Gamma, Galan, and their tortoise friend Zachary are headed to Antigua, Guatemala to catch a show at the Pink Pony Club. The trio secured tickets to the coveted Chappell Roan residency. They are also excited to reunite with their dachshund friend Bijoux, who owns the club.
Never Criticize Those Above You Directly. This may seem obvious, but there are often times when some sort of criticism is necessary to say nothing, or to give no advice, would open you to risks of another sort. You must learn, however, to couch your advice and criticism as indirectly and as politely as possible. Think twice, or three times, before deciding you have made them sufficiently circuitous. Err on the side of subtlety and gentleness.
Never Affect Friendliness and Intimacy with Your Master. He does not want a friend for a subordinate, he wants a subordinate. Never approach him in an easy, friendly way, or act as if you are on the best of terms that is his prerogative. If he chooses to deal with you on this level, assume a wary chumminess. Otherwise err in the opposite direction, and make the distance between your clear.
Never Be the Bearer of Bad News. The king kills the messenger who brings bad news: This is a cliche but there is truth to it. You must struggle and if necessary lie and cheat to be sure that the lot of the bearer of bad news falls on a colleague, never on you. Bring only good news and your approach will gladden your master.
abcd 123 and this is nice
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass, against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
I came down from my omnipresent throne of love in the bosom of space and in the hearts of twinkling lights to find a cozy place in the heart of man. I stayed there long, shut out from my large, large home. I was everywhere; then hid myself away in the small places. Now I come out of my hiding places. I open the gates of the human limitations of family, caste, color and creed. I am racing everywhere to feel again my consciousness of omnipresence.
Eternity yawns at me below, above, on the left and on the right, in front and behind, within and without. With open eyes I behold myself as the little body. With closed eyes I perceive myself as the cosmic center around which revolves the sphere of eternity, the sphere of bliss, the sphere of omniscient, living space. I feel the Lord like a gentle breath of bliss breathing in my body of universes. I perceive Him shining through the bright twinkles of all luminosity and through the waves of cosmic consciousness. I behold Him as the light of solar inspiration holding the luminaries of my thoughts in the rhythms of balance. I feel Him as a bursting voice, leading, guiding, teaching secretly in the soul temples of all men and all creation. He is the fountain of wisdom and of radiant inspiration flowing through all souls. He is the fragrance oozing from the incense vase of all hearts. He is a garden of celestial blossoms and bright thought-flowers. He is the love that inspires our love-dreams. I feel Him percolating through my heart, as through all hearts, through the pores of the earth, through the sky, through all created things. He is the eternal motion of joy. He is the mirror of silence in which all creation is reflected.
Beloved God, I know that I am not the body, not the blood, not the energy, not the thoughts, not the mind, not the ego, not the astral self. I am the immortal soul that illumines them all, remaining unchangeable in spite of their changes. Eternal Youth of body and mind, abide in me forever, forever, forever. More and more I will depend for energy upon the limitless supply of the inner source of cosmic consciousness, and less and less upon outer sources of body energy. O Father, Thin unlimited and all-healing power is in me. Manifest Thy light through the darkness of my ignorance. O Spirit, teach me to heal the body by recharging it with Thy cosmic energy; to heal the mind by concentration and smiles.
Sadness, a universal yet deeply personal emotion, often arrives unexpectedly, lingering as a shadow in life’s bright moments. It may arise from – loss, unmet expectations, or the inevitable passage of time, each adding a unique shade to its depth. Unlike fleeting happiness, sadness encourages pause, inviting introspection, and a profound connection to oneself. In a world that often prioritizes joy, sadness teaches us essential lessons in empathy, patience, and resilience. It reminds us of what truly matters, revealing people, and memories that hold genuine value. Through sadness, we gain a capacity for compassion, learning not only to heal ourselves, but also to support others in their silent battles. Embracing sadness, rather than dismissing it, we grow, finding it to be a fundamental thread in life’s tapestry that adds - richness, meaning, and depth to our understanding of joy.
Alter Your Style and Language According to the Person You Are Dealing With. The pseudo-belief in equality the idea that talking and acting the same way with everyone, no matter what their rank, makes you somehow a paragon of civilization is a terrible mistake. Those below you will take it as a form of condescension, which it is, and those above you will be offended, although they may not admit it. You must change your style and your way of speaking to suit each person. This is also true for the great variety of cultures found in the modern court: Never assume that your criteria of behavior and judgment are universal. Not only is an inability to adapt to another culture the height of barbarism, it puts you at a disadvantage.
Arrange to Be Noticed. There is a paradox: You cannot display yourself too brazenly, yet you must also get yourself noticed. In the court of Louis XIV, whoever the king decided to look at rose instantly in the court hierarchy. You stand no chance of rising if the ruler does not notice you in the swamp of courtiers. This task requires much art. It is often initially a matter of being seen, in the literal sense. Pay attention to your physical appearance, then, and find a way to create a distinctive a subtly distinctive style and image.
Be Frugal with Flattery. It may seem that your superiors cannot get enough flattery, but too much of even a good thing loses its value. It also stirs up suspicion among your peers. Learn to flatter indirectly by downplaying your own contribution, for example, to make your master look better.
Creativity is the ability to think beyond conventional boundaries and explore new ideas, possibilities, or solutions. It’s about innovating, experimenting, and embracing curiosity to create something original or see familiar concepts in a novel way. In the world of creative coding, tools like Processing and p5.js offer a powerful platform for exploring creativity through visual art, design, and interactivity. Processing is a flexible software sketchbook and language primarily aimed at visual artists and designers. Built to make coding accessible for non-programmers, it allows users to create visual art, animations, and interactive experiences using code, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned coders.
Visual coding is an approach to programming that emphasizes creating visual representations of code through drag-and-drop blocks or code snippets, which helps demystify complex programming concepts. Visual coding platforms like Processing and Scratch let users build projects visually, which is especially helpful for those new to programming, as they can focus on creating and understanding patterns rather than memorizing syntax. Visual coding works by providing an intuitive interface where users can see, interact with, and immediately test their code. This hands-on approach speeds up learning and encourages experimentation, offering users instant visual feedback to understand what each line of code does.
There are various visual coding platforms that each cater to different interests and levels. For example, Scratch is designed for beginners, especially young learners, while Processing, p5.js, and TouchDesigner appeal to artists and designers for their flexibility in creating digital art and interactive projects. Unity and Unreal Engine are other popular platforms, especially suited for game development and interactive 3D design. With visual coding, you can create a range of projects, from interactive data visualizations and animations to games and installations, making it suitable for many creative pursuits.
Benefits of visual coding include its accessibility and ability to make coding concepts more intuitive. By focusing on visual output, learners can quickly grasp fundamental programming principles and see their creativity come to life, reducing the intimidation often associated with text-based coding. Processing is a fantastic starting point for those interested in merging art and code, as it offers a gentle learning curve with extensive resources and community support. Starting with Processing or other visual coding platforms not only enhances technical skills but also enables creative expression through digital art, bridging the gap between technology and the arts and unlocking new ways of thinking and creating.
Why Choose Processing Over Other Visual Coding Platforms?
Processing stands out as an ideal choice for beginners entering the world of creative coding and visual programming. Here’s why:
Beginner-Friendly Interface and Language: Processing’s interface and language are specifically designed to be accessible for artists, designers, and non-programmers, making it a great introductory platform for people without a technical background. The simplified syntax allows beginners to quickly grasp core programming concepts.
Extensive Community and Resources: Processing has a large and active community. This means there are plenty of tutorials, forums, open-source projects, and free resources that beginners can leverage. The Processing Foundation also supports educational resources and outreach, which ensures continued learning support.
Flexible for Both 2D and 3D Projects: Unlike some visual coding platforms that may limit you to either 2D or 3D, Processing offers extensive libraries for both, allowing beginners to experiment with simple graphics and progress to more complex, interactive designs as their skills grow.
Compatibility with P5.js: Processing’s JavaScript version, p5.js, offers the same ease of use but for web-based projects. This compatibility allows beginners to easily switch between desktop and web environments, expanding their creative possibilities.
Focus on Art and Interaction: While many visual coding platforms are optimized for game development or complex programming, Processing is built for artists, making it the go-to for creating visual art, animations, and interactive media. This focus makes Processing feel less intimidating and more inspiring for those with a creative mindset.
1. What kinds of projects can I create in Processing as a beginner, and how do these help me build foundational programming skills?
As a beginner in Processing, you can start by creating simple graphics, animations, and interactive art pieces. Projects like drawing shapes, creating patterns, and building simple games teach you core programming concepts such as variables, conditionals, loops, and functions. By manipulating visuals directly, you gain a concrete understanding of how code translates into on-screen changes. Over time, you can add interactivity (like mouse and keyboard input), which introduces event handling and builds a foundation for more advanced programming concepts such as object-oriented design and state management.
2. How does Processing compare with other platforms, like Scratch or TouchDesigner, in terms of scalability for intermediate and advanced projects?
Compared to Scratch, Processing is more scalable and allows for a deeper dive into programming. While Scratch uses a block-based approach ideal for younger learners, Processing provides more control and flexibility, allowing you to write more complex code for intricate designs. TouchDesigner is another visual coding tool, but it’s often used in professional-level multimedia installations and can be complex for beginners. Processing strikes a balance by offering enough simplicity for novices and enough depth to support more advanced projects like data visualization, generative art, and real-time interaction.
3. What are the advantages of learning Java-based Processing before transitioning to p5.js for web-based projects?
Learning Java-based Processing first helps you build a solid understanding of programming principles without the complexity of web development. Processing’s simplified Java syntax introduces you to structured coding in a way that feels manageable, setting you up with the skills you need before moving to the more versatile, web-compatible p5.js library. Transitioning to p5.js then becomes easier, as you already understand the fundamentals. Additionally, since p5.js is based on JavaScript, familiarity with Processing enables you to quickly learn the differences between Java and JavaScript, making your skillset adaptable across desktop and web-based creative coding environments.
Practice Nonchalance. Never seem to be working too hard. Your talent must appear to flow naturally, with an ease that makes people take you for a genius rather than a workaholic. Even when something demands a lot of sweat, make it look effortless people prefer to not see your blood and toil, which is another form of ostentation. It is better for them to marvel at how gracefully you have achieved your accomplishment than to wonder why it took so much work.
The Laws Of Court Politics
Avoid Ostentation. It is never prudent to prattle on about yourself or call too much attention to your actions. The more you talk about your deeds the more suspicion you cause. You also stir up enough envy among your peers to induce treachery and backstabbing. Be careful, ever so careful, in trumpeting your own achievements, and always talk less about yourself than about other people. Modesty is generally preferable.
The quick Brown Fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Many today dismiss court life as a relic of the past, a historical curiosity. They reason, according to Machiavelli, "as though heaven, the sun, the elements, and men had changed the order of their motions and power, and were different from what they were in ancient times." There may be no more Sun Kings but there are still plenty of people who believe the sun revolves around them. The royal court may have more or less disappeared, or at least lost its power, but courts and courtiers still exist because power still exists. A courtier is rarely asked to fall off a horse anymore, but the laws that govern court politics are as timeless as the laws of power. There is much to be learned, then, from great courtiers past and present.
Great courtiers throughout history have mastered the science of manipulating people. They make the king feel more kingly; they make everyone else fear their power. They are magicians of appearance, knowing that most things at court are judged by how they seem. Great courtiers are gracious and polite; their aggression is veiled and indirect. Masters of the word, they never say more than necessary, getting the most out of a compliment or hidden insult. They are magnets of pleasure people want to be around them because they know how to please, yet they neither fawn nor humiliate themselves. Great courtiers become the king's favorites, enjoying the benefits of that position. They often end up more powerful than the ruler, for they are wizards in the accumulation of influence.
To be a courtier was a dangerous game. A nineteenth-century Arab traveler to the court of Darfur, in what is now Sudan, reported that courtiers there had to do whatever the sultan did: If he were injured, they had to suffer the same injury; if he fell off his horse during a hunt, they fell, too. Mimicry like this appeared in courts all over the world. More troublesome was the danger of displeasing the ruler one wrong move spelled death or exile. The successful courtier had to walk a tightrope, pleasing but not pleasing too much, obeying but somehow distinguishing himself from the other courtiers, while also never distinguishing himself so far as to make their ruler insecure.
