Monday, September 30, 2019
Zodiac Sign
Thomas Hotte                                                                                                  Ms. Boyd Personality profile                                                                                           Period 3 The article on Cancer fits me for the most part. It says my positive traits are â€Å"loyal, dependable, caring, adaptable, and responsive. †A cancer is a very complex person when it comes to independence. They’re very contradicting and they’re independence has to do with there state of mind. I’m like the description of a cancer because it says we have the perseverance and drive to do what we need to do and can be self sufficient. Although we don’t need someone to depend or we prefer to have someone there to help and support us like our family and close friends. What’s not as accurate is that it says we crave attention but I don’t like drawing attention to myself most of the time, I usually just like blending in. Like the horoscope says I am loyal to my friends and family who appreciate me and support me. I always do look out for my friends and I hate seeing my friends who are girls be sad so I always try to make them feel better like it says. Its also true that even though im good at listening to other people I never talk about my own feelings. Its also true because once I get past all of my emotional and personal problems I can do whatever I set my mind to I wouldn’t really say im psychic but I can be intuitive at times intelligent and observing. i have money and financial sensibility. I am complex, unpredictable, and tempermental. Im not really a fragile person, a lot of things don’t bother me. I can be
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Digital PCS: The Future of Wireless Phone Service
In the past few years the use of mobile phones has increased tremendously. At one time only available to the rich and elite business executives, the luxury of mobile phones can now be used by a wide group of people in different financial situations. Mobile phones are a necessary convenience. They provide instant communication access wherever mobile phone service is offered. There are two options for mobile phone service: analog, and digital PCS. Analog is the more expensive option and has long been the standard for mobile phone service. Digital PCS is the newest form of phone service. It works by converting human speech into software codes and converting them to audio signals before the codes reach the listener. Because it is software based it provides a perfect platform for a variety of advanced wireless features. Digital PCS is the future of mobile phone service and the soon to be de facto standard for wireless phone service. People can choose digital PCS service for many reasons, though affordability might be the initial attraction. Because of competition by many companies price is always being driven down. Also, the many different customizable price plans offer an affordable package for any type of budget. Companies, which offer digital PCS service are always looking to lure new customers, and therefore are in constant review of their plans always trying to make sure they are treating their customers properly. This eventually leads to the best product for the customer. If there is any drawback to digital PCS it is that the service is still fairly new. Digital PCS systems need to be laid from the ground up. They are physically hard-wired from community to community. While designing a system like this takes much longer, the outcome is worth it. Hard-wired systems provide for a stronger signal, and better connection. Because the implementation of the system takes long, it is difficult to spread digital PCS service quickly. But the service is expanding rapidly and soon, it will cover most of the country. Another drawback is that people cannot use Digital PCS phones in the more common analog environments. Much of the country is already equipped with analog services so it is better to purchase a dual band Digital PCS service phone that has analog service on it also. While these dual band phones are expensive, they provide connections in both analog and digital environments. Since digital PCS is based on wireless software it allows a robust variety of applications to be used with the service. This allows your phone to expand its capabilities. These applications enable you to be reached at all times. Phones using digital PCS service include caller ID, voice mail, paging, enhanced battery management, and encryption systems. These applications make the phone a powerful communication system. Caller ID is a feature that alerts you to what number is calling. When your phone rings the display units flashes the incoming number of the caller. On some phones you can program the name with the number, so the next time that number calls the name flashes along with the incoming number. This feature is useful since the owner can preview who is calling the phone before he even takes the call. People can evaluate the importance of the call and see if their time is important enough for the person who is calling them. Another feature that makes digital PCS superior is interactive voice mail. Interactive voice mail is a voice mail system that alerts you when voice messages are received. Traditional voice mail systems require the owner to keep calling in order to check if new messages are on the system. On a digital PCS system, when the person receives a voice mail, a signal is sent to the phone and the phone alerts the owner of the new mail. This method prevents the waste of unnecessary airtime or personal time checking the voice mail. Digital PCS phones are always in signal contact with the service provider. When the phone is turned on, a signal is always sending information to and from the phone. The signal indicates to the phone how to regulate power. This leads to a longer battery life since the phone can â€Å"sleep†when peak energy is not needed. Battery information is always reported on the display unit, thus allowing the owner to know well ahead when the battery is about to go weak. This allows the owner of the phone to know whether or not to charge the phone or carry a new battery. Digital PCS sends signals in ISO-3 digital format. This means that calls made from a digital PCS phone are encrypted and cannot be scanned or eavesdropped on. Digital voice transmission enables you to feel confident when discussing personal information over your digital PCS phone. Since many people use mobile phones, to conduct business this element is crucial to their goal of protecting sensitive information Alphanumeric paging is one of the best features of digital PCS service. This paging allows someone to send a page with regular text. Also it enables you to receive specially formatted Internet information, such as news and stock quotes. Also having alphanumeric paging allows someone to email the phone, and depending on the phone, a response can also be sent. This feature provides access to electronic mail when one is not near a computer. E-mail has become very important for many people, so having access to email is very essential. This feature also eliminates having to carry a separate pager for your alphanumeric paging needs. Digital phones are the future. They provide services that analog mobile phones could never provide. From an engineering standpoint alone, phones using digital PCS are more advanced and capable of amazing applications. But it is the convenience that digital PCS phones provide which make them a better option for people who are on the move. From a system level, they are designed from the ground up, providing the best connection and signal performance. Digital PCS is software based thus providing better applications such as caller ID, voice mail, enhanced battery management, paging, and encryption systems. They save time by providing on demand information including alerting the owner immediately when a voice mail is received, and when the battery of the phone will expire. They are affordable in cost because many companies are in competition to provide the best service. This provides the customer with ample choices to evaluate. Digital PCS phone service is reliable, robust and affordable. It allows a person to be able to be reached at all times. It is the future and the soon to be standard for wireless communications. Digital PCS, the future of mobile phones is here.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
My Experiments in Communication Skills Personal Statement
My Experiments in Communication Skills - Personal Statement Example Social workers are designated to collect information from various sources related to a particular issue and sort out the relatively relevant ones for the references according to the requirements of the context. Involvement of verbal, written and non-verbal elements of communication makes the interaction more feasible for better understanding the situations for optimum resolution. While negotiating the problems of individuals with possible solutions, suggestions are also required from experts in the concerned field of excellence. Most of the contexts related to the social worker’s career demand consultations for better conclusions. The ability to communicate well is required for listening to the issues through interpersonal interactions and collecting the resources for developing a beneficial solution from expert opinions. When I personally evaluate my own potentials to the effect of communication, I find some defects in my oral as well as written patterns. These problems are identified with a large majority – while some of them speak rather quickly it lacks clarity of the listener. Cultural differences and the influences of the developmental stages are considered as the factors responsible for most of this condition. On the other hand, while written communication is concerned, lack of professional experience pulls me back from making most of the effect. I understand that my abilities to organize the message and chronologically listen to the information have to be enhanced. These potential variables are those that make a professional social worker distinctively able to interpret and resolve issues of clients. With the help of this project, I have developed the methods of personal assessment of communication abilities and designed certain tools to modify my present skill level. I think following certain principles like convincing nature, patient and active listening, abstinence form argument, and well-timed presentation of ideas as the basic guidelines for a possible improvement.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Ashoka, Constantine and Muhammad Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Ashoka, Constantine and Muhammad - Assignment Example d Constantine possessed large territorial empires, the domains they ruled over never lasted after their deaths even though they tried to recognize their territories with Constantine and the Christianity and Ashoka with Buddhism. An aspect of significant importance in the study of Constantine is that even though he never created Christianity, he contributed towards the enhancement of its prominence since he converted to it. Similarly, Ashoka since his conversion to Buddhism, he ensured that he enhanced its dominance by rallying his followers behind him. Like Ashoka and Constantine, Muhammad after his conversion to Islam, influenced followers towards converting to his new religion (Gordon and Baumann 1032). The experienced that Ashoka, Constantine, and Muhammad had during their periods of conversion ideally played a significant role in influencing their attitudes toward military expansion and conquest. In such a way, analysts have made an analysis of religion has contributed to the war. Following the process involved towards conversion, this involved active participation in the conquest, and the three have been able actively to get involved in various activities including convincing of their followers into the formation of armies. Such armies would then be used to make military expansions and conquest (Gordon and Baumann
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Defining toughness in college hoops Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Defining toughness in college hoops - Essay Example It is evident from the study that Jay Bilas, the author of the article â€Å"Defining toughness in college hoops†clarified that his original perception of toughness was â€Å"physical and based on how much punishment I could dish out and how much I could take†. Therefore, by using explicit description of what toughness was not necessarily what it obviously means, the author started establishing his arguments using narration, description, and comparison. For example, the guidelines expounded on setting a good screen, the author defined what it takes for basketball players to manifest the necessary actions in terms of â€Å"improving the chances for a teammate to get open†¦and greatly improving your chances of getting open. A good screen can force the defense to make a mistake†. In contrast, setting a bad screen was not effectively described. The only explanation provided was that â€Å"a lazy or bad screen is a waste of everyone's time and energy†. Th e definition is lacking and insufficient to clearly differentiate disparity with an effective strategy. In addition, as readers get to evaluate the guidelines, it was apparent that the author did not provide an effective structure or logical format of presentation. In this regard, there is failure to use logical reasoning. The guidelines, though effective in the entirety, could have been presented in a more logical structure that categorizes the topics in sub-headings. For example, the author explained â€Å"set a good screen†and another topic as â€Å"don’t get screened†. These topics could actually be lumped together under ‘techniques for effective screening’. ... Another example is the author’s discussion on: â€Å"jump to the ball†(Bilas 2) and â€Å"play the ball, see your man†(Bilas 3); which could again be discussed in one sub-heading that could be entitled ‘tough ways of handling the ball’. The guidelines were apparently written in no particular order and could have been presented depending on the ideas that came to the author’s mind. It could be rationalized though that since the author knew that the article was specifically written with basketball enthusiasts, particularly players, as the audience of his discourse, the style, format or structure would not be examined and critiqued to diminish the veracity of the contents. However, considering that the author was duly established as a renowned basketball analyst, his credibility in providing the information was rightfully validated. Further, as indicated from the discourse, his personal experiences playing â€Å"in the ACC, for USA Basketball, in NBA training camps, and as a professional basketball player in Europe†(Bilas 1) has proven that he was acquired vast authority in to relay competency in the topic. The ability to conform to ethos due to his reputable background made his contentions and arguments valid. Finally, the article’s ability to more the audience through eliciting emotional appeal could be viewed as effective. The main support to validate the author’s success was his narrative discourse attesting that when he initially wrote a short blog on the topic, the response was â€Å"overwhelming. Dozens of college basketball coaches called to tell me that they had put the article up in the locker room, put it in each player's locker, or had gone over it in detail with
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Weman administration Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Weman administration - Assignment Example When it comes to intelligence, honesty, and another character traits the current women administrators are valued highly and the public rates them superior to their previous counterparts (Kantor 1). According to Kantor (1), in another survey, majority of American women are now the wage earners and providers in their households. The survey interviewed more than 1400 women; 40% of the women survey were single or divorced while 53% of them were the providers in their households. One-quarter of the married women in the survey said that they were earning more than their husbands. Previously such statistics was nonexistent (Kantor 1). Additionally, Perrett (1) says that colleges are graduating more women administrators than men under the 30 group. Women are currently earning more than men and occupy senior administration positions than men. In most companies, most women are found in senior management positions. Notably, the number of women in senior positions has increased over time. The IBR assessment, which engrosses both registered and privately-owned organizations, portrays that there has been a 4% growth in women in senior management positions from 2011 to 2012, with 24 percent of organizations with women in top management positions globally compared to 20 percent in 2011. Currently, the number of women administrators is at 24% as compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, younger women are earning more than older women; a significant indication that the younger women are getting more powerful. Most companies are employing women in their management and administration due to the proven capability of w omen. Examples of women leaders who appear to be stronger include the German chancellor Angela Merkel, former Google CEO who is now the current Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Mary Bara the CEO of one of the world’s leading car manufacturer, General Motors. In addition, the administration works of the first U.S lady Michelle Obama and the
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Friedrich A. Hayeks Individualism and Economic Order Summary Essay
Friedrich A. Hayeks Individualism and Economic Order Summary - Essay Example The themes used by the writer indeed became the central ideas around which the entire book, which is actually made up of a collection of writings was written. Four of these basic ideas are summarized below. Facts and Fallacies of Individualism The economist holds a basic idea that individualism, and for that matter social order is neither a fact nor a fallacy but that it is both a true and false. First, the economist writes to associate individualism more to be a social order whereby regardless of the fact that people are expected to behave and react in a certain individualistic manner to meet their economic needs of life, they are at the same time obliged to act according to the larger interest of society. From this perspective, the economist goes on further to give vivid reasons why individualism and for that matter, the social order could be considered to be false. The explanation given is that â€Å"in social matters, one does not adhere to fixed principles but decides each ques tion "on its merits"; that one is generally guided by expediency†(Hayek, 1996, p. 1). Invariably, the writer is implying that no individual would be robotic to economic principles even when those principles deny him food on his table. This is what makes individualism true because people function economically according to the dictates of their conditions. On the other hand, there is a justification given as to why individualism and economic order could be true. With this, the economist explains that â€Å"principles, have a way of asserting themselves even if they are not explicitly recognized but are only implied in particular decisions (Hayek, 1996, p. 1).†In other words, even if a person defies the provisions of economic principles, the core values of these principles remain a fact and thus true. The use of Knowledge in Society In the second theme and basic knowledge explicitly outlined by the economist, he visits the availability of knowledge and the use of it ther eof in modern society. Whiles doing this, the economist related economies to social science by making the assertion that the provisions that make social existence possible form the basis of rational economic order (Gabby, 2005). To this, the economist emphasizes the point that what society really needs to manage its rational economic order is logic. By logic, the economist talks of using common sense presented at the individual stage of getting things worked out for a person. A clear sense, therefore, an endorsement is made by the writer of individualism as a fact by raising the point of logic. The economist further throws light on the fact that the logic needed to make things work out for individual entities within society comes about as a result of making use of available information, and thus knowledge.
Monday, September 23, 2019
Exam 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Exam 2 - Assignment Example The transactions of Canada in these first two quarters of the financial year in terms of capital account, current accounts and financial accounts did not balance but showed some shift in a negative manner to -16263 dollars. In the third quarter the balance of payments further increased to -17298 dollars while in the final quarter there was a noticeable change in positive manner to -14762 dollars. In the financial year 2013 the first quarter witnessed a steady positive change in its balance of payment to -14552 dollars. There was however a negative shift further in the second quarter to -14861 dollars. The third quarter of this financial year further witnessed a shift to the positive of its balance of payments to -14250 dollars. During the final financial quarter, the liabilities outweighed the assets to a further negative change up to -15251dollars. However, these changes were due to several contributing factors that kept changing towards either direction of economic shift. These cha nges occurred due to changes in current accounts, financial accounts and capital accounts. As evident in this statistics, the economic power of Canada lies majorly on imports than exports. This is the contributing factor in this negative balance of payments. The balance on goods, imports and exports improved but more on the negative with transactions with international business community shifting to the negatives and showing that the business was more on the inside than outside. However Canada can improve its BOP by improving its manufacturing industry and also promoting innovation and agriculture. This is because they form the major part of raw materials and ideas thus improving exports and lowering imports. Financial risk management must be undertaken in order to have the economy of a nation moving in a positive direction (Pestieau 2012). Failure to do this would lead to exposure to either credit or market risks. Analyzing
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Flaws in Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free
Flaws in Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Mark Twains novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is by any means a classic. However, there are several flaws. First of all the coincidence that everything happens with in my mind detracts some from the story. The other major problem is that the book seems to drag on and on the closer you get to the end, as if Twain had a page quota to fill and was not worried about the story. The other problem brought up on our hand-out was Hucks lack of seriousness in what was a very serious situation for Jim. As for the coincidence part, it appears most obviously as you read towards the end. For example Huck ends up at Aunt Pollys, and I was thinking, yeah right those chances are about one in a million. And then after Huck tells Aunt Polly that he is Tom, Tom shows up uh-huh, I bet. It is things such as those I just mentioned that make it very difficult for me to read a book without becoming frustrated. It is probably because I am used to real life and like it or not real life is just not that perfect. My other gripe was that Twain seems to ramble on and on and on an.. To me it seems as if the story that he was writing became faint shortly after the time when Huck says, Its me. George Jackson, sir(pg. 95). I do have to give him that the feud was interesting filler, but you can only take so much filler. Then when John Wayne (The Duke) and Elvis (The King) come along there seem to be four or five stops along the river that except for one little detail, are the same. Please excuse the jump back, but how coincidental is it that you have a Duke and a King on the same raft in the middle of the Mississippi river (yes I do know they are not really royalty but that does not matter)? Even during all of this complaining I have done I did find humor in such things as when Huck was observing some local loafers and their discussions about borrowing and lending chewing tobacco. Here, gimme back the chaw and you take the plug. (pg. 138). I can just picture four or five guys laying around chewing tobacco with spit/tobacco juice running down their chins, probably in dirty overalls with no shirts on underneath and boots, to complete the look, three or four days of beard waiting to be shaved, and oh yeah, a nice old straw hat. The picture of this I have in my head is just so vivid that it disgusts me now. I think that is one of the reasons this is such a great book, the imagery. The final thing mentioned was Hucks lack of seriousness or that he was too humorous or too wrapped up in fantasy for the situation both he and Jim were in. Here as opposed to the things I attacked above I will have to be on the side of the defense. My foremost reason is that I do not think Huck realizes the seriousness of the predicament. Huck is a boy that lives in Hannibal, MO during the times of the Civil War, he probably does not know any other ways to deal with anyone who is a slave or is trying to escape. Put yourself in his shoes once and think of the trouble you might have. Then think how you would deal with these problems. Would it be in the way many kids do, with a bit of fun to try to alleviate some of the tension? Take the time when Jim thinks Huck is dead and he shows up scaring Jim to the point of carrying out a conversation with a ghost. Jim says I alwuz liked dead people, en done all I could for ? em (pg. 40). Read that section over and see if it does not seem to be in good taste, if you can call anything done by Huck tasteful. I think it does. My final task is to come up with a new ending. I think my ending goes like this: Huck and Jim find the mouth of the Ohio river as planned and venture upstream by any means available. As they continue up the river the bond between the two runaways becomes ever stronger. When they reach the free states and Jim is officially free. After waiting around a while the two begin to get money in any way they can. When it is enough Jim buys his wife and children out of slavery, and Huck takes a cut (not too much, just enough to get home). Once home Huck starts all over with his ever interesting plots (not without the help of Tom Sawyer). Time passes and over the years Huck misses Jim and eventually embarks on a quest. The quest to find Jim. This journey would be much like the journey he and Jim took just a few years ago. This time though, there is no John Wayne and Elvis to make the story drawn out and boring towards the end. Then Huck finds Jim, meets the wife and kids, and goes back home to lead a normal (or as normal as can be) life working as little as possible and living off his $6000.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Romeo and Juliet Critical Lens Essay Example for Free
Romeo and Juliet Critical Lens Essay Robert Assagioli once said, â€Å"Without forgiveness life is governed by . . . an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.†In other words, if one can’t learn to be compassionate, one’s life is going to be controlled by a continuous feeling of hatred and revenge. This quote is accurate because people need to forgive others in order to move on with their own lives. Harboring negative feelings and holding grudges consumes you. The Tragedy of Romeo Juliet by William Shakespeare illustrates this quote well. In The Tragedy of Romeo Juliet by William Shakespeare, many of the characters hold grudges and set out for revenge quickly after having been provoked. For example, the antagonist, Tybalt Capulet, is easily angered when the protagonist, Romeo Montague, shows up to the Capulet’s part uninvited. He swears for revenge and goes to find Romeo to challenge him and ends up killing another Montague and then being killed himself. As a result of this, the Prince sets out to banish Romeo. The underlying problem in the story, though, is that the Montague and Capulet’s are feuding and have been for years. They only realize it’s wrong when their children die. On the other hand, the story also illustrates a lighter note associated with forgiveness instead of holding grudges. Juliet forgives Romeo for killing Tybalt, even though Tybalt was her kinsman. When Juliet is in despair because of Romeo’s banishment and disobeys her father, he is outraged, but later forgives Juliet when she seemingly comes around. The most important apology acceptance is in the end when Capulet’s and Montague’s end their feud and erect statues of each other’s deceased children. The Tragedy of Romeo Juliet by William Shakespeare proves Assagioli’s quote. Although it seemed the families could not stand each other in the beginning and many had personal grudges whereas others had only a general grudge towards the opposing family, in the end the Capulet’s and Montague’s decide it’s pointless to keep feuding. It goes to show that if one has been wronged and seeks immediate revenge or let’s one’s self fume and hold onto it, then they will be a miserable person until they can learn to let it go and forgive.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Career Development Is A Continuous Process Career Education Essay
Career Development Is A Continuous Process Career Education Essay Twenty or so years ago in the old world of work there was emphasis on the following: making a career choice for a long-term career; concern with only one career theme; hierarchical progression (climbing the career ladder); having a career and job for life; loyalty to one company and employer; benefits and a pension in recognition of loyalty. The 21st century world of work is very different. With rapid developments in technology and globalisation of the economy and job markets, there is an increase in competition. The global economy is focused on information generation and delivery of services. There is constant outsourcing of work, downsizing of companies and customising of jobs. More people are in temporary and part-time employment and increasing numbers of people are self- employed. In most occupations there is a trend towards change, unpredictability, spontaneity, innovation and creativity and a demand for people with interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. Many careers today can thus be described in terms of the following: uncertainty, unpredictability, insecurity, reduced likelihood of promotion, work intensification, increased likelihood of mobility out of ones initial occupation, non-standard contracts, part-time work and self-employment In this context one needs to think of oneself as a portfolio of skills (4-8 career changes will probably be made in your lifetime). There is a constant need to invest in maintaining employability, engaging in life-long learning and enhancing ones personal growth. Increasingly, individuals also have to manage their own benefits such as pension schemes and medical aids. To be success in career development, we have to continue to have high adaptation. We should be flexible, adaptable and willing to gain knowledge and learn new skills. Besides, as a key of success, we must be prepared for lifelong learning the ability to access information and develop knowledge and enhance new skills on an ongoing basis. It is essential that you are constantly on the lookout for possibilities to develop yourself and your skills. There is a trend toward multi-skilling: the acquisition of a number of different skills rather than just focusing on the skills in which you were originally trained. Continuous learning process is essential in career development. In career development, building up a valuable network of contacts so that we are able to increase our network coverage in the future. Besides, we have to be prepared to perform tasks that may not be exactly what you want to be doing, but which could pave the way for future development (develop transferable skills). On the other hand, dont expect to stick to the same job for your entire life. It is advisable to move around while you can. Gain fresh experiences. In fact, find yourself a mentor-someone whom you can rely on to give you feedback, encourage you and help you to find opportunities to develop in your career. The last but not the least, learn to work effectively in a team. Right from your first year make a start on your career development. Career development is not about planning exactly what you will do for your career from the time you start studying to the day you leave; its about exploiting every opportunity that you come across to acquire new skills which will enhance your employability. The career development process is aimed at achieving self-knowledge and learning how you can become as marketable as possible in the current world of work. In order to be able to develop your career and make effective career decisions you need to engage in self-reflection and self-assessment from time to time in order to ascertain your current position and progress. If you know yourself and have insight into who you are, you will be better able to know where you could be going. This knowledge will equip you to plan and develop your career path effectively. It is important that you ensure that you have the necessary skills and attributes which are needed in the current job market, especially in the light of the constant changes and developments in the various fields of work. Rapid change in the use of technology itself creates a need for continual updating of ones skills. Your academic qualification alone these days will not guarantee you a job. These are any relevant skills that you have developed in one context that can be transferred to another. The skill of organising, for example, is one such transferable skill that employers look for. Perhaps you gained this skill through organizing a camp for underprivileged children, which involved arranging a venue, transport, a caterer and a programme of events. Although you might not do exactly the same in another work context, the skill of organizing something is one you could transfer. General skills such as public speaking, time management, problem-solving and taking the initiative can be built up during your studies. Speak out in tutorials, hand in assignments on time, go beyond what the lecturers require of you by learning to take the initiative and to solve problems. By participating in activities outside of the lecture room, you will not only develop transferable skills but also learn more about yourself. It is important to get involved as early as possible. Look for organisations such as clubs, societies, teams, church groups, Peer Helping etc. which will give you the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution and learn and practise skills such as communication, leadership and teamwork. By taking on many different roles, you will learn about yourself. You will get to know what you are you good at and what you enjoy. Consider what excites you and what makes you enthusiastic. Make a note of these activities as they may be the very things around which you should build your career. To sum up, the dynamic business environment in this society creates the demand for the employees to continue to learn. Career development is a continuous process to enable employees to excel and sustain themselves in when the business undergoes digitalization, globalisation and differentiation. 2. Compare Hollands approach to career development with Roes. Summarize the similarities and differences.(25 marks) Osipow (1983) classified John Hollands work under the trait approach to career development and Isaacson (1985) classified it under the personality-based theories of career development. Career choice and career adjustment represents an extension of a persons personality. Holland proposed four working assumptions. Hollands assumption on the nature of the personality types includes people develop relatively permanent sets of behaviors or personalities that they seek to express through occupational choices. Besides, Holland assumed that people project their views of themselves and of the work world onto occupational titles. Assessment of these projections serves to identify information about the occupational areas that might be most satisfying for an individual, as well as to illuminate relevant aspects of the individuals personality. Hollands topology based on the several principle theories, first vocational choice is an expression of personality. Vocational choice is not only a reflection of specific aspects of personality. This type of choice expresses who the person is as a whole. For example, it is important to consider their history, their perception of reality and their social context. Second principle is the interest inventories are inventories of personality. Vocational preferences are expressions of personality. Individuals chose an occupation based on their knowledge, their personality and their aptitudes. Therefore, vocational choice is greater than simply using certain abilities within a specific context. It is also a lifestyle, a way of being. Vocational choice is the actualisation of personality as a whole. The next principle is Vocational stereotypes. A number of stereotypes are attached to various professions. Perception of professions differs according to age, experience and social status. Most psychometric assessments do not take into consideration these different perceptions. Individuals could be influenced to stop their vocational choice based on stereotypes that are more or less valid. It is important for a vocational choice to be made based on a realistic perception of various professions. There are a few more principle includes Members of a same profession share personality types and individual stories that are similar, similarities found in a vocational group play a role in the creation of a specific work environment and vocational satisfa ction, its stability and its development are directly attributed to the degree of congruence between the individuals personality and the workplace environment However, there are two major tenets in Ann Roes Theory. First, Freuds psychodynamic preposition that focuses on childhood experience, where what happens in the past affects the present. Second, The Maslows need theory focus on the influences of need to occupational choice, where people look for certain jobs that will help them to fulfil their certain needs. The incorporation of theory in predicting ones occupation will be explained by using Roes Circular Model. In term of findings, Holland found that there are six basic types of work environments in U.S. society; RIASEC. There are six corresponding modal personal orientations; the way the person typically responds to environmental demands; RIASEC. People achieve the most work satisfaction when their work environment matches their modal personal orientation. R / REALISTIC Realistic people are doers. They are independent, stable, persistent, genuine, practical and thrifty. They prefer to deal with things rather than ideas or people. They are no-nonsense, matter-of-fact, down to earth individuals. They excel at tasks that are tactile, motoric, physical, athletic or mechanical. They value things that are natural, concrete and tangible. They like the outdoors, tools, machines, animals and working with their hands. (Farmer, Carpenter, Naturalist, Athlete, Police Officer, Military Personnel, Forester, Landscaper, Mechanic, Sculptor, Veterinarian, Chef, Surgeon, Plumber, Electrician, Pilot, Fire Fighter, Repairer, Animal Breeder, Animal Trainer, Steelworker, Miner) I / INVESTIGATIVE Investigative people are thinkers. They are intellectual, introspective, introverted and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical and precise. They excel at tasks that are scholarly, abstract, scientific, medical or technical. They enjoy activities that involve thought, observation, investigation, exploration, discovery and exploration. They are avid readers. They like to solve puzzles, perform experiments and engage in research. (Biologist, Chemist, Anthropologist, Sociologist, Historian, Scientist, Medical Doctor, Botanist, Meteorologist, Astronomer, Environmental Analyst, Pharmacist, Optometrist, Dentist, Engineer, Economist, Dietitian, Psychiatrist, Nurse, Coroner, Lab Technician) A / ARTISTIC Artistic people are creators. They are intuitive, sensitive, articulate, expressive and creative. They are unstructured, original and nonconforming. They rely on feelings and imagination. They like to work with abstractions, ideas, concepts and ambiguities. They are emotional, spontaneous and open-minded. They excel at tasks that are literary, verbal, visual and aesthetic. They like art, music, dance, drawing, painting, sculpting, drafting, drama, writing, communications, design and fashion. (Singer, Writer, Dancer, Interior Designer, Painter, Actor, Copy Writer, Playwright, Musician, Composer, Poet, Clothing Designer, Architect, Sketch Artist, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Printmaker, Cartoonist, Comedian, Choreographer, Photographer) S / SOCIAL Social people are helpers. They are kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful and friendly. They excel at socializing, helping others and teaching. They like tasks that involve teamwork, social interaction, building relationships, and the improvement of society. They enjoy activities that are public, humanitarian, developmental, educational, philanthropic, altruistic, interpersonal and service oriented. (Teacher, Counselor, Social Worker, Therapist, Nurse, Care Giver, Psychologist, Minister, Priest, Rabbi, Recruiter, Interviewer, Child Care Worker, Home Economist, Arbitrator, Facilitator, Sociologist, Bartender, Homemaker) E / ENTERPRISING Enterprising people are leaders. They are adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident and optimistic. They are dominant, persuasive and motivational. They are promoters. They generally have a contagious or charismatic personality. They excel at business, management, economics, politics, public speaking and salesmanship. Being adventurous and willing to take risks, they possess an entrepreneurial spirit. They like influencing others by guiding, encouraging, directing, preaching, competing or debating. (Politician, Lawyer, Preacher, Coach, Salesperson, Manager, Public Relations Specialist, Promoter, Event Planner, Trainer, Instructor, Consultant, Supervisor, Entertainer, Newscaster, Director, Lobbyist, Buyer, Administrator) C / CONVENTIONAL Conventional people are organizers. They are conscientious and conservative. They are logical, efficient, orderly and organized. They are thorough and detail oriented. They are reliable. They enjoy practical tasks, quantitative measurements, conventional environments and structured situations. They like to work with data and numbers. They like process, procedures, regulations, standards, and rules. They excel at accounting, computer abilities, and clerical skills. They like mathematics, office settings and statistical tasks. (Accountant, Secretary, Banker, Teller, Collector, Bookkeeper, Computer Programmer, Inspector, Auditor, Mathematician, Statistician, Financial Analyst, Data Processor, Scheduler, Filer, Typist, Tax Preparer, Account Analyst, Budget Clerk) However, in term of Ann Roes Theory, Anne Roe suggested that there are 6 occupational level within the 8 fields of occupation. Level 1: Professional and managerial (higher) Have independent responsibility in important aspect, they are involve in the making of pilicy in an organauzation Possessed masters degree or doctor of philisophy Level 2: Professional and managerial (regular) Have medium level responsibility, for self and others; e.g. policy interpretation Possessed bachelors degree Level 3:Semi-professional Have low level responsibility for others; application of policy, or determination for self only Possessed diploma Level 4: Skilled Responsibilities are less autonomy and less initiative permitted Possessed a certificates Level 5: Semi-skilled Responsibilities are less autonomy and less initiative permitted Need informal practices Level 6: Unskilled Responsibilities are less autonomy and less initiative are permitted Do not need specific academic qualification The 6 levels of performance in Roes occupational classification system are based on: Responsibility in the label of work Capacity and skills required for the level of work Complexity of decision making in the level of work The higher the level, the more responsibility, more skills are required, complexity of decision making will increase (Roe Klos, 1972) Figure 1: Basic Comparison of Ann Roes Model and Holland Model Holland Theory Model Another difference between the models was demonstrated on the basic principle. According to Ann Roes work can satisfy needs in different ways. The Occupational groups includes: Service (something for another person); Business contact (selling and supplying services); Organisation (management in business, industry and government); Technology (product maintenance, transportation of commodities utilities); Outdoors (cultivating, preserving gathering natural resources); Science (scientific theory and its application); General culture (preserving and transmitting cultural heritage) Arts and Entertainment (creative art and entertainment). However, Holland focuses on four key concepts: Congruence: compatibility between personality type environment Consistency: similarity among types/ environments Differentiation: degree to which a person/ environment is clearly defined Identity: extent to which a person has a clear self perception of his/her characteristics and gaols, and to the degree of stability which an occupational environment provides. 3. Each student will select one professional article on career development to critique. Your critique should contain four sections: a) title, b) short summary of the content, c)your opinion/critique of the article, including strengths and weaknesses, d) your recommendations for further study by researchers in the field. (25 marks) a) Title A Systemic Approach to Career Development at McDonalds b) Short summary of the content High-engagement approach is applied by Mc Donalds in USA to improve both their operations leadership pipeline and employee satisfaction with their career growth. This approach is initiated by the top management. However, the strategies are supported by middle-management employees. In this article, the authors has identified the approach used embodies McDonalds cultural values of partnership, collaboration, and openness, and effectively ensured that a critical mass of over 100 field officers and 3,000 middle managers embraced the change. c) Your opinion/critique of the article, including strengths and weaknesses d) Your recommendations for further study by researchers in the field This research article is based on qualitative research method. Case study methodology is used in the research is a single case approach. Case studies can be either a single-case design or a multiple-case design. According to Yin (1994), a single-case design is ideal for studying unique or extreme cases, to confirm or challenge a theory or for cases where the researcher did not have access to before. However, the researcher should be careful not to misrepresent what was observed. The following are some types of data collection techniques employed in this case studies (Stake, 1995 and Yin, 1994). The interview is applied in this research. Researcher has interview the top management and middle management at McDonald. The interview is an important technique for data collection and there are two forms of interview are applied in the research, closed or structured Interviews and open-ended Interviews. Open-ended interviews allow subjects to express themselves more freely and insight into events. Besides, observations techniques are used to study the attitude and behaviour of the management and their employees. This direct observation of the employees on satisfaction towards leadership was applied. The researcher used letters, memos, agendas, administrative documents, newspaper articles and any other relevant documents to analyse the operation leadership pipeline. Documents are useful for making inferences about events. Documents are communications between persons in the study. The author has successfully identity the research gap in the journal. The first reason was there are no other studies that have used systemic approach in career development especially in fast food industry. Besides, the objective of this research is rather direct that to study how high-engagement approach to improve both operation leadership pipeline and employee satisfaction. To enhance the writing up for this journal, author can consider providing a small paragraph to indicate the construct or operation definition for culture short and social support. Reader would have a clearer picture how the construct does by providing the operational definition. The author has given a clear and depth discussion in the approach used by McDonald to career development. The area of discussion includes talent management imperative, task force chartered, open, meaningful dialogue across solos, getting broader leadership input and support, the content of the change: a systemic approach. The author supported the discussion with the various previous researches. In the last session of this journal, the author has identified the limitation of the studies and future directions. I feel the discussion on the limitation is not thoroughly considered. Even the research design of cohort studies was mentioned, however the various types of bias was ignored. The limitation of specifying and selecting study sample, non-response, volunteer bias, bogus control bias should be discussed. Besides, the author should take care of limitation in measuring exposure and outcome. Obsequiousness bias, expectation bias and errors that could occur during recording the transcribing data should be fully discuss in the last session. However, the author has given a very clear future direction for other researcher to follow so that they can contribute to the knowledge gap. More researches should be conducted in the area of career development in systemic approach so that a strong fundamental will be provided to support the theory in this area. In my opinion, a quantitative study should be used to study the relationship between leadership and the employees satisfaction. Besides, the cross sectional studies should be conducted to look at various area in career development of the staffs including talent management, training, career planning and others. As conclusion, this journal article provides a good fundamental background for the reader to understand the concept of systemic approach and career development. By understand the concept of systemic approach and career development, intervention program can be done to help to employees to develop a secure career planning in the organisation. 4. Apply a career development theory to your own career development. Using Supers developmental stages, identify your current stage of development and the ages at which you accomplished other stages.(25 marks) I would apply Holand approach in my career development. This approach gives explicit attention to behavioral style or personality types as the major influence in career choice development. This is described as structurally interactive. Family influences, to a certain degree, the development of personality types. For example, my parents promotes investigative abilities, could favour the development of an investigative type personality. Parents pass on some hereditary characteristics that can influence the development of certain personality types. Since my parents are from medical field, I was strongly influenced by them. Also, the family unit is a member of a certain social context. This social context can also participate in the development of certain personality traits According to Holand, there are 6 types of personality traits. Realistic work with hands, machines, tools, active, practical, adventurous Vocational preferences Prefer concrete occupations (e.g.: carpentry) that are relatively solitary and do require a lot of interaction with people Their range of interests is relatively restricted. They limit their relations and seek people who share the same values, interests and beliefs as they do Values and career objectives Possess traditional values and prefer to work within an institutional setting Have many ambitions and see the practical side of things Rather close minded when it comes to changing their belief system or their values Investigative thought, analytical approaches, explore, knowledge, ideas, not social Vocational preference Prefer activities that require observation, systematic investigation of natural, biological, cultural, medical or technical phenomenons They seek to understand and control what is happening This type does not invest much in social or interpersonal activities Values and career objectives Their values influence them to seek academic activities where they can feel a sense of autonomy and personal independence They are intellectuals who like logic and can be ambitious. Their belief system is open However, family, security and friendship are values that are less important to them Artistic literary, musical, artistic activities, emotional, creative, open Vocational preference Prefer artistic activities and avoid conventional type activities Like to socialise with people who have similar values and belief systems as they do, and avoid people who do not Values and career objectives Believe aesthetics are very important. They have an expressive, courageous and imaginative personality Avoid conformity and servility Belief system is very open open to new ideas and to the feelings of others Social train, inform, educate, help, supportive, avoid technical skills, empathy, relationships Vocational preference Prefer occupations with social requirements Avoid more realistic type activities Associate with people who share similar values and beliefs as they do Values and career objectives Like to serve others in a medical, institutional or community setting Want to help and believe in equal opportunities Are not attracted to the world of ideas or logic Find spiritual values important Enterprising verbally skilled, persuasive, direct, leader, dominant Vocational preference Prefer activities that put their business skills to work Like to develop in the business world Avoid activities that require research or investigative work. Prefer to be with people who share similar values and beliefs as they do Values and career objectives They have a traditional belief and value system Strive to become leaders and manage others They are very ambitious They take pride in their physical appearance and aim to climb the social ladder Conventional rules and routines, provide order or direct structure, great self control, respect power and status, punctual, orderly Vocational preference Prefer conventional type activities like accounting, finances or administration Avoid artistic type activities Like to be with people who are similar to them and avoid people who are different The diagram summarises the characteristics of the Holland type of expression. Holland Types are usually expressed in 3 letters- Ex: RIA Realistic R C I E A S E A S SS Conventional Investigative Enterprising Artistic Social Most Masculine Types R E Most Prestigious Types I E Most Feminine Types A S Least Prestigious Types R C From my profile, I found that I belong to IRS. Hence, it represents the career I am doing now as a medical specialist. Super Developmental Stage Vocational development is the process of developing and implementing a self-concept. As the self-concept becomes more realistic and stable, so does vocational choice and behavior. People choose occupations that permit them to express their self-concepts. Work satisfaction is related to the degree that theyve been able to implement their self-concepts.Career maturity includes readiness to cope with developmental tasks at a given stage. It is both affective and cognitive. Most career education programs have been affected by Supers ideas. They provide gradual exposure to self-concepts and work concepts in curriculum that represents Supers ideas of career development/vocational maturity. (National Career Development Guideline Standards) I am currently at establishment stage. (25 40 year old). In this age, the major tasks are to find secure niche in ones field and advance within it. I have found my permanent and appropriate field of work when working and establishing my work in the field of medical. Besides, I have expanded my field of working in the area of business, consultancy and training. These years are considered to be the most productive and creative years of the life span. I am able to work for more than 24 hours without sleep to complete a task. The energetic during this stage motivates us to work under stress and pressure. Not only that, in this trial and stabilization stage, I have undergone the process of settling down, if unsatisfactory may make 1-2 more changes before the right job is found. I have been trying to work in various environment including private and government sectors. After trying various working environment, I learn a few concept and decided not to work for any organisation and work for my own. I believe a concept that, if working in an organisation, the maximum they are able to pay me is RM 10 000. However, if I work for several organisation, I am very sure it would be more than working singularly in one organisatiom. It is proven now that I have multiple income. During this stage I begin to support myself and my family. I have to start to buy my own belongings like properties, car and investment in share markets. I start to understand the tangible assets and intangible assets. All these development enable me to appreciate the real concept of self dependency. Besides, I begin to develop a lifestyle, make use of their abilities and past training. I also begin to become involved in meaningful interests. It further to advancement where the efforts directed at securing ones position, acquiring seniority, developing skills, demonstrating superior performance, resume building actions. I have tried to development myself by attending various conferences, writing various journals articles to be published in order to establish myself in my career. Besides, I start to write in various magazines and books to create my personal branding in the organisation. After several years of hard work, my name can be googled and it is popular among bloggers internationally. In addition, I begin to become more focused on my place in their occupation. Job title, remuneration has become my main focus on all tasks in my career. Not only that, I start to become interested in my work security and advancement. I create my own company and ensure the company has the fix income and passive income to support my expenses. Besides, before investing further, I would ensure my budgeting is done completely so that I would run into financial crisis. Hence, I also have the expectation that they will become financially stable and move towards challenging levels of responsibility and independence. Sometimes, this stage may become very frustrating if advancement is not forth coming In short, in this stage I realise that I become s
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Computers :: Technology
Computers Computers are found in practically every household today. Everywhere you look, people have access to a Personal Computer, someway or another. As computers get more advanced, the demand for a better computer gets greater. The Personal Computer (PC), a machine capable of repetitively and quickly performing calculations and instructions. Designed to be used by a single person, a PC is smaller, less expensive, and easier to use than other classes of computers, such as supercomputers, mainframe computers, and workstations. However, it usually has less computational power.1 First appearing as massive machines seen only in areas of high technology, the computer eventually found its way into homes and offices in the smaller, more accessible form of the PC. They have revolutionized entertainment, science, the media, art, medicine, education, and business because they provide computational abilities at a low cost to people with no programming experience. PCs enable artists to envision and manipulate images. Musicians use them for learning, creating, and recording music. Businesses track finances and forecast company performance using PCs. Foreign correspondents can compose news stories on portable PCs, called laptops, and electronically submit these stories from remote locations. Many people work at home and communicate with fellow workers via their PCs in a practice known as telecommunications. PCs are also able to interface with worldwide communication networks, such as the Internet, and the graphics- based information database known as the World Wide Web to find information on any subject. With a PC and a modem, a user is able to connect to information on local, national, and international networks via phone lines. As computers and software have become easier to use, or more â€Å"user friendly,†many people are finding them both useful and necessary for their jobs. As a family tool, this computer may be used for school, research, communication, record keeping, work, and entertainment. Mainframe Computer, a high-level computer designed for the most intensive computational tasks. Mainframe computers are often shared by multiple users connected to the computer via terminals. The most powerful mainframes, called supercomputers, perform highly complex and time
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Living Deficiently or Energy-Efficiently :: Economy Pollution Papers
To live deficiently or energy-efficiently: that is the question. Although the majority of us are aware of the pressing environmental problems we face daily, we are not very aware of the urgency to find a solution to them. Life on earth is built up like a wagon wheel; we can remove a few of those spokes and we might still be able to travel safely, but eventually the wheel will weaken and collapse. At that point, no amount of human ingenuity will allow us to reconstruct the wagon wheel so we can keep traveling on to the future. This fact is obvious, given our inability to completely clean up any damage our pollution has done to the environmentâ€â€how can we expect to rebuild or repair a collapsed planetary ecosystem? We cannot keep consuming resources and damaging the environment at our current exponential rate. Exponential growth implies infinite expansion, but our Earth is finite, and its resources are finite. If something is not done about our wasteful use of the planetâ₠¬â„¢s energy and resources, our lives will be made miserable and desperate as the natural processes which support human life collapse like a flimsy wagon wheel made of sludge and decaying tree stumps. We will be living deficiently, if at all, according to our current standards of living. Pollution cleanup is no good; continuing to use the current rates of energy that we use without change is no good. We must concentrate on preventing environmental problems in the first place, and what’s more, we must figure out a simple, economical, and practical way that each of us can do it. This solution is energy-efficiency. Series of Topic Sentences to Follow Outline: It is necessary to find a practical resolution to environmental problems. Examples of these environmental problems include: These environmental problems pose a serious threat to humans because the planetary ecosystem is being slowly destroyed. We often like to use the less-impacting terms â€Å"degraded†or â€Å"injured,†but we shouldn’t use diction to hide the truth. By flagrantly using unnecessary quantities of energy, we are gradually destroying our environmentâ€â€not â€Å"degrading†or â€Å"injuring†it, but destroying it. Our environmental problems are caused by pollution release, resource overuse and destruction, and carelessness towards the environment. The source of all these problems is the lack of human energy-efficiency in manufacturing products and, with greater contribution to the problem, the lack of energy-effiicient lifestyles.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Push and pull strategy of Motorola Essay
Push Examples of companies are a) For example, Motorola use a push strategy to make arrangements with large mobile phone providers, such as Sprint, Verizon and AT&T, who can advertise phones directly to consumers. Businesses can promote products to wholesalers and vendors through trade shows, contacting local retailers and providing attractive packaging and point of sale displays to convince consumers to buy. b) Second is Nokia, Nokia promote their products via retailers such as Carphone Warehouse. Personal selling and trade promotions are often the most effective promotional tools for companies like Nokia. For example, Nokia offering subsidies on the handsets to encourage retailers to sell higher volumes. Pros: 1. To develop this kind of positioning, all one has to do is look at the competition’s literature and come up with positioning that seems sufficiently different from the alternatives. Potentially saves time because it can be done without speaking to customers. Maybe a good first step in developing a go-to-market strategy. 2. Using a push strategy usually costs less money and draws more business, because companies negotiate with large vendors. For example, a producer selling a product to Walmart can receive most of its business from a single retail outlet, allowing the business to focus on its product manufacturing and supply chain while worrying less about its relationship with customers. Cons: 1. The competition may have it all wrong and have no idea about what customers really want, so trying to work around the competition’s messaging may be pointless, since they all have it wrong anyways-and company probably do too since the company haven’t spoken to any customers 2. Push strategies can rely too heavily upon large vendors, which limit a business’ pricing and flexibility when selling a product. For example, a large producer like Walmart may dictate the price at which the business can sell its products. Pull Examples of companies are a) A good example of a pull is the heavy advertising and promotion of children’s’ toys, Toyrus. Consumers will go to ToyRUs and ask for a toy that was advertised on the television, and then ToyRus will ask the wholesalers who will then ask the producers about the product and meet the demand. b) Second example is car manufacturing company, Ford Australia. Ford Australia only produces cars when they have been ordered by the customers. Applied to that portion of the supply chain where demand uncertainty is high production and distribution are demand driven no inventory, response to specific orders point of sale data comes in handy when shared with supply chain partners decrease in lead time difficult to implement Pros: 1. Removing Pressure. One of the primary attractions for pull marketing is to mitigate the pressure of conducting outbound marketing. Marketers do not need to actively persuade customers that they need the product; customers are naturally drawn to it. 2. A pull strategy can create large demand for products in a short time, especially if a new business has difficulty building up market share for its products. Businesses can easily solicit customer feedback on how to improve products. Also, dealing directly with customers enables businesses to cut out retailing middlemen. Cons: 1. Requires extensive customer interactions to identify the things that customers feel are the differentiated features of the product. It is difficult to done to get customer interaction. 2. Advertising expenses can be costly with a pull strategy, unless a business gets lucky with a viral marketing campaign. Building a brand can take years and cost millions before customers become loyal to a product line.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Half-Past Two and Piano Essay
â€Å"Half past Two†is about a young child who has done something naughty. His teacher punishes him by making him stay behind until half past two. However, being cross, she forgets he has not yet learnt to tell the time. Thus, his concept of time doesn’t yet include numerals. He knows he is punished but cannot understand why. During his detention, he recalls the time modules he knows in an attempt to figure out when will he be free again. He escapes â€Å"out of reach of all the timefors†into a fantasy world. The teacher has almost forgotten about the boy owing to the triviality of the matter to her, but of great significance to the boy. At last, she scuttles in and lets him go home. In â€Å"Piano†, The persona in the poem is listening to a woman singing and playing the piano. This makes him recall when he was a child, sitting under the piano listening to his mother play and sing on Sunday evenings in winter. He is nostalgic about the warmth and happiness of his childhood days. However, he seems to berate himself on recalling his childhood and views himself as sad and less masculine for giving in to his nostalgic impulses. With his ‘manhood cast/Down in the flood of remembrance’, he weeps, an act considered inappropriate for a man. These two poems both use striking language. Firstly, they both use onomatopoeia to convey the setting of the poems. In â€Å"Half-past Two†, the onomatopoeia is used to convey the ticking sound of the clock, whereas in â€Å"Piano†, it is used to convey the musical sounds of the piano. Secondly, they also both use alliteration. In â€Å"Half-past Two†, the phrase ‘time hides tick-less’ is used to convey the sound of a clock ticking. However, in â€Å"Piano†, the repetition of the consonant /s/ is used to convey the calm and quiet singing of the woman. Thirdly, the two poets choose their words prudently. In â€Å"Half-past Two†, childish words such as â€Å"wicked†and â€Å"cross†helps us locate our imaginations within the setting of a primary school. In â€Å"Piano†, the positive word â€Å"cosy†evokes the warm and happy atmosphere when he was a child. On the other hand, negative words ‘betrays’ and ‘insidious’ convey that he is ashamed of his weakness. Fourthly, the use of senses can be found in both poems. In â€Å"Half-past Two†, in stanza 8, the senses such as â€Å"smell of old chrysanthemums†brings alive the scene in the classroom. In â€Å"Piano†, the persona hears the woman singing â€Å"Softly, in the dusk†and playing the piano, recalling his childhood memories. Lastly, the mood of both poems is nostalgic and they both have the theme of childhood. The persona in â€Å"Half-past Two†is nostalgic about the long-lost childhood which is free from time constraints. It can easily be seen in the last stanza – â€Å"He escaped †¦ to be born†. On the other hand, the persona in â€Å"Piano†is sad and crying for the time which will never come back after it is forever lost with his manhood â€Å"cast/Down in the flood of remembrance†. For â€Å"Half-past Two†, I think punishment is not a suitable way to discipline an innocent child who did ‘Something Very Wrong. He should be explained what the error is. The poet uses the teacher to criticize adults who are dismissive of children, emphasized by ‘she slotted him back’. Adults should care and attend to children more. Besides, this poem’s effect on me is so strong that it almost brings me back to my merry childhood. I crave for reliving my childhood, when I lived freely without troubles and worries and time constraints. A nostalgic mood is revealed in the last stanza. It shows that the poet is very nostalgic, reminiscing the childhood experiences when everything is not constrained by time. Moreover, the fantasy world which the child conceives in stanzas 7 & 8 is most people’s utopia, where they can temporarily forget all the stress and worries from work or studies and escape from reality. It is a dream world where all of us can dream about as a solace when we are stressed out. The poem, â€Å"Piano†, has a nostalgic and wistful tone. Hearing the powerful music and soft song, the persona recalls his pleasant childhood memories. He reminisces that he sat ‘under the piano†¦ pressing the small poised feet’ of his mother. However, in the last stanza, ‘my manhood is cast/Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past’. It appears that the persona is rather sentimental and melancholic. He is sad and crying for the time which will never come back after it is forever lost. Besides, the ‘Tingling strings’ and the ‘mastery of song’ strongly evoke the persona’s pleasant childhood memories. It also brings me back to the time when I was a child, learning how to play the piano. I regret not taking piano lessons seriously at that time and dropping it at last. We should treasure everything we possess before they slip away. In my opinion, the persona, being a man, should not cry hastily. I think it is very embarrassing for a grown man to weep. He attempted to restrain his emotions but failed. His heart ‘weeps to belong’ and eventually he bursts into tears. His weeping is uncharacteristic of his present maturity. Nevertheless, I prefer â€Å"Half-past Two†, because it can fully depict the helplessness of the innocent child being kept in until half past two – a time completely unfamiliar to him. I also like the tone of the last stanza. It can trigger my deeper thoughts. It makes me realize that the land where â€Å"time hides tick-less waiting to be born†is a utopia where many people can temporarily forget all the stress and worries and relax.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Black Swan Essay
Speech problems are serious hardship for children as they have to cope not only with medical aspects of the problem, but also with social exclusion and mockery. David Mitchell in his book tends to recreate the childhood from the child’s viewpoint, to transmit feelings, emotions, doubts and anxieties of children. Moreover, the author decided to show the life and hardships of a boy suffering from stammer. Children always feel embarrassed when they stammer as they think they may be mocked at. The world of children with speech problem is delicate and fragile; therefore, they are vulnerable to more stresses and anxieties. They are less confident and more reserved. That is what the author is willing to show in his book. Jason Taylor, the main character, is a common teenager who was born in a village in Worcestershire in the year of 1982. Though he is unremarkable in appearance, he is aspiring poet. He is highly gifted child with rich inner world. Jason tells the story about his school days, about problems with parents and his elder sister who irritates him constantly. However, Jason has speech problem – he has a stammer and this fact makes him feel embarrassed and unconfident. Like all children Jason has secrets from his parents and school friends. He hides the fact that he is a poet and his poetry is written under the name of Eliot Bolivar. (Mitchell 2006) The author starts his novel from explaining and examining the social status of childhood. The first chapters are devoted to analyzing why some children are called by their first names, some children – by â€Å"sort of respectful nicknames like ‘Yardy’†, wheras others by their surnames and some by ‘piss-take nicknames like Moran Moron or Nicholas Briar who’s Knickerless Bra. . It’s all ranks, being a boy, like the army†. Mitchell shows that children are other people in the world. The book is an interesting and exciting story of a 13-year boy whose parents divorce. The author provides detailed overview of his anxieties, thoughts and reflections. Actually, the author details on the first year of his life after the divorce. It is discovered the Jason’s father has another woman. As for me, the most impressive part of the book is when Mitchell writes about Jason’s stammer stressing that this speech impediment causes lots of problems for young boy as he has to â€Å"think one sentence ahead, and if you see a stammer-word coming up, alter your sentence so you won’t need to use it†. Jason is a very sensitive and vulnerable personality and he is afraid of being labeled as â€Å"Stutterboy†. He hides his stammer and fears that his school friends and teachers would become aware of his speech problems. The author impressively conveys Jason’s inner anxieties and feelings to the readers. The book is poignant as the author is struggling to keep the tension and intrigue at the desires level. (Mitchell 2006) I think that the book is a mix of genres as the author refers to social realism when showing that children with speech problems may suffer from social exclusion, and romanticism when conveying Jason’s inner struggle. Mitchell vividly depicts Jason’s family life. Mitchell shows his best qualifications of a caricaturist. He has a better ear for the smarmy and the self-important, like Jason’s father, than for the more softly spoken. For example, he claims at the dinner table: â€Å"The principle, o daughter of mine, is a universal constant. If you don’t keep records, you can’t make progress assessments. True for retailers, true for educators, true for the military, true for any systems operator. One bright day in your brilliant career †¦ you’ll learn this the hard way and think, if only I’d listened to my dear wise father. How right he was†. Actually, Jason gets the best lines in the novel. The author chooses the child character to show the different consciousness, different attitudes and perception of the problems and anxieties. Mitchell defines childhood as inevitably the age of false notes and brashness. He outlines that children shouldn’t be allowed too much knowingness. Jason is well-educated and quick-witted boy and his perception of the world is rather fresh and original. For example, Jason thinks: â€Å"Woods don’t bother with fences or borders. Woods are†¦ fences and borders. The world won’t leave things be. It’s always injecting endings into beginnings. The crows parascended up and off†. (Mitchell 2006) Jason is also very observant and shrewd. When he sees that his father meets his brother-in-law, he mentions: â€Å"Each was wearing the jersey the other’d given him for Christmas†. In such a way the author restore the slang of Black Swan’s school children. (Mitchell 2006) I like the way Jason depicts love and affection, when a girl attracts him, he says: â€Å"Magnets don’t need to understand magnetism. Listening to houses breathe makes you weightless†, etc. But the striking sentences and snatches of dialogue are too often waylaid by cutesy apercus – â€Å"The earth’s a door if you press your ear against it†– and the narrator’s wish to be too cunningly callow. (Mitchell 2006) Speaking about what I have learnt from the book, firstly, I want to say that the book has made me more aware about the world children with speech problems live in. I am really impressed by Taylor’s pretence to see beyond his childhood. I think that boy is too clever and intelligent for his age, though he shouldn’t hurry to become old. The book is very informative as it reveals the reality of life: children wit stammer may undergo mockery and social exclusion. A child may be excellent student and talented personality, though children would laugh at his speech impediment. The author teaches us to be more tolerate and to think and only then to act. Moreover, I see psychological changes occurring with children after parents have divorced. I found out that children became more reserved and failed to display their true feelings and emotions. And I think that Jason’s stammer is apparent consequence of parent’s divorce. (Mitchell 2006) David Mitchell wants, in my opinion, to do a very ambitious thing in this novel, which is to write a book about a young adolescent – and the young adolescent as natural poet – as though it was written by a young adolescent, but he hasn’t quite found the voice for it. A young adolescent finding his voice by experimenting with other voices is a useful device for a novelist. But a young adolescent is even more promising for contemporary fiction because he is someone who doesn’t want to be too accessible or too unpopular. Mitchell’s fans should see this as a transitional novel in what is already an intriguing career. The book is filled with Jason’s insights and revelations. The adult world is obsessed with fame and erotic life, and, therefore, Mitchell’s book is of great importance as it teaches people to be more patient and tolerate towards children with speech and health problems. The book is very impressive and it remains nobody indifferent. Mitchell shows that children are strongly affected psychologically when parents decided to divorce. Mitchell’s book covers all these problems stressing that children psychologically suffer from parental split up and their speech problems may become more severe. The book is surely the ambitious study of adolescence. (Mitchell 2006) The book is relevant to the course â€Å"Communication Science†as the auhtor discusses speech probems of Jason Taylor, in particular, stammer and its psychological affect on child’s behavior. Mitchell shows that speech problems make children feel shy and self-conscious. Ccommunication is playing nowadays one of the most important roles in society because it is the core source of mutual understanding among people. Communication is the greatest luxury given to people. Works Cited Mitchell, David. Black Swan: A Novel. Random House, 2006.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Forward the Foundation Chapter 15
Part III Dors Venabili VENABILI, DORS-The life of Hari Seldon is well encrusted with legend and uncertainty, so that little hope remains of ever obtaining a biography that can be thoroughly factual. Perhaps the most puzzling aspect of his life deals with his consort, Dors Venabili. There is no information whatever concerning Dors Venabili, except for her birth on the world of Cinna, prior to her arrival at Streeling University to become a member of the history faculty. Shortly after that, she met Seldon and remained his consort for twenty-eight years. If anything, her life is more interlarded with legend than Seldon's is. There are quite unbelievable tales of her strength and speed and she was widely spoken of, or perhaps whispered of, as â€Å"The Tiger Woman.†Still more puzzling than her coming, however, is her going, for after a certain time, we hear of her no more and there is no indication as to what happened. Her role as a historian is evidenced by her works on- Encyclopedia Galactica 1 Wanda was almost eight years old now, going by Galactic Standard Time -as everyone did. She was quite the little lady-grave in manner, with straight light-brown hair. Her eyes were blue but were darkening and she might well end with the brown eyes of her father. She sat there, lost in thought. Sixty. That was the number that preoccupied her. Grandfather was going to have a birthday and it was going to be his sixtieth-and sixty was a large number. It bothered her because yesterday she had had a bad dream about it. She went in search of her mother. She would have to ask. Her mother was not hard to find. She was talking to Grandfather-about the birthday surely. Wanda hesitated. It wouldn't be nice to ask in front of Grandfather. Her mother had no trouble whatever sensing Wanda's consternation. She said, â€Å"One minute, Hari, and let's see what's bothering Wanda. What is it, dear?†Wanda pulled at her hand. â€Å"Not here, Mother. Private.†Manella turned to Hari Seldon. â€Å"See how early it starts? Private lives. Private problems. Of course, Wanda, shall we go to your room?†â€Å"Yes, Mother.†Wanda was clearly relieved. Hand in hand, they went and then her mother said, â€Å"Now what is the problem, Wanda?†â€Å"It's Grandfather, Mother.†â€Å"Grandfather! I can't imagine him doing anything to bother you.†â€Å"Well, he is.†Wanda's eyes filled with sudden tears. â€Å"Is he going to die?†â€Å"Your grandfather? What put that into your head, Wanda?†â€Å"He's going to be sixty. That's so old.†â€Å"No, it isn't. It's not young, but it's not old, either. People live to be eighty, ninety, even a hundred-and your grandfather is strong and healthy. He'll live a long time.†â€Å"Are you sure?†She was sniffing. Manella grasped her daughter by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. â€Å"We must all die someday, Wanda. I've explained that to you before. Just the same, we don't worry about it till the someday is much closer.†She wiped Wanda's eyes gently. â€Å"Grandfather is going to stay alive till you're all grown up and have babies of your own. You'll see. Now come back with me. I want you to talk to Grandfather.†Wanda sniffed again. Seldon looked at the little girl with a sympathetic expression on her return and said, â€Å"What is it, Wanda? Why are you unhappy?†Wanda shook her head. Seldon turned his gaze to the girl's mother. â€Å"Well, what is it, Manella?†Manella shook her head. â€Å"She'll have to tell you herself.†Seldon sat down and tapped his lap. â€Å"Come, Wanda. Have a seat and tell me your troubles.†She obeyed and wriggled a bit, then said, â€Å"I'm scared.†Seldon put his arm around her. â€Å"Nothing to be scared of in your old grandfather.†Manella made a face. â€Å"Wrong word.†Seldon looked up at her. â€Å"Grandfather?†â€Å"No. Old.†That seemed to break the dike. Wanda burst into tears. â€Å"You're old, Grandfather.†â€Å"I suppose so. I'm sixty.†He bent his face down to Wanda's and whispered, â€Å"I don't like it, either, Wanda. That's why I'm glad you're only seven going on eight.†â€Å"Your hair is white, Grandpa.†â€Å"It wasn't always. It just turned white recently.†â€Å"White hair means you're going to die, Grandpa.†Seldon looked shocked. He said to Manella, â€Å"What is all this?†â€Å"I don't know, Hari. It's her own idea.†â€Å"I had a bad dream,†said Wanda. Seldon cleared his throat. â€Å"We all have bad dreams now and then, Wanda. It's good we do. Bad dreams get rid of bad thoughts and then we're better off.†â€Å"It was about you dying, Grandfather.†â€Å"I know. I know. Dreams can be about dying, but that doesn't make them important. Look at me. Don't you see how alive I am-and cheerful-and laughing? Do I look as though I'm dying? Tell me.†â€Å"N-no.†â€Å"There you are, then. Now you go out and play and forget all about this. I'm just having a birthday and everyone will have a good time. Go ahead, dear.†Wanda left in reasonable cheer, but Seldon motioned to Manella to stay. 2 Seldon said, â€Å"Wherever do you think Wanda got such a notion?†â€Å"Come now, Hari. She had a Salvanian gecko that died, remember? One of her friends had a father who died in an accident and she sees deaths on holovision all the time. It is impossible for any child to be so protected as not to be aware of death. Actually I wouldn't want her to be so protected. Death is an essential part of life; she must learn that.†â€Å"I don't mean death in general, Manella. I mean my death in particular. What has put that into her head?†Manella hesitated. She was very fond, indeed, of Hari Seldon. She thought, Who would not be, so how can I say this? But how could she not say this? So she said, â€Å"Hari, you yourself put it into her head.†â€Å"I?†â€Å"Of course, you've been speaking for months of turning sixty and complaining loudly of growing old. The only reason people are setting up this party is to console you.†â€Å"It's no fun turning sixty,†said Seldon indignantly. â€Å"Wait! Wait! You'll find out.†â€Å"I will-if I'm lucky. Some people don't make it to sixty. Just the same, if turning sixty and being old are all you talk about, you end up frightening an impressionable little girl.†Seldon sighed and looked troubled. â€Å"I'm sorry, but it's hard. Look at my hands. They're getting spotted and soon they'll be gnarled. I can do hardly anything in the way of Twisting any longer. A child could probably force me to my knees.†â€Å"In what way does that make you different from other sixty-year-olds? At least your brain is working as well as ever. How often have you said that that's all that counts?†â€Å"I know. But I miss my body.†Manella said with just a touch of malice, â€Å"Especially when Dors doesn't seem to get any older.†Seldon said uneasily, â€Å"Well yes, I suppose-†He looked away, clearly unwilling to talk about the matter. Manella looked at her father-in-law gravely. The trouble was, he knew nothing about children-or about people generally. It was hard to think that he had spent ten years as First Minister under the old Emperor and yet ended up knowing as little about people as he did. Of course, he was entirely wrapped up in this psychohistory of his, that dealt with quadrillions of people, which ultimately meant dealing with no people at all-as individuals. And how could he know about children when he had had no contact with any child except Raych, who had entered his life as a twelve-year-old? Now he had Wanda, who was-and would probably remain to him-an utter mystery. Manella thought all this lovingly. She had the incredible desire to protect Hari Seldon from a world he did not understand. It was the only point at which she and her mother-in-law, Dors Venabili, met and coalesced-this desire to protect Hari Seldon. Manella had saved Seldon's life ten years before. Dors, in her strange way, had considered this an invasion of her prerogative and had never quite forgiven Manella. Seldon, in his turn, had then saved Manella's life. She closed her eyes briefly and the whole scene returned to her, almost as though it were happening to her right now. 3 It was a week after the assassination of Cleon-and a horrible week it had been. All of Trantor was in chaos. Hari Seldon still kept his office as First Minister, but it was clear he had no power. He called in Manella Dubanqua. â€Å"I want to thank you for saving Raych's life and my own. I haven't had a chance to do so yet.†Then with a sigh, â€Å"I have scarcely had a chance to do anything this past week.†Manella asked, â€Å"What happened to the mad gardener?†â€Å"Executed! At once! No trial! I tried to save him by pointing out that he was insane. But there was no question about it. If he had done anything else, committed any other crime, his madness would have been recognized and he would have been spared. Committed-locked up and treated-but spared, nonetheless. But to kill the Emperor-†Seldon shook his head sadly. Manella said, â€Å"What's going to happen now, First Minister?†â€Å"I'll tell you what I think. The Entun Dynasty is finished. Cleon's son will not succeed. I don't think he wants to. He fears assassination in his turn and I don't blame him one bit. It would be much better for him to retire to one of the family estates on some Outer World and live a quiet life. Because he is a member of the Imperial House, he will untie** allowed to do this. You and I may be less fortunate.†Manella frowned. â€Å"In what way, sir?†Seldon cleared his throat. â€Å"It is possible to argue that because you killed Gleb Andorin, he dropped his blaster, which became available to Mandell Gruber, who used it to kill Cleon. Therefore you bear a strong share of the responsibility of the crime and it may even be said that it was all prearranged.†â€Å"But that's ridiculous. I am a member of the security establishment, fulfilling my duties-doing what I was ordered to do.†Seldon smiled sadly. â€Å"You're arguing rationally and rationality is not going to be in fashion for a while. What's going to happen now, in the absence of a legitimate successor to the Imperial throne, is that we are bound to have a military government.†(In later years, when Manella came to understand the workings of psychohistory, she wondered if Seldon had used the technique to work out what was going to happen, for the military rule certainly came to pass. At the time, however, he made no mention of his fledgling theory.) â€Å"If we do have a military government,†he went on, â€Å"then it will be necessary for them to establish a firm rule at once, crush any signs of disaffection, act vigorously and cruelly, even in defiance of rationality and justice. If they accuse you, Miss Dubanqua, of being part of a plot to kill the Emperor, you will be slaughtered, not as an act of justice but as a way of cowing the people of Trantor. â€Å"For that matter, they might say that I was part of the plot, too. After all, I went out to greet the new gardeners when it was not my place to do so. Had I not done so, there would have been no attempt to kill me, you would not have struck back, and the Emperor would have lived. Do you see how it all fits?†â€Å"I can't believe they will do this.†â€Å"Perhaps they won't. I'll make them an offer that, just perhaps, they may not wish to refuse.†â€Å"What would that be?†â€Å"I will offer to resign as First Minister. They don't want me, they won't have me. But the fact is that I do have supporters at the Imperial Court and, even more important, people in the Outer Worlds who find me acceptable. That means that if the members of the Imperial Guard force me out, then even if they don't execute me, they will have some trouble. If, on the other hand, I resign, stating that I believe the military government is what Trantor and the Empire needs, then I actually help them, you see?†He mused a little and said, â€Å"Besides, there is the little matter of psychohistory.†(That was the first time Manella had ever heard the word.) â€Å"What's that?†â€Å"Something I'm working on. Cleon believed in its powers very strongly-more strongly than I did at the time-and there's a considerable feeling in the court that psychohistory is, or might be, a powerful tool that could be made to work on the side of the government-whatever the government might be. â€Å"Nor does it matter if they know nothing about the details of the science. I'd rather they didn't. Lack of knowledge can increase what we might call the superstitious aspect of the situation. In which case, they will let me continue working on my research as a private citizen. At least, I hope so. And that brings me to you.†â€Å"What about me?†â€Å"I'm going to ask as part of the deal that you be allowed to resign from** the security establishment and that no action be taken against you for** the events in connection with the assassination. I ought to be able to â€Å"But you're talking about ending my career.†â€Å"Your career is, in any case, over. Even if the Imperial Guard doesn't up an order of execution against you, can you imagine that you will Be allowed to continue working as a security officer?†â€Å"But what do I do? How do I make a living?†â€Å"I'll take care of that, Miss Dubanqua. In all likelihood, I'll go back to Streeling University, with a large grant for my psychohistorical research, I'm sure that I can find a place for you.†Manella, round-eyed, said, â€Å"Why should you-â€Å" Seldon said, â€Å"I can't believe you're asking. You saved Raych's life and own. Is it conceivable that I don't owe you anything?†And it was as he said. Seldon resigned gracefully from the post he had held for ten years. He was given a fulsome letter of appreciation for his services by the just-formed military government, a junta led by certain members of the Imperial Guard and the armed forces. He returned to Streeling University and Manella Dubanqua, relieved of her own post as security officer, went with Seldon and his family. 4 Raych came in, blowing on his hands. â€Å"I'm all for deliberate variety in the weather. You don't want things under a dome to always be the same. Today though, they made it just a little too cold and worked up a wind, besides. I think it's about time someone complained to weather control.†â€Å"I don't know that it's weather control's fault,†said Seldon. â€Å"It's getting harder to control things in general.†â€Å"I know. Deterioration.†Raych brushed his thick black mustache with the back of his hand. He did that often, as though he had never quite managed to get over the few months during which he had been mustacheless in Wye. He had also put on a little weight around the middle and, overall, had come to seem very comfortable and middleclass. Even his Dahl accent had faded somewhat. He took off his light coverall and said, â€Å"And how's the old birthday boy?†â€Å"Resenting it. Wait, wait, my son. One of these days, you'll be celebrating your fortieth birthday. We'll see how funny you'll think that is.†â€Å"Not as funny as sixty.†â€Å"Stop joking,†said Manella, who had been chafing Raych's hands, trying to warm them. Seldon spread his own hands. â€Å"We're doing the wrong thing, Raych. Your wife is of the opinion that all this talk about my turning sixty has sent little Wanda into a decline over the possibility of my dying.†â€Å"Really?†said Raych. â€Å"That accounts for it, then. I stopped in to see her and she told me at once, before I even had a chance to say a word, that she had had a bad dream. Was it about your dying?†â€Å"Apparently,†said Seldon. â€Å"Well, she'll get over that. No way of stopping bad dreams.†â€Å"I'm not dismissing it that easily,†said Manella. â€Å"She's brooding over it and that's not healthy. I'm going to get to the bottom of this.†â€Å"As you say, Manella,†said Raych agreeably. â€Å"You're my dear wife and whatever you say-about Wanda-goes.†And he brushed his mustache again. His dear wife! It hadn't been so easy to make her his dear wife. Raych remembered his mother's attitude toward the possibility. Talk about nightmares. It was he who had the periodic nightmares in which he had to face down the furious Dors Venabili once more. 5 Raych's first clear memory, after emerging from his desperance-induced ordeal, was that of being shaved. He felt the vibrorazor moving along his cheek and he said weakly, â€Å"Don't cut anywhere near my upper lip, barber. I want my mustache back.†The barber, who had already received his instructions from Seldon held up a mirror to reassure him. Dors Venabili, who was sitting at his bedside, said, â€Å"Let him work, Raych. Don't excite yourself.†Raych's eyes turned toward her momentarily and he was quiet. When the barber left, Dors said, â€Å"How do you feel, Raych?†â€Å"Rotten,†he muttered. â€Å"I'm so depressed, I can't stand it.†â€Å"That's the lingering effect of the desperance you've been dosed with. The effects will wash out.†â€Å"I can't believe it. How long has it been?†â€Å"Never mind. It will take time. You were pumped full of it.†He looked around restlessly. â€Å"Has Manella been to see me?†â€Å"That woman?†(Raych was getting used to hearing Dors speak of Manella with those words and in that tone of voice.) â€Å"No. You're not fit for visitors yet.†Interpreting the look on Raych's face, Dors quickly added, â€Å"I'm an exception because I'm your mother, Raych. Why would you want that woman to see you, anyway? You're in no condition to be seen.†â€Å"All the more reason to see her,†muttered Raych. â€Å"I want her to see me at my worst.†He then turned to one side dispiritedly. â€Å"I want to sleep.†Dors Venabili shook her head. Later that day she said to Seldon â€Å"I don't know what we're going to do about Raych. Hari. He's quite unreasonable.†Seldon said, â€Å"He's not well, Dors. Give the young man a chance.†â€Å"He keeps muttering about that woman. Whatever her name is.†â€Å"Manella Dubanqua. It's not a hard name to remember.†â€Å"I think he wants to set up housekeeping with her. Live with her. Marry her.†Seldon shrugged. â€Å"Raych is thirty-old enough to make up his own mind.†â€Å"As his parents, we have something to say-surely.†Hari sighed. â€Å"And I'm sure you've said it, Dors. And once you've said it, I'm sure he'll do as he wishes.†â€Å"Is that your final word? Do you intend to do nothing while he makes plans to marry a woman like that?†â€Å"What do you expect me to do, Dors? Manella saved Raych's life. Do you expect him to forget that? She saved mine, too, for that matter.†That seemed to feed Dors's anger. She said, â€Å"And you also saved her. The score is even.†â€Å"I didn't exactly-â€Å" â€Å"Of course you did. The military rascals who now run the Empire would have slaughtered her if you didn't step in and sell them your resignation and your support in order to save her.†â€Å"Though I may have evened the score, which I don't think I have, Raych has not. And, Dors dear, I would be very careful when it came to using unfortunate terms to describe our government. These times are not going to be as easy as the times when Cleon ruled and there will always be informers to repeat what they hear you say.†â€Å"Never mind that. I don't like that woman. I presume that, at least, is permissible.†â€Å"Permissible, certainly, but of no use.†Hari looked down at the floor, deep in thought. Dors's usually unfathomable black eyes were positively flashing in anger. Hari looked up. â€Å"What I'd like to know, Dors, is why? Why do you dislike Manella so? She saved our lives. If it had not been for her quick action, both Raych and I would be dead.†Dors snapped back, â€Å"Yes, Hari. I know that better than anyone. And if she had not been there, I would not have been able to do a thing to prevent your murder. I suppose you think I should be grateful. But every time I look at that woman, I am reminded of my failure. I know these feelings are not truly rational-and that is something I can't explain. So do not ask me to like her, Hari. I cannot.†But the next day even Dors had to back down when the doctor said, â€Å"Your son wishes to see a woman named Manella.†â€Å"He's in no condition to see visitors,†snapped Dors. â€Å"On the contrary. He is. He's doing quite well. Besides, he insists and is doing so most strenuously. I don't know that we'd be wise to refuse him.†So they brought in Manella and Raych greeted her effusively and with the first faint sign of happiness since he had arrived at the hospital. He made an unmistakable small gesture of dismissal at Dors. Lips tightened, she left. And the day came when Raych said, â€Å"She'll have me, Mom.†Dors said, â€Å"Do you expect me to be surprised, you foolish man? Of course she'll have you. You're her only chance, now that she's been disgraced, ousted from the security establishment†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Raych said, â€Å"Mom, if you're trying to lose me, this is exactly the way of doing it. Don't say things like that.†â€Å"I'm only thinking of your welfare.†â€Å"I'll think of my own good, thank you. I'm no one's ticket to respectability-if you'll stop to think of it. I'm not exactly handsome. I'm short. Dad isn't First Minister anymore and I talk solid lower-class. What's there for her to be proud of in me? She can do a lot better, but she wants me. And let me tell you, I want her.†â€Å"But you know what she is.†â€Å"Of course I know what she is. She's a woman who loves me. She's the woman I love. That's what she is.†â€Å"And before you fell in love with her, what was she? You know some of what she had to do while undercover in Wye you were one of her ‘assignments.' How many others were there? Are you able to live with her past? With what she did in the name of duty? Now you can afford to be idealistic. But someday you will have your first quarrel with her-or your second or your nineteenth-and you'll break down and say, ‘You-**†Raych shouted angrily, â€Å"Don't say that! When we fight, I'll call her unreasonable, irrational, nagging, whining, inconsiderate-a million adjectives that will fit the situation. And she'll have words for me. But they'll all be sensible words that can be withdrawn when the fight is over.†â€Å"You think so-but just wait till it happens.†Raych had turned white. He said, â€Å"Mother, you've been with Father now for almost twenty years. Father is a hard man to disagree with, but there have been times when you two have argued. I've heard you. In all those twenty years, has he ever called you by any name that would in any way compromise your role as human being? For that matter, have I done so? Can you conceive of me doing so now-no matter how angry I get?†Dors struggled. Her face did not show emotion in quite the same way that Raych's did or Seldon's would, but it was clear that she was momentarily incapable of speech. â€Å"In fact,†said Raych, pushing his advantage (and feeling horrible at doing so) â€Å"the fact of the matter is that you are jealous because Manella saved Dad's life. You don't want anyone to do that but you. Well, you had no chance to do so. Would you prefer it if Manella had not shot Andorin-if Dad had died? And me, too?†Dors said in a choked voice, â€Å"He insisted on going out to meet the gardeners alone. He would not allow me to come.†â€Å"But that wasn't Manella's fault.†â€Å"Is that why you want to marry her? Gratitude?†â€Å"No. Love.†And so it was, but Manella said to Raych after the ceremony, â€Å"Your mother may have attended the wedding because you insisted, Raych, but she looked like one of those thunderclouds they sometimes send sailing under the dome.†Raych laughed. â€Å"She doesn't have the face to be a thundercloud. You're just imagining it.†â€Å"Not at all. How will we ever get her to give us a chance?†â€Å"We'll just be patient. She'll get over it.†But Dors Venabili didn't. Two years after the wedding, Wanda was born. Dors's attitude toward the child was all Raych and Manella could have wanted, but Wanda's mother remained â€Å"that woman†to Raych's mother.
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