Animal Cruelty’s Effect to Society Essay

People often think that animals are just unconscious creatures that don’t care about their daily lives. But they are actually just like us, they are living breathing creatures with simple lives and priorities. They prioritize more important things like, food, shelter and caring for their young and not like unimportant things like what they’re going to wear, who’ll look better and the like. But since we are the dominant species, then we are the ones who are supposed to help them when they are in need and care for them if they need medical care. But sometimes people just underestimate them and abuse them for fun, money , scientific experiments, etc. But they don’t see that they’re actually causing harm to them and to the society, they just think that they’re only here for food and entertainment. But that’s where they’re wrong, they’re actually the ones that should be the dominant species since they’re here first and we’re the ones that are supposed to help them know more about the world. So we should also help while they’re alive so we’ll have more use to them and we should spend our lives, sharing the world with them and not trying to wipe them out of the face of the earth. Some people say, â€Å"We help them, they help us. † That is true because if you’re kind enough to them then they’ll help you when you’re in trouble but some people misunderstood that, they think that we should help them by feeding them and they should help us by letting us kill them for profit. But that’s not how it should be, we should treat them as our own, help them as if they’re humans. Because without them, then we wouldn’t exist right now because all life begins from animals from the sea and they evolved to be available to be on land until they evolved to turn into us. Also if some animals disappeared from existence, it may have some chaotic results If the bees, butterflies, bats and other animals that can pollinate disappear then plants will not bear flowers, other plants might get extinct and lower the oxygen from our planet. If frogs, lizards, chameleons and the like disappeared then flies, locusts and possibly mosquitoes would be everywhere causing food contamination, damaged crops, dengue fever and more catastrophic things. But in some cases when animals attack people, they still shouldn’t kill them because it’s just in their instinct to attack if hey feel threatened or if their territory has been crossed. But people could still defend theirselves by tranquilizing them and sending them for check up after because in some instances they are sick and confused which causes them to attack. Sometimes they might not understand us but we should also learn understand them. Animals help humans, humans must also help animals. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat animals. If you treat them nicely then people would know that you can do the same to other people. But if you treat them violently then that means you have the ability to harm or kill people. â€Å"Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives,† wrote humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer. And according to Robert K. Ressler, who developed profiles of serial killers for the FBI, â€Å"Murderers †¦ very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids. † This proves some murderers start out as an animal abuser which then would make them curious on if killing animals is just as â€Å"fun† as killing people. Animal cruelty is not just caused by the abusers’ curiosity, it’s also a symptom of a mental disturbance. Some researches in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit animal cruelty rarely stop there, many of them later moves on to abusing or killing their fellow humans. Most of the records of the FBI shows a history of animal cruelty to many murderers and other criminals. There was a study in Northeastern University and the SPCA of the Massachusetts(USA) which shows that people who commit animal cruelty are five times more likely commit violent crimes against humans. The majority of the inmates at San Quentin penitinary who are sentenced to be executed for committing murder, â€Å"practiced† their crimes on animals before committing their crimes according to the warden. Some people who are cruel to animals are also cruel to children and their family. People who often neglect the needs of their pets often also neglect their children’s needs. Animal abuse is also an important indicator of child abuse, sometimes when children witness their parents abusing animals they can get influenced by their parents to do so too because of reacting to anger and frustration. Their violence might be directed at the only individuals in the family who are more vulnerable than they are: animal companions. One expert says, â€Å"Children in violent homes are characterized by †¦ frequently participating in pecking-order battering,† in which they might maim or kill an animal. Childhood cruelty to animals is indeed in the history of domestic violence. But in some cases animal cruelty is often discovered before the child abuse because it is more obvious to the neighbours that often hear the cries and howls of the animals because children are often threatened not to scream by their parents or else they’ll get hurt even more. Because of that, animal control agents which are possibly called by the neighbours are allowed to go into the house to investigate and then later possibly see the children with their scars and bruises which leads to being reported to social workers. This means that both the most vulnerable creatures in the house (the children and the pets) are abused by the adults. This proves that discrimination is present in the house. Some organizations such as the Baltimore police, The New Jersey Coalition of Battered Women and The Guelph Humane Society(Canada) work with animal control. Working with other agencies is called Cross Reporting which helps solve multiple cases. A study shows that 40% of battered women delayed seeking refuge from their abuser if their animal companion is included. This could possibly mean that the animals are also being abused along with the women since they find comfort from each other. These studies have led to a collaboration among social services and government agencies to develop a program for foster care of those animals. There are currently 100 programs in the US. Violence begins early specially for boys, some adults consider their children’s abusive behaviour to animal to the saying that â€Å"Boys will be boys. † Children who abuse animals should be treated with special care or else it might lead to a horrible way of life. Animal cruelty also proves the fact that most people don’t think before they do stuff because they don’t think of the consequences of their actions. Everyone should treat animals, children and women fairly because we are all here to help each other on going through our daily lives. People should stop discrimination and learn how to live peacefully together.

Education, Economy and Business and Finance Essay

MANILA, Philippines ? Senator Francis Escudero expressed alarm on Thursday over the increasing dropout rates in primary and secondary education levels. We should be able to graduate more students in both levels, if not achieve universal primary education by 2015, as targeted in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals,? said Escudero. Speaking at a forum on education at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati, Escudero urged the government to work sharply to reduce, if not eliminate, dropout rates in public elementary and high schools in six years. He cited a UN report in 2000, which showed that in nearly five decades since the 1960s, dropout rates at the public elementary level had remained high, with 28 to 34 percent failing to complete Grade 6.Citing the latest data from a separate study he did not identify, Escudero estimated that of the 100 children who entered Grade 1, only 86 moved on to Grade 2, 76 to Grade 4, 67 to Grade 6, and only 65 finally completed the six years of elementary education.Of the 65, only 58 enroll in high school and 45 are able to graduate, Escudero added. He said while the Department of Education (DepEd) had the biggest share of the national budget at P158.2 billion for 2009, it still did not meet the budgetary standard set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), which is 6 percent of a country?s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).Education is the greatest equalizer. Most of the children who are left behind live in poverty and in remote areas. The next administration must aggressively move to narrow the education gap and increase education? share of the national budget to 20 percent,? said Escudero.

Gender Differences in Advertisements Essay

It has been evident for the past decades that advertisers still use stereotyped images of men and women in their advertisements. This can say that the pursuit for equality is still not grasped by the society. The images we see in magazines, in televisions, in billboards portray a very old perception of gender, especially the inferiority and submissive nature of women, with their bodies used as mere sexual objects, if not, still used as household caretakers. Women are also deemed to be beautiful if they have slim bodies, fair complexion and long shiny hair. Men, on the other hand, are portrayed to be strong, dominant and successful in their careers. For this essay, I will be showing two examples of images, which reveals the still existing gender inequality. I will be referring to some themes and issues to support my arguments. Also, for my basic analysis of advertisements, I will be using Katherine Frith’s [1998] approach in â€Å"Undressing the Ad: Reading Culture in Advertising† [Lukas, 2002]. It includes a surface meaning, the advertiser’s intended meaning, and the cultural or ideological meaning. For the semiotic level, which connotes the social themes in advertisements, I will be applying Erving Goffman’s [1979] approach in â€Å"Gender Advertisements. † For the first example, I will use the Gucci Magazine advertisement as shown in Figure 1 in the appendix. Just by looking at the picture, you can already see that there is gender inequality. Before dwelling into that, I will first apply a basic analysis of the ad. 1. The Surface Meaning It can be seen that there are two subjects in the picture. It is very evident that one is female, while the other one can be assumed to be male. It is because of its masculine features, as seen in the upper body though the face was not explicitly shown. The female is down on the floor, touching the shoes of the male. She is wearing a sexy gold dress. The male is standing, wearing only khaki pants. Both clothing are assumed to be under the brand, Gucci. The setting is in the desert and the overall appeal of the image is very earthy. There are no words or taglines in the ad, just â€Å"Gucci†. 2. Advertiser’s Intended Meaning The advertiser might be showcasing the earthy tones and summer styles of Gucci, as seen in the very comfortable and breezy clothes the subjects are wearing. There is still a certain class in the style, whether you put them in the dessert or just wherever. 3. Cultural or Ideological Meaning The picture obviously depicts the dominance of males over females. To be more detailed, we use Goffman’s approach by taking into consideration the social themes being depicted here. The positioning of the subject explicitly exposes gender bias. The man is standing while woman is down on floor. It just shows that men are in control and have power over women. The woman is way below under his legs, at his feet to be exact. She is even touching his shoes. It reminds me of a servant, wiping the dirt of his master in the desert. The woman here really looked inferior and if we extend the picture upward, exposing the face of the man, it can be that he is looking down on her, seeing the contraction of his abdomen in the picture. Moreover, such display of abs connotes a very masculine and strong appeal. We know that men who have well developed abs are the ones who are the most physically fit. The woman on one hand is thin and sexy, with her body parts, especially the legs and the cleavage, generally exposed. Reexamining the â€Å"Nature/Culture† Paradigm, we are reminded of the â€Å"vertical† perspective, which organizes the relationships of male and female [Tilleuil, 2002]. The woman is labeled as the dominated and the man is labeled as the dominant. According to the sociologist, Claude Herne, â€Å"†In the advertising image, in order to make the woman feel inferior, signs multiply and underline the weakness, the lack of self-confidence, fragility, hesitation, dissimulation, submission, childishness and infantilization, too. † [Tilleuil, 2002]. This signs are very well depicted in this ad. The woman looks fragile, and she displays a look of submission in her eyes, like a slave. This leads us to another example of an advertisement, which now depicts heavy violence to women. The ad to be examined here is figure 2 of the appendix. It is an ad from Dolce and Gabbana. 1. The Surface Meaning In the ad, there are six subjects. There are five males and one female. It looks like they are in a rooftop of some resort/hotel. Some men are wearing fitted Polos, while others are half naked. Their skins are very shiny. It looks like there’s oil or sweat in them. One man is on top of the woman, while others are watching intently to the scene in the middle. The woman is lying down on the floor, wearing a sexy black dress and high heels. 2. Advertiser’s Intended Meaning The advertiser here is showcasing the sexy formal styles of Dolce and Gabbana, with their breezy polos, classy dresses. It looks like the clothing is part of their summer collection. 3. Cultural or Ideological Meaning/Goffman’s approach It is very evident in the picture that the scene is depicting a â€Å"gang rape†. This is extreme sexual violence right at your eyes. Such violence is even portrayed in classy way, with the clothing of Dolce and Gabbana at display. We look back to the inferiority and submissiveness of the woman here. The woman is again down on the floor, but this time, she is lying down, about to be raped by the first guy on top of her. But we also see here that they are being watched by other men. One of them is already topless, while, one is semi-buttoned, with his chest exposed. There is also one who is only wearing a sleeveless undershirt, while the last guy is still fully dressed up. They all have this sultry look to the woman. The woman here is about to give herself to the man, with her hips going upward. Yet, you can see that the man is locking her arms in the floor, and it looks like she cannot get away with his grasp. The woman has been the subject of sexual pleasure. Violence here is part of the pleasure package. As we have been exposed in the media, we can recall about the whipping, the slapping of women, their being tied up to different places, exposing a lot of skin, with their bodies being molded to different erotic positions. In most cases women are victims of such violence, since men being tied up would not be a delightful sight for them. Overall, as seen in most advertisements, women are always the weaker player, being taken advantaged of men, who are more superior. Women are still being depicted as mere objects of sexual desire [Sharabi, n. d. ]. Women are seen only as domestic providers, who do not have their own decision making powers. According to the blog of â€Å"Daughter of Liberty† [2007], she said that the following are some important points to take note in advertisements: 1. Canting It can be seen through the body language that women are submissive and they have low self-confidence. For our examples, it is explicitly shown with the woman on the floor, with no control. 2. Clowning It can be seen that women are usually posed like an innocent child in the ads, which connotes ignorance (stupidity perhaps) and practically it tells us that women are easily dominated. 3. Dependence Women are seen to be very dependent to men, which can be particularly found in the first advertisement, where the woman is touching the shoes of the man. 4. Dismemberment Dismemberment is described as focusing on a particular body part. However, for our first example, it was the man who was dismembered. 5. Dominance/violence This is evidently seen in both of our examples, especially in the Dolce and Gabbana ad, which depicts a gang rape. I think ads these days have become more violent and more associated to sex than ever before, due to change of perception of our society. Sex and violence is not a taboo anymore, and we can just openly discuss those issues in a coffee table. However, being a more open society must teach us to be less discriminating and degrading. Women and men were created equally. More ads should focus on empowering women, like what is happening in Dove. We must not let ourselves, especially our children to be exposed to such violence because images convey very powerful images and it can impact one’s behavior.

Leadership in Health Care Organizations Practicum Assignment

Leadership in Health Care Organizations Practicum - Assignment Example However, managing people is the top of the list of the responsibilities that I must fulfil. Throughout the past two weeks, I manage nurses and provide leadership in terms of supervising their work, providing them with guidance especially new nurses at the unit. I also provide support to the nurses especially when facing challenges both at work and at home when they need professional support. When nurses have problems, they come to me as the first person before going to my superiors. I work under the director of the medical telemetry unit. He is my preceptor at the unit. I also contribute to his life in the sense that I help him to manage the nurses at the unit fill out the required forms and attend meeting when he cannot attend. I help to make his work easy by helping to make appropriate decisions for the unit and help implement those decisions. A part of my responsibility is to provide managerial assistance either as a subordinate or as a full manager when he is not around. I should also provide personal support to the director when he faces challenges and needs someone h e can talk to or help him to overcome the challenges. By doing the above responsibilities I contribute to the life of the director. Currently, I have completed 18 hours out of 150 hours. During these hours, I have engaged in different activities. In my line of work, I interact with different people that include nurses, my director and patients. During the two weeks, I have interacted with different people but I have interacted with three people the most. The first person I have interacted with numerous times is my preceptor. He has been attending a one-month seminar at the hospital on improving services at the medical telemetry unit at the institution. As such, he spends most of the day at the seminar leaving me to manage the unit most of the time and requires that I report to him every day about the activities and events at the unit. I have had meetings with

Michael Jordan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Michael Jordan - Essay Example Michael "Air" Jordan is a fantastic jumper and slam dunker. He dominated the sport of basketball through the mid nineties. In 1992 the Bulls had a victory over the Portland Trailblazers; this made it their second NBA win. Michael Jordan was having a very rough time dealing with the loss of his father whom was shot in a robbery. He shocked the world when he retired from the NBA and went to play base ball for the Birmingham Barons. Michael Jordan was inducted into the hall of fame in September of 2009. His induction speech has been called anywhere between encouraging to deplorable. We all know Michael is a great basketball player. But, did you know he also has his own shoe line through Nike. He calls them Air Jordan's. Most of us love a good quote. I want to share one of Michael's favorite quotes with you before the essay comes to an end. "I never thought a role model should be negative." I hope this research paper has helped people learn some new things about Michael Jordan. The

Explore one IT topic that interests you Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Explore one IT topic that interests you - Essay Example The GPS receiver in the bus calculates its exact location depending on the time that the signal from the satellite takes to reach it. The GPS tracking device in the vehicle can send back the same information to the person tracking the bus or to online tracking system in order to conduct mapping (Sobey 13). The increasingly number of vehicles in the cities has led violation of traffic rules. This reckless driving has caused countless accidents. In order to monitor the driver and ensure that he follows traffic rules, it is essential to use a tracking device (Gillen & David 53). A transport company in Chicago known as Transit Authority has allowed customers to view their websites due to the increased disloyalty between the between businesses and the customers. It allows them to track the location of the bus so that they can prepare themselves for the journey by judging the distance left to reach the station. The act has increased customer’s loyalty in the company (Gillen & David

Gender, Race, and Philosophy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gender, Race, and Philosophy - Research Paper Example The main traditional, philosophical discourse had been that women were lesser human beings than men. But after feminist philosophers had demonstrated that women too had the capacity to do virtually anything men could do during the second half of the 20th century, predominantly male societies have over the history gradually given women more options in individual and social life (Solomon, & Higgins, 2013). It is then arguable that de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex has had tremendous impacts on womens rights and gender roles by allowing women more authority over their reproductive, educational, career and suffrage rights among others. Apart from de Beauvoir, Schick and Vaugh (2008) said, Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most prominent 20th century figures in India who is credited for acknowledging women’s efforts as imperative to every society. Gandhi had a soft spot for women. He perceived them as complementing men’s contribution in the growth of society. Gandhi castigated stereotyping women as weak and lesser by refusing child marriage and obsession for dowry as well as seclusion (purdah). He, however, believed that proper gender roles demanded that a woman meets the interests of her husband, family and society, in that

Report on Maersk (f) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Report on Maersk (f) - Research Paper Example The above table 1 clearly shows that the highest price is US$ 3,064. The price occurred when Maersk supplied 8.5 FFE volume tons to its customers during 2010. The supply curve also indicates tha the company’s lowest price is US$ 2,370. This price occurred when Maersk supplied 6.9 FFE volume tones to its customers during 2009. The same curve also indicates that the other prices of container shipping orders supplied to customers that occurred in 2013, 2011 and 2012and were between the US$3,064 to US$2,370. Graph 1 shows the Maersk Supply curve (Boyles, 2010). The above graph 1 clearly shows that the highest price occurred at US$ 3,064 when Maersk supplied 8.5 FFE volume tons to its customers. Likewise, the above graph indicates company’s lowest price is US$ 2,370 when Maersk supplied 6.9 FFE volume tones to its customers during 2009. Table 2 clearly shows that the demand information of Maersk (Boyles, 2010). Maersk purchases its container shipping needs or demands from different suppliers. The above table 2 clearly shows that the highest price is US$ 3,289.71. The price occurred when Maersk purchased 6.9 FFE volume tons from its suppliers during 2009. The supply curve also indicates that the company’s lowest demand price is US$ 2,673.29. This price occurred when Maersk purchased 7.3 FFE volume tones to its customers during 2010. The same curve also indicates that the other prices of container shipping orders supplied to customers that the remaining prices were between the US$3,289.71 and US$ 2,673.29, during 2011, 2012 and 2013 Further, the Graph 2 clearly shows that the highest price is US$ 3,289.71. The demand price occurred when Maersk purchased 6.9 FFE volume tons. The supply curve also indicates that the company’s lowest demand price is US$ 2,673.29. This price occurred when Maersk purchased 7.3 FFE volume tones (Mankiw, 2011). Derived demand. The derived demand is the demand for one product in relation to

Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Team - Essay Example Social groups of relative similarities functioned and develop them own system of values and accordance making them united in their own concept and apart from the other social groups. Thus with this concept, cultural diversity has predominantly existed as how society themselves strive and develop to the point of their current state. However, this innate and basically natural concept in the society has been always a massive hindrance for the establishment of social unity and uniformity especially on the principal level of a team. Since the team-building concept’s main agenda is the establishment of a uniting factor and bond among its members, their own personal and cultural diversity has always been a challenge for the said aim. Common problems and challenges such as uniqueness in the dominant language, dissimilarities with social norms and acceptable principles, differences concerning perception and opinions, and others often become a problem in the team-building aspect. In general, diversity produces stratification and division thus unification is being hindered. Indeed, cultural diversity in the aspect of team building is one of its main weaknesses. However, cultural diversity in a certain team can also serves as its potential strength producing advantages apart from its common disadvantages. Having a culturally diversified group is also beneficial because it can basically cover much more grounds than groups of only single culture. This concept is true because having a multicultural society in a single group will produce more and significantly different opinions and ideas and with the merging of these different ideas, a single group can produce a statement or an idea that is generally valid since it actually addresses point of views from each culture. It is like having a representative from each culture joining together to create a concept that will unify their principles and eliminate their differences. In

Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 16

Question - Essay Example The study by Rabinowitz et al. (2005) offers a systematic review of the literature of animal sentinel to identify evidence that relates such events to the health of human beings. A weakness of this study was that it could not assess the factors causing failure of the animal sentinel studies to use cohort and case-control methods more. Such approaches prove time-consuming and expensive compared to such other methods as the aggregate and cross-sectional study designs. Funding limitations may possibly have influenced the choices of study methods of animal sentinel. Another weakness of this study is that its small sample size affects its capacity to offer valid evidence. The strength of this study is that the authors have suggested a set of linkage points which are helpful for the assessment of evidence to bridge an event of animal sentinel to the human health. The research recognized gaps in the existing knowledge like shared outcomes, inadequate shared exposures’ documentation, and the relative vulnerability between humans and animals for the hazards of

Life as a Mom Essay Example for Free

Life as a Mom Essay Although the media depict most women as housewives and stay-at-home mothers, in reality many women work full time and put their children in daycare. Stay at home moms and working moms have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, a stay at home mom is able to give greater attention to the family while working moms are able to provide financial stability although they are not able to assure greater care to their children. I experienced both, being at home and working outside the home. I personally believe having my husband and me working has made my family happier. According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association of over 1,300 moms the happiest moms are, perhaps unsurprisingly, those who work part-time (Bindley 1). Comparing and contrasting being a stay at home mom vs. a working mom along with the modern economic and social reality has led to the emergence of various social changes and one such social change is the emergences of two kinds of mothers namely stay at home mothers and working mothers (Bindley 1). In this essay, an attempt is made to study the similarities and differences between the working mothers and stay at home mothers; also the term `stay at home moms refers to those mothers who do not work outside their homes. They prefer to stay at home. This is due to their care for their children and family, also these stay at home moms before they became mothers were working women. Gradually there is transition of working women to becoming stay at home moms. However, after they became mothers, it was very difficult to manage both house and work. Consequently, they decide to quit their jobs and stayed at home for the sake of their family. Leaving the financial stress on their husbands. Stay at home moms usually enjoy their status as being house wives and do not crib at the fact that they are staying at home. The children of such stay at home moms are also happy that their mom is staying with them. In the modern society this is a very difficult decision for the mother to leave her job as it put stress on families financially. Thus only when single income parents could manage with their limited income, the mothers could leave their jobs. Currently there are many work at home jobs which are tailor made to serve the stay at home moms so that they also could obtain extra income and they could make use of their spare time. These jobs are usually telecommuting in nature which means that mothers are not expected to go their work place (Bindley 1). As for why they might be happier, the authors theorized, a mothers participation in employment provides her with support and resources that a mother who spends full time at home does not receive. (Bindley 1) The main advantage with stay at home moms is that they are able to take perfect care of their family. The main disadvantage with this system is that such families need to depend on single income which then can put a lot of strain on a relationship between husband and wife. As I grew up my mom was a single parent, until I turned 13 when she met my step-father Grant. She worked, went to nursing school full time, and still managed to find time to make it to all of my sporting games. She also was gone a lot too. This then made me have to raise myself a little bit. My mom never let me go without; I always had what I needed when I needed it. I always said that when I was a parent someday, that I would make sure I could provide for them like she did for me. â€Å"There is nothing I would change about how I did things when you were a child; I made sure you had everything you needed.† (Shumaker) â€Å"Things did get much easier when I met Grant and we put our finances together.† (Shumaker). Now as an adult not only do I make sure my children are taken care of day and night, I also attend school, work part-time, and I find time to spend with my husband. Having a husband is such a big help. Not only for our family financially, but also for my children to have a father, and he helps do things for them when I’m not able to. I was a stay at home mom at one point in my life with our oldest daughter when she was a newborn. It was nice, although I felt like I had no adult interaction. I feel that interaction with other adults is critical to say â€Å"sane†. I never felt pretty because I was always wearing sweatpants, and no make-up. Even if I went out to do grocery shopping and run errands it wasn’t enough adult interaction. Because my husband worked all day he wanted to get things done around the house, and I wanted him to watch the kids so I could go do something by myself. We also didn’t have enough money to do anything, he solely paid the bills. That put a lot of stress on our relationship. I would want to go out to dinner, but we didn’t have the extra money. I realized quickly how much more important it was to work. I know that being there for my children is priority. However, interacting with other adults is also very important. Now that I work and my husband works we have enough money to do fun things with our children when we are not working. We bought a brand new camper to take them camping. It also gives us enough money to go out by ourselves and hire a babysitter for the night. Our lives are much more enjoyable for our children, my husband, and me. Having me work instead of staying at home. I still find time to make healthy dinners, and take care of our children. It has made my marriage stronger and it has made me feel better about myself because I contribute to our bills.

Aristotle Biography Essay Example for Free

Aristotle Biography Essay Aristotle Aristotle was a prominent figure in history that created many philosophies during his time. He is ranked among the greatest philosophers to ever live. He moved around to many different interesting places during much of his lifetime and loved to teach. In my opinion, the most well-known philosophy is his concept of logic. Because Aristotle’s philosophies and concepts of logic and reasoning have affected much of the past, his legacy will endure for many years to come. Aristotle was born in 384 B. C in Stagira, the small city in the Macedonian region of northeastern Greece. At the age of 17, he moved to Athens to attend Plato’s Academy where he remained there for almost 40 years. He journeyed around the world then for a little while continuing his philosophical activities. When in Lesbos, he married his first wife, Pythias, with whom they had a child also named Pythias. In 343, Aristotle was appointed to be the tutor of King Philip of Macedon’s son, Alexander. This thirteen year old boy eager to learn later became known as Alexander the Great. After two years of teaching, Aristotle’s works were no longer needed because Alexander was already serving as a military commander for his father. After teaching, Aristotle returned to Athens where he built his own school that taught botany, biology, logic, music, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, cosmology, physics, the history of philosophy, metaphysics, psychology, ethics, theology, rhetoric, political history, government and political theory, rhetoric, and the arts. While teaching at his school, Aristotle’s wife had died and they say he had married another woman, Heroyllis with whom they had children. In the year 323, Aristotle had retired his works in Athens and moved to Chalcis, where he died the following year of natural causes. Philosophy was in fact very important to Aristotle and he studied it for many years. Among the great achievements, the concept of logic was in my opinion the most important and well known. Aristotle’s objective of â€Å"the first logic† was to come up with a process of reasoning that would allow man to learn every conceivable thing about reality. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy clarifies this by using the example of As, Bs and Cs. They explain that first, all As are Bs. Secondly, they claim that all Bs are Cs. Therefore, all As are Cs. They also say that anything else taken from this form will be a deduction in Aristotle’s sense. A deduction is â€Å"an argument in which certain things are laid down something else follows of necessity in virtue of their being so†. But it has been proven that some of his concepts of logic are deductions and some are not. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy used the example of university students and the As, Bs and Cs to explain this. They say that all As are Bs; some Bs are Cs; so, all As are Cs. â€Å"They use the university students example by explaining that all university students are literate; some literate people read poetry; so, all university students read poetry†. This is not true so it clarifies the fact that some of his concepts are deductions while others are not. In his philosophical articles, Aristotle also discussed how man might obtain information about objects through deduction and inference. As you can see, Aristotle’s philosophy provided us with a system of logic that to this day is still used by philosophers. Aristotle’s legacy will live on for years to follow because of everything he had accomplished throughout his lifetime. After his death in 322 B. C, his works and philosophies were forgotten and revived about a century after. His works had influenced over seven centuries of philosophy. As it says on the biography. com website, â€Å"Aristotle’s work influenced ideas from late antiquity all the way through the Renaissance. Aristotle’s influence on Western thought in the humanities and social sciences is largely considered unparalleled, with the exception of his teacher Plato’s contributions, and Plato’s teacher, Socrates before him. The two-millennia-strong academic practice of interpreting and debating Aristotle’s philosophical works continues to endure. † Even today, philosophers still look to Aristotle’s work for guidance and inspiration when creating their own philosophies and simply studying philosophers of the past. As you can see, Aristotle’s legacy is still apart of us and will remain influencing others for many years to come. In conclusion, you can see that Aristotle did affect many lives through his philosophies and teachings. Many have studied his works, and added on from the philosophies and concepts he had developed. His legacy will endure on because of all he did and he will be remembered. I had great time learning about Aristotle and his philosophies for this research project. Works Cited: http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/aristotle/ Shields, Christopher. Aristotle. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 25 Sept. 2008. http://www. biography. com/people/aristotle-9188415? page=1 Aristotle Biography. Bio. com. AE Networks Television, n. d http://www. ucmp. berkeley. edu/history/aristotle. html Waggoner, Ben M. Aristotle (384-322 B. C. E.). Aristotle. UCMP, 9 June 1996.

Individual and Environmental Impacts on Businesses

Individual and Environmental Impacts on Businesses The key for business achievement or success requires two elements the individual and the environment. Absence of either value makes the goal unachievable. All components of a business environment have a direct or indirect relation on business. The outside factors, forces that cannot be controlled by an individual business enterprise and their management and have the capability to influence the business enterprise is termed as Business Environment. It includes every exterior forces within which a business organizations functions. Working of the business process is influenced by these forces and factors. Thus these forces and factors which stay outside the business, that are uncontrollable by single business entity but have an effect on business is called Business Environment. These factors or forces are customer, competitors, government, creditors, socio-cultural organizations, national and international organizations, political parties etc. These factors affect the business directly and indirectly according to its nature The business environment classified into three: Remote or General environment Industry environment Competitive environment Fig: Environmental Analysis According to Henry (2008), an organization has only two main environments i.e general and competitive environment. The competitive environment consists of industry and markets in which the organization operates. General environment is also named as macro-environment. The name Macro-environment is because the fluctuations that occur in this environment, will have an effect that go beyond the limits of the firms and industries. The below figure shows the connection between competitive and general environment of a firm as per Henry (2008): REMOTE OR GENERAL ENVIRONMENT: Remote environment can be also called as General environment and macro environment. Macro factors are generally more uncontrollable whereas micro environment factors are controllable as compared to macro factors. When macro factors become unmanageable the success of the business relies on the flexibility of the business to the changing environment. According to Hill and Jones,(2009), Macro-environmental factors sometimes influence the nation as a whole . Explained below are some of the macro environment factors. Economic Environment: The sum total of the nature of economic system of the country, business cycles, the socio-economic infrastructure etc is referred as Economic environment. Success of a business man depends on visualizing the outside factors influencing business, foreseeing changes that may occur in market conditions and making maximum return on minimum investment considering these outside or external factors. Social Environment: The value system of the society, which has an influence on the running of the business, is determined by the social dimension or environment of that Nation. Sociological elements that have an extensive impact on the business are costs structure, customs and conventions, mobility of labour etc. Work culture and mobility of labour, work groups etc are determined by the above factors. Political Environment: Political organizations including philosophy of political parties, ideology of government or party in power, character and level of bureaucracy influence of primary groups etc are influenced by the political environment of a country. The business, to a great extent, is affected by the political environment of a Nation Legal Environment: Legal environment comprises flexibility and malleability of law and other legal rules governing the business. The exact rulings and decision of the courts might be included. These concern the business and its administrators to a great extent. Technical Environment: Development of technology in country has a great influence on the business. The variety and quality of goods and services to be produced and the nature, quality etc of plant and machinery to be used are determined by the technology opted by the industry. Following are also affected by technical environment, the business in terms of investment in technology, consistent application of technology and the effects of technology on markets. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT This means an environment in which competitions between organizations are high. A minute change in customers and competitors affects competitive plan of organization. It includes inventions of new products by competitors, developing new channels of distribution and emergence of new customer value. So competitive environment is closely related to the firm than the general environment.(Dobson et.al. 2004). Problems or opportunities resulting from variation in the competitive environment and in customer necessities are recognized by competitive environment analysis. Based on sound analysis, this procedure should be seen as dynamic, resourceful, and opportunity-focused. Thus two main areas that needs to be focused in this: Customer analysis Customer analysis at the business entity level involves building a complete understanding of customers, their needs and wants, and how these changes within a given market (market segmentation). Moreover, importance must be given to these changing needs, how is it occurring and what an organization should do to bring in change to the marketplace. Growth comes not by duplicating the competitors but by introducing creative and innovative strategy with flexibility, keeping in mind the changes that may occur in future to market conditions. Like any analysis, it is also done to identify the innovative strategies or plans that will create value for the business. Competitor analysis This analysis is undertaken at the business-unit level. With specific competitors, we assume that the unit in question is engaged in oligopolistic competition in which the market is dominated by small number of sellers. In a perfect competition there is no purpose of this analysis .While conducting competitor analysis, we have to follow certain defined procedure. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL AND COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENTS Firms collect information to take decisions regarding current running of business and for future decision making through a combined calculation of internal and external Environments. Elements that compose general environment in a wider society influence the industry and the firms in that industry. These are classified into six environmental segments: demographic, economic, political/legal, socio-cultural, technological, and global. A firm does not have a direct control over the general environments segments and elements. For making appropriate decisions and plans, successful companies collects amounts of data and information so that they can identify or understand each segment and implications to be done. Competitor analysis refers to the way or method in which how companies collect and interpret information about their competitors. Understanding the firms competitor environment complements the insights provided by studying the general environment helps identifying in the firms competitor environment. Strategic intent, strategic mission, and strategic actions of a firm are developed as a result of the three analysis that are done to identify the outside environment. General environment analysis is focused on the future on the other hand analyses of competitors are focused on forecasting the dynamics of competitors actions, responses, and plans. Although we discuss each analysis separately, if we integrate the information gained from both the two analysis, performance of the firm is improved to a great extent.

The Problem of Pornography Essay -- Argumentative Essay, Censorship 201

  In the United States someone has to be eighteen years old before they can buy pornography, but just because they have to be eighteen to buy it doesn't mean they have to be eighteen to look at it. Everywhere around the Internet one may stumble upon pornography where anyone, including children, may look at it. Pornography is not something to be proud of and is not something that our children should be able to see randomly on the Internet or in a store at a young age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Susan Brownmiller"s essay, "Let"s Put Porn Back in the Closet," she argues that "pornography represents hatred of women, that pornography"s intent is to humiliate, degrade, and dehumanize the female body for the purpose of erotic stimulation and pleasure," which I completely agree with. (Brownmiller 53.) Women that respect themselves or other women would never pose for any type of pornography. People should never look at a woman as if they are just an object in a magazine or movie. Women should be respected and so should their privacy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When I was growing up, pornography was not something peopl...

Neaera the Great: An Explication of One Woman’s Movement to Power :: Creative Writing Essays

Preface Though we are discussing ancient times, this paper is not traditional academic work. The subject (and I mean that in more ways than one) of my focus is a woman named Neaera who is placed on trial for proclaiming herself and her children as citizens of Athens, even though she is widely viewed as a prostitute of foreign birth. My central contention throughout this discussion is that she is a woman of extraordinary courage and to an incredible degree, takes control over her circumstances and makes powerful choices. In tune with this description, I choose to write in a style that accurately reflects the reverence that I hold for Neaera. Rather than an analytical exchange of observation, I intentionally take the tone of someone who is much like a boxing promoter. I place myself firmly in Neaera’s corner and instead of articulating her greatness through the shadowy form of a third person who remains academically objective and unattached, I take a direct stand for he r as a praiseworthy historical figure. To this end, I write from the first person with the motive to reveal and uplift Neaera’s impressiveness and I adopt a general manner of speech atypical to academic language. Additionally, I use of myriad of persuasive methods that are relatively uncommon and I do so because, fundamentally, Neaera is an uncommon and atypical character. In light of this revelation, the least that I can do is to make sure that my form and content align as a means of writing a paper that is outside of the norm in order to honor a woman who consistently chose her own way. In other (more effective) words, Neaera rocks and I’m willing to rock out in order to make sure that she gets the props that she deserves. Neaera the Great: An Explication of One Woman’s Movement to Power Consider the possibility that how we listen to people creates the way life will be for them as well as for ourselves. Is this a radical statement? Perhaps. Many of us hold fast to the idea that we are the controllers of our own fate (myself included) and that, for instance, even if someone listened to us as if we were never going to amount to anything that would ever resemble success, we would eventually triumph in the end (especially against the odds stacked against us by would be detractors).

Spurs :: Essays Papers

Spurs â€Å"It was rather more than a hundred years between the first into the presence of the rowel and the final disappearance of the prick spurs from the heel of our forefathers† (Lacy) In looking back at the time of chivalry and the knight it is not common that one forgets the existence of the spur and the true value it poses. The spur was one of the essential tools that a knight possessed as an equestrian. The spur was first introduced for its purpose in encouraging the horse on, but as medieval times approached the spur gained its decorative aspects and held more of a romantic value to people. The spur became elaborate with beads and embroidery, fancy brass, and gold metals. The spur was essentially an emblem of Knighthood; â€Å"to win his spurs† ceremonies put spurs at the investiture of a knight, and were cut off at occasions of degradation (Lacy). The spur is a piece of hard ware that is attached to the heel by a strap usually made of leather. It is Y-shaped, and pointed towards the horse so that the rider can aggress his horse on. In early time the spur was always attached with a strap, however as the spur evolved, the strap was no longer of importance. The spur also grew more and more elaborate during the medieval ages, velvet straps, intricate designs and wheels that made the spur more of a showpiece than a tool. Before the period of the 13th century the spur was that of the â€Å"prick† style, where it is basically just a point that urged the horse. However during the 14th century the â€Å"rowel† type spur gained its popularity. This type of spur looked as though it had a wheel on the end of it. Spurs at its earliest times were made of bone and wood, then later of bronze, brass or iron. The rowel spur was definitely the spur of choice around medieval times because it was so elaborate. It was first introduce d in 1238 by France Simon de Montfort, however did not really catch on until 1285. In looking at the spur and how it correlates to the chivalrous time period. The moist important spur to know is St. George's Spurs, or the Kings Coronation Spurs. These spurs are part of a regular presentation with crown jewels in the Tower, which are used at the coronation of the Sovereign made by Sir Robert Vyner.

Possitive and Negative Influences on Growth and Development Essay

Income is the money that comes into the home. This could be paid through employment, savings, and investments or from benefits that will be paid by the government if a person is unemployed or who have a disability. Expenditure is money spent to provide for everyday living needs, the amount of expenditure is determined through household income. Positive If you have a high income it allows you better choices of housing, diet, education, health services and transport. Having a higher income will lead to a higher expenditure, having this it will lead to a better life style. Accommodation will be more sufficient and there will less chance of health risks, this will amount to a better quality living. Affording to pay for health care such as private care or just being able to afford for medication if you fall ill. If you have a more wealthy expenditure you will have a better source of food and more opportunities for fresh products and less processed foods. More extravagant food such as rich foods and wines are affordable and are a good boost. Being able to afford transport will allow an adult the ability to get to and from places such as further education. A steady income will produce less stress and worry if everything is under control. Negative Being able to afford heating bills will prevent illnesses such as respiratory problems, this will be caused to lack of heating and this will amount to increase in damp. Unnecessary household problems from lack of income can cause debt. More processed foods will be in the diet as they are a lot cheaper than fresh fruit and vegetables for example. Health will plummet dramatically if sufficient heating and health care is not in place. Heart attacks, stress and depression are all part of having an unhealthy life style. Having a low income makes it difficult to get about; using public transport or walking tends to be the only option, so to take part in further education it may be difficult and will put a lot of lower income family off going into further education. Housing Housing is important to every person. It is where you live and a place to make memories.

Foundation’s Edge CHAPTER TEN TABLE

TABLE Two days had passed and Gendibal found himself not so much heavyhearted as enraged. There was no reason why there could not have been an immediate hearing. Had he been unprepared – had he needed time – they would have forced an immediate hearing on him, he was sure. But since there was nothing more facing the Second Foundation than the greatest crisis since the Mule, they wasted time – and to no purpose but to irritate him. They did irritate him and, by Seldon, that would make his counterstroke the heavier. He was determined on that. He looked about him. The anteroom was empty. It had been like that for two days now. He was a marked man, a Speaker whom all knew would – by means of an action unprecedented in the five-century history of the Second Foundation – soon lose his position. He would be demoted to the ranks, demoted to the position of a Second Foundationer, plain and simple. It was one thing, however – and a very honored thing – to be a Second Foundationer of the ranks, particularly if one held a respectable title, as Gendibal might even after the impeachment. It would be quite another thing to have once been a Speaker and to have been demoted. It won't happen though, thought Gendibal savagely, even though for two days he had been avoided. Only Sura Novi treated him as before, but she was too nave to understand the situation. To her, Gendibal was still â€Å"Master.† It irritated Gendibal that he found a certain comfort in this. He felt ashamed when he began to notice that his spirits rose when he noticed her gazing at him worshipfully. Was he becoming grateful for gifts that small? A clerk emerged from the Chamber to tell him that the Table was ready for him and Gendibal stalked in. The clerk was one GendibaI knew well; he was one who knew – to the tiniest fraction – the precise gradation of civility that each Speaker deserved. At the moment, that accorded Gendibal was appallingly low. Even the clerk thought him as good as convicted. They were all sitting about the Table gravely, wearing the black robes of judgment. First Speaker Shandess looked a bit uncomfortable, but he did not allow his face to crease into the smallest touch of friendliness. Delarmi – one of the three Speakers who were women – did not even look at him. The First Speaker said, â€Å"Speaker Stor Gendibal, you have been impeached for behaving in a manner unbecoming a Speaker. You have, before us all, accused the Table – vaguely and without evidence – of treason and attempted murder. You have implied that all Second Foundationers – including the Speakers and the First Speaker – require a thorough mental analysis to ascertain who among them are no longer to be trusted. Such behavior breaks the bonds of community, without which the Second Foundation cannot control an intricate and potentially hostile Galaxy and without which they cannot build, with surety, a viable Second Empire. â€Å"Since we have all witnessed those offenses, we will forego the presentation of a formal case for the prosecution. We will therefore move directly to the next stage. Speaker Stor Gendibal, do you have a defense?† Now Delarmi – still not looking at him – allowed herself a small catlike smile. Gendibal said, â€Å"If truth be considered a defense, I have one. There are grounds for suspecting a breach of security. That breach may involve the mental control of one or more Second Foundationers – not excluding members here present – and this has created a deadly crisis for the Second Foundation. If, indeed, you hasten this trial because you cannot waste time, you may all perhaps dimly recognize the seriousness of the crisis, but in that case, why have you wasted two days after I had formally requested an immediate trial? I submit that it is this deadly crisis that has forced me to say what I have said. I would have behaved in a manner unbecoming a Speaker – had I not done so.† â€Å"He but repeats the offense, First Speaker,† said Delarmi softly. Gendibal's seat was further removed from the Table than that of the others – a clear demotion already. He pushed it farther back, as though he cared nothing for that, and rose. He said, â€Å"Will you convict me now, out of hand, in defiance of law – or may I present my defense in detail?† The First Speaker said, â€Å"This is not a lawless assemblage, Speaker. Without much in fine way of precedent to guide us, we will lean in your direction, recognizing that if our too-human abilities should cause us to deviate from absolute justice, it is better to allow the guilty to go free than to convict the innocent. Therefore, although the case before us is so grave that we may not lightly allow the guilty to go free, we will permit you to present your case in such manner as you wish and for as long as you require, until it is decided by unanimous vote, including my own† (and he raised his voice at that phrase) â€Å"that enough has been heard.† Gendibal said, â€Å"Let me begin, then, by saying that Golan Trevize – the First Foundationer who has been driven from Terminus and whom the First Speaker and I believe to be the knife-edge of the gathering crisis has moved off in an unexpected direction.† â€Å"Point of information,† said Delarmi softly. â€Å"How does the speaker† (the intonation clearly indicated that the word was not capitalized) â€Å"know this?† â€Å"I was informed of this by the First Speaker,† said Gendibal, â€Å"but I confirm it of my own knowledge. Under the circumstances, however, considering my suspicions concerning the level of the security of the Chamber, I must be allowed to keep my sources of information secret.† The First Speaker said, â€Å"I will suspend judgment on that. Let us proceed without that item of information but if, in the judgment of the Table, the information must be obtained, Speaker Gendibal will have to yield it.† Delarmi said, â€Å"If the speaker does not yield the information now, it is only fair to say that I assume he has an agent serving him – an agent who is privately employed by him and who is not responsible to the Table generally. We cannot be sure that such an agent is obeying the rules of behavior governing Second Foundation personnel. The First Speaker said with some displeasure, â€Å"I see all the implications, Speaker Delarmi. There is no need to spell them out for me.† â€Å"I merely mention it for the record, First Speaker, since this aggravates the offense and it is not an item mentioned in the bill of impeachment, which, I would like to say, has not been read in full and to which I move this item be added.† â€Å"The clerk is directed to add the item,† said the First Speaker, â€Å"and the precise wording will be adjusted at the appropriate time. – Speaker Gendibal† (he, at least, capitalized) â€Å"your defense is indeed a step backward. Continue.† Gendibal said, â€Å"Not only has this Trevize moved in an unexpected direction, but at an unprecedented speed. My information, which the First Speaker does not yet have, is that he has traveled nearly ten thousand parsecs in well under an hour.† â€Å"In a single jump?† said one of the Speakers incredulously. â€Å"In over two dozen jumps, one after the other, with virtually no time intervening,† said Gendibal, â€Å"something that is even more difficult to imagine than a single jump. Even if he is now located, it will take time to follow him and, if he detects us and really means to flee us, we will not be able to overtake him. – And you spend your time in games of impeachment and allow two days to pass so that you might savor them the more.† The First Speaker managed to mask his anguish. â€Å"Please tell us, Speaker Gendibal, what you think the significance of this might be.† â€Å"It is an indication, First Speaker, of the technological advances that are being made by the First Foundation, who are far more powerful now than they were in the time of Preem Palver. We could not stand up against them if they found us and were free to act.† Speaker Delarmi rose to her feet. She said, â€Å"First Speaker, our time is being wasted with irrelevancies. We are not children to be frightened with tales by Grandmother Spacewarp. It does not matter how impressive the machinery of the First Foundation is when, in any crisis, their minds will be in our control.† â€Å"What do you have to say to that, Speaker Gendibal?† asked the First Speaker. † Merely that we will come to the matter of minds in due course. For the moment, I merely wish to stress the superior – and increasing technological might of the First Foundation.† The First Speaker said, â€Å"Pass on to the next point, Speaker Gendibal. Your first point, I must tell you, does not impress me as very pertinent to the matter contained in the bill of impeachment.† There was a clear gesture of agreement from the Table generally. Gendibal said, â€Å"I pass on. Trevize has a companion in his present journey† (he paused momentarily to consider pronunciation) â€Å"one Janov Pelorat, a rather ineffectual scholar who has devoted his life to tracking down myths and legends concerning Earth.† â€Å"You know all this about him? Your hidden source, I presume?† said Delarmi, who had settled into her role of prosecutor with a clear feeling of comfort. â€Å"Yes, I know all this about him,† said Gendibal stolidly. â€Å"A few months ago, the Mayor of Terminus, an energetic and capable woman, grew interested in this scholar for no clear reason, and so I grew interested, too, as a matter of course. Nor have I kept this to myself. All the information I have gained has been made available to the First Speaker.† â€Å"I bear witness to that,† said the First Speaker in a low voice. An elderly Speaker said, â€Å"What is this Earth? Is it the world of origin we keep coming across in fables? The one they made a fuss about in old Imperial times?† Gendibal nodded. â€Å"In the tales of Grandmother Spacewarp, as Speaker Delarmi would say. – I suspect it was Pelorat's dream to come to Trantor to consult the Galactic Library, in order to find information concerning Earth that he could not obtain in the interstellar library service available on Terminus. â€Å"When he left Terminus with Trevize, he must have been under the impression that that dream was to be fulfilled. Certainly we were expecting the two and counted on having the opportunity to examine them – to our own profit. As it turns out – and as you all know by now – they are not coming. They have turned off to some destination that is not yet clear and for some reason that is not yet known.† Delarmi's round face looked positively cherubic as she said, â€Å"And why is this disturbing? We are no worse off for their absence, surely. Indeed, since they dismiss us so easily, we can deduce that the First Foundation does not know the true nature of Trantor and we can applaud the handiwork of Preem Palver.† Gendibal said, â€Å"If we thought no further, we might indeed come to such a comforting solution. Could if be, though, that the turnoff was not the result of any failure to see the importance of Trantor? Could it be that the turnoff resulted from anxiety lest Trantor, by examining these two men, see the importance of Earth?† There was a stir about the Table. â€Å"Anyone,† said Delarmi coldly, â€Å"can invent formidable-sounding propositions and couch them in balanced sentences. But do they make sense when you do invent them? Why should anyone care what we of the Second Foundation think of Earth? Whether it is the true planet of origin, or whether it is a myth, or whether there is no one place of origin to begin with, is surely something that should interest only historians, anthropologists, and folk-tale collectors, such as this Pelorat of yours. Why us?† â€Å"Why indeed?† said Gendibal. â€Å"How is it, then, that there are no references to Earth in the Library?† For the first time, something in the atmosphere that was other than hostility made itself felt about the Table. Delarmi said, â€Å"Aren't there?† Gendibal said quite calmly, â€Å"When word first reached me that Trevize and Pelorat might be coming here in search of information concerning Earth, I, as a matter of course, had our Library computer make a listing of documents containing such information. I was mildly interested when it turned up nothing. Not minor quantities. Not very little. – Nothing? â€Å"But then you insisted I wait for two days before this hearing could take place, and at the same time, my curiosity was further piqued by the news that the First Foundationers were not coming here after all. I had to amuse myself somehow. While the rest of you therefore were, as the saying goes, sipping wine while the house was falling, I went through some history books in my own possession. I came across passages that specifically mentioned some of the investigations on the ‘Origin Question' in late-Imperial times. Particular documents – both printed and filmed – were referred to and quoted from. I returned to the Library and made a personal check for those documents. I assure you there was nothing.† Delarmi said, â€Å"Even if this is so, it need not be surprising. If Earth is indeed a myth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Then I would find it in mythological references. If it were a story of Grandmother Spacewarp, I would find it in the collected tales of Grandmother Spacewarp. If it were a figment of the diseased mind, I would find it under psychopathology. The fact is that something about Earth exists or you would not all have heard of it and, indeed, immediately recognized it as the name of the putative planet of origin of the human species. Why, then, is there no reference to it in the Library, anywhere?† Delarmi was silent for a moment and another Speaker interposed. He was Leonis Cheng, a rather small man with an encyclopedic knowledge of the minutiae of the Seldon Plan and a rather myopic attitude toward the actual Galaxy. His eyes tended to blink rapidly when he spoke. He said, â€Å"It is well known that the Empire in its final days attempted to create an Imperial mystique by soft-pedaling all interest in pre-Imperial times.† Gendibal nodded. â€Å"Soft-pedaled is the precise term, Speaker Cheng. That is not equivalent to destroying evidence. As you should know better than anyone, another characteristic of Imperial decay was a sudden interest in earlier – and presumably better – times. I have just referred to the interest in the ‘Origin Question' in Hari Seldon's time.† Cheng interrupted with a formidable clearing of the throat. â€Å"I know this very well, young man, and know far more of these social problems of Imperial decay than you seem to think I do. The process of ‘Imperialization' overtook these dilettantish games concerning Earth. Under Cleon II, during the Empire's last resurgence, two centuries after Seldon, Imperialization reached its peak and all speculation on the question of Earth came to an end. There was even a directive in Cleon's time concerning this, referring to the interest in such things as (and I think I quote it correctly) ‘stale and unproductive speculation that tends to undermine the people's love of the Imperial throne.'† Gendibal smiled. â€Å"Then it was in the time of Cleon II, Speaker Cheng, that you would place the destruction of all reference to Earth?† â€Å"I draw no conclusions. I have simply stated what I have stated.† â€Å"It is shrewd of you to draw no conclusions. By Cleon's time, the Empire may have been resurgent, but the University and Library, at least, were in our hands or, at any rate, in those of our predecessors. It would have been impossible for any material to be removed from the Library without the Speakers of the Second Foundation knowing it. In fact, it would have been the Speakers to whom the task would have had to be entrusted, though the dying Empire would not have known that.† Gendibal paused, but Cheng, saying nothing, looked over the other's head. Gendibal said, â€Å"It follows that the Library could not have been emptied of material on Earth during Seldon's time, since the ‘Origin Question' was then an active preoccupation. It could not have been emptied afterward because the Second Foundation was in charge. Yet the Library is empty of it now. How can this be?† Delarmi broke in impatiently, â€Å"You may stop weaving the dilemma, Gendibal. We see it. What is it that you suggest as a solution? That you have removed the documents yourself?† â€Å"As usual, Delarmi, you penetrate to the heart.† And Gendibal bent his head to her in sardonic respect (at which she allowed herself a slight lifting of the lip). â€Å"One solution is that the cleansing was done by a Speaker of the Second Foundation, someone who would know how to use curators without leaving a memory behind – and computers without leaving a record behind:† First Speaker Shandess turned red. â€Å"Ridiculous, Speaker Gendibal. I cannot imagine a Speaker doing this. What would the motivation be? Even if, for some reason, the material on Earth were removed, why keep it from the rest of the Table? Why risk a complete destruction of one's career by tampering with the Library when the chances of its being discovered are so great? Besides, I don't think that even the most skillful Speaker could perform the task without leaving a trace.† â€Å"Then it must be, First Speaker, that you disagree with Speaker Delarmi in her suggestion that I did it† â€Å"I certainly do,† said the First Speaker. â€Å"Sometimes I doubt your judgment, but I have yet to consider you downright insane.† â€Å"Then it must never have happened, First Speaker. The material on Earth must still be in the Library, for we now seem to have eliminated all the possible ways in which it could have been removed – and yet the material is not there.† Delarmi said with an affectation of weariness, â€Å"Well well, let us finish. Again, what is it you suggest as a solution? I am sure you think you have one.† â€Å"If you are sure, Speaker, we may all be sure as well. My suggestion is that the Library was cleansed by someone of the Second Foundation who was under the control of a subtle force from outside the Second Foundation. The cleansing went unnoticed because that same force saw to it that it was not noticed.† Delarmi laughed. â€Å"Until you found out. You – the uncontrolled and uncontrollable. If this mysterious force existed, how did you find out about the absence of material from the Library? Why weren't you controlled?† Gendibal said may feel, as we gravely, â€Å"It's not a laughing matter, Speaker. They feel, that all tampering should be held to a minimum. When my life was in danger a few days ago, I was more concerned with refraining from fiddling with a Hamish mind than with protecting myself. So it might be with these others – as soon as they felt it was safe they ceased tampering. That is the danger, the deadly danger. The fact that I could find out what has happened may mean they no longer care that I do. The fact that they no longer care may mean that they feel they have already won. And we continue to play our games here!† â€Å"But what aim do they have in all this? What conceivable aim?† demanded Delarmi, shuffling her feet and biting her lips. She felt her power fading as the Table grew more interested – concerned Gendibal said, â€Å"Consider – The First Foundation, with its enormous arsenal of physical power, is searching for Earth. They pretend to send out two exiles, hoping we will think that is all they are, but would they equip them with ships of unbelievable power-ships that can move ten thousand parsecs in less than an hour – if that was all that they were? â€Å"As for the Second Foundation, we have not been searching for Earth and, clearly, steps have been taken without our knowledge to keep any information of Earth away from us. The First Foundation is now so close to finding Earth and we are so far from doing so, that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Gendibal paused and Delarmi said, â€Å"That what? Finish your childish tale. Do you know anything or don't you?† â€Å"I don't know everything, Speaker. I have not penetrated the total depth of the web that is encircling us, but I know the web is there. I don't know what the significance of finding Earth might be, but I am certain the Second Foundation is in enormous danger and, with it, the Seldon Plan and the future of all humanity.† Delarmi rose to her feet. She was not smiling and she spoke in a tense but tightly controlled voice. â€Å"Trash? First Speaker, put an end to this! What is at issue is the accused's behavior. What he tells us is not only childish but irrelevant. He cannot extenuate his behavior by building a cobwebbery of theories that makes sense only in his own mind. I call for a vote on the matter now – a unanimous vote for conviction.† â€Å"Wait,† said Gendibal sharply. â€Å"I have been told I would have an opportunity to defend myself, and there remains one more item – one more. Let me present that, and you may proceed to a vote with no further objection from me.† The First Speaker rubbed his eyes wearily. â€Å"You may continue, Speaker Gendibal. Let me point out to the Table that the conviction of an impeached Speaker is so weighty and, indeed, unprecedented an action that we dare not give the appearance of not allowing a full defense. Remember, too, that even if the verdict satisfies us, it may not satisfy those who come after us, and I cannot believe that a Second Foundationer of any level – let alone the Speakers of the Table – would not have a full appreciation of the importance of historical perspective. Let us so act that we can be certain of the approval of the Speakers who will follow us in the coming centuries.† Delarmi said bitterly, â€Å"We run the risk, First Speaker, of having posterity laugh at us for belaboring the obvious. To continue the defense is your decision.† Gendibal drew a deep breath. â€Å"In line with your decision, then, First Speaker, I wish to call a witness – a young woman I met three days ago and without whom I might not have reached the Table meeting at all, instead of merely being late.† â€Å"Is the woman you speak of known to the Table?† asked the First Speaker. â€Å"No, First Speaker. She is native to this planet.† Delarmi's eyes opened wide. â€Å"A Hamishwoman?† â€Å"Indeed! Just so!† Delarmi said, â€Å"What have we to do with one of those? Nothing they say can be of any importance. They don't exist!† Gendibal's lips drew back tightly over his teeth in something that could not possibly have been mistaken for a smile. He said sharply, â€Å"Physically all the Hamish exist. They are human beings and play their part in Seldon's Plan. In their indirect protection of the Second Foundation, they play a crucial part. I wish to dissociate myself from Speaker Delarmi's inhumanity and hope that her remark will be retained in the record and be considered hereafter as evidence for her possible unfitness for the position of Speaker. – Will the rest of the Table agree with the Speaker's incredible remark and deprive me of my witness?† The First Speaker said, â€Å"Call your witness, Speaker.† Gendibal's lips relaxed into the normal expressionless features of a Speaker under pressure. His mind was guarded and fenced in, but behind this protective barrier, he felt that the danger point had passed and that he had won. Sura Novi looked strained. Her eyes were wide and her lower lip was faintly trembling. Her hands were slowly clenching and unclenching and her chest was heaving slightly. Her hair had been pulled back and braided into a bun; her sun-darkened face twitched now and then. Her hands fumbled at the pleats of her long skirt. She looked hastily around the Table – from Speaker to Speaker – her wide eyes filled with awe. They glanced back at her with varying degrees of contempt and discomfort. Delarmi kept her eyes well above the top of Novi's head, oblivious to her presence. Carefully Gendibal touched the skin of her mind, soothing and relaxing it. He might have done the same by patting her hand or stroking her cheek, but here, under these circumstances, that was impossible, of course. He said, â€Å"First Speaker, I am numbing this woman's conscious awareness so that her testimony wilt not be distorted by fear. Will you please observe – will the rest of you, if you wish, join me and observe that I will, in no way, modify her mind?† Novi had started back in terror at Gendibal's voice, and Gendibal was not surprised at that. He realized that she had never heard Second Foundationers of high rank speak among themselves. She had never experienced that odd swift combination of sound, tone, expression and thought. The terror, however, faded as quickly as it came, as he gentled her mind. A look of placidity crossed her face. â€Å"There is a chair behind you, Novi,† Gendibal said. â€Å"Please sit down.† Novi curtsied in a small and clumsy manner and sat down, holding herself stiffly. She talked quite clearly, but Gendibal made her repeat when her Hamish accent became too thick. And because he kept his own speech formal in deference to the Table, he occasionally had to repeat his own questions to her. The tale of the fight between himself and Rufirant was described quietly and well. Gendibal said, â€Å"Did you see all this yourself, Novi?† â€Å"Nay, Master, or I would have sooner-stopped it. Rufirant be good fellow, but not quick in head.† â€Å"But you described it all. How is that possible if you did not see it all? â€Å"Rufirant be telling me thereof, on questioning. He be ashamed.† â€Å"Ashamed? Have you ever known him to behave in this manner in earlier times?† â€Å"Rufirant? Nay, Master. He be gentle, though he be large. He be no fighter and he be afeared of scowlers. He say often they are mighty and possessed of power.† † Why didn't he feel this way when he met me?† â€Å"It be strange. It be not understood.† She shook her head. â€Å"He be not his ain self. I said to him, ‘Thou blubber-head. Be it your place to assault scowler?' And he said, ‘I know not how it happened. It be like I am to one side, standing and watching not-I.'† Speaker Cheng interrupted. â€Å"First Speaker, of what value is it to have this woman report what a man has told her? Is not the man available for questioning?† Gendibal said, â€Å"He is. If, on completion of this woman's testimony, the Table wishes to hear more evidence, I will be ready to call Karoll Rufirant – my recent antagonist – to the stand. If not, the Table can move directly to judgment when I am done with this witness.† â€Å"Very well,† said the First Speaker. â€Å"Proceed with your witness.† Gendibal said, â€Å"And you, Novi? Was it like you to interfere in a fight in this manner?† Novi did not say anything for a moment. A small frown appeared between her thick eyebrows and then disappeared. She said, â€Å"I know not. I wish no harm to scowlers. I be, driven, and without thought I inmiddled myself.† A pause, then., â€Å"I be do it over if need arise.† Gendibal said, â€Å"Novi, you will sleep now. You will think of nothing. You will rest and you will not even dream.† Novi mumbled for a moment. Her eyes closed and her head fell back against the headrest of her chair. Gendibal waited a moment, then said, â€Å"First Speaker, with respect, follow me into this woman's mind. You will find it remarkably simple and symmetrical, which is fortunate, for what you will see might not have been visible otherwise. – Here – here! Do you observe? – If the rest of you will enter – it will be easier if it is done one at a time.† There was a rising buzz about the Table. Gendibal said, â€Å"Is there any doubt among you?† Delarmi said, â€Å"I doubt it, for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused on the brink of what was – even for her – unsayable. Gendibal said it for her. â€Å"You think I deliberately tampered with this mind in order to present false evidence? You think, therefore, that I am capable of bringing about so delicate an adjustment – one mental fiber clearly out of shape with nothing about it or its surroundings that is in the least disturbed? If I could do that, what need would I have to deal with any of you in this manner? Why subject myself to the indignity of a trial? Why labor to convince you? If I could do what is visible in this woman's mind, you would all be helpless before me unless you were well prepared. – The blunt fact is that none of you could manipulate a mind as this woman's has been manipulated. Neither can I. Yet it has been done.† He paused, looking at all the Speakers in turn, then fixing his gaze on Delarmi. He spoke slowly. â€Å"Now, if anything more is required, I will call in the Hamish farmer, Karoll Rufirant, whom I have examined and whose mind has also been tampered with in this manner.† â€Å"That will not be necessary,† said the First Speaker, who was wearing an appalled expression. â€Å"What we have seen is mindshaking.† â€Å"In that case,† said Gendibal, â€Å"may I rouse this Hamishwoman and dismiss her? I have arranged for there to be those outside who will see to her recovery.† When Novi had left, directed by Gendibal's gentle hold on her elbow, be said, â€Å"Let me quickly summarize. Minds can be – and have been altered in ways that are beyond our power. In this way, the curators themselves could have been influenced to remove Earth material from the Library – without our knowledge or their own. We see how it was arranged that I should be delayed in arriving at a meeting of the Table. I was threatened; I was rescued. The result was that I was impeached. The result of this apparently natural concatenation of events is that I may be removed from a position of power – and the course of action which I champion and which threatens these people, whoever they are, may be negated.† Delarmi leaned forward. She was clearly shaken. â€Å"If this secret organization is so clever, how were you able to discover all this?† GendibaI felt free to smile, now. â€Å"No credit to me,† he said. â€Å"I lay no claim to expertise superior to that of other Speakers; certainly not to the First Speaker. However, neither are these Anti-Mules – as the First Speaker has rather engagingly called them – infinitely wise or infinitely immune to circumstance. Perhaps they chose this particular Hamishwoman as their instrument precisely because she needed very little adjustment. She was, of her own character, sympathetic to what she calls ‘scholars,' and admired them intensely. â€Å"But then, once this was over, her momentary contact with me strengthened her fantasy of becoming a ‘scholar' herself. She came to me the next day with that purpose in mind. Curious at this peculiar ambition of hers, I studied her mind – which I certainly would not otherwise have done – and, more by accident than anything else, stumbled upon the adjustment and noted its significance. Had another woman been chosen – one with a less natural pro-scholar bias – the Anti-Mules might have had to labor more at the adjustment, but the consequences might well not have followed and I would have remained ignorant of all this. The Anti-Mules miscalculated – or could not sufficiently allow for the unforseen. That they can stumble so is heartening.† Delarmi said, â€Å"The First Speaker and you call this – organization – the ‘Anti-Mules,' I presume, because they seem to labor to keep tile Galaxy in the ,path of the. Seldon Plan, rather than to disrupt it as the Male himself did. If the Anti-Mines do this, why are they dangerous?† â€Å"Why should then labor, if not for some purpose? We don't know what that purpose as. A cynic might say that they intend to step in at some future time and thin the current in another direction, one tat mar please them far more than it would please ifs. That is my own feeling, even though I do riot major in cynicism. Is Speaker Delarmi prepared to maintain, out of the love and trust that we all know form so great a part of her character, that these are cosmic altruists, doing our work for us, without dream of reward?† There was a gentle susurration of laughter about the Table at this and Gendibal knew that he had won. And Delarmi knew that she had lost, for there was a wash of rage that showed through her harsh mentalic control like a momentary ray of ruddy sunlight through a thick canopy of leaves. Gendibal said, â€Å"When I first experienced the incident with the Hamish farmer, I leaped to the conclusion that another Speaker was behind it. When I noted the adjustment of the Hamishwoman's mind, I knew that I was right as to the plot but wrong as to the plotter. I apologize for the misinterpretation and I plead the circumstances as an extenuation.† The First Speaker said, â€Å"I believe this may be construed as an apology† Delarmi interrupted. She was quite placid again – her face was friendly, her voice downright saccharine. â€Å"With total respect, First Speaker, if I may interrupt. – Let us drop this matter of impeachment. At this moment, I would not vote for conviction and I imagine no one will. I would even suggest the impeachment be stricken from the Speaker's unblemished record. Speaker Gendibal has exonerated himself ably. I congratulate him on that – and for uncovering a crisis that the rest of us might well have allowed to smolder on indefinitely, with incalculable results. I offer the Speaker my wholehearted apologies for my earlier hostility.† She virtually beamed at Gendibal, who felt a reluctant admiration for the manner in which she shifted direction instantly in order to cut her losses. He also felt that all this was but preliminary to an attack from a new direction. He was certain that what was coming would not be pleasant. When she exerted herself to be charming, Speaker Delora Delarmi had a way of dominating the Speaker's Table. Her voice grew soft, her smile indulgent, her eyes sparkling, all of her sweet. No one cared to interrupt her and everyone waited for the blow to fall. She said, â€Å"Thanks to Speaker Gendibal, I think we all now understand what we must do. We do not see the Anti-Mules; we know nothing about them, except for their fugitive touches on the minds of people right here in the stronghold of the Second Foundation itself. We do not know what the power center of the First Foundation is planning. We may face an alliance of the Anti-Mules and the First Foundation. We don't know. â€Å"We do know that this Golan Trevize and his companion, whose name escapes me at the moment, are going we know not where – and that the First Speaker and Gendibal feel that Trevize holds the key to the outcome of this great crisis. What, then, are we to do? Clearly we must find out everything we can about Trevize; where he is going, what he is thinking, what his purpose may be; or, indeed, whether he has any destination, any thought, any purpose; whether he might not, in fact, be a mere tool of a force greater than he.† Gendibal said, â€Å"He is under observation.† Delarmi pursed her lips in an indulgent smile. â€Å"By whom? By one of our outworld agents? Are such agents to be expected to stand against those with the powers we have seen demonstrated here? Surely not. In the Mule's time, and later on, too, the Second Foundation did not hesitate to send out – and even to sacrifice – volunteers from among the best we had, since nothing less would do. When it was necessary to restore the Seldon Plan, Preem Palver himself scoured the Galaxy as a Trantorian trader in order to bring back that girl, Arkady. We cannot sit here and wait, now, when the crisis may be greater than in either previous case. We cannot rely on minor functionaries – watchers and messenger boys.† Gendibal said, â€Å"Surely you are not suggesting that the First Speaker leave Trantor at this time?† Delarmi said, â€Å"Certainly not. We need him badly here. On the other hand, there is you, Speaker Gendibal. It is you who have correctly sensed and weighed the crisis. It is you who detected the subtle outside interference with the Library and with Hamish minds. It is you who have maintained your views against the united opposition of the Table – and won. No one here has seen as clearly as you have and no one can be trusted, as you can, to continue to see clearly. It is you who must, in my opinion, go out to confront the enemy. May I have the sense of the Table?† There was no formal vote needed to reveal that sense. Each Speaker felt the minds of the others and it was clear to a suddenly appalled Gendibal that, at the moment of his victory and Delarmi's defeat, this formidable woman was managing to send him irrevocably into exile on a task that might occupy him for some indefinite period, while she remained behind to control the Table and, therefore, the Second Foundation and, therefore, the Galaxy – sending all alike, perhaps, to their doom. And if Gendibal-in-exile should, somehow, manage to gather the information that would enable the Second Foundation to avert the gathering crisis, it would be Delarmi who would have the credit for having arranged it, and his success would but confirm her power. The quicker Gendibal would be, the more efficiently he succeeded, the more surely he would confirm her power. It was a beautiful maneuver, an unbelievable recovery. And so clearly was she dominating the Table even now that she was virtually usurping the First Speaker's role. Gendibal's thought to that effect was overtaken by the rage he sensed from the First Speaker. He turned. The First Speaker was making no effort to hide his anger – and it soon was clear that another internal crisis was building to replace the one that had been resolved. Quindor Shandess, the twenty-fifth First Speaker, had no extraordinary illusions about himself. He knew he was not one of those few dynamic First Speakers who had illuminated the five-century-long history of the Second Foundation – but then, he didn't have to be. He controlled the Table in a quiet period of Galactic prosperity and it was not a time for dynamism. It had seemed to be a time to play a holding game and he had been the man for this role. His predecessor had chosen him for that reason. â€Å"You are not an adventurer, you are a scholar,† the twenty-fourth First Speaker had said. â€Å"You will preserve the Plan, where an adventurer might ruin it. Preserve! Let that be the key word for your Table.† He had tried, but it had meant a passive First Speakership and this had been, on occasion, interpreted as weakness. There had been recurrent rumors that he meant to resign and there had been open intrigue to assure the succession in one direction or another. There was no doubt in Shandess's mind that Delarmi had been a leader in the fight. She was the strongest personality at the Table and even Gendibal, with all the fire and folly of youth, retreated before her, as he was doing right now. But, by Seldon, passive he might be, or even weak, but there was one prerogative of the First Speaker that not one in the line had ever given up, and neither would he do so. He rose to speak and at once there was a hush about the Table. ‘When the First Speaker rose to speak, there could be no interruptions. Even Delarmi or Gendibal would not dare to interrupt. He said, â€Å"Speakers! I agree that we face a dangerous crisis and that we must take strong measures. It is I who should go out to meet the enemy. Speaker Delarmi, with the gentleness that characterizes her, excuses me from the task by stating that I am needed here. The truth, however, is that I am needed neither here nor there. I grow old; I grow weary. There has long been expectation I would someday resign and perhaps I ought to. When this crisis is successfully surmounted, I shall resign. â€Å"But, of course, it is the privilege of the First Speaker to choose his successor. I am going to do so now. There is one Speaker who has long dominated the proceedings of the Table; one Speaker who, by force of personality, has often supplied the leadership that I could not. You all know I am speaking of Speaker Delarmi.† He paused, then said, â€Å"You alone, Speaker Gendibal, are registering disapproval. May I ask why?† He sat down, so that Gendibal might have the right to answer. â€Å"I do not disapprove, First Speaker,† said Gendibal in a low voice. â€Å"It is your prerogative to choose your successor.† â€Å"And so I will. When you return – having succeeded in initiating the process that will put an end to this crisis – it will be time for my resignation. My successor will then be directly in charge of conducting whatever policies may be required to carry on and complete that process. – Do you have anything to say, Speaker Gendibal?† Gendibal said quietly, â€Å"When you make Speaker Delarmi your successor, First Speaker, I hope you will see fit to advise her to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The First Speaker interrupted him roughly. â€Å"I have spoken of Speaker Delarmi, but I have not named her as my successor. Now what do you have to say?† â€Å"My apologies, First Speaker. I should have said, assuming you make Speaker Delarmi your successor upon my return from this mission, would you see fit to advise her to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Nor will I make her my successor in the future, under any conditions. Now what do you have to say?† The First Speaker was unable to make this announcement without a stab of satisfaction at the blow he was delivering to Delarmi. He could not have done it in a more humiliating fashion. â€Å"Well, Speaker Gendibal,† he said, â€Å"what do you have to say?† â€Å"That I am confused.† The First Speaker rose again. He said, â€Å"Speaker Delarmi has dominated and led, but that is not all that is needed for the post of First Speaker. Speaker Gendibal has seen what we have not seen. He has faced the united hostility of the Table, and forced it to rethink matters, and has dragged it into agreement with him. I have my suspicions as to the motivation of Speaker Delarmi in placing the responsibility of the pursuit of Golan Trevize on the shoulders of Speaker Gendibal, but that is where the burden belongs. I know he will succeed – I trust my intuition in this – and when he returns, Speaker Gendibal will become the twenty-sixth First Speaker.† He sat down abruptly and each Speaker began to make clear his opinion in a bedlam of sound, tone, thought, and expression. The First Speaker paid no attention to the cacophony, but stared indifferently before him. Now that it was done, he realized – with some surprise – the great comfort there was in laying down the mantle of responsibility. He should have done it before this – but he couldn't have. It was not till now that he had found his obvious successor. And then, somehow, his mind caught that of Delarmi and he looked up at her. By Seldon! She was calm and smiling. Her desperate disappointment did not show – she had not given up. He wondered if he had played into her hands. ‘What was there left for her to do? Debra Delarmi would freely have shown her desperation and disappointment, if that would have proven of any use whatever. It would have given her a great deal of satisfaction to strike out at that senile fool who controlled the Table or at that juvenile idiot with whom Fortune had conspired – but satisfaction wasn't what she wanted. She wanted something more. She wanted to be First Speaker. And while there was a card left to play, she would play it. She smiled gently, and managed to lift her hand as though she were about to speak, and then held the pose just long enough to insure that when she did speak, all would be not merely normal, but radiantly quiet. She said, â€Å"First Speaker, as Speaker Gendibal said earlier, I do not disapprove. It is your prerogative to choose your successor. If I speak now, it is in order that I may contribute – I hope – to the success of what has now become Speaker Gendibal's mission. May I explain my thoughts, First Speaker?† â€Å"Do so,† said the First Speaker curtly. She was entirely too smooth, too pliant, it seemed to him. Delarmi bent her head gravely. She no longer smiled. She said, â€Å"We have ships. They are not as technologically magnificent as those of the First Foundation, but they will carry Speaker Gendibal He knows how to pilot one, I believe, as do we all. We have our representatives on every major planet in the Galaxy, and he will be welcomed everywhere. Moreover, he can defend himself against even these Anti-Mules, now that he is thoroughly aware of the danger. Even when we were unaware, I suspect they have preferred to work through the lower classes and even the Hamish farmers. We will, of course, thoroughly inspect the minds of all the Second Foundationers, including the Speakers, but I am sure they have remained inviolate. The Anti-Mules did not dare interfere with us. â€Å"Nevertheless, there is no reason why Speaker Gendibal should risk more than he must. He is not intending to engage in derring – do and it will be best if his mission is to some extent disguised – if he takes them unaware. It will be useful if he goes in the role of a Hamish trader. Preem Palver, we all know, went off into the Galaxy as a supposed trader.† The First Speaker said, â€Å"Preem Palver had a specific purpose in doing so; Speaker Gendibal has not. If it appears a disguise of some sort is necessary, I am sure he will be ingenious enough to adopt one.† â€Å"With respect, First Speaker, I wish to point out a subtle disguise. Preem Palver, you will remember, took with him his wife and companion of many years. Nothing so thoroughly established the rustic nature of his character as the fact that he was traveling with his wife. It allayed all suspicion.† Gendibal said, â€Å"I have no wife. I have had companions, but none who would now volunteer to assume the marital role.† â€Å"This is well known, Speaker Gendibal,† said Delarmi, â€Å"but then people will take the role for granted if any woman is with you. Surely some volunteer can be found. And if you feel the need to be able to present documentary evidence, that can be provided. I think a woman should come with you.† For a moment, Gendibal was breathless. Surely she did not mean. Could it be a ploy to achieve a share in the success? Could she be playing for a joint – or rotating – occupation of the First Speakership? Gendibal said grimly, â€Å"I am flattered that Speaker Delarmi should feel that she†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And Delarmi broke into an open laugh and looked at Gendibal with what was almost true affection. He had fallen into the trap and looked foolish for having done so. The Table would not forget that. She said, â€Å"Speaker Gendibal, I would not have the impertinence to attempt to share in this task. it is yours and yours alone, as the post of First Speaker will be yours and yours alone. I would not have thought you wanted me with you. Really, Speaker, at my age, I no longer think of myself as a charmer†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There were smiles around the Table and even the First Speaker tried to hide one. Gendibal felt the stroke and labored not to compound the loss by failing to match her lightness. It was labor lost. He said, as unsavagely as he could, â€Å"Then what is it you would suggest? It was not in my thoughts, I assure you, that you would wish to accompany me. You are at your best at the Table and not in the hurly-burly of Galactic affairs, I know.† â€Å"I agree, Speaker Gendibal, I agree,† said Delarmi. â€Å"My suggestion, however, refers back to your role as Hamish trader. To make it indisputably authentic, what better companion need you ask but a Hamishwoman?† â€Å"A Hamishwoman?† For a second time in rapid succession, Gendibal was caught by surprise and the Table enjoyed it. â€Å"The Hamishwoman,† Delarmi went on. â€Å"The one who saved you from a beating. The one who gazes at you worshipfully. The one whose mind you probed and who then, quite unwittingly, saved you a second time from considerably more than a beating. I suggest you take her.† Gendibal's impulse was to refuse, but he knew that she expected that. It would mean more enjoyment for the Table. It was clear now that the First Speaker, anxious to strike out at Delarmi, had made a mistake by naming Gendibal his successor – or, at the very least, that Delarmi had quickly converted it into one. Gendibal was the youngest of the Speakers. He had angered the Table and had then avoided conviction by them. In a very real way, he had humiliated them. None could see him as the heir apparent without resentment. That would have been hard enough to overcome, but now they would remember how easily Delarmi had twitched him into ridicule and how much they had enjoyed it. She would use that to convince them, all too easily, that he lacked the age and experience for the role of First Speaker. Their united pressure would force the First Speaker into changing his decision while Gendibal was off on his mission. Or, if the First Speaker held fast, Gendibal would eventually find himself with an office that would be forever helpless in the face of united opposition. He saw it all in an instant and was able to answer as though with out hesitation. – He said, â€Å"Speaker Delarmi, I admire your insight. I had thought to surprise you all. It was indeed my intention to take the Hamishwoman, though not quite for the very good reason you suggest. It was for her mind that I wished to take her with me. You have all examined that mind. You saw it for what it was: surprisingly intelligent but, more than that, clear, simple, utterly without guile. No touch upon it by others would go unnoticed, as I'm sure you all concluded. â€Å"I wonder if it occurred to you, then, Speaker Delarmi, that she would serve as an excellent early-warning system. I would detect the first symptomatic presence of mentalism by way of her mind, earlier, I think, than by way of mine.† There was a kind of astonished silence at that, and he said, lightly. â€Å"Ah, none of you saw that. Well well, not important! And I will take my leave now. There's no time to lose.† â€Å"Wait,† said Delarmi, her initiative lost a third time. â€Å"What do you intend to do?† Gendibal said with a small shrug. â€Å"Why go into details? The less the Table knows, the less the Anti-Mules are likely to attempt to disturb it.† He said it as though the safety of the Table was his prime concern. He filled his mind with that, and let it show. It would flatter them. More than that, the satisfaction it would bring might keep them from wondering whether, in fact, Gendibal knew exactly what it was he intended to do. The First Speaker spoke to Gendibal alone that evening. â€Å"You were right,† he said. â€Å"I could not help brushing below the surface of your mind. I saw you considered the announcement a mistake and it was. It was my eagerness to wipe that eternal smile off her face and to strike back at the casual way in which she so frequently usurps my role.† Gendibal said gently, â€Å"It might have been better if you had told me privately and had then waited for my return to go further.† â€Å"That would not have allowed me to strike out at her. – Poor motivation for a First Speaker, I know.† â€Å"This won't stop her, First Speaker. She will still intrigue for the post and perhaps with good reason. I'm sure there are some who would argue that I should have refused your nomination. It would not be hard to argue that Speaker Delarmi has the best mind at the Table and would make the best First Speaker.† â€Å"The best mind at the Table, not away from it,† grumbled Shandess. â€Å"She recognizes no real enemies, except for other Speakers. She ought never to have been made a Speaker in the first place. – See here, shall I forbid you to take the Hamishwoman? She maneuvered you into that, I know.† â€Å"No no, the reason I advanced for taking her is a true one. She will be an early-warning system and I am grateful to Speaker Delarmi for pushing me into realizing that. The woman will prove very useful, I'm convinced.† â€Å"Good, then. By the way, I wasn't lying, either. I am truly certain that you will accomplish whatever is needed to end this crisis – if you can trust my intuition.† â€Å"I think I can trust it, for I agree with you. I promise you that whatever happens, I will return better than I receive. I will come back to be First Speaker, whatever the Anti-Mules – or Speaker Delarmi – can do.† Gendibal studied his own satisfaction even as he spoke. Why was he so pleased, so insistent, on this one-ship venture into space? Ambition, of course. Preem Palver had once done just this sort of thing and he was going to show that Stor Gendibal could do it, too. No one could withhold the First Speakership from him after that. And yet was there more than ambition? The lure of combat? The generalized desire for excitement in one who had been confined to a hidden patch on a backward planet all his adult life? – He didn't entirely know, but he knew he was desperately intent on going.