially around December. He became part of Christmas years later when he got the nickname Santa Claus. St. Nicholas got unpopular for a moment in the making. Though “St. Nicholas became popular again in the Victorian era when writers, poets, and artists rediscovered the old stories.” Said the article St. Nicholas, Santa Claus & Father Christmas. It took many years to perfect the stories.

Through many years st. Nicholas has been a good Bishop but after so many years his life turned into a fairy tale in a way. He has brought joy to people all over the world because of his kind acts. He became a legend to children and even grown-ups. In years to come he will still be around and hopefully, people will know the story of a true story. That’s how Santa Claus and St. Nicholas came to be one.

1. MLA: “From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus: The Surprising Origins of Kris Kringle.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 6 Dec. 2018, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131219-santa-claus-origin-history-christmas-facts-st-nicholas/.
2. MLA: JPC-DESIGN, whychristmas? com /. “St. Nicholas, Santa Claus & Father Christmas on Whychristmas?Com.” Christmas Around the World — Whychristmas?Com, www.whychristmas.com/customs/fatherchristmas.shtml.
3. MLA: https://www.history.com/.amp/topics/Christmas/Santa-claus.