Greek Fire, the Most Powerful Weapon of Byzantine Army Essay -- Byzant

"War is the father of all things."1 Volkman begins his book, Science Goes to War, with this quote from Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher. Volkman uses the quote to suggest that many, if not all, scientific advancements owe their birth to the desire for or the fear of war. Fire is undoubtedly a part of this advancement as Bert Hall points out, "Fire is one of the primordial forces of nature, and incendiary weapons have had a place in armies' toolkits for almost as long as civilized states have made war."2 Of all the tools at the disposal of the Byzantine Empire's military, the 'so called' Greek fire was the most important.3 Greek fire was a weapon system that allowed Byzantine ships, as early as the seventh century, to spew fire at its enemies. On the ship's prow was the head of a lion or some other monstrosity, cast in brass or iron. In it's mouth was a bronze siphon that could swivel back and forth.4 The flaming liquid that spewed from this siphon came with the roaring sound and a black cloud of smoke. What makes it worse is that it even burns while in water.5 The fear it instilled in enemies sometimes egged men in full plate armor to leap in the water, knowing they will be dragged down to the bottom simply because drowning was preferable to being burned alive.6 Such an awe-inspiring beast of a weapon was already predisposed to legend and rumor. However, even as cinematic as Greek fire was, its cloud of ambiguity is, frankly, ridiculous. Put as accurately and elegantly as possible, Greek fire was "a misnomer wrapped in a misconception, confused in translation, veiled in secrecy, and embellished with apocrypha."7 At one point, one of the Byzantine emperors wrote in a letter to his son that Greek fire "was revealed and ta... ...timore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1960. p. 19. Parkington, James Riddick Parkington. Origins and Development of Applied Chemistry. New York: Arno Press, 1975. Roland, Alex. Review of A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder, by James Riddick Parkington, Technology and Culture, Vol. 41. No. 1 (Jan., 2000). Roland, Alex. â€Å"Secrecy, Technology, and War: Greek Fire and the Defense of Byzantium, 678-1204.† Technology and Culture Vol. 33, No. 4 (1992): 655-679. Russel, Bertrand. History of Western Philosophy. London: George Allen and Unwin LTD, 1946. p. 60. Stannard, Jerry. Review of A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder, by James Riddick Parkington, Philosophy of Science, Vol. 29. No. 4 (Oct., 1962). Volkman, Ernest. Science Goes to War: The Search for the Ultimate Weapon, from Greek Fire to Star Wars. New York:John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2002.

Benefits and Inconvenience of a Globalized World Essay -- Globalization

The world has had several changed as well as the economy, technology and everything that represent advancement to the humanity. All these things today are being led by the globalization which is, in turn, the free market capitalism with the purpose to create advancement and integration for the world. It is important to say that globalization is neither good nor bad, but it is an idea that has been created for the world’s best. The problem of this idea is that, although it has brought great benefits, the results have been devastating. In terms of firms, the little businesses have been affected by the big ones, bringing as results the closure of them. In environmental issues, it has replaced the recreational area by industrial parks, which has increased the pollution. Globalization has also increased poverty and slum population, exploitation, inequality around the world. One of the principal purposes of globalization is to help businesses to improve in the marketplace. However, how come something that is supposed to bring development has turned into a problem for firms? Let us make an example, if you go to China and you are planning to buy a Chinese Food, but on your way to buy it, you are hit by a typical American fast food known as McDonald. In that moment, perhaps, you will feel more attracted by your home-country food than the foreign one. There is when globalization starts because in that moment, the place where you were going to buy the Chinese Food lost you as a client because of the competition. It is positive that globalization has opened its arms and torn down their barriers allowing business from another country to sell overseas. However, this free market capitalism has brought serious consequences to foreign businesses.... ...t without industrialization, the sources of jobs are limited. As a consequence, the unemployed population increase and the economy decrease as well. Davis claimed that â€Å"the Third World now contains many examples of capital-intensive countrysides and labor-intensive deindustrialized cities. â€Å"Overurbanization,† in other words, is driven by the reproduction of poverty, not by the supply of jobs† (Davis 16). To sum up, the globalization is not either good or bad but just an idea for the best of the world. It has brought industrialization, technological advancement, employment and development to the cities as well. Although globalization has been a source of good development, it also has had its disadvantages such as increment in poverty and slum population, exploitation, environmental problems, shut down of little business, and inequality around the world.

Attention Deficit Disorder :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Attention Deficit Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects thousands of people in the United States. Over the past decade, media focuses have been primarily on children with the disorder and the effects of the traditionally used medication, Ritalin. It is important to note that A.D.D. does not target only children, but it also greatly affects adults because it is not a condition than can be outgrown or cured. Furthermore, it has become critical, since more doctors have become specialists on this disorder, thus presenting the many ways in which it affects the life of a human being. The identification of Attention Deficit Disorder dates to the early 1900's when it was called "minimal brain dysfunction"; researchers found that children with encephalitis and soldiers who had received some brain damage (after World War I), demonstrated hyperactivity, impulsivity, and conduct disorders. (1) Consequently, researchers made the assumption that since brain injury could cause hyperac tivity then all hyperactivity would be caused by brain damage. After many years of new observations, this statement has been shown to be untrue; however, there are still many misconceptions and rumors about the causes of A.D.D., which limit the general understanding of the disorder. The topic of A.D.D. is of great interest to me since two of my siblings have been diagnosed with the disorder. This first assignment has given me the opportunity to explore the causes and the many faces of A.D.D. I found myself to be one of many people who believed many rumors and misconceptions to be true about A.D.D. as well as learning about the newest most commonly accepted observations and conclusions about the causes of this disorder. For example, A.D.D. does not occur in one form only; in fact, there are two major types of A.D.D.: Inattentive: In general, people with this type have trouble keeping focus and attention and are not consistent with hyperactivity. †¢ Often failure in paying close attention to details/making mistakes in assignments †¢ Difficulty in retaining attention in tasks †¢ Seems not to listen/forgets daily activities †¢ Failure to follow instructions or finishing assignments †¢ Constantly loosing belongings Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: In general, people with this type are in constant overactivity and are highly impulsive, which leads to the inability to remain focused and attentive. †¢ Fidgety and squirmy/ not being able to stay seated †¢ Feeling restless †¢ Often "on the go" or acts if "driven by a motor" †¢ Often talking excessively

DOUBLE SPEAK Essay -- essays research papers

Doublespeak  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Doublespeak, whether intentional or unintentional is communication that is obscure, pompous, vague, evasive and confusing.() In most instances, doublespeak tries to achieve a particular objective as is the case in President Bush’s address to the nation on September 11, after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The objective of this speech is clearly to mollify the emotions of a frightened nation and at the same time set the tone for what is to come as a result of the attacks. In this speech one can find many examples of doublespeak. These examples seem to be intentional although they defy typical doublespeak in that the doublespeak is not intended for any personal gains and is not concealed with a lot of convoluted language. If one can understand some of the basic principles about making sense of media-speak then the domino effect of this type of speech can be reduced.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the first statements President Bush makes in his speech can be classified as doublespeak. When he say’s â€Å"Our way of life, our very freedom came under attack,† he is indirectly saying that everything Americans are accustomed to and enjoy is at stake. With these simple words and the tone chosen to deliver them President Bush is strategically taking the emotions of the American people for a ride while making it clear that the American people are his target audience. An important principle for properly deciphering this instance of doublespeak is to unload first responses and get them out in the open so the rest of the message can be received clearly and unobstructed by inner thoughts. Other examples of doublespeak that fit into the same category as the previous one are when President Bush uses the phrases, â€Å"Foundation of America† and â€Å"Steel of American Resolve.† Both of these examples attempt to evoke an emotional resp onse although, the emotions attempting to be extracted are different from those in the beginning of the speech. They differ because they set the tone for new offensive and secure feelings opposed to the original feelings of defense and endangerment. This example also illustrates how obscure doublespeak can be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President Bush regards the attacks as despicable and evil acts. The word evil is the doublespeak in this example. The way he uses this word automati... ...nbsp;  Ã‚  Ã‚  G-d is stronger than any human on earth. Walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not fearing the terrorists because of such a tragedy in close proximity. Every walk of life  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All races, genders, and cultures. Resolve for justice and peace  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We are going to war. Eliminating Mediaspeak: Is it Clear Now?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Doublespeak is deceptive as are most of the examples mentioned from this speech. On the contrary, doublespeak as explored through this example is sometimes a necessary tool to address an issue in a manner that is politically correct. When the doublespeak present in this speech is eliminated the underlying themes are not entirely lost and the speech is still effective. I think given the circumstances the audience was pleased with the underlying messages delivered and probably expected them making it easier to decipher President Bush’s jargon. The speech could have been delivered without doublespeak and more directly, but the perception of the audience would likely remain the same.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Computer Software Piracy And Its Impact On The International Economy :: essays research papers fc

Computer Software Piracy and it's Impact on the International Economy The PC industry is over twenty years old. In those twenty years, evolving software technology brings us faster, more sophisticated, versatile and easy-to-use products. Business software allows companies to save time, effort and money. Educational computer programs teach basic skills and complicated subjects. Home software now includes a wide variety of programs that enhance the users productivity and creativity. The industry is thriving and users stand to benefit along with the publishers. The SPA (Software Publishers Association) reports that the problem of software theft has grown, and threatens to prevent the development of new software products. Unauthorized duplication of software is known as software piracy which is a "Federal offense that affects everyone† ("Software Use..." Internet). The following research examines software piracy in its various forms, its impact on the end user and the international industry as a whole, and the progress that has been made in alleviating the problem. Software piracy harms all software companies and ultimately, the end user. Piracy results in higher prices for honest users, reduced levels of support and delays in funding and development of new products, causing the overall breadth and quality of software to suffer† ("What is...† Internet). Even the users of unlawful copies suffer from their own illegal actions: they receive no documentation, no customer support and no information about product updates ("Software Use..." Internet). The White Paper says that while virtually every software publisher expresses concern about their software from unauthorized duplication, over time, many have simply accepted the so-called "fact" that such duplication is unavoidable. This has created an atmosphere in which software piracy is commonly accepted as "just another cost of doing business" ("With the Growth..." Internet). In a brochure published by the SPA it is stated that a major problem arises from the fact that most people do not even know they are breaking the law. "Because the software industry is relatively new, and because copying software is so easy, many people are either unaware of the laws governing software use or choose to ignore them" ("To Copy or not to Copy" Internet). Robert Perry states that much of the problem of software theft arises from the way the software industry developed. In the past, when a software firm spent millions of dollars to write a program for a mainframe computer, it knew it would sell a handful of copies. It licensed each copy to protect its ownership rights and control the use of each copy. That is easy to do with only a few copies of a program. It is impossible for a software company to handle

The Success Of Michael Crichtons Novels In The Media Industry :: essays research papers

The Success of Michael Crichton's Novels in the Media Industry   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One only has to look at the astonishing opening weekend of Paramount Pictures' action adventure thriller Congo which was universally panned by critics, to be reminded of the power of the person who created the underlying material: Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton. The film's whopping $24.6 million opening, which shocked insiders, underscored the value to Hollywood of an exclusive club of best-selling writers (Eller 3).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Michael Chrichton's novels all have their similarities. He seems to follow a pattern which is working very well for him. He picks a hot-button subject and uses it to lend his novels a glossy veneer of topicality. He casts his novels with some really detestable villains so attentive readers will automatically know who to root for. He ends each chapter on a scary, cliff- hanging note to make sure that readers will keep reading, regardless of the characters vapidity. He includes many frantic chase scenes or race-against-the- clock scenes that will translate graphically onto the screen. He puts plenty of technical, pseudo-specialist talk into his characters' mouths to give readers the illusion that they're learning something as they quickly flip the pages (Kakutui 3).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Michael Crichton has definitely made a boom in the entertainment industry. Whether it is his top grossing movies or his top rated television shows like E.R. which took a leading twenty prime-time Emmy nominations last year including best drama (Carter 23).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Crichton's latest movie Congo, which had a great opening weekend, was one of his successes. This movie was based on a book that Crichton wrote in the early 80's, long before he became the entertainment powerhouse that he is now. Chrichton's novels seem to be written for big screen translations (Brom 14). Publishers say that they can't recall a time since Jaws and The Exorcist, two decades ago, when movies gave such a boost to the books that inspired them (Romney 5). Michael Chrichton indefinitely tops this long list of authors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Crichton's novels cover many subjects such as genetic engineering in Jurassic Park, sexual harassment in Disclosure, or Japan's threat to America in Rising Sun (Denby 12). I think that it is this wide variety of subject matter that keeps his readers coming back for more.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Crichton's biggest success by far was the novel Jurassic Park. This book made a sales record in both the novel and on the screen (Turan 11). It ended up grossing over $913 million total in ticket sales and holds the privilege of being the top selling live action movie ever on home video (Wall Street Journal B5). It was such a success that its director, Steven Spielberg,

Centrally Planned vs. Market Economy Essay

It is a cardinal truth that, in order to make the best possible use of the economic resources available in any economy, three basic decisions need to be taken – what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce. The answers to these three fundamental questions are completely dependent to the extent of government’s interference in the economy. Based on the government’s role in the economy, the economic systems are divided into two major categories viz. market or capitalist economy and centrally planned or socialistic or command economy. Market Economy and Centrally Planned Economy The capitalist or market economic system emphasizes complete freedom of individuals as buyers and sellers through the price mechanism. In such a market, price of a commodity is based on market forces of demand and supply. The customers have complete freedom to make choices regarding their purchases and the producers, in turn, allocate their resources according to the respective demand. If the demand of a particular product increases, its price is expected to be increased initially and if the cost price remains the same as before, it will generate more profit for the producers. Naturally, the producers will allocate more resources to that particular product. On the other hand, if the consumers are unwilling to bye a product, its price would fall, resulting in a lower profit or even loss to the producers. But the scenario is completely different in a centrally planned or command or socialistic economy. Here, the three major economic decisions – what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce – are taken by the government. All major decisions regarding investment, savings and consumptions are practically governed by the central authority. Thus, all the decisions, starting from the allocation of resources to the distribution of end products, are taken care off solely by the government. Unlike a capital market, efficiency in a centrally planned economy can only be achieved only when the demands are accurately estimated and the resources are allocated accordingly. The government fixes the output target for each state and industry and allocates the required resources accordingly. Legal Institution of Private Property vs. Social Ownership: In a market or capitalistic economy, all the properties and means of production belong to the private individuals. The enterprises execute complete freedom and, as a result, the system is often called private enterprise economy. The land, building, machine and other articles of wealth in the country are owned by private firms. This is termed as system of ‘private property’. Social ownership of property is practically non-existent. But, the situation is completely different in case of a socialist economy. The basic feature of such an economic system is the social or government ownership of means of production such as, land, machine, mineral resources, capital etc. The government allocates the resources according to the requirements and necessity of the nation as a whole, and not on individual preferences. Hence, property ceases to be a source of individual income. Privatization vs. Socialization: Capitalism preaches the freedom of enterprise which means that one is free to engage oneself in whatever economic activity according to one’s own will. Almost all the economic activities, except some limited number of services rendered by the government (like railways, defense etc. ), are left in the hands of private enterprise. Trade, business and commence are absolutely free from state intervention and control. Business decisions, made by private owners, are ultimate. This is regarded as ‘freedom of enterprise’. In a centrally planned economy, the vital sectors of economy (like agriculture, industries, trade, commerce etc. ) are owned and governed by the government ownership and management respectively. Almost all the production processes are controlled either directly or indirectly by the government.