American Fashion Industry in 21st Century - 1555 Words

American Fashion in 21st Century ‘Fashion’ is the need to adapt to ever changing styles; to dress in distinctive and current trends and a means for one to express their individuality. Fashion refers to keeping every aspect of one’s body up-to-date for varying reasons. Some people prefer a simple life style with modest attire whereas most passionately follow the fashion industry and rapidly change accordingly. This increase in demand for individually tailored items including everything from clothing and footwear to makeup and body piercings is what gave birth to the fashion industry. The roots of this business can be traced to America in the nineteenth century where it grew rapidly and spread across the globe to become the highly†¦show more content†¦What is more, this completion extends to designers as well since they strive to differentiate their products introduce innovative styles which can result in an inefficient use of resources and illegal busines s practices. This need for cost minimization is one of the reasons as to why the fashion industry exploits cheap foreign labor. The glamor, the runways and the exhibitions are just the front of a dark background. This industry works on the basis of subcontracting, where designers place orders with manufacturers who then hire sub-contractor to complete their orders. Since this industry is highly competitive subcontractor are given only take or leave option with often less payment compared to amount of work which forces them to resort to employing cheap labor in their own workshops which often end up resembling sweat shops. Even if this is not the case, designer brands have their own units to produce their goods. Recently many of the fashion retailers have been accused of underpaying their workers and violating international labor laws by running sweatshop. These involve extremely low wages, long working hours and poor working conditions. Earlier this month, factories in Cambodia were investigated for possible violation labor laws. These factories produced clothing for the fast fashion retailer Hamp;M which was found to be paying their workers a measly wage of $61 a month by a Swedish TV program called ‘Kalla Fakta’(Keilla 1). Since America is powerfulShow MoreRelatedThe Institute Of Museum And Library Services1490 Words   |  6 Pagesestablishing a museum and library in today’s 21s century of technology and digital resources would be the new â€Å"REIMAGE†. The research and evaluation of this program targets each state museum and library needs and what they have to offer to the community. The museum of my choice would be to create an Interactive Gallery Fashion Institute. There is a need of more youth fashion cultural awareness museums in Florida. The culture and selection of fashion defines who we are and how we behave as people.Read More The Modernization of America Essay733 Words   |  3 Pagesand the refrigerator were produced in the early 20th century. These are all very important steps in laying the foundation for the modernization of America, but I would argue that the first truly modern period in American history would have to be the 1920s. The 1920s brought a capitalistic population who, as a nation, leaned toward isolationism. In two main fields, the 1920s modernized American society to reflect the America of the 21st century more than any era before it. These fields are mediaRead MoreRevival Of The Fashion Industry1247 Words   |  5 Pages Term Paper still in Work: Revival of the Fashion Industry in Paris (1945-1960) The French fashion industry and French Haute Couture survived the postwar era. Using high fashion for the reconstruction of the French national image with billions of francs in state financial assistance is due to the intertwined identity with â€Å"Frenchness† and fashion. The French tradition of fashion influence is centuries old buoyed with royal patronage origins. This established the prestige and authority as the world’sRead MoreSupply Map Chain Essay847 Words   |  4 Pagesmix helps the fashion designer to control the target market. The distributor of the finished garment later determines how the product would distribute throughout the department and discount stores. The target market will help the designer to assess the success of the garment. The selection of the garments plays a volatile role in the supply chain because without the right garment/raw materials the finished product may not result to the vision of the designer. â€Å"The fashion industry is cha racterizedRead MoreAnalysis of the Fashion Industry1301 Words   |  6 PagesFashion is one of the world’s most important creative industries. It has provided economic thought with a canonical example in theorizing about consumption and conformity. Social thinkers have long treated fashion as a window upon social class and social change. Cultural theorists have focused on fashion to reflect on symbolic meaning and social ideals. Fashion has also been seen to embody representative characteristics of modernity, and even of culture itself. Everyone wears clothing and inevitablyRead MoreThe Components Of Media Outlet1341 Words   |  6 PagesMedia Outlet Story Milagrosa Bilogo Ndong American Intercontinental University MKTG340 Unit 3 Individual Project 08/06/2016 Abstract This document will present a media outlet story. The components of media outlet will be dissected and discussed in detail. Media Outlet Story Introduction This document will present a media outlet story. The components of media outlet will be dissected and discussed in detail. Specifically discussed will be the following: overview of haute coutureRead MoreBeauty : Self Harm For Men And Women1401 Words   |  6 Pagessignificance in today’s culture. Americans idolize beauty because, over the decades, men and women have learned to use their appearance for personal advantage. As a result, the pursuit for a perfect face and a body to match has created a 160-billion-dollar global industry (Patzer 112). The extreme emphasis placed on one’s physical appearance has caused eating disorders, self-esteem issues, and a plastic surgery craze in America. Eating disorders are the most common â€Å"fashion accessory† in today’s modernRead MoreHollywood Movies And Fashion Essay1405 Words   |  6 Pagesthe capacity to make not just a star of its leading women, but a fashion icon too. From Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly to Julia Roberts and Keira Knightley, via Mia Farrow and Catherine Deneuve, some of Hollywood s most successful stars owe a lot to their on-screen style. Moreover, during the 21st century, movies have been a powerful media in which to influence people’s style.   Movies gave society a great way to see vintage fashion, including how to wear period accessories that accompany the clothingRead MoreHow The Silver Screen Affects Women s Fashion Trends?1495 Words   |  6 PagesHow the Silver Screen Affects Women’s Fashion Trends? Today/Throughout History? Silver screen has the capacity to make not just a star of its leading women, but a fashion icon too. From Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly to Julia Roberts and Keira Knightley, via Mia Farrow and Catherine Deneuve, some of Hollywood s most successful stars owe a lot to their on-screen style. Moreover, during the 21st century, movies have been a powerful media in which to influence people’s style.   MoviesRead MoreBig Breakthroughs Happen When What Is Still1201 Words   |  5 Pagesworld was ready to put aside their war tendencies and focus on economic stability. The launch of Netscape so close to the dot com boom meant that the world was suddenly a very small place and people could communicate with each other in a much simpler fashion. The workflow software ensured that there were standardised protocols for computers to communicate within themselves without human intervention. The importance of the third flattener cannot be emphasised enough. The next three flatt eners that Friedman

Analysis Of Nelson Mandela s The Politics Of Parenting

On June 3rd, 1995, Nelson Mandela gave a speech during which he made a statement on the importance of children in a society. As he looked out over a community rallied together over the prospects of a new school, he stated, â€Å"Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth who care for and protect our people.† The influential leader does a great job of stressing the importance of the next generation’s influence, something that can also be seen as parents from all walks of life unendingly debate which method of parenting is the â€Å"correct† way to raise their kids. In her article, â€Å"The Politics of Parenting,† Kelly Mayhew†¦show more content†¦These traits include: physical strength, competitiveness, toughness, and a tendency to solve problems using violence (Thompson 719). The adults in Berk embody these traits heavily with their representation in the film, including both their constant need to fight the dragons and the notion that one has proven him/herself to be a functioning member of society once he/she too has killed a dragon. Under this lens, the children form a stark contrast to their parentage with their noticeably differing physical characteristics. Their body shapes differ from one another and the rest of the town with one similarity among the younger group becoming far more apparent: a lack of muscle definition. None of the children seen by the audience can compare to the adults – they all have thinner, more slender legs and lack the defined shoulders of their elders even when adorning shoulder pads (How). These representations would help to place the children under the definition of â€Å"nurturant masculinity† which Thompson states has a focus on accepting vulnerability and other emotion as well as learning to be more gentle and cooperative while utilizing non-violent m eans of conflict resolution (Thompson 721). The children’s appearances show their deviation from this need for physical violence with their less obviously strong statures and a more diversified set of appearancesShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesand permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to 201-236-3290. Many of the designations by manufacturersRead MoreLeading Function of Management15642 Words   |  63 Pagesplanning, organizing, actuating and controllin g†. According to Henry Fayol, â€Å"To manage is to forecast and plan, to organize, to command, to control†. Whereas Luther Gullick has given a keyword ’POSDCORB’ where P stands for Planning, O for Organizing, S for Staffing, D for Directing, Co for Co-ordination, R for reporting B for Budgeting. But the most widely accepted are functions of management given by KOONTZ and O’DONNEL i.e. Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing and Controlling. For theoreticalRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesHistory and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed:Read MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesmain issues inï ¬â€šuencing the competitive position of a number of organisations in the same industry with a relatively short case. For a case that permits a more comprehensive industry analysis The Pharmaceutical Industry could be used. However, if the purpose is more focused – illustrating the use of ‘ï ¬ ve forces’ analysis – the TUI case study or Illustration 2.3 on The Steel Industry could be used. Some cases are written entirely from published sources but most have been prepared in cooperation with

International Taxation and Tax Rulings †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the International Taxation and Tax Rulings. Answer: Introduction: The purpose of residential status of Marty and Planks Pty is alarmed in the following case study. Shaping the residential status of an individual is based on Resides Test, which is the principle test as per Australian taxation. It is depicted in the case study that a new platform for web designs have ben developed throughout the world by Matry despite of the fact that he is a citizen of Australia. An individual needs to satisfy the 183 days test and domicile test if he has to be reflected as citizen of Australia for if he is residing in Australia (Harris 2013). It is necessary to conduct the test below for determining the residential stated of Marty as depicted from the case study. According to this particular test, an individual is said to have constructive residence in Australia, if he or she is actually present in Australia for more than half the income year. This is regarded if an individual has no intention of taking up residence in Australia and the fact can be established that the actual place of abode is outside Australia (Long et al. 2016). Some of the assumptions regarding this can be stated below: Matry spend only four weeks with his family during Christmas during the financial year 2013-2014. Since the period of his stay in Australia was not for long time, it was only for few weeks. Therefore, for the period of 2013 to 2014, Matry cannot be considered as Australian citizen. It is clearly depicted from the case study that Matry did not reside in Australia for the financial period 2012 to 2013. Hence, for that particular period, he cannot be regarded as resident of Australia. During the year 2015 to 2016, Marty returned to Australia and the purpose of returning to the country was getting married to his love of life and start his new family. In this regard, the criteria of 183 days test is being fulfilled by Marty for the year 2015 to 2016. Therefore, Marty would be considered as Australian resident for that particular period. The objective of Marty returning back to Australia for the financial period 2014 to 2015 was to spend quality time with his girlfriend and his duration of staying in Australia was for the time period of eight months that is from 1st September to 1st The duration of stay of Marty is for more than six months that is the period of stay is more than 183 days (Parker 2014). Therefore, Marty stay during that particular time period will treat him as resident of Australia and he is subjected to assessment of tax on the amount of income earned by him. From the above analysis and discussion, Marty would be considered as Australian resident for the time of more than six months that is during to stay around 2015 to 2015, as indicated by 183 days test. Unless, an individual is recognized that his permanent place of residing is outside Australia and he does not deliberately takes up his residency in Australia. In the financial year 2015 to 2016, Marty returned back permanently to Australia for marrying love of his life. Hence, from the case study it is clearly depicted that deliberation of living permanently in Australia has been expressed by Marty upon his coming back to Australia. Domicile Test: An individual having permanent home that is domicile in Australia is considered to be resident of Australia. This is considered when it is satisfied by conducting the test that the permanent place of that individual is not inside Australia. The significance of the test is that an individual having permanent place to live in Australia is regarded as resident of Australia. An individual ceases to be resident of Australia for the assessment of income tax during her or his stay overseas or outside resident country if he leaves Australia for temporarily for working overseas under the rulings of taxation of IT 2650 (Oestreicher and Hammer 2015). Following rulings are provided in the summary of Domicile and they are as follows: Creation or establishment of home outside the geographical territory of Australia. Deliberation and unusual length of stay outside Australia or overseas nation. Endurance of presence outside Australia and length of stay involved. Coming back to Australia after some point of time while having some particular intention. Marty has been involved in web designs development in Australia and all over the world. In spite of this fact, he is able to maintain his position of being an Australian resident and it can be easily witnessed from the case study provided. Marty continue to stay outside Australia and worked overseas for period of two years and the time duration ranged from 2012-2013 to 2014-2015. Moreover, as Marty intends to come back to live permanent in Australia with the objective of marrying his girlfriend and settling with his wife as indicated by domicile test (Robin Barkoczy 2016). For the purpose of calculation of tax and assessment of his income for taxation, Marty is regarded as Australian resident since his becoming back to Australia to live permanently. Summary of residential status of Marty Period of taxation 183 days test Domicile test Residential status 2012-13 An individual is not residing in Australia In Australia, an individual does not have permanent place of residence Non-Resident 2013/14 After the time period of Four weeks, he returned back to Australia Marty does not have an everlasting place of residence in Australia Non-Resident 1st September 2014 to 1st April 2015 Since he existed in Australia for more than 183 days or seven months is regarded as an occupant of Australia. Has a temporary place of residence outside Australia Resident 2015/2016 A everlasting resident of Australia. Proposed to live in Australia permanently. Resident In order for trusts and corporate limited companies to be regarded as Australian resident, they should meet diverse conditions. It is evident from the case study that incorporation of Planks Pty Ltd was done in United States and it was located in Silicon Valley and is a tech business. It can be ascertained that Marty being the sole director of Planks Pty Limited did not return to Australia for the period of 2012-2013. This has been analyzed for determination of residential status of organization. Hence, for that particular period, Planks Pty will not be regarded as Australian resident. Martys period of stay in Australia was relatively shorter as per residential test and the decisions in regard to company was not done within Australia. For the financial period, 2014-2015, during the period when Marty was staying in Australia and all managerial decisions were being taken from there. Therefore, for this particular period, Plank Pty is regarded as resident company of Australia for calculation of tax. If an organization carries business in Australia but the incorporation is not done in Australia, then under the taxation 2004/15W ruling, it will be regarded as resident of Australia. There are five shareholders of the company and one of the shareholders resided in Australia for the time from 1st September to 1st April and has the voting rights being the Australian resident. Therefore, in this regard, Plank Pty limited would be regarded as Australian resident. Computation of Taxation for the year 2012/13 In the Books of Marty Particulars Amount Base Income 100000 Tax on Income 33400 Medicare Levy 0 Total tax Payable 33400 Computation of Taxation for the year 2013/14 In the Books of Marty Particulars Amount Base Income 20000 Tax on Income 72000 Medicare Levy 0 Total tax Payable 72000 Computation of Taxation for the year 2014/15 In the Books of Marty Particulars Amount Base Income 400000 Tax on Income 153921 Medicare Levy 8000 Total tax Payable 161921 Computation of Taxation for the year 2015/16 In the Books of Marty Particulars Amount Base Income 100000 Tax on Income 24947 Medicare Levy 2000 Total tax Payable 26947 Computation of Taxation for the year 2013/14 In the Books of Marty Particulars Amount Base Income 1000000 Tax on Income (30%) 300000 Medicare Levy 0 Total tax Payable 300000 Computation of Taxation for the year 2014/15 In the Books of Marty Particulars Amount Base Income 2500000 Tax on Income (30%) 750000 Medicare Levy 0 Total tax Payable 750000 Computation of Capital gains tax: Computation of CGT of Rommy for the year 2015 Particulars Amount ($) Amount ($) Sales Price of the property 1500000 Less: Cost of sales 0 Adjusted selling price 1500000 Purchase Price 500000 Add: Cost of purchase and Ownership 0 Adjusted purchase price of asset 500000 Capital gains / (loss) 1000000 CGT under old Regime Indexed capital gains / (loss) 1000000 Tax payable under old regime (marginal tax rate * Indexation factor * capital gains) 472865 Capital gain tax assessments: The difference between the sale of asset on its disposal and consideration concerning purchase represents the capital gains or loss. If the difference is positive, it will be regarded is capital gain and negative difference will be regarded as capital loss. The component of income tax includes capital gain and it is not considered separately. Land was purchased by Rommy for $ 500000 in year 2000 and the income generated from sale of land stood at $ 1500000. Capital gain was generated from sales of such assets. Unless the assets are specifically excluded, they would be subjected to capital gains tax if they are acquired after 20th September 1985, as per Australian taxation office (MacKenzie 2014). Income that is generated from carrying out business activities is regarded as assessable income. Things that can be implicated for capital gain and income tax assessment involves using of property for carrying out business, property for investment and renovation of building done for profit (Taylor and McNamara 2014). From the scenario presented in the case, selling of wine has been the business started by Rommy in the form of weekend hobby by way of small quantity grapes framing. While receiving assistance from honesty box, 20 boxes was sold in local market and outside the property, he sold 20 box. Understanding the deviation between the business for tax and other purpose and hobby is considered to be of crucial importance. The business activities of Rommy is attracted with taxation as it involves wine selling made of grapes. The proceeds generated from carrying out ordinary business course and gross amount of earning are required for computation of assessable income tax. Hence, for computation of Rommys assessable income, income derived from wine creation and framing of grapes would be included. Gain generated from selling of assets comprised of capital gain tax. Based on situation, generation of profit from land that is sub divided would either be regarded as ordinary income or capital gain. Profits attributable from selling of land that has been divided by an individual are entitled to capital gain tax. The newly created block of land is subjected to capital gain. The profits generated from selling of subdivided land by Rommy will be held as ordinary income and subject to assessment. For computation of assessable income, selling of divided land would generate income and will be treated as capital gain (Miller and Oats 2016). Reference and Bibliography: Barkoczy, S., 2017. Foundations of Taxation Law 2017.OUP Catalogue. Harris, P., 2013.Corporate tax law: Structure, policy and practice. Cambridge University Press. Krever, R.E., 2014.Australian Taxation Law Cases 2014: A Guide to the Leading Cases for Commerce and Law Students. Lang, M., 2014.Introduction to the law of double taxation conventions. Linde Verlag GmbH. Long, B., Campbell, J. and Kelshaw, C., 2016. The justice lens on taxation policy in Australia.St Mark's Review, (235), p.94. MacKenzie, N., 2014. ACCTG 503 Federal Taxation of Individuals, Sections 1 and 2. Main, J., 2015. Taxation: Dangerous trusts and hidden tax stings.LSJ: Law Society of NSW Journal,2(11), p.93. Miller, A. and Oats, L., 2016.Principles of international taxation. Bloomsbury Publishing. Mohammed, S.O., 2013. Law of Taxation II. Oestreicher, A. and Hammer, M., 2015.Taxation of income from domestic and cross-border collective investment. Springer. Parker, R.H., 2014. Some international aspects of accounting.International Accounting and Transnational Decisions,9. Robin Barkoczy Woellner (Stephen Murphy, Shirley Et Al), 2016.Australian Taxation Law 2016. Oxford University Press. Saad, N., 2014. Tax knowledge, tax complexity and tax compliance: Taxpayers view.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,109, pp.1069-1075. Svoboda, V., 2016. Libertarianism, slavery and just taxation.Humanomics,32(1), pp.69-79. Taylor, D. and McNamara, N., 2014. The Australian consumer law after the first three years-is it a success?.Curtin Law and Taxation Review,1(1), pp.96-132. Vella, J., Van de Velde, E. and Luja, R., 2016. International taxation and tax rulings: policy issues at challenging times. Zelinsky, E.A., 2015. Hillenmeyer, Convenience of the Employer, and the Taxation of Nonresidents' Incomes.Clev. St. L. Rev.,64, p.303.

The Razors Edge Review Essay Example

The Razors Edge Review Paper Essay on The Razors Edge To be honest, I always prepare myself for the holidays vinaigrette. Well, I really like it when a lot of things are mixed tasty, and everything it has and Mego helpful. And it is with this dish I associate a razor blade. Philosophical treatise, psychological parable, adventure novel, fantastic fiction and simple age-old Soviet novel quite elegantly had intercourse under one cover. I have this book advised a friend with great taste, but anyway I issue from all sides, what it would be like It could not be determined. Even scrolling through several pages and examining the content was at a loss. Because the reading came to stir interest. Somewhere in the network I met the view that such a deep richness of the genre is not the lot of different directions of the author, but simply an attempt to bring some sense of beauty and truth to all. What is not particularly welcome in the sixties and whether it is set out in a different form simply had not had a chance of success. Whether conceived Efremov, il happened accidentally but because of this form of the novel read it even hard conservatives who were afraid to open your body to the new truths. Not for nothing that more and more people are now looking for something new, hit in NyuEydzh or vice versa totally immerse themselves in the past, which is essentially the same thing. And this novel a good kick in the new life. Approved in me an opinion a work of uncle conductive parallels between Yoga and the Stanislavsky system. It turns out the great playwright was not an innovator, but just could perfectly adapted to the Soviet society of ancient values. In short supporters th ey of Ephraim were. We will write a custom essay sample on The Razors Edge Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Razors Edge Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Razors Edge Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A wonderful book, soul raduyu beautiful scenery, the brain is fascinating simple truth, well, the body just can not break away from reading. And if vinaigrette I cook purely the holidays, the holidays just come in reading such literature.

Crime Among the Immigrant Teenage Population essays

Crime Among the Immigrant Teenage Population essays The criminal population of immigrants and illegal aliens is on the rise. Not only has crime escalated within the years, but the number of immigrants in itself has gone through the roof. Most of the immigrants in our country today are illegal aliens. From the time you woke this morning to the time you go to sleep tonight, 10,000 illegal aliens will have flooded into the United States from and through Mexico. Tomorrow, the same will happen. In the past 7 years, the estimated number of illegal aliens residing in the U.S. has grown from 5 million to between 9 and 11 million. There are currently as many as 115,000 illegal immigrants from Middle Eastern countries living in the United States. In addition, there are over 400,000 illegal immigrants who continue to live in the U.S. despite having received orders from judges to be deported. Largely unknown to most Americans is the large percentage of the nation's incarcerated criminal population representing the failure of those agencies responsible to protect this nation against the dangers posed by illegal aliens. (American Policy Center). A majority of teenage crime among immigrants is due to the alarming increase of poverty, lack of education, no sense of identity, and the fact that most of them are not in school and do not have jobs. An excessive amount of immigrant families are currently living in poverty and are poorly educated, if educated at all. Poverty is a situation in which a person's family income falls at or less than the official federal poverty threshold. In defense of the recent immigrants, they are not completely at fault for their poverty because of the changes within the economy. It is important to keep in mind that the challenges of the new economy have hit immigrants especially hard because of their comparatively low educational attainments and maternal labor force participation. Poverty increased among children of immig...

Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation and Example

Henderson You can calculate the pH of a buffer solution or the concentration of the acid and base using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Heres a look at the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation and a worked example that explains how to apply the equation. Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates pH, pKa, and molar concentration (concentration in units of moles per liter): pH pKa log ([A-]/[HA]) [A-] molar concentration of a conjugate base [HA] molar concentration of an undissociated weak acid (M) The equation can be rewritten to solve for pOH: pOH pKb log ([HB]/[ B ]) [HB] molar concentration of the conjugate base (M) [ B ] molar concentration of a weak base (M) Example Problem Applying the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation Calculate the pH of a buffer solution made from 0.20 M HC2H3O2 and 0.50 M C2H3O2- that has an acid dissociation constant for HC2H3O2 of 1.8 x 10-5. Solve this problem by plugging the values into the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation for a weak acid and its conjugate base. pH pKa log ([A-]/[HA]) pH pKa log ([C2H3O2-] / [HC2H3O2]) pH -log (1.8 x 10-5) log (0.50 M / 0.20 M) pH -log (1.8 x 10-5) log (2.5) pH 4.7 0.40 pH 5.1

Concert report(Faculty Recital - Charles Neidich, clarinet, and Jon Essay

Concert report(Faculty Recital - Charles Neidich, clarinet, and Jon Klibonoff, piano) - Essay Example The orchestra that performed his compositions was the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. The performers included Andrew Russo on the piano, James Ehnes on the violin and Edward Arron on the cello. The conductor of the orchestra was Joann Falletta. Paul Schoenfield, the composer of ‘Four Souvenirs’ includes a lot of sentimentality and emotion in his compositions and has a musically sophisticated style in the way he presents his compositions which are always filled with an infectious energy and innovative melody that is very attractive to his audiences. ‘Four Souvenirs’ by composer Schoenfield was for violin and piano and was recorded on January 8th 2007 with James Abbott as the engineer. The duration of the piece was 11:11 and it was recorded at the Setnor Hall, Syracuse, NY. Schoenfield creates captivating interest in his composition through an interplay between high and low sounds and forms of the nuances. The composer manages to maintain a good balance between popular rhythms and forms with his own originality. The first movement opens with great dynamism and vigor and gradually moves into the second movement that is more sedate and laid back when compared to the first movement and is a bit repetitive in its presentation.

How might theories of economic power prove limited when exploring the Assignment

How might theories of economic power prove limited when exploring the relations between media forms and claims of cultural imperialism - Assignment Example Within the definition of imperialism, a deliberate act is visualized in which one country seeks to extend its power over one other or many other countries. The Roman Empire, the British Empire, and the German Third Reich are perhaps classic examples of imperial power, and it is from such systems that most models of economic power in which one nation asserts control over another have been built. But within the 21st Century world can a deliberate kind of cultural imperialism be identified? Within what might be termed as the hold-overs from the Twentieth Century system of Imperialism there clearly are deliberate attempts at cultural control through the power of the mass media. One example is the â€Å"Voice of America†. Started during the Cold War as an attempt to counter what was perceived as a propaganda machine being created by the USSR, the Voice of America was transmitted into eastern Europe, Cuba and whatever countries were deemed as needing the service. Financed and suppor ted by the US government, VOA claims to be â€Å"a trusted source of news and information† on its internet homepage. The move from pure radio transmissions to the internet shows how while the media may change, its basic nature does not. VOA seeks to present the American view of the world to the populations of countries that might not necessarily hear it otherwise. The move to the internet, with written news available in more than sixty languages, represents the growth of VOA into what is termed â€Å"the information age†.... Like road maps, models or theories of economic phenomena come in various degrees of detail - but all models describing the same set of phenomena are consistent with each other. No map or theory will be perfectly complete in every detail... So ask not, "Is the theory accurate" but rather "Is the theory good enough for our purposes" 2 So, to put it succinctly, are any theories of economic power "good enough" for the purposes of explaining the relationship between media forms and cultural imperialism. What degree of detail is needed in an economic map of media/cultural imperialism Can such complex and ambiguous a relationship be explained by the simplified model of reality that a theory implies This paper will analyze these questions in two parts. First, it will explore what the relationship between 'media forms" and 'cultural imperialism' is, and whether the latter actually exists. Second, an attempt will be made to place this relationship within present theories of economic power. Some initial definitions are in order. Media is defined as "a means of mass communication . . . the communications industry or profession."3 Culture is defined as "the behavior patterns, arts beliefs, institutions, and all other products or human thought at work; especially as expressed in a particular community of period."4 Imperialism is "the policy of extending a nation's authority by economic and political means over other nations."5 'Media' is then, at least superficially, quite easy to define. In the modern age media includes books, newspapers, films, TV programs and, perhaps, the Internet. Yet professional sports6 and education7When looking at the definitions of "culture" and "imperialism ", problems start. Within the definition of imperialism a deliberate act

Margin Call Essay Example for Free

Margin Call Essay J. C. Chandler’s 2011 film Margin Call examines the actions of an investment firm’s key decision makers during the earliest stages of the most recent financial crisis. Chandler does a good job with the characters of this movie he isn’t necessarily looking for a villain in a mess like this nor any lengthy explanations; he’s going deeper than that. He goes more for societal costs of high finance, the power of self-rationalization, and the easy embrace of personal corruption. The movie is filled with business lessons that go beyond the investment world. One theme of the film centers on business ethics and whether personal interest should trump customer/employee investment. Clearly, the decision made by John Tuld and senior management demonstrates that everybody is out for themselves. Personal investors are at the mercy of the individuals and the firms they invest with. The ease with which Tuld makes his decisions is scary to any business ethical viewer. With unqualified statements such as, â€Å"its just money† the audience begins to understand that the financial system can be an unfair game. In contrast Peter’s boss, Sam Rogers’ ethical implications of how the company plans to resolve its problems are almost more than he can handle. Sam stumbles upon the issue triggering the crisis, it’s one thing to be shocked at the ramifications of what’s about to unfold. But it doesn’t mean one’s outrage can’t be set aside when personal survival is on the line, an attitude that he quietly maintains but isn’t afraid to tap when the need arises. Moral ethics are thrown out the window in order to salvage a firm that has taken on too much risk in order to increase profits and inflate employee earnings. Management is willing to do whatever it takes to save themselves and protect their personal assets. This includes liquidating entire departments, and ruining the integrity of their own employee’s careers in the process. This film had several big ethical messages from it. In addition, there were many smaller points and messages the film showed. One in particular was the way that the employers used an employees entitlements as leverage to coerce them into doing what the enterprise requires. However, things such as stock options, pensions, bonus promises, and health care plans are simply paper assets. The promise that stands behind them can be broken and that paper is completely worthless at the order of those employers or in other words, blackmail. Ethics never loses its relevance. It must be told and retold as, too often, the mportant lessons that it imparts individuals and institutions unwillingly set aside. Ethical lapses can lead and have led to the irrevocable damage of a firm, its employees and clients. If there are any ethics in the business world, the company’s plan for survival is unethical. But in a world that lacks options, there is only winning and losing. Some of the characters struggle with the little emotional and psychological life they have left. But their choice basically comes down to money or no money. One thing that we must remember from this film is not just the ethical decisions made by the upper management but who is affected by these choices made by upper management. The most damaging fallout from all this is on those who didn’t see any of this coming, mostly the investors and the firm’s employees. Those who had the least involvement in all this mess are hurt the most in terms of financial losses. Even if it may seem like the employees’ participation was limited, they are nevertheless part of all of it, just by the inherent connectedness to the overall whole. Just because they weren’t the ones making the decisions doesn’t mean the decisions made by upper management won’t hurt them. This film is a reminder that business and moral ethics can easily be lost in the shuffle when billions of dollars and entire companies are at stake. Tuld is willing to kill the market to protect his interest, without concern for the company’s investors or even the strength of the global economy. When money is no longer an issue, you lose all concern for the individuals who do not hold the same viewpoint.

The Golden Girls Essay -- essays research papers

The Golden Girls   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I am going to be writing about the lifetime television show, â€Å" The Golden Girls†. There are many different episodes and I have probably seen them all, at least twice. I first started watching the show with my mom. My curfew when I was in high school was 11:00 or 11:30. While I was going into detail about the many things that had happened that night, â€Å"The Golden Girls† would be on. At first I did not enjoy them, but as I got to know the characters I was addicted.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, and most important there is Blanch Devereaux, played by Rue McClananan, born 1935, in Healdton, Oklahoma. She is the Southern Belle, and also, the homeowner. Blanch worries very much about her looks and how people think of her. She has the reputation of a â€Å"Slut†, but in a few episodes she claims that some (or most) of her sexual stories are more of a fantasy than actual life. Blanch never tells anyone her real age, she always wants people to think of her as young. For example, Blanch has her granddaughter come to stay with her for a week, and when they go to the dock she had her tell the sailors that Blanch is her sister. Blanch also works part-time in a museum.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, there is Rose Nylund, Played by Betty White. Betty White was born 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois; she is the oldest of all the girls (in real life). Personally, Rose is my favorite character. She always finds a way to make the audience, and her roommates laugh. There is something you need to understand about Rose; she comes from St. Olive, Minnesota. In the television show St. Olive is considered an idiot town. She always has a pointless story to tell about people from her hometown with weird names. Nobody ever pays any attention to Rose and they always seem to be annoyed by her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thirdly, there is Dorothy Zbornak, she is played by Beatrice Arthur, â€Å"Bea† was born 1923, in New York City. Dorothy is the intelligent one of the bunch; she is a substitute history teacher. She never has a date, and she is the one that seems to keep everyone on track. She has a very firm outlook on life, and tries to keep the â€Å"girls† in order. But even Dorothy screws up sometimes. When she first got married, years ago to another character, Dorothy’s ex-husband, Stan, she got pregnant. Her mother always harasses her... ..., including Best Comedy Series each year, winning ten Emmys, three Golden Globe Awards and many other prestigious honors. On top of a successful series and an exceptional cast, â€Å"The Golden Girls† attracted very talented and popular guest stars, including Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, Julio Iglesias, Debbie Reynolds, Brenda Vaccaro, Jack Gilford, and Burt Reynolds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"The Golden Girls† is a Witt-Thomas-Harris Production in associations with Touchstone Television, and was created by Susan Harris. Paul Witt, Tony Thomas, and Susan Harris served as executive producers. The show was distributed by Buena Vista Television, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As you can see, this television show is about four old ladies, and situation that arise in any home; jealousy, love, compassion, deceit, forgiveness, etc. But, most important friendship. I am not quite sure what audience the producers were trying to reach or attract, but I know that I love the show and I am only 18. So, in conclusion, I think .everyone should sit down and watch an episode of the Golden Girls, you never know, you might like it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Was the Iraqi Use of Military Force in the First Gulf War Justified?

Was the Iraqi use of military force in The First Gulf War justified? In the end of Cold War, a new problem for the international community emerged. In the summer 1990 Iraq launched an invasion of Kuwait. Since the establishment of the United Nations, the international law has played a significant role in relations between states and the survival of the fittest has no longer been a legitimate reason for aggression. Hence, as Iraq has been a UN member a since 1945, its government must have advocated its use of military force somehow. Thus Saddam Hussein took an advantage of ongoing disputes with his neighbour.The purpose of this essay is to prove that the economic frictions between Iraq and Kuwait could not serve as a justification for the Iraqi invasion. Firstly, this paper will examine financial quarrels between the two countries. Secondly, a dispute over price of oil will be discussed. Financial issues between Iraq and Kuwait have their roots in the Iraq-Iran war. The eight years of fighting have caused economic instability in Iraq. The local government was suddenly forced to deal with destroyed infrastructure, depleted oil reserves, and mainly, with the third largest debt in the world that accounted for $80billion (CIA, 2007).In short, local economy got in a dire situation and in order to keep the country going, Iraqi leaders needed to obtain extra money as soon as possible. As a result, Saddam Hussein urged Kuwait to write off the whole Iraqi debt and in addition, provide Baghdad with another $10billion. As Kuwait belonged to Iraq’s biggest creditors, the amount of Iraqi debt was definitely not negligible. In fact, Iraq owed Gulf States approximately $40billion at the time (Freedman & Karsh, 1993).Hussein decided to advocate his daring demand by claiming that without Iran-Iraq war, Gulf States would have been forced to pay larger sums in order to protect themselves from Iran and its Islamic revolution. Accordingly, in the Iraqi point of view, Baghdad deserved to be compensated for the war expenditures. Iraqi former foreign minister, Tariq Aziz, elaborated on this topic with pan-Arabic rhetoric. In his memorandum to the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Aziz argued that despite the division into states, all Arabs still remained one country and what belonged to one, belonged to all.Therefore, according to Aziz, financial support provided to Iraq by Gulf States should not have been regarded as debt, but as aid (Salinger & Laurent, 1991). However, since the establishment of the United Nations, the principle of the pan-Arabism has not been legitimate. On the basis of Article 2, paragraph 1 of the UN Charter, all states are sovereign. This means they have full authority over their own territory and cannot be forced into a decision they do not want to make. It seems logical that no country would voluntarily forget a huge debt and render another $10 billion for no service in return.For this reason, Kuwait considered the Iraqi far re aching demand as bullying (Mylroie, 1993; Salinger & Laurent, 1991; Bulloch & Morris, 1991). Moreover, there was possibility that if Kuwait had fulfilled the Iraqi request, more Iraqi demands for additional money would have followed (Mylroie, 1993; Karsh & Rautsi, 1991). Hence, Kuwaiti government refused to negotiate with Iraq for most of the time and ignored the Iraqi insistence. Nevertheless, when the situation got more escalated, delegates of both parties finally met at a congress in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Here, at last, Kuwait made a concession and offered Saddam Hussein and his cabinet a cancellation of Iraqi debt and a loan of $500million (Musallam, 1996). However, Saddam Hussein did not accept this offer and immediately the next day, on August 1st 1990, sent Iraqi troops on the Kuwaiti border. According to Baran and Rubin (1993), Kuwaiti government perceived the meeting in Jeddah as a starting point for bargaining and perhaps even further concessions. Iraq, on the other hand, c ame only to deliver an ultimatum. This essay will now examine this financial dispute between Iraq and Kuwait in terms of international law.As the law stands, a war must be fought for a just cause. Among other things, it mainly means that a war should be waged only as a last resort, when all possible peaceful options have failed (O’Brien, 1981). With application of this rule to the frictions discussed above, it is plausible to argue that Saddam Hussein and his government did not try to solve the dispute by all peaceful options. On the one hand, they were urging Kuwait to negotiate in the beginning. On the other, when Kuwait finally offered a concession, Iraqi government rebuffed it and immediately launched an invasion of Kuwait.Clearly, this time it was Hussein’s turn to make a concession to Kuwait. Even if afterwards the bilateral negotiations would have failed, there would have been still other peaceful ways how to solve the problem, such as for example good offices, conciliation, arbitration or judicial settlement. Meanwhile, none of these were employed. From this, one can see that Iraq should not have advocated its invasion to Kuwait with an argument that Kuwait ignored all his financial needs. As the Iraqi demand was very daring, Hussein should have tried much more to bargain and make a compromise.The second pressing economic problem was the oil price. Since Iraqi oil industry accounted for 95% of country’s foreign currency earnings (CIA, 2007), petroleum was very important for Saddam Hussein, especially in the post-war years. In order to raise extra revenues necessary for the reconstruction of the country, Iraqi government needed the oil price to grow as much as possible. However, a constraint in the Iraqi plan became once again Kuwait. The Gulf State was producing more oil than Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quotas allowed and this overproduction led to a slump of oil prices.Whereas in January 1990 a barrel of petroleum cost $20. 5, two months later it was only $18 (Freedman & Karsh, 1993). For this reason, Saddam Hussein was losing a prospect of future revenues. Consequently, Iraq demanded Kuwait to reduce its quotas in exporting oil so that the prices could grow again. This request was completely ignored from the Kuwaiti side. In fact, instead of abiding the oil limits to make more space for increased Iraqi production, Kuwait continued to far exceed them by $0. 6 million barrels a day (Salinger & Laurent, 1991).It was as if Kuwait kicked into the hornets’ nest. Iraqi foreign minister immediately declared that Kuwait was utterly and knowingly trying to bring Baghdad to its knees† (Salinger & Laurent, 1991, 37). On a meeting of Arab monarch in the spring 1990, Saddam Hussein even escalated the situation further by aggressively stating that â€Å"war doesn’t mean just tanks, artillery of ships. It can take subtler and more insidious forms, such as the overproduction of oil, economic damage and pressure to enslave a nation† (Salinger & Laurent, 1991: 31).In this way, he directly accused Kuwaiti leaders of waging a war against Iraq. Even though Kuwait never publicly acknowledged being in an economic war with Hussein’s regime, from a leaked letter between a Kuwaiti statesman and the Kuwaiti king, it became clear that a part of the Iraqi accusations was justifiable. The letter showed that Kuwait was, indeed, purposely taking an advantage of the dire economic situation in Iraq in order to put pressure on Hussein’s regime (Salinger & Laurent, 1991). But still, it was OPEC’s rules and OPEC quotas that Kuwait did not adhere to.Therefore, it was OPEC’s responsibility to deal with the problem, not Hussein’s. A lack of consensus among OPEC members about how to deal with the overproduction led to lengthy negotiations and no tangible result for a long time. At last, a few days before the invasion at an OPEC meeting, Kuwait finally agreed to abide the quotas. Nonetheless, it did not change the Iraq’s violent intention. This suggests that Hussein used his argument about the economic war only as a pretext for annexation of Kuwaiti territory.Furthermore, looking at these frictions around the oil price in terms of international law again, according to the Article 2, paragraph 3 of the UN Charter, all members must in their international relations refrain from the threat or use of force. However, there is one exception to this rule and that is self-defence. Saddam Hussein was probably well aware of the right of self-defence. Therefore, he tried to make himself look insecure and claimed that Kuwait was waging an economic war and that he was only protecting his country.Nevertheless, in the article 51 of UN Charter, it is clearly stated that a UN member has a right to self-defence â€Å"if an armed attacks occurs†. Armed is a very important word in the discussed case, because Kuwait did no t use army to intimidate Iraq and so Saddam Hussein could not justify his invasion in Kuwait with an argument of waging economic war as well. Based on the previous discussion, it can be concluded that Iraqi use of military force in The First Gulf War was not justified. In regard to the financial disputes and the issues of oil price, none of these can serve as an argument for invasion.In the first case, Saddam Hussein should have put in a more effort to make a compromise with Kuwait. In the second one, OPEC had a responsibility to solve the problem, not the Iraqi government. Moreover, as the international law stands, both Iraqi arguments were not legitimate. In general, Saddam Hussein only confirmed Aristotle’s idea, according to which tyrants are trying to make themselves look insecure but this is only because they want to obtain what is justly not theirs. Reference List: Aristotle. (1995) Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Baran, A &Rubin, B. (1993) Iraq’s Road to War. London: Macmillan Press Bulloch, J & Morris, H. (1991) Saddam War: The Origins of the Kuwaiti conflict and the International Response. London: Faber and Faber Central Intelligence Agency. (2007) Iraq Economic Data (1989-2003). Retrieved 16 August 2012 from: https://www. cia. gov/library/reports/general-reports-1/iraq_wmd_2004/chap2_annxD. html The Charter of United Nations. Retrieved 16 August 2012 from: http://www. un. org/en/documents/charter/ Freedman,L & Karsh, E. 1993) The Gulf Conflict. London: Faber and Faber Karsh, E & Rautsi, I. (1991) Why Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, Vol. 33 Issue 1, pages 18-30. Mussalam, M. (1996) The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. London: British Academic Press Mylroie, L. (1993) Why Saddam Hussein invaded Iraq. Orbis, Vol. 37 Issue 1. O‘Brien, W. (1981) The Conduct of Just and Limited War. New York: Praeger Salinger, P & Laurent, E. (1991) Secret Dossier: The Hidden Agenda behind the Gulf War. New Yor k: Penguin Books.

Breast Cancer Walk

The walk It was a cold raining Saturday in October. Driving by all you can see is pink. Pink everything; Pink hair, pink shoes, pink socks, pink on people’s faces, pink on dogs. Everywhere you look you saw pink. You have to get there early if you want a good parking space. We got there about 8:30 the event didn’t start until 9. When you first get there you don’t know what to expect. At first there was not a lot of people there, I don’t know if it was because we were early or if it was because of the rain. But once it started to slow down on the rain more and more people started to come.When you walk in you walk through the arch of pink and white balloons. You see all the sponsors’ tables all around. They are there to give you information and for you to also buy things that are related to the cause, all the money goes right back to the society. As we stand outside waiting for the actives to begin it’s started to rain. You see everyone running to get under the gazebo to try and stay dry. Everyone is crowned in this little area, when you’re in that small of a place you get to meet people and learn things about them.Everyone there is for one reason because someone important to them has battled this battle and has either survived or lost their life to it. After the rain stops, the event really begins to start. They start the music and everyone is dancing. They have their special dance group that comes every year and does a few dance numbers. The dictator of the cancer society asks for all the survivors to come up on stage so everyone can show their support to them. After a few stories and a few more dance number the walk begins. We make a tunnel for the survivors to walk through as they walk to the pink and white balloon arch.They are the first to walk through once the walk begins, because after all we are there for them. As we walk you see sign all over giving you information about the disease and what companies have helped with the event. They have police directing traffic, because there are so many people we all could not make it through without someone getting hit or cars not letting us through. It is so funny when you see all of the walkers walking it look like a sea of pink. The stories that were told were very touching from the survivors. I interviewed Shirley, (my grandmother) who has been cancer free for four years.And they story she told me makes me cry but yet grateful at the same time. She was told on her birthday that she had breast cancer. She told the doctor, â€Å"This is not the type of present I wanted for my birthday†. But I can remember her crying a lot and our family crying a lot because we were uneducated on the cancer and the risk. We tried to stay strong for my grandma and helped anyway possible. My aunts used to call my grandma smurf because of the kemo made her skin turn blue. I asked my grandma had did she feel when she first found out, she said that she was mor e surprised than anything.Seeing how strong my grandma was during this time and all the support she needed and had made me realized that not everyone has this type of support. The cancer society was started in the 1950s due to researchers trying to learn more about cancer and, to educate the public on the risks and the sign to look out for. They cancer society still to this day is doing more, and more research to find cures for all different types of cancer. The cancer society provides both support and information to those who want and need it. There are lots of businesses who sponsor this walk.Kim, from Stryker said that her company sponsors this walk every year. And she has had four people in her life that have battled and still are battling this disease. But recently her mom passed away due to it. My mom and I started this walk 4 years ago when my grandma was diagnosed with this cancer in June 2008. Dennis, (who is a first time walker) said that he didn’t really know what to expect he thought that it was just going to be a group of people walking. He didn’t expect there to be dancing or face painting for the kids.My mom and I knew what to expect we come every year, but it seems no matter how many years we have come it still is just as great as the first time. Beckie, (My mom) says the reason why she comes back year after year to show support for those who have no support at home. To show that there are still good caring people out in this world. That no matter what you do have people who support you. There are many ways people can help and get involved with the cancer society and the things that they stand for. People can go to the cancer society’s office which is off Milham road in portage.They can go online and do research on how to help in their community. People can volunteer to walk for the cancer society. People can volunteer to drive patients to and from appointments if they can’t get a ride. They can go keep someone compa ny for a few hours. They don’t want money spent on them they just want someone to be there to talk to them so they don’t feel alone. The cancer society does not just do breast cancer walks they have this walk called â€Å"relay for life†. That walk celebrates all type of cancer survivors and raises awareness and the different types of cancer that effect people.Crystal Perish, the dictator of the cancer society says â€Å"the goals and values of the cancer society are to raise awareness for all cancers. So show people that there is support out there for them. † Also â€Å"to show the value of life is important. † Even though my grandma has been cancer free for 4 years she still fights that fight right along with all the other cancer survivors. Did you know that you are not a cancer survivor until you have been cancer free for five years? I think that is crazy, if you have survived it for a few months or many years you are a survivor to me.Not many p eople get through the first few months. To see how hard it is on you and your family and how much it takes out of you, I believe you are a survivor no matter how long you are cancer free. I have more respect for the survivors and their families because I have seen the struggles and the hardship. Find them to be standing up there speaking and some being cancer free for six plus years that is amazing. It does my heart good to look around while they are talking and see all the people most strangers to the survivors but to show support for them is awesome.At the end of the walk you can hear people cheering you on because you finished the walk and you helped support in such a little way. You see everyone who started the walk at the end. They give thanks to everyone for joining for yet another successful walk this year. You can stay for snacks and drinks if you want. They have a live band every year at the end of the walk for those who want to stay and celebrate more. Over all it is a gre at experience that I think everyone would enjoy to go to.

REBUILDING IRAQ essays

REBUILDING IRAQ essays Since the acts of terror on 9/11, President George W. Bush has cracked down on suspicious behavior all around the world to prevent future terrorist attacks. After the tragic September morning, Americans and President Bush entered a war to rid the world of terrorism and anyone responsible for supporting terrorism. On September 11, 2001, America felt its vulnerability. It was a shock to most Americans that the United States homeland was attacked by a foreign entity. President George W. Bush spoke about the war on terrorism saying, We resolved then, and we are resolved today, to confront every threat from any source that could bring sudden terror and suffering to America. There is no distinction between terrorists who commit these acts of terror and those who harbor terrorists (qtd. in Brainyquote). When America attacked Iraq and Saddam Hussein, we attacked a nation that was supported terrorism and represented a gathering threat to the American people. America could no longer ignore the threat of Saddam Husseins Iraq; our negligence could have lead to more terrorist acts and ultimately come in the form of a mushroom cloud. On June 6, 1944, American troops embarked on a mission to free Europe from the clutches of Adolph Hitler, a dictator who terrorized his own people and conquered his neighbors. Today, our troops have embarked on a mission to free Iraq from the clutches of Saddam Hussein, a dictator who terrorizes his own people and has tried to conquer his neighbors. Americas military has shredded through Iraq freeing all Iraqis from the dictatorship of Saddam with the objective of creating a new democratic Iraq. As the war in Iraq continues and casualties mount, America has shifted its focus from combat to rebuilding Iraqs infrastructure. However, there is no obvious solution in the reconstruction of a tattered Iraq. Therefore, there are many challenges and issues that are relevant to achieving a ...

Using the Region Directive in VB.NET

Using the Region Directive in VB.NET When VB.NET 1.0 was introduced, one of the biggest changes was that all of Microsofts generated source code was included and available to you as a programmer in your project. The older Visual Basic versions created indecipherable p-code that you couldnt see and couldnt change. Even though the generated code was in your program, it was a bad idea to change any of it. If you didnt know what you were doing, chances were high youd break your project by changing Microsofts generated code. In VB.NET 1.0, all this generated code was only protected by being enclosed in a Region section of the program, where it was one click away from being viewable and changeable as part of your source code. Beginning with VB.NET 2005 (Framework 2.0), Microsoft put it in an entirely different file using partial classes,  but the Region directive is still available, and you can use it to organize your own code. This simple program shows how Region works: You could compile this into a DLL to protect it or use the partial class idea that Visual Studio uses or just make a separate class file, but the easiest way to keep it out of the way and still make it part of the same file is to use the Region directive. That makes the code look like this: Just surround the code you want to disappear with: For debugging purposes, you can use this as a way to bring parts of your code closer together so you can see them on the same screen: You cant use a Region or an End Region inside a function or subroutine. In other words, this example  below doesnt  work: Thats OK. Visual Studio collapses subroutines without a Region directive. You can nest Regions. In other words, this does work: If you borrow code from the internet, look for Regions in it before you add it to your code. Hackers have been known to embed bad stuff inside a Region to keep it from being noticed.

((((9))))) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

((((9))))) - Essay Example Interacting with the playdough empowers children to express themselves in creative and unique ways. This fact stood out since it is an important concept that strongly supports DAP classroom. Play gives children a sense of competency and gives them the inordinate opportunity to independently develop socially and emotional. This has changed my previous perception that the playdough is an irrelevant component of the kindergarten program and I started perceiving play as an important child’s â€Å"work†. As a teacher, observation of children’s interactions with the playdough should be observed to ensure that early learning standards are appropriately met. Similarly, I have to persuade parents about the value of resourceful play experiences in a classroom. A substantial concept that I perceive to be new is the importance of imaginative games. This information will make my classroom more interactive and make students more creative by allowing them to engage in activities such as dressing up and constructing cubby houses using blankets or boxes. Moreover, it will help children connect and enhance pathways in their brains making them more adaptive to the changing global education environment. However, time and financial resources will prove to be barriers since there is the stipulated curriculum to be followed and purchasing toys and other play materials is substantially costly. However, these constraints must be overcome by utilization of readily available time and

VIDEO QUESTIONS Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

VIDEO QUESTIONS - Movie Review Example This species of snake is not killed by the high level of toxicity in the newt’s skin so the newt has to evolve and increasing its own toxicity to finally be also able to kill the garter snake which has developed a unique resistance to its poison, unlike what a newt does with its other predators. 3. What is the trade-off for the snake in developing greater resistance to toxicity? - The snake is temporarily paralyzed or slowed down for a few minutes after eating a newt but does not die. The snake moves slower as a trade-off for developing a higher resistance but then becomes more vulnerable to its own set of predators because it cannot move fast enough to get away. 5. Why are antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria so prevalent in prisons? The drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis were of low quality and in inadequate amount or the regimen was not followed strictly so the TB microorganisms are not killed off entirely and started to evolve into new strains or variants or hybrids which were more resistant to antibiotics. 6. How can evolution domesticate a disease? – Misuse, overuse, and widespread use of antibiotics had effectively made many disease-causing microorganisms seen in the world today to become highly-resistant. But evolution can also domesticate a disease by making it less virulent by reducing its level of toxicity through some means, such as making its spread easier. 7. What does mutualistic symbiosis mean? Give an example. Mutualistic symbiosis means different species of animals or living organisms living together which benefit them both which is opposite to the usual evolutionary picture of constant competition or the so-called biological arms-race. A group (a type of fish) is cleaned by a tiny shrimp of its numerous parasites on its skin. 8. Describe the relation among allergies and asthma among children of farmers and non-farmer. – Children who lived on farms and in contact

Needle Exchange Program (Bad Idea) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Needle Exchange Program (Bad Idea) - Essay Example and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), as well as overdosing and having higher mortality rates.† (O’Neill, et al, p.3) Needle exchange program is a program which provides the drug users an opportunity to exchange their used needles with sterilized fresh needle for free or at a reduced price in order to prevent the spreading of diseases. In Canada like countries the used needle is not at all required It is a controversial subject because of the ethical issues involved in it. Everybody knows that drug usage is a social evil which needs to be removed from the society. Drug users create lot of problems in the society like violence, theft, rape and abuses and hence the authorities must find ways for removing it from the society. The article â€Å"Aids action, Policy facts† published in June 2001, argues that the needle exchange programs (NEPs) can prevent the transmission of HIV. (Aids action, Policy facts) Drug users often share the drugs and the needle in order to reduce the expenses. They will utilize the same needle for injecting many. If one of them in the group has HIV, the entire group members will get the HIV through the usage of the same needle. The article again explains the savings a country can make through the needle exchange programs (NEPs). It says; the mathematical models predict that NEPs prevent HIV infections among injecting drug users, their partners, and family members at a cost of approximately $9,400 per avoided HIV infection. Considering the lifetime cost of treating a person living with HIV/AIDS is approximately $200,000, this represents a 95.3 percent savings per life. (Aids action, Policy facts) The Guardian news paper dated December 12, 2008 says that â€Å"For every infe ction like HIV or hepatitis C that we prevent, we are saving the province $100,000 to $150,000. We think that it’s certainly worth investing in.† (The Guardian 18/12/08)  Ã‚   Nowadays everybody thinks about the business or profit part of a topic. Each and

Historical development of powder metallurgy

Historical development of powder metallurgy Introduction The powder metallurgy has long time history in human being development. As we know, Powder metallurgy is a forming and fabrication technique consisting of three major processing stages. The first stage is the formation of the primary material which is physically powdered, and then divided into many small individual particles. Next, the powder is injected into a mold or passed through a die to produce a weakly cohesive structure (via cold welding) which is very near the dimensions of the object ultimately to be manufactured. This method is very useful when we come across those products which need high accuracy dimension and tight tolerance in dimension. Two main techniques used to form and consolidate the powder are sintering and metal injection molding. However, recent developments have made it possible to use rapid manufacturing techniques which use the metal powder for the products. Because of this technique the powder is melted and not sintered. Thus, better mechanical strength can be accomplished. History The history of powder metallurgy and the art of metals and ceramics sintering are intimately related. Sintering involves the production of a hard solid metal or ceramic piece from a starting powder. There is evidence that iron powders were fused into hard objects as early as 1200 B.C. In these early manufacturing operations, iron was extracted by hand from metal sponge following reduction and was then reintroduced as a powder for final melting or sintering. Powder metallurgy has been called a lost art. Unlike clay and other ceramic materials, the art of molding and firing practical or decorative metallic objects was only occasionally applied during the early stages of recorded history. Sintering of metals was entirely forgotten during the succeeding centuries, only to be revived in Europe at the end of the 18th century, when various methods of platinum powder production were recorded. Metal powders such as gold, copper, and bronze, and many powdered oxides were used for decorative purposes in ceramics, as bases for paints and inks, and in cosmetics since the beginnings of recorded history. This was because most of the decorative apparatus like necklaces, ear rings at that time are mostly small in size especially for cosmetic purpose. Usually those iron oxide are use as pigment for the decorative equipment to make the looking more attractive and creative. Powdered gold was used to illustrate some of the earliest manuscripts. It is not known how these powders were produced, but it is possible that some of the powders were obtained by granulation after the metal was melted. Low melting points and resistance to oxidation (tarnishing) favored such procedures, especially in the case of gold powder. The use of this method for pigments and decorative purpose cannot truly consider as true powder metallurgy. This is because the true powder metallurgy is the production of powder and the consolidation of it into solid state using pressure or heat at the temperature below the melting point of the major constituent. However, early man learned by chance that particles of metal could be joined together by hammering, resulting in a solid metallic structure. In time, man learned how to build furnaces and develop temperatures high enough to melt and cast metals and to form lower melting alloys, such as copper and tin to make bronze. As the introduction of new material coming in, metal like platinum which brought by the conquistadores from South America, this metal could not be melted, but the early part of the 19th century workers in England, Spain, and Russia developed similar process for making wrought platinum. Another important product is tungsten wire filaments, which is pioneered in USA. Unlike the earlier products that were made from powder because the metal concerned could not readily or at all be processed by melting. This are made by powder metallurgy is because of the special properties that result. With this method, it can be arranged that a considerable volume of interconnected porosity remain. Besides, if the gas is extracted from the pores and the parts are immersed in lubricating oil, the pores are filled with oil. Such parts are used as bearing in most small rotating or reciprocating machinery which no further lubrication during the life of the equipment. After the First World War, another powder metallurgy product came out. In 1925, a German company F Krupp, was granted a patent for a process and product consisting of tungsten carbide particles held together by a cement consisting of metallic cobalt. This material is used originally in the form of wire drawing dies, for tungsten as a replacement for diamond dies. Since powder metallurgy come to human being technology, it bring a lot of consequence and change in metal industry. Advantages of Powder Metallurgy There are advantages and disadvantages in powder metallurgy. The advantages are main from technical and commercial aspects. The technical and commercial advantages of producing parts from powder can be summarized as below: production to near net shape. This means that the product can have very tight tolerance of dimension. The accuracy of the dimension of product can be reach higher degree using powder metallurgy. few or no secondary operations. Usually powder metallurgy didnt required secondary operation such as cutting. high material utilization from low levels of in process scrap For example, those scrap are being recycle used by crushing it into powder and reform new product using powder metallurgy. homogeneous powder, and hence part, chemical composition due to absence of gross solidification segregation and uniform pre-alloyed powder particle composition unique compositions and structures possible as there is no melting e.g. Introduction of specific particles to give special properties such as silica and graphite in brake pads, and porosity in bearings for oil retention non-equilibrium compositions possible e.g. Copper-chromium alloys metallurgical structures are usually fine and isotropic e.g. Carbide distribution in atomized high speed steel powder parts Disadvantage of Powder Metallurgy Inevitability there is some limitations including: costs of powder production. limitations on the shapes and features which can be generated e.g. The process cannot produce re-entrant angles by fixed die pressing or radial holes in vertically pressed cylinders the size will always change on sintering. This can usually be predicted as it depends on a number of factors including as-pressed density which can be controlled potential workforce health problems from atmospheric contamination of the workplace. Powder particles size can be very small up to micrometer measurement scale. So it is very hard to see using eyes and prevent it from taking inside of lungs.

Kurt Vonnegut :: essays research papers

Here is some info on Kurt Vonnegut. Kurt Vonnegut was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 11, 1922. After attending Cornell University from 1941-43 Vonnegut served in World War II and was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. As a prisoner of war, he survived the fire bombing of Dresden by Allied forces on 13 February, 1945 in an underground meat-storage cellar. When he emerged the next morning, Vonnegut was put to work pulling corpses from the ruins of the desolated city once known as "the Venice of the North." In one night the horrific fire-bombing of Dresden killed more people than the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined, more than 135,000 in all. Vonnegut's first-hand experiences of this, one of the darkest episodes in human history, would later provide the basis for his most influential work, Slaughterhouse Five (1969), though it would take him more than twenty years to come to terms with his wartime experiences and complete the novel. After returning from the war Vonnegut attended the University of Chicago as a graduate student in anthropology. In 1947 he moved to Schenectady, New York, where he began to work on his first novel, Player Piano (1952), as well as a number of remarkably varied stories that would appear throughout the next decade in such magazines as Collier's, Playboy, Esquire and Cosmopolitan. The story starts off with Kurt reminiscing about the pass and how he wrote this book. The main character is Billy. Billy is born in 1922 in Ileum, New York. He grows into a weak and awkward young man, studying briefly at the Ileum School of Optometry briefly before he is drafted. After minimal training, he sent to Europe right in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge. He is captured behind German lines. That is where this story mostly takes place then there’s his wife who he meets later her name is Valencia. I chose this book well honestly I didn’t know what to read and this is what Mr. S suggested so I thought it would be good, but it just isn’t my type of book. Billy is the main Character I already talked about him in last paragraph, so you can just look there for more info on him. Kurt Vonnegut: The novelist inserts himself in the sections of Chapters One and Ten that frame Billy Pilgrim's story.

Native Americans in the United States Essay

The Navajo’s land was very precious. They lived in a huge expanse of land. They lived in large chunks of Utah and Arizona. They also inhabited small parts of Colorado and New Mexico. They had a similar climate all year around. The climate was arid to semi-arid. They had very hot summers and very cold winters. The annual precipitation for most of their land was less than 10 inches of rain. The average temperature range was 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. They also had natural resources. They had coal, uranium, oil, natural gas, minerals, petroleum, agriculture, and herbs. ? LAKE NAVAJO ? FOOD: The Navajos had various amounts of food. They grew corn, beans, squash and melons. They hunted and ate Kaibab squirrels, black tailed jack rabbits, small pigs, peccary, horses, buffalo and sheep. They baked kneel down bread, Navajo cake, Navajo pancakes, blue â€Å"dumplings†, blue bread, hominy cookies, and squash blossoms stuffed with blue corn mush and pinon leaves. They also steamed and roasted corn. They harvested wild fruits and vegetables such as pinon nuts, corn silk, wild berries, wild onion, Navajo spinach (bee weed and pig weed), wolf â€Å"berry†, wax currant, sumac grapes, juniper oranges, yucca bananas, and Navajo tea (telesperma). They also traded for deer, squash seeds, tumble mustard seeds, pinto beans, goat, goat milk, and goat cheese. In special occasions they would have wild edible clay, wild potatoes, mimosa, sagebrush, and juniper ash. ? NAVAJO PANCAKES ? SHELTER: The Navajos had different homes than other native tribes. They lived in small clusters of families spread around. There’re 2 types of hogans (what they lived in), the winter type and the summer type. The winter hogan was more closed and padded for the cold but; the summer hogan was more open and less padded for the heat. They were both miserable and crude structures. The reason for them living in such poorly built homes was because they were nomads (so they could easily leave in a moments notice). They considered the outdoors as home. They used there â€Å"house† for storage, warmth and sleep. They said they wouldn’t get attached to their â€Å"homes† like white men (Americans). Hogans were round â€Å"houses† built with sticks, packed with earth and covered with brush, animal hides and whatever else they could find or was available. The front door always faced east to catch first light. They later built more advanced and bigger hogans made out of logs from pinon trees, and mud. ? NAVAJO HOGAN ? CLIMATE/ GEOGRAPHY INFLUENCE: The Navajo’s climate and geography affected them. Geography caused them not to have the same food or clothing in all parts of the Navajo land because some stuff didn’t grow everywhere and, the terrain made them wear different clothing according to altitude weather. Climate caused them not to have the same food, clothing or shelter all year around either. Some stuff could only be found a certain season. In the winter they had to wear more layers but, as for in the summer they would wear less, and like a said before (read shelter) there was a winter hogan and a summer hogan. ? CLASSIC TERRAIN ? LOCATION OF HOMES: ? NAVAJO’S CURRENT HOME ? NAVAJO’S ANCESTRAL HOME ? BIBLIOGRAPHY: Carey, Harold Jr. â€Å"Navajo People† Donald Snyder. (July 29, 2011) Outskirts Press. October 28, 2011 Donn, Andale. â€Å"Native Americans† Phillip Martin. (2007) October 27, 2011 Eck, Pam. â€Å"In Kido Indianans† Diane Dwenger. (April 22, 1998) October 28, 2011 Erdoes, Richard. â€Å"The Native Americans: Navajos† Sterling Pub. Co : New York; 1978: 15, 21, 12 James, Cullen. â€Å"Veterans Recall† Navajo Times; #24, October 29, 2011. 1,2 Kallen, Stuart A. â€Å" Native Americans of The Southwest† Lucent Books: San Diego; 2000: 12, 1, 11 Knysh, Brian. â€Å"Kid Port† Elizabeth Flynn. (1998) October 27, 2011 Lewis, Orrin, â€Å"Big Orrin† Laura Redish. (1998) October 27, 2011 Rossi, Ann. â€Å" Native Americans of The Southwest† Benchmark Education: Pelham; 2008: 16, 32, 10 Miller, Gay‘s 5th and 6th grade students. â€Å"Navajo. † Miller Gay. (October 23,2011) October 27, 20011 Yurth, Cindy. â€Å"Budding Filmmakers Debut† U. S. A Department of Defense; #3 October 29, 2011. 1,2 ? FUN FACTS: They Call them selves the â€Å"Dine† (the people) They drew petroglyphs Their reservation size is about 13 million acres (the largest in the U. S) They also have the largest membership size compared to other Native Americans membership’s size. (They allow up to 30 people from their extended family into the reservation. ) ? EXTRA: ? NAVAJO BOW & ARROW ? NAVAJO POTTERY ? NAVAJO PAINTING ? NAVAJO TOMAHAWK.

Foundation’s Edge CHAPTER FOURTEEN FORWARD!

FORWARD! Janov Pelorat looked out at the dim landscape in the graying dawn with an odd mixture of regret and uncertainty. â€Å"We aren't staying long enough, Golan. It seems a pleasant and interesting world. I would like to learn more about it.† Trevize looked up from the computer with a wry smile. â€Å"You don't think I would like to? We had three proper meals on the planet – totally different and each excellent. I'd like more. And the only women we saw, we saw briefly – and some of them looked quite enticing, for – well, for what I've got in mind.† Pelorat wrinkled his nose slightly. â€Å"Oh, my dear chap. Those cowbells they call shoes, and all wrapped around in clashing colors, and whatever do they do to their eyelashes. Did you notice their eyelashes?† â€Å"You might just as well believe I noticed everything, Janov. What you object to is superficial. They can easily be persuaded to wash their faces and, at the proper time, off come the shoes and the colors.† Pelorat said, â€Å"I'll take your word for that, Janov. However, I was thinking more of investigating the matter of Earth further. ‘What we've been told about Earth, thus far, is so unsatisfactory, so contradictory – radiation according to one person, robots according to another.† â€Å"Death in either case.† â€Å"True,† said Pelorat reluctantly, â€Å"but it may be that one is true and not the other, or that both are true to some extent, or that neither is true. Surely, Janov, when you hear tales that simply shroud matters in thickening mists of doubt, surely you must feel the itch to explore, to find out.† â€Å"I do,† said Golan. â€Å"By every dwarf star in the Galaxy, I do. The problem at hand, however, is Gaia. Once that is straightened out, we can go to Earth, or come back here to Sayshell for a more extended stay. But first, Gaia.† Pelorat nodded, â€Å"The problem at hand! If we accept what Quintesetz told us, death is waiting for us on Gaia. Ought we to be going?† Trevize said, â€Å"I ask myself that. Are you afraid?† Pelorat hesitated as though he were probing his own feelings. Then he said in a quite simple and matter-of-fact manner. â€Å"Yes. Terribly!† Trevize sat back in his chair and swiveled to face the other. He said, just as quietly and matter-of-factly, â€Å"Janov, there's no reason for you to chance this. Say the word and I'll let you off on Sayshell with your personal belongings and with half our credits. I'll pick you up when I return and it will be on to Sirius Sector, if you wish, and Earth, if that's where it is. If I don't return, the Foundation people on Sayshell will see to it that you get back to Terminus. No hard feelings if you stay behind, old friend.† Pelorat's eyes blinked rapidly and his lips pressed together for a few moments. Then he said, rather huskily, â€Å"Old friend? We've known each other what? A week or so? Isn't it strange that I'm going to refuse to leave the ship? I am afraid, but I want to remain with you.† Trevize moved his hands in a gesture of uncertainty. â€Å"But why? I honestly don't ask it of you.† â€Å"I'm not sure why, but I ask it of myself. It's†¦ it's Golan, I have faith in you. It seems to me you always know what you're doing. I wanted to go to Trantor where probably – as I now see nothing would have happened. You insisted on Gaia and Gaia must somehow be a raw nerve in the Galaxy. Things seem to happen in connection with it. And if that's not enough, Golan, I watched you force Quintesetz to give you the information about Gaia. That was such a skillful bluff. I was lost in admiration.† â€Å"You have faith in me, then.† Pelorat said, â€Å"Yes, I do.† Trevize put his hand on the other's upper arm and seemed, for a moment, to be searching for words. Finally he said, â€Å"Janov, will you forgive me in advance if my judgment is wrong, and if you in one way or another meet with – whatever unpleasant may be awaiting us?† Pelorat said, â€Å"Oh, my dear fellow, why do you ask? I make the decision freely for my reasons, not yours. And, please – let us leave quickly. I don't trust my cowardice not to seize me by the throat and shame me for the rest of my life.† â€Å"As you say, Janov,† said Trevize. â€Å"We'll leave at the earliest moment the computer will permit. This time, we'll be moving gravitically – straight up – as soon as we can be assured the atmosphere above is clear of other ships. And as the surrounding atmosphere grows less and less dense, we'll put on more and more speed. Well within the hour, we'll be in open space.† â€Å"Good,† Pelorat said and pinched the tip off a plastic coffee container. The opened orifice almost at once began steaming. Pelorat put the nipple to his mouth and sipped, allowing just enough air to enter his mouth to cool the coffee to a bearable temperature. Trevize grinned. â€Å"You've learned how to use those things beautifully. You're a space veteran, Janov.† Pelorat stared at the plastic container for a moment and said, â€Å"Now that we have ships that can adjust a gravitational field at will, surely we can use ordinary containers, can't we?† â€Å"Of course, but you're not going to get space people to give up their space-centered apparatus. How is a space rat going to put distance between himself and surface worms if he uses an openmouthed cup? See those rings on the walls and ceilings? Those have been traditional in spacecraft for twenty thousand years and more, but they're absolutely useless in a gravitic ship. Yet they're there and I'll bet the entire ship to a cup of coffee that your space rat will pretend he's being squashed into asphyxiation on takeoff and will then sway back and forth from those rings as though he's under zero – gray when its gee-one-normal-grav, that is – on both occasions.† â€Å"You're joking.† â€Å"Well, maybe a little, but there's always social inertia to everything – even technological advance. Those useless wall rings are there and the cups they supply us have nipples.† Pelorat nodded thoughtfully and continued to sip at his coffee. Finally he said, â€Å"And when do we take off?† Trevize laughed heartily and said, â€Å"Got you. I began talking about wall rings and you never noticed that we were taking off right at that time. We're a mile high right now.† â€Å"You don't mean it.† â€Å"Look out.† Pelorat did and then said, â€Å"But I never felt a thing.† â€Å"You're not supposed to.† â€Å"Aren't we breaking the regulations? Surely we ought to have followed a radio beacon in an upward spiral, as we did in a downward spiral on landing?† â€Å"No reason to, Janov. No one will stop us. No one at all.† â€Å"Coming down, you said†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"That was different. They weren't anxious to see us arrive, but they're ecstatic to see us go.† â€Å"Why do you say that, Golan? The only person who talked to us about Gaia was Quintesetz and he begged us not to go.† â€Å"Don't you believe it, Janov. That was for form. He made sure we'd go to Gaia. – Janov, you admired the way I bluffed the information out of Quintesetz. I'm sorry, but I don't deserve the admiration. If I had done nothing at all, he would have offered the information. If I had tried to plug my ears, he would have shouted it at me.† â€Å"Why do you say that, Golan? That's crazy.† â€Å"Paranoid? Yes, I know.† Trevize turned to the computer and extended his sense intently. He said, â€Å"We're not being stopped. No ships in interfering distance, no warning messages of any kind.† Again he swiveled in the direction of Pelorat. He said, â€Å"Tell me, Janov, how did you find out about Gaia? You knew about Gaia while we were still on Terminus. You knew it was in the Sayshell Sector. You knew the name was, somehow, a form of Earth. Where did you hear all this?† Pelorat seemed to stiffen. He said, â€Å"If I were back in my office on Terminus, I might consult my files. I have not brought everything with me – certainly not the dates on which I first encountered this piece of data or that.† â€Å"Well, think about it,† said Trevize grimly. â€Å"Consider that the Sayshellians themselves are close-mouthed about the matter. They are so reluctant to talk about Gaia as it really is that they actually encourage a superstition that has the common people of the sector believing that no such planet exists in ordinary space. In fact, I can tell you something else. Watch this!† Trevize swung to the computer, his fingers sweeping across the direction hand-rests with the ease and grace of long practice. When he placed his hands on the manuals, he welcomed their warm touch and enclosure. He felt, as always, a bit of his will oozing outward. He said, â€Å"This is the computer's Galactic map, as it existed within its memory banks before we landed on Sayshell. I am going to show you that portion of the map that represents the night sky of Sayshell as we saw it this past night.† The room darkened and a representation of a night sky sprang out onto the screen. Pelorat said in a low voice, â€Å"As beautiful as we saw it on Sayshell.† â€Å"More beautiful,† said Trevize, impatiently. â€Å"There is no atmospheric interference of any kind, no clouds, no absorption at the horizon. But wait, let me make an adjustment† The view shifted steadily, giving the two the uncomfortable impression that it was they who were moving. Pelorat instinctively took hold of the arms of his chair to steady himself. â€Å"There!† said Trevize. â€Å"Do you recognize that?† â€Å"Of course. Those are the Five Sisters – the pentagon of stars that Quintesetz pointed out. It is unmistakable.† â€Å"Yes indeed. But where is Gaia?† Pelorat blinked. There was no dim star at the center. â€Å"It's not there,† he said. â€Å"That's right. It's not there. And that's because its location is not included in the data banks of the computer. Since it passes the bounds of likelihood that those data banks were deliberately made incomplete in this respect for our benefit, I conclude that to the Foundation Gaiactographers who designed those data banks – and who had tremendous quantities of information at their disposal – Gaia was unknown.† â€Å"Do you suppose if we had gone to Trantor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  began Pelorat. â€Å"I suspect we would have found no data on Gaia there, either. Its existence is kept a secret by the Sayshellians – and even more so, I suspect, by the Gaians themselves. You yourself said a few days ago it was not entirely uncommon that some worlds deliberately stayed out of sight to avoid taxation or outside interference.† â€Å"Usually,† said Pelorat, â€Å"when mapmakers and statisticians come across such a world, they are found to exist in thinly populated sections of the Galaxy. It's isolation that makes it possible for them to hide. Gaia is not isolated.† â€Å"That's right. That's another of the things that makes it unusual. So let's leave this map on the screen so that you and I might continue to ponder the ignorance of our Gaiactographers – and let me ask you again. – In view of this ignorance on the part of the most knowledgeable of people, how did you come to hear of Gaia?† â€Å"I have been gathering data on Earth myths, Earth legends, and Earth histories for over thirty years, my good Golan. Without my complete records, how could I possibly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We can begin somewhere, Janov. Did you learn about it in, say, the first fifteen years of your research or in the last fifteen?† â€Å"Oh! Well, if we're going to be that broad, it was later on.† â€Å"You can do better than that. Suppose I suggest that you learned of Gaia only in the last couple of years.† Trevize peered in Pelorat's direction, felt the absence of any ability to read an unseen expression in the dimness, and raised the light level of the room a bit. The glory of the representation of the night sky on the screen dimmed in proportion. Pelorat's expression was stony and revealed nothing. â€Å"Well?† said Trevize. â€Å"I'm thinking,† said Pelorat mildly. â€Å"You may be right. I wouldn't swear to it. When I wrote Jimbor of Ledbet University, I didn't mention Gaia, though in that case it would have been appropriate to do so, and that was in – let's see – in – and that was three years ago. I think you're right, Golan.† â€Å"And how did you come upon it?† asked Trevize. â€Å"In a communication? A book? A scientific paper? Some ancient song? How? – Come on!† Pelorat sat back and crossed his arms. He fell into deep thought and didn't move. Trevize said nothing and waited. Finally Pelorat said, â€Å"In a private communication. – But it's no use asking me from whom, my dear chap. I don't remember.† Trevize moved his hands over his sash. They felt clammy as he continued his efforts to elicit information without too clearly forcing words into the other's mouth. He said, â€Å"From a historian? From an expert in mythology? From a Gaiactographer?† â€Å"No use. I cannot match a name to the communication.† â€Å"Because, perhaps, there was none.† â€Å"Oh no. That scarcely seems possible.† â€Å"Why? Would you have rejected an anonymous communication?† â€Å"I suppose not.† â€Å"Did you ever receive any?† â€Å"Once in a long while. In recent years, I had become well known in certain academic circles as a collector of particular types of myths and legends and some of my correspondents were occasionally kind enough to forward material they had picked up from nonacademic sources. Sometimes these might not be attributed to anyone in particular.† Trevize said, â€Å"Yes, but did you ever receive anonymous information directly, and not by way of some academic correspondent?† â€Å"That sometimes happened – but very rarely.† â€Å"And can you be certain that this was not so in the case of Gaia?† â€Å"Such anonymous communications took place so rarely that I should think I would remember if it had happened in this case. Still, I can't say certainly that the information was not of anonymous origin. Mind, though, that's not to say that I did receive the information from an anonymous source.† â€Å"I realize that. But it remains a possibility, doesn't it?† Pelorat said, very reluctantly, â€Å"I suppose it does. But what's all this about?† â€Å"I'm not finished,† said Trevize peremptorily. â€Å"Where did you get the information from – anonymous or not? What world?† Pelorat shrugged. â€Å"Come now, I haven't the slightest idea.† â€Å"Could it possibly have been from Sayshell?† â€Å"I told you. I don't know.† â€Å"I'm suggesting you did get it from Sayshell.† â€Å"You can suggest all you wish, but that does not necessarily make it so.† â€Å"No? When Quintesetz pointed out the dim Star at the center of the Five Sisters, you knew at once it was Gaia. You said so later on to Quintesetz, identifying it before he did. Do you remember?† â€Å"Yes, of course.† â€Å"How was that possible? How did you recognize at once that the dim star was Gaia?† â€Å"Because in the material I had on Gaia, it was rarely referred to by that name. Euphemisms were common, many different ones. One of the euphemisms, several times repeated, was ‘the little Brother of the Five Sisters. ‘ Another was ‘the Pentagon's Center' and sometimes it was called ‘o Pentagon. ‘ When Quintesetz pointed out the Five Sisters and the central star, the allusions came irresistibly to mind.† â€Å"You never mentioned those allusions to me earlier.† â€Å"I didn't know what they meant and I didn't think it would have been important to discuss the matter with you, who were a†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Pelorat hesitated. â€Å"A nonspecialist?† â€Å"You realize, I hope, that the pentagon of the Five Sisters is an entirely relative form.† â€Å"What do you mean?† Trevize laughed affectionately. â€Å"You surface worm. Do you think the sky has an objective shape of its own? That the stars are nailed in place? The pentagon has the shape it has from the surface of the worlds of the planetary system to which Sayshell Planet belongs – and from there only. From a planet circling any other star, the appearance of the Five Sisters is different. They are seen from a different angle, for one thing. For another, the five stars of the pentagon are at different distances from Sayshell and, seen from other angles, there could be no visible relationship among them at all. One or two stars might be in one half of the sky, the others in the other half. See here†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Trevize darkened the room again and leaned over the computer. â€Å"There are eighty-six populated planetary systems making up the Sayshell Union. Let us keep Gaia – or the spot where Gaia ought to be – in place† (as he said that, a small red circle appeared in the center of the pentagon of the Five Sisters) â€Å"and shift to the skies as seen from any of the other eighty-six worlds taken at random.† The sky shifted and Pelorat blinked. The small red circle remained at the center of the screen, but the Five Sisters had disappeared. There were bright stars in the neighborhood but no tight pentagon. Again the sky shifted, and again, and again. It went on shifting. The red circle remained in place always, but at no time did a small pentagon of equally bright stars appear. Sometimes what might be a distorted pentagon of stars – unequally bright – appeared, but nothing like the beautiful asterism Quintesetz had pointed out. â€Å"Had enough?† said Trevize. â€Å"I assure you, the Five Sisters can never be seen exactly as we have seen it from any populated world but the worlds of the Sayshell planetary system.† Pelorat said, â€Å"The Sayshellian view might have been exported to other planets. There were many proverbs in Imperial times – some of which linger into our own, in fact – that are Trantor-centered.† â€Å"With Sayshell as secretive about Gaia as we know it to be? And why should worlds outside the Sayshell Union be interested? Why would they care about a ‘little Brother of the Five Sisters' if there were nothing in the skies at which to point?† â€Å"Maybe you're right.† â€Å"Then don't you see that your original information must have come from Sayshell itself? Not just from somewhere in the Union, but precisely from the planetary system to which the capital world of the Union belongs.† Pelorat shook his head. â€Å"You make it sound as though it must, but it's not something I remember. I simply don't.† â€Å"Nevertheless, you do see the force of my argument, don't you?† â€Å"Yes, I do.† â€Å"Next. – When do you suppose the legend could have originated?† â€Å"Anytime. I should suppose it developed far back in the Imperial Era. It has the feel of an ancient†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You are wrong, Janov. The Five Sisters are moderately close to Sayshell Planet, which is why they're so bright. Four of them have high proper motions in consequence and no two are part of a family, so that they move in different directions. Watch what happens as I shift the map backward in time slowly.† Again the red circle that marked the site of Gaia remained in place, but the pentagon slowly fell apart, as four of the stars drifted in different directions and the fifth shifted slightly. â€Å"Look at that, Janov,† said Trevize. â€Å"Would you say that was a regular pentagon?† â€Å"Clearly lopsided,† said Pelorat. â€Å"And is Gaia at the center?† â€Å"No, it's well to the side.† â€Å"Very well. That is how the asterism looked one hundred and fifty years ago. One and a half centuries, that's all. – The material you received concerning ‘the Pentagon's Center' and so on made no real sense till this century anywhere, not even in Sayshell. The material you received had to originate in Sayshell and sometime in this century, perhaps in the last decade. And you got it, even though Sayshell is so close-mouthed about Gaia.† Trevize put the lights on, turned the star map off, and sat there staring sternly at Pelorat. Pelorat said, â€Å"I'm confused. What's this about?† â€Å"You tell me. Consider! Somehow I got the idea into my head that the Second Foundation still existed. I was giving a talk during my election campaign. I started a bit of emotional byplay designed to squeeze votes out of the undecided with a dramatic ‘If the Second Foundation still existed – † and later that day I thought to myself: What if it did still exist? I began reading history books and within a week, I was convinced. There was no real evidence, but I have always felt that I had the knack of snatching the right conclusion out of a welter of speculation. This time, though†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Trevize brooded a bit, then went on. â€Å"And look at what has happened since. Of all people, I chose Compor as my confidant and he betrayed me. Whereupon Mayor Branno had me arrested and sent into exile. Why into exile, rather than just having me imprisoned, or trying to threaten me into silence? And why in a very late-model ship which gives me extraordinary powers of Jumping through the Galaxy? And why, of all things, does she insist I take you and suggest that I help you search for Earth? â€Å"And why was I so certain that we should not go to Trantor? I was convinced you had a better target for our investigations and at once you come up with the mystery world of Gaia, concerning which, as it now turns out, you gained information under very puzzling circumstances. â€Å"We go to Sayshell – the first natural stop – and at once we encounter Compor, who gives us a circumstantial story about Earth and its death. He then assures us its location is in the Sirius Sector and urges us to go there.† Pelorat said, â€Å"There you are. You seem to be implying that all circumstances are forcing us toward Gaia, but, as you say, Compor tried to persuade us to go elsewhere.† â€Å"And in response, I was determined to continue on our original line of investigation out of my sheer distrust for the man. Don't you suppose that that was what he might have been counting on? He may have deliberately told us to go elsewhere just to keep us from doing so.† â€Å"That's mere romance,† muttered Pelorat. â€Å"Is it? Let's go on. We get in touch with Quintesetz simply because he was handy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Not at all,† said Pelorat. â€Å"I recognized his name.† â€Å"It seemed familiar to you. You had never read anything he had written – that you could recall. Why was it familiar to you? – In any case, it turned out he had read a paper of yours and was overwhelmed by it – and how likely was that? You yourself admit your work is not widely known. â€Å"What's more, the young lady leading us to him quite gratuitously mentions Gaia and goes on to tell us it is in hyperspace, as though to be sure we keep it in mind. When we ask Quintesetz about it, he behaves as though he doesn't want to talk about it, but he doesn't throw us out – even though I am rather rude to him. He takes us to his home instead and, on the way there, goes to the trouble of pointing out the Five Sisters. He even makes sure we note the dim star at the center. Why? Is not all this an extraordinary concatenation of coincidence?† Pelorat said, â€Å"If you list it like that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"List it any way you please,† said Trevize. â€Å"I don't believe in extraordinary concatenations of coincidence.† â€Å"What does all this mean, then? That we are being maneuvered to Gaia?† â€Å"By whom?† Trevize said, â€Å"Surely there can be no question about that. Who is capable of adjusting minds, of giving gentle nudges to this one or that, of managing to divert progress in this direction or that?† â€Å"You're going to tell me it's the Second Foundation.† â€Å"Well, what have we been told about Gaia? It is untouchable. Fleets that move against it are destroyed. People who reach it do not return. Even the Mule didn't dare move against it – and the Mule, in fact, was probably born there. Surely it seems that Gaia is the Second Foundation – and finding that, after all, is my ultimate goal. Pelorat shook his head. â€Å"But according to some historians, the Second Foundation stopped the Mule. How could he have been one of them?† â€Å"A renegade, I suppose.† â€Å"But why should we be so relentlessly maneuvered toward the Second Foundation by the Second Foundation?† Trevize's eyes were unfocused, his brow furrowed. He said, â€Å"Let's reason it out. It has always seemed important to the Second Foundation that as little information as possible about it should be available to the Galaxy. Ideally it wants its very existence to remain unknown. We know that much about them. For a hundred twenty years, the Second Foundation was thought to be extinct and that must have suited them right down to the Galactic core. Yet when I began to suspect that they did exist, they did nothing. Compor knew. They might have used him to shut me up one way or another – had me killed, even. Yet they did nothing.† Pelorat said, â€Å"They had you arrested, if you want to blame that on the Second Foundation. According to what you told me, that resulted in the people of Terminus not knowing about your views. The people of the Second Foundation accomplished that much without violence and they may be devotees of Salvor Hardin's remark that ‘Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.† â€Å"But keeping it from the people of Terminus accomplishes nothing. Mayor Branno knows my view and – at the very least – must wonder if I am correct. So now, you see, it is too late for them to harm us. If they had gotten rid of me to begin with, they would be in the clear. If they had left me alone altogether, they might have still remained in the clear, for they might have maneuvered Terminus into believing I was an eccentric, perhaps a madman. The prospective ruin of my political career might even have forced me into silence as soon as I saw what the announcement of my beliefs would mean. â€Å"And now it is too late for them to do anything. Mayor Branno was suspicious enough of the situation to send Compor after me and – having no faith in him either, being wiser than I was – she placed a hyper – relay on Compor's ship. In consequence, she knows we are on Sayshell. And last night, while you were sleeping, I had our computer place a message directly into the computer of the Foundation ambassador here on Sayshell, explaining that we were on our way to Gaia. I took the trouble of giving its co-ordinates, too. If the Second Foundation does anything to us now, I am certain that Branno will have the matter investigated – and the concentrated attention of the Foundation must surely be what they don't want.† â€Å"Would they care about attracting the Foundation's attention, if they are so powerful?† â€Å"Yes,† said Trevize forcefully. â€Å"They lie hidden because, in some ways, they must be weak and because the Foundation is technologically advanced perhaps beyond even what Seldon himself might have foreseen. The very quiet, even stealthy, way in which they've been maneuvering us to their world would seem to show their eager desire to do nothing that will attract attention. And if so, then they have already lost, at least in part – for they've attracted attention and I doubt they can do anything to reverse the situation.† Pelorat said, â€Å"But why do they go through all this? Why do they ruin themselves – if your analysis is correct – by angling for us across the Galaxy? What is it they want of us?† Trevize stared at Pelorat and flushed. â€Å"Janov,† he said, â€Å"I have a feeling about this. I have this gift of coming to a correct conclusion on the basis of almost nothing. There's a kind of sureness about me that tells me when I'm right – and I'm sure now. There's something I have that they want – and want enough to risk their very existence for. I don't know what it can be, but I've got to find out, because if I've got it and if it's that powerful, then I want to be able to use it for what I feel is right.† He shrugged slightly. â€Å"Do you still want to come along with me, old friend, now that you see how much a madman I am?† Pelorat said, â€Å"I told you I had faith in you. I still do.† And Trevize laughed with enormous relief. â€Å"Marvelous! Because another feeling I have is that you are, for some reason, also essential to this whole thing. In that case, Janov, we move on to Gaia, full speed. Forward!† Mayor Harla Branno looked distinctly older than her sixty-two years. She did not always look older, but she did now. She had been sufficiently wrapped up in thought to forget to avoid the mirror and had seen her image on her way into the map room. So she was aware of the haggardness of her appearance. She sighed. It drained the life out of one. Five years a Mayor and for twelve years before that the real power behind two figureheads. All of it had been quiet, all of it successful, all of it – draining. How would it have been, she wondered, if there had been strain – failure – disaster. Not so bad for her personally, she suddenly decided. Action would have been invigorating. It was the horrible knowledge that nothing but drift was possible that had worn her out. It was the Seldon Plan that was successful and it was the Second Foundation that made sure it would continue to be. She, as the strong hand at the helm of the Foundation (actually the First Foundation, but no one on Terminus ever thought of adding the adjective) merely rode the crest. History would say little or nothing about her. She merely sat at the controls of a spaceship, while the spaceship was maneuvered from without. Even Indbur III, who had presided over the Foundation's catastrophic fall to the Mule, had done something. He had, at least, collapsed. For Mayor Branno there would be nothing! Unless this Golan Trevize, this thoughtless Councilman, this lightning rod, made it possible. – She looked at the map thoughtfully. It was not the kind of structure produced by a modern computer. It was, rather, a three-dimensional cluster of lights that pictured the Galaxy holographically in midair. Though it could not be made to move, to turn, to expand, or to contract, one could move about it and see it from any angle. A large section of the Galaxy, perhaps a third of the whole (excluding the core, which was a â€Å"no-life's land†) turned red when she touched a contact. That was the Foundation Federation, the more than seven million inhabited worlds ruled by the Council and by herself – the seven million inhabited worlds who voted for and were represented in the House of Worlds, which debated matters of minor importance, and then voted on them, and never, by any chance, dealt with anything of major importance. Another contact and a faint pink jutted outward from the edges of the Federation, here and there. Spheres of influence! This was not Foundation territory, but the regions, though nominally independent, would never dream of resistance to any Foundation move. There was no question in her mind that no power in the Galaxy could oppose the Foundation (not even the Second Foundation, if one but knew where it was), that the Foundation could, at will, reach out its fleet of modern ships and simply set up the Second Empire. But only five centuries had passed since the beginning of the Plan. The Plan called for ten centuries before the Second Empire could be set up and the Second Foundation would make sure the Plan would hold. The Mayor shook her sad, gray head. If the Foundation acted now, it would somehow fail. Though its ships were irresistible, action now would fail. Unless Trevize, the lightning rod, drew the lightning of the Second Foundation – and the lightning could be traced back to its source. She looked about. Where was Kodell? This was no time for him to be late. It was as though her thought had called him, for he came striding in, smiling cheerfully, looking more grandfatherly than ever with his gray-white mustache and tanned complexion. Grandfatherly, but not old. To be sure, he was eight years younger than she was. How was it he showed no marks of strain? Did not fifteen years as Director of Security leave its scar? Kodell nodded slowly in the formal greeting that was necessary in initiating a discussion with the Mayor. It was a tradition that had existed since the bad days of the Indburs. Almost everything had changed, but etiquette least of all. He said, â€Å"Sorry I'm late, Mayor, but your arrest of Councilman Trevize is finally beginning to make its way through the anesthetized skin of the Council.† â€Å"Oh?† said the Mayor phlegmatically. â€Å"Are we in for a palace revolution?† â€Å"Not the least chance. We're in control. But there'll be noise.† â€Å"Let them make noise. It will make them feel better, and I – I shall stay out of the way. I can count, I suppose, on general public opinion?† â€Å"I think you can. Especially away from Terminus. No one outside Terminus cares what happens to a stray Councilman.† â€Å"I do.† â€Å"Ah? More news?† â€Å"Liono,† said the Mayor, â€Å"I want to know about Sayshell.† â€Å"I'm not a two-legged history book,† said Liono Kodell, smiling. â€Å"I don't want history. I want the truth. Why is Sayshell independent? – Look at it.† She pointed to the red of the Foundation on the holographic map and there, well into the inner spirals, was an in-pocketing of white. Branno said, â€Å"We've got it almost encapsulated – almost sucked in – yet it's white. Our map doesn't even show it as a loyal-ally-inpink.† Kodell shrugged. â€Å"It's not officially a loyal ally, but it never bothers us. It is neutral.† â€Å"All right. See this, then.† Another touch at the controls. The red sprang out distinctly further. It covered nearly half the Galaxy. â€Å"That,† said Mayor Branno, â€Å"was the Mule's realm at the time of his death. If you'll peer in among the red, you'll find the Sayshell Union, completely surrounded this time, but still white. it is the only enclave left free by the Mule.† â€Å"It was neutral then, too.† â€Å"The Mule had no great respect for neutrality.† â€Å"He seems to have had, in this case.† â€Å"Seems to have had. What has Sayshell got?† Kodell said, â€Å"Nothing! Believe me, Mayor, she is ours any time we want her.† â€Å"Is she? Yet somehow she isn't ours.† â€Å"There's no need to want her.† Branno sat back in her chair and, with a sweep of her arm over the controls, turned the Galaxy dark. â€Å"I think we now want her.† â€Å"Pardon, Mayor?† â€Å"Liono, I sent that foolish Councilman into space as a lightning rod. I felt that the Second Foundation would see him as a greater danger than he was and see the Foundation itself as the lesser danger. The lightning would strike him and reveal its origin to us.† â€Å"Yes, Mayor!† â€Å"My intention was that he go to the decayed ruins of Trantor to fumble through what – if anything – was left of its Library and search for the Earth. That's the world, you remember, that these wearisome mystics tell us was the site of origin of humanity, as though that matters, even in the unlikely case it is true. The Second Foundation couldn't possibly have believed that was really what he was after and they would have moved to find out what he was really looking for.† â€Å"But he didn't go to Trantor.† â€Å"No. Quite unexpectedly, he has gone to Sayshell. Why?† â€Å"I don't know. But please forgive an old bloodhound whose duty it is to suspect everything and tell me how you know he and this Pelorat have gone to Sayshell. I know that Compor reports it, but how far can we trust Compor?† â€Å"The hyper-relay tells us that Compor's ship has indeed landed on Sayshell Planet.† â€Å"Undoubtedly, but how do you know that Trevize and Pelorat have? Compor may have gone to Sayshell for his own reasons and may not know – or care – where the others are.† â€Å"The fact is, that our ambassador on Sayshell has informed us of the arrival of the ship on which we placed Trevize and Pelorat. I am not ready to believe the ship arrived at Sayshell without them. What is more, Compor reports having talked to them and, if he cannot be trusted, we have other reports placing them at Sayshell University, where they consulted with a historian of no particular note.† â€Å"None of this,† said Kodell mildly, â€Å"has reached me.† Branno sniffed. â€Å"Do not feel stepped on. I am dealing with this personally and the information has now reached you – with not much in the way of delay, either. The latest news – just received – is from the ambassador. Our lightning rod is moving on. He stayed on Sayshell Planet two days, then left. He is heading for another planetary system, he says, some ten parsecs away. He gave the name and the Galactic co-ordinates of his destination to the ambassador, who passed them on to us.† â€Å"Is there anything corroborative from Compor?† â€Å"Compor's message that Trevize and Pelorat have left Sayshell came even before the ambassador's message. Compor has not yet determined where Trevize is going. Presumably he will follow.† Kodell said, â€Å"We are missing the why's of the situation.† He popped a pastille into his mouth and sucked at it meditatively. â€Å"Why did Trevize go to Sayshell? Why did he leave?† â€Å"The question that intrigues me most is: Where? Where is Trevize going?† â€Å"You did say, Mayor, did you not, that he gave the name and coordinates of his destination to the ambassador. Are you implying that he lied to the ambassador? Or that the ambassador is lying to us?† â€Å"Even assuming everyone told the truth all round and that no one made any errors, there is a name that interests me. Trevize told the ambassador he was going to Gaia. That's G-A-I-A. Trevize was careful to spell it.† Kodell said, â€Å"Gaia? I never heard of it.† â€Å"Indeed? That's not strange.† Branno pointed to the spot in the air where the map had been. â€Å"Upon the map in this room, I can set up, at a moment's notice, every star – supposedly – around which there circles an inhabited world and many prominent stars with uninhabited systems. Over thirty million stars can be marked out – if I handle the controls properly – in single units, in pairs, in clusters. I can mark them out in any of five different colors, one at a time, or all together. What I cannot do is locate Gaia on the map. As far as the map is concerned, Gaia does not exist.† Kodell said, â€Å"For every star the map shows, there are ten thousand it doesn't show.† â€Å"Granted, but the stars it doesn't show lack inhabited planets and why would Trevize want to go to an uninhabited planet?† â€Å"Have you tried the Central Computer? It has all three hundred billion Galactic stars listed.† â€Å"I've been told it has, but does it? We know very well, you and I, that there are thousands of inhabited planets that have escaped listing on any of our maps – not only on the one in this room, but even on the Central Computer. Gaia is apparently one of them.† Kodell's voice remained calm, even coaxing. â€Å"Mayor, there may well be nothing at all to be concerned about. Trevize may be off on a wild goose chase or he may be lying to us and there is no star called Gaia – and no star at all at the co-ordinates he gave us. He is trying to throw us off his scent, now that he has met Compor and perhaps guesses he is being traced.† â€Å"How will this throw us off the scent? Compor will still follow. No, Liono, I have another possibility in mind, one with far greater potentiality for trouble. Listen to me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused and said, â€Å"This room is shielded, Liono. Understand that. We cannot be overheard by anyone, so please feel free to speak. And I will speak freely, as well. â€Å"This Gaia is located, if we accept the information, ten parsecs from Sayshell Planet and is therefore part of the Sayshell Union. The Sayshell Union is a well-explored portion of the Galaxy. All its star systems – inhabited or not inhabited – are recorded and the inhabited ones are known in detail. Gaia is the one exception. Inhabited or not, none have heard of it; it is present in no map. Add to this that the Sayshell Union maintains a peculiar state of independence with respect to the Foundation Federation, and did so even with respect to the Mule's former realm. It has been independent since the fall of the Galactic Empire.† â€Å"What of all this?† asked Kodell cautiously. â€Å"Surely the two points I have made must be connected. Sayshell incorporates a planetary system that is totally unknown and Sayshell is untouchable. The two cannot be independent. Whatever Gaia is, it protects itself. It sees to it that there is no knowledge of its existence outside its immediate surroundings and it protects those surroundings so that outsiders cannot take over.† â€Å"You are telling me, Mayor, that Gaia is the seat of the Second Foundation?† â€Å"I am telling you that Gaia deserves inspection.† â€Å"May I mention an odd point that might be difficult to explain by this theory?† â€Å"Please do.† â€Å"If Gaia is the Second Foundation and if, for centuries, it has protected itself physically against intruders, protecting all of the Sayshell Union as a broad, deep shield for itself, and if it has even prevented knowledge of itself leaking into the Galaxy – then why has all that protection suddenly vanished? Trevize and Pelorat leave Terminus and, even though you had advised them to go to Trantor, they go immediately and without hesitation to Sayshell and now to Gaia. What is more, you can think of Gaia and speculate on it. Why are you not somehow prevented from doing So?† Mayor Branno did not answer for a long time. Her head was bent and her gray hair gleamed dully in the light. Then she said, â€Å"Because I think Councilman Trevize has somehow upset things. He has done something – or is doing something – that is in some way endangering the Seldon Plan.† â€Å"That surely is impossible, Mayor.† â€Å"I suppose everything and everyone has its flaws. Even Hari Seldon was not perfect, surely. Somewhere the Plan has a flaw and Trevize has stumbled upon it, perhaps without even knowing that he has. We must know what is happening and we must be on the spot.† Finally Kodell looked grave. â€Å"Don't make decisions on your own, Mayor. We don't want to move without adequate consideration.† â€Å"Don't take me for an idiot, Liono. I'm not going to make war. I'm not going to land an expeditionary force on Gaia. I just want to be on the spot – or near it, if you prefer, Liono, find out for me – I hate talking to a war office that is as ridiculously hidebound as one is sure to be after one hundred and twenty years of peace, but you don't seem to mind – just how many warships are stationed close to Sayshell. Can we make their movements seem routine and not like a mobilization?† â€Å"In these piping times of peace, there are not many ships in the vicinity, I am sure. But I will find out.† â€Å"Even two or three will be sufficient, especially if one is of the Supernova class.† â€Å"What do you want to do with them?† â€Å"I want them to nudge as close to Sayshell as they can – without creating an incident – and I want them sufficiently close to each other to offer mutual support.† â€Å"What's all this intended for?† â€Å"Flexibility. I want to be able to strike if I have to.† â€Å"Against the Second Foundation? If Gaia can keep itself isolated and untouchable against the Mule, it can surely withstand a few ships now.† Branno said, with the gleam of battle in her eyes, â€Å"My friend, I told you that nothing and no one is perfect, not even Hari Seldon. In setting up his Plan, he could not help being a person of his times. He was a mathematician of the days of the dying Empire, when technology was moribund. It followed that he could not have made sufficient allowance in his Plan for technological advance. Gravities, for instance, is a whole new direction of advance he could not possibly have guessed at. And there are other advances, too. â€Å"Gaia might also have advanced.† â€Å"In isolation? Come. There are ten quadrillion human beings within the Foundation Federation, from among whom contributors to technological advance can step forward. A single isolated world can do nothing in comparison. Our ships will advance and I will be with them.† â€Å"Pardon me, Mayor. What was that?† â€Å"I will be going myself to the ships that will gather at the borders of Sayshell. I wish to see the situation for myself.† Kodell's mouth fell open for a moment. He swallowed and made a distinct noise as he did so. â€Å"Mayor, that is – not wise.† If ever a man clearly intended a stronger remark, Kodell did. â€Å"Wise or not,† said Branno violently, â€Å"I will do it. I am tired of Terminus and of its endless political battles, its infighting, its alliances and counteralliances, its betrayals and renewals. I've had seventeen years at the center of it and I want to do something else – anything else. Out there,† she waved her hand in a direction taken at random, â€Å"the whole history of the Galaxy may be changing and I want to take part in the process.† â€Å"You know nothing about such things, Mayor.† â€Å"Who does, Liono?† She rose stiffly to her feet. â€Å"As soon as you bring me the information I need on the ships and as soon as I can make arrangements for carrying on with the foolish business at home, I will go. – And, Liono, don't try to maneuver me out of this decision in any way or I'll wipe out our long friendship in a stroke and break you. I can still do that.† Kodell nodded. â€Å"I know you can, Mayor, but before you decide, may I ask you to reconsider the power of Seldon's Plan? What you intend may be suicide.† â€Å"I have no fears on that score, Liono. It was wrong with respect to the Mule, whom it could not anticipate – and a failure to anticipate at one time implies the possibility of failure at another.† Kodell sighed. â€Å"Well then, if you are really determined, I will support you to the best of my ability and with complete loyalty.† â€Å"Good. I warn you once again that you had better mean that remark with all your heart. And with that in mind, Liono, let us move on to Gaia. Forward!†