Thursday, October 31, 2019

Definig Terrorrism and Victims of Terrorism Assignment

Definig Terrorrism and Victims of Terrorism - Assignment Example For Amanda Todd, the writer describes how she was harassed and bullied online, a fact that forms a fundamental basis for the whole story by showing the source of Amanda’s woes. Carol Todd, the mother of the deceased girl, is also introduced by the narrator describing her motherly and caring nature towards her daughter. The writer of the story foreshadows a problem that largely affects the progress of the story in its orientation. The narrator states that, â€Å"The mother of a teenager who died Wednesday of suspected suicide wants her daughter’s anti-cyber-bullying video to be used to help other young people.† This signals that the teenager was cyber bullied to an extent that she made a video about it. This information is not expressly stated by the writer but it is rather implied thus this foreshadow captures the reader earlier on in the story. From the orientation, the narrator heads on to complicate the story by introducing a problem and uncertainty as to what might happen is created. The writer tells us why Amanda posted a video in which she documents her painful story of how an embarrassing photo of her was circulated and she was bullied about it and later beaten up. This forced her to change schools and make an attempt on her life by drinking bleach, which was another source for her misery. Her harassers continued to torment her on her suicide attempt which complicates the story. This part of the story creates a bit of tension as it is unclear as to what might happen to Amanda. The writer later on states that, â€Å"In a message accompanying the video post, Amanda added: â€Å"I’m not doing this (video) for attention. I’m doing this to be an inspiration and to show that I can be strong.†Ã¢â‚¬  This somehow shows that the problem is heading for a possible... This discourse aims to demonstrate and analyze the coherent and continuous story with regard to its purpose and meaning and its social practice defined by the environment’s social structures. This analysis brought about the issue of cyber bullying and the effects it had on a teenage girl who took her own life. This story is purposeful to the society as it affects all members of the society since everyone could be the victim, related to a victim, a perpetrator or even the savior of a victim. This story aims to analyze the options available to everyone in society regarding this issue. The article involves a lot of research on the issue at hand for it to be well read. The writer must conduct interviews with the specific people mentioned in the article so as to find out information regarding Amanda, cyber bullying and any other information relevant in this story. The writing of the article must be approved by the editor of the newspaper and the go ahead given for it to be published. The creative part of narrating the story incorporates a lot of detail and it might take time to put together the article. The story might be handwritten then typed for it to be published in the newspaper or straight away typed using a typewriter or computer. Therefore, for the story to reach its intended readers, a lot of effort goes into the creative process, research bit, and the eventual publishing side of things. This is a post-positivist exercise since it is against positivism. For positivists, the researcher and the researched person are independent of each other. On the other hand , post-positivists argue that theories, knowledge and background of the researcher can influence what is observed.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

History of football Essay Example for Free

History of football Essay Football (as well as rugby and soccer) are believed to have descended from the ancient Greek game of harpaston. Harpaston is mentioned frequently in classical literature, where it is often referred to as a â€Å"very rough and brutal gameâ€Å". The rules of this ancient sport were quite simple: Points were awarded when a player would cross a goal line by either kicking the ball, running with it across the goal line, or throwing it across the line to another player. The other team’s objective was simply to stop them by any means possible. There was no specific field length, no side line boundaries, no specified number of players per team, only a glaring lack of rules. Harpaston: Luckily (for everyone) uniforms equipment have improved dramatically. Most modern versions of football are believed to have originated from England in the twelfth century. The game became so popular in England that the kings of that time (Henry II and Henry IV) actually banned football. They believed that football was taking away interest from the traditional sports of England, such as fencing and archery. Evolution and the Beginnings of Standardization. Football didn’t really begin to take on any consistency of rules and boundaries until it was picked up as a sport in the seven major public schools of England in the early 1800’s. Six of the seven schools were largely playing the same game (including Eton, Harrow and Winchester) while the seventh, Rugby School (founded in 1567) was playing a markedly different version of football. The other schools moved ahead refining their rules and eventually their game became known as association football – or soccer, which was played back then much as it is today. Rugby School went in a different direction. How and why the game developed differently at Rugby School appears to have been lost in history, but what is known is that by the 1830s, running with the ball at Rugby School was in common use and 18 foot goal posts had been added with a cross-bar at 10 feet above the ground. The inclusion of the cross-bar was accompanied by a rule that a goal could only be scored by the ball passing over the bar from a place kick or drop kick. Apparently this was done to make scoring easier from further out and also to avoid the horde of defenders standing in and blocking the mouth of the goal. Players who were able to touch down the ball behind the opponents goal line were awarded a try-at-goal the player would make a mark on the goal line and then walk back onto the field of play to a point where a place kick at the goal was possible (a conversion). There was also an off-your-side rule used to keep the teams apart. Passing the ball forward was not allowed. By the mid-1860s British schools and universities had taken up Rugbys game and honored the school by giving the new football the name of rugby. The game soon went trans-Atlantic to America and landed on fertile soil. Roots of American Football The birth date of football in the United States is generally regarded by football historians as November 6, 1869, when teams from Rutgers and Princeton Universities met for the first intercollegiate football game. In those early games, there were 20 players to a team and football still more closely resembled rugby than modern football. The game of football has a history of constant rule changes. Rule changes have been implemented to bolster the excitement of the game of football and  to increase the games safety. In 1873, representatives from Columbia, Rutgers, Princeton, and Yale Universities met in New York City to formulate the first intercollegiate football rules for the increasingly popular game. These four teams established the Intercollegiate Football Association (IFA) and set 15 as the number of players allowed on each team. Walter Camp, the coach at Yale and a dissenter from the IFA over his desire for an eleven man team, helped begin the final step in the evolution from rugby-style play to the modern game of American football. The IFA’s rules committee, led by Camp, soon cut the number of players from fifteen to eleven, and also instituted the size of the playing field, at one hundred ten yards. In 1882 Camp also introduced the system of downs. After first allowing three attempts to advance the ball five yards, in 1906 the distance was changed to ten yards. The fourth down was added in 1912. Within a decade, concern over the increasing brutality of the game led to its ban by some colleges. Nearly 180 players had suffered serious injuries, and eighteen deaths had been reported from the brutal mass plays that had become common practice. So in 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt called upon Harvard, Princeton, and Yale to help save the sport from demise. At a meeting between the schools, reform was agreed upon, and at a second meeting, attended by more than sixty other schools, the group appointed a seven member Rules Committee and set up what would later become known as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or the NCAA. From this committee came the legalization of the forward pass, which resulted in a redesign of the ball and a more open style of play on the field. The rough mass plays, which once caused so many serious injuries, were prohibited by the committee. Also prohibited was the locking of arms by teammates in an effort to clear the way for their ball carriers. The length of the game was shortened, from seventy to sixty minutes, and the neutral zone, which separates the teams by the length of the ball before each play begins, was also established. Though refinements to the game would continue to the present day, the modern game of American football had arrived.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

internal communication system

internal communication system Does a successful internal communication system result in a motivated Workforce? 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Internal communications: It is a generic expression for all communication (formal and informal) that an organization undertakes with its close stockholders — i.e. those people with whom it has a relationship that requires support, principally direct/indirect employees and members. The main purpose of formal internal communications is to inform employees or members of the direction and performance of the organization (and team) to which they belong. The profession of internal communications builds on fundamental principles of other disciplines like human resources (HR), marketing, project management and media planning. As a result it often gets adopted in organizations under different labels: employee communications, employee engagement, internal marketing, company communications, staff communication, etc. Responsibility can also reside within different functions: marketing, corporate communications, transformation, HR, CEO office, etc. In common with other communication professions, there are different areas of specialism within internal communications: channel management, speech-writing, change communications, HR communications, project communications, event management, social media, intranets, etc 1.2 Motivation work force: A motivated workforce is one which individuals and teams generally strive hard and successfully to achieve the goals set t them. They perform at a high level and make significant effort to help you to achieve your business strategy. A committed work force is one in which individuals identify with the purpose, goals and values of the organization, wish to remain with it and are prepared to put themselves out on its behalf. Motivation is about staff focusing their effort on achieving specific targets. That is, what staffs do? It also is about getting your staff to behave in the right way. That is, how they do things. Key indicators include: †¢ Communication †¢ Management leadership †¢ Performance Management and Recognition †¢ Work Management You can motivate people with: †¢ varied and interesting work perhaps giving the opportunity to travel †¢ high-quality training and development e.g. encouragement to study for professional qualifications †¢ an open door culture in which managers are approachable †¢ respect for a good work-life balance e.g. offering the opportunity for flexible working †¢ fairness at work, including promoting equality and diversity †¢ proactive and regular communication †¢ regular appraisal and positive feedback restating business objectives and recognizing your staffs contribution †¢ requests for feedback, either in person or via staff surveys, on how employees feel about their roles, the support they get, and improvements to the business †¢ the chance to socialize with colleagues at organized events †¢ recognition and reward for ideas or competitive intelligence Commitment is concerned with the loyalty of staff t to the organization and feeling good about it can be increased through creating and maintaining a positive working experience. Key indicators include: †¢ Job Satisfaction †¢ Employee involvement †¢ Training and development †¢ Working environment †¢ Co-operation †¢ Working relationship To be effective employee opinion surveys should be conducted on a regular basis. This could be six-monthly or annually. They do involve extra effort on behalf of the staff in term of taking time to complete the survey. 2.0 Research As little as a few decades ago, managers believed that the behind the scenes dealings of their companies were of no concern to employees. Thus, information that may have motivated employees or inspired their job interest was not available to them as they were merely considered another cog in the organizational wheel. Since that time, management science has formed a basis for analyzing management style and its influence on communication and motivation. Most organizations, be they public or private understand the importance of strategic communication with customers and stakeholders. Hence we have marketing and communication specialists to produce communication plans for external use. In the private sector that means more income; in the public sector it means better public relations, and better use of government services through client information. Many organizations also understand the importance of developing strategic plans to guide longer term decision-making. The thinking is that without knowing where we want to be (and how we are going to get there), we cant coordinate organizational resources so that we get to where we want to go. Frequently, communication methodologies for communicating with customers and the public are included in strategic planning. However, few organizations address internal communication in the same way. Determining what should be communicated to staff, when it should be communicated, and how it should be communicated is often left up to the decisions of individuals made when there seems to be a need. In other words internal communication strategies are developed, reactively, when there is a crisis or major event that clearly requires addressing communication issues. Where communication is planned out, it is often around upheavals like major corporate or organization change, layoffs and downsizing, and technological change. However, once the initiating focus has been eliminated communication tends to go back to an unorganized incoherent process. 2.1 Principle of Internal Communication Some basic principles to keep in mind when creating your strategic internal communication plan are: ï‚ § Develop a long-term focus ï‚ § Identify clear values for your organization ï‚ § Define the specific goals for your internal communication strategy ï‚ § Use comprehensive, pervasive methods ï‚ § Be consistent in your messages 2.1.1 Openness: All information should be communicated in an open and honest fashion. While the positive aspects of any news or decision should always be clearly communicated. Message senders should not be afraid to admit that they have changed their mind or have been mistaken. As a result, senders should be prepared to receive contradictory or critical views and should be ready to engage in debate with staff. In the light of freedom of information Act, all information should be open to access by any members of staff. 2.1.2 Relevance: Information should be clearly relevant to the audience they are delivered to. Each message should answer the question that many staff has what in it for me? The needs of the audience should be put in all communications activity and information should be tailored to ensure that it is relevant to different audiences. If the recipient is expected to act on the information they have received this should be made clear to them. 2.1.3 Simplicity: Simple, Straightforward language should be used in all written and verbal communication. The use of jargon and management speak should be avoid. Messages should be carefully thought out and constructed so that the point of clear. Any actions you expect staff to take as a result should be clear. Messages should not be overly long or complicated and all communication should be consistently of a high quality. 2.1.4 Clarity: All communication should be clear in its aims. Message senders need to tell their audience in direct terms the status of the information they are communicating. Here just four examples. 2.1.4.1 A policy decision: A decision taken by one of the universitys three committees which applied to the whole university and must be considered by all staff. 2.1.4.2 A Mandatory Decision: either taken by the university, or imposed by an outside authority. 2.1.4.3 Consultation: Information which is in the discussion stage and is open to consultation by staff. If this is the case, the message sender needs to be clear as to where feedback can be sent. 2.1.4.4 Work in progress: Where is it necessary to keep staff updated about a major projector policy which is still in development. 2.1.5 Planned and timely: Information should be prioritized and planned so as to avoid information overload, duplication of messages or long periods of non-communication. Communication with staff should not be an afterthought or an add-on but should be at the heart of all planning within university. This will ensure that information is given to staff when they need it- not when decision makers happen to think about it, or in the worst case scenario, when staff learns of major decision via the regional or national media. To this end, all major committees or decision making groups should develop an explicit communications strategy which outlines how information will be fed to staff via existing channels of communication. 2.1.6 Two- way communication: A one way conversation is very boring wherever possible, communication should be two way. All communication should be ensure that there are as many opportunities for listening and asking questions as there are sending messages out. These opportunities should be opened for all staff. Where these opportunities are offered the message owner should ensure that good quality and rapid answers can be given to the questions and issued rose. In this way communication will be positively encouraged and staff will feel that they can influence the development of relevant strategies, policies and procedures at a university and local level. 3.0 The advantages of Internal Communication We know that some of the most successful companies and corporations create a workforce that understands the mission, goals, values and procedures of the organization. The intent of creating such cultures is not to dominate or control employees, but to aim them at a set of common goals on which they can act every day. This brings coherence to the workplace, and allows better coordinated action. By clearing up ambiguity in whats, hows, and whys, the common culture permits employees to act with empowerment. When we have staff that understands the basic values and purposes of an organization, we give them the opportunity to make decisions that fall within those parameters. That means, for example, that more decisions can be made at the line level, reducing micro-managing. When your organization is communicating effectively with its internal stakeholders, whether they are employees, management or volunteers, it develops a cohesive culture where everyone is focused on the same goals and ha s the same objectives. By working within a cohesive culture, your stakeholders can work more efficiently together and collaborate more effective. Clearly, if we are to create such a common culture, we need to harness all of our organizations communication resources to achieve the purpose. Before we talk about that, lets look at some other advantages to having a coherent, shared organizational culture. †¢ Permits employees to make more decisions online since they have the tools and knowledge needed to make the right decisions. †¢ Encourages a sense of identification, on the part of staff, with the goals, mission and procedures of the organization, which can result in a sense of making a difference. This can have direct impact on effort and efficiency. †¢ Has the potential for reducing day-to-day conflict. Much conflict is generated by conflicting ideas on what is important to the organization often an indicator that the people involved do not share a common vision or understanding. †¢ Helps staff feel a part of the organization. When we look at organizations that use their common culture as a strategic advantage, what we find is that they create that culture through the use of very strategic, coordinated communication strategies. They use multiple methods, consistently. Their training supports their cultural goals, as does their written communication (e.g. newsletters, billboards, slogans, etc). Their management communicates consistently with common messages in a number of forums (e.g. performance management, department or sub-organization meetings, award and recognition programs, etc). And perhaps most importantly, management behavior is consistent with the messages echoed via other communication methodologies. 4.0 Internal communication strategy There are two sides of strategy in internal communications. In the first instance there is organizations strategy — what it hopes to achieve and how it plans to go about achieving it. That strategy will be supported and, to some extent, delivered through effective internal communications. In this context internal communication can help on several different levels: †¢ Tell: simply informing people of the direction, non-negotiable †¢ Sell: anticipating some form of backlash, requiring some persuasion †¢ Consult: seeking specific areas of input to the decision-making process †¢ Involve: seeking varying degrees of involvement and co-creation Secondly, and more importantly, internal communications needs a strategy of its own. It should be positioned more than a simple plan of tactical interventions in support of business activities. The strategy should consider the following: †¢ Market: What does the organization know about its audiences needs? How should its audiences be segmented? †¢ Message: What is it the organizations message is trying to achieve? In what tone should it be conveyed? †¢ Media: Which channels work best for the different audience segments? How will it maximize reach and cut-through? Are there clear editorial guidelines for each? †¢ Measurement: Are there clearly defined success criteria? What are the leading and lagging measures? As well as informing all of the other three Ms, it should be used to demonstrate value and measures of performance (rate of return, message penetration, hit rates, quality of feedback, etc) The strategy will inform the best way to organize effective communications 5.0 Conclusion The development of a strategic internal communication strategy and its implementation can provide a number of benefits to organizations. To achieve those benefits we need a coordinated, comprehensive, long term communication approach. Effective communications require the active commitment and endorsement of senior managers. It is not enough simply to develop a vision statement or formulate in general terms the values by which the company lives. Behavior is what counts. Managers must be seen to behave in a manner that is consistent with the ethos they are promoting. Communication applied to development initiatives is still too often limited to activities aimed at informing the stockholders or the general public following the typical and dated top-down approach. Government counterparts and project managers are often not used or ready to democratize the decision making process, but are more interested in accelerating it. However, the budget, time and effort devoted to communication will almost certainly be worthwhile. Tele business relying on a mix of adequate telecommunications infrastructure, a quality workforce with reasonable wage levels and corresponding linguistic skills, such requisites are today available in other countries, particularly in the developing world. The workforce skills have to be permanently upgraded so as to satisfy the requirements of new applications. The internal communication techniques can inform and encourage policymakers to base their decisions on a clear understanding of beneficiaries perspectives from the beginning of a development initiative. Such communication not only needs to be carefully planned and implemented but must also be properly integrated with emergency management activities and operations therefore effective internal communication is therefore a key responsibility of public health professionals and information officers, especially during emergency. 6.0 References Effective media communication during public health emergencies (Google book) By Randall N. Hyer, Vincent T. Covello pg 4 published 2007 Information and communication technologies and rural development (Google book) By Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development pg 76 published July 2001 The role of communication in large infrastructure: the Bumbuna Hydroelectric (Google book) By Leonardo Mazzei, Gianmarco Scuppa, World Bank pg 39 published June 2006 Strategic Communication for Privatization, Public-Private Partnerships and Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects (Google book) By Daniele Calabrese World Bank published March 2008 pg 39 http://www.uneed2.com/assets/Summary_Guide_to_Employee_Opinion_Surveys.pdf dtd. 7/10/09 http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/internal-comms/ic-principles.pdf dtd. 10/10/09. http://performance-appraisals.org/Bacalsappraisalarticles/articles/comstrat.htm dtd 7/10/09 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_communications#Internal_communication_strategy dtd 7/10/09 http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Communication-Organisation/165925 dated 14/10/09.

Friday, October 25, 2019

A Personal Experience in the United States Socializing Function :: Free Essays Online

A Personal Experience in the United States' Socializing Function My junior/senior high school was public. It served the surrounding four towns with a total student population of about seven hundred. In rural Vermont we were set aside and sheltered from the pain and suffering of the city's ghetto, as well as trained to ignore the poverty right before our eyes; next door. Classes started at eight, and ended at two fifteen. Our windows were tinted black so we would be sure not to ever have a glimpse of the outside world. Here our attention must be focused on the school work; learning what the institution deemed important. My U.S. history class is a perfect example of this; we learned what the teacher taught, and what the textbook covered, but what of all the information not included? It would be impossible for us to learn all the history of the United States, but who gets to decide what history we need to know? We learned about the evil Nazi's concentration camps extensively, but only touched upon our own equivalent imprisonment of the Japanese-Americans briefly. We learned of the fight against communism in Vietnam and Korea, but nothing of the mass slaughter of the common people in those countries that our country took part in. What is even more discouraging than this distortion of history, is that no one cared. Jonathan Kozol writes on page 37 of The Night Is Dark and I Am Far from Home; "Nationalistic education is a special brand of such bamboozlement; patriotic mindlessness is the product being sold. Most children buy it, unresistingly." The teacher did not want to teach anything that was not requ ired, because if it was not required by the government then it must not be important enough information. The government would not dream of having such evil things in our history be required to be taught because it shows the student a weakness of the all powerful ruling class. And the students did not, and certainly were not encouraged to, want more than what our school was giving them already. But who has the right to pick and choose what information shall be given out , and what information shall remain obscure? In looking back on my six long years committed to this high school I can recall numerous instances in which I found myself confronting the institution, yet never pushing enough.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Prelude to Foundation Chapter 8 Sunmaster

SUNMASTER FOURTEEN-†¦ A leader of the Mycogen Sector of ancient Trantor†¦ As is true of all the leaders of this ingrown sector, little is known of him. That he plays any role at all in history is due entirely to his interrelationship with Hari Seldon in the course of The Flight†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica 35. There were just two seats behind the compact pilot compartment and when Seldon sat down on padding that gave slowly beneath him meshed fabric came forward to encircle his legs, waist, and chest and a hood came down over his forehead and ears. He felt imprisoned and when he turned to his left with difficulty-and only slightly-he could see that Dors was similarly enclosed. The pilot took his own seat and checked the controls. Then he said, â€Å"I'm Endor Levanian, at your service. You're enmeshed because there will be a considerable acceleration at lift-off. Once we're in the open and flying, you'll be released. You needn't tell me your names. It's none of my business.† He turned in his seat and smiled at them out of a gnomelike face that wrinkled as his lips spread outward. â€Å"Any psychological difficulties, youngsters?† Dors said lightly, â€Å"I'm an Outworlder and I'm used to flying.† â€Å"That is also true for myself,† said Seldon with a bit of hauteur. â€Å"Excellent, youngsters. Of course, this isn't your ordinary air-jet and you may not have done any night flying, but I'll count on you to bear up.† He was enmeshed too, but Seldon could see that his arms were entirely free. A dull hum sounded inside the jet, growing in intensity and rising in pitch. Without actually becoming unpleasant, it threatened to do so and Seldon made a gesture as though to shake his head and get the sound out of his ears, but the attempt to do so merely seemed to stiffen the hold of the head-mesh. The jet then sprang (it was the only verb Seldon could find to describe the event) into the air and he found himself pushed hard against the back and bottom of his seat. Through the windshield in front of the pilot, Seldon saw, with a twinge of horror, the flat rise of a wall-and then a round opening appear in that wall. It was similar to the hole into which the air-taxi had plunged the day he and Hummin had left the Imperial Sector, but though this one was large enough for the body of the jet, it certainly did not leave room for the wings. Seldon's head turned as far to the right as he could manage and did so just in time to see the wing on his side wither and collapse. The jet plunged into the opening and was seized by the electromagnetic field and hurtled along a lighted runnel. The acceleration was constant and there were occasional clicking noises that Seldon imagined might be the passing of individual magnets. And then, in less than ten minutes, the jet was spewed out into the atmosphere, headlong into the sudden pervasive darkness of night. The jet decelerated as it passed beyond the electromagnetic field and Seldon felt himself flung against the mesh and plastered there for a few breathless moments. Then the pressure ceased and the mesh disappeared altogether. â€Å"How are you, youngsters?† came the cheerful voice of the pilot. â€Å"I'm not sure,† said Seldon. He turned to Dors. â€Å"Are you all right?† â€Å"Certainly,† she answered. â€Å"I think Mr. Levanian was putting us through his paces to see if we were really Outworlders. Is that so, Mr. Levanian?† â€Å"Some people like excitement,† said Levanian. â€Å"Do you?† â€Å"Within limits,† said Dors. Then Seldon added approvingly, â€Å"As any reasonable person would admit.† Seldon went on. â€Å"It might have seemed less humorous to you, sir, if you had ripped the wings off the jet.† â€Å"Impossible, sir. I told you this is not your ordinary air-jet. The wings are thoroughly computerized. They change their length, width, curvature, and overall shape to match the speed of the jet, the speed and direction of the wind, the temperature, and half a dozen other variables. The wings wouldn't tear off unless the jet itself was subjected to stresses that would splinter it.† There was a spatter against Seldon's window. He said, â€Å"It's raining.' â€Å"It often is,† said the pilot. Seldon peered out the window. On Helicon or on any other world, there would have been lights visible-the illuminated works of man. Only on Trantor would it be dark. Well, not entirely. At one point he saw the flash of a beacon light. Perhaps the higher reaches of Upperside had warning lights. As usual, Dors took note of Seldon's uneasiness. Patting his hand, she said, â€Å"I'm sure the pilot knows what he's doing, Hari.† â€Å"I'll try to be sure of it, too, Dors, but I wish he'd share some of that knowledge with us,† Seldon said in a voice loud enough to be overheard. â€Å"I don't mind sharing,† said the pilot. â€Å"To begin with, we're heading up and we'll be above the cloud deck in a few minutes. Then there won't be any rain and we'll even see the stars.† He had timed the remark beautifully, for a few stars began to glitter through the feathery cloud remnants and then all the rest sprang into brightness as the pilot flicked off the lights inside the cabin. Only the dim illumination of his own instrument panel remained to compete, and outside the window the sky sparkled brightly. Dors said, â€Å"That's the first time in over two years that I've seen the stars. Aren't they marvelous? They're so bright-and there are so many of them.† The pilot said, â€Å"Trantor is nearer the center of the Galaxy than most of the Outworlds.† Since Helicon was in a sparse corner of the Galaxy and its star field was dim and unimpressive, Seldon found himself speechless. Dors said, â€Å"How quiet this flight has become.† â€Å"So it is,† said Seldon. â€Å"What powers the jet, Mr. Levanian?† â€Å"A microfusion motor and a thin stream of hot gas.† â€Å"I didn't know we had working microfusion air-jets. They talk about it, but-â€Å" â€Å"There are a few small ones like this. So far they exist only on Trantor and are used entirely by high government officials.† Seldon said, â€Å"The fees for such travel must come high.† â€Å"Very high, sir.† â€Å"How much is Mr. Hummin being charged, then?† â€Å"There's no charge for this flight. Mr. Hummin is a good friend of the company who owns these jets.† Seldon grunted. Then he asked, â€Å"Why aren't there more of these microfusion air-jets?† â€Å"Too expensive for one thing, sir. Those that exist fulfill all the demand.† â€Å"You could create more demand with larger jets.† â€Å"Maybe so, but the company has never managed to make microfusion engines strong enough for large air-jets.† Seldon thought of Hummin's complaint that technological innovation had declined to a low level. â€Å"Decadent,† he murmured. â€Å"What?† said Dors. â€Å"Nothing,† said Seldon. â€Å"I was just thinking of something Hummin once said to me.† He looked out at the stars and said, â€Å"Are we moving westward, Mr. Levanian?† â€Å"Yes, we are. How did you know?† â€Å"Because I thought that we would see the dawn by now if we were heading east to meet it.† But dawn, pursuing the planet, finally caught up with them and sunlight-real sunlight brightened the cabin walls. It didn't last long, however, for the jet curved downward and into the clouds. Blue and gold vanished and were replaced by dingy gray and both Seldon and Dors emitted disappointed cries at being deprived of even a few more moments of true sunlight. When they sank beneath the clouds, Upperside was immediately below them and its surface-at least at this spot-was a rolling mixture of wooded grottos and intervening grassland. It was the sort of thing Clowzia had told Seldon existed on Upperside. Again there was little time for observation, however. An opening appeared below them, rimmed by lettering that spelled MYCOGEN. They plunged in. 36. They landed at a jetport that seemed deserted to Seldon's wondering eyes. The pilot, having completed his task, shook hands with both Hari and Dors and took his jet up into the air with a rush, plunging it into an opening that appeared for his benefit. There seemed, then, nothing to do but wait. There were benches that could seat perhaps a hundred people, but Seldon and Dors Venabili were the only two people around. The port was rectangular, surrounded by walls in which there must be many tunnels that could open to receive or deliver jets, but there were no jets present after their own had departed and none arrived while they waited. There were no people arriving or any indications of habitation; the very life hum of Trantor was muted. Seldon felt this aloneness to be oppressive. He turned to Dors and said, â€Å"What is it that we must do here? Have you any idea?† Dors shook her head. â€Å"Hummin told me we would be met by Sunmaster Fourteen. I don't know anything beyond that.† â€Å"Sunmaster Fourteen? What would that be?† â€Å"A human being, I presume. From the name I can't be certain whether it would be a man or a woman.† â€Å"An odd name.† â€Å"Oddity is in the mind of the receiver. I am sometimes taken to be a man by those who have never met me.† â€Å"What fools they must be,† said Seldon, smiling. â€Å"Not at all. Judging from my name, they are justified. I'm told it is a popular masculine name on various worlds.† â€Å"I've never encountered it before.† â€Å"That's because you aren't much of a Galactic traveler. The name ‘Hari' is common enough everywhere, although I once knew a woman named ‘Hare,' pronounced like your name but spelled with an ‘e.' In Mycogen, as I recall, particular names are confined to families-and numbered.† â€Å"But Sunmaster seems so unrestrained a name.† â€Å"What's a little braggadocio? Back on Cinna, ‘Dors' is from an Old local expression meaning ‘spring gift.' â€Å" â€Å"Because you were born in the spring?† â€Å"No. I first saw the light of day at the height of Cinna's summer, but the name struck my people as pleasant regardless of its traditional-and largely forgotten-meaning.† â€Å"In that case, perhaps Sunmaster-â€Å" And a deep, severe voice said, â€Å"That is my name, tribesman.† Seldon, startled, looked to his left. An open ground-car had somehow drawn close. It was boxy and archaic, looking almost like a delivery wagon. In it, at the controls, was a tall old man who looked vigorous despite his age. With stately majesty, he got out of the ground-car. He wore a long white gown with voluminous sleeves, pinched in at the wrists. Beneath the gown were soft sandals from which the big toe protruded, while his head, beautifully shaped, was completely hairless. He regarded the two calmly with his deep blue eyes. He said, â€Å"I greet you, tribesman.† Seldon said with automatic politeness, â€Å"Greetings, sir.† Then, honestly puzzled, he asked, â€Å"How did you get in?† â€Å"Through the entrance, which closed behind me. You paid little heed.† â€Å"I suppose we didn't. But then we didn't know what to expect. Nor do we now.† â€Å"Tribesman Chetter Hummin informed the Brethren that there would be members from two of the tribes arriving. He asked that you be cared for.† â€Å"Then you know Hummin.† â€Å"We do. He has been of service to us. And because he, a worthy tribesman, has been of service to us, so must we be now to him. There are few who come to Mycogen and few who leave. I am to make you secure, give you houseroom, see that you are undisturbed. You will be safe here.† Dors bent her head. â€Å"We are grateful, Sunmaster Fourteen.† Sunmaster turned to look at her with an air of dispassionate contempt. â€Å"I am not unaware of the customs of the tribes,† he said. â€Å"I know that among them a woman may well speak before being spoken to. I am therefore not offended. I would ask her to have a care among others of the Brethren who may be of lesser knowledge in the matter.† â€Å"Oh really?† said Dors, who was clearly offended, even if Sunmaster was not. â€Å"In truth,† agreed Sunmaster. â€Å"Nor is it needful to use my numerical identifier when I alone of my cohort am with you. ‘Sunmaster' will be sufficient.-Now I will ask you to come with me so that we may leave this place which is of too tribal a nature to comfort me.† â€Å"Comfort is for all of us,† said Seldon, perhaps a little more loudly than was necessary, â€Å"and we will not budge from this place unless we are assured that we will not be forcibly bent to your liking against our own natures. It is our custom that a woman may speak whenever she has something to say. If you have agreed to keep us secure, that security must be psychological as well as physical.† Sunmaster gazed at Seldon levelly and said, â€Å"You are bold, young tribesman. Your name?† â€Å"I am Hari Seldon of Helicon. My companion is Dors Venabili of Cinna.† Sunmaster bowed slightly as Seldon pronounced his own name, did not move at the mention of Dors's name. He said, â€Å"I have sworn to Tribesman Hummin that we will keep you safe, so I will do what I can to protect your woman companion in this. If she wishes to exercise her impudence, I will do my best to see that she is held guiltless.-Yet in one respect you must conform.† And he pointed, with infinite scorn, first to Seldon's head and then to Dors's. â€Å"What do you mean?† said Seldon. â€Å"Your cephalic hair.† â€Å"What about it?† â€Å"It must not be seen.† â€Å"Do you mean we're to shave our heads like you? Certainly not.† â€Å"My head is not shaven, Tribesman Seldon. I was depilated when I entered puberty, as are all the Brethren and their women.† â€Å"If we're talking about depilation, then more than ever the answer is no-never.† â€Å"Tribesman, we ask neither shaving nor depilation. We ask only that your hair be covered when you are among us.† â€Å"How?† â€Å"I have brought skincaps that will mold themselves to your skulls, together with strips that will hide the superoptical patches the eyebrows. You will wear them while with us. And of course, Tribesman Seldon, you will shave daily-or oftener if that becomes necessary.† â€Å"But why must we do this?† â€Å"Because to us, hair on the head is repulsive and obscene.† â€Å"Surely, you and all your people know that it is customary for others, in all the worlds of the Galaxy, to retain their cephalic hair.† â€Å"We know. And those among us, like myself, who must deal with tribesmen now and then, must witness this hair. We manage, but it is unfair to ask the Brethren generally to suffer the sight.† Seldon said, â€Å"Very well, then, Sunmaster-but tell me. Since you are born with cephalic hair, as all of us are and as you all retain it visibly till puberty, why is it so necessary to remove it? Is it just a matter of custom or is there some rationale behind it?† And the old Mycogenian said proudly, â€Å"By depilation, we demonstrate to the youngster that he or she has become an adult and through depilation adults will always remember who they are and never forget that all others are but tribesmen.† He waited for no response (and, in truth, Seldon could think of none) but brought out from some hidden compartment in his robe a handful of thin bits of plastic of varying color, stared keenly at the two faces before him, holding first one strip, then another, against each face. â€Å"The colors must match reasonably,† he said. â€Å"No one will be fooled into thinking you are not wearing a skincap, but it must not be repulsively obvious.† Finally, Sunmaster gave a particular strip to Seldon and showed him how it could be pulled out into a cap. â€Å"Please put it on, Tribesman Seldon,† he said. â€Å"You will find the process clumsy at first, but you will grow accustomed to it.† Seldon put it on, but the first two times it slipped off when he tried to pull it backward over his hair. â€Å"Begin just above your eyebrows,† said Sunmaster. His fingers seemed to twitch, as though eager to help. Seldon said, suppressing a smile, â€Å"Would you do it for me?† And Sunmaster drew back, saying, almost in agitation, â€Å"I couldn't. I would be touching your hair.† Seldon managed to hook it on and followed Sunmaster's advice, in pulling it here and there until all his hair was covered. The eyebrow patches fitted on easily. Dors, who had watched carefully, put hers on without trouble. â€Å"How does it come off?† asked Seldon. â€Å"You have but to find an end and it will peel off without trouble. You will find it easier both to put on and take off if you cut your hair shorter.† â€Å"I'd rather struggle a bit,† said Seldon. Then, turning to Dors, he said in a low voice, â€Å"You're still pretty, Dors, but it does tend to remove some of the character from your face.† â€Å"The character is there underneath just the same,† she answered. â€Å"And I dare say you'll grow accustomed to the hairless me.† In a still lower whisper, Seldon said, â€Å"I don't want to stay here long enough to get accustomed to this.† Sunmaster, who ignored, with visible haughtiness, the mumblings among mere tribesmen, said, â€Å"If you will enter my ground-car, I will now take you into Mycogen.† 37. â€Å"Frankly,† whispered Dors, â€Å"I can scarcely believe I'm on Trantor.† â€Å"I take it, then, you've never seen anything like this before?† said Seldon. â€Å"I've only been on Trantor for two years and I've spent much of my time at the University, so I'm not exactly a world traveler. Still, I've been here and there and I've heard of this and that, but I've never seen or heard of anything like this. The sameness.† Sunmaster drove along methodically and without undue haste. There were other wagonlike vehicles in the roadway, all with hairless men at the controls, their bald pates gleaming in the light. On either side there were three-story structures, unornamented, all lines meeting at right angles, everything gray in color. â€Å"Dreary,† mouthed Dors. â€Å"So dreary.† â€Å"Egalitarian,† whispered Seldon. â€Å"I suspect no Brother can lay claim to precedence of any obvious kind over any other.† There were many pedestrians on the walkways as they passed. There were no signs of any moving corridors and no sound of any nearby Expressway. Dors said, â€Å"I'm guessing the grays are women.† â€Å"Its hard to tell,† said Seldon. â€Å"The gowns hide everything and one hairless head is like another.† â€Å"The grays are always in pairs or with a white. The whites [also] walk alone and Sunmaster is a white.† â€Å"You may be right.† Seldon raised his voice. â€Å"Sunmaster, I am curious.† â€Å"If you are, then ask what you wish, although I am by no means required to answer.† â€Å"We seem to be passing through a residential area. There are no signs of business establishments, industrial areas-â€Å" â€Å"We are a farming community entirely. Where are you from that you do not know this?† â€Å"You know I am an Outworlder,† Seldon said stiffly. â€Å"I have been on Trantor for only two months.† â€Å"Even so.† â€Å"But if you are a farming community, Sunmaster, how is it that we have passed no farms either?† â€Å"On lower levels,† said Sunmaster briefly. â€Å"Is Mycogen on this level entirely residential, then?† â€Å"And on a few others. We are what you see. Every Brother and his family lives in equivalent quarters; every cohort in its own equivalent community; all have the same ground-car and all Brothers drive their own. There are no servants and none are at ease through the labor of others. None may glory over another.† Seldon lifted his shielded eyebrows at Dors and said, â€Å"But some of the people wear white, while some wear gray.† â€Å"That is because some of the people are Brothers and some are Sisters.† â€Å"And we?† â€Å"You are a tribesman and a guest. You and your†-he paused and then said-â€Å"companion will not be bound by all aspects of Mycogenian life. Nevertheless, you will wear a white gown and your companion will wear a gray one and you will live in special guest quarters like our own.† â€Å"Equality for all seems a pleasant ideal, but what happens as your numbers increase? Is the pie, then, cut into smaller pieces?† â€Å"There is no increase in numbers. That would necessitate an increase in area, which the surrounding tribesmen would not allow, or a change for the worse in our way of life.† â€Å"But if-† began Seldon. Sunmaster cut him off. â€Å"It is enough, Tribesman Seldon. As I warned you, I am not compelled to answer. Our task, which we have promised our friend Tribesman Hummin, is to keep you secure as long as you do not violate our way of life. That we will do, but there it ends. Curiosity is permitted, but it wears out our patience quickly if persisted in.† Something about his tone allowed no more to be said and Seldon chafed. Hummin, for all his help, had clearly mis-stressed the matter. It was not security that Seldon sought. At least, not security alone. He needed information too and without that he could not-and would not-stay here. 38. Seldon looked with some distress at their quarters. It had a small but individual kitchen and a small but individual bathroom. There were two narrow beds, two clothes closets, a table, and two chairs. In short there was everything that was necessary for two people who were willing to live under cramped conditions. â€Å"We had an individual kitchen and bathroom at Cinna,† said Dors with an air of resignation. â€Å"Not I,† said Seldon. â€Å"Helicon may be a small world, but I lived in a modern city. Community kitchens and bathrooms.-What a waste this is. You might expect it in a hotel, where one is compelled to make a temporary stay, but if the whole sector is like this, imagine the enormous number and duplications of kitchens and bathrooms.† â€Å"Part of the egalitarianism, I suppose,† said Dors. â€Å"No fighting for favored stalls or for faster service. The same for everyone.† â€Å"No privacy either. Not that I mind terribly, Dors, but you might and I don't want to give the appearance of taking advantage. We ought to make it clear to them that we must have separate rooms-adjoining but separate.† Dors said, â€Å"I'm sure it won't work. Space is at a premium and I think they are amazed by their own generosity in giving us this much. We'll just make do, Hari. We're each old enough to manage. I'm not a blushing maiden and you'll never convince me that you're a callow youth.† â€Å"You wouldn't be here, were it not for me.† â€Å"What of it? It's an adventure.† â€Å"All right, then. Which bed will you take? Why don't you take the one nearer the bathroom?† He sat down on the other. â€Å"There's something else that bothers me. As long as we're here, we're tribespeople, you and I, as is even Hummin. We're of the other tribes, not their own cohorts, and most things are none of our business.-But most things are my business. That's what I've come here for. I want to know some of the things they know.† â€Å"Or think they know,† said Dors with a historian's skepticism. â€Å"I understand they have legends that are supposed to date back to primordial times, but I can't believe they can be taken seriously.† â€Å"We can't know that until we find out what those legends are. Are there no outside records of them?† â€Å"Not that I know of. These people are terribly ingrown. They're almost psychotic in their inward clinging. That Hummin can break down their barriers somewhat and even get them to take us in is remarkable-really remarkable.† Seldon brooded. â€Å"There has to be an opening somewhere. Sunmaster was surprised-angry, in fact-that I didn't know Mycogen was an agricultural community. That seems to be something they don't want kept a secret.† â€Å"The point is, it isn't a secret. ‘Mycogen' is supposed to be from archaic words meaning ‘yeast producer.' At least, that's what I've been told. I'm not a paleolinguist. In any case, they culture all varieties of microfood-yeast, of course, along with algae, bacteria, multicellular fungi, and so on.† â€Å"That's not uncommon,† said Seldon. â€Å"Most worlds have this microculture. We have some even on Helicon.† â€Å"Not like Mycogen. It's their specialty. They use methods as archaic as the name of their section-secret fertilizing formulas, secret environmental influences. Who knows what? All is secret.† â€Å"Ingrown?† â€Å"With a vengeance. What it amounts to is that they produce protein and subtle flavoring, so that their microfood isn't like any other in the world. They keep the volume comparatively low and the price is skyhigh. I've never tasted any and I'm sure you haven't, but it sells in great quantities to the Imperial bureaucracy and to the upper classes on other worlds. Mycogen depends on such sales for its economic health, so they want everyone to know that they are the source of this valuable food. That, at least, is no secret.† â€Å"Mycogen must be rich, then.† â€Å"They're not poor, but I suspect that it's not wealth they're after. It's protection. The Imperial government protects them because, without them, there wouldn't be these microfoods that add the subtlest flavors, the tangiest spices, to every dish. That means that Mycogen can maintain its odd way of life and be haughty toward its neighbors, who probably find them insupportable.† Dors looked about. â€Å"They live an austere life. There's no holovision, I notice, and no book-films.† â€Å"I noticed one in the closet up on the shelf.† Seldon reached for it, stared at the label, and then said in clear disgust, â€Å"A cookbook.† Dors held out her hand for it and manipulated the keys. It took a while, for the arrangement was not quite orthodox, but she finally managed to light the screen and inspect the pages. She said, â€Å"There are a few recipes, but for the most part this seems to consist of philosophical essays on gastronomy.† She shut it off and turned it round and about. â€Å"It seems to be a single unit. I don't see how one would eject the microcard and insert another. A one-book scanner. Now that's a waste.† â€Å"Maybe they think this one book-film is all anyone needs.† He reached toward the end table that was between the two beds and picked up another object. â€Å"This could be a speaker, except that there's no screen.† â€Å"Perhaps they consider the voice sufficient.† â€Å"How does it work, I wonder?† Seldon lifted it and looked at it from different sides. â€Å"Did you ever see anything like this?† â€Å"In a museum once-if this is the same thing. Mycogen seems to keep itself deliberately archaic. I suppose they consider that another way of separating themselves from the so-called tribesmen that surround them in overwhelming numbers. Their archaism and odd customs make them indigestible, so to speak. There's a kind of perverse logic to all that.† Seldon, still playing with the device, said, â€Å"Whoops! It went on. Or something went on. But I don't hear anything.† Dors frowned and picked up a small felt-lined cylinder that remained behind on the end table. She put it to her ear. â€Å"There's a voice coming out of this,† she said. â€Å"Here, try it.† She handed it to him. Seldon did so and said, â€Å"Ouch! It clips on.† He listened and said, â€Å"Yes, it hurt my ear. You can hear me, I take it.-Yes, this is our room. No, I don't know its number. Dors, have you any idea of the number?† Dors said, â€Å"There's a number on the speaker. Maybe that will do.† â€Å"Maybe,† said Seldon doubtfully. Then he said into the speaker, â€Å"The number on this device is 6LT-3648A. Will that do?-Well, where do I find out how to use this device properly and how to use the kitchen, for that matter?-What do you mean, ‘It all works the usual way?' That doesn't do me any good. See here, I'm a†¦ a tribesman, an honored guest. I don't know the usual way.-Yes, I'm sorry about my accent and I'm glad you can recognize a tribesman when you hear one. My name is Hari Seldon.† There was a pause and Seldon looked up at Dors with a longsuffering expression on his face. â€Å"He has to look me up. And I suppose he'll tell me he can't find me.-Oh, you have me? Good! In that case, can you give me the information?-Yes. Yes.-Yes.-And how can I call someone outside Mycogen?-Oh, then what about contacting Sunmaster Fourteen, for instance?-Well, his assistant then, his aide, whatever?-Uh-huh.-Thank you.† He put the speaker down, unhooked the hearing device from his ear with a little difficulty, turned the whole thing off, and said, â€Å"They'll arrange to have someone show us anything we need to know, but he can't promise when that might be. You can't call outside Mycogen-not on this thing anyway-so we couldn't get Hummin if we needed him. And if I want Sunmaster Fourteen, I've got to go through a tremendous rigmarole. This may be an egalitarian society, but there seem to be exceptions that I bet no one will openly admit.† He looked at his watch. â€Å"In any case, Dors, I'm not going to view a cookbook and still less am I going to view learned essays. My watch is still telling University time, so I don't know if it's officially bedtime and at the moment I don't care. We've been awake most of the night and I would like to sleep.† â€Å"That's all right with me. I'm tired too.† â€Å"Thanks. And whenever a new day starts after we've caught up on our sleep, I'm going to ask for a tour of their microfood plantations.† Dors looked startled. â€Å"Are you interested?† â€Å"Not really, but if that's the one thing they're proud of, they should be willing to talk about it and once I get them into a talking mood then, by exerting all my charm, I may get them to talk about their legends too. Personally, I think that's a clever strategy.† â€Å"I hope so,† said Dors dubiously, â€Å"but I think that the Mycogenians will not be so easily trapped.† â€Å"We'll see,† said Seldon grimly. â€Å"I mean to get those legends.† 39. The next morning found Hari using the calling device again. He was angry because, for one thing, he was hungry. His attempt to reach Sunmaster Fourteen was deflected by someone who insisted that Sunmaster could not be disturbed. â€Å"Why not?† Seldon had asked waspishly. â€Å"Obviously, there is no need to answer that question,† came back a cold voice. â€Å"We were not brought here to be prisoners,† said Seldon with equal coldness. â€Å"Nor to starve.† â€Å"I'm sure you have a kitchen and ample supplies of food.† â€Å"Yes, we do,† said Seldon. â€Å"And I do not know how to use the kitchen devices, nor do I know how to prepare the food. Do you eat it raw, fry it, boil it, roast it†¦?† â€Å"I can't believe you are ignorant in such matters.† Dors, who had been pacing up and down during this colloquy, reached for the device and Seldon fended her off, whispering, â€Å"He'll break the connection if a woman tries to speak to him.† Then, into the device, he said more firmly than ever, â€Å"What you believe or don't believe doesn't matter to me in the least. You send someone here-someone who can do something about our situation-or when I reach Sunmaster Fourteen, as I will eventually, you will pay for this.† Nevertheless, it was two hours before someone arrived (by which time Seldon was in a state of savagery and Dors had grown rather desperate in her attempt to soothe him). The newcomer was a young man whose bald pate was slightly freckled and who probably would have been a redhead otherwise. He was bearing several pots and he seemed about to explain them when he suddenly looked uneasy and turned his back on Seldon in alarm. â€Å"Tribesman,† he said, obviously agitated. â€Å"Your skincap is not well adjusted.† Seldon, whose impatience had reached the breaking point, said, â€Å"That doesn't bother me.† Dors, however, said, â€Å"Let me adjust it, Hari. It's just a bit too high here on the left side.† Seldon then growled, â€Å"You can turn now, young man. What is your name?† â€Å"I am Graycloud Five,† said the Mycogenian uncertainly as he turned and looked cautiously at Seldon. â€Å"I am a novitiate. I have brought a meal for you.† He hesitated. â€Å"From my own kitchen, where my woman prepared it, tribesman.† He put the pots down on the table and Seldon raised one lid and sniffed the contents suspiciously. He looked up at Dors in surprise. â€Å"You know, it doesn't smell bad.† Dors nodded. â€Å"You're right. I can smell it too.† Graycloud said, â€Å"It's not as hot as it ought to be. It cooled off in transport. You must have crockery and cutlery in your kitchen.† Dors got what was needed, and after they had eaten, largely and a bit greedily, Seldon felt civilized once more. Dors, who realized that the young man would feel unhappy at being alone with a woman and even unhappier if she spoke to him, found that, by default, it fell to her to carry the pots and dishes into the kitchen and wash them-once she deciphered the controls of the washing device. Meanwhile, Seldon asked the local time and said, somewhat abashed, â€Å"You mean it's the middle of the night?† â€Å"Indeed, tribesman,† said Graycloud. â€Å"That's why it took a while to satisfy your need.† Seldon understood suddenly why Sunmaster could not be disturbed and thought of Graycloud's woman having to be awakened to prepare him a meal and felt his conscience gnaw at him. â€Å"I'm sorry,† he said. â€Å"We are only tribespeople and we didn't know how to use the kitchen or how to prepare the food. In the morning, could you have someone arrive to instruct us properly?† â€Å"The best I can do, tribesmen,† said Graycloud placatingly, â€Å"is to have two Sisters sent in. I ask your pardon for inconveniencing you with feminine presence, but it is they who know these things.† Dors, who had emerged from the kitchen, said (before remembering her place in the masculine Mycogenian society), â€Å"That's fine, Graycloud. We'd love to meet the Sisters.† Graycloud looked at her uneasily and fleetingly, but said nothing. Seldon, convinced that the young Mycogenian would, on principle, refuse to have heard what a woman said to him, repeated the remark. â€Å"That's fine, Graycloud. We'd love to meet the Sisters.† His expression cleared at once. â€Å"I will have them here as soon as it is day.† When Graycloud had left, Seldon said with some satisfaction, â€Å"The Sisters are likely to be exactly what we need.† â€Å"Indeed? And in what way, Hari?† asked Dors. â€Å"Well, surely if we treat them as though they are human beings, they will be grateful enough to speak of their legends.† â€Å"If they know them,† said Dors skeptically. â€Å"Somehow I have no faith that the Mycogenians bother to educate their women very well.† 40. The Sisters arrived some six hours later after Seldon and Dors had slept some more, hoping to readjust their biological clocks. The Sisters entered the apartment shyly, almost on tiptoe. Their gowns (which, it turned out, were termed â€Å"kirtles† in the Mycogenian dialect) were soft velvety gray, each uniquely decorated by a subtle pattern of fine, darker gray webbing. The kirtles were not entirely unattractive, but they were certainly most efficient at covering up any human feature. And, of course, their heads were bald and their faces were devoid of any ornamentation. They darted speculative glances at the touch of blue at the corners of Dors's eyes and at the slight red stain at the corners of her lips. For a few moments, Seldon wondered how one could be certain that the Sisters were truly Sisters. The answer came at once with the Sisters' politely formal greetings. Both twittered and chirped. Seldon, remembering the grave tones of Sunmaster and the nervous baritone of Graycloud, suspected that women, in default of obvious sexual identification, were forced to cultivate distinctive voices and social mannerisms. I'm Raindrop Forty-Three,† twittered one, â€Å"and this is my younger sister.† â€Å"Raindrop Forty-Five,† chirped the other. â€Å"We're very strong on ‘Raindrops' in our cohort.† She giggled. â€Å"I am pleased to meet you both,† said Dors gravely, â€Å"but now I must know how to address you. I can't just say ‘Raindrop,' can I?† â€Å"No,† said Raindrop Forty-Three. â€Å"You must use the full name if we are both here.† Seldon said, â€Å"How about just Forty-Three and Forty-Five, ladies?† They both stole a quick glance at him, but said not a word. Dors said softly, â€Å"I'll deal with them, Hari.† Seldon stepped back. Presumably, they were single young women and, very likely, they were not supposed to speak to men. The older one seemed the graver of the two and was perhaps the more puritanical. It was hard to tell from a few words and a quick glance, but he had the feeling and was willing to go by that. Dors said, â€Å"The thing is, Sisters, that we tribespeople don't know how to use the kitchen.† â€Å"You mean you can't cook?† Raindrop Forty-Three looked shocked and censorious. Raindrop Forty-Five smothered a laugh. (Seldon decided that his initial estimate of the two was correct.) Dors said, â€Å"I once had a kitchen of my own, but it wasn't like this one and I don't know what the foods are or how to prepare them.† â€Å"It's really quite simple,† said Raindrop Forty-Five. â€Å"We can show you.† â€Å"We'll make you a good nourishing lunch,† said Raindrop Forty-Three. â€Å"We'll make it for†¦ both of you.† She hesitated before adding the final words. It clearly took an effort to acknowledge the existence of a man. â€Å"If you don't mind,† said Dors, â€Å"I would like to be in the kitchen with you and I would appreciate it if you'd explain everything exactly. After all, Sisters, I can't expect you to come here three times a day to cook for us.† â€Å"We will show you everything,† said Raindrop Forty-Three, nodding her head stiffly. â€Å"It may be difficult for a tribeswoman to learn, however. You wouldn't have the†¦ feeling for it.† â€Å"I shall try,† said Dors with a pleasant smile. They disappeared into the kitchen. Seldon stared after them and tried to work out the strategy he intended to use.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Scientific Method Essay

Scientific Method Essay Scientific Method Essay Scientific Method The scientific method is a systematic, organized series of steps that ensures maximum objectivity and consistency in researching a problem. Step 1 – Define the problem: Clearly state what you hope to investigate. Develop an operational definition, which is an explanation of an abstract concept that is specific enough to allow a researcher to assess the concept. Step 2 – Review the literature: Researchers refine the problem under study, clarify possible techniques to be used in collecting data and eliminate or reduce avoidable mistakes. Step 3 – Formulate a testable hypothesis: After reviewing the research and drawing on the contributions of sociological theorists, the researchers may then formulate the hypothesis. A hypothesis is a speculative statement between two or more factors known as variables. A variable is a measurable trait or characteristic that is subject to change under different conditions. One variable is called the independent variable. The other is called the dependent variable. Identifying independent and dependent variables is a critical step in clarifying cause-and-effect relationships. Casual logic involves the relationship between a condition or variable and a particular consequence, with one event leading to the other. A correlation exists when a change in one variable coincides with a change in the other. Correlations are an indication that causality may be present; they do not necessarily indicate causation. Step 4 – Select a research design: To determine if a hypothesis is supported or refuted, you need to collect information by using a research design. The research design guides the researcher in collecting and analyzing data. In most studies, social scientists must carefully select a sample. The one social scientists use most is the random sample.

Monday, October 21, 2019

The Man in the Iron Mask vs Absolutism Comparative Essay essays

The Man in the Iron Mask vs Absolutism Comparative Essay essays The Man In The Iron Mask: The Absolute Monarchy Of France Revealed The film The Man In The Iron Mask is in part fictional with real historical roots dating back to the age of absolutism. The important people, places and events that shaped all of France are significantly depicted throughout the film. The Man In The Iron Mask portrays an accurate representation of the age of Louis XIV regarding his regime, landscape and courts, as well as French culture. Louis XIVs age of absolutism is mirrored in the film The Man In The Iron Mask. This form of government is called an absolute monarchy where complete authority is given to one person. Born into royalty after his father Louis III, Louis XIV reigned as King of France from 1643 until 1715 as performed by Leonardo Dicaprio. In an absolute state, the King rules by divine right accountable to no one but God. During the film Leonardo remarks to Christine, As King I am ordained by God, I will not go to hell. King Louis XIV ruled over nobility and church, which was essential for him to gain full control with no limits to his power. Louis XIVs desire for wealth, land, power and glory is seen in the eyes of Dicaprio. Louis XIV rated his personal interests and glory highly having nobility praise and dote on him constantly. However, Louis XIV ensured the vitality of France making it the centre for all of Europe blinded by the magnificence of Versailles. Louis XIV was a powerful and feared king w hom gained and kept absolute control over all of France. Louis XIV also built a new court called the Palace of Versailles that reflected his prestige, which sets the scene for The Man In The Iron Mask. The beauty of Versailles is depicted in the film with French Provincial style. Beautiful paintings, marble, gold, tapestries, mirrors, chandeliers, and all elaborate things adorned the rooms and hallways of Versaille ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Discuss about abortion and its methods.

Discuss about abortion and its methods. Abortion is a topic that which brings with it much debate and controversy, whether it bebetween peers or cultures. It seems also that feelings are disparate and of polar opposites and people tend to cling to one pole without regard for the opposite opinion. Arguments for and against abortion tend to be rooted deep in moral or religious beliefs, with some feeling that it is their body, therefore they should do a they please, while others argue concern for the living baby within the mother. Akin to the numerous feelings regarding abortion are numerous methods in which on can abort a pregnancy, all of which are correspondent with the amount of time elapsed within the pregnancy.Prior to delving into specifics of abortion a definition of the term would make lucid thecontext of which is being discussed. Therefore, abortion is essentially the termination or aborting of a pregnancy prior to the event of birth.Bas relief of a massage abortion. The operator is ...An abortion occurs when the mo ther or other party involved (perhaps parents or father of the child) determine the pregnancy is undesirable or not feasible at that given point in time. Many there are, reasons for the carrying out of the fore defined term. Such reasons include: an immature commitment to parenthood such as the case of teenage parents, or even a pregnancy that was seen as unwanted or an interference such as a career woman (Hyde, DeLamater, 2003). Though abortion is often decided by the parents of the child typically willingly and without coercion the end product proves to be psychologically damaging to the parents (Hyde, DeLamater, 2003). Upon discovering their pregnancy many women feel "anger and some anxiety," then quest for a decision. This decision usually involves debating the welfare of the mother over the welfare of the child (Hyde, DeLamater, 2003).

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Racial profiling against american minorities Essay

Racial profiling against american minorities - Essay Example Racial profiling will not help the policing procedures becomes effective and the insurance practices as well. The paper will enlighten some of us who are not aware that they are committing racial discrimination against the minorities. In this paper you will be able to identify the policing procedures and insurance policies for African Americans differs from the normal citizen of USA. To understand the topic fully it is best to define terms involved in the study. At the end of the paper the reader will agree or disagree on matter involving racial profiling against African American in policing procedures and insurance policies. Racial profiling is one of the most frequently debated topics in the U.S today. Numerous instances and issues have been brought to light especially with regards to the police making undue stops on black motorists. It is basically the practice of targeting African Americans whom they assume are more likely to be involved in criminal activity. Racial profiling happens when the police officials or a private security personnel use a person's race to judge or base a criminal activity. Discrimination which is rooted solely on an individual's colour, nationality etc destabilizes the human rights which everyone is entitled to. The issue in recent days has spread further to focus on Middle ... Racial profiling happens when the police officials or a private security personnel use a person's race to judge or base a criminal activity. Discrimination which is rooted solely on an individual's colour, nationality etc destabilizes the human rights which everyone is entitled to. The issue in recent days has spread further to focus on Middle Eastern characteristics as well. What is termed as racial profiling could probably just be a matter of discretion to some. However the law enforcement officers should not be pressurised with racial profiling background so as to hinder justice and should be able to do their duty for the just and reasonable reason without fear of being attacked for racial profiling. Racial profiling and residential segregation are the basis of collective racism in today's world. The problem has become quite severe in certain states that anti-profiling statutes had to be brought in place to ensure equality in policing procedures and discourage racial profiling. After the 9/11 incident racial profiling had become rampant with Asians and Arabs being stopped by law enforcement officers claiming to investigate terrorist activities. Most of these people have clear criminal records and have never before been charged which makes it a humiliating experience causing tension and racist feelings. One of ACLU's first priorities is the fight against racial profiling and the method of substituting the colour of the skin as grounds

Friday, October 18, 2019

Human Resource Management 323 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Resource Management 323 - Essay Example In Canada, worker’s compensation system can be regarded as the first social program which was incorporated so as to favor employers and worker’s group in order to avoid any form of lawsuits. The system was majorly introduced in the state after an inquiry conducted by William Meredith who was Ontario’s Chief Justice. He even outlined a system on basis of which workers would be compensated for injuries occurring at the workplace but for this privilege workers need to give up their basic right linked with suing their respective employers. This was majorly done so that strong bond can be established between workers and employers and even to enable the required compensation to employees. It can even be stated that state began regulating compensation system of employees since the rate of workplace injuries and accidents were growing at a phenomenal speed. This form of system is a provincial responsibility and hence it varies from one region to another. There are even c ertain places where the principle introduced by Ontario was even termed as Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and this program possessed preventive role ensuring that there is safety in the workplace. These laws were established in 20th century and the major reason behind this was to cope up with social and economic costs associated with industrial accidents. During 19th century, industrial accidents were a major problem and it was handled mainly by the courts. The legal doctrine which was introduced proved to be highly biased in context of employees. This system though resulted into wins of employees who were severely injured but in maximum situation they proved to be unsatisfactory. The reason behind this was ultimately compensation received by employees and their family was relatively less. It can even be stated that regulation imposed by the state in the 20th century was to majorly eliminate any form of injustice done by employers in

Comparing different philosophical theory Assignment

Comparing different philosophical theory - Assignment Example The opposite of determinism is the principle called indeterminism which states that all situations do not have a cause and may occur on their own. The strength of determinism is that it considers human beings as rational decision makers. Determinism accepts that all human being make decisions on the basis of a cost and benefit analysis and then they perform the act. This means that an individual is already aware of the negative outcomes of an act even before he performs that act. Another strong point of determinism is that it is quite scientific in nature. The weakness of determinism is that it does not explain why certain events may have occurred without a preexisting cause. Compatibilism is another philosophical position which is even regarded as soft determinism and this position holds the view that it is true that determinism exist (Russell 381). This means that those philosophers following this principle accept that every action has a preexisting cause. It even states that all the actions that are performed by an individual are controlled by an individual’s desire. The theory rejects the claim that individuals have a freedom of willingness and that individuals actually are free. This means that an act performed by an individual is only free to the degree that an individual is not being limited by external forces. The theory even states that all activities that are performed by an individual take place due to a particular condition that is being experienced by the individual and this condition is regarded as desire. The strength of this theory is that it believes that human actions are governed by their mental state. This helps in explaining w hy a particular human being performed a particular negative or positive action. It even helps in understanding why a person who follows and accepts moral standards end up performing ethically correct acts while a person who lacks morals indulge in unethical activities. The weakness of the theory is

Ford Pinto Product Liability Case Research Paper - 1

Ford Pinto Product Liability Case - Research Paper Example This was after the Ford Pinto car model by the Ford Company was involved in the death and serious injury of two persons in Indiana State. Consequently, this paper undertakes a review of the product liability that was held against Ford Motor Company. In 1970s, Ford Motor Company introduced a new car model on the market to compete against the Japanese and German imported vehicles that were on a rising popularity in the market. The new car model was known as the Ford Pinto which designed as a viable substitute to the fuel efficient and regularly smaller imported cars in the American market (Leggett, 1999). Indeed, the new model was able to sell over three million units throughout its production period. Unfortunately, the growing demand of Ford Pinto car model was hit hard due to an accident that happened on 1972 May. On this day, Lily Gray and a thirteen years old boy Richard Grimshaw were travelling in a Ford Pinto car when they were hit from the back by another car that was at a speed of 30miles per hour. Unfortunately, the impact caused an ignition of fire that killed Lily and caused serious burns on Richard. Consequently, a legal case was brought before the trial court by the Grimshaw family popularly known as Grimshaw vs. Ford Motor Company civil case to seek for compensation of the death and injuries suffered by Lily and Richard respectively (Leggett, 1999). The California law court found the defendant guilty of the death and injuries suffered by the victims. Thus, the defendant was instructed to award $560,000 and $2.5 million to Gray family and Grimshaw respectively. Furthermore, the court ordered the defendant to pay $125 million for punitive damages. This was arrived at after the court was informed of the design failure of the organization in manufacturing the car. The fuel tank of the Ford Pinto car had the weakness of exploding if it was

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013) - Essay Example In this matter, some important points regards privacy policy of various websites are raised which should be considered by the web site owners and visitors. His concentration is highly influenced to increase the level of satisfaction of public in utilization of modern technological resources. Some imperative elements of this documentary are mentioned das under; In this documentary, it is proved that importance of private data of any user is an obvious matter which can not be denied. All websites should make their privacy policy strict and effective for gaining confidence of users in the market. For this purpose, various examples are presented in this documentary which is useful for the web site owners and visitors to manage the private data with surety of security. Accordingly, people can use the web services easily with this satisfaction; this scenario is highly linked with social media sites that are famous among the public highly. In some cases, it is observed that various companies are in the position to finish the age privacy term. With this strategy, social media sites can share their user`s information with third parties; this condition is harmful for the privacy of consumers in the market. With observance of â€Å"Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013)† documentary, people can understand that they should make certain their privacy at the time of usage of social media programs. This is possible with proper concentration of the public and this effort is also producing some favorable results in the communal way of life. According to â€Å"Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013)† people are unsatisfied about privacy policy of websites as this can be incursion any time. This matter is realizable with the consideration of different instances that are managed by arrangement of different interviews and discussions in the market. So, people should be careful in this matter and they should also observe privacy policy time by time. This technique is helpful to

Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Marketing Plan - Essay Example During the initial phase, Lifestyle Electronics will enter the foreign country through joint venture with a local brand (Belu & CÄÆ'rÄÆ'gin, 2008). Another major market advantage rests in the selection of foreign nation. The country selected is Indonesia, a fast-emerging nation with a growing youth population as well as rising income levels. The major strength of Lifestyle Electronics lies in its wide product assortments. The company will source products from big and known brands across United States, which will hugely boost its overall awareness and initial profitability. Most consumer electronics companies are from US and this provides a competitive advantage to the company. Joint venture with a local brand will give an edge over other independent electronics chains, as local consumers will have more trust and faith on the joint venture organization. Being a start-up company, the major weakness will be to establish rapport and build long-term relationship with companies in the foreign market. Consumer electronics is an already established and saturated market and thus, Lifestyle Electronics will have to continuously innovate, in terms of its services as well as communication, in order to gain a competitive edge. Lack of proper market research will also be a challenge for the start-up in order to track the desired customer base. No market reputation or market presence in the foreign market is also a weakness. The cash flow will be hugely unreliable during the early stages of business establishments. Entering into a new market can also make staffs and employees vulnerable to leaves and sickness. Indonesia is considered as a fast-emerging market. However, not many consumer electronics companies have penetrated into this region. Therefore, chances of successful establishments are high. Initial talks with the local council have been positive and the local government will provide

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Ford Pinto Product Liability Case Research Paper - 1

Ford Pinto Product Liability Case - Research Paper Example This was after the Ford Pinto car model by the Ford Company was involved in the death and serious injury of two persons in Indiana State. Consequently, this paper undertakes a review of the product liability that was held against Ford Motor Company. In 1970s, Ford Motor Company introduced a new car model on the market to compete against the Japanese and German imported vehicles that were on a rising popularity in the market. The new car model was known as the Ford Pinto which designed as a viable substitute to the fuel efficient and regularly smaller imported cars in the American market (Leggett, 1999). Indeed, the new model was able to sell over three million units throughout its production period. Unfortunately, the growing demand of Ford Pinto car model was hit hard due to an accident that happened on 1972 May. On this day, Lily Gray and a thirteen years old boy Richard Grimshaw were travelling in a Ford Pinto car when they were hit from the back by another car that was at a speed of 30miles per hour. Unfortunately, the impact caused an ignition of fire that killed Lily and caused serious burns on Richard. Consequently, a legal case was brought before the trial court by the Grimshaw family popularly known as Grimshaw vs. Ford Motor Company civil case to seek for compensation of the death and injuries suffered by Lily and Richard respectively (Leggett, 1999). The California law court found the defendant guilty of the death and injuries suffered by the victims. Thus, the defendant was instructed to award $560,000 and $2.5 million to Gray family and Grimshaw respectively. Furthermore, the court ordered the defendant to pay $125 million for punitive damages. This was arrived at after the court was informed of the design failure of the organization in manufacturing the car. The fuel tank of the Ford Pinto car had the weakness of exploding if it was

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Marketing Plan - Essay Example During the initial phase, Lifestyle Electronics will enter the foreign country through joint venture with a local brand (Belu & CÄÆ'rÄÆ'gin, 2008). Another major market advantage rests in the selection of foreign nation. The country selected is Indonesia, a fast-emerging nation with a growing youth population as well as rising income levels. The major strength of Lifestyle Electronics lies in its wide product assortments. The company will source products from big and known brands across United States, which will hugely boost its overall awareness and initial profitability. Most consumer electronics companies are from US and this provides a competitive advantage to the company. Joint venture with a local brand will give an edge over other independent electronics chains, as local consumers will have more trust and faith on the joint venture organization. Being a start-up company, the major weakness will be to establish rapport and build long-term relationship with companies in the foreign market. Consumer electronics is an already established and saturated market and thus, Lifestyle Electronics will have to continuously innovate, in terms of its services as well as communication, in order to gain a competitive edge. Lack of proper market research will also be a challenge for the start-up in order to track the desired customer base. No market reputation or market presence in the foreign market is also a weakness. The cash flow will be hugely unreliable during the early stages of business establishments. Entering into a new market can also make staffs and employees vulnerable to leaves and sickness. Indonesia is considered as a fast-emerging market. However, not many consumer electronics companies have penetrated into this region. Therefore, chances of successful establishments are high. Initial talks with the local council have been positive and the local government will provide

Canadian Wood Toys INC. Essay Example for Free

Canadian Wood Toys INC. Essay I will begin by highlighting the importance of the audit in assessing the risk and identifying the steps in reducing and mitigating the risk that our company is facing. The impact of the risks on global business it is dramatic in our days, changing the entire look of the industries and financial services. Some risks could be anticipated and identified but some could not. Companies now are using more and more key steps and principles to better manage the risks by; *** identifying the risks relevant to the organization *** assess the significance and implications of those risks to the business *** identify and establish a process for collaboration on risk mitigation with other organizations and partners *** integrate Enterprise Risk Management into the organization *** focus resources on key risks in order to achieve the organization’s objectives (Source – PricewaterhouseCoopers – effective ERM) Under IAA Standard 2120 – Risk Management: â€Å"The internal audit activity must evaluate the effectiveness and contribute to the improvement of risk management processes. † Practice advisory 2120.C1 states: –â€Å"During consulting engagements, internal auditors must address risk consistent with the engagement’s objectives and be alert to the existence of other significant risks. In manufacturing companies, production is usually the most important aspect of the entire process mostly due to the high cost incurred, the staffing and the complexity of the departments involved – Production is of vital concern to management because of the important risks associated with the process. I have identified some of the most important risks and how to manage the risks to minimize the impact. Along with the  production process, other areas can be identified as posing risks; distribution, finance, human resources †¦ I have identified below some of the risks with the highest impact in our company: KEY RISKSMITIGATON (examples) The risk of manufacturing defective or substandard products Determine the cause of the quality defect (human error or machine) Trend analysis reports to address the recurrence of the defects The risk of missing deadlines for toys deliveries at Christmas time Review the production scheduling to agree with the specific job orders to avoid overproduction of toys that are not scheduled for delivery The risk of labor insecurity; potential strikes Review labor contracts and minimum wage government regulations; negotiations with union and labor boards The risk of unknown competition on international markets Use various econometric and statistical analysis to monitor the movement of market interest The risk of foreign exchange Use a foreign exchange contract Accept payment in one currency only (US) Hedging of foreign exchange Risk of unanticipated or sudden changes in regulations, codes or standards in regards to the exploitation of the wood and equipment and machineries used The company has to be actively involved in the development of regulations, codes and standards to further improve the safety of the equipment The risk of damage to ecology, scenery – due to over exploitation of forestry Use environmental mitigation programs able to protect and restore the forest Government fire protection programs The risk of accidents in the process of transportation of the logs Regular monitoring of the vehicles Checking drivers hours of work – implementing special schedule of hours Risk of loss of licensing for cutting and harvesting the trees Renewal in advance of the licenses, request from government of auditing the harvesting areas The risk of logging and lumbering fire damage and vehicle damage Forestry and timber Insurance that focuses on logging and lumbering, sawmills, automobiles and equipment The risk related to the liquidity and payment schedules which could lead to credit losses Establish rules for tendering, levels of approval authority and rules for credit control The risk of reporting erroneous financial information for internal and external decision Use external appraisers to evaluate fair value of assets and properties Senior managers should assess their financial reports to determine when they require estimates based on significant judgment; And ensure that independent expertise is applied in deriving the reports The risk mitigation step involves development of mitigation plans designed to manage, eliminate, or reduce risk to an acceptable level. Once a plan is implemented, it is continually monitored to assess its efficacy with the intent of revising the course-of-action if needed. I would like to reiterate as stated in the IAA Standards that the organization should fully understand that management remains responsible for risk management. As Internal auditors, we should provide advice, and challenge or support managements decisions on risk, as opposed to making risk management decisions. Below are some of the responsibilities that will not fall under the audit team: †¢ Setting the risk appetite. †¢ Imposing risk management processes. †¢ Management assurance on risks. †¢ Taking decisions on risk responses. †¢ Implementing risk responses on managements behalf. †¢ Accountability for risk management. Question 4 MEMO To: Director of Internal audit Department From: †¦. Assistant Director Internal audit Date: October 06, 2014 CC: As requested, I have prepared a plan for auditing the division of Student Services as part of the Central College Institution. I will detail 6 steps in the audit process but firstly I want to highlight the Standard 2200, Practice Advisory 2200-1 that states the requirements for the engagements planning and outlines the steps. â€Å"Internal auditors must develop and plan for each engagement, including the engagement’s objectives, scope, timing and resource allocations†. â€Å"The Internal auditor plans and conducts the engagement, with supervisory review and approval† 1. The first step is: To obtain specific knowledge of the unit to be audited. In this stage of the process we will gather and review the specific documentation that will help us getting more familiar with the division of food service – residential and campus. Some of the documents we will be reviewing: The annual budget; we have information about how much the overall budget is (8.9mil.); need to know how much is allocated to the food service program and how is spent. Policies and procedures Previous internal audit papers and reports List of the staff; org charts Contracts with food suppliers Documented projects and how the implementation process took place Upon reviewing of the documents we will be able to assess the problems that incurred; it will help us identify any managerial mistakes, any miscommunication between suppliers and management; if there is enough staffing 2. The second step in the audit plan is to: Establish the audit objectives and the scope of the audit. At this stage we need to review all the activities involving food service program step by step. This is to identify areas of weakness, why there are negative reviews; why there is such a small budget allocated to such important segment in the student’s activity in the campus. Also we will be  able to identify whether the appropriate policies and procedures were followed. Is the part time staff working in the 6 food service facilities skilled for the specific job they do? Why there is only part time staffing and no full time jobs; if there are enough employees considering the large division of food service included 6 cafeterias and restaurants plus residential food service. 3. The following step is: The audit methodology. In this stage of the audit process we will be able to gather additional information by interviewing individuals involved in all aspects of the student services division. We will be asking questions in order to determine if there are possible weaknesses that can have a major impact of the effectiveness of the operating and managing the 6 restaurants and cafeterias as well as the residential food service. We will be interviewing the part time staff about the schedule they have, if there are any complaints, if there is enough coverage at specific time of the day i.e. morning and lunch for the cafeterias and the restaurants. We will be interviewing the students and teachers about the hours of operation of the locations of the food service – they should be open late and they are actually closing early. We will be asking questions about the meal plans and find out if there is anything to improve on 4. The next step is: Determine the audit criteria. This very important step in the audit program will help us identify some of the criteria we can use in order to better assess the practices in the food service division. Budgeting The food service division must have a well established budget and a cost control in place and overseen by qualified staff. Price Management There should be a price verification policy in place to manage better the price of meals provided by the restaurants and the cafeteria – in comparison to other food providers around the campus (beat the price) Staffing there must be a criteria that analyze and conform with the labor standards –  achieve and surpass the minimum wage for the part time employees Food Quality and diversity there should be put in place a more divers meal plan based on the requirements and suggestions from the customers (students –divers ethnicity) new standards for nutritional meals are put in place and need to be followed Food locations management the standards for cleanliness and sanitation that are put in place need to be followed surveys will be handed out or on line surveys to measure the customer satisfaction 5. The following step is: Preparing staffing plans and time budgets At this stage in the audit plan we are dealing with establishing the budget necessary to accomplish the audit scope and the staff required to accomplish the plan in a timely manner. Since we are dealing with specifics in food industry – we have identified areas where there is not enough expertise from our team; therefore we require an additional external consultant (possible a nutritionist that possess the necessary knowledge). For the satisfaction survey we will be using the expertise of the actual marketing staff from the service department to create and implement the survey. 6. The next step is: Communication with management Subsequently, the audit plan needs to be discussing with the management. We will set up time for a meeting with the management to discuss the details over the purpose of the audit. We need to discuss further about the time allocated to the audit plan and go over each proposal for the relevant criteria that was chosen. In the meeting we will highlight the importance of the management active contribution and support to the audit process.