Extended commentary of The Convergence of the Twain by Thomas Hardy Essay Example for Free

Extended commentary of The Convergence of the Twain by Thomas Hardy Essay On the Title: Hardy uses two interesting words: ‘convergence’ and ‘twain’. A convergence is a meeting of two paths, or entities – in this case, a collision! ‘Twain’ is an archaic word for ‘two’, i.e.; both the ‘Titanic’ and the iceberg. Such a title immediately positions the reader to the direction in which the poem will go. Hardy is not, as many elegiac poems of the day were, preparing to mourn the loss of the ship and the lives upon it but rather proceeding to examine the philosophical nature of the collision; perhaps it was fated? The other current use of â€Å"twain† was in the pseudonym â€Å"Mark Twain,† made famous by the publication – initially in England – of â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† in 1886. Clems adopted the nom de plume to suggest â€Å"uncomfortable waters† or â€Å"tight navigation,† since two fathoms (â€Å"twain,† the sounding of a Mississippi deck-hand measuring the depth beneath the keel) would be dangerous for a steamboat. Background Information: The ocean liner ‘RMS Titanic’ famously sank, at two o’clock in the morning, upon the 15th April 1912. The disaster claimed 1,502 lives. Hardy was asked to write a poem to be read at a charity concert to raise funds in aid of the tragedy disaster fund. It was first published as part of the souvenir program for that event. Overall Structure: Hardy writes eleven regular triplet stanzas, with an AAA rhyme scheme throughout. The use of triplets allows for a more thorough exploration of ideas in each stanza; unified by the use of the rhyme scheme. Perhaps he also does this to create the effect of inevitability, for the rhymed words form their own paths coincident that lead to a preset conclusion – the reader knows, that is, with which sound each stanza will end after he or she has only read the first line of that stanza. However, that knowledge only appears are having read the first few stanzas or so, echoing the idea that knowledge of those coincident paths of which the poem speaks is not always immediately discernible. Themes: The Vanity of Man, The Relationship between Man and Nature, Fate, Classical Entities. Difficult Language Notes: â€Å"The Immanent Will† – a force of fate. â€Å"Salamandrine† – associated with the salamander (a mythical creature) The poem runs in straight sets but I wish to divide in two for ease of analysis. ‘Part I’ exists from Stanzas I to VI, whilst ‘Part II’ takes the form of Stanzas VII to XII. Part I Notes: First Stanza Notes: Hardy introduces his poem in medias res – the ship has been sunk and lies silently at the bottom of the ocean. He creates a calm effect over his poem through the consonance of the ‘s’ sounds: â€Å"In a solitude of the sea Deep from human vanity, And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she.† Particular elements of diction are worthy of note: * â€Å"Deep from human vanity† – this line points to the emerging theme of man’s failed vanity, in creating such a grand object to rule over the natural world, only to have Nature smite it. The phrase â€Å"Pride of Life† accentuates this principle. Note how Hardy uses capital letters to make otherwise simple abstract nouns definitive. Although this is pre-emptive, I will now examine the theme of vaingloriousness (and point out notable pieces of evidence throughout the remainder of the poem) which Hardy presents. He uses irony to evoke the ridiculousness of mans plans. In stanzas I through to V, he juxtaposes images of the ships opulence, such as its mirrors meant / To glass the opulent and the ship’s gilded gear with images of the cold currents, â€Å"sea-worms† and moon-eyed fishes that now flow, crawl and swim through those former interiors. This creates a tangible image of the human vanity referred to in this first stanza; what people design for greatness ultimately ends up in a place of abasement. * â€Å"Stilly† is a highly unusual adverb. Hardy uses it to create a sense of ‘peace’. This is furthered by â€Å"solitude† and â€Å"couches†. ‘Couches’ suggests restfulness, or an equanimity. S.L.S considers an image of a ‘death bed’ upon the sea floor. Second Stanza Notes: Hardy focuses upon images of death and change in this stanza: â€Å"Steel chambers, late the pyres Of her salamandrine fires Cold currents third, and turn to tidal rhythmic lyres.† The furnaces of the ship, which contained the salamandrine fires of her engines (a form of LIFE), now have Cold currents thrid (note the a contrast in temperature – and consequently, a contrast in living state) running through them. ‘Thrid’ itself is another reference to the title, as an archaic word for ‘two’. Where there was once heat and life driving the engines of the ship, there is now coldness and death. A further juxtaposition within this second stanza is the use of the word pyre†, as it connotes funerals and death, while the use of salamandrine insinuates a certain tenacity for life (as salamanders were said to live through fires) that could be associated with the ‘Unsinkable Ship’ idea – there was a theory prior to the sinking, now tragically ironic, that the Titanic was unable to sink. Yet, for all of the tragic (or formerly energetic, given the nature of fire) nature of the ship, Hardy once again returns to ideas of peace and harmony. â€Å"Rhythmic tidal lyres† are reminiscent of the classical entities – such as Apollo’s lyre and his place in Arcadia – and consequently calming images. The distinct iambic meter in this phrase aids the calming lilt of the lines. Hardy presents the Titanic’s corpse in a peaceful light, however chilling and panicked her death. Third and Fourth Stanza Notes: I have above described the idea of vanity. I will pick out key phrases from these stanzas which support this idea – their key point is to achieve the above: * â€Å"mirrors meant to glass the opulent† CONTRASTED TO â€Å"grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent† sea worms. Note the cruelty and emphasis on â€Å"indifferent†. * â€Å"Jewels in joy designed† CONTRASTED TO â€Å"lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind† Note the use of polysyndeton. * â€Å"gilded gear†. Note alliteration. Fifth and Sixth Stanzas: Thus far Hardy has thoroughly examined the idea of vanity and the sunken ship itself. At stanza VI, Hardy changes his focus to the process by which the ship sank, in reference to Hardy’s ‘question’ formulated in stanza V. V â€Å"Dim moon-eyed fishes near Gaze at the gilded gear And query: ‘What does this vaingloriousness down here? VI Well: while was fashioning This creature of cleaving wing, The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything† It is obvious that Hardy engineers the explanation of the collision as a response to the â€Å"fishes’† question – although one would initially expect the final line of stanza V to be rhetorical. Before diverging upon the analysis of Hardy’s response, note some key elements of this stanza: * â€Å"moon-eyed† (white and dull) contrasts with the shiny, golden nature of the â€Å"gilded†. This accentuates the differences between the metallic (man-made) ship and the natural world. Also note the alliteration used in this line. Question why? * In an final assault on the vanitas vanitatum, observe that Hardy utilises anthropomorphisation to allow even the fish to question Man’s will in creating such ‘vaingloriousness’ – a Natural force (perhaps a personification of Nature itself?) labels the ship a vanity. What consequence does this have? This query, although appearing rhetorical, is answered by Hardy. Denoted by the use of ‘Well’, he switches to a colloquial register – this again adds to the sense of a Volta at stanza VI. Also note the sudden introduction of prominent enjambment at the end of the poem. The sense of stanza VI rolls into the VIIth, in direct opposition to the previous use of ‘poetic closure’ to end all previous stanzas – Hardy normally uses a form of punctuation. Now it’s gone. Apart from being a ‘change’ in its innate self, the enjambment aids in increasing the pace of the poem. This is highly significant. Seeing as, from this point forth, Hardy creates a ‘convergence of the twain’ within the poem itself – i.e.: he brings the two entities together (I will later explore this process in detail) from obscurity to the point of their collision – then increasing the pace at which the two entities move (which is obviously determined by the pace of the poem) must bring them together faster. This adds to the sense of movement, of fast movement and of dramatic effect. Well done, Mr. Hardy. Note some language details: â€Å"Creature of cleaving wing† is a very interesting phrase. â€Å"Cleaving† has multiple meanings, all of which are appropriate to Hardy’s imagery. Primarily, he may be imagining the ship as it ‘cleaves’ through the water, as all good ships should do. Remember, in its day the Titanic was the fastest liner afloat. â€Å"The cleaving wing† may therefore be the iron bow of the boat. Notice how Hardy is utilising additional anthropomorphisation, in referring to the ship as both a â€Å"creature† and one with â€Å"wing[s]†. The iceberg, however, remains inanimate. I doubt that there are any really deliberate poetic techniques to be synthesized from this but perhaps Hardy encourages a larger empathic response from the animate ship than from the inanimate iceberg? However, we must also acknowledge the metallic â€Å"knife-like† associations with ‘cleaving’ – like ‘cleaver’. This has a highly inanimate connotation. [Another weak point, acknowledged.] There also exists an archaic definition in the verb ‘to cleave’ – as in a Biblical usage – meaning ‘to join in matrimony’. This is of enormous interest. Hardy later plays a great deal upon the idea of the twain being marital (and even sexual) mates. Throughout the poem he refers to them with terms connotating a â€Å"confirmed relationship†. We may be â€Å"reading into† the phrase a little too deeply but it is a comment worthy of note. Perhaps Hardy is using the archaic definition of the verb to further advance his marital imagery? He is certainly no stranger to using such odd vocabulary; observe â€Å"The Darkling Thrush†! Finally, I wish to examine ‘The Immanent Will’. â€Å"Immanent† is not an archaic spelling of â€Å"imminent† – do not get confused in terms of these different words! â€Å"The Immanent Will† is somewhat comparable, in terms of a philosophical idea, to the Christian concept of the â€Å"Holy Spirit† or â€Å"Holy Ghost†. It is a spiritual, but existent, entity within every object which determines its fate or actions. Christianity has branches – notably in Catholicism – which believe in a pre-determined plan, of God’s design. In other words, we are all on a plan set out by God. The Holy Spirit helps us to achieve what God wishes; it provides inner strength and resolve. Hardy did not have an easy relationship with religion; born a Christian, he went through multiple tumultuous periods of atheistic belief. That’s probably why he hasn’t gone and just written; â€Å"God, or some deified entity, has allowed and planned for the demise of this here ship. And that’s why the iceberg, which could have been anywhere in a 3,000 mile radius of the vast Atlantic Ocean, just so happened to strike the ship. Deal with it.† So, instead, he has substituted a strictly non-religious term to his idea of Fate. Indeed, he later refers to the Classical ‘Fate’ entities to again replace any otherwise religious terminology. Remember also that Hardy is not aiming to criticise Christianity in a poem intended to raise money for the victims’ families. Thus, clear religious controversy was not a good idea. Stanzas VIII and IX Notes: â€Å"And as the smart ship grew In stature, grace and hue, In shadowy silent distance grew the iceberg too. Alien they seemed to be: No mortal eye could see The intimate welding of the later history,† Again, Hardy invites further comparison through the use of juxtaposition; he now places the two entities in a relative time scale. The use of the word ‘as’ creates this effect, as it brings almost a simile-esque comparative sense to the stanzas. We must focus on the idea of the twain ‘growing’ – as that is the image which Hardy evokes – and the way in which both are joint in the use of the same verb. The obvious mental image is one of a familial relationship; they grow simultaneously but are fatally unaware of each other. Indeed, the distance between them is made explicitly clear and further emphasized by the alliteration used with â€Å"shadowy† and â€Å"silent†. Observe, in the phrase â€Å"In stature, grace and hue†, Hardy returns to the original theme of the ship’s grandeur. He appears, in this occurrence, to be rather more commending (or perhaps simply more mournful) of the ship and its purpose. Stanza IX further dwells upon the notion of fate. Indeed, Hardy utilises some more imagery worthy of note, full of oxymorons. â€Å"The intimate welding of the later history† It takes little to see that this further advances the ideas of both the twain’s ‘marital intimacy’, of the metal-related imagery associated with the ship, but also, in the final few words, the idea of Fate. If one can know, in the present, the details of the future’s past – in other words, the near future – then surely one is saying in an oddly convoluted way that a certain action is destined to soon take place? It’s an oxymoronic (â€Å"later history† is oxymoronic in my book!) way of saying the same as before; the twain are destined to collide. Stanzas X and XI Notes: â€Å"Or sign that they were bent By paths coincident On being anon twin halves of one august event, Till the Spinner of the Years Said ‘Now!’ And each one hears, And consummation comes, and jars two hemispheres. Very little needs to be said about the action in these stanza. The Twain collide, bringing together the long wait in both metaphorical and poetic terms. Hardy’s precise choice of words and imagery is somewhat more interesting, however. For example: * â€Å"Paths coincident† does not point to a coincidence, as one might initially assume, but rather to a â€Å"co-incident† (i.e. â€Å"together†) act. The Twain are, on reflection, on a course which emulates two graphical lines, in the way that they bisect. Does this then also reflect a sense of Fated entity? Graphical lines do not change, thus their ‘collision’ is determined and sealed. * â€Å"Twin halves of one august event† reminds the reader of the action and precise existence of the collision. In the end, the act was a very physical, not philosophical one. Hardy acknowledges this, but attempts to draw out the unified nature of the Twain, in the intrinsic act of their collision. Note that the usual use of â€Å"august† to mean â€Å"awe inspiring or admiration; majestic† is not intended by Hardy here in a positive way. He merely wishes to express wonder at the grand, if tragic, culmination of two great forces. And yes, it is rather melodramatic. * Hardy at lasts then returns to his Fated theme with the phrase â€Å"The Spinner of the Years†. Reminiscent of the Classical Greek Moirai or the Roman Parcae (three old hags who would run, spin and cut the threads of life), Hardy refers to the middle of the three – the Spinner. Spinning a mortal thread has always occupied a position in mythology. Hardy utilises it to draw out a sense of fate. Fate itself conducts the affair, it seems, given that the Twain act upon the word â€Å"Now!† to converge. * Emerson Brown, scholar of medieval literature, pointed out that the poem is 33 lines long, whilst line 33 echoes the 33-year-old Christ’s last words: â€Å"consummatum est.† In any case, when â€Å"consummation comes†, Thomas Hardy sends 1,500 souls to the bottom with an obscene pun. To â€Å"come† has borne a sexual connotation since the 17th century, at least, while consummation traditionally means the fulfilment of the marriage contract by intercourse. The image of the ‘Titanic’ and the iceberg copulating is hard to take seriously – therefore we must question whether Hardy truly intends it. Nevertheless, it advances the idea of the twain existing in a marital bond. Note the sudden use of speech, in the present tense. Very dramatic. Brings the Twain together in Time for the last time!

Do Opinions on Immigration Change Over Time?

Do Opinions on Immigration Change Over Time? Samantha Clarke Table of Contents (Jump to) Abstract Introduction Hypotheses Null Hypothesis Aim Method Design Participants Apparatus Procedure Results Inferential Statistics/Treatment of Results Discussion Conclusion Appendix Appendix A – Sample Questions Appendix B – Sample Results Table Appendix C – Sample Questionnaire Completed Appendix D – Raw data from both conditions Appendix E Scatter graph Appendix F – Shows Increases and Decreases by Percentage Appendix F – Descriptive Statistics References Abstract The experiment set out to prove or disprove that over a set period of time, opinion regarding immigration changes significantly. Twenty participants took part in the experiment and were asked to complete a questionnaire, repeating the same questionnaire a week later. The questionnaire used the Likert attitude scale, offering responses from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Five positive and five negative questions were asked where the score was reversed. The results proved that over time opinion does alter. Introduction What impacts our social perspective, which is how we analysis and perceive, (individuals or groups) using varies methods of analysing body language, tone of voice, facial expression, behaviour and is how we makes sense of our surroundings. This is social cognition, the human brain’s ability process information associated with other humans, (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-social-perception.htm). How would an individual perceive actions of another, if they were to put them down all the time? What if then it’s established they are a couple. Perceptions are distorted or have a bias if there is a link, favouritism. This is called in-group bias. Trait concept is the social perception of how other traits can impact behaviour. If our surroundings or environment encourage and influence us to be of a certain social behaviour i.e. angry or helpful, then our tendency as humans is to mirror this expected behaviour. Attitudes can change by the need for humans to comply. Compliance is when behaviour changes to or appears to change based on the situation the individual is in, be it a group conversation or debate, the need or peer pressure to comply with others or to influence the outcome. Where compliance has been reverted to, it doesn’t mean that the individual has genuinely changes their opinion on the subject or changed their belief, but have complied with the environment they are in. This is evidenced in the Asch experiment. Attitudes can be influenced by targeting the individual’s emotion. An individual’s attitudes could have been influence in the last decade due to the 911 terrorist attacks, all the political campaigning and TV programmes about Eastern Europe. This can scare humans especially if they feel their own lives are threatened, as the news reports have suggested. The role which individuals play can impact attitude. We have seen with the Milgram experiment that someone seen to be in a position of authority can influence individuals and caused them to give a seemingly lethal electrical shock to another human being. The participants may be influence by what they believe is socially acceptable. Their opinion might be that they think immigration is bad for sociality, but because they believe this is not socially acceptable they might answer the questions differently and wish to be seen to be unprejudiced. The topic of immigration one that falls into the category of being heavily affected by social desirability, (McLeod; S( 2009) in http://www.simplypsychology.org/saul-mcleod.html, http://www.simplypsychology.org/attitude-measurement.html). Perceptions, attitudes and stereotypes can developed from the individuals parents or guardians as these are the individuals who nature them in the early stages. If you have encountered an issue with a Eastern European person, it might be that you stereotype all Eastern European to be the same. For example, all Eastern Europeans are terrorists. Once the stereotype is believed by that individual, any further encounters with Eastern Europeans and them disconfirming the stereotype, the individual will categorise them as not being the typical Eastern Europe person. Perceptions are expectations the individual might have. For example, the expectation that an Eastern European person will conduct themselves in a certain way. This decision is made by recalling the stereotype and disregarding the Eastern European which didn’t fall into this category. This thought process take seconds and can be used to quickly identify how to behave, respond and predict what will happen next. Prejudice could be reduced if the group of individuals are on equal statuses, authority and interact on different social levels. Hypotheses Opinion towards immigration alters significantly when asked the same questions twice over a set time period of time. There will be significant different in the correlation between participants’ attitude in score 1 and 2. Null Hypothesis Opinion towards the topic of immigrations does not alter when the individual is asked the same questions twice over a set time period. Therefore no significant correlation between participants’ total attitude score 1 and total attitude score 2. Aim To evaluate how time influences opinion on the prejudicial topic of immigration. Method Design The chosen design method is observational method; this allows the study of the participant’s behaviour using a varied level of control. Repeated measures will be used, so the same participants take part in both conditions of the experiment. This reduces the number of participants as they same are used for both conditions, it is more convenient also and cost effective. Repeated measure designs disadvantage though is the participants know what they will be asked the second time round. Therefore their attitude might change to influence the results, consciously or unconsciously. They may be very driven the first time they answer the questions, then have lost interest the second time. Therefore their opinions might change towards the questions asked and might not be as strongly opinionated in the second round of questions. Time sampling will be the main independent variable in this study. Observing participant’s attitude towards immigration at two different points in time. Time sampling is where for a set period behaviour is observed, in this case the duration of the experiment time slots for the questionnaire. WE aren’t using event sampling in this instance as this is observing all the time, and noting when behaviour changes. The independent variable is what the experimenter has control over, in this instance it is time, which will provide the results or dependant variable and the questions being asked. The questions asked as the same in both conditions, are the same for all participants and comply with the Likert attitude scale to have five negative and five positive questions. Other variables in this experiment will not be controlled. For example, the exposure to information relating to the subject of immigration i.e. TV, news, discussions they might have after the experiment with others and therefore be influenced by other participants answers. The experiment must have considered the code of conduct outlined by the British Psychological Society. Ethical considerations to not cause offence with the questions asked, gain consent once the full experiment has been explained, outline the purpose and procedure. Participants will be offered a copy of the results and an option to be personally debriefed. If the participants start to converse with the experiment regarding their opinion on the subject of immigration, the experimenter must not personalise this in anyway, nor discuss their own opinion on the subject as this may influence the participants. Steps which will be taken: Discuss with the participants the purpose of the experiment, process, expected outcome and what will be done with the results. Explain that the condition will be repeated with a period of a week between tests. Explain that the participants have a choice not to participant. They can leave at any point and stop the experiment and can ask questions. Ethical considerations taken when planning the experiment. Gain written consent. Agree a date and time for both conditions. Conduct condition 1. Repeat a week later with condition 2. Gather and analysis results. Present results back to the participant if they wish to do so. Participants Participants are list below, recording their age, gender and nationality. The names, address and contact details are no recorded for confidentially. Apparatus The Likert scale will be used. Ten questions relating directly to the hypothesis above will be presented to each participant. Five positive and five negative questions. Each question with have a scale of five responses, ranges from strongly agrees right through to strongly disagree. The overall score, for the five positive questions the scoring system will provide a higher score the more the participant agrees. It is the reverse for the negative questions. The questionnaire will be completed by each participant one week, and then repeated the following week. The date and time will be agreed, and the set rest period between the conditions will be fixed. The overall scores from each will be compared to measure and provedisprove the hypothesis. Procedure The twenty participants will each completed the questionnaire and then repeat the same questionnaire the following week. Repeated measures will be used, so the same participants take part in both conditions of the experiment. Each participant will have the same information regarding the experiment, understanding of the purpose, the fact that they will be required to complete the questionnaire twice over a two week period, what the results will be used for and consent sourced before processing. They will be informed that they can stop the experiment at any given time. This will ensure the code of ethics is met and it is a fair and equal experiment. Each participant will be time boxed to complete the questionnaire within 30 minutes. Each participant will be given the same questionnaire shown in Appendix A – Sample Questions. Each participant will be thanked for their time and if they so wish can have a copy of the results. The results will be gathered over the two week period and recorded in a raw data table as shown in Appendix B – Sample Results Table. This data can be used to provedisprove the hypothesis. Results The results as explained below prove the hypothesis is correct. See Appendix D – Raw data from both conditions. This outlines each participants score for condition 1 and condition 2. All calcualtions shown in Appendix F – Descriptive Statistics highlight that condition 2 has higher scores or outputs that condition 1. The results are displayed in a scatter graph in Appendix E Scatter graph. This is a graphical view showing that the second condition in most cases gave a higher score. Data for the above pie chart can be found Appendix F – Shows Increases and Decreases by Percentage. Inferential Statistics/Treatment of Results In this experiment, parametric statistics are used. This is because parametric statistics facilitate the study of an interval scale rating like the Likert questionnaire. It allows the point scale to be used in this questionnaire, from strongly agreeing to strongly disagreeing to be scored and the results interrupted to give a mean or standard deviation as an example. Using a variety of information to correlate the results provides more accurate and more powerful display of the results. Discussion Opinion towards immigration alters significantly when asked the same questions twice over a set time period of time. There will be significant different in the correlation between participants’ attitude in score 1 and 2. The results shown in Results conclude that if asked the same set of questions twice leaving a week in-between, that opinion towards immigration changes. Therefore proving the hypothesis correct and the null hypothesis incorrect. 75% of scores changed over the two conditions either negatively or positively but change nun the less.  ¼ of the scores did not change. The results shown are a reflection of the general population that opinion changes over time. The fact that the high percentage means the participants opinions scored higher would mean the chosen approach to repeat the questionnaire using the same participants didn’t cause them to become bored or uninterested, but the opposite was in fact expressed in the results. This however may be the result of the participants wanting to influence the results and therefore provide evidence towards the hypothesis. The experiment could have more smoothly if there was an easier way to calculate the results. Reviewing and scoring each participant twice was very inefficient. If this experiment were to be done on a larger scale, this would need to be considered as an area to be improved. The participants varied in nationality, were a sample of the population. The experiment could have explored this area more. Nationality might have a big impact on the results. Were individuals are born or where they parents and grandparents originate from could have a big impact on their opinion to immigration. Further control over the variables, i.e. what they read, watched and discussed throughout the week could have been controlled to genuinely see if it was just time as the independent variable impacts the dependent variable. An idea to improve the experiment further is to increase the independent variable of one week between the conditions being repeated to several years. Opinion relating to the topic of immigration could change from 20 year old to 40 year old. Conclusion The experiment set out to confirm that individual’s opinion of immigration changes over time. This experiment had only a week between the two conditions and the results show that opinion (increase or decrease) significantly changes over time. With the increased score being the more dominant figure. Appendix Appendix A – Sample Questions Appendix B – Sample Results Table Appendix C – Sample Questionnaire Completed 5 immigration has negatively impacted the UK Strongly Agree Agree Neither Agree or Disagree Disagree somewhat European cuisines: UK and Spain European cuisines: UK and Spain Introduction This assignment will focus on the cuisine of Europe and more specifically on the cuisine of Spain and the cuisine of the British Isles The report will critically evaluate European cuisines using sufficient reliable sources together with evidence in the form of dishes recipes. I have produced in the college kitchen and in different kitchen I worked while on my kitchen industrial training. In addition to these dishes and my practical performance will be assessed and evaluated critically. An appropriate explanation and justification will be applied to each dish to explain to the reader in great deal the reasoning for the use of specific commodities methods and equipments used while preparing and cooking them. Cuisine It can be termed as a specific set of cooking tradition techniques, which are practice often associated with a specific culture. It can be termed after a region or a place where it is practiced over and over again and where its underlining culture is still present. The ingredients that are locally available or a mix of through trade primarily influences a cuisine. European cuisine The European cuisine as a whole is a mix of vivid, completed, compelling; challenging gives a lot of space for experimenting and playing with the different ingredients available all over the European continent. It provides a lot of scope of learning about a wide variety of countries, physical geography, religious and cultural practices, locally available ingredients, climate, demographic, political, economic, and geological influences. Before explaining about the European cuisine we have to know about the Europe and its characteristics that are very diverse. Europe on the whole is very much divided on the basis of its Diverse physical geography, Climatic changes ,Geology of the continent ,Varied bio- diversity And most important is the mix of its Demographic variances, political stability, economic conditions, industrial growth, the cold war era (1945-1990), rise of the E.U. (European union) 1991-07, current economic recession (2008-09). The above stated plays an important role in the common European persons life. All these are based on the late 18th, 19th, 20th century changes that took place in Europe due to the modern invention, wars, and immigration of people for better life. Source: (http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm) All the above mentioned some where or the other influenced the eating habit of the persons thus improving and spreading and making the food cooking techniques and practices unique and others recognized them as a specific cuisine. Europe Division is based on the diversity of cuisine Eastern European cuisine Scandinavian cuisine Russian cuisine German cuisine Cuisine of British Isles Iberian cuisine (known as Spanish+ Portuguese cuisine) Greek cuisine Italian cuisine French cuisine Spain Spain is the third largest nation and occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula at the southwestern edge of the European continent. The basis of the history of Spanish food is very much influenced by its geographical situation. First of all Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula and almost entirely surrounded by the waters. Due to its location seafood forms on of the main ingredients of the Spanish gastronomy and categories the country as having a Mediterranean diet. Apart from covered by the sea the rest of Spain is a diverse terrain made up of mountain ranges, lush pasture, fertile farm grounds and an extensive coastline, which contributes as a main source of providing quite a variety of fresh products. Regional and cultural division throughout the history of Spanish cuisine. There is a very interesting history of Spain as various people, including the Phoenician, the Romans and the moors, have invaded Spain over the centuries, Jews later integrated the elements of their own cooking into that of Spain. As there is a vast and complex ingredient available throughout Spain for cooking and as different methods are used to cook them there is one similarity in all the regional cuisine that is garlic and olive oil. The culinary regions of Spain The north of Spain This region is mainly considered for its specialties of sauces and seafood, such as regions of Galicia and Asturias. The eastern region The most famous delicacy known as paella valenciana comes from this region in this region the primary dishes are rice based The central Spain This includes the region of Castilla-Leà ³n. This region is famous for its roast meats and cocidos or stews. The Pyrenees This region is home of the chilindrones, sautà ©ed peppers, garlic, tomatoes and onion are the ingredients that accompanies primarily in all the regional dishes Cataluà ±a region This regional cuisine reflects a wide characteristic of land and people casserole or cazuelas makes the region famous and last but not the least cooking in the clay pots that gives the dishes a distinctive aroma. Andalusia It is the sub region classified, as the staple diet is fish and tapas is the other specialty no bar serve a drink without a tapas to munch on. Andalusia is one of the worlds major producers of olive oil. It has a long coastline full of seafood and a hot Mediterranean weather to compliment. The climatic and geographical characteristics have given the regional cuisine its primary features, the refreshing gazpachos, the fried fish, and the style of cookery generally easy to prepare and accompanied by richly flavored wines. Source:(Solomon H. Katz, encyclopedia of food and culture, New York: gale group ltd.) The Legacy Of The Moors The Moors were renowned for combining meat and fish with fruit and this practice is still common in parts of Andalusia today. The hot climate of the region is ideal for growing a large variety of fruit and vegetables. Spanish regional foodhas many local variations and Andalusia cuisine has a wide variety ofdishes, which have originated in specific areas. Being the last bastion of the Moors, Andalusia food has a strong Moorish influence, kebabs are very popular and the mixture of meat and fruit. The Mediterranean coast offers an abundance of seafood and there are lots of seafood restaurants up and down the Costa del Sol. Parillada is a mix of grilled seafood with garlic, parsley and a few wedges of lemon. Fritura is an assortment of small fish, which have been coated in flour and fried in olive oil with garlic and parsley. Source: (http://www.apartrent.co.uk/REGIONS/ANDALUCIA/food.htm) Essential ingredients that make Spanish cuisine different from others are olive oil, garlic, fresh tomatoes, and variety of paprika powder as well as saffron. Rest of the ingredients differ from kitchen to kitchen operations and preparation of meats and availability of fish and seafood. Source:(Pepita, A (2004) Spanish food and cooking) Baking in salt is a popular method of cooking fish in Andalucia. The fish is encased in a salt mixture, which sets hard during baking. Special saltpans are available for this type of cooking. The salt case is broken away before serving. Far from being salty, the fish becomes moist and tender. Paella is the national dish and is traditionally eaten on Sunday lunchtime when all the family troop down to their local restaurant and spend most of the afternoon eating and drinking. Paella varies from region to region. Paella originated in Valencia and Valencian paella is still regarded as the authentic version. An unusual and tasty seafood dish from Andalucia is a combination of clams with white beans or Alubias blancas con almejas. Andalucian Ham Dried ham is one of Spains most famous specialty foods and can be found on the shelves of most supermarkets. A few areas are noted for the excellence of their hams, especially Extremadura and some of the mountainous regions of northern Spain. Another area producing the most sought after air-cured hams are the villages dotted around the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The climate in this area is supposed to be the best for giving the ham unique flavours. The pigs special diet in the pasture and a unique curing process contribute to the fine flavours of these hams, which are classified as Serrano (plain cured) and bellota (acorn ham). The ham is dried in specially constructed sheds, which are a common site in the village. The hams are cured for a minimum of twelve months. Source: (http://www.apartrent.co.uk/REGIONS/ANDALUCIA/food.htm) Equipments and commodities used in set up of any Spanish kitchen Commodities Spanish cuisine Vegetables, wild food Variety of olives, tomatoes, fresh peppers, dried chilies, potato and squashes, beans, aubergine, garlic, wild variety of mushroom, dried beans, lentils, cabbage, turnips, cardoons, capers, dandelion, garbanzo, leafy green spinach, asparagus, honey. Herbs and flavourings Saffron, cumin, coriander seeds, black pepper, salt, paprika, bay leaves, fennel, lemon verbena, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, sherry vinegar, aniseed Fruits Apricot, dates, plums, dark picot cherries, golden grapes, red fleshed figs, pomegranate, orange, variety of melons, strawberries, passion fruit, banana, pineapple. Fish, shellfish and Preserved fish Hake, cod (bacalao), Gallo, sea bass, turbot, monkfish, gilthead bream, swordfish, sea trout, salmon trout, carp, tench. Scallops, mussels, clams, cockles, prawns, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, crayfish. Preserved fish: blue fin tuna, sardines, anchovies, and variety of fish caviars (black herring roe, grey mullet Meat, poultry and game Pork, suckling pig, beef and veal, the fighting bull, lamb, Capons, guinea fowl, goose, duck, turkey, hare, rabbit, venison, quail, pigeon, woodcock, pheasant. Preserved meat Sausages(black, red, white), morcillas, chorizo, white botifarras (Blancas), embutidos. Lomo embuchado(cinta), jamon Serrano,cecina. Dairy products Milk, butter, Variety of cheese about 200. Cabrales, menorcan mahon, san milon, idiazabal, manchega. Bread and cakes Traditional breads-hogaza,pan de cebada. Cocas- hot from bread oven like pizza. Variety of cakes and buns- magdalenas(butter cakes), sobos pasiegas. Being so diverse with a wide range of ingredients available to prepare and cook a Spanish cooking does not need anything special, it requires a basic, well-equipped kitchen. Bottle opener- for wines and bottled vinegars Source:(http://images.google.com/images?) Tough bottle openers are used in the entire kitchen all over the world but it is necessity to have one because it comes very handy when using bottles of wine, vinegars and oil in Spanish cooking as it is needed so often. Ceramic or clay pot – Widely used for oven baked casserole dishes and for cocidos. It is used in different regions of Spain as they cook casserole dishes every single day. Ceramic or clay pots take time to cook the food as well as maintain its nutritional value and gives a distinctive flavours to the food. Espresso pot- for coffee After every meal Spanish people prefer to have a cup of coffee as it is widely used in every household as well as in any Spanish restaurant. Source:(http://images.google.com/) Garlic press- one designed to press cloves without having to peel them. Garlic is the main ingredient in the Spanish cuisine and cleaning a garlic pod is very tiring job when it has to be done in bulk. It is always good to have a garlic press in the kitchen. Source:(http://images.google.com/images?) Mortar and pestle-it is commonly used to grind herbs and spices and making fresh dipping for the various tapas dishes.It is also used to grind saffron and salt together to get a distinctive flavour in paella dishes. Source:(http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/3983806/?cm_src=rel) Heavy Mason jar- It is used for storing leftover oil. Spanish cooking use the frying method either for fish or making garlic prawns. After preparation of every meal there is a leftover of oil that is always stored in the Heavy Mason jar for its reuse Source:(http://images.google.com/images?) Paella pan- for cooking paella Paella is best prepared over an open fire,gas operated or charcoal BBQ. Use a round kettle-style BBQ the reason for this is so that the heat is evenly distributed and because the heat should gradually decrease as you are cooking it. First, the fire must be very hot to brown the meat, and then it should be lower to simmer the rice Source: (http://spanishfood.about.com/od/maincourses/a/paella.htm) Source:(http://images.google.com/images?) Pressure cooker- It is interesting as now days to speed up cooking example- stews a lot of Spanish restaurants are using pressure cookers. Source:(http://images.google.com/images?) Roasting trays- for oven roasting Commonly used for cooking large joint of meats or simple fish and poultry. Ramekins-a large number of small baking equipments are used in order to make desserts ramekins are specially used in preparing flans. Source:(http://images.google.com/images?) Salt-pans – for cooking fish The fish is encased in a salt mixture, which sets hard during baking. Special saltpans are available for this type of cooking. The salt case is broken away before serving. Far from being salty, the fish becomes moist and tender. Source: (http://www.apartrent.co.uk/REGIONS/ANDALUCIA/food.htm) Source:(http://images.google.com/imgres?) British cuisine The cuisine of Britain, Ireland, Scotland and Wales combined together provide the basis for a cooing style that is known as British cuisine although this cuisine is widely influenced and diversified by the history of its colonization. Significant sub regions: Scotland England Ireland Wales Britain on a whole is blessed with a distinctive temperature, climatic conditions, fertile land a range of geographical diversity and a long coastline. Many streams of fresh water and river provide a variety of fresh ingredients to consume. British Cuisine is prà ©cised tradition of food followed from their ages and which are ultimately associated with the United Kingdom. British cuisine consists of dishes made from the ingredients and food products locally produced. British food is widely influenced by the people settled in Britain. As now Britain calls out â€Å"Chicken Tikka Masala† as their national dish. Source:(http://news.bbc.co.uk, http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/river-cottage/) Scottish cuisine: It has its own characteristic hat makes it different from rest of the cuisine and is immensely appreciated by people all over the world. A traditional Scottish cuisine features of an extensive use of freshly grown or produced ingredients in other terms locally available or local produce. The local produce includes oats, salted meats; oatcakes smoked fish are the standard items that are used in Scottish style of cooking. Someone talks about Scottish cuisine one should remember that on any good or bad occasion one cannot forget about the whisky as the Scottish whisky is worlds famous and they are the largest producers of finest spirits Haggis is considered to be the delicacy of the Scott Sheep offals is the chief ingredient in the preparation of Haggis. The Scottish nation food product is haggis was originated by carrying the low quality meat in pigs or sheeps stomach. The Norse invaders who would preserve their food during for the long journey from Scandinavian introduced this. Source: (Lawrence, S.(2002) Sue Lawrences SCOTTISH KITCHEN, London: headline.) Influence on Scotland: There was French influence over the Scottish cuisine in late middle ages and early modern era this was because of the cultural exchange brought Mary, Queen of Scots when she returned to Scotland brought in back French chefs who brought in change in the Scottish unique food and also resulted for the change in terminology. Scottish traditional delicacies are Scotch broth, Colcannon, Scotch Pie, and Porridge. Apart from these dishes Kale, cabbage and many more root vegetables are widely used; Shellfish is very popular, Scottish salmon and world famous Scottish Angus beef. Special food for special occasion in Scotland Traditionally there are special food that are prepared and served in Scotland during the festivals they were specially prepared; they often had ingredients with a certain significance (such as flour from the last sheaf) or were made with certain ingredients that were expensive, difficult to obtain round the year, or not eaten at other times of the year. Source:(Solomon H. Katz, encyclopedia of food and culture, New York: gale group ltd.) Scottish area and their specialty of food and dishes. Area of Scotland Food and dishes Edinburgh and the Lothians Midlothian oatcakes Edinburgh rock (sugary confection) Angus and fife, Forfar Bridies (pastry filled with steak),Dundee marmalade, Dundee cake, arbroath smokies, pitcaithly bannock Glasgow, Clydeside. Ayrshire Borders Glasgow broth Cheese and ayrshire shortbread Selkirk bannock, Eye mouth fish pie Dumfries and Galloway North-east Galloway beef Butteries, finnan haddock, Aberdeen angus steak, skirlie Highlands and inner Hebrides Fried herring, game soup, tatties and crowdie (potatoes and soft cheese), highland oatcakes, atholl brose (whisky mixed with oatmeal). The outer Hebrides Whelk soup, barley bannocks, kale soup Orkney and sheftland Oatmeal soup, fried herring and onions, potatoes with milk, beremeal bannocks Method of cooking- Smoking: For fishes like Salmon, Haddock, Trout Boiling: vegetables Baking: Pies The specialty about the cuisine is that it consists of a full breakfast includes of eggs. Bacon, black pudding, porridge, fat sausage, Ayrshire bacon Lunch and evening meal consists of soup. Meat and at least to vegetables followed by a dessert. English/(Britain): English cuisine as a hole has a wider influence as their history goes. Their cuisine is influenced by the ever-changing settlements from different regions of Europe to this place. The so-called Celts, Romans, Danish and Norwegian Vikings, The arrival of Norman that provides French influence in the cuisine. By the late 16th Century till 18th century England explore and invade colonies that widely developed this cuisine as a whole. All together this factor primarily bought further new dimensions to the cuisine and has become an intrusive part of English cuisine. The English eating habit mainly includes breakfast, fried bacon, eggs, black pudding, sausages, baked beans, grilled kidney, kedgeree; bread followed by lunch and afternoon tea or so called high tea. Consists of cakes, savory, biscuits, scones, variety of sandwiches and tea follow by the main meal in the evening. The interesting thing about the British cuisine as a hole is that it has a large scope of experimentation as people here are very much keen to experiment on trying different food and adopt different food styles which includes Asian, Italian and they can be converted to the British palate. Thus there is no hard and fast rule whatsoever. Currently Britain is giving more importance towards the production of organic foods as people have become health conscious and have restricted their diet. The organic food are therefore easily made available in shopping malls, food courts, some restaurants are serving only organic food products. Also United Kingdom is been recorded for most advance ways of animal farming and welfare. Source:(http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/river-cottage/) The British cuisine traditionally in the modern era consists of the traditional Sunday roast that consists of meat; choice of fish or pork, chicken served with gravy Yorkshire pudding, potato mash or roast potato and minimum of to vegetables. The chips shop or the take always are also very popular making fish and chips their renowned specialty. The other important thing, which cant be missed in British cuisine, is the Anglo- Indian version of the Indian dishes. The Famous Food Culture of Britain: Traditional English breakfast Traditional Lunches English Traditional Favourite for Super or High Tea Traditional Fish and Chips: and Snacks Traditional Afternoon Tea Traditional Sunday Roast Source:(www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk) Irish cuisine Geographically Ireland has very diverse climatic conditions in the Europe and thus shows the impact on its cuisine significantly. The Irish cuisine is very well known for its good wholesome food made up from locally grown/reared produce. Potato feature prominently in todays diet and old time delicacies like Irish stews and Dublin caddle. Northern Ireland is also renowned for apples. There are common crops grown all over Ireland, as the climate conditions are same all over Ireland. Irish is also famous for cheese farming as they have one secret ingredient for the exceptional quality of the milk. Traditional Irish cooking the most commonly used equipment was three legged iron pot, Griddle for cooking oat cakes, Iron pan for frying of pan cakes and bacon rashes also eggs and fish. They also made use of potherbs for boiling potatoes, meats and fish. Source: (Lennon, W.B (ETA), (2004) The Irish heritage cookbook, London) Irish people eat meat as well as they are fish and shellfish lovers. Fishes like Atlantic salmon, sea trout, mackerel, haddock, sea bass, monk fish, Dublin bay prawns, scampi, scallops and mussels, Irish Galway of oysters. Also were smoked and cured foods like smoked mackerel, salmon, eel and kippers. A full Irish breakfast consists of eggs, sausages, white pudding, black pudding, fresh fruits, toast and scones with butter or preserves. Lunch and evening meals consists of meat, vegetables and potato. The Irish are famous for their soda bread and Irish spirit and Guinness. Irish use spirits as well in their cuisine in order to produce good flavor and distinctive taste and aroma. Irish food is a complex as the many cultural, political and economic forces that have shaped Irelands existence Welsh cuisine Geographically welsh has a diverse terrain together with rivers and coastline abundance of seafood, welsh people always yield a bountiful of fresh foods in particular the wild animals and the variety of seafood. The cooking methods use in this cuisine is very interesting as these were used back in history. The tradition of the Wales was to survive into the 20thcentury in the rural parts. The- welsh cuisine traditionally was to satisfy the appetite of the hard working farmers, coal miners, quarry workers and fishermen. In 21st century Wales later gained international recognition for its fresh beef, lamb, fish and seafood. Cooking on the open hearth: this is carried from prehistoric times where the food is cooked on open fire in iron pots. Then there were griddles and bake stone introduced in 18th and 19th century and later came in the Dutch ovens. Wales is known for its extensive use of baked stones and griddles Wales has also ample amount of shellfish supply cockles, crabs, limpets, lobster, mussels, prawns, razor fish, scallops and winkles. Oysters were found first in plenty on the Grower Peninsular but now the supplies are spare and they have become expensive too. The seaweed-dried laver is used up to make the Welsh delicacy laver bread. Also known as ‘Welshmans Caviar this is seaweed boiled to make soft dark green mass seaweed is used in breakfast with oatmeal, and cooked in fat as little cakes. Source: (Yates, A(2007). Englands heritage food and cooking, London: anness publishing ltd.) Bake stone: it got its name as a stone was suppressed with metal and iron bake stone are still in use in many welsh kitchens. Stewing and boiling: A lot of welsh dishes are made up of stews meat, this cooking style gives rise to the recipe â€Å"cawl† it is also considered as welsh national dish. The cuisine of Wales always reflects the need of the substantial and filling food. Eating habit here is commonly three meals a day are traditional breakfast consist of bacon, pork sausage, eggs, fried laver bread or oats. Lunch and evening meals traditionally consist of meat or fish with the side vegetable followed by desserts. The British kitchen There is a range of ingredients produced in Britain is varied- from its lush green fields, orchards and hedgerows to its hillsides and lowland pastures; the seasonal and regional qualities of these ingredients to boost British growing economy and reputation for good food, and their diversity and it encourages the chefs to prepare delicious dishes, both traditional and modern. Equipments and commodities used in set up of any British kitchen Commodities BRITISH CUISINE Vegetables, herbs, wild food Carrots, parsnip, turnips, potato, swede, onions, leeks horseradish, Jerusalem artichoke, beetroot, celery, cauliflower, Brussels sprout, spinach, peas and beans, chard, watercress, tomato, lavender, chives, mint, parsley, elderflower, dill, sage, tarragon, chamomile, nettles, wild garlic, dandelions, wild fungi, chestnuts, honey, elderberries, kale, rose hips, hazelnuts. Fruits Apples, variety of berries, rhubarb, quince, meddler, variety of plums, pears Meat, poultry and game Variety of sausages,( Cumberland, black pudding, haggis). Pork, bacon, ham. Mutton, lamb, Beef. Goose, duck, turkey, pheasant, venison, pigeons, partridge, rabbit, hare. Fish, sea food and smoked fish Mackerel, herring, cod, haddock, salmon, white bait, turbot, hake, Pollack, pilchard. English mussels, oysters, crayfish, and brown shrimps. Smoked haddock, smoked salmon, smoked herrings. Smoked kippers. Milk is plentiful in all the regions, a variety of cheese (Cheshire, Lancashire, cheddar, double Gloucester, derby, Windsor red, Cornish- yarg, sage derby, stilton, dove dale, oxford blue) Methods of Cooking in Great Britain: Poaching Poaching of salmon is the traditional dish. This method uses water; milk, stock or wine is the cooking medium the food product is gently simmered in the liquid. This method of cooking dose not includes any fat. Roasting Traditional Sunday roast. Cooking pork belly, leg of lamb, black pudding stuffed turkey. Frying Mostly in Great Britain fish and chips are coked using this method this method also give a crispy and crunch crust to the product. Stewing The use of Lancashire hot pot is all over Great Britain. This pot consists of lamb or mutton, onions and potatoes it dose not matters if the trimmings are used of the above food products this all is left to bake in the oven in the heavy pot at a very low heat. This was originated in Lancashire in the north west of England. Grilling, Char Grilling, Barbeque/Grill Roasting, Grill Braising, Pan Grilling and Salamander Grill Very commonly used in all the modern as well as traditional rest. all over Britain for cooking different cuts of meats and vegetables. Braising This method is also referred as pot-roasting. Some of the food products cooked in this style are Braised ox cheek, braised pork spare ribs with preserved mustard greens and braised baby artichokes Baking Preparation of breads, cakes, pastries and pies, tarts, quiches and cookies. These all products are classified into bakery products. This cooking method is also used for baking potatoes, baked apples, baked beans Methods of Preservation prevail and practiced commonly in British Isles. Food while in seasons and stocking them for further use. Drying: The food may be sun dried or air dried smoking or wind drying. Mainly fishes like cod, kipplers are sundried Salting of foods Dry method of food preservation by addition of dry salt. . Examples are dried and salted cod salt cured meat. Smoking Food is cooked, flavored and preserved by smoking the food by burning some plants and woods. Smoking is done for many food products cheese, fish, meats and vegetables. The food is smoked in smoke rooms keepers, salmon and many other fishes are smoked Pickling Using preservative agent in this can be salt-water vinegar. Pickeled beetroot, salsify, fennel, preserved lemon are very common to the British cuisine Sugaring Making jams and marmalade, gooseberry, elderflower, apple, plums etc are preserved and used throughout the year Vacuum Packing This is very popular method, which is practiced in modern British pubs, and restaurants. Practicing methods of sous-vide For better quality of food, texture, taste. Source:(http://news.bbc.co.uk, http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/river-cottage/) Cuisine of British isles not only used the known methods of cooking that is baking, poaching, roasting or grilling they preserve a lot of food that is available in a specific season by using a various methods of preservation so that they can enjoy them later when it is not in season. Traditional Equipments used in British cuisine are: Traditional Ceramic; stoneware source:(http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/Collections/) A traditional kiln for Smoked fish Source:(http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fao.org/wairdocs) Casserole Pans A casserole dish usually a deep, round, container with handles and a tight-fitting lid can be glass, metal, ceramic or any other heatproof material. Use in making stews casseroles ingredients can include meat, vegetables, beans, rice and anything else the cook desires. Often a topping such as cheese or breadcrumbs is added for texture and flavor. Source:(http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.oldandinteresting.) Moulds for baking pies and tart This is and traditional utensils used for making beef pies this dish may be oval or

Geography and Biodiversity of Acre in Brazil :: Geology

Acre is the Westernmost Brazilian state, and neighbor to Amazonas and Rondà ´nia, spanning about 55,000 square miles. Its capital Rio Branco is home to the 288, 907 of the total 438,489 denizens (1996). The whole of Acre is contained within the Amazon Basin and 93% of it is tropical rain forest. Notwithstanding the great extent of deforestation, the biodiversity of Acre and the surrounding Amazon Basin remains extensive; there are the mammoth trees, countless species of palm trees, vines, bushes, ferns; there are copaà ­ba, Brazil-nuts, various fruits such as cupuaà §u and graviola; species of insects, fish, the parrots, araras and other birds, so rare that scientists have yet to describe them; there are cicadas, caimans, the rays, the land-and sweet-water turtles, tapirs, the monkeys, and jaguars. First Rubber Tappers The first upsurge of immigration to the Brazilian Amazon resulted from the European and North American industries' need for rubber at the end of the 19th century. "Seringalistas " as the owners of the new rubber companies, would acquire huge areas of the Brazilian rain forest in order to extract the raw material for the rubber (the latex from the rubber trees). This "rubber boom," which brought wealth to the cities of Belem and Manaus, was eliminated with the British rubber production in Malaysia. Therefore, many of the Seringalistas went bankrupt and returned to the northeast. Once again this condition was reversed during the Second World War, when the Japanese, who were allied with the Germans, usurped the Malaysian plantations. In order to conduct war one must have a supply of rubber, so rubber was once again in high demand in order to supply the allies against the Germans with rubber. People from northeast Brazil returned to extract rubber, which caused the second wave of immigration from the northeast. This time the flood of people was termed the "rubber soldiers" because they had the choice either to go to war against the Germans or become rubber tappers (people who extract latex sap trees and later dry the sap to create rubber). Development of the Amazon Brazil had an uncharted frontier to conquer, but the Amazon was in the way. So the Brazilian government resolved to encourage the clearing of forests and the conversion of previous forestland to pastures via tax benefits and direct subsidies. "With government subsidy in one hand and a chain saw in the other, ranchers and colonists advanced over the rain forest at a frightening pace," felling and burning 23,000 square kilometers (8,880 sq. Geography and Biodiversity of Acre in Brazil :: Geology Acre is the Westernmost Brazilian state, and neighbor to Amazonas and Rondà ´nia, spanning about 55,000 square miles. Its capital Rio Branco is home to the 288, 907 of the total 438,489 denizens (1996). The whole of Acre is contained within the Amazon Basin and 93% of it is tropical rain forest. Notwithstanding the great extent of deforestation, the biodiversity of Acre and the surrounding Amazon Basin remains extensive; there are the mammoth trees, countless species of palm trees, vines, bushes, ferns; there are copaà ­ba, Brazil-nuts, various fruits such as cupuaà §u and graviola; species of insects, fish, the parrots, araras and other birds, so rare that scientists have yet to describe them; there are cicadas, caimans, the rays, the land-and sweet-water turtles, tapirs, the monkeys, and jaguars. First Rubber Tappers The first upsurge of immigration to the Brazilian Amazon resulted from the European and North American industries' need for rubber at the end of the 19th century. "Seringalistas " as the owners of the new rubber companies, would acquire huge areas of the Brazilian rain forest in order to extract the raw material for the rubber (the latex from the rubber trees). This "rubber boom," which brought wealth to the cities of Belem and Manaus, was eliminated with the British rubber production in Malaysia. Therefore, many of the Seringalistas went bankrupt and returned to the northeast. Once again this condition was reversed during the Second World War, when the Japanese, who were allied with the Germans, usurped the Malaysian plantations. In order to conduct war one must have a supply of rubber, so rubber was once again in high demand in order to supply the allies against the Germans with rubber. People from northeast Brazil returned to extract rubber, which caused the second wave of immigration from the northeast. This time the flood of people was termed the "rubber soldiers" because they had the choice either to go to war against the Germans or become rubber tappers (people who extract latex sap trees and later dry the sap to create rubber). Development of the Amazon Brazil had an uncharted frontier to conquer, but the Amazon was in the way. So the Brazilian government resolved to encourage the clearing of forests and the conversion of previous forestland to pastures via tax benefits and direct subsidies. "With government subsidy in one hand and a chain saw in the other, ranchers and colonists advanced over the rain forest at a frightening pace," felling and burning 23,000 square kilometers (8,880 sq.

Labor and Unions in America :: American America History

Labor and Unions in America The Industrial Revolution was dawning in the United States. At Lowell, Massachusetts, the construction of a big cotton mill began in 1821. It was the first of several that would be built there in the next 10 years. The machinery to spin and weave cotton into cloth would be driven by water power. All that the factory owners needed was a dependable supply of labor to tend the machines. As most jobs in cotton factories required neither great strength nor special skills, the owners thought women could do the work as well as or better than men. In addition, they were more compliant. The New England region was home to many young, single farm girls who might be recruited. But would stern New England farmers allow their daughters to work in factories? The great majority of them would not. They believed that sooner or later factory workers would be exploited and would sink into hopeless poverty. Economic "laws" would force them to work harder and harder for less and less pay. THE LOWELL EXPERIMENT How, then, were the factory owners able to recruit farm girls as laborers? They did it by building decent houses in which the girls could live. These houses were supervised by older women who made sure that the girls lived by strict moral standards. The girls were encouraged to go to church, to read, to write and to attend lectures. They saved part of their earnings to help their families at home or to use when they got married. The young factory workers did not earn high wages; the average pay was about $3.50 a week. But in those times, a half-dozen eggs cost five cents and a whole chicken cost 15 cents. The hours worked in the factories were long. Generally, the girls worked 11 to 13 hours a day, six days a week. But most people in the 1830s worked from dawn until dusk, and farm girls were used to getting up early and working until bedtime at nine o'clock. The factory owners at Lowell believed that machines would bring progress as well as profit. Workers and capitalists would both benefit from the wealth created by mass production. For a while, the factory system at Lowell worked very well. The population of the town grew from 200 in 1820 to 30,000 in 1845. But conditions in Lowell's factories had already started to change.

Chapter 24 Rita Skeeter’s Scoop

Everybody got up late on Boxing Day. The Gryffindor common room was much quieter than it had been lately, many yawns punctuating the lazy conversations. Hermione's hair was bushy again; she confessed to Harry that she had used liberal amounts of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion on it for the ball, â€Å"but it's way too much bother to do every day,† she said matter-of-factly, scratching a purring Crookshanks behind the ears. Ron and Hermione seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement not to discuss their argument. They were being quite friendly to each other, though oddly formal. Ron and Harry wasted no time in telling Hermione about the conversation they had overheard between Madame Maxime and Hagrid, but Hermione didn't seem to find the news that Hagrid was a half-giant nearly as shocking as Ron did. â€Å"Well, I thought he must be,† she said, shrugging. â€Å"I knew he couldn't be pure giant because they're about twenty feet tall. But honestly, all this hysteria about giants. They can't all be horrible†¦.It's the same sort of prejudice that people have toward werewolves†¦.It's just bigotry, isn't it?† Ron looked as though he would have liked to reply scathingly, but perhaps he didn't want another row, because he contented himself with shaking his head disbelievingly while Hermione wasn't looking. It was time now to think of the homework they had neglected during the first week of the holidays. Everybody seemed to be feeling rather flat now that Christmas was over – everybody except Harry, that is, who was starting (once again) to feel slightly nervous. The trouble was that February the twenty-fourth looked a lot closer from this side of Christmas, and he still hadn't done anything about working out the clue inside the golden egg. He therefore started taking the egg out of his trunk every time he went up to the dormitory, opening it, and listening intently, hoping that this time it would make some sense. He strained to think what the sound reminded him of, apart from thirty musical saws, but he had never heard anything else like it. He closed the egg, shook it vigorously, and opened it again to see if the sound had changed, but it hadn't. He tried asking the egg questions, shouting over all the wailing, but nothing happened. He even threw the egg across the room – though he hadn't really expected that to help. Harry had not forgotten the hint that Cedric had given him, but his less-than-friendly feelings toward Cedric just now meant that he was keen not to take his help if he could avoid it. In any case, it seemed to him that if Cedric had really wanted to give Harry a hand, he would have been a lot more explicit. He, Harry, had told Cedric exactly what was coming in the first task – and Cedric's idea of a fair exchange had been to tell Harry to take a bath. Well, he didn't need that sort of rubbishy help – not from someone who kept walking down corridors hand in hand with Cho, anyway. And so the first day of the new term arrived, and Harry set off to lessons, weighed down with books, parchment, and quills as usual, but also with the lurking worry of the egg heavy in his stomach, as though he were carrying that around with him too. Snow was still thick upon the grounds, and the greenhouse windows were covered in condensation so thick that they couldn't see out of them in Herbology. Nobody was looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures much in this weather, though as Ron said, the skrewts would probably warm them up nicely, either by chasing them, or blasting off so forcefully that Hagrid's cabin would catch fire. When they arrived at Hagrid ‘s cabin, however, they found an elderly witch with closely cropped gray hair and a very prominent chin standing before his front door. â€Å"Hurry up, now, the bell rang five minutes ago,† she barked at them as they struggled toward her through the snow. â€Å"Who're you?† said Ron, staring at her. â€Å"Where's Hagrid?† â€Å"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank,† she said briskly. â€Å"I am your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher.† â€Å"Where's Hagrid?† Harry repeated loudly. â€Å"He is indisposed,† said Professor Grubbly-Plank shortly. Soft and unpleasant laughter reached Harry's ears. He turned; Draco Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins were joining the class. All of them looked gleeful, and none of them looked surprised to see Professor Grubbly-Plank. â€Å"This way, please,† said Professor Grubbly-Plank, and she strode off around the paddock where the Beauxbatons horses were shivering. Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed her, looking back over their shoulders at Hagrid's cabin. All the curtains were closed. Was Hagrid in there, alone and ill? â€Å"What's wrong with Hagrid?† Harry said, hurrying to catch up with Professor Grubbly-Plank. â€Å"Never you mind,† she said as though she thought he was being nosy. â€Å"I do mind, though,† said Harry hotly. â€Å"What's up with him?† Professor Grubbly-Plank acted as though she couldn't hear him. She led them past the paddock where the huge Beauxbatons horses were standing, huddled against the cold, and toward a tree on the edge of the forest, where a large and beautiful unicorn was tethered. Many of the girls â€Å"ooooohed!† at the sight of the unicorn. â€Å"Oh it's so beautiful!† whispered Lavender Brown. â€Å"How did she get it? They're supposed to be really hard to catch!† The unicorn was so brightly white it made the snow all around look gray. It was pawing the ground nervously with its golden hooves and throwing back its horned head. â€Å"Boys keep back!† barked Professor Grubbly-Plank, throwing out an arm and catching Harry hard in the chest. â€Å"They prefer the woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to the front, and approach with care, come on, easy does it†¦.† She and the girls walked slowly forward toward the unicorn, leaving the boys standing near the paddock fence, watching. The moment Professor Grubbly-Plank was out of earshot. Harry turned to Ron. â€Å"What d'you reckons wrong with him? You don't think a skrewt -?† â€Å"Oh he hasn't been attacked, Potter, if that's what you're thinking,† said Malfoy softly. â€Å"No, he's just too ashamed to show his big, ugly face.† â€Å"What d'you mean?† said Harry sharply. Malfoy put his hand inside the pocket of his robes and pulled out a folded page of newsprint. â€Å"There you go,† he said. â€Å"Hate to break it to you. Potter†¦.† He smirked as Harry snatched the page, unfolded it, and read it, with Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville looking over his shoulder. It was an article topped with a picture of Hagrid looking extremely shifty. DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE Albus Dumbledore, eccentric Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has never been afraid to make controversial staff appointments, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. In September of this year, he hired Alastor â€Å"Mad-Eye† Moody, the notoriously jinx-happy ex-Auror, to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, a decision that caused many raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Magic, given Moody's well-known habit of attacking anybody who makes a sudden movement in his presence. Mad-Eye Moody, however, looks responsible and kindly when set beside the part-human Dumbledore employs to teach Care of Magical Creatures. Rubeus Hagrid, who admits to being expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has enjoyed the position of gamekeeper at the school ever since, a job secured for him by Dumbledore. Last year, however, Hagrid used his mysterious influence over the headmaster to secure the additional post of Care of Magical Creatures teache r, over the heads of many better-qualified candidates. An alarmingly large and ferocious-looking man, Hagrid has been using his newfound authority to terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures. While Dumbledore turns a blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several pupils during a series of lessons that many admit to being â€Å"very frightening.† ‘I was attacked by a hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a flobberworm,† says Draco Malfoy, a fourth-year student. â€Å"We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say anything.† Hagrid has no intention of ceasing his campaign of intimidation, however. In conversation with a Daily Prophet reporter last month, he admitted breeding creatures he has dubbed â€Å"Blast-Ended Skrewts,† highly dangerous crosses between manti-cores and fire-crabs. The creation of new breeds of magical creature is, of course, an activity usually closely observed by the Department fo r the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Hagrid, however, considers himself to be above such petty restrictions. â€Å"I was just having some fun,† he says, before hastily changing the subject. As if this were not enough, the Daily Prophet has now unearthed evidence that Hagrid is not – as he has always pretended – a pure-blood wizard. He is not, in fact, even pure human. His mother, we can exclusively reveal, is none other than the giantess Fridwulfa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought themselves to the point of extinction by warring amongst themselves during the last century. The handful that remained joined the ranks of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and were responsible for some of the worst mass Muggle killings of his reign of terror. While many of the giants who served He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named were killed by Aurors working against the Dark Side, Fridwulfa was not among them. It is possible she escaped to one of the giant communities still existing in foreign mountain ranges. If his antics during Care of Magical Creatures lessons are any guide, however, Frid-wulfa's son appears to have inherited her brutal nature. In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is reputed to have developed a close friendship with the boy who brought around You-Know-Who's fall from power – thereby driving Hagrid's own mother, like the rest of You-Know-Who's supporters, into hiding. Perhaps Harry Potter is unaware of the unpleasant truth about his large friend – but Albus Dumbledore surely has a duty to ensure that Harry Potter, along with his fellow students, is warned about the dangers of associating with part-giants. Harry finished reading and looked up at Ron, whose mouth was hanging open. â€Å"How did she find out?† he whispered. But that wasn't what was bothering Harry. â€Å"What d'you mean, ‘we all hate Hagrid'?† Harry spat at Malfoy. â€Å"What's this rubbish about him† – he pointed at Crabbe – â€Å"getting a bad bite off a flobberworm? They haven't even got teeth!† Crabbe was sniggering, apparently very pleased with himself. â€Å"Well, I think this should put an end to the oaf's teaching career,† said Malfoy, his eyes glinting. â€Å"Half-giant†¦and there was me thinking he'd just swallowed a bottle of Skele-Gro when he was young†¦.None of the mummies and daddies are going to like this at all†¦.They'll be worried he'll eat their kids, ha, ha†¦.† â€Å"You -â€Å" â€Å"Are you paying attention over there?† Professor Grubbly-Planks voice carried over to the boys; the girls were all clustered around the unicorn now, stroking it. Harry was so angry that the Daily Prophet article shook in his hands as he turned to stare unseeingly at the unicorn, whose many magical properties Professor Grubbly-Plank was now enumerating in a loud voice, so that the boys could hear too. â€Å"I hope she stays, that woman!† said Parvati Patil when the lesson had ended and they were all heading back to the castle for lunch. â€Å"That's more what I thought Care of Magical Creatures would be like†¦proper creatures like unicorns, not monsters†¦.† â€Å"What about Hagrid?† Harry said angrily as they went up the steps. â€Å"What about him?† said Parvati in a hard voice. â€Å"He can still be gamekeeper, can't he?† Parvati had been very cool toward Harry since the ball. He supposed that he ought to have paid her a bit more attention, but she seemed to have had a good time all the same. She was certainly telling anybody who would listen that she had made arrangements to meet the boy from Beauxbatons in Hogsmeade on the next weekend trip. â€Å"That was a really good lesson,† said Hermione as they entered the Great Hall. â€Å"I didn't know half the things Professor Grubbly-Plank told us about uni -â€Å" â€Å"Look at this!† Harry snarled, and he shoved the Daily Prophet article under Hermione's nose. Hermione's mouth fell open as she read. Her reaction was exactly the same as Ron's. â€Å"How did that horrible Skeeter woman find out? You don't think Hagrid told her?† â€Å"No,† said Harry, leading the way over to the Gryffindor table and throwing himself into a chair, furious. â€Å"He never even told us, did he? I reckon she was so mad he wouldn't give her loads of horrible stuff about me, she went ferreting around to get him back.† â€Å"Maybe she heard him telling Madame Maxime at the ball,† said Hermione quietly. â€Å"We'd have seen her in the garden!† said Ron. â€Å"Anyway, she's not supposed to come into school anymore, Hagrid said Dumbledore banned her†¦.† â€Å"Maybe she's got an Invisibility Cloak,† said Harry, ladling chicken casserole onto his plate and splashing it everywhere in his anger. â€Å"Sort of thing she'd do, isn't it, hide in bushes listening to people.† â€Å"Like you and Ron did, you mean,† said Hermione. â€Å"We weren't trying to hear him!† said Ron indignantly. â€Å"We didn't have any choice! The stupid prat, talking about his giantess mother where anyone could have heard him!† â€Å"We've got to go and see him,† said Harry. â€Å"This evening, after Divination. Tell him we want him back†¦you do want him back?† he shot at Hermione. â€Å"I – well, I'm not going to pretend it didn't make a nice change, having a proper Care of Magical Creatures lesson for once – but I do want Hagrid back, of course I do!† Hermione added hastily, quailing under Harry's furious stare. So that evening after dinner, the three of them left the castle once more and went down through the frozen grounds to Hagrid's cabin. They knocked, and Fang's booming barks answered. â€Å"Hagrid, it's us!† Harry shouted, pounding on the door. â€Å"Open up!† Hagrid didn't answer. They could hear Fang scratching at the door, whining, but it didn't open. They hammered on it for ten more minutes; Ron even went and banged on one of the windows, but there was no response. â€Å"What's he avoiding us for?† Hermione said when they had finally given up and were walking back to the school. â€Å"He surely doesn't think we'd care about him being half-giant?† But it seemed that Hagrid did care. They didn't see a sign of him all week. He didn't appear at the staff table at mealtimes, they didn't see him going about his gamekeeper duties on the grounds, and Professor Grubbly-Plank continued to take the Care of Magical Creatures classes. Malfoy was gloating at every possible opportunity. â€Å"Missing your half-breed pal?† he kept whispering to Harry whenever there was a teacher around, so that he was safe from Harry's retaliation. â€Å"Missing the elephant-man?† There was a Hogsmeade visit halfway through January. Hermione was very surprised that Harry was going to go. â€Å"I just thought you'd want to take advantage of the common room being quiet,† she said. â€Å"Really get to work on that egg.† â€Å"Oh I – I reckon I've got a pretty good idea what it's about now,† Harry lied. â€Å"Have you really?† said Hermione, looking impressed. â€Å"Well done!† Harry's insides gave a guilty squirm, but he ignored them. He still had five weeks to work out that egg clue, after all, and that was ages†¦whereas if he went into Hogsmeade, he might run into Hagrid, and get a chance to persuade him to come back. He, Ron, and Hermione left the castle together on Saturday and set off through the cold, wet grounds toward the gates. As they passed the Durmstrang ship moored in the lake, they saw Viktor Krum emerge onto the deck, dressed in nothing but swimming trunks. He was very skinny indeed, but apparently a lot tougher than he looked, because he climbed up onto the side of the ship, stretched out his arms, and dived, right into the lake. â€Å"He's mad!† said Harry, staring at Krum's dark head as it bobbed out into the middle of the lake. â€Å"It must be freezing, it's January!† â€Å"It's a lot colder where he comes from,† said Hermione. â€Å"I suppose it feels quite warm to him.† â€Å"Yeah, but there's still the giant squid,† said Ron. He didn't sound anxious – if anything, he sounded hopeful. Hermione noticed his tone of voice and frowned. â€Å"He's really nice, you know,† she said. â€Å"He's not at all like you'd think, coming from Durmstrang. He likes it much better here, he told me.† Ron said nothing. He hadn't mentioned Viktor Krum since the ball, but Harry had found a miniature arm under his bed on Boxing Day, which had looked very much as though it had been snapped off a small model figure wearing Bulgarian Quidditch robes. Harry kept his eyes skinned for a sign of Hagrid all the way down the slushy High Street, and suggested a visit to the Three Broomsticks once he had ascertained that Hagrid was not in any of the shops. The pub was as crowded as ever, but one quick look around at all the tables told Harry that Hagrid wasn't there. Heart sinking, he went up to the bar with Ron and Hermione, ordered three butterbeers from Madam Rosmerta, and thought gloomily that he might just as well have stayed behind and listened to the egg wailing after all. â€Å"Doesn't he ever go into the office?† Hermione whispered suddenly. â€Å"Look!† She pointed into the mirror behind the bar, and Harry saw Ludo Bagman reflected there, sitting in a shadowy corner with a bunch of goblins. Bagman was talking very fast in a low voice to the goblins, all of whom had their arms crossed and were looking rather menacing. It was indeed odd. Harry thought, that Bagman was here at the Three Broomsticks on a weekend when there was no Triwizard event, and therefore no judging to be done. He watched Bagman in the mirror. He was looking strained again, quite as strained as he had that night in the forest before the Dark Mark had appeared. But just then Bagman glanced over at the bar, saw Harry, and stood up. â€Å"In a moment, in a moment!† Harry heard him say brusquely to the goblins, and Bagman hurried through the pub toward Harry, his boyish grin back in place. â€Å"Harry!† he said. â€Å"How are you? Been hoping to run into you! Everything going all right?† â€Å"Fine, thanks,† said Harry. â€Å"Wonder if I could have a quick, private word, Harry?† said Bagman eagerly. â€Å"You couldn't give us a moment, you two, could you?† â€Å"Er – okay,† said Ron, and he and Hermione went off to find a table. Bagman led Harry along the bar to the end furthest from Madam Rosmerta. â€Å"Well, I just thought I'd congratulate you again on your splendid performance against that Horntail, Harry,† said Bagman. â€Å"Really superb.† â€Å"Thanks,† said Harry, but he knew this couldn't be all that Bagman wanted to say, because he could have congratulated Harry in front of Ron and Hermione. Bagman didn't seem in any particular rush to spill the beans, though. Harry saw him glance into the mirror over the bar at the goblins, who were all watching him and Harry in silence through their dark, slanting eyes. â€Å"Absolute nightmare,† said Bagman to Harry in an undertone, noticing Harry watching the goblins too. â€Å"Their English isn't too good†¦it's like being back with all the Bulgarians at the Quidditch World Cup†¦but at least they used sign language another human could recognize. This lot keep gabbling in Gobblede-gook†¦and I only know one word of Gobbledegook. Bladvak. It means ‘pickax.' I don't like to use it in case they think I'm threatening them.† He gave a short, booming laugh. â€Å"What do they want?† Harry said, noticing how the goblins were still watching Bagman very closely. â€Å"Er – well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Bagman, looking suddenly nervous. â€Å"They†¦er†¦they're looking for Barty Crouch.† â€Å"Why are they looking for him here?† said Harry. â€Å"He's at the Ministry in London, isn't he?† â€Å"Er†¦as a matter of fact, I've no idea where he is,† said Bagman. â€Å"He's sort of†¦stopped coming to work. Been absent for a couple of weeks now. Young Percy, his assistant, says he's ill. Apparently he's just been sending instructions in by owl. But would you mind not mentioning that to anyone. Harry? Because Rita Skeeter's still poking around everywhere she can, and I'm willing to bet she'd work up Bartys illness into something sinister. Probably say he's gone missing like Bertha Jorkins.† â€Å"Have you heard anything about Bertha Jorkins?† Harry asked. â€Å"No,† said Bagman, looking strained again. â€Å"I've got people looking, of course†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (About time, thought Harry) â€Å"and it's all very strange. She definitely arrived in Albania, because she met her second cousin there. And then she left the cousin's house to go south and see an aunt†¦and she seems to have vanished without trace en route. Blowed if I can see where she's got to†¦she doesn't seem the type to elope, for instance†¦but still†¦.What are we doing, talking about goblins and Bertha Jorkins? I really wanted to ask you† – he lowered his voice – â€Å"how are you getting on with your golden egg?† â€Å"Er†¦not bad,† Harry said untruthfully. Bagman seemed to know he wasn't being honest. â€Å"Listen, Harry,† he said (still in a very low voice), â€Å"I feel very bad about all this†¦you were thrown into this tournament, you didn't volunteer for it†¦and if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (his voice was so quiet now, Harry had to lean closer to listen) â€Å"if I can help at all†¦a prod in the right direction†¦I've taken a liking to you†¦the way you got past that dragon!†¦well, just say the word.† Harry stared up into Bagman's round, rosy face and his wide, baby-blue eyes. â€Å"We're supposed to work out the clues alone, aren't we?† he said, careful to keep his voice casual and not sound as though he was accusing the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports of breaking the rules. â€Å"Well†¦well, yes,† said Bagman impatiently, â€Å"but – come on. Harry – we all want a Hogwarts victory, don't we?† â€Å"Have you offered Cedric help?† Harry said. The smallest of frowns creased Bagman's smooth face. â€Å"No, I haven't,† he said. â€Å"I – well, like I say, I've taken a liking to you. Just thought I'd offer†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Well, thanks,† said Harry, â€Å"but I think I'm nearly there with the egg†¦couple more days should crack it.† He wasn't entirely sure why he was refusing Bagman's help, except that Bagman was almost a stranger to him, and accepting his assistance would feel somehow much more like cheating than asking advice from Ron, Hermione, or Sirius. Bagman looked almost affronted, but couldn't say much more as Fred and George turned up at that point. â€Å"Hello, Mr. Bagman,† said Fred brightly. â€Å"Can we buy you a drink?† â€Å"Er†¦no,† said Bagman, with a last disappointed glance at Harry, â€Å"no, thank you, boys†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Fred and George looked quite as disappointed as Bagman, who was surveying Harry as though he had let him down badly. â€Å"Well, I must dash,† he said. â€Å"Nice seeing you all. Good luck, Harry.† He hurried out of the pub. The goblins all slid off their chairs and exited after him. Harry went to rejoin Ron and Hermione. â€Å"What did he want?† Ron said, the moment Harry had sat down. â€Å"He offered to help me with the golden egg,† said Harry. â€Å"He shouldn't be doing that!† said Hermione, looking very shocked. â€Å"He's one of the judges! And anyway, you've already worked it out – haven't you?† â€Å"Er†¦nearly,† said Harry. â€Å"Well, I don't think Dumbledore would like it if he knew Bagman was trying to persuade you to cheat!† said Hermione, still looking deeply disapproving. â€Å"I hope he's trying to help Cedric as much!† â€Å"He's not, I asked,† said Harry. â€Å"Who cares if Diggory's getting help?† said Ron. Harry privately agreed. â€Å"Those goblins didn't look very friendly,† said Hermione, sipping her butterbeer. â€Å"What were they doing here?† â€Å"Looking for Crouch, according to Bagman,† said Harry. â€Å"He's still ill. Hasn't been into work.† â€Å"Maybe Percy's poisoning him,† said Ron. â€Å"Probably thinks if Crouch snuffs it he'll be made head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.† Hermione gave Ron a don't-joke-about-things-like-that look, and said, â€Å"Funny, goblins looking for Mr. Crouch†¦.They'd normally deal with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.† â€Å"Crouch can speak loads of different languages, though,† said Harry. â€Å"Maybe they need an interpreter.† â€Å"Worrying about poor ‘ickle goblins, now, are you?† Ron asked Hermione. â€Å"Thinking of starting up S.P.U.G. or something? Society for the Protection of Ugly Goblins?† â€Å"Ha, ha, ha,† said Hermione sarcastically. â€Å"Goblins don't need protection. Haven't you been listening to what Professor Binns has been telling us about goblin rebellions?† â€Å"No,† said Harry and Ron together. â€Å"Well, the're quite capable of dealing with wizards,† said Hermione, taking another sip of butterbeer. â€Å"They're very clever. They're not like house-elves, who never stick up for themselves.† â€Å"Uh-oh,† said Ron, staring at the door. Rita Skeeter had just entered. She was wearing banana-yellow robes today; her long nails were painted shocking pink, and she was accompanied by her paunchy photographer. She bought drinks, and she and the photographer made their way through the crowds to a table nearby. Harry, Ron, and Hermione glaring at her as she approached. She was talking fast and looking very satisfied about something. â€Å"†¦didn't seem very keen to talk to us, did he, Bozo? Now, why would that be, do you think? And what's he doing with a pack of goblins in tow anyway? Showing them the sights†¦what nonsense†¦he was always a bad liar. Reckon something's up? Think we should do a bit of digging? ‘Disgraced Ex-Head of Magical Games and Sports, Ludo Bagman†¦' Snappy start to a sentence, Bozo – we just need to find a story to fit it -â€Å" â€Å"Trying to ruin someone else's life?† said Harry loudly. A few people looked around. Rita Skeeter's eyes widened behind her jeweled spectacles as she saw who had spoken. â€Å"Harry!† she said, beaming. â€Å"How lovely! Why don't you come and join-?† â€Å"I wouldn't come near you with a ten-foot broomstick,† said Harry furiously. â€Å"What did you do that to Hagrid for, eh?† Rita Skeeter raised her heavily penciled eyebrows. â€Å"Our readers have a right to the truth, Harry. I am merely doing my-â€Å" â€Å"Who cares if he's half-giant?† Harry shouted. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with him!† The whole pub had gone very quiet. Madam Rosmerta was staring over from behind the bar, apparently oblivious to the fact that the flagon she was filling with mead was overflowing. Rita Skeeter's smile flickered very slightly, but she hitched it back almost at once; she snapped open her crocodile-skin handbag, pulled out her Quick-Quotes Quill, and said, â€Å"How about giving me an interview about the Hagrid you know. Harry? The man behind the muscles? Your unlikely friendship and the reasons behind it. Would you call him a father substitute?† Hermione stood up very abruptly, her butterbeer clutched in her hand as though it were a grenade. â€Å"You horrible woman,† she said, through gritted teeth, â€Å"you don't care, do you, anything for a story, and anyone will do, wont they? Even Ludo Bagman -â€Å" â€Å"Sit down, you silly little girl, and don't talk about things you don't understand,† said Rita Skeeter coldly, her eyes hardening as they fell on Hermione. â€Å"I know things about Ludo Bagman that would make your hair curl†¦not that it needs it -† she added, eyeing Hermione's bushy hair. â€Å"Let's go,† said Hermione, â€Å"c'mon. Harry – Ron†¦Ã¢â‚¬  They left; many people were staring at them as they went. Harry glanced back as they reached the door. Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quotes Quill was out; it was zooming backward and forward over a piece of parchment on the table. â€Å"She'll be after you next, Hermione,† said Ron in a low and worried voice as they walked quickly back up the street. â€Å"Let her try!† said Hermione defiantly; she was shaking with rage. â€Å"I'll show her! Silly little girl, am I? Oh, I'll get her back for this. First Harry, then Hagrid†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You don't want to go upsetting Rita Skeeter,† said Ron nervously. â€Å"I'm serious, Hermione, she'll dig up something on you -â€Å" â€Å"My parents don't read the Daily Prophet. She can't scare me into hiding!† said Hermione, now striding along so fast that it was all Harry and Ron could do to keep up with her. The last time Harry had seen Hermione in a rage like this, she had hit Draco Malfoy around the face. â€Å"And Hagrid isn't hiding anymore! He should never have let that excuse for a human being upset him! Come on!† Breaking into a run, she led them all the way back up the road, through the gates flanked by winged boars, and up through the grounds to Hagrid's cabin. The curtains were still drawn, and they could hear Fang barking as they approached. â€Å"Hagrid!† Hermione shouted, pounding on his front door. â€Å"Hagrid, that's enough! We know you're in there! Nobody cares if your mum was a giantess, Hagrid! You can't let that foul Skeeter woman do this to you! Hagrid, get out here, you're just being -â€Å" The door opened. Hermione said, â€Å"About it-!† and then stopped, very suddenly, because she had found herself face-to-face, not with Hagrid, but with Albus Dumbledore. â€Å"Good afternoon,† he said pleasantly, smiling down at them. â€Å"We er we wanted to see Hagrid,† said Hermione in a rather small voice. â€Å"Yes, I surmised as much,† said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. â€Å"Why don't you come in?† â€Å"Oh†¦um†¦okay,† said Hermione. She, Ron, and Harry went into the cabin; Fang launched himself upon Harry the moment he entered, barking madly and trying to lick his ears. Harry fended off Fang and looked around. Hagrid was sitting at his table, where there were two large mugs of tea. He looked a real mess. His face was blotchy, his eyes swollen, and he had gone to the other extreme where his hair was concerned; far from trying to make it behave, it now looked like a wig of tangled wire. â€Å"Hi, Hagrid,† said Harry. Hagrid looked up. â€Å"‘Lo,† he said in a very hoarse voice. â€Å"More tea, I think,† said Dumbledore, closing the door behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione, drawing out his wand, and twiddling it; a revolving tea tray appeared in midair along with a plate of cakes. Dumbledore magicked the tray onto the table, and everybody sat down. There was a slight pause, and then Dumbledore said, â€Å"Did you by any chance hear what Miss Granger was shouting, Hagrid?† Hermione went slightly pink, but Dumbledore smiled at her and continued, â€Å"Hermione, Harry, and Ron still seem to want to know you, judging by the way they were attempting to break down the door.† â€Å"Of course we still want to know you!† Harry said, staring at Hagrid. â€Å"You don't think anything that Skeeter cow – sorry, Professor,† he added quickly, looking at Dumbledore. â€Å"I have gone temporarily deaf and haven't any idea what you said. Harry,† said Dumbledore, twiddling his thumbs and staring at the ceiling. â€Å"Er-right,† said Harry sheepishly. â€Å"I just meant-Hagrid, how could you think we'd care what that-woman-wrote about you?† Two fat tears leaked out of Hagrid's beetle-black eyes and fell slowly into his tangled beard. â€Å"Living proof of what I've been telling you, Hagrid,† said Dumbledore, still looking carefully up at the ceiling. â€Å"I have shown you the letters from the countless parents who remember you from their own days here, telling me in no uncertain terms that if I sacked you, they would have something to say about it -â€Å" â€Å"Not all of 'em,† said Hagrid hoarsely. â€Å"Not all of 'em wan me ter stay.† â€Å"Really, Hagrid, if you are holding out for universal popularity, I'm afraid you will be in this cabin for a very long time,† said Dumbledore, now peering sternly over his half-moon spectacles. â€Å"Not a week has passed since I became headmaster of this school when I haven't had at least one owl complaining about the way I run it. But what should I do? Barricade myself in my study and refuse to talk to anybody?† â€Å"Yeh – yeh're not half-giant!† said Hagrid croakily. â€Å"Hagrid, look what I've got for relatives!† Harry said furiously. â€Å"Look at the Dursleys!† â€Å"An excellent point,† said Professor Dumbledore. â€Å"My own brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate charms on a goat. It was all over the papers, but did Aberforth hide? No, he did not! He held his head high and went about his business as usual! Of course, I'm not entirely sure he can read, so that may not have been bravery†¦.† â€Å"Come back and teach, Hagrid,† said Hermione quietly, â€Å"please come back, we really miss you.† Hagrid gulped. More tears leaked out down his cheeks and into his tangled beard. Dumbledore stood up. â€Å"I refuse to accept your resignation, Hagrid, and I expect you back at work on Monday,† he said. â€Å"You will join me for breakfast at eight-thirty in the Great Hall. No excuses. Good afternoon to you all.† Dumbledore left the cabin, pausing only to scratch Fangs ears. When the door had shut behind him, Hagrid began to sob into his dustbin-lid-sized hands. Hermione kept patting his arm, and at last, Hagrid looked up, his eyes very red indeed, and said, â€Å"Great man, Dumbledore†¦great man†¦.† â€Å"Yeah, he is,† said Ron. â€Å"Can I have one of these cakes, Hagrid?† â€Å"Help yerself,† said Hagrid, wiping his eyes on the back of his hand. â€Å"Ar, he's righ', o' course – yeh're all righ'†¦I bin stupid†¦my ol' dad woulda bin ashamed o' the way I've bin behavin'†¦.† More tears leaked out, but he wiped them away more forcefully, and said, â€Å"Never shown you a picture of my old dad, have I? Here†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hagrid got up, went over to his dresser, opened a drawer, and pulled out a picture of a short wizard with Hagrid's crinkled black eyes, beaming as he sat on top of Hagrid's shoulder. Hagrid was a good seven or eight feet tall, judging by the apple tree beside him, but his face was beardless, young, round, and smooth – he looked hardly older than eleven. â€Å"Tha was taken jus' after I got inter Hogwarts,† Hagrid croaked. â€Å"Dad was dead chuffed†¦thought I migh' not be a wizard, see, ‘cos me mum†¦well, anyway. ‘Course, I never was great shakes at magic, really†¦but at least he never saw me expelled. Died, see, in me second year†¦.† â€Å"Dumbledore was the one who stuck up for me after Dad went. Got me the gamekeeper job†¦trusts people, he does. Gives 'em second chances†¦tha's what sets him apar' from other heads, see. He'll accept anyone at Hogwarts, s'long as they've got the talent. Knows people can turn out okay even if their families weren'†¦well†¦all tha' respectable. But some don understand that. There's some who'd always hold it against yeh†¦there's some who'd even pretend they just had big bones rather than stand up an' say – I am what I am, an' I'm not ashamed. ‘Never be ashamed,' my ol' dad used ter say, ‘there's some who'll hold it against you, but they're not worth botherin' with.' An' he was right. I've bin an idiot. I'm not botherin' with her no more, I promise yeh that. Big bones†¦I'll give her big bones.† Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another nervously; Harry would rather have taken fifty Blast-Ended Skrewts for a walk than admit to Hagrid that he had overheard him talking to Madame Maxime, but Hagrid was still talking, apparently unaware that he had said anything odd. â€Å"Yeh know wha, Harry?† he said, looking up from the photograph of his father, his eyes very bright, â€Å"when I firs' met you, you reminded me o' me a bit. Mum an' Dad gone, an' you was feelin' like yeh wouldn' fit in at Hogwarts, remember? Not sure yeh were really up to it†¦an' now look at yeh, Harry! School champion!† He looked at Harry for a moment and then said, very seriously, â€Å"Yeh know what I'd love. Harry? I'd love yeh ter win, I really would. It'd show 'em all†¦yeh don' have ter be pureblood ter do it. Yeh don have ter be ashamed of what yeh are. It'd show 'em Dumbledore's the one who's got it righ', lettin' anyone in as long as they can do magic. How you doin' with that egg, Harry?† â€Å"Great,† said Harry. â€Å"Really great.† Hagrid's miserable face broke into a wide, watery smile. â€Å"Tha's my boy†¦you show 'em, Harry, you show 'em. Beat 'em all.† Lying to Hagrid wasn't quite like lying to anyone else. Harry went back to the castle later that afternoon with Ron and Hermione, unable to banish the image of the happy expression on Hagrid's whiskery face as he had imagined Harry winning the tournament. The incomprehensible egg weighed more heavily than ever on Harry's conscience that evening, and by the time he had got into bed, he had made up his mind – it was time to shelve his pride and see if Cedric's hint was worth anything.