Tag: Tech

BITCOIN VS GOLD: WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF INVESTMENTS?

By Moksha Grover

Today, most people have shifted their focus toward investments for the purpose of strengthening their financial position. While there are many ways to strengthen one’s financial position, investment is considered to be the most apposite way. The covid pandemic has taught us a lot about different aspects of life. However, most importantly it has highlighted our way of savings and investments. During tough phases like lockdown, almost everyone suffered financially and was forced to make compromises within their lifestyle. Only those who made wise money decisions at the right time were left uncompromised.

During the pandemic, it was observed that more and more people started investing in safe-haven assets. The most popular safe-haven investment during the covid pandemic has been gold. Gold investments, as we all know, are said to give good returns most of the time. It is also viewed as one of the safest options for investments. However, nowadays, investment in gold is being challenged by cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies are now being regarded as the new hot cake in the world of investments and are said to give even more returns than gold. The most trending and successful cryptocurrency is Bitcoin.

WHAT IS BITCOIN?

Bitcoin is termed a digital currency which is free of any central control or the oversight of banks or governments. Instead, it depends upon peer-to-peer software and cryptography. It is also known as digital gold because its properties are very similar to that of gold. Like gold, bitcoin too has a fixed supply and derives its value through its limited supply and growing consumer demand. Some of the pros and cons of this cryptocurrency are: –

PROS

  • Since bitcoin is entirely digital, it can be easily sold a transferred to another person’s account.
  • Bitcoin has the potential to give higher returns on investments because of its growing market.
  • Bitcoin can be used as a currency everywhere. It can be used for payments at any store that accepts bitcoin.
  • Investing in bitcoin now could lead to big payoffs down the road. Because bitcoin is an emerging investment and has the potential to increase in value.

CONS 

  • There is a greater degree of risk involved in bitcoin as it is extremely volatile and susceptible to large fluctuations.
  • Bitcoin is subjected to scams or stealing as it is completely digital and so web-based wallets have the possibility to be hacked.
  • Bitcoin’s value is totally dependent upon the phenomena of demand and supply. If the demand for other cryptocurrencies increases more than the demand for bitcoin, its value can decrease.

WHAT IS INVESTMENT IN GOLD?

Gold is a valuable yellow metal and is used for various consumer goods such as jewellery, and it is not in abundance. Gold is a must for all the special occasions in India ranging from weddings to other special functions. In fact, one of the largest markets for gold is found in India. Gold has a big significance in the country’s cultural value and is considered to be a store of value, a symbol of wealth and status and a fundamental part of many rituals. Investment in gold gives fruitful results most of the time. Some of the pros and cons of Gold investments are: –

PROS

  • Investment in gold is always a stable option as its value increases over time; even if the economy gets into recession, its value will not decrease.
  • If you have your gold stored in a precious metals IRA, it will be stored in a specific, safe vault that is overseen by a custodian who will manage your account. These accounts are often insured up to a certain amount, much like a traditional bank account, so you can rest easy knowing your investment is safe[1].
  • Gold is considered to be an ideal baseline for trading purposes and is being used up as long as civilizations have been around. So it is durable in nature.

CONS

  • Gold can be used as a currency only during an economic crisis. It cannot be used as a currency to buy something in normal times.
  • When you invest in gold you need to keep that physical item stored carefully and safely.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BITCOIN AND GOLD

CHARACTERISTICSBITCOINGOLD
Legality, Transparency and safetyBitcoin has safety issues and is not that transparent and legalGold ranks above bitcoin in safety, legality and transparency.
VolatilityBitcoin is extremely volatile. It is more susceptible to market whims and newsGold is a safer asset and is less volatile
Baseline ValueBitcoin has less baseline value as it is based on a full banking system and many people don’t have access to online banking services.As gold is used in a variety of ways, therefore, it has more baseline value than bitcoin.
RarityRareRare
LiquidityLiquidLiquid

WHICH TYPE OF INVESTMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED? GOLD OR BITCOIN

According to billionaire Ray Dalio, bitcoin is just a digital version of gold but he prefers physical gold over bitcoin. “If you put a gun to my head, and you said, ‘I can only have one,’” says Dalio. “I would choose gold.” Here’s why he prefers investment in gold over bitcoin[2].

  • Gold has thousands of years of historical record as a store value and doesn’t face the same competition risks as bitcoin has
  • Unlike bitcoin, gold is very less volatile. Its volatility is just one-fifth of the volatility of bitcoin.
  • Cryptocurrencies can never replace metals like gold and silver as they are being used for centuries in every corner of the world and have a very strong economic standing as compared to bitcoin. So Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin can only help increase the value of these metals but cannot replace them.
  • Gold has offered a very high degree of longevity but such degree of longevity offered by bitcoin is highly questionable.

FINAL VERDICT

Both bitcoin and gold have their own advantages and disadvantages. For now, it is very hard to predict whether an investment in gold will result in better returns or investment in bitcoin. Bitcoin, today is said to be giving more returns than gold. It is alleged that Bitcoin’s market cap will surpass gold’s market cap by 2030. However, nothing is for sure now. Many people prefer gold investments, at the same time many people have shifted towards investments in bitcoin. Bitcoin has a fantastic upside and limited downside, while gold has a more traditional risk-reward balance[3]. Bitcoin is good for short-term investments and getting high returns on it and gold is good for long-term investments and gives relatively lower returns than bitcoin. It is completely the choice of the investor regarding the kind of investment he/ she wants to take up. An investor can invest in bitcoin or gold or in both. It is completely the choice of the investor. But it is advisable to invest in both bitcoin as well as gold as it will help you diversify your investments and increase your chances of high returns.

[1] ‘BITCOIN VS GOLD: WHICH IS BETTER?’, NATIONWIDE COIN & BULLION RESERVE < https://nationwidecoins.com/bitcoin-vs-gold-which-is-the-better-investment/> accessed 11th September 2021

[2] Jade Scipioni, ‘Bitcoin vs. gold: Here’s what billionaire Ray Dalio thinks, make it (4th August 2021) < https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/04/bitcoin-vs-gold-heres-what-billionaire-ray-dalio-thinks.html> accessed 11th September 2021

[3] Ravi Singhal, ‘Gold vs Bitcoin: Which one is a better option for investment?’, The Economic Times (8th August 2021) <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/cryptocurrency/gold-vs-bitcoin-which-one-is-a-better-option-for-investment/articleshow/85148997.cms?from=mdr accessed 11th September 2021

5 Benefits of Learning to Code

Photo by Kevin Ku on Pexels.com

Computer programming or coding is a very important skill in tech that engineering students, app developers, website developers, game developers etc. use in order to create what they intend to. Over the past couple of years, coding has progressed from a geeky hobby to career-creating skill. It is easy to learn, doesn’t take much time in learning, fun to apply and eventually grow step-by-step. The fact that literally anybody can learn to code surprises everyone who stumble upon it. Moreover, employers have shown a willingness to pay a premium for the work of employees with coding and programming ability.

You might be wondering if coding is something you should consider. So how to start to learn coding? How long will it take? How much time is less time? What exactly should be our goal?- are all the questions one goes through before starting to learn coding in the present time. So here we have ‘5 benefits of learning to code’ which will go through all the aforesaid questions and answer quite more than what comes in the general thought.

  1. A new perspective to problem-solving:

Coding helps us in understanding logic at a deep level and improves my problem-solving proficiency. In its most basic terms, is really just assigning a computer a task to do based on the logical guidelines you’ve outlined. Once you have got a really good grip on the coding language, it provides you an arsenal of tools which helps you to reciprocate your idea into a working code. This psychology improves problem solving as you approach the problem in a way that matches to your intellect in a certain field; that field being coding.

Hilary Bird, senior developer at Get Century Link says, “I can break problems down into small, separate parts and figure out how each is affecting the other,” she explains. “This helps me decide what area of the problem to focus on first.”

2. Great earning potential:

One of the most important and the strongest merits of learning to code is that it offers impeccable earning potential to programmers. Demand remains strong for coding-related jobs and this means that it has got a high probability that it pays really well. In the US, median annual salary information for these coding and programming-related professions is as follows:

  • Web developers: $73,760
  • Network and computer systems administrators: $83,510
  • Computer programmers: $86,550
  • Database administrators: $93,750
  • Software developers: $107,510

To put it into perspective, the national average for all occupations in the US is around $39,810. As you can see, careers that involve some programming, coding or scripting skills tend to come with above-average salaries.

3. Career flexibility:

Learning to code can help open up new areas of opportunity in your career and ultimately make you a more flexible candidate in a rapidly-shifting digital economy. Even if your job doesn’t require you to have a deep understanding of coding or programming languages, it still helps because you’ll likely need to interact with another person who does. Learning to code, even as a hobby, can give you a common reference point and better understanding of those who tackle some of the more complex programming and coding roles out there. 

4. Complements creativity:

Another benefit of learning to code is that it can help you showcase your creativity online. For example, with coding knowledge, you can create online blogs or complex websites and customize them to make your own rather than using pre-existing templates. This can be a great way to help you stand out when designing your online portfolio or for creating a strong visual identity for your brand as an aspiring business owner.

5. Coding is a universal language:

Much like mathematics, code is a universal language; it is the same across the world and does not need to be translated, unless different coding languages are used. When transferring jobs or moving to another country, language barriers can sometimes get in the way. However, since coding languages are the same globally, it is a skill you can carry with you to any country. Learning how to code can make you a highly employable individual and give you the ability to thrive in any environment.

All things considered, coding or computer programming can be regarded as one of the most basic skill that one should learn. Nowadays, coding has been incorporated in schools as a compulsory subject like mathematics which is a good sign as it provides school-going children an early-start into the programming world and can improve the condition of numerous fields where it is applied there on.

Technological Determinism

Technological determinism is a reductionist theory that aims to provide a causative link between technology and a society’s nature. It tries to explain as to whom or what could have a controlling power in human affairs. The theory questions the degree to which human thought or action is influenced by technological factors.




The term ‘technological determinism’ was coined by Thorstein Veblen and this theory revolves around the proposition that technology in any given society defines its nature. Technology is viewed as the driving force of culture in a society and it determines its course of history.

Karl Marx believed that technological progress lead to newer ways of production in a society and this ultimately influenced the cultural, political and economic aspects of a society, thereby inevitably changing society itself. He explained this statement with the example of how a feudal society that used a hand mill slowly changed into an industrial capitalist society with the introduction of the steam mill.

WINNER’S HYPOTHESES

Langdon Winner provided two hypotheses for this theory:

The technology of a given society is a fundamental influencer of the various ways in which a society exists
Changes in technology are the primary and most important source that leads to change in the society
An offshoot of the above hypotheses which is not as extreme is the belief that technology influences the various choices that we make and therefore a changed society can be traced back to changed technologies.

Technological determinism manifests itself at various levels initially it starts with the introduction of newer technologies introduces various changes and at times these changes can also lead to a loss of existing knowledge as well. For example, the introduction of newer agricultural tools and methods has seen the gradual loss of knowledge of traditional means of farming. Therefore technology is also influencing the level of knowledge in a society.

Examples of Technological determinism

History shows us numerous examples to explain why technology is considered to be determining the society that we live in. The invention of the gun changed how disputes were sorted out and changed the face of combat. A gun required minimum effort and skill to be used successfully and could be used from a safe distance. This when compared to how earlier wars were fought with swords and archery lead to a radical change in the weapons used in war. Today with the discovery .

Today with the discovery of nuclear energy, future wars will be fought with nuclear arsenal. Each new discovery causes a transition to a different society. The discovery of steam power let to the development of the industrial society and the introduction of computers has led to the dawn of the information age.

Technological Drift

Winner believed that changes in technology sometimes had unintended or unexpected results and effects as well. Winner called this phenomenon as ‘technological drift’ where people start drifting more and more among a sea of unpredictable and uncertain consequences. According to Winner, technology is not the slave of the human being but rather humans are slaves to technology as they are forced to adapt to the technological environment that surrounds them.

Forms of Technological Determinism

An alternative weaker view of technological determinism says that technology is serving a mediating function because despite it leading to changes in culture, it is actually controlled by human beings. When control of technology slowly reduces from being in the hands of few human beings, it passes completely into the control of technology itself. This view of humans having no control is referred to as ‘autonomous technological determinism.’

Technological Determinism and Media

New media are not only an addition to existing media, they are also new technologies and therefore do have a deterministic factor as well. Marshall McLuhan made a famous statement that “the medium is the message.” This means that the medium used to communicate influences the mind of the receiver. The introduction of news print, television and the internet have all shown how technological advances have an impact on the society in which we live in.

Criticism of Technological Determinism

A critique of technological determinism is that technology never forces itself on members of the society. Man creates technology and chooses to use them. He invents television and chooses to view it. There is no imposition on the part of the technology to be used rather technology requires people to participate or involve themselves at some point or another to use a car or a microwave. The choice of using technology and experiencing its effects therefore lies in the hand of a human being.

Written by: Ananya Kaushal

Death as a lesson

Most would agree with me when I say, Steve Jobs was one of the most brilliant people, who went on to become an innovator and entrepreneur and a co-founder of Apple then worked for Pixar too.

Today, for the first time, I watched a motivating speech given by him.

What he said, and how he said is no doubt invaluable. But the points he made is what makes it so great, making it an inspiring array of words aimed for people from all walks of life.

Perhaps that is the reason, this video on YouTube had more than 1.3 crore views. And this was not even the original one, it had been edited to create a story. But the lessons he has learnt and the three stories he told made all the difference.

We all know the successful reviews of Apple company from their over priced gadgets which no doubt never fail to deliver what they promise. But the penance behind it’s creation is perhaps more interesting to know and yet many are not aware of it.

From what I understood, Jobs talked of circumstances that lead you to a place. The dots that you can connect months, years or sometimes even decades. He also talked of failure as a teacher, and the lessons it teaches.

Now all of these were a good expressions of wisdom, because most of would have heard of it or have been told about while growing up. In some cases, you must have felt them to be true as well.

But the last one, the quote that he read at the age of 17, which impacted him for the next 33 years when he gave the speech and probably till his death 5 years later.

“If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.”

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He questioned himself every morning, if he was going to do the things he would be doing if it were his last?

And facing yourself in the mirror when you answer. Because everything we do daily has an impact for the rest of our lives.

Living our life as a boon, living each moment as if it is the last will no doubt make us more happy if not more successful. Because then you are free of all the chains that bind your potential. The fears and thoughts that hinder your growth.

You are not only less self conscious (as you have few hours left to live) but you become an outgoing individual. You grab the chances, even the unseen opportunities that come your way.

You live the day to its fullest.

Carpe Diem becomes your mantra. Keeps you going through the ups and downs.

Just look at what Jobs managed to do all by himself. There are countless other people who have managed to become great personalities despite the troubles they had to live through.

And that my friend is how you can unlock your true potential. Wishing you all the very best all of your life’s endeavours.

Image source : Google

Quantum internet

Numerous of us have transferred our lives to the web. Managing an account, work emails, social media, dating profiles, therapeutic records – all that imperative, touchy data. So it could be a small perturbing that the web features a lethal security imperfection.

Don’t freeze; our private data is safe for presently. But some time recently exceptionally long the encryption calculations that ensure us online are attending to crack. That is the pressing driving drive behind a modern, more secure kind of web that saddles the control of the quantum domain. Once up and running, the framework will be able to do a parcel more than ensure our data.

It could bring us unanticipated quantum apps, and possibly gotten to be the platform for a world-spanning quantum computer of extraordinary power. Building the quantum web could be a colossal and multi-faceted building challenge, but the establishments are as of now being laid. Systems of filaments are spreading. Researchers are chatting in mystery on neighborhood systems. There are indeed plans to utilize minor satellites to empower long-dist

ELECTRICAL Vs ELECTRONICS

Often confused between electrical ,electronics study and their devices? then this post is for you.

These two studies are actually different and seems to overlap each other. Both devices works with electricity .

ELECTRICAL :

Electric energy is produced by the flow of electrons. Electrical device converts electrical energy to another form of energy as heat, light etc. It is concerned with the large-scale production and distribution of electrical power.

Examples :

1)electrical energy->  ->light energy

2)electrical energy->-> mechanical energy

Circuit mostly consist of connecting wires,switches,fuse,transformer…

ELECTRONICS:

Electronic devices has the capability of controlling the flow of electrons to do certain task, like water heater with auto cut off features etc. As they controls the flow of electricity to process information and to control systems.

COMPARISON:

Here are few differences described,

ELECTRICAL DEVICESELECTRONICS DEVICES
here current conducted threw metals like copper,aluminium.they use semiconductor material to conduct.
They use Alternating current. eg : generatoruse direct current
works on high voltage,consume more powerworks on low voltage,less power consumption
do not manipulate dataelectronic devices are used to manipulate data
large require more spacesmall compact,require less space .so used in Integrated chips.
Examples : fan,transformer,generator,motor.Examples: transistors, microcontrollers

Circuits -Basic components:

  • RESISTORS
  • CAPACITORS
  • DIODES
  • TRANSISTOR
  • INDUCTORS
  • SWITCH
  • TRANSFORMER etc….

In digital world ,we all want things to happen automatically,wish to control everything from our place within seconds. These wishes’ fulfilled by combining electrical device with electronic circuits, due to electronic circuit’s small size,control,processing capability . So it is used in most of the electrical devices,home applicants. electronics circuits used for display,remote control,auto open,close,level checker such many features in lot of home applicants,industry,etc..

Consider these cases:

  • An electric chair
  • An electronic chair

The first is a chair which predominantly features electricity. The second is a chair which has some feature made of a complex circuit (for example, the seats in cars which are automatically-adjusting).

  • An electric toaster
  • An electronic toaster

The first is a run of the mill toaster. The second is a toaster that lets you program in an image to burn into the toast, and which sends you an email when the toast is done

Electrical and electronic engineering careers and opportunities:

  • Cybersecurity consultant
  • Design engineer
  • Electrical engineer
  • Electronics field engineer
  • Energy engineering consultant
  • Nuclear controls engineer
  • Software engineer
  • System engineer
  • Technology analyst 

core subjects for electrical & electronics engineering:

  • Communication Electronics
  • Digital System Engineering
  • Electrical Circuits and Networks
  • Electronic Devices and Circuits

Electronics is a sub field of electrical engineering, so it’s safe to say something is electric when we don’t know if electronics is actually used in the design. When we say a device is electronic, this is because we know or we assume the circuit contains electronic components.

The distinction electric / electronic is not based on the purpose or the function of the circuit, e.g. dealing with power vs dealing with signal, as stated in other answers.

From all we can come to an end in one line that

ALL ELECTRONICS DEVICES ARE ELECTRICAL DEVICES BUT NOT VICE VERSA!!!

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

Global warming is expected to have far-reaching, long-lasting and, in many cases, devastating consequences for planet Earth.

Global warming, the gradual heating of Earth’s surface, oceans and atmosphere, is caused by human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels that pump carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and other green house into the atmosphere.

Despite political controversy about climate change, a major report released Sept. 27, 2013, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that scientist are more than concern of the link between human activities and global warming. More than 197 countries agree that global warming is real and has been caused by human action.

Already, global warming is having a measurable effect on the planet.

“We can observe this happening in real time in many places. Ice is melting in both polar ice caps and mountain glaciers. Lakes around the world, including Lake Superior, are warming rapidly — in some cases faster than the surrounding environment. Animals are changing migration patterns and plants are changing the dates of activity,” such as trees budding their leaves earlier in the spring and dropping them later in the fall, Josef Werne, a professor of geology and environmental science at the University of Pittsburgh, told Live Science.

Here is an in-depth look at the changes wrought by global warming.

Increase in average temperatures and temperature extremes

One of the most immediate and obvious effects of global warming is the increase in temperatures around the world. The average global temperature has increased by about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius) over the past 100 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Since record keeping began in 1895, the hottest year on record worldwide was 2016, according to NOA AND NASA. That year Earth’s surface temperature was 1.78 degrees F (0.99 degrees C) warmer than the average across the entire 20th century. Before 2016, 2015 was the warmest year on record, globally. And before 2015? Yep, 2014. In fact, 16 of the 17 warmest years on record have happened since 2001, according to NASA.

IRON DOME THE SHIELD OF ISRAEL

IRON DOME PROTECTING ISRAEL LIKE WAKANDA-

Iron Dome is an effective, truck-towed, multi-mission mobile air defence system developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. The system has been developed to counter very short-range rockets and 155mm artillery shell threats with ranges of up to 70km. It can be operated in all weather conditions including fog, dust storm, low clouds and rain.

The all-weather air defence system protects the population and critical assets and can be strategically placed to reduce collateral damage. Iron Dome detects, analyses and intercepts a range of incoming threats, including C-RAM, precise guided missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and air-breathing threats.

The system has so far intercepted more than 2,500 incoming targets with a success rate of over 90%.

Selected by the Israel Defence Ministry, Iron Dome provides defence against short-range missiles and rockets which pose a threat to the civilian population of Israel’s northern and southern border.

“In July 2010, the US House of Representatives approved $205m in funding to speed up the production and deployment of Iron Dome.”

The system was deployed by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) in March 2011.

In November 2012, Israel installed the fifth Iron Dome battery at Gush Dan in response to the rocket attacks on the Tel Aviv area. The Iron Dome air defence system is being used to intercept and shoot down hundreds of rockets from Gaza as the latest round of escalations between Israel and Palestine in May 2021 engulfed the region. The violent clashes saw Hamas launch a barrage of rockets targeting Tel Aviv in Israel in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike in Gaza. The death toll in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli airstrikes stood at more than 60 people.

I-DOME is a mobile version of the system, which can be deployed on a single truck, while C-DOME is a naval version.

Iron Dome mobile air defence system background and development details

The firing of rockets by Hezbollah during 2006’s Second Lebanon War led to the development of Iron Dome. Nearly 4,000 rockets, mostly of the short-range Katyusha type, were fired on Haifa and other northern regions of Israel.

About 44 Israeli civilians were killed in the attack and approximately 250,000 citizens were evacuated and relocated to other parts of Israel.

Between 2000 and 2008, more than 4,000 mortars and 4,000 rockets (mostly Qassams) were fired from Gaza into southern Israel. As the range of the Qassam has been expanded due to the introduction of 122mm Grad launchers, nearly one million southern Israelis came within the range.

To counter the rocket threats, the Israel Defence Ministry decided in February 2007 to develop a mobile air defence system.

The missile defence system was successfully tested in March 2009. The testing was carried out without physically intercepting a missile or rocket. In July 2009, during a defence ministry test, the system successfully intercepted a number of rockets.

A new battalion was established by the IAF in August 2009 to operate the Iron Dome system. Multiple rocket bombardments mimicking Qassams and Katyushas were intercepted successfully in a test carried out in January 2010.

The final testing of the Iron Dome was undertaken in July 2010. The system successfully determined and intercepted only incoming missile threats, while other missiles which were headed toward open fields were not intercepted.

Raytheon collaborated with Rafael for the commercialisation of the Iron Dome weapon system in the US in August 2011. Raytheon secured a $149m contract from Rafael for the supply of Tamir interceptor components used in the system, in September 2014. It was formed as a new joint venture between Raytheon and Rafael in August 2020 to establish an Iron Dome production facility in the US.

The heart of Nintendo’s new console isn’t the Switch


A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart.

I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.

When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!

O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.Paragraph

I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and