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teadari · 5 months ago

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⁺₊⋆ 𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆✴︎˚｡She helps everyone except herself.⁺₊⋆ 𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆✴︎˚｡ - Part 2

જ⁀➴ Nakahara Chuuya જ⁀➴

The Port Mafia was not just words; it was an entire world encased in the armor of harsh

realities and strict order. In this hidden realm, amidst shadows and half-tones, Chuuya

blazed like a comet streaking through the darkness. His temperament was akin to a storm,

crashing down upon his enemies, leaving behind only destruction and awe.

And yet, in the

distant shadow of his dazzling brilliance, there was a figure easily overlooked but

impossible to lose — Ohiko.

This girl, like a reed swaying in the wind, was steadfast in her convictions and dedication to

the cause. Her presence, though seemingly subtle, inspired confidence in those who stood

beside her. She was the thread that bound together the fragmented pieces of this harsh

mechanism into a cohesive whole — a true point of support.

It was no surprise that her help and support became an unseen yet invaluable force for

many, embodying a quiet but constant engine of order and harmony amidst chaos.

However, despite all her efforts, she remained mysteriously invisible to herself. As is often

the case, true wisdom and generosity directed outward leave the inner temple deprived,

where absent care for one's own well-being reigns. So it was with Ohiko — living for others,

she sometimes forgot to extend to herself the same gentle support she so freely gave to

those around her. Is there not great wisdom in this contradictory phenomenon of light?

Down in the root-like depths of the Port Mafia, there lingered the sly taste of unending

contradiction — how could such seemingly opposing forces coexist in one strange

microcosm? Chuuya, whose sharp gaze missed nothing, particularly enjoyed observing how

Ohiko, like a wandering star, carved her brilliant path through the melancholy of gray days.

In her presence, the shadows seemed less menacing, and the wind whistling between the

buildings — less sinister.

"What mystery lies beneath that gentle exterior?" Chuuya often pondered, asking himself

this question on one of those rainy days when even acts of villainy seemed soaked in

hopelessness. Yes, she contributed to the legendary feats of the mafia from the solitude of

office walls — nothing in her surroundings presented an obvious threat to life. And yet, her

work, such a seemingly simple role, intrigued him all the more. It was hard to imagine that

the sun-like Ohiko would trade her inner freedom for the shackles of routine

responsibilities.

No matter how you looked at it, her position within the depths of the mafia's structure

stemmed from an entirely different arithmetic than anyone else’s. Perhaps she sought in

this darkness a light she couldn’t find in ordinary life? Or was her heart, devoted to service,

drawn here to find its niche, wishing to help not for reward but for the sake of purpose

itself? Whatever the case, her presence remained a living reminder that even within the

depths of storms, quiet harbors of kindness and compassion hide — treasures Chuuya had

come to value deeply.

One day, as the evening sun barely filtered through the narrow window frames of the dimly

lit hall, and the air was heavy with the atmosphere of recent exploits, Chuuya cast his gaze

toward Ohiko, who was busy with a task not her own. With a care akin to a mother’s, she

was bandaging the wounded hands of one of her colleagues, paying no mind to the fact that

such work wasn’t hers to do.

Her smile — pale and somewhat wistful, like a weary traveler at sunset — still glowed with

a soft, almost otherworldly warmth. It was something that Chuuya, with his sharp eyes and

the ghostly shadow at his back, immediately noticed.

"Ohiko!" he called out firmly, stepping closer with the same fiery curiosity that always lit up

his eyes. "Why are you doing this? It’s not your responsibility," he said as the disgruntled

colleague, after hesitating briefly, stood up and walked away without even bothering to

thank his unsolicited benefactor.

A silence hung in the air, somewhat oppressive. Chuuya looked at Ohiko with astonished

wonder, as though she had revealed to him a secret he had long sought to understand — the

secret of how a tender flower of compassion could bloom amidst the chaos and darkness of

the mafia world. And yet, her quiet presence could guide many, even if they didn’t realize it

themselves.

Ohiko timidly raised her eyes, meeting his intense, almost unraveling gaze. "How could I

not?" she began, her voice carrying an explanation that was simple and unpretentious, like

water in a clear river.

"He was slightly injured, and I wasn’t busy at the time. Besides, bandaging a wound isn’t

much trouble for me…"

But Chuuya, not letting her finish, interrupted with a faint, barely noticeable irritation in his

gaze. It was the same piercing look that usually stopped even the boldest in their tracks, but

now it was laced with a thread of concern. Stepping closer, he voiced his thoughts loudly

and unmistakably.

"They won’t even thank you for it. Why do you always feel the need to help everyone? It’s

time you started thinking about yourself," his words were sharp, almost like a command,

announcing the onset of a new thought.

However, taking a deep breath, he grabbed her hand, lending his tone a softer shade, though

it still retained a slight edge of impatience.

It was like the sudden gentling of a wind that had

shown its favor, for in every look and word lay an attempt to awaken an understanding —

that kindness cannot be forced to rest, but there was hope that care could become mutual.

In his gaze burned a strange mix of anger and concern. "Listen," he began, his words

carrying the echo of a storm ready to engulf everything around.

"I don’t care that you help others, but it irritates me that you stubbornly forget about

yourself. The world, as we both know, is harsh and unforgiving, and you shouldn’t expect

the same kindness that you tirelessly give."

The pause was broken only by the weight of his sigh, as if he wanted to inhale all the

patience in the world — now his voice was softer, but it carried the same note of insistence.

"Don’t waste your energy on those who don’t appreciate it. In the end, you might break too,"

he said with a strain, as though trying to suppress the wave of emotions within himself this

time.

However, Ohiko, locked within her own inner light, couldn’t accept his words. Her

convictions, like a powerful current, carried her further into a world where everyone

deserved warmth and support. Wanting to object, she parted her lips, but Chuuya, not

giving her a chance to speak, pulled her closer.

"How did Mori even agree to hire you?" he muttered, and his voice, though still sharp like

shrapnel, carried more of a desire to protect this precious fragment of light and kindness in

a cruel world. In his sharpness lay care — the kind of care expressed by those who don’t

know any other way, but no less sincere for it.

#bsd chuuya #chuuya nakahara #chuuya x reader #bungou stray dogs chuuya #drabble #fanfic #english #writing #bsd #bsd x reader #reaction

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dailyanarchistposts · 1 year ago

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Chapter II. Of Value.

2. — Constitution of value; definition of wealth.

We know value in its two opposite aspects; we do not know it in its TOTALITY. If we can acquire this new idea, we shall have absolute value; and a table of values, such as was called for in the memoir read to the Academy of Sciences, will be possible.

Let us picture wealth, then, as a mass held by a chemical force in a permanent state of composition, in which new elements, continually entering, combine in different proportions, but according to a certain law: value is the proportional relation (the measure) in which each of these elements forms a part of the whole.

From this two things result: one, that the economists have been wholly deluded when they have looked for the general measure of value in wheat, specie, rent, etc., and also when, after having demonstrated that this standard of measure was neither here nor there, they have concluded that value has neither law nor measure; the other, that the proportion of values may continually vary without ceasing on that account to be subject to a law, whose determination is precisely the solution sought.

This idea of value satisfies, as we shall see, all the conditions: for it includes at once both the positive and fixed element in useful value and the variable element in exchangeable value; in the second place, it puts an end to the contradiction which seemed an insurmountable obstacle in the way of the determination of value; further, we shall show that value thus understood differs entirely from a simple juxtaposition of the two ideas of useful and exchangeable value, and that it is endowed with new properties.

The proportionality of products is not a revelation that we pretend to offer to the world, or a novelty that we bring into science, any more than the division of labor was an unheard-of thing when Adam Smith explained its marvels. The proportionality of products is, as we might prove easily by innumerable quotations, a common idea running through the works on political economy, but to which no one as yet has dreamed of attributing its rightful importance: and this is the task which we undertake today. We feel bound, for the rest, to make this declaration in order to reassure the reader concerning our pretensions to originality, and to satisfy those minds whose timidity leads them to look with little favor upon new ideas.

The economists seem always to have understood by the measure of value only a standard, a sort of original unit, existing by itself, and applicable to all sorts of merchandise, as the yard is applicable to all lengths. Consequently, many have thought that such a standard is furnished by the precious metals. But the theory of money has proved that, far from being the measure of values, specie is only their arithmetic, and a conventional arithmetic at that. Gold and silver are to value what the thermometer is to heat. The thermometer, with its arbitrarily graduated scale, indicates clearly when there is a loss or an increase of heat: but what the laws of heat-equilibrium are; what is its proportion in various bodies; what amount is necessary to cause a rise of ten, fifteen, or twenty degrees in the thermometer, — the thermometer does not tell us; it is not certain even that the degrees of the scale, equal to each other, correspond to equal additions of heat.

The idea that has been entertained hitherto of the measure of value, then, is inexact; the object of our inquiry is not the standard of value, as has been said so often and so foolishly, but the law which regulates the proportions of the various products to the social wealth; for upon the knowledge of this law depends the rise and fall of prices in so far as it is normal and legitimate. In a word, as we understand by the measure of celestial bodies the relation resulting from the comparison of these bodies with each other, so, by the measure of values, we must understand the relation which results from their comparison. Now, I say that this relation has its law, and this comparison its principle.

I suppose, then, a force which combines in certain proportions the elements of wealth, and makes of them a homogeneous whole: if the constituent elements do not exist in the desired proportion, the combination will take place nevertheless; but, instead of absorbing all the material, it will reject a portion as useless. The internal movement by which the combination is produced, and which the affinities of the various substances determine — this movement in society is exchange; exchange considered no longer simply in its elementary form and between man and man, but exchange considered as the fusion of all values produced by private industry in one and the same mass of social wealth. Finally, the proportion in which each element enters into the compound is what we call value; the excess remaining after the combination is non-value, until the addition of a certain quantity of other elements causes further combination and exchange.

We will explain later the function of money.

This determined, it is conceivable that at a given moment the proportions of values constituting the wealth of a country may be determined, or at least empirically approximated, by means of statistics and inventories, in nearly the same way that the chemists have discovered by experience, aided by analysis, the proportions of hydrogen and oxygen necessary to the formation of water. There is nothing objectionable in this method of determining values; it is, after all, only a matter of accounts. But such a work, however interesting it might be, would teach us nothing very useful. On the one hand, indeed, we know that the proportion continually varies; on the other, it is clear that from a statement of the public wealth giving the proportions of values only for the time and place when and where the statistics should be gathered we could not deduce the law of proportionality of wealth. For that, a single operation of this sort would not be sufficient; thousands and millions of similar ones would be necessary, even admitting the method to be worthy of confidence.

Now, here there is a difference between economic science and chemistry. The chemists, who have discovered by experience such beautiful proportions, know no more of their how or why than of the force which governs them. Social economy, on the contrary, to which no a posteriori investigation could reveal directly the law of proportionality of values, can grasp it in the very force which produces it, and which it is time to announce.

This force, which Adam Smith has glorified so eloquently, and which his successors have misconceived (making privilege its equal), — this force is LABOR. Labor differs in quantity and quality with the producer; in this respect it is like all the great principles of Nature and the most general laws, simple in their action and formula, but infinitely modified by a multitude of special causes, and manifesting themselves under an innumerable variety of forms. It is labor, labor alone, that produces all the elements of wealth, and that combines them to their last molecules according to a law of variable, but certain, proportionality. It is labor, in fine, that, as the principle of life, agitates (mens agitat) the material (molem) of wealth, and proportions it.

Society, or the collective man, produces an infinitude of objects, the enjoyment of which constitutes its well-being. This well-being is developed not only in the ratio of the quantity of the products, but also in the ratio of their variety (quality) and proportion. From this fundamental datum it follows that society always, at each instant of its life, must strive for such proportion in its products as will give the greatest amount of well-being, considering the power and means of production. Abundance, variety, and proportion in products are the three factors which constitute WEALTH: wealth, the object of social economy, is subject to the same conditions of existence as beauty, the object of art; virtue, the object of morality; and truth, the object of metaphysics.

But how establish this marvelous proportion, so essential that without it a portion of human labor is lost, — that is, useless, inharmonious, untrue, and consequently synonymous with poverty and annihilation?

Prometheus, according to the fable, is the symbol of human activity. Prometheus steals the fire of heaven, and invents the early arts; Prometheus foresees the future, and aspires to equality with Jupiter; Prometheus is God. Then let us call society Prometheus.

Prometheus devotes, on an average, ten hours a day to labor, seven to rest, and seven to pleasure. In order to gather from his toil the most useful fruit, Prometheus notes the time and trouble that each object of his consumption costs him. Only experience can teach him this, and this experience lasts throughout his life. While laboring and producing, then, Prometheus is subject to an infinitude of disappointments. But, as a final result, the more he labors, the greater is his well-being and the more idealized his luxury; the further he extends his conquests over Nature, the more strongly he fortifies within him the principle of life and intelligence in the exercise of which he alone finds happiness; till finally, the early education of the Laborer completed and order introduced into his occupations, to labor, with him, is no longer to suffer, — it is to live, to enjoy. But the attractiveness of labor does not nullify the rule, since, on the contrary, it is the fruit of it; and those who, under the pretext that labor should be attractive, reason to the denial of justice and to communism, resemble children who, after having gathered some flowers in the garden, should arrange a flower-bed on the staircase.

In society, then, justice is simply the proportionality of values; its guarantee and sanction is the responsibility of the producer.

Prometheus knows that such a product costs an hour’s labor, such another a day’s, a week’s, a year’s; he knows at the same time that all these products, arranged according to their cost, form the progression of his wealth. First, then, he will assure his existence by providing himself with the least costly, and consequently most necessary, things; then, as fast as his position becomes secure, he will look forward to articles of luxury, proceeding always, if he is wise, according to the natural position of each article in the scale of prices. Sometimes Prometheus will make a mistake in his calculations, or else, carried away by passion, he will sacrifice an immediate good to a premature enjoyment, and, after having toiled and moiled, he will starve. Thus, the law carries with it its own sanction; its violation is inevitably accompanied by the immediate punishment of the transgressor.

Say, then, was right in saying: “The happiness of this class (the consumers), composed of all the others, constitutes the general well-being, the state of prosperity of a country.” Only he should have added that the happiness of the class of producers, which also is composed of all the others, equally constitutes the general well-being, the state of prosperity of a country. So, when he says: “The fortune of each consumer is perpetually at war with all that he buys,” he should have added again: “The fortune of each producer is incessantly attacked by all that he sells.” In the absence of a clear expression of this reciprocity, most economical phenomena become unintelligible; and I will soon show how, in consequence of this grave omission, most economists in writing their books have talked wildly about the balance of trade.

I have just said that society produces first the least costly, and consequently most necessary, things. Now, is it true that cheapness of products is always a correlative of their necessity, and vice versa; so that these two words, necessity and cheapness, like the following ones, costliness and superfluity, are synonymes?

If each product of labor, taken alone, would suffice for the existence of man, the synonymy in question would not be doubtful; all products having the same qualities, those would be most advantageously produced, and therefore the most necessary, which cost the least. But the parallel between the utility and price of products is not characterized by this theoretical precision: either through the foresight of Nature or from some other cause, the balance between needs and productive power is more than a theory, — it is a fact, of which daily practice, as well as social progress, gives evidence.

Imagine ourselves living in the day after the birth of man at the beginning of civilization: is it not true that the industries originally the simplest, those which required the least preparation and expense, were the following: gathering, pasturage, hunting, and fishing, which were followed long afterwards by agriculture? Since then, these four primitive industries have been perfected, and moreover appropriated: a double circumstance which does not change the meaning of the facts, but, on the contrary, makes it more manifest. In fact, property has always attached itself by preference to objects of the most immediate utility, to made values, if I may so speak; so that the scale of values might be fixed by the progress of appropriation.

In his work on the “Liberty of Labor” M. Dunoyer has positively accepted this principle by distinguishing four great classes of industry, which he arranges according to the order of their development, — that is, from the least labor-cost to the greatest. These are extractive industry, — including all the semi-barbarous functions mentioned above, — commercial industry, manufacturing, industry, agricultural industry. And it is for a profound reason that the learned author placed agriculture last in the list. For, despite its great antiquity, it is certain that this industry has not kept pace with the others, and the succession of human affairs is not decided by their origin, but by their entire development. It may be that agricultural industry was born before the others, and it may be that all were contemporary; but that will be deemed of the latest date which shall be perfected last.

Thus the very nature of things, as well as his own wants, indicates to the laborer the order in which he should effect the production of the values that make up his well-being. Our law of proportionality, then, is at once physical and logical, objective and subjective; it has the highest degree of certainty. Let us pursue the application.

Of all the products of labor, none perhaps has cost longer and more patient efforts than the calendar. Nevertheless, there is none the enjoyment of which can now be procured more cheaply, and which, consequently, by our own definitions, has become more necessary. How, then, shall we explain this change? Why has the calendar, so useless to the early hordes, who only needed the alternation of night and day, as of winter and summer, become at last so indispensable, so unexpensive, so perfect? For, by a marvelous harmony, in social economy all these adjectives are interconvertible. How account, in short, by our law of proportion, for the variability of the value of the calendar?

In order that the labor necessary to the production of the calendar might be performed, might be possible, man had to find means of gaining time from his early occupations and from those which immediately followed them. In other words, these industries had to become more productive, or less costly, than they were at the beginning: which amounts to saying that it was necessary first to solve the problem of the production of the calendar from the extractive industries themselves.

Suppose, then, that suddenly, by a fortunate combination of efforts, by the division of labor, by the use of some machine, by better management of the natural resources, — in short, by his industry, — Prometheus finds a way of producing in one day as much of a certain object as he formerly produced in ten: what will follow? The product will change its position in the table of the elements of wealth; its power of affinity for other products, so to speak, being increased, its relative value will be proportionately diminished, and, instead of being quoted at one hundred, it will thereafter be quoted only at ten. But this value will still and always be none the less accurately determined, and it will still be labor alone which will fix the degree of its importance. Thus value varies, and the law of value is unchangeable: further, if value is susceptible of variation, it is because it is governed by a law whose principle is essentially inconstant, — namely, labor measured by time.

The same reasoning applies to the production of the calendar as to that of all possible values. I do not need to explain how — civilization (that is, the social fact of the increase of life) multiplying our tasks, rendering our moments more and more precious, and obliging us to keep a perpetual and detailed record of our whole life — the calendar has become to all one of the most necessary things. We know, moreover, that this wonderful discovery has given rise, as its natural complement, to one of our most valuable industries, the manufacture of clocks and watches.

At this point there very naturally arises an objection, the only one that can be offered against the theory of the proportionality of values.

Say and the economists who have succeeded him have observed that, labor being itself an object of valuation, a species of merchandise indeed like any other, to take it as the principal and efficient cause of value is to reason in a vicious circle. Therefore, they conclude, it is necessary to fall back on scarcity and opinion.

These economists, if they will allow me to say it, herein have shown themselves wonderfully careless. Labor is said to have value, not as merchandise itself, but in view of the values supposed to be contained in it potentially. The value of labor is a figurative expression, an anticipation of effect from cause.

It is a fiction by the same title as the productivity of capital. Labor produces, capital has value: and when, by a sort of ellipsis, we say the value of labor, we make an enjambement which is not at all contrary to the rules of language, but which theorists ought to guard against mistaking for a reality. Labor, like liberty, love, ambition, genius, is a thing vague and indeterminate in its nature, but qualitatively defined by its object, — that is, it becomes a reality through its product. When, therefore, we say: This man’s labor is worth five francs per day, it is as if we should say: The daily product of this man’s labor is worth five francs.

Now, the effect of labor is continually to eliminate scarcity and opinion as constitutive elements of value, and, by necessary consequence, to transform natural or indefinite utilities (appropriated or not) into measurable or social utilities: whence it follows that labor is at once a war declared upon the parsimony of Nature and a permanent conspiracy against property.

According to this analysis, value, considered from the point of view of the association which producers, by division of labor and by exchange, naturally form among themselves, is the proportional relation of the products which constitute wealth, and what we call the value of any special product is a formula which expresses, in terms of money, the proportion of this product to the general wealth. — Utility is the basis of value; labor fixes the relation; the price is the expression which, barring the fluctuations that we shall have to consider, indicates this relation.

Such is the centre around which useful and exchangeable value oscillate, the point where they are finally swallowed up and disappear: such is the absolute, unchangeable law which regulates economic disturbances and the freaks of industry and commerce, and governs progress. Every effort of thinking and laboring humanity, every individual and social speculation, as an integrant part of collective wealth, obeys this law. It was the destiny of political economy, by successively positing all its contradictory terms, to make this law known; the object of social economy, which I ask permission for a moment to distinguish from political economy, although at bottom there is no difference between them, will be to spread and apply it universally.

The theory of the measure or proportionality of values is, let it be noticed, the theory of equality itself. Indeed, just as in society, where we have seen that there is a complete identity between producer and consumer, the revenue paid to an idler is like value cast into the flames of Etna, so the laborer who receives excessive wages is like a gleaner to whom should be given a loaf of bread for gathering a stalk of grain: and all that the economists have qualified as unproductive consumption is in reality simply a violation of the law of proportionality.

We shall see in the sequence how, from these simple data, the social genius gradually deduces the still obscure system of organization of labor, distribution of wages, valuation of products, and universal solidarity. For social order is established upon the basis of inexorable justice, not at all upon the paradisical sentiments of fraternity, self-sacrifice, and love, to the exercise of which so many honorable socialists are endeavoring now to stimulate the people. It is in vain that, following Jesus Christ, they preach the necessity, and set the example, of sacrifice; selfishness is stronger, and only the law of severity, economic fatality, is capable of mastering it. Humanitarian enthusiasm may produce shocks favorable to the progress of civilization; but these crises of sentiment, like the oscillations of value, must always result only in a firmer and more absolute establishment of justice. Nature, or Divinity, we distrust in our hearts: she has never believed in the love of man for his fellow; and all that science reveals to us of the ways of Providence in the progress of society — I say it to the shame of the human conscience, but our hypocrisy must be made aware of it — shows a profound misanthropy on the part of God. God helps us, not from motives of goodness, but because order is his essence; God promotes the welfare of the world, not because he deems it worthy, but because the religion of his supreme intelligence lays the obligation upon him: and while the vulgar give him the sweet name Father, it is impossible for the historian, for the political economist, to believe that he either loves or esteems us.

Let us imitate this sublime indifference, this stoical ataraxia, of God; and, since the precept of charity always has failed to promote social welfare, let us look to pure reason for the conditions of harmony and virtue.

Value, conceived as the proportionality of products, otherwise called CONSTITUTED VALUE, necessarily implies in an equal degree utility and venality, indivisibly and harmoniously united. It implies utility, for, without this condition, the product would be destitute of that affinity which renders it exchangeable, and consequently makes it an element of wealth; it implies venality, since, if the product was not acceptable in the market at any hour and at a known price, it would be only a non-value, it would be nothing.

But, in constituted value, all these properties acquire a broader, more regular, truer significance than before. Thus, utility is no longer that inert capacity, so to speak, which things possess of serving for our enjoyments and in our researches; venality is no longer the exaggeration of a blind fancy or an unprincipled opinion; finally, variability has ceased to explain itself by a disingenuous discussion between supply and demand: all that has disappeared to give place to a positive, normal, and, under all possible circumstances, determinable idea. By the constitution of values each product, if it is allowable to establish such an analogy, becomes like the nourishment which, discovered by the alimentary instinct, then prepared by the digestive organs, enters into the general circulation, where it is converted, according to certain proportions, into flesh, bone, liquid, etc., and gives to the body life, strength, and beauty.

Now, what change does the idea of value undergo when we rise from the contradictory notions of useful value and exchangeable value to that of constituted value or absolute value? There is, so to speak, a joining together, a reciprocal penetration, in which the two elementary concepts, grasping each other like the hooked atoms of Epicurus, absorb one another and disappear, leaving in their place a compound possessed, but in a superior degree, of all their positive properties, and divested of all their negative properties. A value really such — like money, first-class business paper, government annuities, shares in a well-established enterprise — can neither be increased without reason nor lost in exchange: it is governed only by the natural law of the addition of special industries and the increase of products. Further, such a value is not the result of a compromise, — that is, of eclecticism, juste-milieu, or mixture; it is the product of a complete fusion, a product entirely new and distinct from its components, just as water, the product of the combination of hydrogen and oxygen, is a separate body, totally distinct from its elements.

The resolution of two antithetical ideas in a third of a superior order is what the school calls synthesis. It alone gives the positive and complete idea, which is obtained, as we have seen, by the successive affirmation or negation — for both amount to the same thing — of two diametrically opposite concepts. Whence we deduce this corollary, of the first importance in practice as well as in theory: wherever, in the spheres of morality, history, or political economy, analysis has established the antinomy of an idea, we may affirm on a priori grounds that this antinomy conceals a higher idea, which sooner or later will make its appearance.

I am sorry to have to insist at so great length on ideas familiar to all young college graduates: but I owed these details to certain economists, who, apropos of my critique of property, have heaped dilemmas on dilemmas to prove that, if I was not a proprietor, I necessarily must be a communist; all because they did not understand thesis, antithesis, and synthesis.

The synthetic idea of value, as the fundamental condition of social order and progress, was dimly seen by Adam Smith, when, to use the words of M. Blanqui, “he showed that labor is the universal and invariable measure of values, and proved that everything has its natural price, toward which it continually gravitates amid the fluctuations of the market, occasioned by accidental circumstances foreign to the venal value of the thing.”

But this idea of value was wholly intuitive with Adam Smith, and society does not change its habits upon the strength of intuitions; it decides only upon the authority of facts. The antinomy had to be expressed in a plainer and clearer manner: J. B. Say was its principal interpreter. But, in spite of the imaginative efforts and fearful subtlety of this economist, Smith’s definition controls him without his knowledge, and is manifest throughout his arguments.

“To put a value on an article,” says Say, “is to declare that it should be estimated equally with some other designated article...... The value of everything is vague and arbitrary until it is RECOGNIZED......” There is, therefore, a method of recognizing the value of things, — that is, of determining it; and, as this recognition or determination results from the comparison of things with each other, there is, further, a common feature, a principle, by means of which we are able to declare that one thing is worth more or less than, or as much as, another.

Say first said: “The measure of value is the value of an other product.” Afterwards, having seen that this phrase was but a tautology, he modified it thus: “The measure of value is the quantity of another product,” which is quite as unintelligible. Moreover, this writer, generally so clear and decided, embarrasses himself with vain distinctions: “We may appreciate the value of things; we cannot measure it, — that is, compare it with an invariable and known standard, for no such standard exists. We can do nothing but estimate the value of things by comparing them.” At other times he distinguishes between real values and relative values: “The former are those whose value changes with the cost of production; the latter are those whose value changes relatively to the value of other kinds of merchandise.”

Singular prepossession of a man of genius, who does not see that to compare, to appraise, to appreciate, is to MEASURE; that every measure, being only a comparison, indicates for that very reason a true relation, provided the comparison is accurate; that, consequently, value, or real measure, and value, or relative measure, are perfectly identical; and that the difficulty is reduced, not to the discovery of a standard of measure, since all quantities may serve each other in that capacity, but to the determination of a point of comparison. In geometry the point of comparison is extent, and the unit of measure is now the division of the circle into three hundred and sixty parts, now the circumference of the terrestrial globe, now the average dimension of the human arm, hand, thumb, or foot. In economic science, we have said after Adam Smith, the point of view from which all values are compared is labor; as for the unit of measure, that adopted in France is the FRANC. It is incredible that so many sensible men should struggle for forty years against an idea so simple. But no: The comparison of values is effected without a point of comparison between them, and without a unit of measure, — such is the proposition which the economists of the nineteenth century, rather than accept the revolutionary idea of equality, have resolved to maintain against all comers. What will posterity say?

I shall presently show, by striking examples, that the idea of the measure or proportion of values, theoretically necessary, is constantly realized in every-day life.

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mariacallous · 2 years ago

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The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine.

So far this year, Quanta has chronicled three major advances in Ramsey theory, the study of how to avoid creating mathematical patterns. The first result put a new cap on how big a set of integers can be without containing three evenly spaced numbers, like {2, 4, 6} or {21, 31, 41}. The second and third similarly put new bounds on the size of networks without clusters of points that are either all connected, or all isolated from each other.

The proofs address what happens as the numbers involved grow infinitely large. Paradoxically, this can sometimes be easier than dealing with pesky real-world quantities.

For example, consider two questions about a fraction with a really big denominator. You might ask what the decimal expansion of, say, 1/42503312127361 is. Or you could ask if this number will get closer to zero as the denominator grows. The first question is a specific question about a real-world quantity, and it’s harder to calculate than the second, which asks how the quantity 1/n will “asymptotically” change as n grows. (It gets closer and closer to 0.)

“This is a problem plaguing all of Ramsey theory,” said William Gasarch, a computer scientist at the University of Maryland. “Ramsey theory is known for having asymptotically very nice results.” But analyzing numbers that are smaller than infinity requires an entirely different mathematical toolbox.

Gasarch has studied questions in Ramsey theory involving finite numbers that are too big for the problem to be solved by brute force. In one project, he took on the finite version of the first of this year’s breakthroughs—a February paper by Zander Kelley, a graduate student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and Raghu Meka of the University of California, Los Angeles. Kelley and Meka found a new upper bound on how many integers between 1 and N you can put into a set while avoiding three-term progressions, or patterns of evenly spaced numbers.

Though Kelley and Meka’s result applies even if N is relatively small, it doesn’t give a particularly useful bound in that case. For very small values of N, you’re better off sticking to very simple methods. If N is, say, 5, just look at all the possible sets of numbers between 1 and N, and pick out the biggest progression-free one: {1, 2, 4, 5}.

But the number of different possible answers grows very quickly and makes it too difficult to employ such a simple strategy. There are more than 1 million sets consisting of numbers between 1 and 20. There are over 1060 using numbers between 1 and 200. Finding the best progression-free set for these cases takes a hefty dose of computing power, even with efficiency-improving strategies. “You need to be able to squeeze a lot of performance out of things,” said James Glenn, a computer scientist at Yale University. In 2008, Gasarch, Glenn, and Clyde Kruskal of the University of Maryland wrote a program to find the biggest progression-free sets up to an N of 187. (Previous work had gotten the answers up to 150, as well as for 157.) Despite a roster of tricks, their program took months to finish, Glenn said.

To lessen their computational load, the team used simple tests that prevented their program from pursuing dead-end searches and split their sets into smaller parts that they analyzed separately.

Gasarch, Glenn, and Kruskal also tried several other strategies. One promising idea leaned on randomness. A simple way to come up with a progression-free set is to put 1 in your set, then always add the next number that doesn’t create an arithmetic progression. Follow this procedure until you hit the number 10, and you’ll get the set {1, 2, 4, 5, 10}. But it turns out this isn’t the best strategy in general. “What if we don’t start at 1?” Gasarch said. “If you start at a random place, you actually do better.” Researchers have no idea why randomness is so useful, he added.

Calculating the finite versions of the two other new Ramsey theory results is even more vexing than determining the size of progression-free sets. Those results concern mathematical networks (called graphs) made up of nodes connected by lines called edges. The Ramsey number r(s, t) is the smallest number of nodes a graph must have before it becomes impossible to avoid including either a group of s connected nodes or t disconnected ones. The Ramsey number is such a headache to compute that even r(5, 5) is unknown—it’s somewhere between 43 and 48.

In 1981, Brendan McKay, now a computer scientist at Australian National University, wrote a software program called nauty, which was intended to make calculating Ramsey numbers simpler. Nauty ensures that researchers don’t waste time checking two graphs that are just flipped or rotated versions of one another. “If somebody’s in the area and is not using nauty, the game is over. You must use it,” said Stanisław Radziszowski, a mathematician at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Still, the amount of computation involved is almost incomprehensible. In 2013, Radziszowski and Jan Goedgebeur proved that r(3, 10) is at most 42. “It took, I think, almost 50 CPU years,” said Goedgebeur, a computer scientist at KU Leuven University in Belgium.

If you can’t compute an exact Ramsey number, you can try narrowing down its value with examples. If you found a 45-node graph without five nodes that were all connected and without five nodes that were all disconnected, that would prove that r(5, 5) is bigger than 45. Mathematicians studying Ramsey numbers used to think that finding those examples, called Ramsey graphs, would be simple, Radziszowski said. But it wasn’t so. “There was this expectation that nice, cool mathematical constructions will give the best possible constructions, and we just need more people to work on it,” he said. “My feeling is more and more that it’s chaotic.”

Randomness is both an obstacle to understanding and a useful tool. Geoffrey Exoo, a computer scientist at Indiana State University, has spent years refining random methods to generate Ramsey graphs. In a 2015 paper announcing dozens of new, record-beating Ramsey graphs, Exoo and Milos Tatarevic generated random graphs and then gradually tweaked them by deleting or adding edges that reduced the number of unwanted clusters until they found a Ramsey graph. Exoo’s techniques are as much an art as anything, though, Radziszowski said. They sometimes require him to combine multiple methods, or to use judgment about what kind of graphs to start with. “Many, many people try it, and they cannot do it,” Radziszowski said.

The techniques developed to generate Ramsey graphs could be more broadly useful someday, said Goedgebeur, who has worked on producing other kinds of graphs, such as graphs that represent chemical compounds. “It is not unlikely that these techniques can also be transferred and adjusted to help generate other classes of graphs more efficiently (and vice versa),” he wrote in an email.

To Radziszowski, however, the reason for studying the small Ramsey numbers is much simpler. “Because it’s open, because nobody knows what the answer is,” he said. “The trivial cases we do by hand; a little larger, you need a computer, and a little larger, even the computer is not good enough. And so the challenge emerges.”

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scholarspointind · 2 months ago

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The Power of Mental Math Classes: Enhancing Your Cognitive Skills

In today’s fast-paced world, developing strong cognitive abilities is more important than ever. One of the most effective ways to improve brain function and problem-solving skills is by enrolling in Mental Math Classes. These specialized programs not only boost your mathematical skills but also help improve memory, concentration, and overall cognitive development.

Whether you’re a student looking to sharpen your math abilities or an adult aiming to enhance your mental agility, Mental Math Classes Near Me can be the perfect solution.

Why Mental Math is Important

Mental math, or the ability to perform calculations in your head without the aid of a calculator or paper, is an essential life skill. In addition to making day-to-day tasks easier—such as calculating bills, making estimates, or budgeting—it also helps in boosting brain activity. By regularly practicing mental math, you are exercising the part of the brain responsible for numerical processing, which leads to improved problem-solving abilities, quick thinking, and a sharper memory.

Key Benefits of Mental Math Classes

Enhanced Cognitive Skills

One of the significant benefits of Mental Math Classes is that it sharpens your mind. Mental math practice forces you to think in a quick, logical manner to process information correctly. This enables you to better learn other subjects and do it more efficiently.

Increased Confidence

Many students and adults struggle with math anxiety, especially when it comes to traditional arithmetic or complex calculations. Mental math helps build confidence in solving problems quickly and accurately. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with mental calculations, which leads to a sense of accomplishment and self-assurance.

Better Memory and Concentration

These kinds of mental math exercises strengthen both short-term memory and long-term memory through the act of recalling and handling numbers. Additionally, practicing mental math enhances your ability to focus on tasks for longer periods, improving concentration not only in math-related areas but in other disciplines as well.

Faster Problem-Solving Skills

Mental math challenges the brain to come up with answers quickly, improving your overall problem-solving skills. The faster you can solve problems mentally, the more effective you become in time-sensitive tasks. This is especially beneficial in academic settings, competitive exams, and even in business environments where decision-making and speed are key.

Improved Academic Performance

Students who engage in Mental Math Classes Near Me often see an improvement in their overall academic performance. The mental calculation skills they develop can be applied to a wide variety of subjects, making it easier to excel in science, engineering, and even language arts. Moreover, because these classes typically focus on a holistic approach, they also foster a love for learning and intellectual curiosity.

Preparation for Competitive Exams

For students appearing for competitive exams like SATs, GRE, or other entrance exams, mental math can be a game-changer. Most of the time, exams contain time-bound sections where speed and accuracy are required. Mastering mental math techniques will help students solve problems faster and reduce the likelihood of making mistakes under pressure.

Where to Find Mental Math Classes

The right Mental Math Classes Near Me can be essential in ensuring that you or your child receives quality instruction. Look for centers that specialize in mental arithmetic and ensure the methods they use to teach these skills have been proven effective.

One notable center for comprehensive mental math coaching is Scholars Point, especially known for its approach to mental math education. Whether you are in need of individual coaching or group sessions, programs like Scholars Point offer personalized strategies that work for all learners.

How to Choose the Right Mental Math Program

When looking for Mental Math Classes Near Me, consider the following factors:

Curriculum: Ensure that the program has a structured curriculum designed to progressively enhance math skills.

Instructor Qualifications: Select programs with qualified and experienced instructors who can effectively communicate the concepts and keep students engaged.

Student Reviews: Check for reviews or testimonials from former students to get a sense of the program’s effectiveness.

Location and Flexibility: Consider how convenient the location is and whether the program offers flexible scheduling, especially if you have a busy routine.

With proper research and selection of a quality-based source like Scholars Point, you’ll be sure to invest in the right program that will yield great results.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mental Math Classes provide significant benefits for learners of all ages. They enhance cognitive skills, improve memory, increase confidence, and sharpen problem-solving abilities. Whether you’re searching for a local program or considering online classes, there are many options available to help you develop these essential skills. If you’re looking for Mental Math Classes Near Me, be sure to check out trusted providers like Scholars Point. By enrolling in these classes, you can unlock your full potential and pave the way for future success in both academics and everyday life.

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taggartmcgurrin · 6 months ago

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Threading the Needle: Taggart McGurrin on Navigating Profit and Ethics in Pharma and Biotech Startups

There are few sectors more complicated than pharmaceuticals—especially for new companies. To succeed, startups must master a complicated arithmetic that balances business decisions against the ethics of providing life-saving drugs.

Taggart (Tagg) McGurrin, a CFO/COO in the pharmaceutical space, compares leading a startup to managing air travel. Modern flight relies not only on skilled pilots, but on fully coordinated efforts of highly skilled people across various disciplines, who do everything from monitoring the weather to building reliable aircraft.

Like airlines, pharmaceutical startups often contend with last-minute changes that affect the journey, although not the destination.

No matter what new government regulation, stakeholder concern, or market disruption occurs, new businesses must “understand the headwinds that you face and pivot seamlessly to continue flawlessly executing on the corporation’s goals and objectives,” McGurrin said.

Patients as a Priority

Typical startups worry about two concerns: connecting with clients and becoming profitable. Pharmaceutical businesses are different. Their success and failure predominantly depend on how well their medicine works.

And while a tech company can regularly update its product, pharmaceutical companies are bound by strict regulatory timelines and massive cash burn. As a result, high-growth start-ups can be a bit like building a plane while trying to fly it.

“The bottom line starts and ends with the human impact the pharmaceutical industry has on people—current and future patients,” he said. “Think about us when we were kids: My mother brought me in for vaccines and gave me medicine when I was sick. We entrusted other people to develop medications properly, the FDA to apply their regulatory authority to grant companies the approval to commercialize medications properly, and doctors to prescribe them. So, when you look at the human impact, you have to say, ‘Look, patients depend on and entrust pharmaceutical leaders with their health and well-being, just the same way they entrust doctors and nurses with their medical care and treatment.’”

Patient trust is sacred, McGurrin said, but it comes at a steep cost. Investors can grow impatient because of the tremendous cost of new drug development—from research to iteration to a long and complex approval process. It’s not unusual for pharmaceutical startups to feel constantly strapped for cash as they navigate a costly and lengthy journey toward drug approval.

McGurrin believes the key to keeping investors engaged throughout the process is to transparently identify and communicate developmental challenges, associated risk mitigation strategies, and long-term and impactful solutions to the hurdles.

“The industry allows me to do well by doing good. I like money because money is a great motivator. That's what gets many people out of bed in the morning,” he said. “But at the end of the day, is it clean money? Would you be proud to say that you earned it and did it by doing good and benefitting others?”

Yet, while patients are the ultimate priority, pharmaceutical CEOs can only make some decisions solely based on patient needs. The system forces them to consider investors' financial needs, and this balancing act is an ongoing challenge.

Balancing the Needs of All Stakeholders

The market doesn’t necessarily reward companies for making good medications.

McGurrin emphasized that pharmaceutical companies operate within a for-profit model, which comes with its own pressures.

“Pharmaceuticals are a for-profit business with two prongs,” McGurrin said. “One is that people expect to get a return from sizeable investment because developing a drug costs a ton of money. On the other hand, there are people who are investing in certain areas of the pharmaceutical industry or certain drugs because they have a connection to an unmet need. Perhaps it's something they or a family member have had to deal with from a health perspective, and they want to see certain drugs come forth to help in that area. And that might be a mission-driven investment for them. But nonetheless, their investment isn't a charitable contribution. People expect a return from investing in drug development, especially investors who make their livelihoods from deploying capital into highly risky development programs. They expect returns commensurate with the risk profile of their investments..”

This pressure becomes especially intense when development processes take longer or cost more than expected. Investors may push for speedier development and market access, but management often faces unexpected challenges.

“I think a time where the rubber meets the road with those two competing interests—returns for investors versus what you're doing to move things forward for the patients—what it really comes down to is how you're managing the overall timeline to approval,” he said.

For McGurrin, leadership must remain committed to the long-term efficacy and safety of the drug. In some cases, that means extending timelines or requesting additional funding rounds.

“I think that people often want to take the path of least resistance, but that could result in lower returns for investors, a limited label for patients, or both. It’s critical to be transparent with investors and say, ‘Look, we spoke to the FDA and they requested additional data, or there is additional regulatory work required. As long as you approach investors with a revised plan and timeline, the relevant risks, and the capital required to execute, you can effectively address investors' concerns while preserving the integrity of the drug you are trying to deliver to patients,” McGurrin said.

Striking the Right Balance

Encountering turbulence is simply part of the journey for pharmaceutical startups. The industry offers attractive rewards for investors and amazing results for patients—but only so long as the dynamic path from research to market is managed with finesse. “If startups want to bring the most effective medication to market on a timeline that suits investors, the best tool for the job is constant, comprehensive, and transparent communication to all stakeholders,” McGurrin said.

“You need to set realistic expectations and be very upfront and honest with your investors. As long as investors are fully informed, I truly believe management will be given the requisite support to deliver for both investors and patients.”

#taggart mcgurrin

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seopiepie · 1 year ago

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Optimizing GPU Acceleration for High-Performance AI Video Rendering

In the realm of digital media, the demand for high-quality video content has surged exponentially. From filmmakers crafting immersive cinematic experiences to content creators producing engaging social media clips, the appetite for visually stunning videos knows no bounds. However, achieving such visual excellence comes with its challenges, especially when it comes to rendering complex video sequences in real-time. This is where the fusion of AI and GPU acceleration emerges as a game-changer, revolutionizing the landscape of video rendering.

In this blog post, we delve into the intricacies of optimizing GPU acceleration for high-performance AI video rendering. By exploring the synergy between cutting-edge AI algorithms and the computational prowess of GPUs, we uncover the secrets behind achieving unparalleled efficiency and speed in video rendering processes.

Understanding GPU Acceleration:

Before delving into the nuances of optimizing GPU acceleration, let’s first grasp the fundamentals of this transformative technology. GPU acceleration involves harnessing the parallel processing capabilities of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to accelerate computational tasks, particularly those related to graphics and multimedia processing.

Traditionally, CPUs (Central Processing Units) were solely responsible for handling all computational tasks within a system. However, with the rise of graphics-intensive applications such as video games, 3D modeling, and video rendering, the limitations of CPUs became increasingly apparent. GPUs, designed to handle parallel tasks efficiently, offered a solution by offloading graphics processing from the CPU and significantly enhancing performance.

The Role of AI in Video Rendering:

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a driving force behind innovation in various fields, including video rendering. AI algorithms, particularly those based on deep learning and neural networks, have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in tasks such as image recognition, natural language processing, and, importantly, video processing.

In the context of video rendering, AI algorithms can optimize various aspects of the rendering pipeline, including upscaling, denoising, color grading, and even content creation. By analyzing vast amounts of data and learning complex patterns, AI-powered tools can generate visually stunning results with unprecedented efficiency.

Optimizing GPU Acceleration for AI Video Rendering:

Now, let’s delve into the strategies for optimizing GPU acceleration specifically for AI-driven video rendering applications:

Parallel Processing Optimization: GPUs excel at executing thousands of parallel tasks simultaneously. To fully leverage this capability, developers must design algorithms that can be parallelized effectively. By breaking down complex rendering tasks into smaller, independent operations, GPUs can maximize their throughput and efficiency.

Hardware Optimization: Ensuring that the hardware infrastructure, including GPUs and associated components such as memory and storage, is optimized for video rendering is crucial. This involves selecting GPUs with sufficient computational power and memory bandwidth to handle the demands of AI algorithms effectively. Additionally, leveraging technologies such as NVLink and PCIe Gen4 can further enhance data transfer speeds between GPUs and other system components.

Algorithmic Efficiency: Developing AI algorithms that strike the right balance between accuracy and computational efficiency is paramount. By employing techniques such as model pruning, quantization, and low-precision arithmetic, developers can reduce the computational overhead of AI algorithms without compromising on performance. Furthermore, optimizing memory access patterns and minimizing data movement between CPU and GPU can further improve efficiency.

Software Optimization: Optimizing software frameworks and libraries plays a crucial role in maximizing GPU acceleration for AI video rendering. Frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and CUDA provide developers with tools and APIs for GPU programming and optimization. By fine-tuning parameters, optimizing kernel implementations, and leveraging hardware-specific optimizations, developers can extract maximum performance from GPU-accelerated AI algorithms.

Real-Time Rendering Techniques: In applications requiring real-time video rendering, such as video editing and live streaming, optimizing GPU acceleration becomes even more critical. Techniques such as predictive rendering, where AI algorithms anticipate future frames based on past observations, can help reduce latency and improve overall responsiveness. Additionally, implementing adaptive resolution scaling and dynamic resource allocation strategies can ensure smooth playback even under varying workload conditions.

Case Studies: Real-World Applications of GPU-Accelerated AI Video Rendering:

To illustrate the transformative potential of GPU-accelerated AI video rendering, let’s explore some real-world case studies:

Film and Animation Production: In the film and animation industry, where rendering complex scenes with photorealistic detail is paramount, GPU-accelerated AI rendering has revolutionized the workflow. Studios leverage AI algorithms for tasks such as denoising, texture synthesis, and character animation, significantly reducing rendering times while maintaining exceptional visual quality.

Video Editing and Post-Production: Video editing software equipped with GPU-accelerated AI features enables editors to perform tasks such as object removal, scene segmentation, and color grading with unprecedented speed and precision. Real-time previews and seamless integration with popular editing tools empower editors to unleash their creativity without being hindered by rendering delays.

Virtual Production and Augmented Reality: In the realm of virtual production and augmented reality, where real-time rendering is essential for creating immersive experiences, GPU acceleration plays a pivotal role. AI-powered rendering techniques enable seamless integration of virtual elements into live footage, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, optimizing GPU acceleration for high-performance AI video rendering represents a frontier of innovation with far-reaching implications across various industries. By harnessing the combined power of AI algorithms and GPU computing, developers can unlock new levels of efficiency, creativity, and realism in video rendering workflows. As technology continues to advance, the convergence of AI and GPU acceleration promises to redefine the possibilities of visual storytelling, enabling creators to bring their imaginations to life with unparalleled fidelity and speed.

#ai video generation #ai video #ai #video

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metamoonshots · 2 years ago

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As blockchain expertise transitions towards proof-of-stake consensus fashions, a urgent query arises — will these methods keep decentralization, or will rewards disproportionately pool amongst giant gamers on the expense of broader participation?Dr. Wenpin Tang, a number one researcher of blockchain incentives, analyzed these dynamics in proof-of-stake (PoS) methods utilizing superior mathematical fashions. His findings spotlight and start to unpack the complicated forces at play.In pure PoS chains like Ethereum, miners bid utilizing their coin balances for validation rights with no buying and selling allowed between miners. Winners earn extra cash as rewards. This appears to favor giant gamers, however Dr. Tang explains it’s extra nuanced:The important thing takeaway is will probably be completely different for big and small miners. For big miners (e.g. Binance or Musk), their shares can be secure e.g. if they've 10% preliminary shares, they can even be near 10% ultimately. That isn't the case for small miners (e.g. many retailer miners), their shares undergo from fluctuations. If they've 0.01% preliminary shares, they might find yourself with 0.0001% or 0.1%, say — with the downward likelihood being larger than the upward likelihood.So whereas giants stay regular on this pure PoS system, small miners face important volatility with a long-term development towards lack of stake. Dr. Tang notes this might result in higher reliance on giant validators for blockchain repairs.Introducing buying and selling to the ecosystem, nevertheless, has a profound impact. When miners can commerce cash, new dynamics emerge. Dr. Tang modeled a “market impression” method the place promoting drops costs and shopping for lifts them. The maths then confirmed buying and selling implementing decentralization over time.This, nevertheless, presumes a “homogenous” group of miners validating the community, that means that each one are performing to optimize their positions. “The evaluation presumes miners have an identical incentives and data,” Dr. Tang says, “however actuality is much messier.”Equally important is shifting past good rationality assumed in most fashions. “Actual choices come from ‘feeling,’ not calculated optimization,” Tang explains. “This chaotic collective conduct requires research.”In different phrases, human emotions form incentives, and differing incentives create heterogeneity among the many mining inhabitants that's tough for pure arithmetic to account for. So whereas Dr. Tang’s equations lend directional insights, real-world human actions drive final outcomes. Dr. Tang makes use of the time period “bounded rationality”—rational thought that's however “bounded” by human foibles and incentives.Right here Dr. Tang sees machine studying taking part in an vital position in analyzing the large variety of idiosyncrasies throughout completely different actors on the blockchain. It might cluster and analyze completely different miner behaviors and data. Insights gained would help protocol designs in higher selling decentralization.This interaction of idea and apply leads Tang to conclude:“Effectively-structured PoS methods can probably decentralize wealth. However attaining this calls for fastidiously calibrating rewards and buying and selling parameters − and at all times accounting for human imperfection.”Whereas totally decentralized networks stay an aspirational aim, Dr. Tang’s analysis gives hope they are often achieved by means of cautious design issues. Importantly, it demonstrates the fashions that do development in a positive route, and gives no less than a partial framework for sustainable community design.Nevertheless, mathematical fashions alone should not fairly enough to inform the entire story. Sustaining broad participation requires deep understanding of miner behaviors and incentives. By combining insights from idea and apply, blockchains could but fulfill their promise of equitable entry and distributed belief. However

the path ahead would require acknowledging social and cognitive nuances past the purely technical.Posted In: Analysis, Interview

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massensterben-a · 3 years ago

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@oncejaw said: ❝ no man is worth more than another, wherever he is from. ❞ :')

It’s a peculiar arithmetic they are taught at the front. Wide-eyed, blinking like an owl, Bertholdt has watched as a Marleyan officer walked down the rank and file of an Eldian company and, with a piece of chalk, marked every third soldier’s helmet. There was no explanation, no running commentary to the grim ritual but these men who had been laughing in the morning, playing dice, teasing their young monster-siblings on the march to camp, all these men were silent then. Their faces were like skulls, pale and hollow, the fear-blank eyes sunken deep into their sockets. And then they were led away. And then Bertholdt never saw them again.

Bertholdt is a child, but not in the way others are. He watched them go with that same sober, mournful attention with which he observes every subtraction. If he is curious about the fate of these men, then he knows to bite his tongue. Where are they going? Nowhere good. Never anywhere good. If good places remain, then they are far away from here. Here is the trench where he sits with Marcel at his shoulder, calmly cleaning his rifle with small practiced motions. He doesn’t look up as the two captains saunter along in their fine pressed uniforms, not a mud stain on their bleached overcoats, no blood splattered along their sleeves, no sand dusting the brims of their military caps.

He doesn’t listen to their talk, their laughter about mathematics (If I give you five Olgovians, how many Eldians will that buy me?), their crude hyena-fanged sneers. It’s something about a POW exchange. Those happen. The enemy forces don’t like to exchange prisoners with Marley, especially not Eldians. Bad blood runs both ways. Bertholdt has heard the stories. A few injected soldiers would be mixed into the batch and then once they were in camp, that’s when Zeke would show up on the horizon, looming and predatory. One scream from the Beast, and the campsite was rubble come sundown. On the other hand, nobody likes to return Eldians. Like restocking your enemy’s ammunition, that. You’re bound to get them back, and in a worse way. Bertholdt doesn’t speak, but he listens well, and he remembers every snarl, every sharp-tongued aside, every stab into the open wound. Bertholdt pretends it is a mean card game.

Round, cowed eyes stay glued to the mechanism of the rifle, the shining metal, the smooth clicking of the empty chamber. Focus only on what is ahead of you. Don’t look left, don’t look right. Don’t you dare look down. Bertholdt reassembles the gun, his thin, steady fingers chewed to the quick again. It is Marcel who stirs, who lets slip his tongue in a defiant mutter.

—No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.

His words flinch through Bertholdt like a deer on the run. They spring apart in the thicket of his mind, breaking through the underbrush in eerie silence, and slip out of sight. Marcel makes to stand. Surely not to oppose, not to force his point. Marcel is way too smart for that. More likely, he just wants to stretch his legs, shake off his frustrations. There are so many these days, and Marcel is not very big. He’s been on edge for weeks, ever since they sent him out into the field. His titan is gnawing on his nerves, on every sinew. Bertholdt knows. He can almost smell it. He doesn’t know why. Either way, Marcel tries to get up too suddenly, with a jerk forward.

He does not account for Bertholdt’s hand that suddenly wraps around his forearm and grips him tight. The tug goes all the way up into his shoulder, but the younger boy doesn’t budge. “Stay down.”

His words are tailed by an earth-shattering explosion. Dirt and blood sprays in a high column over their heads. Bertholdt curls protectively over his rifle, pulls Marcel down with him, as the pebbles and soil rains down on them like hail, clattering against their too-large helmets. The rumbling subsides to the chorus of outcries for medics, for stretchers and shovels.

In the confusion and noise, Bertholdt finally looks up at his friend, his brows furrowed in that same death mask stare every soldier has worn before him: “Don’t say such things. Don’t ever say such things. Everyone can hear you.”

#oncejaw #;;v. consider harm a comfort #me: i will write less from now on #cha: h #me: here is a whole drabble i love you

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pv1isalsoimportant · 17 days ago

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#me volunteering for stoc this year like #please pretty please i can be normal about forcing #and bounded arithmetic #good to see the other side of the fence once in a while tho #if any of y'all are coming for stoc this year let me know #mathblr #math #mathematics #logic #bounded arithmetic #proof complexity #computational complexity #complexity theory #theoretical computer science

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razieltwelve · 4 years ago

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My Origin Story

I’m often asked about how I got into self-publishing. It’s something I’ve talked about in previous posts, but I want to talk about it again. It’s been years since I started, and I think time has given me something of a different perspective.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a long time. However, I first began to take my writing more seriously in high school. I started posting my writing on the internet under various pseudonyms, and I gradually honed my skills. I won’t say I was good back then, but I steadily became less horrible. It still wasn’t something I showed to people I knew in my everyday life, not even to my family. My writing was, in my opinion, still too rough and raw to present to others, except via the anonymity of the internet.

Fast forward to university. I continued to improve my writing as best I could. In fact, I devoted most of my spare time to writing. It was at this point that I began to write fan fiction. Now, I can already tell what some of you are thinking, but writing fan fiction was honestly the best decision I could have made at the time. Fan communities are wonderful things. You don’t have to be the best writer to be welcomed, and you can get access to a far larger amount of critique and advice than you would get as some random lone writer on the internet.

My writing improved markedly during this time since I was now getting regular feedback. Now, obviously, it’s true that most fan fiction readers aren’t professional writers or critics. Sometimes, all you get is “I like the bit where people got stabbed”. Yet amongst all of the one word reviews, random hate messages, and simple but welcome words of encouragement, you do meet people who are genuinely interested in helping you improve. I’m talking about detailed reviews that can be pages long, covering everything from sentence construction to overarching plot critiques.

In my Honours year, I finished my first novel. Before you ask, it’s not something that I’ve published although I do intend to go back and fix it up one day. What mattered wasn’t how good it was. No. What mattered was that I actually finished a novel-length story. It was a bit of mess at times, but it was 100,000 words of original fiction. Sure, it wasn’t great, but it was mine. I actually printed it out and had it bound in a manner similar to my Honours thesis.

During my PhD years, I continued to write, and I began to submit my short stories to fiction magazines while sending out inquiry letters to agents and publishers about my longer stories. Over the four years of my PhD I wrote three novels and many short stories.

And this is where my origin story takes a bit of a dark turn.

Do you want to know how many short stories I got published?

Zero.

Do you want to know how much interest I got from publishers and agents about my longer stories?

Zero.

That’s right. I got absolutely zero interest from anyone about my original fiction.

That’s not a good feeling, let me tell you. It can be very disheartening. I might have thrown myself into fan fiction with a bit more enthusiasm then because at least there, in those communities, people liked what I wrote. Despite all the rejections from publishers and agents, I could at least say that in certain communities, my writing was well-loved and respected.

After bashing my head into the proverbial wall for a couple of years, I began to look into self-publishing. If my writing was genuinely good, then surely I’d be able to sell at least a few copies if I self-published. I wasn’t going to get ahead of myself and predict best-seller status or anything, but I had to be able to sell something, right?

I spent the next few months studying the market and learning how to make eBooks and design covers. Finally, I was ready. The very first book I self-published was The Last Huntress. That book was a labour of love. I pored over every sentence. I obsessed about the characters and the setting. I promoted it as best I could via the communities I was a part of, and then I sat back and waited for the magic to happen.

That last part, the bit about the magic? That was sarcasm.

There was no magic.

In that first month, I sold something like 17 copies.

All told, that translated to around $6.50 for me.

Staring at that result was not the happiest moment of my life. I did the mental arithmetic. Even if I increased my sales a hundred fold, it still wouldn’t be enough for me to make a living via writing. Heck, I could increase my sales three hundred fold and it still wouldn’t be enough.

Luckily, my years of unrelenting failure had somewhat numbed me to this latest failure. I decided to try again. The sequel and some other stories actually managed to do a little better, but that was hardly saying anything. It’s kind of like how if your leg has been cut off, you probably won’t feel the pain of a broken finger all that much.

After a full year of massive failure, my knee decided to explode because of course it did.

Cue surgery.

Cue misery.

Cue six weeks with my leg locked straight in a brace.

Sitting on my couch with my leg propped up beside me, I decided that I wanted to write something different. No more serious fantasy. No more high fantasy. My humorous fan fiction was what had first endeared me to readers, so maybe it was time to write something funny. Besides, it might take my mind off the fact that I had weeks of my leg in a brace to look forward to along with months of physiotherapy.

And don’t even me started on how awkward it was to have a bath or use the toilet.

I was throwing around ideas for what kind of story I could write when a scene came to mind: a necromancer being forced to beat his own wayward creation to death. All I really had was that one scene. It sounded pretty funny to me, so I started writing just to see where it would go.

Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Elf is what that idea became.

That book sold more copies in a month than all of my previous books combined had managed in a year. In fact, it managed to outdo all of my previous books combined several times over.

I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to see those numbers rolling in. It wasn’t a bestseller by any means, but it was the first time that I began to think that maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t wasting my time, that maybe I could actually do this.

Things have changed a lot since then.

I’ve written more books, and although they’ve had varying degrees of success, they’ve all done so much better than I could ever have imagined during the doldrums of that first year. Humour, it seems, is what I’m best suited to, along with slice of life, and I’m more than happy to embrace that. I’ve even been lucky enough to have some of my books turned into audiobooks.

So there’s my origin story.

It’s easy, I think, to only remember the things that worked, but it’s important to remember the failures too. Writing isn’t an easy thing to do, especially if you’re aiming to make a living out of it. People can be cruel. You’re going to get reviews from people saying that you’re awful, that your story sucks, and that you should quit writing. But you’re also going to get reviews telling you that your story made someone’s day, that you made someone smile, that they can’t wait for the next book.

I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without those years of failure and disappointment. One of the most important qualities to have if you’re going to write humour is the ability to laugh at yourself and to make light of both the very strange and the very mundane. Moreover, a writer should be honest with themselves if they want to improve.

You can argue with reviewers. You can argue with critics. But you can’t argue with $6.50 worth of sales in a month.

I suppose that’s why I tend to be quite sympathetic to the underdog in my writing. I am one. I know what it’s like to put your heart into something and come up empty handed. I had that happen to me for years. I also know how important it is to celebrate the little wins and the small triumphs. Sometimes, they lead to bigger things, and sometimes, they’re all you have.

Well, that’s it. That’s my origin story.

It’s not exactly glorious. It’s filled with more than its fair share of failures. But it is my story. Mine. And that matters. Anyone who tells you that there isn’t some luck involved in the writing business is crazy. Luck is definitely a thing. But just being lucky isn’t enough. It takes years of hard work to become good enough to make the most of that luck, and it takes a certain level of idiocy/stubbornness to keep going despite everyone slamming doors in your face.

It’s a good thing, then, that I’m a lucky, stubborn idiot.

If you’re interested in my thoughts on writing and other topics, you can find those here.

I also write original fiction, which you can find on Amazon here or on Audible here. Also, just in case you missed it… The Sheep Dragon is out on Audible now! Get it here. It’s 26 and a half hours of fun, humour, and adventure!

#personal #musings #writing

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brilliantt · 5 years ago

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Mouse - part one

Summary: Maggie Shelby isn’t like her brothers or sister, being quiet and studious she often struggles to fit in. When money gets stolen and she is accused will she stick around and continue to be outcast in her family?

A/N: this is my first fic ever and im nervouss! l love reading peaky blinder fics and thought i’d give it a go. I plan on this being a series loosely based between series 3 and 4, loosely because I haven’t watched the series in a while and it won’t follow every single event. In this chapter we can see her close relationship with John, my fave Shelby boy :))

It was undeniable that Maggie - or Mags, as kept John insisting- was in fact a Shelby. While Finn could perhaps be mistaken with his ginger hair, inherited from their mother’s side, Maggie could almost be Ada’s or Tommy’s twin with her dark curls and blue eyes. While her appearance screamed SHELBY, her attitude whispered it. Maggie wasn’t loud like Arthur or confident like John. Nor was she determined like Tommy nor rebellious like Ada. And she certainly couldn't have fun like her twin. Maggie was a mouse in the Shelby zoo: uninteresting and forgettable. The way she liked it. For Maggie, if she could spend the day in her room, reading books and being out of the way from her family’s ruckus below, it was a day well spent.

Of course this never sat well with her family, least of all John who was no doubt the most outgoing brother. John was undeniably her favourite brother, but right now as he dragged Maggie around the market, the one they’ve spent hours at already, she couldn’t help but wonder why she favoured him. The sound of her feet stumbling were drowned out by the bustle of deals and bargaining. Her vision blocked by the numerous products shoved in her face by the vendors. The maze cleared finally when John stopped at another stall.

His lips pursed, the toothpick that Maggie hated jutted out as his eyes scanned the products in front of him. It wasn’t long before he huffed and turned to Maggie who he noticed was distracted by a scuffle between two young boys. He flicked her neck and muttered “You gonna help me pick or what?” Maggie brought her fingers to ease the slight pain in her neck and frowned at John, “She’s your wife John, shouldn’t you know what she likes?” Her eyes flickered on the assortment of jewellery in front of her. She scrunched her nose up. The glitter of the jewels gave her no interest and it was clear John felt the same.

“I know fuck all, Mags, i just know Esme likes shiny shit, and it’s your job to pick something she likes enough to get me out of the doghouse, eh?” He wiped his brow. Maggie stared at her brother, feeling annoyed that he dragged her out here, from her very busy schedule of staying in her room to make this decision, something he could easily do. “So if I pick something, I can go back to the house and you’ll leave me alone?” John smirked at her, raised one eyebrow and nodded once. With a new determination, Maggie took a closer look at the array in front of her, trying to decide if Esme would prefer a ring or a necklace. “What did you even do?” She asked her eyes stilling on one ring in particular, a thick gold band with a dull black stone- one of the simple ones among the shine of gems. When John didn’t answer she turned to him with the ring in her hand, “Doesn’t matter,” he shrugged, and Maggie rolled her eyes. He frowned at the ring she chose.“That’s fucking ugly.”

Her mouth opened with shock, “You asked me to pick, John!” She cried in defense. He took the ring from her and studied it closer, he smirked again before saying “Fuck sake, Arthur would have been better at this!” This made Maggie frown further and cross her arms, she resisted stomping her feet, remembering his constant teasing when she did it the last time.

“Don’t get it then.” She huffed.

“Nope, I’m getting it,” John grinned, “and when Esme hates it and kicks me out, I can come and annoy you all day because it's your fault that you picked such an ugly ring.” Maggie pouted as John handed it to the vendor, who in turn placed it in a paper bag and accepted the coins handed to her. While she was annoyed that John bought it, she couldn't help but feel relief that they would now leave the market.

As John led her away through the stalls, this time letting her walk without his hand gripping her arm, Maggie couldn’t help lingering by a stall selling beautiful leather journals. She watched the seller show one off to a smartly dressed man- something hard to come by in Small Heath- flicking through the blank pages and letting him feel the luxurious cover. Maggie sighed dreamily, while the jewellery didn’t hold her attention, these books certainly did, wishing she owned one since her last birthday, although she was too scared to ask due to the impressive price tag attached.

“You want anything Mags?” The hand John placed on her back made her jump, she looked at him and shook her head to say no, letting John to guide her in the direction of the house, allowing herself one last glance at the stall.

----

Maggie had managed to avoid everyone the next day, in favour of finishing her latest novel and studying from her school books. The sandwich that her Aunt Polly had made her for lunch stayed half eaten and forgotten next to her on her desk as the afternoon turned to evening. Maggie was so engrossed in her arithmetic book- the subject she favoured and excelled at- that she didn’t hear her door open behind her, with footsteps following. “I think you’re the only Shelby who’d rather fucking do schoolwork than drink a whiskey with the rest of us, Mags.” She jumped in her seat and gasped at the interruption, huffing at the ink she spilled on the page. “Well, I don’t like whiskey John.” Her brother stumbled back, placing one hand on his chest, the other hidden behind his back. “Fuck’s sake, you might as well rip my heart out and stomp on it.” Maggie rolled her eyes at her brother's antics and tried to hide the smile that only John could rise from her.

“Did Esme kick you out? Is that why you’re bothering me again?” Maggie smirked cheekily at John. “Oi, watch yourself,” He pointed his finger at her, “actually Esme loved the ring and she was soo happy that she jumped right on top of me and-”

“Ah!” Maggie quickly put her hands to her ears, knowing the direction of the conversation, “Stop John! Stop talking right now!” Her brother grinned widely. He reached one hand to put her arms back down, “Since you picked the ring so well, I thought I’d get you a little reward.” Maggie eyed him skeptically, it wasn't often John gave thoughtful gifts. Normally the only ‘gifts’ he gave her were spiders on her bed or salt in her water. John’s other hand appeared from behind his back and he shoved a rectangular shaped package into Maggie’s lap. “What is it?” Her tone held only suspicion. Her fingers smoothed over the paper wrapping. At John’s nod of encouragement she carefully pulled at the wrapping until it came apart. The paper crinkled as she pushed it away to reveal a leather book she immediately recognised. Her mouth parted, fingers dancing over the high quality of the pages. “You know, most people would be saying thank you by now…” John knew when he saw Maggie ogling the book stall that this gift would be appreciated, however, what he didn’t expect was his sister to bound into him for the tightest hug he thought he’d ever receIved. It wasn’t a common occurrence for Maggie to initiate any sort of affection- leaving him and Arthur to treat her as if she was a doll and they were little five-year old girls. Knowing this, he quickly returned the embrace with an equal amount of force. “You like it then Mags?”

“Like it? John this is the best thing I’ve ever been given...thank you!” John chuckled and couldn’t wait the gloat to the rest of his brothers. “But, it.. It must have cost a fortune John.” John pulled back from the hug and saw the worry in his sister’s eyes. “Yeah, well we don’t have to worry about that anymore, eh? The Shelby’s can afford to buy a hundred of them books and then a hundred more.” He put a gentle hand on her shoulder, “You want something you just gotta ask, right?” She nodded but John rolled his eyes knowing she wouldn’t ask for anything. He removed his hands and went to leave her room.

“You know what this means though?” Maggie looked up from the new book at John who stood by the door. She frowned in confusion and shook her head, “No, what does this mean?”

John grinned. “It means that since I bought you this very nice present, I’m allowed to bother you as much as I like and you have to do exactly what I tell you until.. Well, until forever.” John left the room before Maggie could even comprehend what he said.

“What?” She said in disbelief, “That is not what that means!” She called out and when John did not respond her eyes widened, “John? That’s not what it means!”

John chuckled to himself and finished walking down the stairs, looking forward to bugging his sister again tomorrow to find another apology gift for Esme.

-NEXT-

#shelby!sis #shelby!sister #sister!shelby #peaky blinders x reader #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinder imagine #peaky blinders #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby

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kaldimbirbasima · 5 years ago

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Law Firm Marketing - A Search for Leadership

The Partner Pole - Early Expressions of Law Firm Marketing

In old occasions the command hierarchy was a representative articulation of past ages. It offered data about a clan's character - a type of direct - comprehension of ages that preceded them and the pioneers who demonstrated them the way. It upheld bunch solidarity and gave a vital social setting to their lives.

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The command hierarchy was loved and ritualized. The historical backdrop of an entire clan could be perceived by this one direct articulation. Emblematic correspondence, as a gathering arranging strategy, is additionally found in law firms. Law firms gladly list their accomplices' names on letterhead and post them on entryways. Regularly a portion of the names are images of the past- - an enduring acknowledgment of the individuals who preceded just as the individuals who are at present leading of the firm's conventions into what's to come. This emblematic correspondence depicts the historical backdrop of a firm's chief boat and is a pointer of anticipated execution. However, what happens when the firm's past is compelled to respect the firm's future? When it gets vital for the firm to rethink itself and set out new arranging rules that coordinate its vision- - when the old conviction framework is no longer in a state of harmony with the necessities and requests of changing business sectors and customers? Most firms are confronting this test at the present time, and some are not even mindful of it. The accomplices I talked with unmistakably perceived the need to re-imagine themselves or danger relinquishing development and thriving.

It is safe to say that you are the Leader?

Who among you will lead the charge? This is an individual choice that ought not be trifled with. It will depend not just on your own eagerness to take on the test, yet additionally on the ability of the key accomplices who make up the majority of the force base at your firm.

On the off chance that you are up for the test, acknowledge this information and continue ahead with driving. If not, discover the individual in your firm who is prepared and ready to lead and offer that individual all the help you can. You'll before long understand that the quality and duty of your help for this individual will be perceived as a significant type of pioneer transport in its own right.

The Genetics of Leadership

It's been said that a few people are conceived pioneers. That might be valid, however for the majority of us, administration is an obtained aptitude that originates from our outlook and our longing to impact positive change. Essentially, individuals are not brought into the world exceptional. Rather, they decide to achieve remarkable things.

As of late as 2003, researchers found that our common characteristics are not "unchangeable." (See Matt Ridley's Genome and Nature by means of Nurture.) Rather, our hereditary code- - particularly the code liable for our mind work - is neither perpetual nor unchangeable. As we react to the difficulties and boosts on the planet, so do our qualities. Contingent on our requirements and the level of our assurance, various details of our hereditary code are enacted. This outcomes in the development of another example of hereditary directions. In spite of what researchers in the past accepted, our qualities stay dynamic, pliant and liquid for the duration of our lives.

Until these revelations were made, the got astuteness was that the qualities that empower us to think like lawyers or take a stab at greatness or discover the fearlessness and magnetism to lead were given out to us- - or not- - upon entering the world. It was taken as reality that our neural cosmetics was essentially directed by the hereditary code we acquired from our folks. In the event that we were sufficiently blessed to have acquired "brilliant" qualities, it was foreseen that we were bound for significance; if the inverse occurred, we were bound to be the town imbecile.

Actually, the explanation not many of us break out of the shape isn't because of hereditary qualities by any means. This is a result of the way that, weird as it might sound, the greater part of us give up to our qualities instead of draw in our shortcomings. On the off chance that we will in general be normally talented in arithmetic, we incline toward science. On the off chance that we show an early ability in expressions of the human experience, we float toward that path. It's basically simpler to depend on our current qualities than it is to grow new qualities without any preparation.

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mo-nighean-rouge · 6 years ago

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Claire of Broch Mordha

AO3

Three vignettes into the life of orphan Claire Beauchamp as she grows up.

I'm so excited to bring this one-shot to life, as it's been bouncing around in my head for quite awhile! As you might be able to guess, it's a loving tribute to the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.

Many thanks to betas @phoenixflames12 and @isitgintimeyet.

*Cragaidh = "Rocky Place" in Gaelic, Claire's home beautifully named by Phoenix.

12-year-old Claire Beauchamp bounded up the steps of the schoolhouse, the weekend’s revelations still fresh in her mind and putting a spring in her step.

After some deliberation, Murtagh and Glenna had decided that they wanted to keep her.

Though Murtagh had been dour and unresponsive on the wagon ride from the stagecoach, unsure what to do with Claire and her glowing observations about every tree, cloud, and rabbit seen along the way, she had carried on as if they were old chums.

He had even less to say when he had presented Claire to his sister as the “lad” they had requested from the orphanage.

“Claire Beecham,” she had pronounced proudly to Glenna when she was asked for her name. “Not Bow-champ.”

“What difference does it possibly make?” Glenna turned back toward her brother, muttering about what she could with a grubby child that had holes in her stockings.

But Glenna had eventually come to tolerate her in the past few weeks, while Claire shared some quiet moments with Murtagh watching the sunset in the evening. Finally, they had shared the good news with her.

For the first time she could remember, plain old Claire Beauchamp had a home at Cragaidh. After countless foster families where the parents couldn’t care for their own ill children, let alone a scrawny English orphan, Claire was where she belonged. It was a wonderful fact she was reminded of every day as she gazed upon the beautiful blue vase on Glenna’s breakfast table.

Claire waved to Jenny MacKenzie across the schoolroom as she shrugged off her coat and placed her dinner basket on the shelf above. Amid a few mishaps, she and Jenny had gotten along beautifully since Claire’s arrival. All her life, she’d longed for a bosom friend, and she had a good feeling that Jenny might just be it.

As her classmates settled in, Claire noticed that her usual chair was occupied. Sat beside Jenny was a boy she’d never seen before, with cinnamon colored hair and a deep tan.

Claire raced to the desks, eager to ask the boy to trade seats with her. She tapped him on his shoulder, but he didn't seem to notice her, continuing instead to chat with the other lads in Gaelic, as if she wasn’t even there.

Impatient at his refusal to acknowledge her, she began tapping her foot, the rhythm picking up as the moments passed.

“Aye, just a minute,” he drawled, turning to face her for the first time. He froze as his eyes swept over her. “S—sorry, lass. I didna see ye there.”

Claire rolled her eyes theatrically. Of course he’d seen her. He’d just bloody ignored her.

“Dinna mind him Claire, that’s just my clot-heided wee cousin,” Jenny cut in encouragingly, glaring at the boy. “Back from a trip to visit his uncle in Paris.”

“James Fraser.” The boy’s voice deepened infinitesimally as he extended his hand toward her.

Claire arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. She opened her mouth to beg for a trade just as Mr. Bain cleared his throat to begin class.

She harrumphed.

Best not get on his bad side again.

She took the nearest desk available, directly in front of Jamie so that she could still be close to Jenny.

Claire tried to pay attention as her schoolmaster droned on. She was anxious for their worktime to begin so that she could study quietly and let her imagination run free.

She felt something brush her arm. It tickled, but the sensation disappeared just as quickly. Then the unmistakable feeling of a finger tapping her shoulder followed. She rotated her arm to dislodge it.

“Lass… Claire…” Jamie whispered behind her.

“Leave me alone,” she answered through gritted teeth, turning her head to the side. She heard the scrape of the boy’s chair as he startled at the sound of her accent. Great.

“Miss Beauchamp, is there a problem?”

“No, sir,” she responded meekly.

As she tried to carry on with puzzling out the arithmetic exercises before her, she felt a tug on one of her loose curls but tried to ignore it. A sharper one followed, along with a hissed whisper.

“Sassenach!”

No. Not bloody that. Anything but that word that had been spat at her by countless asylum directors and murmured knowingly by overly-friendly orphanage patrons.

Claire stood calmly, chalk in hand. With a speed and force that surprised her, she pivoted and smacked her slate over Jamie’s tangled mop of curls. It made a satisfying thwack as it broke into two pieces against his apparently hard head, chalk dust settling over his freckles.

He looked up at her, stricken still.

“Claire Beauchamp, to the platform. Now.”

*********************

Claire exited the schoolhouse swiftly, Jenny close behind.

After three hours of standing with her nose in the corner, followed by missing the meal break to scrawl a half-hearted apology over the chalkboard repeatedly, she was fuming. She was mortified.

Just then, a figure stumbled out ahead of them, shaking his red hair out of his eyes. “Look, I really am sorry,” he said, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I didna mean to get ye in trouble.”

Claire turned her nose up in reply.

“Perhaps we could start anew? Like I said before, my name is Jamie.” Before she could react, he took her right hand in both of his.

Claire regarded him for a moment, then wrinkled her nose. “My name is Claire Beauchamp, and I don’t like you very much.” With that, Claire turned away briskly, accepted Jenny’s arm, and they marched back toward Jenny’s house, heads held high.

________________________________________

17-year-old Claire followed the pathway from the village toward home, still in awe. All that worrying, and the problem was taken care of. She reflected that she should have relied on God and her prayers more steadfastly, after all.

The apprenticeship with Dr. Gowan in Broch Mordha was hers. The other candidate had given up his own assignment for family matters, they’d told her.

Claire wouldn’t have to leave Glenna behind as her eyesight worsened, nor Murtagh in the aftermath of his mild heart attack and the stoop that seemed to increase by the day.

She'd been told repeatedly that the position she'd almost accepted was a fine opportunity, and that there was hardly a better learning experience for a woman to be offered. But it was all the way in Inverness, while Claire still longed for Broch Mordha.

Lost in her thoughts, Claire looked up again as she came into contact with a solid form rounding the corner of the shady, pebbled path. Lifting her chin, she met Jamie Fraser’s eye.

For once, the sight of him didn’t stir anger in her belly. She couldn’t help but smile as his palms settled on her shoulders to keep her upright.

For years they had competed at everything. The top marks. The best speeches. The most prestigious scholarships.

But Claire was now headed in the direction she’d always hoped. She could learn a bit more about medicine before heading to university in a couple of years, then study to become the doctor she’d always dreamed to be. And she’d heard that Jamie was well on his way, too. Perhaps it was time to put the rivalry to rest.

“Good evening, Jamie Fraser.”

Jamie’s eyes seemed to widen, then his posture relaxed as she greeted him, recovering his manners just enough to nod. “C-Claire. Ye seem to be in good spirits.” His hands fell to his sides, then tucked into his pockets just as quickly.

“Well, actually, I’ve just had the most wonderful news.” Claire rocked forward on her toes. “I’ll be able to stay in the village this autumn.”

The corners of Jamie’s mouth rose into a small smile. “That’s great to hear, lass. Congratulations to ye.”

“Thank you. I suppose I’ll be seeing you around, then?” Claire realized that might not be such a bad thing, after all.

“Och, a bit,” Jamie scratched the back of his neck. “I’ll be spending a good deal of time in Inverness, but I’ll be ‘round to see Mam and Da on the weekends, when I can.”

“Inverness?” Claire’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “What’ll you do there?”

“I’ve taken the schoolmaster position up there.” He hesitated.

“But Jenny said you’d be here…”

“My plans changed.” Jamie shifted awkwardly.

Claire gasped in understanding. “Jamie, was it you that gave up the apprenticeship with Dr. Gowan?”

Jamie swallowed. “Aye… I thought it’d be better for ye, to be around for Murtagh as he recovers.” He looked at the ground again. “And I’m no’ sure doctoring’s for me, after all.”

Claire raised her hand to his shoulder. “Thank you, Jamie. Truly.”

Jamie met her eye, cheeks red. “Aye, it’s nothin’.”

She shook her head, unable to stop the grin forming on her lips. “Well, best of luck, Jamie.”

“Claire, wait,” he called before she could get very far. “Do ye think… could we ever be friends, you and I?”

She turned back to face him, feeling her cheeks flush. “I’d like that, actually.”

Jamie’s chest rose and fell triumphantly as he grinned back at her. “Do you mind if I walk ye home, then? I feel we’ve a bit of catchin’ up to do.”

Claire nodded, and they chatted all the way back to the gate at Cragaidh, walking side by side. It was easier than she ever thought it’d be.

Neither noticed Glenna peer out the kitchen window at them curiously as Claire shut the gate and Jamie gazed toward the doorway even after she had entered the house. Glenna shook her head fondly at the memory that flashed through her mind, ever hopeful for her Claire.

________________________________________

23-year-old Claire looked out over Broch Mordha from the heather clad hill they had frequented as children. She sat cross-legged, plucking at the clover below her feet, mind racing.

It might be too late, she reasoned. Even if he recovered, what could she possibly say to him now?

Jamie had suffered a head injury playing recreational shinty with his university friends, a wound that was immeasurably worse than any damage her broken slate could have sustained, years ago. He had been sent home before the term’s end to convalesce, but what concerned the town doctor more than anything was the infection set in from the deep laceration at the back of his skull.

“Jamie Fraser is dying,” Glenna’s adopted boy, Fergus, had announced with little ceremony when Claire had arrived home for the summer.

It was all Claire could think about. Jamie lay at home, dying, and they hadn’t spoken in months.

She had been utterly unprepared for a marriage proposal from one of her oldest, dearest friends. She’d never seen him as anything but Jamie, her school chum. She hadn’t known if she could risk one of her most cherished attachments for a fleeting romance that might not last.

Claire had only seen him once more after that dreadful and teary day. Jamie had been resplendent in his traditional tartan and kilt, standing a head above all the others. He had walked her down the aisle at Jenny’s wedding to Ian, a sweet, if quiet, young man from Broch Mordha. While standing next to him had felt as natural as ever in their long companionship, neither had been able to cut through the tension between them to exchange more than a few pleasantries.

At the time, she’d heard things were becoming very serious between Jamie and Geneva Dunsany, another Englishwoman attending the University of Edinburgh with them. She was from the Lake District, and of means. Claire wondered if she would even see much more of him once the union became official.

Claire, meanwhile, had been seeing a charming history student, Frank Randall. He had entertained her with anecdotes about this uprising and that revolution, and had a promising career ahead of him.

She’d thought she would be ready to accept Frank’s proposal as graduation drew closer. But when it came, she had panicked at the last moment.

As she reflected upon her decision in the awkward days afterward, she realized she’d more appreciated the idea of Frank, as he was similar to what she remembered of her father.

Upon arriving home after graduation, Claire realized that every corner of Broch Mordha that she visited reminded her of Jamie.

The only place she hadn’t dared to go was Jamie’s home at Lallybroch. She wasn’t sure in what condition she would find him. Nevertheless, she had to decide what she wished to tell him. Would she just wish him well, then part ways again, leaving them each with only distant memories of each other? Or could there still be some hope for them? She would start small, if she had to. If they could only even be friends again…

The shuffle of footsteps behind startled Claire from her thoughts. Likely Fergus had come to fetch her – Glenna probably needed help in the kitchen, or Murtagh wanted her to fetch something from the village.

Turning, she saw a figure about two feet taller than Fergus; squinting upwards, she saw the familiar glint of auburn curls catching the sun's rays. With her heart suddenly sounding impossibly loud as it thundered in her ears, she scrambled to her knees. “Ja – you’re awake! You’re up!” With wide eyes, she looked behind him at the uneven path he’d just traversed to climb the hill.

Jamie squatted awkwardly to sit down across from her.

“Christ! Be careful!” Claire reached out to steady him by instinct, terrified that he’d lose his balance and it’d be too late before she could find someone to help move him.

She finally got a good look at his face as he settled. His skin was much paler than she’d like, and there were dark circles under his eyes that betrayed how much the climb had cost him. But the small smile he gave her revealed him to be in the same spirits as always.

“Hi,” he whispered.

“Hullo,” she answered softly.

Claire realized she’d just said more words to him than she had in two years.

Jamie studied her face, then met her eye. “How were yer travels home?”

“Just fine,” Claire nodded, feeling her cheeks grow pink. The relief of seeing him alright, combined with his mere presence, was making it hard for her to concentrate. “A train ride like any other.”

“And graduation? I suppose it was bonny. I’m that sorry I missed it.”

“Oh, but don’t worry about that, you’ll have plenty of time to make up your work and finish your degree in the autumn.”

He looked down at the view below them, then turned back with his gaze piercing into hers. “I canna say I’m verra concerned about that, just now.” He scooted closer to her. “Even after everything, I have no’ been able to stop thinkin’ of ye, lass.” His chin trembled.

Claire held her breath, not sure if she could believe her ears.

Jamie lifted her right hand and held it to his heart. “Claire, if ye still feel the same, ye must tell me, and I’ll no’ bother you again…”

She reached out and placed her shaking left palm to Jamie’s warm cheek. He leaned into it, eyes fluttering shut.

“Claire, would you reconsider becoming my wife?”

With a small sob, Claire leapt toward him, knocking him to the ground in his weakened state.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Their lips met at last, gently at first, but suddenly fiercer with reunion and possession. Still sweeter than Claire could have ever imagined.

She ran her hand through his hair, fingers finding the place where the shorn curls were growing back after his injury. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “About before.”

He shook his head, just barely. “Think nothing of it, lass. We both still had some growing up to do, aye?”

Claire tightened her grip on his hand. He was right, but she regretted that it had probably been more on her part.

Jamie must have seen the question in her eyes. “Gillian Edgars from uni wrote to me, said ye’d broken up with Randall, and no’ to give up on ye just yet,” the side of his mouth twisted upward. “Dr. Gowan found my recovery thereafter near miraculous.”

They stayed until sunset, basking in the privilege of touching, kissing, and dreaming together at last.

He ran his thumb over her left knuckle, where his class ring now rested. “We both still have a bit of studying left to do,” he reasoned at last. “Ye with medical school and I to grasp the running of things at Lallybroch.” Sitting up, he pulled her close, so that her head rested against his shoulder.

She buried her face there, where she could feel the vibration of his next words.

“Will ye wait for us, Claire?” The words were a thick swallow that she almost missed. “Even when the time comes, I’m no’ likely to be able to adorn you with pearls and such fine things.”

Unable to stop smiling, Claire shifted so that her forehead pressed against his. “I just want you.”

Fin.

#Claire Beauchamp #Jamie Fraser #Jenny Fraser #outlander fanfic #My fic #Anne of Green Gables #L.M. Montgomery #au #Claire of Broch Mordha

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