The Characters Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the Epic of Gilgamesh :: Epic Gilgamesh essays

The Characters Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the Epic of Gilgamesh Aruru molded out of clay in the image and of the essence of Anu, the sky god, and of Ninurta the war god named Enkidu (pantheon.org/articles/e/enkidu.html). His whole body was shaggy with hair, he was furnished with tresses same a woman, his locks of hair grew like grain. Enkidu was the bull-man (a human with horns, tail, and rear hooves of a bull). In the Akkadian Gilgamesh Epic, Enkidu is said to have lived with gazelles and jostled other wild beasts at the watering place, until civilized by Arurus mistress. After being with the harlot for six days and seven nights Enkidu wanted to return to the wild beast, but they fled from him. You have become wise Enkidu, you have become like a god (piney.com/Enki.html).Enkidu is gradually introduced to civilization by living for a time with a group of shepherds, who teach him how to tend flocks, how to eat, how to speak properly, and how to wear clothes. Enkidu then enters the cit y of Uruk during a great celebration. Gilgamesh, as the king, claims the right to be the first with every new bride on the day of her wedding as Enkidu enters the city, Gilgamesh is about to claim that right. Infuriated at this abuse, Enkidu stands in front of the door of the marital chamber and blocks Gilgameshs way. They fight furiously until Gilgamesh wins the upper hand Enkidu concedes Gilgameshs superiority and the two embrace and become devoted friends (myfortress.org/EpicofGilgamesh.html).Enkidu was the participator of Gilgamesh, and a wild or natural man (pantheon.org/articles/e/enkidu.html). Because Gilgamesh was too energetic for the people of Uruk, the gods decide to create a partner for him. Later he was considered a patron or god of animals (piney.com/Enki.html).Gilgamesh proposes a great adventure they are to journey to the great Cedar Forest in southern Iran and jazz down all the cedar trees (wsu.edu/dee/MESO/GILG.HTM). To do this, they will need to kill the Guardia n of the Cedar Forest, the great demon, Humbaba the Terrible. Enkidu was extremely terrified they were headed to the dark forest to delineate Humbaba (gilgamesh-solutions.com/epic.cfm).Unlike Gilgamesh, Enkidu had seen this brutal monster before, he warned Gilgamesh, Oh my lord you do not know this monster and that is the reason you are not afraid. His teeth are flying dragon fangs, his countence is like a lion, his charge is like a flood, and with a look he crushes alike the trees of the forest and the reeds of the swamp.

Tetanus Essays -- Health, Diseases

Introduction clostridia tetani more commonly known as Tetanus is an acute infectious disease. Tetanus is not contagious and is a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani. It is characterized by muscular spasms that mainly involve the unpaid muscle groups. Tetanus can affect horses, goat, swine, cat, dog, sheep, cattle and many other domestic animals. In cattle the disease is relatively rare, but in about cases can spread through a herd causing substantial economic loss. Clostridium tetani is a gram-positive anaerobic bacteria that can be found in the soil, intestines of many animals and therefore it is also naturally found in the feces of most animals. Tetanus is more common during warmer months and less(prenominal) common during the colder months when the ground is frozen. Tetanus enters the body through a wound, most commonly in cattle via a castration site or umbilical location of a newborn calf. History Tetanus is one of the earliest recognized diseases and was known and described by Hippocrates in the 6th century B.C. (Gibbons et. al, 1970) In 1844 scientist were able to produce tetanus in a rabbit. They had taken material from a human that died from the disease and injected into the rabbit. (Jensen et. al, 1973) Soon after the disease was produced in wop pigs, mice and rats, this was accomplished by inoculating them with garden soil. (Gibbons et. al, 1970) It was not until 1889 that Clostridium tetani was cultured. Etiology Clostridium tetani is gram-positive, anaerobic bacteria that have poor motility and the ability to dwell spores. The spores are strongly resistant to heat, light and drying and may survive in soil and feces for months to years. When the spores are allowed to be in contact with direc... ...g the skin. Vaccinations that protect against Clostridium tetani are also available. Treatment Without treatment the affected cattle may die in three to ten days and even so the fatality rate rate it sixty percent. In ord er to treat these animals they must(prenominal) be tranquilized. Penicillin or another antibiotic must be administered to halt bacterial generation and production on toxins. (Thomas et. al, 2009) Since the animals muscles will be in spasm and very rigid they will be unable to eat or drink, treatment must also include means of supporting care. This may be accomplished by giving intravenous fluids or force feeding via stomach tube. The supportive treatment must be maintained until the signs of muscle spasms have diminished and the animal regains control over its body. This may take as long as one to four weeks. (Thomas et. al, 2009)

Twelve Angry Men and the Jurors of The Kevorkian Trials Essay -- compli

I cant Function as a human creation I want the right to die, pleaded Sherry Miller, patient of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the famous Death Doctor (Chermak 107). The entitlement to commit suicide was never a problem, that is until it was challenged by Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Kevorkian was innate(p) in Pontiac, Michigan in 1928 (Chermak 101). His infatuation with death started when his mother died from cancer. Kevorkian wanted to find an easier way to help people carry out their death wishes therefore, his dissolvent was a suicide machine (Chermak 103). In this way, more than 130 were helped by Dr. Kevorkian and his suicide machine (Chua-Eoan). Although Kevorkian was tried five times, he was found innocent quatern times (Chermak 108-115). His jury had an onerous time coming to their conclusion. Throughout Twelve Angry Men, written by Reginald Rose, Twelve jurors had to decide the fate of one male child convicted of stabbing his father in the chest. In the beginning, eleven of the twelve were positive that the boy was guilty and nothing could change their minds, but Juror Eight disagreed. He showed them the holes in each of the testimonies. After hours of debating, Juror Eight was able to convince most the jury into seeing reasonable doubt in the boys guilt. When the last voting was taken, the tally was eleven to one in favor of innocent. In the end, there are many similarities between the jurors from Twelve Angry Men and the jurors of the Kevorkian trials because they all had a complicated trial, and their rulings were influenced by their personal thoughts and pasts. Throughout Dr. Kevorkians career, he challenged the law unlike many. Kevorkian was tried five times, but four out of the five he was found innocent due to the complications with his offences o... ...od, 2007. Print.Chua-Eoan, Howard. Jack Kevorkian. Time 20 June 2011 16. MAS Ultra - take Edition. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.Cohen, Adam Grace, Julie Tynan, William. Showdown For Doctor Death. Time 152.23 (1998) 46. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.Hosenball, Mark. The Real Jack KEvorkian. Newsweek 122.23 (1993) 28. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.Lessenberry, Jack. Jury Acquits Kevorkian in Common-Law Case. The New York Times. 14 May 1996. The New York Times. 24 Apr. 2014.Morgenthau, gobbler Barrett, Todd. Dr. Kevorkians Death Wish. Newsweek 121.0 (1993) 46. MAS Ultra-School Edition. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.Rose, Reginald. Twelve Angry Men. New York Penguin, 2006. Print.Shapiro, Joseph P.Bowermaster, David. Death On Trial. (Cover Story). U.S. News & World Report 116.16 (1994) 31. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.

Robert E. Lee Essay -- Army American History Mexican War Essays

Robert E. leewardIn 1861, on the eve of civil war, President Abraham Lincoln tapped I, Robert E. Lee to take ascertain of the United States legions. being The fifty-five year old silver-haired veteran that had graduated second in my class at West Point, served valiantly during the Mexican state of war under universal Winfield Scott, and had, with his forces, put down the insurrection at Harpers Ferry, capturing abolitionist John Brown. By all accounts, i was the man to tow the Army, as renowned for his gentlemanlike character as for his military skill and sense of duty. It came as no surprise however, that following the secession of his home state, Virginia, Lee declined theAppointment and resigned. He had written to his family, .With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen I have not been able to shuffle up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home... Although opposed to secession, he would .return to hi s native state and shares the miseries of his people, and saves in defense. Draw his sword on none. His home, his relatives, and his children, all were rooted in a Virginia that had grown strong from the seeds planted by the American Revolution. Two of his ancestors had signed the Declaration of Independence. His father had eulogized George Washington as .first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen... (The actions of both men left indelible marks on Lees character. His debtorFather embodied the traits he would shun Washington. Duty bound, disciplined, and humble.he sought to imitate.)On April 9, 1865, Lee and his men faced certain defeat in the misty dawn at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. He had commanded the Army of Northern Virginia since the beginning of the war. He had been appointed General in Chief of the Confederate States Army in February. His ragtag veterans, depleted corps once 70,000 strong, had doggedly held. And at points, advanced. The lin e for four days against Union forces. Lee refused a persistently defensive posture. They had waged a bold, scrappy, underdog war, exacting victories at Seven Days, Chancellors Ville, Fredericksburg, and Cold Harbor. thither had been staggering losses on both sides. Gettysburg handed them their most devastating defeat. (.It was myFault, Lee humbly declared in the aftermath.)Now, they were hunkered down an... ...red rations. It was a generous and gentlemanly agreement, one that would allow agnation ravaged by war to begin to bind up its wounds.Lee stayed in Appomattox for the laying down of arms. He stayed dogged enough to commend his armys unsurpassed courage and fortitude, and explain his desire to .avoid the useless sacrifice. Of more confederate lives. He bid an .affectionate farewell... With great weariness and sadness he was escorted part of the way back to Richmond. He received a heros welcome along the way.Later indicted for treason (a intrust that was never pursued), and passed over for a pardon during his lifetime, Lee nevertheless remained a great man in the eyes of both the North and South. By deciding to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee had single-handedly set in motion the events that would signal the end of the war, the end of his military career, and the beginning of peace andreunification.Many years later, Woodrow Wilson voiced the widely-held view .We use the word .great. Indiscriminately. But we reserve the word .noble. Carefully for those whose greatness is not spent in their own interest.That was the characteristic of General Lees life...

Reincarnation :: essays research papers

ReincarnationA weird idea of much interest is that of reincarnation. What isreincarnation? Some say its the fact that a persons soul lives without a bodyand throughout the years possesses different bodies. Is this true or isreincarnation the result of a mentally unstable persons vivid tomography oreven the result of cryptomnesia, when a person takes something they have heardor seen, forgets about ever hearing or seeing it and then remembers the event(s)as happening in another life. These three hypothesizes each seem plausible inthere take in right. With the help of the SEARCH method it will be shown whichhypothesis fits best.Hypothesis 1 When a person dies the soul undergoes a process calledreincarnation, in which the soul lives another life in the future.The evidence I have to back up this particular claim is that of a business relationshipI read in People magazine awhile back. In this story a woman, who goes by thename of jennet Cockell, claims to have experienced reincarnation . She claims shewas once a woman, who went by the name of Marry Sutton, who died 21 years beforejennets own birth. Jenny believes this because of dreams she has had since theage of three. These dreams were unlike ordinary dreams in how vivid and realthey seemed. In the dreams Jenny saw herself in another time and place. Shesaw herself as a young mother living in a small cottage somewhere in Ireland.In one dream particularly Jenny saw herself with a terrible fever on her owndeathbed, terrified of what was to belong of her children. One day Jennydecided to find out what had become of these children. So Jenny went to Irelandand while looking at a map of Ireland she sensed that Mary had lived in thesmall town of Malahide. Then she checked local church records for any mothersof eight named Mary that had gone there. Since from her dreams Jenny recalledthere being eight children and the only name she could remember from the dreamswas Mary. Sure enough Jenny establish a Mary Sutton had l ived and died in Malahide.Marys children had been scattered among family members and orphanages. Thenthrough much search and hard work to find these children Jenny eventually foundall of Marys children. Before Jenny met with any of the children she and thechildren both agreed to allow a BBC researcher to test Jennys memories of Maryand Marys children The tests resulted in a 98 portion agreement. Jenny knewwhat pictures were on the walls of the Sutton home, other objects in the house,

My life in time :: essays research papers

Today I am an old women. My life is nearly over I am 95 life was hard as a youngster in my days but in the end I evermore made it push through of the hard times. I have gone through a lot in my life I have seen my parents pass and my friends but I bequeath never forgot the times we spent together because it perpetually made us stronger. When I was a little girl my momma would always tell me. neck never fails and that is true no matter the drama or the hardships as grand as you have love it never will fail. In my abundant life I have learned all of that. I had a strong family and we always made it out of our hard times at the sequence of 4 my father walked out on our family. I always had hate for my father for leaving my 3 siblings and I with a single mother. My mom always made it through the hard times she was a strong women. This shaped my life I never was able to trust or to give my burden out until I met my best friend Nadine. We shared a lot of memories together and we were the best of friends she was the one I would cry to and tell all my feelings to. She would always listen to me and I wouldnt be judged because she had a love that never failed. As I recall I remember one time Nadine trial to me in the middle of the night crying her eyes out he parents were murdered. I cried all night with her and washed her tears away I was hydrophobic with her and didnt know what to do I scared. My mom took her in as her child so not only was Nadine my best friend but she was too my sister. My mother met a man name sam he was the best man my mom could have ever found. He took me in as his consume child and I loved him dearly. He was the father that I always wanted. We had many happy days together but in the mid- 1800s all this would win over and my life would have another bump and dramatically changed my life forever.Chase 2There was a thousand of us who were going to make the long journey from Missouri to Oregon.

My life in time :: essays research papers

Today I am an old women. My life is nearly over I am 95 life was hard as a youngster in my days but in the end I of all time made it break of the hard times. I have gone through a lot in my life I have seen my parents pass and my friends but I bequeath never forgot the times we spent together because it continuously made us stronger. When I was a little girl my momma would always tell me. love life never fails and that is true no matter the drama or the hardships as great as you have love it never will fail. In my wide life I have learned all of that. I had a strong family and we always made it out of our hard times at the mature of 4 my father walked out on our family. I always had hate for my father for leaving my 3 siblings and I with a single mother. My mom always made it through the hard times she was a strong women. This shaped my life I never was able to trust or to give my soreness out until I met my best friend Nadine. We shared a lot of memories together and we wer e the best of friends she was the one I would cry to and tell all my feelings to. She would always listen to me and I wouldnt be judged because she had a love that never failed. As I recall I remember one time Nadine cut to me in the middle of the night crying her eyes out he parents were murdered. I cried all night with her and washed her tears away I was terrified with her and didnt know what to do I scared. My mom took her in as her child so not only was Nadine my best friend but she was alike my sister. My mother met a man name sam he was the best man my mom could have ever found. He took me in as his declare child and I loved him dearly. He was the father that I always wanted. We had many happy days together but in the mid- 1800s all this would deepen and my life would have another bump and dramatically changed my life forever.Chase 2There was a thousand of us who were going to make the long journey from Missouri to Oregon.

Succubus Shadows Chapter 6

I awoke to the smell of eggs and bacon. For a moment, I had the strangest adept of d?j? vu. When lot and I were beginning(a) getting to know each otherwise, Id crashed at his adorn after similarly much to drink. When I had woken up, Id discovered a full breakfast overspread in his kitchen.A few moments later, reality sunk in. There was no desk or bulletin board of book nones, no teddy bear in a University of Chicago shirt. It was my own dresser that requireed back at me, my own tangled pale blue sheets wrapped most my legs.With a sigh, I clambered out of seat and walked out to the kitchen, wondering what was going on. To my astonishment, it was roman type playing chef at my stove, both cats sitting at his feet no doubt hoping for a bit of dropped bacon.You cook? I asked, pouring a cup of coffee.I cook all(a)(prenominal) the time. You precisely dont notice.I notice you heating up a lot of frozen food. Whats all this?He shrugged. Im starving. You dont get a lot of time to eat when youre on stalking duty.I center of attentiond the eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Well, I think youll be good to go for the rest of the day. Maybe the next two days. You sure did make a lot, I extended hopefully.No need to be coy, he said, trying to hide a smile. You can have rough.This was the best news Id heard all day. Of course, Id only been up for five minutes. Then, last nights events came slamming into me. Oh, shit.Roman glanced up from where he was flipping a pancake. Hmm?A funny thing happened last night. I frowned. Well, not so funnyI explained that mystery forces reappearance last night, as well as my unexpected swim from the other day. Roman listened quietly, the earlier levity rapidly disappearing from his face.When I finished, he dumped his skillet of eggs into a bowl so wicked that the bowl shattered. I took an uneasy step back. Son of a bitch, he growled.Whoa, hey, I said. An angry nephilim was nothing I wanted somewhat. Thats p stratagem of a matched set.H e glared at me, only when I knew the anger wasnt toward me, exactly. Three times, Georgina. This has happened three fucking times, and I wasnt around.Why should you be? I asked in surprise. My surprise thus took an comic turn into outrage. You arent my keeper.No, clean some entity is invading my home. I decided not to point out that it was my home. I should be dealing with that, not chasing some wordy succubus for Jerome.Ask, and ye shall receive, a familiar voice suddenly said. Jeromes aura washed over us as he materialized by the kitchen table.About time, snapped Roman, that dark touch still on his face. Ive been handgriping forever for you to show up.Jerome arched an eyebrow and lit a cigarette. Forever, huh? It hasnt even been a week.Feels deal it, said Roman. He transfer me a plate of food, and I sat quietly at the table, deciding I should wait for this status report to unfold in the beginning delivering my latest problems to Jerome. You guys should add following Simo ne to your list of punishments for the eternally damned.Jerome smiled and flicked his ashes into a vase of gerbera daisies on my table. I wasnt thrilled about that, precisely at least it wasnt on my floor. I puzzle it youve seen no noteworthy activities? Mei reported the resembling thing.Roman sat protrude beside me with his own food, setting the plate down with more force than he needed. I winced, but it didnt break. Shes do nothing but shop and spud victims. Oh, and hit on Mortensen.Both of Jeromes eyebrows rose this time. Seth Mortensen?I started to ask how umpteen Mortensens he knew, but Romans next words cut me off. Yeah, shes shown up a couple times, attempting some straighten out of lame seduction.My anger started to kindle again and then Wait. A couple times? I exclaimed. More than the coffee shop?Roman looked at me, a brief glint of apology showing finished his angry expression. Yeah, I didnt have a chance to tell you. She came to the bookstore while you were out with Maddie yesterday. Very comminutedly timed with your absence.I slammed my fork down on my plate. Really, it was a wonder I had each dishes left-hand(a). Why the hell didnt you tell me?Because I kind of didnt have the chance, seeing as we had bigger problemsJerome had stiffened when Roman mentioned Simone attempting to seduce Seth. The reaction was weird, equivalent hed been caught by surprise. That was rare for a demon, rarer still for one to show it. Several moments later, he regained his composure, turning his attention to Romans comment. Bigger problems?Georginas world stalked, declared Roman.Georginas always being stalked. Jerome sighed. What is it this time?He kept his features neutral, but as we explained the situation, I see something spark in his eyessome sort of interest. At the very least, speculation.Silence pull down when Roman and I finished our story. I glanced at him, both of us waiting for my overlord to offer some sort of explanation.Your job with Simone is done, Jerome said at last.Thank God, said Roman.Youre going to follow Georgie instead.What? Roman and I exclaimed in unison.Same deal, added Jerome. Invisible, no gullature. Except when youre here, of course. most(prenominal) know you two are roommates. Itd be odd if you disappeared off the face of the earth.The last couple times that siren song had shown up, Id desperately wanted Roman. I should have been glad to have him now, which is why the outrage that followed next was completely irrational.But he needs to follow SimoneOh? asked Jerome. Pray tell why? Shes do no contact with anyone from Hell. Either she is here for innocent reasons, or shes too good at hiding her reports.Butbutshes following Seth. We need to common fig out whyI dont think it takes a genius to deduce why, said Jerome dryly.We have to stop her, though.The demon snorted. Georgina, do you have any root how much I dont care about your ex-boyfriend? Theres more in this universe than your absurd love spirite dness or lack of one. I flinched. Especially since hes sleeping with someone else now. If hes so in love with her now, Simone shouldnt be an issue. And dont glare at me alike that, he added. You already screwed his soul over when you fucked him last spring. Simone wont make any difference.I gritted my teeth. I still dont think No. Jeromes voice was hard, and he was using that tone you didnt argue with. He turned his attention to Roman. Youre done with Simone. Youre with Georgie now. soundless?Roman nodded, not sharing my outrage. Understood. Do you know what this is? Whats happening to Georgina?Ive got a few musical themes, Jerome growled. And like that, he vanished.Son of a bitch, I said.Roman swallowed a bite of egg and looked remarkably relaxed, compared to his earlier state. Was that a general statement of frustration or a slander on Jerome?Both. Why do you look so pleased all of a sudden? You were ready to go on a rampage earlier.Because Im done with Simone. And I get to chase burst prey now.And because you dont care about Seth at all.That too.I stared at my food without really seeing it. My appetite was kaput(p). I need to see him. I need to see her and find out if shes following him.No good can come of that, warned Roman.I didnt answer. My mood had crashed. I was grateful for Romans protection now, but in a lot of wayswell, I wanted to put Seth before myself. I wanted to defend him fromwhat? Having his life shortened by a succubus? Having his soul further darkened? Or were my motives more selfishdid I comely not want him to sleep with another cleaning woman? Accepting him and Maddie was hard enoughand yet, if Simone did woo him, would that break up the impending marriage? No, I decided, Seth would stay true to Maddie. He wouldnt cheat on her. Wouldnt he? a nasty voice in my head asked. He cheated with you.Damn it. I wish you wouldnt look like that.I glanced up at Roman. Huh?That pathetic look on your face is killing me. He turned his gaze down ward, move eggs around his plate. With a sigh, he looked back up. I know where Seth will be today. But I dont know if Simone will be there.My eyes widened. Where?Roman hesitated only a moment later. The art museum. He mentioned it to Maddie yesterday. Some exhibit he wanted to see that she doesnt. He was going to swing by there today. Im not sure of the time, but Simone expertness have overheard. If so, itd be the perfect time.I stood up, and my appearance instantly shifted, ready to go. Hair styled long and wavy. Jeans and a T-shirt. Makeup perfect. Well, lets go. We need to stake the place out.Whoa there, speedy. Some of us cant get ready that fast. And some of us arent done eating.I sat back down, not bothering to hide my impatience. He ate on, pointedly ignoring me and chewing each bite with care. A thought popped up. Can you hide my compactature? Ill go invisible. Lure her in.Roman shook his head in exasperation. I was hoping you wouldnt think of that.I expected him to refu se me, but to my surprise, he did indeed hide my immortal signature when we finally set out to the museum. afterwards break invisible, I was as incognito as he was by my side.It was a fairly day to be out in downtown Seattle. The morning clouds had burn off, and the sun had nothing to hold it back. It was deceptive, though. The sky was a clear radiant blue, but falls chill was starting to finally take its grip. So while the weather looked gorgeous through windows, a coat was required once outside.The Seattle Art Museum or, as it was affectionately know by locals, SAM was massive, and its regular collection held exhibits from either place and period imaginable. Roman had told me the exhibit Seth wanted to see was a special one, only in town for a few weeks. It was a display of Late Antiquity jewelry, and I would have wagered good money that Seth was there to do research for Cady and ONeill.But when we arrived, there was no sign of Seth. Plenty of tourists even on a weekday filled the place, wandering aimlessly and pausing to learn or read about the pieces. This period of time was near and passion to me, and I couldnt tending feeling a little uneasy. It was the era Id grown up in, the era Id dog-tired my mortal days in. Seeing those items rings, bracelets, and necklaces was surreal. Many were from the Mediterranean region of the Roman Empire. Sometimes, when I thought about my past, it would make my heart burn. Other times, I felt up removed, like I was watching a photograph about someone elses life.Id been studying each piece in detail, intrigued at how some had been polished to brightness and others were corroded with time. A gentle nudge at my shoulder made me look up. I saw no one near me and realized it had been Roman. Turning around, I surveyed the gallery and found what or sort of who hed spotted. Seth stood on the opposite side of the room, face thoughtful and inquisitive as he studied one of the cases. A notebook and pen were in his hands. Hed come for research, as I suspected. I studied him with equal fascination. As far as I was fearfulnessed, he was as rare and precious to me as any of the jewelry surrounding us. Shit, I thought. I was an idiot if I thought I was over him. Just standing there in the same room, I felt more drawn to him than ever.I backed up to a wall near me, staying out of the way of patrons and simply keeping an eye on Seth, wondering if Simone would show her traitorous face. After a half-hour went by, my impatience grew. It was stupid, I knew. Seth would likely be here all afternoon, and she might arrive later. Butsuddenly, talking to him seemed more important. I knew it was foolish, knew it was wrongbut, well, Id done more idiotic things in the past.I stepped out of the gallery and into a stairwell that was momentarily empty. It only took a second to go visible again. In my ear, I heard Romans voice hiss, Are you crazy?Keep my signature hidden, I snapped back. If she shows, well sense h er before she sees me.An elderly couple came down the stairs just as I finished my words, giving me an odd look. I smiled winningly and held the door open for them. They scurried through.Seth was at a display of Byzantine diadems when I touched his arm. He flinched and turned around, though his shock immediately turned to pleasure when he saw me. Shit, I thought again. Far better if hed looked dismayed.Let me guess, I said. Youre planning the perfect heist for Cady and ONeill.He smiled. Theyre the good guys.Theyve been known to break the law, I pointed out.I like to think of it as bending the law. What are you doing here?I gestured around. Revisiting my youth or whats left of it. The sands of time bury most things, but a few remain.I never thought of that, said Seth, clearly intrigued. This is your era. I should have been coming to you for research.A vision of us having private study sessions came to mind. I immediately squashed it. Better visual aids here. Anything catch your eye? He pointed at the case of diadems beside him. I like these. Its a dishonour we dont wear stuff like this anymore.I followed his gaze. Not enough bling in the hair nowadays?He gave me one of those half-smiles. No. Theres justI dont know. Theres a beauty and skill we dont use. Look at that. He gestured toward one diadem, meant to resemble a crown of gold coins. Little strings of subatomic gold circles hung down, draping through the hair. Look at the imperfections. That was handmade, each one of those.Some would call that flawed. I loved it when Seth got caught up in these philosophical musings.Thats what makes it great. And anyway, I kind of like the idea of adorning women in crowns and jewels. Call me sexist, but I think the fair sex should be worshipped. He pa employ. And perfectly entitled to all the rights and opportunities of men.I laughed and stepped aside so that others could approach the case. I think youre romantic, not sexist. A troubling thought came to me, recalling how Maddie had admired pearl tiaras and headbands at the bridal stores yesterday. Modern-day diadems. Would Seth like that?Call it what you want, he said, but I just think our civilization has declined when scrunchies have become the prevalent form of hair ornamentation.We wandered around the exhibits after that, commenting on and analyzing them. I tried not to overthink the situation. I didnt delude myself about whether we could be friends. I didnt wallow in guilt over carrying a torch. I just tried to enjoy the moment. During none of our time together did I feel Simone. Since Romans senses were stronger, I had to assume he hadnt either. I also suspected he was drum roll his eyes over my time with Seth.Seth and I finally reached the last of the exhibit Byzantine wedding rings. When I saw them, the warm, comfortable feelings that had wrapped around me suddenly turned to ice. I felt the change in Seth too. Most of the rings were of similar design, with a flat circle lying on top of the ring, the circle surface then engraved with some image. My troubled feelings had nothing to do with weddings or any other associations with Maddie.Last Christmas, Seth had had a ring made for me in this style. He hadnt intended it as a wedding or engagement ring. Hed just done it as a gift, cognise the style was part of my past. It was beautiful, and I still had it. It was locked away in a box of treasures Id kept over the centuries items too precious to throw out and too painful to look at.Neither of us said anything, and I wondered what he thought about. Was it just the awkward discomfort from memories of an ex- fille? Was it stirring bittersweet feelings similar to the ones irritated in me? When he and Maddie had gotten involved, Id been convinced hed moved on. Then, after our brief affair in the spring, Id reconsidered. There were too many times now that he looked at me strangely, too many times that reminded me of when I was his girlfriend and the times he told me he loved me. But his wedding was still moving forward, with no sign of doubt on his part. I didnt know what to think.Im not sure how long we stood in silence, but Seth broke it. WellI guess thats it for the exhibit, huh?I glanced around as though attempting to determine if wed seen it all. I already knew we had. Yeah, I guess thats it.He wouldnt meet my eyes, and his whole body radiated dying(p)ness. Thanks for the research help. I should get back to the store and put this to good use.Good luck.His eyes lifted, and I offered a small smile that he returned. Thanks.We parted, and I left the museum, not sure where I was going only that I had to go someplace where he wasnt. For an hour or so, Id played make-believe with him, keeping that familiar belief away and allowing myself a small joy. Now, that darkness descended on meand uneasily, I recalled how that mystery force always showed up when I was troubled. That was its lure comfort when I felt desperate and alone.Roman might be my offense, but I decided then to go for a good defense. I needed distraction. You arent going to like this, I murmured, assuming Roman was close enough to hear.Distraction wasnt the only thing I needed. I needed a good energy fix. I was sleeping with enough men regularly that I had a pretty consistent supply of energy. Still, being at full power, so to speak, would keep my attitude up which hopefully would increase my mental resolve.Not that sleeping with random men was always cheering. I was in no mood to go inquisition for victims in a bar. I needed something slightly easier, something a little less sleazy. Normally those two were mutually exclusive, but Id come up with an idea while driving home that might accomplish both.There was a twenty-something guy named Gavin who lived in a condo down the hall from me. He was nice enough and had a serious crush on me. He never said or did anything overtly, but it was obvious. He alternated between nervousness and poorly done jokes whenever I was a round. He always seemed unwilling to part when we ran into each other in the garage or lobby or whatever. His gaze also spent more time on my cleavage than my eyes.The beauty of it all was that he also had a girlfriend. I didnt know if hed cheated on her before or just wanted to. That wasnt important at the moment. What was important was that when I showed up at his door after the museum, his girlfriend wasnt around.Georgina, he said, taken aback. Howhows it going?Not great, I said, forcing distress into my voice. I got locked out of my place and have to wait for my friend to show up with a spare set of keys. Can I wait here for her? Im afraid if I go outside, itll rain again.It was then that Gavin seemed to notice my drenched state, particularly the now transparent white sundress Id shape-shifted into without a bra.His eyes pester out, and then he glanced quickly croup him before turning back to the wet, clinging fabric encasing my breasts and their hardened nipples. Itit rained? But its so nice out. That brisk fall self-restraint was pouring in through his windows.I know, I said glibly. I was kind of surprised too. It was this really fast freak thing that came out of nowhere.This was apparently so unbelievable that Gavin actually managed to tear himself away from me to once more scrutinize the brilliantly blue sky outside. Finally, deciding not to fight this, he beckoned for me to come in.Do you have a T-shirt or anything I can wear? I asked sweetly. Im freezing in this.His scrutiny had shifted from my breasts to the very broad black thong underneath the dress. I think changing out of the dress was a huge disappointment for him, but he wasnt so socially inept as to refuse me.Sure, come on.I followed him to his bedroom where he dug out an oversized Seattle Mariners T-shirt and a pair of green gaberdine boxers. He handed them over.See if these work, he said, backing out of the room to give me privacy.Thanks, I said, giving him a winning smile.He managed a nervous one in return just before shutting the door. I crossed my arms and waited a minute, during which an invisible Roman said This is ridiculous. You should have just shown up as a pizza delivery girl.Hey, the wet dress technique is tried and true. Works every time.Roman sighed.Wait in the other room then, I said. This shouldnt take long.I opened the door and shouted down the hall, Hey, Gavin? Can you come help me?He popped back in, and I couldnt help but notice his dark brown hair was a lot neater than it had been earlier. Hed probably dashed off to the bathroom in a quick homework attempt to impress me.Whats wrong? he asked.I turned around and pushed my hair over one shoulder, showing where the straps of my dresss halter top were tied behind my neck. Theres a knot here I cant get undone. Can you give it a shot?He hesitated for only a moment before moving forward to assist. Id shape-shifted a pretty good knot, and it took him some time to work through it, during which I backed up against him as close as I could. At last, he managed to undo it, pulling the straps apart and releasing them so that I could grab them. I missed, of course, and as the straps fell, so did most of the dress. It went against the laws of physics, seeing as how clingy that wet fabric had been.I caught the dress in a weak attempt at modesty, but not before it almost entirely fell off. Nearby, I heard another exasperated sigh from Roman.I turned to face Gavin, holding the dress against me in a way that completely open(a) my chest. His eyes were naturally fixed on it, and I glanced down too, as though trying to figure out what he was looking at.Oh, man. Im wet all over. Do you have a towel? I dont want to get the shirt wet.Uhwhat? YeahIn record speed, he raced to the bathroom and returned with a small hand towel. I decided then not to bother with any more convenient excuses and simply stepped forward, hoping he was smart enough to accept the invitation.He was. Hesitant at first, he sl owly ran the towel over my breasts, lingering when it was obvious they were dry. He moved down to my stomach which he dried pretty quickly and then to my hips and thighs. Id long since let my soggy dress fall to the floor and helpfully pulled off my thong so that he could reach every part. He had to kneel to do my inner thighs, and I heard him mutter, Oh my God. I wasnt sure if that was simply because of the situation he was in or because his girlfriend hadnt gone Brazilian.You have great hands, I purred.Th-thanks, he said inanely. Hed just finished my legs and stood up. I took the towel and tossed it on the bed. Catching hold of his hand, I gently stroked it and brought it between my thighs.Really great, I said in an even lower voice. Long fingersI guided a couple of those fingers into me, and I swear, he gasped louder than I did. After a little more urging, he no longer needed my assistance and began rapidly thrusting his fingers on his own. I pressed to him, moaning as though i t were the most amazing experience of my life. I was wetter on the inside than out, and the only resistance he encountered was in how tight Id made myself.Reaching around his arm, I unfastened his pants and pulled them off in one motion. His erection pointed out at me long and hard and ready. It had probably been that way the moment I showed up at the door. Gripping his shirt I pulled him toward the bed.The rest, I gasped, spreading myself in front of him. Let me see how the rest feels.The hand that had been in me left as he laid himself on top of me. He pushed my thighs apart and thrust in with a force that contradicted his earlier shyness. In fact, his face showed no nervousness whatsoever anymore. He was all eagerness and desire, emitting small grunts each time he shoved himself into me.Harder, I told him, giving him big, passionate eyes. I want it harder.He obliged, increasing the speed and force. After about a minute of this, he shifted up so that he was kneeling. Holding my th ighs just below my knees, he spread my legs far apart and leaned in. The new position allowed him to get deeper, and I exclaimed my approval, urging him again to do it harder and harder.Steadily, I felt his life energy begin to function into me. It was a decent amount, and it felt glorious, spreading through my being and reinvigorating me. With it came his thoughts and feelings, at which point I learned he never had actually cheated on his girlfriend before but, oh, hed wanted to plenty of times. She barely crossed his mind at the moment. He was too consumed by me to feel much guilt. The only brief concern he had was that he should have used a condom. That was a regret, but it wasnt strong enough for him to stop, not when I felt this good.I let my cries compound into small screams and felt him grow closer and closer to coming. My head was getting dangerously close to the headboard, but the roughness of it all was really turning him on. Hed never had the opportunity to just go so wild. Harder and harder he went, thrusting himself in all the way each time. The energy increased by leaps and bounds, and just before the big moment came, I decided to drive home the guilt a little. It made me feel some guilt in return, but at the end of the day, guilt marked the soul, and that was what Hell employed me for.Can she do this? I panted. He was half a second from coming. Can your girlfriend take it like this?The orgasm exploded and so did he. He pulled out at the last second, not because of what Id said but because this was his solution to the condom problem. Withdrawal was a horrible safe sex method, but whatever. His body spasmed and he came on my stomach. It was warm against my flesh, and he watched with a perverse fascination.Yet, just before it had happened, Id felt my paster hit. Hed been so consumed by lust that hed been able to block his girlfriend out earlier. My comment had pushed her to the fore-front, but there had been no way he could stop what he was do ing by that point. Id felt the spike of guilt, just as the last burst of life energy sparkled through me.He fell back against the covers, gasping and exhausted. Losing some of your life will do that to you. Whatever thoughts of guilt or satisfaction he felt now were his alone. The towel was still conveniently on the bed, and I used it to clean myself up. I stood up and walked over to the window while he still tried to catch his breath. Hed probably fall asleep in a few minutes.Oh, hey, I said cheerfully. My friends out there with the key. I picked up the sodden dress and headed for the door. Thanks for letting me hang out.

Prelude to Foundation Chapter 1 Mathematician

CLEON I- The last Gal make upic emperor of the Entun dynasty. He was born in the year 11,988 of the Galactic Era, the same year in which Hari Seldon was born. (It is position that Seldons birthdate, which rough c all(prenominal) up doubtful, may pay back been adjusted to match that of Cleon, whom Seldon, soon after his arrival on Trantor, is supposed to construct encountered.)Having succeeded to the Imperial thr star in 12,010 at the age of twenty- ii, Cleon Is reign re feeded a curious interval of dim in those troubled times. This is undoubtedly due to the skills of his Chief of Staff, Eto Demerzel, who so prudently obscured himself from usual record that minuscular is known near him.Cleon himselfEncyclopedia Galactica 11.Suppressing a small yawn, Cleon said, Demerzel, have you by whatso perpetually chance ever heard of a existence named Hari Seldon?Cleon had been emperor moth for just over ten years and there were times at put forward occasions when, dressed in the n ecessary robes and regalia, he could falsify to tonicity stately. He did so, for instance, in the holograph of himself that stood in the niche in the wall behind him. It was nursing homed so that it clearly dominated the other niches holding the holographs of several of his ancestors. The holograph was non a totally honest one, for though Cleons hair was light brown in hologram and realisticity a resembling, it was a arcsecond thicker in the holograph. in that location was a certain asymmetry to his real face, for the left side of his upper lip raised itself a bit higher than the office side, and this was abouthow not evident in the holograph. And if he had stood up and placed himself beside the holograph, he would have been get windn to be 2 centimeters under the 1.83-meter height that the image portrayed-and peradventure a bit stouter. Of course, the holograph was the positive coronation portrait and he had been younger then. He still looked young and rather handsome, too, and when he was not in the pitiless grip of authorised ceremony, there was a kind of vague good nature about his face.Demerzel said, with the tone of respect that he c arfully cultivated, Hari Seldon? It is an unacquainted with(predicate) name to me, Sire. Ought I to know of him?The curate of Science mentioned him to me last night. I thought you great power.Demerzel frowned slightly, exclusively only when very slightly, for one does not frown in the Imperial presence. The Minister of Science, Sire, should have mouth of this man to me as Chief of Staff. If you argon to be bombarded from every side-Cleon raised his hand and Demerzel stopped at once. Please, Demerzel, one wadt stand on formality at all times. When I passed the Minister at last nights reception and exchanged a few explicates with him, he bubbled over. I could not refuse to listen and I was glad I had, for it was interesting.In what way interesting, Sire?Well, these are not the old solar days when science and mathematics were all the rage. That sort of thing beguilems to have died down somehow, perhaps because all the discoveries have been made, dont you think? Apparently, however, interesting things bum still happen. At least(prenominal) I was told it was interesting.By the Minister of Science, Sire?Yes. He said that this Hari Seldon had attended a convention of mathematicians held here in Trantor-they do this every ten years, for some reason-and he said that he had proven that one could foretell the emerging numericly.Demerzel permitted himself a small smile. Either the Minister of Science, a man of little acumen, is false or the mathematician is. Surely, the matter of foretelling the future is a childrens dream of magic.Is it, Demerzel? People believe in such things.People believe in many things, Sire. except they believe in such things. Therefore, it doesnt matter whether the forecast of the future is true or not. If a mathematician should predict a long and happy reign fo r me, a time of peace and prosperity for the Empire-Eh, would that not be hearty?It would be pleasant to hear, certainly, barely what would it accomplish, Sire? simply surely if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its existence believed, is transmuted to fact. These are self-fulfilling prophecies. Indeed, now that I think of it, it was you who once explained this to me.Demerzel said, I believe I did, Sire. His eyes were watching the emperor carefully, as though to contrive how far he might go on his own. Still, if that be so, one could have any person make the prophecy. non all persons would be equally believed, Demerzel. A mathematician, however, who could back his prophecy with numeral formulas and terminology, might be understood by no one and yet believed by everyone.Demerzel said, As usual, Sire, you make good sense. We live in troubled times and it would be worth bit to calm them in a way that would require neither mo ney nor military effort-which, in recent history, have done little good and much harm.Exactly, Demerzel, said the emperor moth with excitement. oscillate in this Hari Seldon. You tell me you have your strings stretching to every part of this turbulent world, even where my forces dare not go. Pull on one of those strings, then, and fetch in this mathematician. Let me see him.I leave do so, Sire, said Demerzel, who had already located Seldon and who made a mental note to commend the Minister of Science for a job well done.2.Hari Seldon did not make an impressive appearance at this time. Like the Emperor Cleon I, he was thirty- ii years old, only if he was only 1.73 meters tall. His face was smooth and cheerful, his hair dark brown, al more or less black, and his clothing had the unmistakable touch of provinciality about it. To anyone in later times who knew of Hari Seldon only as a legendary demigod, it would seem almost sacrilegious for him not to have white hair, not to have an old lined face, a quiet smile radiating wisdom, not to be seated in a wheelchair. Even then, in advanced old age, his eyes had been cheerful, however. There was that.And his eyes were curiously cheerful now, for his paper had been slide byn at the Decennial Convention. It had even aroused some interest in a distant sort of way and old Osterfith had nodded his headspring at him and had said, Ingenious, young man. Most ingenious. Which, coming from Osterfith, was satisfactory. Most satisfactory.solely now there was a new-and quite unexpected- snap offment and Seldon wasnt sure whether it should increase his cheer and intensify his rapture or not. He stared at the tall young man in uniform-the Spaceship-and-Sun neatly placed on the left side of his tunic.Lieutenant Alban Wellis, said the police officer of the Emperors Guard sooner putting away his identification. Will you put in with me now, sir?Wellis was armed, of course. There were two other Guardsmen waiting outside his doo r. Seldon knew he had no choice, for all the others careful politeness, just there was no reason he could not seek information. He said, To see the Emperor?To be brought to the Palace, sir. Thats the extent of my instructions.But why?I was not told why, sir. And I have my strict instructions that you must come with me-one way or another.But this seems as though I am being arrested. I have done aught to warrant that.Say, rather, that it seems you are being addn an escort of honor-if you delay me no further.Seldon delayed no further. He touch his lips together, as though to block of further questions, nodded his head, and stepped forward. Even if he was going to meet the Emperor and to receive Imperial commendation, he found no delight in it. He was for the Empire-that is, for the worlds of homoity in peace and union plainly he was not for the Emperor.The lieutenant walked ahead, the other two behind. Seldon smiled at those he passed and managed to look unconcerned. Outside the hotel they climbed into an official ground-car. (Seldon ran his hand over the upholstery he had neer been in anything so ornate.)They were in one of the wealthiest sections of Trantor. The dome was high complete here to nurse a sensation of being in the open and one could swear-even one such as Hari Seldon, who had been born and brought up on an open world-that they were in sunlight. You could see no sun and no shadows, but the air was light and fragrant.And then it passed and the dome curved down and the walls narrowed in and soon they were moving along an enclosed tunnel, marked periodically with the Spaceship-and-Sun and so clearly reserved (Seldon thought) for official vehicles.A door opened and the ground-car sped by subject matter of. When the door closed behind them, they were in the open-the true, the real open. There were 250 square kilometers of the only stretch of open land on Trantor and on it stood the Imperial Palace. Seldon would have cared a chance to wander t hrough that open land-not because of the Palace, but because it also contained the Galactic University and, most intriguing of all, the Galactic Library.And yet, in passing from the enclosed world of Trantor into the open hoot of wood and greennessland, he had passed into a world in which clouds dimmed the sky and a chill wind rued his shirt. He pressed the contact that closed the ground-cars window.It was a dismal day outside.3.Seldon was not at all sure he would meet the Emperor. At best, he would meet some official in the fourth or one-fifth echelon who would claim to speak for the Emperor.How many people ever did see the Emperor? In person, rather than on holovision? How many people saw the real, tangible Emperor, an Emperor who neer left the Imperial grounds that he, Seldon, was now rolling over. The number was vanishingly small. Twenty-five million inhabited worlds, distributively with its cargo of a one thousand thousand tender beings or more-and among all those quadri llions of human beings, how many had, or would ever, lay eyes on the living Emperor. A thousand?And did anyone care? The Emperor was no more than a symbol of Empire, like the Spaceship-and-Sun but far less pervasive, far less real. It was his soldiers and his officials, crawling everywhere, that now represented an Empire that had generate a dead weight upon its people-not the Emperor.So it was that when Seldon was ushered into a moderately sized, lavishly furnished room and found a young-looking man sitting on the edge of a table in a windowed alcove, one foot on the ground and one swinging over the edge, he found himself wondering that any official should be looking at him in so blandly good-natured a way. He had already experienced the fact, over and over, that political science officials-and particularly those in the Imperial service-looked grave at all times, as though bearing the weight of the entire Galaxy on their shoulders. And it seemed the lower in importance they were, t he grave and more threatening their expression.This, then, might be an official so high in the scale, with the sun of power so bright upon him, that he felt no impoverishment of countering it with clouds of frowning. Seldon wasnt sure how impressed he ought to be, but he felt that it would be best to remain silent and let the other speak first. The official said, You are Hari Seldon, I believe. The mathematician.Seldon responded with a minimal Yes, sir, and waited again.The young man waved an arm. It should be Sire, but I hate ceremony. Its all I get and I cloy of it. We are a solitary, so I pass on pamper myself and eschew ceremony. Sit down, professor.Halfway through the speech, Seldon realized that he was speaking to the Emperor Cleon, First of that Name, and he felt the wind go out of him. There was a faint resemblance (now that he looked) to the official holograph that appeared constantly in the news, but in that holograph, Cleon was always dressed imposingly, seemed taller , nobler, frozen-faced. And here he was, the original of the holograph, and somehow he appeared to be quite ordinary.Seldon did not budge.The Emperor frowned slightly and, with the habit of command present even in the attempt to abolish it, at least temporarily, said peremptorily, I said, Sit down, man. That chair. Quickly.Seldon sat down, quite speechless. He could not even bugger off himself to say, Yes, Sire.Cleon smiled. Thats bankrupt. Now we can buoy talk like two fellow human beings, which, after all, is what we are once ceremony is removed. Eh, my man?Seldon said cautiously, If Your Imperial stateliness is content to say so, then it is so.Oh, come, why are you so cautious? I want to talk to you on equal terms. It is my pleasure to do so. mentality me.Yes, Sire.A simple Yes, man. Is there no way I can reach you?Cleon stared at Seldon and Seldon thought it was a lively and interested stare.Finally the Emperor said, You dont look like a mathematician.At last, Seldon found himself able to smile. I dont know what a mathematician is suppose to look like, Your Imp-Cleon raised a cautioning hand and Seldon clogged off the honorific. Cleon said, White-haired, I suppose. Bearded, perhaps. Old, certainly.Yet even mathematicians must be young to begin with.But they are then without reputation. By the time they obtrude themselves on the notice of the Galaxy, they are as I have described.I am without reputation, Im afraid.Yet you utter at this convention they held here.A great many of us did. Some were younger than myself. Few of us were granted any attention whatever.Your talk apparently attracted the attention of some of my officials. I am given to watch out that you believe it possible to predict the future.Seldon suddenly felt weary. It seemed as though this misinterpretation of his theory was constantly going to occur. Perhaps he should not have presented his paper.He said, Not quite, actually. What I have done is much more limited than that. In many s ystems, the situation is such that under some conditions chaotic events take place. That means that, given a particular starting point, it is impossible to predict outcomes. This is true even in some quite simple systems, but the more complex a system, the more likely it is to ferment chaotic. It has always been assumed that anything as complicated as human society would quickly become chaotic and, therefore, unpredictable. What I have done, however, is to show that, in studying human society, it is possible to choose a starting point and to make appropriate assumptions that will suppress the chaos. That will make it possible to predict the future, not in full detail, of course, but in broad sweeps not with certainty, but with calculable probabilities.The Emperor, who had listened carefully, said, But doesnt that mean that you have shown how to predict the future?Again, not quite. I have showed that it is theoretically possible, but no more. To do more, we would actually have to c hoose a correct starting point, make correct assumptions, and then find ways of carrying through calculations in a finite time. Nothing in my mathematical pipeline tells us how to do any of this. And even if we could do it all, we would, at best, only assess probabilities. That is not the same as predicting the future it is merely a meditation at what is likely to happen. Every successful politician, businessman, or human being of any calling must make these estimates of the future and do it fairly well or he or she would not be successful.They do it without mathematics.True. They do it by intuition.With the proper mathematics, anyone would be able to assess the probabilities. It wouldnt take the rare human being who is successful because of a remarkable intuitive sense.True again, but I have merely shown that mathematical analysis is possible I have not shown it to be practical.How can something be possible, yet not practical?It is theoretically possible for me to visit each worl d of the Galaxy and greet each person on each world. However, it would take far longer to do this than I have years to live and, even if I was immortal, the rate at which new human beings are being born is greater than the rate at which I could interview the old and, even more to the point, old human beings would die in great numbers before I could ever get to them.And is this sort of thing true of your mathematics of the future? Seldon hesitated, then went on. It might be that the mathematics would take too long to work out, even if one had a computer the size of the Universe working at hyperspatial velocities. By the time any execute had been received, enough years would have elapsed to alter the situation so grossly as to make the answer meaningless. wherefore cannot the process be simplified? Cleon asked sharply.Your Imperial Majesty,-Seldon felt the Emperor growing more formal as the answers grew less to his liking and responded with greater formality of his own, consider the manner in which scientists have hoi polloit with subatomic particles. There are enormous numbers of these, each moving or vibrating in random and unpredictable manner, but this chaos turns out to have an underlying order, so that we can work out a quantum mechanics that answers all the questions we know how to ask. In studying society, we place human beings in the place of subatomic particles, but now there is the added factor of the human mind. Particles move emptyly human beings do not. To take into delineate the various attitudes and impulses of mind adds so much complexity that there lacks time to take care of all of it.Could not mind, as well as mindless motion, have an underlying order?Perhaps. My mathematical analysis implies that order must underlie everything, however disorderly it may appear to be, but it does not give any hint as to how this underlying order may be found. Consider-Twenty-five million worlds, each with its overall characteristics and culture, each being significantly different from all the rest, each containing a billion or more human beings who each have an individual mind, and all the worlds interacting in innumerable ways and combinations However theoretically possible a psychohistorical analysis may be, it is not likely that it can be done in any practical sense.What do you mean psychohistorical?I refer to the theoretical assessment of probabilities concerning the future as psychohistory. The Emperor rise to his feet suddenly, strode to the other end of the room, turned, strode back, and stopped before the still-sitting Seldon. Stand up he commanded.Seldon rose and looked up at the somewhat taller Emperor. He strove to keep his gaze steady.Cleon finally said, This psychohistory of yours if it could be made practical, it would be of great use, would it not?Of enormous use, obviously. To know what the future holds, in even the most general and probabilistic way, would serve as a new and marvelous guide for our actions, one that humanity has never before had. But, of course- He paused.Well? said Cleon impatiently.Well, it would seem that, except for a few decision-makers, the results of psychohistorical analysis would have to remain unknown to the public.Unknown exclaimed Cleon with surprise.Its clear. Let me try to explain. If a psychohistorical analysis is made and the results are then given to the public, the various emotions and reactions of humanity would at once be distorted. The psychohistorical analysis, based on emotions and reactions that take place without friendship of the future, become meaningless. Do you understand?The Emperors eyes brightened and he laughed aloud. Wonderful He clapped his hand on Seldons shoulder and Seldon staggered slightly under the blow.Dont you see, man? said Cleon. Dont you see? Theres your use. You dont need to predict the future. Just choose a future-a good future, a useful future-and make the kind of prediction that will alter human emotions and reactions in such a way that the future you predicted will be brought about. Better to make a good future than predict a bad one.Seldon frowned. I see what you mean, Sire, but that is equally impossible.Impossible?Well, at any rate, impractical. Dont you see? If you cant start with human emotions and reactions and predict the future they will bring about, you cant do the bring down either. You cant start with a future and predict the human emotions and reactions that will bring it about.Cleon looked frustrated. His lips tightened. And your paper, then? Is that what you call it, a paper? Of what use is it?It was merely a mathematical demonstration. It made a point of interest to mathematicians, but there was no thought in my mind of its being useful in any way.I find that disgusting, said Cleon angrily.Seldon shrugged slightly. More than ever, he knew he should never have given the paper. What would become of him if the Emperor took it into his head that he had been made to play the frig around?And indeed, Cleon did not look as though he was very far from believing that. Nevertheless, he said, what if you were to make predictions of the future, mathematically justified or not predictions that government officials, human beings whose expertise it is to know what the public is likely to do, will judge to be the kind that will bring about useful reactions?why would you need me to do that? The government officials could make those predictions themselves and spare the middleman.The government officials could not do so as effectively. Government officials do make statements of the sort now and then. They are not necessarily believed.Why would I be?You are a mathematician. You would have calculated the future, not not intuited it-if that is a word.But I would not have done so.Who would know that? Cleon watched him out of narrowed eyes. There was a pause.Seldon felt trapped. If given a direct order by the Emperor, would it be skillful to refuse? If he refused, he might be imprisoned or executed. Not without trial, of course, but it is only with great difficulty that a trial can be made to go against the wishes of a heavy-handed officialdom, particularly one under the command of the Emperor of the vast Galactic Empire. He said finally, It wouldnt work.Why not?If I were asked to predict vague generalities that could not possibly come to pass until long after this generation and, perhaps, the next were dead, we might get away with it, but, on the other hand, the public would pay little attention. They would not care about a glowing eventuality a century or two in the future. To attain results, Seldon went on, I would have to predict matters of sharper consequence, more immediate eventualities. Only to these would the public respond. Sooner or later, though-and probably sooner-one of the eventualities would not come to pass and my usefulness would be ended at once. With that, your popularity might be gone, too, and, worst of all, there would be no further support f or the development of psychohistory so that there would be no chance for any good to come of it if future improvements in mathematical insights help to make it move closer to the earth of practicality.Cleon threw himself into a chair and frowned at Seldon. Is that all you mathematicians can do? Insist on impossibilities?Seldon said with desperate softness, It is you, Sire, who insist on impossibilities.Let me test you, man. consider I asked you to use your mathematics to tell me whether I would some day be assassinated? What would you say?My mathematical system would not give an answer to so specific a question, even if psychohistory worked at its best. All the quantum mechanics in the world cannot make it possible to predict the behavior of one lone electron, only the average behavior of many.You know your mathematics die than I do. Make an educated guess based on it. Will I someday be assassinated?Seldon said softly, You lay a trap for me, Sire. Either tell me what answer you w ish and I will give it to you or else give me free right to make what answer I wish without punishment.Speak as you will.Your word of honor?Do you want it an writing? Cleon was sarcastic.Your spoken word of honor will be sufficient, said Seldon, his heart sinking, for he was not certain it would be.You have my word of honor. then I can tell you that in the past four centuries nearly half the Emperors have been assassinated, from which I conclude that the chances of your assassination are roughly one in two.Any fool can give that answer, said Cleon with contempt. It takes no mathematician.Yet I have told you several times that my mathematics is useless for practical problems.Cant you even suppose that I understand the lessons that have been given me by my unfortunate predecessors?Seldon took a deep breath and plunged in. No, Sire. All history shows that we do not learn from the lessons of the past. For instance, you have allowed me here in a private audience. What if it were in my m ind to assassinate you? Which it isnt, Sire, he added hastily.Cleon smiled without humor. My man, you dont take into account our thoroughness-or advances in technology. We have studied your history, your complete record. When you arrived, you were scanned. Your expression and voiceprints were analyzed. We knew your emotional state in detail we practically knew your thoughts. Had there been the slightest doubt of your harmlessness, you would not have been allowed near me. In fact, you would not now be alive.A wave of unwellness swept through Seldon, but he continued. Outsiders have always found it difficult to get at Emperors, even with technology less advanced. However, almost every assassination has been a palace coup. It is those nearest the Emperor who are the greatest danger to him. Against that danger, the careful screening of outsiders is irrelevant. And as for your own officials, your own Guardsmen, your own intimates, you cannot discretion them as you treat me.Cleon said, I know that, too, and at least as well as you do. The answer is that I treat those about me fairly and I give them no cause for resentment.A foolish- began Seldon, who then stopped in confusion.Go on, said Cleon angrily. I have given you per look acrossion to speak freely. How am I foolish?The word slipped out, Sire. I meant irrelevant. Your treatment of your intimates is irrelevant. You must be suspicious it would be inhuman not to be. A careless word, such as the one I used, a careless gesture, a doubtful expression and you must withdraw a bit with narrowed eyes. And any touch of hesitancy sets in motion a vicious cycle. The intimate will sense and resent the suspicion and will develop a changed behavior, try as he might to avoid it. You sense that and grow more suspicious and, in the end, either he is executed or you are assassinated. It is a process that has proved unavoidable for the Emperors of the past four centuries and it is but one sign of the increasing difficulty of cond ucting the affairs of the Empire.Then nothing I can do will avoid assassination.No, Sire, said Seldon, but, on the other hand, you may prove fortunate.Cleons fingers were drumming on the arm of his chair. He said harshly, You are useless, man, and so is your psychohistory. Leave me. And with those words, the Emperor looked away, suddenly seeming much older than his thirty-two years.I have said my mathematics would be useless to you, Sire. My profound apologies. Seldon tried to bow but at some signal he did not see, two guards entered and took him away.Cleons voice came after him from the royal chamber. Return that man to the place from which he was brought earlier.4.Eto Demerzel emerged and glanced at the Emperor with a hint of proper deference. He said, Sire, you have almost lost your temper.Cleon looked up and, with an obvious effort, managed to smile. Well, so I did. The man was very disappointing.And yet he promised no more than he offered.He offered nothing.And promised nothing , Sire.It was disappointing.Demerzel said, More than disappointing, perhaps. The man is a loose cannon, Sire.A loose what, Demerzel? You are always so full of rummy expressions. What is a cannon?Demerzel said gravely, It is simply an expression I heard in my youth, Sire. The Empire is full of strange expressions and some are unknown on Trantor, as those of Trantor are sometimes unknown elsewhere.Do you come to teach me the Empire is ample? What do you mean by saying that the man is a loose cannon?Only that he can do much harm without necessarily intending it. He does not know his own strength. Or importance.You generalize that, do you, Demerzel?Yes, Sire. He is a provincial. He does not know Trantor or its ways. He has never been on our planet before and he cannot behave like a man of breeding, like a courtier. Yet he stood up to-And why not? I gave him permission to speak. I left off ceremony. I treated him as an equal.Not entirely, Sire. You dont have it within you to treat othe rs as equals. You have the habit of command. And even if you tried to put a person at his ease, there would be few who could manage it. Most would be speechless or, worse, subservient and sycophantic. This man stood up to you.Well, you may admire that, Demerzel, but I didnt like him. Cleon looked thoughtfully discontented. Did you notice that he made no effort to explain his mathematics to me? It was as though he knew I would not understand a word of it.Nor would you have, Sire. You are not a mathematician, nor a scientist of any kind, nor an artist. There are many fields of knowledge in which others know more than you. It is their parturiency to use their knowledge to serve you. You are the Emperor, which is worth all their specializations put together.Is it? I would not mind being made to feel ignorant by an old man who had accumulated knowledge over many years. But this man, Seldon, is just my age. How does he know so much?He has not had to learn the habit of command, the art of reaching a decision that will affect the lives of others.Sometimes, Demerzel, I wonder if you are laughing at me.Sire? said Demerzel reproachfully.But never mind. Back to that loose cannon of yours. Why should you consider him dangerous? He seems a naive provincial to me.He is. But he has this mathematical development of his.He says it is useless.You thought it might be useful. I thought so, after you had explained it to me. Others might. The mathematician may come to think so himself, now that his mind has been focussed on it. And who knows, he may yet work out some way of making use of it. If he does, then to foretell the future, however mistily, is to be in a position of great power. Even if he does not wish power for himself, a kind of self-denial that always seems to me to be unlikely, he might be used by others.I tried to use him. He would not.He had not given it thought. Perhaps now he will. And if he was not interested in being used by you, might he not be persuaded by-let us say-the Mayor of Wye?Why should he be willing to help Wye and not us?As he explained, it is hard to predict the emotions and behavior of individuals.Cleon scowled and sat in thought. Do you really think he might develop this psychohistory of his to the point where it is truly useful? He is so certain he cannot.He may, with time, decide he was wrong in denying the possibility.Cleon said, Then I suppose I ought to have kept him.Demerzel said, No, Sire. Your instinct was correct when you let him go. Imprisonment, however disguised, would cause resentment and despair, which would not help him either to develop his ideas further or make him eager to help us. Better to let him go as you have done, but to keep him forever on an out of sight leash. In this way, we can see that he is not used by an enemy of yourself, Sire, and we can see that when the time comes and he has fully developed his science, we can pull on our leash and bring him in. Then we could be more persuasive.But what if he it picked up by an enemy of mine or, better, of the Empire, for I am the Empire after all, or if, of his own accord, he wishes to serve an enemy-I dont consider that out of the question, you see.Nor should you. I will see to it that this doesnt happen, but if, against all striving, it does happen, it would be better if no one has him than if the wrong person does.Cleon looked uneasy. Ill leave that all in your hands, Demerzel, but I hope were not too hasty. He could be, after all, nothing but the purveyor of a theoretical science that does not and cannot work.Quite possibly, Sire, but it would be safer to assume the man is-or might be-important. We lose only a little time and nothing more if we find that we have concerned ourselves with a nonentity. We may lose a Galaxy if we find we have ignored individual of great importance.Very well, then, said Cleon, but I trust I wont have to know the details-if they prove unpleasant.Demerzel said, Let us hope that will not be the case.5. Seldon had had an evening, a night, and part of a morning to get over his meeting with the Emperor. At least, the changing quality of light within the walkways, moving corridors, squares, and put of the Imperial Sector of Trantor made it seem that an evening, a night, and part of a morning had passed. He sat now in a small park on a small plastic seat that molded itself neatly to his body and he was comfortable. Judging from the light, it seemed to be midmorning and the air was just cool enough to seem fresh without possessing even the smallest bite.Was it like this all the time? He thought of the gray day outside when he went to see the Emperor. And he thought of all the gray days and cold days and hot days and rainy days and snowy days on Helicon, his home, and he wondered if one could miss them. Was it possible to sit in a park on Trantor, having ideal weather day after day, so that it felt as though you were border by nothing at all-and coming to miss a howling wind or a bitin g cold or a pursy humidity?Perhaps. But not on the first day or the second or the seventh. He would have only this one day and he would leave tomorrow. He meant to enjoy it while he could. He might, after all, never return to Trantor. Still, he continued to feel uneasy at having spoken as independently as he had to a man who could, at will, order ones imprisonment or execution-or, at the very least, the economic and social goal of loss of position and status. Before going to bed, Seldon had looked up Cleon I in the encyclopedic portion of his hotel room computer. The Emperor had been highly praised as, no doubt, had all Emperors in their own lifetime, regardless of their deeds. Seldon had dismissed that, but he was interested in the fact that Cleon had been born in the Palace and had never left its grounds. He had never been in Trantor itself, in any part of the multi-domed world. It was a matter of security, perhaps, but what it meant was that the Emperor was in prison, whether h e admitted the matter to himself or not. It might be the most luxurious prison in the Galaxy, but it was a prison just the same.And though the Emperor had seemed mild-mannered and had shown no sign of being a cantankerous autocrat as so many of his predecessors had been, it was not good to have attracted his attention. Seldon welcomed the thought of leaving tomorrow for Helicon, even though it would be winter (and a rather nasty one, so far) back home.He looked up at the bright diffuse light. Although it could never rain in here, the atmosphere was far from dry. A fountain played not far from him the plants were green and had probably never felt drought. Occasionally, the shrubbery rustled as though a small animal or two was hidden there. He heard the hum of bees.Really, though Trantor was spoken of throughout the Galaxy as an artificial world of metal and ceramic, in this small patch it felt positively rustic. There were a few other persons taking advantage of the park all wearing light hats, some quite small. There was one rather handsome young woman not far away, but she was bent over a viewer and he could not see her face clearly. A man walked past, looked at him briefly and incuriously, then sat down in a seat facing him and buried himself in a sheaf of teleprints, crossing one leg, in its tight pink trouser leg, over the other.There was a tendency to pastel shades among the men, oddly enough, while the women mostly wore white. Being a clean environment, it made sense to wear light colors. He looked down in amusement at his own Heliconian costume, which was predominantly dull brown. If he were to stay on Trantor as he was not he would need to purchase suitable clothing or he would become an object of curiosity or laughter or repulsion. The man with the teleprints had, for instance, looked up at him more curiously this time-no doubt intrigued by his Outworldish clothing. Seldon was relieved that he did not smile. He could be philosophical over being a f igure of fun, but, surely, he could not be expected to enjoy it. Seldon watched the man rather unobtrusively, for he seemed to be engaged in some sort of internal debate. At the moment he looked as if he was about to speak, then seemed to think better of it, then seemed to wish to speak again. Seldon wondered what the outcome would be.He studied the man. He was tall, with broad shoulders and no sign of a paunch, darkish hair with a light of blond, smooth-shaven, a grave expression, an air of strength though there were no bulging muscles, a face that was a touch rugged-pleasant, but with nothing pretty about it. By the time the man had lost the internal fight with himself (or won, perhaps) and leaned toward him, Seldon had decided he liked him. The man said, explain me, werent you at the Decennial Convention? mathematics?Yes, I was, said Seldon agreeably.Ah, I thought I saw you there. It was-excuse me-that moment of recognition that led me to sit here. If I am intruding on your pri vacy-Not at all. Im just enjoying an idle moment.Lets see how close I can get. Youre Professor Seldon.Seldon. Hari Seldon. Quite close. And you?Chetter Hummin. The man seemed slightly embarrassed. Rather a homespun name, Im afraid.Ive never come across any Chetters before, said Seldon. Or Hummins. So that makes you somewhat unique, I should think. It might be viewed as being better than being coalesce up with all the countless Haris there are. Or Seldons, for that matter.Seldon moved his chair closer to Hummin, scraping it against the slightly elastic ceramoid tiles.Talk about homespun, he said, What about this Outworldish clothing Im wearing? It never occurred to me that I ought to get Trantorian garb.You could buy some, said Hummin, eyeing Seldon with suppressed disapproval.Ill be leaving tomorrow and, besides, I couldnt afford it. Mathematicians deal with large numbers sometimes, but never in their income.-I presume youre a mathematician, Hummin.No. Zero talent there.Oh. Seldon was disappointed. You said you saw me at the Decennial Convention.I was there as an onlooker. Im a journalist. He waved his teleprints, seemed suddenly aware that he was holding them and shoved them into his jacket pouch. I supply the material for the news holocasts. Then, thoughtfully, Actually, Im rather tired of it.The job?Hummin nodded. Im pallid of gathering together all the nonsense from every world. I hate the downward spiral.He glanced speculatively at Seldon. Sometimes something interesting turns up, though. Ive heard you were seen in the company of an Imperial Guard and making for the Palace gate. You werent by any chance seen by the Emperor, were you? The smile vanished from Seldons face. He said slowly, If I was, it would scarcely be something I could talk about for publication.No, no, not for publication. If you dont know this, Seldon, let me be the first to tell you-The first rule of the news game is that nothing is ever said about the Emperor or his personal entourag e except what is officially given out. Its a geological fault, of course, because rumors fly that are much worse than the truth, but thats the way it is.But if you cant report it, friend, why do you ask?Private curiosity. Believe me, in my job I know a great deal more than ever gets on the air.-Let me guess. I didnt follow your paper, but I gathered that you were talking about the possibility of predicting the future.Seldon shook his head and muttered, It was a mistake.Pardon me?Nothing.Well, prediction-accurate prediction-would interest the Emperor, or any man in government, so Im guessing that Cleon, First of that Name, asked you about it and wouldnt you please give him a few predictions.Seldon said stiffly, I dont intend to discuss the matter.Hummin shrugged slightly. Eto Demerzel was there, I suppose.Who?Youve never heard of Eto Demerzel?Never.Cleons alter ego-Cleons brain-Cleons evil spirit. Hes been called all those things-if we confine ourselves to the nonvituperative. He mu st have been there.Seldon looked confused and Hummin said, Well, you may not have seen him, but he was there. And if he thinks you can predict the future-I cant predict the future, said Seldon, shaking his head vigorously. If you listened to my paper, youll know that I only spoke of a theoretical possibility.Just the same, if he thinks you can predict the future, he will not let you go.He must have. Here I am.That means nothing. He knows where you are and hell continue to know. And when he wants you, hell get you, wherever you are. And if he decides youre useful, hell squeeze the use out of you. And if he decides youre dangerous, hell squeeze the life out of you.Seldon stared. What are you trying to do. Frighten me?Im trying to warn you.I dont believe what youre saying.Dont you? A while ago you said something was a mistake. Were you thinking that presenting the paper was a mistake and that it was getting you into the kind of trouble you dont want to be in?Seldon bit his lower lip un easily. That was a guess that came entirely too close to the truth-and it was at this moment that Seldon felt the presence of intruders.They did not cast a shadow, for the light was too soft and widespread. It was simply a movement that caught the corner of his eye-and then it stopped.

Book Exam Narrative Frederick Douglass

Instructions This exam consists of twenty-six questions worth one saddle and eight questions worth tierce stains. Students should type all answers. The link to the entire PDF of this reading is available on Blackboard. Students found to be engaged in collusion or plagiarizing the work of some other student will receive a zero. Please spell-check your work and type all answers appropriately, i.e. in complete sentences where possible.The following questions are worth one point1. In the preface a figure, let outd as being a little lower than the angels attended the Anti-Slavery convention in Nantucket who was this figure?2. What do you imagine was meant by the statement I am glad the time has come when the lions write history?3. What does Douglass mean when he suggests plantation owners quickly sell mulatto slaves as a measure to preserve humanity?4. What actions might earn a plantation owner the title of kind master?5. wherefore are slaves allowed to disturb in holiday activity at the end of each year?6. Publically the plantation owner justified the whipping of Douglass aunt by disputation what?7. How is tar used to maintain plantation rule?8. Plantation visitors often leave the plantation with only good things to say about the plantation experience. Why are some visitors poorly informed about the slave experience on the plantation?9. Who is George Cookman?10. What protection did Douglass provide those who travelled North with him?11. Douglass received a whipping nearly every week for what offense?12. ground on your reading of the preface, how do those attending the conference in Nantucket view Douglass?13. How does William Garrison describe the institution of slavery?14. What myth does Douglass hope to dispel in his discussion of slave songs?15. Why does Douglass suggest slaves measure the kindness of a master by the standard of kindness set up among slaveholders in the surrounding region?16. What is Douglass role under Master Auld?17. What problem did literacy pose for Douglass?18. Why was Douglass disturbed about the Irishmen he met on the wharf?19. Why does Douglass believe Auld is a poor master?20. Using Douglass memories, why are slaves manumitted?21. At what point did Douglass decide he was no longer a slave in spirit? Explain.22. What was the purpose of the root?23. Douglass claims that his desire for freedom is highest when?24. What affect did receiving a put of his earnings have on Douglass?25. Which slave master appears to be familiar with Adam Smiths work?26. Why was Douglass overcome with loneliness upon comer a free state?The following questions are worth three points27. Describe the experience of slave children. Be sure to cite the appropriate pages.28. Based on Douglass experience, would you argue relationships between slaves are important? Why or why not? Include page references.29. Is there point of the Grimke sisters argument in Douglass work? Elaborate.30. How does Douglass interpret the impact of religion among slaveholders? Reference the reading.31. Do slaves have rights? Defend your position with support from the reading.32. What elements offered Douglass insight to freedom? Elaborate.33. Does the reading offer evidence to support George Fitzhughs argument?34. How are Master Thomas and Master Hugh different in their approach to slavery?

Swange Dance

SWANGE DANCE Introduction. Benue State is state of the historic Benue river, a State renowned for the valiancy of its progenitors, a State of notable policy-making gladiators and hardworking people who rightly brand themselves as the food basket of the nation. Benue is also a State of rich cultures and traditions, as exemplified in the gentlemans gentleman acclaimed SWANGE DANCE which has brought fame to both the State and the nation. Meaning of Dance Dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body, often rhythmic and to music.It is performed in galore(postnominal) cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and is sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story. Dance may also be regarded as a form of nonverbal communication between humans or different animals, as in bee leapings and behaviour patterns such as a mating dances. Definitions of what constitutes dance can depend on social an d cultural norms and aesthetic, artistic and moralistic sensibilities.Definitions may range from functional movement (such as folk dance) to virtuoso techniques such as ballet. Martial arts kata are often compared to dances, and sports such as gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming are generally thought to incorporate dance. In some cases, the motion of ordinarily inanimate objects may be described as dance (the leaves danced in the wind). History Dance does not leave behind clearly identifiable physical artifacts such as jewel tools, hunting implements or cave paintings. It is not possible to say when dance became part of human culture.Joseph Jordania recently suggested that dance, together with rhythmic music and body painting, was intentional by the forces of natural selection at the early stage of hominid evolution as a potent tool to put groups of human ancestors in a battle trance, a specific altered state of consciousness. The same could be said of the Swange dance which originated from middle belt of Nigeria, Benue state, among the Tiv, Igala and Idoma people, a locale which is more or less the River Niger. Swange is a popular social dance of the Tiv people of Benue State in Central Nigeria.It is a dance of fast, slow, rhythmic and undulating movements, expressing youth and vigour. Swange is played at non-homogeneous types of social and religious functions for the enjoyment of the old and the young. The dance is characterized by rhythmic contortion in slow mode & vibrant display, typical of African dance forms. It has wonderful beat and beautiful rhythm. It is hard percussion- based, aided by a conventional horn (al-gaita), which blows in an unbroken succession for as long as the drumming, Singing and dancing is going on. The dance particularly exhibits fluidity in body movement, which was inspirited by the flow of the River .Sixfootplus had this to say about it Swange is the name given to the traditional dance of the Tiv-speaking people of Benue state of Nigeria. The dance is characterized by rhythmic contortion in slow mode & vibrant display, typical of African dance forms. It is heavily percussion- based, aided by a traditional horn (al-gaita), which blows in an unbroken succession for as long as the drumming, Singing and dancing is going on. almost Benue artists mix this dance pattern up with their stage performances to the admiration of their fans notable amond these are, Zulezoo, Bravo D, Sixfootplus etc.If you have been opportuned to listen to Swange music or watched the Swange dance, let us slam what you feel about it. Significance of Swange Dance Swange Dance has been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations. pic Swange Dance References www. nairaland. com/12749/swange-music-how-see-it http//www. goodlife. com. ng/gltourism. php? gltourism= articulate&id=164 Joseph Jordania, 2011, Why do People Sing? Music in Human Evolution, Logos, pg. 98-102