#temporal summation

[biology-geology-beaches-india]

The Science Research Manuscripts of S. Sunkavally, p410.

[myassignmentservicesca]

Let's Explore the differences between temporal and spatial summation. We will be discussing the mechanism, differences and comparisons of both summations to come to an understanding which is better. If you're medical science student, this blog will be really helpful for you. Visit My Assignment Services read more such blogs written by top Canadian Experts

[fordcrownvictoria]

Soleil | The Sonic Architecture of A Day in the Life

Few songs in the pop canon have achieved the mythic resonance of The Beatles’ A Day in the Life, the closing track of their seminal album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. A collaborative work by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and produced with avant-garde ambition by George Martin, the song is often heralded as a summation of the psychedelic era. Yet beneath its dreamlike textures lies a brilliantly composed, intricately structured work of sonic architecture—one that fuses classical influences, musique concrète, studio experimentation, and traditional song form into something utterly new.

This essay examines A Day in the Life at a technical level—its musical structure, orchestration, harmonic devices, and production innovations—and then speculates on the alchemy that makes its disparate parts coalesce into magic.

I. Binary Structure and Beyond: Architecture of Contrast

The structure of A Day in the Life is a formal outlier in the Beatles’ oeuvre. Rather than relying on the familiar verse-chorus paradigm, the song is bifurcated into two primary sections: Lennon’s melancholic verses, and McCartney’s brisk, day-in-the-life vignette. These two halves are stitched together by experimental orchestral glissandi and crowned by a monumental E major chord that resonates for nearly a minute.

Lennon's Section: "I read the news today, oh boy..."

Lennon’s verses are built around a repetitive harmonic loop: G – Bm – Em – Em7 – C – Cmaj7 – Am – C. While this chord progression appears simple, its hypnotic quality comes from the subtle dissonances and modal ambiguity. The inclusion of Em7 and Cmaj7 provides a suspended, drifting quality, evoking the detachment of the narrator.

Rhythmically, the section is in a 4/4 time signature, but the phrasing is deceptively elastic—Lennon’s vocal delivery floats above the beat, obscuring the bar lines and creating a sense of temporal fog.

McCartney's Section: "Woke up, fell out of bed..."

In contrast, McCartney’s interlude bursts forth in an up-tempo allegro, shifting abruptly into the key of E major. The meter remains 4/4, but the tempo accelerates. The instrumentation changes, too: from the ethereal, reverb-laden guitars and vocals of Lennon’s part to a dry, close-mic’d upright piano and brisk drums. The harmonic movement here is more straightforward (E – C#m – F#m – B), supporting the mundane narrative of morning routine. This juxtaposition is both tonal and emotional—Lennon’s existential detachment versus McCartney’s punch-clock realism. The jarring shifts between these sections are central to the song’s psychological effect.

II. Sonic Experimentation and the Studio as Instrument

Perhaps the most iconic experimental feature of A Day in the Life is the orchestral glissando—a chaotic crescendo that bridges Lennon and McCartney’s sections and leads into the final apocalyptic chord. This was achieved through groundbreaking studio techniques and unconventional compositional methods.

The Orchestral Climb

The first orchestral crescendo (between Lennon and McCartney’s parts) and the second (leading into the final chord) involve an atonal glissando played by a 40-piece orchestra. George Martin instructed the musicians to start from the lowest note on their instruments and gradually ascend to the highest, at their own pace, without synchronization.

The result is a swirling cluster of pitches that builds tension not through harmony but through density, dissonance, and chaos—a technique more common in avant-garde classical music than pop. This mirrors the anxiety and fragmentation of modern life and dreams. The crescendo climaxes at a near-unbearable volume before falling into silence, and then McCartney’s voice enters like consciousness snapping back into place.

The Final Chord

The song’s final E major chord is struck simultaneously on three pianos and a harmonium, then allowed to decay naturally. The engineers slowly raised the gain as the chord rang out, capturing over forty seconds of its lingering decay. It’s both an ending and an echo—a resonating void after the sensory overload.

III. Studio Layering and Textural Detail

The technical achievements of A Day in the Life go far beyond its formal structure. Lennon’s vocals are soaked in reverb and doubled subtly for ghostly resonance. The rhythm track uses brushed drums and minimalistic guitar strums to create a foggy backdrop. Tape loops, reverse effects, and careful EQing are used to give depth to even the most sparse passages.

McCartney’s section, in contrast, is dry and direct—symbolizing grounded consciousness. The contrast in spatial depth between the two sections is an engineering masterstroke, enhancing the song’s conceptual binary: dream and reality, mortality and routine.

There’s also a famous bit of musique concrète hidden after the final chord: a high-pitched tone (15 kHz), added by John Lennon “for the dogs.” This inaudible Easter egg is emblematic of the Beatles’ playfulness even at their most ambitious.

IV. Lyrical Discontinuity as Conceptual Unity

Though the lyrics appear disjointed—Lennon’s surreal newspaper accounts and philosophical musings alongside McCartney’s quotidian recollection of a morning commute—they are bound together by a common theme: alienation.

The song’s genius lies in how it links personal dislocation with social absurdity. Lennon’s deadpan account of a car crash and military funding is delivered with a resigned sigh. McCartney’s coffee and commute feels frantic and devoid of meaning. The “holes in Blackburn, Lancashire” become metaphors for the holes in perception and reality.

The song ends not with resolution but with an ambiguous, echoing finality—an invitation to reflect rather than a directive to feel.

V. Why It’s Magical: The Alchemy of Contradiction

What makes A Day in the Life so magical is not just its technical innovation but its emotional and structural contradictions. It is a song of opposites—ethereal and grounded, structured and chaotic, intimate and cosmic. It pushes the boundaries of what a pop song can be, without losing the human thread that binds it.

At a time when the boundaries between “high” and “low” art were being questioned, A Day in the Life proved that experimentalism could coexist with emotional depth. The dissonance of the orchestral swells is not alienating—it’s enveloping. The final chord is not a gimmick—it’s a portal. In the end, the song works because it acknowledges fragmentation but delivers cohesion. Each section, each sound, each breath is meticulously placed yet feels spontaneous. The studio becomes both canvas and brush, and the Beatles, at the height of their collaborative powers, transcend genre, era, and expectation.

Conclusion: The Dream That Remains

A Day in the Life is a monument—not just of the 1960s, or of studio wizardry, or of Lennon-McCartney genius—but of what music can do when it reaches beyond form into feeling. It is not just listened to; it is entered, like a dream whose rules you slowly recognize but never quite understand. Its magic lies in that dream logic—in its refusal to explain itself, and in its insistence on being felt.

In the end, we don’t remember A Day in the Life because it’s perfect. We remember it because it understands that imperfection—discontinuity, noise, and contrast—can be a deeper kind of truth. And in that truth, it glows.

[transgenderer]

It occurred to me that nocturnal animals might be able to sum photons in space and time to increase sensitivity, akin to pooling pixels to create a larger and more sensitive pixel, or on a camera lengthening the exposure time. This would require neurons at some higher level in the visual system that sum the photoreceptor signals coming from small groups of neighbouring ommatidia (the optical building blocks of compound eyes, each consisting of a lens-pair and an underlying bundle of photoreceptors). Since each ommatidium is responsible for sampling a single pixel of the visual scene, this neural spatial summation would create a large ‘super ommatidium’ that samples a large ‘super pixel’. Similarly, some higher neuron, or circuit of neurons, might be responsible for lengthening the visual exposure time (which is equivalent to the visual integration time).

The downside of such a summation strategy is, however, that fewer larger pixels reduce spatial resolution, and a longer exposure time reduces temporal resolution. In other words, to improve sensitivity one would need to throw away the finer and faster details in a visual scene in order to see the coarser and slower ones a lot better. But this might be better than seeing nothing at all! With this realisation, I started to build a mathematical model to calculate the finest spatial detail that a nocturnal animal, with a given eye design, might see using such a summation strategy as light levels fell (Warrant, 1999).

The results were surprising – spatial and temporal summation should in theory allow nocturnal animals to see at light levels several orders of magnitude dimmer than would have been possible had summation not been used. But could nocturnal animals actually do this? The benefits of summation seemed obvious, and I became convinced that it must be a crucial component of nocturnal visual processing.

I also realised that the same strategies could be used to improve video filmed in very dim light, and quite out of the blue, not long after I had published my model, I was contacted by the car manufacturer Toyota (who had realised the same thing). Toyota were very keen to develop an in-car camera system that could automatically monitor the road ahead at night – using only the existing natural light – and warn the driver of impending obstacles.

I also realised that the same strategies could be used to improve video filmed in very dim light, and quite out of the blue, not long after I had published my model, I was contacted by the car manufacturer Toyota (who had realised the same thing). Toyota were very keen to develop an in-car camera system that could automatically monitor the road ahead at night – using only the existing natural light – and warn the driver of impending obstacles.

they are using bug vision in the cars....

[mysticallion]

Mind, Consciousness, Awareness and Language

One of the problems I have personally encountered in my decades of study of scientific and spiritual literature was that each spiritual system has its own special-use language, much like each branch of science has its own specialized forms of language. Commonalities exist, of course, but due to the complex nature of the subject matter, specialized linguistic twists are a fairly pervasive trip-fall to actual understanding. One of the more common examples of such linguistic diversity in spiritual systems is the use of the terms “mind,” “consciousness,” and “awareness.” They can and do mean all sorts of different things between and even within various systems. Interesting enough the same sort of varied-use confusion can be found among the many branches of neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, and philosophy of mind. Often their “disagreements” are actually just misunderstandings based on how a particular word or concept is being employed. But I digress.

Among the various so-called Eastern schools of spirituality, such as the many varied forms of “mystical” Buddhism and Hinduism—all of which take personal knowledge and experience to be the main thrust of their teachings and activities—the use of the terms mind/consciousness/awareness can either all act rather interchangeably (that is, synonymously, more or less) or they are used in very distinctive, very specific ways. This totally depends on the system being studied and the complexity of the material being taught. Obviously, the more complex the subject and the deeper it is delved into, the more the need for specialized language arises. And because of the original geographical, cultural and temporal differences these systems evolved within, their use of language likewise differs.

Therefore, when one is studying any of these systems, you must have at least a basic grip on the nuances of its terminology; otherwise it is very possible to misinterpret meaning or miss the point altogether. This becomes even more true when a person uses the smorgasbord method of study (as I did), that is, investigating (and practicing) different systems, philosophies and methods, sometimes at the same time and sometimes in years-long immersive engagements. This ability to “spirituality shop around” is, of course, a rather new development brought about by the almost universal access to immense bodies of esoteric thought and understanding from all over the world. These Systems, formally isolated and even hidden, have been made available to almost anyone by virtue of modern technology. Arguments can be (and have been) made regarding the advantages and disadvantages of “shopping around” versus “monogamy,” all with their merits and considerations; but often it is simply a case of need and desire versus availability, informationally speaking. In the “smorgasbord” case, this confusion over terminology is quite common and can be difficult to overcome, involving the need for some genuine immersion in a specific form and practice to really understand how it uses language.

* * * * * * * *

Lastly, and on a more personal note, in the specific context of the mind/consciousness/awareness case, I have come to think of it in this way:

MIND is what the brain and nervous system create: it’s the momentary cognitive summation of perceptions, sensations, thoughts, feelings, memories and conventional identity. That is, mind, in this case, is essentially a name given to what the brain creates, to all that diverse information filtered and processed and reified and combined into a weave of moments called “my experience.” Of course, such a mind can never be a “thing” because it is inherently dynamic and amorphous and utterly insubstantial. We call it “mind,” which seems to be a noun; but in actuality “mind” is always an activity, a verb.

CONSCIOUSNESS, on the other hand, is the personal, subjective space where that particular conglomeration of “experience” is presented, and also the totality of that presentation itself. It is both space and experience because the material within consciousness at any given moment is actually its form and shape. In other words, there aren’t two things: the space and the content of consciousness. There is simply consciousness, or the immediate awareness of the brain-made, incessantly streaming content of mind. Consciousness also has great depths of activity that are not normally available to an individual’s immediate experience; these are usually termed “pre-conscious” and “subconscious,” meaning all that static of activity of storage/retrieval/processing of data that precedes the actual creation and projection of “my experience.” It’s a dark (that is, hidden from immediate awareness) and seething cesspool of psychodynamic activity. With training, great swaths of it can be brought into immediate awareness. That is, consciousness, though typically quite limited in its scope, can expand greatly. But no matter how much it expands and encompasses, it is still ultimately a brain-mind creation. Understanding this point is crucial for understanding higher level spiritual systems such as Dzogchen and Zen.

So brain makes mind, and mind makes consciousness.

AWARENESS, however , is prior to and independent of (so to speak) all that brain/mind/consciousness stuff. Awareness is both the universal Space or Field in which all that transpires, and the Knowledge or “illumination” of that activity. As such, Awareness, in its most basic form, is the background for all activity. It is what makes such activity “known.” It renders the entire spectrum of possible experiences—for all sentient beings, not just humans—“visible,” so to speak. It is a fundamental Force of Reality, or an aspect, like Energy/Light and Space. Without Awareness, Reality would be inert, as activity is always relative to a perspective, and perspective without Awareness is a non sequitur, an impossibility.

So, to recap: brain makes mind, mind makes consciousness, and all of that affects and actually is the individual perspective; and Awareness, which is always-already present, and therefore always beyond and before all of that changing activity, is the universal, insubstantial, impersonal Space of Reality. Brain/mind/consciousness/Awareness are not actually separate things; they are merely ways we mentally divide up the singular event called Reality for understanding. Ultimately it’s all just This. Awareness transcends and subsumes all.

It’s all a great deal more complex than just that, of course, wonderfully so, but then again so is Reality. This little rant is, of course, just another snapshot, another conceptual cage, as far away from Reality itself as the word “orange” is from the actual tasting. Such is the inherent limitation of words and concepts. But they do make good signposts, if you speak the language and care to explore.

[mediacrity]

Happiness by Steve Cutts, thoughts

Happiness by Steve Cutts, 2017

TW: mentions of addiction

*scroll to the bottom for Youtube link/film TWs

thank you to @ddepressedbookworm for recommending this short film to me

---------------------------

Happiness is one of my favourite animated short films of all time. The grey colouring the entire city, filled with artificial colour is reminiscent of the reality of the dull, uninspiring lifestyle of one in the city. The anthropomorphism of the rats (I assume a "pun" on living in a rat race) is an immediate representation of the disenchanted city dwellers we encounter, and might even be, in real life.

The film begins with many rats, not anthropomorphised, uncomfortably squeaking and squeezing together in what is revealed to be a train station, immediately making the film into a commentary on human life. One of my favourite things about the film is that it is filled with bright-coloured posters, but it does nothing to improve the drab surrounding. The posters are also large in quantity, pasted one after another, an extremely relevant visual representation of numbness in the face of overconsumption. It is "everything, all of the time" (Welcome to the Internet, Bo Burnham). Cutts also creates posters mimicking popular brands, playing on their tag lines and branding them "happiness", showing our consumerist nightmare for what it is ----a brutal, unfulfilled chase for happiness that fuels corporations that sell temporal "happiness" through products.

The link between consumerism and our want for happiness continues in the film as we see more products like "fast cars". The idea of a fast car, perhaps presents the wish to "get out", or float above the rest. A striking shot comes at 1:22 where the rats are seen moving through the walls of society, covered with posters, the society structured like a maze. It displays our society from an objective lens, we are confused, we are stuck.

Cutts further explores this cycle by branding some products (such as alcohol and medication) as "absolute happiness", bringing in the theme of addiction. Memorable scenes include the frenzied shopping craze where the rats, literally, tear each other apart to get their haul, and another scene where the "main character" takes medication and the visual style of the film changes from a drab, gloomy city to a shiny, too shiny, field. The main character's high, of course, ends and ultimately ends on the cold city pavement.

At the end, the "main character" chases the one thing that ties everything all together --money, the thing we chase to buy a lifestyle. The main character chases a dollar bill up a building, and then comes the summation of the film --he is trapped in a mousetrap and begins working at his desk. The film then zooms out to show everyone, identical. At the last moment, Cutts links this back to our harsh system of endless working and capitalism, further linking it to a lack of individuality. It is, as said before, a cycle. We are unhappy because of our work and therefore, we want to be happy, but we attempt to buy happiness in products, but to buy we must have money, and to have money we must work. Thus, the cycle begins, fuelling our consumerist nature which only gives more money to corporations. We are trapped, in our "mousetraps". It is all related back to our innate want of Happiness.

overall, I absolutely recommend this short film. Steve Cutt’s ability to visually get across the is spectacular. the film is smart, darkly funny, and not just relevant, but resonates on a personal level with any consumer living in the 21st century. Five stars, absolutely.

-----------------------------

TWs for short film

violence/gore

addiction

Youtube link for short film: Happiness by Steve Cutts, 2017

[waynecowles]

The Necessity of an Eternal Perspective

In America, it’s easy to live as though this life is all that we have. Even those of us who believe in the pre-Tribulation Rapture at times lose the perspective that Jesus could dramatically intervene in our lives at any moment.

In his devotional book, New Morning Mercies, pastor and counselor Paul David Tripp refers to our tendency to forget about what lies ahead for us as “eternity amnesia.” He describes it in this way:

“We say we believe in the hereafter. We say that this moment in time is not all there is. We say that we are hardwired for forever. But often we live with the compulsion, anxiety, and drivenness of eternity amnesiacs. We get so focused on the opportunities, responsibilities, needs, and desires of the here and now that we lose sight of what is to come.” (February 11 entry)

An eternal perspective not only keeps us from becoming overly consumed with everyday life, but it’s also a necessity for other reasons as well.

We Cannot Make Sense of this Life Without It

Tripp also wrote, “The fact is that you cannot make sense of life unless you look at it from the vantage point of eternity.” This is so true whether we are attempting to understand world affairs or the ups and downs of our spiritual journey. Scripture alone provides us with hope during life’s mysteries.

Apart from my belief that the Lord will someday radically intervene in human affairs, I would go crazy. We live in a world where many government leaders prosper at the expense of the ones they govern (as has been demonstrated by recent reports of spending in the US). The wicked not only succeed at times, but they also amass wealth beyond what we can imagine. When overwhelmed by such thoughts, I read through Psalm 37 and recognize that soon its words will reach their full fulfillment as the judgments of Revelation chapters 6-18 sweep over the earth. We live on the edge of eternity.

As New Testament Saints, we look forward to the moment we meet Jesus in the air and He gives us our “imperishable” and “immortal bodies” (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). Our lives as followers of Jesus are not a random, disconnected series of blessings and adversities. The Lord carefully manages all our experiences, weaving them together in preparation for the day we inherit the kingdom in resurrection bodies. In eternity it will all make sense, but now we trust Jesus.

It Honors Jesus

When we forget about eternity, we not only lose a true perspective on life, but we also lose sight of the essence of our hope, Jesus. Watching for His appearing is not just a matter of obeying what He taught us to do in Matthew 24:42-25:13, but it’s also a matter of making Him the focus of our lives rather than our own aspirations and the things that absorb so much of our attentions.

Notice the apostle’s emphasis in Philippians 3:20-21:

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

We see an identical focus in Titus 2:13, “… waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” When we make Jesus the sole object of our hope, we exalt His place within our souls.

Of course, it’s wise to plan and prepare for our future. However, we honor our Lord when we consider that He may appear at any moment to take us home to glory. We temper our earthly aspirations via a two-world perspective that values eternal realities over our temporal aspirations (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

It Prepares Us to Serve Him in a Broken-Down World

Understanding the stark difference between now and the hereafter uniquely prepares us to serve our Master. Notice the encouragement that Paul gives to us as His summation writing about the Lord’s appearing and His gift to us of glorious, resurrected bodies:

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

After the Rapture, Jesus will reward our faithful service. He will not overlook anything but will perfectly acknowledge all that we have done in serving Him with our various spiritual gifts that He entrusts to us (read Romans 12:3-8).

Living with an eternal perspective not only preserves our sanity in a broken-down world but also prompts us to serve the Lord as we watch for His glorious appearing. Regardless of our lot in life, we know that a wonderful day is coming, perhaps today, when we will stand before Him clothed in perfect righteousness with imperishable resurrection bodies that will never grow old, get sick, or suffer pain of any kind.

I will conclude with the words of Paul David Tripp:

“Let the values of eternity be the values that shape your living today, and keep telling yourself that the difficulties of today will someday completely pass away.”

Living with an eternal perspective doesn’t mean we forget about this life but that we always keep in mind that a much better day awaits us. Jesus will come to take us to the place He’s preparing for us (John 14:1-3). Count on it.

-Jonathan

[eligalilei]

Aion notes pt. 2

[2]

With this definition we have described and delimited the scope of the subject. Theoretically, no limits can be set to the field of consciousness, since it is capable of indefinite extension. Empirically, however, it always finds its limit when it comes up against the unknown.[2]

(limit is to be understood here as in the so-called ‘calculus’: mathematic, fractal, and, with any hope, progressively infinitessimal)

Here, empiricality is assumedly subjective in its heterological senses, as the notion of the unconscious places one’s own limits under erasure. Perhaps there is a different use of ‘empiricism,’ not merely sensory, but it will then tug at the boundaries of the heterological through only the flexure of notation.

[2] The Ego’s capacity cannot be delimited; it is expandable, and mutable. It, however, has two limits:

An external unknown, or horizon. This is not named explicitly and can have no foundation.

The internal unknown: by this we refer to the unconscious and its agents.

The Origo, [in its relation to the unconscious only] on the other hand, at least so far as the named elements are concerned, and their sensory traces and traceures, might be said to have access via the Ego,  which, I think, has a phenomenological essence here neglected by Jung, namely, its self-conception, which is not the same as mere access in the purely phenomenological sense, or, rather, relates to other fields of access based on self-relation. The Subject-Object schema here dominates, though it may be (/that) focus elides other domains of givenness. This is an open field of recollection/investigation.

(we might say that the Origo is, in fact, *blind* in the domain of the symbolic, though it is, itself, the very *space of seeing*.

This is a very important direction for the progress of consciousness studies, as consciousness-without(-a-)trace (or tarnish; the ‘tain of seeing itself’) does should not seem electrologically possible.

CF: Heidegger and the critique of the S-O schema, which seems here to have been moved indoors, i.e, out of the reach of philosophy proper, contra phenomenology, which must be nomadic, even evasive, so as to remain operant.

(Fellow phenomenologists! Resist well the sonorous notations of the invader and its notaries!)

(see my forthcoming (re?)translation of Heidegger’s early lectures from ‘Ontology, Hermeneutics of Facticity’, and addended commentary)

It is unclear here what Jung means by 'indefinite extension,' but this clarifies my conceptual gloss: 'Origo of perception (and presumably apperception(‘s traces?)’ [‘thought’/noesis] is oddly absent from the discussion) = 'Ego' (=\= 'subject?) for Jung.

This would mean that the Self is closer to what elsewhere is designated as the 'Subject.' This seems to summate most of what is found in the first chapter.

…

This lacunam demands another theory of the Ego, which is to yet be borne out, and we expect to find after the symbolic fold of narrative and its mythemes, which seem to be the primary occupation of the rest of Jung’s text.

…

This unknown is further specified as being of two limits: internal (unconscious) and unmediated, and external: mediated by the senses (why is there no analogous concept? Given preoccupations with the collective unconscious…. this is of course considered to be internal, but, as I not elsewhere, it is difficult to divide that to which one, constitutively, has no access…even temporal divisions gain, if any, a secondary, but preliminary, sense, or simply their [pr/e-]erasure.).

There is, thus, to the Origo, accessible, to extend the above, two domains of available data: psychic and somatic. Not all endosomatic stimuli breach the horizon of consciousness, but insofar as they are accessible to consciousness, they are also psychic in nature. (This strikes me as just a bit of a muddled explanation, but alas, the idea is clear enough, which is, perhaps, the inherent muddlement)

Note: this changes very little, but I have found a (very bad, admittedly) reference mentioning the possibility that ‘endosomatic’ refers to phenomena which actually have their origin in the body and are not ‘sensory’ in the manner elsewhere meant.

I have therefore suggested that the term “psychic” be used only where there is evidence of a will capable of modifying reflex or instinctual processes. Here I must refer the reader to my paper “On the Nature of the Psyche,”

<< n.b.; not to be confused with my paper by the same name, which I translated around the same time., lol >> Jung makes this remark in response to a theory mentioned in passing that all life-processes are to be designated as 'psychic.' Somatic/endosomatic belong to the data, the psychic are 'autodata': modifiable, or at least their modificational causes can be seen as internal/potentially relative to the Will. ((This is interesting, but also may require further explanation at some point.))

… I am not sure if this is what he’s actually saying.

[3]

[3] As implied already by its sources, in what is essentially a restatement of [2] the Ego has two domains of access, though Jung makes the point of their both being in essence psychic and ultimately unmediated in their being as presentation: Mind has access only

to its internal object as also Mind, though there are processes which are not-Mind, or, rather, there is, to such perceptions, a thing-in-itself. These bases are:

The somatic/external. A further mediation is here invoked: the external is arrived at by the ‘endosomatic’: stimuli within the body. They are, in fact, subordinate (given that we can, and do, often ignore the body, in itself, on a regular basis, thus pushing it out of consciousness as such) to a field which Jung does not name: the ‘(endo)somatic subject’ and/or its unconscious. This would encompass automatic reactions, things usually tuned out, but technically available, &c. The fact that they may  be available to consciousness is enough for Jung to assign them, still, a psychical nature. 

(pre-note on (‘)the collective unconscious and Lacan’s Real(‘): this, which is also the demonic, must be the domain of the former’s resilience, to the extent which it per and transists to any substantial distance)

The fixed horizon here, which would, really, blend into the world, is, perhaps, the purely physiological, which is to say, that portion of the somatic unconsciousness corresponding to the non-somatic unconscious without possibility of presentation to the Ego. The psychicality of this domain, like the physical absolute Unknown, or, really, any absolutely unknowable: the ‘unknown unknowns which cannot be known,’ is, of nature, undecidable. It is worth mentioning here that the notion of ‘subject’ is potentially complexified by these alterior ‘things’-that-view: the endosomatic is ‘psychic,’ and reacts, but is not a subject. It perceives. The notion of the ‘subject’ hereto invoked seems, to me, to be circular: the subject is that to which things appear, all things appear to subjects, which are consciousnesses and in each case equivalent (for the prior author) to Egos…. However, the endosomatic has internal operations which to not present, in full, to the Ego. The Unconscious has contents which do not present to consciousness. It is suggested that the Ego is the gateway to the Self (I… think?), but what is to suggest, as in the Truth <-> Production relation in Lacan, that the unplumbable depths of the somatic do not connect to the Unconscious? Why is there no Subject of the unconscious? Is the Body not a subject? How would one know? It seems to have, by Jung’s own conception, those properties particular to one….

The Psychic: I have … suggested that the term “psychic” be used only where there is evidence of a will capable of modifying reflex or instinctual processes. The psychic is defined as unmediated by senses, and the above, which is in no way clear to the present commentator.

A moment is then spent on the notion that all life processes are in fact psychic, which is dismissed as a ‘nebulous’ idea, and the above quote is offered as a rejoinder. Consider both extraordinary acts of somatic control, and the issue of the interactions of different essences.Cybernetics offers an alternative to this sort zoetic pan-psychism, with, I would argue, a less nebulous form and purpose.Consider also, relative to Jung’s definition, ‘expanded’ understandings of the Will.

[4]

The Ego ‘rests’ on two fields of access:

All of consciousness

All of the Unconscious

The Unconscious can be divided thusly:

That to which there is voluntary access (Jung equates this with memory).

That to which there is involuntary access

That to which there is no access

It is worth asking whether there is any difference in ‘essence’ between 2. and 3., or if it is simply an occurrential divide: 3. is that which is not accessed. Consider the models and suggestions below regarding energies, resistance, &c., and the division as probabilistic, or, even, non-existent, and more a matter of what can be considered simultaneously. Some thoughts may be unthinkable, but whether they exist, as such, in the unconscious, is perhaps an open question at best. 

Perhaps this is merely a matter of impossible thoughts which can be imagined as possibles by an external viewer. In this sense, the Unconscious, or at least that of which it is inaccessible, might be said to, in fact, exist in the Other. Multiple senses of this may be worth unpacking

They are improbable or ‘dissatisfying’/dysphoric to the Ego, or even to any possible viewer in a given domain, at least as wholes, even if their parts are satisfying.

They exist as ‘extimate’ possibles satisfying as conceptions (only) to the viewer modeling a given Self.

They are able to act as causal actants in some sense, and produce efferents which do in fact have an effect or are satisfying, but are not themselves so. In this , it is possible the zone exists to model Others, and thus relates via affects supplied to the conscious appended to the actually-thought; this suggests a Subject of the Unconscious It is worth wondering what role creativity plays here, and whether the Unconscious exists as the Virtual of the Ego’s production. 

Herethroughout, the emphasis is on access, and not production, so, in that, one wonders if all possibles exist in the Unconscious, a notion which would collapse the distinction, as well as open a field unto the entirety of the Umwelt and Other… This suggests interesting readings of the text going forward…

[vinooshiya]

Evaluating the Merits of a Data Science Master's Degree

In today's data-centric landscape, the demand for adept data scientists continues to soar. With an abundance of data at our disposal, businesses are constantly seeking individuals who can effectively analyze and interpret this wealth of information to drive strategic decision-making. Opting for a Master's degree in Data Science may seem like a logical progression toward entering this dynamic field, but does it truly offer worthwhile benefits? Let's explore the advantages and drawbacks from a different angle from the best data science course in Bangalore.

Upsides:

Niche Expertise: Enrolling in a Data Science Master's program affords an opportunity to delve deeply into various domains, such as statistical analysis, machine learning, data visualization, and big data technologies. This specialized knowledge can significantly bolster your competitiveness in the job market.

Career Advancement: Holding a Master's degree can serve as a catalyst for career progression, opening doors to higher-level positions and potentially commanding better salaries within the data science domain. Many employers place a premium on candidates with advanced degrees, particularly for leadership roles or specialized functions.

Networking Channels: Graduate programs often provide platforms for networking with industry professionals, alumni, and peers. Establishing a robust professional network can prove invaluable for exploring job opportunities or fostering collaborative ventures in the future.

Practical Exposure: Numerous Master's programs integrate practical, hands-on experiences such as internships, capstone projects, or research opportunities. This firsthand exposure facilitates skill development and cultivates familiarity with industry tools and methodologies.

Downsides:

Temporal and Financial Investment: Pursuing a Master's degree entails a significant commitment of time and financial resources. Tuition fees, coupled with living expenses, can pose a considerable financial burden. Moreover, dedicating one to two years to full-time study means sacrificing potential earnings during that period.

Competitive Job Market: Despite the soaring demand for data scientists, the job market remains fiercely competitive, especially for entry-level positions. Possessing a Master's degree does not guarantee employment, and candidates may find themselves contending with individuals boasting relevant work experience or specialized skill sets.

Technological Dynamics: The field of data science is characterized by rapid technological advancements, with new tools and methodologies continually emerging. Some argue that formal education may struggle to keep pace with these developments, suggesting that self-directed learning or professional certifications could offer comparable benefits.

Alternative Pathways: It's worth acknowledging that a Master's degree is not the sole pathway into data science. Many professionals transition into the field from related disciplines such as computer science, mathematics, or economics through avenues like self-study, online courses, boot camps, or on-the-job training.

In summation, the decision to pursue a Master's in Data Science hinges on individual circumstances, career aspirations, and preferences. While it can equip you with valuable skills, knowledge, and networking opportunities, it also demands a significant investment of time and financial resources. Ultimately, carefully weighing the pros and cons and exploring alternative pathways can help you make an informed decision aligned with your professional goals and aspirations.

[braincranx1]

Elevating IT Excellence: Unraveling the Braincranx Tapestry of Talent and Innovation

In the dynamic realm of Information Technology (IT), the pursuit of excellence isn't just a goal; it's a journey. Nestled in the vibrant tech hub of Pune, India, Braincranx stands as a beacon of innovation, reshaping the staffing landscape with a holistic vision that extends beyond conventional solutions.

Decoding the Braincranx Essence Pioneering a Vision for Strategic Staffing Braincranx's narrative transcends the ordinary. It's not merely about filling gaps in workforce structure but orchestrating a symphony of talent and opportunities. The company's vision revolves around strategically aligning proficient individuals with roles that amplify business success.

ERP Mastery: Where Customization Meets Efficiency At the core of Braincranx's triumph is its profound expertise in crafting bespoke Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions. Recognizing the pivotal role ERP plays in modern businesses, Braincranx has emerged as a torchbearer, navigating complexities and delivering solutions that resonate with the unique fabric of each client.

Oracle Cloud Services: Bridging Horizons In the era of cloud supremacy, Braincranx stands tall as a specialist in Oracle Cloud Services. Beyond the provision of services, the company excels in seamless integration and optimization, ensuring clients harness the full potential of cloud technology for heightened agility, scalability, and cost-efficiency.

Nurturing Talent in IT's Specialized Realms Braincranx distinguishes itself through its ability to source and recruit top-tier talent across diverse IT specializations. With proficiency in Oracle, SAP, HCM, SCM, Blockchain, Python, and the uncharted territories of the metaverse, the company is a strategic partner in navigating the ever-evolving IT landscape.

Embracing the Metaverse and Blockchain Odyssey In an era defined by digital evolution, Braincranx embraces the challenges and promises encapsulated within emerging technologies such as blockchain and the metaverse. Its foresighted approach ensures clients are equipped with the talent needed to not only navigate but pioneer in these cutting-edge domains.

Crafting the Braincranx Experience The People-Centric Philosophy At the heart of Braincranx lies a profound belief in the symbiotic relationship between business success and its people. This philosophy permeates every facet of their operations, from candidate interactions to cultivating enduring partnerships with clients, embodying a commitment to long-term success.

Strategic Networking Through Collaborative Alliances Braincranx strategically forges and nurtures alliances with premier organizations in the IT sector. This collaborative spirit has birthed a resilient network of highly skilled candidates and visionary clients. This expansive network positions Braincranx uniquely, facilitating the seamless matching of talent with opportunities.

Comprehensive Solutions: Temporal Agility and Permanent Precision Acknowledging the fluidity of the IT landscape, Braincranx offers a spectrum of solutions encompassing both temporary staffing and permanent recruitment services. Whether a client seeks immediate project support or aims to cultivate an in-house team, Braincranx delivers results underscored by unwavering professionalism.

Partnering for Progress with Braincranx In summation, Braincranx isn't merely a staffing solutions provider; it's an architect of IT excellence. With a commitment to unparalleled quality, proficiency in ERP and Oracle services, and an intimate understanding of the expansive IT terrain, Braincranx is poised to elevate your business to unprecedented heights.

If your quest is for staffing solutions that transcend the conventional, aligning seamlessly with your IT enterprise's vision and objectives, embrace the Braincranx journey. Enlist their cadre of experts to connect you with the talent that not only meets but propels your success in the digital epoch. Choose Braincranx and enter a realm where innovation converges with professionalism, and your triumph is the ultimate destination.

[middleeastbrillmindz]

The Advantages of Low-Code App Development Platforms: A Developer's Perspective

In my capacity as a software engineer, I can affirm the various advantages inherent in the utilisation of a low-code application development platform. These platforms have garnered substantial traction in recent times, and this phenomenon is far from arbitrary.

Herein lie some key advantages when viewed through the lens of a developer:

Expeditious Development: Low-code platforms drastically expedite the development trajectory. They offer pre-fabricated constituents, templates, and a graphical interface that empowers developers to expeditiously fashion and adapt applications. This implies that the transition from conceptualization to a fully functional application occurs at a fraction of the temporal investment necessitated by conventional coding practices.

Reduced Coding Effort: Within the low-code paradigm, the need for extensive coding diminishes significantly. This reduction translates not only into fewer lines of code to debug and maintain but also reduces the hurdles for newcomers entering the domain of application development. Developers can devote their energies to tackling intricate challenges and implementing business logic, rather than becoming entangled in the complexities of syntax and coding conventions.

Enhanced Collaboration: Low-code platforms frequently contain collaborative attributes and comprehensible visual descriptions of an application's flow and logic. This catalyses improved communication among developers, designers, and stakeholders, culminating in a more efficient developmental process and fewer instances of misinterpretation.

Flexibility and Customization: While low-code platforms offer pre-existing components, they simultaneously empower developers to extend functionalities through custom coding when necessary. This adaptability empowers developers to craft highly personalised solutions tailored to exact business requirements.

Streamlined Maintenance: Given that low-code applications typically feature fewer custom lines of code, maintenance assumes a more manageable profile. Updates and modifications can be executed expeditiously, thereby shortening downtime and ensuring that the application remains concurrent.

Access to a Broader Talent Pool: Low-code platforms exude user-friendliness and necessitate a reduced specialisation in coding know-how. This fosters the expansion of the talent pool, affording organisations access to a wider spectrum of developer skills.

Scalability: Low-code applications are inherently scalable to align with your business's expansion. Many platforms are engineered with scalability as a central tenet, guaranteeing that your applications can accommodate augmented workloads without requiring a substantial overhaul.

Cost-Efficiency: In light of the abbreviated developmental timeline and reduced resource outlay, low-code development often yields cost savings. This makes it an enticing option for startups and smaller enterprises constrained by budgetary constraints.

Integration Capabilities: Low-code platforms frequently encompass an array of integration capabilities with popular third-party services and application programming interfaces (APIs). This facilitates the process of integrating your application into other tools and databases, saving developers time and effort.

Faster Time to Market: Ultimately, one of the most consequential advantages of low-code development resides in its capacity to expedite your application's journey to market. This can confer a competitive edge on your business, allowing it to react nimbly to shifting market dynamics and customer demands.

In summation, low-code application development platforms offer an abundance of merits to software developers. They empower us to toil more efficiently, collaborate sagaciously, and dispense superlative applications to our clients or organisations in a compressed time frame. Whether one is a seasoned developer or embarking on their coding odyssey, low-code platforms represent an invaluable instrument in the developer's arsenal.

As the top mobile app development company in Qatar. Brillmindz, which is renowned for its better knowledge and creative solutions, specialises in providing effective, affordable, and quick mobile app development. Utilising state-of-the-art low-code technology, they enable clients to quickly realise their ideas while spending less time and money on development. Their team of qualified experts guarantees specialised, high-quality apps that address certain company objectives. Brillmindz is the top option for businesses in Qatar thanks to their proven track record of successful projects and dedication to client satisfaction. They continue to set the standard for low-code mobile app development. Email us at info@brillmindz for more inquiries.

[lailoken]

‘Of the Rosarie of Cain’

“Know that the Circle of Art commands many guises and forms, the least of which is the Bound Circumference of the temporal locus of working. Though such ground be hallowed unto itself and the ensorcell'd design of the cunning, we may expand its influence to the temporal non-locality of the Thicket, thereby potentiating the arcana of its domain. Here resides the summation of the Eternal Circle, and here may the divine gifts of the gods be harvested by the Wise. This Round is the Hortus Conclusus of the Herb-charmer, borne in the mystery of Fetish by the Sacred Rosary of Prayer and Devotion.

The Rosarium is comprised of hallowed beads of treeflesh, carved by the Hand of the Wayfarer by Ingenium and strung; duly consecrated unto the spirits of the Greenwood. The wood so employed shall be of the Tree allied unto the Green Sorcerer and his Work; their size, shape, enumeration and arrangement totemic of the same. Each bead contains within the orb of its being an Arcanum of the Mysteries of Wortcunning and when strung as a circle cast forth the Round of Green Mysteries as the Hallow'd Plot of Cain's wandering. By diverse prayers unto the Lord God of the Thicket and accompanying digitation of the Sacred Bede, the gnosis of the Patron of Green Witcherie arises. And as it is the mindful motion of the Rosarium through the fingers which yields up its secrets, so it is the sorcerer's motion through the Thicket which precipitates the Gnosis of the Greenwood; by the tortured circuit through the Hedge do the Gods make themselves known. For as the Sprit of Old Bellicum teaches us, within the Thorn-Thicket sweet fruit also resides. And as the Thicket is the Outward Rosarium, let the holy calculi accompany the sorcerer as he journeys through thick and thin, encircling all he encounters, and making each of Gods' creations his.”

—

Viridarium Umbris:

The Pleasure Garden of Shadow

Part 3: ‘The Book of Going Forth into the Field of Cain’

by Daniel A. Schulke

[absolute-immunities]

Adrian Vermeule has written a defense of common good constitutionalism, but his concept of "the common good" remains opaque to me.

The Common Good in Politics and Law In the classical account, a genuinely common good is a good that is unitary (“one in number”) and capable of being shared without being diminished. Thus it is inherently nonaggregative; it is not the summation of a number of private goods, no matter how great that number or how intense the preference for those goods may be. Consider the aim of a football team for victory, a unitary aim for all that requires the cooperation of all and that is not diminished by being shared. The victory of the team, as a team, cannot be reduced to the individual success of the players, even summed across all the players. In the classical theory, the ultimate genuinely common good of political life is the happiness or flourishing of the community, the well-ordered life in the polis. It is not that “private” happiness, or even the happiness of family life, is the real aim and the public realm is merely what supplies the lawful peace, justice, and stability needed to guarantee that private happiness. Rather, the highest felicity in the temporal sphere is itself the common life of the well-ordered community, which includes those other foundational goods but transcends them as well. [...] The common good, at least the civil or temporal common good, can be described in substantive terms in this way: (1) it is the structural political, economic and social conditions that allow communities to live in accordance with the precepts of justice, yielding (2) the injunction that all official action should be ordered to the community’s attainment of those precepts, subject to the understanding that (3) the common good is not the sum of individual goods, but the indivisible good of a community, a good that belongs jointly to all and severally to each.

Does anyone understand what Adrian is saying here?

I can understand why he wants to smuggle in a thick theory of the good, but what does all this Romish metaphysics mean? What work is it doing?

I am having trouble giving content to the basic terms here. Adrian seems to have constructed categories that can't hold much normative content or do much legitimation.

What kind of good is "unitary [and] nonaggregative" and "not the sum of individual goods, but the indivisible good of a community, a good that belongs jointly to all and severally to each"?

That seems to describe public goods, whose nonexcludability and nonrivalrousness make them "indivisible ... belong[ing] jointly to all and severally to each."

That can't be what Adrian means -- public goods are goods, not a unitary good; public goods exclude most of the work the modern state does; and public goods have no thick normative or prescriptive content -- but I don't know what he does mean.

I assume this extended definition works to keep out utilitarianism, individualism, and pluralism, but I have no sense of what is left when they've all been forced out.

Can anyone make sense of this?

[perfectlytinyworkspace]

Tremblay et al.: Figures and Boxes

Figure 1: Diversity, Classification, and Properties of Neocortical GABAergic INs

Neocortical GABAergic IN: GABA-releasing (likely inhibitory) interneuron (connecting between perception/motor output?) within the fetal brain

all of these express one of [PV parvalbumin (relation to general albumin carrier in the blood?), somatostatin (insulin/glucagon balance regulator), 5HT3a serotonin receptor] and can thus be categorized by those markers

further classification of different neocortical GABA-ergic INs can be obtained via morphology, targeting biases, other biomarkers, and electrophysiological/synaptic properties

tree classification: 1 of 3 markers » morphology » targeting bias » anatomy » biophysical properties of firing (firing patterns, spiking, refractory) » synaptic properties » addt'l markers

Figure 2: Laminar Distribution of IN Groups

L1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, and 6 are all layers in the neocortex

distribution of the three major GABA-ergic IN types as distinguished by PV, Sst, and 5HT3a marker expression (5HT3a separated into VIP and non-VIP expressing cells) varies with neocortical layer

significance: varying compositional make-up of L layers signifies likely variance in roles they play in fetal brain function + later development of cognition

Box 1: PV FS Basket Cells Are Specialized for Speed, Efficiency, and Temporal Precision

physical properties of PV FS cells suit them for rapid, precise firing

machinery for fast EPSPs: AMPA receptors w/ GluR1 subunits only, low membrane resistance, very active dendrites

machinery for brief and highly repetitive APs: sub-threshold Kv1 channels that allow for quick repolarization, "Na+ channels with slower inactivation and faster recovery"

these components are all concentrated at the appropriate areas of the neuron to reach high efficacy

Figure 3: Cell-Specific Connectivity and Subcellular Domains Targeted by IN Subtypes

Sst martinotti cells synapse near the soma of the L2/3 cell

nonVIP 5HT3aR NGFCs synapse near the branches of the L2/3 dendrite/axon

in L5/6 pyramidal cells, NGFC inputs are broken up by different layers (?)

Figure 4: Circuit Motifs Involving INs

different functions of interneurons in modulating synaptic signaling are dependent on placement of IN and source of excitatory input

feedforward inhibition: distal excitation » IN and pyramidal cell; IN then also inhibits pyramidal cell to modulate the effects of the distal excitation

feedback inhibition: PC excitation » IN inhibits the original PC source of excitation to gradually modulate its signal » IN also inhibits same-layer proximal PCs to unify regional signaling pattern

disinhibition: IN » IN » PC so that the end result is the reduction of inhibition on the pyramidal cell's excitatory activity

Figure 5: Thalamocortical FFI by PV Neurons Imposes Coincidence Detection

FFI via PV neurons allows for temporal summation window in certain spaces/moments of time

this is achieved by increasing inhibition at all other time periods; now "near-synchornous inputs are required for efficient summation of EPSPs and to drive AP firing on the PC"

[I think that] NGFCs weaken the PV inhibition of PCs, allowing for a wider window of temporal summation and lateral signaling recruitment of other PCs?

FFI prevents saturation via PV cell recruitment; NGFC signaling weakens this mechanism. Thus, depending on how much FFI is needed in certain regions, the NGFC vs. PV cell population concentration ratios will vary

Figure 6: FBI and Differential Effect of PV and Sst IN-Mediated Inhibition

difference between PV and Sst IN inhibition: PVs show decreased response to repeated external inputs due to anatomical and synaptic features from Box 1; Ssts show increased response due to "opposing" or somewhat "antithetical" physical properties to PVs

thus PVs function to synchronize activity laterally across two or more pyramidal cells, i.e., spatial summation; Ssts function to amplify all inputs to a single PC, i.e., temporal summation

PVs have high permeability (low resistance) which means that EPSPs generated diffuse and disperse easily, so highly repetitive inputs do not build up and the cell is unable to undergo temporal summation; on the other hand, insensitivity to temporal summation means that the cell can 'detect' synchronized spatial summation » it's not just a LACK of temporal summation, it's that a "large amount of input at one time" must be present, which means it's uniquely suited to spatial summation

Ssts have low permeability (high resistance) which means they can essentially STORE charge and thus undergo temporal summation with highly repetitive inputs from external sources

Figure 7: Vip IN-Mediated Disinhibition

Vip INs selectively inhibit Sst INs that are targeting a single pyramidal cell, so that when Vips fire, PCs are disinhibited

area-wide excitability is increased broadly as Vips are recruited; or, if a single Vip is activated, so too are just a few selected PCs disinhibited

[dustedmagazine]

Keith Rowe — Absence (Erstwhile)

There are instances in which a piece of music emerges from our preconceived formal boundaries. It opens into an area, or onto a vista, unanticipated and completely alien to everything preceding. Whether prog, classical or post-punk, the moment inaugurates a space putting the lie to classification. There, supplanting tonal and modal superficiality, pure sound and environment facilitate the experience, draw the listener into a landscape of forbidding immersion. The crux is the moment of change, a shift of ambience, perspective, a portal-thrusting beyond which only the unknown is certain. Keith Rowe’s solo work is a permanent resident of that area, but he has revoked the license to employ those eschewed categories. This performance from November 6, 2015 evokes that altering instant on many levels, both as audio document and artistic statement.

Along these dualistic lines, Rowe’s solo music could be described, with acute clumsiness serving grains of truth, as layers within layers supporting moments of rhetorical alteration. His is a language because of which every conventional descriptor is necessarily jettisoned; affixing meaning becomes an imperative, a trial and a joy of comparison and heuristic discovery. As with all art but more overtly, the relationship is transmuted into the object. The instants themselves might involve looped repetition, the caressed gentility of a single plucked note or a sweeping aside, along strings or whatever other items Rowe employs during the performative situation. These instants are then combined and bolstered by parabolic layers of radio static, heightened, frozen and liquifying injections of various local and world music in tandem with the disparate sound-altering effects and via the contact microphones he uses in constructing his sound paintings. Often silent until key moments, the guitar is the centerpiece of a conglomeration of sound devices and speakers, a nexus of signal carriers enhancing and enhanced by acoustic and electrical domains. Then, there are the silences, the moments where sound drops below audible thresholds to be felt rather than heard. The combined effect is a visceral and hypnotic amalgamation of arc and point, sometimes in conflagration but always transparent.

Rowe has had two solo projects in the Erst Live series thus far, Cultural Templates and September, the latter recorded on the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. Of these, it is the closest in spirit to Absence in that he makes stark and insistent use of the sweeping motion that begins this solo performance. It occurs with increasing vehemence, a point of separation, possibly of negation but certainly of demarcation. Rowe says as much in his written commentary to Cultural Templates, where he simplifies and obfuscates by calling the gesture “drawing a line.” The essay should be mandatory reading for every Rowe enthusiast, as it presents, moment by moment, the multivalent artistic implications behind each sounding gesture, often afforded heft by historical allusion and Rowe’s auditory predilections. In this shed light, each gesture rings with a gravitas in isolation, a strangely ironic contrast to the unity of this now-trilogy of releases.

Listening to Absence after Cultural Templates and September demonstrates a Joycean progression, a portrait of the artist in varying stages of personal and communal reflection. That drawing of a line inhabits each performance in different ways. Like Messiaen’s motivic recurrences, its symbology reflects and is reflected by sonic context or lack thereof. That’s what makes its appearance at the beginning of Absence so poignant, so devastating. Unlike most Rowe recordings, the 2015 performance unfolds against a highly reverberant backdrop, rendering each sweep somehow final and not simply separate but alien. The opening several minutes are dominated by its iterations, with objects, on guitar string or in combination. It is both a call and a response, sent into and reflected back by a space that can barely contain it. Its pitch shifts are timbrally proximate both to Rowe’s timeline motive and the death motive in transformation, as outlined in the aforementioned essay. It leaves room neither for “false hope,” nearly reached in captured snatches of a Paul Simon tune, nor for its static underpinning. It’s elastic components snarl, growl and query, momentarily dissolving to atoms before evolving against the low hum of room ambiance.

The accustomed layers of Rowe’s syntax emerge with a glacial certainty, Even within them, there is the point-and-line relationship that delineates the first five minutes. Have two guitar notes ever sounded with more poignancy than at 15:12? Even they emerge from strain as atoms from the stresses of boundaries stretched. Each timeline is frayed at the end, but all is imbued with a sense of deep and abiding humanity, each controlled voice, sob and clearing of the throat in those radio captures that always seem to be so perfect, such stunning synchronicities. How else can the perfectly timed trans-genre juxtaposition at 29:50 be explained? As the 18th century revolutionary music of Haydn intersects with the quantized rhythms of popular technologies, temporal staticity is foundational.

What is there, finally, to say of endings? Rowe’s note, published with this recording, speaks of his decision to cease performing solo concerts in light of his struggles with Parkinsons. How is one to review a partial conclusion? Is the cadence perfect, and, as Rowe intimates, of what ultimate significance? When the pain of absence abates, what supplants it? The room that witnessed this event is as palpable as any space in which Rowe has recorded, maybe more so in that we are privy to the applause and a moment of the mundanities immediately following. I’m left with a vision comparable to that of performers like Emil Gilels, whose traversal of Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” sonata glows with the calmly insistent warmth of experience supplanting overt virtuosity. Here, Rowe inhabits a similar space. Each signpost is also a summation, the myriad histories and their attendant discoveries transmitted through scrubber, radio and, obviously, guitar. The fact that The Room Extended would follow, that Rowe remains musically active and innovative, neither negates nor mitigates the feeling of eras in simultaneously bittersweet juxtaposition and completion. The recording ends with a brief snapshot of raw environment, the spaces Rowe’s solo performances highlighted and opened for our exploration, a moment of the temporal continuum into which the lines he interwove are etched in lasting influence.

Marc Medwin

[rockislandadultreads]

Check out these history books from our bottom shelf! All these titles need some love, so check them out today!

Summaries and Ratings from goodreads.com

Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs by Buddy Levy

4.19/5 stars

It was a moment unique in human history, the face-to-face meeting between two men from civilizations a world apart. Only one would survive the encounter. In 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived on the shores of Mexico with a roughshod crew of adventurers and the intent to expand the Spanish empire. Along the way, this brash and roguish conquistador schemed to convert the native inhabitants to Catholicism and carry off a fortune in gold. That he saw nothing paradoxical in his intentions is one of the most remarkable—and tragic—aspects of this unforgettable story of conquest.

In Tenochtitlán, the famed City of Dreams, Cortés met his Aztec counterpart, Montezuma: king, divinity, ruler of fifteen million people, and commander of the most powerful military machine in the Americas. Yet in less than two years, Cortés defeated the entire Aztec nation in one of the most astonishing military campaigns ever waged. Sometimes outnumbered in battle thousands-to-one, Cortés repeatedly beat seemingly impossible odds. Buddy Levy meticulously researches the mix of cunning, courage, brutality, superstition, and finally disease that enabled Cortés and his men to survive.

Conquistador is the story of a lost kingdom—a complex and sophisticated civilization where floating gardens, immense wealth, and reverence for art stood side by side with bloodstained temples and gruesome rites of human sacrifice. It’s the story of Montezuma—proud, spiritual, enigmatic, and doomed to misunderstand the stranger he thought a god. Epic in scope, as entertaining as it is enlightening, Conquistador is history at its most riveting.

The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama by Thomas Laird

4.18/5 stars

The Story of Tibet is a work of monumental importance, a fascinating journey through the land and history of Tibet, with His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama as guide. Over the course of three years, journalist Thomas Laird spent more than sixty hours with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in candid, one-on-one interviews that covered His Holiness’s beliefs on history, science, reincarnation, and his lifelong study of Buddhism. Traveling across great distances to offer vivid descriptions of Tibet’s greatest monasteries, Laird brings his meetings with His Holiness to life in a rich and vibrant historical narrative that outlines the essence of thousands of years of civilization, myth, and spirituality. His Holiness introduces us to Tibet’s greatest yogis and meditation masters, and explains how the institution of the Dalai Lama was founded. Embedded throughout this journey is His Holiness’s lessons on the larger roles religion and spirituality have played in Tibet’s story, reflecting the Dalai Lama’s belief that history should be examined not only conventionally but holistically. The Story of Tibet is His Holiness’s personal look at his country’s past as well as a summation of his life’s work as both spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people.

Country of My Skull: Guilt, Sorrow, and the Limits of Forgiveness in the New South Africa by Antjie Krog

4.09/5 stars

Ever since Nelson Mandela dramatically walked out of prison in 1990 after twenty-seven years behind bars, South Africa has been undergoing a radical transformation. In one of the most miraculous events of the century, the oppressive system of apartheid was dismantled. Repressive laws mandating separation of the races were thrown out. The country, which had been carved into a crazy quilt that reserved the most prosperous areas for whites and the most desolate and backward for blacks, was reunited. The dreaded and dangerous security force, which for years had systematically tortured, spied upon, and harassed people of color and their white supporters, was dismantled. But how could this country--one of spectacular beauty and promise--come to terms with its ugly past? How could its people, whom the oppressive white government had pitted against one another, live side by side as friends and neighbors?

To begin the healing process, Nelson Mandela created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by the renowned cleric Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Established in 1995, the commission faced the awesome task of hearing the testimony of the victims of apartheid as well as the oppressors. Amnesty was granted to those who offered a full confession of any crimes associated with apartheid. Since the commission began its work, it has been the central player in a drama that has riveted the country. In this book, Antjie Krog, a South African journalist and poet who has covered the work of the commission, recounts the drama, the horrors, the wrenching personal stories of the victims and their families. Through the testimonies of victims of abuse and violence, from the appearance of Winnie Mandela to former South African president P. W. Botha's extraordinary courthouse press conference, this award-winning poet leads us on an amazing journey.

Highway to Hell: Dispatches from a Mercenary in Iraq by John Geddes

3.62/5 stars

Present-day Iraq: a crucible of torture, chemical warfare and Islamic terrorism, and straddling over it all the mighty US Army and its allies; but there's another western army in Iraq that dwarfs the British contingent and is second only in size to the US Army itself.

It's a disparate and anarchic multi-national force of men gathered from twenty or more countries numbering some 30,000. It's a mercenary army of men and a few women with guns for hire earning an average of $1,000 dollars a day. They are in Iraq to provide security for the businessmen, surveyors, building contractors, oil experts, aid workers and, of course, the TV crews who have flocked to the country to pick over the carcass of Saddam's regime and help the country re-build.

Not since the days when the East India Company used soldiers of fortune to depose fabulously wealthy Maharajas and conquer India for Great Britain, and mercenaries fought George Washington's Continental Army for King George, has such a large and lethal independent fighting force been assembled. Once upon a time such men were called freelances, mercenaries, soldiers of fortune or dogs of war, but today they go under a different name: private military contractors. There's a far more fundamental sea change, too, as women have joined their ranks in significant numbers for the first time, bringing a new and interesting dynamic into the equation.

In Iraq today the majority of their number are men who come from 'real deal' Special Forces units or former soldiers from regular units and regiments; all of them know what they're about and rub shoulders together more or less comfortably with at least a shared understanding of basic military requirements.

One such man is John Geddes, ex-SAS warrant officer and veteran of a fistful of hard wars who became a member of the private army in Iraq for the eighteen months immediately following George W. Bush's declaration of the end of hostilities in early May 2003. Now, for the first time, John Geddes will reveal the inside story of this extraordinary private army and the private war they are still fighting with the insurgents in Iraq.

Please Enjoy Your Happiness by Paul Brinkley-Rogers

3.56/5 stars

Please Enjoy Your Happiness is a beautifully written coming-of-age memoir based on the English author's summer-long love affair with a remarkable older Japanese woman.

Whilst serving as a seaman at the age of nineteen, Brinkley-Rogers met Kaji Yukiko, a sophisticated, highly intellectual Japanese woman, who was on the run from her vicious gangster boyfriend, a member of Japan's brutal crime syndicate the yakuza. Trying to create a perfect experience of purity, she took him under her wing, sharing their love of poetry, cinema and music and many an afternoon at the Mozart Café.

Brinkley-Rogers, now in his seventies, re-reads Yukiko's letters and finally recognizes her as the love of his life, receiving at last the gifts she tried to bestow on him. Reaching across time and continents, Brinkley-Rogers shows us how to reclaim a lost love, inviting us all to celebrate those loves of our lives that never do end.

A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It by Stephen Kinzer

4.19/5 stars 

A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It is the story of Paul Kagame, a refugee who, after a generation of exile, found his way home. Learn about President Kagame, who strives to make Rwanda the first middle-income country in Africa, in a single generation. In this adventurous tale, learn about Kagame's early fascination with Che Guevara and James Bond, his years as an intelligence agent, his training in Cuba and the United States, the way he built his secret rebel army, his bloody rebellion, and his outsized ambitions for Rwanda.