The essays in this section are of a more reflective and/or personal nature, as was mentioned in the introduction. "The Muses' Reply" discusses some literary responses to the relentless advance of science and technology. "The Beacon" contemplates radio, an early twentieth-century technology of enduring importance. "A Cryptic Policy" conveys an incident of innumeracy in the workplace. "Reviving Mahan" explores the work of a great nineteenth-century naval strategist, and how he related to technology in his field. Finally, "A Personal Touch" examines the influence of technological change on the daily lives of twentieth-century individuals, by viewing that century through the prism of my grandmother's life.