How does our fascination with technology intersect with the religious imagination? In TechGnosis-a cult classic now updated and reissued with a new afterword-Erik Davis argues that while the realms of the digital and the spiritual may seem worlds apart, esoteric and religious impulses have in fact always permeated (and sometimes inspired) technological communication. Davis uncovers startling connections between such seemingly disparate topics as electricity and alchemy; online roleplaying games and religious and occult practices; virtual reality and gnostic mythology; programming languages and Kabbalah. The final chapters address the apocalyptic dreams that haunt technology, providing vital historical context as well as new ways to think about a future defined by the mutant intermingling of mind and machine, nightmare and fantasy.
At nearly $8,000 for the body only, the impressive Canon 1Ds Mark III DSLR is a top-of-the-line image-making machine designed for professional photojournalists and sports and wildlife photographers. Its many complex features give photographers total control over the picture-making process--but can be difficult to master.
Alan Cooper calls for a Software Revolution - his best-selling book now in trade paperback with new foreword and afterword.
'One of the greatest, most radical public thinkers of our time. When the sun sets on the American empire, as it will, as it must, Noam Chomsky's work will survive' Arundhati RoyFrom one of the world's most prominent thinkers comes an urgent warning of the threat that US power poses to humanity's futureThe land of the free. The home of the brave. But what has America achieved in the aim of 'spreading democracy' - except wreak havoc across the globe and establish a reckless foreign policy that serves the interest of few and has endangered all too many?In this timely book, Noam Chomsky writing with Nathan J. Robinson, vividly traces America's pursuit of global domination, offering an incisive critique of the self-serving myths that dominant elites in the United States continue to push.Offering penetrating accounts of Washington's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, they examine how interventions such as these have been justified with noble stories about humanitarian missions and benevolent intentions but are now driving us closer to wars with Russia and China.At once thorough and devastating, urgent and provocative, The Myth of American Idealism offers a highly readable entry to the conclusions Noam Chomsky has come to after a lifetime of thought and activism.'The west's most prominent critic of US imperialism . . . the closest thing in the English-speaking world to an intellectual superstar' Guardian
The early promise of a free Internet is long gone. Now, rather than allowing us a meaningful relationship with a range of content of our choosing, algorithms have not only removed genuine choice but de-texturized the world around us: smoothed its edges, planed down friction, and flattened differences. So coffee shops from Brooklyn to Beijing are inflected with a similar, 'Instagrammable' aesthetic. Airbnb rentals are decked out for their swipability factor as much as for their comfort. Spotify builds playlists that echo a category, looping back to music we've already heard before so as not to disrupt the flow. Netflix doesn't just make suggestions based on viewing histories but it actively changes the thumbnails to increase the chances we click on it.As Filterworld masterfully shows, culture itself has become algorithmic: a set of principles, a data rule, a line of code. And we interact with it in ever more passive ways. The result is not isolated echo chambers or a filter bubbles, but an all-encompassing Filterworld of the title. Kyle Chayka deliciously deconstructs this Filterworld: it shows us how technology has led us to this place and its effects on society and the individual, as well as how we might be able to remove the filter to gain liberation.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Stephen Hawking’s closest collaborator offers the intellectual superstar’s final thoughts on the cosmos—a dramatic revision of the theory he put forward in A Brief History of Time.“This superbly written book offers insight into an extraordinary individual, the creative process, and the scope and limits of our current understanding of the cosmos.”—Lord Martin ReesPerhaps the biggest question Stephen Hawking tried to answer in his extraordinary life was how the universe could have created conditions so perfectly hospitable to life. In order to solve this mystery, Hawking studied the big bang origin of the universe, but his early work ran into a crisis when the math predicted many big bangs producing a multiverse—countless different universes, most of which would be far too bizarre to harbor life. Holed up in the theoretical physics department at Cambridge, Stephen Hawking and his friend and collaborator Thomas Hertog worked on this problem for twenty years, developing a new theory of the cosmos that could account for the emergence of life. Peering into the extreme quantum physics of cosmic holograms and venturing far back in time to our deepest roots, they were startled to find a deeper level of evolution in which the physical laws themselves transform and simplify until particles, forces, and even time itself fades away. This discovery led them to a revolutionary idea: The laws of physics are not set in stone but are born and co-evolve as the universe they govern takes shape. As Hawking’s final days drew near, the two collaborators published their theory, which proposed a radical new Darwinian perspective on the origins of our universe. On the Origin of Time offers a striking new vision of the universe’s birth that will profoundly transform the way we think about our place in the order of the cosmos and may ultimately prove to be Hawking’s greatest legacy.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A progressive takedown of the uber-capitalist status quo that has enriched millionaires and billionaires at the expense of the working class, and a blueprint for what transformational change would actually look like—with a new afterword“A clarion call against the American oligarchs . . . powerful.”—The GuardianIt’s OK to be angry about capitalism. Reflecting on our turbulent times, Senator Bernie Sanders takes on the billionaire class and speaks blunt truths about our country’s failure to address the destructive nature of a system that is fueled by uncontrolled greed and rigidly committed to prioritizing corporate profits over the needs of ordinary Americans.Sanders argues that unfettered capitalism is to blame for an unprecedented level of income and wealth inequality, is undermining our democracy, and is destroying our planet. How can we accept an economic order that allows three billionaires to control more wealth than the bottom half of our society? How can we accept a political system that allows the super rich to buy politicians and swing elections? How can we accept an energy system that rewards the fossil fuel corporations causing the climate crisis? Sanders believes that, in the face of these overwhelming challenges, the American people must ask tough questions about the systems that have failed us and demand fundamental economic and political change. This is where the path forward begins.It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism presents a vision that extends beyond the promises of past campaigns to reveal what would be possible if the political revolution took place, if we would finally recognize that economic rights are human rights, and if we would work to create a society that provides a decent standard of living for all. This isn’t some utopian fantasy; this is democracy as we should know it.
This book is aimed at everyone preparing for the ISTQB® Certified Tester ¿ Foundation Level exam based on the Foundation Level syllabus (version 4.0) published in 2023. It provides candidates with reliable knowledge based on this document and thus distinguishes itself from all the information about ISTQB® syllabi and exams on the Internet, which is often of rather poor quality and may even contain serious errors. The book expands and details many issues that are described in the new 2023 version of the syllabus in a perfunctory or general way only. According to the ISTQB® guidelines for syllabus-based training, an exercise must be provided for each learning objective at the K3 level, and a practical example must be provided for each objective at the K2 or K3 level. In order to satisfy these requirements, the authors prepared numerous exercises and examples for all learning objectives at these levels. In addition, for each learning objective, one or more sample exam questions are presented which are similar to those that the candidate will see in the exam. This makes the book an excellent aid for studying and preparing for the exam and verifying acquired knowledge.
Product Operations is the discipline of helping your Product Management function scale well. Surrounding the team with all of the essential inputs to set strategy, prioritize, and streamline ways of working.Many companies want to reap the benefits of economies of scale that comes with being a product-led company. As our businesses change shape to focus more on software, so do our ways of working. We need to make sure we're breaking down these silos of information and capabilities that arise at scale. To react quickly and set great Product Strategies, leaders and team members alike need access to high quality data and a process to implement their decisions.In this book, Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles explain how Product Operations helps solve many of scaling issues companies face today, like:Connecting financial metrics back to the delivery of software featuresBetter working relationships between go-to-market teams and software teamsGetting the right information to set and monitor company and product strategiesStreamlining the flow of user insights into the right teamsHow to set up a Product Management Operating ModelExecutives and leaders of SAAS scale up and enterprise companies will discover the benefits of the Three Pillars of Product Operations as they read through the stories of real companies who have implemented the function, like Stripe, Uber, athenahealth, Oscar Health, and Fidelity. This book covers the following topics:What is Product Operations and why is it an essential function in scaling software companiesThe Three Pillars of Product Operations: Data and Insights; Customer and Market Insights; and Process and GovernanceHow to Introduce and Build a Team for Product Operations
"A playbook for bridging business and data science worlds to effectively execute machine learning projects in business"--
Do your product dashboards look funky? Are your quarterly reports stale? Is the data set you're using broken or just plain wrong? These problems affect almost every team, yet they're usually addressed on an ad hoc basis and in a reactive manner. If you answered yes to these questions, this book is for you.Many data engineering teams today face the "e;good pipelines, bad data"e; problem. It doesn't matter how advanced your data infrastructure is if the data you're piping is bad. In this book, Barr Moses, Lior Gavish, and Molly Vorwerck, from the data observability company Monte Carlo, explain how to tackle data quality and trust at scale by leveraging best practices and technologies used by some of the world's most innovative companies.Build more trustworthy and reliable data pipelinesWrite scripts to make data checks and identify broken pipelines with data observabilityLearn how to set and maintain data SLAs, SLIs, and SLOsDevelop and lead data quality initiatives at your companyLearn how to treat data services and systems with the diligence of production softwareAutomate data lineage graphs across your data ecosystemBuild anomaly detectors for your critical data assets
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Unapologetically optimistic and bracingly realistic, this is the most inspiring book on ';ethical living' I've ever read.' Oliver Burkeman, Guardian ';A monumental event.' Rutger Bregman, author of Humankind ';A book of great daring, clarity, insight and imagination. To be simultaneously so realistic and so optimistic, and always so damn readable well that is a miracle for which he should be greatly applauded.' Stephen Fry Humanity is in its infancy. Our future could last for millions of years or it could end tomorrow. Astonishing numbers of people could lead lives of great happiness or unimaginable suffering, or never live at all, depending on what we choose to do today. As we approach a critical juncture in our history, we can make profound moral decisions about how humanity's course plays out. We can create positive change on behalf of future generations, to prevent the use of catastrophic weapons and maintain peace between the world's great powers. We can improve our moral values, navigating the rise of AI and climate change more fairly for generations to come. The challenges we face are enormous. But so is the influence we have. If we choose wisely, our distant descendants will look back on us fondly, knowing we did everything we could to give them a world that is beautiful and just.
"In this, her third cookbook, Joanna shares the recipes--old and new--that she's enjoyed the most over the years. The result is a cookbook filled with recipes that are timeless, creative, and delicious! Just as in her past books, within each recipe Joanna speaks to the reader, explaining why she likes a recipe, what inspired her to create it in the first place, and how she prefers to serve it"--
Become well-versed with the tools available in the Siemens TIA toolbox and write PLC and HMI code effectively Key Features: Find out how to use TIA Portal effectively to boost your productivityLearn about a structured design pattern and understand why it is so powerful when implemented correctlyDiscover efficient project management and design practicesBook Description: With automation requirements on the rise, Siemens' TIA Portal development environment is almost a necessity for any automation engineer. The Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) environment helps seamlessly integrate all things automation, from PLC hardware and software design to HMI development. This book helps you understand the tools available in the TIA toolbox and shows you how to write code effectively.The book begins by introducing you to the TIA environment, covering the layout and tools available. Once you've got to grips with the environment, you'll find out how to create hardware to write programs against, including adding IO modules and assigning memory for input and output. Next, you'll develop logic in all of the languages that TIA Portal offers, such as Ladder, Function Block Diagram, and Structured Text (SCL) (note that Statement List is not covered as a deprecated language), as well as the newest language, Cause and Effect (CEM). You'll also discover how to store standard code in libraries, creating a version control system that is easy to manage and aids standard design. Finally, following the PLC design chapters, you'll learn how to develop HMI applications in TIA Portal's latest unified hardware.By the end of the book, you'll be well equipped to use all of the features that TIA Portal V17 offers.What You Will Learn: Set up a Siemens Environment with TIA PortalFind out how to structure a projectCarry out the simulation of a project, enhancing this further with structureDevelop HMI screens that interact with PLC dataMake the best use of all available languagesLeverage TIA Portal's tools to manage the deployment and modification of projectsWho this book is for: This TIA Portal book is for anybody looking to learn PLC/HMI development using the latest Siemens development platform. Industrial software engineers, PLC engineers, automation engineers, and electricians will be able to advance their skill set with this guide. A basic understanding of PLC principles such as PLC data types and basic objects such as function blocks and functions is necessary to get started.
A developer's resource to learning one of the most-used scripting languagesJavaScript All-in-One For Dummies saves you shelf space by offering a complete introduction to JavaScript and how it's used in the real world. This book serves up JavaScript coding basics before diving into the tools, libraries, frameworks, and runtime environments new and experienced coders need to know. Start by learning the basics of JavaScript and progress through the techniques and tools used by professional JavaScript developers, even if you've never written code before. You also get the details of today's hottest libraries and frameworks--React.js, Vue.js, Svelte, and Node.js.* Learn the basics of web and application development with the JavaScript language* Grasp the similarities and differences between React.js, Vue.js, and Svelte* Discover how to write server-side JavaScript and how to access databases with Node.js* Gain a highly marketable skill, with one of the most popular coding languages* Launch or further your career as a coder with easy-to-follow instruction* This is the go-to Dummies guide for future and current coders who need an all-inclusive guide JavaScript.This is the go-to Dummies guide for future and current coders who need an all-inclusive guide to the world of JavaScript.
Don't miss this must-have, collectible read for Overwatch fans both old and new.
'Reading it will change the way you think about the universe' Sean CarrollIn the coming decades, the technology that enables virtual and augmented reality will improve beyond recognition. Within a century, world-renowned philosopher David J. Chalmers predicts, we will have virtual worlds that are impossible to distinguish from non-virtual worlds. But is virtual reality just escapism?In a highly original work of 'technophilosophy', Chalmers argues categorically, no: virtual reality is genuine reality. Virtual worlds are not second-class worlds. We can live a meaningful life in virtual reality - and increasingly, we will.What is reality, anyway? How can we lead a good life? Is there a god? How do we know there's an external world - and how do we know we're not living in a computer simulation? In Reality+, Chalmers conducts a grand tour of philosophy, using cutting-edge technology to provide invigorating new answers to age-old questions.Drawing on examples from pop culture, literature and film that help bring philosophical issues to life, Reality+ is a mind-bending journey through virtual worlds, illuminating the nature of reality and our place within it.
Machine learning systems are both complex and unique. Complex because they consist of many different components and involve many different stakeholders. Unique because they're data dependent, with data varying wildly from one use case to the next. In this book, you'll learn a holistic approach to designing ML systems that are reliable, scalable, maintainable, and adaptive to changing environments and business requirements.Author Chip Huyen, co-founder of Claypot AI, considers each design decision--such as how to process and create training data, which features to use, how often to retrain models, and what to monitor--in the context of how it can help your system as a whole achieve its objectives. The iterative framework in this book uses actual case studies backed by ample references.This book will help you tackle scenarios such as:Engineering data and choosing the right metrics to solve a business problemAutomating the process for continually developing, evaluating, deploying, and updating modelsDeveloping a monitoring system to quickly detect and address issues your models might encounter in productionArchitecting an ML platform that serves across use casesDeveloping responsible ML systems
Say cheese! Explore this beginner-friendly guide to digital photography with the Nikon Z fc cameraWith a design that looks like an old-school film camera, the Nikon Z fc makes photographers want to grab this very-modern model off the shelf and start taking photos. But if you really want to set your pictures apart from the average snapshot, you need Nikon Z fc For Dummies.This book takes you on a comprehensive and user-friendly tour of the Nikon Z fc camera, its settings, and all of its automatic and manual options. You'll learn how to control exposure, take advantage of advanced focusing options, fix color problems, and get the best image quality.You'll also get:* Accessible instruction on tried and tested photography techniques* Instruction on how to adjust color and exposure settings* Strategies for when to use your camera's auto options to when to take full control of settingsIdeal for anyone who wants to get the most out of their Nikon Z fc camera, Nikon Z fc For Dummies covers the photography basics you need to understand to take fantastic pictures along with how to apply those techniques to the Nikon Z fc.
Excel is the most sophisticated spreadsheet program available, making it easy for you to create a variety of analyses and calculations for personal and professional use. However, this program is much more than just an electronic version of an accountant's green sheet, and mastering even the most basic functions can be a challenge.
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