#that we can integrate learning very specific things about their mechanics and functionality into our general workflow

[mantisgodiveblog]

Against all odds, we have survived. We're taking a university course now, because the government will pay us for it and we do need the money, but it has unfortunately been eroding at our sanity somewhat, and we are learning nothing that we don't already know. We are, however, getting money.

We have somewhat of a backlog on Discord at the moment, as it doesn't have a daily upload limit and also it's easier to stick things on while we are being told things that we already know by people who are phrasing in in ways we find significantly misleading or incorrect (note: we don't use apps for things the vast majority of the time and if we access Tumblr via browser it immediately fucks up our formatting on PC, which can last several months). We will, hopefully, be posting these soon, but all is dependant on if we can actually scare up the time between courses to conglomerate that and fix any formatting errors in thoughts and such.

If that will happen any time soon... good question! Every time that our work practicum teacher opens her mouth, we take points of physical damage, and we don't think she understands the fact that getting back after we walk to a place also involves walking. We've had a lot going on for a while now and very little of it has been good. We're on new meds, and if the gods prove merciful, we won't have to tolerate this particular clown show past March. If there is no mercy to be found, however, we might have to keep doing this until June, in which case you can probably expect the quality of this to take a sharp downturn as the short time we have already spent in this program is already having immediate and catastrophic effects on our mental health.

We do not recommend going to university in any circumstances, but we are unfortunately aware that it may be necessary to get such things as a fancy piece of paper saying you are employable. Additionally, we would tell you to calibrate your expectations for anyone with a degree lower, but apparently what we consider the basic level of knowledge you should know before saying anything on any topic is everyone else's "bachelor degree and a bit", so our estimations on what people think is a high degree of knowledge to have are probably also off.

Any donations go to the Fund To Compensate Us For Having To Correct A Teacher Multiple Times In A Lecture And Then Looking Up Her Sources Later And Discovering They Are Blatant Misinformation. We are very tired. Please do research on things before talking about them. Thank you.

[qocsuing]

Smart laser cutter system detects different materials

Smart laser cutter system detects different materials

With the addition of computers, laser cutters have rapidly become a relatively simple and powerful tool, with software controlling shiny machinery that can chop metals, woods, papers, and plastics. While this curious amalgam of materials feels encompassing, users still face difficulties distinguishing between stockpiles of visually similar materials, where the wrong stuff can make gooey messes, give off horrendous odors, or worse, spew out harmful chemicals.Get more news about laser cutting line,you can vist our website!

Addressing what might not be totally apparent to the naked eye, scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) came up with “SensiCut,” a smart material-sensing platform for laser cutters. In contrast to conventional, camera-based approaches that can easily misidentify materials, SensiCut uses a more nuanced fusion. It identifies materials using deep learning and an optical method called “speckle sensing,” a technique that uses a laser to sense a surface’s microstructure, enabled by just one image-sensing add-on.

A little assistance from SensiCut could go a long way — it could potentially protect users from hazardous waste, provide material-specific knowledge, suggest subtle cutting adjustments for better results, and even engrave various items like garments or phone cases that consist of multiple materials.

“By augmenting standard laser cutters with lensless image sensors, we can easily identify visually similar materials commonly found in workshops and reduce overall waste,” says Mustafa Doga Dogan, PhD candidate at MIT CSAIL. “We do this by leveraging a material’s micron-level surface structure, which is a unique characteristic even when visually similar to another type. Without that, you’d likely have to make an educated guess on the correct material name from a large database.” Beyond using cameras, sticker tags (like QR codes) have also been used on individual sheets to identify them. Which seems straightforward, however, during laser cutting, if the code is cut off from the main sheet, it can’t be identified for future uses. Also, if an incorrect tag is attached, the laser cutter will assume the wrong material type.

To successfully play a round of “what material is this,” the team trained SensiCut’s deep neural network on images of 30 different material types of over 38,000 images, where it could then differentiate between things like acrylic, foamboard, and styrene, and even provide further guidance on power and speed settings.

In one experiment, the team decided to build a face shield, which would require distinguishing between transparent materials from a workshop. The user would first select a design file in the interface, and then use the “pinpoint” function to get the laser moving to identify the material type at a point on the sheet. The laser interacts with the very tiny features of the surface and the rays are reflected off it, arriving at the pixels of the image sensor and producing a unique 2-D image. The system could then alert or flag the user that their sheet is polycarbonate, which means potentially highly toxic flames if cut by a laser.

The speckle imaging technique was used inside a laser cutter, with low-cost, off-the shelf-components, like a Raspberry Pi Zero microprocessor board. To make it compact, the team designed and 3-D printed a lightweight mechanical housing.

Beyond laser cutters, the team envisions a future where SensiCut’s sensing technology could eventually be integrated into other fabrication tools like 3-D printers. To capture additional nuances, they also plan to extend the system by adding thickness detection, a pertinent variable in material makeup.

Dogan wrote the paper alongside undergraduate researchers Steven Acevedo Colon and Varnika Sinha in MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Associate Professor Kaan Akşit of University College London, and MIT Professor Stefanie Mueller.

[system-of-a-feather]

Sent this by @reimeichan to key in cause I think this is something we can key in more on as we consider alternating between functional multiplicity and final fusion as something we actively, explicitly, and intentionally practice and with that, there is a lot of thought and what not that goes into splitting / dividing intentionally.

For us, as it is, it is currently part of our recovery goal plan, but that's only secondary to "going with the flow of whatever works for us" being our main recovery goal. But currently? Yeah its an active skill we practice.

I think its important though to distinct splitting (as its usually experienced as a clinical, dissociative, and thing in not-integrated systems) from what I prefer to call dividing. This of course is personal semantics and is not clinical in any way or form, but I personally see them as two distinct things and two different actions that have different results and circumstances.

To me, splitting is a term I like to reserve to the increased dissociative barriers and disconnect between states of self that results in notable dissociative symptoms (emotional amnesia, general amnesia, inability to access and easily understand the perspectives, feelings and history of other parts, partial to complete hold of the front and just a general lack of permeability between parts). Splitting in this sense is what most people in the DID refer to splitting.

On the other hand, dividing is a lot more of the intentional perspective change and intentional focusing on a specific part of self and specific mode / mindset / framework within the integrated whole which lets us operate in very specific mental spaces when it serves us. Unlike splitting, dividing rarely results in any increase of dissociative symptoms other than MAYBE some level of "inconsistency in the extent of opinions / personality demeanor" and that sometimes names change. ((And I personally don't consider either of those inherently dissociative or as negative things))

Intentionally splitting is something that we can do when particularly stressed, overloaded, or when we are not coping well and that is what it sounds like. Its an increase in dissociative barriers to cope and in that case, that is often a maladaptive coping mechanism that we are accustomed to using and a means of distancing ourself from internal stressors. As an integrated whole and as someone whose been there for a while, we have a lot more awareness over when our dissociation is going up and have a lot more of a semi-conscious decision if we are going to lean into that coping mechanism or not. We personally avoid intentionally splitting because we honestly have other coping skills and options that do not involve increasing our dissociative barriers and amnesia and are confident that we REALLY don't need to do that anymore - even if it is the easier coping mechanism.

On the other hand - and often alternatively - we intentionally divide and its actually a very different process internally.

Intentional splitting tends to be a high stress, overwhelmed and very impulsive thing where - in our head - we do kind of get a "block this off and put up a wall?" option in our head that we can select from. That being said, its pretty easy when the option come up to just go "fuck it I don't want this" and to split.

Intentional division is actually something we have to very intentionally aim to do and it actually - in my experience - requires us to deeply focus on our internal realm, internal experiences, and is often best supported through our active meditation practices (that we do as Buddhists). When we choose to intentionally divide, we often examine our whole state and go "something here is not working and I need to figure out what is not balanced" (because when you are fully fused, even if you are fused, there is a lot of learning about yourself and balancing all the new aspects of self that has to be done and its very easy to be an 'unbalanced' whole while you are learning the ropes of being one).

Then from there we kind go "okay have I been able to handle this by myself as a whole and do I feel like I am missing perspective". If we find that - despite being a fused whole - we feel like we are seeing less of ourselves than as individual parts, we will distinctly decide "okay this isn't working for us, lets divide into our individual parts so that we can jump between different perspectives and analyze our situation through different lenses"

And from there its a lot of internal practice regarding focus and attention to different ways of thinking, parts of self, and leaning into those different hats which allow parts to operate almost as if they are "split."

This is different from proper splitting in the sense that 1) all parts still identify as the fused whole second to their personal identity 2) all parts still have access to dip into anything the fused whole has 3) all parts can effortlessly reach out to a specific part whenever they want to or need to 4) there is no amnesia between parts and all parts can very clearly understand and feel what the other parts are feeling

Intentional division is a lot more a practice of intentionally exploring specific realms of ourselves and largely reclaiming our whole identity as a bit of an art form and means of practicing the joys of being able to see the world, our life, and others through multiple differing lenses.

We personally find that sometimes working as divided parts of a whole can be a really fun and enriching way to get a better understanding of ourselves, what makes us happy, how we feel about others, and overall just lets us practice understanding conflicting and opposing opinions.

If you didn't infer from the rest of this post, a lot of how our system functions as a fully integrated whole is largely impacted and intertwined with our Buddhist practice and honestly the two are largely inseperable at this point.

But anyways, it's all really something we spend a lot of active focus, meditation, mindfulness, and intent to actively practice and the line between splitting and dividing is kind of a thin line to walk that - in my experience - depends on a lot of awareness of dissociative experiences both mentally and physically as well as a practiced ability of mindfulness and internal awareness.

I think it can be a bit risky to walk the line if you don't have equally developed grounding, mindfulness, and internal self awareness based skills to at least somewhat compete with the long childhood-reinforced dissociative skills because again, they are honestly very opposite functions, but it can be easy to split when you thought you were dividing.

I'd definitely recommend people focus on mindfulness and grounding before really exploring or practicing any sort of intentional division and what not, but I'm just one person with one experience doing one method so... *shrugs*

ooo purposeful splitting? is that a temporary thing while you continue to recover or a part of your overall recovery goal?

tbh kinda playing it by ear? We're unsure if temporarily splitting is actually healing for us or if it's a maladaptive form of coping that we will work on eliminating, but I think truth of the matter is sometimes we may regress to old coping behaviors and beating myself up over it versus just accepting it's a thing and being intentional when I notice it happening is probably more helpful in the long run.

Like, somedays I'm so stressed out that I use video games to relax. Video games themselves aren't inherently bad, but over-reliance on them as a coping mechanism to the point I neglect my responsibilities and my relationships is bad (which is something that has happened for me in the past). Similarly, temporarily splitting when I'm stressed or overwhelmed every once in a while will probably help me in the short run but I do need to be mindful about not overly-relying on splitting and dissociation all the time. I hope to include more and more coping mechanisms in my toolbox as I continue to heal and recover so that I can rely less on dissociation but I also acknowledge that sometimes it may just be the best tool to use in that situation for whatever reason.

So with all this in mind, it's not really a temporary thing nor is it a goal. It's just... a thing that's going to happen. I hope that made sense, anon.

[currentevolution]

How is life evolving now?

When we think of human evolution and how life would look like a few million years from now, our imagination directly turns to flying individuals, integrating our bodies with technology and becoming cyborgs, being multi-planetary species and whatnot. But even if some of it turns out to be true, we still miss out on an important part of this world, multi-human organisms. Let’s dive a bit deeper..

I want you to imagine how cells in a regular multicellular organism work. All cell organelles and resultant cells have evolved for millions (or billions) of years to form groups of cells, tissues and organs to form multicellular organisms which can perform tasks that these cells can’t do individually and essentially live a better life by better protecting itself against environmental changes, predators, etc. They do their tasks to the best of their ability with utmost efficiency. This specific knowledge has been acquired by it over the years of development. Now take this analogy to how our society operates. We are born. We are taken care of by our family, friends, relatives, schools, neighborhoods, businesses, non-profits, the cities and nation we live in, our laws and the whole civilization. We start learning from the moment we interact with them and learn to fit into society, create value by doing something out of what we learnt and finding opportunities to serve, sustain ourselves by forming relationships and getting money for the value we provide and run many of these organizations to repeat this process.

Now consider a particular organization. Take McDonalds, for example. Now, this fast food restaurant chain does some particular tasks that are its value it provides in exchange for money (which is a commonly accepted measure of value of goods and services). It needs to do certain things to deliver that value proposition. It has people with a particular set of skills who are responsible to carry on different tasks. This organization or organism also replicates by copying its value proposition like red-yellow theme and logo, tasty and addictive burgers that are served very fast and cheap and other key factors to another location or ecosystem, among another group of people. It does that by gathering the local resources based on a pre-existing blueprint or its DNA.

Now at any point of time, the people that work for McDonalds act as some type of cells for this organism, along with other resources that it uses. Similar analogies can also be derived for all the types of organizations like a city or a  nation (which act more like a forest or an ecosystem for businesses) with more or less similarity to various type of biological evolution mechanism we have seen.

Point is, these organizations, institutions, nations, etc. are the organisms that evolved from us. We are the creators of this new life with new laws. And they are better able to do things than a single human being. We know this. For example, a single man may not ever be able to go into space. But ISRO or NASA can. People train to become part of it. They are “passionate” about working in NASA and exploring space, working on tech, etc. Then they become part of this multicellular organism and do the task.

Are you getting how this goes? You are brought up consuming everything around you which shapes you in one form. Your likes and dislikes are all products of what you consume from surroundings, your inherent genetics, and their interaction. Then you study, train and become passionate and become part of more than one organism (at least at this point). I think some of it has been explore before in the topic of structural functionalism, but still I believe if we do give it a serious try, we may be able to pinpoint the exact laws that govern the evolution of humans and maybe even find out some aspects of how the future could look like. Please comment/interact to shed light on the topic. If you have any literature, research, etc. on this, do share... I would love to go through it and tinker more on this topic. Thanks a lot for reading!

[theramseyloft]

BABY TRAINING POST! BABY TRAINING POST! pleaaaaase? Thankuuuu!

Of course!

I have lots of videos on our Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theramseyloft/

We start literally on hatch day.

The shiny, some times still wet, new peep is greeted and gently lifted out from under their parent, cradled in my palm for initial photos, and then gently checked over.

I lift their bitty wings, tilt up their little chin, check their crops, tummies, and vents.

For the first 7 days, the entire handling session should take about a minute.

At one week old, babies are significantly larger and can produce their own body heat, so we keep them out a little longer.

We start at 3 minute handling sessions, and through out the week, shift up to 5.

Starting at eight to ten days, peeps get to observe the Adults enjoying treat time.

They don’t usually start to peck until two weeks of age, but during these observation sessions, they learn two things: 

1. The safflower seeds I am offering are STRONGLY desired by the adults!

2. Name = individual

Half way through this week is about the time they start begging to get treats too, so they get a name, if they didn’t have one already, and learn that name = peep.

We start Practice Boxing and Unboxing once they take treats reliably.

I have a very small shipping crate with a tear in the filter that makes it unusable for actually shipping. It functions as the practice bock now.

Peeps are loaded into the box in the loft, then unloaded in the house and spoiled with treats and cuddles and exploration time.

Now that they are moving around a little and interacting with things, I start describing what they are doing and talking them through things like you would a toddler.

They have been proven to learn “the equivalent of words” (Why can we not just say words, guys?) by the same mechanic as human toddlers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150204184447.htm

Language training is integral to our work with pigeons.

It is SO much easier to convey what you want or need to an animal that understands words in your language.

Pigeons are pattern mappers, and language is a pattern of matching words to objects, people, places, actions, and concepts.

Because pigeon flocks are democratic

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100416214045.htm

Meritocracies

https://www.audubon.org/news/in-homing-pigeon-flocks-bad-bosses-quickly-get-demoted

Pigeons are unique in recognizing when their vote is being ignored.

The more ignored they feel, the less cooperative they are willing to be.

Pigeons are capable of significant abstractions.

They understand the concepts of time and space 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171204144805.htm

And their brains are wired amazingly similarly to ours.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130717095336.htm

The more they understand what is going on and how they fit into it, the easier it is for them to learn things like whether or not a handler actually does what they say they will do.

Pigeons are like 5 year old kids. Once it really sinks in that they can trust you and you are paying attention to what they are trying to tell you, the trust you earn is damn near unbreakable.

The earlier you start teaching them, the better it sticks.

Around two weeks, treat sessions extend to ten minutes. 

Now that they are feathered enough to stay warm, big enough not to empty their crop quickly, taking treats reliably, and starting to learn words, we take them out in public for the first time in a basket.

Peeps go out either singly

or in pairs.

At this age, they are not especially mobile and nowhere near being able to fly.

Going uncovered like this is similar to being carried around in a nest with a handle, and inherently comforting because of it.

 I want to see how they react to being carried, riding in the car, different locations, the movement of people, people’s pets, and being approached.

I want peeps to be relaxed, curious and interested in what’s going on around them, but primarily focused on their handler.

Babies are mobile on foot and just pre-flight at three weeks old.

So they go out in a carrier, next time.

At four weeks old, peeps are down from their nest and will be flight capable with in two days.

So the next time they go out, they ride in a carrier

Wearing a harness.

On their first day down, the adults of the flock will haze a new peep to show them their place at the bottom of the flock and teach them how to de-escalate with older birds to avoid disciplinary bites.

If you are fostering a baby this age and it suddenly turns skittish, it’s because it’s instinctively expecting the other shoe to drop.

Do not force them to interact.

Just reward them when they do with a fond greeting and occasional treat.

They have not forgotten that you are their friend, they just see you as an adult and are not sure how big a space you will demand now that they are self feeding.

A five week old is fully self feeding and flighted, faster and more agile, learning to grow into their mobility, and beginning to develop an independent streak.

They know how to de-escalate, but now that they are more mobile, they are learning when and how to assert themselves to make sure they get enough to eat.

They are especially stubborn at this age, and that language training they were started on earlier is really important.

Again, nothing is forced on them. 

We lean more into verbally inviting them to do things and working out a way for them to convey yes or no.

Babies go home at Six weeks, so we just remain consistent with their training and evaluation until then.

Babies that start refusing more often than agreeing or refuse any specific aspect of their training are washed out of the Therapy program and are considered to be Pet quality.

From there, you can continue with the training prescribed in other asks for adults.

[irispublishersengineeringscience]

Iris Publishers - Global Journal of Engineering Sciences (GJES)

Artificial Neural Networks and Hopfield Type Modeling 

Authored by Haydar Akca

From the mathematical point of view, an artificial neural network corresponds to a non- linear transformation of some inputs into certain outputs. Many types of neural networks have been proposed and studied in the literature and the Hopfield-type network has be- come an important one due to its potential for applications in various fields of daily life.

A neural network is a network that performs computational tasks such as associative memory, pattern recognition, optimization, model identification, signal processing, etc. on a given pattern via interaction between a number of interconnected units characterized by simple functions. From the mathematical point of view, an artificial neural network corresponds to a nonlinear transformation of some inputs into certain outputs. There are a number of terminologies commonly used for describing neural networks. Neural networks can be characterized by an architecture or topology, node characteristics, and a learning mechanism [1]. The interconnection topology consists of a set of processing elements arranged in a particular fashion. The processing elements are connected by links and have weights associated with them. Each processing elements is associated with:

• A state of activation (state variable)

• An output function (transfer function)

• A propagation rule for transfer of activation between processing elements

• An activation rule, which determines the new state of activation of a processing element from its inputs weight associated with the inputs, and current activation.

Neural networks may also be classified based on the type of input, which is either binary or continuous valued, or whether the networks are trained with or without supervision. There are many different types of network structures, but the main types are feed-forward networks and recurrent networks. Feed-forward networks have unidirectional links, usually from input layers to output layers, and there are no cycles or feedback connections. In recurrent networks, links can form arbitrary topologies and there may be arbitrary feed- back connections. Recurrent neural networks have been very successful in time series prediction. Hopfield networks are a special case of recurrent networks. These networks have feedback connections, have no hidden layers, and the weight matrix is symmetric.

Neural networks are analytic techniques capable of predicting new observations from other observations after executing a process of so-called learning from existing data. Neural network techniques can also be used as a component of analysis designed to build explanatory models. Now there is neural network software that uses sophisticated algorithms directly contributing to the model building process.

In 1943, neuro physiologist Warren McCulloch and mathematician Walter Pitts [2] wrote a paper on how neurons might work. In order to describe how neurons in the brain might work, they modeled a simple neural network using electrical circuits. As computers be- came more advanced in the 1950’s, it was possible to simulate a hypothetical neural net- work. In 1982, John Hopfield presented a paper [3]. His approach was to create more useful machines by using bidirectional lines. The model proposed by Hopfield, also known as Hopfield’s graded response neural network, is based on an analogue circuit consisting of capacitors, resistors and amplifiers. Previously, the connections between neurons was only one way. At the same years, scientist introduced a “Hybrid network” with multiple layers, each layer using a different problem-solving strategy.

Now, neural networks are used in several applications. The fundamental idea behind the nature of neural networks is that if it works in nature, it must be able to work in computers. The future of neural networks, though, lies in the development of hardware. Research that concentrates on developing neural networks is relatively slow. Due to the limitations of processors, neural networks take weeks to learn. Nowadays trying to create what is called a “silicon compiler”, “organic compiler” to generate a specific type of integrated circuit that is optimized for the application of neural networks. Digital, analog, and optical chips are the different types of chips being developed.

The brain manages to perform extremely complex tasks. The brain is principally com- posed of about 10 billion neurons, each connected to about 10,000 other neurons. Each neuronal cell bodies (soma) are connect with the input and output channels (dendrites and axons). Each neuron receives electrochemical inputs from other neurons at the dendrites. If the sum of these electrical inputs is sufficiently powerful to activate the neuron, it transmits an electrochemical signal along the axon, and passes this signal to the other neurons whose dendrites are attached at any of the axon terminals. These attached neurons may then fire. It is important to note that a neuron fires only if the total signal received at the cell body exceeds a certain level. The neuron either fires or it doesn’t, there aren’t different grades of firing. So, our entire brain is composed of these interconnected electro- chemical transmitting neurons. This is the model on which artificial neural networks are based. Thus for, artificial neural networks haven’t even come close to modeling the complexity of the brain, but they have shown to be good at problems which are easy for a human but difficult for a traditional computer, such as image recognition and predictions based on past knowledge.

Fundamental difference between traditional computers and artificial neural networks is the way in which they function. One of the major advantages of the neural network is its ability to do many things at once. With traditional computers, processing is sequential– one task, then the next, then the next, and so on. While computers function logically with a set of rules and calculations, artificial neural networks can function via Equation, pictures, and concepts. Based upon the way they function, traditional computers have to learn by rules, while artificial neural networks learn by example, by doing something and then learning from it.

Hopfield neural networks have found applications in a broad range of disciplines [3-5] and have been studied both in the continuous and discrete time cases by many researchers. Most neural networks can be classified as either continuous or discrete. In spite of this broad classification, there are many real-world systems and natural processes that behave in a piecewise continuous style interlaced with instantaneous and abrupt changes (impulses). Periodic dynamics of the Hopfield neural networks is one of the realistic and attractive modellings for the researchers. Hopfield networks are a special case of recurrent networks. These networks have feedback connections, have no hidden layers, and the weight matrix is symmetric. These networks are most appropriate when the input can be represented in exact binary form. Signal transmission between the neurons causes time delays. Therefore, the dynamics of Hopfield neural networks with discrete or distributed delays has a fundamental concern. Many neural networks today use less than 100 neurons and only need occasional training. In these situations, software simulation is usually found sufficient. Expected and optimistic development on all current neural network’s technologies will improve in very near future and researchers develop better methods and network architectures.

In the present paper, we briefly summarized historical background as well as developments of the artificial neural networks and present recent formulations of the continuous and discrete counterpart of a class of Hopfield-type neural networks modeling using functional differential equations in the presence of delay, periodicity, impulses and finite distributed delays. Combining some ideas of [4,6-10] and [11], we obtain a sufficient condition for the existence and global exponential stability of a unique periodic solution of the discrete system considered.

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)

An artificial neural network (ANN) is an information processing paradigm that is in- spired by the way biological nervous systems, such as the brain, process information sees more details [12] and references given therein. The key element of this paradigm is the novel structure of the information processing system. It is composed of a large number of highly interconnected processing elements (neurons) working in unison to solve specific problems. ANNs, like people, learn by example. An ANN is configured for a specific application, such as pattern recognition or data classification, through a learning process. Learning in biological systems involves adjustments to the synaptic connections that exist between the neurons. This is true of ANNs as well.

The first artificial neuron was produced in 1943 by the neurophysiologist Warren McCulloch and the logician Walter Pitts [2]. But the technology available at that time did not allow them to do too much. Neural networks process information in a similar way the human brain does. The network is composed of a large number of highly interconnected processing elements (neurons) working in parallel to solve a specific problem. Neural net- works learn by example. Much is still unknown about how the brain trains itself to process information, so theories abound. An artificial neuron is a device with many inputs and one output (Figure 1). The neuron has two modes of operation; the training mode and the using mode. In the training mode, the neuron can be trained to fire (or not), for particular input patterns. In the using mode, when a taught input pattern is detected at the input, its associated output becomes the current output. If the input pattern does not belong in the taught list of input patterns, the firing rule is used to determine whether to fire or not. An important application of neural networks is pattern recognition. Pattern recognition can be implemented by using a feed-forward (Figure 2) neural network that has been trained accordingly. During training, the network is trained to associate outputs with in- put patterns. When the network is used, it identifies the input pattern and tries to output the associated output pattern. The power of neural networks comes to life when a pattern that has no output associated with it, is given as an input. In this case, the network gives the output that corresponds to a taught input pattern that is least different from the given pat- tern. Hopfield-type neural networks are mainly applied either as associative memories or as optimization solvers. In both applications, the stability of the networks is prerequisite. The equilibrium points (stable states) of networks characterize all possible optimal solutions of the optimization problem, and stability of the network’s grantee the convergence to the optimal solutions. Therefore, the stability is fundamental for the network design. As a result of this fact the stability analysis of the Hopfield-type networks has received extensive attention from the many researchers, [4,6-9,11,13] and references given therein. The above neuron does not do anything that conventional computers do not already do. A more sophisticated neuron (Figure 3) is the McCulloch and Pitts model (MCP). The difference from the previous model is that the inputs are ‘weighted’, the effect that each input has at decision making is dependent on the weight of the particular input. The weight of an input is a number which when multiplied with the input gives the weighted input. These weighted inputs are then added together and if they exceed a pre-set threshold value, the neuron fires. In any other case the neuron does not fire. In mathematical terms, the neuron fires if and only if

X1W1 + X22 + X3W3 + …. > T,

where Wi, i = 1, 2, . . ., are weights, Xi, i = 1, 2, . . ., inputs, and T a threshold. The addition of input weights and of the threshold makes this neuron a very flexible and powerful one. The MCP neuron has the ability to adapt to a particular situation by changing its weights and/or threshold. Various algorithms exist that cause the neuron to ‘adapt’; the most used ones are the Delta rule and the back-error propagation. The former is used in feed-forward networks and the latter in feedback networks.

Neural networks have wide applicability to real world business problems. In fact, they have already been successfully applied in many industries. Since neural networks are best at identifying patterns or trends in data, they are well suited for prediction or forecasting needs including sales forecasting, industrial process control, customer research, data validation, risk management, target marketing.

ANN are also used in the following specific paradigms: recognition of speakers in communications; diagnosis of hepatitis; recovery of telecommunications from faulty software; interpretation of multi-meaning Chinese words; undersea mine detection; texture analysis; three-dimensional object recognition; hand-written word recognition; and facial recognition.

To read more about this article https://irispublishers.com/gjes/fulltext/artificial-neural-networks-and-hopfield.ID.000601.php

Indexing List of Iris Publishers: https://medium.com/@irispublishers/what-is-the-indexing-list-of-iris-publishers-4ace353e4eee

Iris publishers google scholar citations: https://scholar.google.co.in/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=irispublishers&btnG=

[tipsycad147]

What Is Magick

David Rankine

What is magick? Forget all the fallacies and stereotypical pre-conceptions taught to you out of fear and ignorance and approach this question with an pen mind. You will probably find it is not what you have been taught to think. Magick has been defined as "The art and science of causing change to occur in conformity with will *1"   which could be put more simply as making desired change happen; or as "energy tending to change"; a definition I use is "magick is conscious evolution through directing energy". This does not really explain magick though, so I will try to elaborate on these phrases wthout jargon.      

An aim of magick is to train the mind by harnessing and making more consciously accessible such higher faculties as intuition, inspiration and the creative imagination, and by drawing on the power of the unconscious - to try and use more than the 10% of our brain's capacity that we do.   

   Magick assumes belief in, or rather experience of, subtle energies. We can only see about one seventieth of the light spectrum, yet what we cannot see still affects us - such as x-rays and ultraviolet light. Similarly, magick is about focusing more subtle, non-physical energies, and directing them to create change. To go about this requires experience, and training to improve the power of the mind, and specifically, the will.     

 Acts such as meditation, breath control, voice work, body work, visualization, drama, ritual, and others, are all designed to improve our body and mind, to better sharpen us and balance us, and to enable us to perceive and wield more subtle energies.     

 In the same way, an individual is as strong as their will, and the more balanced and integrated a person is, the stronger their will (note, this is probably one of the main reasons why so many magicians have experience of counselling and/or psychology, recognising the help these processes can give, both through training and experiencing them. This also acts as a removal of farcical social stigma often attached to these processes).     

 Practising magick tends to act as a deconditioning mechanism and can be a subtle process, the longer you practice, the more you change and the unnecessary inhibitions, stigmas, guilts and sin complexes that society builds in are removed. This has the effect of releasing their energy into the psyche, where it can strengthen the individual.      

The more physical side, such as yoga, bodywork, dance and massage, also removes the tension held in the body as body armour, and releases this and removes energy blockages which impair full efficiency and may result in illness.      

Possibly the major difference between magick and many of the religious paths to spiritual growth is that magick is more dynamic, and places the emphasis on you to work for change - there are no gurus in magick, rather there are fellow students with different perspectives and experiences - we learn from each other, as in other areas of life.      

Magick tends to work a lot with symbols, as these are the language of the unconscious, and this is an area of tremendous power to tap. Symbols have many functions, and one of these, released through magick, can be the ability to confound the ego and the censor mechanisms, and enabling us to perceive more subtle truths, or experience direct revelations. Although we may not be able to fully explain how symbols work, we know from experience that certain symbols seem harmonious with certain types of energy.      

For example a magician may tell you that if you want to attract love you should wear green, and rose perfume, perhaps wear copper, like a bracelet or necklace, etc. These are all things attributed with Venus, who is associated with love, and so the principal is one of contagion - sympathetic magick, or making something happen by working with items linked to it. 

This is one of the oldest and most commonly practised forms of magick. Working with the symbols of a type of energy does seem to attract that energy.      

A cautionary word here, magick is often seen as a way to hidden powers, and entered for the wrong reason, the "I want sex, power and lots of money" syndrome. Now there is nothing wrong with these things in themselves, but when you do magick you will discover that you tend to get what you need rather than necessarily what you want.      

When you do magick you generally use techniques to alter your state of consciousness and raise energy, and then direct that energy to create a desired result. The channel that energy takes as directed by your altered state of consciousness is not necessarily the path you might expect in your normal everyday state. Magick does bring you power, yes, but it is power over yourself, not other people. It is the power that is important, to grow and to create positive change.      

This does not mean there is anything wrong with using magick to gain more physical things, there is nothing wrong with doing a ritual or spell to get a job, whereas trying to make a specific individual go to bed with you would be wrong. Magick is very much about intent, and if your intent is to get work, you are not imposing on people, whereas if you were trying to make somebody do something that they would not naturally do, you are imposing on their will.      

If you did a ritual to attract love without specifying a person, but opening yourself to the opportunity to meet someone where love may arise, and to feel more attractive and better about yourself, you are not imposing, you are trying to create positive change.      

Magick is a commitment to yourself, and it requires determination, perseverance, strength, openness to change and absence of rigidity, a love of life (including yourself), and a desire to grow and fulfil your potential. It may be that you already have all these qualities and do this already without calling it magick - magick is not about labels, and those who think and talk as if it is unfortunately put some people off. Magick is learning about the natural flows of energy in the universe, and working in harmony with them to effect positive change, both in yourself and in your environment.      

Some people ask why magick is spelt with a 'k' on the end. This is to distinguish it from magic, associated in the popular mind with illusionism and prestidigitation, stage magic. Magick is not about illusion, it is about creating real change, and the 'k' signifies this. K is the eleventh letter of the alphabet, i.e. the one beyond ten. Symbolically this is very powerful, as we work in base ten, and eleven represents the unseen, or hidden energies - the subtle energies of magick, eleven is considered to be the number of magick.      

Magickal training and experience bring forth the energies of the unconscious, and so it is no surprise to see that symbols become more important as you develop, providing not only the language of dream and the unconscious, but also helping create a more flexible perception grid of the universe. To grow spiritually, it is vital that you remain flexible and do not become dogmatic, rather that you are open to experience and willing to question your ideas and beliefs as a result of those experiences.   

   Magick can be a painful process. It is not easy to maintain the discipline and honest self-critical approach all the time. It can also be hard work dealing with the energy released without being knocked off balance sometimes. The important thing in these cases is to remain honest and keep at it. Nobody said magick was easy! It takes a lot of practice and hard work and pain, but the rewards are spiritual and mental growth, the joy of life and the beauty of unconditional love. Beyond the limits there are no limits!

© copyright 1999, 2000, 2001 David Rankine

http://msngroup.aimoo.com/WitchesCircleofBrew/whatismagick.msnw.htm

[enteknograte]

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[fireflyluna]

Webb City Contractor Bond

The listed below post is a great intro to bid bonds. Quote bonds, as you know, are bonds used in the building and construction market. These bonds ensure that if someone quotes on a job, and is awarded the agreement, then they will move forward with performing under the regards to the agreement.

See the below short article for more good information. You can see the initial short article here: https://swiftbonds.com/license-permit-bonds/contractor-bond-webb-city/

Webb City Contractor Bond

What is a Contractor Bond in Webb City?

A Contractor Bond is a type of license bond. The purpose of the bond is to protect the state or governmental entity for certain things, such as the payment of taxes.

To get this bond, please see our Contractor Bond Application Form. Fill this out and mail to mike@swiftbonds.com

You can also Apply On Line by clicking on this link.

How Much does a Contractor Bond Cost in Webb City?

Just fill out the form below and we’ll have you a quote in a few hours – at the absolute best possible rate.

How do I get a Contractor Bond?

We make it easy to get a Contractor Bond in Webb City. Fill out the form above and we’ll get right on this for you.

How Does this Process Work in Missouri?

Once we get the Contractor Bond application back from you, we process it right away. We typically have an answer within a few hours. Once you get approved, we’ll let you know the exact fee. Then:

You send us the fee

We send you the bond

For certain bonds, we may send you original forms to fill out (depends on the type of bond)

Then we’ll get the Contractor Bond right out to you. Easy.

Webb City Contractor Bond Application Form Fill this out and mail to mike@swiftbonds.com

Apply On Line

Find a Contractor Bond Near Me

We’ll work as hard as possible to get you the bond that you need in Missouri.

Find out more about our Permit and License Bonds

Locating Where To Find Distinct Ideas When Thinking Of Permit Bonds

You’ll need the government’s approval before you decide to can begin a business or professional operation that involves making profit. It is an assurance to your customers that your company or professional service complies with the governing rules authorized by the government. These laws and regulations are set to protect the customers you might serve. You’ll need a license to prove that you’re operating with integrity and that your items and services are reliable. In connection with obtaining a license to operate, you must know that you may also need to obtain a license and permit bond. Take into account that non-compliance to the governing rules might result in serious difficulties, so you must never fail to comply. This article will explain all the essential info about the surety bonds. Here you may also learn the useful ways about how to get a permit bond.

Other Kinds of Bonds

License And Permit Bonds

The most common type of bond is the license and permit surety bond. This bond is very necessary. If you intend to begin a business or a specific operation in your city to get you some profit, you’ll need a license. Before beginning your operation, it is important to understand first the demands of the government linked to your company or profession. In order to get a complete information on what you will need to do, you will need to obtain a license and permit bonds. These bonds explain all the governing rules that you need to adhere to, helping you prevent the significant consequences that you might face when you violate them. Using this license and surety bond, you could get your license or permit to run your business in Kansas. There is a wide range of license and permit bonds that you might acquire, including a contractor license bond.

Performance Bond

If you would like to make sure that you get a satisfactory project, like a building, it’s very important to have a performance bond. When you engage a contractor to an infrastructure project, you need to make certain that you receive a sufficient result before making a final acceptance. In most cases, the construction can be successful. If the project isn’t finished, however, you’re still guaranteed to acquire compensated for a specific percentage of the project cost and have another contractor to continue the project. The amount they will get in case the project fails is stated in the performance bond.

The Benefits Of License Bonds

Listed below are some of the advantages of acquiring permit bonds.

To regulate the functions of companies, the government requires the use of license bonds to make certain that different processes are legally implemented. To ensure that a contractor or a professional business to function in a certain location, these laws must be adhered to. In Kansas, for example, the government requires the usage of license and permit bond. This permits the customers to secure their projects.

The main purpose of permit bonds is to ensure the consumers that they will receive quality service or project result. It’s consequently crucial for contractors to be sure that they meet project requirements and deliver the same. If they do, the customer will not suffer any loss. The surety bond serves as an insurance that guarantees the client of quality service and secured project agreement.

Methods Involved In The Application

Applying for license and permit bond is simple if you stick to the right actions. Listed here are the easy actions involved in the application for license and permit bond.

The Online Form

If you are applying online, the first thing you must do is to fill out the form. You may find this online application form through an approved issuing company that is highly recommended by many users. This means that you must not only choose a platform that has the application form, but also make certain that it has verification. Be honest when filling out the form for it could result in serious predicament if you do not.

Obtaining A Quote

Next step after submitting the application is the quote, which indicates the amount you should pay. As a result, the amount you have to pay money for the bond is already presented in the quote. Take note. It is only following the application form has been successfully submitted that you’ll be able to obtain a quote.

Payment

After getting a quote, the next step can be the actual payment. You could only obtain a license and permit bond after you have paid the issuing company.

While Filling The Form;

Don’t lie in the form. The honest info you provide will keep you out of trouble. Remember that surety bond is governed by laws and regulations. So even if you don’t have a fantastic credit score, it is still essential that you provide the correct data to your surety bond.

Essential Facts

Knowing the facts about license and permit bonds is really important. The guidelines on this section might help you learn everything about the license and permit bonds. Essentially, the amount of a performance bond will not be equivalent to the entire amount of the project cost. You’ll only be instructed to insure a specific percentage of the project, which is equal to considerable amount of cash. As a matter of fact, the rate may be just as low as 1% even if the whole cost of the project you are insuring is about one million dollars. Second, the bond is not a license for your company. It is rather an insurance to the consumers you are dealing with that their projects are secured and insured as mandated by the government’s existing rules and regulations. The bonds, therefore, improve the trust of your clients’ that you will supply the best possible result for the projects you engaged with them.

You have to be careful not to get bonds from unverified government bodies. An ideal way not to make a mistake is by educating yourself with the different types of bonds through professional help.

See our Joplin Contractor’s License Bond page here.

A Deeper Take A Look At Quote Bonds in Building If awarded, a Quote Bond is a type of surety bond utilized to make sure that a specialist bidding on a job or job will enter into the agreement with the obligee.

A Bid Bond is released in the quantity of the contract quote, with the similar requirements as that of a Performance Bond.

All About Quote Bonds in Building And Construction The origins of our company was carefully connected with the provision of performance bonds to the contracting industry. A little greater than one a century back, the federal authorities grew to become alarmed concerning the high failure charge among the private firms it was utilizing to perform public building and construction jobs. It discovered that the personal contractor typically was insolvent when the task was granted, or grew to become insolvent earlier than the difficulty was finished. Accordingly, the federal government was continuously entrusted unfinished initiatives, and the taxpayers had been forced to cover the extra prices developing from the specialist's default.

The standing of your surety firm is crucial, since it ensures you that when you have problems or if worse includes worst you'll have a reliable partner to rely on and get aid from. We work only with A-rated and T-listed business, most likely the most trustworthy corporations in the market.

Usually no, they are different. Nonetheless, quote bonds mechanically become performance bonds in case you are awarded the contract.

What Is A Building And Construction Surety Bond? The origins of our company was carefully related to the arrangement of efficiency bonds to the contracting market. Even if some jobs do not require cost and performance bonds, you will need to get bonded lastly due to the fact that the bulk of public efforts do need the bonds. The longer a small professional waits to get bonded, the more durable it will be because there will not be a observe report of fulfilling the compulsory requirements for bonding and carrying out bonded work.

It's your pre-authorized bond limits. Bond pressures welcome single and combination limits. The only limit is the biggest bond you may get for one specific job. The aggregate limit is the entire quantity of bonded work available you potentially can have without delay.

The Importance Of Quote Bonds near You Arms, generators, radio towers, tree elimination, computer systems, softward, fire alarms, decorative work, scaffolding, water towers, lighting, and resurfacing of existing roads/paved locations. Quote bonds furthermore function an additional warranty for job owners that a bidding specialist or subcontractor is qualified to execute the task they're bidding on. There are two causes for this.

https://swiftbonds.com/license-permit-bonds/contractor-bond-webb-city/

[bombardthehq]

Hallucinations as top-down effects on perception Powers et al, 2016, read 27-28.06.20

a review of the state of the literature of top-down effects on perception in neuroscience; and then applies it to hallucinations (we're reading for the first part, but we'll take the second too)

They say 'present-day cognitive scientists' argue cognition does *not* influence perception. They cite: Firestone C, Scholl BJ (2015): Cognition does not affect perception: Evaluating the evidence for 'top-down' effects [in sense do they use 'perception'? perhaps more like Roftopoulos restricted sense? also: this shouldn't be seen as argument against the penetrability of 'perceptual belief' in Lyons 2011]

but 'work in computational neuroscience' challenges this view, & they also think hallucinations pose a challenge to 'srict, encapsulated modularity' [Fodor]; they'll illustrate it with 'phenomenology(!) and neuro-computational work'

MODULES OF THE MIND

Fodor shout out! they give a summary of his modular parsers - "for example, theearly vision module takes in ambient lightand outputs color representations" - which are cognitively penetrable only in a very strict, delineated way.

Fodor's modules are annoying for scientists because they're pooly defined, so difficut to falsify. Some 'ultra-cognitive neuropsychologists' even claim that the brain 'hardware' is irrelevant to the 'software' they're interested in & resist empirical evidence!

a strict modular approach requires 'functional segregation', with different parts of the brain doing different things inaccessibly to one another, but evidence supports an 'integrationism' of the brain [we saw this with the knots "Vetter & Newen" were tying themselves into]

the authors prefer "predictive coding" [like O'Callaghan et al], which they use to model the integrated mind via "functional and effective connectivity data" [a whole new language of buzzwords to learn!]

PREDICTIVE PERCEPTION IMPLIES COGNITIVE PENETRATION

while perception that corresponds to truth would be adaptive, perception that allows misbelief could also be adaptive if the misbeliefs are adaptive

we might, per Hume & Heimholtz, 'perceive what would need to be there for our sensations to make sense'

so the brain uses both bottom-up information and top-down inferences, as Heimholtz argued [fascinating - who was that guy?]

it uses the top-down inferences to 'compute precision-weighted prediction errors' to arrie at 'an optimal estimation' - cite a bunch of 'predictive coding' & 'attention' papers

top-down has a long history in neuroscience, from the 80s

Friston K (2005): A theory of cortical responses -- the origin of 'predictive coding'

contra Fodor, some studies claim that 'early visual processing' ('perception' in Roftopoulos) is influenced by 'non-perceptual information' ... "semantic priming increasesspeed and accuracy of detection by minimizing prediction error" ... " Word contexts result inambiguous shapes being perceived as themissing letters that complete aword" ... a bunch of others

THE BURDEN OF PROOF: ESTABLISHING TOP-DOWN INFERENCES IN PERCEPTION

they go over Firestone & Scholl's criticisms of the 'new look' research

they say that they're plagued w/ problems that can be avoided by following these guidelines:

1. Disentangle perceptual from decisional processes 2. Dissociatereaction time effects from primary perceptual changes 3. Avoid demand characteristics 4. Ensure adequate low-level stimulus control 5. Guarante eequal attentional allocation across conditions.

these issues are inherent to tasks where perception guides a behaviour decision (so research would have to be done without that)

but a 'Bayesian formulation' doesn't permit this distinction; 'Signal Detection Theory' appears to, but it also allows cognition to influence perception.

"Top-down processes can even alter the mechanical properties of sensory organs by alteringthe signal-to-noise ratio" [wow]

they will argue that top-down influence is clearest 'when sensory input is completely absent'-- 'when experiences are hallucinated'

HALLUCINATIONS AS EXAMPLES OF TOP-DOWN PENETRATION

Hallucinations can be consistent w/ affective states; guilt & disease when depressed, etc.

hallucinations are fairly common in even 'non-clinical' cases; they occur in 28% of the population -- hallucinations may be 'an extreme of normal functioning', not a 'failure of modularity'

they give some support for hallucinations being top-down: "prior knowledge of a visual scene conferredanadvantage in recognizing a degraded version of that image" & patients at risk for psychosis were 'particularly susceptible to this advantage'; similarly, patients who were taught to associate a difficult-to-detect noise w/ a visual stimuli began hearing it when shown the visual w/out the noise -- esp. patients 'who hallucinate'

experiences of uncertainty increase the influence of top-down

they feel that studying penetrability via hallucinatory experiences gets around the problems Firestone & Scholl identify; neuroimaging might do it too

now they'll try to integrate this understanding of halluciations as top-down w/ 'notions of neural modularity and connectivity'

BRAIN LESIONS, MODULARITY, CONNECTIVIT AND HALLUCINATIONS

They propose that "inter-regional effects" mediate top-down influence on perception

these are often discussed in terms of 'attention'; 'predictive coding' theory conceives of attention as 'the precision of priors' and 'prediction errors'

a bit of statistics jargon for modelling we don't care about, although they make the interesting equivalence between 'change over time' (uncertainty) and 'predictive relationship between states' (reliability) [difference & repetition baby!] -- the gist is that all this stuff is a promising, plausible explanation of some difficult areas of the data but ['precision weighting'] is still waiting on more empirical trials

so someone walking home after watching a scary movie might have 'precise' enough 'priors', ie. a strongly-weighted 'background theory' (in Fodor's terms), to actually see the shadows on the street as being darker than they are... & if they were precise enough, strong enough, they'd really hallucinate

their support: a single case where a lesion caused hallucinations; 'functional connectivity' between the lesion location ad othre regions; 'effective (directioal) connectivity' in patients w/ Audo-Visual Hallucinations

they'll use these to argue that 'top-down priors' influence perception, contra strict encapsulation

1. lesion-induced hallucinosis

with 'graph-theory' fMRIs of the brain are parsed into 'hubs (sub-networks)', with a subset of regions connecting those sub-networks ('connectors'). see:

lesions are more likely in 'rich-club hubs', regions that mediate long-range connectivity between connected information processing hubs

the limbic system is a rich-club hub & has been implicated in 'the global specification of' precision weighting

it is not, however, part of *early perception*; they'll instead show "regions like orbitofrontal cortexpenetrate perceptual processing in primary sensory cortices giving rise to hallucinations"

~this part gets very heavy on the neuroscience & is beyond me - but the gist is that they're able to look at which hubs do what & how that gets disrupted by lesioins. It appears that there are definitely such things as modules like Fodor's parser, responsible for different faculties, & which parts of the brain these are found in is well settled - its just that these seem to be cognitively penetrable bc of how they behave with lesions. However, these are not 'proof' of it, just 'candidate' explanations for penetration

2. lesion effects on graph theory metrics

re: connectivity, lesions are more disruptive, & can be disruptive of the whole brain, when they occur in between-module connectios (rich club hubs); & they alter connectivity in opposing, un-lesioned hemispheres [this is a challenge for 'cognitive neuropsychology' - the sophist-like 'cognitivists' from before]

"We suggest that the rich-club hubs that alter global network function ... are also the hubs involved in specifying global precision and therefore updating of inference in predictive coding" -- & thats how early perception is cognitively penetrated (ie. 'higher' priors re: precision are mediated by the same stuff that mediate 'predictive coding' in early perception) [note this is a 'suggestion', but they do give a study in support]

there *may* be a connection w/ schizophrenia and lesions in these areas, but it hasnt really been shown yet; but some neuropsychiatrists do work off of this

"In our predictive coding approach informational integration (between modules) is mediated via precision weighting of priors and prediction errors, perhaps through rich club hubs" -- but "the exact relationshipbetween psychological 9modularity and modularity in functional connectivity remains an open empirical question."

ie. percetion is cognitively penetrated because 'predictive coding' (used in early perception) is mediated by a 'precision weighting' of 'priors and prediction errors' via rich club hubs

3. directional effects

'Dynamic causal modeling' (DCM) is a way of looking for 'directional' connectivity in fMRI data

one study examining 'inner speech processing' found very little connectivity "from Wernicke’s to Broca’s areas" in schizophrenic patients w/ auditory hallucinations (vs. schizophrenic patients without them) -- suggesting 'precision of processing in Broca's was higher than in Wernicke's'

they say that this data is consstent w/ informaton from 'higher' regions penetrating lower regions

[Wernicke's area is involved in comprehension of written & spoken language, while Broca's area is involved in the production of language; the idea here is that the patients who experienced auditory hallucinations woud also, when processing language, rely more on the higher level functions of Broca's area for precision weighting and much less so on the earlier perception of Wernicke's area]

'predictions' are top-down (ie. 'flow from less to more laminated cortices') while 'prediction errors' are bottom-up (the opposite) [what are 'prediction errors'? maybe like an 'error warning'?]

a lot of neuroscience stuff about the insula, priors, and lots of things I dont understand, which I dont need to note; the conclusion is tat they speculative that rich club hubs are "well placed to implement changes in gain control as a function of the precision of predictions and prediction errors." [ie. rich club hubs are the 'court' and 'court of appeals' of the brain, 'hearing' prediction & prediciton errors & itself 'sentencing' gain control changes]

another paragraph of studies showing similar things, this time with 'bi-stable perception', percepts that switch dominance 'on their own' (without a change in sensory input) -- this happes more in schizophrenics, but currently hasnt been looked at w/r/t hallucinations specifically

DISCUSSION & FUTURE DIRECTIONS

a summary of the above

their argument is that the data is inconsistent with 'an encapsulated modularity of mind'

w/r/t hallucinations, it looks like the top-down 'gain control mechanisms' ... 'sculpt' perceptions even in the absence of sensation

perception is cognitively penetrated insofar as it minimizes 'overall long-term' prediction error; so the knowing how the Muller-Lyre illusion works doesn't act on my perception because 'the illusion is Bayes optimal' - seeing in this way is more *overall long term* precise

there is some contradiction about schizophrenics & their tendency to perceive illusions - sometimes it works less, sometimes more. Thye say that this cannot be generalized & ought to be treated case by case; there is a *hierarchy* of perceptual systems and 'informaton processing can be impaired at different levels of the hierarchy'

so illusions might fail at a lower level in the hierarchy while hallucinations are generated at a higher level

they discuss work they did w/ ketamine; it doesnt normally cause hallucinations, but they found that it did in the MRI scan which is 'perceptually denuded (dark, still, rythmically noisy)'

ketamine enhances 'bottom up noise'; they argued then that sensory deprivation induces hallucination via top-down priors. "This is similar to the paradoxical effect of hearing loss and vision loss on hallucinations."

higher level precision increases to compensate for lower level prediction errors

so the increased bottom-up feed of ketamine creates prediciton errors when sensory deprived & this produces halluciations -- the priors top-down predictively organizing the error-filled bottom-up feed

so in general, hallucinations are produced by 'the dynamic interaction between priors and prediction errors'

they hint at some arguments that are strongly consonant with our own experiences of schizophrenia. Fist, that it is possible to 'conjure up' hallucinations at will. Secondly, that there are two types of hallucination - those 'with insight' (accompanied by a sense of unreality), and those 'without insight' (which feel as real as any other percept). We have always argued both of these things. [We have always argued that schizophrenia involves a kind of top-down *compulsion*, ie. I *have to* conjure this...]

[miicrobiology-blog]

introductory biology properties

I’m madly in love with our biological surroundings and everything in it, from the massive trees to the tiniest of microbes. The sheer diversity of living things boggles my mind but it makes me appreciate everything ten-fold. This post generally introduces the key biological concepts that define life.

Some learning objectives to keep in mind when reading this post: a) List and describe the eight properties of living things. b) Define homeostasis and discuss its importance to living organisms. c) Differentiate reproduction, growth & development, adaptation, and evolution. d) Interpret whether viruses could be classified as a living organism or not.

1. Order

The organization of living things tends to direct what that thing will do and how it lives. Down to the atomic level, the subatomic particles make up elements and compounds that dictate the organism’s structure, its reactive chemistry, and its intrinsic ability to obey the laws of physics. Organisms can be simple unicellular organisms more complex as a multicellular being. The different order of atoms, elements, compounds, cellular organelles, and cells set the scene for the prescribed structure and function of the organism.

2. Response to Stimuli

This is another property of living organisms that classifies them as “living.” They need some way to respond to their immediate environment to let them continue surviving, which can be carried out a plethora of ways. Humans have sense organs like the eyes, ears, nose, skin (embedded with many types of receptors), and the tongue to send sensory information from these organs to the brain for processing, then sending the appropriate signals to the body according to the brain’s interpretation. For example, a bad taste can alert you that the food you just ate is rotten or poisonous, or a hot pan shouldn’t be touched; these situations help promote your survivability in your environment. Probably more exemplary of stimuli response mechanisms are the taxis concepts: aerotaxis (oxygen), gravitaxis (gravity), hydrotaxis (water/moisture), magnetotaxis (magnetism), phototaxis (light), and so on.

3. Reproduction

As we might be well aware of, reproduction continues an organism’s lineage and passes on genetic information either sexually or asexually (and very rarely through parthenogenesis - read this neat article about these “virgin births” in lizard [Harmon, 2010]). These processes should trigger your memory about mitosis and meiosis, along with DNA replication and the principles of genetics, which I will gladly cover in another post!

4. Adaptation

Another concept intertwined with reproduction and evolution is adaptation. The simplest way to explain this is that each organism fits into its environment as it suits their ability to survive and reproduce. Arctic hares thrive in the cold climate of the tundra and are active all year round, while some extremophile archaea are adapted to the extremely high- or low-temperature environments. As a microbiologist, please read over this article “Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits in a Planetary Context” to gain an appreciation of living organisms being able to adapt to literally all types of environments, like temperatures, pressures, pH, and salinity (Merino et al., 2019). An important thing to keep in mind is that adaptation is ongoing as environments tend to change.

5. Growth & Development

Because cells undergo cell division, you might expect that multicellular organisms will grow as more cells are produced. This, of course, depends on the instructions contained within the genetic material of each cell, but generally organisms will grow and develop over time. You can see this in humans, obviously, as we develop from the fertilized egg, into a fetus, into a baby, toddler, child, adolescent, adult, and older adult. Plants continue through various stages, starting from a seed to grow into a young seedling and onwards to a mature, reproducing plant (of course there are many variations depends on the type of plant). The general idea here is that living organisms progress through various stages where they advance through cellular growth and development.

6. Homeostasis

From the Greek homoisos/homeo (like/similar) and stasis (stoppage), homeostasis is the carefully maintained normal range of functioning that is critical for the survival of living things, as seen in temperature, pH, chemical and ionic concentrations, etc. I like to think of this concept as a “steady state” where the internal mechanisms of a living thing are kept relatively constant. There is small degree of leeway, as seen in the normal range of body temperature between 97-99 degrees F (36-37.2 degrees C; though there is also the consideration of varying normal levels for each individual where one person’s normal temperature is 97 so their homeostatic range might be between 96 and 98 degrees). Anyway, this maintenance of a normal range is critical for survival as cells contain proteins (i.e., enzymes) that are able to function optimally at a specific temperature, pH, and ion concentrations. Any deviance from the normal range can throw off homeostatic balance and cause the body to go into crisis mode.

7. Energy Processing

All living things require energy to carry out cellular metabolic activities. Plants use the sun’s energy and convert it into chemical energy to integrate it into photosynthesis that ultimately makes useable sugars and other important metabolic intermediates. Humans need to harvest energy from secondary sources (food) because we unfortunately cannot use the sun’s energy for our inner metabolism, except for vitamin D synthesis but that’s a different story. The point here is that all organisms rely on some sort of energy source to power the cellular activities that govern pretty much cellular survival and organismal survival.

8. Evolution

Tying many of these concepts together results in evolution, the theory that all species are related at one point and have deviated through natural selection and adaptation. Random mutations in the genetic material might lead to positive changes that confer a benefit to the organism in its survivability over others, and if it successfully breeds and passes on this beneficial information to its offspring, this new characteristic can contribute to a change in the population of the organism (hence, natural selection). This is such an interesting topic and I will definitely make a few posts about this theory and the arguments for and against it to be completely objective.

Notice how a bunch of these concepts end up relating back to reproduction? This is an interesting and open-ended question to consider, but it mainly refers to the biologically-ingrained need to reproduce and pass on genetic material. Why??? It promotes diversity with the chance that the replication mechanisms make a mistake (mutations) and create new, interesting features of an organism (or, on the flip side, completely devastate the organism to the point of unviability), and still leads to more questions about why life exists and why we have such a desire to answer deep questions. Another question to ponder, as it relates to both this post and in our current world situation: do you think viruses should be classified as living organisms or non-living things? 

References:

Harmon, K. (2010). No sex needed: All-female lizard species cross their chromosomes to make babies. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/asexual-lizards/

Merino, N., Aronson, H. S., Bojanova, D. P., Feyhl-Buska, J., Wong, M. L., Zhang, S., & Giovannelli, D. (2019). Living at the extremes: Extremophiles and the limits of life in a planetary context. Front. Microbiol., 10(780). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00780  

[gayatrisc]

Top 8 Python Libraries for Data Science

Python language is popular and most commonly used by developers in creating mobile apps, games and other applications. A Python library is nothing but a collection of functions and methods which helps in solving complex data science-related functions. Python also helps in saving an amount of time while completing specific tasks.

Python has more than 130,000 libraries that are intended for different uses. Like python imaging library is used for image manipulation whereas Tensorflow is used for the development of Deep Learning models using python.

There are multiple python libraries available for data science and some of them are already popular, remaining are improving day-by-day to reach their acceptance level by developers

Read: HOW TO SHAPE YOUR CAREER WITH DATA SCIENCE COURSE IN BANGALORE?

Here we are discussing some Python libraries which are used for Data Science:

1. Numpy

NumPy is the most popular library among developers working on data science. It is used for performing scientific computations like a random number, linear algebra and Fourier transformation. It can also be used for binary operations and for creating images. If you are in the field of Machine Learning or Data Science, you must have good knowledge of NumPy to process your real-time data sets. It is a perfect tool for basic and advanced array operations.

2. Pandas

PANDAS is an open-source library developed over Numpy and it contains Data Frame as its main data structure. It is used in high-performance data structures and analysis tools. With Data Frame, we can manage and store data from tables by performing manipulation over rows and columns. Panda library makes it easier for a developer to work with relational data. Panda offers fast, expressive and flexible data structures.

Translating complex data operations using mere one or two commands is one of the most powerful features of pandas and it also features time-series functionality.

3. Matplotlib

This is a two-dimensional plotting library of Python a programming language that is very famous among data scientists. Matplotlib is capable of producing data visualizations such as plots, bar charts, scatterplots, and non-Cartesian coordinate graphs.

It is one of the important plotting libraries’ useful in data science projects. This is one of the important library because of which Python can compete with scientific tools like MatLab or Mathematica.

4. SciPy

SciPy library is based on the NumPy concept to solve complex mathematical problems. It comes with multiple modules for statistics, integration, linear algebra and optimization. This library also allows data scientist and engineers to deal with image processing, signal processing, Fourier transforms etc.

If you are going to start your career in the data science field, SciPy will be very helpful to guide you for the whole numerical computations thing.

5. Scikit Learn

Scikit-Learn is open-sourced and most rapidly developing Python libraries. It is used as a tool for data analysis and data mining. Mainly it is used by developers and data scientists for classification, regression and clustering, stock pricing, image recognition, model selection and pre-processing, drug response, customer segmentation and many more.

6. TensorFlow

It is a popular python framework used in deep learning and machine learning and it is developed by Google. It is an open-source math library for mathematical computations. Tensorflow allows python developers to install computations to multiple CPU or GPU in desktop, or server without rewriting the code. Some popular Google products like Google Voice Search and Google Photos are built using the Tensorflow library.

7. Keras

Keras is one of the most expressive and flexible python libraries for research. It is considered as one of the coolest machine learning Python libraries offer the easiest mechanism for expressing neural networks and having all portable models. Keras is written in python and it has the ability to run on top of Theano and TensorFlow.

Compared to other Python libraries, Keras is a bit slow, as it creates a computational graph using the backend structure and then performs operations.

8. Seaborn

It is a data visualization library for a python based on Matplotlib is also integrated with pandas data structures. Seaborn offers a high-level interface for drawing statistical graphs. In simple words, Seaborn is an extension of Matplotlib with advanced features.

Matplotlib is used for basic plotting such as bars, pies, lines, scatter plots and Seaborn is used for a variety of visualization patterns with few syntaxes and less complexity.

With the development of data science and machine learning, Python data science libraries are also advancing day by day. If you are interested in learning python libraries in-depth, get NearLearn’s Best Python Training in Bangalore with real-time projects and live case studies. Other than python, we provide training on Data Science, Machine learning, Blockchain and React JS course. Contact us to get to know about our upcoming training batches and fees.

Call:   +91-80-41700110

Mail: info@nearlearn.com

[twinefloor63-blog]

10 Important 2020 SEO Trends You Need to Know

It's time to take our yearly look at what's ahead for SEO specialists in 2020. What SEO techniques and techniques will function as well as help you control in the SERPs and also gain more revenue in 2020? This is the inquiry we ask annually below at Search Engine Journal. This year, I asked 58 these days's leading SEO specialists for their ideas. Below are the leading 10 trends you need to understand in 2020, according to the experts. Pattern # 1: BERT & User-Focused Optimization In 2019, the launch of Google's new BERT formula got a lot of focus. Normally, every SEO expert intends to learn exactly how to maximize for BERT. Well, instead of focusing on just how to maximize for that specific formula, take a web page from Kelly Stanze, Search Strategist, Hallmark, that will certainly be concentrating on user-focused optimization and also the technical distribution of web content. In other words, that indicates reassessing user access points to look as well as aligning web content with that said. " Look at the auto mechanics of just how something is crawled, indexed, as well as served in a variety of different search settings," Stanze claimed. "With customers having more alternatives than ever in just how they search for points, it'll be even more vital for SEOs to remember the fundamentals of tidy design and also web content delivery." With the consolidation of BERT this year into the ranking and featured bits formula, Google has taken a substantial jump onward right into making search truly regarding intent matching instead pure string matching, according to Eli Schwartz, Growth Consultant and Advisor. " Content will genuinely need to be contacted individual intent instead of simply strings that a customer may browse," Schwartz stated. "Keyword research devices might even end up being much less relevant with the primary dataset for content creation originating from recommended queries. In 2020, the truly wise SEOs will stand up from their workdesks to speak with clients so they can discover what their target market actually wants from them." Frédéric Dubut, Senior Program Manager, Bing, echoed that, noting that keyword research study, a minimum of as we understand it, is going to become obsolete. NLP and deep knowing research study slowing down anytime quickly, as well as you can anticipate search engines to change even better from keywords to intent in 2020," Dubut stated. "Both specialists and tooling service providers will need to shift their initiatives in the direction of 'intent research' and also fulfilling individual needs." As Jenn Mathews, Senior SEO Manager, Groupon, mentions, Google is continuously updating to maximize search engine result based upon customer intent instead of a focus on content/page to keyword matching. " SEOs need to understand the subtlety of what this means with their content in addition to have a firm understanding on Google's past updates causing this trend." We've all wanted to focus on intent for the last numerous years, and also much better understand what the trip of our clients looks like, claimed Duane Forrester, VP, Industry Insights, Yext. Now it's ended up being such a fundamental part of the landscape, it's integral to the survival as well as growth for most online services. " If you focus on the client's intent, you'll plainly recognize where you fit on that particular course," Forrester said. "By offering the very best answers for questions on that particular course, you can much more accurately record and also transform customers." What does this mean for you? Focus on exactly how our users talk about their problems, problems, and requires at each element of the purchaser's trip much more, according to Keith Goode, Sr. SEO Strategist, IBM. " Additionally, we're mosting likely to need to expand our efforts far beyond the acquisition because trip to include content that addresses needs after the sale-- assistance, chances to support, community-building and remaining pertinent for future purchases," Goode added. Always focus on your clients, claimed Sam Hollingsworth, Director of Search, Elevation Ten Thousand " Too numerous brands forget or fail to realize what it requires to draw in and thrill prospective clients. They want actual worth," Hollingsworth claimed. "Just like in a brick-and-mortar establishment, clients want to know that you're on their side, that they can trust you, and that you are a reputable companion in what is mosting likely to be a long-term-- ideally long-lasting-- partnership." Carolyn Lyden, Lead SEO/Owner, Search Hermit, wishes 2020 brings an adjustment where we get back to the qualitative, human side of search. " So lots of marketing professionals market their services as well as products having never talked individually to their target market," Lyden claimed. Without talking to our customers and also understanding why they are acting the means they are, we are restricting our capability to create a wise and holistic technique, according to Sarah Gurbach, Senior Account Manager, Search and Audience Insights, Seer Interactive. " So, in 2020, I recommend you go as well as sit down with your customers," Gurbach stated. "Talk to them, inquire to inform you concerning their trip to buy, just how they made use of search, what they considered your site. Use that data in every choice you make." User-focused optimization can just really be done by integrating SEO right into an alternative advertising approach. Ryan Jones, SEO Group Director, Publicis Sapient, said this will be the most significant pattern in 2020. " Now, more than ever, business are mosting likely to have to stop treating SEO as a condiment that they simply add on to their electronic technique, as well as instead treat it as a crucial ingredient of their company plan," Jones claimed. "SEOs are mosting likely to need to grow their skillsets to understand the complete advertising and marketing and also digital pile. It's going to be much less concerning dealing with SEO problems as well as even more regarding taking care of advertising and marketing and service issues." Fad # 2: High-Quality, Optimized Content Anna Crowe, Assistant Editor, Search Engine Journal, stated there is something that has actually been and also will continue to be the lifeline of SEO: Material. " Content affects everything in SEO," Crowe said. "From your site framework and also inner connecting approach to the kinds of links you build." To succeed in 2020, you will have to create something that is valuable and also relevant, stated Tony Wright, CEO, WrightIMC. " This implies that SEOs require to discover just how to compose or work with individuals that know just how to create," Wright claimed. "Google's editorial discretion isn't perfect yet-- there will certainly still be content that rankings that shouldn't. But the day is coming when the very best material will certainly win." Make it your goal to have the most effective content online for your subject, or at the very least an important part of your topic, stated Eric Enge, General Manager, Perficient Digital. By doing so, you will certainly be future-Google-proofing your business. " This enables you to contend efficiently for long-tail searches (which still stays concerning 70% of all search questions), will certainly help develop your website authority as well as need for your content, and also can be done in a straight ROI positive means," Enge claimed. "In enhancement, this kind of strategy to web content is specifically what Google is seeking to satisfy customer demands and represents the type of market investment that Google will likely never ever make, since Google has to do with doing things with greatly scalable algorithms." Jesse McDonald, Global SEO Strategist, IBM, as well as Jessica Levenson, SEO & Content Strategy Consultant, both said 2020 is the moment to relocate far from the fixation with key phrases. Stop targeting specific key phrases, going after pageviews, and also "spraying as well as praying" with material. McDonald said to concentrate more on topics. " The objective of changing the way of thinking to more of a topic-focus is to develop web content that addresses a whole discussion holistically as opposed to just stressing over the solitary search phrase a page need to be targeting," McDonald claimed. Levenson claimed to adopt a calculated and also carefully organized collection of content that supplies comprehensive as well as user-friendly topical experiences while conference service goals. " Know what answers the individual needs next," Levenson stated. "Boiled down: Understand who your target market is and also how they look. Comprehend the intent behind the inquiries they are asking or problems they need to fix. Give them options or answers in the layouts they favor via on-point, high quality, and authoritative material. Carry out in this fashion for every single stage of their journey to develop a sufficient topical experience that serves their requirements repeatedly. Iterate because even if you do it well when doesn't suggest intent won't alter or another person will not do something much better." One more point to watch out for, according to Aja Frost, Head of Content SEO, HubSpot: content cannibalization. " I 'd recommend auditing all of your content for combining and overlapping positions, redirecting, and also archiving as needed so every web page places for an one-of-a-kind set of search phrases," Frost stated. "If your internet site covers the exact same subjects repeatedly, even if you're covering these topics from different angles, your pages are mosting likely to knock each other out of the outcomes." In 2020, it's time to take a hard consider the top quality of your web content-- as well as maximizing that web content for users rather than online search engine, said Michelle Robbins, VP Product & Innovation, Aimclear. " In a way, the crucial to remaining successful in search advertising 2020 coincides as it ever before was-- produced excellent web content, with constant brand messaging, in all your networks," Robbins claimed. "As the online search engine come to be ever before extra adapted to natural language understanding, the best-written web content-- in all kinds-- will win the day." And in the world of global SEO, the time is now to buy excellent localization of content, claimed Motoko Hunt, President, AJPR. " Many worldwide sites have actually badly equated content that hasn't been edited for the neighborhood tongue," Hunt said. "It's not the positioning of the key words, it's regarding exactly how well your content is composed for the neighborhood target market. Pattern # 3: E-A-T & Your Unfair Advantage In 2020, Google will certainly continue to check out the overall online reputation as well as E-A-T (Authoritativeness, knowledge, and reliability) of an offered business and also the individuals who publish web content on behalf of that business, claimed Lily Ray, SEO Director, Path Interactive. " Companies that deal with a poor track record, client service concerns or other trust problems will certainly have a tougher time completing," Ray said. "These trust fund concerns not just manifest themselves as reviews as well as comments about your brand, however they likewise take the form of technological or security problems on your site." Ray expects that it will become increasingly tough to obtain organic visibility for YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) inquiries without the correct competence and also credentials to create on those subjects. Credibility will certainly be extremely crucial for authors in 2020, stated Grace Kindred, Junior Technical SEO Analyst, News UK. " There will be a strong concentrate on high quality material as well as fighting versus phony information," Kindred claimed. "It will certainly be more vital than ever to concentrate on the depend on worth of writers (confirming authors as well as revealing their authority for certain subjects) and also sites as a whole." According to Loren Baker, Founder, Search Engine Journal, opening up nofollow as a hint was an effort by Google to much better recognize the resources of news stories, the resources, as well as references in huge documents and scholastic research study. " Match that with the credentials of the author (which can be defined by structured information markup) and also any kind of fact-checking oriented schema, and we have a less complicated way for Google to evaluate authority and also reliability of a piece of content, whether an information or posting story," Baker claimed. In other words: The offline is coming on-line, said Jason Barnard, Owner, Kalicube.pro. Every business needs to find its unfair benefit. " With entity-based search, the Knowledge Graph and also the rise of E-A-T, our capacity to produce a accurate and also persuading on the internet depiction of our offline globe will come to be a major distinguishing aspect," Barnard claimed. "All those offline occasions, seminars, awards, collaborations, and so on that Google can not see unexpectedly take on huge importance. Pull them online and push them to Google to feed its demand for understanding and integrity." Alexis Sanders, SEO Senior Manager, Merkle, shared a couple of methods to have a digitally-based competitive advantage: Supply chain quality (e.g., providing within 2-days (or less) with pertinent status updates). Customer support (e.g., capability to respond to the individual's question with marginal friction). Digital charm/ branding (e.g., Having individuals seek you out, due to the fact that they want to collaborate with you? Do a lot of your evaluations look even more like love letters?). Customer experience (e.g., is your experience easier/ helpful/ simple?). Price. Particular niche items. Fad # 4: UX & Technical SEO The biggest trend that clever SEO professionals need to concentrate on in 2020 for greater success is UX-- user experience, according to Brock Murray, Co-founder, seoplus+. " This includes the total experience from the preliminary communication in the SERPs, to the general landing page experience, and even the experience after they leave your site (believe remarketing, drip projects, personalization for returning individuals)," Murray stated. "Think around how you can assist your customers have the most effective possible experience while really contemplating what worth you can give to them during their go to. " Technical SEO is a vital piece of the UX discussion, according to Goode. " While I believe Google will do a lot to compensate for our website's very own poor technical structures (e.g., approved adjustments, hreflang corrections, etc.), it's going to come to be increasingly more crucial for SEOs to concentrate on fortifying their technical structures," Goode claimed. "I do not assume it's unintentional that Martin Splitt spends as much time as he does advertising great technological finest practices from Google's point of view. We ought to consider that a signal per se." You have to chat concerning website speed as well as page speed when we speak regarding technical SEO and also UX. Dan Taylor, SEO Account Director, SALT.agency, kept in mind that Google has actually renewed conversations and concentrate around site speed, with the brand-new Chrome "sluggish warning badges", and also the rate reports in Google Search Console. " This for numerous will reignite conversations with designers and in many cases lead to systems calling for practically total redesigns of web page design templates and reengineering of just how possessions are packed," Taylor claimed. Going even more in the technical world, Aleyda Solis, International SEO Consultant & Founder, Orainti, anticipates to see an additional change to an extra technological SEO ecological community, fueled by more JavaScript frameworks use, PWAs, as well as a need for SEO automation for larger sites. " This already started since a few years ago yet has ended up being much more apparent this year," Solis stated. "In 2020, it will only grow with the popularization of JS structures, application first organisations that will certainly additionally much more highly move to the internet as a result of the benefits of PWAs, and also the demand for SEO job automation for bigger sites where machine learning with Python can give an option." Pattern # 5: Mobile SEO Amazed to see mobile SEO as an important 2020 fad? Do not be. As Wright placed it: " Almost every prospect coming into our shop has a mobile website that is a mess," Wright claimed. "To survive in 2020, you need to apply 2017 strategies and repair your mobile." What's that suggest? " Build websites for mobile-first, then make them suitable for desktop," Kindred stated. "That method those sites don't have to be enhanced for speed after launch. Kris Jones, Founder/ CEO, LSEO.com, stated if you don't have a mobile-friendly and also mobile-optimized website, you require to act quickly. You can not wait any type of longer. " All of your online reporting should reflect understandings into your mobile performance as a priority," Jones stated. "Instead of picturing a person sitting at a computer you have to recognize that the majority of the time individuals will locate your site through a mobile phone." Mobile SEO doesn't quit there. Research the mobile SERPs. " SEOs require to be checking out real, mobile search results page, to recognize what they are up against, what sort of website traffic they can anticipate, and what type of optimization will really achieve success at affecting the bottom line," claimed Cindy Krum, CEO, MobileMoxie " Content will really have actually to be created to customer intent instead than just strings that a user could search," Schwartz said. NLP and deep discovering study slowing down anytime soon, as well as you can expect search engines to move even additionally from key words to intent in 2020," Dubut said." Now, more than ever, firms are going to have to quit dealing with SEO as a spice that they simply add on to their electronic approach, and instead treat it as a vital active ingredient of their service plan," Jones stated." This implies that SEOs need to learn just how to compose or hire people that know exactly how to create," Wright stated." While I think Google will certainly do a lot to make up for our website's own bad technological foundations (e.g., canonical corrections, hreflang corrections, and so on), it's going to become increasingly much more important for SEOs to focus on shoring up their technological foundations," Goode stated.

[yogaadvise]

Everyday Magic: 3 Daily Rituals to Connect You to the Present

Psychologist Dr. Jean Houston has said that we are the targets of an 'age of disrupted process.' Definition, you generally recognize a little bit regarding exactly how things start and also how they end, however you are rarely present throughout the center - or the process. The point she makes is that individuals have a tendency to either be ruminating about the past or bothering with the future, not understanding that the really key to living a life of definition and also objective exists in the now.

The propensity towards mindlessly cycling with your day on autopilot is the formula for experiencing a life empty of pleasure and satisfaction. You might recognize that and also yet, you do it anyhow. There are, nevertheless, many who are waking up and asking themselves the more crucial inquiries: Who am I? What do I desire? What am I below to do? What makes me rejoice, linked, and loaded with purpose?

An interesting phenomenon is happening where having a "spiritual method" has ended up being stylish, to the point that numerous boast living a spiritual lifestyle that includes half an hour of reflection daily and living the other 15.5 hours of their days opposing everything their technique is implied to grow. To some extent, all of us do it. The understanding is there and you're yearning still for even more purposeful connections, deeper links, and spiritual experiences, to the level that you wind up going after a concept instead of bringing that idea down into a tangible day-to-day practice.

It begins with the understanding that whatever you do can be a spiritual act. There are the apparent practices that you have actually been taught are spiritual-- things like meditation, petition, yoga, shouting, energy job, and so on. Yet, this is where you may have a tendency to limit yourself in assuming that only the stereotypical spiritual "doings" lead you to locating your dharma-- or objective-- when as a matter of fact everything is a spiritual act.

Sādhanā is a Sanskrit word that literally converts to "a method of completing something." Much more specifically, Sādhanā is the self-control taken on in quest of a goal. Basically, the very act of laying out to cultivate a spiritual method suggests that there is an integral need within you to experience something much deeper than your day-to-day truth. In that, you are looking for something in your spiritual practice that will certainly give you with a sense of objective, definition, and connection.

Let's explore some things that may not make the typical listing of spiritual 'to-do's' and also analyze extra closely how bringing your awareness to the little points you do every day-- those things that are so much a part of your daily routine that you rarely discover them-- are examples of exactly how you are currently living from a spiritual place. As you check out the points below, bear in mind that the concept is to be present in whatever you do as well as to identify the objective or the function for what, why, and how you do things.

Morning Ritual: Intention

Morning routines are everything about getting up, establishing purposes, and also preparing yourself to welcome the brand-new day. Believe regarding the energy of creation: what are you mosting likely to create today, and also exactly how will certainly you prepare yourself in such a way that will make your intentions enter show form?

As you awaken and get in touch with your companion, your youngsters, your pet dog, or on your own, observe any type of physical experiences, mental pictures, ideas, or feelings. Invest a couple of moments in appreciation for the link you have. For each thing you provide for them in the early morning, exist to the act, why you are doing it, and also the result it carries their early morning routine.

While you make your morning coffee or tea, exist with each action of the process. Picture putting the energy of love, gratefulness, ideas, inspiration, tranquility, or love into your actions. Notification exactly how it really feels as you hold the cup and also sip from it. Where do your thoughts go?

When you are prepping your dishes (morning and night), assume about everything you are mosting likely to take in as well as provide thanks to the plant or animal for providing its vital force energy so you can properly fuel your body. Picture with every bite you take that you are healthier, a lot more energized, and also have more mental clarity and stamina.

Begin to believe about your intents for exactly how you would love to appear in your day. What would certainly you such as to create today? What would you such as to have happen or to experience? Exactly how can you contribute in the work environment, your community, or around the world? What motivates you? What makes you come alive?

Daytime Ritual-- Keeping a Connection to Spirit/God/Universe

Daytime routines are all about exactly how you tackle your day and how you are getting in touch with on your own, others, and also Source, Spirit, or the World (whichever ideal you subscribe to). Assume of this as the energy of improvement. It's how you are turning up worldwide, just how you are following up with your desired methods, and also what you are learning as you move via your day.

Exercise is the basing mechanism for your physique. It keeps you solid, adaptable, balanced, and energized in every way. Begin to take a look at your exercise program as things that gives you with the foundation where you can produce the life you desire. Having a tendency to the your physical foundation is what enables you to go out right into the globe and live with purpose.

Be mindful of conversations with various other people. Make a factor to exercise paying attention attentively and really hearing what the various other person is saying. Are your reactions contributing in a positive way towards unraveling possibility for every person involved?

How do you turn up on the planet? In enhancement to what you do every day, have a better awareness of how you do points. Do you apply yourself with concentrated attention, a clear intent, as well as one-pointed emphasis? Or, are you hurrying with the day, oblivious to the elegance of nature around you, reacting to conversations while scrolling social media as well as generally unaware?

Evening Ritual—Winding Down

Evening routines are more concerning taking your foot off the gas and also slowing down the power down to prepare for a great night of remainder and rejuvenation. Consider the power of completion. It's also regarding reflection: what were your intentions for your day, just how did you navigate your communications and also experiences, what success can you commemorate, and how or where can you improve tomorrow?

How do you reconnect with self, your flatmate, your partner, and also your family members at the end of the active day? After you get on comfy garments, take some time to talk with others concerning the positive highlights from their day-- and also share yours with them.

Spend a few minutes evaluating your day calmly in your mind. This is called recapitulation. Utilize this to evaluate your day from beginning to end up. This will certainly aid you develop a greater level of awareness of just how you are selecting to live daily of your life.

Create a "unwinding" routine that consists of journaling, light reading or showering, and also obtaining restful rest. A warm shower or bathroom will certainly help relax you after a lengthy day, after that perhaps take some time to journal about how your day went. To get a relaxing night of sleep, lights out by 10 pm as well as avoid watching television in bed (or going to sleep with it on).

Again, much of these factors are points you might currently do each day, yet may not reduce long sufficient to understand that every little thing you do can be considered as component of your Sādhanā-- your means of accomplishing something purposeful in your life. Another thing to consider is your environment as well as whether you need to make any type of modifications to your way of living in order to clean things up or create the room to pursue various other purposeful practices.

As writer as well as astrologist Dane Rudhyar claimed, "One might indeed state that it is not the occasion which happens to the person, yet the person which happens to the occasion." To put it simply, it's up to you to make every little thing you do purposeful, as well as this is how you live a life of everyday magic.

Slow down, listen, and also reawaken to the magic that lives within you at Seduction of Spirit, our signature meditation and yoga retreat with Deepak Chopra. Learn More.

[sepiadice]

NavyDice Campaign (2019/9/27): Let Doors not Impede us

Finally settled on a functional system for guests. Going to just use Japanese numbers. Has no theoretical upper limit (not that it reasonably should get higher than five), and it eliminates the need to hem and haw over which one to use when it’s by appearance order. They’re also easy to recycle between campaigns,[1] and Japanese prevents confusion when numbers need to be referenced.

We did not finish the campaign this session, which is alright, four’s kind of a lame number to end on. Too many to call it a trilogy, too few to slot into base ten or twelve (where television and baked goods thrive). Maybe if there was a seasonal motif?

I mean, there’s an elemental one, but eh.

Life outside of this game is proceeding normally. Which, I believe, is the last item for my introduction before talking about the game.

Acer ‘Maple’ Palmatum (SepiaDice/Me) Level 6 Elf Fighter. Is better friends with NPCs than with own party members. Garland (LimeDice) A spellcaster of some type. Forms a dynamic duo with... Grumble (Ichi) Bard. Gets a lot done because no one’s actively undermining him. Poppi (Ni) Also a spellcaster. Irritating. Game Master (NavyDice)

Cycle 9

Floating in the darkness, information is shared, and Poppi is instructed to, like in an adventure game, rub the key on safety deposit boxes until progress happens.

There’s a knock on the door, and Maple bolts to the marketplace.

The key opens box A113, which contains the fire orb. Which is disappointing, because, if I recall Navy’s telling of the last time he ran this, another safety deposit box has an additional orb.[2] But now the most dangerous party member has supercharged fire powers.

I’ll try to mitigate this fact.

Maple, however, has some fun to engage with. At the marketplace, she successfully outpaces Masem by a large enough margin to discreetly communicate with the Brigands.

Using a birdsong the party learned, she convinces the brigands that she’s on their side, and convinces them to fake dead.

Navy rolls dice to see how badly that goes.

I don’t know the exact rolls as he hid them behind his hands.[3] However, they must’ve been amazing, because suddenly we learn the Brigands are amazingly trained actors with fake blood and ribbons on hand to fake dramatic death scenes.

You know, like all community theater types.

It’s an amazing spectacle of improvised stage combat, and by the time Masem arrives, it looks like Maple has single-handedly defeated the enemy.

Next obstacle: how to keep Masem from discovering the ruse when he attempts to begin clean-up.

Solution: Maple sends him to the bank that’s about to be robbed, claiming to have knowledge of it due to back alley contacts.

I have successfully created a loop where no one’s harmed in the marketplace, and I have control over what happens with the bomb vest.

Neutralizing the bank heist is next on the to-do list. Hopefully someone else in the party will cooperate in that, since Maple won’t have time to stop those brigands otherwise.[4]

For now, Maple has a divine being to spring.

She goes ahead and just bombs the wall open. I’d like to find a less violent way to do it,[5] but I don’t have the resources to overcome Jenkins.

Maple asks Eli what he wants to do.

Eli’s been freed without the Dawn’s presence, which means there’s no one immediately rushing him through the escape tunnel. The person who freed him is giving Eli carte blanche to do what he wants.

You know what makes me feel good? Watching a GM realize they weren’t prepared for what I’m doing without actually undermining anything.

Eli decides it’d be a good opportunity to get the lightning orb from Masem. Thus I’ve gotten a lead on a second orb. Go me!

Maple and Eli head over to the bank, where Masem has finished stopping the brigands violently. Again, problem to solve another time. Maybe Grumble or Garland can help.

Maple attempts to talk to Masem, but he’d rather attack Eli instead. Maple grapples Masem to the ground.

Poppi, watching invisibly nearby, casts a fire spell at us, murdering Masem, Maple, and Eli. Eli’s form collapses in a clay-like manner.

This checks out, because he’s claimed to be a deity incarnated to our realm, so obviously he did a Wonder Woman and formed a body from the earth.

Anyways, Poppi has killed Maple for a laugh again.

Grumble and Garland have gone to the government building, this time swapping targets. Navy states he intends not to get flustered with Garland versus the Lord, but the interaction doesn’t escalate as spectacularly as Garland versus the Advisor.

The conversations lead to the two learning the frost orb is located somewhere in the Lord’s estate. They go there, pick up Poppi, try to bluff their way in, Poppi and Grumble give up and leave, while Garland fakes an arrest warrant for the nanny to gain entrance. He ultimately fails to find the orb, but does find the kids’ room.

Grumble enjoys a pie at a bakery. This time, an Icy chill fills the air before the darkness wave crashes over the city.

Cycle 10

Information is shared, and it’s decided to try and get the Lightning orb from Masem, as well as who calls dibs on which orb. Maple agrees to grab Masem as long as the others don’t murder him.

There’s a knock on the door.

Maple rolls to grab Masem. Navy, thinking himself funny, asks if I open the door. So I mime arms bursting through the door and pulling a man through, with appropriate mouth sounds.

Which was the gut burster of the night, so at least I accomplished something.

Poppi discovers the fire orb is still integrated into her arcane focus, and is encouraged to go find out what that means for the safety deposit box. (It was empty)[6]

Leaving Masem in the capable hands of Grumble and Garland, Maple goes to recreate the marketplace gamestate from the last loop. Though this time I don’t have to distract Masem with the bank, as he’s already busy.

Actually, I probably could’ve skipped the fake deaths. Just did the bird call, take the vest, and tell the brigands to go get meat pies or something…

Anyways, Maple jumps forward to freeing Eli from both prison and obligations! Let’s try not to get team killed this time! Maple and Eli start walking to the Bed and Breakfast.

So, how did the Masem thing go? Well, to their credit, Grumble and Garland did try talking to Masem first, convince him of our goals and to hand over the Lightning Orb. Dice rolls determined Masem believed our party to be crazy kidnappers and not to give us supercharged lightning magic.[7] It turns into a fight, and Masem downs both Garland and Grumble. He then starts dragging them back to the watch house for medical aid and interrogation. Because he’s a law man!

On the way back, he encounters Maple and Poppi at a crossroad.

Now, here’s a very important thing I want you readers to internalize: if one of your fellow players wants to try something that won’t prevent you from doing your idea, then let them try their thing first.

Maple wanted to try talking first, and expressed this intent to Poppi.

Poppi’s player decided to be petty and immediately attack. She uses her escalated fire powers to murder Masem, which means now Maple can’t try and get information from the Marshall at all.

This also soundly ends any effort from Maple to rely on Poppi for anything, as she’s regularly gone out of her way to undermine Maple specifically and then attempt rub some less than necessary deaths (both of Maple and others) in her face for… spite, I guess?

Well, that’s the second orb acquired, given to Grumble. Time for the third.

Maple and Eli go to the government building to attempt to meet the Lord and the Advisor. Margaret is upset to see Eli, and both men are out.[8]

Maple sends Eli to go do whatever he wants, and she heads to the Lord’s Estate. Maple attempts to talk her way in, manages to confirm the Lord is home but doesn’t want to see her, Maple then states she’s a hero (because she single-handedly stopped the brigand attack, you see) wanting to meet with the Lord, only to be told he’s left.

Okay, time for stealth. I really should’ve just gone with a Rogue like I usually do, but Maple reveals herself to be amazingly capable. She had tracked the guard movements while trying to talk her way through the front door, and thus knows the timing to walk straight into a service entrance.

Inside, Maple moves confidently[9] to the Lord’s chambers. Door’s locked. The Kids’ Room, however, is not locked. It’s also adjacent to the Master Bedroom.

She checks the shared wall. After all, why walk out into the hall just to get to the next room? A discreet door makes loads more sense.

Maple, being an Elf, finds such a door.[10]

There’s a window open in the Master Bedroom. Maple closes it, thinking someone else snuck in, and now she’s made one exit inconvenient.

I then remember the Lord[12] had left, and through the window is a likely method.

Another investigation check, and Maple finds a secret chamber. There’s an empty pedestal that once held the Ice Orb, blocked by a white wall. Careful prod with a sword deletes part of Maple’s sword. Ah.

Maple takes time to memorize details about the room. Grumble and Garland haven’t shared the Lord’s shibboleth, so I need something else to convince him of things.

Well, time’s almost up, and Maple doesn’t have a lead on the Earth Orb, and fighting a Bane-possessed Lord for the Ice Orb doesn’t sound fun, so she goes out to the city streets to find the bakery, with hopes of eating apple pie.

My dice finally fail an investigation roll.[13]

Maple never gets her Apple Pie as an Icy Chill fills the air and a dark wave crashes over the city.

Thus the end of session four.

We’re going to rock the next one, and finally free Phil and all the Groundhogs!

Hopefully we get up to 12 loops. It’s my favorite number.

Then, the future!

Until next time, may your dice make things interesting.

-

[1] Though I might need to come up with a mechanism for concurrent games, to keep alternating posts unconfusing… [2] You now have time to move it if I have remembered correctly, buddy. [3] Someone probably should get him a GM Screen. [4] I do, however, have an amazing idea on a new way to divert Masem’s attention. And possibly get a massive posse. [5] Which will work into footnote four’s hinting. [6] During Loop ??, there was an empty glass orb in the box, and I was curious if that would be the case here. [7] Which is fair. [8] I’ve never seen the timeline of the two hours specifically charted, so this is an easy mistake to make. [9] No one questions a person who looks like they know where they’re going. [10] For some reason, in Advance D&D 2nd Edition, Elves had a racial ability to find secret doors. One in three odds, if I remember specifically.[11] [11] I learned this when I made an Elf Paladin of Leira during High School! Before the Hammer Problem befell. [12] I don’t know if we ever learned this guy’s name. Or if we’ve ever asked. Our party’s not very good with formalities. [13] To be fair, NavyDice went easy when I got about a 10 to find the secret orb closet. Got to just let the story advance sometimes.

[rockofeye]

if you were able to boil down Haitian vodou to one concept or thing, what would it be?

Hey there,

This is a super interesting question.

At it’s core, Haitian Vodou is about relationships, full stop. Specifically, relationships between the sèvitè/servant and the lwa, between members of the community, and between each individual and their spiritual parent. That’s it, everything else is window-dressing.

There’s a lot in there, though, and a lot of people look that over to seek what they feel might be flashy (magic, possession). In truth, if you want magic you can find the mechanics of that wherever you go. If you want possession, there are a lot of ways to get there in different places. What both roots those things and makes them fly is relationships; relationships are what develop into embodied knowledge.

This is why Haitian Vodou is not a solitary practice in that there is nothing you can learn out of a book to serve the spirits. It is our spiritual parent/teacher who shows us the ins and outs of approaching the lwa to begin to build a relationship, and it is the spirits who develop us to be able to serve them in the way they desire.

Lots of folks get frustrated with this because it is something that takes time to develop. No close friendship will blossom overnight, and we do not develop closeness with our spirits overnight. In time, we learn the many layers of who our spirits are through prayer, devotion, service, and instruction, and it is the same mechanism that we develop our relationship with our spiritual parent/teacher. It is getting to know each other and revealing ourselves in ways that build trust and interdependence, and that can be heavy work...especially if we are expecting it to be an ultimately transactional relationship (I gave you this thing, so I want you to do XYZ for me). Our spirits are not divine bubble gum machines, and neither are our parents/teachers. 

As we develop these relationships, we learn. Our parent/teacher may give us something to learn, and, when we learn it to their satisfaction, we may get the next piece. Our spirits will operate similarly--they will give us some piece of information, and then build from there. The majority of spiritual work a priest knows comes from those moments resulting from the building and maintenance of a relationship--the spirits give me bits and pieces of things, and I take them to my mother and talk through what this means, who it might be for, and how I can utilize it. She might teach me the basic way to construct an oil lamp, but the spirits are the ones who will tell me what goes in it for them. Relationships are fostered interdependently; one does not exist without the other and none of it takes place in a codified, step-by-step way. There is no manual that one gets for the work or the relationships.

When we add in the community, we add the system that supports the larger framework. It takes a literal village to mount ceremonies, and each person plays their part. There are folks who set the table for the spirits, folks who go to the market to buy all the food for the spirits, folks who drum and sing, priests who assist in making ritual items, priests from outside the family who assure that all ceremony is done correctly, folks who butcher the animals for the spirits, folks who make the clothing people where for parties, the person who keeps the kitchen running essentially 24/7...all of that is integral. 

The community is also the checks and balances and insurance. If I somehow make a crazy leap of logic and do things that are taboo or just generally asshole-ish, the community is the group of folks who assure that doesn’t go unnoticed. It is the community I can turn to when things go sideways because, by virtue of being the child of my mother, they will help because they are my siblings. It is the community who recognizes my initiation and endorses it, and who knows what that means in the larger frame.

Diving in further, the relationships grow and develop according to the culture of Vodou which is undeniably Haitian. Our relationships with spirits, our parent, and our family develop with those cultural norms at the front, which can be very different from what we experience in the rest of our lives. We don’t get manuals, we get opportunities to watch our parent do something or watch ceremony to see what happens. We don’t get classes, we get the opportunity to listen to our elders speak. We don’t get everything all in one gush, we earn knowledge and opportunity for knowledge. It’s a shift.

These relationships are the core of every function in the religion. My asson is granted to me by virtue of my relationship with my mother and with my spirits. My mother can advocate on my behalf with the spirits if I am in trouble, and she is who can unilaterally lay down the law with a spirit who comes down in my head, should there be a problem (if you have never seen a mild-mannered Haitian woman get all in front of a unruly spirit and tell them exactly what they are NOT gonna do, I highly recommend it). The community makes the ceremonies happen and ensures that our collective spirits are happy and well-loved.

The spirits take this seriously, and so do spiritual parents; it is life-and-death obligations that mean things and obligations that can change the course of someone’s life, should they undertake them how the spirits set forth.

I hope this makes sense--please feel free to follow up if you have more questions!