Friday, August 16, 2019

Learning by Doint Essay

Your state’s statute that defines what is considered to be a public record that must be made available to the public upon request. Public Records are documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs and computer-based or generated information. Access to public records is available to both local nonresidential individuals of Georgia. Residents of Georgia have the right to Public records under the Georgia Open Records Act. Nonresidents of Georgia have the right to public records under the instruction of the Attorney General. Under the Open Records Acts, Georgia mandated Every state department, agency, board, bureau, commission, public corporation, authority, county, municipal corporation, school district and other political subdivision, department, agency, board, bureau, commission, authority and similar body of each county, municipal corporation or other political subdivision of the state; city, county, regional or other authority established pursuant to state law; and non-profit organizations that receive more than one-third of their funds from a direct allocation of state funds from the governing authority of an agency. The archives Georgia state’s statue define a public record that should be made available to public upon request are Court Records, Criminal Records, Birth Records, Death Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records, and Genealogy records. Government meetings, election results, crime statistics, home deeds, annual tax on homes and vehicles, and food service inspections are open to the public as well. (Baker, 2008) The pre-World War I opinion by the U. S. Supreme Court holding, on re-argument, that a federal income tax was unconstitutional. Prior to World War I the United Stated had few taxes. The government was supported by internal taxes. The U. S. Supreme Court decided that the income tax was unconstitutional because it was not apportioned among the states in conformity with the Constitution. Protesters were in favor of the decision. (Siegal) The federal statute authorizing the U. S. Secretary of Transportation to make payments to states for the value of materials stockpiled near federal highway construction projects in conformity with the project specifications. The federal governments provides the state with funding for projects such as highway reconstruction. No funding is given unless the secretary follows up with inspections. There are several administrations that aid in the department of transportation such as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA , Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety, Administration (FMCSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Maritime Administration (MARAD), National Highway Traffic Safety, Administration (NHTSA), Office of Inspector General (OIG) , Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the Surface Transportation Board. The federal joint regulation of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Department of Commerce, identifying the factors for listing, delisting, or reclassifying endangered species. The federal joint regulation of the U. S.  Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Department of Commerce, identifying the factors for listing, delisting, or reclassifying endangered species provides a list of endangered species or are in danger or becoming endangered. Issues that are addressed are the present he present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range, over utilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes, disease or predation, the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms and other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. Plans to protect natural resources are tackled. Recovery and protections plans are also addressed. The department of commerce promotes economic growth. The department focus on the creation of jobs and the enhancement of living standards. Your state’s administrative regulations specifying the licensure process for real estate agents. The Georgia real estate and commission boards determine the regulations for the licensure process for real estate agents. There job is to ensure the housing market is fair and honest. Background checks are performed and successful completion of education is required. There is also a real estate test to be taken before an individual can practice. Georgia also has real estates schools. The local ordinance in your municipality governing noise. There are several cities which have laws prohibiting noise above a certain level. In the state of Georgia, it unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud or excessive noise which unreasonably interferes with the comfort, response, health and safety of others within the jurisdiction of the city. For example, the younger generation install systems in their vehicles which allows their vehicles to play music really loud. The music is so loud it causes other vehicles to feel the vibration. This excessive noise is a violation of the Georgia noise ordinance. The noise ordinance does not only pertain to music in a vehicle, it pertains to a television, pets that make noise, machinery, and emergency signaling devices. The most recent opinion of your state’s highest appeals court describing the extent to which the state constitution requires that the power of eminent domain be exercised only for a public use. Recently, Augusta, Georgia, did some reconstruction with the roads on Mike Padgent High way due to so many deaths. The deaths were caused by the accidents on the highway because there is no turning lane. The only solution was to widen the highways and make a turning lane. In order to do so, land must be purchase from the homeowners and used to extend the highway. The state was in favor of this opinion because is would save so many life on †Death Highway. † A recent federal trial court decision in your federal district describing the standard for summary judgment in federal court. Barnes vs. Zaccari is a very significant court case which lead to setting a standard for summary judgment is federal court. The Barnes VS. Zaccari case The president of Valdosta State University, Ronald Zaccari expelled Thomas Hayden Barnes for exemplifying a clear and present danger to other students on campus. Barnes sued Zaccari in the federal courts because he did not receive a warning before he was withdrawn from school. Barns won the his case against Zaccari. The case describe the violation of the due process clause which claims that Barnes was due notice on the charges against him. Ley, 2012) A law-review article published within the past five (5) years about libel law and political campaign advertisements. It never fails during campaign season, there are always political advertisement with candidates bashing their opponents. Political parties compete against their parties make statements about what their opponent stands for. The advertisements are used to expose individuals to the U. S. citizens in hopes to gain votes. There are certain statements that are on the verge of defamation. Defamation is providing false information that can be proven false on an individual that harms that person’s reputation. Opinions which express negativity on someone is also protected by the first amendment.

History of Geisha Essay

Geisha recruitment seems to be a business wherein the indigenous people were the victims. Unfortunately this is the reality of life; one suffers while the other prospers. Another important contribution of Geisha is the preservation and performance of many Japanese dances. Dances like Mivako Odori and cherry dances which are based on Japan’s cultural value were the most common dances performed by Geisha. The red costume of the Geisha had a great significance in the Japanese culture and society. The use of red in their dress and makeup signifies beauty and happiness. The red underclothing was believed to ease the menstrual pain and maintain the good and healthy functioning of female reproductive system. Red is an erotic symbol for men. In fact they wear red lining under their own kimonos and apply red lipsticks made from petals of red flowers. In early times, the costumes of Geisha girls have warrior motifs which include hats and swords. But as time passes by and culture progresses, Geisha’s dress became feminine. Geisha is a culture which permits Japanese women to become independent and economically stable. It is believed that this is the only profession in which they are above men. It is one of the most important role of Geisha in society; keeping women at the height of men. Being intimate with men are part of the being a Geisha. Nearly all marriages in Japan were arranged by families of both parties. These marriages main goal is to preserve the present rank in the society rather than to seek peace and happiness. In this kind of situation, the man would normally have two women in his entire life. It was a common practice that wealthy and powerful men have a relationship with geisha. On other culture and religion this set up do not conform to morality. The Christianity sector would surely say that this is immoral. Unfaithfulness to your wife is considered a sin but still other may see it as something normal. Geisha is mysterious but beautiful creatures that represent the very old traditions of the Japanese. Now, modern geisha still reside in what they call okiya in flower towns especially during mentoring era. Most old and experienced geisha decide to live independently. They are often hired in parties or exclusive events at the tea houses and also to high-class restaurants in Japan. An incense stick serves as their clock for determining the spent time of each geisha in entertaining guest and visitors. Confusion still remains on what is really the nature geisha profession. An awful view about Geisha is that they serve as prostitutes. In western perspective, Geisha are known as expensive prostitutes. Geisha are entertainers and they are expected to entertain their customers in many ways such as reciting verse, playing musical instruments or simply by giving a good conversation but not to serve as sexual workers. Geisha’s arrangement also includes flirting with the customers and to do some playful and fancy innuendos but nothing more can be expected. Geisha strongly do not engage with sex with the customers even with money offerings. What they believed is that geisha are entertainer particularly sexual entertainers. This common notion about geisha made this decent and simple tradition to be a tradition full of immorality and sins. To attract costumers, prostitutes dressed and posed as a true geisha. Actually, a true geisha do not engaged with sexual relationship with her costumers. What they usually do is just entertainment. In fact, they were first and foremost entertainers. Geisha were invited to gatherings to keep thing in harmony and lively. They dance together with the guest, sing with them and played drinking games. Clearly, geisha are there for mere entertainment. The success of parties and celebrations are determined by the presence of geisha. Having several geisha in a party meant that the party host was wealthy and powerful. Geisha and the traditional high-class courtesans also know as oiran have similarities which lead to confusion. Like geisha, oiran also have their elaborate hairstyles and wear white make-up. Geisha are truly different with orian in a simple manner. Oiran tie their obi in the front and serve as prostitutes while Geisha in contrast usually tie their obi in the back. Prostitution was legalized during the Edo period. Prostitutes like orian were given license by the government. On the other hand, geisha were strictly prohibited to hold such kind of license and eventually forbidden to have sexual engagement with their customers. Any geisha holding the prostitution license is referred to be promiscuous. During the Japanese occupation, several Japanese prostitutes sold themselves to American to become sexual slaves. These prostitutes are termed geisha girls which lead to the conception of geisha as prostitutes. Also, those geisha working in onsen towns give a bad reputation to geisha because of the prevalence of prostitution. They used the name and character of a geisha in order to have a good market. Geisha indeed are not prostitutes. They are just victims of wrong conception. But sadly, although the nature of geisha is really good many are still doubt the nature of geisha’s profession. We can now infer that being a geisha is tough job. A geisha needs to be beautiful all the time and must undergo hard trainings to perfect the geisha’s required talents skills. We can see the good and bad accounts of being a geisha. It is a good tradition of Japan. It reflects all the prosperous cultures and traditions of Japan; from dancing, singing, conversing to the various arts. Also geisha’s dedication to work really manifest that Japanese are disciplined person. Generally, geisha plays an important role in Japanese culture. Geisha are entertainers not prostitutes. Although most people considered them as sexual workers, we cannot take away the fact that they bring happiness and pleasure to people. Although the nature of geisha’s work is closely similar to prostitutes we must not immediately pre-judge it. Geisha is a wonderful culture which is full of creative stuffs. From the dress, hairstyles, and other attributes of geisha we can see how diverse the Japanese culture is. Those bad accounts to geisha will be polished by its amazing structure. Eventually and hopefully people would fully accept the truth that geisha are made for merely entertainment. Instead of looking at it that way, looks at it other perspective or maybe people can even look deeper to the inner core of it in order to see its real purpose. References: History of Geisha. Retrived November 14, 2007, from http://marian. creighton. edu/~marian-w/academics/english/japan/geisha/history. html.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Second Foundation 15. Through the Grid

TRANTOR By the middle of the Interregnum, Trantor was a shadow. In the midst of the colossal ruins, there lived a small community of farmers†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica There is nothing, never has been anything, quite like a busy spaceport on the outskirts of a capital city of a populous planet. There are the huge machines resting mightily in their cradles. If you choose your time properly, there is the impressive sight of the sinking giant dropping to rest or, more hair-raising still, the swiftening departure of a bubble of steel. All processes involved are nearly noiseless. The motive power is the silent surge of nucleons shifting into more compact arrangements In terms of area, ninety-five percent of the port has just been referred to. Square miles are reserved for the machines, and for the men who serve them and for the calculators that serve both. Only five percent of the port is given over to the floods of humanity to whom it is the way station to all the stars of the Galaxy. It is certain that very few of the anonymous many-headed stop to consider the technological mesh that knits the spaceways. Perhaps some of them might itch occasionally at the thought of the thousands of tons represented by the sinking steel that looks so small off in the distance. One of those cyclopean cylinders could, conceivably, miss the guiding beam and crash half a mile from its expected landing point – through the glassite roof of the immense waiting room perhaps – so that only a thin organic vapor and some powdered phosphates would be left behind to mark the passing of a thousand men. It could never happen, however, with the safety devices in use; and only the badly neurotic would consider the possibility for more than a moment. Then what do they think about? It is not just a crowd, you see. It is a crowd with a purpose. That purpose hovers over the field and thickens the atmosphere. Lines queue up; parents herd their children; baggage is maneuvered in precise masses – people are going somewheres. Consider then the complete psychic isolation of a single unit of this terribly intent mob that does not know where to go; yet at the same time feels more intensely than any of the others possibly can, the necessity of going somewheres; anywhere! Or almost anywhere! Even lacking telepathy or any of the crudely definite methods of mind touching mind, there is a sufficient clash in atmosphere, in intangible mood, to suffice for despair. To suffice? To overflow, and drench, and drown. Arcadia Darell, dressed in borrowed clothes, standing on a borrowed planet in a borrowed situation of what seemed even to be a borrowed life, wanted earnestly the safety of the womb. She didn't know that was what she wanted. She only knew that the very openness of the open world was a great danger. She wanted a closed spot somewhere – somewhere far – somewhere in an unexplored nook of the universe – where no one would ever look. And there she was, age fourteen plus, weary enough for eighty plus, frightened enough for five minus. What stranger of the hundreds that brushed past her – actually brushed past her, so that she could feel their touch – was a Second Foundationer? What stranger could not help but instantly destroy her for her guilty knowledge – her unique knowledge – of knowing where the Second Foundation was? And the voice that cut in on her was a thunderclap that iced the scream in her throat into a voiceless slash. â€Å"Look, miss,† it said, irritably, â€Å"are you using the ticket machine or are you just standing there?† It was the first she realized that she was standing in front of a ticket machine. You put a high denomination bill into the clipper which sank out of sight. You pressed the button below your destination and a ticket came out together with the correct change as determined by an electronic scanning device that never made a mistake. It was a very ordinary thing and there is no cause for anyone to stand before it for five minutes. Arcadia plunged a two-hundred credit into the clipper, and was suddenly aware of the button labeled â€Å"Trantor.† Trantor, dead capital of the dead Empire – the planet on which she was born. She pressed it in a dream. Nothing happened, except that the red letters flicked on and off, reading 172.18- 172.18- 172.18- It was the amount she was short. Another two-hundred credit. The ticket was spit out towards her. It came loose when she touched it, and the change tumbled out afterward. She seized it and ran. She felt the man behind her pressing close, anxious for his own chance at the machine, but she twisted out from before him and did not look behind. Yet there was nowhere to run. They were all her enemies. Without quite realizing it, she was watching the gigantic, glowing signs that puffed into the air: Steffani, Anacreon, Fermus- There was even one that ballooned, Terminus, and she longed for it, but did not dare- For a trifling sum, she could have hired a notifier which could have been set for any destination she cared and which would, when placed in her purse, make itself heard only to her, fifteen minutes before take-off time. But such devices are for people who are reasonably secure, however; who can pause to think of them. And then, attempting to look both ways simultaneously, she ran head-on into a soft abdomen. She felt the startled outbreath and grunt, and a hand come down on her arm. She writhed desperately but lacked breath to do more than mew a bit in the back of her throat. Her captor held her firmly and waited. Slowly, he came into focus for her and she managed to look at him. He was rather plump and rather short. His hair was white and copious, being brushed back to give a pompadour effect that looked strangely incongruous above a round and ruddy face that shrieked its peasant origin. â€Å"What's the matter?† he said finally, with a frank and twinkling curiosity. â€Å"You look scared.† â€Å"Sorry,† muttered Arcadia in a frenzy. â€Å"I've got to go. Pardon me.† But he disregarded that entirely, and said, â€Å"Watch out, little girl. You'll drop your ticket.† And he lifted it from her resistless white fingers and looked at it with every evidence of satisfaction. â€Å"I thought so,† he said, and then bawled in bull-like tones, â€Å"Mommuh!† A woman was instantly at his side, somewhat more short, somewhat more round, somewhat more ruddy. She wound a finger about a stray gray lock to shove it beneath a well-outmoded hat. â€Å"Pappa,† she said, reprovingly, â€Å"why do you shout in a crowd like that? People look at you like you were crazy. Do you think you are on the farm?† And she smiled sunnily at the unresponsive Arcadia, and added, â€Å"He has manners like a bear.† Then, sharply, â€Å"Pappa, let go the little girl. What are you doing?† But Pappa simply waved the ticket at her. â€Å"Look,† he said, â€Å"she's going to Trantor.† Mamma's face was a sudden beam, â€Å"You're from Trantor? Let go her arm, I say, Pappa.† She turned the overstuffed valise she was carrying onto its side and forced Arcadia to sit down with a gentle but unrelenting pressure. â€Å"Sit down,† she said, â€Å"and rest your little feet. It will be no ship yet for an hour and the benches are crowded with sleeping loafers. You are from Trantor?† Arcadia drew a deep breath and gave in. Huskily, she said, â€Å"I was born there.† And Mamma clapped her hands gleefully, â€Å"One month we've been here and till now we met nobody from home. This is very nice. Your parents-† she looked about vaguely. â€Å"I'm not with my parents,† Arcadia said, carefully. â€Å"All alone? A little girl like you?† Mamma was at once a blend of indignation and sympathy, â€Å"How does that come to be?† â€Å"Mamma,† Pappa plucked at her sleeve, â€Å"let me tell you. There's something wrong. I think she's frightened.† His voice, though obviously intended for a whisper was quite plainly audible to Arcadia. â€Å"She was running – I was watching her – and not looking where she was going. Before I could step out of the way, she bumped into me. And you know what? I think she's in trouble.† â€Å"So shut your mouth, Pappa. Into you, anybody could bump.† But she joined Arcadia on the valise, which creaked wearily under the added weight and put an arm about the girl's trembling shoulder. â€Å"You're running away from somebody, sweetheart? Don't be afraid to tell me. III help you.† Arcadia looked across at the kind gray eyes of the woman and felt her lips quivering. One part of her brain was telling her that here were people from Trantor, with whom she could go, who could help her remain on that planet until she could decide what next to do, where next to go. And another part of her brain, much the louder, was telling her in jumbled incoherence that she did not remember her mother, that she was weary to death of fighting the universe, that she wanted only to curl into a little hall with strong, gentle arms about her, that if her mother had lived, she might†¦ she might- And for the first time that night, she was crying; crying like a little baby, and glad of it; clutching tightly at the old-fashioned dress and dampening a corner of it thoroughly, while soft arms held her closely and a gentle hand stroked her curls. Pappa stood helplessly looking at the pair, fumbling futilely for a handkerchief which, when produced, was snatched from his hand. Mamma glared an admonition of quietness at him. The crowds surged about the little group with the true indifference of disconnected crowds everywhere. They were effectively alone. Finally, the weeping trickled to a halt, and Arcadia smiled weakly as she dabbed at red eyes with the borrowed handkerchief. â€Å"Golly,† she whispered, â€Å"Shh. Shh. Don't talk,† said Mamma, fussily, â€Å"just sit and rest for a while. Catch your breath. Then tell us what's wrong, and you'll see, we'll fix it up, and everything will be all right.† Arcadia scrabbled what remained of her wits together. She could not tell them the truth. She could tell nobody the truth- And yet she was too worn to invent a useful lie. She said, whisperingly, â€Å"I'm better, now.† â€Å"Good,† said Mamma. â€Å"Now tell me why you're in trouble. You did nothing wrong? Of course, whatever you did, well help you; but tell us the truth.† â€Å"For a friend from Trantor, anything,† added Pappa, expansively, â€Å"eh, Mamma?† â€Å"Shut your mouth, Pappa,† was the response, without rancor. Arcadia was groping in her purse. That, at least, was still hers, despite the rapid clothes-changing forced upon her in Lady Callia's apartments. She found what she was looking for and handed it to Mamma. â€Å"These are my papers,† she said, diffidently. It was shiny, synthetic parchment which had been issued her by the Foundation's ambassador on the day of her arrival and which had been countersigned by the appropriate Kalganian official. It was large, florid, and impressive. Mamma looked at it helplessly, and passed it to Pappa who absorbed its contents with an impressive pursing of the lips. He said, â€Å"You're from the Foundation?† â€Å"Yes. But I was born in Trantor. See it says that-â€Å" â€Å"Ah-hah. It looks all right to me. You're named Arcadia, eh? That's a good Trantorian name. But where's your uncle? It says here you came in the company of Homir Munn, uncle.† â€Å"He's been arrested,† said Arcadia, drearily. â€Å"Arrested!† – from the two of them at once. â€Å"What for?† asked Mamma. â€Å"He did something?† She shook her head. â€Å"I don't know. We were just on a visit. Uncle Homir had business with Lord Stettin but-† She needed no effort to act a shudder. It was there. Pappa was impressed. â€Å"With Lord Stettin. Mm-m-m, your uncle must be a big man.† â€Å"I don't know what it was all about, but Lord Stettin wanted me to stay-† She was recalling the last words of Lady Callia, which had been acted out for her benefit. Since Callia, as she now knew, was an expert, the story could do for a second time. She paused, and Mamma said interestedly, â€Å"And why you?† â€Å"I'm not sure. He†¦ he wanted to have dinner with me all alone, but I said no, because I wanted Uncle Homir along. He looked at me funny and kept holding my shoulder.† Pappa's mouth was a little open, but Mamma was suddenly red and angry. â€Å"How old are you, Arcadia?† â€Å"Fourteen and a half, almost.† Mamma drew a sharp breath and said, â€Å"That such people should be let live. The dogs in the streets are better. You're running from him, dear, is not?† Arcadia nodded. Mamma said, â€Å"Pappa, go right to Information and find out exactly when the ship to Trantor comes to berth. Hurry!† But Pappa took one step and stopped. Loud metallic words were booming overhead, and five thousand pairs of eyes looked startledly upwards. â€Å"Men and women,† it said, with sharp force. â€Å"The airport is being searched for a dangerous fugitive, and it is now surrounded. No one can enter and no one can leave. The search will, however, be conducted with great speed and no ships will reach or leave berth during the interval, so you will not miss your ship. I repeat, no one will miss his ship. The grid will descend. None of you will move outside your square until the grid is removed, as otherwise we will be forced to use our neuronic whips.† During the minute or less in which the voice dominated the vast dome of the spaceport's waiting room, Arcadia could not have moved if all the evil in the Galaxy had concentrated itself into a ball and hurled itself at her. They could mean only her. It was not even necessary to formulate that idea as a specific thought. But why- Callia had engineered her escape. And Callia was of the Second Foundation. Why, then, the search now? Had Callia failed? Could Callia fail? Or was this part of the plan, the intricacies of which escaped her? For a vertiginous moment, she wanted to jump up and shout that she gave up, that she would go with them, that†¦ that- But Mamma's hand was on her wrist. â€Å"Quick! Quick! Well go to the lady's room before they start.† Arcadia did not understand. She merely followed blindly. They oozed through the crowd, frozen as it was into clumps, with the voice still booming through its last words. The grid was descending now, and Pappa, openmouthed, watched it come down. He had heard of it and read of it, but had never actually been the object of it. It glimmered in the air, simply a series of cross-hatched and tight radiation-beams that set the air aglow in a harmless network of flashing light. It always was so arranged as to descend slowly from above in order that it might represent a falling net with all the terrific psychological implications of entrapment. It was at waist-level now, ten feet between glowing lines in each direction. In his own hundred square feet, Pappa found himself alone, yet the adjoining squares were crowded. He felt himself conspicuously isolated but knew that to move into the greater anonymity of a group would have meant crossing one of those glowing lines, stirring an alarm, and bringing down the neuronic whip. He waited. He could make out over the heads of the eerily quiet and waiting mob, the far-off stir that was the line of policemen covering the vast floor area, lighted square by lighted square. It was a long time before a uniform stepped into his square and carefully noted its co-ordinates into an official notebook. â€Å"Papers!† Pappa handed them over, and they were flipped through in expert fashion. â€Å"You're Preem Palver, native of Trantor, on Kalgan for a month, returning to Trantor. Answer, yes or no.† â€Å"Yes, yes.† â€Å"What's your business on Kalgan?† â€Å"I'm trading representative of our farm co-operative. I've been negotiating terms with the Department of Agriculture on Kalgan. â€Å"Um-m-m. Your wife is with you? Where is she? She is mentioned in your papers.† â€Å"Please. My wife is in the-† He pointed. â€Å"Hanto,† roared the policeman. Another uniform joined him. The first one said, dryly, â€Å"Another dame in the can, by the Galaxy. The place must be busting with them. Write down her name.† He indicated the entry in the papers which gave it. â€Å"Anyone else with you?† â€Å"My niece.† â€Å"She's not mentioned in the papers.† â€Å"She came separately.† â€Å"Where is she? Never mind, I know. Write down the niece's name, too, Hanto. What's her name? Write down Arcadia Palver. You stay right here, Palver. We'll take care of the women before we leave.† Pappa waited interminably. And then, long, long after, Mamma was marching toward him, Arcadia's hand firmly in hers, the two policemen trailing behind her. They entered Pappa's square, and one said, â€Å"Is this noisy old woman your wife?† â€Å"Yes, sir,† said Pappa, placatingly. â€Å"Then you'd better tell her she's liable to get into trouble if she talks the way she does to the First Citizen's police.† He straightened his shoulders angrily. â€Å"Is this your niece?† â€Å"Yes, sir.† â€Å"I want her papers.† Looking straight at her husband, Mamma slightly, but no less firmly, shook her head. A short pause, and Pappa said with a weak smile, â€Å"I don't think I can do that.† â€Å"What do you mean you can't do that?† The policeman thrust out a hard palm. â€Å"Hand it over.† â€Å"Diplomatic immunity,† said Pappa, softly. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"I said I was trading representative of my farm co-operative. I'm accredited to the Kalganian government as an official foreign representative and my papers prove it. I showed them to you and now I don't want to be bothered any more.† For a moment, the policeman was taken aback. â€Å"I got to see your papers. It's orders.† â€Å"You go away,† broke in Mamma, suddenly. â€Å"When we want you, we'll send for you, you†¦ you bum.† The policeman's lips tightened. â€Å"Keep your eye on them, Hanto. I'll get the lieutenant.† â€Å"Break a leg!† called Mamma after him. Someone laughed, and then choked it off suddenly. The search was approaching its end. The crowd was growing dangerously restless. Forty-five minutes had elapsed since the grid had started falling and that is too long for best effects. Lieutenant Dirige threaded his way hastily, therefore, toward the dense center of the mob. â€Å"Is this the girl?† he asked wearily. He looked at her and she obviously fitted the description. All this for a child. He said, â€Å"Her papers, if you please?† Pappa began, â€Å"I have already explained-â€Å" â€Å"I know what you have explained, and I'm sorry,† said the lieutenant, â€Å"but I have my orders, and I can't help them. If you care to make a protest later, you may. Meanwhile, if necessary, I must use force.† There was a pause, and the lieutenant waited patiently. Then Pappa said, huskily, â€Å"Give me your papers, Arcadia.† Arcadia shook her head in panic, but Pappa nodded his head. â€Å"Don't be afraid. Give them to me.† Helplessly she reached out and let the documents change hands. Pappa fumbled them open and looked carefully through them, then handed them over. The lieutenant in his turn looked through them carefully. For a long moment, he raised his eyes to rest them on Arcadia, and then he closed the booklet with a sharp snap. â€Å"All in order,† he said. â€Å"All right, men.† He left, and in two minutes, scarcely more, the grid was gone, and the voice above signified a back-to-normal. The noise of the crowd, suddenly released, rose high. Arcadia said: â€Å"How†¦ how-â€Å" Pappa said, â€Å"Sh-h. Don't say a word. Let's better go to the ship. It should be in the berth soon.† They were on the ship. They had a private stateroom and a table to themselves in the dining room. Two light-years already separated them from Kalgan, and Arcadia finally dared to broach the subject again. She said, â€Å"But they were after me, Mr. Palver, and they must have had my description and all the details. Why did he let me go?† And Pappa smiled broadly over his roast beef. â€Å"Well, Arcadia, child, it was easy. When you've been dealing with agents and buyers and competing co-operatives, you learn some of the tricks. I've had twenty years or more to learn them in. You see, child, when the lieutenant opened your papers, he found a five hundred credit bill inside, folded up small. Simple, no?† â€Å"I'll pay you back- Honest, I've got lots of money.† â€Å"Well,† Pappa's broad face broke into an embarrassed smile, as he waved it away. â€Å"For a country-woman-â€Å" Arcadia desisted. â€Å"But what if he'd taken the money and turned me in anyway. And accused me of bribery.† â€Å"And give up five hundred credits? I know these people better than you do, girl.† But Arcadia knew that he did not know people better. Not these people. In her bed that night, she considered carefully, and knew that no bribe would have stopped a police lieutenant in the matter of catching her unless that had been planned. They didn't want to catch her, yet had made every motion of doing so, nevertheless. Why? To make sure she left? And for Trantor? Were the obtuse and soft-hearted couple she was with now only a pair of tools in the hands of the Second Foundation, as helpless as she herself? They must be! Or were they? It was all so useless. How could she fight them. Whatever she did, it might only be what those terrible omnipotents wanted her to do. Yet she had to outwit them. Had to. Had to! Had to!!

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Strategic Benefits of Effective Diversity Management

Abstract Diversity management acknowledges the reality that people are different with respect to factors such as gender, marital status, age, disability, social status, sexual orientation, personality, ethnicity, religion, and culture. If a company values diversity in its workforce, it can manage its employees in a way that creates harmony in all work practices and higher standards of collaboration and teamwork. Effective management of workplace diversity results in an innovative culture where creativity has no boundaries and ideas continue to flourish. Thus, it is of paramount importance for companies to integrate diversity in their daily operations. Introduction Diversity entails understanding, acknowledging, accepting, celebrating, and valuing differences among people based on their class, ethnicity, age, physical and mental ability, gender, race, language, religion, and sexual orientation (Hubbard 2004, p.27). In the contemporary world, effective management of diversity is essential because the work-environment is characterised by a wide range of employees from different cultural, social, and religious backgrounds. Moreover, the success of any organisation is highly dependent on how well the employees integrate and collaborative with each other at the workplace. In order to ensure teamwork and collaboration among employees, it is imperative to have effective management of diversity in the workforce (Combe 2013, p.273-277). In most cases, diversity management involves removing barriers and allowing job applicants and employees to have equal access to employment opportunities and promotion; hiring a workforce that reflects the communities wi thin which the organisation operates; empowering all workers to reach their full potential, and encouraging personal growth, as well as professional development among all employees (Paludi 2012, p.123). This paper aims at exploring the strategic benefits of effective diversity management, how diversity is handled at UKRD Group, and it provides some recommendations on how to enhance diversity at UKRD. Literature ReviewBenefits of effective diversity managementDiversity confers various benefits to companies, and as a result, many scholars suggest that it should be a feature of every aspect of an organisation including employee development, succession planning, reviews, performance management, and rewards. To start with, employees from diverse social and cultural backgrounds bring unique skills, perceptions, and experiences to the table while working in teams. Pooling the diverse skills and knowledge from different cultural and social backgrounds increases employees’ productivity, and responsiveness to varying conditions (Buhler 2010, p.91). Furthermore, in a diverse workforce, each employee possesses distinct strengths and weaknesses, drawn from their diverse backgrounds and their individuality. If a company ensures effective diversity management is in place, it is possible to leverage the diverse strengths among employees, and compliment the weakness of each employee to mak e the productivity of the workforce more than the sum of its parts (Griffin 2012, p.241). By bridging together employees from various backgrounds, businesses can market their products effectively to clients from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. This is because by ensuring the workforce reflects the region within which the business operates, it is usually easy to know the expectations, demands, tastes, and preferences of their consumers. As a result, the company will be able to produce goods/services, which conform to their client’s expectations and demands (Thiederman 2008, p.3). Moreover, effective diversity management strengthens the company’s relationship with a given category of customers by making communication efficient. This is achieved by pairing customers with customer-service representatives from their social or cultural background, making them feel comfortable and satisfied. For example, a company operating in the southwest of the U.S. can employ bi-lingual customer representatives in order to serve Spanish-speaking clients in their native language (Guffey & Loewy 2010, p.99). Companies that fail to foster diversity in their workforce experience higher turnover rates than those that treasure diversity in the workplace. This is because they portray a hostile work environment, and consequently, make most of their employees to quit. Inability to retain most of the qualified personnel leads to high turnover-related costs, which a company can avoid by embracing diversity. Losing an employee is highly detrimental to the company’s success because it results to lowered productivity; overworked remaining staff; loss of knowledge and skills; and loss of company’s time while conducting interviews (Griffin 2012). In addition, when employees are working in groups, diversity enables them to generate more and better ideas. Since the group members come from a host of varying cultures, they often propose creative and unique solutions and recommendations, unlike when they come from same backgrounds (Paludi 2012, p.93). In other words, group diversity eliminates groupthink, which is often witnessed in companies that do not foster diversity in their workforce. Groupthink makes participants in a team to think that their ideas and actions are valid, and those objecting them are either sabotaging their efforts or are uninformed. However, multicultural teams are not affected by such problems since the participants have different perspectives (Aswathappa 2013, p.769). By having a positive approach toward diversity at workplace, a company signals an ethical stand. Consequently, it can build and maintain a positive corporate image. A positive corporate image enables a company to have stronger relationships with existing clients, as well as broaden the consumer base by attracting more customers. A strong consumer base is a direct incentive to a noteworthy competitive edge, and it enables companies to face various challenges in the market such as the recession (Mor-Barak 2011). Diversity is also a key aspect in the creation of effective global relationships. Employing international talent helps in enhancing the company’s reputation through outwardly encouraging cultural diversification to a broader consumer-base. If a company hires employees from different countries, it stands a greater chance of expanding and seizing global opportunities by establishing a network of languages and cultures (Guffey & Loewy 2010). Additionally, by creating an environment of inclusion and by making commitment to valuing diversity, managers can boost employee morale and motivation. This is because acknowledging and accepting a person regardless of their social or cultural background makes them feel honoured, and as if they a part of the family ‘company.’ As a result, they will devote all their efforts toward realization of the organisation’s goals (Abiodun 2010, p.82-87).Managing diversity at UKRD GroupUKRD Group is a multi-media company, based in the U.K. The company owns and operates a portfolio of websites, a software-licensing firm, and 16 local commercial radio stations. The company has been ranked number one for three years in a row on the U.K’s top 100 best employers (Toten 2013). Diversity management is central to the company’s human resource strategic goals, which include the development of an inclusive and integrated workforce. UKRD Group acknowledges the benefits of a diverse workforce, and it invests much in ensuring that the work-environment is free from discrimination. Moreover, the company endeavours to promote the principles of diversity in all its operations with employees, job applicants, suppliers, clients, recruitment agencies, contractors, and the public (UKRD Group Ltd, n.d.). According to the company’s CEO, William Rogers, one of the key goals of the company is to build a supportive culture, based on various fundamental standards of behaviour including honesty, fairness, openness, professionalism, and fun. For instance, employees have the liberty to express their disagreement with anything the group purposes to accomplish. However, they are expected to observe fairness and professionalism when presenting their views. Having such a splendid value-based culture portrays a good image of how the company is investing in diversity management. Furthermore, the company does not have a structured human resource department. All the HR functions are outsourced. It has adopted such as strategy in order to encourage the management to have a greater responsibility for their employees. By having a structured HR department, the company’s management believes that the relationship between managers and employees would weaken, since matters such as discipline m ay be shifted from one department to another, and as a result, they may not be handled effectively. This is a viable strategy toward strengthening of the manager-employee relationship, which is key to the effective management of diversity (Toten 2013). All employees as well as anyone who acts on behalf of the company is required to adhere to the company’s set principles of equality and diversity. Any sort of unlawful discrimination in the workplace is not condoned, and the company has put in place necessary measures to prevent its occurrence. Specifically, UKRD Group purposes to ensure that no job applicant or employee is subjected to unlawful discrimination based on gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, age, part-time status, or religion. This commitment is taken into account at all aspects of employment such as training, recruitment, promotion and career-development opportunities, grievance handling and the application of disciplinary procedures, and terms/conditions of employment. Because of the evolving nature of the job market and the legislation changes, the company often reviews its policies regarding diversity, and implements relevant changes (UKRD Group Ltd, n.d.). Recommendations In order for the UKRD Group to be at the forefront in ensuring diversity prevails in all its operations, it is necessary for its management to take into consideration the following suggestions. To start with, it should ensure it has a wide recruiting base. This can be achieved by adopting tools such as online job boards, where anyone with an access to the internet can view the job opportunities being advertised by the company. The company should also have a standard evaluation form. By having a standard evaluation form, instances of discrimination will be eliminated, and it allows the hiring team to use the same criteria for all candidates (Thiederman 2008). Moreover, managers of UKRD should explain the benefits of diversity to the employees, and familiarize the new hires with the company’s culture. For instance, they can clarify the roles the new hires are expected to execute, and explain to them the values treasured in the company (Hubbard 2004, p.85). Conclusion The above discussion has explored the strategic benefits of diversity management, and examined how diversity is handled at UKRD Company Ltd. Since the market is becoming increasingly global, it is necessary for businesses to understand, acknowledge, and embrace diversity in their day-to-day operations, and in their workforce. Effective management of diversity is the key to leveraging the benefits, and reducing the drawbacks associated with diversity in the workplace. Companies reap huge benefits through effective management of diversity. For instance, pooling the diverse skills and experiences from different cultural and social backgrounds increases employees’ productivity and responsiveness to varying conditions. In addition, when employees are working in groups, diversity enables them to generate more and better ideas unlike when they come from the same social or cultural background. Based on this discussion, it is worthwhile arguing that companies should ensure diversity is well managed in order to thrive successfully. Bibliography â€Å"Diversity & Equal Opportunities Statement.† UKRD Group Ltd -. (n.d.). Available from . [14 August 2014]. Abiodun, R. A. (2010). Leadership behavior impact on employee’s loyalty, engagement and organizational performance:. [S.l.], Authorhouse. Aswathappa, K. (2013). Human resource management: text and cases. New Delhi, McGraw Hill Education. Buhler, P. (2010). Human Resources Management All the Information You Need to Manage Your Staff and Meet Your Business Objectives. Cincinnati, F+W Media. Combe, C. (2013). Introduction to management. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Griffin, R. W. (2012). Fundamentals of management. Mason, OH, South-Western Cengage Learning. Guffey, M. E., & Loewy, D. (2010). Business communication: process and product. Mason, OH, South-Western/Cengage Learning. Hubbard, E. E. (2004). The manager’s pocket guide to diversity management. Amherst, MA, HRD Press. Mor-Barak, M. E. (2011). Managing diversity: toward a globally inclusive workplace. Los Angeles, SAGE. Paludi, M. A. (2012). Managing diversity in today’s workplace: strategies for employees and employers. Santa Barbara, Calif, ABC-CLIO. Thiederman, S. B. (2008). Making diversity work: 7 steps for defeating bias in the workplace. New York, Kaplan Pub. Toten, Mike. â€Å"Employee engagement case study: UK radio group.† Workplace Info -. Available from . [16 May 2013].

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Outline the development of Britain's relationship with the Essay

Outline the development of Britain's relationship with the Commonwealth and discuss whether this organisation still has any relevance today - Essay Example Except Mozambique and Rwanda, all of the Commonwealth member countries were once part of the British Empire. The Commonwealth member states operate within a framework of common values and goals like the promotion of democracy, human rights, better governance, individual liberty, free trade, etc as outlined in the Singapore Declaration. Even though the member countries have diverse social, political, economical, and cultural backgrounds, all members enjoy equal status in Commonwealth. Even Britain enjoys the same status only like the other member states even though, as a courtesy, the member states give the opportunity to inaugurate commonwealth events to the British monarch. It should be remembered that the recently concluded Delhi commonwealth games 2010 was inaugurated by Indian president and the British monarch, Charles jointly. Commonwealth activities were carried out by the commonwealth secretariat headed by a secretary general. Even though Britain and its allies succeeded in winning the second world war, the after effects of that war was so profound so that the British empire started to show signs of exhaustion. Anti-Colonial movements and their agitations against Britain attained momentum after the Second World War. India, the largest colony of Britain succeeded in getting independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Apart from the Asian region, Britain forced to give independence to the African countries also in the 1960’s. The granting of independence to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) in the 1980’s marked almost the end of the decolonization process started after the Second World War. The British national identity started to exhaust after the decolonization. Earlier, British people have shown immense pride of ruling the world, in their approaches, attitudes and dealings. After decolonization, they have realized that Britain has not much role in the global

Monday, August 12, 2019

Macroeconomic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Macroeconomic - Essay Example ces and damaged confidence of the investors, while the Federal Reserve has tried to help US recover its GDP and consumption rate by offering money at interest rates which are as low as zero percent (CBO, 2013 & FRB, 2013). Another huge problem that the US is currently trying to counter is the budget deficit and the trade deficit which continues to threaten US as a nightmare. There are various steps that can assist US in solving their problems, one of the steps US can take is that it can implement an expansionary monetary policy. Expansionary monetary policy is one in which the government injects fund into the economy (Arnold, 2011, p.393). When funds will be injected into the economy of US, investors will start getting loans on easy terms and they will be able to invest more. Due to their increase in investments, employment opportunities will be created and due to increase in employment, consumption will increase. Increase in consumption will further elevate the confidence of the investors and they will invest more. Newsroom - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (n.d.). Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved February 17, 2013, from

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Albert Einstein Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Albert Einstein - Essay Example This man is considered as the father of Science for the extensive research done by him in this field. An insight into his life would enlighten any human mind. Albert Einstein was born on the 14th of March 1879 to Hermann Einstein (Father), an Engineer and salesman and Pauline Einstein (mother) who was also well educated (Peter D 1-3). He was born at Ulm in Wurttemberg, Germany and after six weeks the family moved to Munich. He began his schooling at Catholic elementary school from the age of five and later at the age of eight he went to Luitpold Gymnasium for his primary and secondary schooling education for seven years and Einstein was a good student As Einstein grew up he developed interest for science and began brooding over the theories behind every mechanism. He was inquisitive to learn and would do anything to understand a theory. During his course of learning, his family faced financial crisis due to a loss in the business but Einstein continued his studies at Luitpold Gymnasi um for some time. Later he wrote his first scientific work "The Investigation of the State of Aether in Magnetic Fields"(â€Å"Einstein symposium 2005†). He finished his secondary schooling in Switzerland. ... Later Einstein struggle finding a job for himself and has finally done that as an Assistant examiner at the Federal office for intellectual property. His job at his work place influenced him to form a group with his friends and colleagues at Bern, who when met, discussed about science. He presented many papers of his work and â€Å"The Principle of Relativity†, â€Å"Sidelights of Relativity†, â€Å"Space and time in pre-relativity physics†, â€Å"Relativity Field† and â€Å"Quanta† are a few to name and on the 30th of April 1905 he received his doctor’s degree. One of his famous works was the â€Å"Theory of Relativity† in which he proved that energy contained in a particle of matter is equal to the mass of that matter multiplied by the speed of the light. This actually proved that energy is actually concentrated in a particle. This theory put forward by Einstein has earned him worldwide acclaim. â€Å"Who could have guessed that an article by an unknown patent clerk, appearing in the German scientific journal, Annalen der physik, volume 17, in the year 1905, would turn the of science topsy-turvy?†(William 26) .This was simply put into an equation E = mc2 and this is also called mass-energy equation. After these events, he had his recognition and held several positions like lecturer, professor and director at several Universities like University of Bern, Humboldt University of Bern etc. Einstein worked hard in trying to find the relations between â€Å"Time and Space† and â€Å"Mass and Energy†. His efforts finally paid and he was awarded the â€Å"Nobel Prize in physics† in 1921("Albert Einstein - Biography") for his photo-electric effect.