Good afternoon everybody. My name is Mark Deneve and this is my coworker Kyle Button. We both work for a company called Paychex. We've both worked for Paychex for anywhere between two and three years. I have over 20 years of IT experience. Kyle has about five years of IT experience mostly as a developer for me mostly in operations. We both work for a team called Infrastructure Platforms. Infrastructure Platforms at Paychex is responsible for all of our storage, server, virtualization, infrastructure as a service, platform as a service for both internal and external use. So you can kind of say that we're the ops side of the DevOps at Paychex. Just really quick, I'm kind of curious. I think somebody else asked this earlier, but how many people here are from the operation side of things? Okay. And how many people from the dev side of things? What we're going to be talking about is more focused on ops than on dev, but definitely we'll be talking a little bit about both. So just real quick, what is Paychex? I'm going to read this one exactly. We are the leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, HR, retirement and insurance services. We have over 605,000 payroll clients and we pay one out of every 12 American private sector employees. So a little bit about Paychex and our use of OpenShift. We've been using OpenShift since about 2015. When Red Hat shifted over to 3.0 with the Kubernetes backend in 2016, we went all in on OpenShift. It's taken on a very viral adoption inside of Paychex. It is our fastest growing infrastructure platform. We have 16 different clusters to cover dev test and production across three different data centers in two different regions. We've gone through seven in place upgrades from OpenShift 3.0 all the way through 3.7 over the past year and a half, two years with zero application downtime during those upgrades. And the applications hosted inside of OpenShift are responsible for moving well over 500 billion dollars per year. So what are we going to talk about today? We're not going to talk about putting our business applications into OpenShift. What we want to talk about today is putting our operational tools, those tools that make the backend, the infrastructure work and help us manage the infrastructure. OpenShift isn't just for business applications and services. By doing, we're going to talk about how we improve services by running our infrastructure tools in OpenShift and how running the infrastructure tools in OpenShift helped us better understand the OpenShift platform. So to give you an idea, before we moved into OpenShift for IT operations, we had a lot of deployed VMs. We had a lot of different multiple OSs running back end. We were using various automation tools to manage all these different applications and we were lacking a mature CI process. The IT ops organization didn't really understand the potential benefits of moving into OpenShift. We got a lot of the, it's just another tool. I'll wait this one out. Isn't this a dev thing? We also underestimated the importance and criticality of running our tools in a highly available platform. This tool has never gone down before. This is way overkill or we'll just rebuild it if it goes down where many of the different things that we would think and say. What we needed to do is we needed to do better. We needed to be able to help development teams with questions and issues with the OpenShift platform and we weren't able to do that because of a lack of understanding of the development side of things. We needed to move outside of our comfort zone. We needed to gain end user experience with the platform. We needed to become more dev like in our thinking. We needed to understand not just how to deploy the platform, but how to leverage the platform by putting our own tools in it. What we're going to talk about now is how our team went from a bunch of unknown magician engineers that performed very much unknown magic work to a 1-800 dial in engineer for our developers. We went from nobody's to somebody's really, really quick. To talk about the application, the first application that we did from an operations perspective, I'm going to let Kyle tell you a little bit more about that. So we had an application called Frye and Frye managed our Nazes and our sands. It monitored them and it was a giant mess of PHP, Python, MySQL, a whole bunch of bash scripts. The code was about four years old, not very well maintained, but it worked. It ran in one data center. There was no fall over, no business continuity available. If something happened to the server, we would lose a significant amount of insight into our storage platform. And we called it Frye because it managed the tape robots we had, Bender and Flexo, why they called it Frye since he can't even manage himself, I don't know. So when we decided to do this, there was a lot of skepticism and unsure thoughts from our team. This was a really critical application and they were really scared about uplifting everything. So we came up with a set of goals. So we needed to change the thinking. We're not a team of developers. We're all in operations. But we needed to start thinking more like them. The other thing I'll mention is hiring a dev to work on your team, such as Kyle, makes a big difference as well. So this application needed a flexible framework that's very well documented. The framework is easily expandable. We needed to have a very resilient architecture. It has to run in multiple geographic locations actively and we wanted to have multiple instances per data center. We'd like to get it continuously deployable. All our requirements about monitoring and we're constantly bringing in new tools. We need to quickly make a change to this application, this tool and deploy it. And we'd like to get so that we could deploy it in minutes based on business needs. So we implemented this using Python in Django with a MySQL backend with replication using S3 storage for file persistence when we needed it. And we used a message queuing system for tasks. The tool like this, as long as certain automation tasks got done with our infrastructure, it didn't really matter when they happened. And so how did it go? It became so easy to make a change and deploy it out into production, our senior manager was able to do it within a matter of minutes. And he doesn't have a very technical background. We had no more single points of failure and there was no more application downtime when we had to make deployments. We are constantly monitoring our SAN and our NAS infrastructures now. There's zero gaps in between when we make a deployment so we're never missing out on any data. It's running active, active, active in those three data centers crossed over two regions. And we had issues before where if too much load was going to the application, it would crash. So if too many alerts were being generated or too many people needed to access it, we've got auto scaling set up. So OpenShift will just spin up more pods for us. And we can easily add new components if we have to. If we need new functionality or new services integrated with this tool, we can just create new pods, add new modules in and expand the code base very easily and fluidly. But what we did learn was that debugging an OpenShift can be difficult. For this application, we intentionally sacrificed some traceability for the ease of deployment or development. We're not, as I said, a team of developers. So having to include additional packages was kind of hard, especially when you're trying to trace across three data centers with 12 pods. And all our logging is ephemeral. When the pods die, the logs disappear. So when we do have issues in our production environment, it's kind of hard to find them. But with OpenShift, if the pod dies, we don't really care. Eventually we can get to fixing that bug because usually it's not super critical. We're a lot better at explaining OpenShift concepts. And this helps us out immensely when working with the development teams. When they have to deal with all the different configs and deployment types, we know how quotas really work. We had run into some issues originally with doing deployments and they would fill up all the quota space and the pods would never get created. We learned all the intricacies of services and routes. Having our own application in the platform that we manage allowed us to also troubleshoot issues and find problems with the platform before the development teams and the business applications actually had problems. We've seen this where we were able to find HA proxy issues and correct them before businesses saw them. We've found and corrected issues with scaling and issues with pod deployments. We found a bug within the OpenShift internal registry that we had and we were able to correct that before any development teams or business services were affected. A few other things that we also learned. We got really good at finding actual bugs in the platform itself. We would start testing some of the new features well before they were available for developers. Scheduled jobs was a great example of that. I wanted to start using it because I saw a need for it for the developers and we very quickly came to the concept of we don't use alpha features because of not being quite ready for them yet. Additionally, overall we were able to offer much better service to the development teams. We became an influencer of the software development lifecycle and CI process and we created a much tighter integration and trust between our dev and our ops teams from this process. That's why it says be prepared. If you were to do something like this, be prepared because if anybody here has read the Phoenix project, the concept of Brent doesn't scale well. You need to make sure that you disseminate your knowledge to prevent information silos. Create a community of practice which is what we did in order to make sure that not only is the operations team helping to support OpenShift, but the developers also get involved and are helping to support OpenShift as well, answering each other's questions. This went so well. Other operations teams also started to want to get on board. We started bringing in third party integrations. We brought on our chat as a service. We've moved a lot of our monitoring tools, Grafana, Prometheus exporters, things of that nature into OpenShift as well. All these are running in multiple data centers managed by OpenShift, making it much easier for us to worry about the day-to-day operations and not trying to keep these applications up and running. We've also moved a lot of deployment automation and infrastructure automation into OpenShift as well. What's next for Paychex? What we're looking at next is expanding the use of S2I for development. We've seen a lot of good use case from our own use of that. We're looking to try and move more of development to use S2I. We're looking at functions as a service. Functions as a service would fit great for operations needs, things like web hooks, callbacks, things of that nature. Working with the service catalog integration for on-prem resources and also looking to move things like Jenkins, Workers and OpenShift. The other thing I'll say that's not on here is the operators that we heard about earlier today, something else that we're very much interested in trying to start moving into OpenShift to be able to manage the applications that we have there. So in conclusion, hosting our tools inside OpenShift helped us to build team experience with the OpenShift platform. The features of OpenShift helped us make our IT operations teams better. It may able to manage workloads, improve efficiencies and provide better customer experience to your internal or our internal customers. A great way of looking at this is if you really want to understand the customer experience be a customer of your own platform. Eat your own dog food or a better way of saying that I think is probably drink your own champagne because it sounds much more high class. It's a great way to learn about SDLC and SDLC concepts, CI, CD.  And that's what we've been able to do by moving our own tools into OpenShift so that we can really understand the platform. So we made sure to leave a little bit of time for questions if there are any. There were a lot of ops hands up there and these wonderful ops have taken on and given us a great talk. This question halfway down there. You guys rock. What's that? That was rocking. Thank you. Any tips or suggestions or best practices on how to effectively do in place upgrades? So the in place upgrades. We actually did a lot of work using our own Ansible automation. We have a lot of what we refer to as paycheck systems for our environments additional outside tools and things like that. So we actually wrote our own automation building on the automation that we got from Red Hat. But Ansible playbooks and things of that nature to really handle the tasks to roll through those upgrades one by one. Yeah, and actually state come to the OpenShift roadmap session. We're going to be talking about how we're evolving the current installer which is OpenShift on RAL using the Ansible installer and then that will be like the fully immutable installer which is OpenShift on the immutable OS and some additional automation that we're going to be introducing around that. So there are questions? There's a question way up here too in the middle. Yeah, are you willing to share the tool and that you guys have written or is it a proprietary? Sorry to put you on the spot. I'm sorry I couldn't understand. Yeah, the tool that you guys have written, the custom tool, are you guys willing to share the source code or make it an open source? Open source, the fry tool? Is that what you were asking about? Yeah, the tool. I'm not sure. We've probably not. There's a lot of proprietary code around our own processes that's been baked into it. For sure there's some components that we might be able to, for example, a lot of integrations with Cisco MDS work that we do. There's not a lot of tools to work with Cisco MDS and we've had to build a lot of that in-house. So that might be an opportunity for us to open source. There's another one right here. Okay, we'll go. I got a question for you. When you talked about SDLC and you became an influencer, how did they feel about that, the existing team? Actually, I've had a lot of experience with it. The development environment, or the developers I've worked with have been actually very happy with it, because quite honestly it did go both ways. I'm not a developer personally, so I was able to learn a lot from the development teams and development organizations on how to use OpenShift as well as us helping to influence them as well. So it's really worked out very well. You might have hinted at you mentioned MDS, but how are you providing persistent storage to users and are you providing dynamic options for them? We are not providing persistent storage at this point in time. We've actually architected in such a way that we don't require persistent storage. The only exception to that would be S3 or an object-based store that we use for shuttling things off that really need long-term storage. Outside of that we actually don't do persistent storage. You mentioned active, active, active. Are you running across three data centers with your OpenShift and how do you have it? Do you have it stretched or do you have multiple instances? We have multiple instances. It runs stretched at the application layer, so not at the OpenShift. Yeah, to be clear we have three different instances of OpenShift, each running the same set of code and then they're sharing a database back on where native. Back on the storage question. There are also some couple of sessions this week around what's called container native storage, which is some work that the Red Hat storage team is doing specifically around storage and OpenShift in addition to the work that we're doing in Kubernetes to support all forms. So if you're interested in that check that out. Was there one more question? Were you able to deploy all your operations tools in OpenShift or were there tools that you have for infrastructure that were not able to be ported into OpenShift for whatever reasons? Did you hear that? I think and I'm just going to repeat it real quick just to make sure that I understood the question was it was there any tools that we had we found that we couldn't put into OpenShift and what did we do? Was that the question? It was a little quiet. Yes, specifically the operations tools that that you guys uh yeah. From from basically are your are your operations tools completely in OpenShift? No, it's a process so there's several operations teams and they can choose to go into OpenShift or not. Most of them right now are still running on traditional infrastructure. The one thing that we are finding is that more and more of those teams are wanting to go into OpenShift because it breaks down a lot of barriers and makes it very easy for them to do their own management and deployment of the code as opposed to having to go talk to different teams to say spin up a new VM or to make changes to those VMs. They're able to do it all themselves because they're running it all inside of OpenShift. All righty then. Thank you very much for that wonderful perspective and insights.


So much for everything you do for us on a daily basis, and thank you all again so much for coming. So, remember like I said, right? At least students. This event benefits the community by allowing our children the opportunity to interact with our first responders from all the fire, emergency services, and police services. We've got, as you can see behind me, a bunch of different vehicles that the kids can take a look at, and we've done a couple of demonstrations to include the jaws of life from our fire department, and we've had the host nation horse patrol here as well.


The Nigerian Custom Service said it sees smuggled items in Adamawa state and Tarabawa worth over $22 million within three months. The customs comptroller Salihu Ablahi disclosed these to newsmen at the customs headquarters in Yola, the Adamawa state capital. He assured the general public that the Nigerian Custom Service is doing everything humanly possible to bring to an end to the incest and smuggling in both Adamawa and Tarabawa states. The unique age value of these items that 16 assorted, assorted figures under 22,894,723 nair. However, we will not rely on our hands hoping to try to show Adamawa and Tarabawa states to come to the end possible.


The government of St. Lucia, led by Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre, and with continuing support from the Republic of China on Taiwan, has successfully carved out a unique economic space exclusively for the development of the island's youth. The youth economy was not intended to be the same thing, doing the same thing over. The same situation, many forms, many dissonant, many references, it was not considered to be that. It had to be flexible, it had to be agile, and it had to be an opportunity for young people. And it has a philosophical underpinning. It's not just a place to go into business. It has a philosophy. It's based on an ideology, a philosophy that says that you must create opportunity. That is the philosophy. Following the successful launch of Prime Minister Pierre's pioneering youth economy agency in 2022, St. Lucia and Taiwan have forged another bilateral collaboration to establish the Youth Forum. As we all know, youth economy is a critical and inspiring manifesto page of Honorable Prime Minister's late administration to create an economy for the young. And I do believe that our youth may not have equal talents, but should have equal opportunity and environment to grow their talents. I admire Honorable Prime Minister Philly J.P.A. and Honorable Minister Kasmi, visionary leadership and dedication to the development of youth. St. Lucia hosted 40 Taiwanese youth ambassadors for a series of knowledge and cultural sharing engagements. The reason that we organize this program and make this trip possible is because we believe that the youth is the future of the country. They show the responsibility of the sustainability of the country. That's why we've set the same for this year as Youth Innovation, Taiwan and St. Lucia Tech Action. The Youth Forum advances the mandate of the Ministry of Youth Development. It facilitates capacity building initiatives and technical cooperation between St. Lucia and Taiwan on youth development. Our government has been working feverishly to tackle some of the issues of youth unemployment. And we've been successful under the stewardship of Honorable Prime Minister to have one of the biggest reductions in unemployment in our nation's history as we are currently experiencing. And one of the ways the Prime Minister has identified and the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport has truly identified of tackling issues of unemployment is through investing in our nation's youth. On September 7, the Youth Economy Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Taiwan Technical Mission to continue exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation on youth policies.


What's going on, everyone? Sam here with late in sports cards, ripping 23, putting down our elite football hobby, six bucks, half case, break number nine, random team stuff. There's a look again at your random results. As always, you can find those on the website, under the results tab, as well as the link in chat. Octavius Oxendine, Chief Borders. What? Pega Cage. Oh, this one's good. There's a guy, Moe Bility. I'm like, dude, what is that? Fat Watts, Nicole Discrofford, we know him. Dorealist Clark. Rowdy Beers. That's someone's name, is Rowdy Beers. These kids are like, what, 18? Yeah, dude. Tiger Shanks. What were your parents thinking? There's Fish McWilliams, I mean, just talking about. What were parents thinking 18, 18 years ago? Chief Borders is great. Oh, man. Moe Bility.  Moe Bility is another one. Moe Bility. Chief Borders. Moe Bility. All right, good luck, everybody. Let's do some elite. Oh, it's absurd. God, dude. Pega Cage. Tiger Shanks is another one. Warmth Jersey. Yep. Yes, sir. Warmth Kit. Had a tragic trauma today. Terrible. That'll be better. I know, man. Highlife, DK Metcalfe. Jaylen Ramsey, 295. The fins. Weird saying him is a dolphin now. Yeah. You know? We want color. Like anything to 25 or lower. To 25, Quentin Johnson. Rookie Aletus for the chart. Yeah, you could throw that one in. We don't have to go too crazy on color because there's a ton of field vision to 99. Justin Herbert. Chargers. Again, always like just four base cards on the back. Your insert will always be first. If there's an auto or something, it'll be second. Elite deck to Marchace. Oh, yeah. It's time to ruin a player for you. There's 99. Christian McCaffery. Nice CMC. Deck and base. I can't know the player until we get something. Yeah. That is going to be title waves of Josh Jacobs to 349. Raiders. There's Elite deck, Cooper Cup. Jacory and Bennett to 71 for the Raiders. Rookie on deck, Jaylen Carter. Is Travis Robinson to 999 for the Ravens. Moxie, Kenny Pickett to 375. Going to the Steelers. Nice first hit. Max Crosby 25 to 25. That's pretty sweet. Nice color match on that. That's clean, dude. That is a clean looking card right there. Yeah, that's nice. That's sick. I like that. Jordan Madison. Not as cool as James Hardimogio, but still pretty clean. It's up there. Isaiah Pacheco to 399. Orange for the Chiefs. Patch Mahomes, Playmakers for the Chiefs. Marvin Mims to 999. That is a Marvin Mims auto to 99. Going to the Broncos. Grads on that Denba. Mike with the Gris next week. Kasuke with a PYT spot. Brian B with the Chargers. We're down to 8 to go in NTPYT. Got to get our mosaic filled up first, everybody. Getting there. Nick Chubb to 149. There's Aaron Donald, Playmakers. A Jordan Battle to 999. Turn of the Century. Roshan Johnson, 9 of 99. That has been going to the Bears. Congrats Bears. Nice one there. Highlife, Mike Evans. Ventral Miller to 399 for the Jags and base. We'll stay clear of the... We did. We did avoid them. This is going to be like a... He's a very popular... Yes. Highlife Romeo Domps. Sucker Craft to 399. Orange, Josh Jacobs. CJ Stroud, rookie elitist. Got a Volami Fajoco Jr. to 999. That is Tyree Kill to 375 for the Dolphins. Daniel Jones to 149. Red. Lee Deck, Jay Jedis. That is a Red Deontre Hopkins to 90. The Cardinals. A rookie Undeck, Quentin Johnson. Marte Mapu to 999. Turn of the Century. Jiren Hall, four of five. There you go, Minnesota. Congrats on that. Vikings. That's pretty sweet actually. Going to T. Wang. Congrats, T. Wang. Four of five, Jiren Hall. Garrett Wilson to 399. Devin Witherspoon. Wither Fork. Bryce Young. Not destroying, not the laugh. He's giggling. He's giggling. Nope. Two at 349. Field Vision. Kenny Pickett. That's not even a flair either. Came up with that off the dome. I don't think that was what you were talking about. Just came up with that right off Rip. Ze Flowers. Wither Knife. Wither Knife, yeah. Wither Fork. Joe Jake Moody to 999. Another Roshan Johnson. This time to 49 on the turn of the century out of the Bears. Pickins, base, base, and base. Again, let's get Mosaic filled up, everybody. 11 to go on the first one. 21 to go on the second. Here is your link. 11 to go. 11 to go.  Before we could rip NT. Die cut. Dalton Kincaid to 99. 11 to go on... Mark is where? Mosaic, everybody. Field Vision of Davis Mills to 75. That's a pretty cool card. Graz Tassens. Kittle. Jack Campbell to 49. Justin Herbert. Playmakers. As Bijan Mustard Robinson to 999. Nice one there. Congrats, Falcons. Dan Moreno to 375. That was it. DJ Turner to 399.   Dalton Kincaid to 99. It's not that obnoxious though. Luke Schoonmaker. Isn't he like a mustard deal? That's what I'm saying. Yeah, okay. Luke Schoonmaker to the Cowboys. Pen pals on him. Like it's not obnoxious. Like it's something that happens. Yeah, true. It's not like... Say flowers. Or it's just like why. That's most of them, yeah. There. Bed Bath and Bijan. That's a good one. See, that one's kind of funny. I might steal that enough. I'm not going to lie to you. There's Drake London, red to 149. I'm pissed that he came out. He has his own mustard deal. I'm pissed about that. That was so pissed about that, dude. That was my response. That was it. To 399, Kyler Murray. Because I'm like, whoa, how did I not think of that originally? What are you mad about? What's up? What are you mad about? That he has a mustard deal. Somebody else came up with that already. George Kittle to 99. Yeah, you should be ashamed. I am. Garrett Wilson. I'll come up with something. Don't you worry. Just wait. You took that, guys. Now you want to take, uh, which one? Mark is the worst. Enough said, I know. Get original, Sam. Oh, stop it. Garrett Williams to 49. Oh, stop it. Happen in both your money leagues.  Don't concave to 99. The bills. I just, I just, I would get scared of taking a rookie in the first round. You got taken chance first, man. Tyra Wilson to 399. I like, I really hope that when we do our draft, I'm not in the position where I'm picking and he's number one on the board. That's what I really hope. Just don't take them. Justin Herbert, but I want, I don't want to, then like, I don't want to be able to talk bad about me. Well, no, I don't care about that. I'm saying like later on, I just don't want to infinity and beyond. There we go. Title waves to 349. Is, uh, I don't want to not take him and then he ends up being like nasty and I'm like, oh, I could have taken him, but I didn't want to because I don't like rookies. Justin, uh, Jefferson. Just take CMC of each other. I'm thinking dude. Jaden Reed to 999. Uh, Duncan Cain, nice one there for the bills. Pen pals on. Deandre Hopkins, Nick Chubb, Geno Smith, CJ Schraud, Bizon, uh, 217. Scary Terry. Ah! Terry McClearn. 17. Yeah, because it's jersey number. Oh, it's okay. And then the Reds. You'll see this. This is random too. Rookie on Deck Quentin Johnson. The Reds are numbered to whatever a hundred is minus their jersey number. So if someone's jersey number is 10, it's numbered to 90. Like the Hopkins is the Reds to 90. That's an interesting thing. It took me, I've never made Caleb or trying to figure it out. I don't hate it. No, I don't either. It's kind of cool too because like if your jersey number is one, it's a lot of one. Like in basketball, it holds a hardened. Yeah. His jersey number is one, so it was a green one of one. Which is pretty sweet. Jack's around the box, covering it out in the boxes. Bigsby's in here. Bigsby's got a decent amount of stuff. Does that mean, if it's a one-on-one, does that mean like he has another one-on-one? What was shown to 999? Like whatever the one-on-one color is? Does he have two one-on-one? Probably, yeah. Traitshunker, Penthouse for the Raiders. Nice one there. Vegas, Ramsey, Aaron Jones just in a hudda. Orange, Chris Olave, 499. Base, base, base. Mahomes, and always base cards on the back. Bretton Strange to 999. Another Moxie, Picket to 375. And an Orange to Erwin James to 399. Highlife, DK. A lot of defense. Well, I guess T.J. Strahm. T.J. Strahm, just that good. Yeah, T.J. is pretty good. Yeah, they were sent to the T nation. There's Kalyza Kansy to 149. You know what I can't wait, dude, for more NCAA football game. I think it's coming out next year. I think so, yeah. Leete, Deck, Jamar Chase, I'm so excited for that. Hopefully someone else thinks it over. Go off to 399. I know. God, that's such a bad game. That's such a bad franchise. Yeah, I thought it was downhill when they got money hungry. Yep. Highlife, Mike Evans. It used to be so much fun, and now it's just the same game every year. So trash.  Josh Jacobs, right. People will buy this, okay. That's done. It's not a care about the other parts of the game. Sean Clifford to 399. Oh, and people will complain, but we'll still make enough money where it doesn't matter. Okay. Sounds good. Kamate Turpin to 349. My mind, Madden Strike. There's Purple Daniel Jones to 49. I am two, actually. I've not, I had every Madden from 08 to 21, and I have not bought one since. Yeah, I'm just going to wait till it comes out for you, pass. There's Cooper Cup. I'm going to play it for a week tonight, this game's trash.  And it was the same game still. Right. Blue of Darnell Washington to 99 for the Steelers. But yeah, I'm to answer your question, Paul. Yes, or Chris. It's basically college. There's only one insert that has college, or two inserts that have college unis. Everything else is pro, though. To 999 Clark Phillips, there's a Cedric Tillman, 10 of 25. Rookie Otto for the Browns. Congrats, Browns. Siri Juni, Echler, and Bass. Again, here is your link to Mosaic at 11 ago. Let's get that full. I'm to 11 ago. I'm just saying it's the hardest couple yet. There's Jalen Carter. Jamar Chase, 275. Jordan Addison. Devin Witherspoon. Orange to 399. Witherspork. Say Adams, Elite Deck. It'd be funny if the Elite Decks were kind of like how good one is. Oh yeah, that'd be kind of cool. To 349, Travis Kelsey. So good one, or is it, uh, I think it's another one. Okay. Thanks, good one, yeah. Hey, Josh Downes. Love Ty Jay Spears to 99. Title, another title wave, Josh Jacobs to 349. All three 349s of that card. Elite Deck, Jalen Hurts, and Bass. Parrish Johnson, Blue to 99. The Cardinals, Rookie. Elite Deck, Zay. Flowers, who's on Zay? Henden Hooker to 99. There's a Moxie Jersey. Justin Herbert to 375. Red Jordan Battle to 149. Pearson Garrett. Josh Jacobs to 3, uh, 399. John Conteiler. Felix on Tsuike, Uzoma to 399. Zach Evans, 10 of 10. Turn of the Century out of the Rams. Congrats, LA. Going to Travis, nice one there, Travis. Very nice, very nice, my friend. TJ Wat, Jalen Wall, Lamon Ra. St. Brown, St. Brown. Devin Witherspoon to 399. Face, face, face. Najee Harris. Mojo. Charlie Jones to 999. And another Autos. X Charbonnet to 99. Congrats, Seahawks. Nice one there, Turn of the Century. Yeah, a lot of really low numbered Autos, which is pretty solid. Take that all day. Michael Meyer. Nice. Red to 149. Will Leviss. Congrats, Titans. E.J. Brown. Ventral Miller to 399. Orange, Sake 1 to 399. Full Throttle to 25. Amon Ra, St. Brown for the Lions. Nice one there. Gough and Bass. Jordan Addison, Rookie on deck. Amon O'Shane. Turn of the Young to 999. Pen Palace, Jalen Carter for the Eagles. Donnie's boy. Yeah. Grats on that. Eagles. Okay, let me drop you guys a link to Mosaic at 11 to go. 11 to go. Let's get that filled up, guys. Breaking soon is Mosaic. Finish up this last box of the break. Good luck again, everybody. Devonte Adams to 999. Will McDonald to 399. He was, he stared it up in training camp. McDonald. So 349 to what?  Wall inside, uh, Coyton. Yeah, that's a skit. Ready to drop this. T. Higgins. C.J. Stroud, Rookie's on deck. Ryan Brees to 999. Pen Palace. Tink Dell. Nice one for the Texans. Grats Houston. Some ink for Houston. H-Town. And base. Devon O'Shane to 999. Blue for the Dolphins. Will Leviss. Christian Gonzalez to 999. Moxie, Stefan Diggs to 375. Jersey for Bills. And a red, or, red. Orange, Joey Bowsett to 399. Christian McCaffrey. Josh Jacobs. It is hard to find them. He's not in a ton of products yet. There's a Bretton Strange to 149. And base. All right, quick recap here for all of you. Jerseys, we had Stefan Diggs, Justin Herbert. County Pickett. Dan Marina. Tyree Kill. County Pickett again. 225. Max Crosby. And Quentin Johnson to 17. Terry McLaurin. Autos, we had Tink Dell. Jalen Carter. Trey Tucker. Dalton Kincaid. Luke Shoenmaker. Marvin Mims. Zach Sharpenet. Roshan Johnson. Twice. Cedric Tillman. Zach Evans. And a five, Jern Hall. That'll do it for the break, guys. Thanks again for the fill. Up next, number 10.


made me sign up for the award. I started out about five years ago. There were about 10,000 members of the family. To me, I thought of the president's coalition and extended it into a two-year commitment. And I thought it was here. It's been there in the past. There's also the fact that the coalition has a subcommittee also up for me. And through that group, and in the larger group, today became a gathering. And at the end of the last couple of years, I was only part of the coalition. And I would like to thank you to the end of this year's farm policy, and to the leaders of our free service, the state, and the people I work for and the nation. The FHC made it certainly an FHC program. So after the past couple of years, I'm going to put it as an association. So I'm going to put it on hold, and then go on here to the people I work for. And if you all know how much important it has become, try not to be a threat. Okay? I have a recording. Yes, my son put a purchase report on his name. I'm going to be doing the channel. And if you look at it, this is what I was like. So as the FHC did it, I think it's very important that we as a community have a leadership role in the future. And that we as a community could see that's our role. We're going to put it as a role. We're going to put it as a community leader in the room. Who are speaking on behalf of the soil. So we're going to put it as a partnership. We're going to put it on hold. And we're going to put it on hold. To the people above all of the voices. And then I'm going to say a few words here, and I can't remember where I'm at. And I think it's important that we, as the FHC said in the previous presentation, we said we want to put it in the park. We're going to make it to the lunchbox. We're going to walk out every day, and I see what's happening. And we're going to put it on hold. And I'm going to put it on hold. And I'm going to put it on hold. And we're going to put it on hold today. So we're very happy with family, the idea that it's going to we... As a community to see how cool it is on the road that has been built, We don't want to lose the market. We have to follow the law for a reasonable risk. We might not mention paying all the taxes. With that, we accept the label for the liability of our business. We have to see what social security will look like. We need to know what the security will look like. So we have to see if we can come up with some sort of a solution. It has changed. It has been changed. It renewed theSOUND system in a very long time. We are the prime lessen out of highlight of테A. We have years of property. Prime status is very well off on this big number. and it's not even going to work.   The purpose is to put them on. You can't go on, so you're great. You can't lose for being able to have an opportunity to get into the ground from the mental office, to have a good time, go in and walk through the box and crack open to take that. And the answer is to go on. They can't have a soul and struggle with it. So now I'm going to talk about what are the reasons for the answer to be correct. Here we said 20 years old as well. We've all had a common information of how to stay in the business. There are many approaches. There are many ways to do it. This year we can have a good road road and start a car event. Then we can try to start a good name, a good boss. Stay well down early in the next year. This year is obviously a good day. Again, we've been doing a car crash for a while. I haven't been in the car for a while. I think a lot of the school gave me the seat in the ground for the long rest of the day. So this year we're going to try to set up a put-up car for 100 year old. And that is going to be a car crash event. We're going to be doing a car race. So we're going to do a car race. We're going to try to do this. This is a pretty nice event. It was the sky white stuff in front of me. This is our van. It's really a double style for the van. It's got a lot of years of racing and racing. Great cars. I've been taking in the shoes. I'm taking on it. There's a good guy. Ray Hall. And he's put that on some wider problems. And there's a pair of car models. So we had some issues starting over here and we went in 80 years ago on our farm and all that stuff. And not only that, but great issues that we've created as well. Our biggest thing is that we're going to do, and then why are we doing that? And it's great, you know, after the eight hours of work. And then getting the crops to the field at the right time, getting something growing and stuff like that. So, getting something growing and growing the grasses, getting something growing in the fields. We've done a little work here today, so we've got something really good going for us. But it's something real, like, I had a little bit of work and a lot of things to talk about. I was getting a little bit of a little bit of work, but I wanted to be taking care of my workers. And then I, you know, taught me a little bit about what I'm doing here. I've been doing a little bit of what I'm doing here. And the guy interested in it, so I taught him how to do it. And I'm here and excited that I can pull that out of my work. So, I started going to 11 and 13. And we've got a little bit of work here. So, we've got information in 13. And we've seen it. We've seen it in several, quite a number of different things. And it was just kind of accidental. We often didn't know what this was all about. We didn't know what this was all about. They had this combination. They were going to go out with a team plan. They didn't know what it was all about. So, I was absolutely sure it was all different. They thought it was a piece of ground on the apartment. Or that it was our child. And they didn't think that I had any plan. I mean, it was basically just part of kind of the class. And none of them, they just had to go out. I guess that's, I don't say this is prior to my son. We didn't see him. So, that's, it comes from all the years we've been working. Quite a bit. So, it was a lot of everything to say to people. We don't have to go through. You know, kind of see what turned out right. So, you know, we don't have to go through the right way. We have to go through a nation that, we don't have to go through the right way. We don't have to think about the other way. We weren't able to get... because that's not our ground. This is a space. This is the right nation. The right nation. This is the right ground. This is what backs us. The point here better than for me is that you don't need a surgical badge to the same deal of seams.  So if you're so warm, that's not a bigger issue. All of which here is always kind of hard even to find something. So they could have come up with just kind of a figure that would come up with $500. And on the small, just dollar figure, I think, including the government, the soil level, everything. So there's a lot of heavy clay or panhandling all up. And it's kind of a hilly note. And so the final offer is the same deal as the most. This year we did a thumb up, but we still, I mean we didn't, we were running the cars until September. So we didn't plan until that. We didn't see any points for that. So I was caught up in the standards of the testing. 70% of the men through 85% of the men. 80% of the men. 50% of the men. And he provided all the tissue samples. We tried to kind of get a new soil. We slow down in about 13 hours. It was kind of near. It was pretty much all spring long. It was about 10 days long. So we're still in a pretty good shape right now. So we'll see you down here. Historically, in Parkesburg County, my uncle keeps track of all the rain. And usually it's low 20 inches. 2009 through 2011 we were pushing 30 plus. So for a stretch there we were about a year ahead of normal, which made things very challenging. But this year we were very dry until the second of May. And we had seven and a half inches rain between. And some of them also didn't have a single tear run on them. Did you do that? Yeah. Yeah, I was using the microwave for about a year or two. So do you have anything to do with that? Yeah, I do. I've witnessed that my dad's been quite challenged to break that habit. I guess, like I said, I'm so relatively. I would say that was probably the best thing. Because now I'm losing more on every eater than he ever could have been. One specific thing. It's just a general way of thinking of not only something to know right away. The cover crops, you're always learning something different. Until every year is different. The weather is different. So you've got different challenges every year. And you've got to be able to change on the fly. Be very flexible. But for us, if I had to say one thing, it might be that we went very worried for a while to see if you're about eight years old. And we've seen a big change in our production. Now granted, there are some advantages when you get a little water as well. But that's really helped. So with the heat, everything can take a while.


What's going on guys got Kyle here with laden sports cards, and we are ripping three boxes of 2022 tops chrome light And this is for Dave M. Good luck Dave. Let's see what we got Yeah, same here JT the sneaker spotlights are sweet. I would definitely like to see one of those come out All right Dave. Good luck. We're a fracter of Bregman Our prism youth quake Shane Boz Snellzilla Siri rookie First black-and-white ray wave is Brian Anderson refractor Brian de la Cruz rookie Castro rookie Eli Morgan Refractor Justin Turner got a youth quake just side gray and Fadal Bruhan rookie prism of Chris Bryant Black-and-white ray wave is George Springer prism Mitch Hannigar Conor Wong rookie blue and pink that is Yachty Yachty or Malina to 199 rookie Embergie Refractor Josh Lowe rookie that is a black-and-white ray way Xander Bogarts Killin it for the new team Darvish Nelly Cruz refractor Mike trout Fishman Whit Merrifield Jake Berger Harrison Bader Black-and-white ray wave this time it is Strasburg refractor Manoa Brandon Bell Alright box two for you Dave. Good luck See a big rookie here This is Patrick wisdom refractor youth quake Soto Joe Adele is is black-and-white ray wave wisdom this time. Oh nice Bryce Harper here That is gold lava to two or to 50 gold ray wave. I should say nice Bryce to 50 La mayhew Zach pop Backward Shohei some mojo Got Lorda scurril black-and-white ray wave gelito refractor of Muncie and another Harper Bruce Zanino Two runs for Cleveland I'm gonna get to see him Get to see bench of court Ryu. Yeah, probably make it honestly three games or game three Right Dave one tomorrow probably We've got a prism of Shrae Turner Captain America Cole Calhoun youth quake Bobby wit Gaussman Trevor Rogers prism Black-and-white ray wave is hinge in Ryu Three more packs in box two. Good luck Dave Fernando Tatis Losardo Black-and-white ray wave Anthony Rizzo Last pack of box to good luck refractor Joe Adele Mitch Hannigar All right, Dave that leaves one more box Tops chrome sonic light. Good luck last box of the night guys Got more group breaks and personal tomorrow starting with Kenzie have force back here in the evening Imagine with Daniel Maybe Jake that is purple and yellow Trevor Rogers Number two two ninety nine Sammy long refractor of Juan Soto Black-and-white ray wave is Rafi There's a prism of boba shed both flows Classe Refractor Zach Pop rookie and a youth quake Josh Lowe refractor Cole Calhoun George Springer Jake burger rookie That is black-and-white ray wave of Muncie Mookie and free Randy Brian Anderson Michael Brantley Base pack there Tyler McGill youth quake. Oh Boy, yes, shrimp ski Said I don't got a spell at this time Yes, shrimps. That is a prism of pavement Smith Fairchild and black-and-white ray wave is Josh Hader Pave and Smith refractor Tautis Nato all right two packs left Dave. Good luck black-and-white ray wave Joe Adele And last pack refractor Ernie Clement on the rookie and Adam Frazier on the back All right Dave that does do it for your three boxes of tops chrome sonic light. We'll get those right out to you Thank you


Welcome to this special video where we'll be exploring the enduring wisdom encapsulated in meditations by Marcus Aurelius, one of the most impactful philosophical works ever written. Pinned by a Roman emperor almost two millennia ago, this text is more than just an antique treasure. It's a guidebook for living a meaningful, virtuous life. Meditations is composed of 12 books that delve deep into the core principles of Stoic philosophy, concepts like rationality, self-control, the impermanence of life, and the interconnectedness of all things. While Marcus Aurelius originally wrote these reflections for his personal guidance, their universal truths make them applicable to anyone seeking to navigate life's challenges with poise, integrity, and wisdom. Whether you're new to Stoicism or a seasoned philosopher, this video will offer a concise summary of the key takeaways from each book in meditations. So sit back, relax, and prepare to delve into the timeless teachings that have enlightened minds for centuries. In the first book of meditations, Marcus Aurelius takes a retrospective look at his life and focuses on acknowledging the wisdom, virtues, and values he has learned from various individuals. Unlike the subsequent books, which contain philosophical musings, moral lessons, and Stoic principles, book one serves as a catalogue of gratitude. Marcus lists mentors, family members, teachers, and friends detailing what he learned from each person and how these teachings have molded him into the individual he is. The book opens with his gratitude toward his grandfather Verus, from whom he learned modesty and manliness. From his father he learned integrity and perseverance, gaining an understanding of what it means to live in accordance with nature and to be unaffected by material wealth or luxury. His mother instilled in him piety, generosity, and an avoidance of wrongdoing. Marcus also attributes to her his understanding of simplicity, as his mother showed him how to be content with little and live a life of modest means. Marcus pays tribute to his tutors and mentors. His governor taught him to be free from anger and uncomplaining, and he learns from another the importance of hard work and dedication. Marcus gives credit to the Stoic philosopher Rusticus for introducing him to Epictetus's teachings and encouraging him to lead a life of rationality and Stoic calm. He also gives Rusticus credit for teaching him how to be straightforward and avoid rhetorical ornamentation in his speech and writing. Diagnetus, another mentor, taught him not to be engrossed in trivial pursuits and influenced him to appreciate the philosophy of the Stoics. Marcus acknowledges his debt to Apollonius for teaching him the value of self-discipline, patience, and level-headedness. From Sextus, Marcus learned how to be kind and gentle, embodying a natural goodness that seemed effortless. Another influence was Alexander the Platonist, who taught him to write and speak in a manner that was uncomplicated and direct. The Emperor Antoninus is credited with showing Marcus how to lead with firmness, be just, and make rational decisions. In Book 1, Marcus Aurelius does more than express gratitude. He engages in a form of ethical accounting. This practice reflects a core Stoic belief in the importance of examining one's life, recognizing both virtue and vice, and continuously striving for moral improvement. By acknowledging the lessons he has learned from each person, Marcus also outlines a moral and philosophical framework that guides the rest of his meditations. These virtues, among them integrity, simplicity, rationality, and kindness are qualities that Marcus tries to cultivate within himself, following the example set by the people he admires. Moreover, Marcus's humility stands out as he freely admits that these people have provided him with moral and intellectual guidance, implicitly acknowledging that virtue is not a solitary endeavor, but one shaped by community and relationships. His tone suggests not just acknowledgement, but also a form of ethical commitment. He makes it clear that he must now live up to the virtues and lessons he has inherited. Book 2 of Marcus Aurelius' meditations shifts gears from the reflective tone of the first book, transitioning into a more philosophical and prescriptive narrative. This book opens with one of the most famous passages in the work, often referred to as the morning prayer. Marcus starts by reminding himself that he will encounter people who are deceitful, selfish, egotistical, and ignorant. This is not because they are inherently evil, but because they do not know what is good and what is bad. Marcus advises himself to be understanding and tolerant, for he too shares the same potential for fault. This sets the tone for the rest of Book 2, which functions as an exploration of Stoic principles and a guide to virtuous living. A recurring theme is the emphasis on rationality and self-control. Marcus implores himself to separate his reactions from the events that provoke them. According to Stoic philosophy, events themselves are neutral. It's our judgments about them that cause us to perceive them as good or bad. By controlling our judgments, Marcus argues, we can maintain our tranquility and equanimity. Marcus also dwells on the concept of nature, both human nature and the nature of the universe. He emphasizes the importance of living in accordance with nature, by which he means fulfilling one's roles and responsibilities as both a rational and social being. To live contrary to nature, he suggests, leads to vice and unhappiness. The transience of life is another theme in Book 2. Marcus mentions the fleeting nature of existence, the constant change in the universe, and the shortness of human life. All the people who have lived before us, emperors and philosophers rich and poor, are now gone. This should remind us that life is short, Marcus notes, and we should focus on living virtuously in the present moment. Marcus also delves into the topic of work and duty. He views labour not as a burden, but as a form of service to the community. He mentions that even animals and inanimate objects serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things. So why shouldn't humans? He asserts that we are all part of a larger community, indeed, part of the universe itself, and should act in ways that contribute to the common good. In this book, Marcus Aurelius outlines the stoic principles of detachment and rationality, recommending a certain emotional distance when dealing with life's difficulties. He suggests that one should view life as a play, wherein roles are assigned, and it is one's duty to perform the assigned role well, regardless of what that role might be. He warns against getting caught up in earthly pleasures or external validation, stating that the soul should be its own source of validation and peace. Despite the often stoic undertones of detachment, Marcus also speaks of the importance of love and kindness. He suggests that the rational soul should not only be concerned with its well-being, but also with the well-being of others. He regards acts of kindness not as inconveniences, but as in line with human nature and thus as inherently fulfilling. Marcus's reflections in book two also stress the limitations of sensory experience. He breaks down the pleasures of life into their essential components to show that they are not inherently good or desirable, but are only perceived as such. For example, he dissects a luxurious meal into the raw materials and processes that make it, reminding himself that extravagance is often just a well-marketed form of simplicity. In book three of Meditations, Marcus Aurelius continues to delve into the stoic principles that guide his life, focusing on themes like virtue, rationality, and the impermanence of human existence. The setting for this book is Carnantum, a military outpost in present-day Austria where Marcus was stationed during one of the Roman campaigns. The circumstances reveal how Marcus sought introspection and moral guidance, even while attending to the demanding tasks of governance and military leadership. One of the recurring elements in book three is the emphasis on virtue as the ultimate good. Marcus holds that external circumstances, be they good or bad, are irrelevant to our moral well-being. Virtue is the sole arbiter of a good life. He argues that every human being possesses the rational faculties to discern right from wrong and should, therefore, strive for virtue above all else. Virtue is not only its reward, but also provides the person with inner peace and resilience against the changing tides of fortune. A significant portion of book three is dedicated to the idea of self-governance and rationality. Marcus stresses that the ability to govern oneself rationally is the cornerstone of human dignity. He advises that one should always be mindful of their thoughts and actions as they are within one's control, unlike external events. Marcus frequently mentions the idea that our opinions shape our emotional reactions. If we view an event as negative, we suffer, but the event itself is indifferent. This concept of the indifference of externals is a pillar of stoic thought. Alongside the stoic notion of rationality is a focus on duty and social responsibility. Marcus considers people as parts of a greater whole bound by mutual obligations. He describes human beings as limbs of a single organism, implying that societal well-being is closely linked to individual well-being. He suggests that turning inward should not lead to self-centeredness, but rather make one more attuned to their responsibilities towards others. Marcus even argues that people who act unjustly harm not just their victims, but also themselves, by acting contrary to their rational, social nature. Another theme is the impermanence of life and the ephemeral nature of human concerns. Marcus often delves into historical examples, noting that the people we read about, the great heroes, politicians and thinkers, are all gone. Their earthly concerns irrelevant. The knowledge of life's fleeting nature serves not to induce nihilism, but rather to focus Marcus' attention on the present moment. It's a reminder to not postpone living virtuously, for life is short and unpredictable. Marcus also revisits the idea of cosmic insignificance. He frequently employs the imagery of the universe as a constantly changing entity where stars are born and die, and entire galaxies are formed and destroyed. In the grand scheme of things, human concerns are microscopic. However, Marcus flips the script on cosmic insignificance to posit that even if our lives are minuscule in the context of the universe, they can still be filled with profound meaning and dignity through the pursuit of virtue. Marcus makes a point to remind himself to avoid the temptation of praise and popularity. He notes that the applause of the masses is fickle and unreliable. True worth comes not from external validation, but from inner virtue. This perspective is a direct challenge to the social norms of Roman society where honor and public opinion held great sway. The tone of book three, like much of the meditations, is deeply introspective. Marcus writes as if he is counseling himself, reminding himself of the philosophic principles that should guide his life. Through these reminders, he provides timeless advice for anyone seeking to live a life, guided by reason, virtue, and a sense of duty to oneself and others. In book four of his meditations, Marcus Aurelius extends his stoic reflections, moving seamlessly between themes like morality, rationality, mortality, and the nature of human experience. The book is a mix of ethical aphorisms and philosophical considerations, revealing Marcus's intricate thinking about human life and the role of a stoic philosopher king. A recurring theme in book four is the need for individual integrity and authenticity. Marcus stresses that the opinions of others should not guide one's actions or moral compass. Instead, he emphasizes that each individual has an inherent moral framework that should govern their actions. This is the path to true freedom, he suggests, arguing that one should not act as if they would be ashamed to be caught doing so. This level of self-responsibility and internal moral guidance is pitched as an ideal throughout the book. Marcus devotes considerable thought to the ephemeral nature of life and human achievements. He points out that the memories of most people fade swiftly after their deaths, swallowed by the passage of time. Even the most lauded deeds and reputations are transient, eventually yielding to oblivion. Rather than finding this demoralizing, Marcus uses it as a point of focus. The temporary nature of life, he suggests, should compel us to live virtuously and authentically focused more on our own conduct than on external validation. In line with this thought, Marcus also revisits the concept of cosmic insignificance, another theme that runs through the meditations. The universe is vast and continually changing. Human lives are but blips in the grand scheme. Marcus finds solace in this perspective, as it frames individual hardships and trials as negligible on a cosmic scale. It serves to neutralize any self-pity or exaggerated sense of one's own problems. This book also touches upon the Stoic principle of accepting things as they come while exercising control over one's own reactions. Marcus elaborates on the idea that circumstances are neutral, it's our judgments that assign value to them. Therefore, he advises, it's within one's control to maintain equanimity regardless of what occurs. By maintaining a disciplined mind, one can meet hardship with resilience and fortune without arrogance. Marcus reminds himself to treat each event as a natural occurrence, neither good nor bad, and to respond with rationality and virtue. Marcus holds that one should live a life in accordance with nature, fulfilling their potential as a rational and social being. He argues that we should act in a way that benefits society, echoing his earlier assertion that human beings are like limbs of a single organism. When one person suffers or acts unjustly, it affects the whole community. Social responsibility is not just a duty, but a natural part of human existence, according to Marcus. One of the more personal moments in book four is Marcus's internal admonishment about his perceived flaws. He notes that despite reaching an advanced age, he still finds himself struggling with certain vices and irrational behaviors. This self-critique adds a layer of humanity to Marcus, portraying him not as a sage who has all the answers, but as a person striving for self-improvement. The tone of the book remains introspective and meditative, as Marcus writes primarily for himself.  Each entry serves both as a self-reminder and a universal lesson, providing insights that remain relevant today. Book five of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations takes readers deeper into the stoic principles and ethical considerations that guided him in his dual roles as a philosopher and Roman emperor. The book engages with the themes of justice, duty, and the transience of life, interspersing these with considerations on rationality and virtue. Marcus continually frames these discussions as personal admonitions, instructing himself on how to deal with specific ethical and philosophical challenges. One of the key themes in book five is the concept of justice. Marcus asserts that justice is not merely an abstract ideal, but an integral part of the world order, akin to other natural laws. Just as fire ascends and stones fall, human beings by their nature are called to act justly. He claims that wrong actions arise from ignorance and a lack of understanding about what is good. This view provides Marcus with a rational basis for forgiveness and compassion, seeing wrongful actions as mistakes in judgment rather than inherent evil. Duty and responsibility are recurrent themes as well. Marcus muses on the challenge of fulfilling one's responsibilities even when it feels laborious. He suggests that even nature's most basic elements perform their functions without complaint, from the bee gathering nectar to the tree providing shade. Humans, therefore, should complete their duties without fuss or desire for recognition. One must act correctly simply because it is the right thing to do, not because it will garner praise or rewards. In keeping with previous books, Marcus discusses the impermanence of life. He constantly reminds himself that life is fleeting and that both he and his accomplishments will one day be forgotten. He underscores the idea that our time is borrowed and could be reclaimed at any moment, urging himself to make the most of the present. This stoic confrontation with mortality serves to heighten the importance of living justly and virtuously right now in the present moment rather than deferring these duties to an uncertain future. The relationship between the individual and the cosmos also takes centre stage in book 5. Marcus suggests that humans are fragments of the universe and the actions of one impact the whole. The implication is that living virtuously and justly is not only beneficial for oneself but contributes to the harmony and order of the universe. In this, Marcus's stoicism intersects with a kind of cosmic spirituality. He posits that all things are interconnected and this interconnectedness itself gives weight to our moral choices. Marcus also delves into the topic of self-discipline, particularly regarding desires and emotions. He observes that giving in to immediate gratifications can often lead to long-term problems and regrets. Through the exercise of reason, he suggests, one can rise above petty desires and emotions to lead a life befitting a rational being. This discipline is not merely a route to self-control but is portrayed as the pathway to true freedom. For Marcus, freedom lies in one's ability to act in accordance with reason and virtue, unsuayed by external influences or inner passions. Interestingly, Marcus frequently employs a technique of breaking down experiences into their basic elements to reveal their transient or trivial nature. Whether discussing the sumptuous elements of a royal feast or the allure of sexual desire, he dissects these experiences to their rudimentary parts as a way of emphasizing their fleeting value. This technique serves as a tool for detachment, a means to free the mind from the immediate pull of sensory experiences. As in previous books, Marcus emphasizes the importance of focusing on what is within one's control and accepting what is not. He urges himself to stop worrying about how others see him and to focus on his own actions and judgments which are within his power to change. This concept is essential to Stoic philosophy and remains a point of emphasis throughout the meditations. Book Six of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations offers an intimate look at the Emperor philosopher's thoughts on moral and intellectual growth, human nature, and the philosophical ideals that guided him. This book is often considered one of the more personal entries in the meditations as it showcases Marcus' reflections, advice to himself, and even his doubts. It serves as both a personal journal and a philosophical guide, merging Stoic tenets with a deep understanding of human complexities. A dominant theme is the Stoic ideal of self-mastery through rational thought. Marcus argues that human beings possess the faculties for reason, which separates them from other animals. Thus, to live in accordance with human nature, one must act rationally. He posits that the rational mind is like a fortress, capable of offering sanctuary from external hardships and trials. Our judgments and reactions are the only things truly within our control, and thus we should focus on cultivating rational thoughts. Marcus also emphasizes the practice of self-examination and the importance of a life committed to personal growth and moral integrity. He often speaks as though he's giving himself advice, identifying the pitfalls of arrogance and the perils of deviating from a virtuous path. He discusses the necessity for constant moral vigilance, suggesting that goodness is not an end state, but a process that requires ongoing effort. Book six is notable for its thoughts on governance and leadership. Marcus was, after all, not just a philosopher, but also a ruler responsible for an empire. He outlines the virtues essential for good governance, justice, wisdom, and integrity. He seems very aware of the moral weight of his decisions, highlighting the importance of these virtues not just for personal development, but for the welfare of his subjects. He acknowledges the temptations and pitfalls that come with power and advises himself to act justly and wisely, prioritizing the common good over personal gain or glory. Another important topic is his exploration of change and impermanence, which is a recurring theme throughout the meditations. Marcus often meditates on the fleeting nature of life, wealth, and fame. He speaks of how quickly things change, citing that what was once a thriving city could be a ruin in the future, and a mighty empire can fall. The idea is not to induce despair, but to bring about a sense of urgency and focus. Marcus uses the concept of impermanence to emphasize the importance of using time wisely and acting virtuously in the present moment. Interestingly, Marcus spends some time discussing the inherent value of different occupations, arguing that every role in society, from the baker to the farmer to the emperor, has its own dignity and worth. This perspective seems to tie back to his stoic belief in the interconnectedness of all things and people. Each person, no matter their status, plays a vital role in the functioning of the world. The book also contains expressions of Marcus's doubts and concerns. Despite being one of the most powerful men in the world during his time, he speaks openly about the challenges of living up to his own philosophical and ethical standards. This vulnerability adds a layer of relatability and shows that the pursuit of virtue is a struggle, even for a Roman emperor. It reveals the meditations for what it truly is, a work in progress, a philosophical diary where Marcus recorded his efforts to improve himself and live up to his stoic ideals. Marcus is keenly aware of the distractions that can divert one from a virtuous path. He cautions against being swayed by public opinion or becoming entangled in petty disputes. He reminds himself to stay focused on what truly matters, living a life in accordance with reason and virtue. This narrow focus, he argues, is the key to tranquility and happiness. Book 7 of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations continues the Roman emperor's inward journey, exploring themes of resilience, ethical conduct and the human condition through the lens of stoic philosophy. This collection of personal notes serves as both a self-help guide and a moral compass for Marcus, but it has since become a timeless text offering life lessons that resonate across the centuries. One of the recurring topics is the notion of resilience in the face of adversity. Marcus delves into the importance of enduring hardships and inconveniences as a part of life. He frames these challenges as natural occurrences, likening them to the challenges faced by a doctor or a sailor in their professional lives. According to Marcus, the nature of life is such that it will present obstacles, but it is one's duty to face them without complaint. It's not the events themselves, but our judgments about them that cause us distress. Another central idea in Book 7 is the transient nature of human existence. Marcus continually reminds himself that he is a part of the cosmic cycle, where creation and decay happen in an endless loop. He talks about the impermanence of human life and the ultimate insignificance of individual worries and achievements in the grand scheme of the universe. He sees life as a brief interlude in the ceaseless flow of time, reinforcing the stoic idea that external conditions, good or bad, are fleeting and shouldn't disturb the tranquility of the wise person. Marcus also spends considerable time in Book 7, contemplating the complexities of human behavior. He argues that all actions stem from either instinct or reason. Marcus seems to grapple with the flaws and inconsistencies in human action and thought. He offers himself advice on dealing with irrational and difficult people, positing that such behaviors stem from ignorance of what is good and evil. Rather than becoming angered or frustrated, Marcus advises understanding and compassion, treating the vices and failings of others as akin to physical illnesses. One of the more remarkable elements in this book is Marcus' discussion of the self. He advises the reader and by extension himself to look inward for validation. In a society that often measures worth by external achievements or social standing, Marcus' words ring as a poignant reminder of the irrelevance of external judgment when it comes to personal virtue. He stresses that your worth is determined by your actions and the content of your character, not by what others think of you. Another significant theme in Book 7 is the concept of rationality and the divine. Marcus believes that the world is organized in a rational and coherent manner, implying a divine reason or God behind it. According to him, this divine reason gives life its order, thereby making rationality and virtue closely aligned with the natural way of things. Marcus advises that one should live in accordance with this divine rationality, which is another way of expressing the central stoic tenet of living according to nature. On the topic of death, Marcus takes a stoically neutral stance, viewing it as a natural part of life. He suggests that if gods exist, then death can't be evil, and if gods don't exist or don't care about human affairs, then an eternal oblivion should also not be feared. Death is simply a return to the elements, a transformation similar to the changes that naturally occur throughout life. The practicality of stoic philosophy shines through in Marcus' guidance on day-to-day living. He promotes a disciplined lifestyle, urging attentiveness in every action and decision. He also stresses that one should always be on guard morally, maintaining their ethical principles even when they think no one is watching. This reinforces the stoic idea that virtue is its own reward. In Book 8 of Meditations, Marcus Aurelius continues his exploration of stoic principles, contemplating on various aspects of human nature, ethics, and the relationship between the individual and the universe. This book is notable for its emphasis on the ethical obligations we bear, not just to ourselves, but to society at large. In it, Marcus provides insights that are both deeply personal and universally applicable. The notion of self-improvement and self-regulation is a recurring theme in Book 8. Marcus encourages the reader to focus on refining their character, to act according to reason, and to not be swayed by external circumstances or opinions. He advocates for a focus on the present moment as the arena in which moral choices are made and virtues are exercised. Marcus also explores the idea that our thoughts shape our reality, urging the cultivation of a rational and disciplined mind as a safeguard against emotional turmoil. He advises that we should regard our rational faculties as our truest self and that these should govern over our desires and emotions. In this book, Marcus also delves into the concept of communal rationality. While stoicism often emphasizes the development of individual virtue and wisdom, Marcus extends this to a broader social context. He argues that human beings are social creatures by nature, designed to work collaboratively and live in communities. As a consequence, rationality isn't just a personal endeavour, but also has a social dimension. He underscores that our actions should aim not just at personal benefit, but should contribute to the welfare of the community. In doing so, Marcus explores the interconnectedness of all people, stating that the wrongs done by one person affect the whole of humanity. Marcus further delves into the topic of death and impermanence in book 8, but with a somewhat different tone than in previous books. Rather than using the transience of life to highlight the futility of worldly pursuits, he employs it as a motivational tool. He reminds himself that life is short and unpredictable, asserting that the unpredictability should encourage a sense of urgency in living virtuously and fulfilling one's duties. He suggests that knowing about the impermanence of life should propel us to live more authentically, to speak our truths boldly and to act according to our principles without hesitation. The theme of cosmic unity reappears in this book, as Marcus considers the individual's relationship to the cosmos. He maintains that we are all part of a greater whole, and that understanding this relationship is crucial to both ethical conduct and personal tranquility. The universe is rational and ordered, he contends, and to live in agreement with this natural order is to live in agreement with reason. It is this sense of being a part of a greater rational whole that provides an ontological grounding for Marcus' ethical principles. Marcus also continues to discuss the concept of divine providence, examining it through the lens of stoic determinism. He suggests that everything happens according to a divine reason, a logos that permeates the universe. Even what seems evil or irrational on the surface has its place in the grand scheme of things. In this context, Marcus advises adopting a form of amorphati, a love of fate, where one not only accepts but embraces whatever comes their way as a component of divine reason. Amidst the philosophical meditations, Marcus also offers practical advice on dealing with everyday challenges. He touches upon the inevitable confrontations with dishonesty, ignorance, or malevolence in others. His counsel is that of understanding and tolerance, reiterating the stoic belief that such actions arise from a lack of wisdom and should be met with compassion rather than anger. Marcus also acknowledges his own shortcomings and mistakes, demonstrating a self-awareness and humility that add weight to his philosophical assertions. Despite his status as the Emperor of Rome, he neither exempts himself from moral scrutiny nor claims to have all the answers. In Book 9 of his meditations, Marcus Aurelius turns his focus toward an array of concepts that further develop his stoic worldview. As with other books in this collection, Marcus aims to cultivate moral and intellectual virtues, seeking to navigate life's challenges with wisdom and integrity. The topics in Book 9 range from the nature of the soul to moral behavior, from the understanding of God's will to reflections on mortality and human relationships. One of the key elements Marcus touches upon in Book 9 is the soul and its immortal or transient nature. Although Marcus doesn't firmly assert a belief in the immortality of the soul, he does contemplate what this means for living a virtuous life. He ponders whether the soul is immortal and part of the divine logos or if it dissipates after death. Regardless of the answer, Marcus concludes that focusing on virtue in the present is what truly matters. The theme of mortality is not new to Marcus' meditations, but it is revisited in Book 9 with a heightened sense of immediacy. Marcus uses the idea of the shortness and unpredictability of life as a reason to concentrate on one's actions and thoughts. There is an urgency in his tone, encouraging himself and by extension the reader to appreciate the present, acting virtuously and wisely without delay. Marcus also discusses the concept of change as a natural and inevitable part of life. He often refers to the universe as being in a constant state of flux, a viewpoint rooted in both Stoic and Heraclitian philosophy. By internalizing this understanding of change, Marcus believes one can achieve greater equanimity, accepting the flow of events as part of the natural order rather than as disturbances to be lamented. He talks about change not just in terms of physical realities like the alteration of substances, but also in the transitions of human lives and empires. This awareness of constant change is meant to serve as a grounding perspective, helping one to navigate the complexities and uncertainties of life with greater ease. Moral behavior and ethical principles are central to Marcus' meditations, and Book Nine is no exception. In this section, he often emphasizes the importance of integrity and acting in line with one's ethical beliefs, even when it's easier to follow the crowd or give in to temptation. Marcus warns against hypocrisy and advises the reader to stand firm in their convictions. He suggests that one's principles should not be swayed by the opinions or judgments of others, and that the sole focus should be on living a virtuous life as defined by reason and moral understanding. A remarkable aspect of Book Nine is Marcus' reflections on divine will or providence. He often delves into the Stoic idea that everything occurs according to a rational plan guided by divine reason or the logos. While he admits that human understanding of this divine reason is limited, Marcus finds solace in the belief that all things happen according to a meaningful order. Even if events appear unfavorable or challenging, he advocates for acceptance and even embraces them as facets of the divine plan. Further, Marcus reiterates the Stoic idea of universal brotherhood and interconnectedness. In multiple passages, he urges himself to act for the common good, to be forgiving, and to consider how his actions impact others. In Marcus' view, societal roles, whether one is an emperor or a citizen, come with the responsibility to contribute positively to the collective welfare. This aligns with his earlier thoughts about rationality, having a social dimension. Virtuous actions are not just good for the individual. They contribute to the well-being of the entire community. Book Nine also contains some more personal reflections and musings, revealing Marcus as a deeply introspective person, aware of his own shortcomings, and continuously striving for self-improvement. This quality makes Marcus not just a philosopher emperor, but also a relatable human being, grappling with the same moral and existential questions that have occupied thinkers for generations. Book Ten of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius serves as a repository of reflections and advisories, much in the spirit of the other books in this series.  This book is an embodiment of stoic philosophy, stressing the importance of rationality, moral virtue, and the acceptance of life's impermanence. Marcus opens with the idea that wrongdoing harms the doer more than the victim. He outlines that such actions emanate from a state of ignorance or misunderstanding about the nature of good and evil. To Marcus, the act of wrongdoing is evidence of a flawed judgment, thereby harming the one who errs in their ways. It is in this context that Marcus advocates for compassion and understanding rather than vengeance, emphasizing the stoic principle of educating the ignorant rather than despising them. One recurring motif in Book Ten is the power and role of reason in human life. Marcus strongly believes that reason differentiates humans from other animals. This faculty allows us not just to communicate, but also to form complex thoughts, organize our experiences, and attain wisdom. Therefore, living according to reason is tantamount to living according to nature, a primary tenet of stoicism. Marcus argues that reason should be the guide in all actions and judgments, allowing for a life led in harmony with both the self and the universe. Ethical behavior and self-conduct are also focal points in Book Ten. Marcus advises that one should act only in ways that one would be willing to advocate as laws applicable to all of humanity. In this, he echoes the stoic variant of the Golden Rule, advocating for a universal approach to ethics that reflects a broader concern for the welfare of all, not just the self. He also stresses the importance of sincerity and honesty, stating that the mask one puts on cannot forever hide the nature of one's soul. Marcus contends that true virtue is its own reward and requires no external validation. Mortality and impermanence, themes Marcus often visits, are discussed in Book Ten as well. However, Marcus introduces a new nuance by contemplating the cyclical nature of existence. Life and death, creation and destruction are ongoing, interconnected processes, suggesting that what we often see as an end is just another form of beginning. Marcus uses this idea to confront his own mortality, finding comfort in the thought that his life, whether long or short, occupies only a brief moment in the boundless tapestry of existence. The concept of divine order or the logos is revisited in this book. Marcus wonders about the nature of the gods and their relevance to human life. Regardless of the form or even the existence of higher powers, Marcus concludes that the principles of good living would remain the same, to act justly, speak the truth and live a rational life. The idea here is that ethical living is rational living and rational living is, in itself, in accordance with divine principles. Marcus also discusses the fickleness of public opinion and the inconsequentiality of fame and reputation. He emphasizes that public opinion is unreliable as it is often formed without proper understanding or wisdom. The pursuit of external validation is a futile endeavor, and Marcus advocates for an internal moral compass guided by reason and virtue. In his view, one should seek to live in such a way that even if the world were to wrongfully speak ill of them, the individual's conscience would testify to their true character.  He suggests that when faced with external challenges, we can always choose our response. Challenges therefore become opportunities for us to exercise our virtue and reason. Book 11 of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations serves as an exploration into the nature of the self, the mind, and the essence of virtuous living. A common thread throughout the book is Marcus' appeal to stoic principles to guide his actions and thoughts, making the work a rich tapestry of philosophy, ethics, and self-reflection. One of the standout themes of Book 11 is the stoic ideal of self-sufficiency. Marcus argues that true contentment comes from within. He champions the idea that inner tranquility is not dependent on external factors, but rather on one's own mind. If one can master his own thoughts and emotions, he has achieved the highest form of freedom, impervious to external chaos and uncertainty. In this, Marcus echoes the stoic view that external things, wealth, status, and even health, are not good or bad in themselves, but rather indifferent. What matters is how one reacts to them, and the ability to maintain composure, regardless of circumstances, is the hallmark of a virtuous life. Marcus also delves into the idea that life is short and time is fleeting. This notion serves as a powerful motivator for him to engage in meaningful activities and shun trivial pursuits. He notes that most people waste their lives in pointless distractions and avoid focusing on the things that genuinely matter. The temporality of human existence is a recurring theme throughout meditations, but in Book 11, Marcus uses it to stress the importance of acting in accordance with one's nature and focusing on actions and thoughts that contribute to a life well lived. Time is limited, so one must use it wisely, prioritizing what contributes to virtue and wisdom. The discourse in Book 11 also includes a detailed reflection on the nature of the universe. Marcus describes it as a living entity, constantly changing yet fundamentally rational. Everything is interconnected in a kind of cosmic unity. Marcus argues that understanding this unity helps one to act according to reason and to live in harmony with nature and other human beings. These ideas are underpinned by the Stoic belief in logos, a rational principle that governs the universe. Accepting the logos, according to Marcus, makes it easier to accept life's hardships as part of a grander design. Marcus touches on the concept of justice and social virtue, expressing a commitment to fairness, integrity and communal well-being. He emphasizes that rational beings are social by nature, and that one of the highest forms of virtue is to contribute to the welfare of society. This could be through individual acts of kindness, adherence to law, or by promoting justice on a broader scale. The notion here is that virtue is not an isolated individual goal, but something that has wider social implications. Acting justly is in alignment with both human nature and the cosmic order, reinforcing the Stoic idea of interconnectedness between the self, society and the universe. Additionally, Marcus explores the power of the mind in shaping one's reality. He claims that the mind transforms external events through perception. An event is neither good nor bad. It's the individual's judgment that makes it so. This perspective offers a form of mental resilience, allowing one to navigate challenges and hardships with equanimity. This form of cognitive reframing is deeply rooted in Stoicism and serves as a practical tool for enduring life's difficulties. Towards the end of Book 11, Marcus brings his attention back to himself, contemplating his own shortcomings and areas for improvement. It's a humbling moment that serves to humanize him, revealing his constant struggle to live up to the Stoic ideals that he so passionately writes about. He admits to not being a perfect sage, but aspires to get closer to that ideal with each passing day. This self-reflection serves as a form of mental accounting, keeping him grounded and focused on his ongoing moral development. Book 12 of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations serves as a fitting conclusion to his philosophical journey, tying together many threads and themes that have been scattered throughout the previous books. The focus in this final book is on self-mastery, the impermanence of life, the interconnectedness of the universe, and the ultimate aim of living a life in accordance with reason and virtue. In this culmination of his Stoic philosophical reflections, Marcus aims to synthesize his thoughts into a coherent worldview, offering practical advice for a life well-lived. One of the most salient features of Book 12 is the continued emphasis on the Stoic principle of rationality. Marcus reiterates that reason is the highest faculty humans possess and should guide all actions and thoughts. For Marcus, rationality is not just about logical analysis or intellectual pursuits, it's about living a life of virtue. According to him, reason equips us to discern right from wrong, to maintain emotional equanimity, and to strive for a greater understanding of ourselves and the world. The notion of interconnectedness also plays a significant role in Book 12. Marcus views the universe as a single living organism, a cosmopolis, in which everything is interconnected in a grand network of cause and effect. All beings are part of this network and should act in a way that benefits the whole. This idea isn't merely a metaphysical claim, but has ethical implications. It provides a rationale for why we should care about others and live justly. For Marcus, to act against this interconnected web, is to act against one's nature and against reason. Marcus returns to the theme of death and the fleeting nature of life as well. In his view, our brief lifespan is but a moment in the vast expanse of time, and even the most celebrated individuals will be forgotten. However, this is not a cause for nihilism or despair. Rather, it's a call to action. Because life is short, Marcus argues that we must focus on what truly matters, which is to live a life of virtue and wisdom. The impermanence of life makes each moment precious, urging us to act in a manner aligned with our highest values. A recurring idea in Book 12 is the importance of self-control and emotional mastery. Marcus advises that we should not let external events disturb our peace of mind. He argues that we cannot control external circumstances, but we can control our reactions to them. Through discipline and the use of reason, one can maintain a sense of inner calm, even when faced with life's most challenging situations. This stoic equanimity, according to Marcus, is the hallmark of a truly virtuous individual. Marcus also touches on the concept of duty, reiterating the stoic view that each individual has a role to play in the grand scheme of things. Doing one's duty is a form of active engagement with the world and contributes to the cosmic order. Marcus suggests that failing to act or shirking one's responsibilities is a violation of nature and undermines the harmony of the universe. In Book 12, Marcus is noticeably introspective, often engaging in self-examination. He asks himself probing questions, reflecting on his own conduct, decisions, and aspirations. This self-scrutiny reveals his ongoing struggle to align his life with his philosophical ideals. Despite being an emperor, Marcus does not exempt himself from the moral and ethical standards he sets. This honest self-assessment adds a layer of authenticity to his philosophical discussions, making them not just theoretical, but deeply personal.


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