Sunday, April 19, 2020

Pragmatism free essay sample

Pragmatism and analytic philosophy are uniquely American movements because they are way different in theory to the European pragmatism and analytic philosophy, known as continental philosophy. Bruder and Moore (2002) stated that pragmatism is an American theoretical movement that was made up in the 1870s by C. S. Peirce. Pragmatists refused to believe the idea that that there is such a thing as an independent and unmodifiable truth. Pragmatists believe that truth is associated with a time, place, and purpose and so is always changing in the form of new data. Bruder and Moore (2002) stated that to C. S. Peirce pragmatism was a rule for figuring out the meaning of ideas. Analytical philosophy is being able to think sensibly and come to a rational conclusion based on facts rather that emotion, communication assessment, and scientific methods in approaching ideas. American pragmatism and analytical philosophy are well balanced on a scientific approach to argument and analysis. We will write a custom essay sample on Pragmatism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page European philosophies on the above stated matter were different even though American and European philosophies took place around the same time period. European pragmatism and analytical philosophy as stated above is known as ontinental philosophy. Continental philosophy does not accept scientific methods, instead European philosophers view thought in the form if such things as space, time, history, culture, and language. Continental philosophers also find value on theory as well as practice. They view their philosophy based on political, individual, and moral changes. So, continental philosophy generally likes to place the importance of past views on philosophical argument, sticking to the theory that philosophical thought must be seen within its historical and cultural context, and uses both theory and practice in its views.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

marx and freud essays

marx and freud essays ) In Capital, Marx analyzes the commodity form, its characteristics, and the kind of society that rises with it. What is his argument about the nature of commodity exchanges? On what foundation of this analysis, he attempts to "force the secret of profit making" in capitalism. How does he demonstrate the way the way in which capital produces profit? Marx reference to commodity can be seen in two forms, use and exchange value, every useful value can be looked at from two points of view, quality, and quantity. A use value is a commodity that is useful. Use value is dealing with definite qualities, such as a dozen of vases or yards of material. Only by consumption, use value becomes a reality. Exchange value can be viewed as a quantitative relation. Goods are changed according to their equality of one another; for example, three tons of rice may equal a ton of iron. Use value commodities differ in qualities whereas exchange values differ in quantities. All products of commodity have only one thing in common and that they are all required in labor. When a product is transferred to another, where that product will serve as a use value by means of exchange, it becomes a commodity. Marx claims, The common substance that manifest itself in the exchange -value of commodities whenever they are exchanged, are their value. Although the exchange-value of commodities is only expressed in value, one has to consider the nature of value independently of this, its form. The value of each commodity is determined by the labor time it took to produce it in that society. What determines value of anything is the amount of labor socially necessary in its production. If product exchan ge at the amount of labour time socially necessary in their production then it would mean that the worker should be paid the value of their labor, the value of the commodities they create, but then where does product come from? How do capitalist make...

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 37

Essay Example Since the business provides care and attends to the needs of their patients, training and development plays a major role. A training needs analysis should be conducted thoroughly in order to identify the job-related needs of the employees such as proper way to handle emotions, dealing with disabled persons and the like (bplans.com, 2011). Amongst the methods of training and development, real-life simulations and experiential training could benefit a Nursing Home since the care givers are constantly dealing with different people and different approach has to be given for specific instances. It satisfies both company and employees; cost-effective for the company while complacency for an employee to do his job with integrity (Jones, 2007, p.414). Another way to improve HRM in a nursing home is to do performance appraisal and feedback. This is a good way to help employees achieve their goals and plan their performance in a measurable time. As such, Managers should set a time, say 6 months for a rank or salary increase, for caregivers to achieve their goals and have them evaluated whether they have reached their target at the end of the given time. 360-degree performance appraisal is the best way to do it to avoid biased judging and be able to give the employee what he deserves (Jones, 2007,

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

The Pros and Cons of Globalization for India Research Paper

The Pros and Cons of Globalization for India - Research Paper Example Because of globalization, various connections have taken place in global arena. Cultural and economic interactions have become more pronounced (Steger 49-89). Moreover, creations of free flow of people, goods, and services. Communication advancements have streamlined the globe and the world has now been viewed as a one village. Interconnections have increased rapidly due to advancement in technology. India is one of the countries that globalization has influenced in all aspects (Steger 123). This paper seeks to discuss pros and cons of globalization in India. Globalization has ensured India open up to the rest of the world. Various changes have taken place in India due to globalization. Globalization led to Indian government waiving restriction of its market to foreign interventions in the 1990’s. Consequently, Indian economy saw a tremendous growth that was unprecedented. Various sectors of the economy improved with a marginal rate such as steel industry, medical companies, a nd the energy (Nayak 113-115). Moreover, inflow of foreign income increased. In addition, the number of foreign investors in India increased and more jobs were created. Likewise, crucial areas of the economy such as the rails and roads were rebuilt due to increased source of revenue. The rate at which foreign companies and firms engaged with India also increased and the number of working class rose due to demand of workforce by industries that were built because of globalization. Most of the Indian industries adopted new technological advancement was distributed evenly in global arena. Secondly, relations between countries and India have improved significantly. This is due to thrust on the industry and trade in India. Consequently, this has led to improved accumulation of revenue and communication between trading partners. This has instilled a level of reliance and reciprocated confidence. In addition, globalization has led to proliferation of Indian pharmaceuticals companies especi ally in Africa. Indians have been outsourced to various countries due to cheap provision of labor. Such country like America have benefited from Indian worker since early 1990’s. Indian doctors have been outsourced to various part of the world (Mazumdar and Sarkar 141). In addition, the number of patient seeking specialized treatment in India has improved significantly in the last decade. The rise of foreign industries and product has given consumers chance to have a wider variety of good to choose from. However, even after the tremendous changes that were achieved after globalization there were still negative impact of globalization to the republic of India. India depends largely on its own company for growth and revenue acquisition. However, this has been hindered by globalization. Due to heavy investment by foreign companies in India, the rate of competition has increased. Majority of Indians consumer have changed their preference and taste and this made them to opt qualit y good manufactured by foreign companies. This affected Indian major companies such as steel and pharmaceuticals companies that were perceived to produce lower quality goods. Most of the companies that brought competition are from China and America. Additionally, high level of foreign investment to a country does not correlate to improved revenue. This is because most of the acquired profit is usually shipped back to mother country for

Friday, January 31, 2020

Persuasive essay in favour of abolishing hunting Essay Example for Free

Persuasive essay in favour of abolishing hunting Essay Hunting should be prohibited because it is all too simple for hunters to abuse regulations. Firstly, there is no way to be certain whether or not hunters comply with limits established in regards to the amount of animals they are allowed to kill, and where they are allowed to hunt. Every occurrence in a hunting expedition cannot be monitored and therefore hunters are essentially â€Å"allowed† to do as they please. The overconfidence that ensues leads to hunters taking even more lives than they are permitted. As well, hunters have the ability to enter reserves to hunt game, though they may not have the permission. This can have devastating consequences on the condition of the ecosystem where the animas live as well as the power to destroy and hinder conservation attempts. However, this could be solved through the abolition of hunting. Secondly, it is nearly impossible to identify whether methods that hunters use are â€Å"ethical†. Though there truly is no ethical way to kill an innocent animal, certain measures are taken to create laws to keep hunting as humane as possible. Nevertheless, there are many cases where these laws are disobeyed and ignored. For example, news stories have described a horrifying hunting method referred to as â€Å"slob-hunting†. Hunters will run into a herd of elk or other game and senselessly shoot, taking whatever they have killed and leaving wounded animals to simply die on their own. This merciless tactic is certainly something that is intolerable, and is yet another example of why sport hunting should be eliminated. Lastly, hunters are not supervised, giving them the ability to kill any animal in the area, including endangered species. Though most endangered species in places like North America are protected, animals do not stay stationary and there is always the possibility for one of these creatures to be injured or killed. Therefore, because hunters do not always comply with hunting laws, the practice should be abolished altogether. Another reason hunting should be outlawed is because it disrupts the intricate balance of an ecosystem. One example of this is the depletion of endangered species. There are many animals whose numbers have been severely reduced due to hunting, such as the polar bear. Though it may not seem like a conventional prey in sport hunting, climate change is not the only reason for their dwindling numbers. Polar bears are respectfully hunted in most parts of North America by the Inuit, as it is part of the culture of the area. However, polar bear trophies have now become the desire of many American sport hunters. These trophies are representative of nothing but the senseless murder of an animal, and are a prime example of how harmful sport hunting can be on an entire species. Hunters may argues that hunting is justified as it keeps animals from overpopulating, however in the wild this occurs independently. If left unchanged, and ecosystem can easily sustain itself and thrive. Population is naturally controlled through disease, as the weakest animals are killed off and the strongest are left to survive and breed, but when hunting, the strongest are the ones who are killed. To agree with a hunter’s logic would be agreeing that it is justified to kill an animal because they may become sick or starve, which is sickening. It is unnecessary cruelty, and should be eradicated. Hunting also disturbs hibernation patterns of animals, and can cause stress which can take a heavy toll on their wellbeing. For example, to wolves who live in very intimate families, the loss from hunting can devastate very many. Hunting also places very much stress on animals, and can hinder their eating. This in turn reduces their amount of fat and energy they store during hibernation, and may not allow them to survive through winter. The stress can also cause them to succumb more easily to diseases which in turn can spread to all members of the animal community. Consequently, because hunting disrupts the natural balance of plants and animals in an ecosystem, sport hunting should banned. Lastly, hunting also has the potential to destroy forests, and other habitats that animals live in. Hunters may leave camps unattended which can lead to forest fires, and damage the homes of plants and animals in the area. Unattended campfires in the campsites of hunters, especially in dry summer months, are extremely dangerous to forests. They can very easily catch on trees and can potentially destroy entire forests and take many lives. Setting up a camp itself, though it may seem like a simple act, can also have damage on the surrounding plant life. Not only are plants suffocated by the weight of a tent but also any other gear brought. They are also heavily trampled. This damage could be done to an animal’s food supply, and could cause an entire group of animals to go hungry. The weapons that hunters use can also cause physical damage to plants and trees which animals need for food and shelter. Bullets and arrows can easily slice through trees and plants, destroying both animal homes and their meals. Gunpowder and residues from other weapons can also settle onto plants. If ingested by an unsuspecting herbivore, this can make then very ill and can even be fatal to them. Finally, when hunting animals that reside in the water, the boats used pollute the oceans and lakes the animals call home, and injure animals that get too close to the propeller or motor. Boats moving through lakes deposit gasoline and oil into lakes, which can be fatal to aquatic life. They also drag litter into the water which is hazardous not only for fish and other underwater creatures, but for animals such as otters and birds as well. Boat motors and propellers can also be tremendously dangerous to marine life, as they are sharp and can seriously disfigure an innocent creature. Thus, because hunting has the ability to destroy not only animals but also their habitats, it should be prohibited.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Autoparasitoid Wasps Essay -- Biology Encarsia Pergandiella Parasite

A parasite lives in a close relationship with another organism, its host, and causes it harm. The parasite is dependent on its host for its life functions. For example, viruses are common parasites. The parasite has to be in its host to live, grow, and multiply. Parasites rarely kill their hosts. A common, well-known type of a parasite is a hookworm. It is possible for humans or their pets to get them. Hookworms attach themselves in the lining of the small intestine, and cause diseases, and malnutrition as well, as they eat the nutrients and keep them from going to the host. Here, we'll be talking about a different type of parasite, called a parasitoid. The parasitoid Encarsia pergandiella is a tiny wasp that lays its eggs in developing whiteflies. The wasp larva eventually kills the whitefly, and then emerges as free-living adults. This is why it is said that the wasps are parasitic. If you have ever seen Aliens, the developing aliens are parasitoids. Parasitods are different from normal parasites because they kill their hosts when they develop. Encarsia pergandiella develops in a strange way. Unlike most parasitoid species, they are autoparasitoids. This means females develop on whitefly immatures and males develop on immature parasitoids. This means males are parasitoids of other parasitoids, including females of their own species! The fertilization process is a female decision. The female stores the male sperm for later fertilization of eggs. All bees and wasps, including parasitoid wasps are haplodiploid. This means not all eggs have to be fertilized to develop. Unfertilized eggs become males, which are haploid. Fertilized eggs become female, and are diploid. In autopara... ...romosome carried by the males was killing the whole male set of chromosomes, leaving only one set of female chromosomes along with this extra chromosome, which becomes a male haploid wasp. This PSR chromosome is also called a supernumerary chromosome in the nuclei. In the study of Encarsia pergandiella, male wasps were also found to come from fertilized eggs that had been placed on the whitefly host and it was found that, similar to N. vitripennis, the entire paternal set of chromosomes was being lost. It was thought that perhaps an extra chromosome, such as the PSR chromosome, was also being carried in them. However, after further study a supernumerary chromosome was not found. The casue of genome loss in E. pergandiella is still a mystery. Perhaps the male set of chromosomes were being killed by another source, such as a virus or transposable element.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

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.