Calibration of Volumetric Glassware Essay

Summary In this experiment, The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the measurement of the actual volume contents of volumetric glassware. In the beginning of the experiment, the volumetric glassware should be clean and dry before used. The volumetric glassware, measuring cylinder and pipette should be handled with care and all the precautions were be taken during the experiment was held. This was to ensure to avoid any errors such as parallax error especially while reading water meniscus. This experiment must be repeated three times or more and take the average reading to get more accurate data. By using the formulae, the standard deviation and relative standard deviation could be calculated. As the result, the lower the standard deviation, the higher the consistency of an instrument. Although the instrument may measure a given sample, the value might need to be altered due to various conditions and errors. Objectives The objective of the experiments was to; Calibrate a 10 mL volumetric pipette. Calibrate a 25 mL volumetric pipette. Calibrate a 100 mL volumetric flask. Calibrate a 50 mL measuring cylinder Introduction Volumetric glassware is used to accurately measure volumes. Despite all of the tools and instruments available for the use of measuring values of various data, it is impossible to measure the true value of anything. This experiment is intended to develop a person’s capacity to handle volumetric glassware. One must understand how to handle volumetric glassware to acquire  the best possible data from the equipment used in lab. Although the instrument may measure a given sample, the value might need to be altered due to various conditions. However, with practice and experience, we can reach very close to the true value, gaining the ability to measure with both high accuracy and precision. The objective of this experiment is to calibrate a 10mL burette and other volumetric glassware by calculating their correction values. By doing so, we can correct systematic errors caused by the burette’s or glassware’s values. A systematic error is an error in reading the scale when a physical quantity is being measured. Systematic errors are caused by the instrument, observer and surroundings. Another main type of error is random error. Random error is an error which occurs when the observer is reading the scale on the measuring instrument. Volumetric glassware is used to accurately measure volumes. In any given experiment, students may come across systematic errors or random errors. Random errors are not able to be corrected by a standard mean because they are not consistent. However, systematic errors are consistent and is able to be detected which allows students to correct the error that was found. So, using uncalibrated glassware will cause a systematic error. This error occurs because the volume reading given by the glassware is slightly different than the actual volume that is obtained in the glassware. In order to avoid systematic error, it important to calibrate the measuring instrument so that there is a standard value for zero which allows the measurement to be more accurate. Calibration of volumetric glassware such as burette is carried out by weighing the amount of water delivered. The temperature of the water used in the calibration must be known since the density of water changes. The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the measurement of the actual volume contents of volumetric glassware. If there is a slight variation in this instrument, it would cause systematic error and thus, the accuracy of results of an experiment or investigation would be affected. All volumetric glassware has marking on it. It is either being marked with TD or TC, which brings the meaning of ‘to deliver’ and ‘to contain’ respectively. For example, a pipette has a marking of TD, which means a pipette is marked  as a ‘to deliver’. Whereas, volumetric flask has TC as its marking, meaning it is marked as a ‘to contain’. A volumetric pipette & measuring cylinder can be calibrated by just weighing the water they deliver. As for volumetric flask, the weight of an empty flask is recorded. Next, weigh the flask after filling it with water to the mark. After that, it is crucial to convert the mass to volume. The water density at a t emperature will aid this process. The compliance of the Volume Occupied by 1.000g of Water Weigh in Air table is deemed necessary throughout the comparison. In order to obtain the true volume of volumetric glassware holds, this formula will be used. This experiment shall be repeated twice or more to enhance accuracy of the results obtained. Besides detecting systematic errors, this experiment would aid on the technique and understandings to the correct use of these equipments. Materials Transfer pipette, cleaning solution/detergent, beaker, thermometer, distilled water, top loading balance, 10ml volumetric pipette, 25mlvolumetric pipette, 100ml volumetric flask, 50ml measuring cylinder. Procedure 1) Calibration of a volumetric pipette (10ml and 25ml) a) Transfer pipette was obtained. The pipette was cleaned because distilled water does not drain uniformly. A cleaning solution or detergent was used to clean the pipette. b) An empty beaker was weighted. Then, water was filled in the beaker. The temperature was recorded at uniform intervals. c) The 10ml pipette was filled with distilled water until it reaches the calibration mark. d) Water was drained into another beaker e) The beaker filled with water was then weighted to find the mass of water delivered from the pipette. f) The following equation was used to convert mass to volume : Volume(actual) = (grams of water) x (volume of 1g of water in table1) g) Step a – f was repeated using 25ml pipette. 1) 2) Calibration of volumetric flask (100ml) a) A 100ml volumetric flask was cleaned and dried. b) The flask was weighted. Then, water was filled into the flask. Transfer pipette was used to remove the excess amount of water filled in the flask so that it exactly reach the calibration mark. c) The flask filled with water was weighted to find the mass of water contained in the flask. d) Mass of water was converted to volume using the equation above. 3) Calibration of a measuring cylinder (100ml) a) A 100ml measuring cylinder was cleaned and dried. b) The measuring cylinder was weighted. Then, water was filled into the measuring cylinder until it reached the calibration mark. Transfer pipette was also used to remove the excess water. c) The measuring cylinder filled with water was weighted to find the mass of water contained in the measuring cylinder. d) Mass of water was converted to volume using the same equation. Result and Discussion Result: a) Data 10mL pipette Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Mass of flask + water (g) 42.64 42.66 42.66 Mass of flask (g) 32.72 32.72 32.72 Mass of water (g) 9.92 9.94 9.94 Temperature (oC) 28 28 28 Actual volume (mL) 9.97 9.99 9.99 Average volume (mL) 9.98 Standard Deviation, 0.012 Relative standard deviation ,/ 0.001202 50mL pipette Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Mass of flask + water (g) 121.08 121.06 121.04 Mass of flask (g) 96.60 96.60 96.56 Mass of water (g) 24.48 24.46 24.48 Temperature (oC) 28 28 28 Actual volume (mL) 24.60 24.58 24.60 Average volume (mL) 24.59 Standard Deviation, 0.012 Relative standard deviation ,/ 0.00049 10mL pipette Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Mass of flask + water (g) 158.42 158.44 158.42 Mass of flask (g) 57.18 57.16 57.16 Mass of water (g) 101.24 101.28 101.26 Temperature (oC) 28 27 28 Actual volume (mL) 101.73 101.77 101.75 Average volume (mL) 101.75 Standard Deviation, 0.02 Relative standard deviation ,/ 0.000197 50mL measuring cylinder Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Mass of flask + water (g) 116.48 116.48 116.48 Mass of flask (g) 68.18 68.17 68.18 Mass of water (g) 48.30 48.31 48.30 Temperature (oC) 28 28 28 Actual volume (mL) 48.53 48.54 48.53 Average volume (mL) 48.53 Standard Deviation, 0.007 Relative standard deviation ,/ 0.000146 Discussion: According to the tables above, when using 10mL pipette, the actual volume delivered is 9.98mL and the standard deviation is 0.012. The lower the standard deviation, the higher the consistency of an instrument based in a physic’s book. Consistent measurements consist of readings that have little or no relative deviation among them. So, when the standard deviation is nearer to zero then this shows that the readings taken are consistent. In order to get a good accuracy, the experiments are done until trial 3. Temperature are remain consistent for all three trial for different glassware that 28 °C. This experiment expectation is that the glassware will be used to measure liquids at room temperature. Since liquids have a tendency to change volume (at the level of precision of calibrated instruments), then we want the liquid to be at the temperature we are most likely to use so that the calibration will have the most accuracy and we used water since it is thermal equilibrium in su rrounding. Another factor that may interrupt the reading is parallax error during the experiment is held. In order to avoid parallax error is the glassware must be weight for another two times. Every scale on the reading instrument must be read properly, it may reduce the fact. The eyes must be perpendicular to the reading scale on the same level as the bottom surface of the water meniscus to avoid parallax error. Besides, the weighing bottles are always being capped to avoid evaporation since it is important precaution. Conclusion Based on this experiment , we can conclude that this experiment are to study the calibration to measure the accuracy of volumetric glassware. This experiment also ensure the accuracy of the volumetric glassware for 10 ml and 25 ml pipette, 100 ml volumetric flask and 50ml measuring cylinder References * http://gula-gulakapassikecik.blogspot.com/2012/04/calibration-of-volumetric-glassware_24.html?m=1 * www.studymode.com * Lim Peng Chew, Lim Ching Chai, Nexus Bestari Physics, Sasbadi Sdn. Bhd. , 2013, Pg 18,19

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In Maya Angelou’s excerpt, â€Å"What’s So Funny? † she pointed out that vulgarity and crudeness happens to be the direction in which comedians, entertainers, and people take their jokes. She explains that behind the obscene profanities, are people who are just as vulgar as their jokes. By us laughing with them, we are not only stooping down to their level, we are also taking part in the humiliation. I agree with Maya Angelou’s point. For example, laughing when someone makes a joke towards someone else who suffers from obesity not only humiliates that person, but makes them feel disgusted with themselves.The person laughing is applauding the comedian. What’s the humor in that? There’s a difference between being funny and being disrespectful. A lot of us tend to be confused as to where to draw the line. While others simply like to cross it. It’s almost like a form of bullying, but not a lot of us see it like that. Ms. Angelou believes t hat there are other ways to make jokes and start conversation without having to stoop low and belittle someone. Our generation has grown to become more shallow and vain through the years.When entertainers, comedians, and people use vulgarity and crudeness to express their thoughts and use it in their jokes to make an audience laugh, it paves a path for the audience to chime in and think that it is okay to behave that way. Perhaps the person making the joke is hiding behind the shallowness in order to prevent exposing their own insecurities? Maybe they’re using obscenities and humiliation as a self-defense mechanism. I never even thought about the bigger picture until now. Ms.Angelou is right. Nothing should stop us from saying â€Å"that’s wrong. † We don’t have to laugh at someone else’s mean joke just because it’s meant to be funny. Maybe the cold shoulder to a rude joke would be the bigger reaction. Either way one as an individual needs t o realize when someone has crossed the line. I feel that Maya Angelou’s â€Å"What’s so funny? † has definitely opened up my eyes and made look at things from different perspective because I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t one of those audience members.

Organizational behavior Essay

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Presidential Commission in 1991 and the Uniform Determination of Death Research Paper

Presidential Commission in 1991 and the Uniform Determination of Death Act - Research Paper Example The Presidential Commission and the UDDA came up with two concepts related to the definition of death. On one hand, the first whole-brain concept asserts that death occurs when the lungs, heart and the brain undergo an irremediable functional breakdown (Ascension Health, 2012). These organs are closely correlated to each other. Therefore, if one of the organs stops functioning, the others cannot function. On the other hand, the second whole-brain definition of death points out that the functioning of the entire brain is the hallmark of existence. This is because the brain is the regulator of bodily activities. Therefore, when the brain does not function an individual is considered dead (Cohen, Rubenstein, & Jackson, 2006). The President’s Commission highlighted that the brain-death criterion was not a new way of defining death (Cohen, Rubenstein, & Jackson, 2006). This commission involved a group of medical consultants who came up with the brain-death concept. Furthermore, the criterion of brain death can be confused with various conditions including metabolic intoxication, hypothermia and drug intoxication. Therefore, the medical unit is usually advised to be extremely cautious when dealing with the young children and individuals in shock. Contrarily, the Presidential Commission did not include the Uniform Determination of Death Act in the diagnosis of brain death. Recent studies prove that most states around the world have already adopted the brain death concept and criterion. However, the determination of brain death varies in most countries, based on certain cultural and religious views. In the past, human beings usually died from apnea after severe head injuries. However, emergency health care can allow them to be placed on lifesaving machines in order to reverse the action (Ascension Health, 2012). In this context, the criteria used for brain death includes the absence of motor responses, corneal reflexes,

Perfect Competition and the Supply Curve & Monopoly Essay

Perfect Competition and the Supply Curve & Monopoly - Essay Example For the electricity industry, increase in business can greatly reduce unit/average costs and that is why natural monopoly is popular in this industry. In most cases, government might want to regulate natural monopolies such as this one. The regulations to be employed are direct legislation and administrative regulations of prices and entry into the industry (Joskow & Rose, 1989). Several reasons exist on why the government might do this. The two major ones are to prevent consumer exploitation and increase in the unit/average cost of production. Since, in natural monopoly there is absolutely no competition, the monopoly can sell its products at any price. This could result to consumer exploitation hence attracting the interest of the government to regulate monopoly. Moreover, since such industries have no competition, other investors might venture into it to break the monopoly. By doing this, they would increase the cost per unit hence rendering production uneconomical. The government will therefore step in to regulate their operations with an interest of saving the

The Long Arm Statute Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

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Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 27

Case Study Example According to the patient’s history and physical report, she experiences â€Å"severe, short-distance, lifestyle limiting right lower extremity claudication,† which is the reason why she is being admitted to the hospital. The patient typically develops paresthesias as well as complete numbness to her right foot after walking for more than 20 yards. However, if she walks for an approximation of 20 yards, she experiences pain in her right calf, which goes away after she gets some rest. From these considerations, it is possible to determine that she meets the criteria for admission based on the severity of her illness, since she experiences an acute loss of the ability to move a body part as set out in the hospital’s admission criteria. On the other hand, the plan set is for the patient to undergo operative intervention, whose intention is to repair the injury in the femoral artery. This was after tests were conducted, thereby revealing evidence of a mild narrowing o f the artery, presumably due to the previous catheterization. It is possible to determine that the patient meets the admission criteria based on the intensity of service, given that the plan is to operate on her within 24 hours, once the operating room is free. On the other hand, palpable pulses are not present in the patient’s right lower extremity. This factor meets the intensity of service requirements outlined in the admission criteria, which establishes that the patient meets the criteria for admission to the hospital.

A T-shirt Epic Essay Example for Free

A T-shirt Epic Essay Pietra Rivoli’s delightful narrative, The Travels of A T-Shirt in the Global Economy, goes about a surprising journey around the global village to discover an entangled web of economic and political forces that move this piece of clothing around. The book is split into four parts of a t-shirt’s life.   Part one of the book deals with the cotton industry.   Rivoli’s own surprise at learning that the cotton used for her shirt comes from Texas opens up this chapter on the continuing dominance of the American cotton industry.   The book then continues to explain the reasons for these—aside from government subsidies, the larger part of America’s continuing competitive advantage is its â€Å"virtuous cycle† of governance.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"In the United States, the farms work, the market works, the government works, the science works, and the universities work.† (Rivoli 7). 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Free Trade or Protectionism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author is not making an argument for either protectionism or free trade.   Obviously, as a trained economist, Rivoli favors free trade, as do all her colleagues in an almost unanimous voice.   However, the book does not argue for either side, and instead illustrates that both sides of this policy divide unwittingly spur economic development. Free trade policies encourage more â€Å"races to the bottom† as production shifts to low cost countries; however protectionist policies also contribute to another type of race.   In the battle for quota imports to the United States, for example, investment has flowed into areas where there is less restriction on trade with the world’s largest consumer of textiles and apparel.   In the modern-day case with China, the relatively low quota limits that China has for its exports to the US before the expiration of the Multifiber Agreement (MFA) (Rivoli 121) has encouraged investments in other developing countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and even Sub-Saharan Africa.   As the book notes, the exclusion of one creates opportunities for another, and the humble textile industry is the first step towards industrialization for many developing nations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As Rivoli further notes, when the MFA was scheduled to be taken down, a lot of other developing countries were scared of China eating everyone’s share of the textile pie.   It represents one of the few actually plausible pro-protectionist arguments in the book, which are not really argued for but just explained. The role of politics in international trade It’s a given fact that politicians will listen more often that not to their constituents first instead of to common sense.   Unfortunate as it may be, politics more often than not counter the market forces that power the global race to the bottom.   Rivoli puts it as â€Å"While the market forces powering the race to the bottom are strong, the political forces pushing back against the markets are strong as well, particularly in the United States.† (Rivoli 115) This clash between the two has made importation of textiles a very complicated business in the United States, and changes the face of international trade with it.   If an item cannot be imported from China, it is imported from Mexico instead, giving an artificial advantage to some countries that will not be there if market forces were solely in control.   The decisions that politicians like congressmen and senators in Washington make often influence the very futures of some countries in the world. Rivoli characterizes American industries that are aging as trying to escape market forces by clinging on to their political supports.   Instead of a paradise of no intervention and perfect competition, what happens is that more often politics exert a big unpredictable force that tilts the equation over completely.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another example was 18th century England, where to no avail Parliament tried to pass acts that would protect their domestic wool producers.   Instead of having the intended consequences (i.e. eliminating imported cotton), it just pushed international trade to adapt to the circumstances. The â€Å"race to the bottom† phrase used so much in the book is one of the most intriguing ideas of Rivoli. Basically it says that the textile industry, like all industries is governed by market forces.   On the supply side, producers seek more and more productivity for lower costs—a reaction that sparked the original Industrial Revolution.   However, as wages go up along with production costs, producers are keen on reducing costs and preserving low prices with huge markets.   These trends doom an industrial country’s textile production after it becomes less competitive than another aspiring country who is not the leader in the â€Å"bottom† of production costs. The fire of the Industrial Revolution spread to the United States, and then in the last century to Asia, where during the past twenty or so years China has held the spot as top in this ubiquitous â€Å"race to the bottom†. The other side of the argument—those activists who bring about higher minimum wages and better labor standards, hasten the fall of a country from the â€Å"race to the bottom†, but at the same time also hasten industrialization and the development of other more value-added industries.   It also makes another country leader of the race to the bottom, ready to start the cycle all over again. This â€Å"history repeats itself† phenomenon—from Britain to Taiwan leaves the reader enthusiastic of the future, and of how economics will eventually make all the people of the world feel a little bit better. R E F E R E N C E Rivoli, Pietra. The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy. New Jersey :Wiley, 2005.

Marcel Duchamps and Andy Warhol Essay Example for Free

Marcel Duchamps and Andy Warhol Essay

Is Socrates A Hypocrite Philosophy Essay

Is Socrates A Hypocrite Philosophy Essay Socrates was one of the most famous of Greek academics and is attributed as one of the creators of Hellenistic thought; he is an inscrutable entity and is recognized mainly through the interpretations of future philosophers, particularly his students Xenophon and Plato in addition to the plays of his modern Aristophanes. Many would state that Platos discourses are the most inclusive versions of Socrates that exist from the ancient times. Through his representation in Platos discussions, Socrates has become prominent for his input into the discipline of morals and it is this Platonic Socrates who too loans his name to the ideas of Socratic satire and elenchus. The second continues to be a frequently employed instrument in a broad range of deliberations and is a category of instruction in which a succession of queries are asked not only to attract solitary answers, but also to inspire important understanding into the subject at hand. It is Platos version of Socrates that also made crucial and enduring assistances to the disciplines of rational and epistemology and the inspiration of his notions and methodology continues to be robust in giving the groundwork for the Western thought that followed. Platos writing titled The Apology is an explanation of the dialogue made by Socrates at the hearing in which he is accused of not acknowledging the gods that were accepted by the state, formulating new divinities as well as corrupting the young of Athens and instigating them towards a revolution. Socrates discourse is still, by no measure, an apology in the contemporary comprehension of the term. The title of the discourse is taken from the Greek expression apologia which can be interpreted as a safeguard to his existence. Hence, in the dialogue, the philosopher endeavors to protect both himself and his actions  ¿Ã‚ ½ not ask for forgiveness. He then goes on to question Meletus, the individual predominantly accountable for having Socrates up on the stand. This is the sole example in the work of a cross-examination or the elenchus which is deemed as being essential to the majority of Platonic discourse. This discussion, however, is a pitiable instance of this technique, since it appears to be aimed more at making Meletus uncomfortable than uncovering the truth. In a well celebrated piece, the thinker relates himself to an irritating and lethargic stallion which is representative of the Athens. Deprived of him, Socrates believes that the state is probable to float into a never-ending sleep, but by using his authority, as irritating as it might seem, it can be aroused into industrious and righteous activity. Socrates was uncovered to be guilt-ridden by a thin margin and is told to suggest a fitting punishment. Socrates lightheartedly proposes that if he were to get what he warrants, he should be privileged with a prodigious feast for being of such amenity to Athens. On an extra grave note, he discards the penitentiary and deportation, proposing possibly in its place to recompense a fine. When the jury debunks his recommendation and verdicts him to death, Socrates receives the judgment stoically with the statement that no entity but the gods identify as to what transpires following death and hence, it would be imprudent to be anxious about what one is not aware of. He likewise cautions the jurymen who back against him that in muzzling their critique instead of simply attending to him, they have damaged themselves much more than they have impaired him. Plato ¿Ã‚ ½s tactic in The Republic is to initially elucidate the principal idea of communal or dogmatic integrity and then to develop an equivalent theory of singular justice. In the second, third and fourth book, Plato ascertains political fairness as agreement in an organized political organization. A perfect community contains three main categories of individuals producers, auxiliaries as well as guardians; a civilization is just when relationships amongst these three categories are correct. Each cluster must complete its suitable utility and simply that purpose and each must be in the exact situation of influence relative to the others. In a sequence of three resemblances the symbols of the line, the sun and the cave Plato clarifies who these persons are while beating out his philosophy regarding the Forms. He enlightens that the all Gods creatures are separated into two dominions, namely the noticeable and the comprehensible. The observable universe is all that we experience all around us. One may observe that none of these influences really demonstrate that righteousness is necessary separately from its concerns  ¿Ã‚ ½ in its place they institute that justice is continually escorted by real desire. In all likelihood, none of these is really thought to aid as the key motive why justice is so wanted. As an alternative, the appeal of justice is probable associated to the close association amongst the impartial life and the Forms. The evenhanded life is respectable in and of itself since it includes acquiring these vital goods and reproducing their direction and concord, hence integrating them into one ¿Ã‚ ½s individual existence. Justice is upright since it is linked to the highest good, the Forms. Plato culminates The Republic on an astonishing reminder; after explaining the concept of fairness and having proven it as the highest good, he expels composers from his municipality. These individuals, he states, plea to the vilest portion of the soul by reproducing undue predispositions. By boosting one to treat dishonorable feelings in understanding with the characters that are made aware of, poetry inspires us to treat these sentiments in life; therefore this makes it unwarranted. In concluding, Plato narrates the fable of Er, which pronounces the route of a soul following its demise. Impartial souls are remunerated for a millennium, whilst unreasonable ones are disciplined for an equal length of time; every soul has to then decide on its next life. Socrates maintained that experiencing a good life meant living with quality. In turn, the conceptualization exemplifies virtue and consequently, life itself is a belief system. As stated by Socrates, the only life that deserves to be lived is that of philosophy; devoid of it, life is not worth living at all. Socrates also affirms that he will feel the pain of demise instead of defying the state. In The Apology the philosopher believes that he will continue to conceptualize even if the activity is made illegal, determining it as a punishable offence. Even though both these phrases appear to be flagrant paradoxes, the rationality of their non-contradictory character is not difficult to comprehend. Socrates explanation and understanding of values and influence aid in the abolition of the superficial absurdity amongst both his proclamations and assist to advance his thought process. Socrates describes his thought as the lucid condemnation of ethical philosophies. Such disapprovals function as an examination of the ethical values in question. If the philosophies are unpredictable, reciprocated alteration need to take place between them, one that passes them into coherence with each other. Correspondingly, the values of the state in coincidence with the doctrines of Socrates do not approve and hence the two ideologies are unpredictable. The philosopher, in The Apology, endeavored to encourage the state into trusting his philosophies are accurate. His disappointment, nevertheless, permitted these philosophies regarding the state to surpass his own. At the climax of the aforementioned trial, he gives due credit to the penalty levied upon him and permits the state to reserve its values. This alteration is shared, and consequently, brings the philosopher into harmony with the state. Even though the Socratic values and beliefs were precluded, the simple circumstance th at his effort to shift the focus of the state embodies his philosophy and therefore he attains accord. The state accomplishes this through merely its justification and appealing debate regarding its philosophy. While the philosopher waits for his penalty to be actually enforced, he achieves the objective of proactively moralizing, which he claimed to carry on doing so even if it would end his life. He obviously practices rationality in both the Republic and The Apology, stressing that simply through subordination of ones own yearnings, in this situation his existence, can an individual expect to gain prominence. This is again hypocritical as achieving such greatness would mean ending one ¿Ã‚ ½s life which in fact would negate the usefulness of that greatness. This importance that Socrates attains is due to of his belief regarding influence; he maintains that an individual must submit to the will of the city or coax it regarding the character of impartiality. In this situation, the philosopher ¿Ã‚ ½s defense comprises of his prospect to convince the court and he was allowed a chance to try to change the opinion of the state to the approval of his point of view. Still, he botched up this objective and hence, in accordance with his philosophy, must submit to the belief system promulgated by the city. His belief regarding influence as opposed to obedience permits for two end results; the first being the persuasion of the state itself and the triumph of ones though. The other is the failure at convincing the state and hence bowing down to its will. Evidently, the latter consequence was to be that of Socrates and disobedience of the orders of the state would translate into Socrates contradicting himself and being labeled as a hypocrite. By ac tually going through with this, the government is provided with additional motives into trusting his misrepresentation in the beginning. In The Apology, the philosopher declares that if he had actually corrupted the youngsters against his better judgment, the rules do not necessitate the punishment to be dished out for such unintended acts that break the law; the authority in question behaved in the exact same manner that Socrates believed it would. The philosopher was also barred from thinking but he refused to adhere to this command. Hence, the penalty was a necessity in accordance with both the law or any corresponding natural law regarding education. The victory or miscarriage of an endeavor to persuade the state is immaterial to the projected incongruity amongst both the two writing. A significant detail is that the philosopher struggled to defend and validate himself. Through this, he did justice both to himself but also to his viewpoint. In this circumstance, the philosopher ¿Ã‚ ½s activities demonstrate his beliefs louder than his words and through the acceptance of his death, he has not simply attained what his attitude addresses, but further accomplishes the features his life operates upon. Even if aggrieved, he maintains that the Gods following his death will give him with a newfangled trial. It would be one that is prepared in an even stouter manner through his perseverance and reception of his chastisement. The philosopher headed through his actions and his tenacity was very robust. Possibly he did make an error, but even so, escaping the authorities and consequently his fault, would be challenging and even more incons istent than his hypothetical and incompatible declarations.

Compare and contrast what the poems My Last Duchess and The Laboratory :: English Literature

Compare and contrast what the poems My Last Duchess and The Laboratory are saying about human relationships. Compare and contrast what the poems ‘My Last Duchess’ and ‘The Laboratory’ are saying about human relationships and how the poet makes the poems interesting. The laboratory is about a woman wanting to poison/ kill her rivals so she can be the kings mistress. My Last Duchess is about a man describing his last Duchess, and how the painter flirted with her, he describes her features that show the painter was flirting with her. Both ‘The Laboratory’ and ‘My Last Duchess’ are of anger and resentment, in ‘The Laboratory’ it is the discarded mistress who is jealous about other women flirting and dancing with the King, and in ‘My Last Duchess’ it is of the Duke, and he is showing dis-pleasure in the way the his last Duchess conducted herself with other men. The quotes that back these up are, In the Laboratory. ‘Soon at the King’s, a mere lozenge to give And Pauline should have just thirty minutes to live! But to light a pastille, and Elise, with her head, And her breast and her arms and her hands should drop dead!’ and in ‘ My Last Duchess’ it was ‘Too easily impressed; she like whate’er. The writer in the poems are trying to say relationships break down for one reason or another, in these cases it’s infidelity, one person casting off someone for others, and in ‘The Laboratory’ she is fascinated with the process of how the alchemist makes the poisons, she thinks the poisons are beautiful, but they are very deadly, she uses beautiful words to make the poisons seem beautiful e.g. ‘ And yonder soft phial, the exquisite blue, sure to taste sweet,- is that poison too.’ She wants the poisons to be quick and effective, and if they suffer it would be a bonus. The poets wrote them this way because they are ballade, and use rhyme and rhythm almost as if telling a story, the poets use alliteration ‘which is the poison to poison her prithee’ and onomatopoeia ‘Grind, Mash, Pound’ and in ‘My Last Duchess’ he uses similes ‘look as if she

Growing Up in the Poem Death of a Naturalist Essay -- Seamus Haney

'Death of a Naturalist' is concerned with growing up and loss of innocence. The poet vividly describes a childhood experience that precipitates a change in the boy from the receptive and protected innocence of childhood to the fear and uncertainty of adolescence. Haney organizes his poem in two sections, corresponding to the change in the boy. By showing that this change is linked with education and learning, Haney is concerned with the inevitability of the progression from innocence to experience, concerned with the transformation from the unquestioning child to the reflective adult. The poem is set out in two sections of blank verse (rhymed iambic pentameter lines). The poem opens with an evocation of a summer landscape which has the immediacy of an actual childhood experience. There is also a sense of exploration in ?in the heart/Of the town land,? which is consistent with the idea of learning and exploration inevitably leading to discovery and the troubled awareness of experience. To achieve this Haney not only recreates the atmosphere of the flax-dam with accuracy and authenticity, but the diction is carefully chosen to create the effect of childlike innocence and naivety. The child?s natural speaking voice comes across in line 8, ?But best of all?. The vividness of his description is achieved through Haney use of images loaded with words that lengthen the vowels and have a certain weightiness in their consonants, ?green and heavy-headed Flax had rotted there, weighted down by huge sods.? The sound of the insects which, ?Wove a strong gauze of sound around the smell? is conveyed by the ?s? and ?z? sounds but also, importantly, acts like a bandage preventing the spread of decay. The images of decay, ?festered?, ?rot... ...bellied? and ?coarse croaking? remind us that the boy himself is going through changes. Leaving behind the receptive innocence of childhood and a feeling of being at ease with the natural world (the death of a naturalist of the title), the language of the second section expresses the boy's sense of distaste and fear for the physicality and sexuality of adolescence that he is now beginning to experience. The poem recreates and examines the moment of the child's confrontation with the fact that life is not what it seems. The experience transforms the boy's perception of the world. No longer is it a place for unquestioning sensuous delight. It is a dynamic world of uncertainty. The success of the poem derives from the effective way Haney builds up a totally convincing account of a childhood experience that deals with the excitement, pain and confusion of growing up.

Mob Involvement With Prohibition :: essays research papers

Mob Involvement with Prohibition In 1917 Congress passed the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution which prohibited the export, import, manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. This new law is believed to have had the greatest effect on the twenties creating a feeling of rebellion and wild behavior. Many people thought this law violated there right to live by their own standards and have a good time. The Volstead Act passed by Congress set up penalties to all violators of the Eighteenth Amendment. Prohibition is one of the best things ever done by the United States Government. It single-handedly created new business opportunities and brought people together like never before. It had also created a booming new industry, and created a new way of life for many people. Unfortunately, none of these things were good things. The new business opportunities were all in the organized crime realm. With the banning of alcohol they saw an incredible bo om in business. No longer did they have to rely on robbery, brothels and cons. There was a whole new business out there and it was making millions. Prohibition also united the American people more than anything since the World War. Everyone, from the poor to the rich, united to break the law. Even the police, yeah sure they will serve and protect, unless they find a better deal. The police were letting alcohol be made and sold right under their noses. The rich buy the booze to spice up their parties and the poor spend their time and money in bootleggers houses getting drunk. Rarely do the rich and the poor agree on anything. But, prohibition contributed to an increased sense of community and neighborly love. Prohibition also brought big business to the small businessman. Alcohol making used to be done by all the large companies. With prohibition the big companies were put out and the small businesses had to meet the demand. This was what I was referring to earlier by creating a huge business opportunities for the hard-working little guy, rather than the large corporations. I suppose you could venture to say prohibition was like a modern time welfare. By saying this I mean rather than making the rich richer and the poor poorer, prohibition helped the poor lift themselves from poverty without the help of the rich. Also prohibition had many benefits beyond the obvious.

Custom Coffee & Chocolate Essay

According to the overview of Custom Coffee & Chocolate’s business, Bonnie Brewer and Stacy Kim run a small cafà © where they serve unique coffee, chocolates and maintain a shop. The cafà © is located near a university, where students, faculty, staff, and local residents are the main customers. They have run the business successfully, working together without any employees and selling their products only in the cafà ©. They have started to think about further development. The main question at this point is what strategies they should launch to achieve that aim. The first step to answer on that question is analyzing the company’s internal environment and identifying it strengths and weaknesses. The greatest strength is undoubtedly knowledge acquired by the owners during business and marketing courses and there experience gained at work. The owners also chose an interesting location with many students who they know and understand very well, which combined with the offer is strength of their business. Customers can sit in comfortable chairs, on couches, and at coffee tables, and chat or read newspapers between classes. As we consider weaknesses, we can identify a few problematic things. The largest of these is the limited access to services due to the small space in the cafà ©. Moreover, lack of employees makes it impossible for the cafà © to open longer, because the owners also have to handle the finances. There is also no possibility for customers to order goods over the phone or online, and for the cafà © to deliver service to locations on campus, such as dorms and lounges where students are studying. Another weakness is quite poor menu, which should be extended by new products. Additionally, too little attention is paid to social inclusion by organizing events such as poetry readings or discussion groups, and conducting a blog which could integrate students around the cafà ©. Lack of a wireless connection that customers could use is a significant drawback. The last weakness, which is really important, is a lack of financial reserve. The owners exhausted their savings and the initial small business loan, and  their six-month lease is up. The second step is analyzing the company’s external environment and identifying it opportunities and threats. The greatest opportunity for the development of the company is the ability to reach a wider range of customers who are potentially interested in using the service of the cafà ©. Custom Coffee & Chocolate’s business plan bases on purchasing only fair trade coffee and chocolates made by a few local suppliers. It is worth considering the possibility of obtaining a better price from producer in exchange for promoting their brands. It is also possible to extent the number of potential suppliers, which is likely to enable the cafà © to purchase products at much better prices. An opportunity for the development of the company is the application of new technologies such as online shops, websites or blogs, to allow better contacts with customers on the Internet. Unfortunately, threats also can appear in the company’s external environment. It could be a decrease in the number of students at the University or changed location of classes. The biggest threat may be the emergence of competitors offering similar services at lower prices or better quality. The strategy adopted by the company, which consists of buying products from local suppliers and ordering only fair trade coffee, may cause a risk of introduction of cheaper substitutes on the market by competitors. The last but not the least threat is connected with the need to increase the cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s debt by taking additional loans for further development. After determining the strengths and weaknesses of the company’s internal environment as well as the opportunities and threats of the company’s external environment, it is necessary to propose some strategies that take into account the interdependencies between particular elements of SWOT analysis, which will help to develop the company in the right way. One of the ideas is to acquire new customers by increasing the availability of products. Arranging a sale of products through the online store and allowing customers to play orders by phone, organizing appropriate marketing campaigns on the website or in local media, gives opportunities to achieve that goal. Ordered goods would be delivered by courier. At the initial stage, the range of delivery might be limited to locations on campus, such as dorms and lounges where students are studying. This strategy would be built on opportunities of using the Internet and growing the customer’s base without the necessity of looking for larger premises to run  a cafà ©. It is necessary to hire employees to allow the owners to focus on strategic management activities in the cafà ©. It would give Bonnie Brewer and Stacy Kim opportunity to use their knowledge and experience and take over more of the finance and marketing activities. Another interesting strategy that can protect the company against the loss of customers is building social cohesion by turning the cafà © into a cult meeting place for students, faculty and other staff of the University. Organizing poetry readings or discussion groups could be a great idea. Moreover, those activities would be supported by a blog which would be moderated by the cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s owners. This way, drinking coffee or eating delicious chocolates would be only a natural addition and benefit during meetings. In that case, the main strength is the specific location with students, faculty and staff whose the owners of the cafe know and understand well. Having loyal customer groups may be particularly important when some competitors appear on the market. This way, the company could significantly reduce this kind of threat. A very effective strategy which could be used is building a recognizable brand of their own products. They should be presented as unique and not available from other competitors. In addition, it might be possible to prepare a wider range of products which could be better suited to the local customers needs. This strategy should be based on the promotion of local products and suppliers of products and high quality fair trade coffee. It could be an opportunity to get additional money from sponsors of the cultural and community building mission carried out by the owners of the cafà ©. The above strategy is based on the strength connected with high quality products which take a niche place on the market and cannot be easily replaced. It protects the company from the threat of competition and improves its competitive advantage.

Vacationing Under the Big Sky

In an obscure land lies Lone Mountain Peak. It soars into the Montana sky at 11,166 feet, and towers over the tiny community of Big Sky. This remote area is home to the Big Sky Ski Resort that was built in the 1970’s by the late news broadcaster Chet Huntley. It also houses the newly built Moonlight Basin Resort. The small town of Big Sky has grown to be one of Montana’s most sought out year-round playground for recreationists. During the summer months, Big Sky is a golfer’s paradise, a fly fisher’s sanctuary and a whitewater rafter’s dream. As the temperature drops and winter emerges, strap on a set of snow skis and tear up the softest powder on one of 220 ski trails. Of course if Lone Mountain is too difficult of an undertaking, then hop on a snowmobile and take a nice and peaceful trip through the scenic trails of the Gallatin National Forest. Gallatin National Forest spans across 1. 8 million acres of land and includes six mountain ranges. As anyone can see, whether travelers are looking for a summer or winter destination, Big Sky Montana offers many fun-filled activities to meet everyone’s needs. In the beginning Big Sky was not the hotspot it is today. The U. S. obtained the territory that is now the State of Montana with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. During this time the territory was home to twelve Indian tribes, the Blackfeet, the Crow, and the Sioux just to name a few. The Indians called this territory â€Å"the first best place† and to them the land was very sacred. In the late 1890s, homesteaders began to settle in this area which prompted the U. S. and the Tribal Nations to construct a treaty creating what we know today as Indian reservations. In 1902, Augustus Franklin Crail, a small time rancher set up his homestead in what is now called Big Sky’s Meadow. After this, Big Sky was known as home to a small group of ranchers. In 1973, retired NBC newscaster Chet Huntley opened Big Sky Resort, and finally saw his dream come to life. Unfortunately, Huntley died of lung cancer in 1974 and never got to see its full potential. After his death, Boyne USA Resorts purchased the ski mountain and soon after Big Sky began to develop into what it is today. In 1995, Big Sky Resort built the Lone Peak Tram, escalating Big Sky’s vertical drop to 4,180 feet. In 2003, Moonlight Basin Resort opened its doors on the North side of Lone Peak. This resort was built to cater to adults seeking a rejuvenating getaway. In 2006, the two resorts partnered up to offer the Lone Peak Ticket, creating the biggest skiing area in America which is a total of, 5,512 acres. Today, Big Sky’s year-round population only adds up to about 2,200 residents. The ski mountain attracts 400 more seasonal residents in the winter, plus thousands of travelers from all over the world. As a result of the partnership and one of the largest ski areas around, the slopes are seldom crowded and Big Sky maintains its genuine small-town vibe. As the summer months approach and Big Sky thaws out the land comes to life. The summer season starts in June and ends in September. This is the best time to see the state’s historical, cultural and sightseeing attractions. Yellowstone National Park is a great choice for a passionate photographer looking for the next amazing shot. The park is swarming with an array of wildlife and astonishing natural features such as geysers and hot springs. In addition to sightseeing Big Sky offers many activities for the outdoor enthusiast. First go horseback riding in the fresh air through the Gallatin Valley. And then, jump on a mountain bike and navigate down one of many treacherous trails at Moonlight Basin. Next, take a chair lift ride through the tree tops to one of the three zip lines sure to thrill the adrenaline junky. Finally, take a swing at one of the three challenging golf courses designed by professional golfers. As far as Big Sky fishing the possibilities are endless. Madison and Gallatin Rivers sustain populations of Cutthroat, Rainbow, Brown and Brook trout as well as native Montana White Fish and Arctic Grayling. The Gallatin River also presents the most challenging rapids for the eager kayaker or whitewater rafter. When the snow falls, Big Sky flourishes. Skiers and snowboarders flock to Big Sky to shred up the largest area of ski terrain in North America. Skiing and snowboarding are Big Sky’s most popular winter activity. Altogether, Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin offer 5,512 acres, 220 ski runs, and 4,350 vertical feet, of accessible ski terrain. The twenty-six lifts are capable of moving 35,000 people per hour, but usually only carry about 2,500 riders per day. As a result there is no such thing as long waits in line at the lifts. For the kids at heart, Big Sky recently added an area to zip down a 500-foot run on a sled-like inner tube. In addition, explore hundreds of miles of trails in Big Sky and nearby areas via a snowmobile. There is a 120-mile trail designated just for this between Bozeman and West Yellowstone called the Big Sky Snowmobile Trail. On this ride you will see incredible snow covered mountain vistas and a wide variety of wildlife. Another popular form of transportation is a horse-drawn sleigh. Whether it is a romantic dinner for two or a relaxing outing with the whole family, the enchantment of a horse-drawn sleigh ride is sure to be an unforgettable one. Journey through and discover Yellowstone National Park by way of a snowmobile, snow coach, ski, or snowshoe. Most of the wildlife and geothermal sites are still active in Yellowstone during the winter months. However, tourists are few and far between. The parks wide variety of wildlife roams freely through the winter wonderland. Another site to be seen is when boiling water from one of the many hot springs breaks through the frozen surface hissing steam into the cold winter air. Winter in Yellowstone is spectacular, making it a surprisingly picturesque time to visit. Over the past forty years, Big Sky Montana has grown from a small ski town into a frequently sought out vacation destination. With the endless list of both summer and winter activities who could deny the fact that Big Sky is an awesome place to visit? In short, Big Sky Montana started out as one man’s dream and has flourished into one of the most desirable vacation destinations. Work Cited All Trips: Big Sky Montana. All Trips, 1995/2012. Web. 28 Aug. 2012 This website is a tell all guide for prospective vacationers looking to explore Big Sky Montana. It describes in depth the area’s geographical statistics such as maps, elevation, and general location. It also lists recreational activities for the spring, summer and winter months like: hiking, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park. It describes lodging at Big Sky Resort, and Moonlight Basin Resort, and also mentions the local entertainment and dining options. The site has many links to other related websites that would also be helpful in exploring the area. This website is a very reliable and helpful resource for writing my essay. It gave me the information I needed to accurately describe what Big Sky Montana has to offer to vacationers. Big Sky Montana. org. N. p. , n. d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012 This website is a guide to exploring the remote area of Big Sky Montana. It provides you with all the necessary information pertinent to the area like he terrain, including the details of the mountains surrounding the area. It lists and gives a brief description of all the activities, lodging, local entertainment, and current events. The main page also has a link to look for vacancy at all the local resorts and hotels. It is a one stop place to answer all your questions about vacationing in Big Sky Montana. This website is a very reliable and helpful resource for writing my essay. It gave me the information I needed for my essay to accurately describe what the small town of Big Sky Montana has to offer to its vacationers. Juneau, Denise. â€Å"Indian Education for All: Montana Indians – Their History and Location. † Montana Office of Public Instruction, April 2009. Web. 5 Oct 2012 This eighty-three page pamphlet was published as an educational tool by the State of Montana’s Public Instruction Office for use in Montana’s public schools. It discusses in length the history, culture and traditions of each of the twelve Montana Indian tribes. It explains the changes that have occurred since the treaty between the U. S. and Tribal Nations which formed the Indian reservations that are still there today. Lastly it lists chronologically each major event that impacted the Indian tribes. This list starts in 1972 with Montana legislature adopting a new article stating that the State recognizes the unique cultural heritage of the American Indian, and committing to its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural heritage. This article supplied the facts on needed for my essay about the history of the territory which is now the State of Montana. Moonlight Basin Resort. N. p. ,n. d. Web. 4 Oct 2012

Case Study Assignment

1. What is the key HR issue(s) of this case?The key HR issue of this case is not having the policy written or clear. It is important make clear to everyone what the policies are and that they are applied consistently and fairly across the organization. Bruce was not clear on the proper rules of not being able to sell the company product outside. He thought what he was doing wasn’t any different than selling to family and friends, which the other co-worker were doing. HR needs to clearly state to all employees that company products are not for resale, but for employee use only.2. What action should you take with Bruce? Are there grounds to discipline Bruce? Why/why not?I think suspending Bruce from the staff purchase program for a limited time is a good action. There are grounds to discipline Bruce by verbally warning him that selling at the flea market or anywhere else in the future is prohibited. That is the first and only step allowed to take in the current situation. Write down in his file that he was warned about this for future reference. Advise him that if it happens again he will get a one-to-three day suspension from work. Counselling Bruce about his problems at home as well should be taken into consideration as it could affect his work in the future.3. Develop a detailed, comprehensive plan, outlining the HR policies/practices that should be implemented, in order to minimize the company’s risk of another occurrence. Explain the reasons for your recommendations.First, HR must have a written policy in place. The company should create a new written policy confirming that company product is for the direct use of employees only. Referring this in the new employee orientation presentation is not enough. The policy should be included in an employee handbook and  there should be proof in the personnel files that everyone has received a copy with signatures. It should also state that if employees are found reselling company products for personal profits will either be suspended or cut off from the staff purchase program or lead to suspension/termination from work. The company should also state that if the purchase program is found being abused is can be decided that the program will no longer become available for everyone else as well.HR should state and bring awareness that one person’s bad actions could cost everyone else’s benefits with the purchase program and that suspicious activity should be reported immediately. Furthermore, a brief company policy poster should be posted within the work place as a reminder. It should be placed in the back room where it can be easily seen. The employee handbook can be simply forgotten about and posters can help remind and encourage employees to keep following the rules on a daily basis. New and different poster designs should be changed annually so they don’t become out-of-date and stale. This will show that the company takes thoughtful measures to encourage a t rustworthy and responsible staff.Secondly, the company should enforce these new and current policies with a mandatory training seminar annually. The training seminar should help explain the reasons behind these standards and to build a positive spirit of self-discipline. With proper monitoring and guidance, this will show that management is on top of operational standards. Without this, employees will realize management has fallen behind on company values and it creates an increased exposure risk of someone not properly following company rules.These policies, when organized and disseminated in an easily used form, can serve to prevent many misunderstandings between employees and employers about their rights and obligations. Instituting internal controls with the help of the training seminar should help identify wrongdoings within the workplace. This will also follow up with employees to ensure that they are living up to his or her commitments and to reduce the likelihood of having t o take more severe action. The seminar should also gain agreement with the employees that they are continuously responsible for managing his or her actions with company guidelines.The meeting should also acknowledge employees for their good efforts and loyal relationship. Recognizing staff  will inspire them to become long-lasting honest employees. Additionally, the seminar should include fun quick games or quizzes for knowing important company protocols. This will encourage employees to speak up and become involved in the meeting so that it is not a one-way lecture type of discussion. Awarding with prizes such as a free company product package will lighten and not bore the staff. The seminar should be used to refresh employees on company guidelines and to involve them with any questions or concerns.

Second Foundation 2. Two Men without the Mule

The ship was in near-readiness. Nothing lacked, but the destination. The Mule had suggested a return to Trantor – the world that was the bulk of an incomparable Galactic metropolis of the hugest Empire mankind had ever known – the dead world that had been capital of all the stars. Pritcher disapproved. It was an old path – sucked dry. He found Bail Channis in the ship's navigation room. The young man's curly hair was just sufficiently disheveled to allow a single curl to droop over the forehead – as if it had been carefully placed there – and even teeth showed in a smile that matched it. Vaguely, the stiff officer felt himself harden against the other. Channis' excitement was evident, â€Å"Pritcher, it's too far a coincidence.† The general said coldly: â€Å"I'm not aware of the subject of conversation.† â€Å"Oh- Well, then drag up a chair, old man, and let's get into it. I've been going over your notes. I find them excellent.† â€Å"How†¦ pleasant that you do.† â€Å"But I'm wondering if you've come to the conclusions I have. Have you ever tried analyzing the problem deductively? I mean, it's all very well to comb the stars at random, and to have done all you did in five expeditions is quite a bit of star-hopping. That's obvious. But have you calculated how long it would take to go through every known world at this rate?† â€Å"Yes. Several times,† Pritcher felt no urge to meet the young man halfway, but there was the importance of filching the other's mind – the other's uncontrolled, and hence, unpredictable, mind. â€Å"Well, then, suppose we're analytical about it and try to decide just what we're looking for?† â€Å"The Second Foundation,† said Pritcher, grimly. â€Å"A Foundation of psychologists,† corrected Channis, â€Å"who are as weak in physical science as the First Foundation was weak in psychology. Well, you're from the First Foundation, which I'm not. The implications are probably obvious to you. We must find a world which rules by virtue of mental skills, and yet which is very backwards scientifically.† â€Å"Is that necessarily so?† questioned Pritcher, quietly. â€Å"Our own ‘Union of Worlds' isn't backwards scientifically, even though our ruler owes his strength to his mental powers.† â€Å"Because he has the skills of the First Foundation to draw upon,† came the slightly impatient answer, â€Å"and that is the only such reservoir of knowledge in the Galaxy. The Second Foundation must live among the dry crumbs of the broken Galactic Empire. There are no pickings there.† â€Å"So then you postulate mental power sufficient to establish their rule over a group of worlds and physical helplessness as well?† â€Å"Comparative physical helplessness. Against the decadent neighboring areas, they are competent to defend themselves. Against the resurgent forces of the Mule, with his background of a mature atomic economy, they cannot stand. Else, why is their location so well-hidden, both at the start by the founder, Hari Seldon, and now by themselves. Your own First Foundation made no secret of its existence and did not have it made for them, when they were an undefended single city on a lonely planet three hundred years ago.† The smooth lines of Pritcher's dark face twitched sardonically. ‘And now that you've finished your deep analysis, would you like a list of all the kingdoms, republics, planet states and dictatorships of one sort or another in that political wilderness out there that correspond to your description and to several factors besides?† â€Å"All this has been considered then?† Channis lost none of his brashness. â€Å"You won't find it here, naturally, but we have a completely worked out guide to the political units of the Opposing Periphery. Really, did you suppose the Mule would work entirely hit-and-miss?† â€Å"Well, then† and the young man's voice rose in a burst of energy, â€Å"what of the Oligarchy of Tazenda?† Pritcher touched his ear thoughtfully, â€Å"Tazenda? Oh, I think I know it. They're not in the Periphery, are they? It seems to me they're fully a third of the way towards the center of the Galaxy.† â€Å"Yes. What of that?† â€Å"The records we have place the Second Foundation at the other end of the Galaxy. Space knows it's the only thing we have to go on. Why talk of Tazenda anyway? Its angular deviation from the First Foundation radian is only about one hundred ten to one hundred twenty degrees anyway. Nowhere near one hundred eighty.† â€Å"There's another point in the records. The Second Foundation was established at ‘Star's End.'† â€Å"No such region in the Galaxy has ever been located.† â€Å"Because it was a local name, suppressed later for greater secrecy. Or maybe one invented for the purpose by Seldon and his group. Yet there's some relationship between ‘Star's End' and ‘Tazenda,' don't you think?† â€Å"A vague similarity in sound? Insufficient.† ‘Have you ever been there?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Yet it is mentioned in your records.† â€Å"Where? Oh, yes, but that was merely to take on food and water. There was certainly nothing remarkable about the world.† â€Å"Did you land at the ruling planet? The center of government?† â€Å"I couldn't possibly say.† Channis brooded about it under the other's cold gaze. Then, â€Å"Would you look at the Lens with me for a moment?† â€Å"Certainly.† The Lens was perhaps the newest feature of the interstellar cruisers of the day. Actually, it was a complicated calculating machine which could throw on a screen a reproduction of the night sky as seen from any given point of the Galaxy. Channis adjusted the co-ordinate points and the wall lights of the pilot room were extinguished. In the dim red light at the control board of the Lens, Channis' face glowed ruddily. Pritcher sat in the pilot seat, long legs crossed, face lost in the gloom. Slowly, as the induction period passed, the points of light brightened on the screen. And then they were thick and bright with the generously populated star-groupings of the Galaxy's center. â€Å"This,† explained Channis, â€Å"is the winter night-sky as seen from Trantor. That is the important point that, as far as I know, has been neglected so far in your search. All intelligent orientation must start from Trantor as zero point. Trantor was the capital of the Galactic Empire. Even more so scientifically and culturally, than politically. And, therefore, the significance of any descriptive name should stem, nine times out of ten, from a Trantorian orientation. You'll remember in this connection that, although Seldon was from Helicon, towards the Periphery, his group worked on Trantor itself.† â€Å"What is it you're trying to show me?† Pritcher's level voice plunged icily into the gathering enthusiasm of the other. â€Å"The map will explain it. Do you see the dark nebula?† The shadow of his arm fell upon the screen, which took on the bespanglement of the Galaxy. The pointing finger ended on a tiny patch of black that seemed a hole in the speckled fabric of light. â€Å"The stellagraphical records call it Pelot's Nebula. Watch it. I'm going to expand the image.† Pritcher had watched the phenomenon of Lens Image expansion before but he still caught his breath. It was like being at the visiplate of a spaceship storming through a horribly crowded Galaxy without entering hyperspace. The stars diverged towards them from a common center, flared outwards and tumbled off the edge of the screen. Single points became double, then globular. Hazy patches dissolved into myriad points. And always that illusion of motion. Channis spoke through it all, â€Å"You'll notice that we are moving along the direct line from Trantor to Pelot's Nebula, so that in effect we are still looking at a stellar orientation equivalent to that of Trantor. There is probably a slight error because of the gravitic deviation of light that I haven't the math to calculate for, but I'm sure it can't be significant.† The darkness was spreading over the screen. As the rate of magnification slowed, the stars slipped off the four ends of the screen in a regretful leave-taking. At the rims of the growing nebula, the brilliant universe of stars shone abruptly in token for that light which was merely hidden behind the swirling unradiating atom fragments of sodium and calcium that filled cubic parsecs of space. And Channis pointed again, â€Å"This has been called ‘The Mouth' by the inhabitants of that region of space. And that is significant because it is only from the Trantorian orientation that it looks like a mouth.† What he indicated was a rift in the body of the Nebula, shaped like a ragged, grinning mouth in profile, outlined by the glazing glory of the starlight with which it was filled. â€Å"Follow ‘The Mouth.' † said Channis. â€Å"Follow ‘The Mouth' towards the gullet as it narrows down to a thin, splintering line of light. Again the screen expanded a trifle, until the Nebula stretched away from â€Å"The Mouth† to block off all the screen but that narrow trickle and Channis' finger silently followed it down, to where it straggled to a halt, and then, as his finger continued moving onward, to a spot where one single star sparked lonesomely; and there his finger halted, for beyond that was blackness, unrelieved. â€Å"‘Star's End,'† said the young man, simply. â€Å"The fabric of the Nebula is thin there and the light of that one star finds its way through in just that one direction – to shine on Trantor.† â€Å"You're tying to tell me that-† the voice of the Mule's general died in suspicion. â€Å"I'm not trying. That is Tazenda – Star's End.† The lights went on. The Lens flicked off. Pritcher reached Channis in three long strides, â€Å"What made you think of this?† And Channis leaned back in his chair with a queerly puzzled expression on his face. â€Å"It was accidental. I'd like to take intellectual credit for this, but it was only accidental. In any case, however it happens, it fits. According to our references, Tazenda is an oligarchy. It rules twenty-seven inhabited planets. It is not advanced scientifically. And most of all, it is an obscure world that has adhered to a strict neutrality in the local politics of that stellar region, and is not expansionist. I think we ought to see it.† â€Å"Have you informed the Mule of this?† â€Å"No. Nor shall we. We're in space now, about to make the first hop.† Pritcher, in sudden horror, sprang to the visiplate. Cold space met his eyes when he adjusted it. He gazed fixedly at the view, then turned. Automatically, his hand reached for the hard, comfortable curve of the butt of his blaster. â€Å"By whose order?† â€Å"By my order, general†- it was the first time Channis had ever used the other's title -â€Å"while I was engaging you here. You probably felt no acceleration, because it came at the moment I was expanding the field of the Lens and you undoubtedly imagined it to be an illusion of the apparent star motion.† â€Å"Why? Just what are you doing? What was the point of your nonsense about Tazenda, then?† â€Å"That was no nonsense. I was completely serious. We're going there. We left today because we were scheduled to leave three days from now. General, you don't believe there is a Second Foundation, and I do. You are merely following the Mule's orders without faith; I recognize a serious danger. The Second Foundation has now had five years to prepare. How they've prepared, I don't know, but what if they have agents on Kalgan. If I carry about in my mind the knowledge of the whereabouts of the Second Foundation, they may discover that. My life might be no longer safe, and I have a great affection for my life. Even on a thin and remote possibility such as that, I would rather play safe. So no one knows of Tazenda but you, and you found out only after we were out in space. And even so, there is the question of the crew.† Channis was smiling again, ironically, in obviously complete control of the situation. Pritcher's hand fell away from his blaster, and for a moment a vague discomfort pierced him. What kept him from action? What deadened him? There was a time when he was a rebellious and unpromoted captain of the First Foundation's commercial empire, when it would have been himself rather than Channis who would have taken prompt and daring action such as that. Was the Mule right? Was his controlled mind so concerned with obedience as to lose initiative? He felt a thickening despondency drive him down into a strange lassitude. He said, â€Å"Well done! However, you will consult me in the future before making decisions of this nature.† The flickering signal caught his attention. â€Å"That's the engine room,† said Channis, casually. â€Å"They warmed up on five minutes' notice and I asked them to let me know if there was any trouble. Want to hold the fort?† Pritcher nodded mutely, and cogitated in the sudden loneliness on the evils of approaching fifty. The visiplate was sparsely starred. The main body of the Galaxy misted one end. What if he were free of the Mule's influence- But he recoiled in horror at the thought. *** Chief Engineer Huxlani looked sharply at the young, ununiformed man who carried himself with the assurance of a Fleet officer and seemed to be in a position of authority. Huxlani, as a regular Fleet man from the days his chin had dripped milk, generally confused authority with specific insignia. But the Mule had appointed this man, and the Mule was, of course, the last word. The only word for that matter. Not even subconsciously did he question that. Emotional control went deep. He handed Channis the little oval object without a word. Channis hefted it, and smiled engagingly. â€Å"You're a Foundation man, aren't you, chief?† â€Å"Yes, sir. I served in the Foundation Fleet eighteen years before the First Citizen took over.† â€Å"Foundation training in engineering?† â€Å"Qualified Technician, First Class – Central School on Anacreon.† â€Å"Good enough. And you found this on the communication circuit, where I asked you to look?† â€Å"Yes, Sir.† â€Å"Does it belong there?† â€Å"No, Sir.† â€Å"Then what is it?† â€Å"A hypertracer, sir.† â€Å"That's not enough. I'm not a Foundation man. What is it?† â€Å"It's a device to allow the ship to be traced through hyperspace.† â€Å"In other words we can be followed anywhere.† â€Å"Yes, Sir.† â€Å"All right. It's a recent invention, isn't it? It was developed by one of the Research Institutes set up by the First Citizen, wasn't it?† â€Å"I believe so, Sir.† â€Å"And its workings are a government secret. Right?† â€Å"I, believe so, Sir.† â€Å"Yet here it is. Intriguing.† Channis tossed the hypertracer methodically from hand to hand for a few seconds. Then, sharply, he held it out, â€Å"Take it, then, and put it back exactly where you found it and exactly how you found it. Understand? And then forget this incident. Entirely!† The chief choked down his near-automatic salute, turned sharply and left. The ship bounded through the Galaxy, its path a wide-spaced dotted line through the stars. The dots, referred to, were the scant stretches of ten to sixty light-seconds spent in normal space and between them stretched the hundred-and-up light-year gaps that represented the â€Å"hops† through hyperspace. Bail Channis sat at the control panel of the Lens and felt again the involuntary surge of near-worship at the contemplation of it. He was not a Foundation man and the interplay of forces at the twist of a knob or the breaking of a contact was not second nature to him. Not that the Lens ought quite to bore even a Foundation man. Within its unbelievably compact body were enough electronic circuits to pin-point accurately a hundred million separate stars in exact relationship to each other. And as if that were not a feat in itself, it was further capable of translating any given portion of the Galactic Field along any of the three spatial axes or to rotate any portion of the Field about a center. It was because of that, that the Lens had performed a near-revolution in interstellar travel. In the younger days of interstellar travel, the calculation of each â€Å"hop† through hyperspace meant any amount of work from a day to a week – and the larger portion of such work was the more or less precise calculation of â€Å"Ship's Position† on the Galactic scale of reference. Essentially that meant the accurate observation of at least three widely-spaced stars, the position of which, with reference to the arbitrary Galactic triple-zero, were known. And it is the word â€Å"known,† that is the catch. To any who know the star field well from one certain reference point, stars are as individual as people. Jump ten parsecs, however, and not even your own sun is recognizable. It may not even be visible. The answer was, of course, spectroscopic analysis. For centuries, the main object of interstellar engineering was the analysis of the â€Å"light signature† of more and more stars in greater and greater detail. With this, and the growing precision of the â€Å"hop† itself, standard routes of travel through the Galaxy were adopted and interstellar travel became less of an art and more of a science. And yet, even under the Foundation with improved calculating machines and a new method of mechanically scanning the star field for a known â€Å"light signature,† it sometimes took days to locate three stars and then calculate position in regions not previously familiar to the pilot. It was the Lens that changed all that. For one thing it required only a single known star. For another, even a space tyro such as Channis could operate it. The nearest sizable star at the moment was Vincetori, according to â€Å"hop† calculations, and on the visiplate now, a bright star was centered. Channis hoped that it was Vincetori. The field screen of the Lens was thrown directly next that of the visiplate and with careful fingers, Channis punched out the co-ordinates of Vincetori. He closed a relay, and the star field sprang to bright view. In it, too, a bright star was centered, but otherwise there seemed no relationship. He adjusted the Lens along the Z-Axis and expanded the Field to where the photometer showed both centered stars to be of equal brightness. Channis looked for a second star, sizably bright, on the visiplate and found one on the field screen to correspond. Slowly, he rotated the screen to similar angular deflection. He twisted his mouth and rejected the result with a grimace. Again he rotated and another bright star was brought into position, and a third. And then he grinned. That did it. Perhaps a specialist with trained relationship perception might have clicked first try, but he'd settle for three. That was the adjustment. In the final step, the two fields overlapped and merged into a sea of not-quite-rightness. Most of the stars were close doubles. But the fine adjustment did not take long. The double stars melted together, one field remained, and the â€Å"Ship's Position† could now be read directly off the dials. The entire procedure had taken less than half an hour. Channis found Han Pritcher in his private quarters. The general was quite apparently preparing for bed. He looked up. â€Å"News?† â€Å"Not particularly. We'll be at Tazenda in another hop.† â€Å"I know.† â€Å"I don't want to bother you if you're turning in, but have you looked through the film we picked up in Cil?† Han Pritcher cast a disparaging look at the article in question, where it lay in its black case upon his low bookshelf, â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"And what do you think?† â€Å"I think that if there was ever any science to History, it has been quite lost in this region of the Galaxy.† Channis grinned broadly, â€Å"I know what you mean. Rather barren, isn't it?† â€Å"Not if you enjoy personal chronicles of rulers. Probably unreachable, I should say, in both directions. Where history concerns mainly personalities, the drawings become either black or white according to the interests of the writer. I find it all remarkably useless.† â€Å"But there is talk about Tazenda. That's the point I tried to make when I gave you the film. It's the only one I could find that even mentioned them.† â€Å"All right. They have good rulers and bad. They've conquered a few planets, won some battles, lost a few. There is nothing distinctive about them. I don't think much of your theory, Channis.† â€Å"But you've missed a few points. Didn't you notice that they never formed coalitions? They always remained completely outside the politics of this corner of the star swarm. As you say, they conquered a few planets, but then they stopped – and that without any startling defeat of consequence. It's just as if they spread out enough to protect themselves, but not enough to attract attention.† â€Å"Very well,† came the unemotional response. â€Å"I have no objection to landing. At the worst – a little lost time.† â€Å"Oh, no. At the worst – complete defeat. If it is the Second Foundation. Remember it would be a world of space-knows-how-many Mules.† â€Å"What do you plan to do?† â€Å"Land on some minor subject planet. Find out as much as we can about Tazenda first, then improvise from that.† â€Å"All right. No objection. If you don't mind now, I would like the light out.† Channis left with a wave of his hand. And in the darkness of a tiny room in an island of driving metal lost in the vastness of space, General Han Pritcher remained awake, following the thoughts that led him through such fantastic reaches. If everything he had so painfully decided were true – and how all the facts were beginning to fit – then Tazenda was the Second Foundation. There was no way out. But how? How? Could it be Tazenda? An ordinary world? One without distinction? A slum lost amid the wreckage of an Empire? A splinter among the fragments? He remembered, as from a distance, the Mule's shriveled face and his thin voice as he used to speak of the old Foundation psychologist, Ebling Mis, the one man who had – maybe – learned the secret of the Second Foundation. Pritcher recalled the tension of the Mule's words: â€Å"It was as if astonishment had overwhelmed Mis. It was as though something about the Second Foundation had surpassed all his expectations, had driven in a direction completely different from what he might have assumed. If I could only have read his thoughts rather than his emotions. Yet the emotions were plain – and above everything else was this vast surprise.† Surprise was the keynote. Something supremely astonishing! And now came this boy, this grinning youngster, glibly joyful about Tazenda and its undistinguished subnormality. And he had to be right. He had to. Otherwise, nothing made sense. Pritcher's last conscious thought had a touch of grimness. That hypertracer along the Etheric tube was still there. He had checked it one hour back, with Channis well out of the way. Second Interlude It was a casual meeting in the anteroom of the Council Chamber – just a few moments before passing into the Chamber to take up the business of the day – and the few thoughts flashed back and forth quickly. â€Å"So the Mule is on his way.† â€Å"That's what I hear, too. Risky! Mighty risky!† â€Å"Not if affairs adhere to the functions set up.† â€Å"The Mule is not an ordinary man – and it is difficult to manipulate his chosen instruments without detection by him. The controlled minds are difficult to touch. They say he's caught on to a few cases.† â€Å"Yes, I don't see how that can be avoided.† â€Å"Uncontrolled minds are easier. But so few are in positions of authority under him-â€Å" They entered the Chamber. Others of the Second Foundation followed them.