Portugal Essay Example for Free

Portugal Essay 1.0   Introduction This presentation provides an overview of geographical, historical and cultural aspects of the Portugal. This follows discusses on food patterns and food habits among the Portuguese, their typical meals and food etiquette, frequencies of dining and food taboos that do exist. Therapeutic effects of food eaten including wine and home or traditional remedies used that involve both food and herbs are keenly analyzed. Lastly, the major public holidays in Portugal are outlined and their associated meals that are served. 2.0   Geographical overview Portugal is situated at Southwest Europe; it is one of the westernmost countries in Europe. It borders Atlantic Oceans to the west and south. To the north and east it neighbors Spain. Portugal country covers an area of approximately 92,391 square kilometers. The land surface occupies approximately 91,951 squares kilometers with about ten million people. Portugal experiences maritime temperate type of climate. Its northern parts are cool and rainy while in the southern parts are warmer and little drier. Generally, it is one of the warmest European countries. The Portugal mainland is divided by river Tagus which is the main river in the country. It has a mountainous terrain to the north of Tagus River and gently rolling plains in the south (Lovel, 2008). 3.0   History and culture Portuguese is the official language used in the country. Also Mirandese language is used but locally. Portugal derived its name partly from Roman name ‘Cale’ and the city Porto.   The word Cale used to refer the region between river Douro and Minho. Cale actually referred to the early settlers at the mouth of river Douro. The word Cale or ‘Gal’ together with the city Porto formed the county’s name Portugal. In the early times, the land of Portugal was settled by Pre-Celts and Celts. Portugal managed to gain its independence after several conquests from invading kingdoms and claimed its present border. Later it held several explorations in the world that marked the Age of Discovery. Portuguese’s zeal for exploration was because of their long shoreline that presented a favorable environment of sailing skills, needs for accessing European markets and desire to make more conquests. By the end of firth century, Portuguese had explored regions as far as coast of Africa establishing many trading stations with various kingdoms. One of the most remarkable explorations is that of Vasco da Gama when he sailed through the Cape Town en route to India in 1498. In 1500 Portugal discovered Brazil and claimed to be its territory. Portuguese conquered several Asian nations of that time and became dominant in commerce around Indian Ocean and Atlantic regions. In 1st November 1755, Portugal capital city Lisbon was severely hit by earthquake that left thousands dead and part of the city destroyed. Also, in 1807 during the Napoleon war, French troops invaded Portugal for war that was called Peninsular war or French Invasion of Portugal that lasted close to a decade when British and Portuguese formed a coalition to flush out French troops. Portuguese dominance gradually started to decline especially when Brazil showed interest for independence. Brazil was Portugal’s largest colonial territory. By close of 19th Century, Portugal had lost control over South America and sought new territories in Africa. Portuguese Colonial rule in the world came to the end after their last overseas territory Macau gained its independence in 1999. Portugal was the founding member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which was established by signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949 (Kyler, Brandin and Ethan, 2002). The culture   of the Portuguese traces it root to the time of   Roman and Moorish invasion .As it has been found , these invasions did left   some cultural elements   which that are seen   in archeological remains. Basically, Portuguese culture has been influenced the Latin, the Visigoth and the Muslim culture. According to the Portuguese culture family is considered to be the basic unit in the society. A kinship network tie is so knit such that two or more generations can live in the same house. Even when men and women move to the urban areas they try as much as possible to be in touch with their relatives back at home. Normally women stay at home while men move out to make for a living. Traditionally, father is the head of the house and the breadwinner and the mother takes care of the family. However, presently the role of man is not highly regarded as to that of women. Portuguese elders are highly respected. Family loyalty prevails more than any other social relationship or even business. Portuguese have high sense of formality especially when dealing with each other. However, they are traditional and conservative. Their culture is one that respects the hierarchy because both society and business is highly stratified. The conformity to hierarchical relationship is amplified by both the Catholic Church and the family structure. People have high respect of authority to a point that they look to those above them for guidance and decision making. They also regard appearance very much especially in the cities. For this reason, people strive to wear good fabrics and clothes they can afford (http://www.portugal-live.net/UK/essential/culture.html, 2008). Etiquette and customs are highly held with great care. In the first time contact, first greetings are reserved though polite, which take form of handshake accompanied with direct eye contact plus appropriate greeting of the day. After acquaintance, greeting now proceeds to be more personal where men can greet each other with hugs and handshakes while women can kiss each other on each side of the check starting with the right one. Titles includes honorific titles such as ‘Senhora or senhor’ together with the sir name. Any university degree holder is usually referred to with honorific title with ‘doutour’ or ‘douttooura’ which is the word for doctor, together with or without the surname. It is always wise to use formal case than informal until your friend suggest otherwise. The etiquette for giving gifts requires that if you are invited for a dinner please carry flowers with you and do not give thirteen flowers as the number is considered unlucky. Red flowers are not given as they are considered to be symbol of revolution. It is cultural to open gifts after they have been received. The majority of Portuguese are Christians belonging to Roman Catholic religion. But there are other groups such as Islam, Protestantism and Judaism. 4.0   Food habits and patterns Portugal is considered to be one of the southern European countries that have Mediterranean dietary habits. This is type of the diet is a good example of nutritional habits that have evolved in North Atlantic countries. The term Mediterranean diet is not necessarily associated with idea of geographical region as such. This is because for instance Portugal is not in Mediterranean coast and yet it has the most typical Mediterranean dietary tradition among the European nations. The main characteristics of Mediterranean diet   includes,   high consumption of fruits and vegetables, widespread consumption of fish, use of olive oil in the diet and   tradition deep-frying as   a method of   cooking. These characteristics are common in different varieties of Mediterranean diet based on the role and importance of nutritional groups they play especially in Mediterranean countries.   In this diet, high consumption of vegetable and fruits provide high fiber intake practically pectin which is a soluble fiber. Besides this, plenty of fruits and vegetables provide high contents of beta-carotene, folic acid and vitamin C. Portugal is considered to have high intake of vitamin C in the European countries and the most of it comes from raw food intake. Portuguese are known to be passionate about their cuisine which is reflected by their nutritious diet. One of striking features of Portuguese food habits is use of wine. Portuguese wine is classic for its taste and quality that make them to be the best wine producers in the world. Because the country is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the south and west, fish is the main component of their diet. Fishes like caldeirada, sardines and cod together with their recipes are the main constitutes of their menu. They also make use of pork, beef, chicken and lamb in their diet. Commonly, these meats are used as add ons with sandwiches. Portuguese are also very well known because of their pastry art. There is wide used of spices such as chillli peppers, cinnamon, vanilla and saffron. It is a Portuguese habit not often to eat breakfast; instead prefer just a coffee and perhaps a bread roll. Hot meals are always preferred even during the summers (http://www.spain-recipes.com/mediterranean-diet-01.html, n.d). In Portugal there is diet transition from traditional food pattern characterized by high availability of principal carbohydrates to high consumption of protein foods. This shift in dietary pattern is prominent in urban areas which seem to be influenced by education level and urbanization. 4.1   Typical meals, frequency of dinning and food etiquette Portuguese breakfast is called pequeno-almaco in Portuguese language.   Their breakfast most of times consist of fresh bread, with butter, cheese or fruit preserves together with a strong coffee or milk.   Breakfast cereals and sweet pastries are very popular especially when eaten cold and mixed with milk, yoghurt and fruit. But more often they prefer a cup of coffee and at times a bread roll for breakfast. There are about four typical meals from meat namely: carne de porco a alentejane, leitao assado, bife de porcolde avaca, figa com arroz and feijaoada.Carne de porco a alentejane is a meal that is made up of pork with clams.Leitao assado is a type of meal that consists of roasted sucking pig while that of bife deporcolde avaca has pork or beef steak. Figado com arroz is a meal with liver and rice and for feijoada, it is a been stew with black pudding. There are various meals made of fish. Bacalhau which is a salted cod fish is very famous in the region. Also there are other popular   fish dishes such as lulas fritas which is a grilled squid,   bacalhau a bras being a cod with eggs   and potatoes , arroz de marisco, a seafood rice, pescada which is hake ,caldeirada , fish stew and lastly sardinhas assadas which is grilled sardines. Soups form part of every meal. The most popular of the soup is caldo verde which is a moderate thin potato puree and thinly chopped collard green and slice of pork sausage (chourico). In drinks, red, white and green wine forms the traditional Portuguese drink. Portuguese have three main meals in a day that is; breakfast, lunch and supper. However, in the course of the day there are numerous cups of black coffee that grace day’s work. They take breakfast early in the morning and have lunch around 1pm to 3pm. As a norm supper is eaten at around 8 pm. Everyone has to observe dinning etiquette. If one has been invited for diner he or she should not be late for more than fifteen minutes. But in a social gathering or in a party, this doesn’t apply. Dressing code is necessary. Portuguese have no much difference between business and social attire; nevertheless, one should not discus business matters in a social gathering. If by the time you turn up for an invitation you had not carried a flower, it is necessary to sent it the follow day to the hostess. Table manners are also formal in that once you get inside the dinning room you should remain standing until directed where to sit. Portuguese consider table manners to be Continental. You should hold the fork with left hand and knife with your right hand when eating. At no time should you start eating before you hear an expression from hostess saying ‘bom appettito’.   Never rest your elbow on the table. All foods must be eaten using the provided utensils including fruit and cheese. When eating always one should keep napkin to the left of the plate and never put it on the lap and after finishing eating at least leave some food in the plate. To show that you are through one should lay the knife and fork parallel on the plate, tines facing up with handles facing to the right. In Portugal, culturally there are no food taboos. However, for those who are Catholic religion affiliates they have some religious eating habits just like any other religious Catholic country (Schwabe, 1979) 4.2   Therapeutic uses of food and Home therapies Mediterranean diet consists of high intake of vegetable that helps to lower risk of colon cancer, hyperchoresterol and aids in management of diabetes. Also there is a liberal intake of vitamin C helps to boost immune system, increase dietary iron bioavaliabity and maintenance of endothelium membranes. Beta-carotene together with vitamin C acts as antioxidants that also reduce risks of cancer. Consumption of  Ã‚   vegetable oils particularly from olive oil provides in the diet Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) and Mono-Unsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA) which help to low risks associated with cardiovascular diseases. Wine have been suggested to have potential therapeutic effects due to the presence of   components such as flavonoids and other antioxidants responsible in   reducing risks associated with   heart diseases. Generally, alcohol has minimal therapeutic effects such as small increments of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) as well as reduction in blood coagulation. However, it should be note that there is no scientific proof that intake of wine or alcohol can replace conventional measures in cardiovascular management (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4422, 2008) The most common traditional used herbs in Portugal include fennel (Foeniciulum vulgare) mint (Mentha spicata), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), rosemary (Rosmarinus) and wild thyme (Thymus serppyllum). Mint has been used for a long time as herb in Portugal for its properties in treating stomach ache, chest problems and aiding digestion in form of herbal tea. Pennyroyal which a member of mint genus has been traditional used to treat flatulence, gum strengthener, a tumor remedy and a lung cleanser. Rosemary freash or dried leaves has been used frequently in traditional Mediterranean cuisine and as well as herb. It is traditionally used for management of respiratory problems such as colds and cough. Wild Thyme in Portugal has been generally used as herbal tea and also for seasoning food. Fennel is found in temperate regions in Europe and is a perennial herb. Portuguese for a long time have been using its seeds to relax intestine and manage bloating in form of herbal tea. 4.3   Portugal major holidays and dishes Portugal major holidays includes Liberty Day on every 25th of April, Labor Day on 1st May, Christmas Day on 25th, Epiphany on 6th January and New Year celebration. The major dishes during Christmas time are rice pudding (arroz doce) and salt cod (bacalhau) with olive oil potatoes, grains and cabbage. It is commonly accompanied by array of  Ã‚   rich desserts.   Also there are varieties of fried goodies offered as sweets, rabanadas which resembles French toast, rice pudding and sobremesas which are traditional Christmas pastries. Epiphany is a Christian feast day that celebrates revelation of God in human for in the person of Jesus Christ. Families gather to eat King   cake called ‘Bolo- Rie’ which is baked. During New Year celebration a similar but slightly unique cake that consists a candied fruit decorated goody is eaten. It contains two treaties; the prize and Feve bean. Whoever gets the latter is considered responsible to bring a cake next year. Apart from in these three holidays, no special meals are taken in other holidays such as Labor and Liberty day.   However, cod dish which can be prepared up to 365 different cooking ways is the national dish which can be found during these occasions. 5.0   Conclusion Portugal lies along the Atlantic coast of Iberian Pensula south west Europe with a long stretch of coastline. Their discoveries, trade and colonialization did made them to have enriched culture. Portuguese great explorations in the world were partly due to their long time developed sailing skill coupled with the need for accessing European markets and desire to make more conquests. Portuguese culture is conservative which is characterized with strong family ties, conformity to hierarchical relationship and strict etiquette and customs that are highly held with great care. Their food habits consist of Mediterranean dietary habits that exhibit high level of therapeutic effects particularly in management of cardiovascular diseases. The main characteristics of Mediterranean diet   includes,   high consumption of fruits and vegetables, widespread consumption of fish, use of olive oil in the diet and   tradition deep-frying as   a method of   cooking. Presently, shift in the diet pattern seem to be influenced by urbanization and level of education.

Siddhartha and Govinda Essay -- Essays Papers

Siddhartha and Govinda Siddhartha, written by Herman Heese, is a book about a man’s journey to find his inner self beginning when he is young and ending when he is of old age. Siddhartha, while on this quest, searched for different mentors to teach him what they know, hoping to find truth and balance in and of the universe. At the end of the novel, Siddhartha reaches the enlightenment through many teachings. Govinda, Siddhartha dearest friend and confident, is often viewed as his Siddhartha’s follower, or as his shadow. In the beginning, Siddhartha goes with Gotama to hear the teachings of the Buddha, and Govinda remains with Buddha to become his disciple. Siddhartha believes that each person must find his or her own way to salvation and does not stay with Buddha. He says, â€Å"That is why I am going on my way-not to seek another and better doctrine, for I know there is none, but to leave all doctrines and all teachers and to reach my goal alone-or die. (28)† This quote is the underlying message portrayed for the rest of Siddhartha’s quest. This tells that life experience is the best teacher, which in turn is the core of Buddhism. As the two friends part to go their separate ways, Siddhartha again voices the central idea of the novel: he reminds the Buddha that the process of enlightenment which he underwent is unteachable, and that there is no way of communicati ng first-hand experience to the disciples. As the last part begins, Govinda has arrived to cross the ...

Project Manager Essay

I do firmly believe that the presentation of Terry was very inappropriate for that matter. Based on the given scenario, it clearly states there that the audience of Terry is an engineering group and not just any other individuals which are more concern on the technical aspect of the project that she was presenting in front of the latter. She keeps on discussing things that do not fall under the role of the engineers on the said project or on the things that concerns the engineering group. Why discuss the importance of the project to the engineering group if they care less on that matter since these group works based on the procedures on how a new product is to be produced and they do not give even a single care or responsibility on the importance of that certain product to the company. In other words, Terry dwell much on the â€Å"external qualities† of the product and not on the â€Å"internal qualities† of the project which was needed by the engineering group; like the specifics of the product and the procedures that they would have to conduct in order to produce the said product line effectively and efficiently. Moreover, she discussed dates and milestones of the products which are not very important of the part of the engineering group. The said presentation only becomes appropriate if Terry is presenting the product to the board of directors of the company as a project proposal for a new product since the presentation give more emphasis on the benefits and significance of the product to the company and not on the technical aspects of the products as what is being needed by the engineering group. It seems that Terry did not take into consideration the kind or type of audience or listeners when she was preparing for the said presentation with the engineering group. Answer #2 One possible way through which Terry could improve her presentation is to concentrate more on discussing the specifics of the product like giving the engineering team first of the bird’s eye view of the production flow of the product to be produced and then after which a detail explanation of every part of the production flow to guide the engineers what to do when they set their foot on the production line. Moreover, this would give the engineering group skills and information on how to deal with certain problems that might arise during the production process of the product since they already know how every aspect of the production works for the entire system. Furthermore, it is best for Terry to familiarize her self with engineering terms and â€Å"languages†, basic term would do, so as to make the transfer of information from her side going to the engineering group easier and faster (Busse & Zettelmeyer, 2007). It is just like knowing what are the effective way of communicating with other people is, you choose the language or the wordings of the individual/group of people to make the conversation more effective and easier (Foulger, 2004). Moreover, Terry should also familiarize her self with the possible problems or issues that might come out along with the commencement of the production of the said new product. This was one of the major problems that she encountered when the members of the engineering group started to ask question regarding the possible issues that might arise during the conduct of the production of the said new product. By familiarizing the possible problems of producing the new product line of the company, it only tells us that she is prepared in presenting the new product to the engineering group and she knows every single aspect of the production processes of producing that certain new product. Answer #3 As for the action of Terry, I would be best if she heard first the questions of the engineering group before acting unprofessionally. She may not know the answer to the questions being raised by the engineering team but it would be a good source of pointers on how to make a better presentation the next time she would be asked to do the same task again. Moreover, she could have just admit that she lack preparation and very willing to entertain questions regarding the project just in case she might encounter questions that she can answer. As for those questions that she could really no longer answer, Terry could list them down and make a research for those questions and set a new date another presentation of the new product. Walking out in the middle of the presentation is very unethical in the world of corporate profession. On every things that one person is about to do, he/she must handle it gracefully or in other words everyone in the corporate world must possess the value of â€Å"grace under pressure† so as to establish rapport with other people on his/her immediate environment. Terry did not have the guts to admit in front of the engineering group that she missed the details of the questions that the former are raising. Admitting that she was not prepared is better-off than just walking out of the room without even finishing the presentation in front of the important personalities for the success of the new product of the company (DeCenzo, Robbins, Stewart & Stuart-Kotze, 2005). Answer #4 As for the project manager, it is his responsibility to shoulder the mess that Terry had left on the presentation room. Saying sorry to the engineering group must be the first thing that he should do regarding the unprofessional act of Terry. After this, since the project manager has the full knowledge over the project, it would be best of the part of the marketing department if he would be the one to continue the presentation and entertain the questions of the members of the engineering group. I think it is also the responsibility of the project manager to justify the action of Terry and inform them that she was just new to the department and ask for the sympathy of the member of the engineering group and hoped that it would not affect the decision of the latter to buy-in the said project. With this way, there is a possibility that the member of the engineering group might understand the situation of Terry and give the project manager another chance of setting one more meeting for the said project. Furthermore, after the meeting, it is also the responsibility of the project manager to have a talk with Terry and find out what happened on the presentation. After which, the project manager must give Terry with some pointers on how to handle such kind of situation and not to go along with her emotions (Bolpatra. gov, 2007). I think on this part the project manager committed a mistake as far as his responsibility to his subordinates is concerned. He should be the first one to check if his subordinates are ready enough for such kind of presentation by checking the slides of the presentation of Terry or conduct a dry-run of the presentation of Terry so as to check if her slides are appropriate for the said meeting considering that Terry was just new to the marketing department. Answer #5 One of the best ways to get the engineering group to go with the â€Å"buy-in† is to offer them with great incentives and privileges if the latter would accept the said project. High salary and additional benefits, say health benefits, are really hard to resist and this might be a good tactic to get the nod of the engineering group. Another way to get the engineering’s group buy-in would be; I would be the one to present the project after the engineering team gave us another chance to present the project and giving them the assurance that by then all of their questions will be answered clearly and smoothly since as the project manager I have all the information and knowledge needed to answer their questions and any queries regarding the specifications of the new product of the company. I think, after having the said two strategies to get the engineering group’s buy-in, there is a big possibility that we have the nod of the engineering group for the said project. References Bolpatra. gov. (2007). Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Manager and Key Staff. Retrieved December 9, 2007, from http://www. bolpatra. gov. np/admin/information_upl/1089883861YV. pdf Busse, M. & Zettelmeyer, F. (2007). Some Pointers For Preparing Presentations. Retrieved December 9, 2007, from http://faculty. haas. berkeley. edu/meghan/300/On_presentations. pdf DeCenzo, Robbins, Stewart & Stuart-Kotze. (2005). Managerial Ethics. Retrieved December 9, 2007, from foba. lakeheadu. ca/mirabelli/1511/ch02. ppt Foulger, D. (2004). Models of the Communication Process. Retrieved December 9, 2007, from http://foulger. info/davis/research/unifiedModelOfCommunication. htm

Essay Webers Approach to Religion and Sociology - 1706 Words

Webers Approach to Religion and Sociology Webers general approach to sociology is known as verstehen sociology; that human action is directed by meaning and that action can only be understood by appreciating the world-view of the social actor concerned. Since religion is an important component of the social actors world-view, religious beliefs can direct social action, and hence bring about social change. In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Weber explores the relationship between religious ideas and social change, attempting to show how the ideas and beliefs of†¦show more content†¦Another factor, more emphasised by Troeltsch was the rejection of the canonical veto on usury. These characteristics were also important factors in the development of business. The Protestant Ethic matched the Spirit of Capitalism. 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The Ever Changing Field Of Film Essay - 1223 Words

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Effects Of Socioeconomic Status On Middle Childhood Essay

The Effects of Socioeconomic Status from Birth to Middle Childhood Socioeconomic status is the driving force behind many aspects of life. In this essay I will touch on several ways in which it can impact areas of development both in the United States and other places around the world. The first area I would like to look at is Behavior. In the textbook chapter 2 discusses behavior genetics and heritability. It discusses the relationship between the genetic and the environmental influences using SES as an example on environment as it relates to intelligence. The book states that some studies find middle class families to have higher heritability of intelligence not due to different genes than those in a lower SES but because they have access to greater resources. (Arnett, 2016) Another study used a Family-based training program in lower SES preschoolers. â€Å"Children from different socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds display profound disparities in cognitive skills, brain structure and function, and academic outcomes (e.g., refs. 1⇓⇓–4). Because academic disparities associated with SES are increasing in many societies (5), there is strong motivation to develop and implement training programs that can narrow these achievement gaps.† (Neville, et al., 2013) This study did find that the children in the Family-based program showed significant changes in the reduction of problem behavior and improvement in their social skills. The implementation of parent or caregiverShow MoreRelatedSocioeconomic Status and Health Issues1380 Words   |  5 Pages Socioeconomic status (a measurement of income, education, and occupation) measures an individuals social standing in society. 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Foundation and Empire 21. Interlude In Space Free Essays

string(177) " 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\." 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. We will write a custom essay sample on Foundation and Empire 21. Interlude In Space or any similar topic only for you Order Now 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. You read "Foundation and Empire 21. Interlude In Space" in category "Essay examples" 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. How to cite Foundation and Empire 21. Interlude In Space, Essay examples