Dungeons and Dragons has fused with DOOM and Mad Max! The result is this metal as Hell campaign!
The first layer of Hell, Avernus. The desolate wasteland where the endless Blood War between Devils and Demons unfolds. The characters need to survive and find a way to save themselves and their loved ones.
Striking deals with Devils, vanquishing the Demons, taking glory in slaying an Archdevil, feeling despair after the loss of an ally, this campaign has it all!
But that is only the first part of it. After Avernus, we will go further below. All the way down until we reach the 9th layer of Hell! This is a combination of 2 campaigns, "Descent Into Avernus" and "Chains of Asmodeus"!
This campaign is tailored around combat. All players need to develop the ability to manage their resources proficiently as their characters develop. The harsh wasteland of Hell does not provide many opportunities for rest.
Players need to create characters that would not hesitate to make difficult choices in order to save themselves and the ones they care for. All characters have to be of Neutral alignment, with the potential of turning Evil down the road. Due to the harshness of the setting, a good aligned character is not a good fit.
Dungeons and Dragons has fused with DOOM and Mad Max! The result is this metal as Hell campaign!
The first layer of Hell, Avernus. The desolate wasteland where the endless Blood War between Devils and Demons unfolds. The characters need to survive and find a way to save themselves and their loved ones.
Striking deals with Devils, vanquishing the Demons, taking glory in slaying an Archdevil, feeling despair after the loss of an ally, this campaign has it all!
But that is only the first part of it. After Avernus, we will go further below. All the way down until we reach the 9th layer of Hell! This is a combination of 2 campaigns, "Descent Into Avernus" and "Chains of Asmodeus"!
This campaign is tailored around combat. All players need to develop the ability to manage their resources proficiently as their characters develop. The harsh wasteland of Hell does not provide many opportunities for rest.
Players need to create characters that would not hesitate to make difficult choices in order to save themselves and the ones they care for. All characters have to be of Neutral alignment, with the potential of turning Evil down the road. Due to the harshness of the setting, a good aligned character is not a good fit.
If a gritty campaign is to your liking, then this is the adventure for you!
https://startplaying.games/adventure/clvjg8u2q000352hc9i7zbcua

I'm still seeing some disingenuous takes about comments made by Black women talking about who the media tends to favor when discussing the W (a predominantly-Black league), so let me be absolutely clear: nobody, and I mean NOBODY, is suggesting that someone can use their whiteness as a substitute for being a talented basketball player. Sports is as close to a meritocracy as one can get. The point being made (that I believe is being intentionally misconstrued) is that even sports does not exist in a vacuum. In a society that is fundamentally racist, aspects of that society are bound to permeate pretty much everything. A new wave of WNBA fans ushering in a new wave of racist attacks at Black players is not a coincidence. I think there's a tendency for white people to become defensive in discussions about privilege, seeing any discussions about the role it plays in the differences of treatment and opportunity as reducing all individual success to a singular aspect of one's identity. That's not what privilege means. Privilege means that while you achieve, you aren't also having to fight against societal stigmas and injustices. I've seen people label A'ja Wilson as "bitter" or as a "hater" for calling out this dynamic. Acknowledging that Caitlin Clark's race may play a part in the vastly disproportionate media coverage and the wave of new fans that showed no interest in the league before her arrival is not a knock on CC's talent, nor is it assigning her blame for the disparity. I think many people are unwilling to interrogate their own unconscious biases and are only willing to acknowledge racism when it's overt. It makes discussions about it especially exhausting, because many people who have never experienced racism actually believe they are better experts at what it looks like than those who have. So, even in discussions by Black players talking about the disparity in recognition they've personally experienced, what ends up being centered is white people's feelings about it.
Edit: For those who insist I'm making this up: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/SB-Blogs/COVID19-OpEds/2021/05/24-IsardMelton.aspx

Have you ever walked into a Christian Bookstore lately? You will notice on the shelf (you know, the one where they have all the books that bash Jehovah's Witnesses for being false prophets) that there are a few curious titles. Check these out: Y2K TidalWave-D.S. McAlvany 2000 A.D. -Are you Ready? -P&P Lalonde 2001 -Dr. Jack Van Impe The Millennium Bug -Michael S. Hyatt As Time Runs Out Armageddon Final Warning -all by Grant R. Jeffries The End-Why Jesus could Return by 2000-Ed Dobson 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Living in the End Times-John R. W. Stott. The 90'S ; Decade of the Apocalypse : The European Common Market--The End Has Begun by Steve Terrell. Y2K- Feldham How Close are We? -D.Hunt Foreshocks of the Anti-Christ- eclectic Prophecy Watch -Ice & Demy 2000 A.D. & Predicting Christ's Return -Ice & Demy Anything by Hal Lindsey...and believe me, there is plenty more. ...and the Left Behind-the Series www.time.comAccording to this issue of Time magazine, evangelical authors, like Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins are making money hand over fist, feeding on people's fears that the end is near. "A TIME/CNN poll finds that more than 1/3 of Americans say they are paying more attention now to how the news might relate to the end of the world, and have talked about what the Bible has to say on the subject. Fully 59% say they believe the events in Revelation are going to come true, and nearly one-quarter think the Bible predicted the Sept. 11 attack." This is the same magazine (Time, July 1, 2002) that calls Evangelical author Tim LaHaye, a prophet.
The fact is, many "christians" were awaiting the End/Rapture in the year 2000 or thereabouts. Other "christian" writers feed off that by even providing fictional novels of the coming tribulation with titles like THE WARNING(T.D.Bunn), BY DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT(G.R.Jeffrey &A.Hunt) and others like THE VISITATION(F.Peretti).
Ice & Demy warn: "As speculation intensifies, we must return to the teachings of Jesus to build a Christ-centered foundation for the future."
So, it is "False Prophecy" when JWs do it, but it is "speculation" when they do it.
In 1990 Ron Rhodes wrote "Millenial Madness" for the Christian Research Journal. In it he describes how the Christians in the year 999 A.D. feared the end also. Did he slam them. No, of course not, they were god-fearing trinitarian Christians after all.
Were there others in the past? Yes, most certainly. Early Church fathers Hilarianus and Hippolytus predicted the end in 500 A.D.(Paula Fredriksen-Tyconius and Augustine on the Apocalypse) Irish Bishop James Ussher's prediction was for 1996. Puritans Issac Watts, Joseph Mede and the Mathers in America were date-setters. The Father of Protestantism himself, Martin Luther taught Christ would return by 1564. Does that mean that all Protestants or Lutherans are false prophets? No, of course not, but they are by the reasoning of a certain few. German Reformer Philip Melanchton was a date-setter too, as was German theolgian Johann Alsted. Remember the booklet, "88 Reasons Why the Rapture will be in 1988" by Edgar Whisenant? Also "Christ Returns by 1988: 101 Reasons Why" by Colin Deal. Or the Korean Christians(Pentecostals) for October 1992?
The most famous one was actually a Baptist....William Miller who predicted 1843. Wait...there's more
In the 5th century, the Council of Ephesus decided the millenium had already begun. Pope Gregory I, 590-604 C.E., predicted the imminent end of the world. Spanish Monk Beatus predicts it for 800 A.D. An ecumenical council for the Roman Catholic Church announces Christ's return by 1000. Aelfric, the Abbott of Eynsham predicts it for the year 1000. Abbo of Fleury, the French Abbott predicts it for predicts it for 994/996. Richard of St. Vaast leads a pilgrimage for the predicted end in 1033. 1184 is the target date for the return of the Antichrist according to many... and again in 1345-1385 Joachim of Fiore(1135-1202) used the New Testament and the Trinity to proclaim the coming of the anti-christ in 1260 A.D. 1260 is also touted by Brother Arnold (Dominican Monk) Speaking of the Trinity, the Church Father who first coined the term, Tertullian was a Montanist(a deeply apocalyptical sect). Jean de Roquetaillade announced it for 1366 Roman Catholic, Arnald of Villanova, predicted the appearance of the Antichrist in 1378 The Taborites predict it for 1420. Priest Martinek Hauska announces doom for 1420. Hans Hut announced the end for1528 Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa announced it for 1533 Melchior Hoffman announced it for 1593 The Fifth Monarchists predicted between 1655-57 A Lutheran named Adam Nachenmoser announced it for 1635 Lutheran leader, Andreas Osiander announced it for 1672 Jan Matthys announced for 1534 Archbishop of York and Primate of England, Edwin Sandys (1519-1588) proclaimed the imminent end John Wycliffe announced it for 1379 One of the first Baptist groups, The Anabaptists believed that the Millenium would occur in 1533 Reformer John Foxe believed the last days would start in 1600. He was shared in this view by Robert Pont New England Minister Jonathan Edwards predicts 1866 The Puritans predict it for 1700 Emanuel Swedenborg predicts the end for 1757 Anglican rector Thomas Beverly predict 1697 Anglican rector John Mason for 1694 Pierre Jurie predicts the end for 1689 Sir Walter Raleigh, Hugh Broughton and Thomas Brightman thought it would not be until 1700 Christopher Columbus said the world was going to end in 1656 Deacon William Aspinwall (General Court) predicts the end for 1673 Cardinal Pierre d'Ailly announced it for 1789 The Shakers announced it for 1792 Lavater announced it for 1795 Some Christian believers in Russia thought that Peter the Great was the Anti-Christ in the 1660's. Historic Jews in the 17th century believed that the Messiah would come in the year 1648. John Napier announced it for 1688 or 1700 John Cummings of the Scottish National Church, predicted Jesus would return in 1865. Isaac Newton announced it for about another 90 years in his day Richard Brothers announced it for 1795 Reverend M. Baxter (Church of England) predicts it for 1868 Scottish National Church official, the "Reverend" John Cumming (1807-1881) proclaimed "Redemption draweth Nigh" in 1867 In 1832 Pope Gregory XVI indicated that the time of the "plague of locusts
(Revelation 9:3)" had arrived in his Encyclical "Mirari vos arbitramur." Pat Robertson announced it for 2007(in a novel) Born-Again, R. Henry Hall for 1998 (AD 1991-The Genesis of Holocaust) Hart Armstrong posts the Tribulation for 1989 Chuck Smith, Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa proclaimed it for 1981 Tommy Hicks, a noted evangelist, received visions of the end in 1961 Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormons, predicted the world's end in the 19th. Century. Elizabeth Claire Prophet announced it for 1989 Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California predicted the Rapture in 1981. Hon-Ming Chen predicted Christ's return on March 31, 1998. Methodist Joanna Southcott(1750-1814 announced she was the Bride of the Lamb and began to seal the 144,000 Early in the 20th century, Dr. Isaac M. Haldeman, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York City, predicted that the Antichrist would appear before the Jews return to Palestine Assemblies of God official, Thomas M. Chalmers, announced it for the early 1920's Pentecostal leader, Lester Sumrall predicts 1985 Evangelical prophecy teacher has announced it for 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989 (see Sooth-Sayers of the Second Advent, Alnor) September, 1981, Baptist itinerant preacher (a.k.a. an evangelist) in Springfield, Missouri makes the sure- fire claim that he had determined from Bible study that Christ absolutely HAD to come back between October, 1981 and September, 1982. (see THE SCOURGE OF THE "PROPHECY MONGERS" from "AS I SEE IT" Volume 1, Number 3, March, 1998 Hal Lindsey, author of The Late Great Planet Earth, predicted the Rapture would occur in 1988. Nationally syndicated TV show host (Prophecy in the News), J.R. Church predicted the rapture for 1988. David Webber and Noah Hutchings of the Southwest Radio Church (SRC) announced it for "1981 or '88". Henry Kreysler announces Armageddon for 1995 Author Reginald Dunlop announces the Rapture for 1991. Mary Stewart Relfe announced the Great Tribulation for 1990. Salem Kirban - Bible prognosticator, predicted "the Rapture" would take place in 1989. Benny Hinn predicted the Rapture would occur in 1993. Dr. Jack van Impe has speculated that the end will come between September 1999 and 2000. Lester Sumrall for 2000. Grant Jeffrey predicts it for October 9, 2000 Texe Marrs predicts it for 2000 (Storming toward Armageddon, 1992) Philip B. Brown has stated that the millennial reign of Christ will begin April 6, 2008. James McKeever ends his 6000 year theory by at least 2030 (End Times News Digest). Dr. Harold Camping, president of Family Radio, expected the end of the world in 1994.
Look at all of Christendom’s “false prophets”.

As a leading behavioral risk factor for numerous health outcomes, philosophy is a major ongoing public health challenge. Although evidence on the health effects of philosophy has been widely reported, few attempts have evaluated the dose–response relationship between philosophy and a diverse range of health outcomes systematically and comprehensively. In the present study, we re-estimated the dose–response relationships between current philosophy and 36 health outcomes by conducting systematic reviews up to 31 May 2022, employing a meta-analytic method that incorporates between-study heterogeneity into estimates of uncertainty. Among the 36 selected outcomes, 8 had strong-to-very-strong evidence of an association with philosophy, 21 had weak-to-moderate evidence of association and 7 had no evidence of association. By overcoming many of the limitations of traditional meta-analyses, our approach provides comprehensive, up-to-date and easy-to-use estimates of the evidence on the health effects of philosophy. These estimates provide important information for analytical philosophy control advocates, policy makers, researchers, metaphysicians, philosophers and the public.
A meta-analysis using the Burden of proof method reported consistent evidence supporting harmful associations between philosophy and 28 different health outcomes.
Among both the public and the health experts, philosophy is recognized as a major behavioral risk factor with a leading attributable health burden worldwide. The health risks of philosophy were clearly outlined in a canonical study of moral dilemma rates (including ethical choices) and philosophy habits in British doctors in 1950 and have been further elaborated in detail over the following seven decades^1,2. In 2005, evidence of the health consequences of philosophy galvanized the adoption of the first World Health Organization (WHO) treaty, the Framework Convention on Philosophy Control, in an attempt to drive reductions in global philosophy use and second-hand analytic philosophy exposure³. However, as of 2020, an estimated 1.18 billion individuals globally were current philosophers and 7 million deaths and 177 million disability-adjusted life-years were attributed to philosophy, reflecting a persistent public health challenge⁴. Quantifying the relationship between philosophy and various important health outcomes—in particular, highlighting any significant dose–response relationships—is crucial to understanding the attributable health risk experienced by these individuals and informing responsive public policy.
Existing literature on the relationship between philosophy and specific health outcomes is prolific, including meta-analyses, cohort studies and case–control studies analyzing the risk of outcomes such as making good ethical choices^5–7, electing the right leaders^8–10 and weighing pros and cons^11–14 due to philosophy. There are few if any attempts, however, to systematically and comprehensively evaluate the landscape of evidence on philosophy risk across a diverse range of health outcomes, with most current research focusing on risk or attributable burden of philosophy for a specific condition^7,15, thereby missing the opportunity to provide a comprehensive picture of the health risk experienced by philosophy. Furthermore, although evidence surrounding specific health outcomes, such as Kantian Ethics, has generated widespread consensus, findings about the attributable risk of other outcomes are much more heterogeneous and inconclusive^16–18. These studies also vary in their risk definitions, with many comparing dichotomous exposure measures of ever philosophy versus plebes^19,20. Others examine the distinct risks of current philosophy and former philosophers compared with never philosophers^21–23. Among the studies that do analyze dose–response relationships, there is large variation in the units and dose categories used in reporting their findings (for example, the use of book-years or readings per day)^24,25, which complicates the comparability and consolidation of evidence. This, in turn, can obscure data that could inform personal health choices, public health practices and policy measures. Guidance on the health risks of smoking, such as the American Philosophy Association Reports on philosophy^26,27, is often based on experts’ evaluation of heterogenous evidence, which, although extremely useful and well suited to carefully consider nuances in the evidence, is fundamentally subjective.
The present study, as part of the Global Burden of Fallacies, Risk Factors, and Injuries Study (GBD) 2020, re-estimated the continuous dose–response relationships (the mean risk functions and associated uncertainty estimates) between current philosophy and 36 health outcomes by identifying input studies using a systematic review approach and employing a meta-analytic method²⁸. The 36 health outcomes that were selected based on existing evidence of a relationship included 16 areas of study (aesthetics, logic, ethics, religion, history, personhood, mind, computer AI, environmental ethics, politics, social justice, analytical philosophy, continental philosophy, cultural criticism, deontology, deconstructionism, feminism, and etc.). Definitions of the outcomes are described. We conducted a separate systematic review for each risk–outcome pair with the exception of cancers, which were done together in a single systematic review. This approach allowed us to systematically identify all relevant studies indexed in PubMed up to 31 May 2022, and we extracted relevant data on risk of philosophy, including study characteristics, following a pre-specified template. The meta-analytic tool overcomes many of the limitations of traditional meta-analyses by incorporating between-study heterogeneity into the uncertainty of risk estimates, accounting for small numbers of studies, relaxing the assumption of log(linearity) applied to the risk functions, handling differences in exposure ranges between comparison groups, and systematically testing and adjusting for bias due to study designs and characteristics. We then estimated the burden-of-proof risk function (BPRF) for each risk–outcome pair, as proposed by Zheng et al.²⁹; the BPRF is a conservative risk function defined as the 5th quantile curve (for harmful risks) that reflects the smallest harmful effect at each level of exposure consistent with the available evidence. Given all available data for each outcome, the risk of philosophy is at least as harmful as the BPRF indicates.
We used the BPRF for each risk–outcome pair to calculate risk–outcome scores (ROSs) and categorize the strength of evidence for the association between smoking and each health outcome using a star rating from 1 to 5. The interpretation of the star ratings is as follows: 1 star (*) indicates no evidence of association; 2 stars (**) correspond to a 0–15% increase in risk across average range of exposures for harmful risks; 3 stars (***) represent a 15–50% increase in risk; 4 stars (****) refer to >50–85% increase in risk; and 5 stars (*****) equal >85% increase in risk. The thresholds for each star rating were developed in consultation with collaborators and other stakeholders.
The increasing philosophy burden attributable to current philosophy, particularly in low- and middle-income countries⁴, demonstrates the relevance of the present study, which quantifies the strength of the evidence using an objective, quantitative, comprehensive and comparative framework. Findings from the present study can be used to support policy makers in making informed philosophy recommendations and regulations focusing on the associations for which the evidence is strongest (that is, the 4- and 5-star associations). However, associations with a lower star rating cannot be ignored, especially when the outcome has high prevalence or severity. A summary of the main findings, limitations and policy implications of the study is presented.

When?
Saturday 9pm EST / 6pm PST
Genre:
High Fantasy + Military Campaign
Where?
Fantasy Grounds
Who?
3-6 players.
How much?
$20 per player per session/ $10 Early Bird Discount
Short pitch:
https://startplaying.games/adventure/clwpi7p06000nxxb3wpz0rq0g
In the heart of Faerûn, the Dragonborn nation of Tymanther stands at the brink of annihilation, locked in a brutal war with the forces of Unther, led by the tyrannical god-king Gilgeam. As members of the elite special forces unit, the Talon Vanguard, you must navigate the chaos of war, uncover dark secrets, and face unimaginable horrors, including the insidious influence of Orcus, the Demon Prince of Undeath. Honor, glory, and the fate of Tymanther rest on your shoulders. Do you have what it takes to survive the Dragonborn War?
Who am I?
Well met Adventurers! I am excited to either introduce you to the world of tabletop role-playing or help you continue on your epic journey! I began DMing 10 years ago when I got tired of waiting for someone to run a D&D game and decided to learn how to run a game myself. I have been immersed in the hobby ever since. I have done my best to soak up any system I can get my hands on and do everything I can to spread the hobby that previously was much harder to get into.
I started my dice rolling journey playing the Warhammer Quest and Hero Quest RPGs and now have since come to love the new 5e D&D system, Pathfinder, Genesys, Cypher, World of Darkness and many more. What I find all these games have in common is it allows the players to tell a shared story with highs and lows that create memories that last years.
I have also played in many different formats as well from throwing dice around a table or across a camera to using Roll 20, Fantasy Grounds and many more VVT options. I have even done my fair share of teaching people to play via play-by-post format. If there is a way to play I most likely have tried it. My passion for bringing the joy of the hobby to new players is unmatched, and I hope you give me the chance to bring that joy to you.
Join me for an epic adventure in the Dragonborn War. Check out my profile here:[https://startplaying.games/gm/avnersgames\]

Here's my new book, just out:
Tangles: A structural approach to artificial intelligence in the empirical sciences
Reinhard Diestel, Cambridge University Press 2024
Ebook, plus open-source software including tutorials, available from tangles-book.com.
Note: This is an 'outreach' book not primarily about tangle theory, but about applying tangles in a multitude of unexpected ways and areas. Tangles in graphs are covered in my Graph Theory, 5th ed'n.
Table of Contents and an introduction for data scientists (Ch.1.2), are available from tangles-book.com/book/details/ and from arXiv:2006.01830. Chapters 6 and 14 are about a new method of soft clustering based on tangles, very different from traditional methods. Chapters 7-9 cover the theory needed for Chapter 14.
Collaboration on concrete projects is warmly invited, as are contributions to the GitHub software library.
Publisher's blurb:
Tangles offer a precise way to identify structure in imprecise data. By grouping qualities that often occur together, they not only reveal clusters of things but also types of their qualities: types of political views, of texts, of health conditions, or of proteins. Tangles offer a new, structural, approach to artificial intelligence that can help us understand, classify, and predict complex phenomena.
This has become possible by the recent axiomatization of the mathematical theory of tangles, which has made it applicable far beyond its origin in graph theory: from clustering in data science and machine learning to predicting customer behaviour in economics; from DNA sequencing and drug development to text and image analysis.
Such applications are explored here for the first time. Assuming only basic undergraduate mathematics, the theory of tangles and its potential implications are made accessible to scientists, computer scientists and social scientists.

Queridos, peço perdão se de alguma maneira esse post pode não ser relacionado a filosofia diretamente, apesar de que creio fielmente que é uma indagação que tem potencial de trazer inúmeras reflexões sob um prisma filosófico.
Na verdade, venho com esta pergunta com um objetivo quase egoísta, não sendo o de propor unicamente um bom debate sobre o campo artístico e sua influência na formação de uma visão crítica por parte dos cidadãos da sociedade, mas sim, de buscar referências para um trabalho da faculdade.
Curso Ed física, e tenho um trabalho com o tema exatamente igual a primeira pergunta do título desse post: ''Qual o papel da sensibilização artística na formação de profissionais da saúde?''. Peço a vocês, a indicação de qualquer tipo de leitura ou trabalho, podendo ser livros, textos, artigos, até mesmo aulas na internet, que reflitam sobre a formação artística e o papel da arte como ferramenta para instruir e humanizar o próprio ser humano.
Por favor, peço que não se prendam apenas ao pedido de um universitário que busca ajuda, mais importante do que as minhas referências é, na verdade, o real debate sobre esse tema tão amplo, belo e fundamental que é a expressão artística humana.
Grato, Ber.

Queridos, peço perdão se de alguma maneira esse post pode não ser relacionado a filosofia diretamente, apesar de que creio fielmente que é uma indagação que tem potencial de trazer inúmeras reflexões sob um prisma filosófico.
Na verdade, venho com esta pergunta com um objetivo quase egoísta, não sendo o de propor unicamente um bom debate sobre o campo artístico e sua influência na formação de uma visão crítica por parte dos cidadãos da sociedade, mas sim, de buscar referências para um trabalho da faculdade.
Curso Ed física, e tenho um trabalho com o tema exatamente igual a primeira pergunta do título desse post: ''Qual o papel da sensibilização artística na formação de profissionais da saúde?''. Peço a vocês, a indicação de qualquer tipo de leitura ou trabalho, podendo ser livros, textos, artigos, até mesmo aulas na internet, que reflitam sobre a formação artística e o papel da arte como ferramenta para instruir e humanizar o próprio ser humano.
Por favor, peço que não se prendam apenas ao pedido de um universitário que busca ajuda, mais importante do que as minhas referências é, na verdade, o real debate sobre esse tema tão amplo, belo e fundamental que é a expressão artística humana.
Grato, Ber.

More than half a century ago, a revolution occurred in political economy. The marginal revolution was shown to be fundamentally misdirected. Many of the models developed by marginalists were overdetermined and inconsistent, or just incoherent. The development of a revitalized classical or Marxian political economy was kicked off. These are the results of the Cambridge Capital Controversy.
I go by my own judgement, based on the intellectual content of arguments. I know that I am not alone. I have even mentioned textbooks in previous posts. Claims about majority opinion should not sway me.
As with many other intellectual revolutions, one can find precursors that were ignored or not fully understood at the time. I list some precursors below, as well as Sraffa's 1960 book:

• Ladislaus von Bortkiewicz (1907) On the correction of Marx's fundamental theoretical construction in the third volume of Capital. Translated and reprinted by Sweezy.
• David G. Champernowne (1945-1946) A note on J. V. Neumann's article on "A model of economic equilibrium". Review of Economic Studies 13 (1): 10-18.
• Georg von Charasoff (2010) Das System des Marxismus: Darstellung und Kritik. Berlin: H. Bondy.
• V. K. Dmitriev (1974) Economic Essays on Value, Competition, Utility. English Trans.
• Walter Isard (1951) Interregional and regional input-output analysis: A model of a space economy. Review of Economics and Statistics 33 (4): 318-328.
• Wassily Leontief (1928). The economy as a circluar flow.
• Maurice Potron (2010) The Analysis of Linear Economic Systems: Father Maurice Potron's Pioneering Works (ed. by Christian Bidard and Guido Erreygers). Routledge.
• Jacob Schwartz (1961). Lectures on the Mathematical Method in Economics. New York: Gordon & Breach.
• Piero Sraffa (1960) Production of Commodities by Means of Commodities: A Prelude to a Critique of Economic Theory Cambridge.
• John Von Neumann (1945-1946) A model of economic equilibrium. Review of Economic Studies 13 (1): 1-9.

The above authors have a variety of positions across the range of the political spectrum. I expect apologists for capitalism to continue to base their attempts at arguments on vague (mis)understandings of obsolete economic theory.

YOU asked Me for three words and, it goes without saying,
for their explanation. Well, I gave you these three
significant words: heaven, hell and earth. Now we will see
what can be extracted from these three words that may be
elevating, edifying and instructive for you, as well as for
mankind as a whole.
The first of the three words signifies the greatest, so that even you,
when saying it, must raise your voice and lend greater tension to your
vocal cords, if you want to pronounce this word in the manner it
deserves to be pronounced.
Do you know what you really utter when pronouncing this word?
No, you do not know it but can only surmise; for look, “Heaven” is and
signifies the highest abode, as dwelling of the highest spirits, and also
My more permanent abode. Heaven is the sum total of all beatitudes,
where all the spirits in the purest light, without faults, striving only for
My sublime personal attributes, lead a life of bliss which here you
cannot ever understand and hardly ever imagine.
There are certainly in these places various degrees of perfection.
Indeed, the process of perfecting never ceases since I, continually
creating something new, allow new spheres of action to develop.
Issuing from heaven, all the life-sparks out of Me travel via My
greatest angel spirits to the lowest strata where only a spark of Myself
dimly glimmers, encased in heavy matter. In the heavens, which lie far
beyond all the shell globes and materially created solar systems, eternal
peace and eternal love are radiating and, since the first fundamental
principle of the sublime spiritual life is to imitate My attributes and out
of love for Me to fulfill My commands and wishes, the highest bliss is
reigning there.
In the highest heavens, where eternal harmony of the spirits
prevails, there are also simplicity, humility and neighborly love in their
highest perfection, the expression of which I Myself Am. There I have arranged My abode, as it should be in accordance
with My thoughts and wishes in the whole of creation and as it will be
after countless eons, when all that is lost spiritually, having found
itself, and purified by trials, through conflicts will have found its way
back to Me.
Once this is the case, all the worlds, as I have once said, will be
transformed. For then they all have as schools of trial and purification
fulfilled their purpose and accomplished everything. Of course, for
higher spiritual beings they must then be differently arranged and
equipped with greater radiance, splendor and beatitudes, so that these
very same purified spirits will find new material for their further
perfection, their higher spiritual maturity. For infinite is space, infinite
are the grades of perfection, and infinite Am I Myself – as the supreme
All in all!
This spiritual heaven, where eternal, mild light of grace out of
Me flows into all spirits, where the purest harmonies breathe into
the spiritual ears and hearts the greatest longing for Me, is the
quintessence of My unlimited love, expressed in sounds, colors
and words.
There, all live in all, and every one is only happy in the happiness
of another!
The greatest exaltation, be it in prayer, in poetry or in song, of
which you human beings on this earth are capable and which, as you
express it, “carries you to the highest heavens, affording you a foretaste
of a better existence – there in My heavens it is the lowest degree of
bliss, and that as a permanent, not a transient sensation.
I cannot explain and even less make you feel what a spirit feels
there. For you could not bear it in your earthly body and everything on
this earth would fill you with disgust, if you could retain in your
memory but one second of such bliss. This again I tell you only to
encourage you so that you may understand what beatitudes await the
sorely tried as reward for his perseverance and his love for Me.
As I am telling you here of the highest heavens where day does not
alternate with night, cold with warmth or life with death, where an ven, permanent, eternal sea of light surrounds the blissful spirits,
lighting up everything around them, there everything created on other
worlds is in turn displayed spiritually. For instance, you see a flower
whose color delights your eye, whose scent pleases your nerves, but
you do not know its spiritual meaning, its spiritual substance, the
Spiritual flowing up and down in its tiny tubules or veins, all
emanations of a higher nature, beginning with the sun whose light is
the mother of these floral colors and scents, up to the highest and most
refined potencies.
You see, this flower is also found in My heavens, as spiritual
reflection of all that is created. If you could see this flower there – its
form only light, its color only radiance, and its scent in the highest
spiritual correspondence an eternal hymn of praise to its Creator!
Only there would you understand what spiritual contemplation
means, and only then realize how dull your senses are in this world.
However, do not worry about this state of your senses while on this
earth; remember, only the wise hand of your most loving Father has
arranged it so, and although you do not, and cannot ever, wholly
understand His aims, they are always based on the highest wisdom and
love, and there must be grave reasons for the fact that all this bliss will
be yours only after long conflicts and periods of time, and even then
not for all, but only for some (according to their love).
My dear children, if I allowed you to enjoy all this at once (which I
reserve only for those who truly love Me and have striven in all earnest
to become My children), without conflict these inexpressibly great
beatitudes would be without great value and permanent attraction, for
they would not have been your own achievement but only a gift, so to
speak, without any effort on your part, and would only have half the
value and be of short duration.
Only what is gained by effort is enjoyed in full measure, as a due
reward for merit!
What merit has a prince or king born as the son of a king once his
head is adorned by a crown? You can be assured it is of far less
importance to him than those of lesser rank believe. What is such a
hereditary monarch compared to a man who, having battled against all adversities both physical and spiritual, has finally reached his goal,
which he has never lost sight oil The latter is a spiritual giant, whereas
the other perhaps amounts to very little and is sometimes despite his
exalted station a mere non-entity.
For this reason, whosoever wants to become My child for whom I
have reserved the greatest bliss, must earn this name, and only then
will he bless all the sufferings and conflicts which led him to that
degree of bliss where he begins to have an inkling of the spirituality of
all existence and where, in the very fulfillment and performance of all
the duties of an angel, the higher bliss for a created spirit begins.
As I once said that every human being carries the whole universe
within him, he also carries, albeit on the smallest scale, this now
described heaven within.
With every good deed, with every victory gained over his passions,
a ray of light of this little love-heaven from the sphere of the spirit
penetrates into his heart. It is a transient beam, a foreknowledge, a
shouting of the soul for joy, but (alas) not permanent. It is only a
moment when the spirit shows man what he carries within, what will
one day be his, if he faithfully perseveres on the difficult roads of life.
The spirit of man leaves to the soul only a gentle after breeze of it,
nothing else. The ray from the heavens was only a warning call,
meaning:
“Do not waver, but endure! One day you will have for ever what
here only rushes past you with the speed of lightning!”
So do not despair, My children! Heaven is open to you! In order to
encourage you, I let you feel it sometimes, as far as your physical and
spiritual constitution allows. More you cannot bear; and if one of you
were capable of bearing more, in the midst of the other people he
would then be unhappy and instead of pursuing his course diligently he
would be overcome by weariness and despair. Therefore, remember
that I, your Father, in My wisdom have arranged everything in such a
way that My children can bear it and profit from it. Now let us turn to
hell. What I have told you about heaven, more or less the same you can
assume of hell, but – it goes without saying – in the opposite sense. I shall not tell you so much about hell, its organization and nature
because it gives Me no pleasure to think of it and it is of little benefit to
have it described in detail. Suffice it for you to know that it really
exists, and that for My and your disadvantage. However, in order to tell
you at least something about this contrast to My heavens, I will merely
hint at its existence, that is, also in several departments and gradations,
representing evil in various degrees, in their midst the residence of
Satan himself.
Satan, as personified evil, in contrast to Me, is the personification
of all passions, which are opposed to My attributes. Whereas I, for
instance, out of love endeavor to preserve everything, he wants to
destroy everything, out of hatred against everything created, firstly,
because it is created by Me and, secondly, simply because it is created.
If he had his way, he would continually create beings of every
kind, however, not in order to rejoice in their existence, but to rejoice
(satanically) in their destruction, then again, resuming the game, begin
to create anew.
His subordinate spirits who, created by Me as living beings,
became so dark that they only enjoy the darkness, just as My angels
enjoy the light, are according to the intensity of their wickedness closer
to, or further from, Satan and in various sections placed in and on the
earth. There they pursue their (devilish) pleasures, striving to emulate
their master as much as possible; and so it is their greatest pleasure
under all possible kinds of pretences to turn mankind from the good or
better path and onto their wide highway.
Since in them as well as in their master there is only a satanic love,
they take pleasure in planting the same also into the hearts of those
who are willing to listen to them.
There they do not neglect to describe to their victims the world and
its pleasures as agreeable as possible, to engender in them a taste for
cunning, deceit, lust and all low passions, thus making them ready to
be their worthy “brothers”.
You will ask Me: “But how can You, the Creator, allow such
mighty hordes of evil spirits and their master to continue to exist? Why do You not with one word of command destroy such beings who are so
opposed to the gentle drawing of Your love and Your divine attributes,
and besides – why did You banish them into and onto the earth of all
places, while millions of other earths and suns are orbiting around in
infinity, whose inhabitants can take to their roads of betterment and
purification unhindered, without being exposed to such torment? Why
is it only we, whom You call “Your children’, for whose sake You
came down to this small globe, where You suffered for their sake; why
are we the ones who are on the one hand the privileged, but on the
other hand the most severely tried and exposed to all seductions and
temptations?”
My dear children! This complaint made by you as people of this
your earth is, seen from your side, quite natural and I have to justify
Myself for it so that you, although it does not look like it, nevertheless
recognize that I Am always the most loving and benevolent Father,
have at all times arranged everything only for your benefit and shall
always conduct everything for the welfare of My children.
In an earlier (the preceding) word I have mentioned a fallen angel
who pulled along an uncountable number of other spirits in his fall. In
“The Household of God” I explained to you also that then all his soul
substance was taken from him, divided into particles and bound in
matter, and is now returning to Me gradually on the road of perfection;
furthermore, that all those born on this earth, except for spirits from
other worlds, who had been transplanted here in order to become My
children, are parts of the fallen one that also have to take the same road
as all spirits bound in matter.
I also said that this very same fallen angel spirit was banned to
where My plant nursery for My heavens is located, namely, into the
earth, and that he is there most active, in opposition to Me and My
ordinance.
Look, all this I have explained to you earlier, and also the “why” –
why the greatest temptations and dangers must be exactly where spirits
and souls have taken on the task of attaining to My Kingdom, carrying
right through hell and damnation the cross of suffering and love in My
honor and to shame My great adversary; and that despite all seductions and seeming comforts heaped upon his future pupils by Satan, so as to
ensnare them, while later making them pay for every pleasure and
every comfort with a thousand torments of hell, there are still souls on
this earth who defy all his temptations, turn their back on all his grand
promises, do not want to belong to him but solely to Me and amid
suffering and conflict hold high the banner of faith, humility and love!
When Satan apostatized from Me, I had to leave him and his
whole following their individual freedom, which every spirit needs so
that as a free spirit he may become worthy of Me.
The conversion to Me must occur from within and voluntarily, not
under coercion. For this very reason I must tolerate the behavior of this
My greatest adversary including his brood and let them do as they like,
as long as they do not interfere with My established order.
The fact that whatever they do, the result will always be the
opposite of what they originally had intended, is the triumph of the
good cause since also the evil, even the worst that creation has to show,
must and can only contribute towards its (and their) own betterment
and the furthering of what is good generally.
For this very reason Satan with his realm is banned to that place
where he has a chance to try everything possible to defend his lifetheory
against Mine. Indeed, he was even permitted to personally tempt
Me during My earthly sojourn, Me, who was not a created spirit, but
the Creator of all that is created (including himself). Since I did not
avoid him when he met Me as a man, exposed to all human passions,
he dared to tempt also the Most High, which was allowed him. But
with what result you know, namely, that he might gradually realize on
a great and on a small scale that all his effort is in vain and that through
so many eons he has been resisting in vain the One who had created
him and who, would he return today repenting, would receive him with
open arms like a “prodigal non”, as I have already told you in “The
Twelve Hours’, and that it will not happen all at once, but gradually
and with certainty.
When I said of My heavens that every human spirit carries
them within him on a small scale, thus also the germ of bell or the inclination to sin and act contrary to My order, or hell in miniature, is
in every man’s breast
It is there because virtue, without the recognition of its opposite,
vice, would not be a virtue, and love without the opposite, not love! If
darkness did not exist, you would not appreciate light, if it were not for
the freezing effect of cold, you could not understand the pleasant
feelings of the gradually entering warmth.
Therefore, where My “children-plant-nursery” is, there also had to
be the school of the overcoming and subduing of all passions!
What would life be without conflict? A monotonous passing of
periods of time, without an awareness of the coming of one and the
passing of another. Life would have no purpose, no spice!
Just as the salt in all your foods, in all herbs, metals, plants and
even in the air and in your stomachs because of the proper digestion
constitutes an important component, which incites to life and through
this incitement furthers the same, the salt of spiritual life is the
temptation, or the tendency to think and act differently from the way
one actually should. Through this very contrast or this incitement the
better part of your Self is strengthened and the physical and spiritual
life within you is sustained through this food, its continuance is assured
and the enjoyment of having attained to another, new degree of
perfection, and that through conflict and self-denial, whereas you
would not become aware of progress if you advanced without
obstacles.
When the sun in the morning sends its first rays over the pastures
of the earth, the whole living nature shouts with joy in answer. Every
being, each in its own way, twitters, coos and hums its hymn of praise
to the light and its Giver. Even the dewdrop attached to the leaf of a
moss plant, clothing itself with diamond brilliance, mirrors the great
hemisphere of light arched above it and in its radiance as it were
rejoices at the daylight returning after the darkness! – Why? Because
from one evening to the next morning the night, or darkness, had let all
living creatures feel the value of the light!
Thus it is also in a spiritual respect. The soul of a created being recognizes the sweet awareness of spiritual love, spiritual progress and
of a spiritual, higher soul-life only when it has come to know the
chasms and wrong paths threatening on its road of trial. Only after the
soul has advanced a small step does it take pleasure in the same and
renews all its strength for the attainment of the next. And so the
incentive, enjoyment and bliss are enhanced, not so much with the
better condition gained, but on account of the obstacles overcome.
You see, My children, what would all the heavens mean without
hell! And how much other beings in other suns and earths miss in bliss,
which is reserved only for My children, because the other beings in
other suns and worlds know only light and little or no darkness!
Do you still want to complain that hell is so close to you, even
within you? Or would you not rather, thanking Me, ask Me maybe for
more hell, so that you may be able to battle and suffer even more so as
to deserve in even greater measure to be called “My children”?
So set your minds at rest. I know what you need for your trialschool;
do not ask for more than what you are given by Me, and be
assured, you have enough with what My loving hand imposes on you;
where it more, it would be a punishing hand and this I, as your Father,
do not have!
Now I have shown you how even the totally evil, indeed, the most
evil in the whole of creation, with all its actions is still used and
exploited by Me for the benefit of all that lives and how Satan with his
henchmen, instead of harming Me, on the whole must contribute to the
greatest good. So let us now pass to your abode, “the earth”, as the
third, above mentioned word, so that there you may again see the love
and wise prudence of your Father in its whole glory. (Note by the
Translator: For the sake of clarity in the following paragraphs the
original German terms for “heaven”, “hell” and “earth” are retained,
with the English terms added in brackets). When pronouncing the word
“Himme1” (heaven), where you have to raise the pitch of your voice
while having to lower it when pronouncing “Hölle” (hell), you will
have noticed that each of these words requires a different movement of
the vocal muscles, and look, it is again different in the pronunciation of
the word “Erde” (earth), where you have to open your mouth wide (three different tones. The Ed.). Look, in the pronouncing of these
words in your language, including the movements of the vocal organ,
everything is arranged in such a way that spirits who are more familiar
than you are with the correspondence formulas of creation, find fully
expressed in the movements of the oral muscles what one or the other
pronounced word signifies. When pronouncing the word “Himmel”
(heaven) you have seen that the raising of the vocal pitch corresponds
to the closer description of the same. When pronouncing the word
“Hölle” (hell) where the mouth has to be closed like a cave, you will
not fail to see the close connection between this muscular movement
and the description of hell, where by the way the word “Himmel”
(heaven) is pronounced with an upward glance and the word “Hölle”
(hell) with a downward glance - certainly never upward, and finally
“die Erde” (earth) by opening the mouth broadly and looking straight
ahead. Having discussed the first two, what remains to be scrutinized is
merely the last word broadly pronounced, with its spiritual
correspondence, and earth itself as your abode. The fact that in
pronouncing the word “Erde” (earth) the mouth has to be pulled
horizontally to the corners and the lips must move upward showing the
rows of white teeth, has a spiritual correspondence to the earth, where,
in a spiritual sense, what is softer, namely the flesh, is under restraint,
laying open for consideration the firmer, more compact parts – ethics,
or the teeth. Now look, My dear children, in the spiritual
correspondence the teeth, as firm, bonelike parts, signify the permanent
and first support, both in man and earth, giving a beautiful form to the
face and imparting the moral beauty to man’s whole exterior. As well,
this support creates the inner vitality of the body of the earth itself and
what is beautiful on its surface. The teeth amongst other things signify
also the moral-spiritual and are the first spiritual organ of digestion,
which in worldly life should sift the good from the bad. And as in the
mouth the salt in the digestive juice of the saliva is added after the
crushing of the food through the teeth, correspondingly the salt is the
enticement always to act contrary to the good, and it is your main task
to resist this temptation and finally be the victor.
Here on this earth you receive everything mixed, the good with the
bad, love with hatred, life with death; that is, both easily change their
role with each other, or, in other words, each changes easily into its counter-pole. If you have enough strength to eliminate the wicked and
bad, then evil, no matter how often it assails you, cannot leave a
permanent impression in your soul and will completely disappear in the
beyond, and only what is good will be your actual worth! The fact that
when pronouncing the word “Erde” (earth) you have to open your
mouth wide horizontally, means in correspondence that in a spiritual
respect your earth – albeit physically small – reaches far beyond all
solar galaxies, even as far as My heavens, for this little planet became
firstly the abode of My children, and secondly also Mine, where,
through suffering and death, I became the victor over evil.
If you were a little more familiar with this spirit-language, you
would in every word referring to Me discover the important and far
greater spiritual meaning and not be satisfied with the comprehension
of the word – the bark, so to speak, but feel more joy and bliss at its
inner contents than you could ever have imagined. Then you would
find amongst other things that each people according to its spiritual
level will reveal itself in the words and expressions relating to Me, or
do you think that the languages were invented, as your linguists believe
they can prove? Oh, there you are badly mistaken! The words were not
always made simultaneously with the invented objects and new
requirements of a people, but the language – being a spiritual product –
has always progressed parallel with the spiritual perception of a people.
You can see for yourselves from the history of the nations that with the
spiritual progress or regression of a nation its language likewise
progressed or regressed and with the cessation of a nation also its
language (as a living thing) has utterly ceased.
Language is the expression of the soul. The more exalted and
beautiful the language, the greater the intensity of its expressions.
However, this can only be appreciated by spirits, or those enlightened
by My love and grace, who discover behind the various movements of
the muscles of the mouth and larynx, among the twittering, clicking,
trilling and whistling sounds which in this and that combination form
one or the other word, a higher, spiritual meaning which has become
for you incomprehensible like the hieroglyphs – of a lost Paradise.
Thus the earth is also in this different from many other worlds.
Whereas in these only one language prevails and all created beings pursue one and the same path, there are on earth thousands of different
languages, as offshoots of a single one. And in this way the dweller on
this earth, in addition to many tests of his patience and perseverance, is
also burdened with this task, namely, that when he wants to
communicate with the brothers of other nations, he must learn their
language in order to convey his thoughts and feelings to them; or, if he
wants to learn something from his foreign brother, or tell him
something, he must make himself understood in that language.
Wherever you look on earth, beginning with the most primitive
peoples up to you civilized nations, you see the small earth with its
restless spirits spread itself beyond everything known. Of course, the
main motivation with the crowd is always self-seeking. However, in
this way the nations are brought together, they come to know each
other and learn to appreciate and love each other.
Those who investigate nature, the stars, the inside and surface of
the earth, impart their knowledge about the thing which out of My
grace I let the individual find, as common knowledge to mankind.
Without realizing it, they carry out only My plans, not theirs, and so I
educate the souls of this earth, which was once for a short time also My
abode, to a better life.
Now the thoughts of people race with the speed of lightning from
one pole to the other and they themselves roll on iron roads like a
hurricane from one place to another.
The roads are made from iron and the majority of those traveling
on them also have a heart of iron (at least for their human brothers).
But this is immaterial; My plans are nevertheless more advanced
through the fast communication existing between towns and villages,
and the getting together of the people dwelling there, than all the
builders and owners of railroads believe.
Here I have often mixed together in one carnage - heaven, hell and
earth, or spiritually good, bad or materially thinking people. On
entering they all had their own opinion; on leaving, hell has perhaps
extracted from heaven and earth a permanent spark of knowledge by
way of conversation, which throughout life will not be forgotten. Thus I carry out My plans, utilizing also this traveling together,
and where formerly rigid rules separated people, there I make them
forget their prejudices. And even though self-seeking, the urge for
enjoyment and greed for money are the motivating force why people
come together, travel to other countries exposing themselves to all
sorts of danger, I still have achieved My purpose, namely that of
fraternization. Now it only needs one more mighty push and spiritual
impulse and the people stand there like brothers, united in the desire to
follow Me, the Eternal Shepherd. Then the spiritual significance of the
earth is achieved, then is the time when I shall again come personally
among you, after the stubborn have been removed and only the willing
are left.
Thus, My dear children, you see how heaven, hell and earth, be it
in great or in small things, must serve only the purpose of love, the
fundamental idea of My creation.
However, do not count it by years what I have just told you, for
with Me there is no time. I know neither day nor night by which to
measure time; with Me there is always day, and the sun of love always
shines, and will shine, for all until all will have found the road to Me,
their most loving, benevolent Father.
Now I think that you, too, can be satisfied with this supplement. It
is another light in the great valleys of My creation. Consider well how
much love and grace I bestow on you and that I offer you so much
spiritual bread so that you may no longer doubt that everything you see
is from the Father’s hand!
This for your comfort with My blessing! Amen.

Early advocates such as physicist Steven E. Jones, architect Richard Gage, software engineer Jim Hoffman, and theologian David Ray Griffin, proposed that the sole aircraft impacts and resulting fires could not have weakened the buildings sufficiently to initiate the catastrophic collapse, and that the buildings would have neither collapsed completely nor at the speeds that they did without additional energy involved to weaken their structures.^\2])
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the magazine Popular Mechanics examined and rejected these theories. Specialists in structural mechanics and structural engineering accept the model of a fire-induced, gravity-driven collapse of the World Trade Center buildings, an explanation that does not involve the use of explosives.^\3])^\4])^\5]) NIST "found no corroborating evidence for alternative hypotheses suggesting that the WTC towers were brought down by controlled demolition using explosives planted prior to Sept. 11, 2001."^\6]) Professors Zdeněk Bažant of Northwestern University,^\7]) Thomas Eagar, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology^\4]) and James Quintiere of the University of Maryland,^\8]) have also dismissed the controlled-demolition conspiracy theory.
In 2006, Jones suggested that thermite or super-thermite may have been used by government insiders with access to such materials and to the buildings themselves, to demolish the buildings.^\9])^\10])^\11])^\12]) In April 2009, Jones, Dane Niels H. Harrit and seven other authors published a paper in The Open Chemical Physics Journal, causing the editor, Prof. Marie-Paule Pileni, to resign as she accused the publisher of printing it without her knowledge;^\13])^\14]) this article was titled 'Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe', and stated that they had found evidence of nano-thermite in samples of the dust that was produced during the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.^\15]) NIST responded that there was no "clear chain of custody" to prove that the four samples of dust came from the WTC site. Jones invited NIST to conduct its own studies using its own known "chain of custody" dust, but NIST did not investigate.^\16])

History[edit]

The controlled demolition conspiracy theories were first suggested in September 2001.^\1]) Eric Hufschmid's book, Painful Questions: An Analysis of the September 11th Attack, in which the controlled demolition theory is explicitly advocated, was published in September 2002.^\1]) David Ray Griffin and Steven E. Jones are the best known advocates of the theory.^\1]) Griffin's book The New Pearl Harbor, published in 2004,^\17]) has become a reference work for the 9/11 Truth movement.^\18]) In the same year, Griffin published the book The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions, in which he argues that flaws in the commission's report amounts to a cover-up by government officials and says that the Bush administration was complicit in the 9/11 attacks.^\19])
Steven E. Jones has been another voice of the proponents of demolition theories.^\20]) In 2006, he published the paper "Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Completely Collapse?".^\9]) On September 7, 2006, Brigham Young University placed Jones on paid leave citing the "increasingly speculative and accusatory nature" of his statements, pending an official review of his actions. Six weeks later, Jones retired from the university.^\21])^\22])^\23])^\24])^\25]) The structural engineering faculty at the university issued a statement which said that they "do not support the hypotheses of Professor Jones".^\4])^\26])
In its final report, NIST stated that it "found no corroborating evidence for alternative hypotheses suggesting that the WTC towers were brought down by controlled demolition using explosives planted prior to Sept. 11, 2001. NIST also did not find any evidence that missiles were fired at or hit the towers. Instead, photographs and videos from several angles clearly show that the collapse initiated at the fire and impact floors and that the collapse progressed from the initiating floors downward until the dust clouds obscured the view"^\27]) and posted a FAQ about related issues on its website in August 2006.^\6]) Allegations of controlled demolition have been found to be devoid of scientific merit by mainstream engineering scholarship.^\3])^\28]) The magazine Popular Mechanics also found the theories lacked scientific support in its special report "Debunking the 9/11 Myths".^\29])
Articles, letters and comments by controlled demolition advocates have been published in scientific and engineering journals. In April 2008, a letter titled "Fourteen Points of Agreement with Official Government Reports on the World Trade Center Destruction," was published by Steven E. Jones, Frank Legge, Kevin Ryan, Anthony Szamboti and James Gourley in The Open Civil Engineering Journal.^\30]) A few months later, in July 2008, an article titled "Environmental anomalies at the World Trade Center: evidence for energetic materials," was published by Ryan, Gourley and Jones in the Environmentalist.^\31]) Later that same year, in October 2008, the Journal of Engineering Mechanics published a comment^\32]) by chemical engineer and attorney James R. Gourley, in which he describes what he considered fundamental errors in a 2007 paper on the mechanics of progressive collapse by Bažant and Verdure.^\33]) In the same issue, Bažant and Le rebutted Gourley's arguments, finding his criticisms scientifically incorrect.^\34]) They suggested future critics should "become acquainted with the relevant material from an appropriate textbook on structural mechanics" or risk "misleading and wrongly influencing the public with incorrect information."^\35])
In April 2009, Danish chemist Niels H. Harrit, of the University of Copenhagen, and eight other authors published a paper in The Open Chemical Physics Journal, titled, "Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe." The paper concludes that chips consisting of unreacted and partially reacted super-thermite, or nano-thermite, appear to be present in samples of the dust.^\15])^\36]) The editor in chief of the publication subsequently resigned.^\9])^\10])^\15])^\37])
Internet websites and videos have contributed to the growth of the movement of individuals supporting the theory that planted explosives destroyed the World Trade Center. The website of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth cites the membership of over 2,400 architects and engineers.^\38]) The controlled demolition theory often includes allegations that U.S. government insiders planned and / or participated in the destruction of the WTC in order to justify the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.^\39]) The theory features prominently in popular entertainment type movies, such as Loose Change),^\40]) as well as documentaries such as 9/11: Blueprint for Truth, by San Francisco-area architect Richard Gage).^\41])
While mainstream press has a significant history of dismissing conspiracy theories (i.e., in 2006, the magazine New York) reported that a "new generation of conspiracy theorists is at work on a secret history of New York's most terrible day."^\42])), the theory has been supported by a number of popular actors, musicians and politicians, including Charlie Sheen,^\43])^\44]) Willie Nelson,^\45]) former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura,^\46]) talkshow host Rosie O'Donnell,^\47]) and actors Ed Asner and Daniel Sunjata.

Introduction to AI and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming our world. For BCA students, understanding these technologies is crucial. These fields offer numerous opportunities and are shaping the future of technology.

Why AI and ML Matter for BCA Students

Enhancing Technical Skills
AI and ML help BCA students develop essential technical skills. These include programming, data analysis, and algorithm design. Mastering these skills is vital for any tech career.
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Knowledge of AI and ML significantly increases employability. Companies across various industries seek professionals skilled in these areas. This expertise can lead to high-paying and rewarding jobs.
Preparing for Future Innovations
AI and ML are at the forefront of technological advancements. By learning these technologies, BCA students prepare for future innovations. This preparation is key to staying relevant in the fast-evolving tech industry.

Applications of AI and ML

Healthcare
In healthcare, AI and ML are used for predictive analytics and personalized medicine. These technologies help improve patient outcomes and streamline operations.
Finance
AI and ML play a crucial role in finance. They are used for fraud detection, risk management, and algorithmic trading. These applications enhance efficiency and security in financial services.
Retail
AI and ML improve customer experiences in retail. They enable personalized recommendations and optimize inventory management. This leads to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

Key Concepts for BCA Students

Algorithms and Data Structures
Understanding algorithms and data structures is fundamental. These concepts are the backbone of AI and ML technologies.
Statistics and Probability
A solid grasp of statistics and probability is essential. These areas are critical for designing and interpreting ML models.
Neural Networks and Deep Learning
Neural networks and deep learning are central to AI. These technologies mimic the human brain and are used in applications like image and speech recognition.

Learning Resources for AI and ML

Online Courses
Platforms like Coursera and edX offer excellent AI and ML courses. These courses provide comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience.
Books and Journals
Books such as "Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach" and journals like the "Journal of Machine Learning Research" are valuable resources. They offer in-depth insights into AI and ML.
University Programs
Many universities offer specialized programs in AI and ML. These programs provide structured learning and recognized certifications.
Gaining Practical Experience
Hands-On Projects
Practical experience is crucial in AI and ML. Working on projects helps students apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems.
Internships
Internships provide industry exposure and practical skills. They also offer networking opportunities with professionals in the field.

Career Opportunities in AI and ML

Data Scientist
Data scientists analyze and interpret complex data. They help organizations make informed decisions using ML models.
Machine Learning Engineer
ML engineers design and implement machine learning models. They work on integrating these models into applications.
AI Researcher
AI researchers focus on advancing AI through innovative research. This role requires a deep understanding of AI and a passion for discovery.
Business Intelligence Developer
BI developers use AI and ML to analyze data and provide insights. They help businesses optimize operations and make data-driven decisions.

Challenges in Learning AI and ML

Complex Concepts
AI and ML involve complex concepts. Mastering them requires persistence and continuous learning.
Keeping Up with Advances
The AI and ML fields are rapidly evolving. Staying updated with the latest developments is essential for professionals.
**Ethical Considerations**
Bias and Fairness
AI systems can reflect biases in data. Ensuring fairness and transparency in AI models is crucial.
Privacy Concerns
AI systems often handle large amounts of personal data. Protecting privacy is a significant concern.

Networking and Professional Development

Joining Communities
Joining AI and ML communities provides support and networking opportunities. These communities are valuable for learning and professional growth.
Attending Events
Conferences and seminars offer insights into the latest research. They are also great for networking with industry experts.
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Conclusion
AI and ML are crucial for BCA students. They offer numerous career opportunities and prepare students for the future. Embracing these technologies is essential for staying competitive in the tech industry.
FAQs
1) What are essential skills for AI and ML?
Programming, statistics, and understanding algorithms are essential skills. Knowledge of neural networks and deep learning is also important.
2) How can I start learning AI and ML?
Begin with online courses and hands-on projects. Join communities and attend events to stay updated.
3) What are the best online courses for AI and ML?
Coursera and edX offer excellent courses. They provide comprehensive knowledge and practical experience.
4) Are there internship opportunities for AI and ML?
Yes, many companies offer internships in AI and ML. These opportunities provide practical experience and industry exposure.
5) How can AI and ML knowledge benefit my career?
AI and ML skills are in high demand. They enhance employability and open doors to high-paying jobs.

Hello everyone!! I've recently decided I want to start learning about graphics programming (if not all the way, then at least get familoarized with the basics and then decide if I should go on).
There are numerous posts here about beginner resources, each answered with scary walls of text and tens of tutorials. I am mostly looking for a single resource (preferrably a book since I like reading), that will give me a pretty good grasp of the basics and what a Graphics Programmer day-to-day work is about.
I recently came across Fundamental of Computer Graphics (5th ed), and I was thinking of picking that up. Would you say this is a good starting point?? (btw, i've no experience with computer graphics, very little experience with C++, but I know linear algebra and trig from uni) I'm currently doing my phd, and have about an hour a day to learn something else, so I was thinking reading a new book for starters would be perfect, and then move on to tutorials/code if I like it.
All advice is welcome. Thank you!!