Criminal law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Criminal law - Assignment Example I believe that the wearing of the disguises added more intent to the crime. The use of violence also added necessitated the treatment of the crime as an adult offense. Section 8 of the Theft Act 1968 is primarily the law relevant to this case2. Robbery is considered an aggravated form of theft which involves force or the threat of force on a person. The robbery is further aggravated in this case by the wearing of disguises3. In general, the act of Alura includes the various elements of the crime of robbery, where an individual who steals, immediately before or at the time of stealing, uses force or threat of force, on any person, and uses such force or threat of force in order to steal4. The law is accurately portrayed in the article, as the elements of the crimes constituting robbery are presented in the article. What is downplayed however in the discussion is the age of the offender which is below the age of majority. In taking issue with discernment, the fact that the minor was ab le to plan out the crimes and having the foresight and skills to prepare disguises to conceal his identity indicates adequate discernment which should make him liable as an adult offender, therefore be treated and sentenced as such. 2. Graff Diamonds robber Aman Kassaye jailed for 23 years The issue discussed by the article refers to the crime of robbery, the sentence imposed by the courts, and the different aggravating elements which included the commission of the offense. The conspiracy to rob committed by the other conspirators to the crime was also indicated in the article5. I believe that the article covered the major elements pertinent to the robbery. As was discussed in the earlier article, the use of force or the threat or force or violence aggravates theft into robbery6. Moreover, impunity is added to the robbery with the use of disguises to the commission of the crime, hence the sentence of the offenders is in the higher ranges7. The cases of R v. Harding and R v. Eubank d emonstrate the increase in penalty for offenders carrying out armed robberies, with the use of firearms subject to a separate count. The kidnap of the shop assistant also constitutes another crime, which was also treated separately by the court in terms of sentence imposition8. All these elements of the crime combined led to the higher range of sentence imposed on the criminals. The law is more or less accurately portrayed in the article, especially in terms of the higher penalty imposed for the criminals, and the pertinent aggravating circumstances mentioned in the article. The fact that the crime is committed with firearms, with disguises, and with violence indicates elements which the courts would consider in order to establish the existence of the crime of robbery. The article however does not indicate why the sentences are different for the three offenders when they are all conspirators to the same offense. The article also does not mention the damages which were imposed on the different offenders considering that the property stolen amounts to substantial losses for the victims. 3. Gunmen grab diamonds worth ?32m in three minutes The article details the sophistication and the level of deception used by the offenders in order to perpetuate their offense. The article discusses the robbery itself, the use of automatic weapons, the value of the property stolen, and the use of disguises, including the impersonation of police officers in order to carry out the offense9. These details all contribute to the

Lecture Notes Beowulf Essay Example for Free

Lecture Notes Beowulf Essay Genre A heroic folk epic rooted in the oral tradition of the Anglo Saxons, Beowulf is an anonymous poem committed to paper by an unknown Christian monk in 1000 Common Era, some 300 years after it was first composed. The manuscript is part of a document known as Cotton Vitellus A housed in a British Library. Beowulf belongs to the epic genre of long, narrative poems dealing with heroic deeds against a background of war and the supernatural and themes of grandeur and significance. Full of legendary myths and somber, elegiac cadences, it has been composed in the Anglo Saxon vernacular and can be classed amongst other great epics such as the Illiad, Odyssey, Aenied and Paradise Lost to name a few. The name Beowulf is a kenning, Bee-Hunter reflecting the warrior heritage of the central character Basic Plot The poem is eponymously named for its hero Bewoulf, a great warrior and later King, who sets out to rescue King Hrothgar and his people from the monster Grendel. During the course of the poem, we see Beowulf slaying first Grendel and then his revenge seeking mother. Beowulf’s final conflict takes place with the Dragon angered by the plundering of the treasure it is guarding. Structure of the Poem There are three prevailing views as to the structure of the poem: -the structure is defined by the three increasingly difficult conflicts Beowulf faces -the structure can also be viewed in terms of kingship for instance, young Beowulf and old Beowulf with a different set of problems to be faced during each phase -the structure is that of interlacing of memories with narratives of present, a cyclical process of action, memory and reflection Background Although the poem is rooted in the Anglo Saxon as well as early Christian traditions, it reflects two distinct value systems frequently at odds with each other. For instance, in line with its Anglo-Saxon origins, the poem celebrates the Germanic heroic code, which, exemplifying the pagan warrior culture, lays stress upon family ties, genealogy, immortality through fame and revenge for wrongs done to one’s kith and kin. It values ancestral heritage and individual reputation. Christianity, on the other hand, believes in immortality in terms of the afterlife and teaches that vengeance is best left to God. Bewoulf and Grendel Bewoulf is not just a warrior and king. He also serves as a cultural ideal and as an incarnation of Anglo Saxon values and beliefs. The ‘Cain-descended’ Grendel, with his innate desire to tear asunder whatever has integrity, represents chaos and disorder, in contrast to Bewoulf, who represents order and cosmos. Grendel is the ultimate exile. Unferth Unferth acts as a foil to Beowulf by accentuating through contrast the character of the latter. He redeems his earlier verbal taunting (flyting) of Beowulf by offering him his sword in a later conflict. Literary devices/techniques Litotes-understatement e. g, ‘Cain had no pleasure from that find’ Kenning-metaphorical descriptions combining two words to offer evocative alternative to original Caesura-a pause in the line of a poem Alliteration- In language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of a series of words or phrases.

The Banning of Harry Potter at Omaha Christian Academy Essay -- Censor

The Banning of Harry Potter at Omaha Christian Academy Imagine discovering that you’re not an ordinary person, but a wizard with magnificent, magical powers. Imagine attending a school where you’ll study transfiguration and charms instead of trigonometry and chem. Imagine the thrill of flying across the sky on a broomstick. These adventures and many others are waiting to be experienced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by novelist J. K. Rowling. This fanciful and entertaining tale has taken the youth of the nation by storm, and its sales have only been surpassed by the book’s sequels, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Unfortunately, not all children are welcome to enjoy the magic of J.K. Rowling’s literature. Because the books discuss witchcraft and wizardry, some parents and teachers have assumed that the books do not reflect religious teachings and must, therefore, be banned. The Omaha Christian Academy in Omaha, Nebraska has recently banned the sale of Harry Potter books at its book fair and refuses to purchase copies for the classrooms or library. However, the administration at Omaha Christian Academy should not prohibit reading books in the Harry Potter series. Potter Gets Cold Shoulder On October 15, 1999 an article was published in the Omaha World-Herald that angered and agitated devoted fans of Harry Potter. Omahans already knew that the Harry Potter books had been challenged in South Carolina and a few other places across the nation. Now, the controversy over the fantasy stories by J. K. Rowling had hit their home town. Apparently, the administration at Omaha Christian Academy learned of the popularity of the books and... ...The kids who read Harry Potter will not grow up to be antireligious witches and warlocks. They will develop into well-adjusted young adults who have a better understanding of how to be a hero. In order to act in the best interest of their students, the administration at Omaha Christian Academy needs to introduce the Harry Potter books into their school as soon as possible. It’s time that Christian schools be made a safe haven for Harry Potter. Works Cited Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of Enchantment. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1976. Heuscher, Julius. A Psychiatric Study of Myths and Fairy Tales. Illinois: Charles Thomas, 1974. O’Connor, Michael. â€Å"Potter Gets Cold Shoulder.† Omaha World-Herald. 15 October 1999. â€Å"Save Harry Potter!† About.com. 29 October 1999.

Walter Dean Myers: Amazing Author

Raymond Palacio 4/26/12 Period 1 Walter Dean Myers is a well established author who writes compelling stories of the struggles of young adults. Walter Dean Myers became well known by his astounding achievements and amazing literature. A big part of what made Walter who he is today is his early life and how it affected his writing, his first success, his background, how his writing contributed to our youth, the controversies about him, and the fact of should his books be red in a high school.The great quality that Walter Dean Myers possesses is the quality to understand the everyday problems of children young adults; this quality was greatly mastered by events that affected Walter Dean Myers Early life and how this inspired him to write. As a child, Walter Dean Myers had speech impairment in school. This problem with his speech meant that he had trouble reading regular written or printed words. Soon after an incident in class, which involved a speech to the class, Walter Dean Myersâ⠂¬â„¢s teacher noticed that it was much easier for him to read his own written words. This inspired him to write poems and short stories.Later when Walter was seventeen, he dropped out of high school and served in the army for three years. The struggles of being in the army only intensified his love towards writing. Shortly after exiting the army, Walter only had low paying jobs to do such as working in post office, as a messenger, and as a factory interviewer for the New York State Bureau of Labor. To any person; these are all great examples of early life events that affected his writing and his writing style. In 1968, Walter Dean Myers challenged himself to further his love for writing by entering in a children’s book competition geared towards African American writers.Little did he know but, this competition would change his life. Walter Dean Myers decided to enter a book that he wrote called â€Å"Where Does the Day Go? † Walter’s Book won the competition, a nd officially became published and was also Walter’s first success in 1969. Recalling what he said that day,† I won the contest! † said Walter Dean Myers. This was the first and best achievement he has done, and once he did it, he wanted to make this his life’s work. Walter Dean Myers is without question one of the best authors of today even though he had some struggles in his life. Walter was born in the middle of the great depression in 1937.He was a born in a town called Martinsburg, Virginia. Walter’s mother died while giving birth to him, so without hesitation, Walter’s mother’s good friend to adopt. Walter’s new parents changed his middle name from â€Å"Milton† to â€Å"Dean†. Soon after the adoption, Walter and his new parents moved to Harlem in New York City. Walter became accustomed to the city life and was in school. One day in class, Walter’s teacher caught him reading a comic book; he remembered that moment very well. Walter’s teacher took the comic book and ripped it into a million pieces. He was really upset, but she brought him a giant pile of books from her personal library.Walter remembered it being the best thing that ever happened to him. Walter Dean Myers soon became a book worm and grew into a man who loved books and wrote amazing stories of the struggles of young adults. Walter Dean Myers has contributed a lot to our youth. He provides a compelling perspective on the hard-hitting issues faced by at risked teens and young adults. Walter Dean Myers can understand young adults. He makes teens, which read his books; seek to portray the beauty of the African American experience, requiring young adults to question their values and decisions.Walter Dean Myers was also elected the National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature by the Librarian Congress for 2012 and 2013. To meet the criteria, means you have contribution to young adults and relate to children. Tho ugh Walter Dean Myers is an expressful and outspoken author for our youth, some concerned parents raised some controversies about one of Walter dean Myers’s best books, â€Å"Fallen Angles†. This controversy was challenged by Texas, Virginia, Kansas, Illinois, Idaho, and North Carolina. The book was challenged for its racism, offensive language and the violence of war.The book was also challenged for its slang terms for homosexuals. Even the though there were only a few controversies about one of Walter Dean Myers’s books, He still is an intelligent author who understands and relates to young adults. Many schools over go the one question of whether Walter Dean Myers’s books should be read in their high schools. With out a doubt this author is the perfect role model to influence young adults; in what any better way than a high school library. The role of the modern high school library is run by a librarian and this librarian has to go through vigorous amou nts of schooling and English degrees.The librarian decides what should be allowed into the library and is a very influential person when it comes to references and connections to the modern societies’ literature. Our schools sometimes have to ban some books but not many have been banned. If a book is challenged, the book then will go through different stages to determine whether it is truly an inappropriate book for our youth. But with Walter Dean Myers, you will not find a better insight on the struggles of today’s youth. The famous Walter Dean Myers is truly an influential figure and a great author that decisively depicts the struggles of today’s youth and young adults.His work has continuously acknowledged today’s generation of youth and writes compelling struggles of young adults. Walter Dean Myers grew up to be an amazing, aspiring, writer and has truly proven to everyone that he indeed has unlocked that secret to understanding young adults. Anyone r eading one of his books will grasp the terminology and theme of which is written in his multiple award winning books. All in all Walter Dean Myers is and will always be one of the greatest authors of today’s literature aiming for the younger age group, such as young adults and children.

Forward the Foundation Chapter 25

12 Las Zenow said with a certain trace of awe in his voice, â€Å"I didn't know you were so friendly with the Emperor, Professor Seldon.† â€Å"Why not? He's a very democratic fellow for an Emperor and he was interested in my experiences as a First Minister in Cleon's time.† â€Å"It made a deep impression on us all. We haven't had an Emperor in our halls for many years. Generally, when the Emperor needs something from the Library-â€Å" â€Å"I can imagine. He calls for it and it is brought to him as a matter of courtesy.† â€Å"There was once a suggestion,† said Zenow chattily, â€Å"that the Emperor be outfitted with a complete set of computerized equipment in his palace, hooked directly into the Library system, so that he would not need to wait for service. This was in the old days when credits were plentiful, but, you know, it was voted down.† â€Å"Was it?† â€Å"Oh yes, almost the entire Board agreed that it would make the Emperor too much a part of the Library and that this would threaten our independence from the government.† â€Å"And does this Board, which will not bend to honor an Emperor, consent to let me remain at the Library?† â€Å"At the present moment, yes. There is a feeling-and I've done my best to encourage it-that if we are not polite to a personal friend of the Emperor, the chance of a rise in appropriations will be gone altogether, so-â€Å" â€Å"So credits-or even the dim prospect of credits-talk.† â€Å"I'm afraid so.† â€Å"And can I bring in my colleagues?† Zenow looked embarrassed. â€Å"I'm afraid not. The Emperor was seen walking only with you-not with your colleagues. I'm sorry, Professor.† Seldon shrugged and a mood of deep melancholy swept over him. He had no colleague to bring in, anyhow. For some time he had hoped to locate others like Wanda and he had failed. He, too, would need funding to mount an adequate search. And he, too, had nothing. 13 Trantor, the capital world-city of the Galactic Empire, had changed considerably since the day Hari first stepped off the hypership from his native Helicon thirty-eight years ago. Was it the pearly haze of an old man's memory that made the Trantor of old shine so brightly in his mind's eye, Hari wondered. Or perhaps it had been the exuberance of youth-how could a young man from a provincial Outer World such as Helicon not be impressed by the gleaming towers, sparkling domes, the colorful, rushing masses of people that had seemed to swirl through Trantor, day and night. Now, Hari thought sadly, the walkways are nearly deserted, even in the full light of day. Roving gangs of thugs controlled various areas of the city, competing among themselves for territory. The security establishment had dwindled; those who were left had their hands full processing complaints at the central office. Of course, security officers were dispatched as emergency calls came through, but they made it to the scene only after a crime was committed-they no longer made even a pretense of protecting the citizens of Trantor. A person went out at his own risk-and a great risk it was. And yet Hari Seldon still took that risk, in the form of a daily walk, as if defying the forces that were destroying his beloved Empire to destroy him as well. And so Hari Seldon walked along, limping-and thoughtful. Nothing worked. Nothing. He had been unable to isolate the genetic pattern that set Wanda apart-and without that, he was unable to locate others like her. Wanda's ability to read minds had sharpened considerably in the six years since she had identified the flaw in Yugo Amaryl's Prime Radiant. Wanda was special in more ways than one. It was as if, once she realized that her mental ability set her apart from other people, she was determined to understand it, to harness its energy, to direct it. As she had progressed through her teen years, she had matured, throwing off the girlish giggles that had so endeared her to Hari, at the same time becoming even dearer to him in her determination to help him in his work with the powers of her â€Å"gift.† For Hari Seldon had told Wanda about his plan for a Second Foundation and she had committed herself to realizing that goal with him. Today, though, Seldon was in a dark mood. He was coming to the conclusion that Wanda's mentalic ability would get him nowhere. He had no credits to continue his work-no credits to locate others like Wanda, no credits to pay his workers on the Psychohistory Project at Streeling, no credits to set up his all-important Encyclopedia Project at the Galactic Library. Now what? He continued to walk toward the Galactic Library. He would have been better off taking a gravicab, but he wanted to walk-limp or not. He needed time to think. He heard a cry-â€Å"There he is!†-but paid no attention. It came again. â€Å"There he is! Psychohistory!† The word forced him to look up. Psychohistory. A group of young men was closing in around him. Automatically Seldon placed his back against the wall and raised his cane. â€Å"What is it you want?† They laughed. â€Å"Credits, old man. Do you have any credits?† â€Å"Maybe, but why do you want them from me? You said, ‘Psychohistory!' Do you know who I am?† â€Å"Sure, you're Raven Seldon† said the young man in the lead. He seemed both comfortable and pleased. â€Å"You're a creep,† shouted another. â€Å"What are you going to do if I don't give you any credits?† â€Å"We'll beat you up,† said the leader, â€Å"and we'll take them.† â€Å"And if I give you my credits?† â€Å"We'll beat you up anyway!† They all laughed. Hari Seldon raised his cane higher. â€Å"Stay away. All of you.† By now he had managed to count them. There were eight. He felt himself choking slightly. Once he and Dors and Raych had been attacked by ten and they had had no trouble. He had been only thirty-two at the time and Dors-was Dors. Now it was different. He waved his cane. The leader of the hoodlums said, â€Å"Hey, the old man is going to attack us. What are we going to do?† Seldon looked around swiftly. There were no security officers around. Another indication of the deterioration of society. An occasional person or two passed by, but there was no use calling for help. Their footsteps increased in speed and made a wide detour. No one was going to run any risks of getting involved in an imbroglio. Seldon said, â€Å"The first one of you who approaches gets a cracked head.† â€Å"Yeah?† And the leader stepped forward rapidly and seized the cane. There was a short sharp struggle and the cane was wrested from Seldon's grip. The leader tossed it to one side. â€Å"Now what, old man?† Seldon shrunk back. He could only wait for the blows. They crowded around him, each eager to land a blow or two. Seldon lifted his arms to try to ward them off. He could still Twist-after a fashion. If he were facing only one or two, he might be able to Twist his body, avoid their blows, strike back. But not against eight-surely not against eight. He tried, at any rate, moving quickly to one side to avoid the blows and his right leg, with its sciatica, doubled under him. He fell and knew himself to be utterly helpless. Then he heard a stentorian voice shouting, â€Å"What's going on here? Get back, you thugs! Back or I'll kill you all!† The leader said, â€Å"Well, another old man.† â€Å"Not that old,† said the newcomer. With the back of one hand, he struck the leader's face, turning it an ugly red. Seldon said in surprise, â€Å"Raych, it's you.† Raych's hand swept back. â€Å"Stay out of this, Dad. Just get up and move away.† The leader, rubbing his cheek, said, â€Å"We'll get you for that.† â€Å"No, you won't,† said Raych, drawing out a knife of Dahlite manufacture, long and gleaming. A second knife was withdrawn and he now held one in each hand. Seldon said weakly, â€Å"Still carrying knives, Raych?† â€Å"Always,† said Raych. â€Å"Nothing will ever make me stop.† â€Å"I'll stop you,† said the leader, drawing out a blaster. Faster than the eye could follow, one of Raych's knives went sailing through the air and struck the leader's throat. He made a loud gasp, then a gurgling sound, and fell, while the other seven stared. Raych approached and said, â€Å"I want my knife back.† He drew it out of the hoodlum's throat and wiped it on the man's shirtfront. In doing so, he stepped on the man's hand, bent down, and picked up his blaster. Raych dropped the blaster into one of his capacious pockets. He said, â€Å"I don't like to use a blaster, you bunch of good-for-nothings, because sometimes I miss. I never miss with a knife, however. Never! That man is dead. There are seven of you standing. Do you intend to stay standing or will you leave?† â€Å"Get him!† shouted one of the hoodlums and the seven made a concerted rush. Raych took a backward step. One knife flashed and then the other and two of the hoodlums stopped with, in each case, a knife buried in his abdomen. â€Å"Give me back my knives,† said Raych, pulling each out with a cutting motion and wiping them. â€Å"These two are still alive, but not for long. That leaves five of you on your feet. Are you going to attack again or are you going to leave?† They turned and Raych called out, â€Å"Pick up your dead and dying. I don't want them.† Hastily they flung the three bodies over their shoulders, then they turned tail and ran. Raych bent to pick up Seldon's cane. â€Å"Can you walk, Dad?† â€Å"Not very well,† said Seldon. â€Å"I twisted my leg.† â€Å"Well then, get into my car. What were you doing walking, anyway?† â€Å"Why not? Nothing's ever happened to me.† â€Å"So you waited till something did. Get into my car and I'll give you a lift back to Streeling.† He programmed the ground-car quietly, then said, â€Å"What a shame we didn't have Dors with us. Mom would have attacked them with her bare lands and left all eight dead in five minutes.† Seldon felt tears stinging his eyelids. â€Å"I know, Raych, I know. Do you think I don't miss her every day?† â€Å"I'm sorry,† said Raych in a low voice. Seldon asked, â€Å"How did you know I was in trouble?† â€Å"Wanda told me. She said there were evil people lying in wait for you, she told me where they were and I took right off.† â€Å"Didn't you doubt that she knew what she was talking about?† â€Å"Not at all. We know enough about her now to know that she has some sort of contact with your mind and with the things around you.† â€Å"Did she tell you how many people were attacking me?† â€Å"No. She just said, ‘Quite a few.'† â€Å"So you came out all by yourself, did you, Raych?† â€Å"I had no time to put together a posse, Dad. Besides, one of me was enough.† â€Å"Yes, it was. Thank you, Raych.† 14 They were back at Streeling now and Seldon's leg was stretched out on a hassock. Raych looked at him somberly. â€Å"Dad,† he began, â€Å"you're not to go walking around Trantor on your own from now on.† Seldon frowned. â€Å"Why, because of one incident?† â€Å"It was enough of an incident. You can't take care of yourself any longer. You're seventy years old and your right leg will not support you in an emergency. And you have enemies-â€Å" â€Å"Enemies!† â€Å"Yes, indeed. And you know it. Those sewer rats were not after simply anyone. They were not looking for just any unwary person to rip off. They identified you by calling out, ‘Psychohistory!' And they called you a creep. Why do you suppose that was?† â€Å"I don't know why.† â€Å"That's because you live in a world all your own, Dad, and you don't know what's going on on Trantor. Don't you suppose the Trantorians know that their world is going downhill at a rapid rate? Don't you suppose they know that your psychohistory has been predicting this for years? Doesn't it occur to you that they may blame the messenger for the message? If things go bad-and they are going bad-there are many who think that you are responsible for it.† â€Å"I can't believe that.† â€Å"Why do you suppose there's a faction at the Galactic Library that wants you out of there? They don't want to be in the way when you are mobbed. So-you've got to take care of yourself. You can't go out alone. I'll have to be with you or you will have to have bodyguards. That's the way it's going to be, Dad.† Seldon looked dreadfully unhappy. Raych softened and said, â€Å"But not for long, Dad. I've got a new job.' Seldon looked up. â€Å"A new job. What kind?† â€Å"Teaching. At a University.† â€Å"Which University?† â€Å"Santanni.† Seldon's lips trembled. â€Å"Santanni! That's nine thousand parsecs away from Trantor. It's a provincial world on the other side of the Galaxy.† â€Å"Exactly. That's why I want to go there. I've been on Trantor all my life, Dad, and I'm tired of it. There's no world in all the Empire that's deteriorating the way Trantor is. It's become a haunt of crime with no one to protect us. The economy is limping, the technology is failing. Santanni, on the other hand, is a decent world, still humming along, and I want to be there to build a new life, along with Manella and Wanda and Bellis. We're all going there in two months.† â€Å"All of you!† â€Å"And you, Dad. And you. We wouldn't leave you behind on Trantor. You're coming with us to Santanni.† Seldon shook his head. â€Å"Impossible, Raych. You know that.† â€Å"Why impossible?† â€Å"You know why. The Project. My psychohistory. Are you asking me to abandon my life's work?† â€Å"Why not? It's abandoned you.† â€Å"You're mad.† â€Å"No, I'm not. Where are you going with it? You have no credits. You can't get any. There's no one left on Trantor who's willing to support you.† â€Å"For nearly forty year-â€Å" â€Å"Yes, I admit that. But after all that time, you've failed Dad. There's no crime in failing. You've tried so hard and you've gone so far, but you've run into a deteriorating economy, a falling Empire. It's the very thing you've been predicting for so long that's stopping you at last. So-â€Å" â€Å"No. I will not stop. Somehow or other, I will keep going.† â€Å"I tell you what, Dad. If you're really going to be so stubborn, then take psychohistory with you. Start it again on Santanni. There may be enough credits-and enthusiasm-to support it there.† â€Å"And the men and women who have been working for me so faithfully?† â€Å"Oh bull, Dad. They've been leaving you because you can't pay them. You hang around here for the rest of your life and you'll be alone. Oh, come on, Dad. Do you think I like to talk to you this way? It's because no one has wanted to-because no one has had the heart to-that you're in your present predicament. Let's be honest with each other now. When you walk the streets of Trantor and you're attacked for no reason other than that you're Hari Seldon, don't you think it's time for a little bit of truth?† â€Å"Never mind the truth. I have no intention of leaving Trantor.† Raych shook his head. â€Å"I was sure you'd be stubborn, Dad. You've got two months to change your mind. Think about it, will you?† 15 It had been a long time since Hari Seldon had smiled. He had conducted the Project in the same fashion that he always did: pushing always forward in the development of psychohistory, making plans for the Foundation, studying the Prime Radiant. But he did not smile. All he did was to force himself through his work without any feeling of impending success. Rather, there was a feeling of impending failure about everything. And now, as he sat in his office at Streeling University, Wanda entered. He looked up at her and his heart lifted. Wanda had always been special. Seldon couldn't put his finger on just when he and the others had started accepting her pronouncements with more than the usual enthusiasm; it just seemed always to have been that way. As a little girl, she had saved his life with her uncanny knowledge of â€Å"lemonade death† and all through her childhood she had somehow just known things. Although Dr. Endelecki had asserted that Wanda's genome was perfectly normal in every way, Seldon was still positive that his granddaughter possessed mental abilities far beyond those of average humans. And he was just as sure that there were others like her in the Galaxy-on Trantor, even. If only he could find them, these mentalics, what a great contribution they could make to the Foundation. The potential for such greatness all centered in his beautiful granddaughter. Seldon gazed at her, framed in his office doorway, and he felt as if his heart would break. In a few days, she would be gone. How could he bear it? She was such a beautiful girl-eighteen. Long blond hair, face a little broad but with a tendency to smile. She was even smiling now and Seldon thought, Why not? She's heading for Santanni and for a new life. He said, â€Å"Well, Wanda, just a few more days.† â€Å"No. I don't think so, Grandpa.† He stared at her. â€Å"What?† Wanda approached him and put her arms around him. â€Å"I'm not going to Santanni.† â€Å"Have your father and mother changed their minds?† â€Å"No, they're going.† â€Å"And you're not? Why? Where are you going?† â€Å"I'm going to stay here, Grandpa. With you.† She hugged him. â€Å"Poor Grandpa!† â€Å"But I don't understand. Why? Are they allowing this?† â€Å"You mean Mom and Dad. Not really. We've been arguing over this for weeks, but I've won out. Why not, Grandpa? They'll go to Santanni and they'll have each other-and they'll have little Bellis, too. But if I go with them and leave you here, you'll have no one. I don't think I could stand that.† â€Å"But how did you get them to agree?† â€Å"Well, you know-I pushed.† â€Å"What does that mean?† â€Å"It's my mind. I can see what you have in yours and in theirs and, as time goes on, I can see more clearly. And I can push them to do what I want.† â€Å"How do you do that?† â€Å"I don't know. But after a while, they get tired of being pushed and they're willing to let me have my way. So I'm going to stay with you.† Seldon looked up at her with helpless love. â€Å"This is wonderful, Wanda. But Bellis-â€Å" â€Å"Don't worry about Bellis. She doesn't have a mind like mine.† â€Å"Are you certain?† Seldon chewed at his lower lip. â€Å"Quite certain. Besides, Mom and Dad have to have someone, too.† Seldon wanted to rejoice, but he couldn't do so openly. There were Raych and Manella. What of them? He said, â€Å"Wanda, what about your parents? Can you be so cold-blooded about them?† â€Å"I'm not cold-blooded. They understand. They realize I must be with you.† â€Å"How did you manage that?† â€Å"I pushed,† said Wanda simply, â€Å"and eventually they came to see it my way. â€Å"You can do that?† â€Å"It wasn't easy.† â€Å"And you did it because-† Seldon paused. Wanda said, â€Å"Because I love you. Of course. And because-â€Å" â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"I must learn psychohistory. I know quite a bit of it already.† â€Å"How?† â€Å"From your mind. From the minds of others at the Project, especially from Uncle Yugo before he died. But it's in rags and tatters, so far. I want the real thing. Grandpa, I want a Prime Radiant of my own.† Her face lit up and her words came quickly, with passion. â€Å"I want to study psychohistory in great detail. Grandpa, you're quite old and quite tired. I'm young and eager. I want to learn all I can, so I can carry on when-â€Å" Seldon said, â€Å"Well, that would be wonderful-if you could do it-but there is no funding anymore. I'll teach you all I can, but-we can't do anything.† â€Å"We'll see, Grandpa. We'll see.†

Maria Full of Grace Essay Example

Maria Full of Grace Essay Example Maria Full of Grace Paper Maria Full of Grace Paper Muted group theory illustrates how a group can acquire power and use it to it to dominate culture. It specifically refers to the gender roles created by society and can also be used to examine cross-cultural case studies. Its name describes how a group in power can manipulate language and communication practices specific to its culture in order to silence the members not included in the dominant group. Maria Full of Grace is an exposi of the complexities surrounding womens involvement in drug trafficking and becoming a woman in a male dominated society. In the movie there are many examples of communication that are impeded because of womens current role in society. The movie opens with its title character, Maria Alvarez , a 17-year-old Colombian, making out her boyfriend, Juan. Juan is completely involved in the moment and hinting that he wants to further accelerate the situation, and he even doesnt notice her indifference to his affection. He attempts to get her to agree to let them go back to her house, but she wants to climb on top of the roof. She emasculates Juan by teasing him and he gets irritated and walks away. Instead of complying with Juans wish to go back to her house, Maria responded by taking control of the situation (especially notable because of its sexual nature) and said, See how you treat me? Youre a drag. Because she attempts to step outside of the expectation that she will fulfill the needs of her lover, she is punished by him walking off and leaving her on the roof by herself. In the next scene, Maria is being mistreated by her male supervisor. He refuses to let her go to the restroom even though she feels nauseated, and then proceeds to demand she clean the mess off the roses after she vomits on them. It is implied Maria takes this kind of abuse on a regular basis. When she next sees her mother and sister, at the local pharmacy, she informs them she quit her job at the factory. They are alarmed and ask when and why this happened. This is sparked by argument over money. It is cultural practice for a Colombian family to all chip in and help out with money, even if it is not equally contributed to. Marias nephew, Pacho, is sick and needs medicine. Diana and her mother tell her she is selfish and should be able to deal with her employment issues for the benefit of the family. They ask her to go back, but Maria refuses, saying she will find other work. This is an example of a socially constructed expectation that works in opposition of womens rights. Maria is being harassed by her employer; this should be handled immediately by reporting him to a company employee in charge of human resources. Instead, she sees the only way to stop it is to quit. Because her word would most likely not be taken seriously, she takes the blame instead of demanding action. This form of oppression is a form of muting an individual because of her gender. Not only does she give up her job, but she is chastised by her own family for not thinking of them first. It is conventional for Hispanic families to function together, even at the expense of a womans happiness. Maria is working to take care of her nephew who has no father in sight. Actually, there are no males besides Pacho in the household that are ever mentioned; this leaves only Maria to provide income. Later in the movie, Maria tells Juan she is pregnant, but she does not want to get married. He contends he must live with her, because society wont accept a guy living in his girlfriends house. Again, Maria departs from the norm by rejecting the necessity of marriage because of a pregnancy. She even goes further to reject the notion of marriage without love. Maria is comfortable with her independence, even as a single mother-a concept foreign to most women in her position. Muted group theory is also applicable in this film because it deals with cultural issues. Women often jeopardize their freedom and lives by agreeing to serve as drug mules or couriers to smuggle illegal drugs into another country. Maria is in desperate need of a job because she is obligated to care for her mother, sister, and nephew. She meets Franklin, who at first seemed very innocent, and he mentions a way she could make money if she would take the chance. Franklin delivers her to Javier, the head of this particular drug cartel in Bogat. He explains the arrangements, but not without offering a charitable donation so she could get her affairs in order. The direction and quality of her life is no longer in her hands; it is in those of the men in authority positions in her life. Even when she is in the United States, her fate is determined by Don Fernando (the Colombian travel agent who offers help to her and Blanca) and the male drug dealers who hold Maria, Blanca, and Lucy captive. Don Fernando chose not to turn them into the police, but he did betray the women by telling Carla about Lucys death and its surrounding circumstances. The drug dealers killed Lucy for the heroin in her body; they had no regard for the life that possessed it. If Maria would have fallen ill, she would have suffered the same outcome. Even after her and Bianca escaped, the men had the ability to harm their families in Colombia. Once they returned to give the dealers their pellets, their own lives were once again endangered. They were fortunate to not be killed, much less receive their payment, but it was not without verbal and physical abuse. Each of the trials Maria faces is caused by a social norm that demands womens subordination to men in different areas of her life. Every aspect of her life was affected by this form of inequality: her sexual relations, her relationship with her boyfriend and family, her employment, her welfare, and her basic right to life. Maria Full of Grace is a paradigm for feature films that illuminate the delicate issues that instigate womens involvement in such reprehensible a exploit as drug trafficking.

Life Of Walt Disney essays

Life Of Walt Disney essays Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, to Elias (Schickel,124) and Flora Disney (Walt Disney: A Biography,1). He was born in Chicago, Illinois to poverty. Disney had four other siblings (Walt Disney: A Biography,1) which included three brothers named Roy, Raymond, and Herbert and a sister named Ruth.(Through the Years 1859-1909,1-2) When he was four years old his family moved to a farm in Marceline, Missouri. At the age of eight Disney came to the conclusion that he wanted to draw cartoons like they did in the newspapers. The only problem was his family had no money for paper and pencils. In addition, his father thought drawing was a waste of time (DeWitt,10). When Disney was sixteen years old he, left the farm to join the service. While in the service, he drove an ambulance, and during his free time he would draw (Schickel,124). After he had left the service, he made cartoon advertisements that were shown in the movies (Disney(Walter Elias)Walt,1), until he set up a shop in Kansas City, Missouri. Then in 1923, at age 22, he opened a cartoon studio in Hollywood, California (Schickel,124). Later on, Disney married a lovely woman named Lillian and had two daughters, Diane and Sharon (Schindehette,52). In 1927, the famous mouse named Mickey was created by Ub Iwerks, who first envisioned the mouse (Phillips,100) but Lillian was credited with naming him (Schindehette,52). On the day of September 19, 1928, Steamboat Willie was released which starred Mickey; it was the first movie with a soundtrack (Knauer,118). For the next few years after that, a new Mickey film came to theaters every month! The movie Silly Symphony included the soon to be famous Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto (Disney(Walter Elias)Walt,1). Between the years of 1929 through 1939, Disney produced a series of full-color animated cartoons. Flowers and Trees was the first film in f...