Police Personality Revision Essay

A good police work lies on the concept of their personalities taking into consideration their traits hand in hand with their socializations and experiences. These decisive factors basically comprise what ideal personality of a police is necessary in order to completely exemplify their tasks. Perhaps, it is imperative to give emphasis on the notions of police character to give a strong hold on this subject matter. At any rate, there were instances that conflict arises as police render their services. â€Å"Part of this reflected broader social conflict over the just and equal distribution of opportunities and legal protections to all people; other sources of conflict included disparities between the symbolic role of the police, everyday social expectations about police services and behavior† (Vila & Morris, 1999). There is indeed a unique trait that flows in the blood of every police such as dedication, bravery, and conviction. The uniqueness of police’s trait can never be gamble away. Police’s compassion to the welfare of their people is on top priority. They are willing to surrender even their own lives in order to defend the people. It is tough but they chose to risk everything for the sake of their profession. Thus, this is the one that fulfills their personality; to serve the people at all costs. On the other note, socializations and experiences are important tools to be able to epitomize their character properly. Apparently, the police needs to know how to communicate with the people as well as to know how to address their demands in order to properly portray their roles. Socialization and experience are indispensable contrivance that makes the attitude of a police. They will be able to serve pertinently due to the fact that they have enough experiences. â€Å"What is important about socialization, then, is that people learn to behave according to the expectations of their culture and transmit that way of life from one generation to the next† (Kenney & McNamara, 1999). Weighing these two elements that encompass the personality of a police, it is on a certain note that their unique traits make them more trustworthy on their chosen field. It is in these traits also that they detached their profession far beyond all other field. â€Å"The profession is a moral unit positing certain values and ideals which guide its members in their dealings with laymen. This guide may be a set of unwritten norms transmitted through the professional educational system or it may be codified into written canons of professional ethics† (Glenn et al., 2003).   Certainly, as they socialized and experienced a lot of circumstances, it all boils down on having a good persona – unique trait – which make them build rapport with a lot of people in town and which also gives them the pride for the people to respect them and their line of work. Reference:    Glenn, Panitch, Barnes Proby, Williams, Christian, Lewis, Gerwehr & Brannan (2003). Training the 21st Century Police Officer: Redefining Police Professionalism for the Los Angeles Police Department. Rand    Kenney, dennis Hay & McNamara, Robert P. (1999). Police and Policing: Contemporary Issues. Praeger Vila, Bryan & Morris, Cynthia (1999). The Role of Police in American History. Greenwood Press

Impact of Economic Growth and Employment Rate on Inflation Essay

The public sector has used a mix of policies to control inflation, and it is also held responsible for its creation. The consumer price index (CPI) increased over 11 percent in 1981-82, and over 12 percent in 1990-91. Similarly, sensitive price index (SPI) increased over 15 percent in 1981-82, and over 12 percent in 1990-91. The GDP deflator was also double-digit for several years. Inflation not only affects sectoral allocation and distribution of income but also generates poverty. Several supply side and demand side factors could be responsible for this surge in inflation. Inflation can be a result of shocks to the supply of certain food items and to world oil markets. Rising oil prices can pose risk of increase in prices of almost all other commodities of the consumer basket. Such supply-side shocks are very volatile and can cause large fluctuations in food and oil prices. The effects of this on overall inflation at times can be so excessive that these cannot be countered through demand management, including monetary policy. However, greater emphasis in the recent debate on inflation remained on the demand side factors. The demand side pressures were often considered as an outcome of the September 11, 2001 incident in the United States of America (USA) and a combination of expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. First, increased domestic demand due to remittances from abroad and liberal demand-management policies outpaced the domestic production, creating a positive output gap, which in turn put upward pressure on prices. A recently conducted survey by the PIDE on inflation expectations reveals that people are expecting high inflation together with high unemployment, a decline in growth rate and decreasing currency value.

80s Fashion Essay

80s Fashion! For many, the 1980s was a great time. The creation of MTV revolutionised fashion, the music industry and even how we watched TV. But for others, it was nothing but bad hair, worse clothing and music often had more to do with machines than talent. The clothes worn in the 80s depicted people who were trying to find themselves. They looked fro ways to express their creativity and individuality.Men wore heavy make-up and grew long hair; for example David Bowie or Boy George. Whilst women wore layers of clothing and short hair cuts. The likes of Madonna and Cindy Lauper rocked this look. Both sexes were looking for an identity. Famous Fashion Trends In the 80s: New Romantic Look, Valley Girl, Power dressing, Leotards and Dance wear and Miami Vice Look were just a few famous trends that people in the eighties wore. New romantic Look:New Wave, New Romantic, and gothic fashion at this time was heavily influenced by punk fashion: the streaky eyeliner, the spiked hair, the outrage ous clothing, some of which derived from bondage wear and some of which (New Romantic) was a nod to long-gone eras. Power Dressing: Shoulder Pads, popularised by Joan Collins and Linda Evans from the soap Opera Dynasty, remained popular throughout the 1980s and even the first three years of the 1990s.The reason behind the sudden popularity of shoulder pads for women in the 1980s may be that women in the workplace were no longer unusual, and wanted to â€Å"power dress† to show that they were the equals of men at the office. Many women's outfits had velcro on the inside of the shoulder where various sized shoulder pads could be attached. Leotards and Dance wear: Leotards had been a fashion trend since the early 1970s, when were first used to add colour and texture under the â€Å"layered look† popular in the middle of that decade.By the end of the decade leotards made from shiny spandex had become the standard feminine fashion of the â€Å"disco era†, partly for their form-fitting quality and the fact that they allowed flexibility and ease of movement. With the arrival of the aerobics craze of the early 1980s the classic leotard moved from the dance floor to the gym, accompanied by matching tights, Leg warmers and elastic headbands. Leotards of the early 1980s boasted bright stripes, polka dots, and even elastic belts.

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Sociology - Essay Example This paper intends to focus on the influence of gender on life chances. Gender has a highly significant influence on life chances of an individual. Gender refers to ideas and practices that are socially determined concerning the significance of being male or female. This is clear from the past changes in the attitudes of both men and women, which are witnessed through the changes in roles played by them especially in relation to marriage, employment, and rearing of children. â€Å"Gender ideology was a crucial determinant of women's experiences in the early republic. Although new market imperatives made women's labor increasingly valuable to household survival (writ small) and capitalist production (writ large), older patriarchal arrangements continued to limit the opportunities of working women† (Rockman, 1816). The activities and attitudes of men and women are different and this is not natural but is taught through primary socialization when they were children. This is furth er contributed by secondary socialization when they grow up. ... The family is an integrative and dynamic unit that can provide the foundation for one’s core values and belief systems (Haralambos and Holborn 2000)† (McQuillan & Ravanera, 2006, p 160). The family influence can be quite high during childhood days. Gender discrimination starts from early ages as boys and girls are treated differently by their parents. A girl child is often expected to do housework. Besides female children are given lesser freedom and parents usually remain protective of them. Schools also influence in increasing the discrimination between male and female children. Similarly, peer group also determines children’s behavior in certain ways. At school females are good at studies at school levels and the number of girls going to universities is higher than that of boys. But when it comes to earnings, males generally receive higher income than females. Similarly, the numbers of women who do part time jobs are higher and, again, in most cases, they recei ve lower salary than their counterparts, because these jobs fit their home and family commitments. It is also seen that women are heading most of the single parent families. A majority of them are widows and this is mainly because the life expectation of women is higher than men. These factors contribute to an increase in the rate of poverty and the burden of this falls on women. Thus, the power and supremacy automatically transfer to the hands of men. Patriarchy is a sexual system characterized by male superiority over power and economic privilege. â€Å"Patriarchy places limits on the achievements of women and reduces the value of the feminine by picturing women as limited human beings, the opposite of privileged and capable men. Women are the majority of the unemployed. Men

Social responsibility of businesses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social responsibility of businesses - Essay Example If they are to be civil servants taxing and spending for "social" objectives, then they must be elected. Conversely, when the individual proprietor exercises his "social responsibility," he is spending his own money and is justifiable. So the social responsibility of businesses is to increase its profits ethically in free and open competition (Milton, 1970). Stakeholders include owners (who have a financial stake with expectation of returns, employees with their livelihood at stake expectant of security, benefits and meaningful work), suppliers (have their survival at stake and determine the firm's success, customers (exchange resources for products to profit the firm and benefit from the products), the local community (grants the right to firms to construct and returned with good facilities) and management. Management's stake is akin to the employees with the duty to safeguard the welfare of corporation, by resolving conflicts among conflicting stakeholders and balance their interes ts based on a doctrine of fairness (Ed, 1994). The disagreement lies in management. For Ed, the management still fulfils its role as long as the interests of the stakeholders are met with equality (Ed, 1994). As for Milton, once the manager is not an elected civil servant who taxes and spends the proceeds for "social purposes", he seizes to be manager (Milton, 1970). In his article, he explained that w... In his article, he explained that we act as consumers to get what we want for ourselves and we act as citizens to achieve what we think is right or best for the community (Sagoff). This implies that when we will think of national goals, they will go beyond our self-mere interest. Based on this distinction there will be a significant ethical difference between risk that is taken by the consumers (who chooses smoking) and risk that is imposed on them as citizens (subjected to the radioactive waste). Therefore in view of the cost benefit analysis, which sides the consumers, is not an adequate solution to address environmental concerns as it does not allow us "to have power to act as a nation", because we are not "able to acton a public philosophy, conviction, or faith" (Sagoff). 3.2 Name three steps along the roadmap Lovins, Lovins and Hawkin describe. The first step is to dramatically increase the productivity of natural resources by reducing the wasteful and destructive flow of resources from depletion to population through fundamental changes in both production design and technology. The second step is the shift to biologically inspired models where systems can be designed to eliminate the use of toxic materials, which can hamper nature's ability to reprocess materials (closed-loop manufacturing). The third step would be a move to a solutions-based business model where the new relationship from this model of delivering value as a flow of service will align the interest of providers and customers in ways that reward them for implementing the first two steps. 4.1 What are Reich's arguments against corporate social responsibility Make a list, with one sentence summarizing each. "1. Why the interest" describes the increase of interest in "corporate social

Drugs among youth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Drugs among youth - Essay Example This research will explore the factors responsible for driving young people into the habit of drug consumption and their perceptions about drugs’ effects on their life and their association with drugs. Identification of these factors is the first and the foremost step in the process of eradication of drugs from the society and discouraging the young people from consuming drugs. Research Questions Some of the research questions would be: When did you start taking drugs? Please tell me about your family structure and your relationship with family members? Does someone in your family take these drugs? What environmental factors encourage you to take drugs? What is the most common factor that drives young people into the habit of taking drugs? Do you contemplate leaving drugs in the future? If so, how soon? Do you think drugs are dangerous for your health? Has your attitude toward drugs changed since you have started consuming them? Have you faced any resistance from somewhere for drug consumption? Parties Involved in the Research Project This research project would be executed with team effort. The team would comprise me, my advisor, one of my peers to facilitate me with the data collection, and another peer with good writing and editing skills. I would do the literature review, design research methodology, and analyze the data. The fundamental aim of the research is to identify the most important and common factors that are responsible for the rise of drug consumption among the young people. Knowledge created by this research would be very useful to the drug-control agencies, the society in general, and the parents and relatives of the vulnerable youth in particular. Research Theory The consumption of drugs among youth can be prevented on the basis of a technique structured around the cognitive dissonance theory that tends to establish attitudes and beliefs by proposing verbal inoculations. This prevention technique can be used to help youth abstain from d rug consumption that might be in conflict with a goal that is more desirable. Adolescence in the concept of development is a period in which people may be confused about their roles while their identities are emerging. The prevention efforts based on this approach assist young people with the development of positive identities through achievement in their community roles, as athletes or as students. Possible Research Methods The research methods that can be utilized for this research primarily include survey and interviews. Since the reasons for drug consumption vary from one person to another, it is better to provide the research respondents with full opportunity to express themselves with the use of interviews and use them as primary sources (Booth, Colomb and Williams 81). Besides, since this topic is integrally related to sociology, use of interviews is also recommendable for this research because qualitative research remains very effective convenient and useful while studying s ociological issues. Research Participants The respondents will be high school students on drugs of any kind. The students would be given a questionnaire to find out their gender, age, how many of them use drugs, what kinds of drugs they take, and how long have they been taking them. Questionnaires with responses showing drug users would be sorted out and the respondents would be approached for

Professional Nursing Concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Professional Nursing Concepts - Essay Example The profession also entails the advocacy in the care of persons, families, and communities at large, in terms of healthcare services. Â  The nursing profession is one among the most important components of the medical world. This is because; it enables the training of highly qualified personnel who assist individuals to perform activities, which collectively help to improve the healthcare operations, enhance faster recovery of the patients, and facilitate peaceful death when one has to die. Furthermore, the nursing profession plays a pivotal role in nurturing healthcare practitioners who strive to ensure the best quality of lives possible among patients who suffer from diverse ailments or disabilities. The professionals in nursing have a wide range of medical knowledge with which they use to achieve their objectives, which are essential, to prevent illnesses and injuries as well as advocating in healthcare for the entire society. Â  The nursing practitioners, who are qualified and registered healthcare providers, perform medical operations to patients at all stages of human life, right from the new-borns to the elderly. The professionals in this medical field to perform a number of important functions including conducting a well-detailed and focused physical examination to patients; diagnosing and treating common and acute illnesses as well as injuries and providing the appropriate immunizations to the populations. In addition, the Nursing Practitioners have the responsibility to manage various human healthcare complications among them high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and many other health problems that are chronic. (Basford and Slevin 67) Â  

Gerrymandering Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gerrymandering - Assignment Example Position of house majority whip has the responsibility of persuading members to support the conference position on votes. Other leadership positions in the house of representative are house republican conference chair, vice-chair, and secretary, house republican policy committee chairperson and national republican congressional committee chairperson. Filibuster refers to any attempt by a member to obstruct or delay the senate action on a bill or other issues by debating it for long or providing procedural motions or by any other means of delaying or obstructing the actions. Filibuster blocks the senate from making consideration for ideas that can help solve major problems faced by the United States. Members of Congress, the executive and other outside groups can draft the bill. Next step is introducing the drafted bill into the House by a representative who must be a member of the House. The speaker of the House then submits the drafted bill to a committee, which may table, amend or vote the bill and then pass it to the rules committee. Rules committee makes a decision on the rules for debating the bill. The floor of the house then debates on the bill and may add some amendments, and it goes to the senate only if majority vote in favor of the bill. After the senate action, the president may sign (approve) the bill or veto (reject) it. The bill becomes law if the president approves it. Position of house majority whip has the responsibility of persuading members to support the conference position.

Research of Excellent Fruit Juice Co Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Research of Excellent Fruit Juice Co - Essay Example This business plan is comprised of company description. Company description informs the stakeholders and readers of products produced by the company and where it is situated among others. Third chapter is industry analysis, where it covers trends in the food and drink industry. Fourth chapter is a marketing plan, where it describes the target market, sales objectives, promotion activities and marketing strategy among other key areas. Fifth chapter is about operations. In this chapter, the company highlights and explains where it will source its fruits, plant and equipment as well as production process. Sixth chapter states company’s structures and the number of employees needed in each department. The last chapter; financial plan indicates the amount of money it is required to start and operate the business in the first year. It also indicates where these funds would be sourced and how it would be applied to enable the company attain its objectives 2.0 Company Description Exce llent Fruit Juice Co. (EFJC) is a public company, which produce fresh fruit juice and fruit juice. It will begin its operations in April 2013 and would be headquartered in Newcastle, North of England. Its core business is to produce both fresh fruit juice and fruit juice from a variety of fresh fruits available in the UK. Some of the key fruits to be used in the production process are oranges, lemons, melons, pineapple, mangoes and berries among others. The founder of the company Mr. Jones Cook would be chief operating officer. The company intends to produce 100% natural products, which are safe and in variety of flavors in a bid to exploit the fresh fruit market and enhance nutrition for its consumers Furthermore, the company intends to be one of the fastest growing in UK and other parts of Europe. It would acquire and build outstanding fruit juice plant to meet fruit juice and smoothie needs of the people of Newcastle and its surroundings 2.1 Managing Stakeholders Expectations Tab le 1: Stakeholders’ Mapping using company’s stakeholder interest and influence matrix Ricart (2005 p. 100) explains that managing expectations of key stakeholders involves stakeholder mapping. Therefore, the company would manage its expectations so as to reduce potential conflicts. The company uses stakeholder interest and influence matrix to map its stakeholders. Employees and Government are the most important stakeholders of the company. Employees influence the company through their action and benefit from the company by receiving salaries. On the other hand, government through legislation can influence company’s operations. The government is also interested in the health of it citizens and have increased scrutiny in food and drinks industry. Customers are interested in the products while suppliers are interested in marketing their supplies. However, they have low influence because they cannot control operations of the company because the company would easily switch to other suppliers if need arises. Donors exert control through regulation of funds to the company and are not necessarily interested in company’s outcome. Figure1: Balanced Scorecard of the company The above scorecard would help the company’s management have a fast compressive view of the companies (Phadtare 2011, P.72). 3.0 Industry Analysis Food and drink industry is critical for societal health and financial outcomes in

Pricing strategies of Amazon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Pricing strategies of Amazon - Essay Example 231). The most important factor to consider is the pricing of a product, as it is from this that the company will be viewed by the other entities in the industry and also potential customers. In achieving this, companies in general consider three main factors in coming up with viable pricing strategies that ensure their overall success. These are in terms of their basis of laying emphasis. There are the cost-based pricing strategies, which focus on a means of determining prices through incorporation of profit essentials in the product (Cryns 2002, p. 120). Moreover, there is the pricing based on customer observation whereby a business entity considers the best price that could fit accordingly to the customer base of that product. In addition, there is the pricing based on competitor substitutes, which considers competitor pricing to come up with prices that would most likely put a business at a better position for proper and advantageous competition. While these are the main pricing criteria that most companies consider prior to formulating a viable strategy, other entities such as Amazon maximize on their potential in regards to formulating their pricing strategies (Wuebker 2008, p. 111). ... Later on, it diversified into the sale of media such as CDs, DVDs and such other forms as MP3 based media files. After some years of relatively moderate growth, Amazon later on increased in terms of revenue and overall growth to become the largest online store (Smith 2011, p. 167). In addition, the store has diversified its products range to include most basic home appliances, extending further to even foodstuff. In order to achieve this status, and maintain these growth standards, Amazon has strategized effectively, successfully implementing a variety of pricing tactics that have ultimately exalted the entity forward. In light of the above, the first strategies that Amazon employs in attaining its status is the use of dynamic pricing mechanisms in order to spread their market base. In this form of pricing strategy, a company distinguishes between its customers, analyzing the various features that set apart the various categories of customers (Burton & Holden 2010, p. 145). Through t his research, a company focuses on such aspects as the frequency and trend of shopping that a faction of consumers adapts to in the course of carrying out their transaction. Through this kind of critical analysis, a company comes up with prices for its goods in relation to the trends that customers have adopted while purchasing products. As such, the ‘peak’ periods that most customers are carrying out their transactions are often characterized by higher prices than the other periods that customer density is relatively low. In its practices, Amazon extensively uses dynamic pricing strategy to delimit the prices of its products in relation to the cycle of demand as occasioned by the

Assignment about ethics 4 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

About ethics 4 - Assignment Example What are the defining / distinguishing features of moral courage? Elaborate to clarify what you mean by each. By definition there are five essential parts of moral courage, which include: existence and identification of a moral situation, moral choice, behavior, individuality, and fear. By counting existence and identification of a moral situation, it is meant that without a situation to prove the presence of moral courage in a person, the virtue of moral courage cannot be vindicated. By identifying the moral situation, the onlooker gets charged to react due to one’s inherent ethical values. The inherent values and principles compel the observer to react to the emerged situation. This leads to the second distinct feature of moral courage – moral choice (Miller, 2005). A person facing a moral situation must take a decision related to the moral alternative. By invoking the moral values and principles, the person must take not a legal but morally right decision (Miller, 20 05). The third feature of moral courage is behavior because it draws a line between moral courage and moral reasoning. Just thinking what should be done to come over the moral issue and actually doing that right action are two different things. It is behavior that leads to doing the right action (Miller, 2005). ... Fear is the last quality of a morally courageous person. He or she must acknowledge to oneself that fear of the negative outcome must be overpowered to take a morally courageous action. This fear factor is not to be managed outwardly, but it is an inner realization to face the situation, decide, and behave as per the decision taken. Facing and overpowering fear means one is ready to pay the price of one’s fearless behavior (Miller, 2005). Why is moral courage important? i.e., why are scholars interested in studying moral courage? Moral courage is important to keep intact the moral fiber of our life and society. Moral courage denotes strong will power that provides support to other human virtues. Human beings can gain heightened degree of perfection or sanctity of the heart through moral courage. A morally virtuous individual dedicating life for accomplishing good deeds cannot let others use wrong means. That’s why it is all the more important to teach and develop moral virtues among children through story-telling (Miller, 2005). Question 2: Answer to part (a) Think about a time that you either (a) displayed moral courage or (b) opted not to act in a morally courageous way. Describe the situation. Indicate what occurred, what you decided to you, what factors might have contributed to your decision and the outcome. Is there anything you might do differently if you faced that situation again? Or, is there anything you learned from class that might better prepare you / help you to manage better if you faced that situation again. It happened five years back. I was traveling in a train to reach back to my hostel after spending vacations at home with my family. The compartment I was traveling was fully

Memo for ABC Complete Kitchens Inc Essay Example for Free

Memo for ABC Complete Kitchens Inc Essay â€Å"Great organizations demand a high level of commitment by the people involved†- Bill Gates. Introduction Having the right man for the right job is imperative for corporate success. The person that installs the cabinetry for ABC Inc. is probably not the same person you want managing the financial responsibilities and obligations. Employees of ABC Complete Kitchens Inc. encompass a similar work ethic, professionalism and accountability however; their skills vary and need to be accommodated suitably within the company. Maintaining this level of expectation is imperative to achieve organizational success. Maturity, health, financial stability and the ability to compensate accordingly to current and long term fiscal challenges is the responsibility of the financial manager and within this organization or for ABC Inc. the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The CFO assesses, directs, monitors, controls, develops strategies, plans for current and long term financial goals and most importantly determines the organizations investment decisions. The CFO and/or financial manager must â€Å"weigh the costs and benefits of all investments and projects and decide which of them qualify as good uses of the money† (Northcentral University, 2011. 7; 709). This is money invested by others as well as yourselves within this company. There are three main tasks financial managers are responsible for beyond applying management  standards to financial capital or income of this conglomerate. These consist of; making (preferably good) investment decisions, financial decisions and managing the company’s cash flow on a day to day and a long term basis. In order to stand behind these investment decisions, it is imperative to understand the terminology and processes within the financial systems development. Assets Assets are items of ownership that can be converted into cash or have an exchange value. They are investments this company has made. From an accounting point of view, assets can be divided further into two categories, current and long-term assets. Current assets are cash or other liquid items that can be turned into cash within one year. Marketable securities are short term, low risk investments such as, the current stock you hold and what it is worth or can be sold at. Accounts receivable are debts owed to this company by consumers for products and services provided already on credit. Inventories are assets comprised of raw materials such as cabinetry, sinks, and appliances including kitchens being currently installed that ABC Inc. still owns. There are other current assets that we will view on our balance sheet later on and they are mostly prepaid expenses and deferred assets as well as expenditures for future costs such as insurance, rent and interest. Intangible assets have no physical existence. These can include intellectual property or employees who attain knowledge and skill (NCU, 2011. 7:13). If the employee leaves to go to another organization, this is considered an intangible asset. Perception of the company within the community is important. Take for example the communities perception of the company. Wal-Mart and most recently Target with their credit card theft issue experienced intangible assets. Copyrights, patents and goodwill are also intangible assets. â€Å"Recently, I was asked if I was going to fire an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $600,000. No, I replied, I just spent $600,000 training him. Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?†-Thomas J. Watson (founder of IBM). Liabilities A liability is an obligation to creditors, an entity arising from past transactions, where the settlement can result in the transfer of assets,  services or other yielding of benefits in the future. They include any type of borrowing from persons or banks for improving on a business or increasing personal income. Liabilities of this company are duties or responsibilities that require settlement by future use of assets at or by a specific date, over a short or long time period or possibly on demand. Liabilities are categorized as current and long-term classification. Classifying liabilities as either current or long term will assist ABC Inc’s CFO assess if the risk of these liabilities will involve disbursement of cash or further company assets in the near or distant future. A current liability will be satisfied within one year. Diving deeper into the definition of current liabilities, a company also identifies them as debts that are expected to be taken care of with current assets or with the use of other current liabilities. Accounts payable are considered the total sum of monies or obligations owed to purveyors for goods and/or services purchased with credit. When accounts payable are paid off, it represents a negative cash flow for the company. Short-term debt otherwise known as notes payable is the reimbursement that will occur within the next year to satisfy a debt. Items that are known monies of the company that have not been paid such as the salary for employees or taxes and deferred or unearned profit that has been received for products that have not been distributed are classified within the current liability category (NCU, 2011. 7:23-24). Long-term liabilities are debts payable over a longer period of time and unlike current liabilities, extend beyond one year. Examples of these are long-term debts, a capitol lease and deferred taxes. Long-term debt involves the obligation of our company to compensate our providers for a period of time that extends beyond one year. Currently, ABC Inc’s long-term debt consists of the construction of buildings overseas as well as most of our products utilized in the assembly of the kitchens. A capitol lease is a contract that requires this organization to make scheduled payments in exchange for the use of a certain asset. An agreement is made between ABC Inc. and another proprietor to compensate for use of things such as equipment, the plant or property. ABC Inc. needs to bear this risk and act as if it is owned as a company asset. Deferred taxes are taxes this company owes but has yet to pay. They appear as a liability because eventually they will be paid for however currently the company has exceeded its financial  income. Owners Equity or Shareholders Equity Owners or shareholders equity is the ownerships interest in a corporation in the form of common or preferred stock. This amount is calculated and identified as shareholders equity, net worth or book value (Averkamp, 2013). The equity a company has is determined by taking the total assets and subtracting the total liabilities. Equity is the quantity of ABC Inc’s assets that you as shareholders own, as opposed to what the company borrowed. Owner’s equity is also classified as net worth or net assets; it’s your interest as owners in this company. Equity can be considered as the calculation of a company’s money that is left over if an asset were converted to cash and all of the current and long-term liabilities against it are paid. Equity is the stock this company and you as individuals possess, it is the value of the assets that you the proprietor actually own. Assets are equal to equity plus liabilities, thus indicating how much of the company’s asset s belong to or are owned and by whom. The Balance Sheet The balance or statement of financial position lists the company’s assets and liabilities, providing a model of the corporation’s financial position at any given time. The balance sheet summarizes the remainder of all the assets, liabilities and overall worth of a company’s accounts as of a specific date, usually the last day of the accounting period or the last day of the quarter or fiscal year (Thomsett, 2011). The fundamental accounting equation is; the sum of all asset account balances is equal to the sum of liabilities plus net worth accounts. It can at times be utilized and analyzed as an estimate of the liquidation worth of the corporation, aiding in foreseeing the value that would be left if the assets were bought and liabilities remunerated. A balance sheet must provide a fair and valid view of an organization’s state of affairs as well as abiding by the provisions of GAAP in its preparation. A balance sheet states: What assets the company owns How assets are paid for What the company owes or what they are liable for Amount left after satisfying their debts Balance Sheet Analysis and Current Ratio Analyzing the balance sheet assesses the company’s value, control and short term cash needs. The balance sheet is a quantitative summary of a company’s financial situation or condition at a specific point in time, including but not limited to assets, liabilities and net worth. The first part of a balance sheet shows all the productive assets a company owns, and the second part shows all the financing procedures, the liabilities and the shareholders equity. This is better seen from the table demonstrated on the next page. The asset accounts are added together, providing the total amount of the corporation’s properties prior to being decreased by debts and obligations. The balance sheet is comprised of assets and liabilities, each with similar sub-groups providing a final explanation of the balance sheet subsection for reference. The total of all liabilities plus net worth accounts is always equal to the total of all assets, WITHOUT EXCEPTION! â€Å"How is the balance accomplished? The sum of liabilities and net worth is always equal to the value of all asset accounts because of double-entry bookkeeping. Every entry has a debit and a credit and these are equal in value. They may also be thought of as a plus and a minus. At any time, the sum of all accounts in the corporate books will add up to zero, because debits and credits offset one another â€Å"(Thomsett, 2013). It is important to remember that creditors often compare a company’s current assets and current liabilities to evaluate whether or not the company has adequate working capital to endure their short-term financial needs. This comparison can be summarized in the company’s current ratio. The current ratio is the percentage of current assets in relation to their current liabilities. A higher current ratio gives the implication of the company experiencing less risk of a cash deficit in the near future (NCU, 2011. 7:727). The Income Statement The income statement shows the company’s net income or profitability during a specific period of time. The income statement can also be referred to as the profit and loss, or â€Å"PL† statement, and the net income is also referred to as the company’s earnings (NCU, 2011). The income statement is based on the accounting equation that; income equals revenue minus expenses which in turn illustrates the value of the owner’s equity as increasing or decreasing. The income statement analysis explains how the profitability of  the company relates to the company’s shares. Different ratios are used providing information on ABC Inc’s operation and worth (NCU, 2011). Conclusion This leaves us now analyzing not only the national but also the international fiscal aspects of ABC Complete Kitchens Incorporated. Generating sales overseas is taking this company to new heights within the business world. The income statement or statement of financial performance catalogs the company’s revenues and expenses. It is putting our name on the map while increasing profit, employment opportunities and as the Board of Directors; you are responsible for maintaining this stature. This position is not only exciting, it is manageable as well. As a project manager I foresee significant advancement within all of the departments. If everyone involved collaborates cohesively, communicates respectfully and complies with ABC Complete Kitchen Incorporated’s mission and vision, the finality will be a company that ultimately produces an exceptional product with complete customer and corporate satisfaction. References Averkamp, H. (2013). What is owners equity? Accounting Coach, LLC. Fort Atkinson, WI Retrieved from: http://www.accountingcoach.com/privacy-policy (2011). SKS 5000- Business strategies for organizational effectiveness within the global perspective. Pearson Learning Solutions ISBN: 9780558870447 (2013). List of key accounting terms and definitions. InvestorGuide Staff. Retrieved from: http://www.investorguide.com/article/13789/list-of-key-accounting- terms-and-definitions/ Thomsett, M., C. (2013). The balance sheet. Getting Started in Stock Investing and Trading Retrieved from: http://www.investorguide.com/article/12689/the-balance-sheet-ws/

Environment Essay: UK energy policy

Environment Essay: UK energy policy The main problem for the UK and other countries has been the unmanaged release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere resulting from the use of fossil fuels in energy generation. There is convincing evidence that this is causing major changes in the Earths climate, the consequences of which could threaten the health and livelihoods of so many people on this planet. The major issue that Governments worldwide are now facing is how to meet increasing energy demands from an ever increasing world population. The issue is politically charged, with differing opinions on how nuclear, renewable and energy efficient measures should contribute to future energy policy. From the governments point of view, energy policies must be driven by the aim of ensuring an adequate and secure supply of affordable energy whilst also properly dealing with the production of wastes, including both carbon dioxide and radioactive materials. The Government’s figures show that UK carbon dioxide emissions have increased over the last two years, and although Kyoto targets are likely to be reached, the UKs energy policies must aim for cuts in emissions of 60 per cent in the longer term (defra, 2005). One of the major challenges facing the UK is how to generate electricity whilst minimising the damage that can be caused by waste products. In the short to medium term, some scientists comment that it will be difficult to reduce dependence on fossil fuels without the help of nuclear power (Royal Society, 2005). At present, the UK relies on nuclear power to generate about a quarter of the UKs electricity demands. All nuclear power stations are scheduled to reach the ends of their lives within the next 30 years. Unless the rate of development of both renewables and energy efficiency measures makes up for the loss of capacity resulting from the phasing out of nuclear power, the UK will become more reliant on fossil fuels, which is obviously not consistent with an overall aim of drastically reducing carbon dioxide emissions. According to the Governments own estimates, we will be more dependent on fossil fuels to generate electricity in 2010 than we were in 1995 (defra, 2005). Whilst the UK has made relatively well funded policy commitments to increasing its renewable energy capacity throughout the 1990s, it would still be hard to argue with the European Renewable Energy Study description of renewable resources à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã…“playing an almost negligible role in the United Kingdoms energy balance (TERES, 1994). Since that 1994 report the UKs efforts have seen it rise only from 15th to 14th by 2002, on a list ranking the 15 EU countries on the fraction of energy they obtain from renewable sources. Production amounts to only 3% of total primary energy use in the UK, with 46% of this figure coming from hydropower (Smith, 2002). The reasons for this low figure can be broken down into a number of categories, including problems with planning regulations, poorly thought out support mechanisms and a general lack of political will. Whilst having provided prior support for the support of RD efforts in renewable energy, significant efforts in providing UK policy on developing their potential can be traced to the oil crises of the 1970s, as with the efforts of so many of its competitors. Elliott provides an extensive overview of renewable energy RD funding in the UK up the late 1980s, and the underlying policy basis for it (Elliott, 1989). Elliott records that wave energy came to be the most favoured of the new renewable energy technologies in the late 1970s and received considerable government support on this basis. This was to change following a 1982 review by the Advisory Council on Research and Development for fuel and power (ACORD), along with a report from the Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU) (HMSO, 1982). This led to the reassessment of wave as unlikely ever to achieve a sufficiently low price to make it economically viable. Wind had initially been classified as one of the technologies least likely to develop to an economically viable stage and was thus provided with only a low level of funding. ACORD support of wind led to favourable government policy and funding for R,DD, though the government stood firmly against providing direct financial grant aid to try to move the technology from the demonstration phase towards being fully commercial. This policy of eschewing grants was to remain intact up to the 2001 announcement of  £40 million to support a limited number of offshore wind developments and the expansion of biofuel use. One of the problems often cited in connection with the development of renewable and nuclear sources of energy is that they appear to be uneconomic compared to fossil fuels. This is based on what the Royal Society considers a flawed assumption, that there is no cost associated with pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The Government needs to introduce a charge for the right to produce carbon dioxide, through for example a carbon tax or a system of tradable emissions permits. Such measures are required to balance the economic arguments surrounding energy generation. The end of 2001 saw the announcement of a wide range of new instruments aimed at revitalising the UKs efforts regarding renewable energy. Current plans for future policy in the UK centre on achieving a target of 10% of all electrical generation from renewable energy sources by 2010. The central mechanism aimed at achieving this end is the newly introduced Renewables Obligation (RO). However, to date, not all of these have reached the statute books and begun to have an impact in real terms. The governments future energy policy must focus on how to ensure a secure supply of affordable energy, how to manage the waste products of energy generation regardless of whether it is in the form of radioactive materials or carbon dioxide, and how to increase energy efficiency. The fact that DEFRA is responsible for dealing with waste, while Department for Trade and Industry deals with the commissioning and operation of power stations, must not prevent a coherent approach to policy that meets our future energy requirements whilst properly managing any waste that is produced. Bibliographywww.defra.gov.uk (accessed 2005)Elliott D. Renewable energy RD in the UK: a strategic overview. Technology Analysis Strategic Management 1989;1(2):22337.ETSU. Strategic review of renewable energy technologies. London: HMSO, 1982.Smith A Watson J The renewables obligation: can it deliver? Brighton, SPRU, University of Sussex, 2002, 6.TERES. The European Renewable Energy Study. Luxembourg, Advisory Council on Research and Development, European Commission, 1994. Passion Fruit: Medicinal Uses and Taxonomy Passion Fruit: Medicinal Uses and Taxonomy Introduction Passion fruit is one of the most exotic tropical fruit because of the magic of its aroma and the taste of its fruit. It belongs to the family Passifloraceae and is estimated to have approximately 500 species of Passiflora. Within this species, there are two distinct forms, the P. edulis f. flavicarpa i.e the yellow passion fruit which is in Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, it is also widely distributed in Guyana as well and the Passiflora edulis L which is widely known as the purple passion fruit. The purple passion fruit is cultivated in Africa and India. They both differ not only in color but in other feathers. The purple passion fruit has is less acidic, has a better aroma and flavor, and has slightly higher juice content. The yellow passion fruit on the other hand has a, ore vigorous vine; the fruit is larger and has a thicker wall than the purple type. Thus they both make an excellent juice blend. Passion fruit vine is a shallow-rooted woody, perennial, climbing by attaching its tendri ls to objects. The leaves are evergreen, hairless and are alternately arranged, posses 3-lobed when mature, they are finely tooted, grow from 7.5-20 cm long, deep green and gloss above, paler and dull beneath, the stems and tendrils are tinged with red or purple ( mostly the stems and tendrils of yellow passion fruit). Fragrant flower grow from 5-7.5 cm wide and is borne at each node. The bloom is clasped by 3 large green leaf-like bracts, consisting of 5 greenish-white sepals, 5-white petals, a fingerlike corona of straight, white-tipped rays, rich purple at the base, 5 stamens with large anthers, the ovary and triple-branched style forms a prominent central structure. The yellow passion fruit flower grows slower with more intense color than the purple passion fruit. Taxonomic Classification of Passion Fruit Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Passifloraceae Genus: Passiflora Species: Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (yellow passion fruit) and Passiflora edulis L. (purple passion fruit). Brief Origin of Passion Fruit Passilflora spp, in particular the purple passion fruit is native to South America, from Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina; better adapted to tropical highland areas and it is the most popular type to be exported. On the other hand the yellow type is better adapted to tropical low land areas and is the principle type produced in Guyana. The fruit is widely distributed in the market and a small amount is exported to Barbados and Canada. It is one of the best tropical fruit to grow because it comes into production within a year and is referred to as fruit cash crop. Its juice is rich in vitamin A, B5 and C. Passionfruit acquired its name from Spanish missionaries who thought parts of the plants flower resembled different religious symbols. The Jesuit missionaries who accompanied the Conquistadors to South America saw in its striking flower a means of illustrating the Crucifixion; the 10 petals and sepals represented the apostles, the crown of thorns was seen in the filaments, the five anthers represent the five wounds, the three stigmas were allied with the nails used to pierce the hands and feet of Jesus and the vines tendrils were equated with the whips. (http://www.passionfruit.org.nz/History.htm). Medicinal uses and properties of Passion Fruit The passion fruit leaves together with a small portion of the juice contain the alkaloids, including Harman which is used to lower blood pressure, sedative and antispasmodic action. The leaves are also use in many countries as medicine. The flower of passion fruit has a mild sedative and can be use to induce sleep. Passion fruit flowers have been use in treatment for the nervous system in easily excited children, bronchial asthma, insomnia, nervous gastrointestinal disorders and menopausal problems. The flower is sometimes used as a mild hallucinogen. It provides a useful amount of fibres and iron; also use to relieve rheumatism or gout. It has been used for centuries by indigenous tribes as a sedative or calming tonic. Used for urinary infections and as a mild diuretic. The juice of passion fruit reduces cancer cell growth; the phytochemicals in this fruit juice is responsible for the inhibition of the cancer cell growth. The phenolic acid (known for its anti-microbial activity) and flavanoids present in the fruit are known to possess heart protecting function. Passion fruit is a good source of both water soluble and fat soluble antioxidants. Passion fruit possesses antiseptic properties, anticancer effect, and anti-clotting and antioxidant properties. The fruit is high in carbohydrates and simple sugars, which improves energy performance. Passion fruit contains plant sterols, which help lowers the level of cholesterol. Some studies say that the fruit is good for attaining optimum health and weight loss. Herbalist used passion fruit flower to aid in digestion, as a stress reducer and as an insomnia treatment; the flowers can be use fresh or dried for use in pills, teas and for extraction e.g. tinctures and infusions. The flowers are also used by Europeans as an effective prescription medication to relieve anxiety disorder. The flower can also improve symptoms such as shortness of breath after treatment for congestive heart failure. Plant parts use to prepare supplement obtained from the leaves, flowers and fruit of Passiflora edulis and ailment encountered from supplements: Plant parts use form medicinal purposes Ailments Leaves Lower blood pressure Flower Induce sleep, aid in digestion, as a stress reducer and as insomnia, relieve anxiety disorder, congestive heart failure. Treatment of nervous system, bronchial asthma, insomnia, nervous gastrointestinal disorders and menopausal problems. Mild hallucinogen, relieve rheumatism or gout, sedative or calming tonic, mild diuretic. Fruit juice Inhibition of the cancer cell growth, heart protecting function, water soluble and fat soluble antioxidants, improves energy performance, lowers the level of cholesterol, optimum health and weight loss. Medicinal uses of Passion fruit- Passiflora edulis as obtained from interviews of Herbal Medicine Practitioners at Bourda Market. The leaves and flowers of passion fruit can be use as a nerve tonic. Passion fruit can be taken naturally as a good appetizer. The fruit can also be use to cleanse upset stomach. The fruit has a good source of vitamin C and is mixed naturally with water or sometimes added sugar to make a clenching thirst fruit juice. Passion fruit seeds contains high amount of fiber that the body needs to cleanse the colon, improve digestion, and help prevent heart attack and stroke. Passion fruit is high in vitamin A which helps the body to remove free radicals that causes skin and tissue damage, and it also help to improve our vision. Passion fruit can also be use as pig food. Name of Bush Medicine Vendor: Mugabe Jawanza Telephone #: 639-1552 Address: Lot 25 Lane Avenue, Georgetown Date of interview: 23rd April, 2011. Name of Bush Medicine Vendor: Sharmilla Mohammed Telephone #: 220-7729 Address: 149 Broad Street, Better hope, Georgetown. Date of Interview: 23rd April, 2011. Method of Preparation for the Medicinal uses or uses of Passiflora edulis obtained from interviews: The leaves and flowers are boiled with water and draw to make a nerve tonic. The fruit can be eaten raw, chopping the fruit in half and eaten (seeds as well as the orange juicy sac in the centre). Squeeze the juice from the fruit and drink naturally to cleanse the stomach. Chop of the top of the fruit, scope the pulp into a bowl; rub the pulp through a sieve to extract the seeds; squeeze gently to extract the juice, which is in the form of a rich, natural extract, can be diluted with water or other fruit juice additive and mixed with sugar to form a refreshing drink. This quenches thirst boost up and improve the bodys energy. The seed can be obtained by chopping the fruit and gulping the pulp into the mouth naturally or obtaining it after it was strained to extract the juice. This can be taken to cleanse colon, improve digestion and prevent heart attack and stroke. The rind of the fruit is chopped, dried and combined with molasses as cattle or pig food. Non-medicinal uses of Passion Fruit- Passiflora edulis The fruit of Passiflora edulis can be use naturally to make juice. Passion fruit mousse is a common dessert, and passion fruit seed are used to decorate the tops of cakes. The fruit can be used in many countries to make jams, jellies and butter as well as syrup to use on shaved ice. The fruit can also be eaten raw with sprinkles of sugar. The juice of passion fruit can be used to flavor ice-cream and other desserts such as cakes, yogurts, cocktails and cookies. The juice can be boiled as a thick syrup and use in pastries and can also be added to fruit salads as a dressing or as a fruit. The fruit is widely use as juice mixes. Pharmacological effects and risks as obtained from literature search and interviews: Effects obtained from Literature Sources Rapid heart rate and rhythm, nausea, and vomiting have been reported as the rare but serious side effect from obtaining supplements of the passion fruit or any part of it. Side effects may also include drowsiness/ sedation and mental slowing. It is advice that person operating or driving heavy machinery should take caution when using Passiflora edulis. The passion fruit flower may increase the risk of bleeding and alter blood tests that measure blood clotting. Passion fruit flower can also cause the effect of congestive heart failure for the treatment of shortness of breath and difficulty exercising. Effect obtained from Interviewers No effect was obtained from the interviews.

Race and Diversity Issues at The Grammys

Race and Diversity Issues at The Grammys Diversity in The Grammys: The Absence of African-American Winners Abstract The Grammys are an award show that was created by The Recording Academy, which is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other recording professionals. The awards provide a Grammy, or originally called Gramophone Award that recognizes outstanding achievement in mainly English-language music industry. The very first Grammys held its first ceremony on May 4, 1959. The annual presentation features live performances by some of the most noticeable artists, and the presenting of the awards that have even more of a popular interest. The Grammys shares recognition of the music industry alongside other performance award shows such as the Academy Awards, the Tony Awards, and the Emmy Awards. The representation of minorities in The Grammys, mainly African-Americans has stayed at a certain level of portrayal since the Award show’s debut in 1959. The Grammys have attempted to add some diversity to them by adding more minorities to their nominations lists and giving awards to artist that deserve them. The purpose of this study is to discuss whether or not the representation of minorities is being undermined by The Grammys trying to feed into the masses and upkeep their reputation. The time span of this focus is from 2014 to 2017, but I will also include background research to further support my findings. Previous winners of Grammy awards will be quoted in order to show the disconnection from what people think a Grammy is and what actual artists see them as. In 1958, rock ‘n’ roll made a big explosion onto the scene of music, alarming a group of executives along the way. The executives were conflicted as to whether to recognize â€Å"good† music or to recognize rock ‘n’ roll for its eruption into the music industry. The higher ups took it upon themselves to set a standard in the music industry. Since the very beginning, The Grammys have been at a difference with not only rock but almost every other genre of music. From R&B to street-bred music, and rap. The first ever award for rock music was not given out until 1961. Some of the best recordings have often failed to win a Grammy in the first forty years of Grammy history. Over the years, The Grammys have been criticized by many artists and music journalists because the musicians feel that the Grammys generally award or nominate more commercialized albums rather than those that are critically successful. In 1996, when American rock band Pearl Jam won a Grammy for â€Å"Best Hard Rock Performance†, the band’s lead singer Eddie Vedder went on stage to say â€Å"I don’t know what this means. I don’t think it means anything.† (Vedder, 2008). This goes to show how little some artist think of being awarded a Grammy for their accomplishments. Glen Hansard, leader of the Irish rock group The Frames, commented in 2008 that he believes the Grammys represent nothing inside of the real world of music (Hansard, 2008). Instead, it is completely industry based. Another quotable statement that can be applied to this situation comes from lead singer of metal band â€Å"Tool†, James Keenan. He says â€Å"I think the Grammys are nothing more than some gigantic promotional machine for the music industry. They cater to a low intellect and they feed the masses. They don’t honor the arts or the artist for what he created. It’s the music business celebrating itself. That’s basically what it’s all about (Maynard, 2012). Artists such as Frank Ocean, Drake and Kanye West spoke out about skipping this year’s Grammy Awards to protest their lack of diversity amongst it’s nominees. Drake was reported saying The Grammys do not fairly represent black or younger artists. From less of a statistical side, Kanye West has received 21 Grammys but has never won one while up against a white singer. American singer and songwriter Frank Ocean did not even bother to submit his albums from the following year because to him â€Å"It [The Grammys] just doesn’t seem to be representing very well for people who come from where I come from, and hold down what I hold down (Ocean, 2017). Another case of a diversity issue with The Grammys concerns the likes of Macklemore. In 2014, Macklemore swept a Grammy from Hip-Hop artist Kendrick Lamar. Rolling Stone believes the music industry went as far to recruit Kidz Bop to boost Macklemore exposure to as a plan to dethrone Hip-Hop artist of the year, Kendrick Lamar. Both â€Å"The Heist† and â€Å"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City† were nominated for Best Album of the Year in 2014. Both albums received positive reviews from critics, but Kendrick Lamar received a 91 on Metacritic whereas Macklemore only received a 74. Once again, both albums debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, with Macklemore selling seventy-eight thousand copies and Kendrick Lamar selling two hundred and forty-two thousand copies. By the RIAA’s standards â€Å"The Heist† was recognized as reaching Gold status, with over five hundred thousand copies sold on April 3, 2013. On August 21, 2013, â€Å"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City† was certified Platinum by shipping and selling one million copies in the United States. On December 9th, 2014, American rapper J. Cole released his third studio album â€Å"2014 Forest Hills Drive†. On this album, he has a song called â€Å"Fire Squad† where he talks about the popularity or mainstream music and white privilege. On the record, J. Cole says â€Å"History repeats itself and that’s just how it goesSame way that these rappers always bite each others flowsSame thing that my n**** Elvis dd=id with Rock ‘n’ RollJustin Timberlake, Eminem and thenMacklemoreWhile silly n**** argue over who gon’ snatch the crownLook around, my n****, white people have snatched the soundThis year I’ll prolly go to the awards dappered downWatch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile† This song is his attempt to restore the balance in Hip-Hop as he talks about white privilege and white appropriation of the culture. More specifically the Macklemore-Kendrick Lamar Grammy snub and Iggy Azalea’s new found popularity. The longstanding exclusion of black talent from award shows such as the Oscars and the Grammys forces the age-old question: Why? Both of these organizations are handled on a voting system made up of a certain team of members. Knowing this information makes the average person interested in music or even the Grammys want to know who the real culprit is pulling all the strings. With ongoing backlash, the Grammys have attempted to straighten up their acts with â€Å"dramatic steps† to diversify its nominations and present a more accurate reflection of the industry itself. Earlier this year, at the 59th Grammy Awards there was an outcry concerning who should have won Album of the year. This outcry sparked the big debacle as to if The Grammys have an issue in diversity with the winners of their awards. The nominees list consisted of Adele, Beyoncà ©, Justin Bieber, Drake, and Sturgill Simpson. The winner of the award turned out to be Adele for her album â€Å"25†. This was a shock to everyone, including Adele herself. This rubbed some of the fans the wrong way considering this was the eighth year since a non-white artist took home the event’s biggest award. The very next day the new hashtag on Twitter was titled â€Å"#grammyssowhite†. At soon as this hashtag got out, storied were popping up questioning the diversity of the voters for the awards. In 2017, Adele winning over Beyoncà © was not the only Grammy snub. It was just the biggest one of the night. Barbadian singer Rihanna was nominated for eight awards off of the strength of her eighth album â€Å"ANTI†. â€Å"ANTI† at the time was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA, it peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent 33 weeks in the top 10.   Sadly, she walked away not winning a single one out of eight nominations. Rihanna’s biggest upset was not winning the award for Best Pop Duo/group with their smash hit â€Å"Work†, which sold more than 1.7 million copies in the United States alone. She lost out to 21 Pilots for their song â€Å"Stressed Out†. Fuse wrote an article saying that they believe The Committee for The Grammys are just continuing to use black women in pop to raise their own ratings without giving them the recognitions or respect they deserve within the mainly white categories. Works Cited (n.d.). Retrieved September 08, 2017, from https://web.archive.org/web/20070123082736/http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/2002/tool_int.asp Travers, P. (2008, February 08). Grammy & The Movies. Retrieved September 08, 2017, from https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/grammy-the-movies-20080208 Times, L. A. (2008, February 06). Glen Hansard, Eddie Vedder crash Grammy Awards. Retrieved September 08, 2017, from https://web.archive.org/web.20130221000127/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/columnists/contenderqa/env-en-songs6feb06%2C0%2C4879961.story History of Grammy Awards. (n.d.). Retrieved September 08, 2017, from http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/history-of-grammy-awards-247.html Llopis, G. (2017, February 21). 3 Uncomfortable Truths From The Grammys About Diversity And Inclusion. Retrieved September 08, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2017/02/21/3-uncomfortable-truths-from-the-grammys-about-diversity-and-inclusion/#1cba45f939c7 Geslani, M., Kaye, B., Colburn, R., Fu, E., Farley, D., Young, A., . . . Weiss, D. (2017, January 30). Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Drake to protest Grammy Awards over lack of diversity. Retrieved September 09, 2017, from https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/01/kanye-west-frank-ocean-drake-to-protest-grammy-awards-over-lack-of-diversity/ Cepeda, R. (2015, February 05). Do the Grammys Have a Race Problem? Retrieved September 10, 2017, from https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/do-the-grammys-have-a-race-problem-20150205 GRAMMYs 2017: Rihanna & ‘ANTI’ Suffered the Biggest Snubs of the Night. (2017, February 13.). Retrieved September 10, 2017, from http://www.fuse.tv/2017/02/rihanna -anti-grammys-2017-snubs

The Midlife Crises in Death of a Salesman, Alfred J. Prufrock, and Amer

The Midlife Crises in Death of a Salesman, Alfred J. Prufrock, and American Beauty      Ã‚  Ã‚   Disillusioned and disenchanted, both Arthur Miller's Willy Loman and American Beauty's Lester Burnham share sexual frustrations and a dissatisfied longing for their respective pasts, but Willy, like T.S. Eliot's equivocating Prufrock, is unable to move beyond the failures inherent in his mediocrity and instead retreats into his delusions.    On the surface, Willy and Lester have all the elements of settled, prosaic lives shaped from the pattern of the "American Dream": large homes in middle- or upper-class neighborhoods, successful children, loving wives. But under this facade, both share a need that has devastated men and engendered distrust in their families for generations: the extra-marital affair.    Willy's affair with The Woman is a crucial turning point in his relationship with Biff, his oldest son. When Biff catches Willy and his mistress, Willy first attempts to distract his son and then be rid of him. However, his attempted cover-up fails and forever shatters the idolatrous relationship between father and son. Willy: She's nothing to me Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely. Biff: You... you gave her Mama's stockings! Willy: I gave you an order!... Biff: You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! (Miller 1850)    Biff's discovery of his father's indiscretions shatter the Loman family's fragile facade of middle-class happiness. Although Willy is genuinely remorseful for his conduct, neither his repeated refrains of "stop crying, I gave you an order!" (1850) nor his apologies can mend the rift between him and Biff. Yet even as Biff loses his football scholarship and wanders, not unlike hi... ...the passive salesman and the aggressive quitter. Where Willy Loman quickly makes society's ideals his own and then falls victim to his own dissatisfaction, Lester achieves happiness because he rejects the standards that society sets for a middle-aged man.    Works Cited American Beauty. Dir. Sam Mendes. Writ. Alan Ball. With Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. Dreamworks SKG, 1999. Eliot, T.S.. "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: Norton, 1996. 2459-2463. Miller, Arthur.   Death of a Salesman.   New York: Viking, 1965. Millar, Jeff. "The Rise and Fall of Everyman: `American Beauty' Proves Potent Family Portrayal." Houston Chronicle 24 Sept. 1999, Star ed.: 1. Academic Universe. LEXISNEXIS. Madden Lib., Fresno, CA. 13 Apr. 2000   <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/>.   

Comparing Good vs. Evil in Sherlock Holmes and Dracula Essay -- compar

Good vs. Evil in Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula It is all too often that literary critics read literature and then sift it into good and bad pieces, critiquing its value or mediocrity. However, it needs to be pointed out that this onerous task of "analyzing literature" for literary devices need not be the basis for placing value and worth on literature. Additionally, it is a great misunderstanding in society's education system that students need to learn what makes a good book solely by its use of literary devices. It's about time students read books for recreation and be able to express in their own words why the books are great or not so great. Most importantly, the lessons each book teaches students must be learned individually. People cannot be told what the book is trying to communicate, they must learn it for themselves. This is what makes books noteworthy, and this is why Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula by Loren D. Estleman is an extraordinary book. It is a book people can enjoy for entertainment motives rather than for its devices of sound, syntax, and omniscient point of view. Through the story of good versus evil, Estleman entertains the readers of The Adventure of the Sanguinary Count (the other title) to make a great novel. In SHVD*, there are two protagonists: Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective residing at 221B Baker StreetÝ; and Dracula, the notorious count of Transylvania. To put aside all presumptions, ostensible facts, and popular stereotypes, it is necessary to examine who represents good and who represents evil. That is quite obvious. Aha! For those who agreed to that last sentence, sham... ...Jacqueline Roehl, "Sometimes a book is just a book." Notes *SHVD is referring to the title of the book in order to save paper space. ÝKudos to those who knew that. Woe and shame to those who didn't, obviously you aren't an English Literature "expert" are you?, or you would have known that. If you do not consider someone who sells his soul to the devil as evil, you really scare me, so do everyone a favor and read something good like the Bible.  §I submit that good and evil cannot co-exist if the interest of one hinders upon the interest of the other. *If your friends say this, it's time to get new friends or check your hearing. Do you say this? †¢This is merely an example. If it makes you feel better, fill in your own example. Nevertheless, you get the point.

Life Is a Gift

Life†¦ a four-letter word yet given with a pile of various meanings and values. It is an abstract idea that has brought into reality with every living thing. If we are to pause and sit back, thinking those days as we dwell on this earth, had it also occur to us how we live our life with? Have we ever realized how blessed we have been to get up each morning alive to face another day? Today, before we complain about what has life brought us, we should think first of those things which we may find less of value.As frequently said, â€Å"Every great thing starts from the little ones,† so why not appreciate every little thing we got? Life is precious. People are priceless. We have got life likewise; we have got people whom we can cherish our life with. Perhaps, there were times when we felt like giving up; when we were so depressed about everything that was happening, and when we thought life has been cruel to us. But, what we did not think so is the reason behind of all the m isfortunes we encounter. Challenges make us wiser, our sufferings make us tougher, and our yearnings make us stronger.So, we should try not to worry if things did not turn out well the way we expect them to be. Each passing day is a treasure, a great sign that we are given another chance to live and eventually, to turn into a new leaf so we could be a better person with brighter future. These reasons are enough to make us realize the significance of life. So, when depressing thoughts seem to get us down, we should always be reminded with those beautiful things that will lift us up and be grateful with the gift of life.

Freakonomics

An Incentive is something that Is used to motivate or use as an encouragement to Improve whatever the person Is doing. In studying economics, Incentives are used as form of payments, to encourage businesses to succeed In whatever they are doing. 2. The united States government puts a tax on foreign car companies to help united State citizens encourage to buy the American made cars. This acts as an Incentive for the citizens to buy American made cars to support the united States economy. The government's plan to raise test scores actually worked because In public schools, teachers are awarded or punished based on their kids' performance on standardized tests. 4. When a Japanese sumo wrestler is on the bubble, it means that if one sumo wrestler which is almost out of the competition faces a sumo wrestler that has a lot of wins, the wrestler with a lot of wins will let the one that is almost out of the competition win. 5. The authors from Freakishness are concluding that people are lust dishonest. When Paul Feldman left the basket and bagels, he noticed that all of he money was vanishing.This plays into economics because it shows us that small offices run more honestly and more efficiently. Chapter 3: Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? 1 . Conventional wisdom is something that is generally believed in. It is ideas that are generally accepted by the public. Conventional wisdom is used to encourage people to get more support and pay a closer attention to detail. 2. Although the police departments got rid of at least two thousand police reports in efforts to lower the crime rate, the crime rate still managed to rise because of the media's coverage on rack cocaine. 3.The Black Disciples street gain was set up Just like a common business is set up. The top people in charge of both were called the board of directors. Under them, there will bosses in different cities which controlled another three individuals. There was a treasurer Just like in a business wh o manages the money and the â€Å"foot soldier† who sold the gangs' drugs acted as sales people In large businesses. 4. A street-level drug dealer Is willing to accept low pay and poor working conditions so that he has a drive and something to work up to In order to come a bigger boss to eventually make more money.Like In small business, sales people act as lower earning Individuals who eventually want to work their way up to becoming something bigger and making more In a company. 5. A street level drug salesman Is different from a franchise owner because the drug dealer Is mostly looking out for himself and trying to make enough money to get by from month to month. However, they are both attempting to maximize their profits because they both want to see the company or their personal lives grow better. Chapter 4: Where have all the crimes gone?

Foundation and Empire 21. Interlude In Space

The blockade was run successfully. In the vast volume of space, not all the navies ever in existence could keep their watch in tight proximity. Given a single ship, a skillful pilot, and a moderate degree of luck, and there are holes and to spare. With cold-eyed calm, Toran drove a protesting vessel from the vicinity of one star to that of another. If the neighborhood of great mass made an interstellar jump erratic and difficult, it also made the enemy detection devices useless or nearly so. And once the girdle of ships had been passed the inner sphere of dead space, through whose blockaded sub-ether no message could be driven, was passed as well. For the first time in over three months Toran felt unisolated. A week passed before the enemy news programs dealt with anything more than the dull, self-laudatory details of growing control over the Foundation. It was a week in which Toran's armored trading ship fled inward from the Periphery in hasty jumps. Ebling Mis called out to the pilot room and Toran rose blink-eyed from his charts. â€Å"What's the matter?† Toran stepped down into the small central chamber which Bayta had inevitably devised into a living room. Mis shook his head, â€Å"Bescuppered if I know. The Mule's newsmen are announcing a special bulletin. Thought you might want to get in on it.† â€Å"Might as well. Where's Bayta?† â€Å"Setting the table in the diner and picking out a menuor some such frippery.† Toran sat down upon the cot that served as Magnifico's bed, and waited. The propaganda routine of the Mule's â€Å"special bulletins† were monotonously similar. First the martial music, and then the buttery slickness of the announcer. The minor news items would come, following one another in patient lock step. Then the pause. Then the trumpets and the rising excitement and the climax. Toran endured it. Mis muttered to himself. The newscaster spilled out, in conventional war-correspondent phraseology, the unctuous words that translated into sound the molten metal and blasted flesh of a battle in space. â€Å"Rapid cruiser squadrons under Lieutenant General Sammin hit back hard today at the task force striking out from Iss-† The carefully expressionless face of the speaker upon the screen faded into the blackness of a space cut through by the quick swaths of ships reeling across emptiness in deadly battle. The voice continued through the soundless thunder â€Å"The most striking action of the battle was the subsidiary combat of the heavy cruiser Cluster against three enemy ships of the ‘Nova' class-â€Å" The screen's view veered and closed in. A great ship sparked and one of the frantic attackers glowed angrily, twisted out of focus, swung back and rammed. The Cluster bowed wildly and survived the glancing blow that drove the attacker off in twisting reflection. The newsman's smooth unimpassioned delivery continued to the last blow and the last hulk. Then a pause, and a large similar voice-and-picture of the fight off Mnemon, to which the novelty was added of a lengthy description of a hit-and-run landing – the picture of a blasted city – huddled and weary prisoners – and off again. Mnemon had not long to live. The pause again – and this time the raucous sound of the expected brasses. The screen faded into the long, impressively soldier-lined corridor up which the government spokesman in councilor's uniform strode quickly. The silence was oppressive. The voice that came at last was solemn, slow and hard: â€Å"By order of our sovereign, it is announced that the planet, Haven, hitherto in warlike opposition to his will, has submitted to the acceptance of defeat. At this moment, the forces of our sovereign are occupying the planet. Opposition was scattered, unco-ordinated, and speedily crushed.† The scene faded out, the original newsman returned to state importantly that other developments would be transmitted as they occurred. Then there was dance music, and Ebling Mis threw the shield that cut the power. Toran rose and walked unsteadily away, without a word. The psychologist made no move to stop him. When Bayta stepped out of the kitchen, Mis motioned silence. He said, â€Å"They've taken Haven.† And Bayta said, â€Å"Already?† Her eyes were round, and sick with disbelief. â€Å"Without a fight. Without an unprin-† He stopped and swallowed. â€Å"You'd better leave Toran alone. It's not pleasant for him. Suppose we eat without him this once.† Bayta looked once toward the pilot room, then turned hopelessly. â€Å"Very well!† Magnifico sat unnoticed at the table. He neither spoke nor ate but stared ahead with a concentrated fear that seemed to drain all the vitality out of his thread of a body. Ebling Mis pushed absently at his iced-fruit dessert and said, harshly, â€Å"Two Trading worlds fight. They fight, and bleed, and die and don't surrender. Only at Haven – Just as at the Foundation-â€Å" â€Å"But why? Why?† The psychologist shook his head. â€Å"It's of a piece with all the problem. Every queer facet is a hint at the nature of the Mule. First, the problem of how he could conquer the Foundation, with little blood, and at a single blow essentially – while the Independent Trading Worlds held out. The blanket on nuclear reactions was a puny weapon – we've discussed that back and forth till I'm sick of it – and it did not work on any but the Foundation. â€Å"Randu suggested,† and Ebling's grizzly eyebrows pulled together, â€Å"it might have been a radiant Will-Depresser. It's what might have done the work on Haven. But then why wasn't it used on Mnemon and Iss – which even now fight with such demonic intensity that it is taking half the Foundation fleet in addition to the Mule's forces to beat them down. Yes, I recognized Foundation ships in the attack.† Bayta whispered, â€Å"The Foundation, then Haven. Disaster seems to follow us, without touching. We always seem to get out by a hair. Will it last forever?† Ebling Mis was not listening. To himself, he was making a point. â€Å"But there's another problem – another problem. Bayta, you remember the news item that the Mule's clown was not found on Terminus; that it was suspected he had fled to Haven, or been carried there by his original kidnappers. There is an importance attached to him, Bayta, that doesn't fade, and we have not located it yet. Magnifico must know something that is fatal to the Mule. I'm sure of it. â€Å" Magnifico, white and stuttering, protested, â€Å"Sire†¦ noble lord†¦ indeed, I swear it is past my poor reckoning to penetrate your wants. I have told what I know to the utter limits, and with your probe, you have drawn out of my meager wit that which I knew, but knew not that I knew.† â€Å"I know†¦ I know. It is something small. A hint so small that neither you nor I recognize it for what it is. Yet I must find it – for Mnemon and Iss will go soon, and when they do, we are the last remnants, the last droplets of the independent Foundation.† The stars begin to cluster closely when the core of the Galaxy is penetrated. Gravitational fields begin to overlap at intensities sufficient to introduce perturbations in an interstellar jump that can not be overlooked. Toran became aware of that when a jump landed their ship in the full glare of a red giant which clutched viciously, and whose grip was loosed, then wrenched apart, only after twelve sleepless, soul-battering hours. With charts limited in scope, and an experience not at all fully developed, either operationally or mathematically, Toran resigned himself to days of careful plotting between jumps. It became a community project of a sort. Ebling Mis checked Toran's mathematics and Bayta tested possible routes, by the various generalized methods, for the presence of real solutions. Even Magnifico was put to work on the calculating machine for routine computations, a type of work, which, once explained, was a source of great amusement to him and at which he was surprisingly proficient. So at the end of a month, or nearly, Bayta was able to survey the red line that wormed its way through the ship's trimensional model of the Galactic Lens halfway to its center, and say with Satiric relish, â€Å"You know what it looks like. It looks like a ten-foot earth-worm with a terrific case of indigestion. Eventually, you'll land us back in Haven.† â€Å"I will,† growled Toran, with a fierce rustle of his chart, â€Å"if you don't shut up.† â€Å"And at that,† continued Bayta, â€Å"there is probably a route fight through, straight as a meridian of longitude.† â€Å"Yeah? Well, in the first place, dimwit, it probably took five hundred ships five hundred years to work out that route by hit-and-miss, and my lousy half-credit charts don't give it. Besides, maybe those straight routes are a good thing to avoid. They're probably choked up with ships. And besides-â€Å" â€Å"Oh, for Galaxy's sake, stop driveling and slavering so much righteous indignation.† Her hands were in his hair. He yowled, â€Å"Ouch! Let go!† seized her wrists and whipped downward, whereupon Toran, Bayta, and chair formed a tangled threesome on the floor. It degenerated into a panting wrestling match, composed mostly of choking laughter and various foul blows. Toran broke loose at Magnifico's breathless entrance. â€Å"What is it?† The lines of anxiety puckered the clown's face and tightened the skin whitely over the enormous bridge of his nose. â€Å"The instruments are behaving queerly, sir. I have not, in the knowledge of my ignorance, touched anything-â€Å" In two seconds, Toran was in the pilot room. He said quietly to Magnifico, â€Å"Wake up Ebling Mis. Have him come down here.† He said to Bayta, who was trying to get a basic order back to her hair by use of her fingers, â€Å"We've been detected, Bay.† â€Å"Detected?† And Bayta's arms dropped. â€Å"By whom?† â€Å"Galaxy knows,† muttered Toran, â€Å"but I imagine by someone with blasters already ranged and trained.† He sat down and in a low voice was already sending into the sub-ether the ship's identification code. And when Ebling Mis entered, bathrobed and blear-eyed, Toran said with a desperate calm, â€Å"It seems we're inside the borders of a local Inner Kingdom which is called the Autarchy of Filia.† â€Å"Never heard of it,† said Mis, abruptly. â€Å"Well, neither did I,† replied Toran, â€Å"but we're being stopped by a Filian ship just the same, and I don't know what it will involve.† The captain-inspector of the Filian ship crowded aboard with six armed men following him. He was short, thin-haired, thin-lipped, and dry-skinned. He coughed a sharp cough as he sat down and threw open the folio under his arm to a blank page. â€Å"Your passports and ship's clearance, please.† â€Å"We have none,† said Toran. â€Å"None, hey?† he snatched up a microphone suspended from his belt and spoke into it quickly, â€Å"Three men and one woman. Papers not in order.† He made an accompanying notation in the folio. He said, â€Å"Where are you from?† â€Å"Siwenna,† said Toran warily. â€Å"Where is that?† â€Å"Thirty thousand parsecs, eighty degrees west Trantor, forty degrees-â€Å" â€Å"Never mind, never mind!† Toran could see that his inquisitor had written down: â€Å"Point of origin – Periphery.† The Filian continued, â€Å"Where are you going?† Toran said, â€Å"Trantor sector.† â€Å"Purpose?† â€Å"Pleasure trip.† â€Å"Carrying any cargo?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Hm-m-m. We'll check on that.† He nodded and two men jumped to activity. Toran made no move to interfere. â€Å"What brings you into Filian territory?† The Filian's eyes gleamed unamiably. â€Å"We didn't know we were. I lack a proper chart.† â€Å"You will be required to pay a hundred credits for that lack – and, of course, the usual fees required for tariff duties, et cetera.† He spoke again into the microphone – but listened more than he spoke. Then, to Toran, â€Å"Know anything about nuclear technology?† â€Å"A little,† replied Toran, guardedly. â€Å"Yes?† The Filian closed his folio, and added, â€Å"The men of the Periphery have a knowledgeable reputation that way. Put on a suit and come with me.† Bayta stepped forward, â€Å"What are you going to do with him?† Toran put her aside gently, and asked coldly, â€Å"Where do you want me to come?† â€Å"Our power plant needs minor adjustments. He'll come with you.† His pointing finger aimed directly at Magnifico, whose brown eyes opened wide in a blubbery dismay. â€Å"What's he got to do with it?† demanded Toran fiercely. The official looked up coldly. â€Å"I am informed of pirate activities in this vicinity. A description of one of the known thugs tallies roughly. It is a purely routine matter of identification. â€Å" Toran hesitated, but six men and six blasters are eloquent arguments. He reached into the cupboard for the suits. An hour later, he rose upright in the bowels of the Filian ship and raged, â€Å"There's not a thing wrong with the motors that I can see. The busbars are true, the L-tubes are feeding properly and the reaction analysis checks. Who's in charge here?† The head engineer said quietly, â€Å"I am.† â€Å"Well, get me out of here-â€Å" He was led to the officers' level and the small anteroom held only an indifferent ensign. â€Å"Where's the man who came with me?† â€Å"Please wait,† said the ensign. It was fifteen minutes later that Magnifico was brought in. â€Å"What did they do to you?† asked Toran quickly. â€Å"Nothing. Nothing at all.† Magnifico's head shook a slow negative. It took two hundred and fifty credits to fulfill the demands of Filia – fifty credits of it for instant release – and they were in free space again. Bayta said with a forced laugh, â€Å"Don't we rate an escort? Don't we get the usual figurative boot over the border?† And Toran replied, grimly, â€Å"That was no Filian ship – and we're not leaving for a while. Come in here.† They gathered about him. He said, whitely, â€Å"That was a Foundation ship, and those were the Mule's men aboard.† Ebling bent to pick up the cigar he had dropped. He said, â€Å"Here? We're fifteen thousand parsecs from the Foundation. â€Å" â€Å"And we're here. What's to prevent them from making the same trip. Galaxy, Ebling, don't you think I can tell ships apart? I saw their engines, and that's enough for me. I tell you it was a Foundation engine in a Foundation ship.† â€Å"And how did they get here?† asked Bayta, logically. â€Å"What are the chances of a random meeting of two given ships in space?† â€Å"What's that to do with it?† demanded Toran, hotly. â€Å"It would only show we've been followed.† â€Å"Followed?† hooted Bayta. â€Å"Through hyperspace?† Ebling Mis interposed wearily, â€Å"That can be done – given a good ship and a great pilot. But the possibility doesn't impress me.† â€Å"I haven't been masking my trail,† insisted Toran. â€Å"I've been building up take-off speed on the straight. A blind man could have calculated our route.† â€Å"The blazes he could,† cried Bayta. â€Å"With the cockeyed jumps you are making, observing our initial direction didn't mean a thing. We came out of the jump wrong-end forwards more than once.† â€Å"We're wasting time,† blazed Toran, with gritted teeth. â€Å"It's a Foundation ship under the Mule. It's stopped us. It's searched us. It's had Magnifico – alone – with me as hostage to keep the rest of you quiet, in case you suspected. And we're going to bum it out of space right now.† â€Å"Hold on now,† and Ebling Mis clutched at him. â€Å"Are you going to destroy us for one ship you think is an enemy? Think, man, would those scuppers chase us over an impossible route half through the bestinkered Galaxy, look us over, and then let us go?† â€Å"They're still interested in where we're going.† â€Å"Then why stop us and put us on our guard? You can't have it both ways, you know.† â€Å"I'll have it my way. Let go of me, Ebling, or I'll knock you down.† Magnifico leaned forward from his balanced perch on his favorite chair back. His long nostrils flared with excitement. â€Å"I crave your pardon for my interruption, but my poor mind is of a sudden plagued with a queer thought.† Bayta anticipated Toran's gesture of annoyance, and added her grip to Ebling's. â€Å"Go ahead and speak, Magnifico. We will all listen faithfully.† Magnifico said, â€Å"In my stay in their ship what addled wits I have were bemazed and bemused by a chattering fear that befell men. Of a truth I have a lack of memory of most that happened. Many men staring at me, and talk I did not understand. But towards the last – as though a beam of sunlight had dashed through a cloud rift – there was a face I knew. A glimpse, the merest glimmer – and yet it glows in my memory ever stronger and brighter.† Toran said, â€Å"Who was it?† â€Å"That captain who was with us so long a time ago, when first you saved me from slavery.† It had obviously been Magnifico's intention to create a sensation, and the delighted smile that curled broadly in the shadow of his proboscis, attested to his realization of the intention's success. â€Å"Captain†¦ Han†¦ Pritcher?† demanded Mis, sternly. â€Å"You're sure of that? Certain sure now?† â€Å"Sir, I swear,† and he laid a bone-thin hand upon his narrow chest. â€Å"I would uphold the truth of it before the Mule and swear it in his teeth, though all his power were behind him to deny it.† Bayta said in pure wonder, â€Å"Then what's it all about?† The clown faced her eagerly, â€Å"My lady, I have a theory. It came upon me, ready made, as though the Galactic Spirit had gently laid it in my mind.† He actually raised his voice above Toran's interrupting objection. â€Å"My lady,† he addressed himself exclusively to Bayta, â€Å"if this captain had, like us, escaped with a ship; if he, like us, were on a trip for a purpose of his own devising; if he blundered upon us – he would suspect us of following and waylaying him, as we suspect him of the like. What wonder he played this comedy to enter our ship?† â€Å"Why would he want us in his ship, then?† demanded Toran. â€Å"That doesn't fit.† â€Å"Why, yes, it does,† clamored the clown, with a flowing inspiration. â€Å"He sent an underling who knew us not, but who described us into his microphone. The listening captain would be struck at my own poor likeness – for, of a truth there are not many in this great Galaxy who bear a resemblance to my scantiness. I was the proof of the identity of the rest of you.† â€Å"And so he leaves us?† â€Å"What do we know of his mission, and the secrecy thereof? lie has spied us out for not an enemy and having it done so, must he needs think it wise to risk his plan by widening the knowledge thereof?† Bayta said slowly, â€Å"Don't be stubborn, Torie. It does explain things.† â€Å"It could be,† agreed Mis. Toran seemed helpless in the face of united resistance. Something in the clown's fluent explanations bothered him. Something was wrong. Yet he was bewildered and, in spite of himself, his anger ebbed. â€Å"For a while,† he whispered, â€Å"I thought we might have had one of the Mule's ships.† And his eyes were dark with the pain of Haven's loss. The others understood.