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[First Cut] Samsung Galaxy S10+: Return of the Jedi… with a new hope?
The latest in the Phone Star Wars
by: Nimish Dubey - Last updated on: July 3rd, 2019
There is a new Galaxy S in tech town. Make that three, actually. Samsung seems to have taken a leaf out of you-know-who's book by coming out with three variants of its flagship, the S10e, the S10, and the S10+, with a 5G variant expected to come out later as well. As the name indicates, the most powerful of the current lot is the S10+ and that is the one we have for review. And judging by our initial impressions, it is a mix of the standard values of the S series and attempts to get new features in as well. A bit of the Jedi returning with a new hope, to use the Star Wars terminology.
Of course, the first thing that hits you about the S10+ is…duh, let's be predictable, its display. Hardly surprising, given the sort of hegemony Samsung has established in that zone. There are AMOLED displays and there are excellent displays and then there are the ones that come on Samsung's flagships. The S10+ carries forward this tradition with a magnificent 6.4-inch quad HD+ AMOLED display, which it calls the Infinity O. It totally butchers bezels, with the front dual cameras tucked into two punch-like holes in the top right corner, and it tapers slightly over the sides, making it almost blend into the back. The back itself is again glass and this time there is a spin on the design. While the competition is trying out gradient displays, Samsung has gone with what it calls a Prism finish, and the result is striking. We had a white unit, but it seemed to be imbued with shades of red when light played off it. That apart, the most prominent part of the back is the triple camera unit, which seems to have been taken right from the Note 9 in design terms, with the cameras being arranged horizontally rather than vertically along with the flash and a heart rate sensor.
And well, if the first thing that hits you about the S10+ is the display, the second will be its weight. At 175 grams, it is incredibly light for a device that houses a large battery (more on that later) and at 7.8 mm it's very slim too.
The question is: how does it look? Well, very classy when the light plays off that back and that front is mind-bogglingly brilliant. The phone has a very premium look to it and in spite of the glass back and front (Gorilla Glass 6 on the front, 5 on the back), feels very solid and well, we actually found it a lot less slippery than some of the other glassy customers. There is a "but" out there, though, and that comes in terms of those dual cameras in the right corner in the front and that camera panel at the back. Both we feel, tend to intrude on what is otherwise a very seamless design. We also were a little puzzled at the relatively large "chin" of the device which seemed asymmetrical to the almost zero bezel top, although many might not notice that. Samsung has also placed a screen protector on the device, but it is already collecting dust around the front cameras, which is kind of annoying.
And notwithstanding all the solidity, the back does pick up scratches and smudges, the back does pick up scratches and smudges – Samsung has put a transparent case in the box but put it on, and bang goes those premium looks (it has been a long time since we saw a company bundle high-class cases with a premium device – perhaps the Mi Mix 2 was the last one to be accorded that honor). And oh yes, the Bixby button is still there on the left right below the volume rocker, making the S10+ one of the increasingly few phones to have display/power buttons and power buttons on opposite sides of the display. All said and done, we think the S10+ is a bit of a flawed beauty, but a beauty nevertheless – we still cannot stop admiring that back and the lack of weight. Its being water and dust resistant is a massive plus. Some might prefer the sharper finish of Note 9, but we can see a lot of people loving this one too.
But if the frame is lightweight, its innards are not. The Galaxy S series has been known to come with the best hardware in tech town and the S10+ is no different. The display is quad HD+ (though it is set to full HD+ by default, which is kind of weird), and is HDR 10+ certified, with an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. It is very visible even in bright sunlight and cuts down harmful blue light as well. The processor is an Exynos 9820, which Samsung claims easily matches the 2019 flagship favorite, the Snapdragon 855, and is backed up by 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB and 512 GB storage, and there is even a 12 GB and 1 TB variant out there (we have the 8 GB/128 GB one). Oh and all that storage is expandable by another 512 GB, courtesy a memory card. There are twin speakers with support for Dolby Atmos and connectivity options galore including NFC, USB Type C, GPS, Wi-Fi, 4G, the works – and a 3.5 mm audio jack too! And running on top of this is Android 9, with Samsung's new, more minimalistic One UI on top.
All of which is par for the course for an Android flagship. Where the S10+ pulls away from most of the competition (apart from THAT display) is in two areas: cameras and battery. Cameras have been one of the strongest suites of the Galaxy S series for a while and the S10+ comes with five of them – at the back are a 16 megapixel ultra wide, a 12 megapixel telephoto and a 12 megapixel sensor whose aperture can be changed (f/1.5 to f/2.4), while in the front are a 10 megapixel sensor and a 8 megapixel secondary one. There are stacks of camera tricks out there including special emojis, bokeh (live focus), effects and shooting options. Stay tuned for our detailed review but at the time of writing, we would say that the S10+ has the potential to take on the best out there. Then there is the battery – the phone not only packs in a large 4100 mAh battery (why scale down the display resolution with that big a battery, we wonder) with support for fast charging and wireless charging but also with the gift of wirelessly charging other (supported) devices placed on its back, a la the Mate 20 Pro. Is this the next flagship feature? We are not complaining, although we do wish it was faster.
All of which can be yours for a starting price of Rs 73,900. Which is kind of interesting, because it not only puts the S10+ in the range of Android's flawed genius, the Pixel 3 XL, but also in proximity of the Mate 20 Pro from Huawei, the iPhone XR (the XS and XS Max have much higher price tags) and well, its own Note 9, which brings a S-Pen to the battle. To find out how well it fares, stay tuned for our detailed review.
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**VOCABULARY WORDS 22.04.2017** ————————————————- 1. SERRATED (ADJECTIVE): jagged Synonyms: indented, notched Antonyms: plain, smooth Example sentence: A serrated knife allowed my mother to saw the bread into slices. 2. SEDIMENT (NOUN): debris Synonyms: silt, trash Antonyms: possessions, whole Example sentence: A very large quantity of sediment is rapidly filling the pits on the road. 3.


Ameeta is a qualified Naturopath, Herbalist, Nutritionist, Hemaview practitioner and Reiki practitioner. She completed her degree in 2003 and has been in the Natural Medicine field since 2000. Ameeta continues to further her understanding and knowledge and ensure that she is up-to-date with the latest research and information. Ameeta's passion is in finding the cause of your health issues and ensuring that this vital aspect is treated and addressed effectively to prevent further health-related problems in the future. She wants to be a part of your journey into a healthier, more vibrant and balanced you!
At Organic Matters my aim is to assist you in getting your health, lifestyle and well-being back on track. I have the knowledge and techniques needed to clear all those symptoms you have been experiencing and know that they do not have to be something you have to "live with" forever! There are ways to bring about positive change in your body and I am here to guide you through this step-by-step.
It is sometimes difficult to know how to go about finding help with your health and well-being. There are so many healthcare practitioners available, but the important thing to remember is that you need to be able to trust, understand and build a relationship with the practitioner that you choose. As a Naturopathic Consultant I aim to guide, assist and provide you with the building-blocks for a journey to better health. Your health is important to not only you but myself too and I aim to make it simple and easy to achieve your goals. This approach is aimed at improving your outcomes and enhancing your ability to stay committed to this journey. I would like you to take the time to focus on yourself and give yourself the attention you deserve and be amazed at the results you can achieve, with the correct balance of help and nurturing.


On September 19th 2012, 8 teams from Santa Elena Town participated in a football marathon held at the Santa Elena Football Field, to kick off the Cayo Central Christmas Cup Sponsored by Hon. Rene Montero, Area Representative for Cayo Central And Minister of Works & Transport. This past Sunday was the Finals for the competition and the Trapiche Team and the Hillview team played an exciting and competitive game and exhibited discipline and excellent sportsmanship.
At the end of the day, Hon. Rene Montero was present to issue the first place trophy along with a cash prize of $500.00 to the Trapiche Team, the winner of the competition. The second place trophy was awarded to the Hillview team along with a cash prize of $300.00. The 3rd place trophy was awarded to the Rest of the World team along with a cash prize of $200.00.
Minister Montero congratulated all teams who participated in the Cayo Central Christmas Cup and praised them for their excellent sportsmanship, their high caliber of discipline, and the respect they exercised during the competition. He also congratulated the wining teams for a very impressive finals,which everyone enjoyed. He went on to thank his organizer for the marathon, Manuel "Caribee" Smith and Ray Thompson for a job well done. Minister Montero promised all teams and youths present to make the Cayo Central Christmas Cup an annual event and advised all present to continue to use their talents and energies in a positive way to make their beautiful Santa Elena Town a better place to live in. Minister Montero also wished all those present a Merry Christmas and a Happy and blessed New Year.


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With the proper maintenance and care, your heat pump system will last many years. One of our team members will be happy to explain any precautionary steps that you can take to ensure you do not experience being unexpectedly left without a working heater. In the meantime, you should be aware that a few basic maintenance checkups performed by your friendly local HVAC specialist can make a huge difference in the longevity of your heat pump unit. Mainly, it is imperative that the coils, filters and fans be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year. This will ensure that your heating unit is working at its optimal efficiency and is not being hindered by dust and dirt.
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All information provided is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between Bws Heating And Cooling and any person or entity unless otherwise specified. Information is subject to change without prior notice. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, LinkNow™ Media makes no guarantees of any kind.


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Teenage female student eating sugary snacks and energy drinks while studying using a laptop computer. Processed foods that are high in sugars provide a temporary energy boost. However, this is less healthy than eating foods containing more complex carbohydrates that take longer to be digested and provide a slower release of energy. Energy drinks can contain sugars along with caffeine or other stimulants. Excessive consumption of energy drinks can lead to agitation and insomnia.


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What is So Special About Murano Glass? Here's My Journey with Murano Glass Jewelry
Mar 21, 2019 Amita Bhalla Share Share on Facebook Tweet Tweet on Twitter
Tags xMurano Glass Jewelry
The face of Venice, Italy, possibly the most romantic city in the world, is irresistible to me. For thousands of years, artists have captured every facet of this mystical city. All of my senses received constant stimulation as I walked among these beautiful streets. My time here inspired me to explore the art and jewelry scene that is so esteemed in other parts of the world, and I was in awe at the delicate beauty I came across. In particular, I wanted to know what is so special about Murano glass jewelry?
Venetian glass has been carefully crafted as long ago as the Roman Empire, where it was used for illumination in bathhouses and other fantastic architectural stylings. The early Murano glass artisans combined Roman techniques and skills learned during the Byzantine Empire's trade with the Orient to become an important player in glass manufacturing. In fact, one of the first ever glass furnaces was on a Murano island and estimated to have been created in the 8th century!
As these technological innovations were happening, the culture was also thriving and growing. During carnival time, locals and tourists dress up and roam the streets of Venice. The traditional mask maker still makes the paper mâché masks by hand and paints them with traditional designs. Alter egos are channeled profoundly when masks are adorned. The masquerade balls during the carnivals transport me back in time.
I was in awe as I tried to imagine the lives of those in that distant past. The slower pace of pedestrian life and water traffic in Venice was especially perfect for allowing me to observe and reflect. My attention was drawn to the traditional red and white hues of the brickwork, offset by the crisp white detailing of the Istrian stone detailing the window arches. Light and color were freely exchanged between water and buildings, just like Monet brilliantly captured in his Venetian pictures. On the water, the horizon shifted constantly. In my minds' eye, past and present shifted into one. Among the pedestrians currently walking about the street, I could see those who had walked before them. Thousands of years of thinkers, artists, and logicians have looked out across this beautiful city and taken in these same magical views.
While the world has shifted and changed, Murano glass jewelry has remained a constant in the lives of the Venetians. From the beautiful glass pendants, decanters, and pitchers that adorn museum halls to the authentic Murano glass bead necklaces and pendants, it became clear to me that this is a cultural tradition that will never falter in its magnificence.
My eyes are then drawn to the buildings floating on rafts over foundations pegged into loose mud. They give the Venetian buildings the important characteristics of breathability and flexibility, traits I admire and strive for within myself. There is so much that changes so quickly in our lives, and new sights and experiences are out there waiting, as long as we are not so rigid that we don't take the leaps we need.
These thoughts linger in my head from the high terrace of my room, with the varied topography of the skyline dawning pointed dormer windows, chimneys, crinkly clay tiles, and wooden terraces. The meandering roads remind me of these meandering paths in life. Always changing, always pushing us to be new and better versions of ourselves.
In this city of canals, pedestrian streets, and bridges, I found the bridges so enticing with the varied designs and materials. They remind me that through the canal of life, it is critical to build bridges with like-minded people. That is why I travel, that is why I craft. I wish to see the world from new perspectives, to learn and live and love. I have so much to learn about the human experience. Under the next bridge lies my next inspiration.
Watching the Opera at the Teatro la Fenice makes me swoon both at the romantic love story and the rich architecture. As in any of my travels, the people make the place, and I was so blessed to meet amazing people such as Mr. Adriono Beregno at the Berengo Studios in Murano, mask makers, sculptures, and artists. I have made friendships for life.
With so much inspiration and a plethora of sketches, I returned with a renewed passion to create more jewelry inspired by this amazing city. In the fall, I plan to begin crafting my own Murano glass jewelry collection at the Berengo Studios after realizing what was so special about Murano glass. I can't wait for you to see it. Take a look at the jewelry I currently have for sale in my collection and don't forget to check my blogs as I journal about my adventures and inspirations.
Reading this made it feel like I was right there with you! I can't wait to see your new designs! Beautiful they will be!
Apr 15, 2019 Kathy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Civil rights leaders joined Texas Democratic legislators pressuring Congress to pass voting rights legislation
by The Afro August 2, 2021 August 3, 2021
Al Sharpton, Andrea King and Martin L. King III (center) link arms at the MLK National Monument with Texas State Lawmakers who walked out of a special session of the Texas State legislature in Austin on July 13. The Texas delegation has been in Washington, D.C. lobbying for passage of federal voting rights legislation for the past three weeks. (Photo by Deborah Bailey)
Civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Martin L. King III joined Democratic state legislators from Texas pressuring Congress to pass voting rights legislation last week.
While meeting with Congressional leaders, Sharpton and King spent the afternoon with several of the African American Texas Lawmakers heading into their fourth week of a walk out from the Texas State Legislature.
"We could not come to Washington without showing support and solidarity with people on the front lines that brought this issue that Dr. King stood for to national attention," Sharpton said as he stood in the shadow of the national Martin L. King Memorial with the Texas lawmakers.
They have sacrificed for us. This is not a pleasure trip," Sharpton added.
"The disgrace that Texas and Georgia and Florida and other states are doing must be resisted," Sharpton said in response to the more than 20 states that have enacted or are seeking to implement restrictive voting rights legislation.
Ron Reynolds, Vice Chair of the Texas Black Caucus, spoke on behalf of his colleagues who joined Sharpton and King on the hot afternoon in front of the King Memorial.
"We need HR-I, the For the People Act and HR-4 – the John Lewis Voting Rights Amendment Act passed now, because in the State of Texas and states all over this country led by Republican Governors, they are trying to pass laws that will disenfranchise Black and Brown communities," Reynolds said.
"Make no mistake about it, they know what they're doing," Reynolds implored.
"It is sad that we (Americans) go around the world talking about Democracy, and yet suppress democracy here at home. Something is very wrong with Democracy at this moment," said Martin L. King, III, son of the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. and president of the Drum Major Institute.
King III urged all Americans to push their Congressional leaders to pass federal voting rights legislation.
"We are making a moral appeal about this issue," he said. "A voteless people is a powerless people," King continued, quoting one of his father's speeches.
King announced the 58th Anniversary of the March on Washington on August 28, would be spent advocating for Voting Rights regardless of whether or not legislation passes Congress before the summer session ends.
Events will be held in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix and Miami, to emphasize the urgency of voting rights at both the national and state levels.
Sharpton reported the delegation had frank conversations with Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democratic West Virginia lawmaker who stands at the center of the debate for passage of voting rights legislation this summer.
"We had a very candid conversation," said Sharpton. Sharpton reported that Manchin was not in support of HR1 – the For the People Act, but supported HR-4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Amendment Act. Manchin, still remains opposed to abolishing the long held Congressional Filibuster but Sharpton reported he is willing to press for a "work around" to get the Lewis Voting Rights Amendment passed.
Sharpton, King and the Texas State lawmakers met with several other key lawmakers including Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CAL) and House Majority Whip, James Clyburn (D-SC).
When asked by the AFRO how long the Texas legislators were willing to take a stand and be away from home, Texas State Representative Jasmine Crockett replied, "As long as it takes. We literally have lit a fire in this country to the extent that voting rights now is the No. 1 priority for so many people," she said.
The post Voting Rights activists meet with Texas lawmakers appeared first on Afro.
Al Sharpton slams Sen. Tim Scott during Andrew Brown Jr.'s funeral


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David Zink Yi | Geschlossene Kurve, bei der für jeden Punkt die Summe der Entfernungen konstant ist. Auslassung insbesondere inmitten von etwas.
KÖNIG GALERIE | Dessauerstrasse | 21.10.–25.11.2006
We are pleased to be able to present to you this new individual exhibition of works by David Zink Yi (*1973), featuring an installation and a video work by the artist. As already at his last exhibition at KÖNIG GALERIE this installation also turns to aspects of craftsmanship and cultural identity, thus exploring questions of sculpture and its origins in their execution.
An ellipse is the basic form of the central work that dominates the exhibition space. Its construction is based on two radii, which create the ellipse in their relationship to one another. The size and form of the sculpture are only truly grasped by walking around it.
The artist combines a reduced, minimalist form with an incomparably more complex technique. This is further compounded by the artist's own background. His grandfather was a cooper in Bavaria before emigrating to Peru. On arrival, he first worked at a brewery, and then founded a barrel making company. David Zink Yi met a seventy-year old Peruvian who was trained by his grandfather, from whom he learned the technique of coopering. In so doing, the artist carried out a multi-layered transfer of knowledge. He thus acquired his grandfather's knowledge and made it the basis of his own work, then shipping it in the form of a concrete object back to Europe. In the context of the exhibition, the elliptical sculpture undergoes a powerful aestheticization, content and content step behind the object's form. The Peruvian wood Zink Yi used for the work is also used for the frame of the photograph showing the Peruvian cooper making a barrel at his grandfather's company. It thus refers to the technique lying at the origins of the work. Picking up the definition of the form, the first part of the exhibition title refers to a geometric ellipse, while the second part refers to the closely related term "ellipsis."
The German-Peruvian artist, who is a trained cook and woodcarver, expresses in his installations and videos how personal identity and history in many ways mark the individual and how strongly this search for identification is tied to everyday practices and craft traditions. These aspects are in turn picked up in his video work Dedicated to Yi Yen Wu (2000), in which three persons speak of their various ethnical identities and their cultural landscapes as well as their various transnational experiences and traditions. While speaking about their life stories and their pasts, they prepare various meals, in this way linking everyday languages and culinary traditions to their own personal histories. Until the end of 2006, David Zink Yi's video installation Independencia I is being shown at Cologne's Museum Ludwig. The dual projection, made in Cuba, treats a musical instrument, the drum, pointing to the various layers of its sociocultural significance.


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What to Expect at MCON 2017
By Rai Masuda
In MCON
What to Expect at MCON 20172017-04-192017-09-01https://mcon.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/logo.pngMCON 2018https://mcon.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/20160621_mcon_day1_0026-mcon-blog-1024x683.jpg200px200px
MCON 2017 is just around the corner, and we're really excited to be joined by the next generation of leaders, social entrepreneurs and problem solvers. The social good conference, scheduled for June 5-6 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., covers three main topics: social justice, the planet and identity. We'll be uniting 700+ cause champions committed to creating change and turning next gen interest into action. With an inspiring lineup including more than 35 speakers, the "Igniting Good" Town Hall and plenty of networking opportunities, MCON is where people who are passionate about causes come together to change the world.
Here's what you can expect from MCON 2017:
Passionate Speakers
"GIRLS" and "Get Out" star Allison Williams joins a remarkable roster of speakers – like Voto Latino President Maria Teresa Kumar, Global Citizen Managing Director Simon Moss, Demos President Heather McGhee and environmental activist Rob Greenfield. These speakers will lead discussions on today's major social issues and provide real-life examples of moving people from interest to action.
A World-Class Venue and the MCON Lounge
The Newseum, headquartered in Washington, D.C., promotes, explains and defends free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment, making it the perfect venue for MCON 2017. Outside the main auditorium is the MCON Lounge, your central gathering place with fellow attendees that features virtual reality experiences, networking areas, charging stations and screens to view onstage content. The Lounge will include stations for social good brands and organizations to connect with attendees through on-site experiences, including virtual reality simulations, Facebook Live interviews and several opportunities to get involved with important international aid, social justice, leadership and sustainability movements.
Igniting Good: An MCON and #GivingTuesday Town Hall
The Igniting Good Town Hall, our in-person and online forum new to MCON this year, brings together movement leaders from a variety of sectors, fundraisers and campaigners to explore the strategy behind today's social movements for good. We'll discuss the latest research on movements, campaigns, #GivingTuesday, millennials and social impact. Through storytelling, case studies, research and thought leadership from successful social movements and grassroots campaigns, you will learn new tactics for igniting donors and advocates both on #GivingTuesday and all year-round.
The Town Hall includes panels on the following topics:
– Building Awareness Campaigns for Successful Activism
– Raising Support for Social Movements
– Movement Building at the Local/Grassroots Level
– Organizing Approaches in a New Era of Activism
Igniting Good is free for MCON Gold Pass ticket holders. Can't commit to the full two-day MCON experience? Individual tickets for the Igniting Good Town Hall are also available for purchase (psst. Use promo IG50MCON for 50 percent off Igniting Good registration).
You'll have plenty of chances to make new connections and friends at MCON. This one-of-a-kind event surrounds you with others who give as much a damn about social change as you do, and leaves you excited and prepared to tackle – and actually effect change for – the issues you care about. You'll want to block off the night of June 5 to attend our evening event at National Geographic, where you'll have the opportunity to connect with fellow MCON participants, speakers and partners at one of the most photogenic (see what we did there) places in D.C.
Are you a student, activist or social entrepreneur who is passionate about making the world a better place – but are bummed that your budget prevents you from attending MCON? We've got you covered. Thanks to some really great partners, we have a limited number of MCON scholarships that cover the full cost of registration. And if that's not reason enough to apply, we don't know what is.
Convincing Your Boss to Send You to MCONMCON
A Letter from Holley MurchisonMCON


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from body to body
Elisson writes a thoughtful and touching piece that evokes the mystery of the transmigration of the soul. Go over and read the story of little Isla and her grandmother. Since Elisson's piece evokes Buddhism via Martin Scorsese's "Kundun," I thought I'd add a bit of commentary to explore two interesting issues that appear in Elisson's piece: the question of transmigration and "Higher Purpose," and the concept of reincarnation.
In the Indian conception, existence is a wheel called samsara, a term and concept common to most Indian religious traditions. Being trapped on the samsaric wheel is not desirable; one seeks release from the wheel, which most strains of Hinduism would call moksha, or liberation. Buddhism's concept of release from the wheel is nirvana, a sort of blissful extinction. Either way, the wheel represents the unsatisfactory, painful, dynamic-and-thus-impermanent nature of reality. So I'm not sure that an adherent of Indian religion would say we're born over and over for some higher purpose, as if we were here to try to do something right in this life, in this world; it's more that, as with Heidegger's Geworfenheit ("thrownness") we're thrust into this vale of tears and must find a way out—a way to get off the wheel.*
Elisson mentions reincarnation and transmigration, which are both appropriate ways of thinking in a Hindu mode. However, for Buddhists, transmigration involves rebirth, not reincarnation. The distinction here is a bit technical and pedantic, so please bear with me. Reincarnation, literally "enfleshing again," involves the transmigration of the atman (roughly, the Hindu term for a monadic soul) from body to body. This is a fairly simple and straightforward idea. The atman is clothed in one body, then it's clothed in another, like someone trying on robe after robe. The atman, being essence, never changes.
Early Buddhists, however, critiqued the idea of an atman that somehow remains the same, impervious to karma (the law of action and the cause-consequence momentum of action).** For Buddhists, it was important to find a middle way between nihilism, on one hand, and eternalism on the other. The Hindu view of the atman as a permanent, monadic, indestructible core-of-self/being was the eternalist view; the utter negation of that view, a kind of nihilism that simply says "There is no soul," represented the other, equally undesirable, extreme. It's not exactly right to say that Buddhism preaches an absolute doctrine of no-self (anatman); it's more proper to say that, in Buddhism, the self exists, but it is particulate, dynamic, impermanent, and empty of any fundamental reality. Buddhist metaphysics posits elements of self called skandhas ("aggregates"); the self is a particulate thing, not a monad.
So to understand the difference between Hindu reincarnation and Buddhist rebirth, I have an image for you. Imagine the Hindu atman as a single large rubber ball. I roll that ball across the surface of a long table; this motion represents the unchanging atman's passage through reality. The atman, being unitary, changes not at all, and as our eyes track it through space and time, we can imagine it being clothed in a body—body after body, in fact. Now let's imagine that I've got a bunch of tiny marbles in my hand. Very gently, I roll the marbles carefully across the table such that they all move together smoothly, like a flock of sheep. This aggregate of marbles is closer to the Buddhist notion of the self moving through space and time. There's nothing holding the marbles together in formation except for momentum, and that's what karma is: the momentum of action. If the self is a coherent thing, it is only coherent because of karma. To use terms from modal logic, then: there is no necessary reason for the aggregates to cohere; unlike the permanent, indestructible atman, the Buddhist self is contingent, fragile, and absolutely subject to circumstance. And that's the difference between Hindu reincarnation and Buddhist rebirth: for Hindus, a monad is re-enfleshed; for Buddhists, no necessary being passes from body to body, so it's more apropos to speak simply of something—some thing—being born again: rebirth.
Ultimately, Elisson's meditation, which emphasizes human connection, strikes me as being more about karma than about rebirth. Buddhists often say that people are subtly connected by karma, with the ripples and echoes that our lives create through space and time. If two people meet, it's because their karmas have brought them to that meeting. Perhaps that's the connection that brought little Isla to her grandmother's memorial brick.
*The movie "Groundhog Day" reflects something of this dynamic: Bill Murray's character can't escape the cycle until he (1) realizes the nature of existence and (2) does the spiritual work necessary to escape the loop—but without thought for the fruits of his actions (cf. the Bhagavad Gita, in which God, Krsna, tells the warrior Arjuna to act without concern for the fruits of his actions). The dynamic here is a bit difficult to articulate, but let me try. It's not that Bill Murray's purpose is to become a better person, as if God had deemed it so; it's more that the nature of the cosmos—the cosmos that this movie describes, anyway—is such that Bill Murray can't escape his looped predicament without becoming a better person. Further: if you've seen the movie, you know that by the time Bill Murray escapes the loop, he has become loving and unselfish, and he's no longer concerned about the fact that he's stuck in a vicious cosmic circle. This is the paradox of praxis in Eastern thought, not just in Indian thinking but also in East Asian thinking: to achieve a goal, you have to let go of that goal and just be in the moment—a notion that realizes its pinnacle in Zen Buddhism. Bill Murray finally reaches a state of only-this, of no-attainment, and at that point, he's an enlightened being who is no longer trapped by the strictures of samsara and karma.
**It made no logical sense to Buddhists to say that the atman is unaffected by karma. In Asian thinking, it's relationships that come first, not objects. This is utterly weird from the Western point of view: for Westerners, Object A and Object B have to exist before we can talk about A and B's relationship to each other. In the Western mind, objects are logically prior to relationships. In the East, it's relationships that make objects what they are.
One of my Asian-religion profs illustrated it this way: he placed several pennies into two neat rows on a table and asked us to observe how the pennies related to each other, all in their ranks. He then moved one penny to a different, random part of the table. "In Asian reckoning," he said, "what that penny is has now changed, and because its relationship with those other pennies has changed, what those pennies are has also changed."
I don't blame you if your brain is screaming in disagreement. You might be thinking, "No—the pennies are still just pennies! What they are hasn't changed at all!" But maybe a more practical example might be helpful. Imagine a wooden table just sitting in a forest. What is that table? To a wandering rabbit, that table might be shelter from the rain. To a wandering bear, that table might be an obstacle getting in the way of prey. To a wandering craftsman, that table might be the project he'd misplaced in a fit of drunken revelry the night before. What the table is is determined by its relationship with something else. In Korean, the syllable bok means "happiness" or "good fortune." In Turkish, the syllable bok means "shit."
So to early Buddhists, the atman couldn't possibly be impervious to karma. That was nonsense: as long as the atman was within a swirling matrix of circumstance, it was part of an ever-changing theater of interrelationships, woven into the karmic-samsaric dynamic.
Bratfink said...
Oh Jeebus, you have given me a headache at 8 am.
September 8, 2016 at 8:51:00 PM GMT+9
Academic lectures are great for headaches, aren't they.
Great post, man. I don't think I ever managed to fully grasp the difference between the Hindu and Buddhist conceptions of the self, despite having read numerous texts about it. I would play around the edges, but I always ended up with my head spinning. This is a very concise and clear explanation, and it helped a lot. In fact, after reading this, I'm not sure why I was never able to grasp this before. Anyway, thanks!
September 9, 2016 at 11:01:00 AM GMT+9
Thanks for the comment. It helps to learn the two concepts in tandem/contrast with each other.
3, 2, 1, contact
the Buzzfeed poll
October 4, at Longwood
more on polls (moron polls?)
Ave, Malcolm 2: the Sequel!
Ave, Malcolm!
in praise of my creekside path
paging Nathan Bauman
how to scam people
"garbage"
on hacking online polls
poll to poll
Ave, John!
debate postmortem
debate predictions
scattered conversations
ululate!
a must-read if you still think communism/socialism...
that scheduled tiff
the things I do to myself
spaghetti with pork sausage and shiitake
how to get out of double-hyphen hell
Ave, Jeff!
Mrs. Smiley smiles no longer
the ambiguity of English headlines
what happens to spaghetti sauce deferred?
another myth... busted
look deeply
post-Chuseok dinner
and how's your Friday going?
Happy Chuseok! (redux)
Happy Chuseok!
Chuseok is upon us
Hillary's knees buckle
in honor of Colin Kaepernick
jijin
Happy Birthday, Steve!
Swineapple update
the Swineapple
Soros vs. Doctorow
27 staircases
the check-up
epistocracy?
a red-letter day
October surprises
Brexit: it's good for you
examining the angles
found a cute GIF
Joe, Joe, Joe...
a reaction to a Nebraskan ex-expat
pie from the batty
when predictions go wrong
"Who Will Win the Presidency?"
"The Tron Song" by Thundercat
Casablanca: lamb-chili sandwich
Casablanca: chicken sandwich
a tale of two menus
the psychology of the unsure
Tom throws me a little party


text:
The MBA Menu at Columbia Business School [Episode 171]
https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/58291/IV_with_Emily_French_Thomas.mp3
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify
There's something for everyone at Columbia Business School.
Today's AST podcast is a first: an in-person interview! Our guest is Emily French Thomas, Director of Admissions at Columbia Business School, and we'll be talking about the menu of programs available at CBS. Welcome, Emily!
What is the common thread that unites the many programs at CBS? [1:18]
When people think of getting an MBA, they're often thinking about shifting careers, or building their network. And we definitely provide those strengths. But the more intangible benefit of a Columbia MBA is learning to see the world in a more holistic way – gaining a framework for all the decisions you'll make in your future career.
Our goal is to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. That doesn't just mean starting your own company – it's about identifying opportunity. We're training business leaders who think entrepreneurially.
Our core curriculum (accounting, marketing, big data, etc) teaches students how to look at a problem from multiple perspectives. It's really a transformative experience.
We bring theories into the real world. And students have access to so many industries and business leaders in NY, to learn how the knowledge applies in the real world. And the networking opportunities from that are also invaluable. (For example, our students have regular coffee chats with alumni.) There's just an incredible amount of access that comes from being at the center of business.
Can you give an overview of the fulltime MBA program? [6:05]
There are two streams. One is a 20-month traditional program with August entry: there's a semester of core, a semester of electives, a summer internship, then the second year. We take about 550 students a year for the August entry. They're broken into clusters of 60-70 students and further divided into learning teams. So you have a home base of people you get to know really well.
We do have exemption exams, so you can test out of specific core courses if you have expertise in the area, and replace them with an elective. But generally students are happier if they have at least some core courses, in order to build relationships with their learning team.
What about the January program? [9:00]
This is an accelerated 16-month program. The difference between this and the August entry is the summer internship. January students start one semester later and take classes in the summer, and are in the same place as the traditional students when they start the second year. It's a great way to minimize the opportunity cost.
It's a wonderful option for students who are sponsored by companies or who are coming from family business.
If you're changing your career in a major way (industry-function-geography) – you can probably change one area but not two through the January program. For more radical changes, in general, you need the summer internship. However, there are also school year internships, and JTerm students can do those.
You're in a stronger position to succeed if you have a very clear sense of your goals and are proactive – that's one of the things we're looking for in applicants (people who have direction).
What else are you looking for in an applicant? [16:20]
We're looking at the whole application. Any one part of the application is just a data point.
We're looking for academic achievement: we require either the GMAT or the GRE. (If you're planning to retake, it's best to stick with the one you already took.)
Linda: Is it better to cancel a low score or show improvement?
Showing hard work to improve is worthwhile. We don't need people to be perfect.
In addition to academics, we're also looking for professional experience – particularly what you've achieved in your work.
Recommendations are important. People are often hung up on getting recommendations from people with fancy titles: but get the recommendation from the person who knows you best. They can write something more interesting and constructive about who you are.
Our essays are personality questions – we want to think about you as a human being.
What makes qualitatively impressive work experience? [21:25]
We're interested in seeing what a person has done with what they have. Is your work impressive relative to your peers? Do you have leadership experience and have you taken initiative? Sometimes people working in small family companies or small firms have had more opportunities for leadership.
What are the hiring strengths at Columbia? [23:00]
It comes back to that question of access.
A recent grad had a lot of coffee chats with alumni and had met a lot of people at his target company, so when he went for his interview, it was much easier and more natural, thanks to his extensive research and networking, and he got the job.
There's also a very strong career management service and very active clubs.
There are three EMBA programs (NY, Americas, Global) at Columbia. What is common to the three? [25:20]
The Columbia EMBA programs have the same core as the FT programs. The EMBA NY takes in around 144 students, starting in August, for a 20-month program (meeting on Fridays and Saturdays for 9 weekends/semester). There's also a program on Saturdays only for 13 weekends/semester. There's no summer internship. The Saturday-only program is 24-months.
The other programs are modular, with a 1 week intensive format. The Americas program is designed for people coming from farther away (outside NY) – students come from all over the country, and also from Latin America. There are even some students from Europe. There's one week of class each month for the first three semesters.
EMBA Global is modular, too. [30:00]
It's a partnership with LBS, and incorporates LBS courses. Students can take courses from either school, and can tailor their electives to whatever structure works better for them (Saturday vs modular week).
Finally, there's the EMBA Global Asia program, which is a joint program with LBS and Hong Kong University; students actually earn a joint degree.
Would you consider the EMBA a part-time degree or a degree for more experienced students? [32:25]
It really feels like a full-time program.
It's also lockstep – students take courses with their clusters, developing relationships in a way you generally don't in a part-time program.
It's not necessary to have reams and reams of work experience, but we do look more closely at work experience than academics for the EMBA. If you're junior in your career, just think about how you'd contribute.
If you can, come and visit – talk to students. It's the only way you'll know how you'll feel in the program.
What's the EMBA admissions process? [35:40]
It's a rolling process (just like the FT MBA, but different from our peer schools with rounds). It becomes more competitive closer to the deadline.
For EMBA: we look at your academics. We do require a test. We now accept the Executive Assessment, which has been popular with EMBA applicants.
There are three required essays. Instead of the question we ask FT applicants (about how they would take advantage of the New York location), we ask EMBA applicants how you will balance work, life, and school.
And we weight work experience a little more than academics.
What is the career benefit of the EMBA? [39:00]
Bringing new knowledge back to work in real time, and applying what you're learning right away. It's also a benefit to the company.
EMBA students also benefit from networking opportunities.
We had a recent student who came to the program after working in finance, and started thinking about how tough it was for vets to get services. He hooked up with other students, created a tech platform, and launched a company – it's a real success story.
How much do EMBA and FT students mix? And is there mixing among the different EMBA programs? [44:20]
There's definitely mixing among EMBA students.
EMBA students can take FT electives, and vice versa. International Seminars bring EMBA students together.
There's also interaction in electives and clubs. And there's leadership from the EMBA class in student government.
A lot of what clubs do is recruiting-focused, but they also bring speakers to campus, and EMBA students get involved with that.
As an applicant, what should I do? [48:20]
Think about your strategy. Know what you're investing in. Visit if you can, but if you can't, learn about the program in other ways: talk to a student on the phone; come to one of our info sessions. You need to know what you're investing in. Also, the more you know, the stronger your essays will be.
Early decision vs regular decision for the FT MBA – how to decide? [50:00]
It's a rolling process, so it gets more competitive later in the process.
Don't apply Early Decision unless you know that Columbia is where you want to be, because it is binding. So make sure there aren't any other factors determining that decision (ie a partner who might not move to NY, finances, etc).
You can still apply on the early side of the rolling process without the binding requirement of Early Decision. There's a deadline in January for merit aid – that's when most people apply. The final deadline is in April – by then, it's very competitive.
Any last advice? [52:40]
Be yourself in the application. Sometimes we read an application from someone who seems to be trying to push their story into a preconceived idea of what they think the adcom wants to read, and it doesn't match up.
You're not competing with anyone else (especially because of the way our rolling deadline works) – you're competing with yourself. We want students who are nice and engaged. If we get a sense that you're completely transactional, we'll think that's how you'd be on campus.
• Columbia Business School 2016-17 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines
• Columbia 2016-17 Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines
• Get Accepted to Columbia Business School [On-Demand Webinar]
• Bruce DelMonico on The Yale School of Management
• Mission and Admissions at Yale School of Management
• Too Old for an MBA? Check Out 3 Outstanding MBA and EMBA Alternatives
• A 20-Year MBA Admissions Veteran Shares His Insights
Article by Accepted / Admissions Straight Talk, MBA Admissions / Columbia Business School, Columbia EMBA, EMBA, podcast


Welcome to Chicago's Only Back-Country Connection.
The White River is currently earning its national scenic designation, which means it will not only be protected but means this is a river that is rich in wildlife and biodiversity. Something indeed worth preserving for the ages.
Among one of the most popular trails in the Manistee, this 24 miler is split by the Manistee River half and a small stretch of the North Country Trail, a trail that starts up in the New York/Pennsylvania border and ends all way up in North Dakota. Don't worry, we'll only ask a few miles of you.
While the Manistee is named for the gentle yet dramatic river that flows through it, do you think serene lakes would be left out of the equation? The answer is no and the good news is that they're kinda secret! Which translates to a fun challenge in navigating to these melted glacial pockets.
Support Outdoors Empowered Network this Halloween at the Hidden Lakes.
Double down by wearing your best costume to hike in for this Halloween trip!
Join our inaugural women's only trip this fall! Lead by Women's Program Director, Anne, enjoy a long weekend from Friday, Oct 12 - Sunday, Oct 14.
Where the glaciers stopped, the ancient and rugged terrain of the Shawnee National Forest remained unscathed. Explore mile after mile along pristine streams, bewildering boulders and hidden canyons.
At the bottom of Illinois nestled between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, it's okay to ask if we're still in the Land of Lincoln.
Somewhere between Midwestern cornfields and Appalachia lie these rolling hardwood foothills you never knew existed. Inside the Hoosier National Forest, babbling brooks meander through diverse woodlands filled with old sycamore, beech, oak, columnar white and red pine and scruffy shagbark hickory trees.
No link here, just a beautiful swallowtail in the Hoosier National Forest.


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New Transformation for Old City Hall
Windemuller worked as a key partner in a project to renovate and revitalize the beloved Old City Hall building in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. The effort – for which our team contributed brand-new electrical, lighting, generator, communications, and security systems – transformed Old City Hall from an abandoned and outdated structure into the beautifully restored new home of an investment firm.
Old City Hall Catalyst Development
Location: Traverse City, Michigan
Started: October 2018
Completed: February 2021
Budget: $980,000
Historic Partnership
In 2018, the Kalamazoo-based Catalyst Development Co. purchased the Old City Hall in Traverse City, with hopes of renovating the building and revitalizing it for modern uses. First built in 1904, the Old City Hall structure has significant historic meaning to the community but had sat vacant for many years. Catalyst Development worked with the Traverse City Historic Districts Commission and got approval to do a complete gut and remodel of the building, after which Windemuller came aboard as a project partner.
Two Windemuller teams were involved on the project: our electrical department and our communications crew.
The electrical team was tasked with providing and installing a completely new electrical system for the Old City Hall – though our crews also helped in the demolition process. After other trades had rebuilt much of the subflooring in the building to make it structurally safe, we installed the new wiring, implemented a complex lighting control system (with some lavish lighting fixtures to go with it), and brought in a generator that will take care of the majority of the building's power in the case of an emergency. The electrical team also helped put in a new snowmelt system that will keep the building's parking lot clear and slip-free during the colder months.
Our communications department installed data cabling and security cabling—components supplied by project partner Knight Watch. Those installations included 132 Category 6 data cables running to various locations throughout the building, as well as 33 Category 6 cables for Knight Watch's security camera system.
The biggest obstacle we faced on this project was the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, the goal was for the Old City Hall building to be completed and ready to open by the end of summer 2020. When our jobsite was shut down for several months during the early stages of the pandemic, that target completion date drifted further away.
When work was allowed to resume, it was challenging to get back to full productivity, due largely to the size of the building. Old City Hall is a 15,000-square-foot facility, and with many different trades working at the same time, that footprint began to feel cramped.
The size limitations were particularly problematic once we had to observe social distancing and other safety protocols to ensure that nobody got sick.
Because the job was a remodel, there also wasn't a straightforward way for our communications crew to run cable down to the basement MDF closet.
The key solution, in this case, was teamwork. The small building footprint and limited on-site parking, combined with the strain of keeping up with all COVID protocols, could have created a tight and tense working environment. Instead, Windemuller communicated regularly with other contractors to coordinate the worksite, establish must-follow procedures, and come up with a plan that allowed everyone to coexist harmoniously and productively. Everyone came together to honor the big-picture project goals.
Windemuller's teams set a strong example for collaborative harmony: our electricians teamed up with our communications crew to find a way to run cabling down to the MDF closet.
The result is a revitalized Old City Hall: a historic Traverse City jewel now restored to its classic beauty. The space will act as the new home to Greenleaf Trust, an investment firm that had outgrown its existing Traverse City space. Greenleaf, which specializes in large investments, will rent the entire second floor of the Old City Hall building.
Printable Resource
View the New Transformation for Old City Hall pdfDownload
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text:
Q: Cloud AMPQ integration with iOS APP I am working on to integrate cloud AMPQ to my iOS app. With RabbitMQ client, unable to make successful communication with the server.
I have checked below stack overflow link to make a communication with the server:
stack overflow link
The sample source shared in above link broken. Please suggest me possible solution. Thanks in advance

A: You should use the official client library: https://github.com/rabbitmq/rabbitmq-objc-client (Swift + ObjC compatible)
Basic Usage (extract from repo):

*

*Instantiate an RMQConnection:
let delegate = RMQConnectionDelegateLogger() // implement RMQConnectionDelegate yourself to react to errors
let conn = RMQConnection(uri: "amqp://guest:guest@localhost:5672", delegate: delegate)

*Connect:
conn.start()

*Create a channel:
let ch = conn.createChannel()

*Use the channel:
let q = ch.queue("myqueue")
q.subscribe({ m in
    print("Received: \(String(data: m.body, encoding: String.Encoding.utf8))")
})
q.publish("foo".data(using: String.Encoding.utf8))

*Close the connection when done:
conn.close()

Depending on the provider, you'll need to construct the connection URI manually. Heroku for example already presents it in it's dashboard. Here's the documentation on the supported parameters: https://www.rabbitmq.com/uri-spec.html and https://www.rabbitmq.com/uri-query-parameters.html
Example URI on Heroku:
amqp://xxxxxxx:yyy-zzz@aaaaaa.bigwig.lshift.net:10674/bbbbbbb

Format:
amqp_URI = "amqp://" [ username [ ":" password ] "@" ] host [ ":" port ] [ "/" vhost ] [ "?" query ]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


These durable tags can be customised with your own wording. The screened polypropylene tag is re-usable and can be written on with pencil or grease marker. If you want to permanently mark the tag, use pen or permanent marker! Labels can be printed on one side or both.