Justin Bieber Concert Review free essay sample

As if homemade T-shirts and radio contests werent exciting enough, the ultra high-pitched screams of 20,000 at Milwaukee Summerfest meant Justin Bieber was within a five-mile radius. Two hours before showtime, the stadium was a sea of neon shirts, signs, and body paint that read â€Å"Bieber Fever,† â€Å"Biebers Baby,† â€Å"HUG ME!† and â€Å"One Less Lonely Girl.† The line for lawn seats had formed early in the morning, and the one for prepaid seats was almost as long! Finally it was a race to the best seats with one goal in mind: Will I get a good picture of Justin? Then it was time for opening act number one, The Stunners. These five girls infused pop songs with Beyonce-style dance moves. Their set added more energy to the already-screaming crowd. Next was Jessica Jarrell, a solo artist who recorded a song with Bieber. Her fun pop sound warmed up the crowd even more. We will write a custom essay sample on Justin Bieber Concert Review or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page By 7:30 the audience was ready for Sean Kingston. His high energy, Jamaican-feeling set lasted for 45 minutes, and the screaming was only increasing as the heat rose. After every song, the crowd began to chant and cheer. It was like a mob was ready to go on stage and pull Justin out. Finally, at 8:45 an intro played on the screens, the backdrop for the one and only Justin Bieber, who walked out with his swagger in tow. Strobe lights, smoke, and Bieber defined the set. Eight back-up dancers, a full band, and ultra-high-energy songs overpowered the earsplitting screams of fans. Ballads, duets with Kingston and Jarrell, and a capella songs by the back up dancers dont even begin to describe the show the 16-year-old put on. With two large screens  ­projecting YouTube videos  ­during costume changes, a live video feed during songs, and images for the opening acts, this concert was the perfect combination of music and  ­technology.

Caroline Burch Case Study

Caroline Burch Case Study Free Online Research Papers I. Time Context After 5 years of working as a secretary-office clerk for a large appliance manufacturer, Caroline Burch yearned for more challenging job in the field of marketing. II. Viewpoint Caroline had graduated from a small liberal arts college in the East with an outstanding record as a history major. Thus she had not found her training to be much use of her job. She had seen for some reason the young people who were caring in their company with MBA degrees where being given the â€Å"red carpet† treatment into good managerial position short time training. These were job Caroline wanted. And since base this case, we saw her as ambitious type of women and she had determination I getting want she wants. One proof of this is her decision to quit her job and enrolled in same MBA program where she can have an opportunity to gain some experience in the field of marketing that she can use as her stepping stone to have a good managerial position. III. Central Problem / Statement of the Problem Caroline Burch wants to be a manager. Like the two women she admires who own companies that doing great nationally. But the problem is she doesn’t want the usual junk jobs thrown to women such selling cosmetics and real state. Because of this, although she loves selling, she is still confused on where or want industry she should engage to have a career in the field of marketing. IV. Statement of the Objective 4.1 Must Objective To have a good managerial position. 4.2 Want Objective She wants to be different and doesn’t want the usual junk jobs thrown to women. Because of this, she is eyeing to the industries where they are usually dominated by men. V. Areas of Consideration Strengths Caroline Burch has a strong motivation and determination on getting want she wants (which is to become a manager). She even enrolled herself in some MBA programs to have an opportunity to gain some experiences that can help her to achieve her goals. She is a doer type of person and seems to be a sociable type of person too. She also has a leadership quality. These are some traits that one must have to become a good manager. Weaknesses She is undecided on where or what industry she should pursue to have a career in marketing. She wanted to promote as a sales manager. But the job she wanted is mostly preferred for men. Opportunities Her chances to be promoted in sales management is greater in industries which women are widely employed such as advertising. The big machine manufacturers that she is eyeing are quite a number. There are many companies she can apply to. Threats Since she is a woman and eyeing industrial selling, she might have difficulties in this kind of industries where they are is usually dominated by men. Caroline might run into trouble meeting job specification. An example would be in the Texas instrument the products, which is highly technical; they insist their people to have a degree in electrical engineer. VI. Assumption We are assuming that Caroline Burch could only be successful or satisfied to the job if she already knew what she really wants. She could be happier if she really likes the job that she is going to choose. Caroline has skills and talents that she can use for the right job that she wants. We all know that we are going to be successful in our job if we really enjoy or we are satisfied on what we are doing. If Caroline could really understand what she really wants in her life then probably, there is no reason for her to be unsuccessful. VII. Alternative Courses of Actions She should study and analyze the environment of all industries she considered to become more familiar with them. Also, she should be able to assess on where or what industry she has a chance to be more successful. She must have a definite field of interest in marketing because it has a wide variety of scope. One cannot just do everything and master nothing. VIII. Analysis Caroline Burch is like most of us â€Å"confuse on what button to push†, what opportunity to grab to achieve success like what her professor stated in this case that very few people know what they really want to do, what they really like, what industries or things that can give them the sense of satisfaction. IV. Recommendation Caroline Burch has a clear goal or vision on what she wants. But the problem is that she still confused on what industry she might pursue to have a career that can help her eventually achieve her goal. First, she must have a clear direction. We recommend her that she should go to the industry that she has an interest so that while she is doing her job, she will also able to enjoy what she is doing. That is because we believe that people succeed if they enjoy what they do. X. Plan of Action When she finally decides on which industry she should go, she must first study the environment of that industry to be more familiar with it. She can do this by reading some books and articles which are related to the industry that she chose or by attending some seminars which may also be helpful. She could also talk to people who have great experiences on that industry to gain valuable insights and tips that she can use as tools to help her succeed on her chosen field. Questions: 1. What would you tell Caroline to do in seeking a job in industrial sales? *Mervin De Paz I would suggest her to study the industry she wants to work with, to become more familiar with the in and out of that industry. *Jacel Florencio I would tell Caroline that it is important to know first what she really wants in a job or career. If she thinks that she really wants to go for the industrial sales then she should go for it and stay humble. Also, she should remove all the incentives that she could get because those would not help her in finding a job in industrial sales. It is not a simple business so she needs to be hard-working. It is important that she knows how to handle a customer and the sense of teamwork if needed. *Psyche Doroy I would suggest that she choose a specific kind of job that most likely fits her personality where she can excel and be promoted, where she can show most of her talent, skills, and intelligence needed to run the business efficiently. Specialization in a specific field of job is necessary; for it meets the standard requirement essential as a foundation of success in a chosen business. Being fascinated to the idea of others can help her stand on her position but relying on others would be a misleading cause of failure. *Analiza Dela Cruz Caroline Burch should know the importance of identifying herself with an in industry and then staying with it for a career. She should know the field that she thinks she can become successful. *Karla Cruz Based from the case, Caroline Burch is a strong-willed individual but the problem with her is that she does not know where and how to apply that attitude to her goals in life. I would probably advise her to have a background check of the every job in the industrial sales profession that she might be interested in so that she would know which one of those would best fit her personality and skills. It is always best to assess yourself first before entering into any kind of field because you will never know what struggles you might encounter and you better be prepared. Most of the time, it is effective to expect the worst so that there is more motivation to achieve your dream yet it is still perfectly normal to be optimistic. *Desiree Cruz I would tell Caroline to follow what her heart desires. It is because you can easily do a particular job when you are able to apply your skills. Also, I would tell her that it is not easy to find a job which is not related to your capacity. *Kristine Espenelia In choosing or finding a job in industrial sales, I will tell her to choose what she wants because in doing business she must follow what is favorable to her. Industrial business is a good business at start but before getting there, you must have a background. Also, it takes a lot of time training for such jobs. If some advices are not convincing, she can attend seminars where she can learn and get some relevant information. *Efrhaim Espinosa Caroline should have to seek a job in industrial sales or that is concerned on what she wants. *Noel Caà ±os I would suggest to Caroline that she should first know what she really wants in a job, where she could be happy and satisfied. If she thinks that her happiness is in industrial sales then why not? It is very important to know what you really want in order to work well. 2. Should she go into industrial sales where the going may be tough, or should she seek some industry that is obviously more amenable to women sales representatives? *Mervin De Paz I think she can go into industrial sales but it requires a lot of patience and hard work to become more familiarized in this field. If she has perseverance, she can also center to the industrial sales which is usually dominated by men. *Jacel Florencio In business or in industrial sales, we need to endure in all things or in many ways. As I have said before, I don’t think you should be by yourself always because in industrial, we need teamwork, most especially knowing how to accept your fault. It is because in a job, you will be tested everyday. *Psyche Doroy I think it is much better if she would go to the industry that is most amenable to women, as a starting business woman. She must know the basics in seeing prospects. She will find that being a sales representative is a part of it and learning how it runs, for she can understand how an industry operates before she gets decided to go further. *Analiza Dela Cruz In the case of Caroline Burch, her course in MBA and her want to become a manager someday: If she goes in selling big machines, we know that this job is for men and very complicated, I think it is not easy for her to achieve her goal. Caroline Burch should seek some industry that is obviously more amenable to women sales representatives. Some company hired people in industrial sales with having degree in electrical engineering. *Karla Cruz We know very well that a lot of people still think that women are less powered individuals in our society. I strongly disagree on this because in fact, we have had so many women leaders and the number is still growing up to the present. I am sure that it will be greatly seen in the future as well. Caroline’s weakness is that she has no focus to decide on what job to take but her strength is on her determination to work and be challenged even though the job is dominated by men. I would definitely tell her to try getting into industrial sales if that is what she really wants. It is primarily because the more a person has the heart and soul into something, that is the time when he or she succeeds the most. Also, if she has all the skills or better yet requirements for industrial sales, I do not think that she should limit herself to just being a sales representative. *Desiree Cruz I advise her to go in industrial sales where the things may be tough. It doesn’t mean that if you are a girl you should be more amenable to women sales representatives. As I have said, industrial sales are good to work on because Caroline can apply her knowledge and at the same time, her interest in that particular job is there. In other words, industrial sale is a job that she would enjoy. *Efrhaim Espinosa Caroline should go into industrial sales, that it would be teaching her to be tough. *Noel Caà ±os I think Caroline should go in industrial sales because if she really wants that job, she is going to be satisfied and happy on what she is going to do. But still, it depends on what she really wants. 3. Do you think a woman can sell large industrial machine tools successfully? *Mervin De Paz Yes, liked what I’ve said earlier she needs to become familiar with what she is going to sell so that she can easily present it to her potential buyer and also she could be able to answer all possible questions that the buyer might ask her. Personally, one factor I considered when buying something (example tools and gadgets) is the salesmanship. If the seller can clearly present, I can easily pursue to buy his or her product. *Jacel Florencio For me yes, as long as you know how to handle a customer or a deal. It is not important that you are a woman or man. It is with the way you talk to the customer or how you deal. For me, it is an achievement. *Psyche Doroy It depends on her. If she has all the potential qualities in taking a lead and has undergone a lot of experiences in this kind of business field before, being a woman would not be a hindrance. Lastly, excelling in whatever industry takes time for them to be familiarized in the same manner. *Analiza Dela Cruz Yes, especially if that woman like big machines and have enough experience, she may be ready to face all problem she might possibly encounter. *Karla Cruz Women are not limited to household chores or pampering themselves. They know how to carry themselves well and even inspire others with what they have achieved. Selling large industrial machine tools must not be a barrier for a woman’s success. It should be considered a challenge for women because being able to do a job dominated by men is something that is really tough but something that should be proud of. The more women think that they can not do men jobs; the more they will be labeled as weak individuals. Dream big, focus and strive hard. You will never know where it can take you unless you do something about it. *Desiree Cruz It depends upon her, because not all women have a knowledge or interest in selling large industrial machine tools. Women have a knowledge or capacity to do specific selling. I know she can be successful in her chosen career. *Efrhaim Espinosa No, because she doesn’t had even a lot of training for such jobs. *Noel Caà ±os Yes, because it doesn’t matter on what you are. It is on how you would do things. If you really know that job and you enjoy your work, it is going to be easy for you to Research Papers on Caroline Burch Case StudyThe Project Managment Office SystemThe Fifth HorsemanAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaDefinition of Export QuotasResearch Process Part OneThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfPersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy

Cmo Retirar la Peticin de Green Card a Familiar

Cmo Retirar la Peticin de Green Card a Familiar Los ciudadanos y los residentes permanentes pueden retirar la peticià ³n de una tarjeta de residencia, tambià ©n conocida por green card, que presentaron para un familiar. En este artà ­culo se explica quià ©nes pueden retirar dicha peticià ³n, cà ³mo se hace y las condiciones especiales que aplican a la green card por matrimonio y porquà © es importante cancelarla a tiempo en algunos casos y no seguir con la tramitacià ³n hasta el final. Quià ©n Puede Retirar la Peticià ³n de Permiso de Residencia para Familiar Puede solicitar la cancelacià ³n de la peticià ³n de permiso de residencia la persona que inicià ³ el proceso de pedir aun  familiar mediante la presentacià ³n del documento que se conoce I-130. Segà ºn las leyes migratorias de Estados Unidos sà ³lo pueden patrocinar una green card por parentesco: Los ciudadanos americanos, para: Esposos/as. Esto aplica tanto a los enlaces entre un hombre y una mujer como a los matrimonios entre personas del mismo sexo.Hijos/as. Establecià ©ndose tres categorà ­as segà ºn la edad y/o el estado civil de a persona pedida.Hermanos y padres, cuando el solicitante tenga al menos 21 aà ±os de edad. Los residentes permanentes legales para: El marido o la mujer.Hijos solteros, si bien hay dos categorà ­as dependiendo de la edad. Cà ³mo se Solicita la Cancelacià ³n de la Peticià ³n para la Tarjeta de Residencia Escribir una carta en inglà ©s al USCIS en la que se indique: El nombre del solicitante de los papeles para un familiar y su direccià ³n en Estados Unidos.El nombre completo de la persona beneficiada para la que se solicitaron los papeles, indicando tambià ©n su fecha y paà ­s de nacimiento.La fecha en la que la peticià ³n fue admitida a trmite por el USCIS (filed). Eso est en la carta en la que se recibe confirmacià ³n del recibo del papeleo.Una breve descripcià ³n de la razà ³n por la que se cancela la solicitud. La direccià ³n a la que hay que enviar la carta es la de la oficina de inmigracià ³n a la que se envià ³ la peticià ³n de los papeles para el familiar. Hasta Cundo se Puede Cancelar la Peticià ³n Como regla general, si el beneficiario de la peticià ³n est en Estados Unidos, se puede retirar la peticià ³n en cualquier momento antes de que se apruebe  el ajuste de estatus. Si el familiar que va a recibir el permiso de residencia est en otro paà ­s, se puede pedir la retirada hasta justo antes de que el beneficiario entre por primera vez en Estados Unidos como residente. Es decir, incluso despuà ©s de la entrevista en el consulado pero antes de que el oficial migratorio en una frontera de los Estados Unidos estampe el pasaporte del beneficiado, que se convierte asà ­ en residente permanente. En estos casos en los que el familiar est en otro paà ­s y el proceso de peticià ³n est avanzado y ya en và ­as de pasar a trmites consulares puede ser recomendable enviar al Centro Nacional de Visas, NVC por sus siglas en inglà ©s, o al  consulado americano competente una copia de la carta enviada al USCIS en la que se abandona la peticià ³n de permiso de residencia. El Caso Excepcional de los Matrimonios con Ciudadanos Americanos La forma ms rpida de conseguir la green card es por matrimonio con un ciudadano americano. Pero estas tarjetas de residencia pueden tener  una particularidad: son temporales por dos aà ±os antes de convertirse en permanentes cuando la residencia se recibe antes de cumplirse dos aà ±os de casados. En estos casos el ciudadano americano puede cancelar la peticià ³n del cà ³nyuge extranjero no sà ³lo hasta el momento en el que à ©ste gana la green card del modo seà ±alado anteriormente. Sino que tambià ©n puede impedir que el esposo inmigrante pueda cambiar su estatus de titular de green card temporal a permanente. Es suficiente si a  los dos aà ±os se niega a firmar conjuntamente la peticià ³n de remocià ³n o levantamiento de la condicionalidad. En estos casos el cà ³nyuge extranjero pierde la tarjeta de residencia y es muy posible que deba abandonar Estados Unidos. Los à ºnicos casos en los que se permite que el ciudadano americano no firme la remocià ³n de la condicionalidad y el marido o la mujer extranjero se conviertan en residentes permanentes son: Fallecimiento del solicitante ciudadano americano.Divorcio, en el que la parte extrajera pueda demostrar que su matrimonio fue de buena fe.Malos tratos sufridos por el cà ³nyuge extranjero en base al programa VAWA.Situacià ³n extrema, como violencia en el paà ­s de origen del cà ³nyuge extranjero o enfermedad del mismo. Una vez que el Familiar Extranjero se Convierte en Residente Permanente,  ¿Puede el Patrocinador Pedir una Cancelacià ³n de la Tarjeta de Residencia? En principio no, a menos que se pueda probar documentalmente o con otra clase de evidencia que ha habido fraude o situacià ³n similar. Es relativamente comà ºn en los casos de peticiones por matrimonio que cuando las cosas van mal haya acusaciones y reproches mutuos y que el patrocinador se pregunte si puede quitarle la green card al esposo o a la mujer con la que ahora se lleva mal. Pero hay que entender que el desamor y las peleas conyugales no son prueba de que el cà ³nyuge extranjero se hubiera casado sà ³lo por los papeles, con engaà ±o y calculadamente. Antes de hacer una acusacià ³n de que un matrimonio ha sido falso hay que ser honestos consigo mismo y pensar si uno tiene realmente pruebas o simplemente se est dolido o se tienen celos. A Tener en Cuenta por Sus Consecuencias Graves Si una persona cancela la peticià ³n de un familiar, si despuà ©s se arrepiente y desea volver a instaurarla debe darse cuenta de que debe empezar el proceso desde el comienzo, rellenar de nuevo todos los papeles y pagar los aranceles correspondientes. Adems, hay que tener en cuenta que si no son buenas las relaciones familiares entre la persona que pide los papeles y la beneficiada por la green card puede haber problemas de carcter econà ³mico que hay que tener en cuenta. Y es que a lo largo de la tramitacià ³n de un familiar uno de los papeles que se firma es lo que se conoce como affidavit of support o declaracià ³n de mantenimiento. Los deberes que se tienen al firmar este contrato duran 10 aà ±os, en la mayorà ­a de los casos. Y no importa que solicitante y beneficiado no se hablan o, en el caso de matrimonio, que se haya producido un divorcio. Por todo ello se recomienda tomar este test de respuestas mà ºltiples que sirve para aclarar importantes dudas sobre la green card. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Reward Managment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reward Managment - Assignment Example To motivate employees, Armstrong and Baron (2004) argue that the director needs to introduce a contingent pay. This would entail establishing performance objectives for each employee and compensating them depending on the achievement of the objectives. This implies that employees will receive for instance 15% of basic pay as a contingent pay. In this way, the employees will not only be motivated but also they will improve their performance with an aim of getting promotion and receiving high contingency pay. Additionally, I suggest that the director introduces annual cash bonuses. This would entail evaluation of the bank employees by the mangers as well as customers followed by rewarding the high performing workers with cash bonuses that would be given during end of year parties. In the same way, it is essential for the director to establish a ratio that would be adopted in rewarding the employees by use of company shares. For example, during issue of shares, employees who have served the company for a long time might be given 10 more shares for every 100 shares they have (Perkins and White, 2010). In the same way, the bank can adopt profit sharing plan as a reward. However, this should involve prior communication with the employees on the ramifications of economic downturn on the profit sharing plan (Armstrong, 2002). In this way, the resentment and the backlash that would demotivate the employees will be highly avoided. Flexible benefits policy For the purpose of making the employees feel part and parcel of the London and Provincial Bank as well as strengthening the employee-employer relationship, a flexible benefit policy should be introduced. This way,... This paper approves that despite the fact that all rewards are geared towards improving the performance of the employees and increasing the profitability of the bank, Thorpe and Gill argues that it is vital to sequence the manner in which they are implemented. Based on the resources that are at the exposure of the bank, it is my view that the bank first implements the non-financial rewards before adopting the financial rewards. This essay comes to the conclusion that attaining employee’s motivation is a goal of every firm either operating locally or internationally. Financial rewards are not the only factors that motivate employees. To ensure that workers are part and parcel of the company, firm such as London and Provincial Bank are now focused at looking at employees at an individual level. As a major step, the company has established the post of Director of Rewards an indication that the bank is focused at retaining a productive workforce to outdo its competitors in the UK market. Based on the Towers Perrin model, the director is focused at implementing a new rewarding policy that will transform the current rewarding arrangements thus empowering the bank employees. Some of the major policies that I have suggested to the director to make his rewarding arrangements successful include effective pay structure and pay arrangements, flexible benefits policy, providing employees with total remuneration s tatements, sequencing the development of the rewards, involvement of human resources managers as well as bank auditors.

Business for fashion study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business for fashion study - Essay Example Among all these, surveys and sampling are the major research methods that are used to obtain valid results. Through the use of primary research unlike secondary research method, the targeted issues are well addressed. The company asking requesting for the research usually has complete control on the research and the process as far as its scope and objectives are concerned. The company bestowed with the mandate to research can concentrate on a specific area of interest rather than a general area. Again through primary data, interpretation of the data collected is always easy. This is because the collected data can be interpreted and examined as per the researcher’s needs rather than depending on interpretations made through data collected using secondary method. Also through primary research, recency of data is always put into consideration. This is because secondary data is not usually so recent and again may not be so specific to the situation or place the researcher is targeting. The researcher can use the information for knowing how trends behave or find some relation with the current event under consideration. This makes primary data a more accurate method of use. Primary research is always involved with high costs. It is a very costly proposition. This is because the researcher has always to be involved throughout and also design everything. This is a costly endeavor. Again one can get inaccurate feedbacks when he undertakes primary research. There are very high chances that the respondents will give inaccurate responses or biased information that may lead to inaccurate data to the researcher. Also research using the primary method is a time consuming activity. This is because if the exhaustive nature of the activity. The time required by the researcher in order to collect accurate data is long as compared to secondary data. Again through primary research there is a large use of resources that

Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield Essay -- GCSE English Literature Co

Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield David Copperfield was Charles Dickens’s eighth novel, and has been said to be Charles Dickens favorite novel. In the Charles Dickens edition of the novel Dickens states, â€Å"It will be easily believed that I am a fond parent to every child of my fancy, and that no one can ever love that family as dearly as I love them. But, like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favorite child. And his name is David Copperfield†(Valsmis 1). Many of the events of the novel, David Copperfield, have been compared to Charles Dickens own life; therefore many believe the novel to be somewhat autobiographical. John Forster one of Charles Dickens close friends and the author of Dickens biography wrote, â€Å"too much had been assumed†¦of the full identity of Dickens with his hero; but certainly a good deal of Dickens’s character and experience went into the book†(Unknown 2). Forster’s remark deals mainly with some of the publicâ€⠄¢s belief that the entire story of David Copperfield was autobiographical. Charles Dickens began work on David Copperfield after John Forster questioned him about his childhood. E. D. H. Johnson's, Charles Dickens: An Introduction to His Novels, discussed a conversation that John Forster overheard between Charles Dickens’s father and a man, in which; the man claimed that he remembered a young Dickens working in his factory (Johnson 1). Johnson stated, â€Å"Forster's curiosity over this chance discovery moved Dickens to write the fragment of an autobiography which he subsequently entrusted to his friend when he decided to incorporate the substance of his recollections almost verbatim in the Murdstone and Grinby episode of David Copperfield†(Johnson 1). D... ...vid Copperfield. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/engl253-01s02/dickens/publicationrecep.htm Other Sites interesting Sources Hornback, Bert. David Copperfield in Noah's Architecture: A Study of Dickens' Mythology. Athens, OH: Ohio State P, 1972: 63-82. Needham. Gwendolyn B. The Undisciplined Heart of David Copperfield in Nineteenth-Century Fiction 9 (1954): 81-107. [Reprinted in David Copperfield,Norton Critical Edition, Ed. Jerome H. Buckley, New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1990: 794-806.] Nussbaum, Martha C. "Steerforth's Arm: Love and the Moral Point of View" from Love's Knowledge: Essays on Philosophy and Literature (New York: Oxford UP, 1990: 335-363).<o:p></o:p> Stewart, Garrett. "Dickens and Language," in Cambridge Companion to Charles Dickens, Ed. John O. Jordan, New York: Cambridge UP, 2001: 136-151.

Chapter 11 Aboard the Hogwart Express

There was a definite end-of-the-holidays gloom in the air when Harry awoke next morning. Heavy rain was still splattering against the window as he got dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt; they would change into their school robes on the Hogwarts Express. He, Ron, Fred, and George had just reached the first-floor landing on their way down to breakfast, when Mrs. Weasley appeared at the foot of the stairs, looking harassed. â€Å"Arthur!† she called up the staircase. â€Å"Arthur! Urgent message from the Ministry!† Harry flattened himself against the wall as Mr. Weasley came clattering past with his robes on back-to-front and hurtled out of sight. When Harry and the others entered the kitchen, they saw Mrs. Weasley rummaging anxiously in the drawers – â€Å"I've got a quill here somewhere!† – and Mr. Weasley bending over the fire, talking to – Harry shut his eyes hard and opened them again to make sure that they were working properly. Amos Diggory's head was sitting in the middle of the flames like a large, bearded egg. It was talking very fast, completely unperturbed by the sparks flying around it and the flames licking its ears. â€Å"†¦Muggle neighbors heard bangs and shouting, so they went and called those what-d'you-call-'ems – please-men. Arthur, you've got to get over there -â€Å" â€Å"Here!† said Mrs. Weasley breathlessly, pushing a piece of parchment, a bottle of ink, and a crumpled quill into Mr. Weasley's hands. â€Å"- it's a real stroke of luck I heard about it,† said Mr. Diggory's head. â€Å"I had to come into the office early to send a couple of owls, and I found the Improper Use of Magic lot all setting off – if Rita Skeeter gets hold of this one, Arthur -â€Å" â€Å"What does Mad-Eye say happened?† asked Mr. Weasley, unscrewing the ink bottle, loading up his quill, and preparing to take notes. Mr. Diggory's head rolled its eyes. â€Å"Says he heard an intruder in his yard. Says he was creeping toward the house, but was ambushed by his dustbins.† â€Å"What did the dustbins do?† asked Mr. Weasley, scribbling frantically. â€Å"Made one hell of a noise and fired rubbish everywhere, as far as I can tell,† said Mr. Diggory. â€Å"Apparently one of them was still rocketing around when the please-men turned up -â€Å" Mr. Weasley groaned. â€Å"And what about the intruder?† â€Å"Arthur, you know Mad-Eye,† said Mr. Diggory's head, rolling its eyes again. â€Å"Someone creeping into his yard in the dead of night? More likely there's a very shell-shocked cat wandering around somewhere, covered in potato peelings. But if the Improper Use of Magic lot get their hands on Mad-Eye, he's had it – think of his record – we've got to get him off on a minor charge, something in your department – what are exploding dustbins worth?† â€Å"Might be a caution,† said Mr. Weasley, still writing very fast, his brow furrowed. â€Å"Mad-Eye didn't use his wand? He didn't actually attack anyone?† â€Å"I'll bet he leapt out of bed and started jinxing everything he could reach through the window,† said Mr. Diggory, â€Å"but they'll have a job proving it, there aren't any casualties.† â€Å"All right, I'm off,† Mr. Weasley said, and he stuffed the parchment with his notes on it into his pocket and dashed out of the kitchen again. Mr. Diggory's head looked around at Mrs. Weasley. â€Å"Sorry about this, Molly,† it said, more calmly, â€Å"bothering you so early and everything†¦but Arthur's the only one who can get Mad-Eye off, and Mad-Eye's supposed to be starting his new job today. Why he had to choose last night†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Never mind, Amos,† said Mrs. Weasley. â€Å"Sure you won't have a bit of toast or anything before you go?† â€Å"Oh go on, then,† said Mr. Diggory. Mrs. Weasley took a piece of buttered toast from a stack on the kitchen table, put it into the fire tongs, and transferred it into Mr. Diggory's mouth. â€Å"Fanks,† he said in a muffled voice, and then, with a small pop, vanished. Harry could hear Mr. Weasley calling hurried good-byes to Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the girls. Within five minutes, he was back in the kitchen, his robes on the right way now, dragging a comb through his hair. â€Å"I'd better hurry – you have a good term, boys, said Mr. Weasley to Harry, Ron, and the twins, fastening a cloak over his shoulders and preparing to Disapparate. â€Å"Molly, are you going to be all right taking the kids to King's Cross?† â€Å"Of course I will,† she said. â€Å"You just look after Mad-Eye, we'll be fine.† As Mr. Weasley vanished, Bill and Charlie entered the kitchen. â€Å"Did someone say Mad-Eye?† Bill asked. â€Å"What's he been up to now.† â€Å"He says someone tried to break into his house last night,† said Mrs. Weasley. â€Å"Mad-Eye Moody?† said George thoughtfully, spreading marmalade on his toast. â€Å"Isn't he that nutter -â€Å" â€Å"Your father thinks very highly of Mad-Eye Moody,† said Mrs. Weasley sternly. â€Å"Yeah, well, Dad collects plugs, doesn't he?† said Fred quietly as Mrs. Weasley left the room. â€Å"Birds of a feather†¦.† â€Å"Moody was a great wizard in his time,† said Bill. â€Å"He's an old friend of Dumbledore's, isn't he?† said Charlie. â€Å"Dumbledore's not what you'd call normal, though, is he?† said Fred. â€Å"I mean, I know he's a genius and everything†¦.† â€Å"Who is Mad-Eye?† asked Harry. â€Å"He's retired, used to work at the Ministry,† said Charlie. â€Å"I met him once when Dad took me into work with him. He was an Auror – one of the best†¦a Dark wizard catcher,† he added, seeing Harry's blank look. â€Å"Half the cells in Azkaban are full because of him. He made himself loads of enemies, though†¦the families of people he caught, mainly†¦and I heard he's been getting really paranoid in his old age. Doesn't trust anyone anymore. Sees Dark wizards everywhere.† Bill and Charlie decided to come and see everyone off at King's Cross station, but Percy, apologizing most profusely, said that he really needed to get to work. â€Å"I just can't justify taking more time off at the moment,† he told them. â€Å"Mr. Crouch is really starting to rely on me.† â€Å"Yeah, you know what, Percy?† said George seriously. â€Å"I reckon he'll know your name soon.† Mrs. Weasley had braved the telephone in the village post office to order three ordinary Muggle taxis to take them into London. â€Å"Arthur tried to borrow Ministry cars for us,† Mrs. Weasley whispered to Harry as they stood in the rain-washed yard, watching the taxi drivers heaving six heavy Hogwarts trunks into their cars. â€Å"But there weren't any to spare†¦.Oh dear, they don't look happy, do they?† Harry didn't like to tell Mrs. Weasley that Muggle taxi drivers rarely transported overexcited owls, and Pigwidgeon was making an earsplitting racket. Nor did it help that a number of Filibuster's Fabulous No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks went off unexpectedly when Fred's trunk sprang open, causing the driver carrying it to yell with fright and pain as Crookshanks clawed his way up the man's leg. The journey was uncomfortable, owing to the fact that they were jammed in the back of the taxis with their trunks. Crookshanks took quite a while to recover from the fireworks, and by the time they entered London, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all severely scratched. They were very relieved to get out at King's Cross, even though the rain was coming down harder than ever, and they got soaked carrying their trunks across the busy road and into the station. Harry was used to getting onto platform nine and three-quarters by now. It was a simple matter of walking straight through the apparently solid barrier dividing platforms nine and ten. The only tricky part was doing this in an unobtrusive way, so as to avoid attracting Muggle attention. They did it in groups today; Harry, Ron, and Hermione (the most conspicuous, since they were accompanied by Pigwidgeon and Crookshanks) went first; they leaned casually against the barrier, chatting unconcernedly, and slid sideways through it†¦and as they did so, platform nine and three-quarters materialized in front of them. The Hogwarts Express, a gleaming scarlet steam engine, was already there, clouds of steam billowing from it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform appeared like dark ghosts. Pigwidgeon became noisier than ever in response to the hooting of many owls through the mist. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off to find seats, and were soon stowing their luggage in a compartment halfway along the train. They then hopped back down onto the platform to say good-bye to Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie. â€Å"I might be seeing you all sooner than you think,† said Charlie, grinning, as he hugged Ginny good-bye. â€Å"Why?† said Fred keenly. â€Å"You'll see,† said Charlie. â€Å"Just don't tell Percy I mentioned it†¦it's ‘classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to release it,' after all.† â€Å"Yeah, I sort of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year,† said Bill, hands in his pockets, looking almost wistfully at the train. â€Å"Why?† said George impatiently. â€Å"You're going to have an interesting year,† said Bill, his eyes twinkling. â€Å"I might even get time off to come and watch a bit of it.† â€Å"A bit of what?† said Ron. But at that moment, the whistle blew, and Mrs. Weasley chivvied them toward the train doors. â€Å"Thanks for having us to stay, Mrs. Weasley,† said Hermione as they climbed on board, closed the door, and leaned out of the window to talk to her. â€Å"Yeah, thanks for everything, Mrs. Weasley,† said Harry. â€Å"Oh it was my pleasure, dears,† said Mrs. Weasley. â€Å"I'd invite you for Christmas, but†¦well, I expect you're all going to want to stay at Hogwarts, what with†¦one thing and another.† â€Å"Mum!† said Ron irritably. â€Å"What d'you three know that we don't?† â€Å"You'll find out this evening, I expect,† said Mrs. Weasley, smiling. â€Å"It's going to be very exciting – mind you, I'm very glad they've changed the rules -â€Å" â€Å"What rules?† said Harry, Ron, Fred, and George together. â€Å"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you†¦.Now, behave, won't you? Won't you, Fred? And you, George?† The pistons hissed loudly and the train began to move. â€Å"Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!† Fred bellowed out of the window as Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie sped away from them. â€Å"What rules are they changing?† But Mrs. Weasley only smiled and waved. Before the train had rounded the corner, she, Bill, and Charlie had Disapparated. Harry, Ron, and Hermione went back to their compartment. The thick rain splattering the windows made it very difficult to see out of them. Ron undid his trunk, pulled out his maroon dress robes, and flung them over Pigwidgeon's cage to muffle his hooting. â€Å"Bagman wanted to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts,† he said grumpily, sitting down next to Harry. â€Å"At the World Cup, remember? But my own mother won't say. Wonder what -â€Å" â€Å"Shh!† Hermione whispered suddenly, pressing her finger to her lips and pointing toward the compartment next to theirs. Harry and Ron listened, and heard a familiar drawling voice drifting in through the open door. â€Å"†¦Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore – the man's such a Mudblood-lover – and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defense rubbish we do†¦.† Hermione got up, tiptoed to the compartment door, and slid it shut, blocking out Malfoy's voice. â€Å"So he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him, does he?† she said angrily. â€Å"I wish he had gone, then we wouldn't have to put up with him.† â€Å"Durmstrang's another wizarding school?† said Harry. â€Å"Yes,† said Hermione sniffily, â€Å"and it's got a horrible reputation. According to An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe, it puts a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts.† â€Å"I think I've heard of it,† said Ron vaguely. â€Å"Where is it? What country?† â€Å"Well, nobody knows, do they?† said Hermione, raising her eyebrows. â€Å"Er – why not?† said Harry. â€Å"There's traditionally been a lot of rivalry between all the magic schools. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons like to conceal their whereabouts so nobody can steal their secrets,† said Hermione matter-of-factly. â€Å"Come off it,† said Ron, starting to laugh. â€Å"Durmstrang's got to be about the same size as Hogwarts – how are you going to hide a great big castle?† â€Å"But Hogwarts is hidden,† said Hermione, in surprise. â€Å"Everyone knows that†¦well, everyone who's read Hogwarts, A History, anyway.† â€Å"Just you, then,† said Ron. â€Å"So go on – how d'you hide a place like Hogwarts?† â€Å"It's bewitched,† said Hermione. â€Å"If a Muggle looks at it, all they see is a moldering old ruin with a sign over the entrance saying DANGER, DO NOT ENTER, UNSAFE.† â€Å"So Durmstrang'll just look like a ruin to an outsider too?† â€Å"Maybe,† said Hermione, shrugging, â€Å"or it might have Muggle-repelling charms on it, like the World Cup stadium. And to keep foreign wizards from finding it, they'll have made it Unplottable -â€Å" â€Å"Come again?† â€Å"Well, you can enchant a building so it's impossible to plot on a map, can't you?† â€Å"Er†¦if you say so,† said Harry. â€Å"But I think Durmstrang must be somewhere in the far north,† said Hermione thoughtfully. â€Å"Somewhere very cold, because they've got fur capes as part of their uniforms.† â€Å"Ah, think of the possibilities,† said Ron dreamily. â€Å"It would've been so easy to push Malfoy off a glacier and make it look like an accident†¦.Shame his mother likes him†¦.† The rain became heavier and heavier as the train moved farther north. The sky was so dark and the windows so steamy that the lanterns were lit by midday. The lunch trolley came rattling along the corridor, and Harry bought a large stack of Cauldron Cakes for them to share. Several of their friends looked in on them as the afternoon progressed, including Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom, a round-faced, extremely forgetful boy who had been brought up by his formidable witch of a grandmother. Seamus was still wearing his Ireland rosette. Some of its magic seemed to be wearing off now; it was still squeaking â€Å"Troy – Mullet – Moran!† but in a very feeble and exhausted sort of way. After half an hour or so, Hermione, growing tired of the endless Quidditch talk, buried herself once more in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4, and started trying to learn a Summoning Charm. Neville listened jealously to the others' conversation as they relived the Cup match. â€Å"Gran didn't want to go,† he said miserably. â€Å"Wouldn't buy tickets. It sounded amazing though.† â€Å"It was,† said Ron. â€Å"Look at this, Neville†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He rummaged in his trunk up in the luggage rack and pulled out the miniature figure of Viktor Krum. â€Å"Oh wow,† said Neville enviously as Ron tipped Krum onto his pudgy hand. â€Å"We saw him right up close, as well,† said Ron. â€Å"We were in the Top Box -â€Å" â€Å"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley.† Draco Malfoy had appeared in the doorway. Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle, his enormous, thuggish cronies, both of whom appeared to have grown at least a foot during the summer. Evidently they had overheard the conversation through the compartment door, which Dean and Seamus had left ajar. â€Å"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy,† said Harry coolly. â€Å"Weasley†¦what is that?† said Malfoy, pointing at Pigwidgeon's cage. A sleeve of Ron's dress robes was dangling from it, swaying with the motion of the train, the moldy lace cuff very obvious. Ron made to stuff the robes out of sight, but Malfoy was too quick for him; he seized the sleeve and pulled. â€Å"Look at this!† said Malfoy in ecstasy, holding up Ron's robes and showing Crabbe and Goyle, â€Å"Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean – they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Eat dung, Malfoy!† said Ron, the same color as the dress robes as he snatched them back out of Malfoy's grip. Malfoy howled with derisive laughter; Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly. â€Å"So†¦going to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? There's money involved as well, you know†¦you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won†¦.† â€Å"What are you talking about?† snapped Ron. â€Å"Are you going to enter?† Malfoy repeated. â€Å"I suppose you will, Potter? You never miss a chance to show off, do you?† â€Å"Either explain what you're on about or go away, Malfoy,† said Hermione testily, over the top of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4. A gleeful smile spread across Malfoy's pale face â€Å"Don't tell me you don't know?† he said delightedly. â€Å"You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? My God, my father told me about it ages ago†¦heard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry†¦.Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley†¦yes†¦they probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him†¦.† Laughing once more, Malfoy beckoned to Crabbe and Goyle, and the three of them disappeared. Ron got to his feet and slammed the sliding compartment door so hard behind them that the glass shattered. â€Å"Ron!† said Hermione reproachfully, and she pulled out her wand, muttered â€Å"Reparo!† and the glass shards flew back into a single pane and back into the door. â€Å"Well†¦making it look like he knows everything and we don't†¦.† Ron snarled. â€Å"‘Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry'†¦Dad could've got a promotion any time†¦he just likes it where he is†¦.† â€Å"Of course he does,† said Hermione quietly. â€Å"Don't let Malfoy get to you, Ron -â€Å" â€Å"Him! Get to me!? As if!† said Ron, picking up one of the remaining Cauldron Cakes and squashing it into a pulp. Ron's bad mood continued for the rest of the journey. He didn't talk much as they changed into their school robes, and was still glowering when the Hogwarts Express slowed down at last and finally stopped in the pitch-darkness of Hogsmeade station. As the train doors opened, there was a rumble of thunder overhead. Hermione bundled up Crookshanks in her cloak and Ron left his dress robes over Pigwidgeon as they left the train, heads bent and eyes narrowed against the downpour. The rain was now coming down so thick and fast that it was as though buckets of ice-cold water were being emptied repeatedly over their heads. â€Å"Hi, Hagrid!† Harry yelled, seeing a gigantic silhouette at the far end of the platform. â€Å"All righ', Harry?† Hagrid bellowed back, waving. â€Å"See yeh at the feast if we don' drown!† First years traditionally reached Hogwarts Castle by sailing across the lake with Hagrid. â€Å"Oooh, I wouldn't fancy crossing the lake in this weather,† said Hermione fervently, shivering as they inched slowly along the dark platform with the rest of the crowd. A hundred horseless carriages stood waiting for them outside the station. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville climbed gratefully into one of them, the door shut with a snap, and a few moments later, with a great lurch, the long procession of carriages was rumbling and splashing its way up the track toward Hogwarts Castle.