descartes view on god essays

descartes view on god essays The intention of this paper will be to examine Descartes argument for the existence of God. First, I will review Descartes proof for the existence of God. Then, I will discuss some consequences that appear as a result of Gods existence. Finally, I will point to some complications and problems that exist within the proof. Descartes proof of the existence of God occurs in the Third Meditation. He builds his entire argument upon his proof in the previous meditation that in order for him to think, he must exist. From this single observation, Descartes notices that the idea of his existence is very clear and distinct in his mind; based upon this clarity and the fact that he has just determined his own existence, he deduces a rule-that the things that he sees as very clear and very distinct are all true. Descartes starts his proof by dividing thought into four categories-ideas (concepts), volitions (choices), emotions (desires), and judgments (beliefs). He then breaks down these categories to discover which type/s of thoughts can yield error. The first thing to realize is that there is no error in an idea. Error can occur only in the judgment of whether the idea is true or false. For example, I may have an idea of what it would be like to burn my finger, but that idea has no rightness or wrongness until I make a judgment as to whether I believe or disbelieve the idea. In other words, having an idea is one thing, but believing it is something different. Concerning emotions and volitions, these forms of thought do not give way to any error either since we can desire or choose anything and not find any error in the fact that I desire it or choose it. Next, Descartes discusses where ideas come from, namely, inside ourselves (innate or invented) and outside ourselves (adventitious). Innate, or inborn, ideas include my understanding of what a thing is, what truth is, and what thought is (38). ...

Easy Scholarships to Win How to Find and Apply

Easy Scholarships to Win How to Find and Apply SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Applying for scholarships can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if you’re looking at really competitive awards. Wouldn’t it be nice to apply for scholarships thatyou knew you had a really good shot at winning? If you want to get your hands on some easy scholarship money, you’re in the right place. First, I’ll talk a little bit about what it means to be an easy-to-win scholarship. Then, I’ll get to the good stuff by directing you to the places you should look for these awards - you might be surprised at where you can find them - and how to put together a successful application. What Makes a Scholarship Easy to Win? With many of the popular national scholarships (like the Gates Millennium orCoca-Colaawards), you’re competing with several thousands of applicants forvery large sums of money.Even if you’re a great student, and you meet all the qualifications, your chances of winning the scholarship will be pretty slim just due to the sheer number of students applying. When we talk about easy scholarships to win, we’re talking about scholarships where you have a much better chance of walking away with some money (even if the amount is relativelysmall). There are very few scholarships where an award is guaranteed as long as you meetall award criteria (although they do exist - I’ll get to them later).Ultimately, you can’t count 100% on winning mostscholarships, but you can look for scholarships where your chances of winning are at least higher than average. A Small Note: Easy to Win Vs.Easy to Apply There are a ton of scholarships out there with very short, simple, easy applications.Although it’s smart to apply to scholarships like these - it’s not like you’re wasting much time or energy on the application -an easy application is not the same as an easy win. These super simple apps likely attract a ton of applicants. It’s like playing the lottery (except for free) - it doesn’t hurt, but it’s not like you can count on the winnings. Finally, if you come across a scholarship application that's too good to be true, it probably is.If a scholarship organization purports to guarantee winnings to applicants - especially if the application asks you to submit sensitive information (like your SSN) or even payment - it's probably a scam. Be careful about giving out sensitive information - make sure that your applications are going to legitimate organizations As you may have realized by now, there is no short list of easy scholarships to win for all students. In order to find such scholarships, you'll have to do a bit of legwork. These next three steps will walk you through everything you need to know about finding (and winning) easy awards. Step #1: Apply for Niche Awards One of the best ways to find easy scholarships to win is to look for awards with small, niche applicant pools. The smaller the group of potential applicants, the less competition you have to deal with. Scholarships that are primarily looking for students with impressive grades and leadership potential are not what we’re talking about here (although that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply to those scholarships). You might have to spend some time thinking about what your â€Å"niche† might be, but trust me - this time will be well spent. You can start by thinking about unique interests/skills, backgrounds, and club/group affiliations you have. You’ll find many niche scholarships targeted towards students who meet these more specific criteria. For example, the College Board’s scholarship search begins with a survey based on many of the criteria listed below - if you identify with any of the items listed below, you may find better and more specific niche scholarship matches. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it covers the most important bases. You can either use these search terms in scholarship-specific search tools or in Google to find award matches. Here’s your preliminary brainstorming list for niche awards: Special Interests or Skills Arts: music, dance, other visual arts Community service Debate Civil rights or social justice activities Writing/Journalism Special Background Ethnic or racial background Religious background LGBTQ Physical or learning disability Health conditions Personal/family veteran status Specific Club or Group Affiliation There are way too many to list, but a few examples on the College Board scholarship search include: Society of Women Engineers Native Daughters of the Golden West NAACP Eagle Scouts Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Step #2: Apply for Local Scholarships Local scholarships are niche by definition - they’re only really meant for students living in your particular area. They’re often smaller and less competitive than the big national awards, which means your chances ofwalking away with winnings are much better. Narrowing your geographic focus also means narrowing your competition You can search for local awards in a few different ways: Online scholarship search tools (coming soon) - This is the easiest way to get instant access to massive amounts of data. Enter geographic info into scholarship-specific search tools, andGoogleâ€Å"[your hometown/county/state] scholarship† to find the most popular results. Your guidance or college counselor - They tend to be plugged into local scholarship programs, and they may even serve as a reference or letter-writer for recommendations. Local community or cultural centers - These are hubs of local activity that may have info on local scholarship programs. They may even offer scholarships themselves! Want more detailed information? We have a whole guide to finding and winning local awards. Step #3: Check Out "Guaranteed" Scholarships Guaranteed scholarships are awards that you’ll win no matter what, as long as you meet all of the eligibility requirements. Many of these requirements includestrict academic criteria (e.g. minimum standardized test scores, GPA). There are quite a few colleges and universities that give out these guaranteed merit awards if you’re 1) accepted to the school, and 2) have those minimum test scores or GPA.Often, your college app is considered your scholarship app - you’ll be automatically considered for awardswhen you apply to the school.Sometimes, you’ll have to check out schools’ merit awards on your own and submit separate applications. To get more information, you’ll needto have a specific school in mind. Here are the steps you should take to look up possible merit awards at a particular school: Google â€Å"[school name] merit scholarships† - most schools have a separate page designated just for these sorts of scholarship awards. Make sure the scholarships you find are designated for â€Å"entering freshman† - some awards may be meant only for upperclassmen or grad students. Check to see if the school makes a designation between in-state and out-of-state applicants (many public colleges and universities do). Some state schools will give bigger scholarships to non-resident applicants if out-of-state tuition is higher.There may also be differences in award requirements. Finally, check to see if there is a separate application (separate from your college app, that is) or uniquedeadline. Scholarship money is often limited, so you might help your chances of winning cash by applying earlier. To read more about schools that offer money based on academic performance, read our guide on guaranteed scholarships based on ACT/SAT scores. Closing the Deal: Put Together an Awesome Application Once you’ve found the most promising easy-to-win scholarships, you’ll want to follow through by submitting the best applications possible. Here are the most important steps to putting together a winning scholarship application: Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria.Miss just one and you’re likely wasting your time by submitting a full application.Some commonrequirements to look out for include class year, financial need, minimum GPA, and minimum SAT/ACT scores. Ask yourself if you’re a good fit.This is often the difference between a low and high likelihood of winning an award. Are you the target audience here, or do you just technically qualify for the scholarship? Emphasize your ideological ties to the scholarship program (and your ties to the community, if applicable). How do your values align with that of the scholarship program? How are you an active participant in that community, geographic or otherwise? You’re more likely to win if your values and goalsare congruent with thoseof the scholarship organization. Complete ALL PARTS of the application.Before you even start an app, make sure you’ll be able to provide all the documentation that the scholarship asks for. Plan on submitting the app in the exact way that’s asked of you (whether that’s via email, fax, snail mail, etc.). Make sure to meet the deadline.Submit a late application and you’re likely to be disqualified. On the off chance that your application isn't automatically tossed, late submission will definitely not make a good first impression. Don’t wait until the last day to actually send the paperwork in (just in case you run into technical or logistical issues). What's Next? Looking for other ways to make your scholarship search a bit easier? We've got you covered. Start off by checking out scholarships with super simple applications. Next, check out our other top scholarship guides: top awards for high freshmen/sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The History of Midwifery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The History of Midwifery - Essay Example This view has been part of the midwife profession since ancient times (Brucker, 2000) and is one of the most important differences between the roles of doctor and midwife. Another equally important difference is that midwives provide emotional support to mothers, as well as assistance during the birthing process. The word midwife has its roots in old English, and literally means "with woman" (Brucker, 2000), referring to a woman who works with women in labor. The very name of the profession implies that when the term was first used, the role of a midwife was to provide support, rather than intervention. Midwifery is one of the few medical professions that are traditionally dominated by women. It is also one of the oldest known medical professions. The practice of midwifery is clearly referred to in the Bible (Brucker, 2000) and in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, and it is known to have been part of early Greek and Roman society. Certain qualifications for the role of midwife began to evolve during this time - for example, midwives in Greece were required to have given birth themselves before they could begin working with other women. Several cultures still have this requirement for their midwives up until the present day. Midwives are even part of the legends of some ancient cultures. ... Other Athenian doctors became jealous of her success, and thinking she was a man, accused her of corrupting her patients. After revealing her identity as a woman, Agnodice was charged with practicing medicine. The charge was dismissed after many of her female patients protested; stating that without Agnodice's care, many of them might have died. According to the legend, this incident precipitated the overturning of the law against females practicing medicine, however afterwards they were only allowed to have female patients. The Roman physician Soranus of Ephesus practiced medicine during the first and second centuries AD. He wrote over 20 medical books, the most significant of these being Gynecology (Randall, 1997), a highly detailed text about human reproduction. Among other things, the characteristics and roles of midwives were outlined in this text, as well as descriptions of childbirth and instructions for the care of newborns. According to Soranus, a good midwife was "literate, with her wits about her, possessed of a good memoryunafraid in danger andfree from superstition" (Randall, 1997, p6). Midwives were involved in most aspects of pregnancy and birth, from examination of women to determine whether they were pregnant and care of women during pregnancy, to the actual birth itself and care of the mother and child afterwards. Throughout this period and later during the Middle Ages, the skills and knowledge of midwives was passed down through the generations using the apprentice system (Stock-Morton, 1996, p61), where new midwives were trained by being apprenticed to practicing ones. New midwives learned by watching experienced midwives work with women

Oral History Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Oral History - Term Paper Example After Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on august 2nd 1990, the United Nations Security Council responded by calling for Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait on August 3rd. After Iraq had failed to comply with the United Nation’s Security Council directives, the board responded on august 6 the same year through imposing a worldwide ban relating to trade with Iraq. Iraq failed to relent on its objective or hinder to the warnings imposed and on august 8, the same year, it formally annexed Kuwait. The invasion of Iraq and subsequent threat it posed Saudi Arabia, considering it as the world largest oil producer, prompted the United States (U.S) as well as western European allies to send troops to Saudi Arabia with an aim of deterring any possible attack. Other Arab nations among them Egypt, contributed by sending forces to the region. The military build up gained from the U.S, its western allies and other countries won a name operation desert shield (Gregory, 2010). After these cou ntries had ganged to defend other nations from the arrogant behaviours shown by Iraq, Iraq strengthened its military base in Kuwait through increasing the number of military to almost thirty thousand troops. The UN Security Council declared an offensive action against Iraq on 29th November if Iraq will not withdraw its forces from Kuwait by mid-January 1991. On 16nth January, 1991, the allied forces began a military offensive against Iraq with the U.S leading a massive air campaign that lasted throughout the war. Continued attacks remained the order of the day with sustained aerial bombardments regarded as Operation Desert Storm. Within the first few weeks, the aerial attacks and adequate ground cover became successful in destroying Iraq’s air defences and consequently launching attacks on communications networks, weapon plants and government offices among other essential structures of the Iraq’s government. By mid-February, the focus of the attacks

Haunted House Essay Example for Free

Haunted House Essay In the town of Blakeslee, Arkansas, there was a house that everyone knew was haunted. It was an old neglected house on a side street in the oldest part of town. Sometimes, the most wonderful smells issued from the house and filled the street with the heavenly odor of fresh baked bread. Whenever that happened, people would say that the old house must have been a bakery or, at the very least, the former home of a fabulous baker. Sometimes, the neighbors would hear the sound of music and laughter coming from the empty house as if there was a wonderful party in full swing. Whenever that happened, the neighbors would look at each other and say, â€Å"It sounds like a nice party, I wish I was invited. † Whatever ghosts haunted the old house, they were benign and friendly ghosts. But even the friendliest spirits are scary and no one ever actually went inside the house. With the possible exception of a young boy being dared by his playmates, no one ever even stepped foot on the front porch. One day a man moved into town from a distant city. He saw the empty house and asked the neighbors, â€Å"who owned it? He was told the owner was unknown and that the property could be bought for back taxes. No one told the stranger about the house’s curious history. The man went to City Hall and purchased the property. Soon after moving in, however, strange things began to happen– odd noises in the night, weird lights drifting from room to room, the smells of baking from a cold kitchen and, worst of all, the sound of a party when the new owners were trying to sleep. After a few days, the man’s wife declared that she could no longer live in so haunted a place and moved out taking the children with her. Before long, the man gave up as well. He was forced to find another place to live but he was angry at the neighbors for not warning him about the house’s reputation. He was angry at the town board for not telling him that the house was occupied by ghosts. In fact he was angry at everyone in town for treating him so badly. So he went to the mayor to complain and see if he could get his money back. The mayor refused saying he never misrepresented the house as anything it was not. â€Å"Just because a house is haunted,† he said, â€Å"doesn’t mean you can’t live there. The trick is making friends with the ghosts, learning to get along with them. † So the man went to the Pastor of the local church and told him his problem. The Pastor said, â€Å"You’ve been in town for a month and only now, when you’re having a problem, do you come and see me? Well, sit down and tell me what’s on your mind. † So the man sat and told the Pastor about the haunted house he’d bought. Now the Pastor in this village was considered a wise man, set in his ways, conservative in his manner and beliefs. He wasn’t open to new ideas but, reluctantly, he agreed to visit the house and see exactly what the man was talking about. The Pastor accompanied the man to the house. As they approached the block the house was on, the Pastor’s smelled a delicious smell. â€Å"What’s that wonderful smell? † he asked. â€Å"It’s the ghosts baking bread,† the man replied. When they got closer, the Pastor stopped to listen. He turned to the man and inquired, â€Å"I hear music. Is someone having a party? † â€Å"It’s the ghosts having a party,† replied the man. They went inside and looked around the empty house. The Pastor sat at a table while the man looked for something to serve his guest. He found an old bottle of whiskey and poured a glass for the Pastor and one for himself. They toasted each others health and drank. â€Å"So you moved from Little Rock to Blakeslee? † said the Pastor. â€Å"My parents live in Little Rock, I know the town well. † The man, it turned out, knew some of the Pastor’s relatives. They talked and joked about those things they had in common and felt a friendship growing. They were having such a pleasant time that before they knew it, three hours had passed. They were gone so long, the man’s wife began to get nervous. â€Å"He went to the Pastor’s house hours ago,† she said to herself. â€Å"Maybe the ghosts got him. † So she picked herself up and went to the Pastor’s house and introduced herself to the Pastor’s wife. Together they pooled their misgivings about ghosts and their worries about their husbands and went to the haunted house together. They peeked in the windows and saw the two men sitting at a table drinking , laughing and having a good time. The wives joined their husbands and found that they had much to talk about. The laughing and talking attracted the neighbors who stopped by and introduced themselves. Pretty soon the kitchen was filled with the smell of cooking. A neighbor brought his fiddle and another brought his guitar. And just like that, there was a party. The old house filled with real smells and real laughter. It was alive again and that, of course, was what it wanted all along. From that day to this, the old house came alive again and its ghosts were laid to rest never to be seen or heard of again. I thought to myself that was really scary.

The Human Genome Project Essay -- Science Genetics DNA Papers

The Human Genome Project The Human Genome Project (HGP) is a project coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). The HGP began in 1990 and was scheduled to be completed in 2005. The goals of the project are to identify all the genes in the human genome (estimated to be 80,000 - 100,000 total) and develop the complete human DNA sequence. After the sequencing is done, a database with all the sequence information can be made and data analysis tools can be developed to use the information. The HGP will then have to consider ethical, legal, and social issues. A new 5-year goal was approved in 1998 in which the HGP could be finished two years earlier than first planned in 1990. The new goal would provide a working draft of the human genome by 2001 and the complete human sequence by the year 2003. NIH and DOE are expecting to sequence 60-70% of the human genome. The other 30-40% will be sequenced by the Sanger Center, a project funded by the Wellcome Trust, and other international partners' (1). The task of sequencing the human genome is time consuming and very tedious. Since the start of the HGP, there has been a very large emphasis on developing new technology to speed progress and cut costs. The DOE has played a large part in the advancement of this new technology. Much of the community at first was curious as to why the DOE would be involved in such a project as the HGP. The DOE is interested in a better understanding how energy and energy-production technologies affect the health risk of people, with the most interest in the effects of radiation (2). The DOE and other private sectors have helped in the advancement of technology very rapidly; the result is lower cost and f... ...Genome Project: 1998-2003. Science 282, 682-689 (1998). 2. The Genome Project-Why the DOE?, http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/tko/02_why.html, accessed 10/07/99. 3. Marshall, E. A High-Stakes Gamble on Genome Sequencing. Science 284, 1906-1909 (1999). 4. Potential Benefits of Human Genome Project Research, http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/project/benefits.html , accessed 10/07/99. 5. Davis, S. The Human Genome Project: Examining The Arc's Concerns Regarding the Project's Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications, http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/resource/arc.html, accessed 10/13/99. 6. Rothstein, M. A. Human Genome news "Protecting Genetic Privacy: Why It Is So Hard To Do", http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/hgn/v10n1/14roth.html, accessed 10/07/99. 7. Gene Therapy - An Overview, http://www.accessexcellence.org/AB/BA/Gene_Therapy_Overview.html, accessed 10/07/99.

If I Knew Then Essay

Thinking back on the past month or so since I started my journey at Hodges University, I have come to find that my outlook on learning and the way I go about it has changed. Since my first day of class on January 17th, I feel as though I have grown not only as a student but as a person as well. Many challenges have come upon me but I have overcome them and am now more confident in my abilities as a student. This is not my first semester in a scholarly setting, it is however my first at Hodges. When I signed up for my classes I was afraid of starting my education again. I felt I did not have the time, and that I was going to fail miserably but I knew that I had to at least try. My whole mind set has changed since then. I have realized how badly I want to succeed and make a difference in not only my life but in my daughter’s life as well. I have become more confident in myself and in Hodges for the tools I need to obtain my degree. I do believe that since January I have become a better critical thinker as well as a better writer. A wonderful tool that Hodges has provided to me is this Strategic Thinking class. The required text for this class, Pauk’s How to Study in College, has opened my eyes to better study strategies that I wish I was taught in high school. In my opinion the greatest strategy in the book is finding your â€Å"hidden† time, with being a mother of a 2 year old and working 6 days a week I believed I had no time. After reading just those few paragraphs I was amazed at how much time I actually had. I now study while my daughter is in the bath, in between calls at work, and when I’m folding laundry. I have also adapted Pauk’s strategy of minimizing multitasking; this was a difficult strategy for me to get used to. After reading the section on how to accomplish minimizing multitasking I seen how important it is to your health and your course work. If I had the chance to go back in the past to January 17th, the advice I would give myself is to pace myself. It may seem that I do not have a whole lot of time but I have just enough to study and make the grades. I would also tell myself that when I am in doubt to always remember that I do have people here to help me and I’m not in this alone. As for the future, a few things I will do differently are not to procrastinate with major assignments, as well as to be more attention to detail on my work and in class lectures. I am starting to see the importance of not just listening but hearing and understanding what the professor is lecturing about. Procrastination is one of my major down falls; I have always been bad with it. You can say I’m one of those people who think they work better under pressure when in reality for a lack of better terms I am a little bit lazy. Lazy will not get me to where I want to be in 2 years. If only I knew then what I know now, I would have had the wonderful study strategies that I now implicate, I would have never known that I could stretch myself to these lengths and not completely crash and burn at the beginning. I have grown so much as a person and student in just these few weeks that I am truly excited to continue toward the better life for me and my daughter that is waiting for us the day I graduate.

Forward the Foundation Chapter 26

16 Raych, Manella, and little Bellis were waiting at the spaceport. The hypership was preparing for liftoff and the three had already checked their baggage. Raych said, â€Å"Dad, come along with us.† Seldon shook his head. â€Å"I cannot.† â€Å"If you change your mind, we will always have a place for you.† â€Å"I know it, Raych. We've been together for almost forty years-and they've been good years. Dors and I were lucky to find you.† â€Å"I'm the lucky one.† His eyes filled with tears. â€Å"Don't think I don't think of Mother every day.† â€Å"Yes.† Seldon looked away miserably. Wanda was playing with Bellis when the call rang out for everyone to board the hypership. They did, after a tearful last embrace of Wanda by her parents. Raych looked back to wave at Seldon and to try to plant a crooked smile on his face. Seldon waved and one hand moved out blindly to embrace Wanda's shoulders. She was the only one left. One by one through his long life, he had lost his friends and those he had loved. Demerzel had left, never to return; Emperor Cleon was gone; his beloved Dors was gone; his faithful friend Yugo Amaryl was gone; and now Raych, his only son, was gone as well. He was left only with Wanda. 11 Hari Seldon said, â€Å"It is beautiful outside-a marvelous evening. Considering that we live under a dome, you would think we would have beautiful weather like this every evening.† Wanda said indifferently, â€Å"We would grow tired of it, Grandpa, if it were beautiful all the time. A little change from night to night is good for us.† â€Å"For you, because you're young, Wanda. You have many, many evenings ahead of you. I don't. I want more good ones.† â€Å"Now, Grandpa, you're not old. Your leg is doing well and your mind m as sharp as ever. I know. â€Å" â€Å"Sure. Go ahead. Make me feel better.† He then said with an air of discomfort, â€Å"I want to walk. I want to get out of this tiny apartment and take a walk to the Library and enjoy this beautiful evening.† â€Å"What do you want at the Library?† â€Å"At the moment, nothing. I want the walk. But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yes. But?† â€Å"I promised Raych I wouldn't go walking around Trantor without a bodyguard.† â€Å"Raych isn't here.† â€Å"I know,† mumbled Seldon â€Å"but a promise is a promise.† â€Å"He didn't say who the bodyguard should be, did he? Let's go for a walk and I'll be your bodyguard.† â€Å"You?† Seldon grinned. â€Å"Yes, me. I hereby volunteer my services. Get yourself ready and we'll go for a walk.† Seldon was amused. He had half a mind to go without his cane, since his leg was scarcely painful of late, but, on the other hand, he had a new cane, one in which the head had been filled with lead. It was both heavier and stronger than his old cane and, if he was going to have none other than Wanda as a bodyguard, he thought he had better bring his new cane. The walk was delightful and Seldon was terribly glad he had given in to the temptation-until they reached a certain spot. Seldon lifted his cane in a mixture of anger and resignation and said, â€Å"Look at that!† Wanda lifted her eyes. The dome was glowing, as it always did in the evening, in order to lend an air of first twilight. It grew darker as night went on, of course. What Seldon was pointing at, however, was a strip of darkness along the dome. A section of lights had gone out. Seldon said, â€Å"When I first came to Trantor, anything like that was unthinkable. There were people tending the lights at all times. The city worked, but now it is falling apart in all these little ways and what bothers me most is that no one cares. Why aren't there petitions to the Imperial Palace? Why aren't there meetings of indignation? It is as though the people of Trantor expect the city to be falling apart and then they find themselves annoyed with me because I am pointing out that this is exactly what is happening.† Wanda said softly, â€Å"Grandpa, there are two men behind us.† They had walked into the shadows beneath the broken dome lights and Seldon asked, â€Å"Are they just walking?† â€Å"No.† Wanda did not look at them. She did not have to. â€Å"They're after you.† â€Å"Can you stop them-push them?† â€Å"I'm trying, but there are two and they are determined. It's-it's like pushing a wall.† â€Å"How far behind me are they?† â€Å"About three meters.† â€Å"Closing in?† â€Å"Yes, Grandpa.† â€Å"Tell me when they're a meter behind me.† He slid his hand down his cane till he was holding the thin end, leaving the leaded head swinging free. â€Å"Now, Grandpa!† hissed Wanda. And Seldon turned, swinging his cane. It came down hard upon the shoulder of one of the men behind him, who went down with a scream, writhing on the pavement. Seldon said, â€Å"Where's the other guy?† â€Å"He took off.† Seldon looked down on the man on the ground and put his foot on his chest. He said, â€Å"Go through his pockets, Wanda. Someone must have paid him and I'd like to find his credit file-perhaps I can identify where they came from.† He added thoughtfully, â€Å"I meant to hit him on the head.† â€Å"You'd have killed him, Grandpa.† Seldon nodded. â€Å"It's what I wanted to do. Rather shameful. I'm lucky I missed.† A harsh voice said, â€Å"What is all this?† A figure in uniform came running up, perspiring. â€Å"Give me that cane, you!† â€Å"Officer,† said Seldon mildly. â€Å"You can give me your story later. We've got to call an ambulance for this poor man.† â€Å"Poor man, † said Seldon angrily. â€Å"He was going to assault me. I acted in self-defense.† â€Å"I saw it happen,† said the security officer. â€Å"This guy never laid a finger on you. You turned on him and struck him without provocation. That's not self-defense. That's assault and battery.† â€Å"Officer, I'm telling you that-â€Å" â€Å"Don't tell me anything. You can tell it in court.† Wanda said in a sweet small voice, â€Å"Officer, if you will just listen to us-â€Å" The officer said, â€Å"You go along home, young lady.† Wanda drew herself up. â€Å"I most certainly won't, Officer. Where my grandfather goes, there go I.† Her eyes flashed and the security officer muttered, â€Å"Well, come along, then.† 18 Seldon was enraged. â€Å"I've never been in custody before in my entire life. A couple of months ago eight men assaulted me. I was able to fight them off with the help of my son, but while that was going on was there a security officer in sight? Did people stop to help me? No. This time, I'm better prepared and I knocked a man flat who had been about to assault me. Was there a security officer in sight? Absolutely. She put the collar on me. There were people watching, too, and they were amused at seeing an old man being taken in for assault and battery. What kind of world do we live on?† Civ Novker, Seldon's lawyer, sighed and said calmly, â€Å"A corrupt world, but don't worry. Nothing will happen to you. I'll get you out on bail and then, eventually, you'll come back for trial before a jury of your peers and the most you'll get-the very most-are some hard words from the bench. Your age and your reputation-â€Å" â€Å"Forget my reputation,† said Seldon, still angry. â€Å"I'm a psychohistorian and, at the present time, that is a dirty word. They'll be glad to see me in jail.† â€Å"No, they won't,† said Novker. â€Å"There may be some screwballs who have it in for you, but I'll see to it that none of them gets on the jury.† Wanda said, â€Å"Do we really have to subject my grandfather to all this? He's not a young man anymore. Can't we just appear before the magistrate and not bother with a jury trial?† The lawyer turned to her. â€Å"It can be done. If you're insane, maybe. Magistrates are impatient power-mad people who would just as soon put a person into jail for a year as listen to him. No one goes up before a magistrate.† â€Å"I think we should,† said Wanda. Seldon said, â€Å"Well now, Wanda, I think we ought to listen to Civ-† But as he said that, he felt a strong churning in his abdomen. It was Wanda's â€Å"push.† Seldon said, â€Å"Well-if you insist.† â€Å"She can't insist,† said the lawyer. â€Å"I won't allow it.† Wanda said, â€Å"My grandfather is your client. If he wants something done his way, you've got to do it.† â€Å"I can refuse to represent him.† â€Å"Well then, leave,† said Wanda sharply, â€Å"and we'll face the magistrate alone.† Novker thought and said, â€Å"Very well, then-if you're going to be so adamant. I've represented Hari for years and I suppose I won't abandon him now. But I warn you, the chances are he'll get a jail sentence and I'll have to work like the devil to get it lifted-if I can do it.at all.† â€Å"I'm not afraid,† said Wanda. Seldon bit his lip and the lawyer turned to him. â€Å"What about you? Are you willing to let your granddaughter call the shots?† Seldon thought a bit, then admitted, much to the old lawyer's surprise, â€Å"Yes. Yes, I am.† 19 The magistrate looked sourly at Seldon as he gave his story. The magistrate said, â€Å"What makes you think it was the intention of this man you struck to attack you? Did he strike you? Did he threaten you? Did he in any way place you under bodily fear?† â€Å"My granddaughter was aware of his approach and was quite certain that he was planning to attack me.† â€Å"Surely, sir, that cannot be enough. Is there anything else you can tell me before I pass judgment?† â€Å"Well now, wait a while,† said Seldon indignantly. â€Å"Don't pass judgment so quickly. I was assaulted a few weeks ago by eight men whom I held off with the help of my son. So, you see, I have reason to think that I might be assaulted again.† The magistrate shuffled his papers. â€Å"Assaulted by eight men. Did you report that?† â€Å"There were no security officers around. Not one.† â€Å"Aside from the point. Did you report it?† â€Å"No, sir.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"For one thing, I was afraid of getting into long drawn-out legal proceedings. Since we had driven off eight men and were safe, it seemed useless to ask for more trouble.† â€Å"How did you manage to ward off eight men just you and your son?† Seldon hesitated. â€Å"My son is now on Santanni and outside Trantorian control. Thus, I can tell you that he had Dahlite knives and was expert in their use. He killed one man and badly hurt two others. The rest ran, carrying off the dead and wounded.† â€Å"But did you not report the death of a man and the wounding of two others?† â€Å"No, sir. Same reason as before. And we fought in self-defense. However, if you can track down the three dead and wounded, you will have evidence that we were attacked.† The magistrate said, â€Å"Track down one dead and two wounded nameless faceless Trantorians? Are you aware that on Trantor over two thousand people are found dead every day-by knife wounds alone. Unless these things are reported to us at once, we are helpless. Your story of being assaulted once before will not hold water. What we must do is deal with the events of today, which were reported and which had a security officer as a witness. â€Å"So, let's consider the situation as of now. Why do you think the fellow was going to attack? Simply because you happened to be passing by? Because you seemed old and defenseless? Because you looked like you might be carrying a great deal of credits? What do you think?† â€Å"I think, Magistrate, it was because of who I am.† The magistrate looked at his papers. â€Å"You are Hari Seldon, a professor and a scholar. Why should that make you subject to assault, particularly?† â€Å"Because of my views.† â€Å"Your views. Well-† The magistrate shuffled some papers perfunctorily. Suddenly he stopped and looked up, peering at Seldon. â€Å"Wait-Hari Seldon.† A look of recognition spread across his face. â€Å"You're the psychohistory buff, aren't you?† â€Å"Yes, Magistrate.† â€Å"I'm sorry. I don't know anything about it except the name and the fact that you go around predicting the end of the Empire or something like that.† â€Å"Not quite, Magistrate. But my views have become unpopular because they are proving to be true. I believe it is for that reason that there are those who want to assault me or, even more likely, are being paid to assault me.† The magistrate stared at Seldon and then called over the arresting security officer. â€Å"Did you check up on the man who was hurt? Does he have a record?† The security officer cleared her throat. â€Å"Yes, sir. He's been arrested several times. Assault, mugging.† â€Å"Oh, he's a repeat offender, is he? And does the professor have a record?† â€Å"No, sir.† â€Å"So we have an old and innocent man fighting off a known mugger-and you arrest the old and innocent man. Is that it?† The security officer was silent. The magistrate said, â€Å"You may go, Professor.† â€Å"Thank you, sir. May I have my cane?† The magistrate snapped his fingers at the officer, who handed over the cane. â€Å"But one thing, Professor,† said the magistrate. â€Å"If you use that cane again, you had better be absolutely certain you can prove it was in self-defense. Otherwise-â€Å" â€Å"Yes, sir.† And Hari Seldon left the magistrate's chambers, leaning heavily on his cane but with his head held high. 20 Wanda was crying bitterly, her face wet with tears, her eyes red, her cheeks swollen. Hari Seldon hovered over her, patting her on the back, not knowing quite how to comfort her. â€Å"Grandpa, I'm a miserable failure. I thought I could push people and I could when they didn't mind being pushed too much, like Mom and Dad-and even then it took a long time. I even worked out a rating system of sorts, based on a ten-point scale-sort of a mental pushing power gauge. Only I assumed too much. I assumed that I was a ten, or at least a nine. But now I realize that, at most, I rate a seven.† Wanda's crying had stopped and she sniffed occasionally as Hari stroked her hand. â€Å"Usually-usually-I have no trouble. If I concentrate, I can hear people's thoughts and when I want, I push them. But those muggers! I could hear them all right, but there was nothing I could do to push them away.† â€Å"I thought you did very well, Wanda.† â€Å"I didn't. I had a fan-fantasy. I thought people would come up behind you and in one mighty push I'd send them flying. That way I was going to be your bodyguard. That's why I offered to be your bod-bodyguard. Only I wasn't. Those two guys came up and I couldn't do a thing.† â€Å"But you could. You made the first man hesitate. That gave me a chance to turn and clobber him.† â€Å"No no. I had nothing to do with it. All I could do was warn you he was there and you did the rest.† â€Å"The second man ran away.† â€Å"Because you clobbered the first guy. I had nothing to do with it.† She broke out again in tears of frustration. â€Å"And then the magistrate. I insisted on the magistrate. I thought I would push and he would let you go at once.† â€Å"He did let me go and it was practically at once.† â€Å"No. He put you through a miserable routine and saw the light only when he realized who you were. I had nothing to do with it. I flopped everywhere. I could have gotten you into so much trouble.† â€Å"No, I refuse to accept that, Wanda. If your pushing didn't work quite as well as you had hoped it would, it was only because you were working under emergency conditions. You couldn't have helped it. But, Wanda, look-I have an idea.† Catching the excitement in his voice, she looked up. â€Å"What kind of idea, Grandpa?† â€Å"Well, it's like this, Wanda. You probably realize that I've got to have credits. Psychohistory simply can't continue without it and I cannot bear the thought of having it all come to nothing after so many years of hard work.† â€Å"I can't bear it, either. But how can we get the credits?† â€Å"Well, I'm going to request an audience with the Emperor again. I've seen him once already and he's a good man and I like him. But he's not exactly drowning in wealth. However, if I take you with me and if you push him-gently-it may be that he will find a source of credits, some source somewhere, and keep me going for a while, till I can think of something else.† â€Å"Do you really think it will work, Grandpa?† â€Å"Not without you. But with you-maybe. Come, isn't it worth trying?† Wanda smiled. â€Å"You know I'll do anything you ask, Grandpa. Besides, it's our only hope.† 21 It was not difficult to see the Emperor. Agis's eyes sparkled as he greeted Hari Seldon. â€Å"Hello, old friend,† he said. â€Å"Have you come to bring me bad luck?† â€Å"I hope not,† said Seldon. Agis unhooked the elaborate cloak he was wearing and, with a weary grunt, threw it into the corner of the room, saying, â€Å"And you lie there.† He looked at Seldon and shook his head. â€Å"I hate that thing. It's as heavy as sin and as hot as blazes. I always have to wear it when I'm being smothered under meaningless words, standing there upright like a carved image. It's just plain horrible. Cleon was born to it and he had the appearance for it. I was not and I don't. It's just my misery that I'm a third cousin of his on my mother's side so that I qualified as Emperor. I'd be glad to sell it for a very small sum. Would you like to be Emperor, Hari?† â€Å"No no, I wouldn't dream of it, so don't get your hopes up,† said Seldon, laughing. â€Å"But tell me, who is this extraordinarily beautiful young woman you have brought with you today?† Wanda flushed and the Emperor said genially, â€Å"You mustn't let me embarrass you, my dear. One of the few perquisites** an Emperor possesses is the right to say anything he chooses. No one can object or argue about it. They can only say, ‘Sire.' However, I don't want any ‘Sires' from you. I hate that word. Call me Agis. That is not my birth name, either. It's my Imperial name and I've got to get used to it. So†¦ tell me what's doing, Hari. What's been happening to you since the last time we met?† Seldon said briefly, â€Å"I've been attacked twice.† The Emperor didn't seem to be sure whether this was a joke or not. He said, â€Å"Twice? Really?† The Emperor's face darkened as Seldon told the story of the assaults. â€Å"I suppose there wasn't a security officer around when those eight men threatened you.† â€Å"Not one.† The Emperor rose from his chair and gestured at the other two to keep theirs. He walked back and forth, as though he were trying to work off some anger. Then he turned and faced Seldon. â€Å"For thousands of years,† he began, â€Å"whenever something like this happened, people would say, ‘Why don't we appeal to the Emperor?' or `Why doesn't the Emperor do something?' And, in the end, the Emperor can do something and does do something, even if it isn't always the intelligent thing to do. But I†¦ Hari, I'm powerless. Absolutely powerless. â€Å"Oh yes, there is the so-called Commission of Public Safety, but they seem more concerned with my safety than that of the public. It's a wonder we're having this audience at all, for you are not at all popular with the Commission. â€Å"There's nothing I can do about anything. Do you know what's happened to the status of the Emperor since the fall of the junta and the restoration of-hah!-Imperial power?† â€Å"I think I do.† â€Å"I'll bet you don't-fully. We've got democracy now. Do you know what democracy is?† â€Å"Certainly.† Agis frowned. He said, â€Å"I'll bet you think it's a good thing.† â€Å"I think it can be a good thing.† â€Å"Well, there you are. It isn't. It's completely upset the Empire. â€Å"Suppose I want to order more officers onto the streets of Trantor. In the old days, I would pull over a piece of paper prepared for me by the Imperial Secretary and would sign it with a flourish-and there would be more security officers. â€Å"Now I can't do anything of the sort. I have to put it before the Legislature. There are seventy-five hundred men and women who instantly turn into uncounted gaggles of geese the instant a suggestion is made. In the first place, where is the funding to come from? You can't have, say, ten thousand more officers without having to pay ten thousand more salaries. Then, even if you agreed to something of the sort, who selects the new security officers? Who controls them? â€Å"The Legislature shouts at each other, argues, thunders, and lightens, and in the end-nothing is done. Hari, I couldn't even do as small a thing as fix the broken dome lights you noticed. How much will it cost? Who's in charge? Oh, the lights will be fixed, but it can easily take a few months to do it. That's democracy.† Hari Seldon said, â€Å"As I recall, the Emperor Cleon was forever complaining that he could not do what he wished to do.† â€Å"The Emperor Cleon,† said Agis impatiently, â€Å"had two first-class First Ministers-Demerzel and yourself-and you each labored to keep Cleon from doing anything foolish. I have seventy-five hundred First Ministers, all of whom are foolish from start to finish. But surely, Hari, you haven't come to complain to me about the attacks.† â€Å"No, I haven't. Something much worse. Sire-Agis-I need credits.† The Emperor stared at him. â€Å"After what I've been telling you, Hari? I have no credits. Oh yes, there're credits to run this establishment, of course, but in order to get them I have to face my seventy-five hundred legislators. If you think I can go to them and say, `I want credits for my friend, Hari Seldon' and if you think I'll get one quarter of what I ask for in anything less than two years, you're crazy. It won't happen.† He shrugged and said, more gently, â€Å"Don't get me wrong, Hari. I would like to help you if I could. I would particularly like to help you for the sake of your granddaughter. Looking at her makes me feel as though I should give you all the credits you would like-but it can't be done.† Seldon said, â€Å"Agis, if I don't get funding, psychohistory will go down the drain-after nearly forty years.† â€Å"It's come to nothing in nearly forty years, so why worry?† â€Å"Agis,† said Seldon â€Å"there's nothing more I can do now. The assaults on me were precisely because I'm a psychohistorian. People consider me a predictor of destruction.† The Emperor nodded. â€Å"You're bad luck, Raven Seldon. I told you this earlier.† Seldon stood up wretchedly. â€Å"I'm through, then.† Wanda stood, too, next to Seldon the top of her head reaching her grandfather's shoulder. She gazed fixedly at the Emperor. As Hari turned to go, the Emperor said, â€Å"Wait. Wait. There's a little verse I once memorized: ‘ Ill fares the land To hastening ills a prey Where wealth accumulates And men decay.' â€Å" â€Å"What does it mean?† asked a dispirited Seldon. â€Å"It means that the Empire is steadily deteriorating and falling apart, but that doesn't keep some individuals from growing rich. Why not turn to some of our wealthy entrepreneurs? They don't have legislators and can, if they wish, simply sign a credit voucher.† Seldon stared. â€Å"I'll try that.†

Solutions to a Perplexing Problem (On Prison Problems)

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How to Make Colored Fire Pinecones

How to Make Colored Fire Pinecones How can you make your fire more festive? Toss on a few colored fire pinecones! Colored fire pinecones are extremely easy to make. All you need is one common household chemical. Colored Fire Pinecone Materials dry pineconesboric acid (usually sold as a disinfectant in the pharmacy section of stores)alcohol (optional) Alcohol is not necessary for this project, but it is a good accelerant if you are having trouble getting your pinecones to burn, which is possible if they are still a little green. Also, alcohol burns with a blue flame, so it will add another color to the fire yet wont overpower the other flame colors in your pinecone. Methanol is sold as Heetâ„ ¢ fuel treatment (avoid contact with skin). Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) or ethanol (e.g., from rum or vodka) work well, too. Methods of Preparing Colored Fire Pinecones Method #1: This is the quick-and-easy method of getting pinecones to burn in colors. Sprinkle a little boric acid powder onto the pinecone. Squirt a small amount of alcohol onto the pinecone. Light the pinecone. Method #2: Dissolve the boric acid in a small amount of water or alcohol. Soak the pinecones in the colorant solution and allow them to dry. Boric acid is a good chemical for this project because its easily obtained, safe, and can give you a full spectrum of flame colors. However, any of the safe colorants for making colored fire can be used to make colored fire pinecones, so dont be afraid to experiment with other chemicals. You can prepare colored pinecones in advance to give as gifts or to burn throughout the season. If you like, you can scent the pinecones by adding a small amount of cinnamon oil or potpourri fragrance. Disclaimer: Please be advised that the content provided by our website is for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Fireworks and the chemicals contained within them are dangerous and should always be handled with care and used with common sense. By using this website you acknowledge that ThoughtCo., its parent About, Inc. (a/k/a Dotdash), and IAC/InterActive Corp. shall have no liability for any damages, injuries, or other legal matters caused by your use of fireworks or the knowledge or application of the information on this website. The providers of this content specifically do not condone using fireworks for disruptive, unsafe, illegal, or destructive purposes. You are responsible for following all applicable laws before using or applying the information provided on this website.

Critically discuss the extent to which the defence of loss of control Essay

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