SOCIAL SCIENCE (PATIENT NARRATIVE) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

SOCIAL SCIENCE (PATIENT NARRATIVE) - Essay Example models â€Å"chronic diseases have become more important than the persons who harbor them.† However, there have been shifts to models that consider other factors such as social, psychological and environmental in shaping the context of a disease and illness. An example is the bio-psychosocial model which acknowledges that in a disease context, there are many factors such as behaviour and attitude towards the illness, social as well as psychological factors (Engel, 2012). The narratives from the patients are today extensively applied to explore the patient experiences with illness (Charon 2001; Kleinman 1988). Management of chronic diseases (Huyse, et al., 1999) require a holistic approach where both the patient and the medical team share feelings and emotional characteristics influencing the conditions experienced in the life of the patient. In this assignment, a patient’s story on his experience with diabetes will be explored with an aim to construct the cultural, soci al and psychological meaning and locate the facts in contemporary theoretical perspectives. The real names and hospital where the patient, whose narrative is to be used in this analysis, was encountered have been altered to comply with the NMC guidelines and policies of confidentiality (NMC, 2008). During my placement this year, a 52 year old man, Mr. Browns, walked into our clinic to seek medical attention on his wanting chronic condition. Mr. Browns showed symptoms such as occasional tiredness. He passed out a lot of urine and was continuously in thirst. He had a huge body size which made him feel more tired. He occasionally complained to be allowed to prostrate on the coach as he conversed rather than sitting as other patients did. Mr. Browns was born in London where he lives to date. These symptoms clearly linked Mr. Browns’ condition to type 2 diabetes (Blaxter, 1983). Upon further diagnosis, Mr. Browns’ diabetic condition was found to have escalated to almost severe states and required

Three theories about Congress Essay Example for Free

Three theories about Congress Essay There are at least three ways which lead a representative or a senator to vote for or against a bill or amendment: representational, organizational and attitudinal. Representational is based on the assumption that members want to get re-elected and therefore vote to please their constituents. Organizational is based on the assumption that since most constituents dont know how their senator voted, it is not essential to please them. But it is important to please fellow members of Congress. The attitudinal is based on the assumption that there are so many conflicting pressures on members of Congress that they cancel one another out, leaving them virtually free to vote on the basis of their own beliefs. The representational view has merit under special circumstances, like when the constituents have a clear view on some issue and a legislators vote on that issue will draw much attention. For instance, a legislator from a highly black district wont vote against a civil rights bill for minorities, while representatives with mostly non-minority (white) voters in their district can vote whichever way they please on the issue. Foreign policy is generally remote from the daily interest of most Americans and the public changes opinions on it rather rapidly. The constituents and the legislator vote differently for the most part on foreign policy. When an issue arouses deep passion among voters, it is necessary for the legislator to go in accordance with the majority constituents, despite his or her personal convictions if he or she wants to be re-elected. The general problem with representational explanation is that public opinion is not strong and clear on most measures on which the Congress votes. Many representatives and senators face constituencies that are divided on key issues. The organizational view deals more with legislators voting in accordance to cues provided by other legislators. Party plays a principle role in cues, most legislators will vote according to their partys will. But party and other organizations do not have clear positions on all matters. For most, a legislator is likely to be influenced by members of his or her party on the sponsoring committee. If there is no obvious liberal or conservative position on the matter the legislator takes a cue from the committee reviewing the bill. If they vote for it, so does the legislator, against it,  so is the legislator. If the vote is split, the legislator will vote the same manner as another legislator with similar beliefs (maybe he knows more about the bill than you do, you were sleeping through the last hearing). The attitudinal view is based on the individual legislators personal ideology. Where party splits, it is up the legislator to make the decision. Often times, senators from the same state may have widely differing opinions on certain issues based upon his or her ideology. A legislator who is a liberal Republican may vote democratic on some issues, and a conservative Democrat may vote republican on other issues.

Factors that Inform Reward Decisions

Factors that Inform Reward Decisions Assess the context of the reward environment and the key perspectives that inform reward decisions. In this section, you should: Use an appropriate analysis tool to identify the internal and external factors. Analyse the impact of business drivers and related factors on reward decisions. Give examples of different ways of gathering and presenting reward intelligence. An Introduction to the Company of B W Plant Hire and Sales Ltd B W Plant Hire and Sales Ltd was founded in 1994 by Bill Whitwell; Bill has over 40 years experience in the plant hire industry. His son Will, who is also from a plant hire background, joined him in the business in 1998. The company has grown steadily since then by supplying clients with a service they believe cannot be beaten. B W pride themselves in being readily available for advice and help when problems arise on site. Bill and Will now have in place a management team and workforce that mirrors their values, but still lead from the front line. B W are a plant hire company which hires plant (Excavators, Dumpers, Rollers, trenching) B W have 4 depots across the country Blackburn is head office where it all started, in 2004 B W started Bingley Depot now Keighley Depot, in 2006 B W started Southampton Depot, then in 2012 they bought Northwich Depot B W have been trading over 20 years in which time the company has grown and downsized because of the recession in 2008 now they are growing again. From a personal point I, have been with the company since Jan 2002 when there were on 6 employees they now have 73 employees and 30 subcontractors. Turnover is growing year on year. The purpose and goals of the Company is to make Profit and become one of the largest privately owned (Ltd) plant hire companies in the Northwest of England. The Company offers the service of Plant hire self-drive and operated plant along with sales of plant. The Company`s main customers are Civil Engineers, house builders, councils and general builders. External and Internal Environmental AnalysisThis environmental analysis will provide a complete external environmental image designed to provide B W with the tools needed to identify the Company`s strength and weaknesses. This is including an assessment of the company resources. This analysis will assess the company`s competitive position and possibilities of growth. An explanation of how the external environment affects B W structure and company performance. A PESTLE analysis is a framework used to monitor the external marketing environment of which provides an overview of the main external factors currently having an impact on the Company PESTLE see appendices 1 Auto enrolment the company `s staging date was 1st January 2016. It is a compulsory requirement of all companies to automatically enrol employees who are eligible by 2018 This is a saving scheme for when employee`s retire and has tax relief. Employers must either have one of their own (stakeholder pension) or a government back one or have a specialist pension provider. We have a government backed pension scheme called The Pension People (Thepensionsregulator.gov.uk. (2016). Stakeholder pensions |) This became law in October 2012 by 2018 all employed people should be in a workplace pension. This came about as people are living longer than the 3 score years and ten (70). the retirement age is going to go up between December 2018 and October 2020, the retirement age for both men and women will rise to 66. From 2018 to 2020 the state pension age for both men and women will start rising to 67. The governments pot of National insurance has been depleted so when the younger generation come to retire there will be no monies left in the pot (Social). The government decided to push people into saving for retirement by making it law for companies to compulsory join an auto enrolment scheme where by employee`s put 1% of their annual earning with tax relief and the company pays 1% eventually growing too minimum of 5% (political social and legal). The influence on the company and impact on reward strategy is Bonuses and pay rises have been effected by the company, by not increasing remuneration the 1% the company must pay into the pension scheme is a pay rise to the employee. This in turn also influences company growth as the employer must find this from somewhere i.e. profits (Economic) it is also seen by most companies as another tax but beneficial to the employee. Kiddie vouchers (Social and economic) We as a company have a young workforce at present, to help keep them we have introduced kiddie vouchers. This is a benefit that lets parents make substantial savings against the cost of their childcare. This works by Parents can receive up to  £55pw or  £243pm of childcare vouchers from their employer, free of tax and National Insurance. Compared to receiving earnings as salary or dividends, using childcare vouchers can save parents hundreds of pounds each year. Swapping taxable pay for tax-free childcare vouchers typically saves basic-rate taxpayers up to  £933 a year. At the same time, this simple swap saves employers up to  £402 a year per scheme member in employer National Insurance contributions. The impact on the company and the strategy the company has lower PAYE to pay to the HMRC this also helps the employee as they are not taxed as much. The cost of putting this in place is 2% so the company and the employee win. The employee sees this as an extra reward hopefully it will help to keep them employed with the company. The business SWOT see appendices 2 Mission statement this links in with how the company is driven and reward Mission Statement The aim of B W is to provide a service which goes beyond the expectations of their customers through the exceptional service of the staff accordingly who are highly equipped, motivated, trained and competent. B W support their customers with whatever the application, with market leading products and knowledge. The comprehensive fleet of modern machinery they provide is compliant with up to date legislation and regulations. Vision B W are committed to continually improving and aim to provide their customers with a reliable service. B W`s aim is to always satisfy the demand and become the customers only hire/sales supplier of quality Values The work practices and methods are undertaken and managed safely and cost effectively. B W are seeking to be an excellent employer, service provider, and customer. The directors recognise that B W`s staff are one of the most important assets to the company. To that end the company endeavours to reward staff who perform well and prove to be a good advert for the company. B W expect the best and so should B W`s customers and clients. The values of the company indicate the training and development for all employees, the employees are the most important asset to the company, this can be a motivator to the employees (the company is only as good as its staff) The rewards are a bonus paid half yearly to the senior management team this is if the net profit is over 10% of turnover then 1% of the net profit is divided by 5 (a substantial amount of money). B W pay over the national minimum wage. The employees are based on experience and the value they bring to the company if the company employ a fitter the average wage is  £12.00 per hour, B W start them on  £10.00 with 3 months probation after which time their pay will increase (they need to prove their worth) this is the same for HGV drivers but a different rate. The company also have a depot in Southampton the employees in the south are paid 2% more than in the north as the standard of living is more in the south. The driver of the business is growth while B W are tendering for operated plant they also need skilled plant drivers that hold a CSCS card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) (legal obligation) this provides proof that the card holder has had training and is qualified to carry out the work intended. this could potentially be a large cost to the company CSCS card holders must complete training every 3 years. This is a reward to the employee the card belongs to the employee and can take it with them if they leave. The demand for plant is high now -the company are investing heavily the latest new kit/ plant to promote growth. B W will procced this way until there is a downturn in the economy. There is a healthy competition around now. B W offer customers the latest kit/plant along with competitive costs and good customer service, so they can plan their work. Theories for reward management see appendices 3 Economic theory, this considers wage rates that are determined by the supply of labour and the demand of this labour from employers, if there is a shortness of labour, there is an increase in wages for that sector A shortage of skills is a source of aggravation to companies and, when acute, it is likely to hinder the quality and quantity of their output. Companies can be accustomed to being limited by their capacity to find buyers for their products, not by their capacity to produce products. When companies have, buyers waiting, but cannot produce enough to satisfy the demand because they cannot recruit sufficient skilled workers, they interpret this as a failure of the skills development system. Skill shortages, the cause can be a general under-investment in skills development; rapid structural changes to be combined with low levels of overall unemployment; a recurrent surge in employment in a part of the economy; and spots of weakness in the training system. Employers could find that they are unable to attract the workers they want because the pay and working conditions on offer are unattractive. The supply of workers with a skill is difficult to measure for several of the following reasons. What is important is not just the number of people, but also the number of hours they are willing to work. While some people work long hours, many others work part-time. Within an occupation, there may be specialised sub-sets of skills or locations having difficulty recruiting, while other areas are not. As noted above, vacancies may go unfilled, not because there is no one available who can do the job, but because the wages and conditions on offer are unattractive. Within every skill group, there is a range of ability-from exceptional to ordinary. This variation in quality is important to employers, but not observable in measures of labour supply. Many people work in jobs that do not directly use their formal qualifications; alternatively, they may be of working age but are not seeking employment. (files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED495918.pdf) B W have a shortage of plant fitters and HGV drivers. Tight Labour market This is an area of economic exchange in which workers seek jobs and employers seek workers. A tight labour market has more jobs than workers. In a loose labour market, has more workers than jobs. While parts of the construction and manufacturing sectors have been suffering from skills shortages leading to recruitment difficulties and higher pay, there is growing evidence that this is becoming a more widespread issue. Institutional theories of reward open system approach to setting wage levels environmental factors influence wage levels employers influence employees attitudes and behaviours by way of offering a wage premium to attract labour. Human capital theory. The workers invest in themselves by education and training. the higher the individual capital the higher the return in terms of pay and the benefits for the company Benchmark The need to benchmark the company`s benefits and allowances against those of other employers could be for several different reasons, from conducting an annual pay review to recruiting to a new position. B W rely on other local plant hire companies for information on the hourly rate of fitters and drivers, this can be an unreliable source. Thus, so by pushing rates up to attract potential employees moving around the industry Examples of different ways of gathering and presenting reward intelligence Exit Interviews this is by having a meeting with the departing employee and HR. the advantages are to establish trends within the company Sample size may be small. Thedisadvantages are the employee may not always give the full and accurate reason why they are leaving. Absence, this monitors sickness absence the advantages are it could highlight problem areas where by an employee feels they do want to come to work, rather than there is actual sickness. Disadvantages. This is not always an indicator of issues as may be seasonal (flu) Recruitment Difficulties, the company can find it difficult to recruit what should be available skills in the market. The advantages are it highlights potential short fall in company reward in comparison with local competitors. The disadvantages are a Poor reward is not the only reason people do not want to work for a company. Attitude Surveys this is normally an annual confidential survey for all employeesAdvantages: this highlights several issues including reward.   It Samples the whole company. It can monitor changes in attitude. The disadvantages are none Retention FiguresData on company leavers the advantages are changes in retention can indicate possible reward issues. The disadvantages are leavers are not always reward related. Salary survey this provides the necessary market data to build competitive pay structures for the company, the two most commonly referenced are: Ensuring the plans are internally equitable, and Ensuring the plans are externally competitive. The advantages are to determine if employees are receiving a fair and competitive wage. The survey output is data on the average or median salary for a specific position, taking into consideration the region, industry, company size, etc. Input data is aggregated directly from an employer or employee these companies are well-established on the market and have already created a reputation. Brands such as PayWell (PricewaterhouseCoopers/PwC), AON Hewitt, Mercer and the Hay Group are recognised by nearly all human resources and remuneration specialists. The disadvantages are Non-current data salary surveys based on data from employers aggregate input information over a matter of months. The standard data aggregation period is 3 to 4 months. Processing follows, which may take another 2 months. Companies may only receive the data they need after a half-year delay. The labour market changes over this time, in times of economic growth, and the data is no longer up-to-date after aggregation, processing and evaluation. (hr-guide.com/Compensation/Salary_Surveys.htm) Internal Business FactorsBy looking at company profit, sales and forecasts, what the business can afford. The advantages are job security keeps the company profitable the disadvantages are poor performance the company may not be able to afford the best candidates for the jobs- (Good work ain`t cheap, cheap work ain`t good). Bibliography http://employee-benefit.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/achieving-aims-reward-management.html. (2016, nov 10). http://employee-benefit.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/achieving-aims-reward-management.html. Retrieved from http://employee-benefit.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/achieving-aims-reward-management.html http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dealing-Employees-1641/2015/2/wages-salary-administration.htm. (2016, dec 10). http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dealing-Employees-1641/2015/2/wages-salary-administration.htm. Retrieved from http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dealing-Employees-1641/2015/2/wages-salary-administration.htm http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED495918.pdf. (2016, dec 11). http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED495918.pdf. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED495918.pdf: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED495918.pdf http://rewardsconsulting.co.uk/resources/articles/what-is-reward-strategy/. (2016, dec 11). http://rewardsconsulting.co.uk/resources/articles/what-is-reward-strategy/. Retrieved from http://rewardsconsulting.co.uk/resources/articles/what-is-reward-strategy/: http://rewardsconsulting.co.uk/resources/articles/what-is-reward-strategy/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34393334. (2016, dec 11). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34393334: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34393334 http://www.cipd.co.uk/nr/rdonlyres/9b0fb658-ebef-43a2-839f-6c7aa5973f9d/0/9781843982272_sc.. (2016, oct 30). http://www.cipd.co.uk/nr/rdonlyres/9b0fb658-ebef-43a2-839f-6c7aa5973f9d/0/9781843982272_sc.. Retrieved from http://www.cipd.co.uk/nr/rdonlyres/9b0fb658-ebef-43a2-839f-6c7aa5973f9d/0/9781843982272_sc..: http://www.cipd.co.uk/nr/rdonlyres/9b0fb658-ebef-43a2-839f-6c7aa5973f9d/0/9781843982272_sc.. http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/system/files/resources/files/mp84.pdf. (2016, oct 16). Retrieved from http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/system/files/resources/files/mp84.pdf: http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/system/files/resources/files/mp84.pdf http://www.hr-guide.com/Compensation/Salary_Surveys.htm. (2016, dec 11). http://www.hr-guide.com/Compensation/Salary_Surveys.htm. Retrieved from http://www.hr-guide.com/Compensation/Salary_Surveys.htm: http://www.hr-guide.com/Compensation/Salary_Surveys.htm http://www.hrvoice.org/the-role-of-line-managers-in-achieving-a-successful-rewards-program/. (2016, dec 19). http://www.hrvoice.org/the-role-of-line-managers-in-achieving-a-successful-rewards-program/. Retrieved from http://www.hrvoice.org/the-role-of-line-managers-in-achieving-a-successful-rewards-program/ http://www.kiddivouchers.com/. (2016, oct 10). http://www.kiddivouchers.com/. Retrieved from http://www.kiddivouchers.com/: http://www.kiddivouchers.com/ http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-1679780/New-state-pension-age-retire.html. (2016, oct 16). http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-1679780/New-state-pension-age-retire.html. Retrieved from http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-1679780/New-state-pension-age-retire.html: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-1679780/New-state-pension-age-retire.html http://www2.cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/D8F8A7DC-D97B-4CE2-84FB-C48516FDB33B/0/SC.pdf. (2016, dec 19). http://www2.cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/D8F8A7DC-D97B-4CE2-84FB-C48516FDB33B/0/SC.pdf. Retrieved from http://www2.cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/D8F8A7DC-D97B-4CE2-84FB-C48516FDB33B/0/SC.pdf https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/people/pay/structures-factsheet. (2016, dec 11). pay structure. Retrieved from https://www.cipd.co.uk: https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/people/pay/structures-factsheet https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/people/pay/structures-factsheet#8105. (2016, dec 16). https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/people/pay/structures-factsheet#8105. Retrieved from https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/people/pay/structures-factsheet#8105 https://www.coursehero.com/file/18582381/Michael-Armstrong-A-Handbook-of-Employee-Reward-BookSeeorgpdf/. (2016, dec 19). https://www.coursehero.com/file/18582381/Michael-Armstrong-A-Handbook-of-Employee-Reward-BookSeeorgpdf/. Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/file/18582381/Michael-Armstrong-A-Handbook-of-Employee-Reward-BookSeeorgpdf/ https://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/publications/all-publications/what-is-a-skill-shortage. (2016, dec 11). https://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/publications/all-publications/what-is-a-skill-shortage. Retrieved from https://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/publications/all-publications/what-is-a-skill-shortage: https://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/publications/all-publications/what-is-a-skill-shortage https://www.payscale.com/about/methodology. (2016, dec 11). https://www.payscale.com/about/methodology. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com/about/methodology: https://www.payscale.com/about/methodology https://www.scribd.com/document/181548517/CIPD-Ch-L-5-Org-Dev-And-Reward-pdf. (2016, nov 10). https://www.scribd.com/document/181548517/CIPD-Ch-L-5-Org-Dev-And-Reward-pdf. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/181548517/CIPD-Ch-L-5-Org-Dev-And-Reward-pdf https://www.scribd.com/presentation/258020586/Lecture-10-Reward-Management. (2016, nov 10). https://www.scribd.com/presentation/258020586/Lecture-10-Reward-Management. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/presentation/258020586/Lecture-10-Reward-Management: https://www.scribd.com/presentation/258020586/Lecture-10-Reward-Management www.independentage.org/pension. (2016, oct 09). www.independentage.org/pension. Retrieved from www.independentage.org/pension: www.independentage.org/pension

The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West Essay -- Day Locust nathanael

The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West In The Day of the Locust, Tod Hackett undergoes an internal development relative to his migration. Tod, an architect living in Connecticut, moves out to Hollywood to build scenery for movies. Yet, once he moves, Tod is transformed into a lethargic, non-artist who can no longer create his own drawings on paper. His surroundings drive these changes, as all characters in the novel are depicted in a similar fashion. Tod becomes one of the grotesque as well, laughing at the disturbing rather than the humorous. These new features signal Tod’s incapacity to return to his old self, as he constantly suffers from his migration. This comes full circle at the end of the novel when Tod is led away from the mob scene at the Hollywood premiere: â€Å"He was carried through the exit to the back street and lifted into a police car. The siren began to scream and at first he thought he was making the noise himself. He felt his lips with his hands. They were clamped tight. He knew then it was the siren. For some reason this made him laugh and he began to imitate the siren as loud as he could.† (185) This excerpt depicts Tod’s migration in full: from an active artist to a grotesque and lazy Californian who will never recover from his experience. Tod’s movement into the police car parallels his transformation to laziness in Los Angeles. When the National Films talent scout carries him off to Hollywood to learn set and costume design, Tod disregards the unusual fact that he is â€Å"hired by telegram† rather than in person (60). This provides a clue early in the novel into the indolent nature of Los Angeles that will eventually cause his own laziness. Even after only three months of living in Hollywood, ... ... artistic vision and the disorganization relating to the Hollywood mob. Ultimately, Tod can no longer recuperate from the brutal crowd and the cacophonous sound of the siren. Instead, he loses his artist status by conforming to the status quo, more specifically, becoming like all the people he wants to paint. In The Day of the Locust, Tod Hackett evolves from an innovative architect to a lethargic imitator. Tod likens the other people in his painting of the destruction of Los Angeles to a grotesque, jarring mob. The final scene in the police car perfectly captures this transformation as the police carry a laughing, siren-screaming Tod off away from the Hollywood premiere. Unfortunately, Tod can never recover as his artistic abilities have been destroyed through migration. His migration is thus complete and final; he has truly become a hopeless Californian. The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West Essay -- Day Locust nathanael The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West In The Day of the Locust, Tod Hackett undergoes an internal development relative to his migration. Tod, an architect living in Connecticut, moves out to Hollywood to build scenery for movies. Yet, once he moves, Tod is transformed into a lethargic, non-artist who can no longer create his own drawings on paper. His surroundings drive these changes, as all characters in the novel are depicted in a similar fashion. Tod becomes one of the grotesque as well, laughing at the disturbing rather than the humorous. These new features signal Tod’s incapacity to return to his old self, as he constantly suffers from his migration. This comes full circle at the end of the novel when Tod is led away from the mob scene at the Hollywood premiere: â€Å"He was carried through the exit to the back street and lifted into a police car. The siren began to scream and at first he thought he was making the noise himself. He felt his lips with his hands. They were clamped tight. He knew then it was the siren. For some reason this made him laugh and he began to imitate the siren as loud as he could.† (185) This excerpt depicts Tod’s migration in full: from an active artist to a grotesque and lazy Californian who will never recover from his experience. Tod’s movement into the police car parallels his transformation to laziness in Los Angeles. When the National Films talent scout carries him off to Hollywood to learn set and costume design, Tod disregards the unusual fact that he is â€Å"hired by telegram† rather than in person (60). This provides a clue early in the novel into the indolent nature of Los Angeles that will eventually cause his own laziness. Even after only three months of living in Hollywood, ... ... artistic vision and the disorganization relating to the Hollywood mob. Ultimately, Tod can no longer recuperate from the brutal crowd and the cacophonous sound of the siren. Instead, he loses his artist status by conforming to the status quo, more specifically, becoming like all the people he wants to paint. In The Day of the Locust, Tod Hackett evolves from an innovative architect to a lethargic imitator. Tod likens the other people in his painting of the destruction of Los Angeles to a grotesque, jarring mob. The final scene in the police car perfectly captures this transformation as the police carry a laughing, siren-screaming Tod off away from the Hollywood premiere. Unfortunately, Tod can never recover as his artistic abilities have been destroyed through migration. His migration is thus complete and final; he has truly become a hopeless Californian.

Foundation and Empire 21. Interlude In Space

The blockade was run successfully. In the vast volume of space, not all the navies ever in existence could keep their watch in tight proximity. Given a single ship, a skillful pilot, and a moderate degree of luck, and there are holes and to spare. With cold-eyed calm, Toran drove a protesting vessel from the vicinity of one star to that of another. If the neighborhood of great mass made an interstellar jump erratic and difficult, it also made the enemy detection devices useless or nearly so. And once the girdle of ships had been passed the inner sphere of dead space, through whose blockaded sub-ether no message could be driven, was passed as well. For the first time in over three months Toran felt unisolated. A week passed before the enemy news programs dealt with anything more than the dull, self-laudatory details of growing control over the Foundation. It was a week in which Toran's armored trading ship fled inward from the Periphery in hasty jumps. Ebling Mis called out to the pilot room and Toran rose blink-eyed from his charts. â€Å"What's the matter?† Toran stepped down into the small central chamber which Bayta had inevitably devised into a living room. Mis shook his head, â€Å"Bescuppered if I know. The Mule's newsmen are announcing a special bulletin. Thought you might want to get in on it.† â€Å"Might as well. Where's Bayta?† â€Å"Setting the table in the diner and picking out a menuor some such frippery.† Toran sat down upon the cot that served as Magnifico's bed, and waited. The propaganda routine of the Mule's â€Å"special bulletins† were monotonously similar. First the martial music, and then the buttery slickness of the announcer. The minor news items would come, following one another in patient lock step. Then the pause. Then the trumpets and the rising excitement and the climax. Toran endured it. Mis muttered to himself. The newscaster spilled out, in conventional war-correspondent phraseology, the unctuous words that translated into sound the molten metal and blasted flesh of a battle in space. â€Å"Rapid cruiser squadrons under Lieutenant General Sammin hit back hard today at the task force striking out from Iss-† The carefully expressionless face of the speaker upon the screen faded into the blackness of a space cut through by the quick swaths of ships reeling across emptiness in deadly battle. The voice continued through the soundless thunder â€Å"The most striking action of the battle was the subsidiary combat of the heavy cruiser Cluster against three enemy ships of the ‘Nova' class-â€Å" The screen's view veered and closed in. A great ship sparked and one of the frantic attackers glowed angrily, twisted out of focus, swung back and rammed. The Cluster bowed wildly and survived the glancing blow that drove the attacker off in twisting reflection. The newsman's smooth unimpassioned delivery continued to the last blow and the last hulk. Then a pause, and a large similar voice-and-picture of the fight off Mnemon, to which the novelty was added of a lengthy description of a hit-and-run landing – the picture of a blasted city – huddled and weary prisoners – and off again. Mnemon had not long to live. The pause again – and this time the raucous sound of the expected brasses. The screen faded into the long, impressively soldier-lined corridor up which the government spokesman in councilor's uniform strode quickly. The silence was oppressive. The voice that came at last was solemn, slow and hard: â€Å"By order of our sovereign, it is announced that the planet, Haven, hitherto in warlike opposition to his will, has submitted to the acceptance of defeat. At this moment, the forces of our sovereign are occupying the planet. Opposition was scattered, unco-ordinated, and speedily crushed.† The scene faded out, the original newsman returned to state importantly that other developments would be transmitted as they occurred. Then there was dance music, and Ebling Mis threw the shield that cut the power. Toran rose and walked unsteadily away, without a word. The psychologist made no move to stop him. When Bayta stepped out of the kitchen, Mis motioned silence. He said, â€Å"They've taken Haven.† And Bayta said, â€Å"Already?† Her eyes were round, and sick with disbelief. â€Å"Without a fight. Without an unprin-† He stopped and swallowed. â€Å"You'd better leave Toran alone. It's not pleasant for him. Suppose we eat without him this once.† Bayta looked once toward the pilot room, then turned hopelessly. â€Å"Very well!† Magnifico sat unnoticed at the table. He neither spoke nor ate but stared ahead with a concentrated fear that seemed to drain all the vitality out of his thread of a body. Ebling Mis pushed absently at his iced-fruit dessert and said, harshly, â€Å"Two Trading worlds fight. They fight, and bleed, and die and don't surrender. Only at Haven – Just as at the Foundation-â€Å" â€Å"But why? Why?† The psychologist shook his head. â€Å"It's of a piece with all the problem. Every queer facet is a hint at the nature of the Mule. First, the problem of how he could conquer the Foundation, with little blood, and at a single blow essentially – while the Independent Trading Worlds held out. The blanket on nuclear reactions was a puny weapon – we've discussed that back and forth till I'm sick of it – and it did not work on any but the Foundation. â€Å"Randu suggested,† and Ebling's grizzly eyebrows pulled together, â€Å"it might have been a radiant Will-Depresser. It's what might have done the work on Haven. But then why wasn't it used on Mnemon and Iss – which even now fight with such demonic intensity that it is taking half the Foundation fleet in addition to the Mule's forces to beat them down. Yes, I recognized Foundation ships in the attack.† Bayta whispered, â€Å"The Foundation, then Haven. Disaster seems to follow us, without touching. We always seem to get out by a hair. Will it last forever?† Ebling Mis was not listening. To himself, he was making a point. â€Å"But there's another problem – another problem. Bayta, you remember the news item that the Mule's clown was not found on Terminus; that it was suspected he had fled to Haven, or been carried there by his original kidnappers. There is an importance attached to him, Bayta, that doesn't fade, and we have not located it yet. Magnifico must know something that is fatal to the Mule. I'm sure of it. â€Å" Magnifico, white and stuttering, protested, â€Å"Sire†¦ noble lord†¦ indeed, I swear it is past my poor reckoning to penetrate your wants. I have told what I know to the utter limits, and with your probe, you have drawn out of my meager wit that which I knew, but knew not that I knew.† â€Å"I know†¦ I know. It is something small. A hint so small that neither you nor I recognize it for what it is. Yet I must find it – for Mnemon and Iss will go soon, and when they do, we are the last remnants, the last droplets of the independent Foundation.† The stars begin to cluster closely when the core of the Galaxy is penetrated. Gravitational fields begin to overlap at intensities sufficient to introduce perturbations in an interstellar jump that can not be overlooked. Toran became aware of that when a jump landed their ship in the full glare of a red giant which clutched viciously, and whose grip was loosed, then wrenched apart, only after twelve sleepless, soul-battering hours. With charts limited in scope, and an experience not at all fully developed, either operationally or mathematically, Toran resigned himself to days of careful plotting between jumps. It became a community project of a sort. Ebling Mis checked Toran's mathematics and Bayta tested possible routes, by the various generalized methods, for the presence of real solutions. Even Magnifico was put to work on the calculating machine for routine computations, a type of work, which, once explained, was a source of great amusement to him and at which he was surprisingly proficient. So at the end of a month, or nearly, Bayta was able to survey the red line that wormed its way through the ship's trimensional model of the Galactic Lens halfway to its center, and say with Satiric relish, â€Å"You know what it looks like. It looks like a ten-foot earth-worm with a terrific case of indigestion. Eventually, you'll land us back in Haven.† â€Å"I will,† growled Toran, with a fierce rustle of his chart, â€Å"if you don't shut up.† â€Å"And at that,† continued Bayta, â€Å"there is probably a route fight through, straight as a meridian of longitude.† â€Å"Yeah? Well, in the first place, dimwit, it probably took five hundred ships five hundred years to work out that route by hit-and-miss, and my lousy half-credit charts don't give it. Besides, maybe those straight routes are a good thing to avoid. They're probably choked up with ships. And besides-â€Å" â€Å"Oh, for Galaxy's sake, stop driveling and slavering so much righteous indignation.† Her hands were in his hair. He yowled, â€Å"Ouch! Let go!† seized her wrists and whipped downward, whereupon Toran, Bayta, and chair formed a tangled threesome on the floor. It degenerated into a panting wrestling match, composed mostly of choking laughter and various foul blows. Toran broke loose at Magnifico's breathless entrance. â€Å"What is it?† The lines of anxiety puckered the clown's face and tightened the skin whitely over the enormous bridge of his nose. â€Å"The instruments are behaving queerly, sir. I have not, in the knowledge of my ignorance, touched anything-â€Å" In two seconds, Toran was in the pilot room. He said quietly to Magnifico, â€Å"Wake up Ebling Mis. Have him come down here.† He said to Bayta, who was trying to get a basic order back to her hair by use of her fingers, â€Å"We've been detected, Bay.† â€Å"Detected?† And Bayta's arms dropped. â€Å"By whom?† â€Å"Galaxy knows,† muttered Toran, â€Å"but I imagine by someone with blasters already ranged and trained.† He sat down and in a low voice was already sending into the sub-ether the ship's identification code. And when Ebling Mis entered, bathrobed and blear-eyed, Toran said with a desperate calm, â€Å"It seems we're inside the borders of a local Inner Kingdom which is called the Autarchy of Filia.† â€Å"Never heard of it,† said Mis, abruptly. â€Å"Well, neither did I,† replied Toran, â€Å"but we're being stopped by a Filian ship just the same, and I don't know what it will involve.† The captain-inspector of the Filian ship crowded aboard with six armed men following him. He was short, thin-haired, thin-lipped, and dry-skinned. He coughed a sharp cough as he sat down and threw open the folio under his arm to a blank page. â€Å"Your passports and ship's clearance, please.† â€Å"We have none,† said Toran. â€Å"None, hey?† he snatched up a microphone suspended from his belt and spoke into it quickly, â€Å"Three men and one woman. Papers not in order.† He made an accompanying notation in the folio. He said, â€Å"Where are you from?† â€Å"Siwenna,† said Toran warily. â€Å"Where is that?† â€Å"Thirty thousand parsecs, eighty degrees west Trantor, forty degrees-â€Å" â€Å"Never mind, never mind!† Toran could see that his inquisitor had written down: â€Å"Point of origin – Periphery.† The Filian continued, â€Å"Where are you going?† Toran said, â€Å"Trantor sector.† â€Å"Purpose?† â€Å"Pleasure trip.† â€Å"Carrying any cargo?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Hm-m-m. We'll check on that.† He nodded and two men jumped to activity. Toran made no move to interfere. â€Å"What brings you into Filian territory?† The Filian's eyes gleamed unamiably. â€Å"We didn't know we were. I lack a proper chart.† â€Å"You will be required to pay a hundred credits for that lack – and, of course, the usual fees required for tariff duties, et cetera.† He spoke again into the microphone – but listened more than he spoke. Then, to Toran, â€Å"Know anything about nuclear technology?† â€Å"A little,† replied Toran, guardedly. â€Å"Yes?† The Filian closed his folio, and added, â€Å"The men of the Periphery have a knowledgeable reputation that way. Put on a suit and come with me.† Bayta stepped forward, â€Å"What are you going to do with him?† Toran put her aside gently, and asked coldly, â€Å"Where do you want me to come?† â€Å"Our power plant needs minor adjustments. He'll come with you.† His pointing finger aimed directly at Magnifico, whose brown eyes opened wide in a blubbery dismay. â€Å"What's he got to do with it?† demanded Toran fiercely. The official looked up coldly. â€Å"I am informed of pirate activities in this vicinity. A description of one of the known thugs tallies roughly. It is a purely routine matter of identification. â€Å" Toran hesitated, but six men and six blasters are eloquent arguments. He reached into the cupboard for the suits. An hour later, he rose upright in the bowels of the Filian ship and raged, â€Å"There's not a thing wrong with the motors that I can see. The busbars are true, the L-tubes are feeding properly and the reaction analysis checks. Who's in charge here?† The head engineer said quietly, â€Å"I am.† â€Å"Well, get me out of here-â€Å" He was led to the officers' level and the small anteroom held only an indifferent ensign. â€Å"Where's the man who came with me?† â€Å"Please wait,† said the ensign. It was fifteen minutes later that Magnifico was brought in. â€Å"What did they do to you?† asked Toran quickly. â€Å"Nothing. Nothing at all.† Magnifico's head shook a slow negative. It took two hundred and fifty credits to fulfill the demands of Filia – fifty credits of it for instant release – and they were in free space again. Bayta said with a forced laugh, â€Å"Don't we rate an escort? Don't we get the usual figurative boot over the border?† And Toran replied, grimly, â€Å"That was no Filian ship – and we're not leaving for a while. Come in here.† They gathered about him. He said, whitely, â€Å"That was a Foundation ship, and those were the Mule's men aboard.† Ebling bent to pick up the cigar he had dropped. He said, â€Å"Here? We're fifteen thousand parsecs from the Foundation. â€Å" â€Å"And we're here. What's to prevent them from making the same trip. Galaxy, Ebling, don't you think I can tell ships apart? I saw their engines, and that's enough for me. I tell you it was a Foundation engine in a Foundation ship.† â€Å"And how did they get here?† asked Bayta, logically. â€Å"What are the chances of a random meeting of two given ships in space?† â€Å"What's that to do with it?† demanded Toran, hotly. â€Å"It would only show we've been followed.† â€Å"Followed?† hooted Bayta. â€Å"Through hyperspace?† Ebling Mis interposed wearily, â€Å"That can be done – given a good ship and a great pilot. But the possibility doesn't impress me.† â€Å"I haven't been masking my trail,† insisted Toran. â€Å"I've been building up take-off speed on the straight. A blind man could have calculated our route.† â€Å"The blazes he could,† cried Bayta. â€Å"With the cockeyed jumps you are making, observing our initial direction didn't mean a thing. We came out of the jump wrong-end forwards more than once.† â€Å"We're wasting time,† blazed Toran, with gritted teeth. â€Å"It's a Foundation ship under the Mule. It's stopped us. It's searched us. It's had Magnifico – alone – with me as hostage to keep the rest of you quiet, in case you suspected. And we're going to bum it out of space right now.† â€Å"Hold on now,† and Ebling Mis clutched at him. â€Å"Are you going to destroy us for one ship you think is an enemy? Think, man, would those scuppers chase us over an impossible route half through the bestinkered Galaxy, look us over, and then let us go?† â€Å"They're still interested in where we're going.† â€Å"Then why stop us and put us on our guard? You can't have it both ways, you know.† â€Å"I'll have it my way. Let go of me, Ebling, or I'll knock you down.† Magnifico leaned forward from his balanced perch on his favorite chair back. His long nostrils flared with excitement. â€Å"I crave your pardon for my interruption, but my poor mind is of a sudden plagued with a queer thought.† Bayta anticipated Toran's gesture of annoyance, and added her grip to Ebling's. â€Å"Go ahead and speak, Magnifico. We will all listen faithfully.† Magnifico said, â€Å"In my stay in their ship what addled wits I have were bemazed and bemused by a chattering fear that befell men. Of a truth I have a lack of memory of most that happened. Many men staring at me, and talk I did not understand. But towards the last – as though a beam of sunlight had dashed through a cloud rift – there was a face I knew. A glimpse, the merest glimmer – and yet it glows in my memory ever stronger and brighter.† Toran said, â€Å"Who was it?† â€Å"That captain who was with us so long a time ago, when first you saved me from slavery.† It had obviously been Magnifico's intention to create a sensation, and the delighted smile that curled broadly in the shadow of his proboscis, attested to his realization of the intention's success. â€Å"Captain†¦ Han†¦ Pritcher?† demanded Mis, sternly. â€Å"You're sure of that? Certain sure now?† â€Å"Sir, I swear,† and he laid a bone-thin hand upon his narrow chest. â€Å"I would uphold the truth of it before the Mule and swear it in his teeth, though all his power were behind him to deny it.† Bayta said in pure wonder, â€Å"Then what's it all about?† The clown faced her eagerly, â€Å"My lady, I have a theory. It came upon me, ready made, as though the Galactic Spirit had gently laid it in my mind.† He actually raised his voice above Toran's interrupting objection. â€Å"My lady,† he addressed himself exclusively to Bayta, â€Å"if this captain had, like us, escaped with a ship; if he, like us, were on a trip for a purpose of his own devising; if he blundered upon us – he would suspect us of following and waylaying him, as we suspect him of the like. What wonder he played this comedy to enter our ship?† â€Å"Why would he want us in his ship, then?† demanded Toran. â€Å"That doesn't fit.† â€Å"Why, yes, it does,† clamored the clown, with a flowing inspiration. â€Å"He sent an underling who knew us not, but who described us into his microphone. The listening captain would be struck at my own poor likeness – for, of a truth there are not many in this great Galaxy who bear a resemblance to my scantiness. I was the proof of the identity of the rest of you.† â€Å"And so he leaves us?† â€Å"What do we know of his mission, and the secrecy thereof? lie has spied us out for not an enemy and having it done so, must he needs think it wise to risk his plan by widening the knowledge thereof?† Bayta said slowly, â€Å"Don't be stubborn, Torie. It does explain things.† â€Å"It could be,† agreed Mis. Toran seemed helpless in the face of united resistance. Something in the clown's fluent explanations bothered him. Something was wrong. Yet he was bewildered and, in spite of himself, his anger ebbed. â€Å"For a while,† he whispered, â€Å"I thought we might have had one of the Mule's ships.† And his eyes were dark with the pain of Haven's loss. The others understood.

Ingredients in Coke and Their Function

Ingredients in Coke and Their Function You probably know that once upon a time Coca-Cola or Coke contained cocaine. What you might not know is that the beverage is still flavored with an extract from the coca leaf and that the cocaine which is extracted from the leaves is sold for medicinal use. The Stepan Company extracts cocaine from the coca leaves, which is sold to Mallinckrodt, the only US company that is licensed to purify cocaine. So... what are the other ingredients in Coke and what do they do? Coke contains a fairly short list of ingredients: Carbonated waterSugar (which can be sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup)CaffeinePhosphoric acid v. caramel (E150d)Natural flavorings (which include coca leaf extract) The purpose of the carbonated water and sugar is obvious, but you may be unaware caramel coloring is also an important flavoring agent... well, unless you ever tried the clear versions of Coke or Pepsi. Theres a good reason those never became popular. Caramel color is a soluble food coloring that is prepared by heat treating carbohydrates. The golden or brown liquid retains a bitter taste and burnt sugar odor. The caffeine is a stimulant, but also contributes a characteristic bitter flavor to the cola. The secret formula of the additional flavorings is known to two executives at Coca-Cola. The original copy of the formula is kept in Atlanta in the SunTrust Banks vault.