Time pressure on ambulance drivers Essay Example for Free

Time pressure on ambulance drivers Essay Ambulance drivers are required to make decisions on which route to follow under time constraints because every second is counted to save a life. Timmons, 2007 indicated that â€Å"Decision makers are susceptible to cognitive biases when operating under stress, i. e. , high workload, time pressure, and information ambiguity†, pp4. A cognitive bias is defined by Haselton et al. (2005) as the tendency to search for information and alternatives that prove their preconceptions and to discount information that disproves their preconceptions. Kowalski-Trakofler et al. (2003) carried a study to discuss human judgement and decision making under stress. The authors selected recent literatures and carried out a field work to discuss the affect of stress on emergency responders. They examined coping with stress under time constrains on expert emergency teams. It was concluded from this research that â€Å"stress restricts cue sampling, decreases vigilance, reduces the capacity of working memory, causes premature closure in evaluating alternative options, and results in task shedding†, ( Kowalski-Trakofler et al. 2003, p282). They have mentioned a study that identifies emergency decision makers’ behaviours under stress. This study concluded that these people under stress â€Å"not only have the effects of their own stress response and its resulting consequences, the information they must base their judgments on is often unclear, faulty and incomplete†, p. 283. The over all conclusion of this study was that the stress under time pressure narrows the decision maker focus whether working individually or in groups Impact of traffic congestion on response time: 2. 7 Shortest path algorithm Shortest paths’ calculations are unavoidable in road network analysis applications including emergency medical services such as ambulance navigation systems, (Liang, 2005). The shortest path (or minimum weight path) is defined as calculating the least total distance weight or least time weight paths between two locations (Derekenaris et al. , 2000). The quickness of calculating the shortest route for EMS is essential to reduce the respond time needed to route the ambulance vehicles from the dispatch location to the incident scenes (Liang, 2005). Liang pointed out that the problem arises when finding the shortest routes in big urban cities which contain huge road networks that are associated with massive amount of real world roads information(such as traffic information, name of roads, etc) and associated with the available capabilities of the hardware for example the amount of memory used to run this algorithm. Engineer (2001) considered two systems that controls and calculate the shortest routes in EMS. First, a centralised system which runs by ambulance control centre personnel, while the other system is called decentralised system in which the shortest path is calculated on board of the vehicles and this system is usually have limited memory and storage capabilities. He mentioned that an optimal algorithm to find the shortest path in less time is essential especially for decartelised system Zhan and Noon (1998) distinguished three types of shortest path algorithms which are single pair, single source and all pairs shortest paths algorithms. Single pair calculates the shortest path between two points in a network, while single source algorithm calculates the shortest path from a point to all other points in a network and finally the all pairs algorithm calculates the shortest path between every pair of points. Borri Cera (2005) explained single pair shortest path algorithm by assigning a first point and second one on a road network. It is possible to calculate the shortest distance between these points by minimising the value of distance linked with each point on the network (also known as impedance) taking into consideration that the a distance variable is associated with each point on the network. They also pointed out that the shortest path can be calculated according to different variable rather than distance one, such as â€Å"time or monetary cost†, pp 954. There are many algorithms for solving shortest paths which have been formulated over the years as a result of different research studies in different fields such as geography, computer sciences and transportations (Goldberg Radzik, 1993). However, there are three main used algorithms, which are Dijkstras algorithm, Restricted Search Algorithm and A* Search algorithm. ArcView Network Analyst extension uses a modified Dijkstar’s algorithm that does not only finds the shortest path from one point not another but also it was built to facilitate quick access to the topology of the network data (ESRI help, 1992). In addition, the modification includes a custom memory to manage and deal with very large networks.

Weldon Hand Tools Case Study

Weldon Hand Tools Case Study This report discusses designing a production process to produce Weldon hand tool, the product detail, the time for assembling each element as well as the sales focus of the product are all given in the case study. The report first start with calculating the number of staff required for each volume of work per quarterly for the two years period of the sales forecast ,then looks at the required technology and facility to assemble the product, it then further discuss proposed design layout for assembling operation, lastly the report discusses the likely adjustment of the propose layout should the demands increases and finally the report ends with conclusion recommending the need to balance between demands and capacity in a well organised production that supply the market with a reliable, and fairly price tool. Staffing In terms of determining how many staff is needed to work in assembling of smoothing plane manufacturing plant, given the sales forecast for the next two years we assume that each employerto works 35 hours per week for 48 weeks a year excluding the holidays. For simplicity this report will only show the calculation of the 1st quarter, the 2nd and the last quarter of the 2nd year of sales forecast of the staff required and the rest is provide as shown in the table in fig 1 below. 2.1- Calculation 1st Quarter The required number of staff for the sales volume in the next two years.We first calculate the total time available per quarterly. The sales forecast for the first quarter is 98,000 units and given that it takes 1.60 minutes to assemble one unit, the time needed to assemble the 98,000 units will be 98,000 X 1.60= 156800 minutes. In assuming the full time workers work 35 hours a week (7 hour a day for 5 working days) one worker working 12 weeks will be 35 hrs X 12weeks X 60 minutes=25200 mins Therefore number of worker that is needed for manufacturing 98,000 units will be 156800/25200= 6.222 This will be equivalent to 7 people as there is no fraction of people 2.2- Calculation 2nd Quarter The sales forecast for this quarter is 140,000 units, therefore the time requires to assemble it is 140,000 X 1.6 = 224000 From equation 1 the time available for one worker will be 35 hrs X 12weeks X 60 minutes= 25200 mins Hence the number of staff required will be 224000/25200 = 8.888 equivalent to 9 people Subsequently every quarter is calculated the same till the last quarter. Therefore the sales forecast for the last quarter of the 2nd year is 230,000 units and given that it takes 1.60 minutes to assemble one unit the time needed to assemble will be 230,000 units will be 230,000 X 1.60= 368,000 minutes. Therefore the number of people required to work for the quarter will be. Since it was assume that full time workers working 35 hours a week (7 hour a day for 5 working days) one worker working for 12 weeks will be 35 hrs X 12weeks X 60 minutes=25200 mins Therefore number of worker that is needed for manufacturing 98,000 unit will be 368,000/25200= 14.603 This will be equivalent to 15 people as there is no fraction of people. In conclusion we see the demand is not constant and there is inflation and deflation in demand to solve this we either employ more worker or ask the existing staff to do some extra over time when ever demand increase Facilities and technology Since the sales forecast shows a high demand selecting the required facilities and technology in designing the manufacturing process for Weldon hand tools is very crucial therefore the first and foremost things to consider is the size of the facility and if there is room for expansion .the operation process and the required work force We need to have in place capital and labour, proper planning of the process, research on customer requirement, seminars and training to compete in the market as the sales forecast shows increase and decrease in demand and finally managing the inventory by having warehouse for the stocks Assembling smoothing plane can be divided into three major area, fly pressing, bench operation andwrapping, other than fly pressing which requires pressingmachine,the general operation is reasonably simple so some of the technology and facilities required are Press machines for press operation Customised kits for efficient bench operation Stapler, truck, and wrapping bench for easy handling of tools and wrapping Design layout Design layout is significant process in operation management ,the flow of the layout very much relies on the volume and variety characteristic which shapes the overall design (Slack et al, 2010).The decision as to which layout type to adopt will be influenced by an understanding of their relative advantages and disadvantages (Slack et al, 2010). Therefore in order to design the layout we need first to identify the type of manufacturing process that smoothing planes is. As per the case study and according to its sales focus there is indication that this is high volume output and low variety operation and so this can be class as a mass process manufacturing process and so product base layout is the appropriate design layout.Since that the new product has a similar design with little variation, the design layout can be the same as the small variation does not affect the fundamental production process. Finally the main factors that determine the design layout in this case study is the ease in which expansion can be made to meet the increasing demand, focusing on the process to combine flexibility with a minimum lead timeare the main The layout therefore can be organised in simple and flexible manner so as to enhance the speed of production and reduce inventory while meeting the expected increase of demand The first task is solely a fly press operation in order to minimise idle time between the work stations. The operation will be organised such as each unit recovers the goods from the previous unit 4.1- Layout stages S0 by numbering the element available to assemble the task 1-12 so as to calculate the number of e stages required for the product layout. This is worked out by requiring the cycle time, even though the cycle time for each quarter was shown in the above table in Fiq1, we will show the calculation of how it was arrive , but in term of calculating the stages we only need the sales of the first quarter Since the sales forecast for the first quarter is 98,000 unit and given that it takes 1.60 minutes to assemble one unit, its assume that full time workers work 35 hours a week (7 hour a day for 5 working days)the net time available for work in 12 weeks(1st quarter) will be 35 hrs. X 12weeks X 60 minutes=25200 minutes Therefore the required cycle time =total time available/work volume 25200/98000= 0.257 mins No of stages required will be = total volume /cycle time 1.6/0.257 = 6.222= 7 stages Having known the number of stages we then list the element 1-2 and draw the precedence diagram to calculate the balancing loss Element 1: Assemble poke subassembly 0.12 Element 2: Fit poke subassembly to frog 0.10 Element 3: Rivet adjusting level to frog 0.15 Element 4: Press adjusting nut screw to frog 0.08 Element 5: Fit adjusting nut to frog 0.15 Element 6: Fit frog screw to frog 0.05 Element 7: Fit knob to base 0.15 Element 8: Fit handle to base 0.17 Element 9: Fit frog subassembly to base 0.15 Element 10: Assemble blade subassembly 0.08 Element 11: Assemble blade subassembly, clamp and label to base and adjust 0.20 Element 12: Make up box and wrap plane, pack and stock 0.20 Fiq3below displays the final distribution of work after breaking down the process into different stages of the long thin arrangement, the advantage is that its an ideal way of arranging flexible and expandable operation., makes moving and handling materials between unit effective and as well as providing adequate amount of floor space . 0.15 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¢ 0.08 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚   à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¡ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ £ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¥ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¨ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ª à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ «Ã‚   0. 12 0.10 0.08 0.15 0.05 0.15 0.17 0.15à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ © 0.20 0.20 Fig2 Element listing and precedence diagram 4.2- Calculating balancing loss 0.15 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¢ 0.08 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚   à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¡ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ £ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¥ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¨ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ª à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ «Ã‚   0. 12 0.10 0.08 0.15 0.05 0.15 0.17 0.15à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ © 0.20 0.20 Stage1 stage2 satge3 stage4 satge5 stage6 stage7 stage8 Cycle time = 0.26 0.23 0.23 0.22 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.17 0.15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Idle time of every cycle =(0.26-0.22)+(0.26-0.25)+(0.26-0.20)+(0.26-0.15)+(0.26-0.17)+(0.26-0.23)+(0.26-0.20)+0.26-0.20) = 0.45 Balance loss = 0.45/8 0.26 = 21.6 % Fig 3 Allocation of element to stages and balancing loss for Weldon hand tool fig2 Meeting the demand In meeting increasing demand the above design layout can be adjusted by rearranging the stages. The conventional arrangement of the eight stages was to arrange them in one line and each stage takes 0.257 minutes (cycle time) worth of work; however this can be rearranged in to four shorter lines each stage with 0.514 minutes worth of work will give the same output. So following this conclusion the stages could be arranged in 8 parallel stages each responsible for the whole worked content, the advantage is that it will save time for product transportation both within the site and the nearby building where facilities are located, create plenty of space within the site hence enhancing easy expansion to meet increase in demand and finally the inventory will also assist to place the product well in stock Lastly the above layout has concentrated on the labour time effectiveness of assembling one unit per hour per person,however concentrating on speed and quickness of machines may encounter any competition of demand and capacity Conclusion In operational management capacity planning such knowing what is the size of the facilities, the geographical location and the row material for the production process is fundamental, crucial and necessary To successful manage the Weldon hand tool manufacturing process its desirable that the layout be design in a flexible way to rearrange stages that will create more rooms for expansion so as to meet future demands and capacity. The flexibility also makes the transportation (moving and handling) of materials between unit effective Finally at the moment the sales forecast does not predicts smooth distribution of demand to encounter this problem of inflation and deflation of the sales, marketing the product through sales promotion could improve the demand distribution to a smooth increase throughout the quarters.

Night Blindness :: essays research papers

Night Blindness is a genetic disorder in which the sufferer has trouble seeing at night. Two things cause this disorder in general. The first cause is a lack of vitamin A which helps develop the retina and vision receptor cells. Vision receptor cells consist of cones and rods, cones for bright light and rods for less light. When there is a vitamin A deficiency, the rod cells don’t develop properly. The second cause is a genetic inheritance. Night blindness is a sex-linked disorder because the X-chromosome was found to be different than normal in people with the disorder.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many vision-related effects this disorder can have on a person. In most cases, the person isn’t completely blind in dark areas, but sees things a lot darker than they really are. In other cases, it takes the person’s eyes much longer than normal to adjust to different light settings. For example, if a person with night blindness suddenly has the lights turned off in front of them, it may be up to 10 minutes before they can see anything at all. Also, the same thing happens when going from dark to light. The sufferer will see extremely bright images when flooded with light after having adjusted their eyes to darkness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many treatments for night blindness that exist today. The most common treatment is taking vitamin A supplements to restore the vitamin A that helps develop and maintain the retina. Also, zinc supplements can be taken as well to further strengthen the retina. Physical forms of treatment include lasers, freezing, injection of gas into the eye, scleral buckling, and removal of the gel inside the eye.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This disorder is usually accompanied by myopia (nearsighted). About half of teenagers with myopia will develop some form of night blindness. These cases start out around the age of fifteen. Also, about 52% of women said they had trouble seeing at night during their last pregnancy.

An Analysis of Frank Kafkas The Metamorphosis :: Kafka Metamorphosis Essays

An Analysis of Frank Kafka's The Metamorphosis In the metamorphosis by Frank Kafka, there are significant actions and transformations which make the story sad, and strange with a happy ending. Explanations that are dramatic events that intensify the excitement of all these actions. Reality and refection play and important role in this story because the events that happened could be applied and assimilated with modern society. the story is very sad and realistic, some of the things tha are related in Kafka's story can be found in modern families today. Gregor was a man who sacrifies himself working to pay his father's debts, instead off on his own where he could prospered. Gregor never was recognized by his family of all the efforts that he did, he was taken for granted and he was expected to support the family but never considering what his needs and wants might be. When Gregor became a bug, that was the moment when they started to see how important Gregor was financially. As a result his mother, father and sister had to work together, in order support themselves. This could be applied in the real world when people do not really recognize anyone's values or good actions. Sometimes when it is too late is that people start to appreciate, but in Kafka's story Gregor never was aprreciate by anyone. In his transformations, Gregor was rejected by his family like a sick or invalid relative instead of working that much harder to make him well or accepted. They began to ignore him and hide him out of shame. this is exactly what happens in reality when sick people becomes really ill. At the beggining some people starts to feel sorry and they take care of these ill people. Later on, these people become a burden on them. this make the whole Gregor family be against him. Gregor's mother and sister used to clean the room at the beggining. but no at the end. They felt that cleaning out Gregor's room would make him feel happy, or might help him. But they really hurt him. It is painful for someone you loved if you took everything from them. It would make them feel isolated , unwanted and unloved. Gregor had a crappy, thankless job, and even though it was difficult, he was despised and scrutinized by his coworkers, making the job that much more unpleasnat. gregor was such a isolated and poor person that he cut the picture of the lady with the fur or a magazine to hang on the wall, to remind him of better things.

The Effect of Cultural Difference on Intercultural Marriage Essay

The Effect of Cultural Difference on Intercultural Marriage As the world integrates, more and more people are leaving their mother lands to visit, study and work overseas. Young people now have more opportunities to meet prospective partners from other cultures than they had in the past. â€Å"The number of intercultural couples is increasing worldwide.† (Klein, par.3) Many intercultural couples claim that their relationships do not differentiate from monoculture relationships at first. Passionate love bonds them. When their relationships come to a stable stage after a while, however, cultural difference immerges. The couples can certainly benefit from cultural difference yet they also have to face the challenges resulted from it. This paper will examine such effect that cultural difference takes on intercultural marriage According to Dugan Romano, intercultural couples increase self-knowledge by being forced to examine and define their own values, ideas, and prejudices. (Romano 179) They all feel richer and less parochial after they spend many years together trying to work things through. They are able to be exposed into other cultures thoroughly as well as to strengthen the understandings of their own cultures. Cultural difference also introduces more lifestyle options to intercultural couples, which will enrich their life. Even if a couple ends up choosing one’s home country as their permanent residence, they will definitely visit the other’s hometown pretty often. Sometimes they live in a third country, which means they’ll go to both of their home countries from time to time. They have chances to travel in many places, experience different customs, and have friends from diverse backgrounds. â€Å"My mom told me it was her int... ... For people who are considering entering intercultural marriage, it is very important to seriously weigh the pros and cons of the cultural difference before making a final decision. Works Cited Drumm, Tamula. â€Å"Mixed Marriage- Why Expats Marry Forefingers and Then What Happens.† Transitions Abroad July/ August 2001 Transitions Abroud Publishing, Inc. . Klein, Amy. â€Å"Marrying Across Cultures.† Studio Classroom April 2004 Studio Classroom Magazine . Larabell, Joseph. â€Å"Sobering Advice for Anyone Contemplating a Across-cultural Marriage.† Joseph L.(Joe) Larabell the Suburban Eclectic 9 June 2003 Joseph Larabell . Romano, Dugan. Intercultural Marriage/Promises and Pitfalls. Yarmouth, MN: Intercultural P, 1997. Xu, Mingyang. â€Å"A Chinese-American Mixed Marriage---A Mini Story.† Hua Xia Wen Zhai CND Magazine March 1993 China News Digest International, Inc. .

Family as a Primary Group

Family as a Primary Group Social Problems Garelick August 2010 Family as a Primary Group Family plays an important role in the life of every person and society as a whole. It is no surprise that at every new stage of development in our society, with every revaluation of values, the interest in the issues of family, morality and spirituality spikes. At the present time, in the complicated environments through which we weave our lives, the family remains a unique mediator between the interests of the individual and society and is in the epicenter of a major social upheaval.The transition to current market relations and with them the related apathy, and with the impoverishment of the general population drastically came the turnaround in the view affecting the well-being of our families and their stability and potential for proper upbringing of the young. These, along with many other social instabilities, have led to a crisis of family values. The consequences of this crisis are bifurcat ions between the generations, the prevalence of reduced lifetime fertility and the growing number of single parents in the United States.If marriage, parenthood and kinship are what constitute family relations, at the present time we are witnessing a decay of this little tiny trinity. The problem is complicated by the fact that at present time, the institution of marriage is going through a transitional period. There is a certain destruction of the old traditional values of marriage, and the new have yet to be formed. Marriage and family are increasingly becoming more about individuals and their need for intimate satisfaction and informal communication, and less about structure and support of one another.Let us pinpoint and define just where the family lays its essence within the complicated world of social institutions and in which groups, as defined by our text. In a broad sense, the concept of a social group is any social association of people, anything from peer groups to a popu lation of a particular country. In sociology, this concept is used in a narrower sense as â€Å"any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who interact with one another on a regular basis† (Schaefer, 2009, p. 107). In general, members of a society feel like they belong to a group, and are also perceived by others as members of said group.To analyze the social structure of a society there must be items explored that appear in all elementary parts of the given society, which incorporate all of the social perspectives. For this, I have chosen what is generally accepted to be the â€Å"primary group† (Schaefer, 2009, p. 110). The most successful definition, and essentially creation of the term, was created by â€Å"Charles Horton Cooley† who â€Å"coined the term†¦ to refer to a small group characterized by intimate, face-to-face association and cooperation† (Schaefer, 2009, p. 10). In other words, primary groups are those in which individuals have personal interaction with one another. For example, classmates can be members of a primary group, and the rest of the student body would then be members of a secondary group. From a social perspective of a â€Å"functionalist† for the normal operation of the human society we must consolidate certain types of social relations so that they become mandatory for members of a particular social group (Schaefer, 2009, p. 14).This primarily refers to those social relations in which, in order to obtain entry, members of a certain group must satisfy the most vital requirements needed for the successful functioning of the given group as an integrated social unit. For example, for the production of material comforts, people tend to perpetuate and secure a level of financial cushioning; this is also done for the upbringing of children, for unstrained family relationships, as well as for education and training for everyone involved.A symbolic â€Å"interactionist† would view the family process as a consolidation of social relations and a way to establish a system of roles and statuses, prescribing certain rules of conduct in a â€Å"social network,† and in defining a system of sanctions in case of a default by any of the individuals in the process of living out and following the given rules of conduct (Schaefer, 2009, p. 16/111). Social roles, statuses and sanctions are implemented in the form of social institutions that define sustainable patterns of behavior, ideas and incentives.Social institutions â€Å"are organized patterns of beliefs and behavior centered on basic social needs, such as replacing personnel† in the family setting (Schaefer, 2009, p. 113). Social institutions dictate how ideas and goals are perceived and defined by the system of standard social values, such as patterns of public behavior and the complicated systems of various social ties, i. e. the sets of roles and statuses through which a range of behavior is carried out and kept within certain limits.So, within the concepts of â€Å"social institution† and â€Å"social group† there is a significant internal difference. While the social group, whether primary or secondary, is a collection of interacting individuals, the social institution is a system of social relationships and social norms that exist in a particular area of human activity. However, it should be noted that these concepts are inseparable from each other, because  a social institution is a set of relationships and systems of behavior, and is determined ultimately by the needs of people.In other words, although the social institution creates social relationships and norms, there are people for whom these relationships are linked and carried out; the family is the perfect example of a social group that puts the rules in to practice. People organize themselves into different groups using institutional rules. Each institution includes many social groups tha t provide the overall institutional behavior. Consequently, institutions and social groups are interrelated, and it would be completely meaningless to separate these notions and study them separately.So, based on the foregoing, I conclude that the family is a social phenomenon that combines the features of a social institution and a primary group. The idea of the modern family arises from the desire to satisfy purely personal needs and interests of individuals. According to structure-functionalists, â€Å"the patterns of reciprocal obligations among people and between structures of people and the greater society define family. The greater society has needs that must be met; in order to meet those needs, society creates subsets of people structured to help meet the needs of society.The family is one of those structures. The definition of â€Å"family† changes as the needs of the greater society change. When the greater society needs rapid population growth — after a ti me of war, for example — society's definition of family emphasizes heterosexual bonding, procreation and child rearing; but when the greater society is faced with over-population and the need to limit population growth, society's definition of family may be modified to include homosexual bonding and may be more supportive of childless couples† (Diem, 1997, P2).As a primary group, the family connects the personal needs of the public interest, adapting to social relations, norms, and values that are accepted in our society. In other words, the family's personal needs are sorted and organized on the basis of accepted societal values, norms and behavior patterns and, eventually, acquire the character of the social functions such as the regulation of sex, procreation, socialization, emotional satisfaction, status, safety, and economic security.From what I have gathered, the definition of family from a conflict perspective has been a highly discouraged and slightly controvers ial subject since family â€Å"is considered a sacred institution. As a result, support for research on conflict in the family has been discouraged† (Werner-Wilson, 1993, p. 6). And it would seem that a social institution of such prominence would not have a dark side from which can leap and bound toward freedom suppressed minorities. But for the sake of this essay, let us assume that if Karl Marx were to look at the institution of marriage, he would wave his well bearded nugget side to side disapprovingly.The idea of a traditional family has roots in male supremacy, and suppression of women’s rights. If only Karl Marx was not a man of the nineteenth century, but lived in present time. The ideal family includes: 1) a set of social values (love, for children), 2) public procedure (for the care of children, family rights and obligations), and 3) interlacing of roles and statuses (status and role of husband, wife, child, teenager, mother-in-law, brothers, etc. ), with the aid of which the family exists.Thus, the institution of family is a collection of certain bonds, rules and roles, which in practice are manifested into the activities of this individual primary group. We all know how great the importance of family is in everyday life, society and even in the political arena. After all, it is the family of each person that provides them with an inexhaustible source of love, devotion and support. The family lays foundation for morality, spirituality and tolerance. And it is the family that is recognized as the major reason for why cultural beliefs survive, are inherited and passed from generation to generation.It is a prerequisite for socialization and the lifelong study of social roles, basic education, skills, and behavior. A healthy, strong family is the basis of stability and prosperity of any society. The family is the foundation of all social institutions vis-a-vis the development of the family is ultimately the progress of society as a whole. B ut the world does not stand still, in its ever-changing atmosphere social institutions take on new meanings and the ideas of marriage and family change with the times.Marriage has ceased to be life-long and is losing its legitimacy: divorce, single parent families, broken hearts and bank accounts used to be exceptions, and are now becoming the norm. The vast majority of professionals such as philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, economists, and students of the modern school of thought, all agree that the family is going through a real crisis. The strength of family is being tested under the weight of total catastrophic failure that our society is facing; the deep nature of which is characterized by our flailing ivilization. As a primary element of society, it gives a miniature image of the same contradictions that are inherent in our cultures. One of the most remarkable properties of the family is its flexible and dynamic form of structural organization. Thanks to the universal ability to adapt to the peculiarities of the ever-changing world, the family has developed an enormous variety of types of family structures, sometimes adapting itself beyond recognition, but while keeping unchanged its essence as a social institution and a primary group.In addition, the family is created to meet any number and range of essential human needs. The family, therefore, in contrast to other social groups defines the very meaning of integrity and adaptability. Because of its multifunctional ability to ameliorate the physiological and psychological human needs, and its inclination toward self-organization and self-development the idea of family is able to combine all personal, collective and public interests into one little amiable ball with a gigantic potential for explosive cataclysm.The world is not static, it changes, and with it change its social institutions, and thus the family. Clearly, the family today, like society in general, is in deep cow dung. The strength o f the family, its charm and vitality lie in the integrity that is inherent in the family idea and in the definition of the primary social group and social institution. The present era in which we have had this great pleasure of existing is different from any other in recorded history.Today’s complex economic and social situations require a modern approach, which can often cause stress and depression, which have already become integral parts of our existence. Today is the time when the need is particularly great in having a safe retreat, a place of spiritual comfort. This safe retreat can be our family, its stability and strength can be built to withstand the widespread variability of the painful world. The family is something worth celebrating, and in celebrating ourselves we can go on further to build everything else that will try to destroy it.References Schaefer, R. T. (2009). Sociology: A Brief Introduction (8th edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Diem, G. (1997). Formulation s: The Definition of â€Å"Family† in a Free Society. Social Scientists’ definition of Family. Retrieved August 12, 2010, from http://libertariannation. org/a/f43d1. html Werner-Wilson, R. (1993) Social Conflict Theory. Retrived August 12, 2010, from www. public. iastate. edu/~hd_fs. 511/lecture/Sourcebook15. ppt

Second Foundation 4. Two Men and the Elders

The Elders of this particular region of Rossem were not exactly what one might have expected. They were not a mere extrapolation of the peasantry; older, more authoritative, less friendly. Not at all. The dignity that had marked them at first meeting had grown in impression till it had reached the mark of being their predominant characteristic. They sat about their oval table like so many grave and slow-moving thinkers. Most were a trifle past their physical prime, though the few who possessed beards wore them short and neatly arranged. Still, enough appeared younger than forty to make it quite obvious that â€Å"Elders† was a term of respect rather than entirely a literal description of age. The two from outer space were at the head of the table and in the solemn silence that accompanied a rather frugal meal that seemed ceremonious rather than nourishing, absorbed the new, contrasting atmosphere. After the meal and after one or two respectful remarks – too short and simple to be called speeches – had been made by those of the Elders apparently held most in esteem, an informality forced itself upon the assembly. It was as if the dignity of greeting foreign personages had finally given way to the amiable rustic qualities of curiosity and friendliness. They crowded around the two strangers and the flood of questions came. They asked if it were difficult to handle a spaceship, how many men were required for the job, if better motors could be made for their ground-cars, if it was true that it rarely snowed on other worlds as was said to be the case with Tazenda, how many people lived on their world, if it was as large as Tazenda, if it was far away, how their clothes were woven and what gave them the metallic shimmer, why they did not wear furs, if they shaved every day, what sort of stone that was in Pritcher's ring – The list stretched out. And almost always the questions were addressed to Pritcher as though, as the elder, they automatically invested him with the greater authority. Pritcher found himself forced to answer at greater and greater length. It was like an immersion in a crowd of children. Their questions were those of utter and disarming wonder. Their eagerness to know was completely irresistible and would not be denied. Pritcher explained that spaceships were not difficult to handle and that crews varied with the size, from one to many, that the motors of their ground-cars were unknown in detail to him but could doubtless be improved, that the climates of worlds varied almost infinitely, that many hundreds of millions lived on his world but that it was far smaller and more insignificant than the great empire of Tazenda, that their clothes were woven of silicone plastics in which metallic luster was artificially produced by proper orientation of the surface molecules, and that they could be artificially heated so that furs were unnecessary, that they shaved every day, that the stone in his ring was an amethyst. The list stretched out. He found himself thawing to these naive provincials against his will. And always as he answered there was a rapid chatter among the Elders, as though they debated the information gained. It was difficult to follow these inner discussions of theirs for they lapsed into their own accented version of the universal Galactic language that, through long separation from the currents of living speech, had become archaic. Almost, one might say, their curt comments among themselves hovered on the edge of understanding, but just managed to elude the clutching tendrils of comprehension. Until finally Channis interrupted to say, â€Å"Good sirs, you must answer us for a while, for we are strangers and would be very much interested to know all we can of Tazenda.† And what happened then was that a great silence fell and each of the hitherto voluble Elders grew silent. Their hands, which had been moving in such rapid and delicate accompaniment to their words as though to give them greater scope and varied shades of meaning, fell suddenly limp. They stared furtively at one another, apparently quite willing each to let the other have all the floor. Pritcher interposed quickly, â€Å"My companion asks this in friendliness, for the fame of Tazenda fills the Galaxy and we, of course, shall inform the governor of the loyalty and love of the Elders of Rossem.† No sigh of relief was heard but faces brightened. An Elder stroked his beard with thumb and forefinger, straightening its slight curl with a gentle pressure, and said: â€Å"We are faithful servants of the Lords of Tazenda.† Pritcher's annoyance at Channis' bald question subsided. It was apparent, at least, that the age that he had felt creeping over him of late had not yet deprived him of his own capacity for making smooth the blunders of others. He continued: â€Å"We do not know, in our far part of the universe, much of the past history of the Lords of Tazenda. We presume they have ruled benevolently here for a long time.† The same Elder who spoke before, answered. In a soft, automatic way he had become spokesman. He said: â€Å"Not the grandfather of the oldest can recall a time in which the Lords were absent.† â€Å"It has been a time of peace?† â€Å"It has been a time of peace!† He hesitated. â€Å"The governor is a strong and powerful Lord who would not hesitate to punish traitors. None of us are traitors, of course.† â€Å"He has punished some in the past, I imagine, as they deserve.† Again hesitation, â€Å"None here have ever been traitors, or our fathers or our fathers' fathers. But on other worlds, there have been such, and death followed for them quickly. It is not good to think of for we are humble men who are poor farmers and not concerned with matters of politics.† The anxiety in his voice, the universal concern in the eyes of all of them was obvious. Pritcher said smoothly: â€Å"Could you inform us as to how we can arrange an audience with your governor.† And instantly an element of sudden bewilderment entered the situation. For after a long moment, the elder said: â€Å"Why, did you not know? The governor will be here tomorrow. He has expected you. It has been a great honor for us. We†¦ we hope earnestly that you will report to him satisfactorily as to our loyalty to him.† Pritcher's smile scarcely twitched. â€Å"Expected us?† The Elder looked wonderingly from one to the other. â€Å"Why†¦ it is now a week since we have been waiting for you.† Their quarters were undoubtedly luxurious for the world. Pritcher had lived in worse. Channis showed nothing but indifference to externals. But there was an element of tension between them of a different nature than hitherto. Pritcher, felt the time approaching for a definite decision and yet there was still the desirability of additional waiting. To see the governor first would be to increase the gamble to dangerous dimensions and yet to win that gamble might multi-double the winnings. He felt a surge of anger at the slight crease between Channis' eyebrows, the delicate uncertainty with which the young man's lower lip presented itself to an upper tooth. He detested the useless play-acting and yearned for an end to it. He said: â€Å"We seem to be anticipated.† ‘Yes,† said Channis, simply. â€Å"Just that? You have no contribution of greater pith to make. We come here and find that the governor expects us. Presumably we shall find from the governor that Tazenda itself expects us. Of what value then is our entire mission?† Channis looked up, without endeavoring to conceal the weary note in his voice: â€Å"To expect us is one thing; to know who we are and what we came for, is another.† â€Å"Do you expect to conceal these things from men of the Second Foundation?† â€Å"Perhaps. Why not? Are you ready to throw your hand in? Suppose our ship was detected in space. Is it unusual for a realm to maintain frontier observation posts? Even if we were ordinary strangers, we would be of interest.† â€Å"Sufficient interest for a governor to come to us rather than the reverse?' Channis shrugged: â€Å"We'll have to meet that problem later. Let us see what this governor is like.† Pritcher bared his teeth in a bloodless kind of scowl. The situation was becoming ridiculous. Channis proceeded with an artificial animation: â€Å"At least we know one thing. Tazenda is the Second Foundation or a million shreds of evidence are unanimously pointing the wrong way. How do you interpret the obvious terror in which these natives hold Tazenda? I see no signs of political domination. Their groups of Elders apparently meet freely and without interference of any sort. The taxation they speak of doesn't seem at all extensive to me or efficiently carried through. The natives speak much of poverty but seem sturdy and well-fed. The houses are uncouth and their villages rude, but are obviously adequate for the purpose. â€Å"In fact, the world fascinates me. I have never seen a more forbidding one, yet I am convinced there is no suffering among the population and that their uncomplicated lives manage to contain a well-balanced happiness lacking in the sophisticated populations of the advanced centers.† â€Å"Are you an admirer of peasant virtues, then?† â€Å"The stars forbid.† Channis seemed amused at the idea. â€Å"I merely point out the significance of all this. Apparently, Tazenda is an efficient administrator – efficient in a sense far different from the efficiency of the old Empire or of the First Foundation, or even of our own Union. All these have brought mechanical efficiency to their subjects at the cost of more intangible values. Tazenda brings happiness and sufficiency. Don't you see that the whole orientation of their domination is different? It is not physical, but psychological.† â€Å"Really?† Pritcher, allowed himself irony. â€Å"And the terror with which the Elders spoke of the punishment of treason by these kind hearted psychologist administrators? How does that suit your thesis?† â€Å"Were they the objects of the punishment? They speak of punishment only of others. It is as if knowledge of punishment has been so well implanted in them that punishment itself need never be used. The proper mental attitudes are so inserted into their minds that I am certain that not a Tazendian soldier exists on the planet. Don't you see all this?† â€Å"I'll see perhaps,† said Pritcher, coldly, â€Å"when I see the governor. And what, by the way, if our mentalities are handled?† Channis replied with brutal contempt: â€Å"You should be accustomed to that.† Pritcher whitened perceptibly, and, with an effort, turned away. They spoke to one another no more that day. It was in the silent windlessness of the frigid night, as he listened to the soft, sleeping motions of the other, that Pritcher silently adjusted his wrist-transmitter to the ultrawave region for which Channis' was unadjustable and, with noiseless touches of his fingernail, contacted the ship. The answer came in little periods of noiseless vibration that barely lifted themselves above the sensory threshold. Twice Pritcher asked: â€Å"Any communications at all yet?† Twice the answer came: â€Å"None. We wait always.† He got out of bed. It was cold in the room and he pulled the furry blanket around him as he sat in the chair and stared out at the crowding stars so different in the brightness and complexity of their arrangement from the even fog of the Galactic Lens that dominated the night sky of his native Periphery. Somewhere there between the stars was the answer to the complications that overwhelmed him, and he felt the yearning for that solution to arrive and end things. For a moment he wondered again if the Mule were right – if Conversion had robbed him of the firm sharp edge of self-reliance. Or was it simply age and the fluctuations of these last years? He didn't really care. He was tired. *** The governor of Rossem arrived with minor ostentation. His only companion was the uniformed man at the controls of the ground-car. The ground-car itself was of lush design but to Pritcher it appeared inefficient. It turned clumsily; more than once it apparently balked at what might have been a too-rapid change of gears. It was obvious at once from its design that it ran on chemical, and not on atomic, fuel. The Tazendian governor stepped softly on to the thin layer of snow and advanced between two lines of respectful Elders. He did not look at them but entered quickly. They followed after him. From the quarters assigned to them, the two men of the Mule's Union watched. He – the governor – was thickset, rather stocky, short, unimpressive. But what of that? Pritcher cursed himself for a failure of nerve. His face, to be sure, remained icily calm. There was no humiliation before Channis – but he knew very well that his blood pressure had heightened and his throat had become dry. It was not a case of physical fear. He was not one of those dull-witted, unimaginative men of nerveless meat who were too stupid ever to be afraid – but physical fear he could account for and discount. But this was different. It was the other fear. He glanced quickly at Channis. The young man glanced idly at the nails of one hand and poked leisurely at some trifling unevenness. Something inside Pritcher became vastly indignant. What had Channis to fear of mental handling? Pritcher caught a mental breath and tried to think back. How had he been before the Mule had Converted him from the die-hard Democrat that he was. It was hard to remember. He could not place himself mentally. He could not break the clinging wires that bound him emotionally to the Mule. Intellectually, he could remember that he had once tried to assassinate the Mule but not for all the straining he could endure, could he remember his emotions at the time. That might be the self-defense of his own mind, however, for at the intuitive thought of what those emotions might have been – not realizing the details, but merely comprehending the drift of it – his stomach grew queasy. What if the governor tampered with his mind? What if the insubstantial mental tendrils of a Second Foundationer insinuated itself down the emotional crevices of his makeup and pulled them apart and rejoined them? There had been no sensation the first time. There had been no pain, no mental jar – not even a feeling of discontinuity. He had always loved the Mule. If there had ever been a time long before – as long before as five short years – when he had thought he hadn't loved him, that he had hated him – that was just a horrid illusion. The thought of that illusion embarrassed him. But there had been no pain. Would meeting the governor duplicate that? Would all that had gone before – all his service for the Mule – all his life's orientation – join the hazy, other-life dream that held the word, Democracy. The Mule also a dream, and only to Tazenda, his loyalty- Sharply, he turned away. There was that strong desire to retch. And then Channis' voice clashed on his ear, â€Å"I think this is it, general.† Pritcher turned again. An Elder had opened the door silently and stood with a dignified and calm respect upon the threshold. He said, â€Å"His Excellency, Governor of Rossem, in the name of the Lords of Tazenda, is pleased to present his permission for an audience and request your appearance before him.† â€Å"Sure thing,† and Channis tightened his belt with a jerk and adjusted a Rossemian hood over his head. Pritcher's jaw set. This was the beginning of the real gamble. The governor of Rossem was not of formidable appearance. For one thing, he was bareheaded, and his thinning hair, light brown, tending to gray, lent him mildness. His bony eye-ridges lowered at them, and his eyes, set in a fine network of surrounding wrinkles, seemed calculating, but his fresh-cropped chin was soft and small and, by the universal convention of followers of the pseudoscience of reading character by facial bony structure, seemed â€Å"weak.† Pritcher, avoided the eyes and watched the chin. He didn't know whether that would be effective – if anything would be. The governor's voice was high-pitched, indifferent: â€Å"Welcome to Tazenda. We greet you in peace. You have eaten?† His hand – long fingers, gnarled veins – waved almost regally at the U-shaped table. They bowed and sat down. The governor sat at the outer side of the base of the U, they on the inner; along both arms sat the double row of silent Elders. The governor spoke in short, abrupt sentences – praising the food as Tazendian importations – and it had indeed a quality different if, somehow, not so much better, than the rougher food of the Elders – disparaging Rossemian weather, referring with an attempt at casualness to the intricacies of space travel. Channis talked little. Pritcher not at all. Then it was over. The small, stewed fruits were finished; the napkins used and discarded, and the governor leaned back. His small eyes sparkled. â€Å"I have inquired as to your ship. Naturally, I would like to see that it receives due care and overhaul. I am told its whereabouts are unknown.† â€Å"True.† Channis replied lightly. â€Å"We have left it in space. It is a large ship, suitable for long journeys in sometimes hostile regions, and we felt that landing it here might give rise to doubts as to our peaceful intentions. We preferred to land alone, unarmed.† â€Å"A friendly act,† commented the governor, without conviction. â€Å"A large ship, you say?† â€Å"Not a vessel of war, excellency.† â€Å"Ha, hum. Where is it you come from?† â€Å"A small world of the Santanni sector, your excellency. It may be you are not aware of its existence for it lacks importance. We are interested in establishing trade relationships.† â€Å"Trade, eh? And what have you to sell?' â€Å"Machines of all sorts, excellency. In return, food, wood, ores.†*** â€Å"Ha, hum.† The governor seemed doubtful. â€Å"I know little of*** these matters. Perhaps mutual profit may be arranged. Perhaps, after I have examined your credentials at length – for much information will be required by my government before matters may proceed, you understand – and after I have looked over your ship, it would be advisable for you to proceed to Tazenda.† There was no answer to that, and the governor's attitude iced perceptibly. â€Å"It is necessary that I see your ship, however.† Channis said distantly: â€Å"The ship, unfortunately, is undergoing repairs at the moment. If your excellency would not object giving us forty-eight hours, it will be at your service.† â€Å"I am not accustomed to waiting.† For the first time, Pritcher met the glare of the other, eye to eye, and his breath exploded softly inside him. For a moment, he had the sensation of drowning, but then his eyes tore away. Channis did not waver. He said: â€Å"The ship cannot be landed for forty-eight hours, excellency. We are here and unarmed. Can you doubt our honest intentions?† There was a long silence, and then the governor said gruffly, â€Å"Tell me of the world from which you come.† That was all. It passed with that. There was no more unpleasantness. The governor, having fulfilled his official duty, apparently lost interest and the audience died a dull death. And when it was all over, Pritcher found himself back in their quarters and took stock of himself. Carefully – holding his breath – he â€Å"felt† his emotions. Certainly he seemed no different to himself, but would he feel any difference? Had he felt different after the Mule's Conversion? Had not everything seemed natural? As it should have been? He experimented. With cold purpose, he shouted inside the silent caverns of his mind, and the shout was, â€Å"The Second Foundation must be discovered and destroyed.† And the emotion that accompanied it was honest hate. There was not as much as a hesitation involved in it. And then it was in his mind to substitute the word â€Å"Mule† for the phrase â€Å"Second Foundation† and his breath caught at the mere emotion and his tongue clogged. So far, good. But had he been handled otherwise – more subtly? Had tiny changes been made? Changes that he couldn't detect because their very existence warped his judgment. There was no way to tell. But he still felt absolute loyalty to the Mule! If that were unchanged, nothing else really mattered. He turned his mind to action again. Channis was busy at his end of the room. Pritcher's thumbnail idled at his wrist communicator. And then at the response that came he felt a wave of relief surge over him and leave him weak. The quiet muscles of his face did not betray him, but inside he was shouting with joy – and when Channis turned to face him, he knew that the farce was about over.