Nuclear Power And Its Uses :: essays research papers

Atomic Power and Its Uses From the start atomic force was just observed as a methods for pulverization yet after World War II a significant exertion was made to apply atomic vitality to peacetime employments. Atomic force whenever made when a core of a particle is part to discharge an amazing eruption of vitality. In spite of the fact that mechanical progressions atomic force presently supplies us with new clinical guides, another force source and better approaches to do logical exploration. New clinical headways are being delivered quickly because of atomic force. Atomic material is presently being utilized to treat maladies. Pacients experiencing malignant growth would then be able to be presented to the recuperating impacts of the radiation under controlled conditions. The radiation of the atomic vitality can help in clinical tests. Radioactive phosphorus is a significant indicative guide. It is infused into the veins of a patient, it amasses in the cells of certain cerebrum tumors. Thyroid organ emphatically pulls in iodine. Radioactive iodine is utilized both in diagnosing and in rewarding maladies of the thyroid. Atomic force is evolving the essence of medication with new fixes and tests that will fix millions.. Atomic force can be changed over into solid and productive atomic vitality and be utilized for some reasons. Atomic force reactors produces heat that is changed over into steam. The steam can be utilized straightforwardly for vitality. This vitality is utilized in transportation. Most military subs are presently ran by atomic vitality. The most utilized reason for atomic vitality can likewise be utilized to produce electric force for model in a business atomic force plant. Another approach to create atomic vitality is by gas-cooled reactors with either carbon dioxide or helium as the coolant rather than water. This strategy is utilized for the most part in business atomic plants in the United Kingdom and France because of the absence of freshwater. With developing ubiquity atomic vitality will of things to come with better approaches to utilize this vitality in a positive way. Researchers would now be able to utilize atomic force for organic examination to help comprehend life more. Radioactive isotopes have been depicted as the most helpful exploration device since the development of the magnifying instrument. Physiologists use them to learn where and at what speed physical and synthetic procedures happen in the human body. Isotopes are additionally utilized for horticultural Biologists utilize radioactive isotopes to perceive how plants ingest synthetic compounds as they develop. With radioactive cobalt, botanists can deliver new sorts of plants. Basic varieties that regularly take years of particular reproducing to create can be made to happen in a couple of months. Many accept that atomic force is excessively dangerous and as such ought to be

Speaker Recognition System Pattern Classification

Speaker Recognition System Pattern Classification A Study on Speaker Recognition System and Pattern characterization Techniques Dr E.Chandra, K.Manikandan, M.S.Kalaivani Theoretical Speaker Recognition is the way toward recognizing an individual through his/her voice signs or discourse waves. Example grouping assumes a crucial job in speaker acknowledgment. Example characterization is the way toward gathering the examples, which are having a similar arrangement of properties. This paper manages speaker acknowledgment framework and diagram of Pattern arrangement strategies DTW, GMM and SVM. Watchwords Speaker Recognition System, Dynamic Time Warping (DTW), Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), Support Vector Machine (SVM). Presentation Speaker Recognition is the way toward recognizing an individual through his/her voice signals [1] or discourse waves. It tends to be ordered into two classifications, speaker ID and speaker confirmation. In speaker distinguishing proof assignment, a discourse expression of an obscure speaker is contrasted and set of legitimate clients. The best match is utilized to distinguish the speaker. So also, in speaker confirmation the obscure speaker first cases character, and the asserted model is then utilized for recognizable proof. On the off chance that the match is over a predefined edge, the character guarantee is acknowledged The discourse utilized for these undertaking can be either message ward or content autonomous. In content ward application the framework has the earlier information on the content to be spoken. The client will talk a similar book for what it's worth in the predefined content. In a book autonomous application, there is no earlier information by the arrangement of the content to be spoken. Example arrangement assumes an imperative job in speaker acknowledgment. The term Pattern characterizes the objects of intrigue. In this paper the succession of acoustic vectors, separated from input discourse are taken as examples. Example arrangement is the way toward gathering the examples, which are having a similar arrangement of properties. It assumes a fundamental job in speaker acknowledgment framework. The aftereffect of example characterization concludes whether to acknowledge or dismiss a speaker. A few research endeavors have been done in design characterization. A large portion of the works dependent on generative model. There are Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) [3], Hidden Markov Models (HMM) , Vector Quantization (VQ) [4], Gaussian blend model (GMM) [5], etc. Generative model is for haphazardly producing watched information, with some shrouded parameters. On account of the arbitrarily producing watched information capacities, they can't give a machine that can legitimately streamline segregation. Bolster vector machine was presenting as an elective classifier for speaker check. [6]. In AI SVM is another device, which is utilized for hard arrangement issues in a few fields of use. This device is competent to manage the examples of higher dimensionality. In speaker confirmation parallel choice is required, since SVM is discriminative twofold classifier it can order a total articulation in a solitary advance. This paper is arranged as follows. In area 2: speaker acknowledgment framework, in segment 3, Pattern Classification, AND review of DTW, GMM, and SVM methods .segment 4: Conclusion. SPEAKER RECOGNITION SYSTEM Speaker acknowledgment sorted into check and recognizable proof. Speaker Recognition framework comprises of two phases .speaker check and speaker distinguishing proof. Speaker confirmation is 1:1 match, where the voice print is coordinated with one format. Be that as it may, speaker distinguishing proof is 1:N match, where the info discourse is coordinated with more than one formats. Speaker check comprises of five stages. 1. Information procurement 2.feature extraction 3.pattern coordinating 4.decision creation 5.generate speaker models. Fig 1: Speaker acknowledgment framework In the initial step test discourse is gained in a controlled way from the client. The speaker acknowledgment framework will process the discourse signals and concentrate the speaker unfair data. This data shapes a speaker model. At the hour of confirmation process, an example voice print is gained from the client. The speaker acknowledgment framework will extricate the highlights from the information discourse and analyzed withpredefined model. This procedure is called design coordinating. DC Offset Removal and Silence Removal Discourse information are discrete-time discourse signals, convey some repetitive consistent counterbalance called DC balance [8].The estimations of DC balance influence the data ,separated from the discourse signals. Quiet edges are sound casings of foundation clamor with low vitality level .quietness expulsion is the way toward disposing of the quietness time frame from the discourse. The sign vitality in every discourse outline is determined by utilizing condition (1). M †Number of tests in a discourse outlines, N-Total number of discourse outlines. Edge level is controlled by utilizing the condition (2) Edge = Emin + 0.1 (Emax †Emin) (2) Emax and Emin are the most reduced and most noteworthy estimations of the N sections. Fig 2. Discourse Signal before Silence Removal Fig 3. Discourse Signal after Silence Removal This procedure is utilized to upgrade the high frequencies of the discourse signal. The point of this method is to frightfully level the discourse signal that is to expand the general vitality of its high recurrence range. The accompanying two elements chooses the need of Pre-accentuation technique.1.Speech Signals by and large contains more speaker explicit data in higher frequencies [9]. 2. In the event that the discourse signal vitality diminishes the recurrence builds .This made the component extraction procedure to concentrate all the parts of the voice signals. Pre-accentuation is actualized as first request limited Impulse Response channel, characterized as H(Z) = 1-0.95 Z-1 (3) The beneath model speaks to discourse flags when Pre-stressing. Fig 4. Discourse Signal before Pre-stressing Fig 5. Discourse Signal after Pre-stressing Windowing and Feature Extraction: The method windowing is utilized to limit the sign discontinuities at starting and end of each edge. It is utilized to smooth the sign and makes the casing increasingly adaptable for unearthly investigation. The accompanying condition is utilized in windowing procedure. y1(n) = x (n)w(n), 0 ≠¤Ãƒ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ N-1 (4) N-Number of tests in each casing. The condition for Hamming window is(5) There is huge changeability in the discourse signal, which are taken for handling. to diminish this changeability ,include extraction strategy is required. MFCC has been broadly utilized as the component extraction procedure for programmed speaker acknowledgment. Davis and Mermelstein revealed that Mel-recurrence cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) gave preferred execution over different highlights in 1980 [10]. Fig 6. Highlight Extraction MFCC strategy separates the information signal into short edges and apply the windowing strategies, to dispose of the discontinuities at edges of the edges. In quick Fourier change (FFT) stage, it changes over the sign to recurrence space and after that Mel scale channel bank is applied to the resultant edges. From that point forward, Logarithm of the sign is passed to the opposite DFT work changing over the sign back to time area. Example CLASSIFICATION Example characterization includes in registering a match score in speaker acknowledgment framework. The term coordinate score alludes the similitude of the info highlight vectors to some model. Speaker models are worked from the highlights extricated from the discourse signal. In view of the element extraction a model of the voice is produced and put away in the speaker acknowledgment framework. To approve a client the coordinating calculation contrasts the information voice signal and the model of the asserted client. In this paper three strategies in design grouping have been analyzed. Those three significant strategies are DTW, GMM and SVM. Dynamic Time Warping: This notable calculation is utilized in numerous regions. It is at present utilized in Speech recognition,sign language acknowledgment and motions acknowledgment, penmanship and online mark coordinating ,information mining and time arrangement grouping, observation , protein succession arrangement and compound building , music and sign preparing . Dynamic Time Warping calculation is proposed by Sadaoki Furui in 1981.This calculation gauges the similitude between two arrangement which may shift in time and speed. This calculation finds an ideal match between two given arrangements. The normal of the two examples is taken to shape another layout. This procedure is rehashed until all the preparation expressions have been joined into a solitary layout. This method coordinates a test contribution from a multi-dimensional element vector T= [ t1, t2†¦tI] with a reference format R= [ r1, r2†¦rj]. It finds the capacity w(i) as appeared in the underneath figure. In Speaker Recognitio n framework Every information discourse is contrasted and the articulation in the database .For every correlation, the separation measure is determined .In the estimations lower separation shows higher comparability. Fig 7. . Dynamic Time Warping Gaussian blend model: Gaussian blend model is the most ordinarily utilized classifier in speaker acknowledgment system.It is a sort of thickness model which involves various segment capacities. These capacities are joined to give a multimodal thickness. This model is frequently utilized for information bunching. It utilizes an elective calculation that merges to a nearby ideal. In this technique the appropriation of the element vector x is displayed plainly utilizing blend of M Gaussians. mui-speak to the mean and covariance of the I th blend. x1, x2†¦xn, Training information ,M-number of blend. The errand is parameter estimation which best matches the dispersion of the preparation include vectors given in the info discourse. The notable technique is most extreme likehood estimation. It finds the model parameters which amplify the likehood of GMM. Hence, the testing information which increase a greatest score will perceive as speaker. Bolster Vector Mach

To Junot Díaz

To Junot Díaz Hi again. You probably dont remember me whatsoever but I sent you an email last yearSeptember 27th to be exactfor advice on how to be a person of color in a blindingly white MFA program. Bennington  was the only school that I applied to and after failing to get employment right out of college, I felt like it was my only hope for making me feel like I wasnt a complete failure in life. Much to my surprise, the next day, less than twenty-four hours later, you responded, and I havent been the same person or writer since. You see, I emailed you on a whim. Although I absolutely adored my MFA program, I felt this pit in the middle of my chest because I was both the only Black and one of the youngest students in my incoming class. I thought that perhaps the admissions committee made a mistake. Most nights during my residency, I retired to my room and watched Netflix or Skyped with loved ones back home. But one day, I met a rising undergraduate senior from Brazil who came to my dorm room and pulled up your article, MFA vs. POC, so that I wouldnt feel like my experiences were bizarre.  I sat and read it under the same lamplight on my desk while my new friend read poems in the corner. When I finished, I leaned back in my seat and I felt like the wind was knocked out of me. Youre such a bold and confident writer and I dearly thanked my friend for introducing me to you. A few months after I left my residency, I started having those feelings of inadequacy again. I began to wonder if I was just a token and that I was no where near as talented as my colleagues. This desperation lead me to search your MIT email address online and reach out to you. I had no idea what I was thinking at the time. Why the hell would a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer respond to lil ol me? You probably received hundreds of emails so I was sure that mine would end up in your spam. But when I opened my email on that quiet Sunday morning, September 28th, I saw your name. My clicker hovered over the email. I was afraid it was a fluke, but it was real. You wrote: i wish i knew what to say.  our suffering is real and cannot just be waved away. yes, we need your work, without question, but do you need to suffer so much? are there ways to mitigate the pain?  i would not worry about what the committee/professors think of your work; in the end they could love it and the rest of the world could be indifferent and what would that prove then? try to focus on what is within your power, like organizing a safer less-lonely experience.  how?   through solidarity of course. unfortunately only you can answer what form that should take. good luck. its terribly hard and i wish i could say something of worth but at this distance all we have are encouragements. Well let me tell you something, Mr. Díaz, you said more than enough. What you failed to realize was at that moment, you breathed a bit more life into my spirit. Youve never read my essays or manuscripts but you said that my work was needed. That was all I personally needed to know that I could persevere and succeed someday. That was I all needed as a comfort blanket whenever I stated my opinion in a workshop or walked past houses in town that still hung Confederate flags outside their windows. Even through those moments when I felt like I was going to flounder in the program and have to leave altogether, I was still somebody. I mattered. There was no need for you to apologize because you have no idea what you have done to this young Black writers self-esteem. I was forever changed when you responded to me. The next term, I lifted my head a little higher to the sky and became more assertive in my stances. Colleagues almost two decades older than me had even taken notice of my newfound confidence. I came back loving my program with more intensity and loving myself with more vigor. Anyways, I know youre an extremely busy individual but I just want to say thank you. As I evolve as a writer and grow as a woman, I will never forget your words. Though you may have already forgotten me, just know that your words are engraved in my memory and I will indefinitely hold and guard them as sacred treasures. All my best, Morgan ____________________ Want more bookish goodness, news, posts about special book deals, and the occasional puppy reading pic? Follow us on Facebook:

A Christian Learning about Islam - 793 Words

I went to the Islamic Center of peace in Orlando to learn more about the Islamic religion. I was very curious about learning and wanted more understanding on the subject of Islam. I went there also for the free dinner. I also wanted to see what it be like to see another religion would look like. Since I was raised in a Christian environment all of my life. I wanted to experience what a completely different church and religion was like. To their culture and food how much different it was from my own. I was pleasantly surprised when I had arrived at the mosque especially because I was late. I did not know where I was supposed to be and no one knew where I was supposed to go. I previously was told that the mosque that I was in was sacred as been told previously and I must take off my shoes while I am in a holy place. I found a shoe stand and left my shoes there and walked around the compound barefooted because I did not know which places are holy and which were not. I walked in on a session where a bunch of people where on their knees bowing (praying) towards a wall I asked the lady their where was I supposed to go and she pointed towards a direction and did not speak a word in the mosque. So I followed where she had pointed and walked around more in the compound barefooted. This is where I realized the place was also a school because I was going into several classrooms until I found this nice Muslim girl who led me there in the meeting room where the service was at.Show MoreRelatedIslam: Examination of Misconceptions and Beliefs1663 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Islam - A Highly Controversial Sensitive Issue in Todays World: Examination of Misconceptions and Beliefs Objective The objective of this work is to examine Islam, a highly controversial sensitive issue in todays world and specifically to examine the misconceptions, beliefs, and values of those of the Islamic faith. Most people think that the majority of Muslims live in the Middle East, while in reality there are more people of the Islamic faith living in Indonesia. Islam, just as Judaism andRead MoreIslam In Russia976 Words   |  4 PagesIslam throughout Russian and spanish history For hundreds of years, Russia has been one of the most diverse countries of the western world, where Christians and Muslims have lived peacefully side by side. Unlike other western countries where Muslims are minorities, Muslims in Russia are more than 15% of the Russian population. Muslims in Russia have played a huge role in founding what is known nowadays as the Russian civilization. During the fifteenth century, muslims fell under the ruling of theRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Three Pillars Of Islam1157 Words   |  5 PagesPillars of Islam Compared to Christian Beliefs In Islam and Christianity, there are similar and different beliefs and practices. In Islam, the five pillars form the core of the religion. Muslims go about their lives abiding by these pillars (â€Å"Islam†). In Christianity, there are not necessarily pillars, but there are commandments that one should live their life by (â€Å"Christianity†). The three pillars of Islam that will be identified resemble some of the beliefs in Christianity. The declaration of faithRead MoreThe Spread Of Christianity And Western Europe1637 Words   |  7 PagesThe spread of Christianity in Western Europe was both similar and different to the spread of Islam. The rise of Islam starts with the Prophet Muhammad, believed by Muslims (followers of Islam) to be the last in a line of prophets that includes Moses and Jesus. Because Muhammad was the chosen one to be the messenger of the word of God, Muslims from all around the world work to follow the example he set. For Muslims after the Qur an (their bible), the sayings and teachings of Muhammad and the descriptionsRead MoreDifferences Between Islam And Hinduism1280 Words   |  6 Pages Islam and Hinduism are both very large, popular world religions. Although the two religions have some common ground, there are many distinct differences between the two religions. Many of the differences are centered around two major beliefs. The two major beliefs are the means of salvation and the number of Gods the followers of the religions worship and believe in. Religions often answer questions about spiritual life. A question that is often asked is, â€Å"What happens after death?† Many peopleRead MoreIslam And Its Influence Throughout Prominent Kingdoms1274 Words   |  6 PagesTim Matoba Dr. Marsh 13 November 2015 World History, pd. 7 Islam and Its Influence Throughout Prominent Kingdoms Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, one of the most valiant world powers of its time, received heavy influence from the spread of Islam through Europe and Asia Minor. Culture, military, and politics also held a stranglehold on the Ottoman Empire. Emerging as one of the many Turkish states in Asia Minor from the decline of the Seljuk Turk Empire, the Ottoman Turks began to engulf surroundingRead MoreEssay Understanding Islamic Religion and Culture1221 Words   |  5 Pages Instead of learning and exploring new things about the world they stick to what they know because it is easier and comfortable for them. The Islamic people live in different culture, have different beliefs, and live in a part of the globe that has turmoil in the world surrounding the Middle East and the Islamic faith; however it is imperative that we understand and respect their traditions. The paper examines exactly what Islam is, the relation between the Islam faith and Christian faith, and uncoveringRead More Thomas W. Lippma ns Understanding Islam Essay1224 Words   |  5 PagesThomas W. Lippmans Understanding Islam Thomas W. Lippman gives an introduction to the Muslim world in the book Understanding Islam. He has traveled throughout the Islamic world as Washington Post bureau chief for the Middle East, and as a correspondent in Indochina. This gave him, in his own words, sharp insight into the complexities of that turbulent region. However, the purpose of the book is not to produce a critical or controversial interpretation of Islamic scripture. It is insteadRead MoreThe Lost History Of Christianity By Philip Jenkins954 Words   |  4 PagesIn the novel title â€Å"The Lost History of Christianity†, author Philip Jenkins attempts to convey the message that there are many aspects of Christianity that are unknown to Christian followers today. Jenkins start by implying that Christianity essentially starts in Northern Mesopotamia. Jenkins then traces the history of Christianity from Africa to the Arab world to the heart of Asia, in what he consider to be the â€Å"golden age† of Christianity. He informs the readers of the stories of churches andRead MoreMuslim World Cosmopolitanism1699 Words   |  7 Pagesearth, can we talk about â€Å"Muslim† world cosmopolitanism? That is just how Allah or His prophet, Muhammad (570-632), from day one, viewed Islam, whether anyone liked it or not, as the religion for entire humanity. Listen to its first revealed injunction â€Å"Read in the name of thy Lord, Who created Man from congealed blood; Proclaim that thy Lord is Most Bountiful, Who taught with Pen; Taught man that which he knew not.† (Quran, 96: 1-5). In this first proclamation of Islam, Allah reveals Himself

The Myth Of Modern Mythology - 2239 Words

In old times, humankind has looked to utilize stories to clarify the world in which it lives. Similarly, as old man utilized stories of divine beings and creatures to clarify the world; superior person utilizes stories of exceptional legends and colossal scoundrels to do likewise (Stuller). Comic books are modern mythology, in that they are superior man s strategy for clarifying their general surroundings through the fantastical. The characters frequently handle such major, philosophical, (Ahrens, Jà ¶rn, and Meeting) social and story ideas as the nature of sound and malevolence, man s inward battle, the wannabe, the women s activist, and the rescuer. Wonder Woman is, maybe the most obvious case of a comics as an advanced myth (Smith, 145). Wonder Woman s stories are soaked profound inside traditional mythology. Wonder Woman was made as old Greek Amazon, shaped from a portion of the mysterious earth, and presented with power from the divine beings. Her mom, who shaped her from the m ud, was Hippolita, the ruler of the Amazons in traditional Greek mythology. Rising up out of a starting point inundated by myth, the majority of Wonder Woman s most notable and critical stories have been profoundly embedded in related characters and ideas (Ndalianis, 116). Indeed, as indicated by modern comic book coherence, Wonder Woman s trip to the super courteous universe of costumed adventuring started when the Amazon s held a challenge to pick a commendable champion to voyage to manShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of Greek Mythology1650 Words   |  7 Pagesimportance of Greek mythology Today, the ancient Greek myths still fascinate readers throughout the world. There are thousands of books written about the importance of Greek mythology in the formation of modern-time societies. There are hundreds of movies created about the adventures of Greek heroes. Apparently, the events, creatures, and people described in the ancient Greek myths were not real; however, their mythical nature does not undermine the importance of Greek mythology in defining the worldRead MoreAnalysis Of Disney s The Lion King1055 Words   |  5 Pagesof the modern era s most famous books and movies trace back to the Greek myths. Medicines are named after the characters of famous myths. Businesses choose the names of their companies and products from the ancient myths, lores, and various deities. Everyday phrases reference the centuries-old stories. Today, Greek mythology can be found in modern medicine, businesses, and language. Names of various Greek deities and other symbols from mythology have maneuvered their way into modern medicineRead MoreSignificance And Significance Of Mythology1743 Words   |  7 PagesIn order to understand the importance and meaning of magic in mythology, it is helpful to try to understand why human cultures create myths. Mythology can refer to the collected myths of a group of people—their body of stories which they tell to explain nature, history, and customs—or to the study of such myths. As a collection of such stories, mythology is a vital feature of every culture. Various origins for myths have been proposed, ranging from personification of nature, personification of naturalRead MoreJoseph Campbell: The Power of Myth1469 Words   |  6 PagesRitchey Literature and Composition 21 February 2013 Harkness Questions: The Power of Myth Chapters 1-3 1. Myth reveals spiritual truth about the world. Why read myths? You need myths to find your truth. You have elaborate myths to compare to everyday experiences and to other myths. â€Å"Myths give a meaning to life (Campbell, 5). Mythology is a collection of stories based on one’s knowledge and stories of experience. Myths are clues to life meaning. They are clues to â€Å"spiritual potentialities† or yourRead MoreMythology In Fan Mythology742 Words   |  3 PagesThe definition of the term Myth is that it is defined by its content, context, and/or its function. Most often when we think or hear the world myth we think of ancient Greek and Roman stories that tell us tales of gods, heroes, and monsters; in the modern world it is also used to butter up advertisements, and of course in fan fiction. When you look at the concept of myth it has been important to the practice and analysis of fan work, including fan fiction, on three levels: content, form, and theoryRead MoreGreek And Roman Painting And Floor Mosaic Essay1228 Words   |  5 Pagesand Romans. An example of this can be seen in the usage and importance of Greek mythology. Greek Mythology: In the ancient Greek artwork, the term muthos (ÃŽÅ"ÃŽ ¥ÃŽËœÃŽÅ¸ÃŽ £) is often used to describe myth. The primary meaning of a myth is a word, speech, conversation, things said, or fact. Other meanings for the same term, however, include tales, stories, narratives, fiction, and legend. The earliest accounts of the Greek mythology can be seen in the Archaic pre-classical period through any of the nine sisterRead MoreThe Importance Of Greek Mythology1605 Words   |  7 Pagesthat we use in our life sometimes, are inspired by Greek mythology. Sports brands, movies and T.V shows, the most complicated technology, books and many more, are all examples of Greek Mythology. If you take modern day items that we use and compare it to Greek mythology, believe it or not there is a big connection. But how come people today are inspired by Greek mythology? Also, why is Greek mythology important to us if they were just myths? It was such a while ago, so why do people still reflectRead MoreWhy Greek Mythology Is Still Relevant Today And Why We Still Use It1588 Words   |  7 Pagesstatement- A lot of popular everyday items that we use in our life sometimes, are inspired by Greek mythology. Sports brands, movies and T.V shows, the most complicated technology, books and many more, are all examples of Greek Mythology. If you take modern day items that we use and compare it to Greek mythology, believe it or not there is a big connection. This essay will explain about why Greek mythology is still relevant today and why we still use it. Literature Review- Summary #1 In â€Å"The GreekRead MoreWhy Greek Mythology Is Still Relevant Today And Why We Still Use It1585 Words   |  7 Pagesstatement- A lot of popular everyday items that we use in our life sometimes, are inspired by Greek mythology. Sports brands, movies and T.V shows, the most complicated technology, books and many more, are all examples of Greek Mythology. If you take modern day items that we use and compare it to Greek mythology, believe it or not there is a big connection. This essay will explain about why Greek mythology is still relevant today and why we still use it. Literature Review- Summary #1 In â€Å"The GreekRead MoreI believe that mythology should still be taught in schools, although with less of an emphasis and600 Words   |  3 Pages I believe that mythology should still be taught in schools, although with less of an emphasis and across more cultures. Myths are important parts of literature, and have complexity that is different than normal novels. Also, myths teach about the culture of their time, as well as how people lived and what they believed. Along these lines, I think that other cultures’ myths should also be taught, as they also teach about the people of their time. Mythology is an important form of literature that

Vdot Paper Free Essays

Running head: VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CASE STUDY Virginia Department of Transportation Case Study A high-performance business or body, time after time, attains excellence whilst fashioning a first-rate work atmosphere (Schermerhorn, 2010). The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) was once considered a premier transportation department, but over the years their reputation had become damaged due to budget overruns and a public perception that VDOT could not do its job. When Mark Warner was elected governor of Virginia in 2001, he wanted a new commissioner for VDOT that had private sector experience to turn VDOT around. We will write a custom essay sample on Vdot Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now His search led him to appoint Philip Shucet, a transportation engineer with both public and private sector experience. This paper will discuss some of the management theories that could have been applied to problems at VDOT, as well as how management has reacted to challenges. Next, an environmental analysis will be conducted and short, mid, and long-term goals will be discussed. Finally, Shucet’s motivation to take the job and the motivational problems at VDOT will be addressed. Management Theories McGregor’s Theory X â€Å"assumes that people dislike work, lack ambition, are irresponsible and resistant to change, and prefer to be led† (Oke, 2011, pg. 26). Theory Y â€Å"assumes that people are willing to work, accept responsibility, and are capable of self-direction and creativity† (Oke, 2011, pg. 26). When Shucet arrived at VDOT, Theory X was much more in place, as is often the case in large bureaucracies. There was little teamwork or communication between departments and no one really knew the status of any of the projects (Clawson Yemen, 2011). If Shucet implemented Theory Y much of this would change as employees took responsibility for their projects and became motivated to succeed. Frederick Taylor’s scientific management theory would also help to improve performance at VDOT. Taylor’s theory stresses finding the right workers for the job and training them correctly (Oke, 2011). Downsizing led to massive retirements of highly skilled workers during the 1990’s. This pushed under or unqualified people into positions they were not ready for (Clawson Yemen, 2005). An evaluation of the staff and their qualifications for their current positions could result in a restructuring that would better match skills with job requirements. Implementation of Henri Fayol’s administrative principles would have had a significant impact on VDOT. Fayol spells out five duties of management; foresight, organization, command, coordination, and control (Oke, 2011). While there were deficiencies in all of these categories, two in particular were weak, coordination and control. Coordination is defined as actions that â€Å"fit diverse efforts together and ensure that information is shared and problems solved† (Oke, 2011, p. 22). As discussed earlier, information sharing was a significant weakness at VDOT. Control is actions that â€Å"make sure things happen according to plan and to take necessary corrective action† (Oke, 2011, p. 22). Since no one knew the status of the projects, management could not take corrective actions in a timely manner. Six Challengers The six challenges in today’s workforce are ethics, globalization, technology, knowledge, diversity, and change (Oke, 2011). Ethical issues were a significant problem at VDOT. The commissioner of VDOT was a political appointee and this sometimes led to under-qualified individuals or people with their own agendas being placed in charge of a multi-billion dollar organization (Trying to Keep Virginia Moving, 2005). The appointment of Shucet corrected this, as he did not have political aspirations and was concerned only about getting VDOT functioning correctly for the long-term. Globalization was not much of a factor at VDOT since they are a governmental entity that does not compete on the open market and their business is entirely located in Virginia. Shucet noticed quickly that there were technologies available to the employees that were not being utilized efficiently or effectively. This increased workloads and reduced the communication. VDOT had lost a significant portion of their most knowledgeable workers to early retirements and resources needed to be devoted to improving the knowledge and skills of the current workforce. Diversity is a challenge in all organizations, but was not specifically addressed in this case study. The final challenge is change, which is often difficult for large, bureaucratic organizations like VDOT. There was much that needed to change, from the organizational structure, to communications, to major procedures such as budgeting and tracking of projects. Private businesses are forced to change to keep pace with competition. However, until Shucet arrived, VDOT did not have the necessary motivators to implement the necessary changes. Environmental Analysis The specific and general environment conditions played a pivotal role in the effectiveness and trustworthiness of the VDOT organization before Shucet was hired. The organization was barraged with scrutiny from both ends of the hierarchical spectrum. The politicians in Virginia created an impression that VDOT was both poorly managing and severely under-funding their proposed projects. Virginia citizens were also criticizing VDOT wondering and if their tax dollars were being spent properly (Darden, 2005). VDOT is a government organization that must face the pressures of scrutiny from many groups and should have had answers to provide the stakeholders. The taxpayers had a right to know why projects were being under-funded, why approximately 15% of VDOT’s projects were going unfinished and what they were going to do about fixing it. Unfortunately, VDOT did not have the answers (Darden, 2005). Economic conditions were negatively impacting VDOT. They did not have the current or projected revenue to complete the projects within the six-year plan. Their estimates were based on expected population growth in Virginia as well as expected growth in tax revenue that the population increase would generate. When the projections fell short it resulted in VDOT’s projects not being fully funded. The political conditions created a sense of tension among VDOT and the many political bodies that had influence over it. In addition, local politicians were publicly criticizing their own transportation department, demeaning the organization in the eyes of its most critical stakeholder, the taxpayers of Virginia. Goals Based on the environmental analysis, one short-term goal for VDOT would be to decrease the political impact on the organization. Governor Warner accomplished this goal by appointing Shucet and then leaving him alone. In an interview, Shucet said that in the three years since becoming commissioner, the governor had called him â€Å"about six times† (Bacon, 2004, n. p. ). This allowed VDOT to plan for the long-term and not just to meet a political agenda. Another short-term goal would be to make VDOT more transparent to the public. Shucet did this by creating a website showing the status and cost of all of the VDOT’s projects (Bacon, 2004). A mid to long-term goal would be increasing the completion rate of VDOT’s projects. In Shucet’s second year, VDOT’s completion rate increased to 39% and was expected to meet its projection of 60% in year three. The long-term goal was to reach a completion rate of 80% (Bacon, 2004). Both of these goals should decrease the taxpayers’ displeasure with VDOT. VDOT was experiencing significant revenue shortfalls. Rather than just raising taxes to increase revenue, a final long-term goal would be to change the focus of transportation planning in Virginia away from just building new roads to finding new, more economical solutions to the state’s transportation problems (Bacon, 2004). This goal will help to ensure the taxpayers are getting the most value for their tax dollar. Shucet’s Motivation There are a number of theories that could apply to the motivating factor that led to Shucet taking on the VDOT commissioner position. However, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides an excellent one. Shucet had met all of his lower order needs and was looking to fulfill his need for self-actualization through creative and challenging work, by having decision making authority, and by being autonomous (Oke, 2011). VDOT was a complex problem. This was an opportunity for Shucet to fix the third largest transportation department and regain their status as one of the best departments of transportation in the country. The commissioner of VDOT is a high-ranking state position and Governor Warner allowed him the autonomy he needed to freely make decisions to improve the department. Motivational Theories Motivational theory is composed of four sections; content, process, reinforcement, and job enrichment. Herzberg’s two-factor theory is a content theory that states that by increasing satisfier factors, a manager can increase job satisfaction. Prior to Shucet’s arrival, individuals were not accountable for their projects. By making individuals more accountable and acknowledging accomplishments, Shucet could motivate his employees to perform better. Expectancy theory, a process theory, links achievement and reward to performance. Because of the lack of accountability under prior commissioners, there was not a link between performance and achievement, and most likely no rewards system. People are motivated to work harder if they know it will make a difference and that there is a reward for them. By implementing a rewards system, VDOT could motivate their employees to accomplish the mission of the organization. Positive reinforcement â€Å"strengthens or increases the frequency of desirable behavior by making a pleasant consequence contingent on its occurrence† (Oke, 2011, p. 93). With all of the public scrutiny of VDOT, morale was very low. By identifying the things the groups were doing well and by providing praise and other rewards as new goals were accomplished, Shucet could turn the attitudes of the employees around. Job enrichment increases job scope and job depth (Oke, 2011). Since one of the goals of VDOT was to hold individuals more accountable for their projects, enriching their jobs would allow them the flexibility and authority to truly take ownership of their jobs. When employees feel they have a stake in the outcome of a project they are more motivated to do well. Discussion Even when an organization is as dysfunctional as VDOT was, there are numerous tools available to managers to improve their organizations. Everything from the structure of the organization as a whole to the definition of each individual’s job contributes to the success or failure of an organization. The ability to implement the correct tool for the situation at the correct time is what sets great managers apart from the rest. References Bacon, J. A. (2004). The Shucet Shakeup. Retrieved October 5, 2011 from http://www. baconsrebellion. com/Issues04/09-07/Bacon. htm Clawson, J. G. Yemen, G. (2005). Virginia Department of Transportation: Trying to Keep Virginia Moving. Charlottesville, VA: Darden Business Publishing. Retrieved October 12, 2011, from http://it. darden. virginia. edu/VDOT/studentWeb/ content/index. htm? speed=128 Oke, R. (2011). Management and organizational behavior. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Custom Learning Solutions. Custom text ISBN 13: 9780470942710 Schermerhorn, J. R. (2010). Management. (10th ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Trying To Keep Virgina Moving. (2005). Retrieved October 14, 2011, from http://it. darden. virginia. edu/VDOT/studentWeb/content/index. htm? speed=128 How to cite Vdot Paper, Papers

Archimedes (446 words) Essay Example For Students

Archimedes (446 words) Essay ArchimedesArchimedes was born in 287 BC in Syracuse, a Greek seaport colony in Sicily. Archimedes father was Phidias. He was an astronomer; this is all we know about his father and we learn this from Archimedes work, The Sandreckoner. Archimedes was educated in Alexandria, Egypt. Archimedes friend, Heracleides, wrote a biography about him, but this work was lost. Some authors report that he visited Egypt and there invented a tool known as Archimedes screw. This is a pump, still used today in parts of the world. It is likely that, when he was a young man, Archimedes studied with the followers of Euclid. Many of his ideas seem to correspond with the mathematics developed there. This speculation is much more certain because he sent his results to Alexandria with personal messages. He considered Conon of Samos, one of the greatest achieving mathematicians at Alexandria, both for his abilities as a mathematician and he also respected him as a close friend. Archimedes spent most of his life in Sicily, near Syracuse except for his journeys to Alexandria. He never held any public office but he was faithful to his lifetime of research and experiment. At times, Archimedes became so immersed in his work that he would forget to eat. He used every surface available to do his work on, including oil on his skin to ashes from a fire. Many of Archimedes discoveries were put to the test during the Roman conquest of Sicily. His mechanical tools and machines were used, including the legendary catapult which he is credited for making. This was all for the protection of Syracuse. Despite the use of Archimedes inventions, Syracuse was captured during the Second Punic war. A Roman soldier who found him drawing a mathematical diagram in the sand killed Archimedes. It is said that Archimedes was so preoccupied in his calculation that he simply said to the intruder, Do not disturb my diagrams. Aside from the fame Archimedes earned from his work on the Archimedes screw, he was also famous for his relationship with the king, Hiero. Hiero often had complicated problems to solve, and Archimedes solved them causing surprise among the town. The king often challenged Archimedes. One of Archimedes quotes is ?Give me a place to stand and I will move the Earth.? The king took him up on this challenge and invited him to move a ship that even all the men in Syracuse. With his knowledge of levers and pulleys, Archimedes was able to create a machine that could move the ship. Archimedes was far beyond his time. With his discoveries in mathematics, he was able to predict and imit ate much of modern science. Bibliographyn/aMathematics

The Prospects of Taking Master of Business Administration

Arguably the most preferred post graduate course in the world, the Master of Business Administration has brewed a fair share of controversy over the years whenever issues pertaining to its suitability in the business world are focused on.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Prospects of Taking Master of Business Administration specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper hence seeks to bring to light some of the issues that influence individual decision making on weather to take an MBA degree or not as well as some of the obstacles which may be encountered while making that all important decision. MBA has gained worldwide recognition and the demand for its graduates in most of the international business enterprises has been on the rise. This has also led to its dispensation in online platforms so as to reach out to students from vast geographical backgrounds. This paper also expounds on information from v arious schools of thought as well as ideas brought forth by various elites. It also seeks to put clarity to the factors which influenced my decision to go for a degree in MBA. There are various reasons that could arouse an individual’s interest to take a masters degree in Business Administration. This may be because of the financial and career gains that such individuals’ can be accessed to in the process. For starters, an MBA course can help an individual go up the corporate ladder in a business institution. This hence comes with a hefty salary package bringing the much sort for comfort and prestige to the individual within the business enterprise or institution and in the society in general. Recent surveys have indicated that objective and committed MBA post-graduates are more likely to advance to top management positions in their respective corporate areas of jurisdiction. Most start-up companies also employ MBA graduates with adequate skills to head their operation s both internally and externally. This is as a result of the skill enhancement experienced once they get to their second year of study where they specialize in selected management domains.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Individuals taking MBA are also exposed to a wide range of areas of specialty such as finance, marketing, operations management, accounting, supply chain management, economics, organizational behavior and project management which also enhance their chances of getting executive employment. The Graduate Commission council which keeps track of hiring at the universities concurs with this finding considering their release of a very chilling dossier on how the demand for MBA graduates sky-rocketed between 2009 and 2010 with almost ninety percent of these individuals getting access to job opportunities with reasonable salaries and allowances of up to a whooping sev enty nine thousand dollars. MBA graduates are usually very flexible since once they are done with their various specialization options they are usually able to blend quite nicely in any business environment as a result of the diversity of skills and expertise which they are often exposed to during training. Managerial skill acquisition is another benefit which comes with studying MBA. Real time situations that involve management and problem solving can be dealt with adequately by employing the knowledge gained during MBA studies. This also helps many grandaunts start up their own businesses since they become business savvy as a result of the rigorous hand-on training in dealing with real business issues. Consequently, students from non-business related backgrounds have an added advantage since they can enhance their practical knowledge in the field of business administration during this training. Despite all the benefits that one can gain from studying MBA, there exist various chall enges which may prevent an individual from taking this high stakes course. Among them include its cost factor. Both online and physical MBA degrees are estimated to cost an average of about thirty thousand U.S dollars which is reasonably high and may hence block prospective students who may not be able to get sponsors from seeking admission opportunities.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Prospects of Taking Master of Business Administration specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The fact that, the course also takes a significant amount of an individuals time, attention and energy is also worthy of note since this may also dampen the spirits of prospective students who may not have that much time in their hands. MBA degrees may not guarantee an individual a job or career advancement after graduation hence posing another shortcoming. Since there are various institutions of higher learning which offer online MBA degrees, limitations such as the lack of face–to-face interaction and networking opportunities also come out very evidently since the use of online communication cannot measure up to the traditional classroom setting which is more favorable for interactive learning. In conclusion, it is hence safe to mention with certainty that the credibility of this information is not in doubt since the sources cited in this essay are quite recent and were authored by individuals with unquestionable credentials in the field of business and economics. On another note, MBA degrees as well as the education process itself impact quite positively on individuals by not only helping them achieve a respectable stature in the society but most importantly enables them to earn better wages. Career individuals who make going up the corporate ladder a priority like me often have no choice but to go for post-graduate courses like MBA. This is since in most cases; it is only possible after one upgrade s his or her level of education. It is due to these reasons that I decided to go for a master’s degree in Business Administration. References Bouknight, O. Scott Shrum. (2007). Your MBA game plan.Washington D.C: The Career press, inc. Meyer, L. Eugine. (2011). Where the M.B.A. jobs are. Jounal of the U.S News., 04-22.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Rhonda, Watson. (2012). Ethics in finance.jounal of Ethics and conduct of businesses,  sixth edition, 341-344. Stone, A. M. John Desmond. (2009). Fundamentals of markets: A critical evaluation.  New York: Routledge Inc This research paper on The Prospects of Taking Master of Business Administration was written and submitted by user Kayden Roth to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Three of the Four Great Chinese Masters essays

Three of the Four Great Chinese Masters essays The period of the Yuan Dynasty in China saw an explosion in landscape painting. The reign of Kublai Khan (1260-1294) caused a large amount of the scholar class to leave the imperial court, meaning "amateur" artists began to show the skills of artists of the court. At this point, four artists became known as the "Four Great Masters of the Yuan Dynasty" or "Four Great Masters of Landscape Painting." These men were Huang Gongwang, Wu Zhen, Ni Zan, and Wang Meng. Although all four were significant in Chinese painting, this paper will focus on the lives and works of Gongwang, Zan, and Meng. To understand the way that these men painted, it is important to know about the Yuan Dynasty itself. At the start of the Yuan Dynasty in 1279, China was under Mongol control. Although it was Genghis Khan who moved his men into China, it was his grandson, Kublai Khan who began the dynasty. The government was run by Mongols, but there was a strong attempt to rule in a Chinese fashion. This led to a less severe rule than China was used to, but it also caused the best scholars to found their institutes of learning and disband from the royal court (Yuan). Along with the lax government came problems, which eventually brought an end to the Yuan Dynasty in 1368. Excessive spending, especially on new canals and palaces, led to heavy taxing on Chinese citizens. In less than one hundred years, the Mongols caused China to become a highly impoverished nation. Before the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongols also lost much of their military training ability, which meant that when uprisings due to mass taxation began, it was difficult for the ruling class to fight back. Overall, the Mongols were fine with being removed from China, as it was no longer the wealthy nation it had been in 1279 (Yuan). All of the governmental issues during the Yuan period allowed artists of all types to have uncensored freedom. While poetry did not change much at this time, painting ...

Mechanism for leading and managing change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mechanism for leading and managing change - Essay Example t be evidence of improvements in or an intention to improve the effectiveness of the client system.† In this regard, organizational development is the comprehensive change made within the corporation as well as the follow through to see that it is enacted effectively. The client represents the aspect of the corporate system that is experiencing the organizational development, a process that is enacted by the organizational development leaders. This essay considers these aspects of organizational development in relation to mechanism for leading and managing change within the Apple Corporation. When considering these factors of change with regards to the Apple Corporation it’s important to consider the corporate structure and leadership model that is currently in existence at the company. Apple, Inc. is vertically integrated in regards to their business model, with their hardware and pre-installed software. The company follows a traditional corporate model with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) leading the organization, followed by the directors, executives, and a variety of lower level employees. They select candidates from the campuses of the various educational institutes of repute or higher through the website of the company and the department of human resource of the company. The company is divided into five distinct management divisions that function in conjunction to develop products; in addition there are four distinct departments that function to promote these newly developed products, as well as advance the already established Apple, Inc. merchandise. The bu siness contract with Apple, Inc is primarily based upon ‘Short Term Purchase Agreement Request’ that remains valid for six months and becomes due for further renewal. Since the company’s inception there have been significant and frequent levels of organizational development, with various times throughout the 1980s witnessing drastic shifts in corporate differentiation, and in the late 1980s

How does the Media Influence Perception of the Female Representation Essay

How does the Media Influence Perception of the Female Representation - Essay Example Gone are the days when beauty lay in the eye of the beholder, and a well-proportioned body was a thing of beauty and object of admiration. But, then, we live in a consumer, if not a consumerist, society where consumption means â€Å"the purchase and use of goods, leisure activities and services†. (Jagger. 2000). Though some writers (Schama. 1987) trace consumerism to the 17th century Netherlands, others (Ewen. 1976; Susman. 1982) emphasise that it was not until the years between the First and the Second World Wars in the USA and Britain that consumer culture became fully established. The elusive â€Å"ideal† Even today one hears it said the world over that â€Å"consumer is king†, or the â€Å"queen† as the case may be, but the insidious brainwashing of the â€Å"king† or the â€Å"queen† by the media at the instance of advertisers has left the â€Å"queen† with no volition. She dances to the tunes of the media, the tunes called by advertisers who pay the piper. Consumer society develops an increasing need to shop, meaning that individual consumers are increasingly finding the definition of themselves within commodities which can develop a feeling of high or low esteem if they do not have the new car, handbag, or pair of shoes presented as the new â€Å"ideal†. (Marcuse: 1964). Shakespeare may have had his own reasons for saying in one of his plays that â€Å"good wine needs no bush†(â€Å"As You Like It†), but in today’s world advertising rules the roost and helps what amounts really to commodification of the consumer. After all, they have come to see themselves in terms of the commodities and goods that they purchase and possess. Advertisers sell the "ideal" image that most people long for but not all of whom can achieve. That "ideal", of its very nature, is unattainable, a mirage that one keeps chasing all one's life, is not allowed to be realised in the palaver of the media. Those who buy the advertised products are made to image that they are buying the resultant image. Thus, advertising claims to sell a lifestyle through the wares it hawks. Commodities are consumed not only for their "use value" but also for their "sign value" (Jagger: 2000). That means commodities are bought also for "what they signify" (p.47) because "symbolic consumption is fundamental to the process by which modern individuals create and display their identities". Nature defied! Similarly, one's appearance "does express personhood" (Judith Andre. 1994. p. 21). "It expresses one's choice, one's values, and one's taste" and thus, possibly, one's identity. Thus, what was once considered immutable and the work of Nature is being reworked. For consumer culture to flourish, not only do new images have to keep being created, but consumers need to have reasons for keeping on buying. The reason, Jagger argues, is "the desire for the sign, not the commodity itself". In other words, it is not the intrinsic worth or utility of a commodity that influences that judgment of consumers but its appearance. Above all, the tendency to keep up with the Joneses, the need to be seen having what everyone wants, forgetting that the ideal is unattainable, combine to help advertisers put consumers into a straitjacket. An obvious example is the television programme "MTV Cribs" where the rich and the famous show viewers around their homes, and, in the process, show what is most likely something they will never have. However, it is something viewers will continue to

Has Globalization Created a New Type of Warfare?

Has Globalization Created a New Type of Warfare? Has globalization created an age of ‘new wars’? Introduction With the innovations in information and technologies and the rapid developments in telecommunications and data processing in modernity or even earlier era, globalization is of interest to both researchers and policy makers since it has been recognized as a new phenomenon that leads to significant change in the social relations of warfare (Fleming, 2009: 213). Globalization, a paradoxical process of increased interconnectedness, is the escalating of global interconnectedness that faces a set of challenges of political, economic, cultural and military aspects to the modern state (Kaldor, 2001: 3). The role of globalization in the modern warfare has been rightfully noticed, particularly in Eastern Europe and Africa during the 1980s and 1990s, as a key driving factor behind the development of a new type of organized violence due to its affecting the pattern of politics and rising the term identity politics from the disintegration of state system within states (Kaldor, 2001: 70). This new violent conflict is regarded as of internal or civil characteristics and is defined as new war (Malantowicz, 2010: 52).   Across the time period of the modern welfare, it would emerge that there have been the improvements in information and technologies, especially in communication, is of process of globalization, that greatly led to the changes in contemporary of politics and economics. Furthermore, the characteristic of warfare is of influenced by this process (Malantowicz, 2010: 159). Thus, it is my point of view, as a researcher in this current study, that globalization has a tendency contributed to influence the changes in nature of violent conflicts as it causes a weak states sovereignty in their territory by political mobilization from various intra- and inter- state actors based on identity politics. And since the new wars are often characterized by the form of violence against civilian population; therefore, globalization is very likely to create the new wars era. With these considerations in mind, this current paper has been divided into four parts. First, the differences between old and new wars theories will be briefly outlined, in order to facilitate understanding inside into the characteristics of new wars. Second, the probable link between globalization and new wars, especially Kaldor’s new wars, will be discussed, in order to conclusively demonstrate that globalization may have a numerous effect on elements of these new type of violence. Third, a case study of the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia-Herzegovina war will be illustrated, in order to demonstrate the paradigm of the new type of warfare that is of interest of multiple international actors in globalized world in which their effort is mobilized around the ethnically cleans area. Finally, the conclusion will be sum up all for the aforementioned sections. Old wars and new wars: the differences in their logics In order to effectively discuss how it is likely that globalization has created an aged of new war, it is firstly essential to understand the shift of logic of organized violence from earlier era to the era of globalization. The classical term of war is defined by Clausewitz as â€Å"an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will† (In Kaldor, 2001: 17). In other words, this war is war between states and conducted by states, in an attempt to achieve state interests by defeating enemy of state and gaining its territory through the use of national forces. On the other hand, today’s conflicts, according to new wars theories, on the whole, seek to be a part of open world in which the contexts of contemporary politics and economics are influenced by process of globalisation, thus lead to the erosion of authoritarian provoked by individual or group interests and greed (In Malantowicz, 2010: 159). Furthermore, the rapidly advancing communications and tech nology as part of the process of globalization is closely associated with the cause rise of identity politics in situation which, at worst, could be lead to the form of violent ethnic cleansing that directed against civilian population due to their identity (Kaldor, 2001: 78). The contrast between old can new wars can be classified in to four main categories: aims, actors, methodologies and financial forms. Firstly, old wars were fought for democracy or socialism to strengthen state power in which the main driving forces behind states towards these wars are the geo-politics or ideology, whilst political mobilization around identity, ethnic, tribal or religious or racial, in order to claim sovereign state, is the goal of new conflicts. Secondly, the earlier wars were fought by the states’ regular armed forces whereas there are varying actors of both state and non-state, such as warlords, regular armed forces, fought in the new type of conflict. Thirdly, a regular procedure of previous once is the capturing territory through military means during the battle; conversely, in new wars, territory is captured through political means using population displacement technique. Lastly, the financial of old wars is funded by states, however, it is difficult to specify the source of finance in new violent conflicts because it is blurred categories of the purpose of financial between economic and politic (Kaldor, 2013: 3). As Kaldor phrase it, the term ‘new’ is emphasized with an attempt to provide the appropriate approaches in order to demonstrate the shift of logic as well as characteristic of organized violence from the earlier era to the 1990s and to facilitate the understanding and interpreting of such policy-makers insight into the interrelated characteristics of these conflicts (Kaldor, 2013: 4). The logic of new wars: the link between globalization and new wars According to Kaldor, the term of new wars is used to interpret the development of new type of organized violence of the globalized era, particularly during the last decades of the 20th century in Eastern Europe and Africa in order to conceptualize the breakdown of binary distinctions contexts between state and non-state, public and private, external and internal, economic and political, and even war and peace which is both a cause and a consequence of violence. Various terms have been used to emphasize the concept of these conflicts. The most of new wars theorists are prevailing defined this term as civil or intra-state wars or else as low-intensity conflict (Kaldor, 2001: 2). There is however, for thinkers such as Shaw asserts emphatically that there is an interrelation with the total wars of the twentieth century and their genocidal aspects, thus he points out the term ‘degenerate warfare’ as a description of new wars in which highlights the deteriorate of national framework, mainly in the military forces aspect (In Kaldor, 2001: 2). The emergence of industrial society during modernity period or even earlier as a consequence of the revolution in information and technologies and advancements in transport, communications and data processing resulted in a new phenomenon of transnational networks so-called globalization. Kaldor underlined in her book, New and Old Wars: Organized violence in a global era, that globalization is defined as ‘the intensification of global interconnectedness of political, economic, military and cultural’ (Kaldor, 2001: 71). This global integration process is a paradoxical process involving both homogenization and differentiation, integration and fragmentation, globalization and localization, whilst some writers such as Berdal points out that this process is mainly caused by technological change, in order to simulate a labeled growth of transactional and organizational connections across national boundaries (2003: 481). With regard to the context of globalization from the above, it is clear that process of globalization has connected the world, however, at the same time it has resulted in disconnections and alienations, thus leads to an arising out of global class based on the ability to cooperate into this process (Kaldor, 2001: 4). Moreover, the accelerating of globalization process, especially the advanced communication and transportation, is very likely leading to rapidly connect a variety of communities and supporters instantly. Thus, it is very likely that globalization may cause organized violence.    The new type of warfare, in most cases, are typically based around the erosion of the authoritarian states as well as in some intense cases of the state disintegration, and much of pressure on such state has been caused by the process of globalization on the international boundary (Kaldor, 2001: 4). According to Kaldor, an accelerating of globalization process creates the situation in which states are strongly intervened in their political, economic and social aspects from the external forces of third party, mainly in from of foreign assistance intervention (2001: 83). Moreover, various types of actor such as states, private enterprises and military organization that are arising out in the territorial state as a consequence of globalisation are recognized as a cause of changes in economic and political contexts (Kaldor, 2001: 73). These lead to a simultaneous dramatic decline of state power and tax revenues, thus result in the situation that drives economy toward extremely collapse (Newman, 2004: 183). As regards the position in which the state has lost dominance, Kaldor explicitly asserted that it is likely to provide an environment of corruption and criminalization and political legitimacy collapse that could be led to different forms of conflict (2001: 5). At the same time, however, it could be argued that the new wars, part of the process through which globalization evolved then, are closely lead to the situation in which traditional distinctions between war and peace, organized crime and large-scale violation of human rights become blurred and disappeared as a result, the international violence is shifted from conventional conflict of primarily state-oriented to a series of internal or the war against civilian population or else as low-intensity conflicts (Kaldor, 2001: 2). From this understanding, thus, it can be assumed that a link does exist between globalization and new wars can be characterized by ethnic cleansing, genocide, terrorism as well as low-intensity conflict. Moreover, Kaldor explicitly state a link between globalization and new wars in term of a ‘crisis of identity’ (2001: 75). For Kaldor, a significant feature of new wars is that the combatant focus on question of identity in which she has seen as these conflicts are negative consequence resulted from globalization process. Therefore, her attention is drawn to the term of identity politics. This may be because globalization influences an emerge of consolidations of networks of both state and non-state actors beyond the conventional competence territorially defined governments. In other words, the modern state structures are disintegrated due to the mixed of regionalization and transnationalization of governance in the state territory. As a result, new wars are fought by in the name of identity politics in which political elites reproduce their power. They do, however, attempt to achieve political mobilisation around identity (Kaldor, 2013: 2). Thus, in the context of these new wars regarding identity political then, the different identity is used as an instrument to control population in form of ethnically cleanse an area. Moreover, most conflict is directed against civilians. Simultaneously, however, the strong emphasis on identity within new wars means that aid distribution can easily aggravate tensions between communities. Going back to the erosion of state system caused by negative impact of globalization, this leads to an increased in identity politics; therefore, result in the changes in type of modern warfare where violent conflicts occur in state territory in term of the wars against civilians.   Thus, it is clear that globalization may create the new wars era. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, for example, is constantly claimed by Kaldor as a model of the paradigm that globalization influencing the new type of warfare; therefore, I selected the Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict as a case study with regards to the name of identity politics influencing violent ethnic cleansing, in order to make my analysis more sectional. The Bosnia and Herzegovina war: heralds an era of new wars triggered by globalisation The war in Bosnia-Herzegovina is of a huge of international effort of governmental and non-governmental from both local and global sectors due to approximately 260,000 deaths from genocide (Kaldor, 2001: 31). This seems to be the reason for Kaldor’s argument that ‘the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina has become the archetypal example, the paradigm of the new type of warfare’ (In Fleming, 2009: 219). With regards to the thesis statement mentioned above, a case study of Bosnia-Herzegovina is considered to be the most appropriate paradigm to prove that the globalization has created an aged of new wars, by it having an evidence of a link between globalization and the changes in the nature of violent conflicts. Moreover, this war also demonstrate that globalization is a root cause of the shifted in strategy on new wars where the authoritarian states no longer seek population support, alternatively they introduce the population displacement driving by politics identities in term of ethnic cleansing. Bosnia-Herzegovina is geographically situated as a sort of convergence point of a number of different ethnicities and cultures that date back hundreds and even thousands of years. One of the characteristics of Bosnia-Herzegovina is that it is the most diverse ethnic groups, involving Muslims, Serbs, Croats, Yugoslavs, Jews, Roma and others, of former Yugoslavia. The majority different among people whose live in these republics are types of religions in which we notice as the Orthodox Serbs and the Catholic Croats (Kaldor, 2001: 32). This means, thus, that the war is more likely to took place in this area in form of violent ethnic cleansing, in order to complete their desire on establish ethnically homogeneous territories and to divide ethnically mixed Bosnia-Herzegovina between Serbs and Croats driving by their different nationalism perspectives (Kaldor, 2001:33) In 1992, when the war began, Bosnia-Herzegovina consisted of a majority Muslim, and Serbians, with a smaller percentage of Croatians, who were predominantly Catholic, and Jews. While these people had coexisted together for quite some time, there seemed to be a degree of fear and hate that was passed down through the generations. The existence of this fear and hate may be said as the cause that made the Serbian people is easily to manipulate by the power of their political leaders and in a wave of nationalism. As a result, they set out on a murderous â€Å"ethnic cleansing† to rid themselves of the Croatians (Kaldor, 2001:33). Nationalism, playing on the fears of a particular group of people, is what from my point of view that it is likely to be a root cause that led to the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This is because nationalism has been driven from different ethnic roots and has been reconstructed for political purposes (Kaldor, 2001:34). As a result, political fragmentation of Bosnia-Herzegovina gave rise to identity-based mobilization, thus leads to the violent of ethnic nationalism. Furthermore, alongside with the begin of war Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1992, the internet was still in its beginning stages. The internet was one of the driving forces that helped bring along the concept of globalization, as people from different cultures migrated around the world. Information became more readily available to more and more people from an ever increasing web that spanned the world (ÄÅ'iarnienÄâ€" and KumpikaitÄâ€", 2008: 43). Thus, leads to the situation in which multiple international actors around the world could be engaged in rising of identity politics and mobilizing political purpose in the area of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Therefore, it can be also concluded that the Bosnia-Herzegovina is the new type of war in sense of a war against the civilians and civil society (Kaldor, 2001: 44). Conclusion To conclude, the nature of warfare has been changed across the time period due to the process of globalization as the factor driving the changes in the political nature. As rightfully remarked by Kalyvas, the critic of new wars, there are the shifted in fundamental of the warfare from the armed conflicts between states in an earlier era to internal war or the war against civilian populations, mainly focused on ethnic cleansing, of the conflicts nowadays (2001: 99). This current study has identified the link between the process of globalization and new wars, in relation to the political mobilization based on identity politics in the internal territory, which has been recognized as the characteristics of new wars, using case study of Bosnia and Herzegovina war, the violent ethnic cleansing of Bosnian. The result can be argued that nationalism and globalization lead to the political fragmentation that rising identity-based mobilization in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Therefore, it could lead to the new war caused by ethnic politics. Globalization, the revolution of communication and technology, creates the situation in which states are strongly intervened in their politics, economics and social from the external forces of third party and multiple actors of both states and non-states, thus lead to a dramatic decline of state power, an extremely collapse of former economic and a provision of corruption and criminalization environment (Newman, 2004: 183). These situation, therefore, leads to the motivation of political mobilization, particularly based around identity politics and are stimulated by personal or group interests and greed (Malantowicz, 2013: 52). And since internal violence invoked by irregular paramilitary troops and the population movement rather than battles between armies in the traditional field are the elements which characterise the new wars (Malantowicz, 2010: 159) As a result, the impact of globalization could be led to a new type of organized violence so-called new war. However, from my perspective, as a researcher in this study, that globalization process is what will hopefully, one day, put an end to such genocide, as people continue to migrate, inter-marry, and become familiar with, and tolerant of other cultures. Bibliography Fleming, C. M. (2009) New or Old Wars? Debating a Clausewitzian Future, Strategic Studies, 32(2), pp.213-241. Henderson, E. and Singer, J. (2002): New Wars and Rumors of New Wars, International Interactions, 28(2), pp.165-190. Baylis, J., Smith, S., and Owens, P. (2014) The Globalization of World Politics:   An Introduction to International Relations 6th edi. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Bougarel, X. (2015) The Bosnian Muslims in the Second World War, Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 15(4), pp.683-688. ÄÅ'iarnienÄâ€", R., and KumpikaitÄâ€", V. (2008) The Impact of Globalization on Migration Processes, Socialiniai tyrimai / Social Research, 3 (13), pp. 42–48. Kardor, M. (2001). New and Old Wars: Organized Violence in a Global Era (Edition), Cambridge: Polity Press. Kaldor, M. (2013) In Defense of New Wars. Stability, 2(1): 4, pp. 1-16. Kalyvas, N. S. (2001), New and Old Civil Wars: A Valid Distinction?, World Politics, 54(1), pp. 99-118. Malantowicz, A. (2010). Do ‘New Wars’ Theories Contribute to Our Understanding of The African Conflicts? Cases of Rwanda And Darfur. Africana Bulletin, pp: 159-172. Malantowicz, A. (2013) Civil War in Syria and the New Wars Debate. Amsterdam Law Forum, 5(3), pp. 52-60. Newman, E. (2004) The ‘New Wars’ Debate: A Historical Perspective Is Needed, Security Dialogue, 35(2), pp. 173-189.

Forward the Foundation Chapter 29

32 â€Å"Professor Seldon come in,† said Chief Librarian Tryma Acarnio in an icy tone of voice. Hari Seldon accompanied by Wanda and Palver, entered the Chief Librarian's imposing office. â€Å"Thank you, Chief Librarian,† said Seldon as he settled into a chair and faced Acarnio across the vast desk. â€Å"May I introduce my granddaughter Wanda and my friend Stettin Palver. Wanda is a most valuable member of the Psychohistory Project, her specialty being in the field of mathematics. And Stettin, well, Stettin is turning into a first-rate general psychohistorian-when he's not performing his duties as my bodyguard, that is.† Seldon chuckled amiably. â€Å"Yes, well, that's all well and good, Professor,† said Acarnio, baffled by Seldon's good humor. He had expected the professor to come in groveling, begging for another chance at special Library privileges. â€Å"But I don't understand what it is you wanted to see me about. I assume you realize that our position is firm: We cannot allow a Library association with someone so extremely unpopular with the general population. We are, after all, a public library and we must keep the public's sentiments in mind.† Acarnio settled back-perhaps now the groveling would begin. â€Å"I realize that I have not been able to sway you. However, I thought that if you heard from a couple of the Project's younger members-the psychohistorians of tomorrow, as it were-that perhaps you'd get a better feel about what a vital role the Project-and the Encyclopedia, in particular-will play in our future. Please hear Wanda and Stettin out.† Acarnio cast a cold eye toward the two young people flanking Seldon. â€Å"Very well, then,† he said, pointedly eyeing the timestrip on the wall. â€Å"Five minutes and no more. I have a Library to run.† â€Å"Chief Librarian,† began Wanda, â€Å"as my grandfather has undoubtedly explained to you, psychohistory is a most valuable tool to be used for the preservation of our culture. Yes, preservation, † she repeated, upon seeing Acarnio's eyes widen at the word. â€Å"Undue emphasis has been placed on the destruction of the Empire. By doing so, the true value of psychohistory has been overlooked. For, with psychohistory, as we are able to predict the inevitable decline of our civilization, so are we able to take steps toward its preservation. That is what the Encyclopedia Galactica is all about. And that is why we need your help, and the help of your great Library.† Acarnio could not resist smiling. The young lady had an undeniable charm. She was so earnest, so well spoken. He gazed at her sitting in front of him, her blond hair pulled back in a rather severe scholarly style, one which could not hide her attractive features but, rather, showed them off. What she was saying was starting to make sense. Maybe Wanda Seldon was right-maybe he had been looking at this problem from the wrong angle. If it were actually a matter of preservation, rather than destruction†¦ â€Å"Chief Librarian,† began Stettin Palver, â€Å"this great Library has stood for millennia. It, perhaps even more than the Imperial Palace, represents the vast power of the Empire. For, the Palace houses only the Empire's leader, while the Library is home to the sum total of Imperial knowledge, culture, and history. Its value is incalculable. â€Å"Does it not make sense to prepare a tribute to this great repository? The Encyclopedia Galactica will be just that-a giant summary of all the knowledge contained within these very walls. Think of it!† All of a sudden it seemed so very clear to Acarnio. How could he have let the Board (especially that sourpuss Gennaro Mummery) convince him to rescind Seldon's privileges? Las Zenow, a person whose judgment he greatly esteemed, had been a wholehearted supporter of Seldon's Encyclopedia. He glanced again at the three in front of him, waiting for his decision. The Board would be hard-pressed to find anything to complain about with the Project members-if the young people now in his office were a representative sample of the kind of persons involved with Seldon. Acarnio rose and walked across his office, his brow furrowed, as if framing his thoughts. He picked up a milky crystal sphere from a table and hefted it in his palm. â€Å"Trantor,† Acarnio began thoughtfully, â€Å"seat of the Empire, center of all the Galaxy. Quite amazing, when you think of it. We have, perhaps, been too quick to judge Professor Seldon. Now that your Project, this Encyclopedia Galactica, has been presented to me in such a light†-he gave a brief nod to Wanda and Palver-â€Å"I realize how important it would be to allow you to continue your work here. And, of course, to grant access to a number of your colleagues.† Seldon smiled gratefully and squeezed Wanda's hand. â€Å"It is not only for the greater glory of the Empire that I am recommending this,† continued Acarnio, apparently warming to the idea (and the sound of his own voice). â€Å"You are famous, Professor Seldon. Whether people think of you as a crackpot or a genius, everyone seems to have an opinion. If an academic of your stature is allied with the Galactic Library, it can only increase our prestige as a bastion of intellectual pursuit of the highest order. Why, the luster of your presence can be used to raise much-needed funds to update our collections, increase our staff, keep our doors open to the public longer†¦ â€Å"And the prospect of the Encyclopedia Galactica itself-what a monumental project! Imagine the reaction when the public learns that the Galactic Library is involved with such an undertaking designed to highlight the splendor of our civilization-our glorious history, our brilliant achievements, our magnificent cultures. And to think that I, Chief Librarian Tryma Acarnio, is responsible for making sure that this great Project gets its start-† Acarnio gazed intently into the crystal sphere, lost in reverie. â€Å"Yes, Professor Seldon,† Acarnio pulled himself back to the here and now. â€Å"You and your colleagues will be granted full insiders' privileges-and a suite of offices in which to work.† He placed the crystal sphere back on its table and, with a swish of robes, moved back to his desk. â€Å"It might take a little doing, of course, to persuade the Board-but I am confident that I can handle them. Just leave it to me.† Seldon, Wanda, and Palver looked at each other in triumph, with small smiles playing at the corner of their mouths. Tryma Acarnio gestured that they could go and so they did, leaving the Chief Librarian settled in his chair, dreaming of the glory and honor that would come to the Library under his aegis. â€Å"Amazing,† said Seldon when the three were safely ensconced in their ground-car. â€Å"If you could have seen him at our last meeting. He said I was ‘threatening the essential fabric of our Empire' or some such rot. And today, after just a few minutes with you two-â€Å" â€Å"It wasn't too hard, Grandpa,† Wanda said as she pressed a contact, moving the ground-car out into traffic. She sat back as the auto-propel took over; Wanda had punched their destination coordinates into the control panel. â€Å"He is a man with a strong sense of self-importance. All we had to do was play up the positive aspects of the Encyclopedia and his ego took over from there.† â€Å"He was a goner the minute Wanda and I walked in,† Palver said from the back. â€Å"With both of us pushing him, it was a piece of cake.† Palver reached forward and squeezed Wanda's shoulder affectionately. She smiled, reached up, and patted his hand. â€Å"I must alert the Encyclopedists as soon as possible,† Seldon said. â€Å"Although there are only thirty-two left, they are good and dedicated workers. I'll get them installed at the Library and then I'll tackle the next hurdle-credits. Perhaps this alliance with the Library is what I need to convince people to give us funding. Let's see-I'll call upon Terep Bindris again and I'll take you two with me. He was kindly disposed toward me, at least at first. But how will he be able to resist us now?† The ground-car eventually came to a halt outside the Psychohistory Building at Streeling. The side panels slid open, but Seldon did not immediately move to disembark. He turned to face Wanda. â€Å"Wanda, you know what you and Stettin were able to accomplish with Acarnio; I'm sure you both can push some credits out of a few financial benefactors as well. â€Å"I know how you hate to leave your beloved Prime Radiant, but these visits will give you two a chance to practice, to hone your skills, to get an idea of just what you can do.† â€Å"All right, Grandpa, although I'm sure that, now that you have the Library's imprimatur, you will find that resistance to your requests has lessened.† â€Å"There's another reason I think it's important for the two of you to get out and around together. Stettin, I believe you said that on certain occasions you've ‘felt' another mind like yours but haven't been able to identify it.† â€Å"Yes,† answered Palver, â€Å"I've had flashes, but each time I was in a crowd. And, in my twenty-four years, I can remember feeling such a flash just four or five times.† â€Å"But, Stettin,† said Seldon, his voice low with intensity, â€Å"each flash was, potentially, the mind of another person like you and Wanda-another mentalic. Wanda's never felt these flashes because, frankly, she's been sheltered all her life. The few times she's been out in a crowd there must not have been any other mentalics around. â€Å"That's one reason-perhaps the most important reason-for you two to get out-with me or without me. We must find other mentalics. The two of you alone are strong enough to push a single person. A large group of you, all pushing together, will have the power to move an Empire!† With that. Hari Seldon swung his legs around and hoisted himself out of the ground-car. As Wanda and Palver watched him limp up the pathway to the Psychohistory Building, they were only dimly aware of the enormous responsibility Seldon had just placed on their young shoulders. 33 It was midafternoon and the Trantorian sun glinted on the metal skin covering the great planet. Hari Seldon stood at the edge of the Streeling University observation deck, attempting to shield his eyes from the harsh glare with his hand. It had been years since he'd been out from under the dome, save for his few visits to the Palace, and somehow those didn't count; one was still very much enclosed on the Imperial grounds. Seldon no longer traveled around only if accompanied. In the first place, Palver spent the majority of his time with Wanda, either working on the Prime Radiant, absorbed in mentalic research, or searching for others like them. But if he had wanted, Seldon could have found another young man-a University student or a Project member-to act as his bodyguard. However, Seldon knew that a bodyguard was no longer necessary. Since the much publicized hearing and the reestablishment of ties with the Galactic Library, the Commission for Public Safety had taken a keen interest in Seldon. Seldon knew that he was being followed; he had caught sight of his â€Å"shadow† on a number of occasions in the past few months. He also had no doubt that his home and office had been infiltrated by listening devices, but he himself activated a static shield whenever he engaged in sensitive communications. Seldon was not sure what the Commission thought of him-perhaps they were not yet sure themselves. Regardless of whether they believed him to be a prophet or a crackpot, they made it their business to know where he was at all times-and that meant that, until the Commission deemed otherwise, at all times Seldon was safe. A light breeze billowed the deep blue cloak Seldon had draped over his unisuit and ruffed the few wispy white hairs remaining on his head. He glanced down over the railing, taking in the seamless steel blanket below. Beneath that blanket, Seldon knew, rumbled the machinery of a vastly complicated world. If the dome were transparent, one would see ground-cars racing, gravicabs swooshing through an intricate network of interconnecting tunnels, space hyperships being loaded and unloaded with grain and chemicals and jewels bound for and from practically every world of the Empire. Below the gleaming metal cover, the lives of forty billion people were being conducted, with all the attendant pain, joy, and drama of human life. It was an image he loved dearly-this panorama of human achievement-and it pierced his heart to know that, in just a few centuries, all that now lay before him would be in ruins. The great dome would be ripped and scarred, torn away to reveal the desolate wasteland of what was once the seat of a thriving civilization. He shook his head in sadness, for he knew there was nothing he could do to prevent that tragedy. But, as Seldon foresaw the ruined dome, he also knew that from the ground laid bare by the last battles of the Empire living shoots would spring and somehow Trantor would reemerge as a vital member of the new Empire. The Plan saw to that. Seldon lowered himself onto one of the benches ringing the deck's perimeter. His leg was throbbing painfully; the exertion of the trip had been a bit much. But it had been worth it to gaze once again at Trantor, to feel the open air around him and see the vast sky above. Seldon thought wistfully of Wanda. He rarely saw his granddaughter at all anymore and invariably Stettin Palver was present when he did. In the three months since Wanda and Palver had met, they seemed to be inseparable. Wanda assured Seldon that the constant involvement was necessary for the Project, but Seldon suspected it went deeper than mere devotion to one's job. He remembered the telltale signs from his early days with Dors. It was there in the way the two young people looked at each other, with an intensity born not only of intellectual stimulation but emotional motivation as well. Further, by their very natures, Wanda and Palver seemed to be more comfortable with each other than with other people. In fact, Seldon had discovered that when no one else was around, Wanda and Palver didn't even talk to each other; their mentalic abilities were sufficiently advanced that they had no need of words to communicate. The other Project members were not aware of Wanda's and Palver's unique talents. Seldon had felt it best to keep the mentalics' work quiet, at least until their role in the Plan was firmly defined. Actually the Plan itself was firmly defined-but solely in Seldon's mind. As a few more pieces fell into place, he would reveal his Plan to Wanda and Palver and someday, of necessity, to one or two others. Seldon stood slowly, stiffly. He was due back at Streeling in an hour to meet Wanda and Palver. They had left word for him that they were bringing a great surprise. Another piece for the puzzle, Seldon hoped. He looked out one last time over Trantor and, before turning to make his way back to the gravitic repulsion elevator, smiled and softly said, â€Å"Foundation.† 34 Hari Seldon entered his office to find that Wanda and Palver had already arrived and were seated around the conference table at the far end of the room. As was usual with those two, the room was completely silent. Then Seldon stopped short, noticing that a new fellow was sitting with them. How strange-out of politeness, Wanda and Palver usually reverted to standard speech when in the company of other people, yet none of the three was speaking. Seldon studied the stranger-an odd-looking man, about thirty-five years old, with the myopic look of one caught up for too long in his studies. If it weren't for a certain determined set to the stranger's jaw, Seldon thought he might be dismissed as ineffectual, but that would obviously be a mistake. There was both strength and kindness in the man's face. A trustworthy face, Seldon decided. â€Å"Grandfather,† Wanda said, rising gracefully from her chair. Seldon's heart ached as he looked at his granddaughter. She'd changed so much in the past few months, since the loss of her family. Whereas before she had always called him Grandpa, now it was the more formal Grandfather. In the past it seemed she could barely refrain from grins and giggles; lately her serene gaze was lightened only occasionally by a beatific smile. But-now as always-she was beautiful and that beauty was surpassed only by her stunning intellect. â€Å"Wanda, Palver,† Seldon said, kissing the former on the cheek and slapping the latter on the shoulder. â€Å"Hello,† Seldon said, turning to the stranger, who had also stood. â€Å"I am Hari Seldon.† â€Å"I am most honored to meet you, Professor,† the man replied. â€Å"I am Bor Alurin.† Alurin offered a hand to Seldon in the archaic and, hence, most formal mode of greeting. â€Å"Bor is a psychologist, Hari,† said Palver, â€Å"and a great fan of your work.† â€Å"More important, Grandfather,† said Wanda, â€Å"Bor is one of us.† â€Å"One of you?† Seldon looked searchingly from one to the other. â€Å"Do you mean†¦?† Seldon's eyes sparkled. â€Å"Yes, Grandfather. Yesterday Stettin and I were walking through Ery Sector, getting out and around, as you'd suggested, probing for others. All of a sudden-wham!-there it was.† â€Å"We recognized the thought patterns immediately and began to look around, trying to establish a link,† Palver said, taking up the story. â€Å"We were in a commercial area, near the spaceport, so the walkways were clogged with shoppers and tourists and Outworld traders. It seemed hopeless, but then Wanda simply stopped and signaled Come here and out of the crowd Bor appeared. He just walked up to us and signaled Yes?† â€Å"Amazing,† Seldon said, beaming at his granddaughter. â€Å"And Dr.-it is Doctor, isn't it?-Alurin, what do you make of all this?† â€Å"Well,† began the psychologist thoughtfully, â€Å"I am pleased. I've always felt different somehow and now I know why. And if I can be of any help to you, why-† The psychologist looked down at his feet, as if all of a sudden he realized he was being presumptuous. â€Å"What I mean is, Wanda and Stettin said I may be able to contribute in some way to your Psychohistory Project. Professor, nothing would please me more.† â€Å"Yes yes. That's quite true, Dr. Alurin. In fact, I think you may make a great contribution to the Project-if you'll join me. Of course, you'll have to give up whatever it is you do now, whether it is teaching or private practice. Can you manage that?† â€Å"Why, yes, Professor, of course. I may need a little help convincing my wife-† At this he chuckled slightly, glancing shyly at each of his three companions in turn. â€Å"But I seem to have a way with that.† â€Å"So it's set, then,† said Seldon briskly. â€Å"You will join the Psychohistory Project. I promise you, Dr. Alurin, this is a decision you will not regret.† â€Å"Wanda, Stettin,† Seldon said later, after Bor Alurin had left. â€Å"This is a most welcome breakthrough. How quickly do you think you can find more mentalics?† â€Å"Grandfather, it took us over a month to locate Bor-we cannot predict with what frequency others will be found. â€Å"To tell you the truth, all this ‘out and around' takes us away from our work on the Prime Radiant and it is distracting as well. Now that I have Stettin to ‘talk' to, verbal communication is somewhat too harsh, too loud. â€Å" Seldon's smile faded. He had been afraid of this. As Wanda and Palver had been honing their mentalic skills, so their tolerance for â€Å"ordinary† life had diminished. It only made sense; their mentalic manipulations set them apart. â€Å"Wanda, Stettin, I think it may be time for me to tell you more about the idea Yugo Amaryl had years ago and about the Plan I've devised as a result of that idea. I haven't been ready to elaborate upon it until now, because until this moment, all the pieces have not been in place. â€Å"As you know, Yugo felt we must establish two Foundations-each as a fail-safe measure for the other. It was a brilliant idea, one which I wish Yugo could have lived long enough to see realized.† Here Seldon paused, heaving a regretful sigh. â€Å"But I digress. Six years ago, when I was certain that Wanda had mentalic, or mind-touching, capabilities, it came to me that not only should there be two Foundations but that they should be distinct in nature, as well. One would be made up of physical scientists-the Encyclopedists will be their pioneer group on Terminus. The second would be made up of true psychohistorians; mentalists-you. That is why I've been so eager for you to find others like you. â€Å"Finally, though, is this: The Second Foundation must be secret. Its strength will lie in its seclusion, in its telepathic omnipresence and omnipotence. â€Å"You see, a few years ago, when it became apparent that I would require the services of a bodyguard, I realized that the Second Foundation must be the strong, silent, secret bodyguard of the primary Foundation. â€Å"Psychohistory is not infallible-its predictions are, however, highly probable. The Foundation, especially in its infancy, will have many enemies, as do I today. â€Å"Wanda, you and Palver are the pioneers of the Second Foundation, the guardians of the Terminus Foundation.† â€Å"But how, Grandfather?† demanded Wanda. â€Å"We are just two-well, three, if you count Bor. To guard the entire Foundation, we would need-â€Å" â€Å"Hundreds? Thousands? Find however many it takes, Granddaughter. You can do it. And you know how. â€Å"Earlier, when relating the story of finding Dr. Alurin, Stettin said you simply stopped and communicated out to the mentalic presence you felt and he came to you. Don't you see? All along I've been urging you to go out and find others like you. But this is difficult, almost painful for you. I realize now that you and Stettin must seclude yourselves, in order to form the nucleus of the Second Foundation. From there you will cast your nets into the ocean of humanity.† â€Å"Grandfather, what are you saying?† Wanda asked in a whisper. She had left her seat and was kneeling next to Seldon's chair. â€Å"Do you want me to leave?† â€Å"No, Wanda,† Seldon replied, his voice choked with emotion. â€Å"I don't want you to leave, but it is the only way. You and Stettin must isolate yourselves from the crude physicality of Trantor. As your mentalic abilities grow stronger, you will attract others to you-the silent and secret Foundation will grow. â€Å"We will be in touch-occasionally, of course. And each of us has a Prime Radiant. You see, don't you, the truth-and the absolute necessity-of what I am saying, don't you?† â€Å"Yes, I do, Grandfather,† said Wanda. â€Å"More important, I feel the brilliance of it as well. Rest assured; we won't let you down.† â€Å"I know you won't, dear,† Seldon said wearily. How could he do this-how could he send his darling granddaughter away? She was his last link to his happiest days, to Dors, Yugo, and Raych. She was the only other Seldon in the Galaxy. â€Å"I shall miss you terribly, Wanda,† Seldon said as a tear worked its way down his finely creased cheek. â€Å"But, Grandfather,† Wanda said as she stood with Palver, preparing to leave. â€Å"Where shall we go? Where is the Second Foundation?† Seldon looked up and said, â€Å"The Prime Radiant has already told you, Wanda.† Wanda looked at Seldon blankly, searching her memory. Seldon reached out and clutched at his granddaughter's hand. â€Å"Touch my mind, Wanda. It is there.† Wanda's eyes widened as she reached into Seldon's mind. â€Å"I see,† Wanda whispered to Seldon. Section 33A2D17. Star's End. Part V Epilogue I am Hari Seldon. Former First Minister to Emperor Cleon I. Professor Emeritus of Psychohistory at Streeling University on Trantor. Director of the Psychohistory Research Project. Executive Editor of the Encyclopedia Galactica. Creator of the Foundation. It all sounds quite impressive, I know. I have done a great deal in my eighty-one years and I am tired. Looking back over my life, I wonder if I could have-should have-done certain things differently. For instance: Was I so concerned with the grand sweep of psychohistory that the people and events that intersected my life sometimes seemed inconsequential by comparison? Perhaps I neglected to make some small incidental adjustments here or there that would have in no way compromised the future of humanity but might have dramatically improved the life of an individual dear to me. Yugo, Raych†¦ I can't help but wonder†¦ Was there something I could have done to save my beloved Dors? Last month I finished recording the Crisis holograms. My assistant, Gaal Dornick, has taken them to Terminus to oversee their installation in the Seldon Vault. He will make sure that the Vault is sealed and that the proper instructions are left for the eventual openings of the Vault, during the Crises. I'll be dead by then, of course. What will they think, those future Foundationers, when they see me (or, more accurately, my hologram) during the First Crisis, almost fifty years from now? Will they comment on how old I look or how weak my voice is or how small I seem, bundled in this wheelchair? Will they understand-appreciate-the message I've left for them? Ah well, there's really no point in speculating. As the ancients would say: The die is cast. I heard from Gaal yesterday. All is going well on Terminus. Bor Alurin and the Project members are flourishing in â€Å"exile.† I shouldn't gloat, but I can't help but chuckle when I recall the self-satisfied look on the face of that pompous idiot Linge Chen when he banished the Project to Terminus two years ago. Although ultimately the exile was couched in terms of an Imperial Charter (â€Å"A state-supported scientific institution and part of the personal domain of His August Majesty, the Emperor†-the Chief Commissioner wanted us off Trantor and out of his hair, but he could not bear the thought of giving up complete control), it is still a source of secret delight to know that it was Las Zenow and I who chose Terminus as Foundation's home. My one regret where Linge Chen is concerned is that we were not able to save Agis. That Emperor was a good man and a noble leader, even if he was Imperial in name only. His mistake was to believe in his title and the Commission of Public Safety would not tolerate the burgeoning Imperial independence. I often wonder what they did to Agis-was he exiled to some remote Outer World or assassinated like Cleon? The boy-child who sits on the throne today is the perfect puppet Emperor. He obeys every word Linge Chen whispers in his ear and fancies himself a budding statesman. The Palace and trappings of Imperial life are but toys to him in some vast fantastical game. What will I do now? With Gaal finally gone to join the Terminus group, I am utterly alone. I hear from Wanda occasionally. The work at Star's End continues on course; in the past decade she and Stettin have added dozens of mentalics to their number. They increasingly grow in power. It was the Star's End contingent-my secret Foundation-who pushed Linge Chen into sending the Encyclopedists to Terminus. I miss Wanda. It has been many years since I've seen her, sat with her quietly, holding her hand. When Wanda left, even though I had asked her to go, I thought I would die of heartbreak. That was, perhaps, the most difficult decision I ever had to make and, although I never told her, I almost decided against it. But for the Foundation to succeed, it was necessary for Wanda and Stettin to go to Star's End. Psychohistory decreed it, so perhaps it wasn't really my decision, after all. I still come here every day, to my office in the Psychohistory Building. I remember when this structure was filled with people, day and night. Sometimes I feel as if it's filled with voices, those of my long-departed family, students, colleagues-but the offices are empty and silent. The hallways echo with the whirr of my wheelchair motor. I suppose I should vacate the building, return it to the University to allocate to another department. But somehow it's hard to let go of this place. There are so many memories†¦ All I have now is this, my Prime Radiant. This is the means by which psychohistory can be computed, through which every equation in my Plan may be analyzed, all here in this amazing, small black cube. As I sit here, this deceptively simple-looking tool in the palm of my hand, I wish I could show it to R. Daneel Olivaw†¦ But I am alone, and need only to close a contact for the office lights to dim. As I settle back in my wheelchair, the Prime Radiant activates, its equations spreading around me in three-dimensional splendor. To the untrained eye, this multicolored swirl would be merely a jumble of shapes and numbers, but for me-and Yugo, Wanda, Gaal-this is psychohistory, come to life. What I see before me, around me, is the future of humanity. Thirty thousand years of potential chaos, compressed into a single millennium†¦ That patch, glowing more strongly day by day, is the Terminus equation. And there-skewed beyond repair-are the Trantor figures. But I can see†¦ yes, softly beaming, a steady light of hope†¦ Star's End! This-this-was my life's work. My past-humanity's future. Foundation. So beautiful, so alive. And nothing can†¦ Dors! SELDON, HARI-†¦ found dead, slumped over his desk in his office at Streeling University in 12,069 G.E. (1 F.E.). Apparently Seldon had been working up to his last moments on psychohistorical equations; his activated Prime Radiant was discovered clutched in his hand†¦ According to Seldon's instructions, the instrument was shipped to his colleague Gaal Dornick who had recently emigrated to Terminus†¦ Seldon's body was jettisoned into space, also in accordance with instructions he'd left. The official memorial service on Trantor was simple, though well attended. It is worth noting that Seldon's old friend former First Minister Eto Demerzel attended the event. Demerzel had not been seen since his mysterious disappearance immediately following the Joranumite Conspiracy during the reign of Emperor Cleon I. Attempts by the Commission of Public Safety to locate Demerzel in the days following the Seldon memorial proved to be unsuccessful†¦ Wanda Seldon, Hari Seldon's granddaughter, did not attend the ceremony. It was rumored that she was grief-stricken and had refused all public appearances. To this day, her whereabouts from then on remain unknown†¦ It has been said that Hari Seldon left this life as he lived it, for he died with the future he created unfolding all around him†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica [1] All quotations from the Encyclopedia Galactica here reproduced are taken from the 116th Edition, published 1,020 F.E. by the Encyclopedia Galactica Publishing Co., Terminus, with permission of the publishers.