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Ever wondered how the magic of seamless software development and deployment happens? Say hello to GitOps – your new best friend in the world of coding wonders! Are you ready to enter into the world of GitOps? Let’s dive in! What is GitOps? GitOps is a term that describes a set of practices that use Git as the source of truth for software development and deployment. GitOps leverages the power of version control to manage the entire lifecycle of applications and infrastructure. is a vital component of DevOps, enabling developers to track, collaborate, and review code changes consistently and reliably. Version control also facilitates continuous integration and delivery, as it allows for automated testing and deployment of code changes. Version control GitOps addresses some of the challenges that traditional workflows face, such as manual intervention, configuration drift, human error, etc. Using Git, enables the desired state of the system to always be defined, documented, and versioned in Git. Core Principles of GitOps GitOps also follows some key principles that make it a compelling approach for modern development and deployment. Some of these principles and benefits are: GitOps uses declarative configuration files to describe the desired state of the system. Declarative being that it is supported by a set of facts not instructions. This makes the system easier to understand, maintain, and reproduce. Declarative: It uses automation tools to balance the current state of the system with the desired state defined in Git. This eliminates human intervention which reduces human error while enabling faster and more reliable deployments. Automated: It ensures that the system can be reproduced in any environment, as long as the same configuration files are used. This helps us produce the same result across different stages and platforms. Reproducible: GitOps allows for easy reversal and recovery, as any change made to the system can be traced back to a specific commit in Git. Reversible: GitOps provides a complete history and audit trail of all changes made to the system, as every change is recorded and tracked in Git. This enables transparency, accountability, and compliance. Auditable: Understanding GitOps Concepts 1. Version Control with Git is a distributed version control system that enables developers to manage code changes collaboratively and efficiently. Git allows developers to create branches, which are separate copies of the code base that can be modified independently without affecting the main branch. Your codebase on git is like a tree, it can have so many branches if a branch is cut off, it doesn't affect the entire tree. Git Branching strategies are important in GitOps workflows, as they define how developers work on different features, fixes, or enhancements, and how they merge them back to the main branch. 2. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a practice that involves using code or configuration files to define, provision, and manage infrastructure resources such as servers, networks, storage, etc. IaC enables developers to treat infrastructure as software, applying the same principles of version control, automation, reproducibility, etc. IaC plays a crucial role in GitOps, as it allows developers to store the configuration files that describe the infrastructure state in Git, along with the application code. This ensures that the infrastructure is always aligned with the application requirements, and can be deployed or updated automatically. Some various tools and technologies enable IaC, such as Aptible which helps in automating infrastructure management. Declarative Configuration Management Declarative configuration management is a technique that involves using configuration files to specify the desired state of a system or an application, rather than using commands or scripts to instruct how to achieve it. Declarative configuration management simplifies the process of defining and maintaining complex systems or applications by abstracting away the implementation details. Declarative configuration management is widely used in GitOps workflows, as it enables developers to store the configuration files that describe the application state in Git, along with the infrastructure state. This ensures that the application is always deployed or updated according to the configuration files, and any discrepancy between the actual and desired state is detected and corrected automatically. Declarative configuration files are usually written in YAML or JSON formats, which are human-readable and machine-parsable. YAML and files can be used to define various aspects of an application, such as its components, dependencies, resources, environment variables, etc. JSON GitOps in Action: Implementation and Tools GitOps Workflow Lifecycle A typical GitOps workflow consists of four main phases: code development, continuous integration, continuous deployment, and release automation. These phases are illustrated in the following diagram: Code Development Phase: This phase involves developing and testing the application code and the configuration files that define the infrastructure and application state. Developers use Git to create branches, make commits, and perform code reviews. Once the code and configuration files are ready, they are merged into the main branch. Continuous Integration Phase: This phase involves building and testing the application code and the configuration files using automation tools. The tools check for syntax errors, code quality, security vulnerabilities, etc., and run unit tests, integration tests, etc. If the tests pass, the code and configuration files are pushed to a remote repository in Git. Continuous Deployment Phase: This phase involves deploying and updating the infrastructure and application state using automation tools. The tools monitor the remote repository in Git for any changes and synchronize the actual state of the system with the desired state defined in the code and configuration files. If there are any discrepancies, the tools apply the changes automatically or notify the developers for manual intervention. Release Automation Phase: This phase involves releasing and delivering the application to the end-users using automation tools. The tools manage the release process, such as creating release notes, tagging versions, rolling out updates, etc. The tools also enable features such as canary deployments, blue-green deployments, etc., to ensure smooth and safe releases. GitOps Tools and Platforms Some various tools and platforms enable GitOps workflows, such as ArgoCD, Flux, Jenkins X, WeaveWorks, etc. These tools and platforms differ in scope, features, and capabilities, but they all share the common goal of automating GitOps workflows. Some of the features and capabilities that these tools and platforms offer are: Git Integration: The tools and platforms integrate with Git repositories to monitor and synchronize changes to the code and configuration files. They also support various Git operations, such as branching, merging, tagging, etc. IaC Support: The tools and platforms support various IaC tools and technologies, such as Aptible. They also support various cloud providers and platforms, such as AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, etc. Declarative Configuration Management: The tools and platforms support declarative configuration management using YAML or JSON files. They also support various configuration formats and standards, such as Kubernetes manifests, Helm charts, Customize overlays, etc. Continuous Integration and Testing: The tools and platforms provide continuous integration and testing capabilities using various automation tools and frameworks. They also provide feedback loops and quality gates to ensure code quality and reliability. Continuous Deployment and Synchronization: The tools and platforms provide continuous deployment and synchronization capabilities using various automation tools and mechanisms. They also provide reconciliation loops and health checks to ensure system consistency and stability. Release Automation and Delivery: The tools and platforms provide release automation and delivery capabilities using various automation tools and strategies. They also provide observability and traceability features to ensure system performance and availability. Advantages of GitOps Adoption Enhanced Collaboration and Transparency One of the main advantages of GitOps adoption is that it enhances collaboration and transparency among developers and other stakeholders involved in software development and deployment. By using Git as the single source of truth for both code and configuration files. Git also facilitates collaboration by enabling developers to work on different branches without affecting each other’s work. Developers can also perform code reviews using pull requests or merge requests before merging their changes to the main branch. This ensures that the code quality is maintained throughout the development process. GitOps also provides transparency by recording every change made to the system in Git history. Developers can easily track who made what change when using commit messages or tags. This enables accountability and traceability for every change made to the system. Improved Traceability and Auditing Another advantage of GitOps adoption is that it improves traceability and auditing for software development and deployment. GitOps also provides auditing by creating a complete audit trail of all changes made to the system in Git. Developers can easily verify who authorized, approved, or deployed any change using pull requests or merge requests. This enables compliance and governance for software development and deployment. Scalability and Resource Efficiency It enhances scalability and resource efficiency for software development and deployment. By using automation tools to synchronize the system state with the code and configuration files in Git, GitOps ensures that the system can scale up or down according to the demand and requirements. GitOps also enables resource optimization by using automation tools to deploy or update the system efficiently and consistently. GitOps reduces the need for manual intervention and human error, which can lead to wasted resources or inconsistent results. GitOps also leverages the cloud-native capabilities of platforms such as Kubernetes, which can dynamically allocate and manage resources for applications and infrastructure. Challenges and Best Practices in GitOps Common Challenges in GitOps Implementation GitOps is not without its challenges, as it requires a shift in mindset, culture, and processes for software development and deployment. Some of the common challenges that developers may face when implementing GitOps are: Synchronization Issues: One of the main challenges in GitOps is ensuring that the system state is always synchronized with the code and configuration files in Git. This requires a reliable and robust automation tool that can detect and correct any discrepancies between the actual and desired state. It also requires clear communication and coordination among developers and other stakeholders to avoid conflicts or inconsistencies. Secrets Management: Another challenge in GitOps is managing secrets and sensitive information, such as passwords, keys, tokens, etc., that are required for accessing or deploying the system. Storing secrets in plain text in Git is not secure, as it exposes them to unauthorized access or leakage. Therefore, developers need to use encryption or other methods to protect secrets and use tools that can securely inject secrets into the system at runtime. Best Practices for GitOps Success To overcome the challenges and achieve success with GitOps, developers need to follow some best practices that can help them implement GitOps effectively and efficiently. Some of these best practices are: One of the best practices for GitOps is to securely manage access control and permissions for both code and configuration files in Git. Developers need to use authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access or modify the code and configuration files. Developers also need to use encryption and signing methods to ensure that the code and configuration files are not tampered with or corrupted. Securely Managing Access Control and Permissions: I Another best practice for GitOps is to implement effective monitoring and alerting systems for both code and configuration files in Git. Developers need to use tools that can monitor the status and health of the code and configuration files, as well as the system state. Developers also need to use tools that can alert them of any changes, errors, or issues that occur in the code and configuration files, or the system state. mplementing Effective Monitoring and Alerting: GitOps is not just a theoretical concept, but a practical approach that has been adopted by many organizations across different industries. Some of these organizations are: is one of the world’s leading streaming platforms, serving over 200 million subscribers across 190 countries. Netflix uses GitOps to manage its complex and dynamic infrastructure and application state on AWS. Netflix uses tools such as Spinnaker, Terraform, and Chaos Monkey to automate its deployment and synchronization processes, as well as its resilience testing. Netflix also uses tools such as Atlas, Edda, and Vizceral to monitor and visualize its system state. Netflix: Netflix : Weaveworks is one of the pioneers and advocates of GitOps, providing a platform and tools that enable developers to implement GitOps workflows on Kubernetes. Weaveworks uses GitOps internally to manage its own infrastructure and application state on Kubernetes. Weaveworks uses tools such as Flux, Helm, Prometheus, and Grafana to automate its deployment and synchronization processes, as well as its monitoring and alerting systems. Weaveworks Intuit is one of the world’s leading financial software companies, providing products and services such as QuickBooks, TurboTax, and Mint. Intuit uses GitOps to manage its infrastructure and application state on Kubernetes. Intuit uses tools such as ArgoCD, Kustomize, and Istio to automate its deployment and synchronization processes, as well as its service mesh. Intuit also uses tools such as Wavefront, PagerDuty, and Slack to monitor and alert its system state. Intuit: GitOps is not a final destination, but a journey that continues to evolve and improve over time. As the software development and deployment landscape changes and advances, so does GitOps. Conclusion GitOps is a powerful and promising approach that can transform your software development and deployment processes. By using Git as the source of truth for both code and configuration files, you can achieve faster, smarter, and safer software development and deployment. It is more than just a technical approach, but a cultural and organizational one. It is a way of thinking and doing software development and deployment. However, remember that GitOps is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a flexible and adaptable one. You need to continuously learn and adapt to the changing requirements and challenges of software development and deployment. You also need to experiment and innovate with new tools and technologies that can enhance your GitOps workflows. We believe that GitOps is the future of software development and deployment. We invite you to join us in this journey and embrace the transformative power of GitOps. Reference What is a GitOps workflow? | GitLab Guide To GitOps (weave.works) How to Deploy to Kubernetes using Argo CD and GitOps | DigitalOcean IBM Developer GitOps Workflow - Introduction to GitOps - Flux Based Course (cloudacademy.com) What is GitOps? (redhat.com) Guide To GitOps (weave.works)

A Deep Dive Into the GitOps World

Some General Remarks on Psychoanalysis

Physical Geography

The Noonification: GitHub Copilot and the Endangered Code Monkey (5/16/2024)

GitHub Copilot and the Endangered Code Monkey

গিটহাব কপিলট এবং বিপন্ন কোড বানর

GitHub Copilot und der vom Aussterben bedrohte Code Monkey

Copiloto de GitHub y el mono código en peligro de extinción

Copilote GitHub et le singe code en voie de disparition

GitHub कोपायलट और लुप्तप्राय कोड बंदर

GitHub Copilot と絶滅の危機に瀕するコードモンキー

GitHub Copilot과 멸종 위기에 처한 Code Monkey

Copiloto do GitHub e o Code Monkey ameaçado

GitHub Copilot и кодовая обезьяна, находящаяся под угрозой исчезновения

GitHub Copilot ve Nesli Tehlike Altındaki Kod Maymunu

GitHub Copilot và chú khỉ mã có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng

GitHub Copilot 和濒临灭绝的 Code Monkey

Web3 Gaming is developing fast, but limitations such as isolated in-game economies and single-use NFTs restrict its full potential. Eldarune — a multi-faceted gaming ecosystem with average monthly transactions of over 100,000 — seems to break down these barriers and promote a more all-encompassing experience. Eldarune is the biggest Turkish Web3 gaming project that has the most advanced technology in the Web3 gaming market to date. The studio was conceived in Seedify, a Web3 gaming-focused incubator and launchpad, and has garnered the support of BNB Chain, Bybit, Decubate, Hacken, Immutable, Layer One X, and other The team behind Eldarune is based in Turkey and consists of 28 individuals, each bringing their expertise to the table.Can Picak, the CEO and project spokesperson, is a prominent industry leader with a background in Web3 gaming and blockchain marketing. He has practical experience in integrating gaming with blockchain and leveraging AI and IoT in startups. Building a Gaming Studio Powerhouse: The DIGA Labs Legacy Eldarune is a creation of DIGA Labs, a cutting-edge blockchain gaming solutions provider. Founded in 2021 by a team of passionate gamers and blockchain enthusiasts, DIGA Labs has a proven gaming industry track record and brings in software development expertise. This expertise shows that, technologically speaking, Eldarune titles are state-of-the-art. The company breaks the mold of traditional Web3 gaming, letting the players use their digital assets across multiple games. ELDA tokens and NFTs are like universal game currency, working in all their titles. This creates a connected ecosystem where all in-game efforts have real value and can be applied to different gaming experiences. ELDA Token The ELDA token is the lifeblood of the Eldarune ecosystem, powering a diverse range of in-game experiences. Players can use ELDA to access exclusive features and content, and also NFT purchases and rentals to expand their arsenals. ELDA unlocks participation in competitive activities like arena battles and tournaments – a juicy chance to win even more tokens and prestigious rewards. Players can also stake their ELDA for passive income through farming and burning mechanisms or directly invest it in powerful in-game items and character upgrades. For those eager to join the Eldarune adventure, ELDA is readily available for purchase on popular DEXs and CEXs like Bybit, MEXC, and PancakeSwap. A Universe of Games: Eldarune's Multi-Faceted Approach Eldarune is building a sprawling gaming universe that is not confined to a single blockchain. This multi-chain approach leverages the strengths of BNB Chain, Polygon, and Ethereum, creating a versatile and expansive player experience. On the 8th of April, Eldarune will also integrate Avalanche, and later, Solana will join the party. So, what is the multi-chain approach all about? Imagine playing different games where your cool sword or rare character skin follows you from one adventure to the next. That's the magic of Layer One X tech – Eldarune’s partner. It lets you trade your digital assets (tokens, NFTs, and customization items) seamlessly between their games, even if they’re on different blockchains. Simply put, you can jump between games without losing your hard-earned loot, creating a more connected experience and opening doors to potentially sweet rewards. So far, Eldarune’s universe includes four titles. World of Elymnias (WoE), an open beta idle game, lets players build empires and collect loot with minimal effort, perfect for casual sessions. Strategic minds can test their skills in the closed beta of Heroes of Eldarune (HoE), a TCG where they can build their ultimate deck and outwit opponents. Journey (open Beta) offers a captivating narrative adventure through text-based choices, allowing players to craft their own story. For the competitive crowd, ELDA RUSH, a closed alpha MOBA, is on the waitlist, promising fast-paced brawls. Eldarune's Diverse Gaming Universe: World of Elymnias (WoE) This idle game attracts over 10,000 daily active users. WoE has PvP modes where you can test your strategic prowess against other players in the arena. It is currently in open Beta, and players can download the game’s APK through the Eldarune Discord channel. Heroes of Eldarune (HoE) HoE is a TCG (Trading Card Game) with simple mechanics and user-friendly graphics. The game’s continuous development and new features are decided through collaboration with the Eldarune community and DAO. HoE is currently in the Beta stage, expected to launch in Q3 2024. Journey It is a text-based adventure game in which players explore a narrative-driven world, with over 50,000 users actively engaging in the storyline. You'll send your troops on dangerous journeys, following the narrative's twists and turns as you make choices that shape your path. Completing quests and progressing through the story unlocks valuable rewards. Eldarune Journey is in closed Beta. ELDA Rush It is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game akin to popular titles like Dota 2 and League of Legends. Assemble your team of powerful heroes, each with distinct abilities, and dive into the battlefield. ELDA Rush is currently in a closed Alpha stage with a limited player base. Players can join Eldarune's live streams to experience the game firsthand and potentially participate in the testing phase. Interoperability, Multi-Chain Dominance – and More Eldarune's true innovation lies in its interoperable NFTs and multi-chain functionality, setting it apart in the crowded Web3 gaming space. As of 2024, it delivers the most advanced technology in the market: Interoperable NFTs Players can use their acquired NFTs across all Eldarune titles. In-game NFTs in Eldarune transcend individual games, boosting their value and utility. The ability to rent or sell these NFTs on marketplaces creates a highly liquid in-game economy, allowing players to earn real-world value from their assets. Multi-Chain Gameplay Eldarune is currently operational on BNB, Polygon, and Ethereum, which is a great chance for players from different ecosystems to connect and compete. This creates a more expansive and inclusive gaming environment, attracting a wider player base. AI-powered Eldarune elevates gameplay through its AI that tailors experiences to individual players. By learning from your choices and actions, the AI personalizes the in-game world and adjusts difficulty for continued engagement. Players can train the AI and make NPCs fight alongside them in battles; AI-powered NPCs can create unique missions, and trained AI champions can be sold as NFTs. Community-focused Eldarune creates a space where players can contribute to the game's evolution. Further boosting engagement, a system of 21 seasons keeps players hooked, contributing to a sustainable and dynamic in-game economy. Gameplay Versatility Each title offers multiple modes, from conquering campaigns and exploring dungeons to battling clan bosses and testing skills in PvP arenas. This diversity ensures there's something for everyone. Accessibility is paramount, with all Eldarune games playable across browsers, mobile devices, PCs, and even consoles, allowing players to jump in anytime, anywhere. Deep Submersion Eldarune goes beyond captivating gameplay. Each title has its own immersive soundtrack album, setting a new standard for atmospheric experiences. Web3 Gaming Ecosystem That Constantly Evolves With over 20,000 unique NFT holders and the ELDA token reaching an all-time high of $0.062 in January 2024, the Eldarune ecosystem appears to be thriving. The project’s roadmap outlines a continuous development process with exciting prospects – Eldarune gears up for a busy March and April. Public Beta Testnets for both Heroes of Eldarune and Journey kick off in March, followed by exciting Public Beta Testnet Tournaments for both games in March and April. 2024 brings even more action with a free mint event on Avalanche (April 15th), Avalanche integration, L1X integration, and an Avalanche HoE Tournament. Eldarune's commitment to interoperability, multi-chain functionality, and a diverse gaming portfolio positions it as a strong contender in the Web3 gaming landscape. Even though the project is still under development, with Elda Rush and HoE yet to be fully launched, the initial games offer a glimpse into Eldarune's potential. The long-term success will hinge on the execution of the ambitious roadmap and the continuous delivery of engaging and vanward gaming experiences. This story was distributed under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here. Web3 Gaming is developing fast, but limitations such as isolated in-game economies and single-use NFTs restrict its full potential. Eldarune — a multi-faceted gaming ecosystem with average monthly transactions of over 100,000 — seems to break down these barriers and promote a more all-encompassing experience. Eldarune Eldarune Eldarune is the biggest Turkish Web3 gaming project that has the most advanced technology in the Web3 gaming market to date. The studio was conceived in Seedify , a Web3 gaming-focused incubator and launchpad, and has garnered the support of BNB Chain, Bybit, Decubate, Hacken, Immutable, Layer One X, and other Web3 gaming Seedify Seedify The team behind Eldarune is based in Turkey and consists of 28 individuals, each bringing their expertise to the table. Can Picak , the CEO and project spokesperson, is a prominent industry leader with a background in Web3 gaming and blockchain marketing. He has practical experience in integrating gaming with blockchain and leveraging AI and IoT in startups. Can Picak Can Picak Building a Gaming Studio Powerhouse: The DIGA Labs Legacy Eldarune is a creation of DIGA Labs , a cutting-edge blockchain gaming solutions provider. Founded in 2021 by a team of passionate gamers and blockchain enthusiasts, DIGA Labs has a proven gaming industry track record and brings in software development expertise. DIGA Labs DIGA Labs This expertise shows that, technologically speaking, Eldarune titles are state-of-the-art. The company breaks the mold of traditional Web3 gaming, letting the players use their digital assets across multiple games. ELDA tokens and NFTs are like universal game currency, working in all their titles. This creates a connected ecosystem where all in-game efforts have real value and can be applied to different gaming experiences. ELDA Token The ELDA token is the lifeblood of the Eldarune ecosystem, powering a diverse range of in-game experiences. Players can use ELDA to access exclusive features and content, and also NFT purchases and rentals to expand their arsenals. ELDA token ELDA token ELDA unlocks participation in competitive activities like arena battles and tournaments – a juicy chance to win even more tokens and prestigious rewards. Players can also stake their ELDA for passive income through farming and burning mechanisms or directly invest it in powerful in-game items and character upgrades. For those eager to join the Eldarune adventure, ELDA is readily available for purchase on popular DEXs and CEXs like Bybit , MEXC , and PancakeSwap . Bybit Bybit MEXC MEXC PancakeSwap PancakeSwap A Universe of Games: Eldarune's Multi-Faceted Approach Eldarune is building a sprawling gaming universe that is not confined to a single blockchain. This multi-chain approach leverages the strengths of BNB Chain, Polygon, and Ethereum, creating a versatile and expansive player experience. On the 8th of April, Eldarune will also integrate Avalanche, and later, Solana will join the party. So, what is the multi-chain approach all about? Imagine playing different games where your cool sword or rare character skin follows you from one adventure to the next. That's the magic of Layer One X tech – Eldarune’s partner . It lets you trade your digital assets (tokens, NFTs, and customization items) seamlessly between their games, even if they’re on different blockchains. Simply put, you can jump between games without losing your hard-earned loot, creating a more connected experience and opening doors to potentially sweet rewards. partner partner So far, Eldarune’s universe includes four titles. World of Elymnias (WoE), an open beta idle game, lets players build empires and collect loot with minimal effort, perfect for casual sessions. Strategic minds can test their skills in the closed beta of Heroes of Eldarune (HoE), a TCG where they can build their ultimate deck and outwit opponents. Journey (open Beta) offers a captivating narrative adventure through text-based choices, allowing players to craft their own story. For the competitive crowd, ELDA RUSH, a closed alpha MOBA, is on the waitlist, promising fast-paced brawls. Eldarune's Diverse Gaming Universe: World of Elymnias (WoE) World of Elymnias (WoE) This idle game attracts over 10,000 daily active users. WoE has PvP modes where you can test your strategic prowess against other players in the arena. It is currently in open Beta, and players can download the game’s APK through the Eldarune Discord channel . Eldarune Discord channel Eldarune Discord channel Heroes of Eldarune (HoE) Heroes of Eldarune (HoE) HoE is a TCG (Trading Card Game) with simple mechanics and user-friendly graphics. The game’s continuous development and new features are decided through collaboration with the Eldarune community and DAO. HoE is currently in the Beta stage, expected to launch in Q3 2024. Journey Journey It is a text-based adventure game in which players explore a narrative-driven world, with over 50,000 users actively engaging in the storyline. You'll send your troops on dangerous journeys, following the narrative's twists and turns as you make choices that shape your path. Completing quests and progressing through the story unlocks valuable rewards. Eldarune Journey is in closed Beta. ELDA Rush ELDA Rush It is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game akin to popular titles like Dota 2 and League of Legends. Assemble your team of powerful heroes, each with distinct abilities, and dive into the battlefield. ELDA Rush is currently in a closed Alpha stage with a limited player base. Players can join Eldarune's live streams to experience the game firsthand and potentially participate in the testing phase. Interoperability, Multi-Chain Dominance – and More Eldarune's true innovation lies in its interoperable NFTs and multi-chain functionality, setting it apart in the crowded Web3 gaming space. As of 2024, it delivers the most advanced technology in the market: Interoperable NFTs Interoperable NFTs Players can use their acquired NFTs across all Eldarune titles. In-game NFTs in Eldarune transcend individual games, boosting their value and utility. The ability to rent or sell these NFTs on marketplaces creates a highly liquid in-game economy, allowing players to earn real-world value from their assets. Multi-Chain Gameplay Multi-Chain Gameplay Eldarune is currently operational on BNB, Polygon, and Ethereum, which is a great chance for players from different ecosystems to connect and compete. This creates a more expansive and inclusive gaming environment, attracting a wider player base. AI-powered AI-powered Eldarune elevates gameplay through its AI that tailors experiences to individual players. By learning from your choices and actions, the AI personalizes the in-game world and adjusts difficulty for continued engagement. Players can train the AI and make NPCs fight alongside them in battles; AI-powered NPCs can create unique missions, and trained AI champions can be sold as NFTs. Community-focused Community-focused Eldarune creates a space where players can contribute to the game's evolution. Further boosting engagement, a system of 21 seasons keeps players hooked, contributing to a sustainable and dynamic in-game economy. Gameplay Versatility Gameplay Versatility Each title offers multiple modes, from conquering campaigns and exploring dungeons to battling clan bosses and testing skills in PvP arenas. This diversity ensures there's something for everyone. Accessibility is paramount, with all Eldarune games playable across browsers, mobile devices, PCs, and even consoles, allowing players to jump in anytime, anywhere. Deep Submersion Deep Submersion Eldarune goes beyond captivating gameplay. Each title has its own immersive soundtrack album, setting a new standard for atmospheric experiences. Web3 Gaming Ecosystem That Constantly Evolves With over 20,000 unique NFT holders and the ELDA token reaching an all-time high of $0.062 in January 2024, the Eldarune ecosystem appears to be thriving. reaching an all-time high reaching an all-time high The project’s roadmap outlines a continuous development process with exciting prospects – Eldarune gears up for a busy March and April. Public Beta Testnets for both Heroes of Eldarune and Journey kick off in March, followed by exciting Public Beta Testnet Tournaments for both games in March and April. 2024 brings even more action with a free mint event on Avalanche (April 15th), Avalanche integration, L1X integration, and an Avalanche HoE Tournament. Eldarune's commitment to interoperability, multi-chain functionality, and a diverse gaming portfolio positions it as a strong contender in the Web3 gaming landscape. Even though the project is still under development, with Elda Rush and HoE yet to be fully launched, the initial games offer a glimpse into Eldarune's potential. The long-term success will hinge on the execution of the ambitious roadmap and the continuous delivery of engaging and vanward gaming experiences. This story was distributed under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here. This story was distributed under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here . here

Eldarune: Revolutionizing Web3 Gaming with Interoperability and Multi-Chain Dominance

Eldarune: ইন্টারঅপারেবিলিটি এবং মাল্টি-চেইন আধিপত্য সহ ওয়েব3 গেমিংকে বিপ্লবী করা

Eldarune: Revolutionierung des Web3-Gamings durch Interoperabilität und Multi-Chain-Dominanz

Eldarune: revolucionando los juegos Web3 con interoperabilidad y dominio de múltiples cadenas

Eldarune : révolutionner le jeu Web3 avec l'interopérabilité et la domination multi-chaînes

एल्डारून: इंटरऑपरेबिलिटी और मल्टी-चेन प्रभुत्व के साथ वेब3 गेमिंग में क्रांति लाना

Eldarune: 相互運用性とマルチチェーン優位性で Web3 ゲームに革命を起こす

Eldarune: 상호 운용성과 다중 체인 지배력을 통해 Web3 게임에 혁명을 일으키다

Eldarune: Revolucionando os jogos Web3 com interoperabilidade e domínio multi-chain

Eldarune: революция в Web3-играх благодаря совместимости и доминированию нескольких цепочек

Eldarune: Birlikte Çalışabilirlik ve Çoklu Zincir Hakimiyeti ile Web3 Oyunlarında Devrim Yaratıyor

Eldarune: Cách mạng hóa trò chơi Web3 với khả năng tương tác và thống trị đa chuỗi

Eldarune：通过互操作性和多链主导性彻底改变 Web3 游戏

Scientific American, Volume XXIV., No. 12, March 18, 1871 by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . EXTENSIONS. here EXTENSIONS. Wagons.—Edgar Huson, Ithaca, N. Y. Letters Patent No. 16,648, dated February 17, 1857; reissue No. 2,500, dated March 5, 1867. Operating Valve of Steam Engine.—Samuel R. Wilmot, Bridgeport, Conn. Letters Patent No. 16,668, dated February 17, 1857. Hinges.—John David Browne, Cincinnati, Ohio. Letters Patent No. 16,678, dated February 24, 1857. Keeper for Right and Left Hand Door Locks.—Calvin Adams, Pittsburgh, Pa. Letters Patent No. 16,676, dated February 24, 1857. Solar Camera.—David A. Woodward, Baltimore, Md. Letters Patent No. 16,700, dated February 24, 1857; reissue No. 2,311, dated July 10, 1866. Cast Seamless Thimble Skeins for Wagons.—John Benedict, Kenosha, Wis., administrator of Andrew Leonard, deceased. Letters Patent No. 16,688, dated February 24, 1857; reissue No. 575, dated July 27, 1858; reissue No. 1,229, dated October 8, 1861. Mode of Casting Seamless Skeins for Wagons.—John Benedict, Kenosha, Wis., administrator of Andrew Leonard, deceased. Letters Patent No. 16,688, dated February 24, 1857; reissue No. 575, dated July 27, 1858; reissue No. 1,228, dated October 8, 1861. Breech-loading Firearms.—William Cleveland Hicks, Summit, N. J. Letters Patent No. 16,797, dated March 10, 1857; reissue No. 1,952, dated May 9, 1865; reissue No. 3,798, dated January 18, 1870; reissue No. 3,860, dated March 1, 1870. Seeding Machine.—Lewis B. Myers and Henry A. Myers, Elmore, Ohio. Letters Patent No. 16,772, dated March 3, 1857. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2006). Scientific American, Volume XXIV., No. 12, March 18, 1871. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19180/pg19180-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

Edgar Huson, Ithaca, N. Y. Letters Patent No. 16,648, dated February 17, 1857; reissue No. 2,500

Christian Science by Mark Twain, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . MRS. EDDY IN ERROR here MRS. EDDY IN ERROR I feel almost sure that Mrs. Eddy's inspiration—works are getting out of repair. I think so because they made some errors in a statement which she uttered through the press on the 17th of January. Not large ones, perhaps, still it is a friend's duty to straighten such things out and get them right when he can. Therefore I will put my other duties aside for a moment and undertake this helpful service. She said as follows: “In view of the circulation of certain criticisms from the pen of Mark Twain, I submit the following statement: “It is a fact, well understood, that I begged the students who first gave me the endearing appellative 'mother' not to name me thus. But, without my consent, that word spread like wildfire. I still must think the name is not applicable to me. I stand in relation to this century as a Christian discoverer, founder, and leader. I regard self-deification as blasphemous; I may be more loved, but I am less lauded, pampered, provided for, and cheered than others before me—and wherefore? Because Christian Science is not yet popular, and I refuse adulation. “My visit to the Mother-Church after it was built and dedicated pleased me, and the situation was satisfactory. The dear members wanted to greet me with escort and the ringing of bells, but I declined, and went alone in my carriage to the church, entered it, and knelt in thanks upon the steps of its altar. There the foresplendor of the beginnings of truth fell mysteriously upon my spirit. I believe in one Christ, teach one Christ, know of but one Christ. I believe in but one incarnation, one Mother Mary, and know I am not that one, and never claimed to be. It suffices me to learn the Science of the Scriptures relative to this subject. “Christian Scientists have no quarrel with Protestants, Catholics, or any other sect. They need to be understood as following the divine Principle God, Love and not imagined to be unscientific worshippers of a human being. “In the aforesaid article, of which I have seen only extracts, Mark Twain's wit was not wasted In certain directions. Christian Science eschews divine rights in human beings. If the individual governed human consciousness, my statement of Christian Science would be disproved, but to understand the spiritual idea is essential to demonstrate Science and its pure monotheism—one God, one Christ, no idolatry, no human propaganda. Jesus taught and proved that what feeds a few feeds all. His life-work subordinated the material to the spiritual, and He left this legacy of truth to mankind. His metaphysics is not the sport of philosophy, religion, or Science; rather it is the pith and finale of them all. “I have not the inspiration or aspiration to be a first or second Virgin-Mother—her duplicate, antecedent, or subsequent. What I am remains to be proved by the good I do. We need much humility, wisdom, and love to perform the functions of foreshadowing and foretasting heaven within us. This glory is molten in the furnace of affliction.” She still thinks the name of Our Mother not applicable to her; and she is also able to remember that it distressed her when it was conferred upon her, and that she begged to have it suppressed. Her memory is at fault here. If she will take her By-laws, and refer to Section 1 of Article XXII., written with her own hand—she will find that she has reserved that title to herself, and is so pleased with it, and so—may we say jealous?—about it, that she threatens with excommunication any sister Scientist who shall call herself by it. This is that Section 1: “The Title of Mother. In the year 1895 loyal Christian Scientists had given to the author of their text-book, the Founder of Christian Science, the individual, endearing term of Mother. Therefore, if a student of Christian Science shall apply this title, either to herself or to others, except as the term for kinship according to the flesh, it shall be regarded by the Church as an indication of disrespect for their Pastor Emeritus, and unfitness to be a member of the Mother-Church.” Mrs. Eddy is herself the Mother-Church—its powers and authorities are in her possession solely—and she can abolish that title whenever it may please her to do so. She has only to command her people, wherever they may be in the earth, to use it no more, and it will never be uttered again. She is aware of this. It may be that she “refuses adulation” when she is not awake, but when she is awake she encourages it and propagates it in that museum called “Our Mother's Room,” in her Church in Boston. She could abolish that institution with a word, if she wanted to. She is aware of that. I will say a further word about the museum presently. Further down the column, her memory is unfaithful again: “I believe in... but one Mother Mary, and know I am not that one, and never claimed to be.” At a session of the National Christian Science Association, held in the city of New York on the 27th of May, 1890, the secretary was “instructed to send to our Mother greetings and words of affection from her assembled children.” Her telegraphic response was read to the Association at next day's meeting: “All hail! He hath filled the hungry with good things and the sick hath He not sent empty away.—MOTHER MARY.” Which Mother Mary is this one? Are there two? If so, she is both of them; for, when she signed this telegram in this satisfied and unprotesting way, the Mother-title which she was going to so strenuously object to, and put from her with humility, and seize with both hands, and reserve as her sole property, and protect her monopoly of it with a stern By-law, while recognizing with diffidence that it was “not applicable” to her (then and to-day)—that Mother—title was not yet born, and would not be offered to her until five years later. The date of the above “Mother Mary” is 1890; the “individual, endearing title of Mother” was given her “in 1895”—according to her own testimony. See her By-law quoted above. In his opening Address to that Convention of 1890, the President recognized this Mary—our Mary-and abolished all previous ones. He said: “There is but one Moses, one Jesus; and there is but one Mary.” The confusions being now dispersed, we have this clarified result: There had been a Moses at one time, and only one; there had been a Jesus at one time, and only one; there is a Mary and “only one.” She is not a Has Been, she is an Is—the “Author of Science and Health; and we cannot ignore her.” 1. In 1890, there was but one Mother Mary. The President said so. 2. Mrs. Eddy was that one. She said so, in signing the telegram. 3. Mrs. Eddy was not that one for she says so, in her Associated Press utterance of January 17th. 4. And has “never claimed to be that one”—unless the signature to the telegram is a claim. Thus it stands proven and established that she is that Mary and isn't, and thought she was and knows she wasn't. That much is clear. She is also “The Mother,” by the election of 1895, and did not want the title, and thinks it is not applicable to her, and will excommunicate any one that tries to take it away from her. So that is clear. I think that the only really troublesome confusion connected with these particular matters has arisen from the name Mary. Much vexation, much misunderstanding, could have been avoided if Mrs. Eddy had used some of her other names in place of that one. “Mother Mary” was certain to stir up discussion. It would have been much better if she had signed the telegram “Mother Baker”; then there would have been no Biblical competition, and, of course, that is a thing to avoid. But it is not too late, yet. I wish to break in here with a parenthesis, and then take up this examination of Mrs. Eddy's Claim of January 17th again. The history of her “Mother Mary” telegram—as told to me by one who ought to be a very good authority—is curious and interesting. The telegram ostensibly quotes verse 53 from the “Magnificat,” but really makes some pretty formidable changes in it. This is St. Luke's version: “He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.” This is “Mother Mary's” telegraphed version: “He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the sick hath He not sent empty away.” To judge by the Official Report, the bursting of this bombshell in that massed convention of trained Christians created no astonishment, since it caused no remark, and the business of the convention went tranquilly on, thereafter, as if nothing had happened. Did those people detect those changes? We cannot know. I think they must have noticed them, the wording of St. Luke's verse being as familiar to all Christians as is the wording of the Beatitudes; and I think that the reason the new version provoked no surprise and no comment was, that the assemblage took it for a “Key”—a spiritualized explanation of verse 53, newly sent down from heaven through Mrs. Eddy. For all Scientists study their Bibles diligently, and they know their Magnificat. I believe that their confidence in the authenticity of Mrs. Eddy's inspirations is so limitless and so firmly established that no change, however violent, which she might make in a Bible text could disturb their composure or provoke from them a protest. Her improved rendition of verse 53 went into the convention's report and appeared in a New York paper the next day. The (at that time) Scientist whom I mentioned a minute ago, and who had not been present at the convention, saw it and marvelled; marvelled and was indignant—indignant with the printer or the telegrapher, for making so careless and so dreadful an error. And greatly distressed, too; for, of course, the newspaper people would fall foul of it, and be sarcastic, and make fun of it, and have a blithe time over it, and be properly thankful for the chance. It shows how innocent he was; it shows that he did not know the limitations of newspaper men in the matter of Biblical knowledge. The new verse 53 raised no insurrection in the press; in fact, it was not even remarked upon; I could have told him the boys would not know there was anything the matter with it. I have been a newspaper man myself, and in those days I had my limitations like the others. The Scientist hastened to Concord and told Mrs. Eddy what a disastrous mistake had been made, but he found to his bewilderment that she was tranquil about it, and was not proposing to correct it. He was not able to get her to promise to make a correction. He asked her secretary if he had heard aright when the telegram was dictated to him; the secretary said he had, and took the filed copy of it and verified its authenticity by comparing it with the stenographic notes. Mrs. Eddy did make the correction, two months later, in her official organ. It attracted no attention among the Scientists; and, naturally, none elsewhere, for that periodical's circulation was practically confined to disciples of the cult. That is the tale as it was told to me by an ex-Scientist. Verse 53—renovated and spiritualized—had a narrow escape from a tremendous celebrity. The newspaper men would have made it as famous as the assassination of Caesar, but for their limitations. To return to the Claim. I find myself greatly embarrassed by Mrs. Eddy's remark: “I regard self-deification as blasphemous.” If she is right about that, I have written a half-ream of manuscript this past week which I must not print, either in the book which I am writing, or elsewhere: for it goes into that very matter with extensive elaboration, citing, in detail, words and acts of Mrs. Eddy's which seem to me to prove that she is a faithful and untiring worshipper of herself, and has carried self-deification to a length which has not been before ventured in ages. If ever. There is not room enough in this chapter for that Survey, but I can epitomize a portion of it here. With her own untaught and untrained mind, and without outside help, she has erected upon a firm and lasting foundation the most minutely perfect, and wonderful, and smoothly and exactly working, and best safe-guarded system of government that has yet been devised in the world, as I believe, and as I am sure I could prove if I had room for my documentary evidences here. It is a despotism (on this democratic soil); a sovereignty more absolute than the Roman Papacy, more absolute than the Russian Czarship; it has not a single power, not a shred of authority, legislative or executive, which is not lodged solely in the sovereign; all its dreams, its functions, its energies, have a single object, a single reason for existing, and only the one—to build to the sky the glory of the sovereign, and keep it bright to the end of time. Mrs. Eddy is the sovereign; she devised that great place for herself, she occupies that throne. In 1895, she wrote a little primer, a little body of autocratic laws, called the Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and put those laws in force, in permanence. Her government is all there; all in that deceptively innocent-looking little book, that cunning little devilish book, that slumbering little brown volcano, with hell in its bowels. In that book she has planned out her system, and classified and defined its purposes and powers. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Mark Twain (2004). Christian Science. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3187/pg3187-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

MRS. EDDY IN ERROR

I hope this post's title does not make you feel clickbaited, but I promise I will try to live up to it. I must admit that I am not fluent in the works of Edgar Allan Poe, but I read his essay “The Philosophy of Composition,” and I was amazed by the lessons it can provide to security professionals. In this essay, he details his thought process for coming up with the poem “The Raven.” Since this is an amazing piece of writing, I want to showcase some of his thoughts on this topic and how they can be applied to the writing of security professionals. Keep in mind that Poe is talking about poetry, and is not poetry, and it shouldn’t be. Therefore, not all of this essay can be applied to cybersecurity, and sometimes, it is the case that you should do the exact opposite. cybersecurity writing Cybersecurity Writing What do I mean when I talk about “Cybersecurity Writing”? Almost every job in the field of cybersecurity will demand writing a report about something. Examples are: Pentest and Red Team reports Cyber Threat Intelligence reports reporting on an OSINT investigation audit reports reporting on a security incident that has occurred All of these reports usually serve the purpose of summarizing an extensive and highly technical job you and your peers have done and presenting the outcomes to stakeholders ranging from management to IT admins. The Philosophy and Poetry of Cybersecurity Writing I will structure this post along with some quotes from Poe’s essay and will talk about how I think they apply to cybersecurity writing. I still urge you to read the essay in full, and if you haven’t done so yet, you should read the poem “The Raven.” You can find the essay here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69390/the-philosophy-of-composition Nothing is more clear than that every plot, worth the name, must be elaborated to its denouement before anything be attempted with the pen. It is only with the denouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents, and especially the tone at all points, tend to the development of the intention. This illustrates that before you start to put anything in writing, you should think about your message and the point(s) you want to make. These key takeaways should always be in the back of your head, and all writing you do should aim to serve them. If your goal is to increase the budget for awareness training, the shortcomings and vulnerabilities you talk about should imply that an increased user awareness would reduce the risk of them becoming dangerous to your organization. Or, as Poe said: I prefer commencing with the consideration of an effect. It is my design to render it manifest that no one point in its composition is referable either to accident or intuition—that the work proceeded step by step, to its completion, with the precision and rigid consequence of a mathematical problem. This is one of the most remarkable quotes in this entire essay. Poe admits that poetry and good writing are essentially mathematical problems, contrary to something that comes from intuition and accident. While this may take the romance out of some poetry, it is great news for all cybersecurity professionals. This means that you can learn good writing. The best thing is that this calls for the use of templates. If there are clear constraints that define good writing, you can put them into a template and reuse them. Doing this will make writing easier and faster and reduce overhead. If any literary work is too long to be read at one sitting, we must be content to dispense with the immensely important effect derivable from unity of impression. This explains why all your work should have a “Management Summary.” Someday, somebody wants a five-minute summary of your work, and this person probably is the one calling the shots. If your writing is not able to convey its message in a very short time, all the work that went into your report might be pointless. What we term a long poem is, in fact, merely a succession of brief ones—that is to say, of brief poetical effects. Sadly, a report that can be read in five minutes is not always sufficient. If your client has paid thousands of dollars for the work you did and the only tangible result he gets is a PDF, you better make sure he feels that it is worth his money. Sometimes, this can be achieved by writing a big, extensive report. If that is the case, it is a good idea to provide a variety of arguments that support the “story arch” to arrive at your overall conclusion. I kept steadily in view the design of rendering the work universally appreciable. This is perfectly highlighting what should be done in terms of “stakeholder communications.” Usually, there will be multiple recipients of your writing with varying degrees of understanding of the topic you are talking about. Make sure that all of them get what they need from your writing. That does not mean that you have to explain recent threat actor activity or cross-site scripting like you are talking to a five-year-old. You can include different chapters in your report aimed at different audiences, but make sure to explain which chapter is intended for which audience. Always keep your audience in mind and make sure all stakeholders can appreciate your work. Truth, in fact, demands a precision, and Passion, a homeliness (the truly passionate will comprehend me), which are absolutely antagonistic to that Beauty which, I maintain, is the excitement or pleasurable elevation of the soul. This separates the writing cybersecurity folks do from the stuff poets produce. Creating beautiful reports is nice to have, but the truth (philosophical question: “Can we get there?”) is what you should aim for. So don’t shy away from telling things like they are. The sound of the refrain being thus determined, it became necessary to select a word embodying this sound, and at the same time in the fullest possible keeping with that melancholy which I had pre-determined as the tone of the poem. In such a search it would have been absolutely impossible to overlook the word “Nevermore.” The repetition of the word “Nevermore” is probably the thing that still is in your head, together with a memory of the dark and mystic vibe that the poem had. It will be the same with the reports you are writing. So aim for an overarching tone and repeat your refrain. It probably is not “Nevermore,” but something like “increase the budget,” “defense in depth,” or “there is a high risk because of this event.” Here, then, immediately arose the idea of a non-reasoning creature capable of speech, and very naturally, a parrot, in the first instance, suggested itself, but was superseded forthwith by a Raven as equally capable of speech, and infinitely more in keeping with the intended tone. This is a fun insight into Poe’s process of thinking, but also a key message about tone and choice of words. Consider your audience, the vibe, and the message your writing targets. Throwing around terms like MQTT, AES, IoC, and APT is probably a bad idea for a management summary. As well as using terms like “hacker tools” and “sneaky software” ****in chapters written for your security teams. The same applies to general tone. For example: “Our systems are currently under siege by a sophisticated APT, demonstrating indicators of highly skilled adversaries with substantial resources.” tells you, “Shits on fire, yo” On the other hand: “We have identified the potential presence of an APT in our network. This could possibly lead to issues in the system integrity and data security if not looked into.” sounds way less scary. Conclusion Writing is a crucial skill for any security professional, and I believe we all should spend some time learning and improving that skill systematically. Communicating your messages and intentions in a clear and audience-appropriate way can save time, advance your career, and improve the perception of your work. If you have enjoyed this blog, share it with a friend, follow me on Twitter , and give it a like. @secbyaccident Also published . here

What Cybersecurity Professionals Can Learn From The Works of Edgar Allan Poe

Christian Science by Mark Twain, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . CHAPTER IX here CHAPTER IX We may now make a final footing-up of Mrs. Eddy, and see what she is, in the fulness of her powers. She is: The Massachusetts Metaphysical College Pastor Emeritus; President; Board of Directors; Board of Education; Board of Lectureships; Future Board of Trustees, Proprietor of the Publishing-House and Periodicals; Treasurer; Clerk; Proprietor of the Teachers; Proprietor of the Lecturers; Proprietor of the Missionaries; Proprietor of the Readers; Dictator of the Services; sole Voice of the Pulpit; Proprietor of the Sanhedrin; Sole Proprietor of the Creed. (Copyrighted.); Indisputable Autocrat of the Branch Churches, with their life and death in her hands; Sole Thinker for The First Church (and the others); Sole and Infallible Expounder of Doctrine, in life and in death; Sole permissible Discoverer, Denouncer, Judge, and Executioner of Ostensible Hypnotists; Fifty-handed God of Excommunication—with a thunderbolt in every hand; Appointer and Installer of the Pastor of all the Churches—the Perpetual Pastor-Universal, Science and Health, “the Comforter.” About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Mark Twain (2004). Christian Science. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3187/pg3187-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

A FINAL FOOTING-UP OF MRS. EDDY

Christian Science by Mark Twain, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . CHAPTER VIII here CHAPTER VIII I think that any one who will carefully examine the By-laws (I have placed all of the important ones before the reader), will arrive at the conclusion that of late years the master-passion in Mrs. Eddy's heart is a hunger for power and glory; and that while her hunger for money still remains, she wants it now for the expansion and extension it can furnish to that power and glory, rather than what it can do for her towards satisfying minor and meaner ambitions. I wish to enlarge a little upon this matter. I think it is quite clear that the reason why Mrs. Eddy has concentrated in herself all powers, all distinctions, all revenues that are within the command of the Christian Science Church Universal is that she desires and intends to devote them to the purpose just suggested—the upbuilding of her personal glory—hers, and no one else's; that, and the continuing of her name's glory after she shall have passed away. If she has overlooked a single power, howsoever minute, I cannot discover it. If she has found one, large or small, which she has not seized and made her own, there is no record of it, no trace of it. In her foragings and depredations she usually puts forward the Mother-Church—a lay figure—and hides behind it. Whereas, she is in manifest reality the Mother-Church herself. It has an impressive array of officials, and committees, and Boards of Direction, of Education, of Lectureship, and so on—geldings, every one, shadows, spectres, apparitions, wax-figures: she is supreme over them all, she can abolish them when she will; blow them out as she would a candle. She is herself the Mother-Church. Now there is one By-law which says that the Mother-Church: “shall be officially controlled by no other church.” That does not surprise us—we know by the rest of the By-laws that that is a quite irrelevant remark. Yet we do vaguely and hazily wonder why she takes the trouble to say it; why she wastes the words; what her object can be—seeing that that emergency has been in so many, many ways, and so effectively and drastically barred off and made impossible. Then presently the object begins to dawn upon us. That is, it does after we have read the rest of the By-law three or four times, wondering and admiring to see Mrs. Eddy—Mrs. Eddy—Mrs. Eddy, of all persons—throwing away power!—making a fair exchange—doing a fair thing for once more, an almost generous thing! Then we look it through yet once more unsatisfied, a little suspicious—and find that it is nothing but a sly, thin make-believe, and that even the very title of it is a sarcasm and embodies a falsehood—“self” government: “Local Self-Government. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, shall assume no official control of other churches of this denomination. It shall be officially controlled by no other church.” It has a most pious and deceptive give-and-take air of perfect fairness, unselfishness, magnanimity—almost godliness, indeed. But it is all art. In the By-laws, Mrs. Eddy, speaking by the mouth of her other self, the Mother-Church, proclaims that she will assume no official control of other churches-branch churches. We examine the other By-laws, and they answer some important questions for us: What is a branch Church? It is a body of Christian Scientists, organized in the one and only permissible way—by a member, in good standing, of the Mother-Church, and who is also a pupil of one of Mrs. Eddy's accredited students. That is to say, one of her properties. No other can do it. There are other indispensable requisites; what are they? The new Church cannot enter upon its functions until its members have individually signed, and pledged allegiance to, a Creed furnished by Mrs. Eddy. They are obliged to study her books, and order their lives by them. And they must read no outside religious works. They must sing the hymns and pray the prayers provided by her, and use no others in the services, except by her permission. They cannot have preachers and pastors. Her law. In their Church they must have two Readers—a man and a woman. They must read the services framed and appointed by her. She—not the branch Church—appoints those Readers. She—not the branch Church—dismisses them and fills the vacancies. She can do this without consulting the branch Church, and without explaining. The branch Church can have a religious lecture from time to time. By applying to Mrs. Eddy. There is no other way. But the branch Church cannot select the lecturer. Mrs. Eddy does it. The branch Church pays his fee. The harnessing of all Christian Science wedding-teams, members of the branch Church, must be done by duly authorized and consecrated Christian Science functionaries. Her factory is the only one that makes and licenses them. [15. Nothing is said about christenings. It is inferable from this that a Christian Science child is born a Christian Scientist and requires no tinkering.] [16. Nothing is said about funerals. It is inferable, then, that a branch Church is privileged to do in that matter as it may choose.] To sum up. Are any important Church-functions absent from the list? I cannot call any to mind. Are there any lacking ones whose exercise could make the branch in any noticeable way independent of the Mother. Church?—even in any trifling degree? I think of none. If the named functions were abolished would there still be a Church left? Would there be even a shadow of a Church left? Would there be anything at all left? even the bare name? Manifestly not. There isn't a single vital and essential Church-function of any kind, that is not named in the list. And over every one of them the Mother-Church has permanent and unchallengeable control, upon every one of them Mrs. Eddy has set her irremovable grip. She holds, in perpetuity, autocratic and indisputable sovereignty and control over every branch Church in the earth; and yet says, in that sugary, naive, angel-beguiling way of hers, that the Mother-Church: “shall assume no official control of other churches of this denomination.” Whereas in truth the unmeddled-with liberties of a branch Christian Science Church are but very, very few in number, and are these: It can appoint its own furnace-stoker, winters. 2. It can appoint its own fan-distributors, summers. 3. It can, in accordance with its own choice in the matter, burn, bury, or preserve members who are pretending to be dead—whereas there is no such thing as death. 4. It can take up a collection. The branch Churches have no important liberties, none that give them an important voice in their own affairs. Those are all locked up, and Mrs. Eddy has the key. “Local Self-Government” is a large name and sounds well; but the branch Churches have no more of it than have the privates in the King of Dahomey's army. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Mark Twain (2004). Christian Science. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3187/pg3187-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

MRS. EDDY'S HEART IS A HUNGER FOR POWER AND GLORY

In this YouTube interview with Eddie Konialian, the founder and CEO of DirectRope, we delved into the transformative potential of blockchain technology in the realm of referral networking. Eddie firmly believes that blockchain technology holds the key to the future of referral networking. He noted, "Blockchain is a game changer in referral networking." He explained that by operating on a , DirectRope ensures that individuals have complete control over their data while maintaining data accuracy and validation. Eddie added, blockchain "There's an environment where we can coexist with existing CRMs where we can share data and share information with our users. And that user can feel empowered by owning that data." The following is a summary of the key points from our discussion. You can watch the full interview by clicking on the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPdFnJPBRN4&embedable=true A Journey Rooted in Collaboration Eddie's journey into the world of referral networking is marked by his upbringing, which instilled in him the values of collaboration and working with others. Reflecting on his family's influence, Eddie noted, "Our upbringing had allowed us to work with people to get goals accomplished." His background, having emigrated from the Middle East to the United States during the Lebanese Civil War, laid the foundation for his unique approach to business and leadership. With over two decades of experience in the financial industry, Eddie has held key managerial and executive roles, where he placed a strong emphasis on accountability, mutual growth, and individual empowerment. He shared, "It's about not only asking my employees to be loyal to me, but I wanted to be loyal to my employees by teaching them by making sure that they were self-sufficient in everything that they did, and always started off with knowledge." The Trilateral Referral Concept: Empowering Customers DirectRope, under Eddie's leadership, champions the trilateral referral concept. This innovative approach goes beyond traditional unilateral or bilateral referral methods by actively involving customers in the referral process. Eddie believes this approach empowers customers by giving them a say in who contacts them and underlines the importance of networking with the customer's needs and preferences in mind. Eddie stated, "The whole trilateral concept is being able to network with the customer in mind and the customer involved." DirectRope's Founding Vision: Data Ownership and Transparency DirectRope emerged from a vision to revolutionize the referral process. Eddie explained, "We want to give people the ability to own their own data... DirectRope is understanding your return on activity and your network's return on activity versus just simply your return on investment." Enhancing Networking Opportunities with Trust and Transparency DirectRope's primary goal is to enhance networking opportunities by bringing transparency and trust into the equation. Eddie emphasized, "With DirectRope, we are trying to make sure that everybody knows who they're dealing with and who they're working with. That way, the relationships are strong from the beginning and last longer." Blockchain as the Game Changer Eddie firmly believes that blockchain technology holds the key to the future of referral networking. He noted, "Blockchain is a game changer in referral networking." He explained that by operating on a blockchain, DirectRope ensures that individuals have complete control over their data while maintaining data accuracy and validation. Eddie added, "There's an environment where we can coexist with existing CRMs where we can share data and share information with our users. And that user can feel empowered by owning that data." DirectRope in Action DirectRope, in practice, automates historical networking practices transparently. Eddie described it as "Humans have networked for years on end...but now we're doing it in an automated fashion." He emphasized the platform's focus on trust and transparency, ensuring that users can rely on real results without the potential for data manipulation. Words of Wisdom for Startup Founders In closing, Eddie shared valuable advice for fellow startup founders: "Believe in yourself and your vision." He acknowledged the roller-coaster journey of entrepreneurship, with its ups and downs and moments of doubt. Eddie emphasized that unwavering commitment to one's ideas and vision will ultimately lead to success. He also cautioned about recognizing the point of no return, emphasizing that crossing this threshold can mean the difference between pursuing entrepreneurial dreams and returning to a salaried employee role. Eddie's core message revolved around self-belief and emotional resilience as the keys to navigating the startup world and bringing innovative ideas to life. Conclusion Eddie Konialian has invaluable insights into the innovative world of referral networking and the transformative potential of blockchain technology. His journey, shaped by a background of collaboration and accountability, underscores the importance of fostering genuine relationships in business.

Blockchain For Referral Marketing: A Conversation With DirectRope CEO Eddie Konialian

The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories by Mark Twain, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . EDWARD MILLS AND GEORGE BENTON: A TALE here EDWARD MILLS AND GEORGE BENTON: A TALE These two were distantly related to each other—seventh cousins, or something of that sort. While still babies they became orphans, and were adopted by the Brants, a childless couple, who quickly grew very fond of them. The Brants were always saying: “Be pure, honest, sober, industrious, and considerate of others, and success in life is assured.” The children heard this repeated some thousands of times before they understood it; they could repeat it themselves long before they could say the Lord's Prayer; it was painted over the nursery door, and was about the first thing they learned to read. It was destined to be the unswerving rule of Edward Mills's life. Sometimes the Brants changed the wording a little, and said: “Be pure, honest, sober, industrious, considerate, and you will never lack friends.” Baby Mills was a comfort to everybody about him. When he wanted candy and could not have it, he listened to reason, and contented himself without it. When Baby Benton wanted candy, he cried for it until he got it. Baby Mills took care of his toys; Baby Benton always destroyed his in a very brief time, and then made himself so insistently disagreeable that, in order to have peace in the house, little Edward was persuaded to yield up his play-things to him. When the children were a little older, Georgie became a heavy expense in one respect: he took no care of his clothes; consequently, he shone frequently in new ones, which was not the case with Eddie. The boys grew apace. Eddie was an increasing comfort, Georgie an increasing solicitude. It was always sufficient to say, in answer to Eddie's petitions, “I would rather you would not do it”—meaning swimming, skating, picnicking, berrying, circusing, and all sorts of things which boys delight in. But answer was sufficient for Georgie; he had to be humored in his desires, or he would carry them with a high hand. Naturally, no boy got more swimming skating, berrying, and so forth than he; no body ever had a better time. The good Brants did not allow the boys to play out after nine in summer evenings; they were sent to bed at that hour; Eddie honorably remained, but Georgie usually slipped out of the window toward ten, and enjoyed himself until midnight. It seemed impossible to break Georgie of this bad habit, but the Brants managed it at last by hiring him, with apples and marbles, to stay in. The good Brants gave all their time and attention to vain endeavors to regulate Georgie; they said, with grateful tears in their eyes, that Eddie needed no efforts of theirs, he was so good, so considerate, and in all ways so perfect. no By and by the boys were big enough to work, so they were apprenticed to a trade: Edward went voluntarily; George was coaxed and bribed. Edward worked hard and faithfully, and ceased to be an expense to the good Brants; they praised him, so did his master; but George ran away, and it cost Mr. Brant both money and trouble to hunt him up and get him back. By and by he ran away again—more money and more trouble. He ran away a third time—and stole a few things to carry with him. Trouble and expense for Mr. Brant once more; and, besides, it was with the greatest difficulty that he succeeded in persuading the master to let the youth go unprosecuted for the theft. Edward worked steadily along, and in time became a full partner in his master's business. George did not improve; he kept the loving hearts of his aged benefactors full of trouble, and their hands full of inventive activities to protect him from ruin. Edward, as a boy, had interested himself in Sunday-schools, debating societies, penny missionary affairs, anti-tobacco organizations, anti-profanity associations, and all such things; as a man, he was a quiet but steady and reliable helper in the church, the temperance societies, and in all movements looking to the aiding and uplifting of men. This excited no remark, attracted no attention—for it was his “natural bent.” Finally, the old people died. The will testified their loving pride in Edward, and left their little property to George—because he “needed it”; whereas, “owing to a bountiful Providence,” such was not the case with Edward. The property was left to George conditionally: he must buy out Edward's partner with it; else it must go to a benevolent organization called the Prisoner's Friend Society. The old people left a letter, in which they begged their dear son Edward to take their place and watch over George, and help and shield him as they had done. Edward dutifully acquiesced, and George became his partner in the business. He was not a valuable partner: he had been meddling with drink before; he soon developed into a constant tippler now, and his flesh and eyes showed the fact unpleasantly. Edward had been courting a sweet and kindly spirited girl for some time. They loved each other dearly, and—But about this period George began to haunt her tearfully and imploringly, and at last she went crying to Edward, and said her high and holy duty was plain before her—she must not let her own selfish desires interfere with it: she must marry “poor George” and “reform him.” It would break her heart, she knew it would, and so on; but duty was duty. So she married George, and Edward's heart came very near breaking, as well as her own. However, Edward recovered, and married another girl—a very excellent one she was, too. Children came to both families. Mary did her honest best to reform her husband, but the contract was too large. George went on drinking, and by and by he fell to misusing her and the little ones sadly. A great many good people strove with George—they were always at it, in fact—but he calmly took such efforts as his due and their duty, and did not mend his ways. He added a vice, presently—that of secret gambling. He got deeply in debt; he borrowed money on the firm's credit, as quietly as he could, and carried this system so far and so successfully that one morning the sheriff took possession of the establishment, and the two cousins found themselves penniless. Times were hard, now, and they grew worse. Edward moved his family into a garret, and walked the streets day and night, seeking work. He begged for it, but it was really not to be had. He was astonished to see how soon his face became unwelcome; he was astonished and hurt to see how quickly the ancient interest which people had had in him faded out and disappeared. Still, he get work; so he swallowed his chagrin, and toiled on in search of it. At last he got a job of carrying bricks up a ladder in a hod, and was a grateful man in consequence; but after that knew him or cared anything about him. He was not able to keep up his dues in the various moral organizations to which he belonged, and had to endure the sharp pain of seeing himself brought under the disgrace of suspension. must nobody But the faster Edward died out of public knowledge and interest, the faster George rose in them. He was found lying, ragged and drunk, in the gutter one morning. A member of the Ladies' Temperance Refuge fished him out, took him in hand, got up a subscription for him, kept him sober a whole week, then got a situation for him. An account of it was published. General attention was thus drawn to the poor fellow, and a great many people came forward and helped him toward reform with their countenance and encouragement. He did not drink a drop for two months, and meantime was the pet of the good. Then he fell—in the gutter; and there was general sorrow and lamentation. But the noble sisterhood rescued him again. They cleaned him up, they fed him, they listened to the mournful music of his repentances, they got him his situation again. An account of this, also, was published, and the town was drowned in happy tears over the re-restoration of the poor beast and struggling victim of the fatal bowl. A grand temperance revival was got up, and after some rousing speeches had been made the chairman said, impressively: “We are not about to call for signers; and I think there is a spectacle in store for you which not many in this house will be able to view with dry eyes.” There was an eloquent pause, and then George Benton, escorted by a red-sashed detachment of the Ladies of the Refuge, stepped forward upon the platform and signed the pledge. The air was rent with applause, and everybody cried for joy. Everybody wrung the hand of the new convert when the meeting was over; his salary was enlarged next day; he was the talk of the town, and its hero. An account of it was published. George Benton fell, regularly, every three months, but was faithfully rescued and wrought with, every time, and good situations were found for him. Finally, he was taken around the country lecturing, as a reformed drunkard, and he had great houses and did an immense amount of good. He was so popular at home, and so trusted—during his sober intervals—that he was enabled to use the name of a principal citizen, and get a large sum of money at the bank. A mighty pressure was brought to bear to save him from the consequences of his forgery, and it was partially successful—he was “sent up” for only two years. When, at the end of a year, the tireless efforts of the benevolent were crowned with success, and he emerged from the penitentiary with a pardon in his pocket, the Prisoner's Friend Society met him at the door with a situation and a comfortable salary, and all the other benevolent people came forward and gave him advice, encouragement and help. Edward Mills had once applied to the Prisoner's Friend Society for a situation, when in dire need, but the question, “Have you been a prisoner?” made brief work of his case. While all these things were going on, Edward Mills had been quietly making head against adversity. He was still poor, but was in receipt of a steady and sufficient salary, as the respected and trusted cashier of a bank. George Benton never came near him, and was never heard to inquire about him. George got to indulging in long absences from the town; there were ill reports about him, but nothing definite. One winter's night some masked burglars forced their way into the bank, and found Edward Mills there alone. They commanded him to reveal the “combination,” so that they could get into the safe. He refused. They threatened his life. He said his employers trusted him, and he could not be traitor to that trust. He could die, if he must, but while he lived he would be faithful; he would not yield up the “combination.” The burglars killed him. The detectives hunted down the criminals; the chief one proved to be George Benton. A wide sympathy was felt for the widow and orphans of the dead man, and all the newspapers in the land begged that all the banks in the land would testify their appreciation of the fidelity and heroism of the murdered cashier by coming forward with a generous contribution of money in aid of his family, now bereft of support. The result was a mass of solid cash amounting to upward of five hundred dollars—an average of nearly three-eights of a cent for each bank in the Union. The cashier's own bank testified its gratitude by endeavoring to show (but humiliatingly failed in it) that the peerless servant's accounts were not square, and that he himself had knocked his brains out with a bludgeon to escape detection and punishment. George Benton was arraigned for trial. Then everybody seemed to forget the widow and orphans in their solicitude for poor George. Everything that money and influence could do was done to save him, but it all failed; he was sentenced to death. Straightway the Governor was besieged with petitions for commutation or pardon; they were brought by tearful young girls; by sorrowful old maids; by deputations of pathetic widows; by shoals of impressive orphans. But no, the Governor—for once—would not yield. Now George Benton experienced religion. The glad news flew all around. From that time forth his cell was always full of girls and women and fresh flowers; all the day long there was prayer, and hymn-singing, and thanksgiving, and homilies, and tears, with never an interruption, except an occasional five-minute intermission for refreshments. This sort of thing continued up to the very gallows, and George Benton went proudly home, in the black cap, before a wailing audience of the sweetest and best that the region could produce. His grave had fresh flowers on it every day, for a while, and the head-stone bore these words, under a hand pointing aloft: “He has fought the good fight.” The brave cashier's head-stone has this inscription: “Be pure, honest, sober, industrious, considerate, and you will never—” Nobody knows who gave the order to leave it that way, but it was so given. The cashier's family are in stringent circumstances, now, it is said; but no matter; a lot of appreciative people, who were not willing that an act so brave and true as his should go unrewarded, have collected forty-two thousand dollars—and built a Memorial Church with it. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Mark Twain (2004). The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/142/pg142-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

EDWARD MILLS AND GEORGE BENTON: A TALE

Christian Science by Mark Twain, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . CHAPTER VI here CHAPTER VI Thus far we have a part of Mrs. Eddy's portrait. Not made of fictions, surmises, reports, rumors, innuendoes, dropped by her enemies; no, she has furnished all of the materials herself, and laid them on the canvas, under my general superintendence and direction. As far as she has gone with it, it is the presentation of a complacent, commonplace, illiterate New England woman who “forgot everything she knew” when she discovered her discovery, then wrote a Bible in good English under the inspiration of God, and climbed up it to the supremest summit of earthly grandeur attainable by man—where she sits serene to-day, beloved and worshiped by a multitude of human beings of as good average intelligence as is possessed by those that march under the banner of any competing cult. This is not intended to flatter the competing cults, it is merely a statement of cold fact. That a commonplace person should go climbing aloft and become a god or a half-god or a quarter-god and be worshiped by men and women of average intelligence, is nothing. It has happened a million times, it will happen a hundred million more. It has been millions of years since the first of these supernaturals appeared, and by the time the last one in that inconceivably remote future shall have performed his solemn little high-jinks on the stage and closed the business, there will be enough of them accumulated in the museum on the Other Side to start a heaven of their own-and jam it. Each in his turn those little supernaturals of our by-gone ages and aeons joined the monster procession of his predecessors and marched horizonward, disappeared, and was forgotten. They changed nothing, they built nothing, they left nothing behind them to remember them by, nothing to hold their disciples together, nothing to solidify their work and enable it to defy the assaults of time and the weather. They passed, and left a vacancy. They made one fatal mistake; they all made it, each in his turn: they failed to organize their forces, they failed to centralize their strength, they failed to provide a fresh Bible and a sure and perpetual cash income for business, and often they failed to provide a new and accepted Divine Personage to worship. Mrs. Eddy is not of that small fry. The materials that go to the making of the rest of her portrait will prove it. She will furnish them herself: She published her book. She copyrighted it. She copyrights everything. If she should say, “Good-morning; how do you do?” she would copyright it; for she is a careful person, and knows the value of small things. She began to teach her Science, she began to heal, she began to gather converts to her new religion—fervent, sincere, devoted, grateful people. A year or two later she organized her first Christian Science “Association,” with six of her disciples on the roster. She continued to teach and heal. She was charging nothing, she says, although she was very poor. She taught and healed gratis four years altogether, she says. Then, in 1879-81 she was become strong enough, and well enough established, to venture a couple of impressively important moves. The first of these moves was to aggrandize the “Association” to a “Church.” Brave? It is the right name for it, I think. The former name suggests nothing, invited no remark, no criticism, no inquiry, no hostility; the new name invited them all. She must have made this intrepid venture on her own motion. She could have had no important advisers at that early day. If we accept it as her own idea and her own act—and I think we must—we have one key to her character. And it will explain subsequent acts of hers that would merely stun us and stupefy us without it. Shall we call it courage? Or shall we call it recklessness? Courage observes; reflects; calculates; surveys the whole situation; counts the cost, estimates the odds, makes up its mind; then goes at the enterprise resolute to win or perish. Recklessness does not reflect, it plunges fearlessly in with a hurrah, and takes the risks, whatever they may be, regardless of expense. Recklessness often fails, Mrs. Eddy has never failed—from the point of view of her followers. The point of view of other people is naturally not a matter of weighty importance to her. The new Church was not born loose-jointed and featureless, but had a defined plan, a definite character, definite aims, and a name which was a challenge, and defied all comers. It was “a Mind-healing Church.” It was “without a creed.” Its name, “The Church of Christ, Scientist.” Mrs. Eddy could not copyright her Church, but she chartered it, which was the same thing and relieved the pain. It had twenty-six charter members. Mrs. Eddy was at once installed as its pastor. The other venture, above referred to, was Mrs. Eddy's Massachusetts Metaphysical College, in which was taught “the pathology of spiritual power.” She could not copyright it, but she got it chartered. For faculty it had herself, her husband of the period (Dr. Eddy), and her adopted son, Dr. Foster-Eddy. The college term was “barely three weeks,” she says. Again she was bold, brave, rash, reckless—choose for yourself—for she not only began to charge the student, but charged him a hundred dollars a week for the enlightenments. And got it? some may ask. Easily. Pupils flocked from far and near. They came by the hundred. Presently the term was cut down nearly half, but the price remained as before. To be exact, the term-cut was to seven lessons—price, three hundred dollars. The college “yielded a large income.” This is believable. In seven years Mrs. Eddy taught, as she avers, over four thousand students in it. (Preface to 1902 edition of Science and Health.) Three hundred times four thousand is—but perhaps you can cipher it yourself. I could do it ordinarily, but I fell down yesterday and hurt my leg. Cipher it; you will see that it is a grand sum for a woman to earn in seven years. Yet that was not all she got out of her college in the seven. At the time that she was charging the primary student three hundred dollars for twelve lessons she was not content with this tidy assessment, but had other ways of plundering him. By advertisement she offered him privileges whereby he could add eighteen lessons to his store for five hundred dollars more. That is to say, he could get a total of thirty lessons in her college for eight hundred dollars. Four thousand times eight hundred is—but it is a difficult sum for a cripple who has not been “demonstrated over” to cipher; let it go. She taught “over” four thousand students in seven years. “Over” is not definite, but it probably represents a non-paying surplus of learners over and above the paying four thousand. Charity students, doubtless. I think that as interesting an advertisement as has been printed since the romantic old days of the other buccaneers is this one from the Christian Science Journal for September, 1886: “MASSACHUSETTS METAPHYSICAL COLLEGE “Rev. MARY BAKER G. EDDY, PRESIDENT “571 Columbus Avenue, Boston “The collegiate course in Christian Science metaphysical healing includes twelve lessons. Tuition, three hundred dollars. “Course in metaphysical obstetrics includes six daily lectures, and is open only to students from this college. Tuition, one hundred dollars. “Class in theology, open (like the above) to graduates, receives six additional lectures on the Scriptures, and summary of the principle and practice of Christian Science, two hundred dollars. “Normal class is open to those who have taken the first course at this college; six daily lectures complete the Normal course. Tuition, two hundred dollars. “No invalids, and only persons of good moral character, are accepted as students. All students are subject to examination and rejection; and they are liable to leave the class if found unfit to remain in it. “A limited number of clergymen received free of charge. “Largest discount to indigent students, one hundred dollars on the first course. “No deduction on the others. “Husband and wife, entered together, three hundred dollars. “Tuition for all strictly in advance.” There it is—the horse-leech's daughter alive again, after a three-century vacation. Fifty or sixty hours' lecturing for eight hundred dollars. I was in error as to one matter: there are no charity students. Gratis-taught clergymen must not be placed under that head; they are merely an advertisement. Pauper students can get into the infant class on a two-third rate (cash in advance), but not even an archangel can get into the rest of the game at anything short of par, cash down. For it is “in the spirit of Christ's charity, as one who is joyful to hear healing to the sick” that Mrs. Eddy is working the game. She sends the healing to them outside. She cannot bear it to them inside the college, for the reason that she does not allow a sick candidate to get in. It is true that this smells of inconsistency, but that is nothing; Mrs. Eddy would not be Mrs. Eddy if she should ever chance to be consistent about anything two days running. Except in the matter of the Dollar. The Dollar, and appetite for power and notoriety. English must also be added; she is always consistent, she is always Mrs. Eddy, in her English: it is always and consistently confused and crippled and poor. She wrote the Advertisement; her literary trade-marks are there. When she says all “students” are subject to examination, she does not mean students, she means candidates for that lofty place When she says students are “liable” to leave the class if found unfit to remain in it, she does not mean that if they find themselves unfit, or be found unfit by others, they will be likely to ask permission to leave the class; she means that if she finds them unfit she will be “liable” to fire them out. When she nobly offers “tuition for all strictly in advance,” she does not mean “instruction for all in advance-payment for it later.” No, that is only what she says, it is not what she means. If she had written Science and Health, the oldest man in the world would not be able to tell with certainty what any passage in it was intended to mean. Her Church was on its legs. She was its pastor. It was prospering. She was appointed one of a committee to draught By-laws for its government. It may be observed, without overplus of irreverence, that this was larks for her. She did all of the draughting herself. From the very beginning she was always in the front seat when there was business to be done; in the front seat, with both eyes open, and looking sharply out for Number One; in the front seat, working Mortal Mind with fine effectiveness and giving Immortal Mind a rest for Sunday. When her Church was reorganized, by-and-by, the By-laws were retained. She saw to that. In these Laws for the government of her Church, her empire, her despotism, Mrs. Eddy's character is embalmed for good and all. I think a particularized examination of these Church-laws will be found interesting. And not the less so if we keep in mind that they were “impelled by a power not one's own,” as she says—Anglice—the inspiration of God. It is a Church “without a creed.” Still, it has one. Mrs. Eddy draughted it—and copyrighted it. In her own name. You cannot become a member of the Mother-Church (nor of any Christian Science Church) without signing it. It forms the first chapter of the By-laws, and is called “Tenets.” “Tenets of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist.” It has no hell in it—it throws it overboard. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Mark Twain (2004). Christian Science. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3187/pg3187-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

We have a part of Mrs. Eddy's portrait

Christian Science by Mark Twain, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . CHAPTER IV here CHAPTER IV It is often said in print that Mrs. Eddy claims that God was the Author of Science and Health. Mr. Peabody states in his pamphlet that “she says not she but God was the Author.” I cannot find that in her autobiography she makes this transference of the authorship, but I think that in it she definitely claims that she did her work under His inspiration—definitely for her; for as a rule she is not a very definite person, even when she seems to be trying her best to be clear and positive. Speaking of the early days when her Science was beginning to unfold itself and gather form in her mind, she says (Autobiography, page 43): “The divine hand led me into a new world of light and Life, a fresh universe—old to God, but new to His 'little one.'” She being His little one, as I understand it. The divine hand led her. It seems to mean “God inspired me”; but when a person uses metaphors instead of statistics—and that is Mrs. Eddy's common fashion—one cannot always feel sure about the intention. [Page 56.] “Even the Scripture gave no direct interpretation of the Scientific basis for demonstrating the spiritual Principle of healing, until our Heavenly Father saw fit, through the Key to the Scriptures, in Science and Health, to unlock this 'mystery of godliness.'” Another baffling metaphor. If she had used plain forecastle English, and said “God wrote the Key and I put it in my book”; or if she had said “God furnished me the solution of the mystery and I put it on paper”; or if she had said “God did it all,” then we should understand; but her phrase is open to any and all of those translations, and is a Key which unlocks nothing—for us. However, it seems to at least mean “God inspired me,” if nothing more. There was personal and intimate communion, at any rate we get that much out of the riddles. The connection extended to business, after the establishment of the teaching and healing industry. [Page 71.] “When God impelled me to set a price on my instruction,” etc. Further down: “God has since shown me, in multitudinous ways, the wisdom of this decision.” She was not able to think of a “financial equivalent”—meaning a pecuniary equivalent—for her “instruction in Christian Science Mind-healing.” In this emergency she was “led” to charge three hundred dollars for a term of “twelve half-days.” She does not say who led her, she only says that the amount greatly troubled her. I think it means that the price was suggested from above, “led” being a theological term identical with our commercial phrase “personally conducted.” She “shrank from asking it, but was finally led, by a strange providence, to accept this fee.” “Providence” is another theological term. Two leds and a providence, taken together, make a pretty strong argument for inspiration. I think that these statistics make it clear that the price was arranged above. This view is constructively supported by the fact, already quoted, that God afterwards approved, “in multitudinous ways,” her wisdom in accepting the mentioned fee. “Multitudinous ways”—multitudinous encoring—suggests enthusiasm. Business enthusiasm. And it suggests nearness. God's nearness to his “little one.” Nearness, and a watchful personal interest. A warm, palpitating, Standard-Oil interest, so to speak. All this indicates inspiration. We may assume, then, two inspirations: one for the book, the other for the business. The evidence for inspiration is further augmented by the testimony of Rev. George Tomkins, D.D., already quoted, that Mrs. Eddy and her book were foretold in Revelation, and that Mrs. Eddy “is God's brightest thought to this age, giving us the spiritual interpretation of the Bible in the 'little book'” of the Angel. I am aware that it is not Mr. Tomkins that is speaking, but Mrs. Eddy. The commissioned lecturers of the Christian Science Church have to be members of the Board of Lectureship. (By-laws Sec. 2, p. 70.) The Board of Lectureship is selected by the Board of Directors of the Church. (By-laws, Sec. 3, p. 70.) The Board of Directors of the Church is the property of Mrs. Eddy. (By-laws, p. 22.) Mr. Tomkins did not make that statement without authorization from headquarters. He necessarily got it from the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors from Mrs. Eddy, Mrs. Eddy from the Deity. Mr. Tomkins would have been turned down by that procession if his remarks had been unsatisfactory to it. It may be that there is evidence somewhere—as has been claimed—that Mrs. Eddy has charged upon the Deity the verbal authorship of Science and Health. But if she ever made the charge, she has withdrawn it (as it seems to me), and in the most formal and unqualified; of all ways. See Autobiography, page 57: “When the demand for this book increased... the copyright was infringed. I entered a suit at Law, and my copyright was protected.” Thus it is plain that she did not plead that the Deity was the (verbal) Author; for if she had done that, she would have lost her case—and with rude promptness. It was in the old days before the Berne Convention and before the passage of our amended law of 1891, and the court would have quoted the following stern clause from the existing statute and frowned her out of the place: “No Foreigner can acquire copyright in the United States.” To sum up. The evidence before me indicates three things: 1. That Mrs. Eddy claims the verbal author ship for herself. 2. That she denies it to the Deity. 3. That—in her belief—she wrote the book under the inspiration of the Deity, but furnished the language herself. In one place in the Autobiography she claims both the language and the ideas; but when this witness is testifying, one must draw the line somewhere, or she will prove both sides of her case-nine sides, if desired. It is too true. Much too true. Many, many times too true. She is a most trying witness—the most trying witness that ever kissed the Book, I am sure. There is no keeping up with her erratic testimony. As soon as you have got her share of the authorship nailed where you half hope and half believe it will stay and cannot be joggled loose any more, she joggles it loose again—or seems to; you cannot be sure, for her habit of dealing in meaningless metaphors instead of in plain, straightforward statistics, makes it nearly always impossible to tell just what it is she is trying to say. She was definite when she claimed both the language and the ideas of the book. That seemed to settle the matter. It seemed to distribute the percentages of credit with precision between the collaborators: ninety-two per cent. to Mrs. Eddy, who did all the work, and eight per cent. to the Deity, who furnished the inspiration not enough of it to damage the copyright in a country closed against Foreigners, and yet plenty to advertise the book and market it at famine rates. Then Mrs. Eddy does not keep still, but fetches around and comes forward and testifies again. It is most injudicious. For she resorts to metaphor this time, and it makes trouble, for she seems to reverse the percentages and claim only the eight per cent. for her self. I quote from Mr. Peabody's book (Eddyism, or Christian Science. Boston: 15 Court Square, price twenty-five cents): “Speaking of this book, Mrs. Eddy, in January last (1901) said: 'I should blush to write of Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures, as I have, were it of human origin, and I, apart from God, its author; but as I was only a scribe echoing the harmonies of Heaven in divine metaphysics, I cannot be supermodest of the Christian Science text-book.”' Mr. Peabody's comment: “Nothing could be plainer than that. Here is a distinct avowal that the book entitled Science and Health was the work of Almighty God.” It does seem to amount to that. She was only a “scribe.” Confound the word, it is just a confusion, it has no determinable meaning there, it leaves us in the air. A scribe is merely a person who writes. He may be a copyist, he may be an amanuensis, he may be a writer of originals, and furnish both the language and the ideas. As usual with Mrs. Eddy, the connection affords no help—“echoing” throws no light upon “scribe.” A rock can reflect an echo, a wall can do it, a mountain can do it, many things can do it, but a scribe can't. A scribe that could reflect an echo could get over thirty dollars a week in a side-show. Many impresarios would rather have him than a cow with four tails. If we allow that this present scribe was setting down the “harmonies of Heaven”—and certainly that seems to have been the case then there was only one way to do it that I can think of: listen to the music and put down the notes one after another as they fell. In that case Mrs. Eddy did not invent the tune, she only entered it on paper. Therefore dropping the metaphor—she was merely an amanuensis, and furnished neither the language of Science and Health nor the ideas. It reduces her to eight per cent. (and the dividends on that and the rest). Is that it? We shall never know. For Mrs. Eddy is liable to testify again at any time. But until she does it, I think we must conclude that the Deity was Author of the whole book, and Mrs. Eddy merely His telephone and stenographer. Granting this, her claim as the Voice of God stands-for the present—justified and established. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Mark Twain (2004). Christian Science. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3187/pg3187-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

It is often said in print that Mrs. Eddy claims that God was the Author of Science and Health

Hey Hackers, cheqd has been nominated in HackerNoon's annual Startup of the Year awards in London, UK. Please vote for us here: https://hackernoon.com/startups/europe/europe-london-england-uk Read more about us below to understand why we deserve your vote👇 Meet Fraser Edwards, CEO & Co-founder at cheqd cheqd (cheqd.io) is a privacy-preserving payment network that allows users and organizations to gain control and portability of their data. cheqd builds upon Decentralised Identity, Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) with payment infrastructure to create Trusted Data markets as an entirely new industry category. Put simply, you can issue credentials and get paid to do so. My Role As CEO and co-founder at cheqd, I’m tasked with – this sounds ambitious – creating an entirely new paradigm for data and a new industry category: . Trusted Data Markets are markets where data has portability, verifiable provenance, and hence, value. Trusted Data Markets By blending a privacy-preserving payment network with a , cheqd allows users and organizations to gain control and portability of their data whilst establishing clear economic benefits for all involved. decentralized/self-sovereign identity I oversee the company’s strategy and development, as well as investor and stakeholder relations. Prior to cheqd, I led a digital identity pilot for the World Economic Forum and the Dutch and Canadian governments. I also have patents together with my former colleagues in cross-ledger payments, having worked with the Singaporean and Canadian Central Banks on cross-blockchain payments. How We're Disrupting/Improving the Crypto Industry The sheer volume of data, the advent of generative AIs like ChatGPT, and a prevalence of fraud are shifting the value from generic data to “trusted data” – data that has cryptographically verifiable provenance and traceability. For individuals, this could be as low value as receipts, through gym memberships and preferences, e.g., dietary restrictions or avatar appearance, up to high trust and therefore valued items such as passports or driving licenses which could be used as re-usable know your customer (KYC) credentials. For organizations, these could be business licenses, invoices, or endorsements from other entities. Decentralized identity protocols enable the creation of trusted data. Founded in 2021, cheqd is building the infrastructure required to support “Trusted Data” ecosystems. It has created a privacy-preserving data network for trusted data owned by their users, who have selective control over how that data is shared, used, and transacted upon. cheqd provides the tools, infrastructure, and security to support a new paradigm where users are empowered at the center of their own data universe and can transact in new . Trusted Data Markets cheqd is powered by SSI, also known as a decentralized identity. It is a disruptive new technology that empowers consumers, organizations, and even objects to verify just once and prove their identities everywhere, with full ownership, portability, interoperability, and control of their data. It’s a user-centric and user-controlled approach with almost limitless applications, stretching from Banking and the Metaverse, DeFi, and Crypto Lending to Healthcare and Travel. Standing Out from The Crowd What makes us really special is that we’re the only ones focusing on the economics of trusted data and/or self-sovereign identity. As a result, by developing payments for digital credentials, we’re the first ones to create a new category – trusted data markets. While decentralized identity technology has been there for a while, it’s the economic incentives that have been missing for the trusted data market to take off. That’s why we focused our efforts on introducing payment rails for trusted data – the first project of its kind. It creates new revenue models for organizations and individuals. One can now issue credentials and get paid to do so. cheqd technology empowers consumers and businesses with full ownership, portability, and control over their data and identities. As an open-source network with an associated suite of tools, cheqd makes exchanging and paying for trusted data easy and secure. Payments for credentials underpin all cheqd offerings and is a critical element for the adoption and scaling of decentralized identity. Our Thoughts on the Data Industry in 2023 There’s definitely a shift from data to trusted data. Similarly to the point above, with the advent of the likes of ChatGPT and neural networks, the availability of data is no longer the problem, but proving its trustworthiness and credibility is the next big thing. In relation to trusted data, which would include identity data too, we also see a transition from identity verification to reputation depending on an individual’s activity. The idea that one needs to overshare their personal data to prove something is unacceptably outdated. With a decentralized identity, thanks to digital credentials, individuals can keep their identity private yet prove certain claims, such as being an admin of a certain community or proving that they’ve completed a certain course, etc. While this could be an individual’s creditworthiness or social reputation, this is especially relevant in the context of community management and protection from scammers. As we all know, one of the biggest challenges in Web3 is security. Crypto wiped out nearly $150M in a single week and created a mass-scale distrust in communities. The way to combat this issue is through trust and reputation. scams Meaning that individuals should be able to build their verifiable reputation and port it across different communities and platforms. Finally, we certainly expect wider adoption of decentralized identity solutions, given how active big tech is getting involved in the space. What word defines the state of identity data in 2023? Can’t answer with one word – I’d say, “It’s happening!” It seems the market is finally aware that decentralized identity solutions are sorely needed across a variety of use cases – from Web3 community management and reputation to high-security identity verification, such as KYC. With tech giants such as Block’s TBD, Microsoft, Salesforce, and others actively developing decentralized ID solutions, we can confidently say the time has come. The awareness is there, the technology is there; what is missing most of the time is a commercial angle – making it easy to integrate and use and beneficial for customers. That’s why cheqd is very much focused on delivering these solutions for adoption through our product suite – cheqd network and payments for credentials, Credential Service, and Creds. Why we decided to participate in HackerNoon's Startup of the Year awards HackerNoon is a great community for all things tech and Web3, and we were thrilled to be nominated as a startup of the year! We’re also in a great company as there are many other amazing projects taking part. Thanks for the nomination! Final Thoughts Data verification and decentralized identity are growing immensely, and it’s powered by a need to verify a growing number of online interactions in both Web3 and Web2 spaces. The proliferation of the likes of ChatGPT and neural networks is creating a further urgency for the trustworthiness and credibility of data. Private and secure solutions that help to verify data and enable users to be in charge of their data are required, and that’s what cheqd is building. If you managed to read that far, please make sure to vote for us today! https://hackernoon.com/startups/europe/europe-london-england-uk/

Startup Interview With Fraser Edwards, CEO & Co-founder, of cheqd, A London Startup

Unveiling the Hidden Gems: A Journey into Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)

If you’re seeing this interview draft, it means you’ve recently published on HackerNoon . For this reason, we would like to help the community get to know you better as well as find out some writing tips from you. a story that the community found interesting and/or valuable While this template is automatic, our interest in the answers below is genuine and our human editors (and some cyborg wannabes) will review it before publishing. So let’s start! Tell us a bit about yourself. For example, name, profession, and personal interests. I’m Eduardo Prospero, an author, freelance writer, and a Bitcoiner. I’m also a failed rapper, you can find my stuff all over the Internet under the name: MC/ DC. It’s in Spanish, though, as is my novel. It’s called “La Tormenta” and you’ll have to do your own research to find it. It’s out there, though. Available to everyone. I’m also extremely interested in meditation and I practice it every day. Unless I’m working crazy hours, which happens from time to time. Interesting! What was your latest Hackernoon Top story about? Bitcoin. I’m trying to pivot my career towards Bitcoin. BITCOIN-ONLY. Do you usually write on similar topics? If not, what do you usually write about? Currently, I’m only writing about bitcoin. As a freelance writer, though, I’ve written about everything under the sun. Once, I wrote 2000 words about shampoo. True story. Great! What is your usual writing routine like (if you have one?) I meditate and then I sit and write, it’s as simple as that. If I get stuck, I go out for a walk. I go out for walks frequently, though. Being a writer in tech can be a challenge. It’s not often our main role, but an addition to another one. What is the biggest challenge you have when it comes to writing? Making a living out of it. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to support myself for years by just writing, but finding new clients is always a challenge. I live on the edge and I like it. What is the next thing you hope to achieve in your career? My next goal is to transition to writing only about bitcoin. I may have to write about the other for a while, though. This bear market has been rough. cryptocurrencies Wow, that’s admirable. Now, something more casual: What is your guilty pleasure of choice? Sugar. The sweets. It’s my worst addiction. Do you have a non-tech-related hobby? If yes, what is it? Meditating, writing songs, reading. I wish I had more time, but I’m an immigrant and immigrants got to work. What can the Hacker Noon community expect to read from you next? I’ll only write articles about bitcoin. Prepare to get sick of me. What’s your opinion on HackerNoon as a platform for writers? I’m a huge fan. I’ve been following the project since the Medium days, and I’m really impressed with what you’ve done technology-wise. This iteration of the site just keeps getting better and better. It’s worth adding that I wrote this article in 2019 -→ https://hackernoon.com/how-cryptocurrencies-opened-the-doors-for-my-escape-from-venezuela-3b4993773429 And then this one on the same year -→ https://hackernoon.com/the-complete-guide-to-the-petro-venezuelas-attempt-to-dance-at-the-cutting-edgeu-p61e232lz However, I fucked up and opened three different accounts. I’m a disaster like that. Is it possible for a developer to help me merge my profiles? Thanks for taking time to join our “ ” series. It was a pleasure. Do you have any closing words? Meet the writer Bitcoin is the only thing that matters right now, humanity’s only hope. I will expand on this idea in future articles. Additionally, the illustration above is an original. Emiliano Siem

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