Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Multi Agency Benefits For Children And Families Social Work Essay Essay Example

Multi Agency Benefits For Children And Families Social Work Essay Essay Example Multi Agency Benefits For Children And Families Social Work Essay Essay Multi Agency Benefits For Children And Families Social Work Essay Essay †¦ there appears to be a famine of grounds to back up the impression that multi-agency working in pattern brings about existent benefits for kids and households The local authorization and authorities bureaus have been working together for a long clip and non wholly new pattern. Jones and Leverett quote However, the thrust towards integrated working which includes the full kids s work force ( that is, every person who works, on an employed or voluntary footing, with kids and their households across sectors such as wellness, instruction, early old ages and child care, drama work, societal attention, constabulary, young person support and leisure services ) under the interagency umbrella is a more recent and ambitious invention ( Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 123 ) Multi-agency working can be analysed utilizing three primary policy contexts. First, the context of influence, where policy discourses are constructed and cardinal policy constructs for illustration, partnership or multi-agency working are established. Second, the context of policy text production, or the paperss that represent policy ( Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 125 ) . These are normally expressed in linguistic communication which claims to be sensible and for the general public good ( Bowe et al. , 1992 ) . They include texts such as the SEN Code of Practice ( DfES, 2001 ) or the new Working Together to Safeguard Children guidelines ( HM Government, 2010 ) . Such texts are so responded to within the context of pattern, or what really happens on the land for illustration, schools, child care or wellness scenes as a consequence of a peculiar policy . ( Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 125 ) Jones ( 2000 ) added a 6th context, the context of concealed values . This means positive consequence results on policy ; such as, statute law that promotes interagency cooperation in kids s services. They aim to protect kids s public assistance and better well-being. However, Jones suggests that there may be a scope of concealed significances and results. At a cardinal degree, policy can be smartly constructed to mask a peculiar set of purposes, values and beliefs. Intentionally or otherwise, policy may be a wolf in sheep s vesture ( Jones, 2000 ) There is besides grounds that practicians construct their ain significances related to policy, whether these are intended or non. Commenting on the inclination of policy shapers to centrally design signifiers, e-templates and appraisal tools . ( Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 126 ) Both, Garrett ( 2006 ) and Axford et Al. ( 2006 ) note how these are sometimes resisted by practicians because they are perceived as exercising cardinal control over hitherto reasonably independent countries and suspected of being a cost-cutting device ( Axford et al. , 2006, p. 172 ) . Consequently, policy could really prolong or make fortunes that maintain or exacerbate jobs. Rather than being a solution to the perceived job, the interaction between policy and pattern may do a new set of jobs. ( Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 126 ) The cardinal point is that policy is at three degrees local, front line and cardinal. At cardinal degree the thoughts are made concrete and so articulated nationally and locally. At the clip the policy enters the work force such as schools, practicians perceptual experiences can accordingly be affected. The inquiry is: to what extent is the vision enshrined in cardinal policy on multi-agency working likely to alter as it travels on its journey from cardinal authorities to individual practician? ( Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 126 ) Governments have a inclination to build their vision for policy as a statement of purposes or intended results. Sometimes the vision is embedded within a wider model ; for illustration, authoritiess in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ( Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 126 ) In England, kids s well-being was defined as the five reciprocally reenforcing results originally presented in the Every Child Matters Green Paper ( DfES, 2003, p. 6 ) : SHEEP is an acronym that stands for: S Stay safe H Healthy E Enjoy and accomplish E Economic well-being P Positive part The following stairss is to interpret these visions into larning which can be implemented into pattern by people working in such sectors. The five results were integrated into the development of the common nucleus accomplishments and cognition for the kids s work force ( DfES, 2005 ) dwelling of: Effective communicating and battle with kids, immature people and households Child and immature individual development Safeguarding and advancing the public assistance of the kid Supporting passages Multi-agency working Sharing information . ( DfES, 2005 ) Despite fluctuations, the UK authorities agreed that all kids will profit from closer working between practicians and bureaus. The Common Assessment Framework ( CAF ) is a cardinal portion of presenting frontline services that are integrated and focused around the demands of kids and immature people. The CAF will advance more effectual, earlier designation of extra demands, peculiarly in cosmopolitan services. It is intended to supply a simple procedure for a holistic appraisal of a kid s demands and strengths, taking history of the function of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development ( ECM, 2008 ) . The CAF signifier is designed to record and, where appropriate, portion with others, appraisals, programs and recommendations for support. Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places a statutory responsibility on cardinal people and organic structures to do agreements to safeguard and advance the public assistance of kids . ( HM Government, 2004 ) The ECM states all bureaus are required to hold: Senior direction committedness to the importance of safeguarding and advancing kids s public assistance A clear statement of the bureau s duties towards kids, available for al staff Safe enlisting processs in topographic point Effective inter-agency working to safeguard and advance the public assistance of kids Effective information sharing ( ECM, 2008 ) The principle for the CAF is to assist practicians develop a shared apprehension of kids, which avoids households reiterating themselves to all other bureaus. The CAF helps to develop a common apprehensions of what needs to be done and how. Do non reevaluate when the information is already there ( Parents in audience about appraisal, in Scots Executive, 2005b, p. 23 ) The statement is simple and on the surface persuasive, the drift based on assisting single kids. But the relationship between appraisal processs, their intent and their results is seldom straightforward ( Jones, 2004 ) . Assessment is a womb-to-tomb procedure with societal effects and may be influenced by contextual factors and professional value places. It is literally a point at which certain kids are judged to be different ( Tomlinson, 1982, p. 82 ) . Some parents and kids s positions of their services have highlighted their wanting a coordinated service that is delivered through a individual point of contact, a key worker , named individual or link worker ( Sloper, 2004, p. 572 ) . Within the CAF, a similar function was produced, the lead professional ( LP ) who takes duty for organizing the action identified as a consequence of the CAF procedure and will back up the kid and their household as necessary. One of the dashing facets of the CAF is the figure of professionals that practicians will prosecute with, such as wellness, instruction, societal services and voluntary bureaus. It can be besides rather dashing in happening out who the support services are and their contact inside informations. However, with the CAF procedure it can be off of get the better ofing tenseness antecedently encountered around multi bureau working and sharing information. Just as kids and their households have a part to do to determine the services they receive through the assorted signifiers of partnership discussed in old chapters, so they can lend to the development of pattern and practicians. This can go on at many degrees through rating, feedback, audience and research, every bit good as direct engagement in preparation. Practitioners and the administrations they work for demand to recognize that kids and their households have specific cognition that can non be learnt from anyplace else . ( Rixon, 2008 ) Children are party to the subculture of childhood which gives them a alone insider position that is critical to our apprehension of kids s universes . ( Kellett, 2005, p. 4 ) Like many who on a regular basis consult kids and immature people, we find that their positions are ever serious, concise, thoughtful and extremely relevant and cut through the preexistent dockets and diplomatic turning awaies that beset many audiences with professional grownups. We find that even really immature kids are more than able to analyze and give clear positions on many issues within their experience . ( Morgan, 2005, pp. 181-182 ) How is the success of more incorporate ways of working to be judged? One component of rating might be to see to what extent incorporate squads or new enterprises or constructions have overcome obstructions and enabled more positive ways of working . ( Stone and Rixon, 2008 ) As we have discussed, authorities policy and the literature on kids s services all emphasise the importance of bureaus working together and the value of partnership constructions, yet: Despite such exhortations, there appears to be a famine of grounds to back up the impression that multi-agency working in pattern brings about existent benefits for kids and households. ( Townsley et al. , 2004, p. 6 ) However, Michelle Warren quotes According to Consultancy 4Children ( Policy into pattern, 4Children, 2009 ) consistent grounds indicates that parents and kids are best served if the support on offer is joined up and good coordinated . It would be appropriate to recognize that although services may be provided in one scene, there is still a hazard of services non being joined up, because of different bureaus ( and viing interests/perspectives ) involved. ( Warren, 2010 ) However, Howell states Previously we really made it improbably hard by doing kids and parents and carers make their ain manner through the services all being assessed rather individually and acquiring really assorted messages. So multi-agency working is indispensable where a kid needs it. We must nt acquire baffled and believe multi-agency working has got to be the lone manner of working. In some instances it s really the school that will do the difference and that s the bureau where the huge bulk of kids will accomplish the best results . ( Howell, 2008 ) However, Townsley highlights the existent benefits for households and kids. Howell provinces There are tensenesss between bureaus, some of them driven by the different get downing point that different bureaus have. So the nature of the marks that bureaus are measured by are really rather different. The wellness marks that wellness services are measured by are significantly different from the sort of marks that schools work to and peculiarly are rather distant from the results of Every Child Matters . ( Howell, 2008 ) As with any Multi bureau working, it is important to measure whether any new undertakings or enterprises have been set marks against standards that can be measured. This is peculiarly a contemplation for grounds based intercessions which have been associated with issues, such as value for money. In relation to this, many have marks which have been set and necessarily raise inquiries whether it is the right one to be assigned with a peculiar mark. Practitioners recognise that marks can enable lucidity and equity, and concentrate attending on of import countries of pattern ( Banks, 2004 ) . However, Townsley et Al. ( 2004 ) states review a figure of surveies that reveal small grounds of improved results of multi-agency working across a scope of services and scenes. Their reappraisal besides makes clear that the undertaking of rating itself is a complex 1. Built-in jobs include: troubles in generalizing from single instance surveies ; diverse positions of different stakeholders as to what counts as success ; the length of clip needed to measure alteration ; and causality and ascription . ( Glendinning, 2002, cited in Townsley, 2004, p. 6 ) Consequently, Howell states Children s engagement and battle is cardinal to the redesign of services peculiarly with a multi-agency position. It s portion of the larning about what makes a difference the whole issue around personalisation puts the client, the individual having the services, as the co-designer of their solutions . ( Howell, 2008 ) To reason, A formative attack to rating that encourages duologue and on-going betterments to both policy and pattern would look to offer a positive manner frontward. However, this is non without its challenges and there are still issues to be addressed, non least preparation and elucidation of functions and duties. It is up to single practicians to advance an inclusive attack to professional difference and to develop a scope of different theoretical accounts enabling coaction, regard, reciprocality, pragmatism and risk-taking. ( Leverett and Jones, 2008 )

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Free Essays on White Collar And Corporate Crime

Why does white collar and corporate crime tend to go undetected, Or if detected not prosecuted White collar and corporate crimes are crimes that many people do not associate with criminal activity. Yet the cost to the country due to corporate and white collar crime far exceeds that of â€Å"street† crime and benefit fraud. White collar and corporate crimes refer to crimes that take place within a business or institution and include everything from Tax fraud to health and safety breaches. Corporate crime is extremely difficult to detect for many reasons. One major reason is that many people do not realise a crime is being committed as corporate crime is often seen as a victimless crime. At face value this may seem to be the case but if you look deeper you will see that this is not true. Every year the FBI estimates that 19,000 Americans are murdered every year compared with the 56,000 Americans who die every year from occupational disease such as black lung and asbestosis (Russell Mokhiber 2000). Deaths Caused by corporate crime are also very indirect so it can be very difficult to trace the problem to the corporation. Another reason it can be difficult to detect corporate crime is that directors within a corporation are unlikely to report the criminal activity of their colleges for the fear that it will hinder their own career success and could even lead to them losing their jobs. Within a company illegal practices could be seen by many as the â€Å"in thing† and the people working within that environment may not see what they are doing as morally wrong. The issue of the lack of media coverage of these types of crimes must also not be over looked. Many newspaper editors would chose to run a story about a violent assault or brutal murder over a story involving a corporate crime. This is a major factor contributing to the publics ignorance or corporate crime. Even if corporate crime is detected it can be very difficult ... Free Essays on White Collar And Corporate Crime Free Essays on White Collar And Corporate Crime Why does white collar and corporate crime tend to go undetected, Or if detected not prosecuted White collar and corporate crimes are crimes that many people do not associate with criminal activity. Yet the cost to the country due to corporate and white collar crime far exceeds that of â€Å"street† crime and benefit fraud. White collar and corporate crimes refer to crimes that take place within a business or institution and include everything from Tax fraud to health and safety breaches. Corporate crime is extremely difficult to detect for many reasons. One major reason is that many people do not realise a crime is being committed as corporate crime is often seen as a victimless crime. At face value this may seem to be the case but if you look deeper you will see that this is not true. Every year the FBI estimates that 19,000 Americans are murdered every year compared with the 56,000 Americans who die every year from occupational disease such as black lung and asbestosis (Russell Mokhiber 2000). Deaths Caused by corporate crime are also very indirect so it can be very difficult to trace the problem to the corporation. Another reason it can be difficult to detect corporate crime is that directors within a corporation are unlikely to report the criminal activity of their colleges for the fear that it will hinder their own career success and could even lead to them losing their jobs. Within a company illegal practices could be seen by many as the â€Å"in thing† and the people working within that environment may not see what they are doing as morally wrong. The issue of the lack of media coverage of these types of crimes must also not be over looked. Many newspaper editors would chose to run a story about a violent assault or brutal murder over a story involving a corporate crime. This is a major factor contributing to the publics ignorance or corporate crime. Even if corporate crime is detected it can be very difficult ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The effects of the cold war on the middle east Research Paper

The effects of the cold war on the middle east - Research Paper Example Egypt found itself cornered as it was unable to get ammunition and economic support from the USSR; it could not support Egypt in the 1967 Six Day War and in the War of Attrition against Israel. Although Egypt underwent a political changeover from Soviet Union to the United States in 1972 under the leadership of Anwar El Sadat yet the 1973 Yom Kippur War brought about huge congregation of American forces putting at stake detente because of the propaganda of Soviet involvement in backing Egypt in the Yom Kippur War. Soviet influence in the Middle East could be seen not only in the pre-Sadat Egypt getting Soviet help but other countries such as South Yemen, Algeria, and Iraq as well as indirect support to the Palestinian cause by backing Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Cold War, â€Å"Wikipedia,† par. 6). The Six Day War or June War held in 1967 was one such major event known by different names such as the 1967 Arab- Israeli War or the Third Arab-I sraeli War was waged between Israel and the neighboring countries Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Israel won the war comfortably capturing Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. The area captured by Israel during the Six Day War followed up with the refugee problem, which has become a concurrent issue of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. This has created issues in global law affecting international relations in the long term (Six Day War, â€Å"Wikipedia,† par. 1). Earlier, after the 1956 Suez Crisis, Egypt had to give consent to the positioning of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in the Sinai for abiding with the 1949 Armistice Agreements. It entered into bilateral defense agreement with Syria. Jordan blamed Egypt for not supporting it militarily under the garb of UNEF. When the Soviet Union made false reports of gathering of Israeli forces on the Syrian, borders, Egypt ousted the U NEF forces from Gaza and Sinai; its force taking up UNEF positions at Sharm el-Sheikh opposite the Straits of Tiran. Along with others, Egypt also sent its forces to Jordan to support against Israeli aggression resulting from the closure of the Straits for Israeli shipping. The deteriorating political climate finally provoked Israel in waging war by the name of Operation Focus at the firs day of the Six Day War with a sudden air attack. On can not deny the role of the Soviet Union played by sending false announcements of Israeli troops positioning at the Syrian borders. In one way or the other the then super power, the USSR, played the provocative role of adding petrol in the enflamed political environment, furthering it to the Six Day War (Six Day War, â€Å"Wikipedia,† par. 2). Afghanistan became the battleground of Cold War when the Soviet troops landed on its soil in December 1979 in support of the Afghanistan’s Marxist government led by its ex-Prime-minister, Nur Muhammad Taraki. The US has been providing support to the Mujahidin insurgency against the Soviet supported Marxist government even before the arrival of Russian forces there. This fact was revealed in an interview by the French weekly newsmagazine Le Nouvel Observateur by the American President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski. The Cold War between the then Super Powers was an extension of their desire to become world leader by waging a proxy

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Difference between Chinas economic management style and the Western Essay

Difference between Chinas economic management style and the Western style - Essay Example 1). The transition from a planned economy to a market economy has been particularly smooth with significant opportunities for entrepreneurship and expansion both at home and abroad (Long & Han, 2008, p. 52). The market-oriented economy is vastly similar to Western economies, yet China’s economic management style differs because of the remnants of the post-Maoist market socialism (Krau, 1996, p. 96). In the meantime, the Chinese government maintains strong control (Krua, 1996, p. 96). The purpose of this research study is to determine the extent to which this mixture of capitalism and socialism in China’s economy differs from the economic management style of the West. It will be demonstrated that what makes China’s economic management style unique and different from the West is the remnants of past socialist influences, persistent government control and the adoption of a market-oriented economy. From the outset, it is worth noting that the most obvious difference between China’s economic management style and that of Western countries is China’s persistent adherence to five year economic plans regardless of leadership changes. The first five year plan from 1953-1957 was influenced by the Soviet Marist style Communism and emphasized industrial growth. At the time, the ideal economic plan for Communism was to develop industry and the economy via â€Å"heavy industry, fuels, electric power, iron, and steel, machinery manufacturing, and chemicals†.... In China, during the first Five Year Economic Plan, the government owned 75% of all of China’s production and private enterprises owned the remaining 25%. During the first Five Year Plan, China was determined to further erode the percentage of private ownership. Rather than immediately turn these private ventures into state properties, the government decided to first form partnerships between private firms and state-owned firms (Galloway, 2011). As China moved forward in the 20th century, it looked for a â€Å"cultural formula† that would help it embrace modernity (Lu, 2004, p. 201). China was struggling with what is often referred to as a â€Å"cultural revolution† in which much of the blame for China’s â€Å"backwardness† was placed on â€Å"Confucianism, the foundation of traditional Chinese culture† (Lu, 2004, p. 201). There were scholars advocating for more â€Å"Western democratic† ideology (Lu, 2004, p. 201). These scholars†™ arguments would find currency in Mao’s belief that in order to embrace a proletarian culture that focused on the masses and not the elite, the old culture had to be left behind (Lu, 2004, p. 201). In the meantime, adherents to China’s traditional culture were entirely resistant to abandoning old values and norms. As Lu (2004) notes: China has been wrestling with the dilemma of modernity versus traditionality and Westernization versus national identity. Given that China now embodies a seemingly contradictory combination of authoritarian government and market economy, the path to culture reconstruction seems even more uncertain and unsettling (p. 201). Mao’s concept of a looking after the masses included state-owned enterprises and a centrally planned market. According to Kshetri (2009), under Mao’s centralized market plan,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Mountain Property Essay Example for Free

Mountain Property Essay As Martin’s friend and attorney, I would advise him that he is the sole owner of mountain property. Since the property was purchased as a joint tenancy with a right of survivorship, Martin is now the only living tenant. Right of survivorship automatically divides the interest of the deceased tenant equally among the remaining tenants, until there is only one. Peter evidently misunderstand the right of survivorship when he indicated in his will that his share was to be transferred to his son Andrew. According to the text, under joint tenancy, all are co-owners of equal shares and may sell their shares without the consent of other owners. Their interest can be attached by creditors ( , p. 354). Since Peter never sold his share, Andrew has no claim, and therefore the creditor has no case, since the property in question was never legally Andrew’s. I would advise Martin that Otis has probable reasoning to believe he is in the right and North Carolina law could possible side with Otis in this case. Under North Carolina Adverse Possession Laws, if the occupant has resided on the property uncontested for a period exceeding twenty years he may be granted the title. In addition, it has been over 20 years since Martin had checked on the property. The justification for adverse possession in North Carolina is that it gives title to the person who gives a beneficial use to the land. Otis has been utilizing the land openly and publicly, this can be quantified by him building a residence on the property, thus giving him statutory period for adverse possession. If Martin had checked on the property over the years, he would have noticed Otis was trespassing and could have contacted the authorities to remove him if he refused. Coastal Property In reference to Martin’s legal rights with his beach house, I would advise Martin to file an appeal to the city taking his property under eminent domain. In order for eminent domain to be upheld, the property must be used for the good of the public, and not for transfer to another private party. In Kelo v. New London, Justice Stevens states â€Å"On the one hand, it has long been accepted that the sovereign may not take the property of A for the sole  purpose of transferring it to another private party B, even though A is paid just compensation.†(p. 361 ). Since the Tar Heel Family Resort is most likely a private venture, it clearly is not intended for public use. Public use would include parks, public transportation, museums, etc. Although the resort will be bringing additional jobs and tax revenue to the city, Martin’s house could only be seized by the city in this scenario if the house was beyond repair. In Berman v. Parker (1954), the court allowed the District of Columbia to establish eminent domain over personal housing that was beyond repair to construct public use facilities with the remainder of the land to be sold to private parties in order to generate low-cost housing. I would advise Martin that the city has no right to condemnation of his property under law and the court system would rule in favor of his appeal, just as it has in the past. Personal property I would first advise Martin to contact the police and file a report if he had not done so. I would also have Martin contact his insurance company, they may be willing to lend a hand in this scenario to prevent having to pay Martin the settlement cost if he had full coverage. I would then refer Martin to: NCGS 25-2-403. Power to transfer, good faith purchase of goods; â€Å"entrusting† 1. (1) A purchaser of goods acquires all title which his transferor had or had power to transfer except that a purchaser of a limited interest acquires rights only to the extent of the interest purchased. A person with voidable title has power to transfer a good title to a good faith purchaser for value. When goods have been delivered under a transaction of purchase the purchaser has such power even though (a) the transferor was deceived as to the identity of the purchaser, or (b) the delivery was in exchange for a check which is later dishonored, or (c) it was agreed that the transaction was to be a cash  sale, or (d) the delivery was procured through fraud punishable as larcenous under the criminal law. (2) Any entrusting of possession of goods to a merchant who deals in goods of that kind gives him power to transfer all rights of the entruster to a buyer in ordinary course of business. (3) Entrusting includes any delivery and any acquiescence in retention of possession regardless of any condition expressed between the parties to the delivery or acquiescence and regardless of whether the procurement of the entrusting or the possessors disposition of the goods have been such as to be larcenous under the criminal law. (4) The rights of other purchasers of goods and of lien creditors are governed by the articles on secured transactions (article 9) and documents of title (article 7). Benjamin committed the act of larceny when he took Martin’s car. Larceny is a matter of state criminal law, so the definition may vary slightly by state, but it can generally be defined as the secretive and wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal property of another with the intent to permanently deprive the rightful owner of its use or possession. ( p. 157). The real question is, who is responsible for accepting these stolen goods? The above NC law states that the car dealer could be held responsible for accepting stolen goods without proof of ownership. The car dealer should not have accepted the car without a title in hand or written/verbal confirmation from the lien holder. Martin will most likely have to sue the car dealer in order to gain control of the car if the police do not force the stolen property to be returned to the rightful owner. References Satterlee, A. (2013). Organizational Management and Leadership: A Christian Perspective (2nd Edition). Raleigh, NC: Synergistics International Inc.

Friday, November 15, 2019

the family of little feet Essay -- essays research papers

The early phases of growing up can have its own unique problems. There are many different things that can go wrong while growning up. Your whole body is changing and it cand take some getting used to. There were many stories that I read in the literature book that illustrated this to me. I will compare these stories to each other to see how they were similiar and also to see the different problems people experience while growing up. In the story "the family of little feet", three little girls go out to explore the world and discover many wonderfull thing and also many evil things(Cisneros, 77). The poem "in just" is about what kids see when they look at the world(Cummings, 158). These stories are similiar in that they both show a kids perspective on everyday things. In the Cummings story the kids see the ballonman as a magical creature. It also shows how kids love spring. After being locked up inside all winter they can finally go outside and run around and get dirty and just have fun. In Cisneros story about the magical shoes that there mother had given to them it shows how kids can really grow up too fast. The kids just want to be kids but everyone else is seeing them as grown ups. The girls do not really understand what is going on. And when they get home they just want to get rid of the shoes so they can just be kids again. These two stories are about just being young and doing stuff that ...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

“Between East and West” by Luce Irigaray

Actually it is rather difficult to define what moments are interesting in the book, because the whole work is worth reading. Irigaray provides a new fresh outlook and states that East and West should get together. This idea seems to be one of the most noticing. The way Irigaray steepens in the Western tradition is interesting and exciting, because she explores ancient Eastern disciplines. Moreover, she meditates in order to learn how to breathe and thus she makes a conclusion about the differences between women and men ways of breathing.Looking deeper in the content of the book it is apparent that the most striking idea presented is that women’s breath is different to that of the men’s and that it can more provocative implications. (Irigaray 2005) This idea seems to claim that sex differences exist and they can’t be neglected. Furthermore, she claims that women have to be more empowered nowadays. She makes women to re-examine their sexuality and to draw new concl usions.To achieve the understanding women have to cultivate breath, because it is the only way to understand community and individual values. (Irigaray 2005) However, Irigaray’s idea of sexual humanity significantly differs from patriarch and thus it seems problematic. Furthermore, Irigaray says that sexual differences are culturally constructed and thus they are articulated phenomenon. It is possible to say that sexual differences are natural between sexes in Western and Eastern countries and they should receive both social and cultural expression.Actually the author uses the nature as the main factor affecting inherent sexual differences presupposed by location within nature. (Irigaray 2005) In conclusion it is necessary to underline that idea of different breath and consequently sexual differences is presented in a new key as it offers alternative approach to judge sex differences between East and West. (Irigaray 2005) References Irigaray, Luce. (2005). Between East and We st: From Singularity to Community. USA: Columbia University Press.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Prelude to Foundation Chapter 14 Billibotton

DAHL-†¦ Oddly enough, the best-known aspect of this sector is Billibotton, a semi-legendary place about which innumerable tales have grown up. In fact, a whole branch of literature now exists in which heroes and adventurers (and victims) must dare the dangers of passing through Billibotton. So stylized have these stories become that the one well-known and, presumably, authentic tale involving such a passage, that of Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili, has come to seem fantastic simply by association†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica 66. When Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili were alone, Dors asked thoughtfully, â€Å"Are you really planning to see this ‘Mother' woman?† â€Å"I'm thinking about it, Dors.† â€Å"You're an odd one, Hari. You seem to go steadily from bad to worse. You went Upperside, which seemed harmless enough, for a rational purpose when you were in Streeling. Then, in Mycogen, you broke into the Elders' aerie, a much more dangerous task, for a much more foolish purpose. And now in Dahl, you want to go to this place, which that young man seems to think is simple suicide, for something altogether nonsensical.† â€Å"I'm curious about this reference to Earth-and must know if there's anything to it.† Dors said, â€Å"It's a legend and not even an interesting one. It is routine. The names differ from planet to planet, but the content is the same. There is always the tale of an original world and a golden age. There is a longing for a supposedly simple and virtuous past that is almost universal among the people of a complex and vicious society. In one way or another, this is true of all societies, since everyone imagines his or her own society to be too complex and vicious, however simple it may be. Mark that down for your psychohistory.† â€Å"Just the same,† said Seldon, â€Å"I have to consider the possibility that one world did once exist. Aurora†¦ Earth†¦ the name doesn't matter. In fact-â€Å" He paused and finally Dors said, â€Å"Well?† Seldon shook his head. â€Å"Do you remember the hand-on-thigh story you told me in Mycogen? It was right after I got the Book from Raindrop Forty-Three†¦ Well, it popped into my head one evening recently when we were talking to the Tisalvers. I said something that reminded me, for an instant-â€Å" â€Å"Reminded you of what?† â€Å"I don't remember. It came into my head and went out again, but somehow every time I think of the single-world notion, it seems to me I have the tips of my fingers on something and then lose it.† Dors looked at Seldon in surprise. â€Å"I don't see what it could be. The hand-on-thigh story has nothing to do with Earth or Aurora.† â€Å"I know, but this†¦ thing†¦ that hovers just past the edge of my mind seems to be connected with this single world anyway and I have the feeling that I must find out more about it at any cost. That†¦ and robots.† â€Å"Robots too? I thought the Elders' aerie put an end to that.† â€Å"Not at all. I've been thinking about them.† He stared at Dors with a troubled look on his face for a long moment, then said, â€Å"But I'm not sure.† â€Å"Sure about what, Hari?† But Seldon merely shook his head and said nothing more. Dors frowned, then said, â€Å"Hari, let me tell you one thing. In sober history-and, believe me, I know what I'm talking about there is no mention of one world of origin. It's a popular belief, I admit. I don't mean just among the unsophisticated followers of folklore, like the Mycogenians and the Dahlite heatsinkers, but there are biologists who insist that there must have been one world of origin for reasons that are well outside my area of expertise and there are the more mystical historians who tend to speculate about it. And among the leisure-class intellectuals, I understand such speculations are becoming fashionable. Still, scholarly history knows nothing about it.† Seldon said, â€Å"All the more reason, perhaps, to go beyond scholarly history. All I want is a device that will simplify psychohistory for me and I don't care what the device is, whether it is a mathematical trick or a historical trick or something totally imaginary. If the young man we've just talked to had had a little more formal training, I'd have set him on the problem. His thinking is marked by considerable ingenuity and originality-â€Å" Dors said, â€Å"And you're really going to help him, then?† â€Å"Absolutely. Just as soon as I'm in a position to.† â€Å"But ought you to make promises you're not sure you'll be able to keep?† â€Å"I want to keep it. If you're that stiff about impossible promises, consider that Hummin told Sunmaster Fourteen that I'd use psychohistory to get the Mycogenians their world back. There's just about zero chance of that. Even if I work out psychohistory, who knows if it can be used for so narrow and specialized a purpose? There's a real case of promising what one can't deliver.† But Dors said with some heat, â€Å"Chetter Hummin was trying to save our lives, to keep us out of the hands of Demerzel and the Emperor. Don't forget that. And I think he really would like to help the Mycogenians.† â€Å"And I really would like to help Yugo Amaryl and I am far more likely to be able to help him than I am the Mycogenians, so if you justify the second, please don't criticize the first. What's more, Dors†-and his eyes flashed angrily-â€Å"I really would like to find Mother Rittah and I'm prepared to go alone.† â€Å"Never!† snapped Dors. â€Å"If you go, I go.† 67. Mistress Tisalver returned with her daughter in tow an hour after Amaryl had left on this way to his shift. She said nothing at all to either Seldon or Dors, but gave a curt nod of her head when they greeted her and gazed sharply about the room as though to verify that the heatsinker had left no trace. She then sniffed the air sharply and looked at Seldon accusingly before marching through the common room into the family bedroom. Tisalver himself arrived home later and when Seldon and Dors came to the dinner table, Tisalver took advantage of the fact that his wife was still ordering some last-minute details in connection with the dinner to say in a low voice, â€Å"Has that person been here?† â€Å"And gone,† said Seldon solemnly. â€Å"Your wife was out at the time.† Tisalver nodded and said, â€Å"Will you have to do this again?† â€Å"I don't think so,† said Seldon. â€Å"Good.† Dinner passed largely in silence, but afterward, when the daughter had gone to her room for the dubious pleasures of computer practice, Seldon leaned back and said, â€Å"Tell me about Billibotton.† Tisalver looked astonished and his mouth moved without any sound issuing. Casilia, however, was less easily rendered speechless. She said, â€Å"Is that where your new friend lives? Are you going to return the visit?† â€Å"So far,† said Seldon quietly, â€Å"I have just asked about Billibotton.† Casilia said sharply, â€Å"It is a slum. The dregs live there. No one goes there, except the filth that make their homes there.† â€Å"I understand a Mother Rittah lives there.† â€Å"I never heard of her,† said Casilia, her mouth closing with a snap. It was quite clear that she had no intention of knowing anyone by name who lived in Billibotton. Tisalver, casting an uneasy look at his wife, said, â€Å"I've heard of her. She's a crazy old woman who is supposed to tell fortunes.† â€Å"And does she live in Billibotton?† â€Å"I don't know, Master Seldon. I've never seen her. She's mentioned sometimes in the news holocasts when she makes her predictions.† â€Å"Do they come true?† Tisalver snorted. â€Å"Do predictions ever come true? Hers don't even make sense.† â€Å"Does she ever talk about Earth?† â€Å"I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised.† â€Å"The mention of Earth doesn't puzzle you. Do you know about Earth?† Now Tisalver looked surprised. â€Å"Certainly, Master Seldon. It's the world all people came from†¦ supposedly.† â€Å"Supposedly? Don't you believe it?† â€Å"Me? I'm educated. But many ignorant people believe it.† â€Å"Are there book-films about Earth?† â€Å"Children's stories sometimes mention Earth. I remember, when I was a young boy, my favorite story began, ‘Once, long ago, on Earth, when Earth was the only planet-‘ Remember, Casilia? You liked it too.† Casilia shrugged, unwilling to bend as yet. â€Å"I'd like to see it sometime,† said Seldon, â€Å"but I mean real book-films†¦ uh†¦ learned ones†¦ or films†¦ or printouts.† â€Å"I never heard of any, but the library-â€Å" â€Å"I'll try that.-Are there any taboos about speaking of Earth?† â€Å"What are taboos?† â€Å"I mean, is it a strong custom that people mustn't talk of Earth or that outsiders mustn't ask about it?† Tisalver looked so honestly astonished that there seemed no point in waiting for an answer. Dors put in, â€Å"Is there some rule about outsiders not going to Billibotton?† Now Tisalver turned earnest. â€Å"No rule, but it's not a good idea for anyone to go there. I wouldn't.† Dors said, â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"It's dangerous. Violent! Everyone is armed.-I mean, Dahl is an armed place anyway, but in Billibotton they use the weapons. Stay in this neighborhood. It's safe.† â€Å"So far,† said Casilia darkly. â€Å"It would be better if we left altogether. Heatsinkers go anywhere these days.† And there was another lowering look in Seldon's direction. Seldon said, â€Å"What do you mean that Dahl is an armed place? There are strong Imperial regulations against weapons.† â€Å"I know that,† said Tisalver, â€Å"and there are no stun guns here or percussives or Psychic Probes or anything like that. But there are knives.† He looked embarrassed. Dors said, â€Å"Do you carry a knife, Tisalver?† â€Å"Me?† He looked genuinely horrified. â€Å"I am a man of peace and this is a safe neighborhood.† â€Å"We have a couple of them in the house,† said Casilia, sniffing again. â€Å"We're not that certain this is a safe neighborhood.† â€Å"Does everyone carry knives?† asked Dors. â€Å"Almost everyone, Mistress Venabili,† said Tisalver. â€Å"It's customary. But that doesn't mean everyone uses them.† â€Å"But they use them in Billibotton, I suppose,† said Dors. â€Å"Sometimes. When they're excited, they have fights.† â€Å"And the government permits it? The Imperial government, I mean?† â€Å"Sometimes they try to clean Billibotton up, but knives are too easy to hide and the custom is too strong. Besides, it's almost always Dahlites that get killed and I don't think the Imperial government gets too upset over that.† â€Å"What if it's an outsider who gets killed?† â€Å"If it's reported, the Imperials could get excited. But what happens is that no one has seen anything and no one knows anything. The Imperials sometimes round up people on general principles, but they can never prove anything. I suppose they decide it's the outsiders' fault for being there.-So don't go to Billibotton, even if you have a knife.† Seldon shook his head rather pettishly. â€Å"I wouldn't carry a knife. I don't know how to use one. Not skillfully.† â€Å"Then it's simple, Master Seldon. Stay out.† Tisalver shook his head portentously. â€Å"Just stay out.† â€Å"I may not be able to do that either,† said Seldon. Dors glared at him, clearly annoyed, and said to Tisalver, â€Å"Where does one buy a knife? Or may we have one of yours?† Casilia said quickly, â€Å"No one takes someone else's knife. You must buy your own.† Tisalver said, â€Å"There are knife stores all over. There aren't supposed to be. Theoretically they're illegal, you know. Any appliance store sells them, however. If you see a washing machine on display, that's a sure sign.† â€Å"And how does one get to Billibotton?† asked Seldon. â€Å"By Expressway.† Tisalver looked dubious as he looked at Dors's frowning expression. Seldon said, â€Å"And once I reach the Expressway?† â€Å"Get on the eastbound side and watch for the signs. But if you must go, Master Seldon†-Tisalver hesitated, then said-â€Å"you mustn't take Mistress Venabili. Women sometimes are treated†¦ worse.† â€Å"She won't go,† said Seldon. â€Å"I'm afraid she will,† said Dors with quiet determination. 68. The appliance store dealer's mustache was clearly as lush as it had been in his younger days, but it was grizzled now, even though the hair on his head was still black. He touched the mustache out of sheer habit as he gazed at Dors and brushed it back on each side. He said, â€Å"You're not a Dahlite.† â€Å"Yes, but I still want a knife.† He said, â€Å"It's against the law to sell knives.† Dors said, â€Å"I'm not a policewoman or a government agent of any sort. I'm going to Billibotton.† He stared at her thoughtfully. â€Å"Alone?† â€Å"With my friend.† She jerked her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of Seldon, who was waiting outside sullenly. â€Å"You're buying it for him?† He stared at Seldon and it didn't take him long to decide. â€Å"He's an outsider too. Let him come in and buy it for himself.† â€Å"He's not a government agent either. And I'm buying it for myself.† The dealer shook his head. â€Å"Outsiders are crazy. But if you want to spend some credits, I'll take them from you.† He reached under the counter, brought out a stub, turned it with a slight and expert motion, and the knife blade emerged. â€Å"Is that the largest you have?† â€Å"Best woman's knife made.† â€Å"Show me a man's knife.† â€Å"You don't want one that's too heavy. Do you know how to use one of these things?† â€Å"I'll learn and I'm not worried about heavy. Show me a man's knife.† The dealer smiled. â€Å"Well, if you want to see one-â€Å" He moved farther down the counter and brought up a much fatter stub. He gave it a twist and what appeared to be a butcher's knife emerged. He handed it to her, handle first, still smiling. She said, â€Å"Show me that twist of yours.† He showed her on a second knife, slowly twisting one way to make the blade appear, then the other way to make it disappear. â€Å"Twist and squeeze,† he said. â€Å"Do it again, sir.† The dealer obliged. Dors said, â€Å"All right, close it and toss me the haft.† He did, in a slow upward loop. She caught it, handed it back, and said, â€Å"Faster.† He raised his eyebrows and then, without warning, backhanded it to her left side. She made no attempt to bring over her right hand, but caught it with her left and the blade showed tumescently at once-then disappeared. The dealer's mouth fell open. â€Å"And this is the largest you have?† she said. â€Å"It is. If you try to use it, it will just tire you out.† â€Å"I'll breathe deeply. I'll take a second one too.† â€Å"For your friend?† â€Å"No. For me.† â€Å"You plan on using two knives?† â€Å"I've got two hands.† The dealer sighed. â€Å"Mistress, please stay out of Billibotton. You don't know what they do to women there.† â€Å"I can guess. How do I put these knives on my belt?† â€Å"Not the one you've got on, Mistress. That's not a knife belt. I can sell you one, though.† â€Å"Will it hold two knives?† â€Å"I might have a double belt somewhere. Not much call for them.† â€Å"I'm calling for them.† â€Å"I may not have it in your size.† â€Å"Then we'll cut it down or something.† â€Å"It will cost you a lot of credits.† â€Å"My credit tile will cover it.† When she emerged at last, Seldon said sourly, â€Å"You look ridiculous with that bulky belt.† â€Å"Really, Hari? Too ridiculous to go with you to Billibotton? Then let's both go back to the apartment.† â€Å"No. I'll go on by myself. I'll be safer by myself.† Dors said, â€Å"There is no use saying that, Hari. We both go back or we both go forward. Under no circumstances do we separate.† And somehow the firm look in her blue eyes, the set to her lips, and the manner in which her hands had dropped to the hafts at her belt, convinced Seldon she was serious. â€Å"Very well,† he said, â€Å"but if you survive and if I ever see Hummin again, my price for continuing to work on psychohistory-much as I have grown fond of you-will be your removal. Do you understand?† And suddenly Dors smiled. â€Å"Forget it. Don't practice your chivalry on me. Nothing will remove me. Do you understand?† 69. They got off the Expressway where the sign, flickering in the air, said: BILLIBOTTON. As perhaps an indication of what might be expected, the second ‘I' was smeared, a mere blob of fainter light. They made their way out of the car and down to the walkway below. It was early afternoon and at first glance, Billibotton seemed much like the part of Dahl they had left. The air, however, had a pungent aroma and the walkway was littered with trash. One could tell that auto-sweeps were not to be found in the neighborhood. And, although the walkway looked ordinary enough, the atmosphere was uncomfortable and as tense as a too-tightly coiled spring. Perhaps it was the people. There seemed the normal number of pedestrians, but they were not like pedestrians elsewhere, Seldon thought. Ordinarily, in the press of business, pedestrians were self-absorbed and in the endless crowds on the endless thoroughfares of Trantor, people could only survive-psychologically-by ignoring each other. Eyes slid away. Brains were closed off. There was an artificial privacy with each person enclosed in a velvet fog of his or her own making. Or there was the ritualistic friendliness of an evening promenade in those neighborhoods that indulged in such things. But here in Billibotton, there was neither friendliness nor neutral withdrawal. At least not where outsiders were concerned. Every person who passed, moving in either direction, turned to stare at Se ldon and Dors. Every pair of eyes, as though attached by invisible cords to the two outsiders, followed them with ill will. The clothing of the Billibottoners tended to be smudged, old, and sometimes corn. There was a patina of ill-washed poverty over them and Seldon felt uneasy at the slickness of his own new clothes. He said, â€Å"Where in Billibotton does Mother Rittah live, do you suppose?† â€Å"I don't know,† said Dors. â€Å"You brought us here, so you do the supposing. I intend to confine myself to the task of protection and I think I'm going to find it necessary to do just that.† Seldon said, â€Å"I assumed it would only be necessary to ask the way of any passerby, but somehow I'm not encouraged to do so.† â€Å"I don't blame you. I don't think you'll find anyone springing to your assistance.† â€Å"On the other hand, there are such things as youngsters.† He indicated one with a brief gesture of one hand. A boy who looked to be about twelve-in any case young enough to lack the universal adult male mustache had come to a full halt and was staring at them. Dors said, â€Å"You're guessing that a boy that age has not yet developed the full Billibottonian dislike of outsiders.† â€Å"At any rate,† said Seldon, â€Å"I'm guessing he is scarcely large enough to have developed the full Billibottonian penchant for violence. I suppose he might run away and shout insults from a distance if we approach him, but I doubt he'll attack us.† Seldon raised his voice. â€Å"Young man.† The boy took a step backward and continued to stare. Seldon said, â€Å"Come here,† and beckoned. The boy said, â€Å"Wa' for, guy?† â€Å"So I can ask you directions. Come closer, so I don't have to shout.† The boy approached two steps closer. His face was smudged, but his eyes were bright and sharp. His sandals were of different make and there was a large patch on one leg of his trousers. He said, â€Å"Wa' kind o' directions?† â€Å"We're trying to find Mother Rittah.† The boy's eyes flickered. â€Å"Wa' for, guy?† â€Å"I'm a scholar. Do you know what a scholar is?† â€Å"Ya went to school?† â€Å"Yes. Didn't you?† The boy spat to one side in contempt. â€Å"Nah.† â€Å"I want advice from Mother Rittah-if you'll take me to her.† â€Å"Ya want your fortune? Ya come to Billibotton, guy, with your fancy clothes, so I can tell ya your fortune. All bad.† â€Å"What's your name, young man?† â€Å"What's it to ya?† â€Å"So we can speak in a more friendly fashion. And so you can take me to Mother Rittah's place. Do you know where she lives?† â€Å"Maybe yes, maybe no. My name's Raych. What's in it for me if I take ya?† â€Å"What would you like, Raych?† The boy's eyes halted at Dors's belt. Raych said, â€Å"The lady got a couple o' knives. Gimme one and I'll take ya to Mother Rittah.† â€Å"Those are grown people's knives, Raych. You're too young.† â€Å"Then I guess I'm too young to know where Mother Rittah lives.† And he looked up slyly through the shaggy halt that curtained his eyes. Seldon grew uneasy. It was possible they might attract a crowd. Several men had stopped already, but had then moved on when nothing of interest seemed to be taking place. If, however, the boy grew angry and lashed out at them in word or deed, people would undoubtedly gather. He smiled and said, â€Å"Can you read, Raych?† Raych spat again. â€Å"Nah! Who wants to read?† â€Å"Can you use a computer?† â€Å"A talking computer? Sure. Anyone can.† â€Å"I'll tell you what, then. You take me to the nearest computer store and I'll buy you a little computer all your own and software that will teach you to read. A few weeks and you'll be able to read.† It seemed to Seldon that the boy's eyes sparkled at the thought, but-if so-they hardened at once. â€Å"Nah, Knife or nothin'.† â€Å"That's the point, Raych. You learn to read and don't tell anyone and you can surprise people. After a while you can bet them you can read. Bet them five credits. You can win a few extra credits that way and you can buy a knife of your own.† The boy hesitated. â€Å"Nah! No one will bet me. No one got credits.† â€Å"If you can read, you can get a job in a knife store and you can save your wages and get a knife at a discount. How about that?† â€Å"When ya gonna buy the talking computer?† â€Å"Right now. I'll give it to you when I see Mother Rittah.† â€Å"You got credits?† â€Å"I have a credit tile.† â€Å"Let's see ya buy the computer.† The transaction was carried through, but when the boy reached for it, Seldon shook his head and put it inside his pouch. â€Å"You've got to get me to Mother Rittah first, Raych. Are you sure you know where to find her?† Raych allowed a look of contempt to cross his face. â€Å"Sure I do. I'll take ya there, only ya better hand over the computer when we get there or I'll get some guys I know after you and the lady, so ya better watch out.† â€Å"You don't have to threaten us,† said Seldon. â€Å"We'll take care of our end of the deal.† Raych led them quickly along the walkway, past curious stares. Seldon was silent during the walk and so was Dors. Dors was far less lost in her own thoughts, though, for she clearly remained conscious of the surrounding people at all times. She kept meeting, with a level glare, the eyes of those passersby that turned toward them. On occasion, when there were footsteps behind them, she turned to look grimly back. And then Raych stopped and said, â€Å"In here. She ain't homeless, ya know.† They followed him into an apartment complex and Seldon, who had had the intention of following their route with a view to retracing his steps later, was quickly lost. He said, â€Å"How do you know your way through these alleys, Raych?† The boy shrugged. â€Å"I been loafin' through them since I was a kid,† he said. â€Å"Besides, the apartments are numbered-where they ain't broken off-and there's arrows and things. You can't get lost if you know the tricks.† Raych knew the tricks, apparently, and they wandered deeper into the complex. Hanging over it all was an air of total decay: disregarded debris, inhabitants slinking past in clear resentment of the outsiders' invasion. Unruly youngsters ran along the alleys in pursuit of some game or other. Some of them yelled, â€Å"Hey, get out o' the way!† when their levitating ball narrowly missed Dors. And finally, Raych stopped before a dark scarred door on which the number 2782 glowed feebly. â€Å"This is it,† he said and held out his hand. â€Å"First let's see who's inside,† said Seldon softly. He pushed the signal button and nothing happened. â€Å"It don't work,† said Raych. â€Å"Ya gotta bang. Loud. She don't hear too good.† Seldon pounded his fist on the door and was rewarded with the sound of movement inside. A shrill voice called out, â€Å"Who wants Mother Rittah?† Seldon shouted, â€Å"Two scholars!† He tossed the small computer, with its small package of software attached, to Raych, who snatched it, grinned, and took off at a rapid run. Seldon then turned to face the opening door and Mother Rittah. 70. Mother Rittah was well into her seventies, perhaps, but had the kind of face that, at first sight, seemed to belie that. Plump cheeks, a little mouth, a small round chin slightly doubled. She was very short-not quite 1.5 meters tall-and had a thick body. But there were fine wrinkles about her eyes and when she smiled, as she smiled at the sight of them, others broke out over her face. And she moved with difficulty. â€Å"Come in, come in,† she said in a soft high-pitched voice and peered at them as though her eyesight was beginning to fail. â€Å"Outsiders†¦ Outworlders even. Am I right? You don't seem to have the Trantor smell about you.† Seldon wished she hadn't mentioned smell. The apartment, overcrowded and littered with small possessions that seemed dim and dusty, reeked with food odors that were on the edge of rancidity. The air was so thick and clinging that he was sure his clothes would smell strongly of it when they left. He said, â€Å"You are right, Mother Rittah. I am Hari Seldon of Helicon. My friend is Dors Venabili of Cinna.† â€Å"So,† she said, looking about for an unoccupied spot on the floor where she could invite them to sit, but finding none suitable. Dors said, â€Å"We are willing to stand, Mother.† â€Å"What?† she looked up at Dors. â€Å"You must speak briskly, my child. My hearing is not what it was when I was your age.† â€Å"Why don't you get a hearing device?† said Seldon, raising his voice. â€Å"It wouldn't help, Master Seldon. Something seems to be wrong with the nerve and I have no money for nerve rebuilding.-You have come to learn the future from old Mother Rittah?† â€Å"Not quite,† said Seldon. â€Å"I have come to learn the past.† â€Å"Excellent. It is such a strain to decide what people want to hear.† â€Å"It must be quite an art,† said Dors, smiling. â€Å"It seems easy, but one has to he properly convincing. I earn my fees.† â€Å"If you have a credit outlet,† said Seldon. â€Å"We will pay any reasonable fees if you tell us about Earth-without cleverly designing what you tell us to suit what we want to hear. We wish to hear the truth.† The old woman, who had been shuffling about the room, making adjustments here and there, as though to make it all prettier and more suitable for important visitors, stopped short. â€Å"What do you want to know about Earth?† â€Å"What is it, to begin with?† The old woman turned and seemed to gaze off into space. When she spoke, her voice was low and steady. â€Å"It is a world, a very old planet. It is forgotten and lost.† Dors said, â€Å"It is not part of history. We know that much.† â€Å"It comes before history, child,† said Mother Rittah solemnly. â€Å"It existed in the dawn of the Galaxy and before the dawn. It was the only world with humanity.† She nodded firmly. Seldon said, â€Å"Was another name for Earth†¦ Aurora?† And now Mother Rittah's face misted into a frown. â€Å"Where did you hear that?† â€Å"In my wanderings. I have heard of an old forgotten world named Aurora on which humanity lived in primordial peace.† â€Å"It's a lie.† She wiped her mouth as though to get the taste of what she had just heard out of it. â€Å"That name you mention must never be mentioned except as the place of Evil. It was the beginning of Evil. Earth was alone till Evil came, along with its sister worlds. Evil nearly destroyed Earth, but Earth rallied and destroyed Evil-with the help of heroes.† â€Å"Earth was before this Evil. Are you sure of that?† â€Å"Long before. Earth was alone in the Galaxy for thousands of years-millions of years.† â€Å"Millions of years? Humanity existed on it for millions of years with no other people on any other world?† â€Å"That's true. That's true. That's true.† â€Å"But how do you know all this? Is it all in a computer program? Or a printout? Do you have anything I can read?† Mother Rittah shook her head. â€Å"I heard the old stories from my mother, who heard it from hers, and so on far back. I have no children, so I tell the stories to others, but it may come to an end. This is a time of disbelief.† Dors said, â€Å"Not really, Mother. There are people who speculate about prehistoric times and who study some of the tales of lost worlds.† Mother Rittah made a motion of her arm as though to wipe it away. â€Å"They look at it with cold eyes. Scholarly. They try to fit it in with their notions. I could tell you stories for a year of the great hero Ba-Lee, but you would have no time to listen and I have lost the strength to tell.† Seldon said, â€Å"Have you ever heard of robots?† The old woman shuddered and her voice was almost a scream. â€Å"Why do you ask such things? Those were artificial human beings, evil in themselves and the work of the Evil worlds. They were destroyed and should never be mentioned.† â€Å"There was one special robot, wasn't there, that the Evil worlds hated?† Mother Rittah tottered toward Seldon and peered into his eyes. He could feel her hot breath on his face. â€Å"Have you come to mock me? You know of these things and yet you ask? Why do you ask?† â€Å"Because I wish to know.† â€Å"There was an artificial human being who helped Earth. He was Da-Nee, friend of Ba-Lee. He never died and lives somewhere, waiting for his time to return. None knows when that time will be, but someday he will come and restore the great old days and remove all cruelty, injustice, and misery. That is the promise.† At this, she closed her eyes and smiled, as if remembering†¦ Seldon waited a while in silence, then sighed and said, â€Å"Thank you, Mother Rittah. You have been very helpful. What is your fee?† â€Å"So pleasant to meet Outworlders,† the old woman replied. â€Å"Ten credits. May I offer you some refreshment?† â€Å"No, thank you,† said Seldon earnestly. â€Å"Please take twenty. You need only tell us how to get back to the Expressway from here.-And, Mother Rittah, if you can arrange to have some of your tales of Earth put into a computer disc, I will pay you well.† â€Å"I would need so much strength. How well?† â€Å"It would depend on how long the story is and how well it is told. I might pay a thousand credits.† Mother Rittah licked her lips. â€Å"A thousand credits? But how will I find you when the story is told?† â€Å"I will give you the computer code number at which I can be reached.† After Seldon gave Mother Rittah the code number, he and Dors left, thankful for the comparatively clean odor of the alley outside. They walked briskly in the direction indicated by the old woman. Dors said, â€Å"That wasn't a very long interview, Hari.† â€Å"I know. The surroundings were terribly unpleasant and I felt I had learned enough. Amazing how these folktales tend to magnify.† â€Å"What do you mean, ‘magnify'?† â€Å"Well, the Mycogenians fill their Aurora with human beings who lived for centuries and the Dahlites fill their Earth with a humanity that lived for millions of years. And both talk of a robot that lives forever. Still, it makes one think.† â€Å"As far as millions of years go, there's room for- Where are we going?† â€Å"Mother Rittah said we go in this direction till we reach a rest area, then follow the sign for CENTRAL WALKWAY, bearing left, and keep on following the sign. Did we pass a rest area on the way in?† â€Å"We may be leaving by a route different from the one we came in. I don't remember a rest area, but I wasn't watching the route. I was keeping my eye on the people we passed and-â€Å" Her voice died away. Up ahead the alley swelled outward on both sides. Seldon remembered. They had passed that way. There had been a couple of ratty couch pads resting on the walkway floor on either side. There was, however, no need for Dors to watch passersby going out as she had coming in. There were no passersby. But up ahead in the rest area they spotted a group of men, rather large-sized for Dahlites, mustaches bristling, bare upper arms muscular and glistening under the yellowish indoor light of the walkway. Clearly, they were waiting for the Outworlders and, almost automatically, Seldon and Dors came to a halt. For a moment or two, the tableau held. Then Seldon looked behind him hastily. Two or three additional men had stepped into view. Seldon said between his teeth, â€Å"We're trapped. I should not have let you come, Dors.† â€Å"On the contrary. This is why I'm here, but was it worth your seeing Mother Rittah?† â€Å"If we get out of this, it was.† Seldon then said in a loud and firm voice, â€Å"May we pass?† One of the men ahead stepped forward. He was fully Seldon's height of 1.73 meters, but broader in the shoulders and much more muscular. A bit flabby at the waist, though, Seldon noted. â€Å"I'm Marron,† he said with self-satisfied significance, as though the name ought to have meaning, â€Å"and I'm here to tell you we don't like Outworlders in our district. You want to come in, all right-but if you want to leave, you'll have to pay.† â€Å"Very well. How much?† â€Å"All you've got. You rich Outworlders have credit tiles, right? Just hand them over.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No point saying no. We'll just take them.† â€Å"You can't take them without killing me or hurting me and they won't work without my voiceprint. My normal voiceprint.† â€Å"That's not so, Master-see, I'm being polite-we can take them away from you without hurting you very much.† â€Å"How many of you big strong men will it take? Nine? No.† Seldon counted rapidly. â€Å"Ten.† â€Å"Just one. Me.† â€Å"With no help?† â€Å"Just me.† â€Å"If the rest of you will clear away and give us room, I would like to see you try it, Marron.† â€Å"You don't have a knife, Master. You want one?† â€Å"No, use yours to make the fight even. I'll fight without one.† Marron looked about at the others and said, â€Å"Hey, this puny guy is a sport. He don't even sound scared. That's sort of nice. It would be a shame to hurt him. I tell you what, Master. I'll take the girl. If you want me to stop, hand over your credit tile and her tile and use your right voices to activate them. If you say no, then after I'm through with the girl†¦ and that'll take some time†-he laughed-â€Å"I'll just have to hurt you.† â€Å"No,† said Seldon. â€Å"Let the woman go. I've challenged you to a fight-one to one, you with a knife, me without. If you want bigger odds, I'll fight two of you, but let the woman go.† â€Å"Stop, Hari!† cried out Dors. â€Å"If he wants me, let him come and get me. You stay right where you are, Hari, and don't move.† â€Å"You hear that?† said Marron, grinning broadly. † ‘You stay right where you are, Hari, and don't move.' I think the little lady wants me. You two, keep him still.† Each of Seldon's arms were caught in an iron grip and he felt the sharp point of a knife in his back. â€Å"Don't move,† said a harsh whisper in his ear, â€Å"and you can watch. The lady will probably like it. Marron's pretty good at this.† Dors called out again. â€Å"Don't move, Hari!† She turned to face Marron watchfully, her half-closed hands poised near her belt. He closed in on her purposefully and she waited till he had come within arm's length, when suddenly her own arms flashed and Marron found himself facing two large knives. For a moment, he leaned backward and then he laughed. â€Å"The little lady has two knives-knives like the big boys have. And I've only got one. But that's fair enough.† His knife was swiftly out. â€Å"I hate to have to cut you, little lady, because it will be more fun for both of us if I don't. Maybe I can just knock them out of your hands, huh?† Dors said, â€Å"I don't want to kill you. I'll do all I can to avoid doing so. Just the same, I call on all to witness, that if I do kill you, it is to protect my friend, as I am honor-bound to do.† Marron pretended to be terrified. â€Å"Oh, please don't kill me, little lady.† Then he burst into laughter and was joined by the other Dahlites present. Marron lunged with his knife, quite wide of the mark. He tried it again, then a third time, but Dors never budged. She made no attempt to fend off any motion that was not truly aimed at her. Marron's expression darkened. He was trying to make her respond with panic, but he was only making himself seem ineffectual. The next lunge was directly at her and Dors's left-hand blade moved flashingly and caught his with a force that pushed his arm aside. Her right-hand blade flashed inward and made a diagonal slit in his T-shirt. A thin bloody line smeared the dark-haired skin beneath. Marron looked down at himself in shock as the onlookers gasped in surprise. Seldon felt the grip on him weaken slightly as the two who held him were distracted by a duel not going quite as they had expected. He tensed himself. Now Marron lunged again and this time his left hand shot outward to enclose Dors's right wrist. Again Dors's left-hand blade caught his knife and held it motionless, while her right hand twisted agilely and drew downward, even as Marron's left hand closed upon it. It closed on nothing but the blade and when he opened his hand there was a bloody line down the palm. Dors sprang back and Marron, aware of the blood on his chest and hand, roared out chokingly, â€Å"Someone toss me another knife!† There was hesitation and then one of the onlookers tossed his own knife underhanded. Marron reached for it, but Dors was quicker. Her right-hand blade struck the thrown knife and sent it flying backward, whirling as it went. Seldon felt the grips on his arms weaken further. He lifted them suddenly, pushing up and forward, and was free. His two captors turned toward him with a sudden shout, but he quickly kneed one in the groin and elbowed the other in the solar plexus and both went down. He knelt to draw the knives of each and rose as double-armed as Dors. Unlike Dors, Seldon did not know how to handle the blades, but he knew the Dahlites would scarcely be aware of that. Dors said, â€Å"Just keep them off, Hari. Don't attack yet.-Marron, my next stroke will not be a scratch.† Marron, totally enraged, roared incoherently and charged blindly, attempting by sheer kinetic energy to overwhelm his opponent. Dors, dipping and sidestepping, ducked under his right arm, kicked her foot against his right ankle, and down he crashed, his knife flying. She then knelt, placed one blade against the back of his neck and the other against his throat, and said, â€Å"Yield!† With another yell, Marron struck out against her with one arm, pushed her to one side, then scrambled to his feet. He had not yet stood up completely when she was upon him, one knife slashing downward and hacking away a section of his mustache. This time he yowled like a large animal in agony, clapping his hand to his face. When he drew it away, it was dripping blood. Dors shouted, â€Å"It won't grow again, Marron. Some of the lip went with it. Attack once more and you're dead meat.† She waited, but Marron had had enough. He stumbled away, moaning, leaving a trail of blood. Dors turned toward the others. The two that Seldon had knocked down were still lying there, unarmed and not anxious to get up. She bent down, cut their belts with one of her knives and then slit their trousers. â€Å"This way, you'll have to hold your pants up when you walk,† she said. She stared at the seven men still on their feet, who were watching her with awestruck fascination. â€Å"And which of you threw the knife?† There was silence. She said, â€Å"It doesn't matter to me. Come one at a time or all together, but each time I slash, someone dies.† And with one accord, the seven turned and scurried away. Dors lifted her eyebrows and said to Seldon, â€Å"This time, at least, Hummin can't complain that I failed to protect you.† Seldon said, â€Å"I still can't believe what I saw. I didn't know you could do anything like that-or talk like that either.† Dors merely smiled. â€Å"You have your talents too. We make a good pair. Here, retract your knife blades and put them into your pouch. I think the news will spread with enormous speed and we can get out of Billibotton without fear of being stopped.† She was quite right.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Hidden Victims of Tobacco Essay example

Hidden Victims of Tobacco Essay example Hidden Victims of Tobacco Essay example The Hidden Victims of Tobacco Worldwide, approximately 10 million cigarettes are purchased a minute, 15 billion are sold each day, and upwards of 5 trillion are produced and used on an annual basis (Martin). As the demand for tobacco continuously increases, so does the mass production of this product. Requiring 33 million workers at the early stages of the processing of tobacco and 100 million workers in all stages of the production, the production and labor of tobacco is strenuous (ILRF). Many people are unaware of the cruel child labor that occurs in this industry. In order to support their family, children are forced to in tobacco fields under horrible conditions. Due to a loophole in the United State child labor laws, thousands of children suffer at the expense of wealthy tobacco industry owners. People believe smokers are the victims of tobacco but children are victims legally, academically, and physically. It is illegal for anyone under 18 to smoke tobacco but somehow children legally work in the tobacco fields. Under the loophole in U.S. child labor law there is no minimum age for work on small farms with parental permission, and children ages 12 and up may work for hire on any size farm for unlimited periods outside school hours (Elaws). Only Congress can change the law and give protection to these children working long hours on the farms. The Labor Department tried last year to update and add tobacco to the list of hazardous jobs for children for the first time in decades, but failed because family farms are completely exempt (Elaws). Farm owners beat the system by allowing their entire family to work under one person’s social security number or by hiring a farm contractor who counts as only one employee but goes out and hires whomever they wish. Some Americans are unaware of these major problems in our government. America's youngest and poorest workforce shouldn't be forgott en. In the upcoming campaign, child labor needs to be brought to attention. The government should amend U.S. child labor law to provide the same protections to all working children. Children spend all their time and energy in the fields, which prevent them from getting a good education. Even if they do attend some sort of schooling, they are too tired to give full attention and receive good grades. The children that work in the tobacco do not develop simple life skills that help them in the future. They will continue working manual labor for the rest of their lives without an opportunity to increase their standard of living. Without the ability to find better paying jobs, due to a lack of education, the workers’ children will also be forced into the tobacco industry to help support their family. This cycle will continue for future generations and ruin these children’s dreams. Children are subjected to hazardous manual labor, physical strain, and dangerous environments. The children are forced to do physical tasks such as clearing the land, building tobacco-drying sheds, weeding and plucking tobacco. Some others are given the task of applying pesticide

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Galileo Galilei Essays (1048 words) - Galileo Galilei, Free Essays

Galileo Galilei Essays (1048 words) - Galileo Galilei, Free Essays Galileo Galilei subject = European History title = Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei was born at Pisa on the 18th of February in 1564. His father, Vincenzo Galilei, belonged to a noble family and had gained some distinction as a musician and a mathematician. At an early age, Galileo manifested his ability to learn both mathematical and mechanical types of things, but his parents, wishing to turn him aside from studies which promised no substantial return, steered him toward some sort of medical profession. But this had no effect on Galileo. During his youth he was allowed to follow the path that he wished to. Although in the popular mind Galileo is remembered chiefly as an astronomer, however, the science of mechanics and dynamics pretty much owe their existence to his findings. Before he was twenty, observation of the oscillations of a swinging lamp in the cathedral of Pisa led him to the discovery of the isochronism of the pendulum, which theory he utilized fifty years later in the construction of an astronomical clock. In 1588, an essay on the center of gravity in solids obtained for him the title of the Archimedes of his time, and secured him a teaching spot in the University of Pisa. During the years immediately following, taking advantage of the celebrated leaning tower, he laid the foundation experimentally of the theory of falling bodies and demonstrated the falsity of the peripatetic maxim, which is that an objects rate of descent is proportional to its weight. When he challenged this it made all of the followers of Aristotle extremely angry, they would not except the fact that their leader could have been wrong. Galileo, in result of this and other troubles, found it prudent to quit Pisa and move to Florence, the original home of his family. In Florence he was nominated by the Venetian Senate in 1592 to the chair of mathematics in the University of Padua, which he occupied for eighteen years, with ever-increasing fame. After that he was appointed philosopher and mathematician to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. During the whole of this period, and to the close of his life, his investigation of Nature, in all her fields, was never stopped. Following up his experiments at Pisa with others upon inclined planes, Galileo established the laws of falling bodies as they are still formulated. He likewise demonstrated the laws of projectiles, and largely anticipated the laws of motion as finally established by Newton. In statics, he gave the first direct and satisfactory demonstration of the laws of equilibrium and the principle of virtual velocities. In hydrostatics, he set forth the true principle of flotation. He invented a thermometer, though a defective one, but he did not, as is sometimes claimed for him, invent the microscope. Though, as has been said, it is by his astronomical discoveries that he is most widely remembered, it is not these that constitute his most substantial title to fame. In this connection, his greatest achievement was undoubtedly his virtual invention of the telescope. Hearing early in 1609 that a Dutch optician, named Lippershey, had produced an instrument by which the apparent size of remote objects was magnified, Galileo at once realized the principle by which such a result could alone be attained, and, after a single night devoted to consideration of the laws of refraction, he succeeded in constructing a telescope which magnified three times, its magnifying power being soon increased to thirty-two. This instrument being provided and turned towards the heavens, the discoveries, which have made Galileo famous, were bound at once to follow, though undoubtedly he was quick to grasp their full significance. The moon was shown not to be, as the old astronomy taught, a smooth and perfect sphere, of different nature to the earth, but to possess hills and valleys and other features resembling those of our own globe. The planet Jupiter was found to have satellites, thus displaying a solar system in miniature, and supporting the doctrine of Copernicus. It had been argued against the said system that, if it were true, the inferior planets, Venus and Mercury, between the earth and the sun, should in the course of their revolution exhibit phases like those of the moon, and, these being invisible to the naked eye, Copernicus had to change the false explanation that these planets were transparent and the sun's rays passed through them. But with his telescope Galileo found that Venus did actually exhibit the desired phases, and the objection

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Babylon under Hammurabis law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Babylon under Hammurabis law - Essay Example Babylonians started ruling over Sumer in 1900 BC. Hammurabi, the king of Babylon led his armies to occupy Mesopotamia and build an empire there. As the supreme ruler, Hammurabi established a set of rules of conduct for the Babylonians. The laws of Hammurabi were written in cuneiform and encrypted on stone, stating exactly how the Babylonian society was to behave. Lewis (pp.18) sates, â€Å"the code is engraved in cuneiform writing on a seven-foot tall black stone pillar†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This discussion is going to focus on the laws of Hammurabi concerning marriage, divorce, adultery, inheritance, and life in Babylon in general. According to Hammurabi’s code, marriage was considered a contract between a man and a woman. Marriages were organized by parents and other relatives for their children, with the bride-groom’s parents obligated to pay bride price to the girl’s family. This type of marriage arrangement sounds authoritative since the lovers did have any say in their own marriage. Parents were in complete control of their children’s lives and marriages were not based on love or mutual agreement on the part of the ones getting married. This is very unfair, since a person would be forced to marry a person they did not want for a partner. Divorce was handled very differently for men and women. Whereas men were allowed to divorce their wives at will, wives were only permitted to separate from their husbands on grounds of neglect or cruelty.

Friday, November 1, 2019

People Resourcing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

People Resourcing - Essay Example The definition of people resourcing includes a number of activities. â€Å"People resourcing is concerned with ensuring that the organisation obtains and retains the human capital needs and employs them productively. It is also about those aspects of employment practices that are concerned with welcoming people to organisation and, if there is no alternative, releasing them† .This definition highlights important aspects relating to people resourcing. First, it primarily focuses on organisation’s human capital requirements and subsequently it requires the effective and productive use of employees. In this regard, it is pertinent to highlight that this part of definition looks ambiguous as it does not further describe the productivity of employees. Consequently, this situation leads to consequent unclear application of definition. In the next part of definition, the definition author has attempted to elucidate hiring and firing perspective as an inbuilt part of people res ourcing. However, it is still relevant to highlight that this definition points out the importance of human capital. For example, the definition author insists that human capital, such as natural talent, ability to satisfy job description and job role as expected by employer, remains a central focal point of the definition. At the same time, the definition also insists that after satiating the first two requirements of the definition, it is essential to work for the third requirement (productive utilisation) of the hired personnel.