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‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 Filmed the Longest Battle in TV History
We’ve come a long way from Game of Thrones keeping battles offscreen, but Season 8 is going all out. New set reports indicate the HBO drama more than doubled its shooting time for fan-favorites like “Battle of the Bastards,” and is only getting started.
According to Watchers on The Wall, assistant director Jonathan Quinlan posted a since-deleted thank-you note to crew for “55 straight nights” of shooting one single episode at the show’s Moneyglass set in Toome and the Magheramorne green screen. That’s close to two and a half months of shooting, which exceeds double the production time of Game of Thrones’ previous battle record (and likely sets a record for TV overall). WoTW calls it “the biggest, most expensive action scene we’ve ever seen on TV,” though it’s said that another battle at King’s Landing might outdo it.
Elsewhere of Game of Thrones Season 8, relatively few details have leaked beyond the Golden Company casting of Into the Badlands star Marc Rissman, or confirmed reports of a 2019 premiere. Other unconfirmed reports allege multiple filmed endings to prevent leaks, destruction of familiar locales, upgrades to the undead army and more. Several reports have also suggested major characters won’t return, as well that certain others will have elevated roles.
We’ll have more Game of Thrones Season 8 intel on the long road to 2019, so stay tuned.
Gallery: TV Twists That Fans Figured Out Way in Advance
16 Lingering ‘Game of Thrones’ Questions That Need to Be Addressed in Season 8
Source: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 Filmed the Longest Battle in TV History
Filed Under: Game of Thrones, HBO
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Global Cancer Vaccine Partnering 2014-2019: Deal trends, players and financials
Publication date: May 2019 | Publisher: Current Partnering
The Global Cancer VaccinenPartnering 2014-2019: Deal trends, players and financials provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the cancer vaccine partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.
Global Oncology Partnering 2014-2019: Deal trends, players and financials
The Global Oncology Partnering 2014-2019: Deal trends, players and financials report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the oncology/cancer partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies
Global Antibiotics Partnering Terms and Agreements 2014 to 2019
The Global Antibiotics Partnering Terms and Agreements 2014 to 2019 report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the antibiotic partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.
Global Cancer Diagnostics Partnering 2014-2019: Deal trends, players and financials
The Global Cancer Diagnostics Partnering 2014-2019 report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the cancer diagnostics partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.
Global Infectious Vaccines Partnering Terms and Agreements 2014 to 2019: Deal trends, players and financials
The Global Infectious Vaccines Partnering Terms and Agreements 2014 to 2019: Deal trends, players and financials report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the infectious vaccines partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies. Learn More
Global Stem Cell Partnering 2014-2019: Deal trends, players and financials
The Global Stem Cell Partnering 2014-2019: Deal trends, players and financials report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the stem cell partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.
Global In Vitro Diagnostics Partnering 2014-2019: Deal trends, players and financials
Global In Vitro Diagnostics Partnering 2014-2019 report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the in vitro diagnostics partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.
Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Partnering Terms and Agreements in Pharma, Biotech and Diagnostics 2014 to 2019
The Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Partnering Terms and Agreements 2014-2019 report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the artificial intelligence partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.
Global Co-promotion and Co-marketing Partnering Terms & Agreements in Pharma, Biotech & Diagnostics 2014-2019
The Global Co-promotion and Co-marketing Partnering Terms & Agreements in Pharma, Biotech & Diagnostics 2014-2019 report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the co-promotion and co-marketing partnering agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.
Global Distribution Partnering Terms and Agreements in Pharma, Biotech and Diagnostics 2014-2019
The Global Distribution Partnering Terms and Agreements in Pharma, Biotech and Diagnostics 2014-2019 report provides comprehensive understanding and unprecedented access to the distribution partnering agreements entered into by the worlds leading biopharma companies.
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Conception de nanosenseurs optiques du type fluoroionophores immobilisés au sein de matrices silicées mésoporeuses pour le dosage d'ions Hg2+
Jonathan Desmet
Unit of nanomaterials chemistry
Over the past few decades, one principle research area has focused on the quantification of toxic heavy metals within the organism, the environment and in industrial waste. Amongst these metals, mercury is considered as one of the most harmful due to its devastating effects on the environment and human health. To minimize the dramatic consequences of this highly toxic metal, it seems essential and urgent to design a novel fluorescent detection method to monitor Hg2+ ions based on highly sensitive and selective, fast, miniturisable, reusable and also portable optical devices which can be used to perform field measurements in-situ. Therefore, this thesis project aims at designing optical nanosensors based on fluoroionophores immobilised within mesoporous silica matrices for the detection of Hg2+ ions. To achieve the aim of this project, different fluorescent probe molecules (fluoroionophores), each responding by an enhancement in fluorescence intensity after complexation with Hg2+ ions (due to the modification of their photophysical properties), have been successfully synthesised and tested for their ability to quantify Hg2+ ions with sensitivity and selectivity. The optimisation phase of the molecular structure of the fluoroionophore revealed to be fundamental not only in order to reinforce the interaction (sensitivity and selectivity) between the ion and the recognition site of the fluorescent molecule but also to fill the immobilisation conditions of the probe molecule onto the porous support. To do this, structural changes have been made to both the chelating part (ionophore) and the fluorescent part (fluorophore) of the molecule. Sulfur and selenium have been selected as chelating atoms to the Hg2+ ion and thus incorporated into the ionophore structure and withdrawing groups (bromine and methyl ester) have been grafted onto the fluorophore, the anthracene. Through this study, it was shown that sulfur based ionophores complexed with sensitivity and selectivity both Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions whereas selenium based ionophores enabled a slight enhancement of the sensitivity and selectivity towards the Hg2+ ion. The modification of the fluorophores has also enabled to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the fluorescent molecule. Hence the grafting of the selenide ionophore onto an anthracene derivative (bromo or methyl ester anthracene) has led to the design of extremely sensitive and selective fluoroionophores towards the Hg2+ ion. With the view to immobilising the most efficient fluoroionophore to obtain nanosensors adapted to the very sensitive and selective detection of Hg2+ ions, various highly structured mesoporous silica materials (viz. CMI-1, SBA-15 and SBA16) were synthesized and characterised. The remarkable properties that these porous matrices possess, which are ideal for the design of very efficient nanosensors, were highlighted by a suite of different characterisation techniques. These materials exhibited highly accessible specific surface areas close to 800 - 1000 m2/g and significant porous volumes of around 1 cm3/g. These materials were identified as having pores with either a bidimensional hexagonal arrangement (CMI-1 and SBA-15) or a tridimensional cubic arrangement (SBA-16), whose size varied from 2.8 to 9.0 nm, making them ideal candidates for the immobilisation of the fluoroionophore. Finally, the nanosensors were obtained by the immobilisation of the fluorescent molecule through direct impregnation and were shown to be efficient in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and response time.
Bao Lian Su (Supervisor), Alain Krief (Jury), Muriel Lepere (Jury), Benoît Champagne (President), L. M. Peng (Jury) & Noan NIRVALET (Jury)
Desmet, J. (Author). 29 Nov 2013
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Review Fix Exclusive: Matthew Diana Talks “Disasterpiece” EP And More
December 7, 2018 Patrick Hickey Jr. Music 0
Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Matthew Diana, who discusses the influences and goals for his new “Disasterpiece” EP.
About Matthew Diana:
Matthew Dylan Diana is a vocalist, musician, songwriter, and mostly recognized as the lead singer of Message to the Masses. He is the only remaining original member of Message to the Masses who was previously signed to Artery Recordings and has toured and put out multiple singles. However, Matt’s passion for music has grown more than ever and he has decided to continue the band, but with a focus on his career as a solo artist. He has spent a good portion of his free time this year preparing and fine tuning his first release, Disasterpiece.
Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?
Matthew Diana: My mother works for a radio station and my dad use to jam in a band.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Diana: I dig deep to understand my feelings and thoughts. I take life experiences and what I’ve been through to create inspiration. I’m always trying to turn anything and everything into positivity. I’ll hear melodies and notes in my head while listening to tracks I’m working on. Once I have a pretty good idea I will record it at my home studio and refine them until I’m happy before going to a professional studio.
Review Fix: What inspires you?
Diana: Positivity, experiencing new things, music, and much more.
Review Fix: What makes this EP special?
Diana: It’s the first time I was able to record my own album with whatever I wanted to do on it. Every song is different and diverse from the next. They all have deep meanings and are purely made out of all my emotions. I never poured my heart into anything as much as this EP.
Review Fix: What’s the standout track?
Diana: Have Hope I’d say just because it inspires positivity and the message behind it hits hard with where I am at with my life right now. It also has my favorite chorus and all around just makes me feel good when I listen to it.
Review Fix: What’s on your musical bucket list?
Diana: To get to a point where music is one of the only things I’m doing and to reach further success in it. Touring constantly and writing constantly while being able to keep me financially stable.
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
Diana: I would say that it’s very experimental and is multiple genres. It’s pretty much a resume of my musical abilities that I’m showing to the world. It’s a very open minded sound and there are no boundaries. The direction of it literally heads in multiple different ways.
Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?
Diana: There is a lot more intensity and energy in the live shows.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2018?
Diana: Continuously write more material to have it ready for recording in 2019.
Diana: Recording an LP and more singles.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Diana: A message to everyone, always stay positive and true to yourself. Never let anyone push you off your center and stay strong. Life is like a river so don’t push against it, float with it. Everything happens for a reason so everything will work out sooner or later. Now go check out my EP, Disasterpiece”!
Review Fix Exclusive: C-Wired Talks Career Goals, Influences And More
Image Comics to Publish JESUSFREAK— an Original Graphic Novel by Joe Casey & Benjamin Marra
Review Fix Exclusive: Inside ‘Battle Chef Brigade’ on Switch
Review Fix Exclusive: Inside Beetle Uprising
Review Fix chats with Darrin West, Co-Founder of Iocane Games, who discusses the development, creative process and goals for his...
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Snapshots from the Atlantic Yards "Groundtaking" Ceremony
Damon Root | 3.11.2010 5:36 PM
A small and feisty group of protesters had already established themselves in front of Freddy's Bar in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn when I arrived shortly after noon to witness today's big groundbreaking—or "groundtaking" as the protesters put it—ceremony for the Atlantic Yards project, a 22-acre eminent domain boondoggle that will bulldoze homes and businesses in order to make way for a basketball stadium and some office and apartment towers. Despite the fact that Atlantic Yards is a classic case of eminent domain abuse, New York's courts have shamefully abdicated their judicial responsibility and allowed this blatant land grab to proceed. So today was something of a last hurrah for the opposition, many of whom have been fighting this outrage for the past seven years. I'd estimate that a few hundred protesters had joined in by the time the crowd made its way from Freddy's to the heavily-secured tent where Ratner and his buddies in big government gathered to celebrate their chance to demolish a neighborhood and begin "building the community from the ground-up."
Here's the scene in front of Freddy's—one of the last remaining properties scheduled for demolition—where protesters held a mock funeral to "bury the soul of Brooklyn."
From left to right, the masked faces above portray Atlantic Yards supporters Eliot Spitzer, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Gov. David Paterson, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner, Russian billionaire and Ratner-partner Mikhail Prokhorov, and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. I'm surprised rapper Jay-Z wasn't included in the cast of villains as well, since he's a part owner of the Nets (along with Ratner and Prokhorov) who gladly lent his famous name to the project. No sight of ACORN's Bertha Lewis either, even though she provided Ratner some crucial "political cover" in exchange for a $1.5 million bailout.
A common sentiment among today's protesters.
Here's a closer look at the leering face of disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, one of the state's many elected officials involved in the Atlantic Yards land theft (among other crimes).
And what's that yellow banner behind Spitzer?
The Brooklyn Libertarian Party! Chair and 30-year libertarian activist Gary Popkin (on the far left) told me he came out to protest because "it's wrong to steal." Amen, brother.
Now meet Matthew Sterling of Bensonhurst. He claimed that nobody paid him to be there, which made his support for the abominable Nets even stranger. Still, you've got to give him some credit for entering the mosh pit of Atlantic Yards opponents. And who knows, the way the Nets are playing, maybe they'll give Sterling a shot. He's already suited up.
Here's local celebrity protester "Reverend Billy." He's a cult figure among the anti-corporate set for holding faux religious revivals outside of Starbucks and other hated chain outlets with his "Church of Life After Shopping" choir. He was telling the press that Atlantic Yards meant "the community has been privatized." I didn't get a chance to ask him if meant to say nationalized or corporatized or something more accurate. After all, it's the government seizing people's homes and businesses in this case. Nonetheless, check out that mile-high pompadour!
Finally, a shot of the heroic eminent domain resister and tireless activist Daniel Goldstein, who has fought the good fight for seven years and is now living like a prisoner in his own home. He's the reason most people even heard of this outrageous government abuse in the first place. Like Susette Kelo did on a national scale, Goldstein's greatest accomplishment may be to spark a lasting movement to reform New York's atrocious eminent domain abuse. Here he is marshalling a massive street crossing by the protestors in order to outfox the police.
NEXT: Zombie Banks Well Enough to Go Off Life Support While Living Fight Over Canned Goods
Damon Root is a senior editor at Reason and the author of Overruled: The Long War for Control of the U.S. Supreme Court (Palgrave Macmillan).
Corruption Property Rights Eminent Domain
March.11.2010 at 5:45 pm
Why not build the stadium at ground zero? They’re not doing anything else with that land.
I can’t wait to see how NYC-based NBC, CBS and ABC cover this on the Evening News? With (insert liberal anchor here). They care so much about the little people. Should be the top story. Right?
capitol l
Think of all the jobs this will create. The little guy will be so grateful when he has the opportunity to schlep peanuts and beer for the likes of b-ball fans Spike Lee and Jayz.
This shit literally makes me ill.
Cheer up, cap. There’s a remote possibility that those peanuts might be schlepped in the general direction of genu-wine celebrities! And who wouldn’t be thrilled to report to his homies that J-Lo or Jay-Z or Ice-something actually ate one of his fine stadium products? Dreams are made on such encounters.
Grandpa Whithers
Back in ’76, I put gas in Rod Carew’s Lincoln.
J sub Chad
Didn’t he .388 one year?
The fact that a prominent protester can blame this on “privatization” is precisely why things seem so hopeless.
Sad thing is, a decade from now, this will probably be hailed as some sort of revitalization success when they are going to taxpayers asking for more money to remodel the stadium or lose the team.
It’s not a protester, it’s Reverend Billy, so “self-promoting lameass performance artist blowhard” is what you meant to say.
David R
Reverend Billy has come into my bar 3 times. Guess how many times he’s run out on the check.
March.11.2010 at 11:16 pm
After the first 2 (and thats stretching it too far) you didnt demand cash up front?
I dunno, usually when politicians talk about “privatization”, they usually mean handing over something they originally acquired through eminent domain, taxes, or nationalization to private citizens. Not to the original owners or taxpayers, of course, but to well-connected political cronies. The more euphemistic usage (scare quotes included) seems appropriate in this case.
I’m personally inclined to say “repurposed”, but only because I’ve been playing a lot of Mass Effect 1/2 recently.
Gary Popkin
One lady had a sign blaming this on a failure of democracy. I tried to explain to her, maybe with a tiny bit of success, that this is exactly the result of democracy, evidence of the danger of democracy, because surely 51% of Brooklynites are in favor of the government stealing her home. She said that everyone she knew, everyone in her neighborhood, was against it. Well, yeah, duh.
She said the “people” were not consulted. Well, yeah, duh, Bloomberg and Markowitz, driving forces behind this, were elected, re-elected, and (I might add) re-elected yet again democratically.
PADRAEG
!BRAVO!
Punster
After all, if you’re not willing to give up your private property for the greater good of the Elites, your undemocratic.
B.P.
In the first picture outside Freddy’s, I notice the neon beer signs are hanging upside down, which I take to be the symbol of barroom distress.
That would be awesome were it true. One suspects the lingering effects of alcohol, but…but…
No sight of ACORN’s Bertha Lewis either, even though she provided Ratner some crucial “political cover” in exchange for a $1.5 million bailout.
You’re not allowed to know that. Cosmo card REVOKED.
It really doesn’t feel right to me, but I want bad things to happen to Bruce Ratner. Something fitting, like a steel beam from one of the buildings he’s putting up dropping 40 stories onto his head. Is that wrong?
wackyjack
You better hurry. I heard a NY congressman is drafting a law to revoke gravity’s occupational license. You gotta admit, that bastard has pulled a lot of people to their deaths.
Update: Sir Isaac Newton has filed for an injunction on behalf of gravity. Eugene Volokh assisted with the brief.
March.12.2010 at 10:18 am
expect the Russian to f..k him. don’t know how, just expect it.
Am I the only one who sees some potential irony in the libertarian stance on this issue? Ok, I can see limiting eminent domain to explicit “public uses.” But then consider what you’ve done there: if a government wants to achieve a public purpose by essentially “privatizing” the process, i.e., letting private actors actions achieve the purpose by transferring the property to them, then they will be thwarted by such a rule.
Consider this. A government decides that it will promote parks and recreation by condemning private land next to an existing park and use that land to create something that could not have existed prior to the condemnation (I dunno, think ski slope or something, I can’t do all the hypo work). Now, you guys would have less hell to raise if the government just kept the land and operated the ski slope as a government project than if they sold the land to a private actor who would operate a for-profit ski slope (which would provide the “public good” at issue and would in theory raise tax revenues to boot). Does that really sound preferable to you (and hey, I understand you’d be against this government action, of course the hard-core libertarian would be against pretty much ANY taking for actual “public use” because you don’t think the government should do much of anything, so maybe bear with me).
I’m sympathetic to the Kelo dissenters. Their reasoning that this power will work to the benefit of powerful wealthy actors against poor ones is dead on. I’m just not sure where a line can be drawn to make things better…
J sub D
This libertarian doesn’t think the government should be involved at all in the entertainment business. Not ice rinks, ski slopes, baseball stadiums, and one of my pet peeves, fucking golf courses.
If the city government wishes to install some ball fields and tennis courts that are available to all citizens on a first come first served reservation system, I won’t be manning the barricades in protest. But this shit, like Poletown, is blatant plutocracy.
The bought off politicians and “urban planners” who support this kind of crap can kiss my freedom loving, proprty rights supporting ass.
Almanian
Excellent Poletown reference. And how’s that working out, Detroit? Detroit? Hello? Is anyone there?
Me. I’m somewhat a masochist and retired so I don’t worry about silly little thing about my own employment.
I’m still workin for the man…fortunately,I’m with one of the companies that didn’t take the gubmint money 🙂 We’ll see how it works out – in the meantime, Poletown’s lost, the people long gone, jobs long gone, GM a ward of the state – what a shaft job.
Am I the only one who sees some potential irony in the libertarian stance on this issue?
See J sub D’s comment for further information.
Eminent Domain should be an absolute last resort for only the most necessary cases with a tremendous amount of oversight and checks and balances in place to ensure it is not abused.
AJs: What is “absolute last resort”? Do you go into a business meeting with a gun, which you lay on the table in plain sight, and say, “I will use this gun only as an absolute last resort if I don’t get what I want through negotiation.”?
Who will oversee the people who are exercising the “tremendous amount of oversight”? Do you know anyone in government, or anywhere, who can be trusted with “tremendous” amounts of power?
Any libertarian would be against government stealng people’s land to build a ski slope or other entertainment for the “public.” Most libertarians are against the government stealing land for a public park. Some libertarians are against stealing people’s land for a road, school, or hospital. Build it somewhere else. I am against eminent domain for any purpose. If you need land, buy it from willing sellers.
Patriot X
If a thief goes to your home and steals your tableware then gives it to another family, that isn’t “privatization,” it’s theft. Eminent domain, especially in this case, is when the government takes private property against the will of the current owner. If the government builds a shrine to Marx or hands it over to a private developer, it’s theft, not “privatization.”
Hello Shit Facktory!
I’m tired of you damned libertarians always siding with the rich corporations over the little guy.
Chad sub Tony McMNG
[citation omitted]
But what about the externalities? You didn’t take them into account. And the subsidies these corporayshuns get – you have to take that into account. Doing this project at least puts some of that moneys back into the local economy, for teh people instead of the corporayshuns.
Building the stadium creates jobs, so this works like Keynes said. Plus it will be American jobs, not Chinese. So that helps with balance of trade. In fact, I’m pretty sure they ensure the steel is American made, so that helps, too.
And the money’s from your precious corporayshun, not the government, so you should be OK with that anyway. Well, except for the subsidies, but like I said, at least that’s going back to the taxpayerses.
You libertardians are so inconsistent. None of your arguments hold water when exposed to an actual, reasoned argument.
Prove that I’m wrong. You can’t.
Come on, you can parrot my arguments better than that.
I have no problem with eminant domain for projects like this, though in this case, there was abuse. Ratner was out-bid for the property, and many of the former owners are not getting a fair shake. THAT is an injustice.
But booting these idiotic morons out of their penny-a-dozen craphole is fine by me.
Of course it is you shithead. Die in a fire.
So you’d be fine if a big corporayshun worked with the mayor to boot you out of your penny-a-dozen craphole.
Apparently, much like Sean Penn, you need to be punched in the dick.
He was telling the press that Atlantic Yards meant “the community has been privatized.”
This just pisses me off. That this guy can utter those words while protesting something that takes on the exact opposite meaning. The neighborhood was private property before this happened, and now it’s been commandeered by government and well connected government developers, AKA Ratner.
The only reason Ratner got this land is because he convinced the government that he was doing their work. That’s how these takings occur in the first place.
And furthermore, it’s just that kind of thinking from “Reverend Billy” that gets us eminent domain in the first place, and he sees no irony in his own phiolosophy. It’s the idea that property rights are “democratized” that has created this rampant abuse. If the government started taking Starbucks joints in say, the interest of “community diversity”, this would undoubtedly satisfy Reverend Billy’s sense of neighborhood justice. And yet he would see no connection between that kind of taking and the Atlantic Yards taking he protests now.
How can people function with these kind of blinders on?
Hahahahaha! You libertardians hate when your arguments don’t werk in real life. Reverend Billy just shows what mistaken fools you are.
Exactly, it’s not the “evil corporations” running things, they are like the favorite pets of the state. Ratner and co. are simply doing what the state wants done.
This happened as a result of the Citizens United verdict. Corporayshuns bought the politicians – then this happens. So it is the corporayshuns pulling the strings.
OK, I’ll stop – being Chony for a day is getting to be fun…that’s scary…
Thanks for the pictures. The place is even more of a bunghole than I expected.
Can I drive the first bulldozer?
About as shitty as the little hovels you and your AGW friends will live in when you get your way.
March.12.2010 at 8:42 am
If it looks like shit to you, don’t go there. What if this was someone’s house instead of a bar? If people don’t want to move, there is nothing outside of criminal violence that will get them move. Haven’t you see Avatar?!! (Note: not a good movie)
I can’t wait until the rioting of alocohol fueled basketball fans after numerous losses (they are the Nets after all) ensures the area is a fucking vomit scented cesspool. If the bar was the last holdout, the damn Stadium pushers should have paid up or designed around it. If that is “impossible”, Tough shit. Scrap your plans and move on crooks. Their only other recourse would be criminal violence. Isn’t it convienient that their violence is conducted by the hand of the state, thus shielded from clear cut prosecution? Go to hell you fucking Technocrat.
Come on, do you really think we’d believe you’re competent enough to drive a bulldozer?
It’s like a zombietime post (except I don’t hate the participants here).
Typical Progressive
What are these people complaining about? They are only having their homes taken against their will.
It’s not like they are students suffering from tuition hikes or something.
Chad you are a tool.
The rest, what are you talking about?
Today was a sad day, the richest powerful schmucks in NY stood around in hard hats eating lobster, while the neighborhood they grazed is in shattered dispersed pieces.
The “public” street is “closed for private use.”
Ratner won’t return for another good ten years. That is how committed to this project he is.
Sad, just sad.
Xeones
I’m just not sure where a line can be drawn to make things better…
How about the government doesn’t steal stuff anymore, ever? If that means government can’t exist in a form that we’d be able to recognize, so be it.
“But on the other hand, imagine that this fatal principle has been introduced: Under the pretense of organization, regulation, protection, or encouragement, the law takes property from one person and gives it to another; the law takes the wealth of all and gives it to a few ? whether farmers, manufacturers, ship owners, artists, or comedians. Under these circumstances, then certainly every class will aspire to grasp the law, and logically so.
The excluded classes will furiously demand their right to vote ? and will overthrow society rather than not to obtain it. Even beggars and vagabonds will then prove to you that they also have an incontestable title to vote. They will say to you:
‘We cannot buy wine, tobacco, or salt without paying the tax. And a part of the tax that we pay is given by law ? in privileges and subsidies ? to men who are richer than we are. Others use the law to raise the prices of bread, meat, iron, or cloth. Thus, since everyone else uses the law for his own profit, we also would like to use the law for our own profit. We demand from the law the right to relief, which is the poor man’s plunder. To obtain this right, we also should be voters and legislators in order that we may organize Beggary on a grand scale for our own class, as you have organized Protection on a grand scale for your class. Now don’t tell us beggars that you will act for us, and then toss us, as Mr. Mimerel proposes, 600,000 francs to keep us quiet, like throwing us a bone to gnaw. We have other claims. And anyway, we wish to bargain for ourselves as other classes have bargained for themselves!’
And what can you say to answer that argument!”
-Fredric Bastiat, “The Law”
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rosemary's pixie
Toronto After Dark Film Festival
All posts tagged Toronto After Dark Film Festival
2017 in Review: Pixie’s Horror Picks
Published January 8, 2018 by vfdpixie
It seems like a blur, but another year has passed. Quite a few horror films made their mark in 2017; some were out of the gate hits while others were divisive. All of them created a buzz and garnered a bit more respect for our beloved horror genre. Here are my top picks from the past year.
Being a programmer for Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival, I have a soft spot for indie film. There were a few that I saw at Toronto After Dark and BITS that I must mention for their unique subject matter and execution despite low budgets.
Lowlife drew me into the multiple narratives leading up to an insane climax. The charm of this film is its heart and filmmaker Ryan Prows made sure there was plenty to go around. The well written left-field characters amidst the constantly botched criminal antics will make you root for them ten times over. It’s definitely a sleeper hit in my eyes. Read my review on Cinema Axis here.
A total left-fielder at TADFF for me was Beyond Skyline. This sequel came out of the shadow of its lukewarm and not well received predecessor Skyline to blast it out of the water. Where the first film followed people in a condo as the world falls under an alien attack, Beyond Skyline picks up from Skyline’s cliffhanger ending. The unlikely redemption lies with Frank Grillo’s action star swagger, a genuinely funny script, great aliens combined with practical and CGI effects, and some kick ass action from The Raid’s Iko Uwais.
Two more After Dark films that still resonate for me are Rabbit and The Endless. Following a twin’s quest to find her missing and thought dead sister leads her into a world of madness, science and an undeniable connection to her sibling. With breathtaking cinematography and scoring that will chill you to the bone, director Luke Shanahan’s Rabbit is visceral and confounding. I reviewed it here.
The Endless also takes you on a journey, one that brings two brothers back to a cult they escaped years ago. Each one recalls a different experience of the commune they once called home, and things become more intoxicating and confusing as realities and perceptions blur. Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson come back after their indie hits Resolution and Spring with a strong effort that left fans wanting more from this mind-bending film.
Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival
My programming rights give me access to incredible indie gems, the filmmakers and cast, and I’m privileged help put on a film festival that gives genre film fans a chance to see some great Canadian talent. This year was one of Blood in the Snow’s best, taking place at the gorgeous Royal Cinema, and all the titles left audiences talking well after the festival was over. You can find the 2017 lineup at bloodinthesnow.ca and check out the feature film award winners for BITS 6th year:
Darken, a dystopian fantasy with strong female leads was our closing night film and won for Best Poster, Best Cinematography, Best Music Score and the lovely Audrey Cummings took home the Best Director prize.
The winner for Best Feature film and Best Screenplay was Buckout Road directed by Matthew Currie Holmes. Based on a notoriously haunted road in New York state, this film was a fun blend of urban legends with great star power including Canadian acting vets Colm Feore, Henry Czerny and Hollywood mainstay Danny Glover.
Fake Blood, a documentary style feature follows two filmmakers who want to explore the effects of violence in film on audiences, eventually coming face to face with some real danger when they flirt with the criminal element. Rob Grant and Mike Kovacs took home the award for Best Editing. It’s a truly disturbing film that kept the audience wondering what was real long after the screening.
Best Actor went to Jeff Sinasac, a long-time actor in the GTA who revealed more of his talents by not only starring in but also directing his film Red Spring, a tense post-apocalyptic vampire survivalist film; while the acclaimed Suzanne Clément took home the Best Actress for The Child Remains, a chilling tale directed by Michael Melski based on the horrific true story of the Butterbox Babies.
Best Special FX went to Kill Order (Meza) and followed a young man who must deal with his superhuman powers, a sinister plot and plenty of danger. A martial arts spectacle filmed right here in Toronto, director James Mark created a real crowd pleaser with tons of stunts and action.
Best Acting Ensemble went to Ryan M. Andrews’ The Art of Obsession. This film, starring our Vanguard winner Ry Barrett, went deep into the mind of a writer and his process; haunted by his muse and his work. It’s a departure from the usual psychological horror and one that will resonate with those who are passionate about what they create.
Pleasant Surprises, The Grotesque, and a Timely Game Changer
There were two films that surprised me by how much I liked them. The first was Rue Morgue’s presentation of The Evil Within. Directed by the late Andrew Getty, a member of one of the richest families in America, the film took a long time to finish due to his untimely death. Frederick Koehler stars as Dennis, a mentally challenged young man who is gifted a mirror he’s seen in his nightmares. It holds a powerful evil and manifests itself as sinister and smarter reflection of himself, taunting Dennis and putting those around him in danger. Koehler outdoes himself playing the two roles, and the mixture of nightmare scenes and long-time horror actor Michael Berryman as the mirror’s evil demon makes this film a one of a kind gem. Thanks to the determination of those involved with the production despite the loss of the director, the film finally got it’s release last year. Rue Morgue issue #177 delves into the trials and tribulations of the film’s journey and is well worth the read.
The second film that surprised me was Darren Aronofsky’s’ mother! It screened at TIFF 2017 and I was prepared to find something to dislike about it since it was so polarizing and a lot of my film critic cronies hated it. While I respect their opinions, I ended up loving it and sat through it another time at home, only to love it even more (and not because Mr. Stephen McHattie is in it…well ok, there’s that, but it’s now one of my favorite films to date). Once again, my full review can be found here.
My only other TIFF 2017 selection that made the list was The Crescent. Hailing from the east coast, this hypnotic psychological thriller about a young mother coming to terms with her grief and the safety of her son in a strange town, in my eyes, didn’t get enough love. The use of art and the scoring by the film’s director Seth A. Smith created a brilliantly eerie atmosphere highlighting isolation and tension. Read my review here.
Shudder Canada has continually impressed me with the unique content they offer horror fans who want to escape the mainstream. One of their films that had a limited screening in Toronto was Kuso. After an earthquake befuddles L.A., several characters and their stories intersect as they try to navigate through their afflicted city. There are a ton of vile moments, along with scathing social commentary and bleak humor. It’s a trying yet exhilarating film filled with music, art and the grotesque by first time director Flying Lotus aka Steven Ellison, better know for his musical and D.J. talents. Be forewarned that it’s not the usual gore and not for the squeamish, and it is most likely not for everyone, but a must-see anyway. Read my full review here.
My favourite film of 2017 is Get Out for so many reasons. I’m going off on a tangent for a moment. In my research for pieces that will be included in an upcoming book on racism in American film, I learned African-Americans were underestimated for their love of westerns. When producers and movie house owners learned that African-Americans did indeed enjoy stories of life on the open range (in fact there is a long history of African-Americans working as cowboys), saving a damsel in distress and immortalizing cowboy action in song, they capitalized on that desire and made Black westerns. While short-lived (spanning from the 1920s-40s), it showed that demand ruled and the creators of media listened. Fast forward to modern-day, where actor and comedian Jordan Peele wrote and directed his first horror film starring a Black actor about the Black experience. It was clever, scathing, and always on point. And the masses, both Black and white (for the most part) loved it. Once again, African-Americans proved that they loved and wanted content in genre films. Instead of leaving it up to the powers that be, Peele took it into his own hands and created that content, opening doors for more people of colour to join in the wave of genre filmmakers. We owe so much to Peele and Get Out, and while there is still so much room for improvement and inclusivity within the film industry, I honestly hope the momentum continues. Read my thoughts on this game changing film here.
For 2018, I hope horror continues to create conversations and include fans of all genders and colours. All the best to you in this shiny new year!
Posted in: General Comments and Updates
Tagged: 2017, Aaron Moorhead, African-Americans in horror, Andrew Getty, Audrey Cummings, Beyond Skyline, BITS 2017, Blood in the Snow Film Festival, Blood in the Snow Vanguard Award, Buckout Road, Butterbox Babies, Colm Feore, Danny Glover, Darken, Darren Aronofsky, Fake Blood, Flying Lotus, Frank Grillo, Frederick Koehler, Get Out, Henry Czerny, Iko Uwais, indepedent film, independent horror, James Mark, Jeff Sinasac, Jordan Peele, Justin Benson, Kill Order, Kuso, Lowlife, Luke Shanahan, Matthew Currie Holmes, Michael Berryman, Michael Melski, Mike Kovacs, Mother!, Rabbit, Red Spring, Resolution, Rob Grant, Royal Cinema, Rue Morgue Magazine, Ry Barrett, Ryan M. Andrews, Ryan Prows, Seth A. Smith, Shudder Canada, Shudder Exclusive, Skyline, social commentary, Spring, Stephen McHattie, Steven Ellison, Suzanne Clement, TADFF, TADFF 2017, The Art of Obsession, The Crescent, The Endless, The Evil Within, The Raid, TIFF 2017, Toronto, Toronto After Dark Film Festival
Pixie’s Year 5!
Published October 17, 2017 by vfdpixie
See what I did there? Five skulls for five years? Eh?… Eh? No?….
It’s year 5 for Rosemary’s Pixie! This year has been really different with fewer posts since I’ve been re-assessing my career choices, one of which involves seriously considering making outfits for my cats and taking them on the road in a crazy cat lady revue.
Programmer-wise, I had a great first year with BITS, and gotten to know my fellow BITS crew really well. We promoted the festival at Shock Stock and Niagara Falls Comic Con, and had a great time hanging out with vendors, guests like Felissa Rose from Sleepaway Camp who is a gem of a person, The Monsters of Schlock who are seriously the coolest guys, and Goblin’s Maurizio Guarini who is very sweet and apparently needs no sleep.
The Toronto horror community suffered a big blow when Suspect Video closed down early this year. This rental store was not only a place where you could find current films but the rarest of the rare cult movies and superb conversation with the knowledgeable staff. Founder Luis Ceriz and his staff were always ready to suggest or help with titles, books and other obscure info needed for general fun facts or important research. I owe a lot my blog content to them and the amazing films they had available. We were all heartbroken, and made our pilgrimage on the final day the shop was open. I’m happy to say that Luis is still operating Suspect as an online shop and if you’re in the Toronto or GTA area, follow the shop on Facebook as there are weekly posts of new films for purchase. He is also at the helm of Horror-Rama, Toronto’s only horror convention with his co-founder director/writer/musician Chris Alexander. Tickets are on sale now for the November 4-5th event and I can’t wait.
Some of you have noticed that I stopped doing recaps for Face Off this year. I was quite frankly bored of the show. I loved judges Neville Page, Ve Neill and Glenn Hetrick and host McKenzie Westmore, but I felt the show was mining people who have already been contestants and there is a serious lack of diversity. There have only been a handful of POC on the show, one POC winner, and after 11 seasons it seems like they’re perhaps running out of ideas. I’ll try tuning in at a later point, but I know there are a large number of POC’s out there creating wonderful makeups that would definitely hold up on the show.
The Rue Morgue library recently added a new volume to the collection, Women with Guts, a fantastic set of essays about famed women in horror written by women horror and genre writers. I attended the book launch and met the book’s author Alison Lang, as well as contributors Liisa Ladouceur, Monika S. Kuebler, executive editor to Rue Morgue Andrea Subissati, and Alexandra West. I was so thrilled that my friend and founder of Graveyard Shift Sisters Ashlee Blackwell was also a contributor. These women are stellar writers and wonderful people. You can get your own copy here. I also celebrated a personal milestone by contributing to Rue Morgue Magazine’s 20th anniversary edition. I was honoured to write a synopsis of Shock Values: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood and Invented Modern Horror for the 25 Non-Fiction Genre Film Books That Every Horror Fan Should Own feature. Andrea Subissati really pulled out all the stops for this gorgeous issue and the articles are fantastic. Pick up a copy here.
More fantastic people I met this year were: Monika Estrella Negra, founder of Audre’s Revenge Film Collective where her tireless efforts to create content and promote QTIPOC filmmakers should be noted and shared; Jamie Broadnax, founder of Black Girl Nerds and Lauren Warren, one of the hosts of Nerds of Prey and tweeter extraordinaire at the Black Girl Nerd TIFF brunch. It was wonderful to meet so many fellow writers and content creators just as passionate about film as I am.
I’ve recently ventured into the podcast world and was a guest on The Matinee a couple of times. Ryan McNeil, a blogger, reviewer and podcast host had me on to discuss a couple of films with him. You can check them out (episodes 172and 176) here. I had a great time, and I’ll be popping up on podcasts here and there, so stay tuned.
I’m also gearing up for festival season on the horror calendar. Toronto After Dark Film Festival is up with some great films and then Blood in the Snow from November 23-26th (of course). And I’ll be at those with the best horror boyfriend in the world (and my biggest cheerleader) on my arm.
As always, I want to give a shout out to my friends Laina Dawes, Ashlee Blackwell, and Courtney Small (www.cinemaaxis.com) who support my writing, and all of you readers who visit my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my horror heart!
Tagged: Alexandra West, Andrea Subissati, anniversary, Ashlee Blackwell, Audre's Revenge Film Collective, Black Girl Nerds, Blood in the Snow Film Festival, Chris Alexander, Cinema Axis, Courtney Small, Face Off, Felissa Rose, Graveyard Shift Sisters, Horror-Rama Toronto, Jamie Broadnax, Laina Dawes, Lauren Warren, Liisa Ladoceur, Luis Ceriz, Maurizio Guarini, Monica S. Kuebler, Monika Estrella Negra, Nerds of Prey, Niagara Falls Comic Con, podcast, Rue Morgue Library, Rue Morgue Magazine, Ryan McNeil, Shock Stock, Suspect Video, The Matinee Podcast, The Monsters of Schlock, Toronto After Dark Film Festival, Women With Guts
Pixie’s 2017 Halloween Watch List
Published October 8, 2017 by vfdpixie
Halloween is a couple weeks away, and of course horror aficionados are slavering for the one day where the rest of the world acknowledges our love for the genre. Although there are some of us who choose to make Halloween an everyday occurence, I can always find an excuse to curate a Halloween watch list for the countdown to what I think is a better holiday than Christmas (just sayin…)
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989): I watch this much hated chapter of Jason’s illustrious career for the fight scene. Jason’s head severing punch is worth sitting through the film for me.
Mad Monster Party (1967): One of my top 5 horror films. Dr. Baron von Frankenstein is retiring and throws a big party to find his replacement. There’s also a secret that everyone wants to get their hands on, and of course mayhem ensues. This Rankin/Bass production was a departure from their usual cute and fuzzy fare, but there is so much charm! Starring Boris Karloff as the Baron and Phyllis Diller as “The Monster’s Mate”, you can’t beat it for a good time. It’s clever and there are a few musical numbers that the kid in everyone will enjoy. I even have my own Yetch and Baron Boris von Frankenstein sitting on my shelf and I LOVE THEM.
Hellraiser (1987): Ah, the real king of pain coming from the mind of horror master Clive Barker. Doug Bradley as Pinhead is iconic, relentless and badass. Who else can rock a grid of pins in his skull, a midriff baring leather coat and a legion of nasty looking cronies? And if you’re dumb enough to mess with the puzzle box, well I can’t help you.
A Nightmare on Elm St. (1984): A classic Halloween flick. Even though I own the box set, I still love finding any of the Elm St. sequels on TV. Wes Craven’s nasty child murderer immortalized by Robert Englund has haunted many a dream and is possibly the best horror villain ever created.
The Evil Dead (1981): Directed by the beloved Sam Raimi and starring the one and only Bruce Campbell, this low-budget creeper of a doomed spring break getaway is perfect for Halloween after the streets have emptied itself of costumed kiddies, and the possessed Cheryl popping out of the cellar freaks me out every time.
Dr. Giggles (1992): The great Larry Drake passed away last year, and strangely enough, horror boyfriend and I had just watched Dr. Giggles, directed by acclaimed TV veteran Manny Coto, a few days before his death. This classic teen horror about a crazed madman obsessed with ripping out hearts is elevated by his insane performance. That giggle is really something, and the inventive deaths will get your Halloween howls going.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981): Another film, this time made for TV, that featured this Emmy award-winning actor. It tells the story of a mentally challenged man named Bubba mistakenly accused of killing a young girl who befriends him. He is hunted down by three townsmen and killed. When there is a report that the little girl is fine and Bubba actually saved her life, the guilty men are cleared of any charges in Bubba’s murder, leaving them as perfect candidates for a vengeful spirit. Drake’s performance is brief but brilliant, and the comeuppance for the guilty parties is satisfying.
Tales of Halloween (2015): A great new addition to the horror anthology genre. Screening at Toronto After Dark last year, this collection brings you directors like Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers and The Descent) and Lucky McKee (The Woman and May) who give us some inventive horror connected by the festivities of our special night. You’re sure to find at least one story here to get you in the Halloween mood.
For some Canadiana, I recommend Berkshire County, Bite, and Bed of the Dead.
Berkshire County or Tormented (2014): Audrey Cummings, a well-known director here in Toronto, brought us this tense Halloween romp where a disgraced teen is forced to protect the kids she is babysitting from some brutal home invaders. It premiered at the 2014 Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival and was a definite crowd-pleaser. Take note of the fantastic masks made by the fine folk at The Butcher Shop FX studio.
Bite (2015): Another Blood in the Snow favourite that screened in 2015, known for its true gross out gore. You’ll think twice about taking a dip in a secluded lagoon and perhaps wonder what exactly that smell is coming from your reclusive neighbour’s apartment.
Bed of the Dead (2016): Watch it if you want a cozy Halloween night in. Snuggle down into the covers and watch this Toronto After Dark 2016 selection where a haunted bed becomes judge and jury for those who have the bad luck of taking a nap, or whatever, on it. It’s blood-drenched with a deeper message, and just one of the standout horrors (along with Bite) that the Black Fawn crew are so well-known for.
And there you have it. A collection of fun horror films that will whet the appetite of all you hungry horror fans out there!
Best wishes for a safe and ghoulish Halloween!
Tagged: A Nightmare on Elm St., Audrey Cummings, Bed of the Dead, Berkshire County, Bite, Blood in the Snow Film Festival, Bruce Campbell, Canadian horror, Clive Barker, Dark Night of the Scarecrow, Doug Bradley, Dr. Giggles, favourite Halloween movies, Freddy Krueger, Friday the 13th, Friday the 13th Part VIII, Halloween, Halloween 2017, Halloween movies, Hellraiser, Jason Voorhees, Larry Drake, Lucky McKee, Mad Monster Party, Manny Coto, Neil Marshall, Pinhead, Rankin and Bass, Robert Englund, Sam Raimi, Tales of Halloween, The Butcher Shop, The Evil Dead, Toronto After Dark Film Festival, Wes Craven
Pixie’s Year in Review: Turning 4 with Ghouls, Growth and Good Times!
Looks like it’s that time of year again! With Halloween just around the corner, and since I’ll be a busy bee the next week and a half, I’m posting an early shout-out for a couple of anniversaries I’ll be celebrating this year.
Rosemary’s Pixie turns 4 this October 17th. I’ve toughed it out for another year, growing as both a writer and film reviewer. There were fewer reviews on the blog this time around due to some other writing projects I’ve been up to, as well as my contributions to Cinema Axis, that you can check out here. Browse the site for a ton of other reviews on almost every film genre out there by the always prolific founder, Courtney Small.
There have been some really big highlights of the past year as well:
Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival a.k.a. BITS…and me!
One of the biggest changes for me is that I can now call myself a Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival programmer. Who knew?!!! I had to take a moment when Kelly Michael Stewart, the festival director offered me the position. I was surprised but SO stoked and honoured because I really love the BITS fest. It’s a great way to showcase fantastic talent and Canadian genre film, meet filmmakers, cast and crew, and it’s one of the few festivals out there that focuses on the business side of things as well. I feel so lucky to be a part of the BITS team. They’re a group of great people who are just as passionate about film as I am. All the screenings will be at Cineplex Yonge/Dundas Cinemas, which is a bigger venue this year. This Saturday October 15th at noon, we’ll be announcing the BITS lineup and schedule at Horror-Rama in Toronto. Come on out and say hi, enjoy all the fun at Horror-Rama, and get your passes for what’s going to be a great festival this year.
I also got a chance to interview Michael Dickson, a great Canadian actor who starred in one of the fan favourites at BITS 2014, Black Mountain Side. He was a great interview, and the last time he was in Toronto, we caught up and talked about the film business, The West Coast and his brain-freeze cute dog.
Meeting Lizzie
I wrote an article on Adelaide Norris, a character in the 80’s indie feminist sci-fi classic, Born In Flames, for the website http://www.graveyardshiftsisters.com (run by my girl Ashlee Blackwell) last year. Little did I know that the director herself, Lizzie Borden, would find that article, and that she would be coming to Toronto for a free screening of the restored film at TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre this past July. She contacted me out of the blue and it took me a minute to realize it was THE director of a film that moved me so much. Several emails and a few weeks later, I was sitting at an intimate dinner with Lizzie, myself and 3 other women who have supported or screened her film in the past, courtesy of TIFF and Chris Kennedy, programmer for The Free Screen. Lizzie talked about her experiences in the film industry, and wanted to know more about about us, the people who felt so strongly about her film. It was a night that I will always remember because Lizzie Borden is one of the warmest, loveliest people in the industry that I have ever met. (My apologies for no photos. We were so engrossed in conversation that not one person pulled out their phone for a picture. How old school is that?)
I’m a Published Author!
Our book signing display at Indigo Books on July 15, 2016
Rachel and I ready to sign!
Women in Horror Annual (WHA, 2016)
The first Women in Horror Annual came out in February, including fiction and non-fiction works from women horror writers. I was lucky to be a part of this group of great writers and I had a book signing in July with one of the editors, Rachel Katz. It was a great night, with friends, family and fellow horror lovers coming out to support the book. There will be another signing coming soon at the end of the month to celebrate Halloween, so stay tuned for details. Can’t make the signing? Then pick up a copy here! I also contributed to The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films. That came out a few months ago, and I’m proud to say that I’m a part of an academic tome on horror.
The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films (Rowman and Littlefield, 2016)
Last but definitely not least, is the Toronto After Dark Film Festival that starts today! My top picks are : Under the Shadow, Train to Busan, As The Gods Will, Creepy, Antibirth, The Stakelander and The Void. You can read about all of the films here. I’m as excited as ever, but more so because I’m celebrating the second anniversary I mentioned earlier. It will be about 2 years since I met the love of my life at After Dark. I admit I had my eye on him for a few years (yes, years. I’m a chicken when it comes to approaching men), so it took a lot of courage to talk to him. Luckily, he was as sweet as pie (and still is!). We’re both diehard fans of Toronto After Dark, so after some time as acquaintances, then friends, we finally realized it was a match made in horror. Even though we’re both older, slow and steady does win the race!
Well, that’s my year in review. As always, I thank you, dear reader, for checking in with me as I write about films, books, and TV that I love. It’s been a great journey filled with many surprises, and one that I plan to continue with you because it’s truly been a good time!
Tagged: Adelaide Norris, Ashlee Blackwell, BITS Fest, Blood in the Snow Film Festival, books, Born In Flames, Canadian film, Canadian horror, Cinema Axis, Courtney Small, Graveyard Shift Sisters, Halloween, horror film festival, Horror-Rama Toronto, Kelly Michael Stewart, Lizzie Borden, Michael Dickson, The Encylopedia of Japanese Horror Films, The Free Screen, TIFF, Toronto After Dark Film Festival, Women in Horror Annual
Pixie’s New View February 20, 2019
2017 in Review: Pixie’s Horror Picks January 8, 2018
Pixie’s Year 5! October 17, 2017
Pixie’s 2017 Halloween Watch List October 8, 2017
IT Breaks the Remake Curse September 12, 2017
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What do strategy vs tactics mean in tabletop RPG combat? [closed]
What's the difference between "strategy" and "tactics" in the context of tabletop roleplaying game combat? I have some idea of how these terms differ in English and I've read the SE tag descriptions for strategy and tactics, but I'm not sure where to drawn the line between them. I don't feel like I can confidently use the terms correctly, because I often see them used in subtly different ways that I can't distinguish in the roleplaying context.
This question is meant to be system-agnostic, but for purposes of examples most of my experience is in games like Dungeons & Dragons, Savage Worlds, and Fate.
system-agnostic terminology tactics strategy
doppelgreener♦
BloodcinderBloodcinder
closed as primarily opinion-based by Oblivious Sage, Novak, Thomas Jacobs, Pyrotechnical, mxyzplk Aug 24 '17 at 18:33
\$\begingroup\$ I have voted to close this question as primarily opinion-based. There isn't a clear-cut division between strategy and tactics in the real world, much less in RPGs. \$\endgroup\$ – Oblivious Sage Aug 24 '17 at 14:55
\$\begingroup\$ @ObliviousSage Military forces seem to have a pretty good idea of the difference between strategy and tactics. And I'm pretty sure GURPS 3e had different Strategy and Tactics skills, making it so sometimes even RPGs make a mechanical distinction. \$\endgroup\$ – Hey I Can Chan Aug 24 '17 at 16:24
\$\begingroup\$ @ObliviousSage Are you expecting the question to explain at what point strategy and tactics differ when the question is What's the difference between strategy and tactics? Further, rather than closing the question, why not downvote those answers you find not useful? \$\endgroup\$ – Hey I Can Chan Aug 24 '17 at 17:21
\$\begingroup\$ I agree this can't be answered except very hypothetically, and it lacks any real problem to solve. There's no defined answer (especially across systems!), so if I propose an encounter = tactical, an adventure = operational, and a campaign = strategic - so what? What does that help? \$\endgroup\$ – mxyzplk Aug 24 '17 at 18:34
\$\begingroup\$ Since I've seen many answers on SE that depended on a differentiation between the two terms and many blog posts in the community as well, I thought there would be a more conventional understanding or consensus. If that is not the case, my apologies for the off-topic question. But it seems like something that the gaming community knows how to differentiate, meaning that the community seems to have a decent facto correct answer. I would ask how to improve the question to be on-topic, if possible. \$\endgroup\$ – Bloodcinder Aug 24 '17 at 19:22
According to the US DoD
Strategy - A prudent idea or set of ideas for employing the instruments of national power in a synchronized and integrated fashion to achieve theater, national, and/or multinational objectives.
Strategic level of warfare — The level of warfare at which a nation, often as a member of a group of nations, determines national or multinational (alliance or coalition) strategic security objectives and guidance, then develops and uses national resources to achieve those objectives.
Tactics - The employment and ordered arrangement of forces in relation to each other.
Tactical level of warfare — The level of warfare at which battles and engagements are planned and executed to achieve military objectives assigned to tactical units or task forces.
Operation — 1. A sequence of tactical actions with a common purpose or unifying theme. (JP 1) 2. A military action or the carrying out of a strategic, operational, tactical, service, training, or administrative military mission. (JP 3-0).
Operational level of warfare — The level of warfare at which campaigns and major operations are planned, conducted, and sustained to achieve strategic objectives within theaters or other operational areas.
To put this within the context of an easily referencable D&D "game", I'll talk about the Order of the Stick webcomic.
Roy, the main character, has two strategies. The first is to take down Xykon. The second, later acquired, is to stop the current machinations surrounding the Gates, which contain a god-slaying abomination before the Gods solve the problem themselves, by destroying the planet entirely.
Roy's first Operation, in comic, towards those ends, was when he gathered the Order of the Stick and assaulted Durakan's Tower to fight Xykon head-on.
Later, during a completely different Operation, Roy is dueling Xykon, when Xykon, as a tactic to resolve the duel, offers Roy a new Strategic concern: That Roy needs to first attain additional levels before actually having a legitimate fight with Xykon. The prudence of this strategic advice is proven when the Operation ends(for Roy) with his death.
And while Roy's team often disagree on choice of Operations(Celia and Haley about what towns to search, with Haley failing to share Operational Intelligence she has), or more notably, Tactics(Belkar kills more people than Roy would allow), not even Belkar defies Roy's overarching Strategic goals. This is notable because in a 0-pvp ttrpg, that's what you want. Players, and characters who all agree on or concede to the Team's over-arching Strategic goals. With the OotS comic, that's the same thing, practically as Roy's Strategic goals.
godskookgodskook
Both of these words are relative. A strategy is a long-term plan how to achieve a goal, while tactics are the steps to make that strategy happen.
One example might be rather shortsighted: meeting a group of enemies, the strategy might be to kill the enemy mage first. Tactics used might be a teleporting, invisible rogue backstabbing the enemy mage.
Another example might be overthrowing an oppressive regime. Strategy might be to get the people to revolt, tactics might be using persuasion to get important people on your side first.
Generally speaking, Strategy is how players solve an adventure or campaign, while tactics relates to how they solve a specific encounter in that adventure or campaign.
The point is, the words aren't in-game words. They are used as in normal English. To be honest I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "impacts players and Gamemasters". As long as both are on the same page about the normal English meaning, all is fine. If they are not, there will be misunderstandings, the same as with every other English word.
nvoigtnvoigt
One uses tactics to win a battle. One uses strategy to win a war.
Tactics is how to overcome a specific situation, limited in time and space. For example, a combat or how to infiltrate the Duke's castle to steal his treasure. In terms of character development, tactics refer to how you use what you get to overcome a specific encounter.
Strategy is how to overcome a general situation, generally covering months or years. For example, how to win a war of succession or how to become the most daring thief in Middleland. In term of character development, strategy is how you build your character so that in X levels, they will be able to achieve their life-long dream.
SardathrionSardathrion
Strategy is long-term planning. It's deciding what you want your character build to be. It's adapting that build to events that happen in the gameworld. It's making the choice between buying one piece of equipment or another.
Tactics is making small-scale moves informed by that long-term planning. You have little mana left so you pick between blasting a wall in and hoping to knock out monsters on the other side OR use your new clairvoyancy spell to see what lies on the other side for your companions to fight. Because you've taken the time to improve your people skills and confidence, you make the most of your difficult situation and effectively persuade the gang leader you've been forced to work for to lend your party some enforcers to help ambush the convoy you need to raid to pay off your debt. Depending on whether you bought the lockpicks or the sword, you can fight your way past the guards at the front door or another PC can lure the guards away giving you time to pick the lock.
Strategies are high-level decisions and plans. Tactics are low-level choices and procedures .
PrometheanVigilPrometheanVigil
Strategy typically refers to a more big-picture sort of thing. Tactics would be within the scope of an individual combat.
For example, if a group of PC's were to try to assault a fortress, sending in a Trojan horse filled with soldiers would be a strategy. How those soldiers emerge, and subsequently combat the enemies inside the castle, would be tactics.
In an RPG, strategy tends to be mostly RP. It is influenced, of course, by mechanics, when making decisions of what would work or not, but tends to be done through the PC's talking to each other and laying plans.
Tactics would be the "crunchy" side. How many squares will a blast hit, or which enemies to attack first, or what weapon should I use against this creature? Those sorts of concerns.
TVannTVann
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Over 2 Million Downloads Served and Counting
"The last? What do you mean? There'll be others after me... right?"
War has raged between the nations of Arilenn for time immemorial - the Greenlands against the Sea of Flames, the North against the Wasteland. You are Arianna Salucci, the leader of the Isles of Water, queen of the largest fleet in the world and hirable to whomever makes the highest bid. Though life in Arilenn may be far from easy, it is a profitable life if you know how to play the game right.
But the rules are being redefined as agents of chaos and order enter the stage and manipulate the game you thought you knew so well. Kings are being replaced by dictators, and magic by machines. Caught in the middle of a war that may be the largest that history has ever witnessed, you must gather your allies and weather the storm or disappear from the world forever.
Your actions define your fate. Your decisions decide whether your legacy will be washed away with the tide or endure as...
THE LAST PIRATE QUEEN is a traditionally styled RPG with a focus on characters and story while retaining a sense of immersive and interesting gameplay. With beautiful maps based on Celianna's tileset, custom artwork, and a strong sense of unifying design, this game hopes to please both visually and compositionally.
Moving away from the JRPG in Gameplay
flarify
Hello and welcome to The Last Pirate Queen's very first blog entry. Today I bring you a short discussion on the state of gameplay - especially combat - in The Last Pirate Queen.
I'll be the first to admit that the combat in TLPQ is somewhat uninspired - it moves very little from default class skills and the skills that aren't part of the default set are usually just rehashes of existing ones with a different skin. Spells do the same damage regardless of their element, and few enemies have elemental strengths and weaknesses. Its only saving grace is the little-used combo system that isn't really introduced in game, and thus is only stumbled upon with luck.
Gameplay is important, though. Even if battles aren't a prime focus, if they're used even a little bit its best to make it interesting. There's many, many ways to do this, from crafting your own skills and effects to utilizing scripts to achieve effects outside of the bounds of the engine.
That's why in the upcoming re-release of Chapter 1 along with the release of Chapter 2 I've changed the flow and feel of combat. I'll break this list down further down the post, but just for the sake of being short, I've...
Fleshed out skills and made them unique and build off of each other
Replaced skill learning by level with a skill tree
Added randomly built troops while retaining on-map enemies
Added the ability to autobattle
Got rid of the somewhat buggy PCTB system
Skills in general suffered from Final Fantasy syndrome, having the same feel and formula that is used by every FF knockoff - Fire does X fire damage, Ice does X ice damage, etc. etc. To that end I gave skills unique flair to differentiate and give them different use in different situations. For example, Quick Shot has a high bonus to attack rate so most of the time the character casting it will attack first, allowing you to kill low-life enemies or finish them off quickly. Fire has a high element of randomness for it with a large damage range and a higher chance to critical strike. Certain healing spells will heal more as the number of states on a target increase. This also ties into the new skill tree system, allowing you to choose which skills may complement your play style the best.
The skill tree is probably one of the bigger undertakings I've taken on during this project, as it isn't using any of the commonly-used scripts for skill learning and has a custom look to fit with the graphical style of the game. You can see a video of it in action here:
I really wanted to have a way to randomly choose troops when you encountered an enemy, so it wasn't so "oh, 2 bats... oh, another 2 bats... oh, look, 2 bats and a hornet, how interesting!" It goes along with my desire for a bit more strategy to be used in battle, even with the little filler battles you'll be fighting throughout the dungeon. But, for those people who don't like that or having to deal with battles too much in general, there's a new feature for you with...
The ability to autobattle is a feature that I adored in Earthbound and other games. Obviously the AI has improved much since the SNES days, allowing more than just auto attack and heal when health goes critical, but I wanted to have the option there. Since I have made this a story-based game I do want the ability for people who are playing mostly for the story to have a way to not have to worry about battles too much. Also, sometimes you just don't feel like killing something for the tenth time or you don't want to mess with a boss that you've died to multiple times.
The PCTB system, as much as I loved the flow of it and the strategic part of it, had a few bugs - that may or may not have been my fault - that would cause crashes when the battle would end with the actors being uncontrollable in some way (such as confuse, stun, etc.) and sometimes for no reason at all. It was non-reproducible and frustrating when I would get reports and could do nothing to help.
I hope that you've found this in some way interesting, and I hope to post more updates in the next few weeks to let people know how it's going! If you have any questions/comments feel free to leave a comment or send me a message - I don't bite!
1 of 5 episodes complete
Developer flarify
Engine RPG Maker VX Ace
Date Updated 01/12/2019 01:08 AM
Target Completion Date 06/30/2014
Ocedic
Ocedic View games View playlists Close
If you've been hungering for a solid RPG, TLPQ comes with my recommendation. It has well written dialogue, compelling characters, interesting dungeon design and kept my interest until the end of the demo.
Roy View games View playlists Close
In the desert area where the professor wants help finding artifacts...He always says heres a bonus...but unless I missed it, you never see what the bonus is. Also if you go to the far upper left you can walk off into the brown water area.
flarify View games View playlists Close
author=Roy
The bonus is extra gold (you get 250 for 4+ artifacts, and 150 for 3). I didn't know about that passability issue, though - I'll go take care of it. Thanks for the report, and hope you're enjoying the game, despite those bugs!
author=Ocedic
Thanks for the kind review, Ocedic!
The Castle Inventer (?)...when given the chance to continue in English or some other language...you have to pick Italian in order to continue in English.
I have gone tto the left through the gate and up to the roof and both ways lead to the dungeon, but I dont see from that point what to do other than try to find a key. I have looked everywhere I can think of although its possible I missed something....so I am stuck for the moment.
The Save Point v2 is a delicate and still unbalanced object. They're still working out the bugs with it.
You'll want to check the scattered papers next to the desk in his bedroom. I'll see if I can find a way to make that a bit more obvious.
Linkis
Don't hate me cause I'm Cute :)
Linkis View games View playlists Close
OK, here's my problem.....
I downloaded the game and started playing.
Was not able to make myself shut it down till 3am this morning.
Either cancel the game...
OR FINISH IT REALLY REALLY FAST SO I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT MONTHS BETWEEN EPISODES :)
This is a game you can not simply stop playing.
You want to keep going to see what happens next.
Please hurry with the next episode, but also make it as good as this one :)
I'm so glad you liked it a lot Linkis! Your comment made me super super happy. Chapter 2 has unfortunately been delayed somewhat due to limited time and energy, but I'm hoping to get a lot of progress done in the next few weeks! I won't say it'll get released this year, but I'm holding out to get a solid bug-free release of the updated Chapter 1 (final version) and Chapter 2 together in one package by the end of January. So you'll have to wait a bit, but hopefully not toooo long.
Aurora_Paradox
Aurora_Paradox View games View playlists Close
First off, this game should be getting much more attention than it is. I only came across it because I was browsing through the full game list. You certainly have a knack for story telling.
I just wanted to point out two bugs. First, all journal entries are viewable from the beginning of the game. Second, you can walk through the scarecrow in The Witch's garden.
EDIT: I just wanted to add that I subscribed after playing the demo for about ten minutes.
wybella
wybella View games View playlists Close
my game keeps crashing, i am in the desert -started to read the sign - game crashed- started again- this time when I went to kill a scorpion - it did it again - help please
nhubi
Liberté, égalité, fraternité
nhubi View games View playlists Close
I hope this is still a WIP, as it would be a shame to see it uncompleted.
shayoko
We do not condone harassing other members by PM.
shayoko View games View playlists Close
Ver 1.2
Random thoughts includes spoilers
The start was interesting
choices! :D
i may hate this story if it ends with the P-queens crew killing her
after leaving the castle/prison Arianna keeps referring to "We" like someones with her. but you only battle with her.
Cyril does not fight sadly unless the game somehow glitched
You can skip going to green harbor and go west to Sernas pass. thus missing potential important content
the fish mini game was amusing :3 would be better if there was a special fish you could catch to be rewarded with a special item
i bet the queen forgot that she let the leader of the pirates go XD
if you go back to the queen. shouldn't you be able to question her about the bag?
the dialog between you and the spirits at sernas does not change. where is this orb? why cant we cross the river? is this the end of the demo?
This was interesting. its a shame we have not got a update in so long.
also the skill tree is not apparent in this and the battles do not have those sexy sprites but instead normal ones. and the battle is not side to side but horizontal with you on the bottom looking up. heck you don't even have access to some of those locations.(unless im failing to find something to continue)
so the pictures are currently false advertisement.
mixed feelings about its worth mostly because of it not being completed. and if it ever will.
bicfarmer
bicfarmer View games View playlists Close
Short RPG. 2 towns and about 5 dungeons. Game itself has very little to do with piracy or pirate themed gameplay, aside from the main character being a pirate. Dungeon maps are large and sprawling, but there's not much to do in them aside from getting treasure chests. But there are a few minigames, notably the fishing minigame. Though I have no idea what to do with the fish. This game is quite easy to get thru, I only died once to the boss at the end because I didnt heal as much, and I got bamboozled when Revive items didnt work in this game, so yeah. There appears to be 2 endings. Pretty straightforward RPG.
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Home / History / Australian History / Engineer to Marvellous Melbourne: The Life and Times of William Thwaites
Engineer to Marvellous Melbourne: The Life and Times of William Thwaites
Engineer to Marvellous Melbourne: The Life and Times of William Thwaites quantity
Robert La Nauze
SKU: 248 Categories: Australian History, Biography
William Thwaites engineered the Melbourne sewerage system with meticulous and untiring attention. He overcame technical challenges with such efficiency and foresight that the scheme served Melburnians unchanged for the next 60 years. During its construction, he responded to unremitting and unfounded criticism. Tragically, Thwaites died in 1907 while nearing the completion of this great colonial project and his remarkable achievements have been largely forgotten.
From artisanal London to pioneering Melbourne, the book charts his family’s path to religious dissent and civic action that engendered in Thwaites a strong sense of public service. In the 1880s, Thwaites stood apart from the land-boomers of Marvellous Melbourne and dedicated himself to much-needed sanitary reform. During a time of severe drought, he diverted water across the Great Dividing Range and into Melbourne’s water supply and undertook extensive swamp reclamation that changed the face of Melbourne.
Engineer to Marvellous Melbourne provides a compelling account of the evolution of Melbourne’s water and sewerage systems and the life and achievements of a great Australian engineer who, in triumphing over difficulties, left an enduring impact on Melbourne.
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Challenging Women – Towards Equality in the Parliament of Victoria
Miss D and Miss N – An Extraordinary Partnership. The Diary of Anne Drysdale
Once a Country Practice: Macpherson + Kelley, Lawyers of Dandenong
Sir John Langdon Bonython: newspaper proprietor, politician and philanthropist The Years that the Locust hath Eaten
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Microforms 48
William III, King of England, 1650-1702 20
James II, King of England, 1633-1701 5
Anti-Catholicism 3
Catholics 3
England and Wales. Parliament 3
Jeffreys, George Jeffreys, Baron, 1644 or 5-1689 3
Legal status, laws, etc 3
Ballads, English 2
Chapman, John, Sir, 1633-1689 1
Covenanters 1
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English poetry 1
Graham, John, Viscount Dundee, 1648-1689 1
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Imprisonment 1
James, Prince of Wales, 1688-1766 1
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Kings and rulers 1
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, 1640-1705 1
William III, King of England, 1650-1702 7
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Berault, Peter 1
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Feversham, Louis de Duras, Earl of, 1640?-1709 1
Godolphin, Sidney Godolphin, Earl of, 1645-1712 1
Jones, Edward, -1706 1
Nalton, James, 1600-1662 1
Nottingham, Daniel Finch, Earl of, 1647-1730 1
Oates, Titus, 1649-1705 1
Powlett, William 1
London (England) 1
William III, King of England, 1650-1702
James II, King of England, 1633-1701
England and Wales. Parliament
Jeffreys, George Jeffreys, Baron, 1644 or 5-1689
Legal status, laws, etc
Ballads, English
Chapman, John, Sir, 1633-1689
Covenanters
England and Wales. Parliament. House of Lords
Graham, John, Viscount Dundee, 1648-1689
Great Britain. Parliament
James, Prince of Wales, 1688-1766
Killiecrankie, Battle of, Scotland, 1689
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, 1640-1705
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Controversial literature
Filtered by Content TypesBroadsides Click to remove the filter
Filtered by Content TypesEarly works to 1800 Click to remove the filter
Filtered by Time PeriodsRevolution of 1688 Click to remove the filter
1. His Majesties resolution for the calling of a free parliament. Upon the humble motion, and advice of a great council of his peers
Author England and Wales. Sovereign (1685-1688 : James II)
Early English books; Tract supplement ; C26:1[13]
2. A true copy of the Imperial decree, and of the declaration that was delivered to the envoys of the electors, princes and estates of the empire, by Prince Herman of Baden: by which the late insinuations of the Papists do's appear wholly groundless. (viz.) That the Catholick Princes were grown jealous of his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange's designs, and that therefore a peace would speedily be concluded between his Imperial Majesty and France, and a league of all the Catholick princes ensue, for maintenance of the Romish-Religion.
Author Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, 1640-1705
Date 1688.
3. A speech spoken by the Bishop of Carlisle in the House of Lords; with some observations upon it
4. Father Peters's apology to the Pope for his miscarriages in England.
5. The association. We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, who have now joined with the Prince of Orange, for the defence of the Protestant religion, and for maintaining the ancient government, and the laws and liberties of England, Scotland, and Ireland, ..
Early English books; Tract supplement ; C8:2[46]
6. A copy of a letter out of the country to one in London, discovering a conspiracy of the Roman Catholicks at St. Edmunds-bury in Suffolk
Early English books; Tract supplement ; F1:2[17]
7. The Kings letter to the Earl of Feversham. Upon his leaving Whitehall. Together with the Earl of Fevershams letter to his highness the Prince of Orange after the Kings departure. Whitehal, December 10. 1688
Author James II, King of England, 1633-1701
Date printed in the year 1688
8. A true account of His Highness the Prince of Orange's : coming to St. James's, on Tuesday the 18th. of December 1688. about three of the clock in the afternoon
9. The speech of the recorder of Bristol to His Highness the Prince of Orange. Monday, January the 7th, 1688. The mayor, recorder, aldermen, and commons of the principal citizens, of the city of Bristol, waited upon the Prince of Orange, being introduc'd by His Grace the Duke of Ormond, their high-steward, and the Earl of Shrewsbury: where the recorder spake to this effect
Author Bristol (England). Recorder
Date Printed in the year 1689.
10. A full account of the apprehending of the Lord Chancellor, in Wapping; As he was designing to make his escape: as also the manner how he was brought before the Lord Mayor; and from thence committed to the Tower, December 12. 88
Early English books; Tract supplement ; A8:1[84]
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Spirits, Free Spirit
Buttercup is the name of the free spirit that has controlling stock (at present, 29 percent) in the AAA Megacorporation Evo, making her one of the most public and powerful free spirits known in the Sixth World. She is an anima who appears as an 18 year old Japanese girl, with long black hair that she often ties up, and a very expressive face that practically glows when she is excited or angry. She doesn't walk, preferring to float or glide, and prefers traditional Japanese clothing. She is a major influence on the current Chairman Yuri Shibanokuji.
She is known to have the powers of Astral Gateway, Aura Masking, Human Form, Possession, Sorcery, and Wealth, as well as Sense Link to those who pay her Karma and Telepathic Link to those who know her true name.
She first surfaced shortly after Yamatetsu achieved AAA status in 2042. At first, she played herself as a young Japanese heiress to 11 percent of Yamatetsu stock. She appeared to be influential in not only helping Yamatetsu's image but also in reinstating Tadamako Shibanokuji back as chairman in 2050. In the fourth quarter of 2050, she revealed herself as a Free Spirit, reportedly floating between two of the board members and scaring the wits out of Hideo Yoshida. She proved to be a master manipulator of the corporate board, although the image of Yamatetsu suffered overall from her admission. She consolidated her power with supporters on the board, while her opponents quietly schemed behind the scenes. When Tadamako Shibanokuji died in 2059, she was instrumental in bringing his son, the ork Yuri Shibanokuji, to claim his inheritance.
She received this bequest from Dunkelzahn in his will:
"To Buttercup of Yamatetsu Corporation, I leave my complete collection of comic books with respect for our mutual appreciation of the art form. Not manga, I know, but you could stand to develop a taste for some of the classics, my dear."
It is rumored that she had a close relationship with Dunkelzahn, due to the harsh tutelage she gained when Dunkelzahn bound her to an underprivileged and uneducated ork's body for a year and a day in 2033,[1] a lesson in fundamental equality of all life forms. The ork subsequently was given a new identity (Craig Sanchez) and a trust fund, as well as a magical pendant in Dunkelzahn's Will.
↑ o22118576Blood in the Boardroom p. 84
o22118576Blood in the Boardroom, 78-79, 84
o79645619Corporate Download, 110-113
o73009950Portfolio of a Dragon: Dunkelzahn's Secrets
Retrieved from "https://shadowrun.fandom.com/wiki/Buttercup?oldid=51890"
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Smile CSRA
Clear aligners: How has the technology evolved?
Though still a relatively new orthodontic treatment modality, clear aligners have quickly become an increasingly popular alternative to fixed appliances for tooth straightening, since they provide an aesthetically appealing and comfortable choice. However, the recent rapid advancements in aligner technology are yet to be recognised by many dentists, leading to a low adoption rate. This article will provide an introductory overview of aligner treatment and its development.
Traditionally, malalignment has been corrected using fixed orthodontic appliances. However, in 1999, Align Technology made its Invisalign system available for commercial purchase, altering the future path of orthodontics. A clear aligner, Invisalign offered an effective alternative in orthodontic treatment, as its correct use can minimise the plaque build-up, gingival recession and inflammation of soft tissue sometimes associated with fixed appliances. Additionally, its complete lack of metal parts presented an aesthetic advantage, and the ability to remove it at any time (especially relevant during eating) allowed Invisalign patients a level of comfort and hygiene care previously unmatched in orthodontic treatment.
Through its recently introduced Invisalign Go system—a treatment programme aimed at guiding general dental practitioners through the process of identifying, planning and treating suitable cases using the aesthetic tooth straightening solution—Align Technology has become entrenched as the global market leader in clear aligners. Other companies have since recognised the value of this therapy, though, and this increased focus has led to a rapid progression in the sophistication of aligner modelling and manufacturing. Dr Les Joffe, Secretary of the European Aligner Society (EAS), the only international organisation in Europe devoted to the promotion of education and research in aligner therapy, believes that these advancements have not yet been fully recognised by all dental practitioners. In an interview with Dental Tribune Online, Joffe said that dental professionals often pass judgment on the suitability of aligners based on outdated information and technology. “There is a misunderstanding by many clinicians that aligner treatments are limited,” said Joffe. “Many clinicians base their view on the early stages of aligner development, from around 2001 to 2003. More than 15 years later, the huge strides that have been made in aligner performance are not fully understood and therefore the modality is either not adopted or provided.”
These major advancements in clear aligner technology include the integration of much more sophisticated 3-D modelling software, able to customise each aligner to an individual patient’s needs. “Clear aligners have deeply changed orthodontics,” Agnieszka Dziedziul, Clear Aligners Department Manager for NimroDENTAL Orthodontic Solutions, told Dental Tribune Online. Established in 1991, NimroDENTAL is one of the largest orthodontic laboratories in the UK, using four different alignment systems in its work with dental practices. “When we started making clear aligners 15 years ago, we were limited to creating movements by hand on a plaster model,” said Dziedziul. “Today, though, we use sophisticated software and the latest 3-D printers to create clear aligners that can correct the majority of malocclusions.”
The lack of awareness of clear aligners’ benefits among dental practitioners has sometimes been attributed to a lack of scientific studies on this treatment modality. As aligner therapy has developed and been more widely adopted, however, increasing research into its effectiveness and patient satisfaction rates has been conducted. For example, a 2015 study published in the BMC Oral Health journal compared oral health status and satisfaction levels among patients who had received fixed appliances and those treated with the Invisalign system. It found that Invisalign patients were more satisfied overall and enjoyed greater periodontal health, with slightly lower levels of dental plaque. According to another study, conducted in 2013 and published in The Angle Orthodontist journal, compared with those treated with conventional edgewise brackets, patients who had received aligner therapy had significantly fewer dental visits, shorter treatment duration, fewer emergency visits and less overall chair time.
Aligner therapy is one of the fastest-growing areas in orthodontics, driven significantly by patients who regard it as a more comfortable, convenient and discreet alternative to fixed appliances. Given that market research firm Technavio has projected this market to grow at a compound annual rate of 12.68 per cent globally from 2016 to 2020, the need for organisational bodies to increase education and awareness of aligner therapy is essential. The German Association for Aligner Orthodontics was founded in 2007 and the Japan Academy of Aligner Orthodontics in 2012, with both organisations aiming to foster a space for increasing awareness of the applications and advantages of aligner therapy.
More recently, the EAS was established in 2013, with Dr Graham Gardner serving as its founding and current president. In order to promote education on the latest technologies used by clear aligners, the EAS will be hosting its first AlignerLab workshop on 18 February 2017 in Vienna in Austria. It follows on from the successful first EAS congress in February 2016 and will provide clinicians with an opportunity to engage in a variety of hands-on sessions covering 3-D intra-oral scanning, 3-D printing, virtual treatment planning techniques and tooth movement acceleration techniques.
Gardner believes the AlignerLab will highlight how far aligner therapy has come in such a short time. “With the explosion in the 3-D treatment planning and manufacturing processes now available, we at the EAS believe that not only do we need to update our knowledge on the various aligner systems available, we also need to understand the associated hardware—scanners, computers, software, 3-D printing—that is necessary to optimise the aligner system and improve treatment results,” he told Dental Tribune Online. Gardner envisions the event ideally becoming a regular occurrence to allow dental professionals to trial and compare new systems and developments in aligner technology.
By Brendan Day, DTI
https://eu.dental-tribune.com
Filed Under: Braces
What’s New at Carter Orthodontics
Smiles under construction
Grand Opening on June 22
FAC/Carter Orthodontics Grand Opening Grovetown
Ortho Clinician, Treatment Coordinator and Receptionist
Job Opening – Orthodontic Assistant
Is there a way to get free aligners?
Vibration paradox in orthodontics
365 Braces
A smile is priceless so the idea of getting the perfect smile through the mail, sounds good, almost too good to be true.
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CART Insights
TASC Studies
OPTI Tracking
Insight Hub
Posted by Snapcart
Snapcart Brings Revolutionary Consumer Analytics Services to Singapore with ex-Kantar Managing Director Join Forces
Following a $10 million Series A funding round led by Singapore venture capital Vickers Ventures Partners, and includes investors such as SPH Ventures (formerly SPH Media Fund) and Wavemaker Partners, trailblazing Asian analytics startup Snapcart is expanding its consumer market analytics services to Singapore.
Starting 1 February 2018, shoppers will be able to download the Snapcart app on both IOS and Android, while consumer brands will be able to access the company’s data-driven shopper and consumer insights. Snapcart is already active in Indonesia and the Philippines, with over one million downloads globally since its launch in 2015.
Ms. Teresa Condicion, Co-Founder & COO/Data Science at Snapcart, said, “We are launching here to meet the growing demand from clients for a more innovative solution to better understand the Singapore market. It is also a strategic location for us because majority of our regional clients are based here, allowing us to serve them better. In addition, it gives us access to great tech talents to support our continuous Artificial Intelligence (AI) research, in a vibrant start up environment.” Ms. Condicion was previously associate director of consumer and market knowledge at Procter & Gamble.
Unlike time-consuming traditional survey methods, Snapcart collect purchase data and gives shoppers cashback for scanning their receipts. These receipts are then processed and analyzed by its proprietary technology, AI-based Optical Character Recognition, to provide real-time analytics to clients and partners.
Strengthening its already formidable industry credentials, Snapcart also announced the appointment of Ms. Soon Lee Lim as Chief Revenue Officer for Asia-Pacific, Mr. Eko Wicaksono as Country Sales & Operations Director for Indonesia and Mr. Raymond Ajon as Country Sales & Operations Director for Philippines. Ms. Soon Lee was formerly Country Head for Kantar Worldpanel Indonesia and Head of Indonesia & Malaysia for YouGov while Mr. Wicaksono and Mr. Ajon were from ABN Impact and Nielsen respectively. Together, the three have more than 50 years of experience in consumer research.
Photo (L-R): Ms. Soon Lee Lim, Chief Revenue Officer for Asia Pacific; Mr. Eko Wicaksono, Country Sales & Operations Director for Indonesia; Mr. Raymond Ajon, Country Sales & Operations Director for Philippines
Ms. Soon Lee said, “I am truly excited about Snapcart’s potential to deliver data-driven insights into consumer behavior. In a highly developed market like Singapore, which has savvy and advanced shoppers, I am confident that our product can give customers real value. We are on the front lines of innovation and aim to push the digital frontiers in pursuit of new market opportunities.”
« 8 out of 10 Filipinos and Indonesians Prefers to Celebrate New Year at Home
Deeper Look into Indonesian Consumers »
Are Big Brands Affecting Correct Brand Ad Recall? A Look into Three Online Christmas Ads in The Philippines
Christmas season is competitive. Multiple brands from different categories are all banking on the same sentiment of giving, sharing, and togetherness. In this regard, Snapcart ran a survey on the latest online Christmas ads from different categories to know which brands stood-out the most. read more →
Living in the Mobile Internet Era: How it Affects our Daily Lives
The internet has certainly revolutionized the way we interact and communicate. We use the internet in almost everything we do – from staying in touch with our family, guiding us when we are lost, to finding us a date. To have a better understanding on how mobile internet affects our daily lives, in August 2018 Snapcart launched a survey for its users in Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, and Singapore. read more →
Do You Use Face Wash Regularly?
Smooth skin is not just from good genes but also from good daily habits. According to T: The New York Times Style Magazine, there are 3 main steps for skin-care routine. It starts with cleansing, continues with toning to balance the skin, and moisturizing to hydrate and soften the skin. Thus, washing your face with face wash product read more →
Social Media Influencer in the Philippines
Over the years, social media grew massively as a global marketing platform. A lot of studies has been conducted about online behavior and its effect on consumerism. Hootsuite’s and We Are Social’s studies, Digital 2018, found that Filipinos are online for an average of four hours a day. Miappi’s article revealed that 92% of consumers trust online influencers more that advertisements and celebrities. read more →
Indonesian and Their Snacking Habits
Mabuhay Pilipinas!
Indonesian E-commerce Shopping Behavior
Ready to Drink Tea in Indonesia
The Coexistence of Offline and Online Grocery Shopping
Indonesian Millennials Shopping Behavior
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(Redirected from Washington (U.S. state))
This article is about the US state. For other uses, see Washington (disambiguation).
Flag Seal
"The Evergreen State" (unofficial)[1]
Motto(s): Al-ki or Alki, "bye and bye" in Chinook Jargon
State song(s): "Washington, My Home"
None (de jure)
English (de facto)
Washingtonian
Largest metro
Greater Seattle
Ranked 18th
71,362 sq mi
(184,827 km2)
• Width
360 miles (580 km)
• Length
• % water
• Latitude
45° 33′ N to 49° N
• Longitude
116° 55′ W to 124° 46′ W
7,405,743 (2017 est.)[2]
103/sq mi (39.6/km2)
• Median household income
$67,243 (2015)[3] (9th[3])
• Highest point
14,411 ft (4,392 m)
• Mean
1,700 ft (520 m)
• Lowest point
Before statehood
Washington Territory
Admission to Union
November 11, 1889 (42nd)
Jay Inslee (D)
Cyrus Habib (D)
Patty Murray (D)
Maria Cantwell (D)
U.S. House delegation
7 Democrats
3 Republicans (list)
Pacific: UTC −8/−7
US-WA
WA, Wash.
access.wa.gov
Washington state symbols
The Flag of Washington
The Seal of Washington
Living insignia
Amphibian
Pacific chorus frog
Bluebunch wheatgrass
Green Darner
Olympic marmot/Orca
Western Hemlock
Inanimate insignia
Lady Washington
Tokul
Washington state tartan
Vegetable: Sweet onion
State route marker
State quarter
Lists of United States state symbols
Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is north of Oregon, west of Idaho, east of the Pacific Ocean, and south of British Columbia. (British Columbia is part of Canada.) There are more than 6,000,000 people in Washington. Most live in the western part of Washington, which gets more rain. About a quarter of the people live in the east part, where it gets less rain, and some parts have a desert climate. The largest city on the east part is Spokane, and it is also the second biggest city in the state. The Cascade Mountains go down the middle of the state and break it into two sides. The state's nickname is the "Evergreen State" because it has a lot of pine trees. Washington was the 42nd state to join the United States, on November 11, 1889. It is often called "Washington State" so that it does not get confused with the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. The name "Washington" comes from President George Washington.
The capital of Washington is Olympia. Olympia is a small city on the west side of Washington, at the south end of Puget Sound. Washington's biggest city is Seattle, Seattle is also on Puget Sound.
Washington has many beautiful forests, rivers, gorges (gorges are small canyons), and mountains. Because it's next to the ocean, it has a long beach. However, because Washington is north of Oregon and California (the other two states on the West Coast of the United States), the ocean is cold, and usually not good to swim in.
The biggest universities in Washington are the University of Washington and Washington State University. The University of Washington is in Seattle.[4] Washington State University is in a small town called Pullman. Pullman is on the east side of the state.
1 Geography and climate
2 Lists of Federal land and reservations
Geography and climate[change | change source]
The state of Washington has an extremely varied geography, and therefore an extremely varied climate. The map shows western cities have shipping access. These are the low-lying parts on the next to the Pacific Ocean. The western side of the mountains is wet and forested with conifers. Some areas are temperate rain forests (in the Olympic Mountains).
The central area is mountainous, including five volcanos: Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. To the east of the mountains the land is dry and mostly dry grassland (high plains). Only one feature links the west to the east: the important Snake River, a tributary of the even larger Columbia River.
Köppen climate types of Washington state
Lists of Federal land and reservations[change | change source]
National parks and monuments
There are three National Parks and two National Monuments in Washington:
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Hanford Reach National Monument
Nine national forests are located (at least partly) in Washington:
Colville National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Kaniksu National Forest
Okanogan National Forest
Olympic National Forest
Umatilla National Forest
Wenatchee National Forest
Federally protected wildernesses 31 wildernesses are located (at least partly) in Washington, like:
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Glacier Peak Wilderness
Goat Rocks Wilderness
Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Juniper Dunes Wilderness
Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness
Mount Baker Wilderness
Norse Peak Wilderness
Olympic Wilderness
Pasayten Wilderness
Wild Sky Wilderness
National wildlife refuges 23 National Wildlife Refuges are located (at least partly) in Washington like:
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
Other federally protected lands
Other protected lands of note like:
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
Ross Lake National Recreation Area
San Juan Island National Historical Park
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
17 National Natural Landmarks
Military and related reservations
There are many large military-related reservations, like:
McChord Air Force Base
Naval Base Kitsap
Yakima Training Center
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (Bremerton)
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Naval Station Everett
Colleges and universities in Washington
List of counties in Washington
List of rivers of Washington
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Washington (state).
↑ "State Symbols". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
↑ "Idaho is Nation's Fastest-Growing State, Census Bureau Reports". US Census Bureau. December 20, 2017.
↑ 3.0 3.1 Table H-8. Median Household Income by State: 1984 to 2015 (Microsoft Excel), United States Census Bureau, September 13, 2016
↑ "About the University". University of Washington. 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
Political divisions of the United States
Outlying islands
Midway Atoll
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Washington_(state)&oldid=6521983"
Washington (U.S. state)
Use mdy dates
This page was last changed on 1 May 2019, at 19:18.
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Home Around The Web Another Sunday Church Attack in Burkina Faso Kills Six
Another Sunday Church Attack in Burkina Faso Kills Six
Jeremy Weber, May 12, 2019
This time, terrorists interrupted a Catholic Mass in Dablo, separated men from women and children, and murdered the priest and five worshipers.
For the second time since Easter, a church in Burkina Faso has suffered a terrorism attack during Sunday services.
This time, the target was a Catholic church in Dablo, where the priest and five worshipers were killed. This prompted a series of déjà vu headlines among global media outlets as the death toll matches last month’s attack on an Assemblies of God church in Sirgadji, where the pastor and five worshipers were killed.
The assailants again arrived on motorcycles and interrupted morning Mass. “They started firing as the congregation tried to flee,” said mayor Ousmane Zongo, reported Agence-France Presse.
They “ordered the women and children to clear the scene before executing six men, including the priest,” and setting fire to the church, reported the Burkina Information Agency.
The landlocked West African nation has suffered hundreds of attacks by jihadists in recent years, but last month’s attack on the Pentecostal congregation in Sirgadji was considered the first upon a house of worship. Today’s attack in Dablo is now the second.
Burkina Faso is about 60 percent Muslim and about 25 percent Christian (around 20 percent Catholic and 5 percent Protestant).
CT reported last month how the Assemblies of God was reeling from the “new turning point in terrorism” in the nation.
“It’s not only the church of Sirgadji that has been attacked; all the values of tolerance, forgiveness, and love that have always led our country have been hurt,” said Henri Yé, president of the Federation of Evangelical Churches and Missions in Burkina Faso (FEME), in an April 30 statement. “The freedom of worship consecrated by our fundamental law [the Constitution] …
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Robbing God, Literally: 1 in 10 Protestant Churches Experience Embezzlement
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Century-old tree slab has story to tell
From President Ralph Kuncl: Connected in joy and tragedy
Three University of Redlands graduates receive Fulbright awards
Community College counselors key to easing student transition to four-year institutions
Founding leader of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to be honored at commencement ceremony
KTLA 'Tech Smart' highlights U of R Rocket League success
International collaboration results in new degree program
Bulldogs in Service 2019
University of Redlands presents Vibe Festival of Wellness
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San Francisco Theological Seminary, University of Redlands collaborate in joint certificate program
"The rings of this tree carry the rich history of our culture and our university—and will now stand here in the Armacost Library, a monument to the passage of time."
On April 24, just before Arbor Day, a group of students, faculty, and staff gathered on the ground floor of the Hunsaker Library for a ceremony to dedicate a new display. The exhibit showcases a large cross-section of an oak tree that stood watch over the University of Redlands Quad from 1925 to 2014. Professor Hillary Jenkins, who spearheaded the nearly four-year effort to preserve and date the slab, spoke at the event. Here are excerpts from her remarks.
I’d like to tell you a bit about the tree rings of this particular oak tree. And being the dedicated scientist that I am, I felt the best way to do this was with a few numbers.
89... is the number of tree rings present on this slab.
26… is the number of times I independently counted these rings to make sure this number was correct
2014 is the year that this tree’s life ended and my preservation project began. [Environmental Studies Professor] Wendy McIntyre first alerted me to the Quercus Agrifolia being cut down in the Quad, and I must give her a tremendous acknowledgment for this and all her help and support since we first began this project.
2 is the number of fungal species (Botryodiplodia and Cytospora) that were killing this tree; evidence of both is present in the visible scarring along the edges of the slab.
2 is the number of chainsaws required to cut a single intact piece this large.
2000 is the number of pounds of raw wood that were forklifted to facilities.
The slab was sanded repeatedly by me, Wendy, and 4 of our work-study students for over a month as it slowly dried.
4 belt sanders, 3 orbital sanders, and 3 small hand-sanders were used smoothing the surface of the slab.
157 is the number of sandpaper belts, discs, and sheets we destroyed during this process.
1 million is the number of trips I made to Home Depot.
Once the slab was sanded smooth, we soaked it in 75 gallons of Pentacryl, a liquid polymer used to seal xylem cell walls and minimize cracking.
1 is the number of kiddie pools I purchased to give the slab this bath.
8 is the number of men it took to flip the slab over so that the Pentacryl would soak evenly; this had to be done every few weeks for several months.
1 is the number of years we soaked and dried the slab before relocating it to Lewis Hall where I continued to sand and polish it. Once polishing was complete, I began counting the rings, identifying false bands, and dating the age of the two hearts where a bifurcation or fork occurs. The slab and its bark were then sealed and shellacked one final time—to stop the clock and freeze the piece in time.
1920 was the decade that this tree put down roots in front of the Redlands Chapel after being transplanted as a sapling.
This tree grew and watched over the university as President Victor Leroy Duke dedicated Memorial Chapel, as the Salzburg Program began, as the Johnston Center was founded, and the Whitehead College was established. This tree quietly grew through the Great Depression and when Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon. Even when Atari released Pong, one of the first video arcade games, and the World Wide Web went public, this tree soldiered on.
The rings of this tree carry the rich history of our culture and our university—and will now stand here in the Armacost Library, a monument to the passage of time.
As part of her remarks, Jenkins also acknowledged the many individuals who helped make the project possible, including McIntyre; Roger Cellini, Melinda Jo Sanchez, and other members of the Facilities Management Department; Deborah Keyes; her “wonderful environmental studies students”; the U of R administration and Development Office; and President Ralph Kuncl. Kuncl also cut the ribbon on the display during the ceremony.
This story originally appeared in the Bulldog Blog.
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RT @keithboykin: "Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year’s Presidential election, the i… 42 minutes ago
John Paul Stevens, Former Supreme Court Justice, Dies At 99 huffpost.com/entry/john-pau… via @HuffPostPol 1 hour ago
Happening Now: Texas Congressman Al Green introduces articles of impeachment against Trump. https://t.co/6LYK9RnhIu 3 hours ago
Trent Lott steps down from Senate
Yesterday, surrounded by friends, family and his GOP Klavern, Mississippi Senator Trent Lott announced his retirement from the U.S. Senate by the end of the year. Lott, a 66 year-old segregationist from Pascagoula, Mississippi, spent 35 years in the U.S. Congress serving in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. His repeated attempts to repeal the twentieth century and the thirteenth amendmendment to the U.S. Constitution proved unsuccessful.
A corporate whore with no peer, Lott hopes to feather his nest as a Washington lobbyist. During his downtime, perhaps the pinstripe Klansman can build a monument to his ego which commemorates his achievements in preserving white supremacy. How bout The Jefferson Davis-Strom Thurmond-Trent Lott Senate Library. Sounds good to me.
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4 thoughts on “Trent Lott steps down from Senate”
This move is rumored to be connected to allegations by Larry Flynt (Hustler magazine) that Lott is a frequent patron of male escort services.
“Sashay, Shauntay..Shauntay, Shauntay, Shauntay…”
Dang, Denise, you beat me to it. Do a Google search on one Benjamin Nicholas, and see what you find.
Hint: he’s rumored to be Lott’s “Paramour”. 😉
:: big circle snap :: okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
BWA HA HA HA HA
I open this up to think that folks have assumed as I did that Lott was just doing this so that he could GET PAID as a lobbyist.
This is so much better. 🙂
BWA HA HA HA HA HA
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Malezya: Süper Lig
Kuala Lumpur FA
Johor Darul Takzim FC
13:0013/07 Kuala Lumpur FA0 Johor Darul Takzim FC4
13:0008/02 Johor Darul Takzim FC4 Kuala Lumpur FA1
Johor Darul Takzim FC has over 2.5 goals in their last 3 games
Johor Darul Takzim FC won their last 3 games
Kuala Lumpur FA lost their last 5 games
Johor Darul Takzim FC scored in last 5 games
Johor Darul Takzim FC scored in last 3 away games
Match Info Kuala Lumpur FA - Johor Darul Takzim FC
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Past Smash
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U / 3DS
Rate their Chances: the DLC Edition. Day: 192: The final day
Thread starter colder_than_ice
First Prev 29 of 304
Pureownege75
Smash Journeyman
Gangplank Galleon
Chance: 60%
Inkling's have an excellent chance, as a brand new Nintendo IP. I think they are pretty much a lock for Smash 5, but they also have a decent shot at becoming DLC for Smash 4. Not only are they very relevant and represent a new franchise, but also have garnered a lot of votes. Frankly I wouldn't at all be surprised if they are already planned. I'm sure Nintendo want to do everything in their power to advertise their new IP, and putting the character in Smash is literally the best way to do that.
Want: 40%
Splatoon is looking like a really awesome game and I'm very excited for it. It's been too long since we had a true, Nintendo EAD AAA new IP. I really like the Inklings, and would love to see them in Smash. That said I can't be terribly excited for a character whose game I have yet to play, but I'd be very happy to see them in the game regardless. Definitely among my Top 5 most wanted.
Rayman Prediction: 15%
RH character x3
Themed Stage Packs x2
Likes: Flor@ and PK_Wonder
Smash Lord
3DS FC
BluePikmin11 said:
Please refer to my signature if anyone needs a reminder that he can change his stance with third-parties VERY EASILY.
If I thought it was a hard rule that could never change, then I definitely would've given Shantae 0%. But I didn't.
Even with the interviews Swampasaur brought, it doesn't change the fact that he can still change his mind like with he did with fighting characters earlier.
We don't really know whether he changed his mind, or whether Nintendo changed it for him. Ryu is a great marketing choice - if Capcom had really said they wanted Ryu while Sakurai wanted Mega Man, I could see higher ups going "Hmmmm... Ryu in $ma$h..." He's going to sell a ton of copies. I don't know that anyone will buy a Wii U/Smash for him, but it will certainly be more people than would buy them for Shantae.
If he's in, I'm now kinda expecting a Ryu trailer for E3. Because that's one of the most hype things Nintendo could drop at E3, honestly. Sakurai's desires might not have anything to do with it.
But guess what that kind of reasoning does not apply to? Minor characters who won't sell as many DLC copies and won't cause as much marketing hype. Sakurai has to change his mind all on his own and advocate for Shantae/whoever to Nintendo despite her not being the best marketing/sales choice. Because I don't see any Nintendo execs pressuring Sakurai to put Shantae in. Sakurai doesn't have to want Ryu for Ryu to be in.
And the other issue is then: why this non-iconic 3rd party rather than a different one? Why not Shovel Knight? He'd get more hype I think. Why not Professor Layton with his long Nintendo history? Why not Quote who's an indie darling? Why not Namco's own Klonoa? Why not a Bravely Second character? Why not a Nintendo-platform Final Fantasy protag? When you get away from the super-icons, there's also a lot more competition, because only a few characters are iconic and most are not. You inherently just have to give them lower scores.
It's not going to be fun at all if were to bring up the "iconic" argument every time we rate a non-iconic third-party character.
But it's always going to be a relevant argument, for the reasons I just gave. Sorry?
Likes: Swamp Sensei and Pacack
Nintendotard
NNID
Mariotard
Erimir said:
If this was the case, and they would not allow for Nintendo to put Mega Man over Ryu, I feel like Sakurai would have given up on a Capcom character, so their might have been a deal, we put Mega Man in now, Ryu later. Sakurai most likely wants to give the original mascots their spotlight (especially noting Mega Man's life in Capcom now, aka non-existant), and it seems like Ryu is the current mascot just because they're so focused on Street Fighting games.
N3ON
The Less I Know the Better
rdg121193 said:
I don't want it to be another Golden Sun where people pushed this like the next big thing and feel completely off after one bad game like Dark Dawn.
People were pushing for GS long before DD was even a glimmer in Camelot's eye.
Likes: Swamp Sensei, Delzethin and Ura
MasterWarlord
Smash Champion
Crocodilopolis/White King’s Paradise
Chance 35%: This is a high rating coming from me. I still think it would go against the ballot and Nintendo would want to make sure the new IP doesn't bomb before including them in Smash Bros. Of course, I could see them just advertise it the same way they did Roy and Greninja against the consumer's best interest, hence them having any kind of chance.
Want 0%
Likes: Ura
Warlock*G
Banned (6 Points)
But guess what that kind of reasoning does not apply to? Minor characters who won't sell as many DLC copies and won't cause as much marketing hype.[...]
There's marketing for Smash Brothers and its DLC...
...and then there's marketing for the games of the characters that are in Smash Bros. Three Shantae games are on sale on the Nintendo eShop right now, and having her in Smash Bros would boost the sales of those games tremendously, *and* could also open the Japanese market to those games.
Likes: Raheem The Dream
Scamper52596
I was originally going to rate higher, but after reading what people said yesterday in their predictions for this character, I decided to lower my expectations a bit. I figured that the Inkling is the epitome of a character that could happen, but just as easily might not happen at all. Though I have to say that I don't really understand the arguments that the Inkling's game isn't out yet so they won't get considered. They'll obviously be a ballot character if they were to make it in as playable, and the ballot ends this October. By the time they create the character and set a planned release date, their game probably would have been out for over a year. Their chances rely mostly on whether or not this game does well. By October we'll probably know as well as Nintendo, Sakurai, and the developers of Smash 4 whether it's a success or not. If the game does well, I'll consider them a pretty likely pick. For now, I'll give the ink shooting squids a 50%.
I'd say they definitely have an inkling of a chance at becoming playable...
I know a lot of people were holding off giving them a want or high want percent until the game actually releases, and I definitly think that's a smart and intelligent thing to do. I'm going to have to be that guy though who's impatient because he already expects to love the game the Inklings star in; therefore, I'm going to give them a high want rating before I even play the game. I think they have a lot of move set potential, and I would probably love playing as them.
Prediction - Rayman: 14.9%
x3 Tetra
x2 Toon Zelda
Likes: BluePikmin11, Deleted member and PK_Wonder
PK_Wonder
@ A10theHero , you are the winner of FIVE extra bonus nominations to spend how you please for being the closest predictor of Shantae's score.
Likes: A10theHero
Champ Gold
Smash Scrublord
Switch FC
N3ON said:
Yeah but Golden Sun suffered from not being as marketed as hard as other Nintendo RPGs and doesn't have the backing like Splatoon.
Plus I'm meant more of fans making this the next major Nintendo franchise when it barely passed Custom Robo and still trailing a mile behind Punch Out
Smash Rookie
Splatoon will probably sell well, and they already have a fanbase. They still face competition from many other Nintendo icons, but they are likely leading the pack as far as the ballot goes.
I wouldn't be mad if they got in. I'm sure they'll be fun to play, but I have no connection to them and would therefore be disapointed.
Nominations: Henry Fleming x 2
Ridley x 3
Likes: PK_Wonder
Well... it was marketed fairly decently for something that wasn't Mario, Pokemon, Zelda, or Wii whatever back then. It had time dedicated to it at both E3 09 and 10, which is more than most c-list series can say. It simply didn't live up to the expectations.
And barely passed Custom Robo? That series only had two of its titles released outside Japan, and, even though VGChartz inflates sales numbers, according to them, Dark Dawn sold better than both of those games combined. Not to mention GS1 and 2, both of which sold over a mil.
In total, that puts GS maybe a mil behind Punch-Out. Is that really a mile?
Most people don't realize on average Golden Sun is as successful or more successful than several series already on the roster, at least at the times they were included.
Likes: LasermasterA
IvanQuote
Smash Ace
Looking for those who like Mighty No 9
Splatoon:
Insanely hyped, new ip, potential, check. Just think it's a bit too new to put in already.
Indifferent, but think they could be in a sequel.
Reiman predict:
Quote x5
BandanaWaddleDee
bdon25
OOO the Inlkings
It's a new IP, which can either work for or against them. Already has an established fanbased (Squidboards is a thing, I think), and will most likely do well. I say they have an INKLING of a chance. Ba dum tss.
The Inklings look cool enough and I would like them. But I have to play the game to make a final judgement.
Rayman Chance: 5%
Want: 1%
9-Volt x3
Anthony Higgs x1
Leon Powalski x1
Fuzzy Pickles!
Say, FUZZY PICKLES!!!
astarisborn1994
SW 1409 9782 5984
I'm going to abstain from rating the Inkling's chances until their game comes out. I think they are plausible, but there's currently no way to tell how likely they are for DLC and I'm not sure if I agree with the notion they're inevitable for Smash 5. I can't help but get a similar vibe to Zoroark, Pac-Man, and Chrom (who were mostly expected but not wanted characters). As for want... 1%
I don't want them in at all. Originally I was really hyped for Splatoon when it got revealed at E3 last year. Over time, however, I lost interest in the game. Just as I was beginning to look into the game again, we then get the announcement that Splatoon doesn't have voice chat online at all and that killed my interest in the game. Like seriously, voice chat should be a given and there is no reason why we shouldn't have that. It seriously hurts, if not kills its competitive potential and for me, there just is no way I can justify investing in Splatoon when I won't have local friends to play with over the time it'll be relevant and I don't know if I can get a Skype match going online either. For me, Inkling's inclusion would be a reminder of Nintendo's archaic "we need to protect the kiddies!" stance that they have not learned from time and time again. I don't like the idea of that being rewarded with them being a Smash character. If they simply get fast-tracked into Smash for promotional reasons at E3, I am going to be very displeased in that one of my biggest complaints for this game's roster exacerbated. I hope Nintendo at least have the courtesy to wait until they see how Splatoon is received before putting them in. If they're ballot characters thought, fine, but I doubt I will care about their inclusion.
Ice Climber x3
Chorus Men x2
LasermasterA
Weyard
I have missed this thread for quite a while. Finally to get posting again!
Chance - 30%
+ Cool possible moveset
+ Heavily promoted Nintendo IP
+ One-shot IP have been in Smash (Shulk - although now franchised)
+ Getting tons of support
- Ink based moveset may get hard to execute on the 3DS
- Game isn't even out yet
- Ballot spot could go to more deserving and older characters
Want - 25%
They could be cool, plus I am interested in Splatoon BUT the game isn't even out yet. Plus I am not that looking forward to the idea of an IP that has not even started to get a rep. There are other characters which I support more and which definitely deserve a bigger chance plus they have an awesome potential moveset themselves.
Rayman Prediction - 15%
He may be somewhat of a legend plus has a history with Nintendo but I still don't see DLC characters being 3rd party maybe with the exception of Ryu who is all but confirmed. Ubisoft has also announced end of support for Wii U and what not. I just think him really unlikely. First party first.
Monster Hunter x 1
Andy x 2
Neku x 2
VeemonTamer
Cyber Sleuth
Chance 50
want 0
Will explain in more detail after I get off work
Xeno610
The Mysterious Smasher
Brawler610
KenithTheGatherer said:
No offense XenoBrawler, but by the time Inklings would realistically be included in Smash their game will have been out for at least several months.
There is way more time for consumers to "get to know" the Inklings before they appear before Greninja.
While this may be true, putting in the Inklings feels more like a shameless plug by Nintendo. I guess you can say the same for Greninja, but putting the Inklings in would make it feel like that even more so by putting in characters from a very new IP.
Sarki Soliloquy
Andover, MA, USA
For those who remain wholly invested in the "legendary 3rd party" rule, might just want to keep this in mind when rating or speculating:
The longer you hold onto the "iconic" mentality with third-parties, something that no longer exists with Nintendo newcomers, the more its going to sting when the "rule" is broken, whether it be this time or next or whenever, because eventually it will break. Third-party inclusions are unpredictable, Sakurai is a liar, the indies are super motivated, some are fairly close with Nintendo, and popularity is pretty important nowadays.
I commend those people who try to apply logic and precedent to the third-parties, however third-parties are debatably the most unpredictable part of the roster. For every Sonic and Mega Man, there's a Snake and a Ryu. You think arguing logic and precedent would've ended up in favour of those two prior to their inclusions? Not to say logic and precedent aren't unimportant, but Smash fans should recognize that when it comes to creating and therefore predicting the roster, you've got to think outside the box as much as you're going to think inside it.
I'm not saying everyone should start expecting an indie, but opening yourself up to the possibility couldn't hurt.
Chance - 50%: It's a straight toss-up with these celaphodic splat-slingers. It really could go either way. As if Nintendo would want to promote their game awhile after a positive release. Or if they would want to give newer franchises more room to grow overtime before considering them for a new game.
We don't know if this Smash will make more recent characters viable as DLC, just by virtue of expanding the lifespan of the game into the future release line. So I give the Inklings a solid 50% due to the fact that they have all the right factors to be supported (after release). It's only a question of if the fans want them enough. Their characters and even there game have a considerable amount of hype behind them. By the impressions we're getting of Splatoon, it looks like the hype will deliver and make a strong start for this ambitious new franchise. Although, there's always the possibility that Splatoon reeks of chum on release or performs lower than initially expected.
There's no question about their uniqueness. The Inklings could fill a niche of a sniping zoner with huge interplay between AoE mechanics. They could use their various ink-based guns and painting equipment to litter ink onto the ground, which could give them optimized buffs when they are on their ink. Almost like how Robin performs best with his tomes/Levin Sword and becomes less reliable with them expended. They could also morph into their squid forms, which allow them to hide and swim under the surface of their ink, as well as offer a rocket jump recovery attack. It would create a neat interplay in making them very immobile and heavy outside their ink, but very agile and strong within their ink. You can expect their standards and specials to utilize a higher-than-average projectile range & high priority. A directional aiming mechanic might serve them well too.
Besides the plethora of ink-based arms, their sub-weapons could spread ink in many unique ways, such as grenades, sprinklers, showers, etc. You could also take many of the platforming gimmicks found in the single player campaign for specials if you want. Oh, and the ink splatter would make great cosmetic effects too. Just imagine shooting your opponent with ink and having ink droplets stain their texture. Maybe more powerful attacks would straight-up palette swap them! It would disintegrate after awhile though.
Want - 30%: If this was Smash 5, I'd be rallying for the Inklings. Their franchise hasn't even came out of the womb and it should be allowed to grow and not be truncated. It would be shortsighted to include them like a year or two after release, special design exceptions or marketing nonwithstanding. Depending on the gap between the end of the current dev cycle (because clearly Smash 4's isn't over) and the next, there's going to be a fresh amount of Nintendo creative capital, with already 2 new IPs locked down. And boy they better spread it wide, because SSB5 only has so many iconic Nintendo characters left to choose as newcomers, while the lot are B-listers and fan favorites. If Splatoon becomes a hit or even gets a cult following, that's an easy A-list spot to secure for SSB5. And may the gods be gracious if we'll get an SSB6.
But, if it came down to us getting the Inklings in SSB4, I would just deal with it and praise the character. Because I do already.
Chance - 75.7%
Want - 85.9%
Concept: No DLC Characters After Fighter Ballot x3
Galacta Knight x2
Likes: BluePikmin11 and PK_Wonder
ShinyRegice
What's with the eye roll? How does it make him unbalanced exactly?
Okay maybe "Unbalanced by default" was a little exaggerated but I felt like you were comparing an hypothetical custom Mewtwo to the vanilla rest of the roster while I'm actually doing the reverse - comparing vanilla Mewtwo to the rest of the cast with access to custom moves. The entire point of them is to open the door to more playstyles and strategic possibilities like combos, etc. and if Mewtwo lacks them then he has has an automatic and unfair disadvantage against the rest of the cast which benefits from their customs, unless you manage to make him worth using in such a ruleset while still making him balanced for a vanilla (non-custom) ruleset. And if you want my opinion, that is 10x harder than balancing Mewtwo's custom moves
Also considering they're not allowed in For Glory I'm not even sure if Sakurai cares much about custom moves being balanced. They admittedly nerfed Charizard's Dragon Rush (side B number 3), but I doubt all balance changes are done with 1vs1 no item neutral stage stock battle ruleset in mind anyway (I believe it originally dealt almost as much as damage as the original Flare Blitz in Smash 3DS pre-patch, so I think it's more of a "make the move more faithful to what we intended it to do" rather than a proper balance change).
Likes: BluePikmin11
A10theHero
SSJ Fraud
Writing Team
The Hoenn region
+ Potential for awesome movesets
+ Fairly popular from the get-go
+ Brand new IP that Smash could market
~+ Relevant because of new game in May
+ Already going to have amiibos of them available
+/- The success of the game might sway Nintendo's opinion. If it does poorly, they might not want to sell it (especially since they've advertised it so much; if it fails, they might just rage-quit with it)
+/- I don't know what Sakurai thinks for sure, but the fact that they're brand new may or may not affect his opinion. I know in past games, Smash has advertised for brand new characters (Roy and to a lesser extent Marth), but I'm not sure if he'll repeat this.
Rayman: 7%
Nomination:
Spyro the Dragon [x10]
IceBreakerXY
Universal Champion
inkling change:50%
i personally believe there changes aren't in the hands of sakurai but nintendo.If nintendo believes that splatoon needs a bit more advertisting than yeah inkling is pretty much gonna be in the game however if they believe spaltoon can sell will without the smash apperance than i exepct to see them in smash 5.I really don't think sakurai has word in the option.
Inkling want:30%
they'll be cool characters and would be without a doubt have an intereesting moveset.However i feel they are just to new to really have ve in the game yet.This isn't a roy situtation as this they are from an entirely new series and not a series with a history with nintendo already.And i feel they would be better suited from smash 5 as by that time i think will have a splatoon 2 and would be a perfect newcomer
rayman prediction:10.67%(if any othr 3rd parties are to go by)
slippy x5
Likes: Raheem The Dream and PK_Wonder
sogeki
Chicago, home of pizza and Italian beef.
MexicanSaiyan
Inklings would be an amazing way to cross promote both games. I can actually picture Ink jetpacks as a recovery and stuff like that.
Sid-cada
Chance - 20% - Depending on how the ballots go, I can see them getting in. A bit too new to be notable, but at the very least they're a lock for the next game. I know the ballot goes on for a while after the game, though, so I still consider it reasonably possible.
Want - 70% - I'm already a bit hyped for the game, but I would like to wait just a bit for more of them.
Rayman prediction - 21.45% - I haven't a clue, but being third party won't help.
New Guidances X3
Anna (FE) X2
But time changes but look at some of those franchises
F-Zero had GX which commercially flopped and Climax hurt the series by not being advertised more. Mother's latest game didn't release in the West which lets be fair probably would had done well due to NOA calling it Earthbound again for sales. Fire Emblem didn't have the advertisement that it needed like FEA got. And not counting the retro series like Kid Icarus (at Brawl's release) and the like, Golden Sun wasn't up there with most franchises.
And some franchises ie FE didn't get western releases for most of games. When I say Franchises like Punch Out or even Advance Wars, they still had a pull and mainstay with Nintendo, they weren't big but they trumped Golden Sun.
GS for millions on their first 2 games but the reason I said it wasn't but because Nintendo didn't capitalize on it truly.
Compared the Xeboblade which both NOJ and NOA both saw something not took at it like crazy. They didn't with GS like they did, that why I compared Splatoon in theory where hopefully Nintendo will capitalize on it but first letting it develop before trying to hang with Nintendo's major series. Mario, Zelda, Kirby, Pokemon, Star Fox, Metroid, Fire Emblem, Animal Crossing and DK has that major swing of influence and popularit that it established.
Splatoon just needs to build its foundation.
PrettyIvyPearls22
Geez the ratings are all over the place. :O
I'm really liking it.
I have some things to say:
Even with the interviews Swampasaur brought, it doesn't change the fact that he can still change his mind like with he did with fighting characters earlier. It's not going to be fun at all if were to bring up the "iconic" argument every time we rate a non-iconic third-party character.
Also if you're here to give a very low rating just to balance out the ratings, just don't rate at all, that isn't an honest rating. (I regretfully did this when it came to Muddy Mole back in the day, I've gotten a lot of flak for it.)
And I'm sure Risky's Revenge has been released in Japan.
I've seen multiple articles stating about it's release two years.
It appears there seems to be no Japanese release.. hmm.
The fact that all the characters we've seen in Smash have a legacy behind them. Even the heavingly rumored Ryu definitely has a legacy. Shantae is just small when compared to other potential third parties we've seen. She'll stick out like a sore thumb and I mean this in a bad way, she'll open up floodgates. Sonic, Megaman, Pacman, Snake, Ryu all come from very well known and beloved franchises that been around for years and impacted the gaming industry, and helped revolutionize a particular genre in gaming.They are all well known household names. Shantae and Shovel Knight hasn't really done much for us gamers and are just fads for now. The fact that these two aren't really that well known in Japan hurts their chances even more.
I also hate the "advertising excuse" for characters like Shantae, Bayonetta, Shovel Knight etc. if that the case then why do they need Smash? If they're that obscure then what's the point? Third parties shouldn't need advertising to get into Smash the name should already be out there. People didn't want her before the ballot don't really see her getting in now. I'm positive Sakurai isn't going to change his mind about third parties he's created a trend with it and I think he's going to stick with it. Yes, even for DLC I'm sure he still have his rules and reasonings. People are just going to end up getting dissappoined at third parties characters, for still not getting in. Most people are being honest if they don't want her, then they don't want her. Don't force a character on us just so we can like them. We can rate them low if we like if they have a shot. If we don't likke them then let us be. You're signature means nothing it too is made up rule by you. You only made that so that the third party characters that you hope can be in so that they can be excuseable. So your signature rule is also abstain. The people that are pushing for Shantae and Shovel Knight is making me even more hesitant to try their games I've only heard praises no negatives those games can't be that flawless that people are making them out to be. I know there good games out there but even the good one have their flaws.
Play Super Smash Flash 2 if you want even more obscure third parties dang it.
Likes: Scamper52596 and TallT
BluePikmin11
Akko is my dear daughter!
https://twitter.com/BluePikmin11R
I don't think you understand.
I'm just keeping open the possibility, all of didn't expect fighting game characters to be in because Sakurai said so until the Ryu/Roy files were found, that can easily change for non-iconic 3rd parties too.
And I'm not forcing you to like them, I just want you guys to just keep the possibility that other non-iconic third parties can join. if you keep the mindset and a non-iconic character gets in, it's gonna end up being very toxic.
And I'm sure there were Shantae supporters before the ballot, tons of them actually as I was a part of pre-Smash 4 speculation.
Pacack
Super Pac-Fan
US (Mountain Time, -7 Hours)
And I'm not forcing you to like them, I just want you guys to just keep the possibility that other non-iconic third parties can join.
If they're not rating the character 0%, then they're not claiming that the character is an impossibility.
Likes: Yomi's Biggest Fan, TallT, Scamper52596 and 5 others
As long as it's not 0%, then I'm ok with it for the most part.
Again not forcing you to like them, just keep open the possibility.
I also hate the "advertising excuse" for characters like Shantae, Bayonetta, Shovel Knight etc. if that the case then why do they need Smash? If they're that obscure then what's the point?
For the record, they aren't obscure at all, not Bubsy obscure, they are from pretty popular, relevant franchises that can get some people excited for their inclusion in Smash.
Really? You may have seen Shantae be requested during preSmash 4. I've never once seen someone put Shantae for a possibility on the roster for possible third party for Smash4. She was never bought up by anyone in all honesty during pre speculation. Everyone quickly denied her here. I'm scared of even giving her a chance because really her community kind of ruined the experience of me wanting to support her.
FooltheFlames
needs hugs~<3
Ashley's Haunted Mansion!
The Inklings huh?
Chance: 64% Inkling is doing great on the ballot polls from what I see, Nintendo is heavily promoting it, Roy was in Melee b4 his game ever came out to promote the newest FE game at the time.
Want: 10% No offense to the character or his/her fans, but I havent even played Splatoon yet, and cant be sure I'll like it b4 I play. videos are not enough for me to judge if I'm gonna enjoy it or not yet.
I know the game is going to be a high quality one ofc, becuz it's freaking Nintendo behind it! But I dont enjoy every Nintendo game as much as I do say, Zelda or Pokemon~
smileMasky
parent's basment
TPPyro
I think I've said this before but I think Nintendo Does have a few rules they follow for characters and I only see them beak their own rules on their 1st part characters. So I know that they might have had good sales on their consoles but I think what they are looking for in a character is how Iconic they are they Need to go above and beyond and also fit in to the smash universe 3rd party has it easy But Indies I see them extremely outside the radar. Sure we got a few trophies for indie game titles but that's just it, trophies they need to have a massive main stream audience from East AND West or have a really good history with Nintendo. Again the only ones I really see having it sort of higher chance are the big company 3rd parties.
PrettyIvyPearls22 said:
Really? You may have seen Shantae be requested during preSmash 4. I've never once seen someone put Shantae for a possibility on the roster for possible third party for Smash4. She was never bought up by anyone in all honesty during pre speculation.
She was wanted before, but mainly not expected in the main roster.
Everyone quickly denied her here. I'm scared of even giving her a chance because really her community kind of ruined the experience of me wanting to support her
You should, all of the popular indie characters people are supporting come from very good games that you can buy on the eShop.
Once you play their games, you'll understand why they support them.
smileMasky said:
If that's your view, ok then, but I'll just remain open to the possibility.
hey I never said they don't have a chance I just see it low but if their in their in if their not their not no sense in complaining right?
Old School Tommy
Smash Cadet
Inklings:
Chance: 10% (Inklings are overrated imo. Just because they have an amiibo, it does't mean they're pretty much guaranteed for Smash. MP 10 has their own amiibos)
http://www.gonintendo.com/s/251612-...much-smash-bros-dlc-as-possible-made-for-fans
It’s a huge undertaking to create a fighter, so I think we can’t make them in large quantities. I’d also like to feel refreshed when the project is over. However, since we have decided to tackle [DLC] once, I’d like to offer as much fun [content] as possible. It will take a while from now, but please look forward to it.
Would this change any of your views with DLC having more than 10+ characters now?
Likes: Kalimdori and Yomi's Biggest Fan
colder_than_ice
INKLINGS!!
Chance: 35% - On one hand it definitely seems unlikely that Sakurai would put a character in Smash without knowing how successful the franchise will been, on the other hand Nintendo has been promoting this game like crazy. Splatoon has already recieved lots of coverage from almost every Nintendo direct since E3 and Inklings themselves already have three Amiibos. I don't remember the last time Nintendo advertised a new IP this much, where was all this promotion when Wonderful 101, Pushmo World or Code Name S.T.E.A.M. were in development?
Want: 90% - I love their design and I think they'll turn out to be fun characters to use.
Nominations: Henry Flemming x5 (Finally beat his game today)
DAY OVER
PLEASE WAIT WHILE I CALCULATE THE RESULTS
Likes: PK_Wonder and BluePikmin11
Hey so the Inklings huh well let take a look at these guys:
Let's look at some pros.
From a new IP, that may be "Nintendo's New Secret Weapon".
Relevant, about to have their game released next month.
More than likely could show up as another preballot character.
Nintendo wants this to be one of their next big-hitter franchises "not named Mario, Pokemon, or Legend of Zelda".
Gameplay has been shown for possible moveset potential.
Customization available for both gender, weaponry, and clothing.
Already receiving positive reactions even with their game not out by just playing demos.
Getting requested by the ballot from the community and are pretty popular and plausible newcomers that is first party.
They have their own Amiibos that's compatiable with their own game and may work for Smash.
Possible characters that would attract Sakuari's attention.
Wow there's actually a lot going for them here actually.
But let's look at some Cons
Nintendo may think that they're not ready for Smash yet.
Needs more exposure.
The game may end up flopping.
May want to be saved for a possible Smash 5 newcomer.
May have to have more games under their belt.
Chances: 75%
This is as high as I'll go for now. The Inklings are pretty popular. Even without their game being out, they could end up being the new Fire Emblem of Smash Bros. It seems like something Nintendo would do. The Amiibos are also there which is all something that Smash have. I don't see why the Inkling won't show up here.
Want: 100%
Again this seem like a character that would attract Sakuari. They have moveset potential. It'll be another customizable character to add to the roster. They'll be heavy projectile users something we don't much of in Smash. It would be a new IP to have some kind of representation. We can get stages, trophies, items from this new universe. I have this gut feeling that the Inkling will make it as another pre-ballot DLC character they can easily get revealed at E3 or in a direct. We know a good bit about them already. Sakuari have to had known about Splatoon before we even did. They'll totally fit into the Smash Universe.
jahkzheng
We're on to the new IP now, Inkling. Messiest character yet~
Here's my picture of the categories I'll use for assessing characters again again...
These points are for making a best estimate of their chances, although the weight of each category is still unknown at this time. Other unforeseen factors could keep the character from being added. I'll likely post this at the start of all my assessments.
The Inklings of Splatoon are riding the high of having an imminent game release, being cool and interesting looking, being unique, having no preconceptions weighing them down, and making sense from a marketing standpoint to become DLC. Most polls I've seen, they're often top 5 newcomer material. People are really just starting to believe they'll get in too, even if they're not huge supporters. The theory is that Nintendo would try to cash in on what they expect to be a big franchise. The jury's still out on the game, but we can't deny they're putting a lot of marketing effort into Splatoon. People like fresh faces too, and the Inklings seem like they could be it.
The Inklings are a kind of "squid children" that represent Splatoon's brand, but no one Inkling is a main character or anything. This does open up the possibility for several alt looks a la Villager however. The most recognizable Inkling is arguably the default female Inkling. Lots of people instantly feel in love with her design specifically, but even more so just to concept of the characters. It terms of what they mean in the grand scheme of things? Well, they're relevant, but they have no history and haven't even proved to be the next big property of Nintendo's although they're being pushed that way.
The Inklings could really present some very unique characters. Not only are they diverse in a appearance, but they're weapons of choice could potentially introduce a whole different appearance to the game... quite literally. It's hard for me to wrap my head around how they'd do this, but Inklings use paint guns and their weapons imply an ability to paint opponents at the very least. Could we really see a whole new texturing algorithm added to Smash for the Inkling weapons? Would be pretty awesome to see Mario completely covered in yellow paint or something. I imagine it wouldn't be too far from what they do for metal characters, except the colors and texturing would be different obviously. I don't see painted characters getting partially covered since that would require a bit much game coding to do and it just seems too busy of a feature to toss in the game for a single character. Partial painting of stages seems unlikely too unless it's something a single move could do in a specific way, although I could see a Final Smash completely covering every texture on screen in paint. Beyond the main gimmick of Inkling's weapons, we have a variety of ways to attack. I could see Inklings having paint pistols, paint bombs, paint mines, paint rollers, paint brushes, paint buckets, paint anything really being a tool for attacking. It's definitely a unique gimmick to base a moveset around that no one comes close to claiming too.
Inklings are relevant. Or, at least, they're on the brink of relevancy. They've appeared in many directs and advertising for Nintendo, and the company thinks they could be the next big thing. They're arguably relevant even pre-release simply because Nintendo has been doing well to give them exposure. Nintendo's been pushing them so hard in fact that some believe the next logical step from the company would be to push them into the Smash roster. Whether the Inklings will get such love remains to be seen. As it is, it appears they're relevancy is only going to get greater until the day their game releases, at which point they'll be moving into the realm of increasing importance and perhaps even more popularity.
Inklings are part of a new IP that may or may not be a franchise title. They are the face of this new IP though and assuming it continues on to success, they're the only choice for representation of their game. I'm undecided on whether Inkings are ready though. I'll just say that, yes, they could use the representation if they live up to their hype.
The only thing really limits Inklings is that they're an untested property. Some say they push from Nintendo and marketing opportunities overshadow this, but it truly remains to be seen what risks Nintendo is willing to make. They're popularity isn't Isaac and K. Rool levels either so assuming we get very little DLC it could be a lot of competition for them to get in past other "best of the rest" contenders. Many see Inklings as having an edge even if they're popularity isn't as big as Isaac or K. Rool because relevance and marketing opportunities though, and there's a belief out there that whether we want them or not doesn't matter because we might just get them anyways. I don't think it's that clear however.
Final Assessment
They're popular enough and I think there may be enough of a marketing opportunity there to get a little boost. The risk involved in backing an untested property prevents me from bumping their chances as high as the marketing opportunity alone would. I think a character like Wolf is a much much safer and more obvious marketing opportunity in the near future, and Krystal may qualify along with him. Still, 55% is not bad odds by my standards. Nearly as good as Krystal and Isaac who are from tested properties that are either just as popular or more so than Inkling.
I'm just not quite sold yet. I think this character needs more of a chance to prove itself. I like the possibilities though.
Here's how I think the thread will vote for Rayman...
Prediction for Rayman
Chance: 15.1%
Want: 51.5%
2 Points to Snake~
2 Points to Sceptile - (that one's for you Delzethin!)
1 Point to Bayonetta?
I don't want to pick Wolf because I don't think it would be interesting even though I really want him too.
CHANCE: 43.29%
Want: 45.19%
We may not know much about their game but that didn't stop the Inklings from getting a decent score. Next up we're rating Rayman. He already has a trophy but can he go further? Also please predict what score Snake will get tomorrow.
Likes: Scamper52596
It doesn't change my views either way. I still expect eight or nine DLC characters and although I do think ten or more is plausible, it's a viewpoint I've maintained before.
As for Rayman, I will rate later. I don't really see the case for Rayman, but I will wait and see what other says before throwing in my two cents.
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Cousin Dee Dee Warwick ‘sexually abused’ Whitney Houston
This has to be the most shocking new from the the 2018 Cannes Film Festival‚ a new film titled ‘Whitney’ has claimed that Whitney Houston was sexually abused by her cousin‚ Dee Dee Warwick.
The singer’s half-brother and former assistant make the claims in the film‚ Whitney‚ which is directed by Scottish filmmaker Kevin Macdonald.
Dee Dee Warwick is the younger sister of soul singer Dionne Warwick and was the niece of Houston’s mother. She died in 2008 at age 63.
Irrespective of the claims, The film still received praise
Niniola was robbed of R300 000 in cash and jewellery in South Africa
Cardi B celebrates a wedding and a funeral in ‘Be Careful’ video
This has to be the most shocking new from the the 2018 Cannes Film Festival‚ a new film titled ...
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NOVEL CHALLENGE
Day #8
8 Emails
1 Epic Adventure
SEE RULES >
2 MONTH NOVEL
Weekly Emails
from your mentor Hannah Long
This is the second ever STORYTELLERS novel challenge!!! My name is Heidi Olson, and I work as the director here at Storytellers. Which basically means I get to write cool emails, talk to people, and work on stories! And I am jumping for joy to welcome you to this novel challenge!
Okay, I’ll set aside exclamation points for a couple sentences and actually explain why I’m writing to you:
Run through quick recap of details
Explain the emails
Introduce Hannah
1. Recap
So let’s run through a quick recap of the challenge details just so we’re all on the same page. The goal of this challenge is to create, write, and edit an original literary story and submit it to us by: Jun 30 at 11:59 PM EST.
At any point in the month, if you have questions or tech trouble or just need help understanding something better, you can reach out to me or Christopher Stewart.
Heidi Olson
Email: heidi_olson@sctreehouse.com
Email: christopher_stewart@sctreehouse.com
(Heads up, your tech questions are probably better directed to Christopher…)
Your original literary story can be a novel, fiction, non-fiction, short story collection, children's book, or any type of story that is told in a literary form. There cannot be any sex, nudity, or taking the Lord’s name in vain in your finished performance since the foremost goal of Storytellers is to glorify God. Your final edited book, author information, and/or artwork must be submitted along with a manuscript of your book by June 30 at 11:59 PM EST. That way, if you win, others can read your creation, too!
Any questions on that? Visit https://storytellers.sctreehouse.com/two-month-novel.html to read through the FAQ’s or contact one of us.
2. Emails
On to the emails! Our goal in this challenge is not only to provide an opportunity for you to create something amazing (although, that’s definitely part of the goal). The other side of the goal is equip and train you so that as you create, you learn. And as you learn, you create with even more excellence.
So, every week, in May and June, you will receive an email. In these emails Hannah will be sharing not only the lessons she has learned through personal experience in writing but also the lessons others have shared with her. I encourage you to read them because:
I hope they’re actually helpful to your storytelling journey.
You can give us feedback on what was helpful and what wasn’t so that next year, this challenge gets even better.
That being said, if there is particular topics you would like some insight on, please contact us at the email address above and let us know! We want to cover ground that is helpful to you.
Keep in mind that emails are not meant to be your exact outline of how the challenge should go. The goal in writing to you is to offer insight that can help you along the way, but you are the leader of your challenge.
Now, I should probably let Hannah introduce herself now so that you actually know who this Hannah Long person is.
I am Hannah. I grew up in a family of three boys and two girls (of which I am the oldest).
A normal evening in my house was painted with the scene of five excited young imaginations pulling at the sleeves of our poor father begging him to read "just one more chapter" of whatever book we found ourselves in the middle of exploring.
These times helped to birth a love for books in my heart.
From the age of 12 I have been putting ink to the page. Building story after story. Saving damsel after damsel. Slaying dragon after dragon. And helping character after character find true love.
Most of my writings have never seen the light of day, but many have. That is just a part of the process. Writing is learning about the hearts and souls of humans. As with any discovery, sometimes you unearth a gem (worthy of sharing) other times all the work gives is rocks and roots.
Over the coming months I hope you enjoy the process of writing your stories. Each day will bring a new obstacle to overcome. But, that is what gives us joy in finishing.
What’s your story? We are excited to meet and walk with you on this journey! Go ahead and introduce yourself in the comments below, get to know the other people in this challenge, and get ready for the adventure. It’s time to tell a story!
Day 1 - 7
Day 1 - 7 | Generating Ideas
Today, we're going to focus on generating ideas for fictional characters.
Elements of a story
There are three elements that a story needs: a character, a setting, and a conflict.A piece of writing is not a story unless something happens in it. If nothing happens, the piece might be a description or an article or a philosophical discourse, but not a story.
In a story, something has to happen. It happens to someone (a *character*), and it happens somewhere (*a setting*).
A *conflict* -- or problem -- is what makes something happen. We'll talk more about conflict, and why it's necessary, later.
How story ideas are born
Authors generally start with one of three elements (character, setting, or conflict) and use the one chosen to come up with the other two. There's no right or wrong order to this process.
An idea for a conflict (for example, high school bullying), can lead both to character ideas (Who's the bully? What motivates him? Who are the victims? How will they respond?) and also to setting ideas (What kind of school do these characters attend? Where is this school located? Is it a rough public school, a snooty private one?).
An idea for a setting (for example, a Mississippi cotton plantation just before the Civil War) can lead to conflict ideas (slaves forcibly separated from their children), and character ideas (a pregnant slave willing to risk her life to keep her unborn child).
Or an idea for a character (for example, a woman who is obsessed with neatness) can lead to conflict ideas (In what situation would the character's obsession with neatness become a problem? In what situation would she face a mess she couldn't control?), and setting ideas (the woman's ultra-organized apartment with its elaborate systems of cabinets, compartments, and labeled containers).
Next, let's start coming up with some character ideas that you'll use to get ideas for conflict and setting.
5 ways to get character ideas
How do you get ideas for characters? Here are five different ways. EACH ONE of these is a gold mine.
Method # 1: People-watch
Observe people who pass you on the street; go to a mall or a café and watch the people around you. Look at how they dress and present themselves, their facial expressions, their gestures, how they move, how they interact with each other. Try to imagine their lives.
Watch people in line at the supermarket -- listen to their conversations, pay attention to what they're buying. Do they live by themselves or with children? Do they have pets? Do they cook a lot, or do they keep precooked food in their freezers? Are they planning a party? Or, are they possibly drinking too much alone?
Every one of these people can become a fictional character in your stories.
Method # 2: Get ideas from the newspaper
Newspapers are a rich source of character ideas.
When you read about ordinary people in extraordinary situations, try to imagine the people behind the headlines. What might have caused a particular woman to shoot her husband? What kind of person might she be, and what might her husband have been like?
The people you imagine are likely to be very different from the real people involved in the news item. That's fine. They're fictional characters that you have invented. Now you can use them however you like in your stories.
Wedding announcements and obituaries are another great place to look for character ideas. Use your imagination to fill in the blank space around the information the newspaper reports.
Method # 3: Get ideas from names
A name triggers a complex set of associations, based on its sound and the way it looks on a page, based also on the people we have known or heard of with that name or similar names.
Take a moment to picture a woman named Gertrude, a woman named Donna, a woman named Veronique. What images do these names bring to mind? I imagine three very different women.
The name Gertrude makes me think of a sixty-year-old woman with graying chin-length hair pushed back behind her ears. She wears no makeup and has deep lines along the sides of her mouth. She is tall and lean -- she takes long walks every day, and she has a swift, determined stride as if she's always on her way to solve an urgent problem.
Your Gertrude is probably completely different from mine. That's great.
Whenever you need character ideas, write down three names. Choose the names at random from a phone book or another directory, or just write down the first three names that occur to you.
Try to picture a person with each of the names you've chosen. Take notes on what you imagine. You've just come up with the seeds of three characters!
Method # 4: Mix and match
Often, writers base characters on real people they know. That sometimes works well, but in other cases, it can be limiting. It can be hard to stop thinking of the real person and imagine the character separately.
Here's a different method to try: create a character that mixes aspects of several people you know.
For example, you might invent a character who is partly based on your father, partly based on one of your high school teachers, and partly based on your boss at work. Or, you might base a character on your father, but make that character a woman. You could base the character's physical appearance on a waitress you saw at a restaurant.
The result of each combination will be a character who shares similarities with all of these people but, at the same time, is different from all of them, unique.
Method # 5: Turn characters into more characters
Each character you create can be the seed of more character ideas.
Who is in your character's family? What are your character's parents like? Who is your character's best friend? Who is your character's enemy? What kind of person gets on your character's nerves? What kind of person attracts your character romantically or feels attracted by your character?
Brainstorm on questions like these, then develop the answers into new characters.
Try at least *two* of the five methods we've discussed to get character ideas. Come up with ideas for at least *three* characters.
Day 8 -14
Day 8 - 14 | Build Your Characters
How to develop a character?
Once you have an idea for a character, you can start developing the character by imagining more aspects of this person and his or her life.
Here's a questionnaire that you can use to create character profiles. Feel free to change any of the questions or add new ones:
- What's the character's occupation?
- What's the character's family like?
- Is the character in a relationship? What's his or her partner like?
- What is the character's home like? His or her neighborhood?
- Does your character have hobbies? What does he or she enjoy doing?
- What are your character's greatest strengths?
- What are his or her greatest weaknesses?
- What is his/her deepest desire?
- What is his/her greatest fear?
- What is something this character desperately wants to change about himself or herself?
- What is something this character doesn't know about himself or herself?
Most of this information will not actually go into your stories, but it will help you to flesh out the characters in your own mind so that you can write about them in a convincing way.
Your answers to these questions can also become an endless source of story ideas. I will show you how that works in the next email.
Use the Character Questionnaire to write character profiles for all of your characters.
ask questions and learn more
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Toy stores start releasing teasers for their Black Friday 2017 deals
by StuffedParty | posted in: Blog, Featured, News, Parenting, Plush toys, Stuffed animals, Stuffed toys | 0
This year Black Friday is on November 24. Some toy stores are already starting to release teasers about their deals. So, let’s check them out.
Many stores will offer countless of deals. Naturally, we will focus mostly on the toy related ones. Shops will all have different offers and times so, it’s best to check your local affiliates beforehand, too.
But there are plenty of options. Some stores will also offer free shipping on their online deals during Black Friday.
Target for example will be among these stores. They will also have special deals and early access to some Black Friday deals for REDcard holders.
What’s more, Target will have more than 1000 toys selling for under $10 each and nearly 2000 more toys for under $20 a pop. So, there will be quite a lot of choice for you and you better plan accordingly. Also, shoppers who spend more than $50 in the Target stores or on the online shop on November 24 will get a 20% off coupon for a future visit.
JCPenney will also have big toy discounts. In fact, the stores will offer between 30% and 50% off of all toys.
Kohl’s also puts a lot of focus on electronics and games. It will offer an Xbox One S 500GB for $189.99 and a PlayStation 4 1TB for $199.99.
Kmart puts focus on toys as well. It will offer between 10% and 40% off of most toys. Among them is Hatchimals for $58.49, Doc McStuffins Baby All-in-One nursery for $62.89 and more.
Toys R Us is currently in a pre-Black Friday mood with special offers that will run until that day before the Black Friday deals kick in. There’s bound to be even more deals announced, so keep your eyes peeled. Amazon is also set to offer some huge deals on its site and it’s already teasing some of them. So, you better save up and plan accordingly from now.
action figures, LEGO, news, plush animals, Plush toys, soft toys, Stuffed animals, Stuffed toys, teddy bears, toy store, toys
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Surya Bowyer
A bold and unapologetic production
suryabowyer May 22, 2017 May 25, 2017 Stage
Much to the delight of you and I, the Oxford theatre scene is full of first-evers. Last Hilary, the first-ever student production of Nick Payne’s Constellations was staged at the O’Reilly Theatre. In Michaelmas came the first production of Nick Dear’s Frankenstein since its original run at the National Theatre in 2011. Earlier this term, the first-ever theatrical adaptation of Four Lions was staged at the Michael Pilch Studio.
This week, the Pilch makes a trend of filmic first-evers with Suspiria, adapted from Dario Argento’s 1977 classic. The production was perhaps spurred on by the recent news that the film is being remade, with Luca Guadagnino at the helm. Guadagnino’s last film (A Bigger Splash) was one of 2015’s most unfairly overlooked gems, so fans of Argento’s original can sleep well at night – the remake is in good hands. But is this stage production?
Argento’s film is thoroughly filmic. It makes heavy, stylised use of a musical score. Nearly all its shots are very thoughtfully composed, with a particularly arresting penchant for high angles. Close-ups are deployed to emphasise and isolate moments of horror. This makes a stage adaptation rather problematic, and perhaps explains why, in the forty years since the film’s release, no-one has attempted a theatrical transposition. The question here is: how do you convert these effects to application on the stage?
Thankfully, the film’s most distinctive visual motif – a pervasive, eerie pink glow – has been preserved by lighting designer Sarah Wallace. The film’s score, by Italian prog band Goblin, is also retained – demonic chanting and all. Whilst director Hannah Kessler is listed also as having ‘adapted’ the film, script changes remain remarkably minor: the psychologist plot tangent is cut and the protagonist, Suzy Bannion, is switched from American to British. Generally, this production approaches the original as sacrosanct.
This is not to say Kessler’s staging lacks innovation. Some use of bodily movement was always to be expected – it’s set in a ballet academy, after all. But what stands out is the intelligent use of bodies in scenes which would otherwise be awkward to stage. Black ballet leotards are here useful due to their inconspicuousness, allowing actors’ bodies to become dynamic aspects of the set. They swarm obnoxiously towards Bannion to recreate the storm which opens the film, they freeze in angular poses to form the forest that early victim Pat Hingle scampers through. In the now iconic scene where Hingle is murdered, the problem of creating both a window and a balcony is handled in a similarly ingenious manner.
With all this ingenuity, the doubling of Pavlo and Mark is handled in a nonsensical manner. Having the same actor play both roles is not a problem in itself: indeed, the same actor plays Dr Mandel. The problem here is of clarity. When playing Mandel, Connor John Warden dons a brown coat – a simple touch, but one that distinguishes the character visually. But Warden wears the same simple all-black costume when playing both Pavlo and Mark, a decision sure to bewilder those less familiar with the film. First we are told Pavlo speaks only Romanian. Soon after, Warden reappears, effortlessly conversing with Bannion in English. It is not immediately clear that he is playing a different character.
Despite this, Warden is a standout among the cast. Whether playing Mandel or Pavlo, he is adroit when it comes to producing laughs from the audience, and slides between roles with ease. Anusia Battersby’s stern turn as Miss Tanner is reminiscent of Alida Valli without being merely an imitation, and her authority over the girls is palpable throughout. Jessie See, playing Sara, has perhaps the most difficult role, having to go from cool and collected to paranoid mess in what could easily be an abrupt, jarring shift. But See thoroughly inhabits her character, and the shift is as natural as the over-the-top acting style allows.
The Pilch can be a difficult space to work with. Lazy design means that doors slam, and the fire escape sign over the stage right door means that you can never fully black out the space. As the script, perhaps as a stipulation of obtaining the rights, remains largely untouched, the production is made up of many short scenes in varying locations. The reliance on cumbersome items such as tables, chairs, and – egad – an upright electric piano, is frustrating given that set-changes between scenes were under-rehearsed. Things were dropped, the translucent psych hung towards the back of the stage was pulled up and out of shape, and at one agonising point the carefully painted screen was knocked over.
It is a shame that these things negatively impacted an otherwise bold and unapologetic production. But some solace can be taken in the knowledge that opening night is never the most fluid experience, and things will get better as the run goes on. Fans of Argento’s original will be more than satisfied by this show, whilst my counterpart – a thoroughbred Argento virgin – assured me that for those unacquainted with the giallo classic there is much terror, creepiness, and fun to be had here. If a production which brings the lights down for the final time on the entire cast screaming in unison sounds like your kind of thing (it should), then head over to Jowett Walk and see this.
Originally published in the Cherwell newspaper, 6 March 2017.
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Home > Buzz Andy Cohen Gets Dragged Into RHONJ Family Feud
Andy Cohen Gets Dragged Into RHONJ Family Feud
Amber and Jim Marchese's family has been at war since their son, Michael, made claims he was financially cut off.
Ashley Hoover Baker June 28, 2019 8:12am
Former Real Housewives of New Jersey star, Amber Marchese, is involved in a Family Feud. Her son, James ‘Michael’ Marchese, claimed his family cut him off after coming out of the closet. Michael’s father, Jim Marchese, denied his son’s accusations and fueled the fire by getting mouthy.
This was made public when Michael first shared his saga in a GoFundMe campaign. The post detailed his needing $35,000 to help pay for his freshman year tuition at Fairfield University. He claimed his dad cut him off until he lives “according to his standards,” according to the post. Click here for the full backstory.
How is Bravo‘s Daddy, Andy Cohen involved?
The Watch What Happens Live host commented that he wasn’t surprised about the Marchese saga and found it to be ‘pathetic.’ (This is not the first time Jim has been in the news for making homohobic comments.)
Jim fired back with, ‘Andy you are single for a reason,’ according to reports from The Daily Mail. Jim continued, “Paid for a baby, [You’re] last person to comment on me – keep, exploiting & abusing women.”
Do you think Michael will reconcile with his parents? Let me know in the comments!
Category: Bravo TV, Real Housewives Gossip Tags: Amber Marchese, Andy Cohen, Bravo, Fairfield University, family feud, GoFundMe, James Michael Marchese, Real Housewives of New Jersey
Comment below!
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Tag Archives: Bhrigu
Tantra – Agama – Part four – Vaikhanasa continued
Continued from Part Three
Vaikhanasa Literature- continued
68.1. Vaikhanasa-kalpa –sutra ascribed to Sage Vaikhanasa and the various texts collectively called Vaikhanasa Shastra composed by his four disciples are together taken to be the cannon of the Vaikhanasa tradition. Scholars date these texts as being around third or fourth century. But, the next significant reference to Vaikhanasas appears in the inscriptions dated around ninth century (during the time of Raja Raja Chola). The developments, if any, within the Vaikhanasa tradition between the period of the Vaikhanasa Shastra and the ninth century are rather hazy and virtually unknown. It was only after this period that a number of significant texts were produced detailing temple and domestic rituals. The authors of these texts were mostly the temple priests serving at the major Vishnu temples following the Vaikhanasa mode of worship.
68.2. The reasons for recording those texts appear to be two-fold. One, to prescribe in detail and to establish temple–worship sequences and procedures; and, the other to assert and defend the identity of the Vaikhanasa tradition in the face of the challenges it was facing from the Sri Vaishnava sect that was beginning to gain ascendancy.
68.3. By about the 11th century, Sri Vaishnavas established themselves as the dominant sect among the Vaishnavas. And, their way of worship (pancharatra) took charge of most Vaishnava temples in South India, and made it open to a larger participation by larger segments of the community. As a result of this development, the Vaikhanasas, rooted in orthodoxy, appeared to have been increasingly marginalized as temple priests. In order to distinguish themselves and to assert their identity as hereditary temple ritual-specialists following the pristine Vedic practices they interpreted certain pre-natal rituals (say, Vishnu –Bali) to serve as the boundaries of their group. Those set of rituals and the texts that highlighted the superiority of Vaikhanasa parampara, pantha (tradition) and its siddantha (ideology) attempted to transform the self perception of a close knit group of priestly class placed in a fluid historical and local setting.
69.1. The Vaikhanasas scholars of this period strove to define and defend their unique identity through their highly specialized practices; and, by means of their texts on temple worship rituals and the domestic rituals. Among these, Nrsimha Vajapeyin, Bhatta Bhaskaracharya, Anantacharya and above all Sreenivasa-makhin are prominent.
69.2. Nrsimha Vajapeyin (described as the disciple of Varadacharya and son of Madhavacharya) is held in high regard as a great scholar well versed in Vedic srauta rituals (he having performed the Vajapeya yajna), in Vaikhanasa temple worship-rituals, and in Tantra-mantra-shastra. His Bhagavad-archa-prakarana details the daily worship procedures at the temple. He also prepared an elaborate and an excellent gloss on the seven chapters of Grihya-sutra, three chapters of Dharma-sutra and on the one chapter of Pravara-sutra. Nrsimha Vajapeyin’s gloss provides main framework for the elaborations in the later texts. It also lucidly presents the significant aspects of temple-worship sequences, in concise form.
69.3. His disciple, Bhatta Bhaskaracharya wrote commentaries on Daivika and Manusha sutras ; and, also on Khila (appendix) mantras of Rig-Veda.
69.4. However, the most prolific writer among them was Sreenivasa-makhin (also known as Sreenivasa Dikshita or Sreenivasa-adhvari) hailed as ‘the Vedanta Deshika of Vaikhanasas’. He enjoys a preeminent position in the Vaikhanasa lore. It is said; he was the son of Govindacharya and Rukminiyamma of Vaikhanasa Brahmin family of Kaushika gotra. He was born at Venkatachala (Vrsagiri), the present Tirumala. Sreenivasa-makhin served as the priest in the temple of Sri Venkateshwara on the Tirumala hills. He is said to have lived after Nrsimha Vajapeyin, Bhatta Bhaskara and Anantacharya. And, his period is said to be around the 11-12th century.
69.5. Sreenivasa-makhin in his famous work Dasha – vidha – hetu-nirupana , the descriptions of the tenfold reasons (or arguments why Vaikhanasas are superior) outlines the situation of the Vaikhanasas as obtaining and provides the strategies to establish the superiority of Vaikhanasas over rival traditions, the Vaishnava sects in particular. Dasha-vidha-hetu-nirupana, perhaps, came about as a reaction to the perceived threats from the more aggressive Pancharatra sect, which at that time was gathering strength and gaining ascendancy.
70.1. Dasha-vidha-hetu- nirupana emphasized the merits of Vaikhanasa tradition, highlighting its distinctive features and merits; demarcated Vaikhanasa from the rival traditions, particularly the Pancharatra; and put forth elaborate reasons why Vaikhanasa is superior to other traditions.
70.2. At the commencement of the text (2.5-9) Sreenivasa-makhin presents in abstract form ten reasons why Vaikhanasa is superior to other traditions:
(i) Vaikhanasa-sutra is established by Sage Vaikhana an incarnate Vishnu who is the cause of the world;
(ii) it is the first among all the sutras;
(iii) it follows the ways of Sruti (Vedas) in all its ritual-actions;
(iv) it encases all its ritual-actions in Vedic mantras;
(v) it has niseka as its first life-cycle ritual;
(vi) it prescribes eighteen kinds of bodily life-cycle rituals (samakaras) that purify body and mind ;
(vii) it presents unity of ritual-actions and their associated components ;
(viii) it is accepted by Manu and other Sutra-kaaras;
(ix) it extols the absolute supremacy of the glorious Narayana who is the only cause of the entire universe; and
(x) those who ardently follow the Vaikhanasa dharma as expounded in its sutra are dearest to the adorable Narayana.
akhila jagat kāraṇa bhūtena vikhanasā praṇītatvāt. sarva sūtrāṇām āditvāt. sarva karmasu śruti mārgā anusāritvāt. samantrakasarvakriyā pratipādakatvāt. niṣekasaṃskārādi matvāt. aṣṭādaśa śārīrasa ṃskāraprati pādakatvāt. sāṅga kriyākalāpa vattvāt. manvādyaiḥ svīkṛtatvāt. akhila jagad eka kāraṇa bhūta śrīmannārāyaṇa eika paratvāt. etat sūtrokta dharmānuṣṭhāna vatām eva bhagavat priyatama tvopapatteś ca. iti.
70.3. Sreenivasa-makhin cites, in support of his arguments, passages from various Grihya and Dharma sutras, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Upanishads, Puranas and various other texts that are generally held in acclaim. He says the worship at home (griha-archa) which is done for securing individual and family welfare; and worship in temple (alaya-archa) which is done for the good of the whole community are both important. But, for icon-worship the temple is said to be the most suitable place.
70.4. The central issue that runs through Dasha-vidha–hetu-nirupana is establishing the eligibility (adhikara) of the Vaikhanasas, gained by birth, to act as temple- priests (archaka) in Vishnu temples – mukhyādikāriṇāṃ vaikhānasānāṃ, to worship on behalf of the devotees, and to mediate between god and the devotees. Sreenivasa-makhin argues that the Vaikhanasa worship of the deity installed in temples is for the good of all (sarve janah): the individual, the community (loka), the state (rastra), the glory of the ruler (rajan) and the welfare of the ruled (praja). It prays for timely rains, for abundance of food, the well being of the animals (dvi pade, chatush pade) and of the whole of nature. The worship of the deity installed at the temple is thus benign (soumya) and beneficial/auspicious (Sri Kara) to all. It contributes to the spiritual uplift of all the worshiping devotees. This worship is regarded as Kriya-yoga.
70.5. Sreenivasa-makhin explains that the Vaikhanasa tradition accommodates those who prefer to worship the form-less (amurtha-archana) through yajna, as also those who worship Vishnu through his icon (samurtha-bhagavad-yajna). It is explained; the two are not substantially different. Yet; according to Sreenivasa-makhin, in the present age of Kali the Agama inspired worship is most suitable, since the srauta and smarta rituals are beyond the capability of most of the people. He however adds; the temple must be properly constructed; the and the icon appropriately installed in it; and it should be effectively consecrated. The worship should be carried out with single-minded devotion by priests well trained in conducting worship –sequences.
71.1. Among the other Vaikhanasa texts, the significant ones is, Archana – navanita (the essence of worship) by Keshavacharya who also prepared a gloss (vritti) on Vedanta Sutras of Badarayana, from the standpoint of view of Lakshmi-vishitadvaita. As mentioned earlier, Bhaskara Bhattacharya a disciple of Nrsimha Yajapeyin wrote commentaries on Daivika and Manusha sutras. And, Prayoga –vidhi on procedural aspects of icon worship by Sundara-raja, a writer of later period, is well known.
71.2. One work that includes much of the older material is the renowned Vaikhanasa-mantra-prashnam (daivikacatustyam) or Mantra Samhita. This book contains all the Vedic mantras needed in temple –worship rituals. Most of these are taken from Yajurveda .The first half (Ch. 1 – 4) contain mantras of Grihya Sutra. The second half called daivikacatustyam (Ch 5 – 8) includes portions relating to temple-ritual taken from the handbooks of the four rishis: Atri, Bhrigu, Kashyapa and Marichi.
[ For Vaikhanasa Mantra Prashna you can go to
1. http://www.hdgoswami.com/gallery/essays/item/the-daivika-catustayam
and download the translation by Resnick, H. J. (1996). The Daivika-catustayam of the Vaikhanasa-mantra-prasna: A Translation. Published Ph.D. dissertation. Harvard University: Cambridge, Massachusetts.
2. http://gretil.sub.uni-goettingen.de/gretil/1_sanskr/4_rellit/vaisn/vaimp_cu.htm
with transliteration in English ]
Vaikhanasa Philosophy
72.1. Vaikhanasa is essentially a religious system that preaches worship of Vishnu-icon with devotion and a sense of complete surrender. Its texts are primarily ritual texts (prayoga shastra) containing elaborate discussions on various layers of temples-worship-sequences and their significance; as also instructions on practical aspects concerning yajnas and domestic ritual procedures. The major thrust of Vaikhanasa texts is to provide clear, comprehensive and detailed guidelines for Vishnu worship. The jnana-paada segment of Vaikhanasa Agama texts is , therefore, rather brief as compared to discussion on rituals. It does not go about setting out a detailed philosophical doctrine of its own. However, Vaikhanasa, Surely, prescribes its way of life (dharma) and its outlook (darshana) on God, Man and the relation between the two; and the ways that lead Man towards God.
72.2. During the medieval periods, the Vaikhanasa scholars, most of whom were temple-priests, provided a philosophical basis for worshipping Vishnu icons installed in temples; and to harmonize icon-worship with the Vedic practices of performing Yajnas. These works derive their authority from the Kalpa-sutra of Sage Vaikhana and the Vaikhanasa Shastra texts composed by his four disciples.
72.3. Sreenivasa–makhin, a Vaikhanasa Acharya, produced several works bringing out the characteristic features of Vaikhanasa philosophy. Among his works of this genre, the better known are: Lakshmi-vishistadvaita–bhashya; Vaikhanasa–mahima-manjari; and paramathmika-Upanishad-bhashya.
Another author who attempted a clear presentation of Vaikhanasa philosophy was Raghupathi-Bhattacharya (also known as Vasudeva). His work Mokshopaaya-pradipika spread over twelve chapters discusses the nature of Brahman, the ways of attaining Brahman in his manifest form through worship rendered with intense devotion and a sense of absolute surrender (prapatti-purvaka-bhagavad-aaradhanam). Raghupathi-Bhattacharya explains the Vaikhanasa doctrine employing the terms of Samkhya ideology. And, his work is seen by some as an attempt to bring about a sort of rapprochement between Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra traditions.
73.1. Sreenivasa-makhin in his Lakshmi – vishistadvaita- bhashya, which is a commentary on Badarayana’s Brahma sutras, states that Vishnu alone is the highest Reality (eka eva para-tattvah).
Both the authors, Sreenivasa – makhin (Tatparya chintamani) and Raghupathi Bhattacharya, explain that Brahman (Narayana) the Paramatman is of dual nature. He is visible and invisible; perfectly bright and pure; immutable. He is both nishkala (devoid of forms and attributes) and sakala (with forms and attributes). The two aspects, truly, are one; and are inseparable. The former aspect (nishkala) is all-inclusive. It pervades everything, in and out, like ghee in milk, oil in sesame seed, fragrance in flower, juice in the fruit and fire in the wood. It has the nature of space (akasha) in which everything resides; and which resides in everything. That precisely is the nature of Vishnu (vyapanath Vishnuh) who permeates the entire existence. Because of being extremely subtle, he cannot be described as real or unreal.
73.2. Vimanarchana-kalpa ascribed to Sage Marichi mentions that Vishnu may be approached in one of the four ways: recitation / repetition of the sacred name of Vishnu (japa), attentive repetition of prayer; huta, sacrifice; arcana, service to images, or dhyana, yogic meditation. Of the four, the Marichi Samhita says, archana leads to the realization of all aims.
73.3. Further it is said; the worship of the Vishnu can be either internal (antaryaga) or external (bahiryaga). The Grihya sutras explain: the Godhead is formless –nishkala; perfectly pure and bright filled with lustre tejomaya; beyond comprehension achintya; and is of the nature of pure existence, consciousness and bliss sat-chit-ananda; and abides in the heart-lotus- hridaya-kamala – of the devotee.
But, because of the limitations of the human mind the worship of Brahman –without form, nishkala, is beyond the capability of us who live ordinary lives. The human mind finds it easier to deal with forms, shapes and attributes than with the formless absolute. And therefore, when an icon is properly installed and consecrated; and it is worshiped with love and reverence, a sense of devotion arises from within and envelops the mind and heart of the worshiper. By constant attention to the icon, by seeing it again and again and by offering it various services of devotional worship, icon that is beautiful will engage the mind and delight the heart of the devotee. Enlivened by loving worship, devotion, and absolute surrender (parapatti) , the icon will no longer be just a symbol. The icon invested with love and devotion will be transformed into a true divine manifestation. And, its worship ensures our good here (aihika) and also our ultimate good or emancipation (amusmika). The archa with devotion is therefore the best form of worship. And, Archa is dearer to Vishnu.
73.4. That is the reason, though the nishkala aspect is the ultimate, the worship of Vishnu-icon (samurtha-archana) with devotion is recommended as the best way for all, especially for those involved in the transactional world. Yet, the devotee must progressively move from gross sthula towards the subtle sukshma.
74.1. Vishnu’s visista (aspected) nature becomes manifest when the devotees churn him within their hearts by contemplation and devotion. It is like igniting fire by churning the wood. And, like sparks that fly from the burning fire, Vishnu shines forth in varieties of forms. He appears variously, to satisfy the aspirations of the devotee. Vishnu who is all-pervasive now becomes manifest in all his splendour. This is the Sakala aspect of Vishnu. The devotees must visualize, invoke and worship his divine form (divya mangala vigraha).
74.2. When Vishnu is visualized as a worship-worthy icon, he usually is imagined in a human form with distinguishable features (sakala). Vishnu’s form, seen in mind’s eye, for contemplation (dhyana) and worship (archa) is four armed, carrying shanka, chakra, gadha and padma. His countenance is beatific radiating peace and joy (saumya), delight to behold soumya-priya-darshana, his complexion is rosy pink wearing golden lustrous garment (pitambara). To meditate upon a beautiful image of Vishnu with a delightful smiling countenance and graceful looks is the greatest blessing.
75.1. Sreenivasa-makhin in his Lakshmi-vishistadvaita – bhashya, explains that Vishnu the highest Reality (eka eva para-tattvah) is distinguished by Lakshmi (Lakshmi – visista- Narayanah). Isvara associated with Lakshmi (Lakshmi visita isvara tattvam) is Vishnu. Lakshmi (Sri) is not as an independent reality (tattva) but is an aspect that is inseparable from Vishnu (Srisa or Narayana), like moon and moonlight. Vishnu’s power (maya) and splendour is Sri (Lakshmi); and, she is mula-prakrti the original source of energy and power (shakthi) that enlivens all existence. She is the cause of all actions by all beings.
75.2. Vishnu is Purusha and Lakshmi is Prakrti; the whole of existence proceeds from the union of the two. And, Purusha abiding in Prakrti experiences the qualities that result from Prakrti. The Vaikhanasa, therefore, calls its ideology as Lakshmi-visita-advaita (the advaita, non-duality); and its doctrine of Isvara associated with Lakshmi as Lakshmi visita isvara tattvam.
[The Lakshmi-Visita-advaita varies significantly from the philosophical and religious positions taken by Sri Ramanuja in his Sri Bhashya.]
75.3. As said; Lakshmi is inseparable from Vishnu. The non-duality (advaita) refers to the unity of Vishnu with Lakshmi. The Ultimate Reality is Vishnu with Sri. Those devoted to him are Vaishnavas. The sakala aspect is the excellent form of Vishnu in association with Lakshmi (Sri) who is Prakrti the shakthi of Vishnu. For the purpose of devotion and worship, the sakala aspect is brilliant. For, in his sakala form, Vishnu responds most gracefully to devotional worship and contemplation.
76.1. Sreenivasa –-makhin explains that in the Pranava (Om-kara), O-kara represents Vishnu; U—Kara, Lakshmi and Ma-kara, the devotee. The Om-kara binds the three together. Lakshmi (U-kara) bridges the transcendental Narayana the Supreme Self and the individual soul (pratyagatma). In other words, Lakshmi leads the devotee to the grace of Narayana.
76.2. If Vishnu (purusha) grants release from the phenomenal fetters (Mukthi), Lakshmi (Prakrti) presides over bhukthi the fulfillment of normal aspirations in one’s life. The two must be worshiped together.
76.3. Therefore, the worship of Narayana alone or the worship of Lakshmi separately is not suggested. The proper worship is the worship of Narayana with Sri or Lakshmi as his aspect (visista).
77.1. Further, the Vaikhanasas evolved the theory of the five aspects (swarupas): of Godhead: Vishnu as sarva vyapin, the one who pervades all existence and in whom everything resides; as Purusha the pure consciousness, the principle of life; as Satya, that which sustains the universe; as Acyuta the time-invariant aspect of all matter; and, as Aniruddha the ultimate constituent of all existence.
[If Vishnu is considered as the primary deity Adi-murti, then the four aspects are regarded as components of that single unit. This is the notion of chatur-murti. If on the other hand, Vishnu is also counted along with the other four, then we have the pancha-murti concept. But, the first four forms of icons, chatur-murti, are regarded important.]
77.2. According to Vaikhanasa ideology, the four aspects of Vishnu -Purusha, Satya, Achyuta and Aniruddha– are the four stages of emanations of Vishnu. In this scheme; Purusha is identified with Dharma (virtue); Satya with Jnana (wisdom); Acchuta with Aishvarya (sovereignty); and Aniruddha with vairagya (dispassion).
77.3. In the Vaikhanasa temple layout, the four aspects of Vishnu are visualized as four deities located around the main icon of Vishnu: Purusha to the East; Satya to the South; Acchuta to the West; and, Aniruddha to the North (pragadi chatur – dikshu).
77.4. The four virtues or planes of Vishnu are also regarded the four quarters (pada) of Brahman: aamoda, pramoda, sammoda and vaikuntaloka (sayujya) . The highest of which is parama pada, Vaikunta the abode of Vishnu (Vishnod paramam padam).
[The Vaikhanasa regard the icon worship as the royal way for achieving emancipation from the worldly confines; and for leading the individual to Vishnu’s grace. Its faith is that when the individual jiva that frees itself from the fetters of the transactional world enters into the sphere of Vishnu vishnuloka through four successive stages; each stage being designated a plane of Vishnu-experience Vaishnava-ananda. The first stage is aamoda where the jiva experiences the pleasure of residing in the same plane as the Godhead is Vishnu (saalokya)- associated with Aniruddha. The next stage is pramoda where the jiva experiences the great delight of residing in proximity to with the Godhead Maha-vishnu (saamipya)-associated with Acchyuta. The stage higher than that is saamoda where the jiva experiences the joy of obtaining the same form as the Godhead sadaa-Vishnu (sa-rupya) –associated with Satya. The highest plane is vaikunta loka where the individual jiva experiences the supreme joy of union with the Godhead Vyapi-narayana (sayujya) – associated with Purusha.]
78.1. In the Vaikhanasa temple, the immovable (Dhruva-bimba or dhruva-bera) main idol that is installed in the sanctum and to which main worship is offered (archa-murti) represents the primary aspect of the deity known as Vishnu (Vishnu-tattva). The other images in the temple which are worshiped each day during the ritual sequences are but the variations of the original icon (adi-murti). These other forms are emanations of the main idol, in successive stages. And, within the temple complex, each form is accorded a specific location; successively away from the Dhruva bera.
78.2. Just as the Vishnu of Rig-Veda takes three strides (trini pada vi-chakrama Vishnuh), the main idol (Dhruva – bera) installed in the temple too takes three forms which are represented by Kautuka-bera, Snapana-bera and Utsava-bera.
The Kautuka-bera (usually made of gems, stone, copper, silver, gold or wood and about 1/3 to 5/9 the size of the Dhruva-bera)receives all the daily worship(nitya-archana); the Snapana-bera (usually made of metal and smaller than Kautuka) receives ceremonial bath (abhisheka) and the occasional ritual- worship sequences(naimitta-archana); and, the Utsava-bera (always made of metal) is for festive occasions and for taking out in processions . To this, another icon is added . This is Bali – bera ( always made of shiny metal) taken out , daily , around the central shrine when food offerings are made to Indra and other devas, as well as to Jaya and Vijaya the doorkeepers of the Lord ; and to all the elements.
78.3. And, on occasions when a movable icon is used for daily worship, special rituals, and processions and for food-offering, it is known as Bhoga-bera.
These five forms together make Pancha bera or Pancha murti.
78.4. And again it is said, Purusha is symbolized by Kautuka bera; Satya by Utsava bera; Acchuta by Snapana bera; and Aniruddha by Bali bera.
78.5. To put these together in a combined form:
The main idol (Dhruva-bera) which is immovable represents Vishnu (Vishnu-tattva).
Purusha symbolized by Kautuka-bera is an emanation of the Dhruva-bera. Kautuka-bera is next in importance, and is an exact replica of the Dhruva-bimba. it is placed in the sanctum very close to Dhruva bera.
Satya symbolized by Utsava-bera (processional deity) emanates from Purusha represented Kautuka-bera. And, Utsava-bera is placed in the next pavilion outside the sanctum.
Achyuta symbolized by Snapana-bera emanates from Satya represented by Utsava-bera. Snapana-bera receives Abhisheka, the ceremonial bath; and, it is placed outside the sanctum in snapana-mantapam enclosure.
Aniruddhda symbolized by Bali-bera emanates from Achyuta represented by Snapana-bera. The food offerings are submitted to Balibera. And, it is placed farthest from the Dhruva-bhera residing in the sanctum.
These different icons are not viewed as separate or independent deities; but are understood as emanations from the original icon, Dhruva–bimba.
Symbolisms
79.1. The symbolisms associated with the four murtis (chatur-murti) are many; and are interesting. As said earlier; the four are said to compare with the strides taken by Vishnu/Trivikrama. The main icon represents Vishnu who is all-pervasive, but, does not move about. When the worship sequences are conducted, the spirit (tejas) of the main idol moves into the Kautuka,-bera, which rests on the worship pedestal (archa-pitha). This is the first stride of Vishnu.Again, at the time of offering ritual bath, the Tejas of the main idol moves into the Snapana-bera which is placed in the bathing-enclosure (snapana-mantapa). This is the second stride taken by Vishnu. And, the third stride is that when the Utsava-bera is taken out in processions. This is when the tejas of the Main idol reaches out to all.
79.2. In Marichi’s Vimana-archa-kalpa the five forms, five types of icons, the pancha-murti (when Vishnu is also counted along with the other four forms) are compared to five types of Vedic sacred fires (pancha-agni): garhapatya; ahavaniya; dakshinAgni; anvaharya; and sabhya. These in turn are compared to the primary elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space). And, the comparison is extended to five vital currents (prana, apana, vyana, udana and samana).
79.3. Further it is explained; the Vaikhanasa worship-tradition retained the concept of Pancha-Agni, but transformed them into five representations of Vishnu (pancha –murthi): Vishnu, Purusha, Satya, Achyuta and Aniruddha. And, that again was rendered into five types of temple deities as pancha-bera: Dhruva, Kautuka, Snapana, Utsava and Bali.
[The Vaikhanasa concept of five forms of Godhead parallels with that of Pancharatara which speaks of: Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Antaryamin and Archa. Of these, Para is the absolute form, the cause of all existence and it is beyond intellect. Vyuha are the emanations from Para for sustaining creation. The Vyuha, in turn, assumes five worship-worthy forms: Vishnu, Purusha, Satya, Achyuta and Aniruddha. Vibhava represent the Avatars for destroying the evil, uplifting the virtuous and maintain balance in the world. Antaryamin is the inbeing who resides as jiva in all creatures. And, Archa is the most easily accessible form; the form which protects the devotees and eliminates their sorrows. This is the form that is worshiped in the temples.]
Vaikhanasa –Temple context
80.1. The earliest Vaikhanasas are projected as a group of hermits affiliated to Krishna Yajurveda – Taittiriya Shakha, having their own Kalpa-sutra and deeply devoted to worship of Vishnu. They are not referred to as professional temple-priests. And, of course, there is no mention of temples either. But, by about the ninth century (during the time of Raja Raja Chola) they are largely identified as a community of temple priests. Thereafter, they gain prominence not only as ritual-specialists who worship Vishnu on behalf of others but also as administrators of temples and managers of its estates.
80.2. But, the history of the Vaikhanasas during the intervening period (that is, between the time of Kalpa sutra, before 3rd or 4th century, and the time of the inscriptions) is rather hazy. Though the Vaikhanas texts of the later period claim that they derive their authority from the Kalpa-sutra and also make frequent references to Vedic passages, they are mostly temple ritual-manuals elaborating upon details of worship sequences carried out in temples.
80.3. And, it is not clear, how the followers of a Vedic branch rooted in Vedic rituals turned into a community of temple priests.
81.1. After they were established as temple priests, the Vaikhanasas produced many texts on temple –rituals as also prescribed domestic rituals for governing the conduct of their followers. Through these texts and ritual practices they aimed to distinguish themselves from other ritual traditions as also from other Vaishnavas.
81.2. The Vaikhanasas make a clear distinction between the worship carried out at home (griha-archana) and the worship carried out as a priest at a temple (alaya-archana) for which he gets paid. The worship at home performed dutifully is motivated by desire for spiritual attainments (Sakshepa); and it is for the upliftment of self (atmartha). And, on the other hand, while he carries out worship at the temple, as a priest, he is not seeking spiritual benefits for self, but is only discharging his duty (nirakshepa).Here, he conveys the prayers of the worshipping devotees to the god installed at the temple; and offers worship on their behalf (parartha). It is mainly for the fulfilment of the desires of those who pray at the temple.
This distinction seems to have come about following the proliferation of temples and with the advent of temple-worship-culture. Rig Vedic culture was centred on home and worship at home. And, the worship at temple appears to have come as a departure from the practice of worship at home. It was seen as an act of devotion and also as duty
81.3. The Vaikhanasa treat the worship at home (atmartha) as more important than worship at the temple. A Vaikhanasa-priest is therefore required to worship the deities at his home, before he sets out to temple to conduct worship there (parartha) as a priest employed by the temple management.
81.4. There is an alternate explanation offered to the term parartha. It is said; the term ‘parartha’ which ordinarily means worship on behalf of others, truly is ‘parartha-yajna’, that which is concerned with what is ‘superior’ or ‘excellent’; and that which prays for the well-being of the entire community. Worshiping divine images installed in temples is like the sun which illumines the entire world, while worship at home is like a domestic lamp. And, parartha worship leads to final liberation.
82.1. Having said all that, it also needs to be mentioned that the status of temple-priests in the Indian context has always been an uncomfortable issue and a dicey proposition. The standing of a temple priest is high insofar as he acts as an intermediary between devotees and god; and offers worship on behalf of the devotees. However, the social rank of the priestly class among orthodox Brahmins is not high. That is perhaps because, their practice of accepting payment for worship god is rather looked down; and is not considered virtuous. Further, their practice of receiving gifts which are ritually ‘polluting’ is also not viewed with favour. The implication is that, while the priest accepts the gifts he also takes upon himself the impurities of the giver.
82.2. Traditionally, a person who receives remuneration for worshipping a deity is not held in high esteem. The old texts sneer at a person “displaying icons to eke out a living.” That perhaps led to a sort of social prejudices and discriminations among the priestly class. But, with the change of times, with the social and economic pressures and with a dire need to earn a living, a distinct class of temple-priests, naturally, crystallized into a close knit in-group with its own ethos and attitudes.
82.3. Devalaka is a term used in the old texts as a derogatory reference to a person who is ‘desirous of money’, and who is hired to perform worship. Sreenivasa –makhin argues vigorously why the term ‘Devalaka’ should not be slapped on the hereditary Vaikhanasa temple priests. He draws a distinction between a Devalaka and an Archaka who is guided by Vaikhanasa- Grihya sutra and Dharma –sutra.
82.4. Sreenivasa –makhin does not question the traditional definition of Devalaka and its negative import. But, he provides an alternate interpretation to the term to mean: ‘one who carries out acts not prescribed by Sruti or Smrti; or acts in a way contrary to their spirit’. Following that interpretation, he excludes Vaikhanasas from the scope of the term Devalaka, for the reason that Vaikhanasas are indeed the ‘servants of god’ and are born for the sole purpose of offering worship to Vishnu. Their loving devotion (bhakthi) towards Vishnu is free from pride or greed. He worships Vishnu according to Vedic traditions; and, is not motivated or distracted by material or personal desires. These indeed are the prime characteristics of a true Vaikhanasa–Archaka.
When a Vaikhanasa priest accepts remuneration for his priestly duties, it is just incidental to his main purpose of his life. And, therefore, a Vaikhanasa priest worshipping Vishnu in temple and accepting remuneration there for, cannot in any manner be equated with a Devalaka (Dasha-vidha-hetu-nirupanam; 65.5-6).
82.5. Further, Sreenivasa–makhin explains: Vaikhanasa, a born-priest (janmathah – archaka) is guided by Vaikhanasa- Grihya sutra and Dharma –sutra, which are within the orthodox Vedic culture. He undergoes several samskaras (life-cycle-rituals) , follows the Vedic mode of performing yaja-yagnas , and tends to sacred – fires such as aupasana-agni at home and observes sandhya, ishti, charu-homa etc, all through his life. He dedicates his life to worship of Vishnu. The Vaikhanasa Archaka serves in a temple not because it is a means of livelihood, but, primarily because he regards it as the fulfilment of the very purpose of his existence. The worship of Vishnu, for him is more than mere duty (as detailed in Tatparya Chintamani of Sreenivasa-makhin while commenting upon Vaikhanasa- Grihya –sutra: 3.14).
82.6. He remarked; an Archaka need not be a scholar. More than book learning, what is more important is his devotion to the deity of his worship and his commitment to his calling. An Archaka renders a sacred service to the society as a mediator between the god and the worshipping devotee. He deserves respect and good care.
82.7. The guidelines that Vaikhanasas texts frequently refer to are neither static nor closed systems. The Vaikhanasa tradition like any other tradition did absorb innovations and modifications that arose in the context of changing times and circumstances. The causes for change may have arisen either from within the system or from outside events. And, therefore, whatever might have been the past understanding, one should recognize that in the present-day the temples are public places of worship and the priests are professionals trained and specialized in their discipline; and they do constitute an important and a legitimate dimension of the temple-culture. There is absolutely no justification for looking down upon the priestly class or their profession, for the mere reason they now receive remuneration.
83.1. The Vaikhanasa community is regarded orthodox for yet another reason. They consider the life of the householder as the best among the four stages of life. Because, it is the householder that supports, sustains and carries forward the life and existence of the society. There is not much prominence for a Yati or a Sanyasi in this scheme of things. They decry a person seeking salvation for himself without discharging his duties, responsibilities and debts to his family, to his guru and to his society.
83.2. The Vaikhanasa worship is considered more Vedic, the various and mantras / suktams from the Vedas are in Sanskrit and there is a greater emphasis on details of worship rituals and yajnas. Depending on the ritual being performed, various panca suktam or sets of five suktams are recited. For instance; the pancha-suktams could be Vishnu, Purusha, Narayana, Sri and Bhu suktams; or, Vishnu, Nrusimha, Sri, Bhu and Ekakshara suktams. There is also another set of ten suktas (dahsa suktam): Rudra, Dhruva, Durga, Ratri, Saraswatam, Viswajit, Purusha, Aghamarshana, Godana and Atma suktams. The set of fifteen suktas (pancha-sutams + dasha suktams) together make ‘Panca dasha suktam’.
Among these suktas, the Atma sukta (SrI Vaikhanasa Mantra Prasna, 5.120.1-12 ) is particularly unique to the Vaikhanasa paddathi of worship
ATMA SUKTA
84.1. Although the Vaikhanasa try to distance themselves from Tantra, there are many ritual sequences in their worship practices that derive inspiration from Tantric ideology. In fact, the worship sequences conducted at the temple are a combination of several elements: Vedic practices together with its mantra; Tantra ideology and its techniques; Agama concept of divinity and its elaborate (Upachara) worship sequences; and the popular festivities (janapada) and processions (Utasava) where the entire community joins in celebration, singing, dancing, playacting, colourful lighting, spectacular fireworks, offerings of various kinds etc.
84.2. The tantra, practiced within the privacy of the sanctum, says that the communication with the divine is not possible unless the worshiper identifies himself with the worshiped (sakshath vishnu rupi). It is said; one cannot truly worship god unless one realizes the divinity within (naadevo bhutva devam pujayet). The mantra that is recited by the Vaikhanasa priest, in that context, is the famous Atma-sukta. This a significant step based in the Tantra ideology, where the worshiper regards his body as a Yantra in which the deity resides; and as belonging to the deity (tasyaivaham ). He then invokes divine presence in himself, evoking his identity with Vishnu, and transfers the Vishnu in him to the idol to be worshiped. This is a deeply intimate Tantric process that is special to the Vaikhanasa mode of worship. The priest conducts these symbolic sequences in the privacy of the sanctum, with the notion that he and Vishnu are indeed one; and that he as the priest has an enduring divine presence within him.
84.3. As a prelude to worship per se, the worshiper literally breathes life into the deity. The idol is transformed to divinity itself. The worshiper does this by extracting the power or the luster (tejas) of the divinity residing in his heart by means of inhalations and exhalations (ucchvasa and nishvasa), and investing it upon the deity. At the same time, the worshiper draws the presence of the Highest Spiritual being (paramatma) into his own individual being (jiva).This process symbolizes invoking (avahana)the divine residing in ones heart, extracting it (bahir agatya) and transferring it with ease (sukham thistathu) in to the deity in front (asmin bimbe).The transferred Tejas stays in the deity until the worship is formally concluded.
84.4. Invoking the deity (avahana) through reciting the Atma –sukta, arousing the divinity within him by the ritual sequence of nyasa (placement of divine presence in the structure of the icon as also in the worshiper) is a very important worship ritual based in Tantra ideology. Nyasas collectively called bhagavad-aaradhana adhikara-yogyata-siddhi confer on the worshiper the competence to worship the deity.
85.1. Atma-sukta is a collection of nine verses in tristubh chhandas (Vaikhanasa samhita: mantra prashna: 5.49; SrI Vaikhanasa Mantra Prashna, 5.120.1-12 ). It is unique to Vaikhanasa worship sequence. The hymn is called ‘Atma-sukta’ not only because it commences with the words “ātmātmā paramāntarātmā mahy-antarātmā yaś cātirātmā satano ‘ntarātmā vyāveṣṭi (the self of the self) ’, but also because it concerns transforming the individual self into cosmic Self. Here, the meditation on Vishnu’s nish-kala aspect is followed by a request to Vishnu to assume his sa-kala form within the idol so that the devotee may submit his worship.
The purpose of Atma-sukta is to invoke the presence of Vishnu who is the Purusha the Cosmic person, in the worshiper, and transfer that Tejas into the idol. It is meant to enlarge the consciousness of the worshiper so that he may identify himself with the object of his worship in its cosmic aspect (sa-kala). The recitation of Atma-sukta is followed by the hymn Purusha –sukta (balam āsuraṃ yat satataṃ nihantā brahmā buddhir me gopa īśvara).
85.2. The worshiper, initially, beseeches the deity and avers: ‘I am thine’ (tavevaham); and finally identifies himself with the deity: ‘I am you’ (tvamevaham) and says ‘we are never apart’.
85.3. Towards the end of the Atma-sukta the worshipper declares that in his pure heart-lotus (vimalahrutpundarIka), the Yajna vedi (altar), sanctified by goddesses Savitri and Gayatri, enters (pravishta) Vishnu in his cosmic aspect (sakala) along with Lakshmi (sa-Lakshmi) in all his glory. May my virtuous merit (punya) provide Vishnu the space to reside.May he receive the worship offered (Kriyadhikaram)
SavitrI GayatrI maryada vedI | hrutpundarIka vimale pravishta: sakala: salakshmI: savibhutikango | yatsava punyam mayyadhishtanamastu || 8 ||
May the essence of all the gods reside in me; may the essence of all the great sages reside in me; may I become the personification of the fruits of all the austerities (tapo-murti) and of all the virtuous deeds (punya-murti).
savasham devanamatmaka: | savasham muninamatmaka I stapo murtiriha punyamurtirasan || 9 ||
Taruna-alaya
86.1. A unique feature of Vaikhanasa temple construction is the erection of a Taruna-alaya. That is, before the construction of the main temple is undertaken a mini-sized temporary temple (termed as Taruna-alaya) is built for Vishnu on the construction site. The main temple to be constructed is termed as Bala-alaya. The mini temple (Taruna-alaya) is intended to gather spiritual power while the construction is in progress.
86.2. Vimanarchana Kalpa ascribed to Sage Marichi says that the Taruna-alaya should be built in the north-east/north-west (Indra) direction of the main temple site in the same premises. The symbolic temple could a small one (say, within 100 s.ft in area).
Vaikhanasa-alaya-nirmana -vidhi also recommends that a Taruna-alaya should be built first. And, if that requirement is satisfied then the auspicious Bala-alaya which comes up is termed ‘samurtham’. If on the contrary, the prescription is not followed, the Bala-alaya would be called ‘harakam’.
86.3. The basic idea of the Vaikhanasa faith is that when Vishnu is worshipped in a temple according to the Vaikhanasa scriptures , regularly, at least once each day, it will ensure the prosperity (sarva-sampathkari) of the whole world.
In the next part of the article let’s talk about the other major Vaishnava Agama viz, The Pancharatra; and also about its apparent differences from the Vaikhanasa.
Continued in Part Five
1. A History of Indian Literature: Epics and Sanskrit religious literature… By Jan Gonda
2. Vishnu’s children: Prenatal life-cycle rituals in South India By Ute Hüsken; Harrassowitz Verlag . Wiesbaden (2009)
3. Sri Vaikhanasa Bhagavad Sastram by Shri Ramakrishna Deekshitulu
http://www.srihayagrivan.org/ebooks/031_sva_v1p1.pdf
4. Agamas and the way of life Dr. V. Varadachari, 1982. Agamas and South Indian Vaishnavism. Chapter X pages 407-426.
5. Agama Kosha by Prof. SK Ramachandra Rao; Kalpataru Research Academy (1994)
Posted by sreenivasaraos on October 12, 2012 in Agama, Tantra
Tags: Agama Tantra, Atma sukta, Atri, Balaalaya, Bhrigu, Dasha – vidha – hetu - nirupana, Kashyapa, Lakshmi – vishistadvaita- bhashya, Marichi, Nrsima vajapeyin, Sreenivasa makhin, Taruna-alaya, Vaikhanasa, Vaikhanasa temple worship
Tantra – Agama – part Three – Vaikhanasa
Vaikhanasa
43.1. Among the Vaishnava Agamas that glorify Vishnu as the Supreme Principle, and as the Ultimate Reality, to the exclusion of other deities, the Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra are prominent. Some say, Vaikhanasa is the older tradition that is rooted in the orthodoxy of the Vedic knowledge. The Pancharatra, in contrast, is regarded relatively less conservative, a bit more liberal and closer to the Tantra ideology.
There are several explanations to the term Vaikhanasa.
Vanaprastha
44.1. According to one interpretation, Vaikhanasa is the ancient word for Vanaprastha (life of a forest dweller or hermit). Vanaprastha, according to the scheme of man’s lifespan as developed during the later Vedic age*, is the third stage (ashrama) in a man’s life. It is the stage prior to and in preparation for Sanyasa the last stage of total withdrawal from the world.
Although Vaikhanasa-s are not directly mentioned in the Rig-Veda, there are references to them in the Anukramani Index to RV hymn at 9.66 , which is addressed to ‘Indra, Pavamana and one hundred Vaikhanasa’ ( RV_9,066.23c indur atyo vicakṣaṇaḥ). And, the RV hymn 10. 99 is addressed by Indra to ‘Vamra Vaikhanasa’. There are also reference to Vamra Vaikhanasa in Jaiminiya Brahmana at 3.99 and 3.215, which say that : Puruhanma vaikhanasas loved animals , underwent austerity . He Visualized the Jagata saman (hymn) – (Vaikhanasam bhavathi jagatam sama ) and (Vaikhanasa va etani samany apasyan)
Here , Vaikhanasa hermits are said to be dear to Indra. Vaikhanasa quote extensively from Rig-Veda in which Indra is the principal deity. In the later times, Indra merged with Vishnu.
There are several references to Vaikhanasa-s in the Ramayana. At end of the Ayodhya-kanda while they were departing to the forest clad in bark–garments , it is said, the brothers Rama and Lakshmana adopted the ways of the hermits and vow of ascetic life (Vaikhanasam margam) – Rama –rakshamanau tato Vaikhanasam margam asthitah saha Lakshmanah –R. 2.57-58. Later in the Ayodhya kanda, the ways of living of the Vikhanasa hermits are described in detail. And again, in the Khishkinda–kanda there is a reference to the ascetic groups of Vaikhanasa-s and the Valakhilya-s (Tatra Vaikhanasa Nama Valakhilya maha-rishayah-R.4.40.60)
In all these references, the Vaikhanasa-s are described as forest-dwellers, ascetics following a pristine way of life dedicated to Indra/Vishnu/
The Varnashrama system expanded by Dharmashastras, mention that after fulfilling his family responsibilities and social obligations, say at the age of sixty or thereafter; and at the end of his well-lived family-life , a man retires into forest , along with his wife (sa-pathnika), to lead a peaceful and contemplative life of a recluse , away from the worldly conflicts and its snares. The two live like trusted old friends; and, lead a happy, contented and tranquil life. It is the fulfilment of the long journey they travelled together. As his sense of detachment ripens, the man finally accepts sanyasa; and,the wife returns home, to the family of her sons.
44.2. Vanaprastha, in its concept, is not an end by itself; but is deemed as a step to reach man’s highest aspiration, the liberation. The characteristic of its ascetic mode of life is detachment and contemplation. Yet; it is the stage of life marked by selfless friendship, open-heartedness, mellow glowing wisdom and compassion towards all, including strangers , animals and plants. It is the maturity of life when positive attitudes and social virtues ripen. Vanaprastha is not distracted by motives of personal gain (artha) or desire for pleasures (Kama). But, he does not lead a harsh and an arid life of self-mortification. That is because; he views the body and spirit as equal expressions of the divine. Vanaprastha stage is conceived as a well balanced rounding off to a worthy life.
[* Prof. PV Kane in his monumental History of Dharmashastras (pages 417– 419) explains the concept of ashramas (in the sense of different stages in man’s life) is not found either in the Samhitas or in the Brahmanas. According to him, a germ of the idea occurs in an obscure form in Aittereya Brahmana (Ait. Br. 33. 11), which decries a person who moves away from life and the world: ‘what (use is there) of dirt, what use of antelope skin, what use of (growing) the beard, what is the use of tapas? O! Brahmanas! Desire a son; he is a world that is to be highly praised.’ The idea appears again in Chandogya Upanishad (Ch. Up. 2. 23. 1). And it comes out a little more clearly in Jabalopanisad and in Svetasvataropanisad (VI. 21) which speaks of those ‘who had risen above the mere observances of asramas’. The concept of man’s life span spread over a well-knit scheme of four stages (ashramas) was fully developed in Dharmashastras of Manu (Manu 6. 1-2; 33 etc).
The theory of asramas was truly an idealist concept. Owing to the exigencies of the times, the conflicts of interests and distractions of life, the scheme could not, even in ancient times, be carried out fully by most individuals. And it surely has failed in modern times, though the fault does not lie with the originators of this concept. ]
44.3. The later texts and Puranas elaborated on the scheme and devised sub-classifications under each stage (ashrama). For instance, Srimad Bhagavata (15.4) classifies the third stage – Vanaprastha- into four types Vaikhanasa; Valakhilya; Audumbara; and Phena.
Vaikhanasa valakhilyau-dumbarah phenapa vane Nyase kuticakah purvam bahvodo hamsa-niskriyau II
44.4. Following that sub classification, the Gaudiya-Kanthahara, a twentieth century text ascribed to Atulakrsna Datta of Gaudiya Vaishnavas tradition explains Vaikhanasas as those hermits (Vanaprastha) who retire from active life and live on half-boiled food (ardha-pakva-vratya). Similarly Valakhilya is one who discards the stock of food he has with him (purva ancita anna tyagah) the moment he gets a fresh stock of food (nave pane labdhya); Audumbara is one who lives on what he gets from the direction towards which he walks (prathamam disam pasyanti) after sunrise (prathar uttha); and, Phenapa lives on fruits (phaladbhir jivantah) that drop from the trees on their own accord (svayam patitaih).
44.5. However, what is interesting is that Vaikhanasa-smarta-sutra, a division of the primary text of Vaikhanasas (Vaikhanasa Kalpa Sutra) does not mention a category of hermits called as Vaikhanasa.
Apparently, the perceptions on the stages of man’s life had undergone a huge change between the period of Kalpa Sutras and the period of the later Puranas.
[Incidentally, Vaikhanasa is also the name of mythical group of saintly hermits who were slain at Muni-marana (death of sages) by one Rahasyu Deva-malimlud (Panchvimshathi Brahmana: 14.4.7).
vaikhānasā vā ṛṣaya indrasya priyā āsaṃs tān rahasyur devamalimluḍ munimaraṇe ‘mārayat taṃ devā abruvan kva tarṣayo (?) ‘bhūvānn iti tān praiṣam aicchat tān nāvindat sa imān lokān ekadhāreṇāpunāt tān munimaraṇe ‘vindat tān etena sāmnā samairayat tad vāva sa tarhy akāmayata kāmasani sāma vaikhānasaṃ kāmam evaitenāvarundhe stomaḥ ]
45.1. As regards the question of equating Vaikhanasa directly with Vanaprastha stage of life, Professor PV Kane clarifies; there is nothing in the Vedic literature expressly corresponding to the Vanaprastha. And the germ of the idea of equating Vanaprastha with Vaikhanasa might have arisen at a later stage in the Sutras.
45.2. Max Muller in his commentary on the Laws of Manu mentions that Manu (4.21) refers to the Sutra of Gautama which talks of the hermit in the forest who ‘may subsist on flowers, roots, and fruits alone’. Max Muller, however, asserts that it may not be correct to simply straightaway translate hermit as Vaikhanasa, because the term Vaikhanasa doesn’t merely mean a hermit. Vaikhanasa here has to be understood, he says, as referring to only those hermits who are ‘abiding by the Vaikhanasa opinion’ (vaikhanasamate sthithah). And he explains: ‘here the term Vaikhanasa denotes a shastra or a sutra promulgated by Vaikhanasa, in which the duties of hermits are described in detail’. He reminds: Manu’s discussion on Vanaprastha also mentions a Vaikhanasa –rule (Manava Dharmashastra: 6.21).
45.3. In support of his argument, Max Muller cites Haradatta the commentator of Apastambha and Gautama (3.2) who opines: ‘the Vanaprastha is called Vaikhanasa because he lives according to rules (sutra) formed and taught by Vaikhanasa’.
He also mentions of Kullaka Bhatta (6.21), another commentator of Manu, who says that Vaikhanasa were a distinct group who were rooted in their own doctrine (Vaikhanaso vanaprasthah taddarma – pratipadaka –shastra – darshane – sthitah)
Tandya Mahabrahmana (14. 4. 7) says: ‘Vaikhanasa sages were the favourites of Indra (vaikhanasa vaa rushyah Indrasya priya aasan).
45.4. Max Muller states that Baudayana does refer to a Vaikhanasa sutra and gives a short summary of its content in the third chapter of the third prashna of his Dharmashastra. He describes Vaikhanasas as a group that abides Vedic authority (śāstra.parigrahaḥ sarveṣāṃ brahma.vaikhānasānām: Baudayana Dharmasutra: 3.3.17-18). Baudayana also describes the forest dwelling hermits as those who devotedly tend sramanakagni – (vaikhānaso vane mūla.phala.āśī tapaḥ.śīlaḥ savaneṣu udakamupaspṛśan śrāmaṇakena agnim ādhāya^agrāmya – Baudh 2.6.11.15)
Sramana
46.1. It needs to be mentioned ; a distinguishing feature of Vaikhanasa, as given in the early texts , is their pre-occupation with tending a sacrificial fire known as sramanaka-agni ( instead of tretagni which is usually tended by householders). It appears, sramanaka-agni was no ordinary fire. But, it was the fire born out of Vedic rituals; and was one with the worshipper (Agnim apy atma-sat krtva).
46.2. The term Sramana, in the ancient context, referred to a mendicant who leads a life of restraint and discipline (tapo-yoga); but continues to be in Vedic fold tending sacrificial fires with a sense of duty and not by desire to gain material rewards. And, the terms Sramana and Sramanaka came to be equated with Vaikhanasa and their scriptures.
46.3. Haradatta, the ancient commentator also talks about kindling the sramanaka-agni (sramanakena agnim adhya); and says it followed the doctrine of the Vaikhanasas (vaikhanasam shastram sramanakam ). The Sramanaka method of invoking sramanaka-agni perhaps involved icon – worship along with the usual fire rituals. That perhaps distinguished the Vaikhanasas from the other hermit (Vanaprastha) groups.
[Some say; the Vaikhanasa (Sramanaka) prescription of the abstract worship of one fire (ekagni) perhaps led to the doctrine of ekayana; and to the formation of ekantinah group (or Bhagavatas).]
Disciples of Sage Vaikhana
47.1. It is said; Vaikhanasa is the name of a community as also the name of the philosophy they follow. It is also said; Vaikhanasa community derived its name from its founder (a manifestation of Brahma or Vishnu): sage Vaikhanasa of Angirasa gotra, affiliated to Krishna-Yajurveda -shakha. He is credited with organizing worship of Vishnu in image form (samurtha-archana), which, in effect , was the transformation of the Vedic mode of worship through ‘shapeless’(amurtha) ritual-fire . The feature of his teaching, while it is rooted in the pristine Vedic tradition, is that it extolled a strong devotion towards Vishnu and worship of Vishnu icon. Vaikhanasa, perhaps, was amongst the earliest Vaishnavas mentioned in the Narayaniya section of Mahabharata. They are described as peaceful, benign (soumya), self possessed, (bhavitathmanam), highly evolved (utcchyante) and satttvic in their food- habits (Mbh. Shanthi parva).
[An interesting interpretation of the term Vaikhanasa is derived from the root khanana meaning ‘digging into’. According to Ananda –samhita ( ascribed to Marichi ) the task of : ’digging into or deeply inquiring into the meaning of the Vedas and related texts , for the benefit of all mankind ‘ was accomplished by the founder sage of this spiritual heritage ( parampara ); and , therefore he was aptly addressed as Vaikhana: (Khananam –tattva -mimamsa – nigama-arthanam khananad iti nah srutam) .]
47.2. Thus, the term Vaikhanasa includes in itself several shades of meaning: the forest-dwelling hermit in the third stage of his life; a great sage who was the founder of Vaikhanasa tradition, an incarnate Brahma or Vishnu; and, the set of the sutras named after him. Perhaps the earliest hermits following this tradition were all of these. But, in the later stages, the followers of the tradition identified and distinguished themselves as disciples of Vaikhana the adept in Vishnu-worship (Vishnu – puja – visharada) and those guided by the instructions of Vaikhanasa -kalpa – sutra, which in all its aspects is devoted to Vishnu.
Principles of Vaikhanasa tradition
48.1. The Vaikhanasas are distinguished by their uncompromising devotion to Vishnu as the Vedic God par excellence; and, are rooted in the faith that Vishnu who pervades all existence (vyapanath Vishnuh) alone is worthy of worship. The early Vaikhanasas retained Vishnu in his pristine Vedic context; and preferred the expression ‘Vishnu’ over ‘Narayana’ or ‘Vasudeva’ (although they are synonyms), because Vishnu is the one that occurs in the Vedas. They steadfastly held on to the Vedic image of Vishnu; and, also clung to the Vedic orthodoxy. They remained faithful to Vedic principles and traditions. And, proudly asserted that they are the surviving school of Vedic ritual propagated by the sage Vaikhana; and above all, they are the children of Vishnu.
48.2. The Vaikhanasa tradition asserts that it is the most ancient; and traces its origin to Vedas. Vishnu, they declare, who is the Supreme god adored by the Vaikhanasas is not only a Vedic god, but is also the very personification of Yajna (Yajna-purusha). Their principal text calls upon its followers: that after the customary offerings made to Agni, Vishnu must be worshipped morning and evening, for that means the worship of all gods (Girhya – smarta- sutra: parshna 4, khanda 10). That is because; all gods reside in Vishnu.
49.1. The teachings of sage Vaikhana provide for worship of the Supreme Being having attributes (sa-kala) and also for worship of the one without attributes (nis-kala); with form (samurtha) and without form (amurtha).
The Yajna, the worship of the divine through fire, is a-murta; while the worship offered to an icon is sa-murta. According to Vaikhanasas, though yajna might be more awe-inspiring, archa (worship or puja) the direct communion with your chosen deity is more appealing to ones heart, is more colourful and is aesthetically more satisfying.
As regards the term formless (nis-kala), it is explained, suggests a state of pure-blissful- existence (satchidananda rupi), beyond the intellect (achintya) and wondrously lustrous (tejomaya) that abides in one’s heart lotus (hrudaya pundarika).
Sakala, on the other hand, is when the Godhead is visualized as an icon, a human form with distinct features, seated in a solar orb (arka-mandala) or in sacred- water pot (jala-kumbha) or as worship worthy icon (archa-bera).The Vishnu’s Sakala form for contemplation (dhyana) and worship (pranamet) is four-armed (chaturbhuja) holding four ayudhas : conch, disc, mace and lotus (shanka, chakra, gadha and padma); beaming with blissful countenance dear to look at (saumyat –priya – darshanh) ; having rosy pink complexion (shyamala) ; and, wearing yellow silk garments (pitambara).
Along with icon form of Vishnu, the text suggests techniques for visualising contemplating and worshipping the most adorable form of Vishnu. It also elaborates on four aspects of Vishnu as: Purusha, Satya, Acchuyta, and Aniruddha.
49.2. Vaikhanasa view point is that icon-worship was an integral part of Vedic culture; and it was not a later innovation. It says; Godhead is described by the performers of Vedic Yajnas as Yajna-Purusha; and as Vishnu by those who know the final import of the Vedas (Vedantins). Vaikhanasa regard themselves as those who moved from the first stage of Vedas to its final import (Vedanta); and therefore are the Vedantins. The ancient smriti- kara Bahudayana (Dharma – sutra: 3.3.17) calls Vaikhanasas as a group that abides Vedic authority (shastra parigrahas sarvesham vaikhanasam).
49.3. Vaikhanasas assert, their method of worship is indeed truly Vedic. It was explained; when Bhagavata-purana (11.27.7) speaks of three varieties of worship (tri -vidho – makhahah) : vaidika, tantrika and misra (mixed), the vaidika refers to the Vaikhanasa mode of worship.
49.4. Further, the Agamas are regarded as Vaidika, because they accept the ultimate authority of the Vedas and employ Vedic mantras in all types of rituals. The worship practices at home as described by the Vaikhanasa –Grihya-sutra closely follow the vidhi-s prescribed in Bodhayana–Grihya–sutra, Apastamba sutra, and Atharvaveda- parishistha. They are also said to resemble mantra prashnas of Taittariyakas and Brahmana of Sama-vedins. And, these perhaps represented the earliest surviving textual references on icon-worship.
50.1. The householder was required to perform regularly a group of five sacrifices (pancha-maha-yajna). These were the sacrifices rendered to gods (deva); the ancestors (pitr); animals, birds and elements (bhuta); fellow beings (manushya); and, Veda- study (Brahma). These were, however, not Yajnas proper, But, were meant as means for developing the sense of detachment and compassion towards all .
50.2. Sage Vaikhana observed that ‘Vishnu is the very essence of existence (sat), consciousness (chit) and bliss (ananda); and, he can be attained either by Yajnas or by icon-worship. If one does not perform Yajnas then one must contemplate on Vishnu who is the very personification of Yajna. And, one must worship Vishnu, the Supreme god, constantly with devotion, in his home or in a temple. That will surely lead to the highest realm of Vishnu’ (Vaikhanasa – grihya –sutra: 4.12.8-11).
50.3. Following that, the concept of Yajna was re-defined. The Yajnas and icon worship were regarded as complimentary; and the icon worship was not viewed as distinct from or contrary to Vedic rituals. It was explained that Yajna which involves offering through Agni is, in fact, the worship of formless God (amurtha-archana). But, Yajna is by itself Vishnu (yajno vai Visnhuh). In converse, it meant that worship of Vishnu icon was also a Yajna (samurtha-bhagavad-yajna), which in turn was the worship of all gods (sangathi deva- pujanam yajnah). The two forms of worship are not essentially different. Therefore, the rewards of the Yajna are also obtained by worshipping and meditating upon the icon of Vishnu (murtha-archana). It was also explained that worship of Vishnu is in effect the worship of all gods as the whole existence resides in him (vishnau-nitya-archa sarva deva-archa bhavathi: Vaikhanasa – grihya –sutra: 4.10.1).
50.4. Thus, the Vaikhanasa teachings provide both for worship the form-less (amurtha-archana) through performance of yajnas and for worship of Vishnu through his image, with equal dedication and devotion. This dual spiritual heritage, blended harmoniously, underline the twofold character of Vaikhanasa worship -tradition (archana- sampradaya).
51.1. The characteristic of Vaikhanasa view point is that the path way to final emancipation is not devotion alone, but worship of icon (samurtha-archana) performed with devotion (bhakthi) and sense of absolute surrender (prapatthi). It says, devotion may at times be a passing mood, but worship-sequences (kriya-yoga, upasana) rendered with utmost diligence when combined with devotion leads to fulfilment of human aspirations.
A sense of devotion envelops the mind and heart when the icon that is properly installed and consecrated is worshipped with love and reverence. By constant attention to the icon, by seeing it again and again and by offering it various services of devotional worship, the icon is invested with divine presence and its worship ensures our good here (aihika) and also our ultimate good or emancipation (amusmika).
And therefore, ‘archa with devotion is the best form of worship, because the icon that is beautiful will engage the mind and delight the heart of the worshipper’. That would easily evoke feeling of loving devotion (bhakthi) in the heart of the worshipper. The icon is no longer just a symbol; the icon is a true divine manifestation enliven by loving worship, devotion, and absolute surrender (parathion). And, Vishnu is best approached by this means.
The very act of worship (archa) is deemed dear to Vishnu. It points out that such upanasa is the same as Vedic Yajna; nay but is superior to Yajna Worship (bhavad-samutha-archana) is indeed more effective and purposeful than mere knowing scriptures.
The major thrust of Vaikhanasa texts is to provide clear, comprehensive and detailed guidelines for Vishnu worship. The Vaikhanasa texts are characterized by their attention to details of worship-sequences. It is not therefore surprising that Vaikhanasas describe their text as ‘Bhagava archa-shastra’.
51.2. The icon worship (archana) is held by Vaikhanasas as being superior to all other modes of worship because it includes in itself the special attitude of devotion (bhakthi), the offerings (huta) to god, recitation of mantras, repetitions of the sacred mantra (japa) and meditation upon the glory of god (dhyana). The Vaikhanasa texts hold the view that icon-worship is best suited for the present age of Kali. The well made icon of Vishnu pleases the eyes; delights the heart; engages the mind; fills the worshipper with loving devotion; and, blesses with a great sense of joy and fulfillment.
That is the reason the texts advise that icon worship must be resorted to by all, especially by those involved in the transactional world. In these texts, the Nishkala aspect continues to be projected as the ultimate, even as they emphasize the relevance and importance of the sakala aspect. The devotee must progressively move from gross sthula to the subtle sukshma.
51.3. Yes; Vaikhanasas valued icon worship very highly; but, at the same time they did not give up performance of Yajnas altogether. They learnt to combine the two streams of worship harmoniously. The Vaikhanasa tradition represents the passing stage of transformation from pure Vedic Yajna-Yagas to their combination with icon-worship.
52.1. The Vaikhanasas as a group of religious practitioners are of great antiquity. It is likely they were a separate forest dweller community that existed some time before the beginning of the Common Era. According to Max Muller, ‘the ancient Vaikhanasa Sutra which is an important portion of the sacred law preceded Manu Smriti’.
52.2. Max Muller opines that the work of Vaikhanasa must be extremely ancient. And, it is not advisable to assume that it had any connection with Vaikhanasa sutrakarana a sub division of the Taittiriyas which is one of the youngest schools adhering to Krishna Yajur Veda.
52.3. Dr. Nagendra Kumar Singh in his Encyclopaedia of oriental philosophy and religion (page 891) observes: it is likely that the Vaikhanasa literature documents the community’s transition from a Vedic School of ritual observance to a School of those engaged in religious performances; and particularly in devotional worship of Vishnu-icon (archana).
53.1. The scholars cite many internal evidences that go to suggest the antiquity of the Vaikhanasa tradition. It is said; the Vaikhanasa worship practices carried out within the inner and surrounding shrines mention only five avatars of Vishnu: Kapila, Varaha, Nrsimha, Vamana/Trivikrama and Hayashirsha (Hayatmaka). There is no mention of the ten Avatars (dashavatara-s) in the core Vaikhanasa texts. Perhaps, the concept of dashavataras was then yet to be developed, evolved and elaborated.
53.2. Atma Sukta hymn is unique to the Vaikhanasa mode of worship. It seeks to evoke in the worshipper his identity with Vishnu in his cosmic form as Purusha. It’s composition having a typical mix of Vedic and classic features suggest that it dates back to the late Vedic era; and, is definitely older than the Puranas. This hymn mentions only three Avatars explicitly: Varaha, Kapila and Hayashirsha. It identifies the Varaha the boar that blesses (varado) with the upward breath (udana); Sage Kapila the personification of penance (tapasam ch murthim) with the spreading breath (vyana); and the horse-headed Hayashirsha with the downward breath (apana).
53.3. Similarly, there is no mention of Vibhavas or Avatars such as Vasudeva and his Vyuha (group) of Vrishni clan of Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha et al, as in the Pancharatra tradition .This again suggests that Vaikhanasa is older than the Pancharatra, perhaps on account of its Vedic associations.
54.1. Further, the association of Kumara and Kaumara – mantra with Vaikhanasa tradition is also interesting. The Kaumara – mantra: Om aghoraya mahaghoraya nejameshaya namo namah (as provided in Vaikhanasa –samhita, mantra –prashna: 5.49) is said to represent the earliest form of the tantric school Kaula –vidya. It is also said; Vaikhanasa were the earliest to adopt the tantra technique of worshipping Vishnu icons.
54.2. We find that the later Vaikhanasa Grihya sutra include practices of praying to Guha or Kumara while conducting certain life-cycle–rituals (samskaras) of the child . For instance; the Vaikhanasas invoke ‘Guha’ , Kumara for blessing the infant during its namakarana ceremony (naming the infant) – bhushane–-Shanmukham Aavahayami. The newborn is blessed with mantra: ‘be invincible (sarvatra-jayo bhava) like Kumara, son of Shankara’ (Shankarir iva sarvatra-jayo bhava: Vaikhanasa smarta sutra 3.19.20). Invocations are also made to protect the child from Kumara-grahas, the spirits that seize the children below the age of five.
Kumara is also invoked while the Vaikhanasa – child is taken to Kumara temple for its first outing – Pravasagamana. The father takes the prasada, the flowers that adorned Kumara, and places it on the child’s head saying: ‘I give you the flowers with which the Gurus worshiped Kumara (sesham gurubhih supujitam pushpam); may you be protected ‘ (Guhasya sesham gurubhih supujitam pushpam dadami –sya Shammukham).
After the above Samskaram; it is indicated that a ritual food sharing is arranged; where, the Vaikhanasas will partake the meal along with other Vaikhanasas . Such ‘kumara bhojanam‘ is also performed during Upanayanam of the boy.
54.3. Interestingly, the ashtottara-shata-namavali of Sri Venkateshvara, calls the Lord: ‘karttikeya-vapudharine namah’. Correspondingly, Markandeya one of the oldest Puanas names Kumara as ‘Vasudeva-priya’, the one who is dear to Vasudeva. Kumaraswamy is a member of the parivaram (entourage) of Vishnu. Further, Vishnu and Kumara are said to have an ‘understanding’ and recognition of each others might.
54.4. The Vaikhanasa association with Kumara (unlike in other Vaishnava tradition), even to this day, suggest the faint memory of its origin in the tantric traditions of the distant past. Some say; the Vaikhanasa practice of reciting Vedic mantras along with Tantra-related rituals suggests its emanation from the oldest phase of worship in the Chaitya-s , the earliest form of temples. Although the Vaikhanasa mode of worship may have evolved and changed over the long periods, its core is indeed very ancient; and is much older than other temple-traditions.
Vaikhanasa Literature
Vaikhanasa -Kalpa –sutra
55.1. Each of the four divisions of the Vedas has its own special Kalpa sutra. They are meant to guide the daily life and conduct of those affiliated to its division. Generally, the set of Kalpa sutra texts include: Grihya-sutra (relating to domestic rituals); Srauta-sutra (relating to formal yajnas); Dharma-sutra (relating to code of conduct and ethics); and Sulba-sutra (relating to mathematical calculations involved in construction of Yajna altars (vedi, chiti) and platforms); and specification of the implements used in Yajna (yajna-ayudha). Thus, Kalpa sutras by their nature are supplementary texts affiliated to the main division of a Veda.
55.2. Vaikhanasas belonging to Taittiriya division of Krishna–Yajur Veda are perhaps the only group that rely heavily on their Kalpa sutra. Vaikhanasa -Kalpa –sutra is the primary text; the basic and authoritative scripture of the Vaikhanasa tradition. And, all other definitive texts, manuals, traditions, beliefs and practices are derived from this source. It, in essence, provides the necessary framework, code of conduct for a Vaikhanasa in his spiritual, personal, family and social life. The text is intended to guide him in all spheres of life.
55.3. Vaikhanasa -Kalpa –sutra is ascribed to the ancient Sage Valkanas who is said to have received it from Brahma or Vishnu. It has come down to us in oral traditions; and its age is rather uncertain. But surely, its origins are in the very distant past. Some scholars date it around the third century of the Common Era.
56.1. The Vaikhanasa – kalpa – sutra is indeed a group of four texts. The whole set of texts is spread over thirty two prasnas (chapters). Its three main segments include: Vaikhanasa- srauta-sutra (21 chapters); Vaikhanasa – grihya – sutra or smarta sutra (7 chapters); and, Vaikhanasa-dharma –sutra (3 chapters). And, in addition there is a chapter named Vaikhanasa- Pravara – sutra.
56.2. As may be seen, the Vaikhanasa-kalpa-sutras (page 29) consist of 32 chapters. Among them are 7 Grihya sutras; 3 Dharma sutras; 21 Srouta sutras ; and , 1 Pravara sutra . But, it does not contain a Sulba-sutra of their own. That might be because of the secondary position assigned in this tradition for performing Yajnas. Instead , they have Pravara-sutra that deals with genealogy of the seers who initiated families (vamsha) into Vaikhanasa tradition. However, the matters relating to Sulba –sutras are covered under its two other sections (srauta and grihya).
Please also see An Introduction to Vaikhanasa Kalpa Sutra by Sri Animeshnagar
Vaikhanasa – srauta – sutra
57.1. The Vaikhanasa- srauta-sutra deals with all types of ritual-actions which need to be carried out daily (nitya) and occasionally (naimittika), in addition to several types of yajnas (yaga-yajna). There is also a section on purification rituals (prayaschitta) to take care of minor or major lapses in conduct of rites or in personal behaviour. The srauta – texts are not however held in highest regard because the rituals are motivated by desire (kamya) to acquire something or the other.
Vaikhanasa – grihya – sutra or smarta sutra
58.1. In order to preserve the Vedic affiliation, a Grihya-sutra was essential. The Vaikhanasa –grihya –sutra or smarta sutra emphasizes devotion to Vishnu or Narayana. It provides the main framework for Vishnu –worship ; prescribes rules governing life in household and also the rules for installation (prathista) and worship of Vishnu’s image at home (grharchana bimba prathista archana), in a shrine or in the yajna mantapa pavilion; and, for introduction of divine power (shakthi) into the image before its worship. The icon which is divinely auspicious (divya-mangala– vigraha) should be sculpted according to the prescriptions of Shilpa-shastra (shilpa –shastrokta –vidanena). The text prescribes that the icon of Vishnu must be duly installed at home (tasmad grihe param Vishnum prathistya) and should be worshipped daily – morning and evening- (saayam –prathya) after performing the customary homas. It also discusses, in detail, about other religious observances.
58.2. The text includes invocation of four aspects of Vishnu: Purusha, Satya, Achhuta and Aniruddha. The invocations prescribed here involve two mantras: one of eight syllables – ashtakshari mantra- (Om namo Narayanaya) and the other of twelve syllables – dwadashakshari mantra – (Om namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya).These mantras are of great importance and of sacredness in Vaishnava traditions ; and are regarded as divine sacraments (daivika).
58.3. Vaikhanasa – smarta – sutra is perhaps the only text of its kind to prescribe a ceremony for entering into the hermit stage of life (Vanaprastha). It describes ways of the hermits devoted to Vishnu and practicing Yoga involving ten external observances, niyama (bathing, cleanliness, study, ascesis, generosity etc) ; and ten internal observances , yaama ( truthfulness, kindness, sincerity etc) .
58.4. Vaikhanasa – smarta – sutra also teaches yogic paths leading to Brahman without qualities* (nishkala). It contrasts actions with desire (sa-kama) seeking fruits of action in this world and in the next, with actions without desire (nis-kama) performance of prescribed actions with a sense of duty and without expectations. The desire-less action (nis-kama) is of two kinds: activity (prvrtti) and disengagement (nivrtti) .Here, ‘activity’ signifies yogic practices which procure yogic-powers, but not leading to release from samsara the series of births. Disengagement (nivrtti), in contrast, relates to the way of yogis who are solely intent upon realizing Supreme Self and to attain union (yoga) of the individual self with the Supreme Self.
[*This view point as the primacy of Brahman without attributes (nir-guna) and with attributes (sa-guna) differs significantly from the position taken by the later Vaishnava Vedanta School of Vishistadaita. ]
Samskaras
59.1. Vaikhanasa – grihya – sutra deals in particular with eighteen life-cycle-rites (samskaras) which are meant to cleanse the body and mind of one born in the Vaikhanasa lineage ; and attune him to be fit for rendering service to Vishnu . The rituals range from niseka (ritu –san – gamana first mating in the proper season) and garbhadana (impregnation) to samavarthana (return from study) and pani-grahana (marriage). In effect, it prescribes rites ranging from before-birth and ending with death and cremation (jatakaadi – smasananta).
[It is said; there was another text (Vaikhanasa-grihya- parishistya-sutra) which supplemented the main Grihya-sutra text. Its passages are quoted in other Valkanas texts. But, it is not available at present.]
59.2. Grihya-sutra emphasizes the significance of pre-natal samskaras. These are directly linked to the marriage and birth in a Vaikhanasa family. The related samskaras are meant to define and lend specific identity to a Vaikhanasa. The inherited identity is beyond the scope of discretion. One has to be a born-Vaikhanasa (janmathah). Initiation or conversion into Vikhanasa sect is ruled out. Pre-natal -life-cycle –rituals (garbha-samskara), thus, become one of the distinguishing features of the Vaikhanasa community. This and the rituals of Vishnu-Bali are important for their identity.
Vishnu–Bali
60.1. Of the five parental samskaras, the one symbolic ceremony, in particular, has developed into an essential characteristic of the Vaikhanasas; and up to the present day, it plays an important role in defining their specific identity. This is a samskara performed in the eighth month of pregnancy following Pumsavana and Seemantha (parting of the hair) meant for the benefit of the pregnant woman and the foetus growing within her. And, this is known as Vishnu–Bali (or garbha-chakra samskara) prescribed to be performed during the bright-half of the eighth of pregnancy (garbhaadhady-astame masyeva shukla pakshe).
60.2. The significance of the offering (Bali) to Vishnu is that, while even as the un-born is inside the mother’s womb , as fetus, it acquires the status of a Vaishnava (garbha-vaishnavesti), a Vishnu devotee (garbha vaishnavatava siddyarthyam) . The ceremony involves offering the pregnant woman a cup of payasam in which the insignia of Vishnu- chakra is dipped. The infant the moment it is born is deemed a Vaishnava by birth (garbha-Vaishnava – janmanam), not needing any initiatory rites (diksha) or branding. In the case of such male offspring, he automatically becomes eligible to render temple worship-rituals. As it is often said;’ they indeed are Vihṣṇu’s children, protected by Vishnu and preordained for temple service even before birth’.
Vishnu-Bali and the significances attached to it illustrate the concern of the Vaikhanasa community to distinguish themselves as Vaidikas who are different from other Vaishnava sects, particularly the Pancharatras, and also to assert their premier position as born-priests not needing any other sort of vaishnava-diksha.
Vaikhanasa – dharma – sutra
61.1. A Vaikhanasa, a born-priest (janmathah – archaka) is guided by Vaikhanasa- Grihya sutra and Dharma –sutra , which are within the orthodox Vedic culture. The Vaikhanasa – dharma –sutra also deals with religious life; and the conduct, duties and responsibilities in different stages of life (asramas). They also detail the eight-fold system of yoga (ashtanga –yoga) and related spiritual practices.
Works of the four sages: Vaikhanasa Shastra – Agama – Samhita
62.1. Sage Vaikhanasa is said to have taught his doctrine to his nine disciples: Kashyapa; Atri; Marichi; Vashista; Angira; Bhrgu; Pulasthya; Pulaha; and Kratu. Among these, four rishis viz. Atri, Bhrgu, Kashyapa, and Marichi composed a set of texts, based on the philosophy expounded by Sage Vaikhanasa, detailing various aspects of worship, conduct in personal life and several other disciplines. The collection of these texts along with Vaikhanasa’s original instructions constitutes the core of the Vaikhanasa literature.
62.2. Vimanarchana –kalpa (1001.1) a prose work which elaborates on worship of Vishnu–icon , ascribed to Marichi talks about the doctrine taught by Sage Vaikhanasa to his four chief disciples: Bhrgu, Kashyapa, Atri and Marichi .The disciples who received the knowledge from their Master expanded upon his philosophy and teachings. And, they produced four classes of texts: Bhrgu (Tantras); Kashyapa (Adhikaras); Atri (Kandas); and Marichi (Samhitas). The four sets of texts together ran into four lakh granthas; each grantha being 32 letters composed in anustubh chhandas (metrical form).
62.3. Vimānārcakakalpa of Marichi mentions thirteen works attributed to Bhrgu:
Khilatantra; Puratantra; Vasadhikara ; Chitradhikara ; Manadhikara ; Kriyadhikara ; Archanadhikara ; Yajnadhikara ; Varnadhikara ; Prakirnadhikara ; Pratigrihyadhikara ; Niruktadhikara ; and , Khiladhikara.
Kashyapa is said to have composed three Samhitas consisting 64,000 verses: Satyakanda; Tarkakanda; and, Jnanakanda.
Atri is credited with four works spread over 88,000 verses composed in anustuph chhandas: Purvatantra; Atreyatantra ; Vishnutantra; and, Uttaratantra.
The set of eight Samhitas (1, 84, 000 granthas) composed by Sage Marichi form the Vaikhanasa Samhita (samhita-ashtaka).The titles of the eight Samhitas are said to be : Jaya ; Ananada; Samjnana ; Vira ; Vijaya; Vijita; Vimala ; and Jnana Samhita.
[Having said this, let me also mention that there also alternate lists of the texts attributed to these four Rishis.]
62.4. The collection of four lakh granthas, spread over 128 books, came to be known as Vaikhanasa Shastra (chatur-laksha grantham pradadur etad Vaikhanasam shastram ). They are also collectively known as Vaikhanasa Agama.
62.5. All these four classes of texts acknowledge that the Vaikhanasa- kalpa – sutra handed down by their Master Sage Vaikhana is their primary source; and it is the Authority for the Vaikhanasa sampradaya.
63.1. Although the Kalpa –sutras of Vaikhanas provided the inspiration and the substance for the later Vaikhanasa writings, a distinction is drawn between the Sutra (of Valkanas) and the Shastra (by his disciples).
Kalpa –sutra is different in its approach from its Shastra or Agama texts. There is a marked difference between the environment of Kalpa-sutra period and that of the Agama shastra. The Kalpa-sutra belongs to a period when Yajnas and related rituals as prescribed in Yajur Veda , the Brahmanas etc were still being performed fairly regularly .But, by the time of the Agamas, the age of the Yajnas was fading out; and the prescriptions of the srauta section of Kalpa –sutra were also losing the focus of attention. However, the Grihya –sutra section (which deals with domestic rituals) based on the Smritis and which is also known as Samarta –sutra was still relevant, and it was gaining greater importance.
Transition: Veda – Kalpa –Agama
64.1. We see here a transition from Vedas to Kalpa and then on to the Agama. The worship of Agni (homa-puja) which was the focus of attention in the Vedic period was translated by the Kalpa into the worship of Vishnu in the iconic form (bera-puja). Vishnu was a prominent Vedic god; and in the Brahmanas Vishnu came to be regarded as the very personification of Yajna (yagno vai Vishnuh) . Following that, the Kalpa Sutra said, the worship of Vishnu is indeed equivalent to the performance of Yajna.The kalpa- sutra therefore prescribed worship of Vishnu in the household along with the customary ritual-fires. The Agamas thereafter not only transformed the Vedic Yajna ideology (amutha-archana) into worship of Vishnu, but also extended it into worship of icons installed in temples (samurtha-archana). Though the Vedic rituals gradually gave place to worship of Vishnu-icon, the Agama did not entirely give up Vedic rituals.
64.2. The archana (service to the images) detailed in the Vaikhanasa Agama represents the community’s transition from a Vedic School of ritual observance to a Bhagavata tradition emphasising bhakthi towards Narayana and worship of Vishnu/Narayana idol installed at the temples. The Kalpa-sutra always addressed their Supreme deity only as Vishnu; and, Vaishnava ideology was evident. The use of the term Narayana was not yet prominent. But, by the time of the Agamas, the names Vishnu and Narayana came to be used alternatively.
64.3. And, when Vaikhanasa Agama was composed it had to comment on details which the Kalpa sutra did not contain; or elaborate on details which were only suggested by Sage Vaikhanasa. The requirements of Agama appear to have necessitated the composition of Shastra-texts by the four sages, to compliment the Kalpa-sutra handed down by their master.
64.4. Together with the Kalpa Sutras, the Vaikhanasa –samhita are traditionally taken to be the cannon of the Vaikhanasas (Vaikhanasa-shastra or Vaikhanasa-Bhagavad-shastra).
65.1. Vaikhanasa-Bhagavad-shastra or Vaikhanasa-Agama, in many ways, compliment the Vaikhanasa-kalpa – sutra. It also elaborates on certain issues that the Kalpa –sutra did not touch upon.It is said; the Kalpa –sutra of Vaikhanadid not deal with temple-worship at all; and, even the worship at home was discussed rather briefly. But, his disciples realizing the importance of worshipping Vishnu in temples and having in view the greater good of all mankind, elaborated on this aspect following the broad principles for worship at home as mentioned in the Kalpa –sutra. And, that, it is said, resulted in Vaikhanasa- Agama.
65.2. The Vaikhanasa tradition frequently avers to its Vedic affiliation and Vedic authority. But, in its living practices it is mostly about temple-rituals. The texts now classed under Vaikhanasa Agama are primarily ritual texts (prayoga shastra); and they contain elaborate discussions on various aspects concerning temples as also instructions on practical aspects of worship-procedures. The jnana-paadas of Vaikhanasa Agama texts are brief as compared to discussion on rituals.
[It is said; initially, the Vaikhanasa texts did not generally employ the term Agama to describe themselves. They were known as ‘Vaikhanasa– Bhagavad-shastra’ or as ‘Daivika-sutra’. However, the term Vaikhanasa-Agama came into use in later times in order to distinguish them from other Agama traditions.]
Subjects dealt by the four classes of texts
66.1. The four classes of texts produced by the four disciples of Sage Vaikhanasa may be considered as different streams of the same tradition or School handing down the same ritual doctrine and practices, but with slight variations when it comes to the details of ritual – sequences, circumstantial descriptions of the same set of procedures or ceremonies. But, the texts attributed to the four sages, in the main, are in agreement as regards their content and the disposition of the topics dealt with. They even tend to quote each other.
66.2. The main tantras pertaining to the installation and worship of idols are in Bhrgu, Atri, Kashyapa and Marichi Samhitas. They deal with building a shrine to Vishnu (karayathi mandiram); making a worship-worthy beautiful idol (pratima lakshana vatincha kritim); and worshipping everyday (ahanyahani yogena yajato yan maha-phalam). The texts primarily refer to ordering one’s life in the light of values of icon worship (Bhagavadarcha), to usher in a sense of duty, commitment and responsibility.
The Bhrgu, Atri and Marichi Samhitas in particular go into different aspects of architecture of Vaikhanasa Vishnu temples, while other fragments cover Chitra karma or painting of pictures of deities.
66.3. The Vaikhanasa-tantra texts (ascribed to Bhrgu) broadly deal with (i) karshana (construction of shrines); (ii) prathishtha (installation of idols of gods); (iii) puja (worship of the idols); (iv) snapana (the abhisheka or bathing of idols); (v) utsava (festivals and processions); and , (vi) prayashchitta (expiatory rites relating to errors in rituals ).
66.4. Atri’s Kandas also cover these topics at great depth in addition to the design of temples. Kashyapa’s Adhikaras are mainly in the form of sutras. Apart from these; the Kashyapa gives a description of the world; a classification of the good (auspicious) and evil elements; the appeasement of the ominous, causes of welfare and defeat; directions for construction of houses; the donations of village; plans for towns and villages; etc
67.1. The Agamas combine two types of instructions: one providing the visualization of the icon form; and the other giving details of preparation of icon for worship. This is supplemented by prescriptions for worship of the image and the philosophy that underlies it.
When the four classes of texts are put together, in regard to the subjects relating to construction of temples, mainly, the following are discussed:
the types of shrines; inspection of temple-site; preparatory ploughing on that site; the deposit of the temple-embryo; the construction of a provisional miniature temple (bala-alaya) for Vishnu and his attendant deities during the time when the main sanctum is under construction or when an evil omen or a damage has occurred; temple architecture; collection of materials (stone and wood); construction of the temple proper; iconography of Vishnu images and of other deities; preparation of the clay for modelling the image; the measures of the image , ornaments etc; sculpting of the images; the measure and other characteristics of the frames and their construction; consecration and installation of of the icon; the oblation into five fires; the sequence of daily worship in the temple; occasional festivals, celebrations (uthsava) ; etc.
As regards the topics related to worship at the temple, the following stages are described:
entering the temple; duties of the assistants (such as the water fetcher and others); meditation and personal preparation of the priest; bathing of the image ; preparations and worship of the minor deities ; invocation of Vishnu; worship of Vishnu; various details about the flowers to be offered or to be avoided ; details about the elements of daily worship; various details about the consecration and worship of Avatars; extensive bathing on special occasions or to regenerate the divinity of the image; the festival; the atonement or correction of errors (pryaschitta) etc
67.2. In the next part let’s continue with the Vaikhanasa literature and then go on to Vaikhanasa philosophy and its preoccupation with temple –worship.
Vaikhanasa Continued in Part Four
1. A Companion to Tantra by S C Banerji ; Abhinav Publications (2007)
2. Tantra: its mystic and scientific basis by Lalan Prasad Singh ;Concept Publishing Company (1976)
3. Tribal roots of Hinduism by SK Tiwari ; Sarup & Sons (2002)
4. The Tantric way by Ajit Mukherjee and Madhu Khanna ; Thames & Hudson (1977)
5. Agama Kosha by Prof. SK Ramachandra Rao ; Kalpataru Research Academy (1994)
6. The Perspective of the Tantras By K. Guru Dutt
http://yabaluri.org/TRIVENI/CDWEB/theperspectiveofthetantrassept45.htm
7. Tantra Shastra and Veda by Sir John Woodroffe
http://www.sacred-texts.com/tantra/sas/sas04.htm
8. The Tantras: An Overview by Swami Samarpanananda
9. Evolution of Tantra by Nitin Sridhar
http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/Evolution-of-Tantra-1.aspx
Tags: Atma sukta, Atri, Bhrigu, Kalpa sutra, Kashyapa, Marichi, Vaikhanasa, Vaikhanasa Grihya sutra, Vaikhanasa shastra, Vaikhanasa temple worship, Vanaprasta, Vishnu Bali, Vishnu worship
Varuna and his decline – Part One
Abstract and Intro
(1) The saga of Varuna is truly amazing. Though his story started with a bang, it sadly ends in a whimper. Perhaps very few other gods– Vedic or otherwise – witnessed such vicissitudes in the turn of their fortunes.
The Varuna story covers a very large canvass – in content, space and time. The story of his pre-eminence has its roots in the pre-Vedic era; it flourishes in the early Rig Veda inspiring awe and reverence; and as it flows into other Vedas, Brahmanas and Upanishads, Varuna’s associations with the sky, the water and the order in the universe as also in the ethical conduct of men, all these, acquire new dimensions with mystical connotations. Till then, he is the highest lord in the Vedic pantheon, the most virtuous and the most powerful all-pervading god.
Varuna, up to a point, is the nearest equivalent to the Supreme, as he is projected as the creator and sustainer of all existence; the lord of Space, the maker of Heaven and Earth. His glory spreads far and wide into the Gathas and into the Bhrigu lore. The treaties entered by the Mitanni kings of the distant Sumerian region (in about 1500 BCE) are sworn in the name of Varuna and his peer-Vedic –gods.
However, with the parting of ways of the ancient sages Bhrigu and Angirasa, Varuna becomes exclusively the Great God of the Aryans to the west of the Sindhu River, while Indra takes over as the King of the Devas. Varuna is eclipsed in the Vedic pantheon.
(2) With the Taittiriya Samhita (4.8.3.1) identifying Varuna mainly with night and darkness, his career takes a steep nosedive. Initially, he loses his sole kingship over the sky and then has to share his authority with another god who is younger and more energetic- Mitra. Varuna gets disassociated with the day sky which symbolizes clarity, brightness and brilliance; and made the god of night sky. His ethical role diminishes. With that, Varuna draws nearer to night, darkness and death. Varuṇa’s dark associations bring him close to gods of negative traits such as Yama, Nirṛti, Soma, and Rudra. His character and disposition too undergo a marked change for the worse. From a benevolent and graceful god, he turns into a spiteful, malevolent and stern judge cum punisher. His physical appearance too turns ugly: he is now pictured as a fat, bald ugly looking cruel man with yellow or brownish red eyes, protruding teeth and wielding a noose. One after another, his powers and authority steadily depart from him. Varuna eventually ends up in the Puranas as a demigod in charge of local water bodies, and as the guardian of the west where the sun sinks into darkness and from where the night takes over.
(3) The story of his pre-eminence in the pre-Vedic and in the early Rig Veda era; the modifications that came about in his profile during the later ages; his fall from elevated position; and his eventual eclipse, is truly astounding. In a manner of speaking, the course of Varuna’s career epitomizes the dynamic character of the Indian mythological lore. And, it also traces graphically the evolution, the development and the vicissitudes that came about in the corkscrew course of Indian theological history in response to the needs , changes and challenges it encountered at each stage of its unfolding over the millennia.
(4) Varuna saga should not be viewed in isolation. It is better appreciated when it is placed against the background of the scheme, process or the phenomenon that swept across the world of Vedic mythology in the distant past. That process spread over long centuries totally convulsed the sedate world of Vedic gods. It was akin to churning the ocean. It disturbed the old order; threw out the old set of gods; created and magnified a set of new gods; and restructured the entire Indian pantheon. Under this process of reorganizing the world of Indian mythology… those Vedic gods who had been ‘minor’ in the Rig Veda but who held great potential and offered rich scope for enlargement and glorification were re-modelled into much greater gods. Later, those gods came to represent larger segments of life and experiences; and to mobilize greater strength and significance. The virtues and powers of numerous other gods merged into those select gods. They are today the Super Gods in the Indian pantheon.
At the same time, gods whose characters, functions and achievements had been too vividly described in Rig Veda and who held out little scope for further enlargement were steadily reduced in their status and rank And those gods whose profile was too dim and had very little potential for growth were allowed to fade out quietly.
In this scheme or the process of restructure, the gods that adopted best to the changing needs of times survived and thrived. One way that was done was by underplaying their Vedic characteristics which were rather sketchy and unsuitable. And, another was by aligning them along with tutelary gods that were already being worshipped. …..In this period of transition, popular sectarian gods were gradually replacing the older Vedic gods. This new approach to the gods redefined the status, character and attributes of the older gods.
This was also a process of absorption of several gods into One; and, it culminated in the emergence of the triad, of which the two: Vishnu and Shiva inherited all the rich, adorable and living traits of all the gods that preceded them. They were also endowed with infinite potential and capacity to imbibe the traits of all the gods to come.
(5) The sequence of gods changing – growing or diminishing in significance – indicates the continual influx of new ideas and a creative conflict with the existing system of thoughts. This complex and dynamic interplay of light and shadow is a distinctive feature of the Indian pantheon.
The growth and development of Indian mythology and thought resembles the imagery of the inverted tree – of which our ancients were very fond – with its roots in the sky and its branches spreading down towards the earth. Its roots are ancient but its growing shoots, leaves, buds, flowers and fruits are ever green, tender and fresh. The roots of our philosophy, religion and culture are in the very distant Vedic past. Though those roots are no longer visible to us the braches and extensions of those roots in vivid forms that have come down to us are very alive; and its fruits are within our experience.
The idioms of Indian thought are thus dynamic, living and vibrant. They are linked to the spiritual urges and the changing needs, desires and aspirations of its people. The gods, faiths and the worship practices too keep evolving, changing, without parting with the essence of its fundamentals. Therefore, growth, change and adaptation are essential aspects of the Indian thought and living. It is distinguished by continuity with change; as also by its resilience and diversity. That is the genius of the Indian traditions.
The Varuna saga, albeit a painful one, has to be appreciated in that context.
(6) Varuna of Rig Veda had a rather disappointing end; but, he did leave behind a rich legacy of wonderful concepts and norms of behavior in personal and social life (Rta) that have endured even to this day. Those laws are universal; applicable at all times and therefore eternal. The concept of Rta asserts that the order in nature is self regulated and operates by its own laws (svabhava); and, not necessarily by the will of gods. Ensuring the perpetuation of the order and harmony in nature is as sacred and as important as it is in conduct of one’s life. That is because; Rta emphasizes the integrity of all forms of life and ecological systems. The principle of Rta recognizes our oneness with our environment and our unity with all life on earth. It is the framework that binds together man, nature and god. Rta is thus the Dharma – the order – that pervades and protects all life. It asserts the principle that the physical order of the universe is also the moral order of the universe; Rta is both.
When that order and harmony is ruptured, the disruptive elements of disorder, chaos and falsehood (an-rta) step in, bringing in their wake ugliness, dishonesty and, decay into life. It is explained; a sin is any inharmonious action done with avarice to gain some immediate and temporary gain. Thus, injuring the harmony that exists in nature and among men is indeed the sin; and it attracts punishment. The sin arises because of frailties and human weaknesses; and not because of demons. The evil in the hearts and minds of men are the real demons.
Sin is compared to unpaid debt (rna); it is a burden and an act of bad faith. The best way to cleanse the sin is to come face to face with it; own it; confess to it; and seek forgiveness with a promise not to err again. Cleansing is in the heart, mind and deed; not in the rituals. That is the Varuna’s way.
Paschatapa – ‘after the burning heat’ – signifies the purifying fire of repentance. The life-giving waters over which Varuna presides also signifies purity. Varuna is intimately associated with the both. Thus the Varuna-principle stands for purity in life.
(7) Let’s in the following five articles trace the journey of Varuna from the Rig Veda through the other Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads as also Mahabharata and the Puranas. Let’s also later see his connection with Ahur Mazda of the Gathas.
A. Varuna in the Rig Veda
The encompasser
1.1. Varuna of Rig Veda, the one who encompasses (var) the whole world, is one of the oldest Vedic deities. He belongs to the older generation of gods than Indra; and, his origins go back to the pre-Vedic era. It is said, Varuna was uncreated or unborn; he existed before the very dawn of creation and he manifested himself along with the wake of the world. That perhaps is a poetic way of suggesting that Varuna had been recognized as a sovereign ruler even before the dawn of Rig Vedic age.
1.2. He is the mightiest of the early Rig Vedic gods. He is celebrated in the Rig Veda variously as: the universal monarch; the king of all gods, the sovereign who dwells in all the realms ; the best among the Adityas the solar deities ; the lord of the sky; the god of heavenly light; the overlord who established and governed the cosmic order Rta; the guardian and upholder of righteousness – Dharma , Dharmanaam pathi; the stern but merciful judge who judges all men and punishes the wrongdoers; the healer with thousand remedies; the omnipresent and omniscient, possessing limitless knowledge; kavi, the seer par excellence ; there is none wiser than he; the wielder of divine power and wisdom Maya; the controller of the destinies of mankind; one who forges the magical and speculative relationship between god and man; the lord of water element , clouds, seas and rivers Sindhu-pathi; and as the king of waters Ambu -raja.
Everything is subject to Varuna’s authority and control; nothing happens without his knowledge; and he takes everything.
1.3. No other Vedic deity is invested with such grand attributes and authority 9. Together with Mitra, Varuna more than any other god is in charge of the established order of the universe, the fixed rules of conduct – both physical and moral- ‘dhtavrata’. Varuna inspired awe and reverence.
Lord of Ethics
2.1. The attributes and functions ascribed to Varuna impart to his character a moral elevation and sanctity far surpassing that attributed to any other Vedic deity. His extreme concern is the morality of human beings.
2.2. While the hymns addressed to other gods seek long life, wealth, and power; the prayers submitted to Varuna pray for purity of heart, forgiveness, and release from sins and for moral strength not to err again. They are replete with humble confessions of guilt and repentance. The hymns in praise of Varuna ‘the most impressive deity among all the Vedic gods’ are lofty, devout and ethical in tone. The hymns rise to a pitch of exaltation when they sing the splendour of Varuna. In these hymns Varuna, more than any other Vedic god, appears mighty and merciful. He is feared as a severe judge. He terrifies the guilty; but is most compassionate to the virtuous.
The resplendent god
3.1. Rig Veda describes Varuna’s appearance in glowing terms: as the most resplendent god of radiant- sky-blue complexion, with Agni in his face and Surya in his eye. He is far sighted (uru-chaksasa). He is the eye of all the worlds (jagath-chakshu- RV.1.25.5). He has soft and beautiful hands (supani) in which he holds lotuses and an auspicious noose. He is splendidly adorned in golden mantel (drapi) and a shining robe. His chariot dazzles brilliantly like sunrays (ghabasti suro nadyauth – RV.1.122.15).Varuna and Mitra ride the golden chariot like floating clouds in the blue sky, drawn by well yoked steeds. (Rv.5.62.7). in the midst of vast heavens urukşhaya (RV 1.2.9) he is seated on a splendid throne placed in his golden palace of thousand pavilions, thousand columns (RV 2.41.5) and thousand doors (RV 7.88.5). From his glittering throne, the monarch (samrajnya) watches over the deeds of all men and gods (pastyasu)- (RV 1.22.11-12).
Verily all of you are very great
4.1. The Mandalas of Rig Veda do not attempt stacking up its gods in a graded order; but strive to discover the Great One (Mahat) that is the source of all. There are no inferiors or superiors among the Vedic gods.”There is no one among you Oh Devas..! who is an infant or a boy .Verily all of you are very great” (na hi vo astyarbhako devaa so na kumaraha, visve sato mahanta iti – RV 8.30.1).
No one god in particular was regarded as the superior deity guiding and controlling the rest. But, all gods of Rig Veda were of co-ordinate power; and no one among them was recognized as supreme God per se, even though some gods were more imposing than others. Such gods included, particularly, Indra, Agni and Varuna, the gods of the warriors, of the yajna and of the pious devotees, respectively.
4.2. You come across in the Vedas hymns where a particular deity is lauded in glowing terms and celebrated as the highest among the gods. There is also a tendency to elevate now this god and later another to the highest pedestal and to look upon him as the greatest power. It is explained; in all such instances the high praise and tributes paid are truly addressed to the Absolute, the Supreme principle; and, not to the god in question who merely is a manifestation of That One. Thus, all gods of Rig Veda are of equal status.
The Mighty King
5.1. The equitable status accorded to all gods, as explained above, was generally in the context of the younger gods, the Devas. But, Varuna belonged to the older generation wherein he was honoured with a very special status and hailed as the greatest god, Asura Mahat. Varuna continued to occupy that elevated pedestal until his demise or until the rise of Indra. Therefore in the early hymns of the Rig Veda, Varuna occupies a special and an exalted position. He alone is hailed as the king (Raja) (RV 7.87.6), kshatra (secular power, sovereignty and kingship) and Kshatriya; the king of gods (MS 2.21); the king of the territories (raja-raastranam) (RV 7.34.11); an independent ruler (svaraja) (RV 1.28.1); the self-dependant ruler (svaraat), and samraja the universal monarch (RV 1.36.1; 8.42.1).
5.2. As the emperor, Varuna is mighty and awe-inspiring. He is Risadas the destroyer of enemies (RV 1.2.7), tuvijata and uruksaya mighty (RV 1.02.9). His might and speed are unequalled (RV 1.24.8) . He rules over both men and gods; and presides over the relationship between man and the gods. His sovereignty pervades both the physical and moral domains, where his laws are equally eternal and inviolable.”Indra protects from external foe; Varuna protects and upholds the moral order rta – RV 7.83.9”. Even a god does not dare transgress his immutable ordinances (vrataani).He restricts and fetters the wrong doers with his bonds that he has at his command.
mitraṁ huve pūtadakṣaṁ varuṇaṁ ca riśādasam |dhiyaṁ ghṛtācīṁ sādhantā || 1. 2.07
kavī no mitrāvaruṇā tuvijātā urukṣayā |1,002.09
ṛtena mitrā-varuṇā-vṛtāvṛdhāvṛtaspṛśā |kratuṁ bṛhantamāśāthe || 1. 2.08
vṛtrāṇy anyaḥ samitheṣu jighnate vratāny anyo abhi rakṣate sadā |7,083.09
5.3. He is not only the supreme kshatra, supreme Asura, the wise king, the best of the Adityas but he is also the abode of life (visvayu). The term Asura (one who controls asu = breath or life) meaning the Lord of Life is particularly applied to Varuna (RV 2.8.27). Prayers are submitted to him to grant an enjoyable life-span of hundred Shrad-ritus, better than the life lived by their forefathers – śataṃ no rāsva śarado vicakṣe, acyāmāyūṃṣi sudhitāni pūrvā (2.27.10).|He is celebrated as the all knowing Asura (asuro visvavedaha –RV 8.42.1), and as the wise and attentive king (asurah prachetah –RV 1.124.14). In some passages the scope of the term is extended by adding the title ‘the king’ (RV 1.24.14; 10.132.4) or even stronger ‘the universal king ‘(RV 8.42.1). His dominant position is explained by stating Varuna is the Asura and the king of all gods (RV 2.27.10). “I am king Varuna; these powers (Asurya) were first given to me”- (ahaṃ rājā varuṇo mahyaṃ tāny asuryāṇi prathamā dhārayanta – RV 4.42.2). Mitra and Varuna are described as the two noble (Arya) Asuras (or lords) of the Devas – Devanaam asurah – (tā hi devānām asurā tāv aryā tā naḥ kṣitīḥ karatam ūrjayantīḥ – RV 7.65.2)
tvaṁ viśveṣāṁ varuṇāsi rājā ye ca devā asura ye ca martāḥ | śataṁ no rāsva śarado vicakṣe’śyāmāyūṁṣi sudhitāni pūrvā || 2.27.10 ||
5.4. In the Rig Veda, the totality of godly powers is called asuratvam; and it is called Mahat the great one. Varuna is Asura- mahat (Mahat devaanaam asuratvam ekam – RV 3.55.1-2). He is also regarded as the sovereign who created the Universe: “The All-Wise Varuna – asuro visvavedaha-Rig Veda 8.42.1”. He also put in place the cosmic order and governed the physical as also the moral aspects of existence. He is also the punisher and a fearsome destroyer.
5.5. Thus, Varuna of Rig Veda, heralded as the most exalted god (though only for a brief period) is endowed with these powers and authority. And, with his omniscience and omnipotence he is the nearest approximation to the structure of a Supreme Being, the Almighty God – the creator, preserver and destroyer. But, the text stops short of declaring him or any other deity as the Supreme God. The powers and virtues attributed to Varuna were later crystallized and appropriated among the Trinity of the mythologies which came up later.
6.1. Rig Veda celebrates the glory of Varuna in myriad ways ; and describes him as : the Great One (Mahat); the vast (brahat); the mighty (bhuri);the immense (prabhuti); the abode of life (visvayu); the knower (vidvas); the wise (medha);the intelligent (dhira); the discriminating (pracetas); the clever (grtsa); the adept , dexterous (sukratu); the inspired (vipra); the seer (kavi); the great-poet (kavitara); the greatest of poets (kavitama).
Amarakosa has five synonyms for Varuna : (1.1.142) pracetā varuṇaḥ pāśī yādasāṃpatir-appatiḥ
Besides these, Varuna has other sets of titles as being the lord of waters, the lord of Rta; and as the king and judge. We shall see more of those in the next sections. He has too many epithets. I admit, it is rather confusing.
[Before going further, a short explanation of the term Asura in the early Rig Veda:
7.1. The term Asura was used in the Rig Veda to indicate the powerful or the mighty one. Its application was more as an adjective than as a noun. This term was applied not only to gods but also to other powerful individuals. In the early Books of Rig Veda, Asura as a designation appears only in the singular or in dual form (as in Mitra-Varuna). Asura in that context did not refer to a cult or to a group or to a class of gods, just in the manner it referred to group of Devas , as in the case of visve devah. In other words, Asura was a title of highest lordship or honor assigned to certain gods who were regarded mighty, powerful and worship- worthy. These gods in general were also addressed as Devas. The older deities celebrated as Devas were often addressed as Asura, just to emphasize their power and might.
For instance; in Rig Veda, Indra the king of Devas is addressed in about sixteen hymns as Asura, possessing Asurya or Asuratya. His deeds are described as Asurani– the powerful, as those of Asuras . Similarly, the three other mighty deities of Rig Veda: Agni, Varuna and Mitra (in company of Varuna) are called Asura. Rudra is described in accusative form as devam asuram (RV. 42.11), the Asura possessing Asurya or bestowing it. Dayus the ancient sky-god too was called Asura. Some other Vedic deities too were at times called Asura, as in the case of : Savitar, Surya, Vayu, Maruts, the Adityas and Apam Napat. Ushas the goddess of dawn was said to possess Asuratva.
7.2. There are no cases in Rig Veda where a god is called Asura in respectful sense in one instance and then called an Asura in the demonic sense in another instance. Hence the change that came about was truly in the usage of the term and the meaning assigned to it at different times; and, it did not signify a change in the nature or the character of the god to whom the term was applied.
As said earlier, Asura meant highest lordship. Dayus the old sky-god was the earliest Asura. But, since Dayus , more and more , came to mean the physical sky and not the Great God, the epithet then was applied to Varuna the new sky-god; and later to Indra and other gods. But, the term Asura was applied particularly to Varuna to signify his supreme lordship over men and gods (viśveṣāṃ varuṇāsi rājā ye ca devā asura ye ca martāḥ–RV 2. 27.10). Aditi, the mother of gods, it is said, produced Mitra and Varuna for Asurya – Might or mightiness. “This Asura rules over the gods”: mahad devānām asuratvam ekam – RV_3,055.01 to 22
No other Vedic god is described in this manner (anyad-anyad asuryaṃ vasānā ni māyino mamire rūpam asmin – RV_3,038.07 ) . It is explained; the Asurya and the dignity connected with being Asura in the case of Varuna is his original characteristic. That suggests; Varuna was a sovereign ruler even at the dawn of Rig Vedic age. However, in the case of Indra, it is said, his Asurya was inherited from Varuna; it was not Indra’s own. When Indra is called Asura or invested with Asurya , it is done merely because Indra happened to succeed Varuna as the king of gods.
7.3. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (3.1), Mahabharata (shanthi parva: 33.25) and Amarakosha all describe Asuras , the sons of Diti, as the elder brothers or the older gods, while the Devas are the younger ones.
7.4. The sea-change that came about in the meaning assigned to the term Asura can also be explained in the context of the religious history of the Vedic people.
When the Aryan community was undivided, the terms Asura and Deva both denoted gods of high respect. The gods were referred to Asura as also Deva. But at a certain phase of their history, the Vedic people became divided along the lines of affiliation to two great and ancient sages Apam Napat and Angirasa. These sages belonged to the pre –Vedic period. The parting of their ways came about mainly because of the stand each took on issues such as: monotheism; worship of God through formless medium; use of icons in worship; and above all, on the question of the status to be accorded to the old god Varuna.
The Bhrigu clan who generally were to the west of the mighty Sindhu River continued: to regard Varuna as the Greatest and the only God – Asura Mahat; to favor worship through the formless medium of fire and honor the principle of Rta the moral order governed by Varuna as the highest good of all .
The Angirasas who were the preceptors of the dominant Aryans on the east of the Sindhu, on the other hand, elevated the more energetic and vibrant younger gods the Devas (Indra and others) to exalted positions and treated all Devas as equally great .These Devas were personified and described as having forms. Besides, the Angirasas relegated the passive old gods such as Varuna to very low positions in the Vedic pantheon, and also soft peddled Rta principle the moral order governed by Varuna.
( We shall talk a bit more on these issues in the last part of this article.)
7.5. The parting of their ways was hardly a sweet-sorrow; it was laced with rancor and hate. The Bhrigu and the Angirasa clans each ascribed its own chosen words of abuse to the terms Asura or Deva, depending on to which side of the Sindhu they belonged. In the later Vedic texts Asuras came to mean demons.
Towards the later books of the Rig Veda (6, 7, 8 and 10) the term Asura underwent extraordinary semantic change. It not only became a noun from an adjective; but also acquired a totally different meaning of demon or demonic. And in the sixth Book of Rig Veda (RV 6.022.09), Indra for the first time came to known as janasya divyasya rājā, the king of gods. And the idea, of course, became more popular and crystallized later in the Puranas.
In the Brahmanas of Krishna Yajur Veda , the term Asura was used in the sense of anti-god. It then was usually expressed in plural to suggest a group of beings opposed to gods. And, when it was used in singular (in the same sense) it was expressed as aasura. In the Shatapatha Brahmana the terms Asura and Rakshasa came close to each other.]
The Varuna – hymns
8.1. Varuna is indeed one of the mighty gods of Rig-Veda, though he is celebrated exclusively in just about ten hymns (RV 1.24. 25; 2.28; 5.85; 7.86 to 89 and 8.41 to 42).Besides, he is praised along with Mitra (Maitra –varuna) in twenty-three hymns; and with Indra (Indra-Varuna) in nine hymns. These numbers are rather small as compared to the numbers of hymns addressed to Indra and Agni, which are about six-fold greater. For instance, in Book Three no hymn is addressed to Varuna while twenty-two are devoted to Indra. Similarly, in Book eleven there is only one hymn to Varuna while twenty-three are addressed to Varuna. For some reason, Varuna is less frequently mentioned in the last book than in the earlier books of Rig Veda.
That does not in any manner diminish the importance, might, glory and power of Varuna as depicted in Rig Veda.
8.2. If Varuna is so great and important why is it that only a handful of hymns are dedicated to him in the Samhitas?
That might be because of the dark traits associated with him. Varuna was not wholly benevolent like Indra in the early Rig-Veda. Varuna is rather an ambivalent character – now favourable; and now unfavourable. He was a judgmental god who inspired awe and fear. Yet, Varuna was essentially a god of placid nature. And the Vedic poets were decidedly in favor of uncompromisingly good gods who protected people from enemies, diseases and draught. That process perhaps eventually led to Indra replacing the old god Varuna and taking charge as the chief of the Devas.
8.3. The Varuna – hymns are remarkably varied in their content and scope. They portray range of Varuna’s attributes; but, they project, mainly, four of his functions: as the universal monarch and lord of the sky; as the upholder of the cosmic order Rta; as related to water element (apah); and, as omniscient deity with unique magical knowledge (Maya) who oversees men’s’ actions.
We shall discuss each of his main attributes and functions in the next part of in this article.
Continued in Part Two
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All images are by courtesy of Internet
Posted by sreenivasaraos on October 4, 2012 in Varuna
Tags: Angirasa, Apam Napat, Asura, Bhrigu, Bhrigu Angirasa conflict, Decline of Varuna, Devas, Dharma, Indra, Mitra, Rig Veda, rta, Varuna, Varuna in Rig Veda
The Rig Veda and the Gathas-revisited
On 22 Apr, 2007, I posted a write- up discussing the close relation between the Rig-Veda and the Gathas concerning the language, the locale, the names of the principal characters etc. I mentioned there in, the language of the Gathas (the older scriptures), known as Avesthan was remarkably similar to that of the Vedic Sanskrit of the Rig Veda. Further, in the Rig Veda the devas are worshipped as gods and the asuras are put down as demons, while in Zoroastrianism the treatment of these deities is reversed. (Topic: Rig Veda and the Gathas )
The issues raised in the post of 22 Apr, briefly, were – when and why the terms deva/asura came to acquire different meanings in the two texts. Was this because of a conflict between the two sects? If so, when and where the” conflict “ took place?
Following that post there were a few comments and discussions in the Forum. I also looked around a few sites and read a few books on the subject because I was not totally convinced that there was a “conflict” per se. In the mean time, a friend on the Forum recommended an article entitled “Vedic Elements in the Ancient Iranian Religion of Zarathushtra “ written by Mr. Subhash Kak, a scholar from Jammu & Kashmir. The article was well written and it helped me to take a view on some, though not on all the issues raised in the post of22 Apr 2007. These efforts yielded additional information on the ancient kingdoms of Kassite s, Mittanis and Hattusa that existed sometime during 18th century B. C to 16th century B. C. in the Mesopotamian and North –West Syria regions. Based on the additional information I prepared a fresh article on the subject and hence this post.
Now, shall we resume our little talk about the Rig Veda and the Gathas?
1. I have veered to the view that the “conflict” was mostly surmised. There is no evidence pointing to any such “conflict”. I agree we may safely discard that hypothesis, at least for the present.
2. the Vedic religion, in some form, was present in the Mesopotamian region during the times of the Mitanni ,the Hittite, the Kassites (c 1750 BC) who worshiped Surya.
3. The Hurrian (1500 B C to 1270 B C) was located in the present-day western Syria , in the mountainous regions of Upper Euphrates and Tigris. The name Mitanni or Maitani first appears in the “memoirs” of a military officier who lived at the time of Amenhotep (1525 – 1504 BC). These memoirs were in connection with the Syrian wars (ca. 1480).
3.1 The ethnicity of the people of Mitanni is difficult to ascertain.The names of some Mitanni kings reveal Indo Aryan influence. They appeared to follow the Vedic religion. The ruling aristocracy was maryanni , meaning “young warrior” a derivative of the Sanskrit marya. The Mitanni warriors were called Marya, the term for warrior in Sanskrit as well.
3.2 Washukanni, or Waššukanni (also spelled Washshukanni, Wassuganni, Vasukhani, or a combination of these variants) was the capital of the kingdom of Mitanni from 1500 B C. The name is similar to the Sanskrit phrase for “a mine of wealth.” Washukanni flourished as a capital city for two centuries.
3.3 The names of the kings also point to the Indo-Aryan influence. The founder of the Kirta (1500 B c to 1490 B C). His name is also mentioned as “Krta” or with its element such as Krtadeva, Krtadhaja, and Krtadharman etc.
The names of the other Mitanni kings are also of Indo Aryan origin. For instance: Tushrata (Dasharatha–possessing ten chariots), Baratarna ( Paratarna-great sun); Biridaswa (Brihadashwa- possessing great horses); Artatama (Rtumna-devoted to the divine law, Rta); Rta-smara ( rooted in the Rta); Sattura (Satvar – warrior); Saustatar ( Saukshatra-son of Sukshatra, the good ruler); Saumathi (Son of Sumathi); Sattawaza (he who has won seven prizes);Shuttarna (Sutarna – good sun); Sumaala ( having beautiful wreaths); Parsatatar(Parashukshatra-ruler with axe); and, Mattiwaza ( Mativaja -whose wealth is prayer) – are the Mitannian names of the kings and other males of the time.
Royal seal of Saustatar
Šattiwaza (c.1325-1280) before his accession to the throne carried a Hurrian name Kili-Teššup, like that of several of his predecessors. In his treaties, he invokes, among the many Hurrian and Mesopotamian deities, the Indo-Aryan deities Mitra, Varuna, Indra, and the Nasatyas.
http://www.hittites.info/history.aspx?text=history%2FEarly+Late+Empire.htm
3.4 A famous treaty entered between the Hittite ruler Suppiluliuma and the Mitanni king, Mattiwaza,(Mattiraja) in about 1380 BC, at Boghazkoy, invokes not only the Babylonian gods to witness the treaty but also the deities of Vedic origin such as Mitra, Varuna, Indra and Nasatya (Ashwins). The names of these deities are in the forms that appear in the Rig-Veda (S. Konow: Aryan gods of the Mitani people, 1921).
They occur in the treaty as ila_ni Mi-it-ra-as-si-il, ila_ni A-ru-na-as-si-il In-da-ra, ila_niNa-sa-at-ti-ya-an-na. Since the form for Na_satya is quite different in the Avestan language (Naonhaithya), it is likely that the Mitannian did not speak Iranian but Indo-Aryan (E.Meyer: Sitzungsberichte der K. Preuss. Akad. Der Wissen, 1908). Of these gods, only Mitra (Mithra) is invoked in the Avesta (Indra and Nanhaithya appear in the Avesta as demons and Varuna may have survived as Ahura Mazda – Asura Mahat).This indicates that the religion of the royalty was Vedic and the Iranian influence was yet to spread to the Mitanni region.
The differences that appeared in the Rig-Vedic and Avestan terminologies must have therefore materialized at a much later stage .Some of the important changes that took place on the Iranian side, might have come about just prior to or at the time of the Zarathrustra.
3.5 As regards the language of the Hurrian kingdom, the common language Hurrian was neither Indo Aryan nor Semitic but was closer to Urartian. The Hurrians adopted the Akkadian cuneiform script for their language in about 2000 BC . It appears there were different groups and sub groups who spoke different dialects and followed different sets of deities. The royal family of Mitanni was speaking Hurrian as well.
3.6 Kikkuli, a master horse trainer (assussanni, the Sanskrit form of which is aśva-sana) of Mittani, was the author of a chariot – horse training manual written in the Hittite language (an extinct language of Indo European family). The text (dated c1499 B. C) is notable for the information it provides about the development of Indo European language and for its content as well. Kikkuli’s horse training text includes numerical terms such as aika (eka, one), tuwa (dwe , two), tera (tri, three), panza (pancha, five), satta (sapta, seven), Na (nava, nine), vartana (vartana, round).The terms used to denote the horses of different ages or stages of training are – saudist– “foal” or “untrained”; yuga– “young horse”; dāyuga to mean “horse in its second year of training” etc. The text employs terms such as babru (babhru, brown), parita (palita, grey), and pinkara (pingala, red) to denote colors. These terms are of Sanskrit origin.
Further, Kikkuli’s text, though in Hittite, has a few loanwords from Luwian and Hurrian languages. Whenever Kikkuli found it difficult to put across the Mitanni concepts inthe Hittite language, he switched to his own language (Hurrian) and switched back to Hittite.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikkuli#column-one
3.7 Hence, the Indo-Aryan element of the Mitanni could be placed 1500 BCE , if not earlier.
4. Hittites is the conventional English name for an ancient people who spoke an Indo European language and who established the kingdom of Hattusa in the North Western region of Syria in 14th century B C. Hittite is the earliest attested Indo European language. The Hittites referred to their language as Nesili (or in one case, Kanesili), meaning “in the manner of (Ka) nesa.” Jay Friedman, University of California,in his paper Verbs in the Rig-Veda and Old Hittite confirms the Indo European nature of the Hittite language.
(http://www.umich.edu/~aos/2000/abstracts00.pdf )
4.1 A cognate appears in a Hittite text found at Bogazköy in the name Ak/gniš, a god of devastation and annihilation. This term refers to AGNI (Sanskrit), the god of fire in ancient and traditional . In the Gathas of Zarathustra, the term atar is used to denote the concept of fire. The term atar does not appear in Rig-Veda. This points to presence of Vedic type of religion in the region .
www.bookrags.com/Agni
5. kassites are the ancient people of the Middle East who established a dynasty that ruled for about 450 years, starting around 1600 BCE. Their capital was Dar Kurizgalu; about 150 km north of Babylon.The kassite spoke a language that was similar to Sumerian.
5.1 The names of some Kassite kings were of Vedic origin (for example: Shuriash = Surya, Maruttash = Marut, Inda-Bugash = Indra-Bhaga),
http://www.imninalu.net/myths-Huns.htm
5.2 The fifth king among the Kassite dynasty took the name Abirattas’ (abhi-ratha ‘facing chariots (in battle)’. (T. Burrow, The Sanskrit Language , London, Faber and Faber, 1955).
5.3 The tenth king of the Kassite dynasty Agum (II) (c.1595-1545) took the throne-name Kakrime derived from Sanskrit term KAK meaning “ to enable , to help”(Sanskrit – saknoti, he is able, he is strong: Shakti,)( The American Heritage Dictionary of the English LanguageIndo-European Roots)
http://www.domainofman.com/book/chap-10.html
6. What is interesting in the case of Mitannis and Kassites is, the language of the common people was not Indo Aryan, the religion of the people did not appear to be Vedic. Yet, for some unknown reason many of the kings assumed Sanskrit – throne-names. It appears there were traces of Indo Aryan influence in the region.
The Indo-Aryans names do not appear in texts till 15th century BCE. The Mesopotamian texts of the 18th and 17th centuries BCE do not show evidence of this trend (of assuming Sanskrit-throne names). This trend, therefore, was comparatively recent.
What is not clear is, how these “traces of Indo Aryan influence“ came into being? When and why they faded away?
7. Mr. Kak in his paper makes a number of points:
(http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/zoro.pdf )
a) Following the collapse of the Sarasvati – river based economy around1900 BC, groups of Indians might have moved West and that might explain the presence of the Indic Kassites and the Mitanni in West Asia .
b) The old Vedic religion survived for a fairly long time in corners of Iran. The evidence of its survival comes from the daiva-inscription of Khshayarshan (Xerxes) (486-465 BC).
c) The ruling groups-Kassite and Mitanni – represented a minority in a population that spoke deferent languages. They, however, remained connected to their Vedic traditions. They were neighbors to the pre-Zoroastrian Vedic Iran . In addition, there were other Vedic religion groups in the intermediate region ofIran which itself consisted of several ethnic groups.
d) As per the Mitanni documents , the pre-Zorastrian religon in Iran included Varuna. Since Mitra and Varuna are partners in the Vedas, the omission of Varuna from the Zoroastrian lists indicates that Zarathushtra might be from the borderlands of the Vedic world where the Vedic system was not fully in place.
e) The pre-Zoroastrian religion of is clearly Vedic. Zarathushtra’s innovation lay in his emphasis on the dichotomy of good and bad The Zoroastrian innovations did not change the basic Vedic character of the culture in Iran. The worship ritual remained unchanged, as was the case with basic conceptions related to divinity and the place of man.
I also believe that Zarathushtra did not try to overthrow belief in the older Iranian religion, he did however, place Ahura Mazda at the centre of a kingdom of justice that promised immortality and bliss. He attempted to reform ancient Iranian religion on the basis of the then existing social and economic values
8. Now, let us come to the question of why the same set of deities came to be viewed differently and why there was division. This concerns mainly the asuras/ahuras versus the devas/daevas debate.
In the older texts, that is, in the Rig Veda and the Avesta, these differences are not quitesharp.In the Rig Veda, the asuras were the “older Gods”, a class of deities without negative connotations,who presided over the moral and social phenomena of the primeval universe; while devas the “younger gods” presided over nature and the environment. In the Vedic account of creation, some of the “older gods”(asuras) went over to join the ranks of the “younger gods” (devas). The remaining asuras were exiled to the nether world. While this distinction between asuras and asuras-who-became-devas is preserved in the texts of the Rig Veda, the later texts employ the term asura to represent allnon-devas or those opposed to devas.
In Zoroaster’s Gathas, where the battle between good and evil is a distinguishing characteristic of the religion ,the daevas are the “wrong gods”, the followers of whom need to be brought back to the path of the ‘good religion’
9. It is not clear what led to the rivalry between two groups and how rival groups perceived the same set of deities differently.It is possible that at some common point of time, the ancestors of both branches worshiped the same set of deities. Later, it is possible; each group supported its chosen set of deities, leading to rivalry between the two groups. The differences that appeared in the Rig-Vedic and Avestan terminologies must have materialized a long time after the demise of the Mittani and other kingdoms. Some of the important changes that took place on the Iranian side, might have come about just prior to or at the time of the Zarathrustra.
It is likely that the rivalry had its roots in the division of theIndic and Iranian branches of Proto-Indo-Iranian culture. However,the differences persist even today; while their causes have disappeared long ago, and even have been forgotten.
10. Mr. Kak states that the Vedic and the Zarathushtrian systems are much less deferent than is generally believed. He mentions the Kashmiri system which recognizes a three-way division consisting devas, asuras, and daevas. He also brings in the argument of three gunas –Satva, Rajas and Tamas- of Indian thought. I am familiar with the “Gunas” concept; But not as well as to comment on Mr. Kak’s argument.
11. I do believe that the Rig Veda and the Gathas have to be studied together to gain a fuller understanding of either of the texts. Parallel research on the Gathas and on the Vedic, religion prior to Zarathushtra will therefore be useful for better appreciation of the Zoroastrian and the Vedic texts.
please also check A Kassite / Mitanni Kudurru Boundary Stone
Posted by sreenivasaraos on August 31, 2012 in History, Indian Philosophy
Tags: Angirasa, Bhrigu, Gathas, Rigveda and Gathas, Zarathustra
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Before the Blast, West Fertilizer’s Monsanto Lawsuit
Firefighter conduct search and rescue of an apartment destroyed by an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas
By Alexandra Berzon
As details emerge about the Texas fertilizer plant that was the site of Wednesday’s fatal explosion and fire, a few tidbits can be gleaned from a 2007 lawsuit that the plant’s owners filed against agribusiness giant Monsanto Co. MON -1.61%
The suit, filed as a potential class action in U.S. District Court for the western district of Texas, claimed that Monsanto had artificially inflated prices for its herbicide Roundup through anti-competitive actions. The suit did not relate to storing fertilizer, believed to be at the root of Wednesday’s blast.
The suit was filed by Texas Grain Storage Inc. The company now calls itself West Fertilizer Co.
In the suit, the company said that it was started in 1957 as a grain-storage business by the Plasek family in the town of West, Texas. It later built a small fertilizer-blend plant and started selling fertilizer to area farmers.
Zak Covar, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, told a news conference Wednesday that the fertilizer storage and blending facility had been there since 1962.
In 1970 it started selling other agricultural products, including some from Monsanto, and by 1997 it had struck a deal with Monsanto to directly purchase Roundup each year.
A court filing in 2008 indicated that Texas Grain Storage recently had been sold. Emil Plasek is listed as a former owner.
Texas Grain Storage said it monitored the Roundup, stored in a stainless steel tank, through a telephone connected to the tank, the company said.
Many documents in the case are sealed, and the public documents don’t reveal the names of the plant’s then-current owners. Texas corporation records list the president of the company as Donald R. Adair, and show a business operating as Adair Grain Inc. at the same address.
Texas Grain Storage was represented by roughly 30 lawyers at 12 firms, according to court records. One lawyer who represented Texas Grain said the suit stalled in 2010 after a magistrate judge denied a request to certify the case as a class action. The lawyer said Texas Grain appealed the ruling, and that a district judge has yet to rule on the appeal. The last public filing in the case was in 2010.
Monsanto responded to Texas Grain’s complaint by saying the company didn’t have standing to bring the case and was barred by the statute of limitations. Thursday, a Monsanto spokesman said, “The long dormant lawsuit filed by Texas Grain had nothing to do with fertilizer or the operation of the West, Texas plant.”
Full Coverage of the Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion – WSJ Streams
CUI BONO? (Who Benefits…) Before the Blast, West Fertilizer’s Monsanto Lawsuit (lunaticoutpost.com)
Adair Green fertilizer plant explosion among worst-ever industrial diasters (bizjournals.com)
66 years ago this week, another deadly Texas blast (mywesttexas.com)
Tags: Alexandra Berzon, Fertilizer, Monsanto, Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Grain Storage, Wednesday, West Texas
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Agriculture, World View
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A test launch of India's Advanced Air Defence missile system. Image: @INCIndia/Twitter
Home/Technology/India’s Advanced Air Defence missile system destroys target ballistic missile in test
AirAsia PacificTechnology
India’s Advanced Air Defence missile system destroys target ballistic missile in test
Fergus Kelly December 28, 2017
India’s Advanced Air Defence missile system intercepted a target ballistic missile in a successful test on Thursday, December 28, according to media reports.
AAD is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
The target ballistic missile was a modified Prithvi-II launched from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur and was intercepted by an AAD missile launched from Abdul Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal. It was intercepted below 30 km altitude, the Hindustan Times reported, while The New Indian Express reported the interception was at an altitude of 15 km.
“The radar of the defense system detected the incoming missile, tracked it and provided the command to launch the interceptor missile.… the interceptor missile achieved a direct hit, paving the way for its early deployment in the armed forces,” an unnamed defense official told the New Indian Express.
“The Fibre Optic Gyro-based INS [inertial navigation system] in the interceptor, onboard computers, guidance systems, actuation systems and the critical Radio Frequency (RF) seekers used for the terminal phase all performed excellently. The launch has proved the BMD [ballistic missile defense] prowess of the country,” the official added.
The AAD interceptor is a 7.5 metre tall, 1.2 tonne single-stage solid-fuelled rocket launched from a mobile launcher that carries active radars and has a top speed of around Mach 4.5. It is the terminal phase element of India’s multi-tiered ballistic missile defense system, designed to shoot down incoming missiles at relatively low altitudes after they re-enter the atmosphere. It is complemented by the Prithvi Air Defense/Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor designed for mid-course interception, destroying missiles before re-entry, at altitudes of up to 80km. The Prithvi Defense Vehicle, which is designed to operate at altitudes of up to 150 km, is slated to replace the PAD system in the future. It was successfully tested on February 11.
The United States, Israel and Russia are the only other countries to have developed and built indigenous ballistic missile defense systems.
Congratulations to #DRDO for a successful test of the Supersonic, Advanced Area Defence (AAD) Interceptor Missile. pic.twitter.com/k0YNv2IpFm
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 28, 2017
The test came just five days after DRDO test-launched a Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), Odisha TV reported. Earlier in December, DRDO declared as successful a launch of its Akash surface-to-air missile fitted with an indigenous seeker, and in November, DRDO said it conducted a successful test flight of the indigenously developed Nirbhay long-range sub-sonic cruise missile.
air defense DRDO India missile defense missiles
France denies supplying Javelin missiles found at Libya rebel base
US approves $2.2 billion sale to Taiwan of Abrams tanks and Stinger missiles
US approves anti-radar missile sale to Germany via NATO procurement agency
Israel missile strikes near Syria capital and Homs kill 4 civilians
Bahrain, Poland and Romania to acquire Lockheed’s Army Tactical Missile under $562 million contract
Iran shoots down US RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drone
Syrian media claims shooting down of Israeli missiles near Golan Heights
India finds wreckage of missing IAF An-32 plane
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Entertainment & Music Movies
Toy Story 4, Men in Black 4.. what happened to the convention wisdom that movies end with a trilogy?
Best Answer: Hollywood is lazy and want as much money as possible while being as lazy as possible. They're going to milk it for all it's worth. Just look at Star Wars or The Land Before Time.
J-Dawn · 1 month ago
It was never really that conventional.
In the Fifties and earlier, serials were the thing - with some going for as many episodes as a TV show would today. Then you had things like the James Bond movies, with a new movie every couple years.
Trilogies only really became a thing in certain notable cases - like "The Godfather" and the original "Star Wars." Or if they were based on books that were already trilogies - like "Lord of the Rings." Most every other series they would keep making as long as people kept buying tickets.
Pretty much like today.
skeptik · 1 month ago
The new batch of writers can not think of anything for themselves. So, they do more sequels or remakes.
Brian · 1 month ago
I can’t remember the name of this movie.?
Why did all the previous live-action versions of Disney cartoon characters get to keep their skin tone but Ariel doesn't?
Can the movie Saw or Jigsaw become real?
What movie plz?
Do you believe in happy endings?
What do you think of a black, female 007? She will only take the number, as Daniel Craig will still be James Bond, but he retires from MI6..?
What’s your favorite movie?
What do you think: should the James Bond franchise develop like this?
Are the Guardians of the Galaxy movies any good?
What's Your Favorite Movie from Bill Murray, Jim Carrey and Eddie Murphy?
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February 13, 2019 / 9:23 AM / in 5 months
Japan sets sights on tighter anti-trust regulations for Big Tech
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s government plans to set up a new watchdog to scrutinize big tech companies like Facebook and Google amid growing concerns about monopoly practices and the handling of personal data.
FILE PHOTO: Silhouettes of mobile users are seen next to a screen projection of Facebook logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The new regulator will examine competitive practices, the protection of personal data, and make anti-trust recommendations, according to a presentation made at a government advisory panel on Wednesday.
The new body will also draw up new guidelines to evaluate whether mergers and acquisitions will lead to a monopoly on messaging data or personal data.
The government hopes to finalize the plans for the new regulator by the summer, but it is still uncertain when it will become fully operational.
Japan’s move is part of a global trend toward tighter anti-trust regulations for major technology companies, which critics say have been allowed to dominate search, social media, and e-commerce with little oversight.
At the meeting on Wednesday, bureaucrats gave a presentation to cabinet ministers showing how Facebook, Google, Amazon.com, China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd and China’s top search engine Baidu Inc have increased influence by expanding into payment systems, retail shops, self-driving cars, drones, and interconnected devices.
The growth of the digital economy does have some merits, such as making it easier to reach new customers and generate profits at lower costs, according to the presentation.
But, it said some big technology companies could abuse their influence with arbitrary search results, high fees, sudden changes to terms of usage, and unfair contracts with suppliers.
Japanese officials also discussed two specific cases in recent years when the European Union fined Facebook and Google for practices regulators ruled to be in violation of anti-trust rules.
India’s antitrust commission is looking into accusations that Alphabet Inc’s unit Google abuses its popular Android mobile operating system to block its rivals, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
Last week, Germany’s anti-trust watchdog ordered Facebook to curb its data collection practices in a landmark ruling. Facebook has said it will appeal the decision.
Public trust in big technology companies has waned, fueled by last year’s Cambridge Analytica scandal in which tens of millions of Facebook profiles were harvested without their users’ consent.
Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore
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Hawaii State AFL-CIO
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Violence Has No Place in the Workplace
Patt Moon-Updike wanted to be a nurse since she was 9 years old.
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Amid Game Industry Layoffs, AFL-CIO Says It’s Time for Workers to Organize
On Feb. 15, just days after massive layoffs at Activision Blizzard, the AFL-CIO issued a powerful public statement of support to game developers in the United States. Its message, published in an open letter at Kotaku, was both simple and profound.
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Now That Government is Funded, Here is What Workers Want to see
Last year, in communities all across the country, millions of Americans mobilized and called for an economy that works for all of us.
An Open Letter To Game Developers From America's Largest Labor Organization
Liz Shuler on Thursday, February 21 - 10:12am
If an investor was searching for the country’s most explosively successful commodity, they might look to the ground for natural resources or to Wall Street for some new financial instrument. But, the most meteoric success story can be found virtually all around us—in the booming video game industry. Growing by double digits, U.S. video game sales reached $43 billion in 2018, about 3.6 times greater than the film industry’s record-breaking box office.
Read more about An Open Letter To Game Developers From America's Largest Labor Organization
Number of Workers Striking in 2018 the Most in Three Decades
Admin on Friday, February 8 - 7:53pm
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More workers were involved in strikes and other labor disputes in 2018 than at any point in the past three decades, fueled by widespread teacher protests last spring, according to data released Friday by the Labor Department.
Read more from the Wall Street Journal.
Read more about Number of Workers Striking in 2018 the Most in Three Decades
Let’s Give Working People the Power to End Government Shutdowns
Jon Healey on Tuesday, February 5 - 12:37pm
I understand why it would be insane to spend even a day without controllers, troops, Transportation Security Administration screeners, Coast Guard officers, FBI and Border Patrol agents and a laundry list of other truly essential workers employed by the federal government. What I don’t understand is why we tolerate a system that lets elected officials fail to do their one real job — funding the government — with no consequences for anyone in power.
Read more about Let’s Give Working People the Power to End Government Shutdowns
So Much for the Labor Movement’s Funeral
Dana Milbank on Tuesday, February 5 - 12:26pm
Something funny happened on the way to the labor movement’s funeral.
Read more about So Much for the Labor Movement’s Funeral
Glad the Shutdown’s Over? Thank Workers, Not Just Nancy Pelosi
Sarah Jones on Tuesday, February 5 - 11:51am
The longest government shutdown in American history is over for now. On Friday afternoon, Donald Trump announced a deal to reopen government for the next three weeks. The short-term appropriations measure notably includes no funding for his beloved border wall — or steel slat fence, or smart wall, or whatever else he decides to call it in the future.
Read more about Glad the Shutdown’s Over? Thank Workers, Not Just Nancy Pelosi
Nurses Are Calling Out for Job Protections and Marching in the Women's March
Bonnie Castillo on Friday, January 25 - 1:22pm
When women and our allies unite, we build power. That’s true in mass marches and on the job.
“I never realized how strongly unionizing and feminism go together,” registered nurse (RN) Suzanne Levitch, 33, of Johns Hopkins Hospital, in Baltimore, tells Teen Vogue. “There’s not really another way for workers, especially women workers, to be treated fairly.”
Read more about Nurses Are Calling Out for Job Protections and Marching in the Women's March
The Government Shutdown Creates Headwinds for Airlines
Hugo Martin and Jim Puzzanghera on Friday, January 25 - 1:05pm
The nation’s airlines are blaming the partial federal government shutdown for putting another dark cloud in their path, with few federal workers and contractors taking to the skies and stalled federal agency approvals causing delays in expansion plans, including Southwest Airlines’ much-anticipated service to Hawaii.
Read more about The Government Shutdown Creates Headwinds for Airlines
Labor Voices: GM Leaves Workers' Futures Uncertain
Gary Jones on Friday, January 25 - 12:48pm
The focus of General Motors’ November announcement shutting down plants in Lordstown, Ohio; Hamtramck and Warren, Michigan; and Baltimore, Maryland shouldn’t be about money. It should be about people.
UAW GM members are dedicated and committed to making a great product, supporting the success of a company, and supporting a solid, prosperous community.
Unfortunately, that’s not how it's playing out. UAW GM members are facing the disruption of their families.
Read more about Labor Voices: GM Leaves Workers' Futures Uncertain
345 Queen Street, Suite 500
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Interesting Facts About the Temperate Grassland
Steffani Cameron, Leaf Group Updated May 18, 2018
Interesting Facts About the Temperate Grassland (Photo: )
National Parks & Monuments Found in the Grassland Biome
Equestrian Vacation Ideas
Things to Do in the Taiga
Gobi Desert Tours
Temperate grasslands are bursting with beauty and possibility. Western movies make it seem as if grasslands are a purely American domain, but prairie grasses aren’t only found on North America’s Great Plains. They’re across Africa’s savannahs and veldts, in the steppes of Eurasia, through Hungary and Ukraine, down under in Australia, and even in the llanos and pampas of South America.
To be defined as a grassland, grasses must be the dominant vegetation. These landscapes are known for harsh, cold winters and long hot summers, with very little precipitation year-round.
Nature in the Grasslands
Temperate grasslands are also known as a "shortgrass prairie biome" and are found north of the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north) and south of the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south).
Rainfall averages in the 20- to 35-inch range annually, making these “big sky” regions terrific places to watch a storm brewing or take in a sunset. If the grasslands region is a “steppe,” then this means it’s a little drier, with rainfall between 10 to 20 inches each year.
Wildlife abounds in grasslands. In North America, that means bison, gophers, wolves, deer and jack rabbits. In Africa, it can mean zebras, rhinoceros, lions and gazelles. In Asia, you may spot tigers, elephants and antelope. Birds, of course, are common, and you’ll find birds of all kinds, but especially birds of prey, such as eagles, falcons, kestrels, hawks and vultures.
Spring can be magical in prairies and plains, with small shrubs and trees coming to life, and wildflowers sprouting. As the hot summer wears on, fire risks are high in grasslands, where a lightning strike can ignite the land in the blink of an eye. Fall brings golden grasses ahead of winter snows.
Why You Should Visit the Temperate Grasslands
It’s only in the last 30 years that scientists have begun to understand the immense value of temperate grasslands. The habitats they’re in are changing quickly, so seeing these vast, open spaces now means experiencing landscapes and wildlife that may soon be threatened by population growth and urban sprawl.
How to See the Temperate Grasslands
One of the best ways to see grasslands, whether you’re in the Great Plains or down in Argentina or Australia, the vast openness of Mongolia or even Hungary’s puszta, is on a horse. Grasslands and horseback riding are a natural combination, such as the seven-day horseback riding adventure on Hungary's Puszta plains with Equus Journeys, which departs from the country's capital, Budapest, and takes you through the Old World in rural Eastern Europe. For a car-friendly grasslands experience, visit Montana's National Bison Range, just a 45-minute drive from Missoula, where you can observe around 500 bison in the wild on this 18,800-acre reserve.
When you’re considering a horseback excursion abroad, make sure you check your travel medical insurance to see if it’s a protected activity. If it’s not, another great option is always cycle-touring, which is usually covered.
Whether you ride to a B&B or you camp under the big sky, waking up in the fresh air with the broad sky of the temperate grasslands is an amazing start to any day. These are usually great, flat, expansive regions to road trip through as well. Pack some picnics, nap in the sun and do some photography as you get a sense of the land you’re in. Often, grasslands are vast, and distances between amenities like dining, lodgings and fuel can be extensive, with little traffic passing by. When in foreign countries, these distances may be poorly communicated, so always be sure you know what you’re facing when exploring temperate grasslands.
On horseback, bike or even in SUVs, grasslands are an adventure waiting to happen, and a tour company may be able to show you local wildlife, provide some survivalist training for the region and take you to stunning locales that only folks from the area might know. Consider Australia's incredible Larapinta Trail, which begins near Alice Springs and is accessible by flights from most major cities in the country. Trek Larapinta will provide all the gear and support as you camp in Australia's Outback and learn about this ancient land along the West MacDonnell Ranges.
In places like the Eurasian steppes, including Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and throughout South America and Africa’s grasslands, guided experiences might mean having the opportunity to meet nomads and tribes you could never meet on your own. If nomads are what you're after, Grasshopper Adventures' 13-day supported cycling tour through Mongolia will give you a look at some of the most pristine grasslands in the world. The tour starts and finishes in capital Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia's grasses remain fertile land for the nomads who still survive through herding cattle and goats across the Mongolian steppes, but climate change means this way of life is gradually under threat.
A Vulnerable Landscape
In our ever-changing world, it’s arguable that temperate grasslands are changing the fastest. They are the least-protected habitat on the planet, with only 1 percent of the world’s temperate grass biomes protected from development or industry. We know now that America’s devastating “Dust Bowl” during the 1930s occurred because of mismanaged temperate grasslands.
Defenders of Wildlife: TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS
University of California Museum of Paleontology: The Grassland Biome
WWF: Temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands
Encyclopedia Britannica: Grassland
Equus Journeys: TRAIL RIDING IN HUNGARY
Trek Larapinta: 6 Day Larapinta Trek
Grasshopper Adventures: Grasshoppers of Mongolia
National Bison Range: Plan Your Visit
BBC: Nature Wildlife: Temperate Grassland
Steffani Cameron is a freelance writer and journalist with bylines in Washington Post, Canadian Traveller, and many other sites. In 2015, she sold everything to go nomad and has since slow-travelled alone through over 24 countries while working remotely. Her highlight was having Pula, Croatia's Roman Coliseum all to herself one windy November day. She blogs her adventures periodically at FullNomad.com.
Cameron, Steffani. "Interesting Facts About the Temperate Grassland." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/interesting-temperate-grassland-61857.html. 18 May 2018.
Cameron, Steffani. (2018, May 18). Interesting Facts About the Temperate Grassland. Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/interesting-temperate-grassland-61857.html
Cameron, Steffani. "Interesting Facts About the Temperate Grassland" last modified May 18, 2018. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/interesting-temperate-grassland-61857.html
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Adventure Tours in the United States
Eastern European Countries»
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TRU ads spotted on alt-right news website Breitbart
University blocks its ads from being displayed on Breitbart after they're spotted by a Twitter user
News Mar. 20, 2017 editorofomega
Screenshots of TRU’s ads on Breitbart, captured by Twitter user Jeff Lundeen, who tagged Thompson Rivers University in his tweets one week ago.
Visitors to Breitbart, the controversial American “alt-right” news website, might see ads from Thompson Rivers University.
Last week, they were spotted by a user on Twitter and sent to Sleeping Giants, an organization attacking Breitbart via its advertisers over claims of racism and hate.
Breitbart has been the focus of a number of news stories since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, including the appointment of Breitbart founding chairman Steve Bannon as Trump’s chief strategist.
Some of Breitbart’s past headlines include “Political correctness protects muslim rape culture,” “Racist, pro-Nazi roots of Planned Parenthood revealed,” and “The solution to online ‘harassment’ is simple: Women should log off.”
Sleeping Giants says it is devoted to “stopping racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and anti-Semitic news sites by stopping their ad dollars.”
Digital advertising is often purchased in bulk through agencies and spread across hundreds or thousands of websites, so advertisers themselves may not know which websites their ads will appear on.
Jennifer Read, director of brand and marketing at TRU, reached The Omega via email after this story was originally published.
“When we advertise online, in most instances we aren’t placing ads directly on websites. We use an automated system that displays ads to people who are most likely to be interested in TRU, though it is possible to opt-out from certain sites, and we have done this with Breitbart,” she said.
Sleeping Giants’ goal is to get advertisers to commit to specifically blocking their ads from being sold to sites it deems racist, sexist, homophobic or hateful. The organization’s Facebook and Twitter feeds are filled with “success stories” of advertisers committing to block Breitbart from their advertising buys.
Screenshots of the university’s ads, spotted by Twitter user Jeff Lundeen who is listed as an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, were posted on March 8 and March 13, and tagged the Canadian branch of Sleeping Giants along with Thompson Rivers University itself.
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J.Sparrow: Dark 365
📷: Helen Maycock
The Navy Cut boss discusses his new album on Deep Medi.
Jonny Ng·
· 16th June 2019
It’s been 9 years since J.Sparrow’s seminal debut LP, Circadian, was released on Tectonic. It was, and still is, an outstanding dubstep album packed with original ideas and no compromises. Off the back of its success, J.Sparrow teamed up with Submotion Orchestra’s Ruckspin to form Author – a sensational partnership which took the dubstep community by storm with their debut self-titled LP, and then the even better sophomore, Forward Forever. Following a couple of bag-on-sight singles for Mala’s Deep Medi Musik, an appearance on ZamZam Sounds, and the launch of his own label Navy Cut, J.Sparrow is back with yet another album, this time on Deep Medi, titled #000000365 or Dark 365. The album is a carefully curated body of work, and a real melting pot of ideas showcasing the breadth and depth of Sparrow’s production skills. We caught up with Ryan to discuss his new album, the joys of collaboration, and what’s in store for Navy Cut.
Congratulations on the release and being voted ‘Album of the Month’ by Mixmag earlier in March. I’m sure the initial positive feedback is a wonderful feeling as “we can be our own biggest critics”. What was the concept behind the album name?
Thank you, it was nice to see that it was received well and of course it makes all the sleepless nights of worry worth it. I used to be my own worst critic but I had meetings with some very established producers in the commercial world who write for huge artists, and they put my mind at rest when it came to my worries and creativity. I’m quite private so don’t usually seek counsel from other people that much about my music, but this time I took an alternate approach. The album is related to code for “black/dark” and 365 is the number of days it took to complete.
I’ve listened to the album cover to cover several times now and it is indeed a very different release than what I am used to hearing from you. The album starts off with four heavy dancefloor tracks – ‘Phat Alf’ being a particular favourite of mine – and then starts to shift directions with ‘High Fidelity’, the most spacious track on the album. Can you tell us more about this track?
Well ‘Phat Alf’ is dedicated to my cat Alfie that died last year. He was a big boy and meant a lot to me, he would lay on his back in the studio while I was making music, so that’s for him. ‘High Fidelity’s arrangement is quite weird, it’s not instant gratification – it’s a progressive track. I tried the arrangement many ways but always came back to that mix and style because it just sounded right. I played it at Outlook Festival last year and it was very powerful. I have done another version of the track which is more “conventional” and gets to the point quicker for the clubs.
A few exclusive versions are a surefire way to catch the gun finger soldiers off guard in the dance. Speaking of clubs, as a DJ, how would you best describe your sets. Do you play out music released on, or vibes similar to the Navy Cut catalogue, or do you find yourself reaching for your classics on Tectonic and Deep Medi?
When I play I usually insist on longer sets 1-3 hours or more because I just have that much music across all tempos. I feel an hour is great for smashing up the dance and playing high-energy stuff, however there’s no journey. I usually have a lot of tunes I want to test from the studio and forthcoming music on Navy Cut. I will also fit in my releases that people know from various labels I have worked with and projects I have worked on. There is too much music that fits in my vision outside of dubstep. It would be wrong of me not to include it. People don’t want to know me personally but they want to know where I’m coming from musically, so what’s better than selecting tracks people might not have heard before. You would be surprised what fits in the soundscape of this genre. I take music very seriously.
I’ve always wondered what a J.Sparrow x Silkie tune would sound like. There’s definitely a natural progression on ‘Unity Rock’. A deep start with Silkie’s lush and funky sound reaching peak presence on the second drop. Do you find collaborations challenge you in your creative process?
Silkie is someone I’ve always wanted to work with and enjoyed his music. I sent him the track which was originally dark and completely different, and he switched it up and that’s what I was looking for – a real mesh of creators coming together where you can hear both people. I don’t find collaborations a chore at all, it’s more about finding people you can relate to and get on with and the rest just happens. Working with Ruckspin was total synergy and I cant quite explain it. With Author, we knew the direction without even talking about it and even now we still have it. He can be honest with me and vice versa about music and there’s no hard feelings because he and I know we just want what’s best for the track.
Artwork by Burmashave
Glad to see a few heart-felt tracks like ‘Ndidi’, that always reminds me of your work under the Author alias. Can you tell us where the origins of the vocal sample come from?
Ndidi translates to “patience” and it started as a footwork track. I slowed it down and built around it. I was really trying to bring in Gqom rhythms too from Africa. I can’t remember where the vocal is from, I have lots of little snippets laying around I use.
The charged vocals of Rider Shafique on ‘Grey Skies’ was a great ending to the album. Rider’s spoken words are very captivating. Can you tell me the emotions or thoughts behind this track?
Well Rider will have his own interpretations on his vocal so I won’t speak for him but for me, it’s a track about the state of the world and trying to do better for ourselves. Being caught in a system and trying to escape and trying to reach a higher level of thinking. I believe people are scared of something good when they can’t control it, when something is pure of heart.
Your record label Navy Cut has released eleven records now (three of them being new or reissues of your own work). How’s the label been doing since it’s inception?
A lot has been happening behind the scenes in the time since the last Author album. Establishing what Navy Cut was about was a massive operation as I wanted the label to have a great mission, look and sound. Thankfully, we have some passionate caring people involved, from the artwork to the mastering. Finishing the album for Deep Medi was also running along side that, which took around a year, so for me, I don’t feel like I’ve been away as the hard work has continued if you get me. This year alone I’ve ramped up my personal output to compensate.
The interview wouldn’t be complete without a little teaser on what’s in store for J.Sparrow and Navy Cut.
I’ll try for another album this year I think. I have too much music right now. I’m always creating and trying to reach my goals as a producer. Navy Cut has some really heavy releases coming over summer and autumn. I have releases coming with labels I haven’t worked with before and a new radio show! I am at my best when I’m working and I can’t sit around.
Favourite classic dubstep track:
Benga – B4 The Dual. Highly creative and mashes so many genres together in one track.
Favourite ‘bass music’ track currently:
Photek – Modus Operandi LP has been on repeat for the last week.
Favourite ‘non-bass music’ track:
Most played this week is Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place.
New artist you recently discovered:
Lamina Flo – we will be releasing their debut soon!
Dark 365 is out now and available from Unearthed, Redeye, Bandcamp & the Deep Medi Store.
deep medij.sparrow
Jonny Ng
Canada based DJ and head at Sub Chakra.
Cid Poitier: Earth Cry
Opus: Classically Trained
Sleeper: 3 Years Of Crucial
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Taylor Swift Donated Merchandise To Raise Money For NonProfit Organization ‘Athletes And Causes’
Her generosity knows no bounds!
Taylor Swift Reveals 25 Things You Don’t Know About Her
By Jencita Vargas on March 10, 2016 • ( 2 Comments )
Even avid Taylor Swift fans will find out new things about her!! Do you know her favorite stone? What movie she always cries in? Read the list here.
Taylor Swift To Headline Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix!
By Jencita Vargas on March 9, 2016 • ( 1 Comment )
Good news for Swifties, dying to see Taylor Swift perform this year, it was just announced she will be headlining Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, TX. The performance will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2016. Tickets go on sale April 6, 2016. This is the first […]
5 Additional ACM Awards Performers Announced!
By Jencita Vargas on March 9, 2016 • ( 2 Comments )
Fresh off his GRAMMY wins, Chris Stapleton is joining the ACM Performers lineup! More store power was added with Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan and Tim McGraw for his national television debut of his new single “Humble and Kind.” Previously announced performers are Kelsea Ballerini, co-host Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, […]
Carly Rae Jepsen Performs A New Version Of The “Fuller House” Theme Song
By Jencita Vargas on March 8, 2016 • ( Leave a comment )
Fuller House is now available on Netflix and if you haven’t binged watched every episode yet, get on that! During a recent visit with Ryan Seacrest, Carly Rae Jepsen performed her version of the theme song. She really got into it too! WATCH CARLY RAE JEPSEN SING THE “FULLER […]
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What a fantastic staff and site! Very artist friendly and full of great content!What a fantastic staff and site! Very artist friendly and full of great content! -Lauren Davidson, Singer/Songwriter
Journalistic integrity to the max! Wonderful staff who displays a passion for not only music, but all the people behind the scenes. A must-add to your daily read list. – Anthony Langone, Publicity Manager at Marbaloo Marketing
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Daniel Deronda (Oxford World's Classics)
By George Eliot, Graham Handley, and K. M. Newton
New Price: $12.95
Me, Myself, and You: Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’
Freya Sanders
Most millennials have been conditioned to believe that to become a grown up, you have to be independent. Hailed as “the first great millennial author” by The New York Times, Sally Rooney questions this received wisdom. She said in a recent interview that she doesn’t “really believe in the idea of the individual.” This non-belief is evident in Rooney’s latest novel, Normal People, an unconventional bildungsroman that explores not the power of self-determination but the idea of the self as something generated between people. By her own admission, Rooney is fascinated with “the way we construct one another.”
Normal People, published earlier this month, introduces Connell as a popular schoolboy in Carricklea, a small town in West Ireland. Naturally reserved and secretly anxious, Connell recognizes that he has little control over his own identity: “His personality seemed like something external to himself, managed by the opinions of others rather than anything he individually did or produced.” Nevertheless, he feels compelled to live up to the public perception that he is cool, even when he falls in love with school pariah Marianne.
Ostracised by both her family and her peers, who maintain that she is not a “normal” person, Marianne exists at the periphery of Carricklea’s social structures. This gives her “the sense that her real life was happening somewhere very far away,” and that her unstructured reality in Carricklea is insubstantial. Connell, meanwhile, sees her as “independent.” He envies her “drastically free life,” even as he conforms to social expectations and insists that he and Marianne keep their relationship secret. After all, if people found out about it, “his life would be over:” His entire identity would be destabilized.
Connell prefers “to keep both worlds, both versions of his life, and to move between them.” With Marianne, he occupies a kind of otherworld; their relationship blossoms in the margins of Carricklea, including “the ghost,” a derelict, empty estate where cool kids go to drink and smoke. Not having friends to drink or smoke with, Marianne’s never heard of the ghost, so Connell drives her there and shows her around, having exited the car first “to make sure no one was around.” This may seem callous on his part, but Connell and Marianne find their otherworld alluring because of its separateness from the parallel version of their lives. Her social unacceptability creates a space between them that is secure, meaning they can both be authentic. In an abandoned house at the estate, they have an awkward, difficult conversation about their feelings, which deepens their intimacy. “People go through their whole lives, Marianne thought, without ever really feeling that close with anyone.”
Still, their relationship falls apart, because Connell chooses to be normal rather than happy. He asks a popular girl whom he dislikes to the end-of-school ball. Marianne, upset, stops answering his calls. But at this very ball, Connell’s friend Eric tells him that everyone knows about “the secret for which he sacrificed his own happiness and the happiness of another person.” Connell finds this revelation horrifying, “not because it ended his life, but because it didn’t.” His reputation survives this minor scandal, and even if it hadn’t, the ball marks the end of the era when the opinions of his classmates are influential. “Life in Carricklea, which they had imbued with such drama and significance, just ended like that.” At the ball, Eric’s complexion appears ghostly to Connell, as he begins to realize that his school friends, rather than Marianne, will take on a lifeless quality over the next few years.
And so, Rooney shows that whole social structures can become destabilized, in the same way that identities can be. After all, the individual, in Normal People, is a microcosmic social structure, made up of webbed relationships and collective agreements. This might be the premise of any young adult novel—a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing your personality to be governed by peers. To allow others to construct us can be destructive. But Rooney doesn’t settle for this conclusion.
Connell and Marianne begin new lives as students at Trinity College, Dublin, where they are nothing more than estranged former schoolfellows. Marianne’s sense that her real life was far removed from Carricklea proves prescient: At university, she becomes instantly and immensely popular. Meanwhile, Connell becomes the “lonely, unpopular one.” Unlike Marianne, he’s from a working-class family, meaning that at a prestigious university he is an outsider. Travelling back to Carricklea every weekend to work at a garage, and finding that his school friends have dispersed, Connell loses any sense of having a “real life” either at home or in Dublin. Whereas he used to be able to move between two “versions of his life,” he now finds himself “trapped between two places,” unable to feel comfortable in either.
Connell originally applied to Trinity because of Marianne’s encouragement, but predicted that she “would pretend not to know him” if she bumped into him there. Marianne swore she’d do no such thing, and is true to her word. Despite being humiliated by Connell at school, when she meets him at a house party months later and miles away, she happily exclaims in front of her new friends: “Connell Waldron! From beyond the grave.” Here in Dublin, it is Connell, rather than Marianne, who is ghostly—a manifestation of a time that was the opposite of “life” for her—but once again, Marianne pulls Connell into her world. After this encounter, they grow close again, and she introduces Connell to everyone, telling “them all what great company he was, how sensitive and intelligent.” She constructs him, in other words, in the minds of others, in order to make Connell socially acceptable. She does for him what he was too afraid to do for her.
As a millennial author interested in the construction of identities, Rooney naturally considers the role technology plays in Marianne and Connell’s relationship. Again, she rejects received wisdom, refusing any lazy generalizations about the evils of social media, and avoiding the temptation to be snobbish about online writing. She stated in an interview that, “A large part of my style has definitely developed through writing emails,” and in Normal People, Connell develops his writing in a similar way. While traveling around Europe one summer, he composes long emails for Marianne, which he redrafts, “reviewing all the elements of prose, moving clauses around to make the sentences fit together correctly.” He reflects that writing these emails “feels like an expression of a broader and more fundamental principle, something in his identity, or something even more abstract, to do with life itself.” When physically distant from Marianne, Connell finds that the intangible, technological space between them solidifies both his sense of self and something bigger, beyond himself.
Connell is “not someone who feels comfortable confiding in others, or demanding things from them. He needs Marianne for this reason.” At school, he depended on others to give him a shape; at university, he depends on Marianne. Their intimacy is a secure space in which their identities are collaboratively and positively constructed. Connell reflects on his schooldays, when “He had just wanted to be normal, to conceal the parts of himself that he found shameful or confusing. It was Marianne who had shown him other things were possible.” In Normal People, Rooney shows us the constructive power of nurturing, tolerant relationships in opposition to the destructiveness of superficial relationships.
While Connell felt pressure to live up to his peers’ positive construction of him in Carricklea, Marianne was struggling to resist her abusive family’s negative construction of her. She learns from them that she is unlovable. Her relationships at university are profoundly affected by this narrative, particularly with a boyfriend named Jamie, who she asks to “beat me up. Just during sex, that is. Not during arguments.” This proclivity, Rooney suggests, is a symptom of the narrative Marianne absorbed in Carricklea: “‘Maybe I want to be treated badly,’ she says. ‘I don’t know. Sometimes I think I deserve bad things because I’m a bad person.’”
But Marianne’s desire to submit to Jamie arises from feeling independent of him. When Connell mentions that she “never said any of this to” him, when they were together, Marianne explains:
I didn’t need to play any games with you, she says. It was real. With Jamie it’s like I’m acting a part, I just pretend to feel that way, like I’m in his power. But with you that really was the dynamic, I actually had those feelings, I would have done anything you wanted me to.
In other words, the sexual preferences she expresses are a response to the dynamic she finds herself a part of. She longs to escape her sense of independence from those around her—a sense that causes intense loneliness—even as she is afraid of the effects other people might have on her. Connell helps Marianne break out of this cycle. Though misunderstandings between them hurt her, Connell never abuses Marianne. Consistently, he counters her internalized narrative that she is a bad person who deserves mistreatment. Instead, “He brought her goodness like a gift,” enabling her to ultimately embrace the novel’s underlying philosophy: “No one can be independent of other people completely, so why not give up the attempt, she thought, go running in the other direction, depend on people for everything, allow them to depend on you, why not.”
Rooney reaches back for her novel’s epigraph, long before the dawn of our postmodern society that determinedly lionizes the independent individual. She quotes a central idea from George Eliot’s Daniel Deronda: “To many among us neither heaven nor earth has any revelation till some personality touches theirs with a peculiar influence.” She thereby introduces a coming-of-age story that emphasises not independence but interdependence. Eliot’s “peculiar influence” is another form of what Rooney describes as the special relationship between the “facts” people know about Connell’s and Marianne’s lives—a relationship that finds the protagonists, several years after their first kiss, unable to “leave one another alone.” Marianne and Connell grow up “like two little plants sharing the same plot of soil, growing around one another,” as do we all, leaning on one another, unable to sustain independence.
Annals of Japery
Dear Match Book
Matt Seidel | 1
In her New York Times column “Match Book,” Nicole Lamy “connects readers with book suggestions based on their questions, their tastes, their literary needs and desires.” Some of those questions, tastes, literary needs and desires are stranger than others.
1.Dear Match Book,
like sympathetic protagonists who become slightly, but not too, unsympathetic
following some kind of loss, then gradually become sympathetic again while
coping with said loss. Close third-person narration preferred, with some epistolary
bits (email only) judiciously sprinkled in. No second person please! A strong
sense of place is a must, though that place need not be named as long as the
protagonist is—or vice versa.
advice would be to write this book yourself, and then check back in after it’s
published so l can recommend it to you.
I love trilogies: Olivia Manning’s Fortunes of War, Evelyn Waugh’s Sword of Honour, and more recently, Rachel Cusk’s Outline trilogy. My problem is I can’t stand quartets! The very thought of four books in a series—or their readers—makes me physically ill. And yet I’ve heard great things about Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet. Help!
Fourth Wheel,
I am terribly sorry to hear about your tetralogical dysfunction, which is barring you off from experiencing the wonders of Ferrante’s Naples and Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria. Has your therapist already suggested breaking the foursomes into two twosomes? (You do have a therapist, right?)
Alternatively, you could try wetting your feet with books with “four” in the title (e.g., Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason’s bibliophile mystery The Rule of Four)? I don’t know. I’m grasping at straws here.
What about Ali Smith’s in-progress Seasonal Quartet? Why don’t you read Winter, Autumn, and the forthcoming Spring, and then pretend that Smith got tired of the project? Next, hole up in a cabin somewhere. After 10 to 15 years, emerge from seclusion, visit a bookstore, and thumb through a copy of Summer. If you don’t retch, you’re cured!
up?
Romeo,
Is this a booty call? If so, this is a first for me at Match Book. I am indeed up, but I’d prefer to keep this professional. I can, however, recommend some saucy books to get you through the night. Philip Roth’s Deception and Nicolson’s Baker’s Vox each are dazzling verbal displays that plumb the depths of desire.
I earn $400 a day working from home! Want to learn more? But first, do you have any well-observed family dramas to recommend? I loved the latest Ann Tyler.
Bot,
Domestic drama has been at the core of literature since Greek tragedy, so there is much to choose from. What about the Eca de Queiros’s 19th-century epic The Maias, which tells of forbidden love in a lively Lisbon? Or for something more contemporary, try Barbara Kingsolver’s Unsheltered, her era-spanning chronicle of two New Jersey families.
could think of more, but I’m intrigued by your offer. $400 a day you say? Would
I still have to write this column?
A veritable and unrepentant gourmand, I’ve devoured Valerie Luiselli, inhaled Karl Ove Knaussgard, delected Ben Lerner and glutted on Ottessa Moshfegh in the last month alone. I really don’t need a recommendation. I was just writing to communicate how well read I am.
Voracious Reader,
Barf.
Recommending
books is simply a matter of data analysis. For example, with the right
algorithm I could tell you which novel to read based on the kind of paper
towels you buy.
Bot Book,
You’ll never replace me with a machine, Bezos!
Sorry about Queens. And the dick pics.
I’m looking for the perfect bathroom read. It doesn’t necessarily have to be thematically related to defecation—though bonus points if it did—just gripping enough to get me through my morning ritual.
Dear Multitasker,
I believe the best time to ingest knowledge is when one is expelling waste. The urbane musings of Joseph Epstein are my favorite companion, but perhaps it’s easiest to tell you what’s in our bathroom here at The Times: Clives James’s Cultural Amnesia, his sharp, sardonic portraits of 20th-century intellectual and artistic figures; Marcel Schwob’s Imaginary Lives, a toilet-friendly collection of mesmerizing biographical vignettes; and The Selected Poems of Kay Ryan, whose whimsical, technically proficient verse helps to move things along, so to speak.
There’s also The Penguin Book of Similes, but that’s in Dwight Garner’s personal stall.
I’ve always looked forward to reading the latest from Michael Chabon, whom I believe to be our greatest living author. This is an impossible question, but if you could choose just one masterpiece from his incredible oeuvre, what would it be?
Michael Chabon,
tell you each week, I am particularly attached to The Yiddish Policeman’s
Union.
We’ve
been hosting a book club on the Victorian novel for several years now. Reading Daniel
Deronda, Our Mutual Friend, and the Barchester novels has taught us
the indispensability of timeless literature and great friends.
problem is I can’t stand one member of the group—let’s call him Uriah. Can you
recommend a “loose baggy monster” that will get him to quit the club?
(Middle)Marching Orders,
Part of what makes Victorian literature so compelling are its villains, from Alec d’Urberville to Becky Sharpe. Why don’t you try Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White? Embrace your inner Count Fosco to lie, scheme, and gaslight the son of a bitch until the mere sight of a triple-decker sends shivers down his spine.
10.Dear Match Book,
recently murdered someone during an unfortunate encounter. I’m coping just
about as well as could be expected and devoting myself to self-care, including
reading literature about the ethics of killing a (former) friend. Any tips?
Raskolnikov,
N.B. The Times in no way condones murder. Having said that, reading is a great way to begin the healing process. I would start with Albert Camus’s haunting existentialist novel The Stranger. Another book to help you come to terms with your homicidal instincts is Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. And finally, for a more recent novel to help you cope with brutally ending another life, try Oyinkan Brathwaite’s delightful satire My Sister, the Serial Killer.
you don’t like these, don’t shoot the recommender! Please, don’t shoot me. I
have a family and a lot of readers dependent on my help.
was a world-renowned roller-coaster engineer, but he couldn’t control the
precipitous decline of our marriage….
Dear Thrown for a Loop,
Let me stop you right there. I believe this is a “Modern Love” submission that was sent to me in error.
Image credit: Unsplash/Josh Felise.
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exclusive News June 14, 2019
Former Mushroom exec launches music promo company [exclusive]
Jake Challenor
The Music Network
Share on twitter Share on facebook Send an email 0 shares
Cara Williams has traded the safety net of full-time employment to launch a music promo company.
Williams says Slow Clap will specialise in publicity, marketing, campaign management and content development for the independent and underground music and arts scenes.
“I’ve been dreaming about running my own company that combined all my skills for such a long time, and one evening, I decided it was now or never,” she tells TMN exclusively.
“Indeed, the thought of forfeiting steady income for a while was something that I thought a lot about, but once I realised that was the only thing holding me back, the decision was made for me.
“As long as I have the passion and drive to make it work, it will.”
After 15 years in the biz, the former Mushroom Creative House studio manager is no stranger to the music industry.
During her two-year stint at Mushroom’s in-house creative agency in Melbourne, she worked on campaigns major artists, tours, festivals and brands.
Williams also has a competitive edge in her new music promo company. She is as a former journalist and editor of street press masthead Beat Magazine.
“My background as an editor means I have real-world knowledge about what kind of pitches work, and what don’t. I also know what makes an interesting story, understand the type of content – like press shots, film clips or a video content series – a publication will run with, and how best to approach without being a complete pain.
“I also know how to string together a sentence or two, so I’m sure that’s helpful.”
And the inspiration behind the name Slow Clap?
“My partner and I were driving to the country last year, and for no apparent reason, the name just popped into my head.
“I do think it’s a cute little metaphor – a slow clap that builds up in rapturous applause.”
Cara Williams Mushroom Creative Music Promo Company Slow Clap
News by Zanda Wilson 17 Jul 2019
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News by Staff Writer 17 Jul 2019
Matt Corby & Dann Hume collect top prize in Vanda & Young song comp
NSW Gov singles out “dance music” in music festival inquiry submission
2019 Helpmanns: Mona Foma, Live Nation among music winners
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(Mid)Life, Reinvention
By Glynis Wozniak
Once upon a time there was a girl who wanted to be Snow White, or Dr Doolittle and speak to all the animals. She wanted to be a Native American squaw at 6 so she could wear suede and be at one with horses. She hated people because she hated herself. I no longer hate myself.
At the age of 14, I watched in envy as classmates attended an after school drama club that I was too shy to join.
At the age of 20, I left for Hong Kong with a ballet company for a six month tour. I stayed for 12 years ending up marrying and having a son. I followed Secrets of the Unborn Child to every letter and went from dreading to being a mother as didn’t feel mature enough at 32, to loving it.
Three months later, I moved to Tokyo where my Eurasian husband had been headhunted. Do you remember the movie Lost in Translation? I bet you loved that movie. I hate it. It was literally my life as I basically spent 4 years waiting for my husband to come home. I was amazed we went on to have a daughter we were so rarely together.
I have a very good friend named Mark Karlsson who also happens to be a personal growth coach. He told me that when we have had enough pain, we will do something about things. It took me 4 years to become empowered, but I had finally had enough pain through neglect and left.
Returning to the UK after 16 years was a huge culture shock, but oh how I have learned and more recently I have grown so much in myself that I am actually excited about my life ahead, but let me tell you the turning point.
I began to teach dance and was at preparations for the Forres Alternative Festival when the director asked me to attend the drama workshop in case any of the participants wanted to do the dance too.
We had fun workshops over several evenings, then one evening the playwright and the director had a meeting, so the workshop was filmed.
The next day I had a call. ‘You’ve got to be in the play,’ said the writer. ‘We watched the tape back and you were so funny and natural in the improvisation.
So thus it was, I had a part written for me that was fabulous fun in which I played a coffee shop manager who was revealed to be a dominatrix cult leader. Ha ha.
I was almost sick with nerves before going on. I was used to dancing on stage, but it is so different to use your voice.
After the first show, someone in the audience said ‘I can tell that you’re a professional’ (she meant actor, not dominatrix!).
I was amazed and as I had really enjoyed the experience, it gave me the confidence to apply for the local amateur dramatic society who were putting on Jack and the Beanstalk. I had short hair at the time – and was given the lead role of Jack.
At the cinema one night with friends, I sat glued to my seat after Mystic River ended wondering, ‘Could I do that?’ ‘I want to do that.’
I researched colleges and found a course in Inverness college, just 45 minutes away. I applied (sometimes it really helps to be naive, I find) and was asked to audition with two contrasting monologues.
I sent a fax (yes, it was in those days!) asking if it would be appropriate to swear. I was given the go ahead to swear.
I honestly don’t know where these things come from, but I wrote something called FFS. In the whole piece, I only ever said ‘For fuck’s sake.’ It was ‘For fuck’s sake’ glumly as I sat ‘typing’ in the office. ‘For fuck’s sake’ happily as I noticed the clock strike 5pm, etc. It was a totally spontaneous creation that made Head of Drama Alan Watters laugh, which was exactly what I wanted.
My second monologue was, as he had asked, contrasting. It was called Five something. I forget the second part of the name, but it was the viewpoint from five different people about the drowning of my father and 5-year old twin brothers.
I spoke from the side of the grandpa who witnessed a wave wash them into the sea; from the side of my father who tried to rescue them; from my brothers’ viewpoint and the sea’s. I probably have it somewhere as like to keep writing that means something to me, but it will be in a box in the loft.
I cried at the end of that monologue because that’s what I felt. I cry easily. It’s very handy in my job actually and I am often cast in emotional roles, but I love to move people. It’s one of the reasons I do this job.
I was just about to turn 40. In the accompanying interview, Alan asked if I was worried about being a mature student in a class full of 18-year olds. I reliably informed him that he would find I was the most immature mature student he would ever have. I got in.
College. OMG! You know people say it’s the best time of your life? You know how sometimes when your marriage fails, you grieve? College brought me back to life. It was fucking awesome. I was fucking awesome. I loved (nearly all) my classmates and are still good friends (with those same nearly all) to this day.
I lapped up everything I learned and yearned to know more, so I took part in every opportunity that came along. The community cast of The Crucible with National Theatre of Scotland and TAG Theatre? Yes please!
For anyone who knows the play, I was cast as Goody Putnam. For anyone who doesn’t, she’s a bitter bitch. She pokes her nose into everyone’s business, although in her defence, it’s because she miscarried 7 babies and believes the world is against her.
Our director, Guy Hollands, was amazing and in rehearsals, as soon as my scene was finished, I sat a few rows behind him watching and learning. I also approached each crew member asking them for their title and what they did. It really helped me get to know what goes on behind the scenes as well.
Amongst the professional cast was an actor called Sally Reid who was playing Mary Warren, a large and important character.
Sally was superb, so as a first year acting student, I watched her every move. I was just so hungry to learn. Starving on a regular basis; that’s me.
We were performing in the beautiful Universal Hall in Findhorn to a packed audience and on the second day, we had a matinee performance during which Sally took ill. She lay down backstage between scenes (Mary Warren is in three of the four acts and featured heavily) almost passing out and did not take a curtain call, she was so ill.
I was called to see the director and was told that Sally was too ill to go on and that we could either cancel the show or I could read in for her part. ‘I would love to read in for her part,’ I simply said.
I only had one hour and was really nervous to highlight her lines and work out another costume with the Wardrobe department, but remember, Sally Reid had fascinated me. I had watched her every move, so knew all her blocking. The theatre announced, ‘Due to cast illness, Mary Warren will be read in by Glynis Wozniak.’ Two friends in the audience gasped.
During the interval, Sam Young playing Abigail, asked ‘How can you do that?’ not realising I had been studying Sally.
Before we went on in the second half, the stage manager said that the curtain calls were going to change and that I would be walking down with Sam. I remember thinking ‘Thank God I won’t be alone.’
All the cast and crew were so lovely. I could see the lighting crew smiling from the lighting box and I felt genuinely supported.
As we took our curtain call, Sam stepped to the side leaving me centre stage. The audience stood to their feet and I received a huge standing ovation. I was so humbled and in awe. I have tears in my eyes as I write this, it meant so much.
Of course, I thought that would be it; that once I had graduated, I would be called on and sought after, but this business doesn’t work like that and they will have forgotten me. And yet, when I have been low and felt like giving it all up, it is that moment I recall. Lying backstage in Act 4 with an energy field of gratitude three feet high buzzing all around me as I said ‘Thank you God, thank you God’ over and over. Beautiful and still one of the best experiences in my life.
In 2006, I auditioned for the University of the West of Scotland where we did a lot of film and television training and I graduated in 2009 with a BA (Hons) Performance. Again, I thought that this would be it, but even with getting an agent after my showcase, work was sporadic and looking back, the only thing I would do differently now, is get a part-time job and write my own work a lot sooner.
I have a new agent now. I am not waiting for a ‘big break.’ I am perfectly content working away doing my thing and being open to whatever comes along. I played a sad Mary Lincoln in First Ladies Revealed, which was shown on the Smithsonian channel in the States but has yet to be released here. I played Frankie in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune in November at Irvine Harbour Arts Centre and it felt so good. As Frankie I cried as I spoke of my ex hitting me. The audience were silent and I could feel I had done my job: I had moved them.
In Uni, my Community Theatre module was care homes because, as I said at the time, ‘I’ll be old soon!’ I loved it and two years ago, I set up Shine Bright Entertainments specifically for this purpose.
I write one-hour shows (so far none of them have used the words ‘for fuck’s sake!’) on themes that appeal to an older audience, whilst being entertaining for young staff and visitors too.
I have adapted Doris Day’s famous Calamity Jane film. I get to play ole Calam’ and sing all the songs from the film as well as a few others to tie in the story. It is my favourite show and I will never tire of performing it.
I have cabaret-style shows full of songs from the 40s to the 70s. Romantic comedy Secret Love that is based in 1951 where the lead character goes to the House of Fraser and falls in love with a man she meets there to find he is the son and heir to the House of Fraser fortune.
Summer Love features the very mischievous Auntie Betti with an i ‘and don’t you forget it.’ It is the only show where I got into trouble from a visitor in the audience for wearing a fat suit. It was in a very conservative area, so I was very surprised that they have invited me back this summer; albeit it with a different show! Auntie Betti goes to a travel agent and sees ‘Virgin’ on a girl’s uniform. She takes one look up and down and says ‘Not likely, dearie.’
I have so much fun with my care home shows. If ever I am feeling old or plain or blah, I do a care home show and am guaranteed to emerge uplifted and energised as they tell me ‘You’re beautiful’ and ‘You’re so young’ and of course, to them, I am.
However, the results are outstanding as music and performance has such an impact on dementia. I have seen screaming aggressive residents calm quietly down and sing with me when I offer my hand and sing to them. I witnessed one resident hitting her visiting husband. I sang to her and cried when I left as I saw them with their foreheads touching gazing into each other’s eyes. I saw a man with violent tendencies change before my eyes as I sat at his feet and we joined together in harmony. The nurses acting as his guards cried as they walked to the side leaving him with me in peace for the first time. It is a beautiful thing and I feel that I am helping as well as entertaining. One lady said on Thursday ‘Thank you for making my sad heart happy.’ How can I not be happy knowing I make a difference in people’s lives.
I am waiting to hear if I have a casting for a commercial next week. There is a lot of waiting in this job. I didn’t get a theatre tour of a fabulous play that I so wanted, but there is always another opportunity. I sometimes have to remind myself of that. In the meantime, I will continue with my care home shows that I also perform as singalong shows in bars and hotels where young audience members have printed lyrics and is great fun.
Last month, I also performed my first piece of spoken word. It is very rude. It’s called My Peaceful Cock. You can find it on YouTube under my name if it appeals. I don’t have a cock, but if I did, it would be peaceful. I think I’m going to do more spoken word. I am definitely going to write a rude one-woman show not for care homes!
I love my life. I love people. I don’t know what that hermit shit was all about. I still love my horses and animals (except for cats; soz!), but you should see me now with people. I love them. Can you tell? I love complimenting people. I love uplifting them and helping them feel good. I have bashed my ankle bone on a bar stool running out of a coffee shop too quickly to tell two girls in London that they were beautiful.
I don’t mind looking silly. Some people call me mad or bonkers. I call myself fun. I can laugh at myself now and I could never laugh at myself previously.
If inside you are that shy child or scared teenager peeking round the corner at those who do drama; if you yearn to learn or do something different, please know that regardless of your age or your current situation in life, you have the power to retrain and discover a part of yourself that will bring you great freedom and joy.
You will find a way. I didn’t have childcare for the first three weeks of college and almost didn’t get funding, but ultimately I got the best deal ever: I had a spare room, so hired an au pair (male because their father has not been in touch with us since and I wanted them to have a male role model in their life). Be clear; be determined and you will find a way. I promise you.
My playing age is 40-50 now. You might wonder if I’m running out of time, but let me tell you; I have a long way to go. As Tom Butler-Bowdon says You Are Never Too Late To Be Great.
“You Are Never Too Late To Be Great.”
You may also like Modelling For Prima Magazine – At 51!, On Becoming A Model In Your 40s – Rachel Peru, and The Incontinence Comedian – Elaine Miller Of Gusset Grippers.
Glynis Wozniak is half Ukrainian and was born in Scotland, but she spent 16 years in Asia before returning almost that long ago. Originally she was a ballet dancer and re-trained to graduate in 2009 with a BA (Hons) Performance. She is a performer with Shine Bright Entertainments and is in talks with a new agent after being represented by Victoria Steven Management. She lives in the country with a city attitude. Find out more about Glynis on her website.
Previous articleHow To Sleep Better In Midlife And Beyond
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The Middle Eastern And African Playlist By John Doran
John Doran , February 23rd, 2016 09:29
John Doran presents this month’s playlist of Turkish funk, Egyptian mahraganat, Iranian synaesthetic techno and classic Moroccan field recordings
Two years ago, those fine folk over at Guardian Music commissioned me to compile a regular playlist of tracks, videos and mixes from the Middle East and North Africa. The initial reservations about the idea were actually from me because I didn’t have any specialist knowledge of the region, musical or otherwise. However, thanks to exposure to a number of very different artists over the last decade and a half such as Omar Souleyman, Islam Chipsy, Oum Kalthoum, Konono Nº1, Tamikrest, Sadat & Alaa 50, I was persuaded that an unbridled enthusiasm for learning and digging would hopefully make up for my inexperience.
The column ran for two years ending this December just gone. Although well received there was one initial - and fully expected - criticism, in the form of the following comment:
”I m getting tired of the constant categorisation of muslims in a single block. The above is outrageous, what is the common denominator between all the artists/musics conveniently lumped together? Would you ever create a "European playlist" including folk songs from Corsica alongside bagpipe music from Scotland, A Kazakh metal band and a Swedish rapper? Why is it ok to completely miss the specificities of local cultures? An Iranian and a Tuareg have extremely little in common for instance. The issue here is that no attempt whatsoever is made to understand the specificities of non European cultures. So North Africa and the Middle East are a homogeneous culture or at least a cultural continuum. Similarly people talk of African culture in a boring reduction of the diversity and wealth of that continent.”
I actually agreed 100% with the spirit of this criticism and genuinely felt that in some respects it didn’t go far enough. I wouldn't even seek out a single country playlist for England let alone Europe, so why stop there? My feeling is that it's insane to talk about a 'Mali-style' of music, as the culture of the sub-Saharan north of the country bears little resemblance to that of the south. In fact the musical diversity on show in Mali is actually currently much wider in terms of homegrown styles and traditions than the UK - all the way from the hectic beats pumping from street corner Balani soundsystems to the deepest riffs of their psychedelic desert rock scene.
But there were still several reasons why I felt a playlist was a useful device. Firstly, I should say that yes, if someone else put it on, I would happily sit and listen to songs from Corsica next to bagpipe music next to a Kazakh metal band but I would replace the Swedish rapper with some Swedish electronic pop music, by Karin Park say, for purely aesthetic reasons - no offence Swedish hip hop crews. After all, this is essentially how we listen to music now in an age of YouTube and Spotify playlists, shuffled MP3 collections and collections of individual tracks sourced from iTunes or blogs.
Secondly a playlist like this column simply reflects certain practicalities of irregular access to new music in such countries as Saudi Arabia… not to mention the difficulties certain types of musicians face in simply playing, recording and releasing music in the first place because of social, religious and political reasons. Compiling a regular column, featuring Syrian music would have been a slightly easier prospect before 2011 and there was simply much more music being produced openly in Iraq before 2003 for example. (There is also an issue of common sense; no matter how righteous a monthly column on the music of Eritrea was, I can guarantee you that no one would read it.)
Another problem that an English speaking listener can face when exploring the current musical culture of a region such as the Middle East, if they don’t speak and read Arabic, is the language barrier. The record labels of most European countries see America and Britain as potential markets, or simply regard English as a useful second language to translate their websites etc. into. There is a lot less contact, on some levels, between Europe and the Middle East, in terms of record sales, than there is between Europe and America because of this. And there’s not much muddling through with Arabic script in my experience, as there might be with French or German. And when there is translation it tends to be in very Europe-facing genres such as indie, metal and jazz. (It is flat out wrong to assume that the music business in, say, Egypt, bears any resemblance to that of the UK. A lot of electro chaabi artists bypass labels altogether and distribute via Mediafire and YouTube, because their lyrical content would never pass official state censorship if released via what we consider traditional channels.)
These are of course, interesting times to be exploring music from around the world however as the internet continues to completely alter the global musical landscape. Three years ago I spent a week in Cairo reporting on the then emergent electro chaabi phenomenon. I went with my pal Joost Heijthuijsen after discovering YouTubes of the amazing keyboard player Islam Chipsy on line. However, if Joost hadn’t spent hour after painstaking hour, translating YouTube comments written in Arabic via Google Translate, and chasing down links and phone numbers to associated artists based in Cairo, El Salam City and Alexandria we simply wouldn’t have discovered about the burgeoning electro chaabi scene as next to nothing had been written about it in Europe at that time.
So there is a further problem in navigating past self-appointed tastemakers and gatekeepers. And this is because the types of writers who do spend their time attempting to “understand the specificities of non European cultures” when it comes to music, tend to simply dismiss emergent scenes like electro chaabi. To Westerners who operate in the arena of ‘World Music’ these brand new scenes are too chavvy; they are too working class; they are too digital and too electronic; the main musicians are too in awe of Western pop cultural figures like Shaggy, Snoop and Bob Marley; they are not obviously part of a clearly defined historical musical continuum; they have a keen interest in Western forms of pop music such as dancehall, grime and hip hop; they are not politicized to a great degree; this music doesn’t immediately loan itself to pseudo-academic sleevenotes and essays… All of this means it’s near impossible to impose a convincing narrative onto them. (Although it doesn’t stop people from trying - nearly every article I’ve read on electro chaabi over the last few years has chosen to present the form as being part of the so-called Arab Spring, despite there being little in the way of proof for this.) When you come across a bunch of young people wearing nice trainers, branded ganja leaf T-shirts and expensive baseball caps etc. who essentially look like they could be from Peckham or Salford, it becomes very hard to present them as the “exotic other” - the stock trade of World Music.
But perhaps most of all, when we try to dig too deep for cultural significance in music we can end up applying an inappropriate narrative to it, especially when it comes to politics. The politics of many regions in the Middle East and Africa often have a direct influence on how the music is made or distributed but sometimes it just has no bearing on the actual music - any more than neo-liberalism or austerity politics has a direct and obvious influence on US indie rock or UK pop. (For direct examples of this see electro chaabi and, below, Siavash Amini's comments on the Iranian experimental electronic scene.) And then again, sometimes it is very germane. (See the example of Ash Koosha below.)
This playlist is designed exactly to challenge the notion of a homogenous Arabic or African sound - not just within the regions themselves but within individual countries such as Turkey and individual cities such as Timbuktu. I may not have the word count to go massively in depth on each country's musical history (a subject which would take several volumes of books per nation) but I do link out to secondary sources and would like to point out that not everyone necessarily wants to listen to black metal (even if it comes from Jerusalem) or power electronics (even if it comes from Iran) - let alone read 10,000 word articles on them. Hopefully a more detailed picture of various scenes and locations will instead build up over a period of time. (Most of my previous columns for the Guardian can be accessed here for an example of this.)
(The only other criticism I've had of this column is that it's "problematic" but as this most cowardly of modern weasel words doesn't really mean anything, I can't say anything about this. I'm certainly not going to stop writing about this stuff because it makes a handful of readers feel queasy in a way they can't accurately describe.)
After Motown Chartbusters Three my favourite compilation ever is 300% Dynamite on the Soul Jazz label. I bought this excellent collection spanning big hits and deep cuts from the fields of Jamaican ska, soul, rocksteady, funk, roots reggae and dub when it first came out in 1999 and it was essentially my gateway into popular music released in that country in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The record - which I still listen to today - was perhaps not designed with the already very deeply knowledgeable in mind given that it contained Wayne Smith’s ‘Under Me Sleng Teng’ and Althea And Donna’s ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ but in the space of 15 short songs it did drive home to clueless wingnuts like me that there was a hell of a lot more to this isle than Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Bob Marley. From 300% Dynamite grew a deep interest in various aspects of this music - dancehall more than lover’s rock, Jamaican funk more than ska - which will probably occupy me on and off for the rest of my life despite it stemming from a source that no doubt would have been regarded as patronisingly reductive by some aficionados.
Initial contact with the disparate and sometimes only loosely connected sounds of Syrian dabke, Egyptian choubi, Algerian rai and Malian desert rock in more recent years is having exactly the same effect on me now. All I’m trying to do is to present sounds - some very traditional, some very inauthentic, some very popular, some extremely underground, some very much influenced by Western music, some completely divorced from it, some very new, some very old - from a variety of sources worldwide. These are mainly just selections of music I’m enjoying myself that I’m presenting in the form of a very basic primer. I hope you enjoy some, if not all, of what you hear in this column and that it brings you into contact with musical ideas that you want to explore further yourself.
HOWEVER!
The main difference between this column and the Guardian version is that occasionally I will be inviting guest writers to go into much more depth about specific scenes, whether that be the Lebanese disco craze of the 1970s or the current flush of gqom in Durban.
Also, I should add that the primary motivation to do this is a love of music but there is a secondary reason as well. (Whether this is gauche or pointless is not for me to say but I lay out my reasoning in very simple terms in the introduction to this interview with Mark Gergis of Sublime Frequencies which I carried out for the site a few years ago, if you’re interested.)
I’m going to try and produce a new column every month and I’m expanding the remit to include all of Africa as well as the Middle East, simply because there’s a lot of fine music out there which probably wouldn’t get covered on the site otherwise. And, well, simply because I can. If you want to suggest inclusions for future columns please email me at John@theQuietus.com.
Ash Koosha - ‘Mudafossil’
London based Iranian electronic musician Ash Koosha has trailed his new album for Ninja Tune I AKA I, released on April Fool’s Day this year, with this striking track.
The young Ashkan split his early years between Tehran and Frankfurt because of his father’s work in the printing industry. Despite it being difficult to access music when he was younger, Germany was a great source for smuggled in cassettes and then there were always illicit MTV sessions and black market copies of Rolling Stone when he was back home.
The availability of the internet in the late 90s brought with it a flood of music listening opportunities and fed both his love for electronic and rock music. However he says he found his “calling” after reading an essay on the MIT blog about microtonal music and granular synthesis. He studied composition Tehran conservatory which placed emphasis on both Western and Persian classical tradition, while being the only student on the course to work predominantly with computers.
It’s probably/thankfully impossible for most of us to imagine what the life of a musician trying to create work under such circumstances but I’ll let the facts speak for themselves. Ash’s indie band Font had a show in Tehran raided by armed commandos and he ended up spending three weeks in jail. After his next band, Take It Easy Hospital were featured in Bahnman Ghobadi’s film about the Iranian underground scene, No One Knows About Persian Cats, their drummer was arrested and beaten severely by police and the Iranian-American co-writer of the film was charged with espionage and sentenced to eight years in prison. Koosh was in the UK playing gigs when this happened and was forced to seek asylum. (Three members of another band, Yellow Dogs, who were also featured in the film, were shot dead in Brooklyn by another Iranian exile.)
The music from I AKA I follows on from last year’s Guud, released on Olde English Spelling Bee, and is influenced by its creator’s synaesthesia and a desire to treat sound “like a physical matter which can be broken down, liquified, rescaled or spatially positioned.”
Islam Chipsy - Live On Rinse FM
Appearing on the mighty Rinse FM last month we had three old friends of this column in one place at one time. Islam Chipsy’s incendiary EEK trio popped into Rinse to appear on the station’s podcast while Jack Adams, aka Mumdance, interviewed EEK drummer and 100 Copies Cairo boss man, Mahmoud Refat about mahraganat. It’s a really meaty section which kicks off at about the one hour mark. If you haven’t been lucky enough to catch Chipsy in full flow live yet, this smoking session will at least give you some kind of idea how much he’s pushed his sound forward over the last two years.
Radio Martiko Mix - Son Sistem Çiftetelli ("Turkish special" voor de Gentse 'Tapijtendokter')
I met my new pal, Fred Kramer of Radio Martiko, while on a digging expedition to Utrecht last November. While I was shopping for Middle Eastern funk at his stall, he promised to do us a mix… and here it is.
They’re a bunch of Belgian DJs, label and record collectors based in Ghent, playing a commendable mix of “Brazilian beat, Armenian rock & roll, French mambo, Iranian surf, Egyptian funk” etc.
Fred says: “Over the years many Turkish 45s and albums have gone through my hands and I thought it was about time to make a personal top selection. Most Western compilations of Turkish 70s sounds have always focused on occidental based grooves and flavours from rock, progressive, pysch and funk. The pioneers of Oriental 'Now Sound', like for example Pharaway and Fortuna are doing a great job by introducing artists like Aris San and the great Kamuran Akkor with a repertoire which reflects a more pure form of oriental dance music, driven by belly dance rhythms (çiftetelli).
“This style - which was more popular at the time - I have tried to dig deep and have collected many 'Taverna' songs, which are mainly songs and melodies from the Greek, Armenian and gypsy tradition. Artists like Hayko, Zerrin Zeren, Rişar and Jimmy Abako (some with non-Turkish roots) were nightlife stars in bars of all social classes in Istanbul and the West coast of Turkey. The contradiction between the tormented, suicidal lyrics and the hip shakin' grooves is so fascinating and evoking. We can say it's the Rhythm & Blues from Turkey.
I have added storming instrumental belly dance tunes by Esin Engin (backed up by Süheyl Denizci Orchestra) and Hakki Mahfuzdur. Also some e-saz rockers by Şaki Öner and Yildiray Çinar and sweet velvet funky sounds by Gülden Karaböcek and the Opel sisters.”
Luka Productions - Mali Kady
Mali Kady by Luka Productions
Our pals at Sahel Sounds always have a ton of interesting music available. It’s only February and they’ve already reissued Mdou Moctar’s Afelan as well as the Tumastin LP by the Malian band in exile, Amanar. Get your fill of fresh, future facing autotuned hip hop/140bpm balani sounds courtesy of Luka, a native of Bamako and a host of local guest MCs. As rapid fire and digital as it is, this still exists in a Malian tradition, reimagined into décalé infused dance and Sahelian club bangers. Those wanting more current dance sounds from Bamako could do worse than check out the 100% Balani Show free download by DJ Sandji.
Various Artists - Music Of Morocco: Recorded By Paul Bowles
Music of Morocco: Recorded by Paul Bowles, 1959 by Various Artists
I can’t say that I’m the world’s biggest fan of Paul Bowles’ most famous book, The Sheltering Sky, or the tedious film it inspired Bernardo Bertolucci to make in 1990. Its tale of bourgeois, proto-beat flakes and colonial soaks coming undone in the North African Sahara adds an existential twist to the unpleasant heart of darkness narrative but the book hasn’t really weathered the trip across the decades too well itself. Much more interesting is Bowles’ other creative pursuits during his lengthy residence in Tangier, which as well as composing and translating Moroccan literature into English, included making field recordings of traditional music.
In 1959, he spent six months taping traditional music for the Library Of Congress and the results are amazing. Dust To Digital are putting out a 4CD set, containing four hours of newly remastered material includes a 120 page book with liner notes by Philip Schuyler, field notes by Paul Bowles and an introduction by Lee Ranaldo.
Konono Nº1 meets Batida - ‘Nlele Kalusimbiko’ (short version)
Konono Nº1 need no introduction but for the Kimmy Schmidts and other mole people of this world, I’ll provide one anyway. These fine musicians bestride the world like damn colossi. They create organic Congolese rave music from Kinshasa with amped up likembe (finger pianos) run through warmly distorting Tannoy speakers, leaning heavily on wild Bazombo trance rhythms that originate from near to the Angolan border. The band doesn’t operate along traditional Western lines, having been formed half a century ago by the now sadly departed Mawangu Mingiedi, it is carried on by his son, Augustin, as a kind of family franchise. There are many Konono bands in the DRC, it’s just that Nº1 are the uncontested heavyweights - the others have a variety of different numbers depending on how good they are. Belgium’s Crammed Discs have been long time supporters of the group and are about to release their new album Konono Nº1 Meets Batida on April 1, and as the name suggests, it’s a collaboration with the Angolan born and Lisbon raised dance music producer. Of all the amazing music that has come out of Kinshasa in recent years from Mbongwana Star to Kasai Allstars via Staff Benda Bilili, most of it owes Konono Nº1 a debt.
Ahmed Malek - 'Omar Gatlato'
Our friend Jannis Stürtz from Habibi funk told me that the Algerian composer Ahmed Malek was one of the first Arabic recording artists he ever came across. And after getting a copy of Musique Originale De Films he has spent the last few years trying to track down family members in order to properly license the music for reissue and finally hit pay dirt. He wanted to become a musician at the age of 12, and after graduating school he studied at the Algerian Conservatory. He gained recognition for his craft from an early stage and won several prizes and medals nationally and internationally. (The "Premier grand prix des arts et des lettres de la composition" in 1972, the golden medal at the "Panafrican Festival" in 1976, and the "Prix du mérite national pour la composition musicale" in 1987.) Habibi Funk are reissuing Musique Originale De Films on April 29 this year but here is an early taster.
Mikael Seifu - How To Save A Life (Vector Of Eternity)
Mikael Seifu’s album Zelalem, which comes out on March 4 on RVNG Intl., is both a celebration of and complete break with Ethiopia’s glorious musical history. He is, arguably, the most prominent proponent of Ethiopiyawi Electronic (well, he came up with the genre tag, so no surprises there), a group of likeminded musicians working out of Addis Ababa and combining traditional and modern techniques. He studied music for a few years in New Jersey so perhaps it doesn’t feel that weird to him to have a collaboration with the rapper LA slap bang in the middle of the album - I’m not sure what I make of it myself, but then I’m sure Mikael’s not losing any sleep over that. (I think the rest of the LP is fantastic, for what it’s worth.)
Carl Gari & Abdullah Miniaway - Darraje EP
Will Bankhead’s Trilogy Tapes took one foot off the dancefloor recently with this fantastic East/West collaboration, which arrived in the UK via Honest Jons a few weeks back. Carl Gari are a Munich based trio who specialise in thrillingly caustic and psychedelic, This Heat and dub influenced jams and they teamed up with Egyptian “chanter”, composer and multi-instrumentalist Abdullah Miniaway of Madinet El-Fayoum for this engaging four track EP. Is an album too much to wish for we wonder.
Siavash Amini - 'Fading Shadows Of Dusk'
Absence by Compilation of Iranian experimental music
Siavash Amini is fast becoming an old favourite, having appeared in this column several times before as well as Tristan Bath's Spool's Out. Here he crops up on a new compilation of Iranian experimental music called Absence. As sketched out above - sometimes it is important to consider the political situation in a country like Iran before talking about the music and sometimes it simply isn't. I guess my rule of thumb is to be pragmatic and to try and take each example on a case by case basis instead of getting locked into some pre-determined course of critical action.
This is what Siavash Amini himself has to say on the subject: "Faced with the task of writing about artists from Iran it is tempting to oversimplify and go with the easiest way to address them -- the way most western media has always treated art coming not just from Iran but from middle east in general. This approach places artists exclusively within the political context presented by the mainstream media, and only shows you the day-to-day politics of governments in the region. This biased approach means artists' works are only interpreted in relation to a reduced conception of the political context. By seeing things this way you only have a handful of artists addressing certain issues with enough exaggeration to be newsworthy.
"It would be terrifyingly ignorant to think that day-to-day politics in Iran has no impact on artists, but on the other hand it is too simplistic to see the wide range of artistic practices of Iranians though this narrow context.
"The tracks collected for this compilation are a perfect example of art that is not 'newsworthy'. And in this way they act as a gateway to the ignored and overlooked landscape of experimental electronic music in Iran. It is helpful to listen to all of the pieces in this compilation in contrast to the established language of what is now an Iranian musical mainstream. This Iranian mainstream is not that disconnected from the global mainstream, and the philosophy, politics and the lifestyle this manifests. The mainstream in Iran is not only what the government endorses but it also consists of very shallow imitations of various musical genres, cleared of any signs of cultural or political resistance, backed and released by private labels and companies.
"The artists presented here, including myself, are people who are constructing our musical language as part of our lives – a project which is no less of an experiment than the music itself. We are the voices who choose to be absent from the news and the musical mainstream (and in some cases from the city of our birth) in order to express the complex range of emotions and ideas which make up our lives, as honestly as we can.
"What is the good of this absence? An endless world of exploration and experimentation, a life of vast possibilities and new forms of cultural and political resistance."
SK Simeon & Yaw Faso - Maskya EP
New banger! New banger! I don’t know much about this lot other than the fact that Simeon was born in Uganda but currently resides in Melbourne where he records futuristic dancehall with Yaw Faso for Big Dada. Their very satisfying flow - turn it up loud, makes you want to punch a horse - is righteously matched by Machinedrum’s serrated, armour piercing riddims. New banger! New banger!
Send ideas for future inclusions to John@theQuietus.com. Thanks this month go to Michael Hann, Harriet Gibsone, Jim Johnstone, Jack Adams and Fred Kramer
Electro Chaabi In Cairo: Part I - A High Speed Ballet »
Electro Chaabi In Cairo: Part III - In The Valley Of The Keyboard King »
Bountiful Summer: Quietus Albums Of The Year So Far 2014 »
Palm Desert Discs: John Garcia's Favourite Albums »
Things Learned At: Transmusicales »
MORE FROM JOHN DORAN
Blown Out '77: In The Studio With Suicide »
The Best Of Times... Episode Eight: Geddy Lee »
New Weird Britain 4: Rhodri Davies, Cosey & Kemper Norton »
The Best Of Times... Episode Seven: Kate Tempest »
Spatchcock Warehouse Party On Saturday »
MORE: FEATURES
Anois, Os Ard: Irish Underground Music Reviewed By Eoin Murray »
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A Long Tail: Don Cherry's Brown Rice Reviewed »
LIVE REPORT: Donau Festival »
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Skills & Safety
Tumbleweed.Life
Home›Resources›How Much Truck Do I Need? A Beginner's Guide to Acquiring a Truck
How Much Truck Do I Need? A Beginner's Guide to Acquiring a Truck
Resources, RV Living, Skills & Safety
by Erin
Spotted a broken down truck and fifth wheel on the shoulder of the westbound lanes of I-70 a few weeks ago as we were making our drive from South Dakota to Virginia. For a brief moment, I was surprised to see a newer looking truck in distress--its hood open and smoke pouring out of it. Then, I noticed the brand of the truck and the name on the RV and my shock level dropped to zero. The broken down truck was inevitable and nothing could be done to easily (or cheaply) fix the situation.
The truck was a Honda Ridgeline and the RV was a Keystone Montana.
I wasn't able to catch the specific year or model number of either the truck or the trailer, but both were new-ish and the exact specifications aren't necessary to understand this particular break down. Modern Ridgelines can tow 5,000 pounds, and Montanas weigh around 12,000 pounds empty (and usually around 16,000 pounds or more when full of gear). The numbers would never add up to make this towing situation successful.
In the earliest stages of our Tumbleweed.Life, we didn't know a great deal about towing capacity. We (mistakenly) thought a big truck was a big truck was a big truck--and this is probably the same error in judgment the driver of the broken down truck made. Looking back on those early days when our current life was just an exciting idea, we knew barely anything about trucks. And, sadly, we found the vast majority of sales people we encountered were more interested in moving their products than helping us figure out a safe and legal setup. We had to do the research and educate ourselves as to what was right for our needs.
Surprisingly, finding the information we needed to make an educated decision about acquiring a capable towing vehicle wasn't as simple as you would expect. Both of us were stressed for weeks as we read and researched and called dealers and attempted to navigate this process.
Now that we are on the other side of this chaotic process, we wanted to create a guide to help others in the way we wished someone would have helped us. Our headaches might as well save others time and undue stress. Most importantly, Chris and I have no desire to see you broken down on the side of the road when you should be out enjoying your Tumbleweed.Life.
You can purchase How Much Truck Do I Need? on Amazon for $2.99. It's a little more than 6,500 words and is stuffed with a great deal of helpful advice. The reference is a beginner's guide to trucks and its aim is to make you an educated consumer.
As you're reading the guide, please let us know (by email or in the comments to this post) if you have additional questions or insights about the acquisition process. One of the many joys of online media is we have the ability to change these guides to make them as helpful to others as possible. If you purchase through Amazon, they'll automatically send you updates to your Kindle, too.
Driving: Resources To Get You from Point ...
Browns Canyon National Monument and Buena Vista, ...
Erin is Editor-in-Chief of Tumbleweed.Life.
Tumbleweed.Life on Instagram
© Copyright Tumbleweed.Life. All rights reserved.
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Film Pulse
Media & Entertainment Podcasts >
@filmpulsenet
http://filmpulse.net/
podcast@filmpulse.net
Adam and Kevin go up against some hungry gators this week with a review of Crawl and talk about some other stuff including Hale County This Morning, This Evening, The Art of Self-Defense, Titixe, Sadako, Critters Attack!, and The Chill Factor. 00:04:13 - Crawl review 00:25:55 - Watchlist 00:56:13 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter:...
This week, Adam and Kevin head to Sweden for a review of Ari Aster's latest horror experience, Midsommar. Additional titles discussed include FM, Mangoshake, Stuber, Sarah Plays a Werewolf, Trespassers, and Dark Figure of Crime. 00:01:52 - Midsommar review 00:23:00 - Watchlist 00:41:30 - New releases 00:47:04 - Midsommar spoiler discussion Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web:...
Jinpa, Hard-Core (NYAFF 2019)
With the New York Asian Film festival kicking off, Adam and Kevin take a look at two films screening there this year with Jinpa and Hard-Core. Other titles discussed include Samurai Marathon, Vice, Midsommar, O-Bi, O-Ba: The End of Civilization, and Child's Play. 00:02:34 - Jinpa review 00:13:48 - Hard-Core review 00:25:18 - Watchlist 00:42:34 - New releases web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Ryan Watches Fever Pitch (1997)
Ryan was in the mood for a soccer movie this week, so Adam and Kevin gave him 1997's Fever Pitch in the hope it would quell his soccer fever. To learn more about Friedreich's Ataxia please visit: http://curefa.org Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Attack of the Demons
Adam and Kevin take a look at this year's Cinepocalypse Film Festival and review the creative animated feature Attack of the Demons. Other titles discussed include Villains, Kindred Spirits, Deadcon, Island of the Hungry Ghosts, Malatesta's Carnival of Blood, The Child, and The Premonition. 00:02:13 - Attack of the Demons review 00:18:43 - Cinepocalypse and watch list 00:44:52 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month!...
Ryan Watches Uncle Drew
Ryan was looking for a comedy this week, so we gave him 2018's Uncle Drew in the hope he would have fun with this goofy basketball movie. To learn more about Friedreich's Ataxia please visit: http://curefa.org Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Tux and Fanny
This week, Adam and Kevin review the newly released Tux and Fanny, available now on Vimeo, along with some other stuff including The Last Black Man in San Francisco, The Great Pretender, Dark Phoenix, Everybody Knows, The Beach Bum, The Lego Movie 2, and Double Impact. 00:03:12 - Tux and Fanny review 00:24:09 - Watch list 00:44:52 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web:...
Adam and Kevin take a look at Brian de Palma's latest, Domino, along with some other stuff including The Perfection, I Am Legend, John Wick Chapter 3, Booksmart, and Avengement. 00:01:52 - Domino review 00:20:18 - Watch list 00:39:47 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Ryan Watches Revenge
Ryan wanted some horror this week, so Adam and Kevin gave Ryan 2017's Revenge, but was the level of violence in lieu of scares good enough for him? Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse To learn more about Friedreich's Ataxia please visit: http://curefa.org web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Ryan Watches Halloween (2018)
Ryan wanted a slasher this week, so Adam and Kevin thought they picked a safe bet with 2018's Halloween, but Ryan's reception of the film came as a surprise. Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse To learn more about Friedreich's Ataxia please visit: http://curefa.org web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Diamantino
This week, Adam and Kevin take a look at the satirical comedy Diamantino along with some other stuff including Into the Dark, Flores, Perfect Bid, and Queen of Lapa. 00:01:40 - Diamantino review 00:17:22 - Watch list 00:33:05 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
This week, Adam and Kevin head to Wine Country and talk about Amy Poehler's new comedy on Netflix. Some other stuff discussed includes Pokemon Detective Pikachu, Uptight, Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, and Long Lost. 00:04:30 - Wine Country review 00:19:25 - Watch list 00:35:21 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter:...
This week, Adam and Kevin review Joe Berlinger's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, out now on Netflix, and discuss some other items including the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival (Blow the Man Down, Scheme Birds, The Gasoline Thieves, Crown Vic, Goldie), Hollywood Shuffle, The Biggest Little Farm, Burning, and America. 00:01:31 - Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile review 00:20:03 - Watch list 00:49:03 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our...
Ryan Watches The Night Comes For Us
Ryan wanted some action this week so we gave him last year's The Night Comes For Us to take a look at. Will the non-stop violence help him overcome the inclusion of subtitles? Find out. Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Ryan Watches What We Do In The Shadows
This week, Ryan requested a comedy so Adam and Kevin gave him 2014's What We Do In The Shadows. Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
This week, Adam and Kevin discuss Wanuri Kahiu’s Rafiki and talk about some other stuff including Doing What They Love, Hellboy, In Dog Years, Police Story 1 & 2, and Julie and Julia. 00:04:23 - Rafiki review 00:18:33 - Watch list 00:42:10 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Ryan Watches Rumble in the Bronx
This week, Ryan gives Jackie Chan's classic Rumble in the Bronx a look. Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Family, Guava Island
Adam and Kevin take a look at two new movies this week- Guava Island starring Donald Glover and Family starring Taylor Schilling. 00:00:47 - Guava Island review 00:16:20 - Family review 00:35:41 - Watch list 01:00:13 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
Ryan Watches The Stuff
In the triumphant return of Ryan Watches a Movie the crew returns with a new format and a new movie for Ryan to watch- Larry Cohen's The Stuff. Please consider supporting Film Pulse by contributing to our Patreon for just $1 per month! http://patreon.com/filmpulse web: http://filmpulse.net twitter: http://twitter.com/filmpulsenet facebook: http://facebook.com/filmpulse
The Burial of Kojo, William Dickerson
Adam and Kevin review Sam Blitz Bazawule's The Burial of Kojo and Adam has director William Dickerson back on the show to talk about his new movie, No Alternative. Other films discussed include The Wife, Depraved, One Cut of the Dead, The Legend of Cocaine Island, Castle Freak, The Highwaymen, The Ambulance, and Full Moon High. 00:02:46 - The Burial of Kojo review 00:22:55 - William Dickerson interview 01:18:02 - Watch list 01:39:53 - New releases Please consider supporting Film Pulse...
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Ponies sweep doubleheader with Altoona
Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Sport, Top Sports Stories
BINGHAMTON (WBNG) – On Tuesday, the Rumble Ponies swept Altoona in a doubleheader.
In game 1, Anthony Kay pitched a complete game shutout. Barrett Barnes provided the scoring, driving home the Ponies first two runs of the game.
Kay struck out eight and lowered his season ERA to 1.24.
Dario Pizzano put the icing on the cake with a three-run homer. It was his third home run of the season.
Game one final score:
Binghamton- 7 (20-12), Altoona – 0 (18-18)
In game 2, the Ponies allowed the first run of the game, a home run by the opposing pitcher off David Petersen.
A Jason Krizan RBI single would tie the game in the fourth. The game remained tied at 1 until the 7th inning, when Patrick Mazeika hit a walk-off grand slam to complete the sweep in thrilling fashion.
The Ponies and Curve will wrap up their three game series Wednesday morning for education day. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m.
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Category: Basketball
Albertsons/Vons/PavilionsAthlete
by Tessa Sechler There are many businesses and fundraisers that support Special Olympics Southern California, but to some athletes, the AVP Campaign may be the most impactful. From March 27 to April 23, Albertson’s, Vons and Pavilions are asking their shoppers to donate to SOSC during checkout, with the goal of raising $1.5 million. This ...
By wearesosc on April 5, 2019
AthleteBasketball
INSIDE SOSC: Growing Family
Special Olympics Southern California family has been growing, and quickly. From the more than 34,500 athletes to the families that take them to every practice and competition, Special Olympics is one big family. It's size continues to grow as evidence by the past four days during these very hot summer days. From the Orange County ...
By wearesosc on August 7, 2018
SOSC Athletes Well Represented at Nike 3ON3
LONG BEACH - California’s largest outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament, the Nike Basketball 3ON3 Tournament returns to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles and L.A. LIVE for its 10th consecutive year. Special Olympics Southern California athletes will be represented in record numbers as 24 teams will compete on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 4-5. All told 92 SOSC ...
2018 USA Games: July 4 Round-up
A handful of Special Olympics Southern California athletes celebrated the Fourth of July in style, raking in medals as the competitions heat up. Golf REDMOND, Wash. -- All three Team SOSC golfers medaled in their respective divisions Wednesday at Willows Run Golf Course. Both Kent Menendez and Kyle Aragon had a host of supporters make ...
By wearesosc on July 4, 2018
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Two more Special Olympics Southern California teams felt the joy of a victory at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games for the first time on Tuesday. Both the women's basketball team and Unified soccer team bounced back from 0-2 starts in pool play. Women's Basketball Bernadette Valencia scored 10 of her 12 ...
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Tyler Cribbs and the Special Olympics Southern California softball team set the tone Monday for the delegation. Tyler had a big day at the plate in a 12-10 win over South Dakota, the first of two victories on the day at Celebration Park. The shortstop went 3 for 3 and scored ...
#SundaySpotlight: Fabiola Aceves
Fabiola Aceves has grown into a more independent, open-minded individual since we last caught up with her at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. Now, she’s preparing for this summer’s USA Games and is excelling in a different sport – a team sport. Fabiola, who earned a pair of silver medals in tennis less than ...
By wearesosc on June 24, 2018
USA Games Spotlight: Nihan Uslu
When we last caught up with Nihan Uslu, her mother Ana noted the life-changing benefits of Special Olympics Southern California. Now, the 27-year-old is nearing a trip she will remember for the rest of her life. Nihan and her teammates on the Pomona Valley women's basketball team are set to compete at the 2018 Special ...
INSIDE SOSC: Fantastic Finishes at Summer Games
More than 1,100 athletes were determined to put forth their strongest effort at Special Olympics Southern California's 2018 Summer Games last weekend at Cal State Long Beach. The competition at the 2018 #SummerGames had the crowds on their feet during the games and with a sore throat after. Split-second finishes, one-point contests and top-notch sportsmanship ...
BasketballMission
USA Games Spotlight: Ricardo Cortez and Jeffrey Ray
Through Unified Sports, athletes with and without intellectual disabilities often discover that they have more in common than they initially realized. Basketball is that bond for Lompoc High School and 2018 Special Olympics USA Games teammates Ricardo Cortez and Jeffrey Ray. They both even enjoy watching NBA superstar LeBron James, an athlete who has openly ...
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Arts & Culture Maplewood
Dan Barry Launches ‘This Land’ Book Release with Words Bookstore Event Sept 13
By villagegreennj access_timeSep-12-2018
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Maplewood Literary Award winner Dan Barry will be reading from and signing copies of this new book This Land: America, Lost and Found, at 7:30 p..m. on September 13 at Words Bookstore in Maplewood.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and on the eve of a national recession, New York Times writer Dan Barry launched a column about America – not the one populated only by cable-news pundits, but the America defined and redefined by those who clean the hotel rooms, tend the beet fields, endure disasters both natural and manmade. For more than a decade, Barry crisscrossed the country, filing deeply moving stories from the tiniest dot on the American map to the city that calls itself the Capital of the World.
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In THIS LAND: America, Lost and Found (Black Dog & Leventhal; September 11, 2018), Barry selects nearly 100 essays from a decade of his distinctive This Land columns that explore uniquely American moments from every corner of our country: essays about a community’s send-off for an 18-year-old beginning her Army career in exchange for college tuition in Mohave Valley, Arizona, and the larger meaning of a knocked-down telephone booth in Prairie Grove, Arkansas; about a gathering of retired burlesque queens in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and a bullet fired through the living-room window of a black mayor in Greenwood, Louisiana; about the economic struggles of a dairy farmer in Ferndale, California, and the execution by electric chair of a man in Nashville, Tennessee. The stand-alone dispatches fit together, jigsaw-like, to present a rarely seen and profoundly powerful portrait of American endurance that transcends politics and remains ever-present.
Bringing together the best of this ten-year odyssey with select images by award-winning Times photographers, including Ángel Franco, Nicole Bengiveno, and Todd Heisler, these narrative and visual snapshots of American life create a grand tapestry of our shared experience, capturing how our nation is at once flawed and exceptional, paralyzed and ascendant, as cruel and violent as it can be gentle and benevolent.
Barry previously authored the books The Boys in the Bunkhouse and Bottom of The 33rd. Besides that shared Pulitzer Prize, Barry also has a George Polk Award; an American Society of Newspaper Editors Award for deadline reporting (for coverage of the first anniversary of 9/11); a Mike Berger Award for in-depth human interest reporting; and the PEN/ESPN Literary Award for Sports Writing.
Accolades for Dan Barry:
“Dan Barry gives dignity even to the darkest corners of the American experience. He is the closest thing we have to a contemporary Steinbeck.” — Colum McCann
“Dan Barry is an American treasure, and This Land is a beautifully conceived, essential book on American lives and places. His understanding and love of the American experience — small towns, fractured lives, beauty, suffering, and the physical landscape — is unparalleled. I’m grateful to him, and for him, for chronicling our lives, honoring our history, and recognizing our connection to each other.” — Rosanne Cash
“This Land reminds us that the greatest strength of the American character is America’s characters: men and women who are resilient, gracious, eccentric, world-weary, bright-eyed, funny, complex, tragic, surly and yes, even, kind. Dan Barry proves once again that in his intelligent company, attention paid is its own reward. He assures us, too, that eloquence, wit, and compassion – all the virtues we need now – have not been purged from American discourse and are alive and well in these pages.” — Alice McDermott
“There is something incrementally, and in the end almost infinitely heartbreaking and transformational, about Dan Barry’s haunting anthology… With a Dickensian breadth of curiosity and compassion, Barry has been determined to shadow and record a decade in the quotidian flow of national life-events that are all the more indelible, mysterious, and uncanny for their specificity.” — Ric Burns
THIS LAND
America, Lost and Found
By Dan Barry
Black Dog & Leventhal | September 11, 2018 | $29.99 | 400 Pages | ISBN: 9780316415514
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Why do traffic lights have three separate light bulbs instead of having one?
Recently, I checked out a concept design for a traffic light with only one light.
Do you know the exact reason for having three lamps in a row, instead of one like in this concept?
usability physical
nadyne
Because of position. What if someone is color-blind? Or uses a seeing-eye dog? The position of the lights is always the same. Red is always on the top of vertical lights, and on the left on horizontal lights. – Rocket Hazmat Apr 29 '14 at 19:06
It's worth noting here that the UK railways do now use light signals where red, green and yellow can all use the same light (using LED technology). – Andrew Leach Apr 29 '14 at 21:11
@AndrewLeach - are those signals facing train drivers and other railway staff? I would hypothesise one can't get a job driving a train or maintaining tracks if one is visually impared – Toni Leigh Apr 29 '14 at 21:56
@RocketHazmat, agree on color-blindness. But seeing-eye dogs don't use stop lights; not by position, not by color. That's an urban legend probably fostered by TV and movies. The handler of the dog (the blind person) has to determine when it's safe to cross based on either an audible crossing signal or the sound of traffic patterns, and then command the dog to go forward. The best a dog can do is refuse to go and/or cross in front of the handler and block the way, which they are trained to do when they perceive an imminent danger. – Euro Micelli Apr 30 '14 at 4:10
@PhilPerry: While there may exist lights that don't have red at the top/left, they are technically illegal. There is a federal standard that mandates the arrangement of the colors., – josh3736 Apr 30 '14 at 19:16
It is a simple fact that traffic signals were introduced in 1868. From The Origin of the Green, Yellow and Red Color Scheme for Traffic Lights:
In London, England in 1865 there was a growing concern over the amount of horse-drawn traffic causing danger to pedestrians trying to cross the roads. A railway manager and engineer named John Peake Knight, who specialized in designing signaling systems for the British railway, approached the Metropolitan Police with the idea of using a similar semaphore/lighted system for road traffic. In the daytime, this semaphore method used an arm or arms that could be raised or lowered by a police officer, notifying carriages when they should stop when the arm(s) stuck out sideways. At night, his system used the red and green colors to indicate the same type of thing, again traditional to the railroads.
As traffic signaling evolved the use of lights or flags continues. From the same article:
In 1920 in Detroit Michigan, a policeman named William L. Potts invented the four-way, three-color traffic signal using all three of the colors now used in the railroad system. Thus, Detroit became the first to use the red, green, and yellow lights to control road traffic.
In 1920, there would be little option other then to provide 3 independent lights to show 3 different colors. While other options might have existed, their complexity may have limited their adoption.
Technology & Economics
To specifically call out the reason above: because of technology. Today's technology allows for amazing things, but to think that a single-light traffic signal would be both technologically and economically feasible in 1870, 1920, 1980 (or even 1990) is a very hard argument. You can argue the ability in the later years, but can you argue the economics?
Technologically it is very easy to put 3 lights in a row and tell them when to turn on or off. Economically it is very easy to put 3 lights in a row and tell them when to turn on or off... and fix them when they break.
The technology to do it "this way" vs "that way" is simply a lot cheaper.
EDIT: Some comments on this answer were not taking this section in the context of historical precedence. I have attempted to clarify the points being made, in the greater context of my final answer at the end. I have also corrected some information on standards which where inaccurate.
While "because of color blindness" is a popular belief of the historical, this is simply false. Looking back at the historical reasons, for the time when traffic signals were being developed, the idea of catering to a rarely known condition would be unheard of.
A two color light, based on the railways, was first introduced in 1912 (per Wikipedia):
The first electric traffic light was developed in 1912... It had two colors, red and green, and a buzzer.
Later came William L. Pott's three-way traffic signal (mentioned above). Many other different types of signals also existed as the traffic signal continued to develop. This would obviously create confusion for many, so standards were put in place in 1935 (again, from The Origin of the Green, Yellow and Red Color Scheme for Traffic Lights):
All of these different types of lighting systems began to present a problem. Drivers could drive through different areas and encounter several different types of systems, causing confusion and frustration. So, in 1935, the Federal Highway Administration created “The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.” This document set uniform standards for all traffic signals and road signs.
Note that these standards were put in place for the benefit of everyone! This was not an action taken on behalf of "color-vision deficient drivers". No mention of such a population is made in the 1935 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (p. 71).
The idea that the order (Top = Red, Middle = Yellow, Bottom = Green) is for color blind individuals is quickly debunked when you search for "sideways traffic lights".
... or go someplace like Syracuse, New York:
Order is common, and mostly followed, but standards are not always followed and the original development of the traffic signal pattern was not guided by the standards that exist today.
There were also no standards in traffic light shading of the red/yellow/green colors - meaning one traffic light may use shades that allow certain color blind individuals to distinguish red vs. green, but another may not. While standards exist today, these did guide the use of these colors or their shades during early development.
Color blindness does not mean you can not see color (except for the very rare "achromatopsia" condition) - it is possible to provide shades and luminosity that do work for the majority of color blind people.
But it does help! Certainly the positional nature helps colorblind people, as long as they know what order the lights are in. This is very likely a reason why a single-light concept would be very difficult to implement, given today's attitudes and awareness of safety (for all drivers). However, the point here is that color blindness is not a reason why they were made that way in the first place.
Historically they were made that way; improving over time until the technology to create and maintain them became less and less; creating a situation where the economics to change them are prohibitive.
But... User Experience!
Yeah, I know - it's a UX site. Sometimes things can't be explained in terms of UX. Sometimes things exist simply because they have existed that way for so long.
Evil Closet MonkeyEvil Closet Monkey
Thank you, thank you, thank you for dissecting the color blindness argument. "Because color blindness" is the most overused UX justification I see on this site, often being dragged out by people who know nothing about it. – Joshua Barron Apr 29 '14 at 22:20
According to this article the upside-down traffic light in Syracuse is a very special case, controversial, and accompanied by special warning signs. I don't think you can claim it as evidence that colorblindness is not a consideration here; it appears more likely to me that it is a consideration, and the officials in Syracuse consciously chose to disregard it. As for the sideways lights, I think you'll find that in such cases, red is always on the left. – Nate Eldredge Apr 30 '14 at 2:49
In Belgium the law explicitly (Dutch link) states that the light have to be 3 colored and red has to be on top and green at the bottom. Thus to change the lights they'd first have to change the law. – ratchet freak Apr 30 '14 at 9:01
@josh3736, while standards have been created concerning the positioning & color this was not done until 1935, for everyones benefit (not explicitly for the "color-vision deficient"); luminosity and chromaticity not even later. As I point out in my closing statement the positioning does help color blind individuals, but there original creation was not guided by the condition. – Evil Closet Monkey Apr 30 '14 at 19:43
There is another reason for more than one bulb: failing bulbs. When you have three separate bulbs in two out of three cases you know exactly what situation you are in (as one of the unbroken bulbs is on) and you can thus also spot the broken bulb and know that it would be on (because the others are off as well) - you would only have to wait at most one light change to know which bulb is broken (assuming that the chance of all three failing at the same time is slim). – Marjan Venema Apr 30 '14 at 20:16
One reason for the three lights, in the UK at least, is that you have many states. Two of the lights can be on at one time, i.e. red and amber signalling that you should get ready to go, where as a single amber light would mean get ready to stop. The concept you link to doesn't cover this use case.
There are also historic reasons for the 3 light traffic signal, they used to be operated my humans and originally were gas burning lamps (briefly) - this was before LEDs even existed, so they needed 3 states. Traffic lights all started on the railway, the amber light was a signal to slow down and give the train driver advanced notice it's state was about to change.
With the specific implementation you mentioned, I can also see a few other use cases (on UK roads) that would be rather difficult to implement - traffic signals do more than tell people when to stop and go.
A few examples of other uses are:
@Steve Wortham also makes a great point that a moving light (much like something animating on a web page) is more likely to catch your attention than a single light changing colour, especially if you are not paying complete attention.
Another reason why we may not have changed the design so much could be that - if we were to change the traffic light system, it would cost a HUGE amount of money for a government to not only implement the lights themselves but to also teach and educate road users of this new system.
Grant McAllisterGrant McAllister
+1 for mentioning getting ready to stop and getting ready to move, this is the only reason for having the middle light, also I would add that changing a system that works well and is established, even for one that could be a slight improvement, would introduce more problems than it would fix – Toni Leigh Apr 29 '14 at 21:58
Switzerland requires drivers to stop the engine at traffic lights and railway crossings, if they're at least 3 cars behind. The red-yellow transition to green is very important in this case, as starting your engine again takes a second or two. – Fuhrmanator Apr 30 '14 at 1:47
The concept is an array of LEDs, so it does cover other use cases. It could display half green / half yellow for the intermediate state, or form shapes like arrows. – nmclean Apr 30 '14 at 15:21
Thanks for mentioning arrow lights--if there are four lights arranged vertically, it's likely that a protected turn is possible, which can be good information for a driver or pedestrian to have. – Milo P Apr 30 '14 at 20:13
I think a big reason must be that it's easier to see that the light changed (even out of your peripheral vision) when one light goes off and another goes on in another position. The fact that the position AND color of the light is changing makes it easier to notice.
Steve WorthamSteve Wortham
It's worth noting that periferal vision is particularly sensitive to 'movement', which you sort of get from having separate lights. – PhillipW Apr 29 '14 at 20:59
It is also worth noting that the peripheral vision is mostly colorblind (more heavily concentrated rods, fewer cones). – Floris May 3 '14 at 17:10
A few answers have made the point that it would be difficult for colour blind users to see the signal. But the truth is, we are all colour blind at least in our peripheral vision.
From your eye's fixation point, at 30 degrees you start to lose trichromatic vision. In other words, you start to lose the ability to differentiate colour. At 50 degrees, you are essentially colour blind. The colours that you see right now in your brain aren't actually 'seen' -- your brain has coloured in the gaps for you.
However, your eyes are good at detecting movement in these extremes. Our response is to saccade to movements in our visual field so we can see them in more detail.
With a single-bulb system, we might be unable to see a change from green to red because, in our peripheral vision, nothing has changed. So it is not only colour that is essential to the signal, but the movement of bulb position which prompts us to fixate on the signal.
BrendonBrendon
The accepted answer contains some good information about the history of traffic lights, but it is dead wrong about the color blindness issue.
First, some facts:
There is (in the US) a legal standard for traffic light color. The MUTCD requires signals to comply with ITE standards that specify luminosity and chromaticity of "red", "yellow", and "green". Indeed, the "green" color has a slight blue hue to aid people with red/green colorblindness.
The order of the colors is also specified by the MUTCD for both vertical and horizontal alignments. Red is always on top (vertical) or the left (horizontal). That one intersection in Syracuse is a curiosity, and technically not legal.
Finally, from the FHWA: (emphasis added)
Q: How do the standards for traffic signals accommodate the needs of color-vision deficient drivers? Would it be better to add shapes to the signal indications to help the colorblind identify which signal is on?
A: Distinguishing reds from greens is by far the most common problem for color vision deficient people. This has been taken into account in the MUTCD, which since the 1930s has specified the relative positions of the different colored signal indications, with red always being above yellow, which is always above green (in a vertically-arranged signal.) This positional requirement also applies to arrow indications, with red arrows always being above yellow arrows, which are always above green arrows. For horizontally-arranged signals, similar positional requirements are established, with red always being the left-most indication, etc. It would seem logical that shapes could potentially provide additional assistance to colorblind road users, beyond that already provided by the positional standards. However, a Canadian province that has used such a shape system in its traffic signals in the past has abandoned it due to lack of effectiveness and other issues. Changing the shape of the signal indications results in changes in light output and this impacts how well and how far away the signals can be seen by drivers, particularly under adverse conditions such as fog, smoke, dust, visually complex environments, etc. Therefore, research would be needed to evaluate what changes in signal light sources and intensity might be necessary if the shapes of the lenses were to be changed, and also how colored arrow signals could be associated with shapes. Meanwhile, studies have found that most color blind people adapt and compensate well by using the positional requirements contained in the existing traffic signal standards to help them discern the colors. Also, in the most recent update of the detailed color standards for traffic signals (published by ITE), the green has been specified to be a bit more "blue-green" because this makes it easier for persons with red-green color vision deficiencies to distinguish it from red.
In other words, color blindness has long been a consideration in the design of traffic lights, and it's one of the reasons we keep three separate fixtures arranged in a particular order today.
josh3736josh3736
Some very good additional information, but an incorrect assertion that my answer is "dead wrong". While modern standards exist to benefit color blindness, the historical development of color and positional nature of the lights were not guided by these standards or considerations. Such standards were put in place after and amended to benefit the color-vision deficient population after the fact. – Evil Closet Monkey Apr 30 '14 at 20:51
@EvilClosetMonkey Yes, good point. If traffic lights were to be invented now then colour-blindness would likely play a part in the design, but you're right that they're not a new design. – JonW♦ May 1 '14 at 13:27
I knew the laws were there for colorblind people. I just couldn't find it. I was looking in my state laws. – Darrick Herwehe May 2 '14 at 16:11
I would base American's relevancy on the number of traffic lights which is quite different from using population. I'd guess probably higher given the amount of drivers and cars. – Michael Durrant May 4 '14 at 14:28
Do you know the exact reason for having three lamps in a row, instead of one
This question has several parts (at least implicitly).
Why separate single-colour lamps rather than one multicolour lamp?
Why three colours?
Why red, amber and green?
Why are the colours in that order?
Why are they arranged vertically?
The answers to most of these questions arise from the historical development of the system.
Many standards are the result of revision and refinement of a largely arbitrary precursor. It is often expensive (in human lives as well as financially) to change safety-critical conventions that have been learned by large numbers of people, even if there is a theoretically better system.
Origins: Colours.
Road traffic signals are a development of railroad signals. (BBC)
Some early railroad signals do have several different coloured lights appear at the same single position. They had one lamp. A mechanical arrangement moved coloured lenses in front of the fixed lamp.
Railroad signals were initially semaphore signals where the position of a signalling arm indicated whether it was safe to proceed.
An important point is that, as a form of fail-safe, if the arm raising mechanism fails, gravity will drop the arm to the "stop" position.
OK so road usage followed railway usage, this begs the question - why were those colours chosen by railways? The answer may be that the railways followed established maritime conventions. Ships had red and green lamps on their sides so that other ships could tell which direction the observed ship was travelling. There had to be a convention about which of two converging ships should give way. The convention was (apparently) that if you see a red light, you are required to give way. Another explanation was simply that red, the colour of blood, has long been associated with danger and so became associated with the need to stop.
Why three?
Railroad tracks are divided into sections. Following trains are provided with an indication that a train is on the section ahead (stop/red), has left that section and is in the section ahead of that (caution/yellow) or is much further away (proceed/green).
For night time use, a lamp was added and the motion of the signal arm brought different coloured lenses in front of the lamp.
Order: Failsafe at Red
You can see that with this arrangement, the "stop" indication is at the top position when the line of lenses are vertical. This is a consequence of the fail-safe arm arrangement discussed earlier.
Why separate positions?
With road traffic signals, the semaphore arm was eventually entirely replaced by the lights. The mechanical elements were eliminated, perhaps because they required more maintenance, and three electric lamps were then the simplest signalling system. The colour, number and physical arrangement obviously followed the previous system to avoid confusion.
It is obviously an advantage, where red-green colour-blindness is common, to have a positional reinforcement for the signal meaning.
RedGrittyBrickRedGrittyBrick
My best guess would be that if there was poor visibility or some sort of color blindness problem, one could identify what to do by seeing which light was on/or off.
With 1 light one might not be able to tell what the color is and that could cause problems.
Anindya BasuAnindya Basu
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
Especially since red/green colourblindness is the most common, and the difference between the two can mean life or death at a stoplight. "In individuals with Northern European ancestry, as many as 8 percent of men and 0.5 percent of women experience the common form of red-green color blindness." (Source: Wikipedia) – Tim FitzGerald Apr 29 '14 at 19:20
As @EvilClosetMonkey's answer explains, color blindness is definitely not the reason for separating the bulbs of a traffic light. Furthermore, color blindness does not imply you cannot differentiate the red and green colors of a traffic light. – Joshua Barron Apr 29 '14 at 22:21
@JoshuaBarron especially when many green lights have a blue component to help differentiate between them. – ratchet freak Apr 30 '14 at 8:54
@JoshuaBarron: As various comments point out, the argumentation by EvilClosetMonkey why color blindness is allegedly not the reason, is flawed as it currently stands in the answers. – O. R. Mapper Apr 30 '14 at 19:18
@O.R.Mapper, the answer refers to the historical reasoning behind the design of the traffic signal and color blindness not being a defining factor. While modern standards have adapted the historical design to suit color blindness those standards did not define the original design. The answer has since been updated to hopefully be clearer. – Evil Closet Monkey Apr 30 '14 at 22:13
There have been a couple of passing mentions of trains, where the constraints are interestingly different.
Train signals (in the UK at least, but I don't think they're massively different elsewhere) are also red-amber-green (or on higher-speed lines they're red-amber-doubleamber-green), and they're not consistently one way up; so sometimes the red is at the top, and sometimes at the bottom. This is partly, I understand, because a train driver may have to react to them from further away than a car driver would react to a traffic light, so that they wouldn't necessarily be able to distinguish them based on position, and there is therefore no utility in requiring them to be in a consistent position. It follows (I recall, but can't find a link to corroborate) that train drivers can't be colour-blind.
The order isn't random/whimsical, though. The lights are ordered so that the red light is nearest to the eye-line of the driver (see that Wikipedia link for lots more detail).
And just by the way, the reason the four-light sequence is red, amber, and then double-amber (whereas you might initially guess that double-amber is ‘more cautious’ than single amber), is so that it fails safe: if an amber light fails then the signal displays the ‘more cautious’ single amber.
Relevant to the original question, there are indeed now LED-based lights which have all the colours in a single housing, rather than one lamp per colour.
Norman GrayNorman Gray
And if the 'u' fails, you can still read the word 'color'. – user67695 Apr 18 '17 at 19:51
protected by Community♦ May 4 '14 at 19:18
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« Zella Day, w/ Lany at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (29 July 2015) | Main | NeedToBreathe, Switchfoot, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors at Cabooze Plaza, Minneapolis (24 July 2015) »
Minneapolis: August 7, 2015
Go 96.3
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NYC duo MS MR came to Minneapolis “for the first time as a band and as people” ...and ‘rocked it like a ‘Hurricane’. ‘Hurricane’, of course, refers to their infectious single of the same name…
Matt & Kim
This is one of the best band to see live is Matt and Kim. The duo is returning to Minneapolis at the Mill City Nights next, next Friday …
Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on Friday, August 7, 2015.
GO FEST '15
at Target Field
Friday, 08/07/2015, 4:30pm ($9.63)
go963mn.com
We were really impressed with Go 96.3 FM's first Go Show #1 (featuring New Politics and Banks at Aria on Mar 2015). We were wondering how they can top that debut show... and they've completely done it by booking Target Field with this incredible band lineup.
We've previously seen covered most of these bands, but to see them all on one bill is simply unbelievable. The kicker? Nosebleed tickets are under $10 each, so you can bring all your friends (well, restricted to a 20-ticket maximum) and hang out in the green.
Allan Kingdom (from thestand4rd)
Plus: DJ Sets by RAC
Irish Fair
First of all, I think we're definitely going to be doing the Irish Fair this year. I know St Patrick's Day was in March, but who cares when it's free in August! The two main attraction seems to be California's Young Dubliners .…
at Harriet Island (St Paul)
08/07/2015-08/08/2015, 7pm (FREE)
irishfair.com
The free annual Irish Fair will start next Friday, August 7th and ending on Sunday, August 9th, at Harriet Island. Headliner for the first two nights will be Los Angeles' Young Dubliners.... currently touring in support of their latest album Nine. We previously caught Young Dubliners when they headlined the Irish Fair in 2010, so I'll be good to have them back in the Twin Cities.
NOTE: The Irish Fair fans should know that there is a $20 Kickoff Party event on Thursday, August 6th, featuring local Irish band Wild Colonial Bhoys.
Young Dubliner's tour dates:
08/07/15 Irish Fair Minnesota
08/09/15 Crestone Music Festival
08/14/15 Santa Rosa, CA Annie O's Music Hall
08/15/15 Paso Robles, CA Private Function
08/16/15 Los Osos, CA Sea Pines Golf Resort
08/21/15 Hopefest
08/22/15 Lodi, CA Private Function
08/27/15 Colorado Springs, CO Thirsty Parrot
08/28/15 Denver, CO The Oriental Theater
09/11/15 Sisters Folk Festival
09/16/15 Somerville, MA Johnny D's
09/17/15 Newton, NJ The Newton Theatre
09/18/15 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage
09/19/15 Irish 2000 Festival
09/20/15 Get Shamrocked Festival
09/26/15 Treasure Valley Celtic
10/02/15 Chicago, IL Beverly Arts Center
10/03/15 Huntsville, UT Snowbasin
10/04/15 Blues, Brews & BBQ
10/08/15 Wilmington, DE World Cafe Live
10/09/15 Leesburg, VA Smokehouse Live
10/10/15 Alexandria, VA John Strongbow's Tavern
10/14/15 Jim Thorpe, PA Mauch Chunk Opera House
10/15/15 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
10/16/15 Macungie, PA Private Function
10/17/15 Chesapeake Roots Festival
10/18/15 Harrisburg, PA The Abbey Bar
11/05/15 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom
11/06/15 Tucson Celtic Festival
11/13/15 Grants Pass, OR Rogue Theatre
11/14/15 Portland, OR Melody Ballroom
11/19/15 Sturtevant, WI Route 20 Outhouse
11/20/15 South Bend, IN Club Fever
11/21/15 Joliet, IL The Tree
Do you know what's funny? Social D was one of the first bands I saw when I was living in Fresno, California. They were huge back then just coming off their big hit single "Bad Luck"..…
Friday, 08/07/2015, 7pm ($35/Sold Out)
Our new writer Langen will be seeing Social Distortion at First Avenue. Not to brag, but I saw Social D in 1992(?) in Fresno, California. They played a tiny club and changed the line in "Ball & Chain" from "county jail" to "Fresno County Jail" and got a huge roar from the audience.
Mike Ness and company are on tour at the moment because their debut self-titled album turned 25 in 2015 (originally released in 1990). Expect the punk band to play the entire album, plus throwing in some old favorites from Somewhere Between Heaven & Hell, etc.
Drag the River and Nikki Lane to open the show.
07/31/15 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Live
08/01/15 Houston, TX House Of Blues
08/02/15 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
08/05/15 Sturgis Rally
08/08/15 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
08/09/15 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
08/14/15 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room
08/15/15 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
08/16/15 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
08/18/15 Buffalo, NY The Town Ballroom
08/19/15 Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier
08/21/15 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
08/22/15 Asbury Park, NJ Stone Pony Summerstage
08/23/15 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston
08/25/15 Silver Spring, MD Fillmore Silver Spring
08/27/15 Raleigh, NC The Ritz
08/28/15 Charlotte, NC Fillmore Charlotte
08/29/15 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
09/02/15 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
09/03/15 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
09/05/15 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
09/06/15 Bumbershoot Festival
09/07/15 Bend, OR The Century Center
09/09/15 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
09/11/15 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Posted by W♥M on Friday, 31 July 2015 at 05:41 PM in Allan Kingdom, Big Data, Cold War Kids, Drag the River, Go 96.3, Go Radio, Go Show, Irish, Irish Fair, Matt and Kim, Meg Myers, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Music Guide, MS MR, Nikki Lane, Punk, RAC, Social Distortion, thestand4rd, Vu, Wild Colonial Bhoys, Yelawolf, Young Dubliners | Permalink
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How to watch Pacific Rim (2013) on Netflix Austria!
Yes, Pacific Rim is now available on Austrian Netflix. It arrived for online streaming on July 31, 2018.
Did you know there are thousands of additional movies and shows you can watch by changing your Netflix country? Don't miss out!
We'll keep checking Netflix Austria for Pacific Rim, and this page will be updated with any changes.
Pacific Rim (2013)
Austrian Netflix Release: July 31, 2018
Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Adventures, Monster Movies, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Cyberpunk, Cult Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi Adventure, Alien Sci-Fi
Director(s): Guillermo del Toro
When the world's defenses fail against the threat of alien sea creatures, the task of saving the planet falls to a former pilot and a raw trainee. Can a couple of mavericks battle a horde of alien sea monsters and prevent an apocalypse? Yeah, this could work.
Watch on Netflix
Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Robert Kazinsky, Max Martini, Clifton Collins Jr., Burn Gorman, Diego Klattenhoff
You're missing out on thousands of Netflix movies in Austria
No matter which country you live in (even if it's the USA), there are thousands of movies and TV shows that you can't get on Netflix in your country. But with this system, you can unlock them in minutes!
Watch International Netflix!
Here's a few of the movies you can unlock and start watching from Austria
Pacific Rim: Uprising
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
The Ice Pirates
Terraformars
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Legacy:Actor (UT)/Object
< Legacy:Actor (UT)
Properties[edit]
Name and Class
These are defined in the Object class script, so all objects have these properties not just actors. These can't be edited in UnrealEd.
The initial state the actor will be in when the game starts. See below.
This is used by UnrealEd to keep track of which view group an actor belongs to. This probably shouldn't be edited; UnrealEd will change it to reflect the list in the Group browser.
Initial States[edit]
UnrealScript's states allow different types of behaviour. The same function may be present in several states and the appropriate one will be called. The classic example: an actor such as a monster could have states "wandering" and "attacking", and in these states the function SeePlayer() will have a completely different effect. (see state for more on scripting states)
The InitialState property contains a list of states that are made available to mappers. This sets which state the actor will be in when the game begins.
This property is not always relevant: not all actors have states which can be chosen in this list. Of those actors that do, some such as Trigger and SpecialEvent have states but don't switch between them at all during play. This programming strategy essentially allows the one class to offer several ways of behaving – several classes for the price of one.
Quick link for now: InitialState covers this topic (or will) for mappers. State is aimed at coders.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.beyondunreal.com/Legacy:Actor_(UT)/Object?oldid=1328"
Last modified at 06:16, 24 April 2002.
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View source for Chaos March
← Chaos March
[[File:CM8web.jpg|600px|right|]] The '''Chaos March''' (abbreviated to CM) is a weekly event organized by members of the MWLL community for the MWLL community that occurs at 20:00 UTC/GMT every Saturday and Sunday. It is a tournament with league-style elements that uses a persistent strategic campaign layer encompassing many of the Chaos March worlds from Battletech canon. The current iteration of the Chaos March features six factions vying for control of 31 planets. Each planet in the campaign produces resources that are used for various things, such as creating assets. Assets include Mechs, tanks, VTOLs and aerospace fighters which can be used in combat. Overall, it is very similar to the old league-style organizations for previous iterations of MechWarrior games, such as the NBT4 and NBT-Mercs leagues for MechWarrior 4 and Mercenaries except on a much smaller scale. A key difference between Chaos March and most league systems is that there are no fixed factions: anyone can play any side as needed. This is a result of having insufficient players to maintain several fixed factions over the course of the campaign, so each player represents a mercenary pilot and thus can join in as many battles as they choose. The Chaos March is open to any and all [[MWLL]] players, regardless of skill level or clan/unit affiliations; the only requirement is that players follow the instructions provided to them. ==History== Chaos March has been around for several years, being originally established by Duelist as an outlet for veterans to engage in high-level organized play, often utilizing advanced tactics & strategies. It has been the one consistent draw for a number of [[MWLL]] players since 2013, helping sustain the game until the 0.8.0 Community Edition was released in late 2016. ==Overview of a Standard Battle== A typical battle, usually referred to as a '''drop''' will progress as follows: * Players join the Ready Room channel on the MWLL TeamSpeak server and are assigned to a team by the battle supervisor via moving players to the correct team voice channel. * Once assigned to a team, players then connect to the Chaos March server and join the side associated with the team they were assigned; the ''attackers'' in a drop are always Clan, while the ''defenders'' are always Inner Sphere. * The drop commander for each team chooses what assets they wish to deploy and assigns them to each player. This includes which variant, choice of camo and ammo loadout. * While players get their assets purchased with the correct camo, the drop commander will go over the general strategy and any particular tactics he/she wants to employ with the team. * When one team is ready, that team's commander will often announce a time over in-game public chat, such as '8400'. This means that the battle begins once the in-game timer reaches 84:00. * As soon as the agreed on time is reached, both teams leave their main base and engage in combat. The battle continues until one side has no more combat-capable assets. * After the battle is over, the drop commanders tally the lost assets and note them. Shortly after that, the server will reset and preparations for the next drop begin. Depending on how long the setup and battle are, a drop can take between 30 to 45 minutes to complete. ==Drop Etiquette== # '''Listen to and follow the instructions given to you by your drop commander, or by the battle supervisor.''' # Keep comms clear during the battle so your drop commander can issue orders without interference. # If you are unsure about what asset, camo choice or ammo you are assigned, it is best to ask using teamchat in-game. # Do not teamkill during the setup, even if you are bored. # Once you have been destroyed, stay quiet. You are not allowed to respawn unless instructed to - this almost always applies only to players that are assigned as a [[Battle Armor]] or an [[APC]] driver. ==How do I join?== Joining the Chaos March is quite easy! Here's a few different ways to get involved: * connect to the MWLL [[TeamSpeak]] server at mwll.mekmaster.com and double-click on the 'Ready Room' channel under the Chaos March tab. It is highly recommended to join TeamSpeak anyways, even if you do not have a microphone so you can receive instructions more easily. * ask in the #mwll_general channel of the main MWLL [[Discord]] about how to get involved Once you're in touch with a drop commander or battle supervisor, ask for the password to the Chaos March Atlanta server and you will receive it. After that, simply connect to the server and join the side you've been assigned unless you are told otherwise or until any ongoing drops are completed. ==What if I want to be a drop commander?== Unlike participating as a mercenary MechWarrior, playing Chaos March as a drop commander is a far more complicated matter. It is '''highly''' recommended that you play in Chaos March events until you become familiar with the basics before trying to tackle a commander role. This is because the commanders must not only organize their team and play in the match, but also select the assets for the battle(s) they are involved in using the drop calculator. The drop calculator determines what can and cannot be put into play using a series of values embedded within an Excel spreadsheet. For a copy of the drop calculator, hop onto [[Discord]] and message Star_Wraith about it. ==Canon== The Chaos March refers to an area comprising a number of worlds to the galactic south and southeast of Terra. These worlds were originally taken from the Capellan Confederation and the Free Worlds League by the Federated Commonwealth after the fourth Succession War, which were then re-organized into a region called the Sarna March. This arrangement did not last long, however: when the Lyran Alliance chose to secede from the Federated Suns in 3058, the Lyran troops left the Sarna March, opening the door for Capellan guerillas and agitators to destabilize numerous planetary governments, sowing chaos and terror across the region. Despite this, the Capellans lacked the raw military strength to retake this space, causing it to become a no-man's-land until the Word of Blake jihad in 3067. By 3069, the Blakists had absorbed the entirety of the Chaos March until they were defeated by Devlin Stone's Republic of the Sphere in 3081, after which all of the former Chaos March worlds became a part of this new coalition. [http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Chaos_March] ==External Links== *[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TMRTa_binGWyqy7og1_wS-EfnpqdmULbGBpX1rBYnuA/edit?usp=sharing Chaos March Field Manual ''(Google Drive)'']<br> *[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SGMudTEOPTxxyc1IaZNN9wpd7hFBxLV2N06ud7SwaD8/edit?usp=sharing Complete Map Listing ''(Google Drive)'']<br> *1.5 GB Map Pack **[http://maps.mekmaster.com/pack/mappack.zip ...via Mekmaster.com]<br> **[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1REoD7kODNZiv45ZpFbET_x6Vrb14K5WH ...via Google Drive]<br> *Chaos March Weekly Battlelogs **[https://forum.mechlivinglegends.net/d/9-chaos-march-battlelog ...on MWLL Forums]<br> **[https://discourse.mekmaster.com/t/chaos-march-battlelog/46l ...on MWLL Discourse]<br> *[http://forum.mechlivinglegends.net/index.php/topic,20448.0.html Feedback thread on MWLL Forums]<br> [[Category:Chaos March]][[Category:Community]]
Return to Chaos March.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.mechlivinglegends.net/index.php?title=Chaos_March"
About MechWarrior: Living Legends Wiki
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That’s what she said
March 04, 2015 × Oliver × Stuff Happens, The Other Christy
Hey cHEwY gums gums
So I’m doing some school visits this week, promoting Stuff Happens: Ethan and it’s nice talking about a new book, coming up with new jokes and routines. I’m willing to put up with the awkward silences as I stumble through my routines. It takes practice and it does get better with each talk that I do. Jokes don’t become funny overnight hehe.
I’ve also just finished my manuscript of The Other Christy. A few weeks ago, I got asked if I was okay with tagged as an author for boys, seeing that my books have male lead characters. I wonder what the Other Christy will do to that tag. I never set out to write a girl’s story, Christy’s voice came to me through seeing other lonely, awkward kids in schools who don’t have many friends. It just happened to fit that there will be a rivalry with another girl named Christie. I went to a school last year and there were two girls, Sara and Sarah, best friends and always doing things together. The seeds of The Other Christy had already been planted, but I started to focus on two girls who eventually strike an reluctant friendship. It bears a similar journey and plot to Hating Alison Ashley, where rivals become friends. So it’s really about friendships and family, two gems that I keep tapping on in my books. I think back to my days at school as a kid, and I didn’t just stick to boys’ series. I read all kinds of books, they just had to be funny. Judy Blume’s Fudge series, Morris Gleitzman’s Blabber Mouth and Sticky Beak, they all had female leads, and that was cool.
Even now, I still love reading about strong female characters, Alice Miranda, Grimson, The Friendship Maker series, Friday Barnes. There’s something about girls and friendships that make for interesting reading. Like, right now I’m reading Lauranda by Alice Pung, and that’s been good research into how I’ve painted the girls’ groups in The Other Christy.
I wonder though, if The Other Christy does come out someday, will my male readers pick it up? I hope so. I want to be like Morris Gleitzman and James Roy, who have a mix of boy and girl lead characters in their books. While we all know that girls will read books with male lead characters, boys will be less likely to do so. Maybe it’s because of the cover or whatever, but hopefully they will give the Other Christy a chance, because just Christy herself, she is full of surprises.
Stuff Happens
The Other Christy
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EA Sports make UFC 3 free to play on PS4 and Xbox One this weekend
Of course, no EA good deed is actually what it seems - the move is intended to promote the UFC 223 event that takes place in New York today. Nevertheless, EA says PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners can play UFC 3 for free all weekend long.
Okay, so you're no McGregor - that's no reason not to indulge in some virtual skull cracking and face smashing. After all, the worst that can happen in EA Sports' UFC 3 is getting a blister.
Naturally, EA is not the company you expect free stuff from and there's a caveat. Namely, UFC 3 will be free to PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold members, so it's isn't actually free-free, more like free if you're already burning some cash.
To make matters even more cheapskatish, EA's free-to-play will only let you play UFC 3 for five hours, or 10 hours if you're EA Access member. Furthermore, you're not eligible for the demo if you've taken the game's trial mode for a spin earlier. So benevolent, innit?
Unfortunately for mister McGregor, he seems to have taken part in a bust-up on the UFC 223 bus, prompting his removal from the event's roster. We won't get into this much other than say that UFC seems to be turning into Mexican soap operas.
Of course, you can still play McGregor in UFC 3, seeing as how it's his face that graces the game's cover. Well, at least until he busts some EA skulls. While we're on the subject, wouldn't that just be hilarious?
UFC 3 was developed by Canadian branch of EA and launched on 02 February 2018. The game itself has been pretty well received, albeit EA was heavily criticised for it money-grabbing practices via micro-transactions.
So, if you happen to find yourself being bored watching UFC, and you most probably will, you can indulge in all five hours of EA's celebratory free-to-play offer that's not really free-to-play. Or you can take your hard earned money and shell out upwards of $50 or £50 on some of their other free games, right?
EA have announced FIFA 20 partnership deal with Liverpool FC
EA under fire after minors empty bank accounts on FIFA 19, NBA 19
Respawn outline Apex Legends anti-cheating measures
Sims 4 to allow for sim creation via 10-question personality quiz
Rocket League free weekend has been officially announced
Battlefield V getting Defying the Odds 1.2 hotfix this week
Patrick Soderlund's Embark Studios has been acquired by Nexon
Konami: Sony decided to remove PES 2019 from PlayStation Plus
EA Sports must rethink their marketing strategy with NBA Live 20
Apex Legends Season 2 has officially begun, patch notes are in
eFootball PES 2020 announces partnership with Manchester United
Apex Legends new ranked play has tiers, entry fee and penalties
NBA 2K20 cover athletes revealed - Dwyane Wade and Anthony Davis
Respawn lay out Apex Legends Season 2 Battle Pass plans
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Apartments University District Seattle
The plan would upzone blocks where apartments and commercial buildings. “Without making changes to our zoning, much of Seattle will become a de facto gated community.” — University District.
The “U District” has a youthful and relaxed feel with lots of dining and shopping deals to take advantage of. Much of the charm of the U District can be found in simply strolling the neighborhood. The University of Washington’s gorgeous grounds include historic buildings, gardens, sprawling green spaces and, in spring, blossoming cherry.
. million for a 100-unit property in Seattle’s University District, but Seattle rent growth is slowing with an excess of supply. In and around downtown, 3,780 new residential units — mostly.
Check out University of Washington (University of Washington) Sublets in Seattle, WA to find Campus View Apartment Sublease (Summer), Room for Fall Quarter Sublet In Historic U District Home, Studio University District, Room for rent University District, Studio East Lake, Room for rent University District, 1 bedroom Capitol Hill, 1 bedroom East Lake, 1 bedroom Fremont, Studio.
A global apartment owner plans to develop a student housing tower near the University of Washington’s main campus, according the city of Seattle. Greystar is proposing a 20-story building in the.
Police arrested 10 people in connection with drugs rings in two Seattle homeless encampments that appeared to operate out of.
On a University District site it doesn’t yet own, Greystar is planning a 20-story tower with about 250 apartments intended for students. N.E. is the official address for The Standard at Seattle);.
The student housing development boom in Seattle’s University District continues, with Atlanta-based Peak. be demolished to make way for the project that will have 200 student apartment units. Under.
Welcome to Trinity Partnership! We offer the finest housing available in the U-District, Northgate, Maple Leaf, Wallingford and Queen Anne neighborhoods. These include studios, one bedroom apartments, two bedroom apartments, three bedroom apartments, single family homes, duplexes, and tri-plexes. 100% of our buildings are smoke free!
Northeast 63rd Street, Seattle 98115. About 0.9mi from University District, Seattle WA. There’s a room available in my 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom perfectly located apartment! Placed across the street from Whole Foods, restaurants and shops,
Disadvantages Of Not Going To College Elite universities, he writes, "bend over backwards to admit disadvantaged students, but then, once the students are there, they maintain policies that not only remind those students of their. The late start does not necessarily. any sort of disadvantage, however. Colleges are limited to a total of 168 evaluation days across its entire coaching staff
T-Mobile and the University of Washington, Bothell. Built in 1999, Stonemeadow Farms is a highly amenitized apartment community that has recently been renovated. It sits within a highly rated public.
SEATTLE — A Seattle University program is. 23rd and Union in Seattle’s Central District. Lancaster used to be surrounded.
Most Expensive 2 Bedroom Apartment Kiara $2,490 – $18,955; Cheapest 2 Bedroom Apartment Bowman Apartments $955 – $6,152; Renting a 2-bedroom apartment in Seattle, WA. A spacious 2-bedroom apartment is a great investment, whether you want to share your apartment with someone else or just turn the other room, say, into a personal office.
Environmental Engineer Qualifications Texas Christian University Sororities History. Abilene Christian University grew from an idea held by A.B. Barret and Charles Roberson to form a school in West Texas.The Churches of Christ in Abilene agreed to back the project. The prospective groom graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas at Austin, where
University District apartment rentals (1 to 15 of 28) Home > Seattle > University District Apartments. Mid-Rise Apartment Twelve at U District. University District, 4730 University Way NE | Seattle. Overview. Photos. Amenities. Top Amenities. View All > Central A/C
A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of felony voyeurism in the University District. Seattle police believe the man is. He is accused of peering into ground-floor windows of homes and.
The University District and blocks in and around downtown. The 2017 upzones are expected to yield an additional 3,000 low-income apartments over 10 years. But arguments about Seattle’s zoning are.
SEATTLE, WA – Two women were found dead inside a University District apartment near the University of Washington Tuesday morning, according to Seattle police. It’s unclear how the women died, but.
The University District in Seattle is seeing a surge of project. rents at smaller student-housing properties tend to outpace traditional market-rate apartments. Designed by Seattle-based Mithun,
Seattle City Council members. of their projects to rent-restricted apartments or pay $5 to $32.75 per square foot in fees. Mandatory Housing Affordability upzones already have occurred in the.
Seattle WA Apartments for Rent. $0. $5,000+ Rent. Studio Apartment · University District, Seattle. Malloy. close button. Malloy 4337 15th Ave NE is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and studio units available. It is located in the University District neighborhood of Seattle. It has building amenities including garage parking.
Rents for one-bedroom apartments generally are capped at $752, $940 or $1,128. Five years ago, Lisa Smith was homeless and struggling with addiction on the streets of Seattle. Today, she lives in a.
At $750 a month, a new apartment opening in the University District is one of the cheapest in Seattle. So what do you get for that price? A room the size of a parking space with a toilet that’s.
Prosecutors charged a 26-year-old Seattle man with voyeurism Friday, accusing him of a string of incidents in the University District that “terrified. suspected voyeur after seeing him outside his.
University District Seattle Apartments. A Benton Court Apartments in Seattle, WA 98105 A Seattle, Washington apartment community Benton Court Apartments is offering for rent 1 and 2 bedroom floor plans with 1 bathroom. Benton Court Apartments lists units in Seattle, WA between $950 and $1300 and feature a living area of between 650 and 850 sq.ft.
At $750 a month, a new apartment opening in the University District is one of the cheapest in Seattle. So what do you get for that price? A room the size of a parking space with a toilet that’s not.
University District Bellwether Housing University Christian Church City of Seattle U.S. Bank Arbora Court Walsh Construction. Home AEC Bellwether Housing Breaks Ground On 133 Affordable Apartment Units In Seattle’s. Bellwether Housing Breaks Ground On 133 Affordable Apartment Units In Seattle’s University District. September 22, 2016.
seattle sublets & temporary – craigslist. CL. Student Housing at Seattle University $1170 4br – 1150ft 2 – (Capitol Hill) pic map. (U District) pic map hide this.
Florida Memorial University Athletics This information is very valuable for all high school student-athletes to understand as they start the recruiting process. Florida Memorial University is located in Miami, FL and the Soccer program competes in the The Sun Conference conference. Florida Memorial University does offer athletic scholarships for Soccer. Florida State University will celebrate its academic and athletic
Texas Christian University Sororities History. Abilene Christian University grew from an idea held by A.B. Barret and Charles Roberson to form a school in West Texas.The Churches of Christ in Abilene agreed to back the project. The prospective groom graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member
Read about Commodore Apartments, University District, Seattle, WA — historical significance, designers, and related information (structure type: built works – dwellings – houses – apartment houses).
T-Mobile and the University of Washington, Bothell. Built in 1999, Stonemeadow Farms is a highly amenitized apartment.
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Watch College Football Replays Online
College Football Replays. submitted 6 years ago by Florida State • /r/CFB Brickmason TypicalSeminole. Where can I find the full replays of games online?. convert it to H.264 and you’ve got yourself a great HD replay of your favorite game that you can watch anywhere. That way you can record every South Car game without filling up your DVR.
Nov 21, 2016 · A brand new add-on from mhancoc7, who is the dev for USTVNow, has come out that lets you watch College Football replays. The College Football Replays Kodi add-on scrapes videos from multiple Youtube playlists to show as many game replays from the current CFB season as possible.
SportsLive brings you games and exclusive video coverage for some of the biggest names in prep, college and professional sports.
This is especially true for college football, a sport in which 30 games can happen at once. No one can watch. replay and missed the punch altogether. Auburn’s old basketball arena burning down.
Stream live sports, watch game replays, get video highlights, and access featured. Command Center: 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Chris Simms shares everything he learned from Notre Dame after watching the Blue-Gold game and. Hurts a Heisman favorite after transferCollege football.
Stream live Georgia, South Carolina, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Arkansas, and Missouri college football games exclusively on SEC on CBS.
Jan 16, 2016 · If you’re getting your game face on for college football season, you may also want to catch your games online. There are so many sites streaming live college football online, though, that finding a specific game is harder than cramming for midterms. Two major television networks and one well-known cable network are all streaming. Continue Reading
The duo was tested in Foxboro on Sunday Night Football last weekend. which allows you to watch replays of every NFL game for a fee of $99.99 for the season. No live games are available under this.
Aug 31, 2017 · While you may use the websites listed below watch college football live for free, the quality never comes close to subscription level. Nevertheless, here is a list of six websites to watch college football online. [Read: 10 best Kodi sports addons in 2015 for your HTPC]
Stream live sports, watch game replays, get video highlights, and access featured. Sounds of the Game: 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship.
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Home / Our Routes / Short Breaks / Blackwater Meadow Marina / Chirk Return
Chirk & Return from Blackwater Meadow Marina
3/4 Nights
TOTAL LOCKS: 4
Maps & Guides for this route: P3, N4, L8, H2, E4, E6 | Click here buy maps
This route ambles onwards from a landscape sparkling with the ancient meres that once gave Ellesmere its name, then winds through big Welsh countryside singing with green fields, and finally reaches a triumphant meeting point at Chirk Aqueduct, where canal and railway engineering collide.
Your journey begins just outside the pretty town of Ellesmere at Blackwater Meadow Marina.
If you have extra time, visit the Meres Visitor Centre by the Mere which gave Ellesmere its name. There is a series of smaller meres bordering the Llangollen Canal to the east of the town.
Ellesmere Yard, just opposite the town arm, is also worth exploring. It is a rare and very well-preserved example of a canal maintenance yard dating from the early 1800s. There are a range of buildings, many of which are now Grade II*-listed, including a blacksmith's forge and joiner's shop, a dry dock, a yard manager's house and Beech House - former head offices of the Ellesmere Canal Company. The canal engineer Thomas Telford worked here while building the canal.
Travelling west, the canal heads towards Frankton Junction where the Montgomery Canal branches off to the south. After the two New Marton locks, there are no more locks - so you and your crew can relax into the farmland scenery and far-flung views.
The journey easily forgives the short noise interruption when the canal goes under, and then alongside, the A5 briefly between bridges 17 and 19. Ambling into tranquillity again, the canal loops round to leave England and enter Wales! Here, Chirk Aqueduct carries the canal over the River Ceiriog, and the railway viaduct storms past in its parallel route.
The railway exerted its importance in 1846-48 by building the viaduct 30ft higher than the aqueduct. Although history text books will tell how new speedy railways first arrived to steal trade from slow canals, it’s only as you cruise across the aqueduct that this narrative yells with such piercing thrill.
Chirk Aqueduct is included in the 11-mile stretch of the Llangollen Canal which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The canal was built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop between 1795 and 1808, and the Grade II*-listed Chirk Aqueduct was started in 1796 and completed in 1801. It is 70ft high, built of masonry and stone, and crosses the river below on 10 spans of 40ft each.
There's a winding hole immediately beyond the aqueduct before the canal reaches Chirk Tunnel. You can moor here and take the opportunity to explore Chirk, where there is a castle screaming to be visited. Chirk Castle was started in 1295 and completed in 1310, and sited on the Welsh-English border with the brutal purpose of keeping the Welsh out of England. The castle is currently looked after by the National Trust and is a short walk to the west of Chirk Aqueduct.
Before retracing your route back to Blackwater Meadow, you can enjoy the perfect view from the last pub in England, which overlooks the stunning drama of the rivalling Viaduct and Aqueduct.
Featured Boats from Blackwater Meadow Marina, Shropshire
Alvechurch Eagle
Alvechurch Lark
Length: 66ft (63ft from Falkirk)
Alvechurch Warbler
Up to twelve berth Boats
Alvechurch Owl
Max: 10 People
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From Geoffrey Kent
Destinations Up Close
From Geoffrey Kent News & Views Destinations Up Close Traveller’s Tales Just for Fun Trip Logs
Wonders of Japan: May 18, 2017 - May 30, 2017
by Abercrombie & Kent
Check out daily updates from our Wonders of Japan Cruise.
Categories: Trip Logs
Tags: japan;
May 19, 2017: Wonders of Japan
The first morning of “Wonders of Japan” dawned and it was beautiful, the sun was shining over the hills, mountains and lakes of Hokkaido. Our hotel, the Windsor Hotel Lake Toya, sits atop a mountain with commanding views across both Lake Toya and the Pacific Ocean.
After a delicious breakfast where there was a choice of both traditional breakfast fare and also for the more adventurous some traditional Japanese options our excursions departed. There were three options to choose from today, most had chosen to join either “Best of Sapporo” or “Wonders of Lake Toya” and a few of the more adventurous joined “Lake Toya Kayaking.”
During the evening we were all invited to gather in the Grand Hall for our welcome gala, dinner was prepared by Chef de Cuisine Takahashi Iijima and it was a delight to behold and eat. We were welcomed to the “Wonders of Japan” by our A&K Cruise Director, Jannie Cloete and A&K Expedition Leader Suzana Machado D’Oliveira before the night concluded.
Wonders of Lake Toya
A short bus ride down the hill brought us to the shores of Lake Toya. The trees were just coming into leaf and we were fortunate to find that the cherry blossom, tulips and daffodils were in full bloom here as spring was in first full blush in Hokkaido’s northern climate. Our first destination was cruising Lake Toya aboard one of the custom Lake cruisers, ours looked like a floating castle and it efficiently took across the lake to the largest island, Oshima (big island in Japanese).
Back on shore we visited the Lake Toya visitor center which not only houses an excellent introduction to the local fauna and flora but also the volcanic history of area, particularly the eruption of 2000 that saw the town evacuated and partially destroyed by a large lahar. As part of the visitor center several of the damaged buildings have been “preserved” as a testament to the power of nature and Japan’s need to be prepared for the future. Lunch for us was a traditional Japanese meal served in a restaurant with a view of Lake Toya featuring salmon, tuna and scallops. The afternoon had us venturing up the volcanic peak of Mount Uzu which is now 400 meters high. To reach the upper slopes we took a gondola that sped us above the forest from where we had grand views of both the still steaming volcano and also Lake Toya far below.
Best of Sapparo
The “Best of Sapparo” excursion introduced the importance of Hokkaido for its distinct history and culture and as a source of Japan’s agricultural products and seafood. Approximately 20% of Japan’s seafood is caught in the ocean around Hokkaido. The coastline is 2,600 miles long. The morning walk through Sapparo’s Central Wholesale Market illustrated the great variety of seafood available – hairy crabs, snow crabs, red king crab, scallops, snails, trout and squid.
In the late 19th century American advisers were invited to assist in the development of Hokkaido. They introduced the grid city plan, architectural styles and agricultural techniques. The Massahusetts-style clock tower and state house are reminders of these years.
The Hokkaido Museum illustrated the historical development of the island through five thematic exhibitions: Hokkaido’s Tale of the 1.2 million Years; The Culture and Recent History of the Ainu; The Secret of Hokkaido’s Unique Identity; Towards Our Time and The Ecosystems of Hokkaido.
May 20, 2017: Hokkaido
Another lovely start to the day and again there were three different touring options for us to choose from today. At the end of the day we were welcomed on board the ‘L’Austral’ our home for the next 12 days with a performance by a youth group dancing traditional and contemporary dances.
Lake Shikotsu & Mount Mombetsudake Excursion
A gentle drive through the Hokkaido countryside started our tour to Lake Shikotsu and Mount Mombetsudake, with a stop along the way at a roadside shop specializing in local produce including apples, cherries and local fungi that comes in all shapes and forms and is considered a Japanese delicacy!
Arriving at the outskirts of Lake Shikotsu we met our local guides from the National Park and began our hike up Mount Mombetsudake. The trail climbed consistently through a mixed deciduous forest dominated by Japanese Maples but also featured ash and oak among others. The understory was dominated by bamboo and with the snow melting away the wild flowers were coming into bloom. Most climbed as far as they were comfortable before ambling back downhill, but three among the group made a dash for the summit where they were rewarded with spectacular views across the lake and surrounding volcanoes.
Lunch was served at the Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Resort and was a veritable feast including sashimi, grilled salmon, tempura and a panacota for dessert. Afterwards there was the opportunity to relax at the resorts foot onsen and explore the small village before it was time to make our departure for ‘L’Austral’ that was waiting in the port of Muroran.
Noboribetsu & Porotokotan Excursion
The Porotokotan, the Ainu Museum, is a museum built in 1965 to present and preserve this ancient culture. The way of life and language, in particular, is endangered as only about 100 people speak the language. The museum simulates 5 historic-styled houses, a botanical garden and an ancient barn to create a village beside the lake. The museum shop is a totally 21st addition to the village plan. The performance of singing and dance featured a lullaby and ritual, community dance that returned the soul of a bear to its ancestral kingdom of the bears. Simple instruments carved from wood were played by singers wearing traditional Ainu clothing. Many of the names in Hokkaido—Sapporo; Noboribetsu; Muroran; Lake Toya—are from the Ainu language.
The number of Ainu still living are difficult to identify as over the centuries they assimilated into the Japanese culture through marriage. The Japanese government finally recognized them as a separate identity in 2008.
We had a traditional Japanese lunch with many courses served in many numerous pieces of ceramic and lacquer – approximately 21 pieces of ceramic and lacquerware comprised a single lunch setting! The afternoon was spent hiking into the Valley of Hell to view the Sulphur springs. The water temperature is so hot that steam emerges from the ground and the earth is parched, making it unsuitable for vegetation to grow.
May 21, 2017: Aomori & Noshiro
Overnight ‘L’Austral’ whisked us from the southern shores of Hokkaido to the Northern coast of Honshu and by breakfast we were closing on the port of Aomori from where our respective tours were departing. During breakfast a call from the Captain alerted us to the presence of dolphins alongside the ship and actively feeding.
Lake Juniko Trekking & Hot Springs Excursion
Our morning drive took us from Aomori westward through extensive rice paddies, planting was in full swing with lots of action in the flooded fields as the young plants were planted out. Aomori prefecture is famous for apples and as we moved to higher ground the apple trees began to appear. Our first stop was at a sumo museum and produce market, downstairs the market was a hive of activity with fresh fish and vegetables for sale.
From there we continued southwards along the coast bordering the Japan Sea and during a stop where the rocks had been uplifted at least 10 meters by earthquake activity we were able to get a great appreciation for the water clarity with crystal clear aqua blue water lapping the shore.
Lunch was served at the entrance to Juniko Lakes and it was yet another extravagant feast of many courses. Then it was time to head for the hills and Juniko Lakes, here the forest is dominated by Japanese Beech trees but with a great diversity of other species as well and the area is unique for the maturity of the forests having never been logged. Our path took us past 5 of the 12 Juniko Lakes, formed when streams were dammed during an earthquake about 300 years ago, the clearest of these pools is a brilliant crystalline blue. Beneath beech, chestnuts and maples to name just a few of the trees the trail was a delightful wander through a UNESCO World Heritage forest.
To complete the day and recover from the hike there was the option of an Onsen or traditional Japanese spa, for some it was the first time, others were old hands but it was greatly enjoyed by all. As was the beer to follow that many choose enjoy! It was a quite ride along the coast to Noshiro where ‘L’Austral’ awaited having shifted along the coast during the day!
Seriryu-ji Temple & Lake Towada Cruise Excursion
Seriryu-ji Temple, founded in 1982 by Priest Ryuko Oda, is a Shingon Buddhist Temple. Built at the base of a mountain, the plan includes architectural structures typical of a temple plan — the Main Hall (Kondo); the Five-Storied Pagoda and the Bell Tower. All of the buildings were constructed by Katsushiro Omuro, a master carpenter from Aomori. The most important site is at the highest point in the plan – the monumental bronze sculpture of Dainichi Nyorai. The complex includes many other deities in the Buddhist pantheon. The Main Hall is dedicated to Amida Buddha, the Buddha of the Western Paradise. On the walk leading to the large Buddha are sculptures of Jizo, the protector of children, and Kannon, the God of Compassion. The entire complex, constructed in the span of ten years is a testament to the leadership of the founding priest, Ryuko Oda.
The day turned from spiritual beauty to scenic beauty in the afternoon. A boat cruise on Lake Towada emphasized again the significance of volcanic activity in the creation of the Japanese islands. The large lake is 28 miles in circumference and 326 meters in depth. The water is extremely blue and pure as it comes from a stream at the bottom of the lake. In 1903 an engineer established a trout industry in the lake. At first the people living in the area resisted his efforts as they were concerned that it would disturb the dragon living in the blue lake. However, he successfully established the industry, improving the economic health of the region.
Throughout the day we enjoyed a drive through the beautiful countryside filled with apple orchards and mountain streams. At days end, we visited a drum museum and an exhibition of some of the giant drums that were used in Matsuri festivals.
Lake Tawada and Oirase Trail Excursion
We started at 8:15 a.m. from the port of Amori (that means blue forest) to the archeological site of Sannai-Maruyama. We visited 5 thousand years old dwellings, pillar buildings and mounds and learned about civilization that existed for 1500 years on the island. After visiting the gift shop where many bought clay figurines representing important cultural pottery, we loaded the buses to our next destination – traditional Japanese lunch at beautiful hotel on the Oirase River. On the way we crossed the Hakkoda Mountains still covered with snow. At the stop on the top of the mountain many of us tried barley tea. The Japanese wisdom tells that if you drink one cup of each you’ll be healthy for 3 years. Replenished with energy and promise not to get sick for the next 3 years (or at least two weeks of our journey) we continued our way to take a 2-mile hike along Orisae Gorge. We walked through a lush-green forest lighten with sun to Lake Towada. After visiting the observation deck to enjoy the lake view and try apple chips a local delicatessen, we continued our way to the drums museum. Many practiced playing drums and enjoyed the performance by other guests who knew what they were doing with the drum sticks. We completed our journey at the port of Noshiro where ‘L’Austral’ arrived just before us.
May 22, 2017: Sado Island
Ogi, Sado Island, Japan
This morning started a little differently, there was no morning excursions to rush on our way for as we had morning at sea, and a lovely morning it was on the silky smooth waters of the Japan Sea. While it was a little more leisurely it certainly wasn’t short of things to do, we maximised the opportunity to have lectures, at 9am Karen Keane shared her talk “Ten words and one phrase that helped me decipher the enigma of Japan” a presentation that many found exceptionally enlightening. Then at 10:30 Marjorie Williams introduced “The art of savouring: Tea Masters and their tastes” which was again enlightening and informative.
An early lunch allowed for a full afternoon ashore on the beautiful Sado Island, despite being Japans sixth largest island it has a delightful rural feel with a population of just over fifty thousand people. The arrival of visitors is a big event for the community and we were warmly welcomed ashore, it was then a short ride to the excellent local museum housed in a former elementary school. Here we found extensive displays of local artifacts from dolls, to farming and fishing equipment and even clocks. There is also a full size replica of a 16th century trading ship that has been constructed using traditional techniques and is housed in an adjoining building. Also of great interest to many was the rice paddies and there was a chance to take a closer look at the planting which was being demonstrated by two local ladies, a great photographic opportunity as well.
Then it was on to Kodo Village, home of the world famous Kodo drummers, we were ushered into their home theater in the heart of the village and with commanding views over Sado Island and the sea. Then with great anticipation we awaited the arrival of the performers, the sound of rhythmic drumming announced their arrival and we were then treated to a performance of great energy, passion and skill. The sound from the large drums reverberated through your body and everybody sat enthralled by the spectacle before us and the privilege of witnessing the world famous Kodo drummers performing especially for us in their home village. We were exceptionally fortunate to have two of the founding members of Kodo performing Yoshikazu Fujimoto and Chieko Kojima both who have been drumming for over forty years.
Back in Ugi Port the community had put together a grand farewell featuring local dancers, fantastically intricate origami ibis and ladies in the traditional Taraibune Tub boats. This evening Captain Patrick Marchesseau hosted us for the Captains welcome cocktails and dinner.
May 23, 2017: Kanazawa, Ishikawa
It was a lovely still morning as ‘L’Austral’ made her way into the Port of Kanazawa, once again the weather gods were shinning upon us. As breakfast was served we docked in what was to be our base for the next two days as we explore the city of Kanazawa and Ishikawa Prefecture. On the way to our excursions we received the traditional local gift of an origami Samurai hat.
Shirakawa-go and Shogawa River Excursion
This was the first tour of the morning to depart and we headed straight through Kanazawa towards the mountains that loomed in the distance behind the city. For the first 40 minutes or so of the drive we were passing through the extensive rice paddies that produce the high quality rice for which Kanazawa is so renowned, and at this time of the year the fields were a hive of activity as the rice was being planted for the year. Then very abruptly we left the rice paddies behind and started to drive through the mountains, the road followed the Shogawa River but passed through numerous long tunnels that afforded glimpses of the beautifully blue river within the gorge.
Then just like that we arrived at Shirakawa-go, a protected hamlet deep within the mountains. The village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural significance and the scene before us with the steep thatched roof houses surrounded by lush green fields with a backdrop of forested mountains rising to snow clad peaks certainly seemed fitting for such a designation. We wandered with our guide through the fields, along alleys and down windy streets as we explored the village, the steep thatch on the house roofs was several feet thick and tied in place in such a way that not a single nail or screw was required. In the mountain streams that flowed through the village there were carp and trout, around the houses the iris were coming into bloom and the rice paddies were being planted. All in all it was a lovely morning for a stroll through Shirakawak-go.
The Best of Kanazawa Excursion
Kanazawa is a castle town established by the powerful Maeda clan during the 16th century. The town was built around the castle, a fortress for the Maeda daimyo who became the wealthiest daimyo during the 16th and 17th centuries. Fortunately, the city was not bombed during WWII so it maintains the traditional architectural styles and the traditional craft aesthetic. The Kenrokuen Garden, cited across from the castle, is one of the most important daimyo gardens in Japan. A Kaiyu style or “stroll garden”. It was designed around a central pond with many different venues featuring tea gardens and a variety of rock formations, all enlivened with seasonal flowering plants. One of the oldest species of Japanese iris, kakitsubata, was blooming today. The garden stroll also included a visit to the Seisonkaku residence that demonstrated architectural elements unique to Japan – shoji panels that can be opened to outside garden views and carved wooden panels placed at the top of the walls allowing air and light to flow between spaces. The jewel tone colors of burgundy, blue and purple are interior wall colors unique to Kanazawa. A tea ceremony was performed for all guests at the Gyokusen-an garden retreat. Chanoyu, the Way of Tea, continues to thrive some 600 years after its origins in the Zen communities. Over the centuries it evolved into a very popular pastime with an estimated 10 million people practicing tea today in Japan.
The afternoon program featured a visit to gold leaf studio. Kanazawa produces 99% of Japan’s gold leaf. It is essential to the embellishment of many of the arts including Buddhist sculptures and sutras (scriptures), painting, ceramics, lacquer and fabrics. Everyone decorated a postcard by applying multi-colored gold leaf to the design motif.
The final visit of the day was at a Kutani porcelain studio. Kutani porcelain is unique to Kanazawa as Maeda warlords were able to acquire the knowledge of the porcelain industry from Kyushu where the porcelain clay was discovered and the industry was established. Kutani ware is characterized by a bold palette – ochre, blue, purple and green. The motifs are inspired by textiles and other decorative motifs. Only 37 years old, the young potter is now the eldest member of the Kutani family to continue this 500 year old family tradition.
Kakusenkei Gorge and Yamanaka Onsen Excursion
The excursion began with a walk along the lush Kakusekei Gorge. Mosses, ferns, and other plants lined the walkway as it followed the Kakusenkei River bordering the town of Yamanaka. We then walked to the Yamanaka Onsen where we all enjoyed a well-earned dip in the warm waters, including an open-air rock-lined bath overlooking the river. The Onsen was followed by lunch with great views of the gorge. After lunch, we strolled the main street of Yamanaka.
Overnight ‘L’Austral’ was docked in the port of Kanazawa. We stayed overnight because there is more to do here than one day allows so the plan for the morning was to continue our explorations and broaden our knowledge and understanding of the area. For those who had been on the Shirakawa-go and Kakusenkei excursions yesterday this was the first chance to experience the city on a “Highlights of Kanazawa Tour” for those on the “Best of Kanazawa” this morning was going to be spent delving deeper into the heart of the city.
Highlights of Kanazawa Excursion
Departing the ship we headed for central Kanazawa, first stop being the Gyokusen-an garden retreat, this recently constructed tea house sits on the shores of a centuries old castle lake and garden so the views are exceptional. With all of us sitting as delicately as possible on the floor mats the ceremony unfolded before us with the preparation of the vessels, whisking of the tea and the presenting of the tea and sweets. The ceremony is beautiful for its simplicity.
Next stop was the Kenrokuen Garden, which is just a short bus ride away on the other side of the castle, the entrance to the gardens was a bustle of activity but very quickly we moved away and found our own space in the surprisingly expansive grounds. The garden is an exceptional design using water and landscape features as well as the plantings themselves to divide the area into spaces while at the same time creating a feeling of expansiveness was very noticeable and quite ingenious. The expansive and perfect moss beds were amazing and then near the end or our visit we discovered the reason for their perfection as a team of gardeners were meticulously weeding a moss bed. The final stop for our morning in Kanazawa was the Higashi Chaya district, home to the Geisha tea houses, with its narrow alleys and beautifully preserved buildings many dating back two centuries it was marvelous to wander and explore. We passed Lady Baba’s Tea House, the proprietor from our marvelous Geisha show the night before and were also able to venture inside many of the buildings which now housed shops selling gold leaf and lacquer ware.
Best of Kanazawa – Day 2 Excursion
The morning began with a visit to the Higashi Chaya District of the city. Here, Kanazawa’s Geisha quarters offered a glimpse into the past when the tea houses were filled with wealthy samurai and merchants. Today, the small quarter features traditional architecture and small specialty shops. The architectural styles of the 17th and 18th centuries is evident in vertical lattice work on the first floor, known as “Kaga lattice”, and the exterior sliding panels on the second floor. The upper levels had higher ceilings to accommodate the “banquet rooms” for entertaining. The exterior panels can be slid open for light and air. Lady Baba, the owner of a prominent tea house greeted the guests at the door to her establishment. She and the talented Geisha performed on the ship the night before to an enthusiastic audience.
Passengers participating the day also had the opportunity to tour a market to admire the extraordinary seafood available for Kanazawa restaurants and residents.
Some then took the opportunity of their free time in and around Kanazawa railway station, a hive of activity and home to some excellent Japanese restaurants. With all back aboard ‘L’Austral’ we bid farewell to Kanazawa and later in the afternoon our Geologist Daria introduced the “Volcanic Islands of Japan”.
May 25, 2017 Sakaiminato, Tottori
Despite rain being forecast the day once again dawned dry and with the promise of being warm. Sakaiminato is the port for the ancient town of Matsue, situated on a long sand bank at the mouth of an expansive estuary with lush green hills rising above us across the harbor channel. Today there were two excursion to choose from.
Matsue Castles & Gardens Excursion
Departing from the ship we headed across several bridges connecting the various islands in the estuary and soon found ourselves in a horticultural paradise with peonies and ginseng being the main crops growing on the light sandy soils. We were headed to Yushien Garden, an enclave of tranquility and beautiful garden design amidst the fields, renowned for its peonies we were just past the peak of flowering but some plants were still in bloom particularly the tree peonies and there was also a cooled display house that had an expansive display. There were peonies in every shade imaginable from white to pink, yellow and even a deep velvety red variety. As is typical of great Japanese gardens Yushien is designed around water with the streams and ponds forming the structure of the garden around which every other element has been added.
Next we ventured into the heart of Matsue City, a small city with a population today of just 120,000, the center of town is dominated by Matsue Castle. This castle has survived through the centuries to be one of only four remaining ancient castles in Japan, rising on a promontory and surrounded by large moats the black and white castle has a distinct presence. We climbed a series of staircases moving progressively closer to the castle building itself. This is not a castle in the European sense but rather a large stone and wood structure rising from a defensible position atop the promontory, designed to withstand sieges and accommodate the samurai warriors that defended it. Once inside we climbed through the progressive layers of the castle on steep wooden staircases that eventually brought us to the top and a grand view over the city.
Lunch was served at a nearby restaurant where the slices of beef were cooked over a piping hot BBQ plate in the tables and it was delicious. After lunch there was a chance to wander through the old samurai district and enjoy a Japanese soft serve ice cream. Back at ‘L’Austral’ it was necessary to clear customs as we are heading to South Korea tomorrow and then there was a sail away farewell from the local community as we headed out into the Japan Sea.
Adachi Museum & Paper Making Excursion
The bright sunny day began with a visit to the Izumo Mingeishi paper workshop in Matsue-shi. The visit began with us learning about the late Living National Treasure Eishiro Abe who dedicated his life to creating Izumo Mingeishi washi paper.
We then had the opportunity to make our own paper in the style of Izumo Mingeishi washi paper with the help of the experts at the workshop. We also had the chance to watch the craftsmen at work, From there we traveled a short distance to the Adachi Museum where we toured the unique gardens and exhibits of the museum.
May 26, 2017: Ulsan & Gyeongiu, South Korea
Overnight we had crossed the Sea of Japan, and for the first time on the voyage there was some motion, not a lot but enough for us to know we were on the sea. Offshore from the port of Ulsan there was an armada of cargo vessels waiting their turn in port, we sailed through these and into the sheltered waters of Ulsan Harbour. This port city is home to Hyundai with both a large ship building yard and their largest car factory located here producing 6,000 cars per day. After completing Korean immigration formalities we joined our buses and set off for Gyeongju, the ancient Korean Capital city.
First stop was at the National Museum where we saw artifacts excavated from the Tumuli Park burial grounds, these were exceptional for how richly decorated and abundant they were. There was display after display of golden crowns, necklaces and decorative ware along with more ancient artifacts from the stone and bronze age. Next stop was at Tumuli Park where giant burial mounds from the Silla Dynasty rise up out of the landscape. The Flying Horse tomb was excavated in 1974 and gives access to the interior of a mound showing the shear amount of work required to construct one of these burial mounds. It was from the Flying Horse tomb that many of the artifacts at the National Museum originated. Tumuli Park was a great place for a stroll through the mounds that rose from the plain with near vertical grass covered sides.
Our lunch was a grand buffet at the local hotel. Traditional Korean kimchi was sampled by many for the first time and enjoyed by some, but with the diversity of food available there was something for everyone. Over lunch we were entertained by colorfully attired traditional Korean performers, then it was time to head for the hills and the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the temple of Bulguksa. This grand complex held us in awe with its age, beauty and the skill of its construction. The main temple stands upon a platform built of cut granite, and rises out of the surrounding forest in all its grandeur. Colorful lanterns adorned the underside of the walkways surrounding the temple and made for great photographic opportunities.
All too soon it was time to return to ‘L’Austral,’ on the ride back several buses were rocking along to the tune Gangnam Style by the famous Korean musician Si. Back aboard and having bid farewell to Korea Marjorie presented “Timeless Beauty: Japanese Gardens.”
May 27, 2017: Moji, Fukukoka
During the night we sailed the Sea of Japan, or the Korean Strait. When we awoke this morning it was the shores of Japan that greeted us. With the pilot aboard we started the scenic navigation through the strait of Kanmon with Honshu on the port side and Kyushu on the starboard side. Arriving in the port of Moji there was a warm welcome awaiting us and we left for our excursions after completing Japanese immigration.
Shimonoseki & Kokura Castle Excursion
The morning saw us cross the Kanmon Strait via the large suspension bridge near the ship, with our destination being the city of Shimonoseki that sits on the shore opposite Moji. Here we visited the Akama Shinto Shrine, built in memory of the eight year old Emperor Akama that drowned in the waters of Kanmon Strait after military defeat. It rises up the hillside in a series of terraces and while the architecture is similar to the more familiar Buddhist temples there are subtle differences that our guides pointed out along the way. From the highest terrace where the shrine stood there was a grand view across the strait back to our ship ‘L’Austral’ docked in Moji. From the shrine it was only a short walk along to the Karato fish market, and this was a hive of activity – the auctions had finished for the day but there was a roaring trade in sushi and tempura from the small stalls. Many dived right into the action to find themselves a snack or even lunch but the most daring of all secured themselves some Fugu or Puffer fish, the potentially deadly local delicacy which must be prepared by a highly trained master!
Lunch today saw us back aboard the ‘L’Austral’ and it turned out that today was a festival day in Moji so there were lines of street food vendors selling all sorts of local fare from grilled squid or octopus balls to local multi-layered omelets and crepes and plenty of locals out enjoying the day which was glorious. Also on offer at the wharf was the opportunity to try on a traditional Kimono, it took a little while to do it properly and the local assistants insisted that everything be done properly but the results transformed our guests into local for a few minutes. Then we were off to Kokura Castle and Garden, located right in the middle of the city this was a modern recreation of the traditional castle and garden but beautifully done and the castle proved to be a great interpretative museum full of information.
With all back aboard ‘L’Austral’ the city of Moji bid us farewell with an excellent school brass band playing on the wharf alongside the ship and several hundred locals waving us off. Then it was onwards through the Kanmon Strait, beneath the bridge and towards Hiroshima.
Moji Doll Painting Excursion
After a ten-minute ride from the Moji Port through the city of Kitakyushu we arrived at the Sankiro house to enjoy a beautiful art day. We spend the morning learning how to paint the famous Kazashi-ningyo dolls, they are a very special gift of Kitakyushu and are presented as a commemorative product in various international exchange settings, such as friendship/sister city meetings. In the 1950’s, Moji Port presented foreign vessels calling at the port with Kazashi-ningyo unglazed dolls as handcrafted gifts. The dolls have captivated numerous people with their elegant curves and delicate colors produced with traditional techniques. However, in the latter half of the 1960’s, there was a shortage of craftsmen which ended doll production. In 2015, a joint industry/academic/government project was launched to revive the art of Kazashi-ningyo, which were reproduced over a period of about one year using a combination of latest digital technologies, such as three-dimensional scanning and modeling.
Akiyoshido Plateau and Cave Excursion
This morning 28 guests set off on an adventure to explore the limestone plateau and cave. The group was led by our geologist Daria Nikitina and Japanese tour guide Miko. At the top of the plateau from the observation point we enjoyed the view of karst landscape created by water that dissolves limestone and creates many sinkholes and limestone pinnacles. The limestone formed 300 million years ago at the bottom of the ocean and used to be a coral reef. Many of us took the walk between sinkholes and enjoyed the endless view of the high plateau. After a delicious Japanese style lunch at the restaurant we descended in to the cave. Walking through the narrow entrance we entered spacious rooms and chambers with stalactites, stalagmites, flow rocks, waterfalls and many other features created by groundwater. On the way back, our guide shared with us the story about how toto, the Japanese style toilet was invented.
May 28, 2017: Hiroshima
As we woke this morning ‘L’Austral’ was sailing through the islands of the Inland Sea headed for Hiroshima, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky or a ripple on the water as we navigated between islands and around the extensive oyster farms that characterize this area. This morning it was an early start with the first group away from the ship at 7:45 a.m. and the others following along in due course afterwards.
Sights and Shrines of Miyajima Excursion
The first tour of the morning away and for this group it was a short bus ride along the coast to the Miyajima Ferry terminal where we left the buses behind and joined the ferry for the short crossing to the sacred island of Miyajima. The beauty of the ferry was that we sailed right in front of the O-torii Gate that stands in the sea before the island, appearing to float in an attention grabbing shade of red. Upon leaving the ferry terminal we were greeted by the islands sacred deer that lie about on the paths and approach visitors with a voracious appetite for anything.
Our trail took us along the shoreline and then up into the valley behind town headed for the Momijidani Ropeway that was to whisk us from sea level to over 400 meters up the mountainside. It was a beautiful ride suspended above the forest canopy and with the view improving every moment as we climbed higher and higher. From the top station there is still 100 meters of elevation to climb before reaching the summit at Mt Misen. The path took us through beautiful, pristine forest and around outcrops that afforded views across the Sato Sea. At the Misen Hondo Shrine we stopped to recover and sample the tea cooked over a fire that has been burning continuously for 1200 years, the tea cooked over this fire is claimed to cure many ills and we were certainly keen to give it a try. Then there was the summit itself and the commanding 360 degree views from Hiroshima across the Sato Sea and to the south for many miles in every direction.
After lunch back in the village it was time to visit Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, built above the water (at high tide) the shrine sits in a beautiful bay looking out towards the O-torii Gate. With its white walls and red structural elements it cuts an impressive site. Afterwards most opted to visit the less visited but beautiful Buddhist Shrine of Daishoin that sits in its own valley and is full of great detail and hidden rooms as well as hundreds of Buddha statues wearing knitted hats.
Best of Hiroshima Excursion
We spent the morning at the Hiroshima Peace Park reflecting on the events that unfolded on the morning of August 6, 1945 when the world’s first nuclear bomb was detonated 600 meters above the city of Hiroshima. The death toll from the initial detonation and subsequent effects of the bombing including the radiation saw 140,000 deaths within the year. The skeleton of the trade promotion building close to where the epicenter of the explosion was stands as a lasting testament to the bomb, the destruction it and the lasting consequences for the people of Hiroshima. Guests gently rang the giant peace bell and we walked through the gardens past the eternal flame en route to the museum where there was a moving record of the effects of the bomb on Hiroshima and its people.
After returning to ‘L’Austral’ for lunch the group travelled by privately chartered launch to Miyajima where there was a chance to visit Itsukushima Shinto Shrine with its iconic O-torii gate standing in the bay beyond the temple.
Memories of Hiroshima Excursion
We started our Memories of Hiroshima tour today with a visit to the beautiful Shukien Gardens – crossing over the little arched bridge we saw herons and turtles amongst the islands with beautiful bonsai. After visiting the garden we drove towards Hiroshima castle and museum, home to many original artefacts. After enjoying lunch aboard ‘L’Austral’ we began our afternoon with a short drive to the A-bomb dome beside the Hiroshima Peace Park. Our guide Kimiko led us through the beautiful grounds of the park where we had the opportunity to ring the Peace Bell and to reflect upon the Eternal Flame which will burn until all the world’s nuclear weapons have been destroyed. In pensive mood we entered the museum and were introduced to A-bomb survivor Mrs. Keiko Okura. This delightful lady very graciously gave her time to us to describe her experiences during the bombing, its immediate aftermath and the years that followed. Her moving account concluded with a plea that each of us become ambassadors of peace and an end to nuclear warfare.
This evening Captain Patrick Marcheseau hosted farewell cocktails and dinner, there is still another day of the expedition to go yet but tomorrow is a busy day!
May 29, 2017: Okayama
Our run of exceptional weather continues and it was yet another beautiful morning, overnight ‘L’Austral’ navigated through the Seto or Inland Sea so even during the night there was plenty to see with the lights of small towns blinking around us at various times and other ships passing by as well. Okayama port is situated in the midst of a group of islands and is enclosed by hills which all in all makes for a very scenic setting, especially for those up early enough to catch the morning light on the hills. Today there was once again three excursion options to choose from.
Bitchu-Takahashi & Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle Excursion
The first tour to depart and being Monday morning we were a little delayed by the traffic en route to our first stop at the Kibitsu Shrine, but along the way we drove through a fascinating rural landscape which showcased traditional rice cultivation and also a more recent crop of wheat. The Kibitsu Shrine is a Shinto shrine and after a steep flight of stairs we entered into a delightful compound nestled against the hill and surrounded by beautiful forest, of particular note is the graceful carved walkway that connects the northern and southern gates. Then it was back aboard the coach for the drive through to Takahashi, this took us up into the hills where rice and eating grapes were the crops of choice. In Takahashi we board a smaller local bus for the drive up the mountain following a road that seemingly clung to the mountainside, and then it was finally time to get walking. A well-formed trail took us up through the forest climbing towards Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle that sat proudly atop the mountain in its prime defensive location. The castle is one of only twelve remaining original castles from the Edo period and was constructed almost entirely from locally sourced materials, beautiful in its simplicity and robustness we all enjoyed some time inside marveling at the craftsmanship and history contained within the walls before returning back down the mountain to our waiting bus.
Lunch at the Takahashi International Hotel was a beautifully presented bento box – a fitting final meal ashore for our journey. During the afternoon we visited the Raikyu-Ji Temple where the azaleas were still in bloom. We all sat in quiet contemplation of the elegant simplicity of the design that drew the eye to many points as well as allowing it to rest peacefully. Nearby the samurai residences provided a window into life for the esteemed upper classes before it was time to bid farewell to Takahashi and return to ‘L’ Austral.’
Kurashiki and Korakuen Gardens Excursion
After a short drive we arrived in the beautifully landscaped Korakuen gardens. Built in 1687 by the local feudal lord and used as a reception area for the ruling family, we strolled around this spacious garden, stopping for the seasonal peach soft serve ice cream and enjoying a wonderful sunny day.
After our morning in the garden, we joined our fellow passengers doing the excursion in the opposite direction for lunch. Following a lovely lunch overlooking the city of Okayama, we headed to Kurashiki. Our afternoon was spent visiting the converted storehouses and boutiques of Kurashiki that go back to the Edo period and the city’s days as an important rice distribution center. Everyone had a wonderful afternoon exploring the Bizen pottery and small shops holding everything from Japanese rice crackers, green tea ice cream and other small Japanese knick knacks.
Naoshima – Art Island Excursion
After a short ferry ride across to Naoshima we were immersed in a world of art and architecture. With visits to the Chi Chu (meaning underground) Museum and Benesse House Museum we had ample opportunity to soak up the architectural brilliance of Tadao Ando. In the Chi Chu Museum there are installations and artworks by Monet, James Turrell, Walter De Maria, while in the Benesse House Museum there is a wider diversity of artists represented but includes Shinro Ohtake, Richard Long, Yukinori Yanagi, Jennifer Bartlett and Jonathan Borosky amongst others. A delicious lunch was served at the Benesse House Museum and the afterwards there was the opportunity to visit the islands iconic yellow pumpkin before continuing on to walk the street and alleyways while visiting the houses of the Benesse Art House Museum. Throughout the day the weather was beautifully sunny – a great day was had by all!
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Cruising the Greek Isles: October 10-19, 2018
By Abercrombie & Kent On October 10, 2018
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Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi
Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi was one of the pioneering artists of the Western Desert Aboriginal art
He was a prolific and talented painter. His works were often structured and intense. The vitality of his brushwork gave his works a characteristic textured surface.
His paintings often have a vigorous presence and depict sacred subjects. In the early part of his career, Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi painted on small bits of board. He went on to become one of the most vital figures of the aboriginal art movement. Many of his early works are ritual and contain secret imagery meant only for the eyes of initiated men. His later works are on Canvass and often maintain his earlier intensity of imagery.
The aim of this article is to assist readers in identifying if their Aboriginal painting is by Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi. It compares examples of his work. It also gives some background to the life of this fascinating artist.
If you have a Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi Aboriginal painting to sell please contact me. If you want to know what your Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi painting is worth please feel free to send me a Jpeg. I would love to see it.
Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi Early Life
Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi was born west of the Kintore Ranges in Pintupi country. He first met Europeans as a youth and in his early teens lived at Haasts Bluff. By the Second World War, he had moved to Hermannsburg mission and learned a trade as a builder. His skills as a builder later took him to Adelaide where he helped build military camps.
In the 1950’s he moved with his family back to live at Haast’s Bluff. He often traveled out of Haasts Bluff into the desert to take rations to his tribal people. He helped, liaise for the welfare patrols who sought to draw the various tribes into government settlements.
In the 1960’s he moved to Papunya a government resettlement town.
Early painting
In 1971 Geoff Bardon became a local school teacher at Papunya primary. He tried to encourage local children to paint in their own traditional style. When he was told only older men could paint these stories he to start a mens painting group.
Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi enthusiastically applied himself to the painting group. It was a way of reconnecting with his home country through art.
His art work was structured but occasionally gave way to a more experimental flair. The vitality of his brushwork gave his works a characteristic textured surface that emphasized his attachment to solidity of form.
His skill and determination imparted a ‘vigorous presence’ to his paintings.
Being a senior Pintupi tribesmen he and Uta Uta soon inspired other Pintupi tribesmen like Shorty Lungkarta and Yala Yala to join them. They would often sit under a tree with paintings balanced on their knees while chanting ancient songlines relating to their art.
The natural Liason
His strong English and understanding of both cultures made Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi a natural go-between for Bardon. He helped guide and explain, on both sides of the cultural divide. He was a key figure for the financial and cultural transactions that were the basis of a fledgling art business.
Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi was also the eldest of the many Tjungurrayi skin painters. These painters included Shorty Lungkata and Yala Yala. As the elder, he had authority but also looked after their interests.
He was one of the founding members of Papunya Tula. Papunya Tula was an art dealership for aboriginal people, run by aboriginal people.
It was Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi who suggested to Bardon in 1972 that the newly established company be called Papunya Tula. Papunya Tula literally meaning ‘a meeting place of brothers and cousins at the Honey Ant place’, the small hill that looked over the Papunya settlement.
Later Period
When Andrew Crocker came to Papunya as the new art advisor in 1981, a strong friendship developed between the entrepreneurial English man and Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi.
Crocker significantly raised the profile and sales of Papunya Tula. He used his contacts with wealthy people around Australia and overseas and sales skyrocketed.
Crocker brought Charlie Tawara into the limelight, as a leading artist. They traveled together to America and Europe. In England Charlie Tawara even met with Queen Elizabeth the second.
In 1987 he was afforded the first retrospective devoted to an Aboriginal artist
Charlie Tawara did eventually return to live in his Pintupi country, 25 years after he left it. Charlie Tawara lived an eventful and extraordinary life. Today his art resides in collections around the world.
Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi also painted some fast and lower quality art to sell to make money. These pieces lack the spirituality of his earlier works and have little value.
These works lack the intensity of his earlier works and are closer to abstract than traditional. Although they do maintain traditional elements they no longer tell the stories of his best works.
His skin name Tjungurrayi can also be spelled Djungurrayi or Jungurrayi and Charlie has sometimes been spelled Charley.
His tribal name Tawara is also recorded as Tjaruru, Tararu, Taruru, Tarawu Wadama or Tawarr
Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi Images
The following images are not the complete known work by this artist but give a good idea of his style and range.
Charlie Tawara Tjungurrayi references
Papunya: A place made after the Story
Charlie Tjaruru Tjungurrayi: Art and Artist
Painting Culture
Papunya Tula, Genesis and Genius
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Ethical Discourses: Volume 2
Discourse 1: Tawhid In The Actions (Of Allah) And Benefits Of Belief In This
Discourse 2: Characteristics Of The True Believer – Part 11
Discourse 3: Fulfilling the Needs of Your Enemy
1. The Essential Nature of Society
2. The Essential Nature of the Individual
Discourse 4: Good Of This World And The Next Life
Discourse 5: A Noble End
Discourse 6: Advice Given To Abu Dharr On Sustenance
Discourse 7: Commentary Of “Keep Us On The Straight Path”
Discourse 8: Being Spiritually Awake And Ready
The First Point: Be prepared!
The Second Point: Prepare the things which you shall need (for this journey)
The Third Point: Provisions for the journey must be gathered
The Forth Point: Lighten your load!
Fifth Point: What must we do in the face of corruption?
Discourse 9: The Relationship Between Religion And The Material World
Discourse 10: Taqwa (Consciousness of Allah)
Discourse 11: The Description of the Material World and our Responsibility While Living in it
Discourse 12: A Description of The Material World and a Comparison Between its Past and Future
Discourse 13: How To Gain The Love Of Allah And The People
Discourse 14: Two Opinions In Regards To The Material World And The Next Life
Discourse 15: The Psychological Effects Of Loving The Transient World
Various Branches of Worship of the Transient World
Discourse 16: The Qur’an: A Divine Light In The (Spiritually) Dark And Gloomy Nights
Discourse 17: Making Use Of The Opportunities We Have While In The Transient World
Discourse 18: The Levels Of Certainty
Discourse 19: Showing Thanks For The Divine Blessings
Discourse 20: Attaching Worth To One’s Self
Discourse 21: Modesty
Discourse 22: Misguidedness
Discourse 23: Jihad Against The Soul
Discourse 24: The True Followers (Shi’a) Of ‘Ali B. Abi Talib
Discourse 25:The Muslims Are of Three Types
Discourse 26: The Angel Of Death Visits Every House Five Times A Day
Discourse27: Warnings And Preparedness
Discourse 28: The True Shi’a
Discourse 29: The Sincere Shi’a
Discourse 30: The Signs of a Person With Character
Discourse 31: The Effects of Sins
Discourse 32: Swallowing The Anger
1. Anger is one of the things which leads to sin
2. Anger is one of the most dangerous tools as Satan is able to use it to make people commit sins
3. The Reward for those who swallow their Anger
a) The first reward granted to those who swallow their anger is that they shall have protection on the Day of Resurrection.
b) The second reward is that such a person shall be granted true faith in Allah (SwT) while in this world.
Anger in the Islamic Narrations
Discourse 33: The Worst Of People
The Dangers of the Tongue in the Islamic Narrations
Discourse 34: An Unpleasant Demeanor
The Effects of Having an Unpleasant Demeanor
Reasons Why People Have A Bad Character
1) Great Expectations:
2) Pride and Conceit:
3) Inability to Forgive:
4) Bad-Tempered and Irritable:
The Societal Effects and the Outcome on the Physical Body
A Summary of the Exemplary Morals of the Prophet (S)
The Importance of Having a Good Demeanor According to the Islamic Narrations
Discourse 35: Apologizing to Others and Accepting an Apology
Asking for Pardon is a Sign of the Spiritual Expanse of one's Heart
The Qur’an and Intercession
The True Meaning of Intercession
Definition of Intercession in the General Usage of the Word
Another Meaning of Intercession
Intercession in the Physical World
The Credentials Needed for Intercession
Various Other Conditions for Intercession
The Islamic Traditions in Regards to Intercession
The Philosophy of Intercession
Struggle against the Feeling of Despair
Discourse 36: The Spiritual Life and Death of The Heart
The Life and Death of the Hearts
Discourse 37: Three Things Which The Muslim Nation Does Not Have The Strength To Bear
1) “Equality” with their brother (or sister)
The Self-Sacrifice for a Guest
Division of One's Wealth in the Islamic Narrations
2) Giving People their Rights
3) The Dhikr of Allah (SwT) in All States
Short Discussion Regarding Dhikr
A Person who was Constantly in the Dhikr of Allah (SwT)
Remembering Allah (SwT) in All States
The Stages to Traverse in the Dhikr of Allah (SwT)
The Various Forms of Dhikr
The Best Forms of Remembrance
1. The Dhikr of the Morning and Evening
The Reality of Dhikr
Discourse 38: The Best Of People
The story of Barsisa, the Worshipper (‘Abid)
Contentment in the Islamic Narrations
Discourse 39: The Best of Actions
1. What is 'self-sacrifice'?
Examples of Self-Sacrifice as seen within the Family of the Prophet Muhammad (S)
The Causes of Worry and Anxiety
Discourse 40: Three Important and Fate Deciding Traits in the Life of a Person
An Example of the Etiquette of the Prophet (S)
Who is the Forbearing (halim) one?
The halim and Forbearing Person in the Islamic Narrations
Hilm (an extreme form of patience) and the Halim in the words of Imam Ja’far b. Muhammad as-Sadiq (as)]
قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ: مَا الْمُجَاهِدُ الشَّهِيدُ فِي سَـبِيلِ اللٌّهِ بِأَعْظَمِ أَجْراً مِمَّنْ قَدَرَ فَعَفَّ لَكَادَ الْعَفِيفُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَلِكاً مِنَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ.
It has been narrated that the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (as) said, “The reward given to the Mujahid (soldier) who dies in the way of Allah is no less than the one who has the ability to perform a sin, however does not perform it. It is close (to being that) the person who has modesty is (actually) an Angel from amongst the Angels.”1
In Islam, the status of the martyrs (Shuhada) is something very high and there is no status greater than this. In addition, the verses of the Qur`an present a visage of the martyrs which has not been presented for any other person:
وَ لاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُـتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللٌّهِ أَمْوَاتاً بَلْ أَحْـيَآءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّـهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
“Do not consider those who have been killed in the way of Allah as being dead; rather, they are alive in the presence of their Lord receiving sustenance (from Him).”2
The one being addressed in this verse is the Prophet (S) and we see that the wording used in this verse has not been mentioned for any other person in the Qur`an!
The martyrs are also given great importance in the traditions. The late Shaykh Kulayni has narrated that the Prophet (S) has said:
فَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي بِرِّ بِرٌّ حَتَّى يُقْتَلِ الرَّجُلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللٌّهِ. فَإِذَا قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللٌّهِ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقِهِ بِرٌّ.
“Above every goodness is (another) goodness, until that time that a person is killed in the way of Allah. So then when he is killed in the way of Allah, then there is no other goodness greater than this.”3
There is also a statement given by our master ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (as) in the letter he wrote to Malik al-Ashtar in which he stated:
وَ أَنَا أَسْئَلُ اللٌّهَ بِسَعَةِ رَحْمَتِهِ وَ بِعَظِيمِ قُدْرَتِهِ أَنْ يَخْتِمَ لِي وَ لَكَ بِالسَّعَادَةِ وَ الشَّهَادَةِ.
“And I ask Allah by the great expanse of His Mercy and by the greatness of His power that he makes my and your end felicitious and (to be blessed with) martyrdom.”
In addition, there are numerous other verses and traditions which show us the great status of the martyrs.
We know that the meaning of martyrdom (Shahadat) is very wide. The standard meaning is that a person dies in the way of Allah (SwT) by being killed in the battlefield. Such a person has a specific set of rules (Ahkam) related to him such that if he dies outside of the battlefield, some of the practical rules do not apply to him, however he is still considered a martyr.
However, there is another meaning to this term and according to this definition, we get a much wider and general understanding of the word. Any time a person dies while fulfilling his responsibility, he is considered as a martyr. For example:
مَنْ قُتِلَ دُونَ مَالِهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ.
“The person who dies without his wealth is a martyr.”
مَنْ مَاتَ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ مَاتَ شَهِيداً.
“The person who dies in the state of seeking knowledge dies a martyr.”
مَنْ مَاتَ عَلى فِرَاشِهِ وَ هُوَ عَلى مَعْرِفَةِ حَقِّ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَ حَقِّ رَسُولِهِ مَاتَ شَهِيداً.
“The person who dies on his bed while having cognizance of the truth which has come from his Lord and the truth of His Messenger, dies a martyr.”
In addition, women who die while pregnant are classified as:
…مَاتَتْ شَهِيدَةً.
“…she has died as a martyr.”
The traditions also tell us that:
مَنْ مَاتَ عَلى حُبِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ مَاتَ شَهِيداً.
“The person who dies with the love of the family of Muhammad (S) dies a martyr.”
Without doubt, such a person has died while on the path of fulfilling his responsibility - meaning that his death is joined with his actions and thus, he is a martyr!
Thus, the meaning of martyrdom is very wide and has a comprehensive meaning to it.
With this said, according to the statement from Imam ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (as) under review, he has told us that the person who spills his blood and dies in the way of Allah (SwT) is not greater than the person who has the ability to perform sins, however due to the intense love of Allah (SwT), stops himself from doing so.
The meaning of modesty in this tradition is not merely limited to lowering one's eyes from the impermissible sexual pleasures (which take place between a man and woman who are not married to one another). Rather, it has a very wide meaning and as such, modesty has been used to refer to 'preventing any sin from taking place.' According to this explanation, a person can gain the reward of being a martyr every single day!
In regards to Prophet Yusuf (as), we see that all of the necessary requirements for sinning were at his disposal, however he renounced sins and said:
قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَـنِي إِلَيْهِ وِ إِلاَّ تَصْرِفْ عَـنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصُبْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَ أَكُنْ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
“He said: 'My Lord! The prison is dearer to me than that which they (the women) invite me towards and if You do not turn their wicked plots away from me, I will yearn towards them and become (one) of the ignorant (sinners).”4
From this, we learn that Prophet Yusuf (as) believed that:
1. I know that if I renounce sinning, I will be thrown into prison, however the prison is much better for me than that which these women are calling me to do.
2. O' Allah! I resign myself completely to Your will.
In addition, Asiyah, the wife of the Pharaoh, had all of the material needs at her disposal and was able to become a polytheist and live along side her husband in comfort, however she too renounced sinning:
قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِنْدَكَ بَـيْتاً فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ نَجِّـنِي مِنْ فِرْعَونَ وَ عَمَلِهِ…
“My Lord! Build for me a house with You in the garden and deliver me from Pharaoh and his doings…”
People such as these are granted the status of a martyr! The proof of this statement is that since the greatest Jihad is the Jihad with the soul and the person who is in the battlefield of the major Jihad is just like the person who is in the battlefield of the minor Jihad - rather, he is greater than them - thus he too must be a martyr just as the one who takes part in the minor Jihad!
The path of Allah (SwT), reaching to closeness to Allah (SwT), attaining the rank of the righteous people and the status of witnessing (Shuhud) is a clear path, however it is very difficult to traverse.
We must resign ourselves entirely to Allah (SwT), especially while living in this day and age in which the ways to sin are many and close within reach. We must strive to ensure that ourselves, our families and our society are all protected from this evil!
1. Nahj al-Balagha, Short Saying 474
2. Surat ale Imran (3), verse 169
3. al-Kafi, vol. 2, pg. 348
4. Surat Yusuf (12), verse 33
One Hundred And Fifty Lessons For Life
Sexual problems of Youths
Philosophy of Islamic Laws
Fifty Lessons on Principles of Belief for Youths
Fatima Zahra’ in the Noble Qur’an
180 Questions Enquiries About Islam Volume One: The Practical Laws
180 Questions Enquiries About Islam Volume Two: Various issues
A Summary of Rulings
Fatima az-Zahra’, The World's most outstanding Lady
Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) And the Heart, Rending Episode of Fadak
Commentary of Suratul Jinn
Universal Government of the Mahdi
The Rites of Hajj, Practical Treatise and Rules
Religion of Mercy
Life under the Grace of Ethics
Justice of God
Commentary on Sermon 80 of Nahjul Balaghah
Lessons about Allah, Prophethood and the Prophet of Islam, Justice, Leadership (Imamate) and Resurrection
Wahabism At The Crossroads
Khums: A Support for Financial Independence Part 2
Let's Learn About Imamate
The Rites of Umrah al-Mufradah
The Philosophy of Martyrdom
Let’s learn about Resurrection
Khums, the Fund of Independence of Bayt Al-Mal
Let's Learn About The Prophet Of Islam
Let’s Learn about God
An Unpleasant Demeanor
Let's Learn About Divine Justice
Famous Epic Prose
Khums: A Support for Financial Independence, Part 3
The Psychological Effects of Loving the Transient World
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Naturwissenschaft & Technik allgemein
London Orbital
London Orbital von Sinclair, Iain (eBook)
Verlag: Penguin Books Ltd
London Orbital is Iain Sinclair's voyage of discovery into the unloved outskirts of the city. Encircling London like a noose, the M25 is a road to nowhere, but when Iain Sinclair sets out to walk this asphalt loop - keeping within the 'acoustic footprints' - he is determined to find out where the journey will lead him. Stumbling upon converted asylums, industrial and retail parks, ring-fenced government institutions and lost villages, Sinclair discovers a Britain of the fringes, a landscape consumed by developers. London Orbital charts this extraordinary trek and round trip of the soul, revealing the country as you've never seen it before. 'My book of the year. Sentence for sentence, there is no more interesting writer at work in English'John Lanchester, Daily Telegraph 'A magnum opus, my book of the year. I urge you to read it. In fact, if you're a Londoner and haven't read it by the end of next year, I suggest you leave'Will Self, Evening Standard 'A journey into the heart of darkness and a fascinating snapshot of who we are, lit by Sinclair's vivid prose. I'm sure it will be read fifty years from now'J. G. Ballard, Observer Iain Sinclair is the author of Downriver (winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Encore Award), Landor's Tower, White Chappell, Scarlet Tracings, Lights Out for the Territory, Lud Heat, Rodinsky's Room (with Rachel Lichtenstein), Radon Daughters, London Orbital, Dining on Stones, Hackney, that Rose-Red Empire and Ghost Milk. He is also the editor of London: City of Disappearances.
London voices, London lives
Hall, Peter
Orbital Forcing and Cyclic Sequences
London Gothic
London Country Diary
Bradford, Tim
Brunel in London
Bradshaw's Guide London to Birmingham
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Council rates draft: up 1.5% despite surplus
By KIERAN FINNANE
UPDATED 30 May 2017, 9.42am.
The Town Council is proposing a rate rise for 2017/18 of 1.5%, a minimum increase for residential properties of $19 pa. For commercial properties the minimum increase is $20 pa.
This comes despite what will likely be a healthy surplus at the end of this financial year.
Shouldn’t that mean there’s a case for no rate rise at all? Alice Springs News Online put this to outspoken councillor on financial matters, Cr Eli Melky (at right).
He says the likelihood of a budget surplus was his hard fought argument to keep the rate rise to “the lowest possible level, keeping us just in front of the CPI.”
“I’m pleased everyone came on board with this.”
Cr Jade Kudrenko, who at the last council committees meeting also expressed her concern regarding the size of council’s surplus, says the rise was rigorously debated and the surplus was the reason for it being kept to 1.5%, “the lowest increase in the last six budgets”.
Although the final surplus will be nowhere near April’s year to date figure of $12m, Cr Melky says it will be substantial, as there’s no way before the end of the financial year to spend the budgeted employment costs, and all the materials and labour costs that haven’t been incurred.
The amount will be carried forward into council’s reserves for the coming year but the figure is not reflected in the draft municipal plan, he says. (The exact amount will not be known until the auditors have signed off on council’s accounts, some time after September.)
Cr Kudrenko says that council has had a surplus at the end of each of the last six financial years, allowing the build up of reserves. This strong financial position is necessary to make provision for future expenses such as the eventual relocation of the landfill.
This point was also emphasised at last night’s meeting by Mayor Damien Ryan, who spoke to key aspects of the budget, using a powerpoint presentation, for the benefit of media representatives and the public. Those attending included Braitling MLA Dale Wakefield and Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley.
A new reserve of $162,000 is being established for the replacement of plant and equipment, in addition to a separate amount for future purchases of plant and equipment at the Regional Waste Management Facility (RWMF).
Left: 72% of council’s revenue come from rates and other charges; MLA Dale Wakefield taking note.
A significant reserve of $3.5m has been built up to go towards a future landfill site. Mayor Ryan said council has done “a lot of work to get the longest life we can” out of the current site but eventually a new landfill will be required and council will also be liable for the ongoing management of the present landfill for some 40 years into the future.
“We couldn’t do all this in one year off such a small rates base,” he said.
Some of the future capital infrastructure reserve of $5.7m will be used for the construction of a hazardous waste management facility at the RWMF, for which council has also received a grant of $800,000 from the NT Government.
$2.3m is reserved for redevelopment of the CBD. There was no detail on how this money will be spent but the monthly Mayoral report revealed that he had met during the last month with Uniting Church representatives, described as a presentation on “The Meeting Place”. This is the project that would see the church and council go into partnership in the development of a residential and commercial complex as well as large open space (The Meeting Place) on land behind Flynn Church and taking in part of the council-owned Hartley Street carpark.
Appeals to the NT Government to put money into the project, which would also require a commercial loan, have been previously unsuccessful. However now, as Mayor Ryan said, there are promised funds ($20m) from the NT Government for CBD redevelopment.
Council’s healthy capital infrastructure reserve was defended last night from a proposal by Cr Melky to pay off council’s only debt, which is the loan on the Civic Centre.
The fixed term loan was for $5m at 6.75% interest, due to be paid out by 2019. By then council will have paid just under $3m in interest. Most of that is in the past and can’t be undone, but “we can learn from it”, said Cr Melky. He urged council to pay up in full now (a total of $1.263m), to become debt free and to potentially be able to borrow against their freehold asset.
However, the final figures on such a move, provided by Director of Finance Dinesh Pillay, represented a saving of only $17,000.
Cr Kudrenko said she could not support drawing down on the reserve for such a meagre saving. This argument won the support of the other councillors and Cr Melky’s motion lapsed for want of a seconder.
The rate increase and other key budget measures were released yesterday under embargo till 6.30pm. The following is drawn from that release.
Pensioner rebates are proposed to increase from $47 to $60.
Fees at Aquatic and Leisure Centre, the Regional Waste Management Facility, and Public Library will not be increased for the coming financial year. The annual waste charge for properties with a regular weekly waste collection service will go up by $5 for the year.
“We understand that the community have begun to feel the impact of tighter economic conditions,” Mayor Damien Ryan says in the release. “Council is focussed on efficiently delivering the services that our community needs.
“The draft budget is one that delivers minimum rate increases, drives confidence in our community, and stimulates our economy.”
$2.3 million is being held in reserve for the redevelopment of the Central Business District, with council welcoming the Northern Territory Government’s commitment to contribute $20 million to the same end.
Council is committing $600,000 to provide lighting at Albrecht Oval, match the NT Government’s commitment.
Council is working with the Commonwealth and NT Governments towards establishing a City Deal, under which significant infrastructure investments will be made in Alice Springs. Through City Deals, governments, industry and communities develop collective plans for growth. This requires commitment to actions, investments, reforms and governance. Council will set aside $854,798 toward a City Deals Project Reserve.
Further capital and maintenance works in the draft 2017/18 budget include:
$2,985,000 toward parks, gardens and ovals
$1,675,000 toward roads and roads maintenance
$609,000 toward footpaths and cycling tracks
$333,000 reserved to fund solar power initiatives for Council facilities
$100,000 toward public toilet refurbishment
These measures are in addition to funding for ongoing council services including:
$3,074,000 for Regional Waste Management Facility operations
$1,791,000 for Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre operations
$921,000 towards Alice Springs Public Library operations
$247,000 toward supporting community events
$159,000 to fund the Healthy Communities program
$102,000 supporting tourism initiatives
$89,000 for grants and ongoing community contributions including Araluen Community Access
Grants, Community Development Grants, Community Assistance Grants and Youth Development Grants
$56,000 to continue the Pop Up Gallery initiative
Council welcomes public comment on its draft Municipal Plan for 2017/18, available on council’s website from tomorrow morning, until 19 June.
Posted: May 29, 2017 at 6:52 pm ⋅ ⋅ Post a comment
A Masonn
Posted June 3, 2017 at 9:21 pm
Apathy rules. OK.
Cheesed off Alice Springs ratepayer
Posted June 2, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Here we go again, there is no need to increase rates by 1.5% considering there is an (unconfirmed) surplus from last year’s budget.
About time for the Mayor to pack up and leave, as he’s been responsible for the last six years of excessive rises, but funny it’s an election year so now he wants to cut the rises down to get re-elected?
Also, re the loan for the Civic Centre (Taj Mahal), this was actioned sneakily by the former Mayor prior to an election and should have been re-financed two or three years ago to reduce the interest and loan repayments.
This would have saved far more than the $17,000 as stated in the article. Don’t forget it’s not the Council’s money, it’s the long suffering ratepayers.
I urge all voters to take action at the ballot box in August and turf the lot of them out and get some fresh new blood who might actually listen to the people and consult with them for a change and get back to the basic rates, roads and rubbish core values they are supposed to operate in.
There have been some very capable new candidates put their hands up already.
What A Croc
Posted June 1, 2017 at 11:21 am
One thing that stands out in councils 16/17 budget is that expenditure on their IT department ($1,559,788) and library ($1,554,108) is more than what they spend on street lighting ($1,073,445), road maintenance ($440,509), footpaths ($715,782), parks and reserves ($1,312,225) or litter control ($859,912)!
WTF? A real bureaucracy in the making!!
James T Smerk
Posted May 31, 2017 at 1:06 pm
Eli can you please wake these people up? I want to hear them justify their decision against what you have said – if that’s even possible.
Why aren’t they informing us? Secrets breed distrust and that’s what we all have for them.
Posted May 31, 2017 at 12:51 pm
Most financial planners and gurus will always tell you to pay off debt as soon as you can because it will save you money in the long run.
$17,000 is a reasonable amount of rate payer cash to save I would have thought.
Evelyne Roullet
To the Councillors: Maybe with this surplus, you could ask that some footpath / walk paths be maintained a bit better.
Eli Melky
Posted May 31, 2017 at 9:34 am
Arriving to Council on Monday night 29/5, I was quietly confident that I had worked hard enough and presented the facts to elected members as to why we should be able to keep the rate rise to 1.5%. Let me assure you this is much lower than what was being touted originally, and also paying out the loan on the civic centre was a smart thing to do. I have been asking for this over the past 6 years, after all Council has accumulated a large cash amount in reserves from consistent surpluses over the years and expecting another huge surplus again this year.
However to fall short of having a seconder to the motion to pay out the loan was surprising and a huge letdown. The reason given seemed to be focused on the small $17,000 alleged savings, it was not enough for them. The debate totally ignored the fact that paying out the loan means that we stop making monthly payments to the bank of $44,000 which is $528,000.00 a year. The Loan repayments are allocated for in the current budget for 16/17 and are factored into the next 17/18 , 18/19, 19/20 municipal plan proposed budget as presented Monday night.
What seemed lost on people was that the rate payer would no longer have to pay these repayments. Let me ask you Mr and Mrs rate payer, isn’t that a good thing? Apparently not, according to this lot. Apparently we are told by the Mayor that we are saving it for a rainy day. What does that mean exactly? A rainy day, is that when times are tough in the town, shops are empty, business is doing it tough, population growth is stagnant, Fed and NT Government funding reduced? Or when the town is being over run by unruly youth and breakins left right and centre, police helpless to do anything about it and a broken Justice system? Hmm…
Oh wait the other reason given was that the new bunch of elected members may waste the surplus and spend the money. Well well, now we are planning on the basis of a crystal ball approach. Pity that the crystal ball doesn’t show what a great and responsible bunch the new members may be, there is that slim chance you know.
I can tell you that today I will be reaching for my gum boots and umbrella, because I smell rain and lots of it. Might even build me an Ark.
Interesting that Ms. Kudrenko said that it was not worth paying off the debt as proposed by Mr Melky, because the saving was only $17000. Only? Wow, so an experienced financial planner trying to save ratepayers, has his idea shot down because it is only $17000. It is simply re-allocation of funds, cost neutral. I wonder what the repairs to the pool have been priced at? Surely saving the $17000 would significantly offset the repair bill for this public asset white elephant. Maybe it could buy some mobility access equipment that is being requested by Physiotherapists.
Thanks for a common sense idea Eli.
Posted May 30, 2017 at 11:40 am
Wouldn’t a 0% increase be lower than a 1.5% increase? If you want to get more life out of the current landfill, why not use our surplus to provide recycling bins for residential properties, you know, the same residential properties you have overcharged for the last six budgets?
Also, correct me if I’m wrong but I feel like our aquatic centre is really expensive to run. Why does it bleed so much money?
Braedon Earley
No seconder, does that mean don’t want the details published to show a blatant waste of rate payers money?
Greg Latency
These people forget who they are working for … lowest amount possible my hat …
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Beyoncé Fans Are Losing It Over Her Swirling Cornrows at the “Lion King” Premiere
Amanda Mitchell
Beyoncé’s Mom Still Trims the Singer’s Hair, and the Beyhive Is Loving It
Olaplex's New Bond-Building Hair Oil Is Here to Give Your Hair Lots of Shine
Elizabeth Denton
Celine Just Chopped Her Hair Into a Bob and Looks Totally Unrecognizable
The Problem With Wigs That Nobody Talks About
Kate Sullivan
The good news first: You got a gorgeous new wig that is totally worth its "$eriously?!" price tag because it's long, real hair that makes you look like Beyoncé—or a whole lot like yourself before chemotherapy. The one snafu is that it's constantly tangling.
Anyone who has worn a wig or weave will tell you that this struggle is real. Synthetic, natural, expensive, inexpensive—they all end up in knots. Luckily, hairstylist Kim Kimble, who works with celebs like Beyoncé and Shakira, has some expert ways to prevent this and to detangle. We chatted her up and got her top tips.
Why do wigs (even really expensive ones) seem to tangle more often than your own hair? "Tangling can depend a lot on how well the wig is made and whether the cuticles are all going in the right direction or if it's been processed with some kind of chemical or color; if the hair has been laid in wrong or it's been treated, then it's more likely to tangle. But any wig will tangle more than your real hair because your scalp produces natural oils that keep hair from drying out and getting caught in itself, and of course wigs do not do that."
What's my first line of defense against wig tangling? "The first thing you have to do is use the proper shampoo and conditioner—a very mild, not-stripping shampoo, and both products should be sulfate-free and have a low pH. I like to set [the wig] on a [wig] head and shampoo it on the head so that it keeps its shape. When you wash it, you can't scrub it like you'd scrub your hair. You have to run your fingers through it like a comb, rubbing your fingers through it as you go and kind of squeezing it. You want to rinse it very well by dipping it into water and pulling it out. You have to be gentle. How often you're shampooing depends on how often you're wearing your wig. If you're not exercising in it and not putting a ton of products in it that are building up and you're taking it off to go to sleep at night, you shouldn't be washing it more than once a week."
How should I be brushing my wig to both prevent and tackle tangles? "The best time to comb it is when you're combing conditioner through the wet hair. Then you let it dry and brush it again. Use a wig brush that's made for extensions and wigs, those little plastic ones work great; a boar-bristle brush works well, too. If you're working out a tangle, you want to start at the ends of your hair first—you should be doing this with your real hair, too—if you start from the top and go down, you make the tangle bunch up more. If you have extensions in, you want to hold the base when you brush or comb."
__Extension care seems a little more complicated since they're attached to your head, so you can mess up both your extensions and your real hair if you're not careful. I remember watching so many episodes of America's Next Top Model when a girl new to sew-in extensions would end up with terribly matted hair. Are there extra precautions to take with extensions? __"The main thing is using alcohol-free hair products. And the same kind of low-pH shampoo and conditioners we talked about earlier; sulfate-free products that won't strip the hair. My K2 Beauty Untangle Conditioner is made especially for gently detangling extensions. Leave-in conditioners are great, too."
A friend was just lamenting that her wig always seems to get tangled at the nape of her neck—and that also seems to be a frequent complaint on Internet forums about wigs. Is it the heat of one's neck that's making the wig get all wild? Can that be prevented? "I've found that wearing certain fabrics—like wool or anything that's really fibrous—or anything that has a bulky collar tends to cause your hair to ball up on the back of your neck. It doesn't happen as often if you're wearing silkier fabrics, and it doesn't happen as often if you have a straighter-hair wig. But you will have to brush out this spot periodically during the day to prevent tiny tangles from becoming bigger problems. It is difficult to simply solve this issue, but I've found that attaching some tracks in the back of a hand-tied wig helps keep it from getting tangled at the nape because it makes a little heavier in that spot."
Want to wig out some more? Then check out these stories:
• Julianna Margulies's Wig on The Good Wife Costs HOW Much?
• Saturday Night Live's Wig Secrets
• Nicki Minaj's Hairstylist Terrence Davidson Talks Wigs
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Alberich-Rodríguez Arquitectos
Cultural Centre and Music School / Alberich-Rodríguez Arquitectos
04:00 - 7 November, 2016
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© Ángel Baltanás
28880 Meco, Madrid, Spain
Emilio Rodríguez, Francisco Domouso
2148.0 sqm
More Specs Less Specs
Text description provided by the architects. The building site presents a trapezoidal shape quite similar to a regular polygon, with one of its ends curved, and the rest in angle. The building site is practically flat on its north half, and presents a pronounced slope on the south half. The building site's slope develops itself in a north-south direction with a total drop of approximately 4 meters. The views to the west from the high part of the site are splendid.
The project consists on a multi-purpose building destined to be a Cultural Centre and a Music School (a discipline that counts with a big number of students in Meco) with four levels corresponding to a basement floor, a semi basement, a ground level floor and a first floor, the latter in the northern centerline of the building. The building results in a compact plan that adapts itself to the geometry of the existing terrain and occupies its lower and southern part. Likewise, the building adapts to the existing topography in a steep slope, arranging its program of uses in a stratified way, within dependent layers with different uses. As a result of all this, that the building organizes itself with two entrances located in the opposite facades (south and north facades) and different floors (semi-basement level and bottom level). Each of these entrances gives access to clearly differentiated uses. The southern entrance through an exterior covered space gives access to the auditorium and to a multi-purpose exhibition space that serves as the entrance hall the auditorium. This level is equipped with the general washrooms of the building and the necessary installation rooms for the correct functioning of it. The north entrance, which you can reach from a patio covered by a concrete lattice with access from Plaza de España, gives access to the Music School that develops a program of uses which are consensual with the direction of the future school that will develop its activity in our spaces. An empty space runs longitudinally within the building, merging uses and levels and permits a complex use and perception of it. This vacuum presents itself as the place of principal communication in the interior of the building, describing it spatially and qualifying it as a public building as it widens its limited interior surface area.
In the basement floor are located the rooms such as store rooms or change rooms that provide service to the auditorium. In the first floor, the administration and direction of the centre, and a small music library opened to the north and the views.
The roof of the building has also a use. An outdoors auditorium and a square called Southern Square located on the same place complete the program of the Cultural Centre and Music School. This auditorium and this Southern Square have an access from the patio through a "stair-ramp", and also from the interior of the building, becoming a quality leisure place and urban rest.
The action opts for a volume of well defined contours which is able to affirm its autonomy against a residential heterogeneous and recent environment of family housing in a suburb with no architectonic interest, and other traditional housing with which we have tried to create a dialogue. The popular abstraction is chosen as a composition strategy at the elevations. The gaps appear where they are needed by the interior uses or the views, as in the popular traditional architecture, always abstract. Plinths and frames are solved with our contemporary material:"reinforced concrete"; the white stuccos, as well as the scale and the volumetric treatment of the projected building, collaborate in the insertion in Meco Town.
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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
Projects Built Projects Selected Projects Cultural Architecture Cultural Center MecoSpain
Cite: "Cultural Centre and Music School / Alberich-Rodríguez Arquitectos" [ Centro Cultural y Escuela de Música / Alberich-Rodríguez Arquitectos] 07 Nov 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/798738/cultural-centre-and-music-school-alberich-rodriguez-arquitectos/> ISSN 0719-8884
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马德里中央音乐学院 / Alberich-Rodríguez Arquitectos
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Fabric & Steel’s Summer Textile Collection Looks to the Rugged Textures of Southern Spain
Michele Dopp’s Texture line features natural fibers with subtle hints of metallic
Christina Pérez
Texture features natural textiles in five colorways: Burnt, Water, Night, Silvery, and Golden.Photo: Genevieve Garruppo
The culture, history, and romance of Spain has provided inspiration to countless creatives, from Hemingway to Dalí. But when it came to designing this summer’s batch of textiles for Fabric & Steel, designer Michele Dopp looked to another aspect of the country: the sensory thrills of its rugged southern terrain.
“The mountains of Andalusia have this rural and elegant beauty; there is a soulfulness,” Dopp explains. “The earthy hues, crystal lakes, and breathtaking textures all bask in brilliant sunlight. I wanted to capture this purity, this sensual beauty that encapsulates the sparkle of light, the pattern of ridges, and the quality of the air.”
Fitting, then, that Dopp’s new woven line for Fabric & Steel—which features natural fibers with subtle hints of metallic throughout—is titled Texture: It’s a nod to both the tangible and intangible elements of the country’s storied southern environs. “I mostly used a blend of linen and wool, but also included several synthetic materials,” she says of the new fabrics, which come in five colorways: Burnt, Water, Night, Silvery, and Golden. “The linen and wool are ideal in representing the organic quality of Andalusia as well as exuding the feeling of being in the mountains and being in the sun.”
A close-up view of the Night option. The collection is available exclusively through Jean de Merry.
Photo: Genevieve Garruppo
And the shimmering synthetic metallic threads? Dopp says they serve an important function beyond mere aesthetics: “I used synthetics to create the metallic yarn, which I felt was essential for the design intention. But the synthetics were also necessary for creating a durability that would allow the fabric to be used in a variety of applications—from high-end residential to commercial settings.”
When it comes to the specific projects and clients Texture would work well for, Dopp says the options are as varied as the mountain landscapes that inspired them. “The aesthetic is ideal for a modern interior, but also a more traditional one with a slight edge," she says. "It can be used for any type of upholstery, floor pillows, or decorative pillows.”
More importantly, Dopp hopes her love of Andalusia—and the inspiration that comes from exploration in general—translates through her work. “My collections are usually based on travel experiences—even if the travel is just around NYC,” she explains. “There is something about movement that inspires me; moving around different places with different perspectives—even if it’s just an unfamiliar city block—creates space in my mind to design.”
Michele Dopp was inspired by the Andalusia mountains in Spain.
Rothschild Family Treasures, Some Belonging to Marie Antoinette, Come to Christie's
Mitchell Owens
Lladró Isn't Making Your Grandmother's Porcelain
Stephanie Sporn
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Home / Al Quinn / Dolphy / Joey De Leon / Kapatid / Ryan Agoncillo / talent show / Tito Sotto / TV5 / Vic Sotto / Willie Revillame / Zsa Zsa Padilla / TV5 celebrates Dolphy’s birthday with “Talentadong Pidol” special
TV5 celebrates Dolphy’s birthday with “Talentadong Pidol” special
Unknown 5:12 PM Al Quinn , Dolphy , Joey De Leon , Kapatid , Ryan Agoncillo , talent show , Tito Sotto , TV5 , Vic Sotto , Willie Revillame , Zsa Zsa Padilla Edit
TV5 celebrates the birthday of Philippine showbiz’s living icon, the Comedy King Dolphy, with a two-hour special entitled “Talentadong Pidol” this Sunday, July 24. Hosted by Talentadong Pinoy host Ryan Agoncillo, the show features a spectacular gathering of the biggest stars in what can be dubbed as the most emotional birthday celebration ever done for the Comedy King.
With no less than the triumvirate of Tito, Vic and Joey opening the show, Talentadong Pidol is a nostalgic journey honouring Dolphy’s remarkable achievements and contributions to the movie and TV industry. Kapatid stars and the industry’s biggest names greet Dolphy by way of touching messages and special performances that will make the show replete with laughter, emotional delight, inspiration, and admiration for a one-of-a-kind man.
Highlighting the occasion is a rare moment wherein Dolphy teams up with Willie Revillame in a touching song medley about friendship, love and their dedication to the entertainment industry. Willie also gives a surprise presentation that will make the Comedy King wax emotional.
Known as the ladies’ man who had real-life romance with his on-screen partners (such as Pilar Pilapil, Nida Blanca and Alma Moreno), Dolphy pledges his undying love for his queen, the Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla. They will perform an inspiring duet that will communicate to everyone the extent of their love for each other.
Dolphy will also hear from his dearest friends in the industry, such as Boots Anson Roa, Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia, German Moreno, Nova Villa, Niño Muhlach, Vice Ganda, Pokwang, Lucy Torres, Richard Gomez, Eric Quizon, Claudine Barretto, Ruffa Gutierrez and Alice Dixson.
Unknown to many, Dolphy started out doing drama as a radio talent. Known as Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr in real life, he was first given the stage name “Golay” as he made his first big break in the industry. His talent in dancing and singing was later discovered when he paired up with the late Bayani Casimiro Sr.
Dolphy then evolved into the dynamic and versatile performer who endeared himself to every Filipino. He went on to essay gay characters in movies such as Jack en Jill, Pacifica Palayfay, Fefita Fofonggay, among others. He also made a mark with his unique fashion sense, particularly the “puruntong shorts” that became his trademark for some time.
Directed by Al Quinn, Talentadong Pidol enjoins viewers in a memorable tribute to the industry’s one and only Comedy King. This Dolphy birthday special airs on Sunday, July 24, at 8:00 p.m. on TV5.
TV5 celebrates Dolphy’s birthday with “Talentadong Pidol” special Reviewed by Unknown on 5:12 PM Rating: 5
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Artima Forums | Articles | Weblogs | Java Answers | News | Buzz
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Hacking and Refactoring
16 replies on 2 pages. Most recent reply: Sep 28, 2005 9:17 AM by Christopher L. Marshall
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Nickname: esr
Registered: Jun, 2003
Hacking and Refactoring (View in Weblogs)
The open-source movement and agile programming may be converging. While reading Martin Fowler's excellent book "Refactoring", I realized development by refactoring is a sharp description of the normal style of open-source hackers. In this essay (which Martin Fowler and Kent Beck and I discussed in draft) I explore the connection further.
In 2001, there was a history-making conference of software-engineering thinkers in Snowbird, Colorado. The product of that meeting was a remarkable document called the Agile Manifesto, a call to overturn many of the assumptions of traditional software development. I was invited to be at Snowbird, but couldn't make it.
Ever since, though, I've been sensing a growing convergence between agile programming and the open-source movement. I've seen agile concepts and terminology being adopted rapidly and enthusiastically by my colleagues in open-source-landespecially ideas like refactoring, unit testing, and design from stories and personas. From the other side, key agile-movement figures like Kent Beck and Martin Fowler have expressed strong interest in open source both in published works and to me personally. Fowler has gone so far as to include open source on his list of agile-movement schools.
I agree that we belong on that list. But I also agree with Fowler's description of of open source as a style, rather than a process. I think his reservations as to whether open source can be described as just another agile school are well-founded. There is something more complicated and interesting going on here. and I realized when I read Fowler's description of open source that at some point I was going to have to do some hard thinking and writing in an effort to sort it all out.
While doing research for my forthcoming book, The Art of Unix Programming, I read one particular passage in Fowler's Refactoring that finally brought it all home. He writes:
One argument is that refactoring can be an alternative to up-front design. In this scenario, you don't do any design at all. You just code the first approach that comes into your head, get it working, and then refactor it into shape. Actually, this approach can work. I've seen people do this and come out with a very well-defined piece of software. Those who support Extreme Programming often are portrayed as advocating this approach.
I read this, and had one of those moments where everything comes together in your head with a great ringing crash and the world assumes a new shapea moment not unlike the one I had in late 1996 when I got the central insight that turned into The Cathedral and the Bazaar . In the remainder of this essay I'm going to try to articulate what I now think I understand about open source, agile programming, how they are related, and why the connection should be interesting even to programmers with no stake in either movement.
Now I need to set a little background here, because I'm going to need to have to talk about several different categories which are contingently but not necessarily related.
First, there is Unix programmer. Unix is the operating system with the longest living tradition of programming and design. It has an unusually strong and mature technical culture around it, a culture which originated or popularized many of the core ideas and tools of modern software design. The Art of Unix Programming is a concerted attempt to capture the craft wisdom of this culture, one to which I have successfully enlisted quite a few of its founding elders.
Second, there is hacker. This is a very complex term, but more than anything else, it describes an attitudean intentional stance that relates hackers to programming and other disciplines in a particular way. I have described the hacker stance and its cultural correlates in detail in How To Become A Hacker.
Third, there is open-source programmer. Open source is a programming style with strong roots in the Unix tradition and the hacker culture. I wrote the modern manifesto for it in 1997, The Cathedral and the Bazaar, building on earlier thinking by Richard Stallman and others.
These three categories are historically closely related. It is significant that a single person (accidentally, me) wrote touchstone documents for the second and third and is attempting a summum bonum of the first. That personal coincidence reflects a larger social reality that in 2003 these categories are becoming increasingly merged essentially, the hacker community has become the core of the open-source community, which is rapidly re-assimilating the parts of the Unix culture that got away from the hackers during the ten bad years after the AT&T divestiture in 1984.
But the relationship is not logically entailed; we can imagine a hacker culture speaking a common tongue other than Unix and C (in the far past its common tongue was Lisp), and we can imagine an explicit ideology of open source developing within a cultural and technical context other than Unix (as indeed nearly happened several different times).
With this scene-setting done, I can explain that my first take on Fowler's statement was to think "Dude, you've just described hacking!"
I mean something specific and powerful by this. Throwing together a prototype and refactoring it into shape is a rather precise description of the normal working practice of hackers since that culture began to self-define in the 1960s. Not a complete one, but it captures the most salient feature of how hackers relate to code. The open-source community has inherited and elaborated this practice, building on similar tendencies within the Unix tradition.
The way Fowler writes about design-by-refactoring has two huge implications for the relationship between open source and agile programming:
First, Fowler writes as though he didn't know he was describing hacking. In the passage, he appears unaware that design by repeated refactoring is not just a recent practice semi-accidentally stumbled on by a handful of agile programmers, but one which hundreds of thousands of hackers have accumulated experience with for over three decades and have in their bones. There is a substantial folklore, an entire craft practice, around this!
Second, in that passage Fowler described the practice of hacking better than hackers themselves have done. Now, admittedly, the hacker culture has simply not had that many theoreticians, and if you list the ones that are strongly focused on development methodology you lose Richard Stallman and are left with, basically, myself and maybe Larry Wall (author of Perl and occasional funny and illuminating ruminations on the art of hacking). But the fact that we don't have a lot of theoreticians is itself an important datum; we have always tended to develop our most important wisdoms as unconscious and unarticulated craft practice.
These two observations imply an enormous mutual potential, a gap across which an arc of enlightenment may be beginning to blaze. It implies two things:
First, people who are excited by agile-programming ideas can look to open source and the Unix tradition and the hackers for the lessons of experience. We've been doing a lot of the stuff the agile movement is talking about for a long time. Doing it in a clumsy, unconscious, learned-by-osmosis way, but doing it nevertheless. I believe that we have learned things that you agile guys need to know to give your methodologies groundedness. Things like (as Fowler himself observes) how to manage communication and hierarchy issues in distributed teams.
Second, open-source hackers can learn from agile programmers how to wake up. The terminology and conceptual framework of agile programming sharpens and articulates our instincts. Learning to speak the language of open source, peer review, many eyeballs, and rapid iterations gave us a tremendous unifying boost in the late 1990s; I think becoming similarly conscious about agile-movement ideas like refactoring, unit testing, and story-centered design could be just as important for us in the new century.
I've already given an example of what the agile movement has to teach the hackers, in pointing out that repeated redesign by refactoring is a precise description of hacking. Another thing we can stand to learn from agile-movement folks is how to behave so that we can actually develop requirements and deliver on them when the customer isn't, ultimately, ourselves.
For the flip side, consider Fowler's anecdote on page 68-69, which ends "Even if you know exactly what is going on in your system, measure performance, don't speculate. You'll learn something, and nine times out of ten it won't be that you were right." The Unix guy in me wants to respond "Well, duh!". In my tribe, profiling before you speculate is DNA; we have a strong tradition of this that goes back to the 1970s. From the point of view of any old Unix hand, the fact that Fowler thought he had to write this down is a sign of severe naivete in either Fowler or his readership or both.
In reading Refactoring , I several times had the experience of thinking "What!?! That's obvious!" closely followed by "But Fowler explains it better than Unix traditions do..." This may be because he relies less on the very rich shared explanatory context that Unix provides.
How deep do the similarities run? Let's take a look at what the Agile Manifesto says:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools. Yeah, that sounds like us, all right. Open-source developers will toss out a process that isn't working in a nanosecond, and frequently do, and take gleeful delight in doing so. In fact, the reaction against heavyweight process has a key part of our self-identification as hackers for at least the last quarter century, if not longer.
Working software over comprehensive documentation. That's us, too. In fact, the radical hacker position is that source code of a working system is its documentation. We, more than any other culture of software engineering, emphasize program source code as human-to-human communication that is expected to bind together communities of cooperation and understanding distributed through time and space. In this, too, we build on and amplify Unix tradition.
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation. In the open-source world, the line between "developer" and "customer" blurs and often disappears. Non-technical end users are represented by developers who are proxies for their interestsas when, for example, companies that run large websites second developers to work on Apache Software Foundation projects.
Responding to change over following a plan. Absolutely. Our whole development style encourages this. It's fairly unusual for any of our projects to have any plan more elaborate than "fix the current bugs and chase the next shiny thing we see".
With these as main points, it's hardly surprising that so many of the Principles behind the Agile Manifesto read like Unix-tradition and hacker gospel. "Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale. Well, yeahwe pioneered this. Or "Simplicitythe art of maximizing the amount of work not doneis essential." That's Unix-tradition holy writ, there. Or "The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams."
This is stone-obvious stuff to any hacker, and exactly the sort of subversive thinking that most panics managers attached to big plans, big budgets, big up-front design, and big rigid command-and-control structures. Which may, in fact, be a key part of its appeal to hackers and agile developersbecause at least one thing that points agile-movement and open-source people in the same direction is a drive to take control of our art back from the suits and get out from under big dumb management.
The most important difference I see between the hackers and the agile-movement crowd is this: the hackers are the people who never surrendered to big dumb management they either bailed out of the system or forted up in academia or inustrial R&D labs or technical-specialty areas where pointy-haired bosses weren't permitted to do as much damage. The agile crowd, on the other hand, seems to be composed largely of people who were swallowed into the belly of the beast (waterfall-model projects, Windows, the entire conventional corporate-development hell so vividly described in David Yourdon's books) and have been smart enough not just to claw their way out but to formulate an ideology to justify not getting sucked back in.
Both groups are in revolt against the same set of organizational assumptions. And both are winning because those assumptions are obsolete, yesterday's adaptations to a world of expensive machines and expensive communications. But software development doesn't need big concentrations of capital and resources anymore, and doesn't need the control structures and hierarchies and secrecy and elaborate rituals that go with managing big capital concentrations either. In fact, in a world of rapid change, these things are nothing but a drag. Thus agile techniques. Thus, open source. Converging paths to the same destination, which is not just software that doesn't suck but a software-development process that doesn't suck.
When I think about how the tribal wisdom of the hackers and the sharp cut-the-bullshit insights of the agile movement seem to be coming together, my mind keeps circling back to Phil Greenspun's brief but trenchant essay Redefining Professionalism for Software Engineers. Greenspun proposes, provocatively but I think correctly, that the shift towards open-source development is a key part of the transformation of software engineering into a mature profession, with the dedication to excellence and ethos of service that accompanies professionalism. I have elsewhere suggested that we are seeing a close historical analog of the transition from alchemy to chemistry. Secrets leak out, but skill sustains; the necessity to stop relying on craft secrecy is one of the crises that occupational groups normally face as they attain professional standing.
I'm beginning to think that from the wreckage of the software industry big dumb management made, I can see the outline of a mature, humane discipline of software engineering emerging and that it will be in large part a fusion of the responsiveness and customer focus of the agile movement with the wisdom and groundedness of the Unix tradition, expressed in open source.
Joseph Grace
Nickname: occam
Registered: Mar, 2003
Wow, grand unification theory. Posted: Jun 14, 2003 10:35 PM
Yikes, the end meets the beginning. Nice article, mind-bender.
Nickname: ceperez
Registered: Jan, 2003
Re: Hacking and Refactoring Posted: Jun 16, 2003 6:31 AM
No grand unification occurring here.
The analogies are nice, but they're a bit out of context. Here's why:
Agile methodologies center around team development and the falliability of people. That is why there's something called test driven development. TDD is conspicously absent in the activity of hacking.
Simply because hacking centers around the individual, and hacking implicit assumes the prowess of the individual.
If you could make an analogy then, XP is industrial quality hacking. Hacking on the other hand, is what any good developer does instinctively, it benefits the individual as opposed to the team.
Chris Hartjes
Nickname: bloodshot
Registered: May, 2003
> If you could make an analogy then, XP is industrial
> quality hacking. Hacking on the other hand, is what any
> good developer does instinctively, it benefits the
> individual as opposed to the team.
That was exactly my feeling about this too. The project I'm working on is using XP and I'm pushing the unit-testing stuff very hard.
Johan Lindström
Nickname: jplindstro
Re: Hacking and Refactoring Posted: Jun 16, 2003 3:45 PM
"TDD is conspicously absent in the activity of hacking."
I was thinking kind of the same thing.
But on the other hand, I was introduced to the culture of unit and regression testing through Perl and CPAN. That's what got me interested in XP practices.
So, more examples of TDD and unit testing in OSS anyone?
/J - incidentally with Fowler's Refactoring on the night stand :)
TDD is beginning to take hold in the Python community as well.
Arnaldo Riquelme
Nickname: arnaldo
Re: Hacking and Refactoring Posted: Jun 17, 2003 10:41 AM
The open source project Mono http://go-mono.com/testing.html
is also using TDD extensively.
-ajr
Chris Dailey
Nickname: mouse
Registered: Dec, 2002
Greetings, Eric,
Nice essay! For a lot of the essay I nodded my head in agreement. At the risk of sounding argumentative and in the hope of providing useful feedback, I'll point out where I wasn't in agreement.
my first take on Fowler's statement was to think "Dude, you've just described hacking!"
I've had that impression from the beginning regarding XP and Agile programming. Except I came from the other end of the scale -- that is, not out of excitement for the formalization and legitimization of the methods, but out of disappointment. My biggest issue is that prototypes don't get thrown away. They become legacy, and prevent other decisions from being made.
I am being won over to a number of XP/Agile methodologies ... especially test driven development and you-aint-gonna-need-it. I have always accepted refactoring as a necessary evil, though now less evil than previously.
I think the biggest exception I take with XP and Agile is using it as an excuse to not try to think through problems beforehand.
people who are excited by agile-programming ideas can look to open source and the Unix tradition and the hackers for the lessons of experience.
While I agree with this statement, I got the feeling through this essay that you were not being distinct between Unix tradition, hackers, and open source, and this line is probably the beginning of that feeling.
Open-source developers will toss out a process that isn't working in a nanosecond, and frequently do, and take gleeful delight in doing so.
I notice you don't point out that open-source developers can also hang on to dysfunctional processes. It's probably worth noting that the set of dysfunctional processes is probably much larger than functional ones.
the radical hacker position is that source code of a working system is its documentation.
This depends on what you mean by documentation. The source code documents what the system does, but usually not why it does it that way or how to interact with it.
More specifically, the source code is the specification of the (presumably) working system. I'm growing fond of simpler languages and tools that provide a view the structure of a piece of software.
Responding to change over following a plan. Absolutely. Our whole development style encourages this.
Again, which community are you referring to by "Our"? To say that all open-source projects are hackers is incorrect, even if the correlation is relatively high.
Greenspun proposes [...] the shift towards open-source development is a key part of the transformation of software engineering into a mature profession
I don't think I agree with this. I don't think that open source focuses on excellence in all categories. I think open source succeeds because it excels in some number of Greenspun's criteria. I don't think that means that open source is helping causing a shift of software engineering into a mature profession. The percentage of open source projects that make a huge dent in Greenspun's list of 7 objectives is (from my experience) pretty small.
I have elsewhere suggested that we are seeing a close historical analog of the transition from alchemy to chemistry.
Or art to science? You don't repeat your logic (or link to it), so I don't know exactly what you're referring to. But if you are correct, I don't see the link from hacking and open source to science and engineering.
Thanks for your insightful essay!
We are seeing a close historical analog of the transition from alchemy to chemistry because that, too, involved giving
up secrecy in favor of process transparency and peer review. That change was necessary in order for the study of chemical phenomena to move from obfuscation to engineering, from black art practiced by cryptic masters to a discipline with repeatable results. So too with software.
I think if you re-read my essay, you'll find my reasons for not bothering to distinguish those three categories of people are quite explicitly stated.
Finally, I recommend you reread Phil Greenspun's essay and note where he explicitly says "open-source is the one true path for a professional software engineer". OK, let's concede that the percentage of open source projects that make a huge dent in Greenspun's list of 7 objectives is, as you say, pretty small. All that establishes is that open source is not a sufficient condition for professionalism. But neither Phil nor I have ever so claimed; we are saying rather that open source is a necessary condition that must be supplemented by other behaviors.
Mik Lernout
Nickname: miklernout
I am not sure I agree with the proposed parallel of the hacking-unix culture and the agile methodologies. As the basis of his conclusion Eric extracts some concepts (individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, responding to change over following a plan, ...) out of the Agile Manifesto to make the comparison, using himself as the reference for the hacking / open source movement. (I don't dare to disagree :-))
It is strange how the gist of the manifesto for me is completly different from his 'main points'. I believe the key phrases to be 'face-to-face conversation', 'business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project' and 'simplicity--the art of maximizing the amount of work not done--is essential'. A group of people, programmers and users, that interact as close, in time and space, as possible is at the core of agile development. For an agile developer all of the rest ( like small iterations, not too much up front design, ... ) is merely a tool, a mean to a achive a goal.
I also don't like Eric's use of the phrase "big dumb management": isn't that the real cultural gap between hackers and agile developers: we (I'll classify myself with the latter for now...) try to align development with business needs, we try to add value to the company / community / ... , while hackers are in it for technical mastrubation, peer appreciation or pushing mankind another great step forward.
Rod Schmidt
Nickname: schromosan
Actually, the conference took place in Snowbird, Utah. Sorry, for the nitpick, but just want to make sure Utah gets put on the map, as a few of the significant contributions to the Agile movement have happened in Utah.
Ian Rae
Nickname: ianrae
Re: Hacking and Refactoring Posted: Jun 20, 2003 12:54 PM
I just finished reading the Unix Haters Handbook (http://research.microsoft.com/~daniel/uhh-download.html). One of its main complaints is that Unix warts are not refactored; people just learn to work around them and rationalize the non-refactoring with "we're keeping backward compatibility".
I use Unix occasionally and I do not hate it. But I wonder how much refactoring has actually ocurred in open-source Unix. Clean code is a tenet of agile programming. From what I've seen of hacker code it's a very mixed bag.
Unix-Hater's Handbook Posted: Jun 20, 2003 1:40 PM
I was MIT Press's first-line technical reviewer for the Unix Hater's Handbook. While their case is not completely without merit, the book is basically an exercise in flaming and hysteria. The authors wanted it that way; they staunchly resisted all attempts by myself and others to press them into writing a more substantive critique. This is a shame; some of their arguments deserved to be taken seriously.
A lot of the "we're keeping backward compatibility" cruft was an adaptive response to closed-source Unix, having lots of stuff around you couldn't modify and rebuild. Open-source practice has since gone much further in the direction of scrap-and-rebuild (or refactor).
Nevertheless you're right. Hacker code is a mixed bag. But that's not because the hard-core types don't understand code cleanliness and good practice, it's because a lot of the community is amateurs and autodidacts who are learning as they go. (I consider this a good thing; I prefer cultures like this to cultures that are bogged down in credentialism and exclusivity.)
My new book is aimed straight at these people. They're willing to do the work to write clean code, if anyone will teach them how. The hacker culture is healthy that way, there is a lot of social reinforcement for coding not just the expedient thing but the Right Thing.
Marco Abis
Nickname: marcoabis
You looked at the Agile principles & practices from an hacker point of view and realized there is a connection. More than a year ago a realized the same connection but the other way round looking at you 'The Cathedral and the Bazaar' from an Agile point of view: http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?OpenSourceAsAgileProcess :)
Mike McClure
Nickname: mcclure
Registered: Nov, 2003
Re: Hacking and Refactoring Posted: Nov 23, 2003 9:09 PM
TDD is conspicously absent in the activity of hacking.
imho tdd is conspicuously central to the activity of hacking insofar that hacking is usually done to a achieve a very specific purpose, generally with a binary view of success.
so where is the testing? the proof is (as they say) in the pudding - does the software do what i want it to, or not?
admittedly it is not a sophisticated form of testing such as that to which we are becoming accustomed but it is there and oh-so-very central.
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Breaking news – Filippo Maggia
Home » Exhibition » Breaking news – Filippo Maggia
The internationality of a collection to which photos from every corner of the world are constantly added. Now it is the turn of Africa and the Middle East, amid conflicts, landscapes, intense focus, fotoreportage…
Niger Delta by George Osodi
Breaking news: why in certain areas of the world, where peace is a distant dream, news bulletins only emphasise the conflict, diplomatic talks, the topical events.
A thought-provoking title, because the Modena exhibition is not concerned exclusively with war fotoreportage, but which is the only one to have a strong connection with all three macro-areas in question, namely, the Middle East, the Gulf of Guinea, South Africa, from which the 21 photographers were selected. If in fact those regions are forever on the brink of waging a religious, tribal, race – or boundary-motivated war, it is also true we often forget that people live there, and those people are interested in the creativity of art and photography.
And that is why the team of young people led by Filippo Maggia have gone and unearthed the most representative artists of those countries we think of as too far away from us. They have then set up an exhibition with a harsh tone, unsettling and kitsch, were Jodi Bieber’s black and white photographs of Johannesburg’s suburbs are shown next to the perfect images of Daniel Naude’s African dogs, and the violent pictures of oil drilling in the Niger Delta by George Osodi hang alongside Philip Kwame Apagya’s portraits painted on brightly-coloured “western” backgrounds.
An African that can also be ironic, as in the case of Goddy Leye’s video “We are the world” where the protagonist gorges himself with fruit while singing the song epitome of Western support to the African continent. There is a substantial group of Middle Eastern artists, and at the centre of the exhibition is the Israelo-Palestinian conflict, represented from different standpoints a rotoscope video interview by Wael Shawky focused on the resistance put up in the Palestinian refugee camps, the series “Trackers” showing images of Bedouin shepherds volunteering in the Isreaeli Army, the “Wathtowers” by Taysir Betniji who look like water tanks while in fact having a military purpose, Yael Bartana’s video that is perhaps the
only piece of work on show with a slightly rhetorical flavour.
So many works, many artists, but most importantly different methods, which takes you outside the boundaries of the Western world and is well worth an attentive viewing. It takes time to understand and assimilate the great variety of images that will give you food for thought long after you have left the former Sant’Agostino Hospital. Because images, when now accompanied by the usual explanatory press news, can become – as in this case – a most effective instrument of insight into the so-called “other parts of the world”.
By Marta Santacatterina
Breaking News – contemporary photography from the Middle East and Africa
curated by Filippo Maggia
Ex Hospital of Saint Augustine
Boris von Brauchitsch Lanzarote Exhibition
Photographer Cormac Figgis
Iconic photography exhibition at Pretoria Art Museum
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Two-center electron-impact ionization via collisional excitation-autoionization
F. Grüll A. B. Voitkiv C. Müller Institut für Theoretische Physik I, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Electron-impact ionization of an atom or ion in the presence of a neighboring atom is studied. The latter is first collisionally excited by the incident electron, whose energy is assumed to be high but nonrelativistic. Afterwards, the excitation energy is transferred radiationlessly via a two-center Auger process to the other atom or ion, leading to its ionization. We show that the participation of the neighboring atom manifests in a very pronounced resonance peak in the energy-differential cross section and can substantially enhance the total cross section of electron-impact ionization. We also discuss the influence of the neighbouring atom on the angular distribution of the ejected electron.
Electron-impact ionization of atoms or ions is one of the most fundamental atomic collision processes book . It is of importance, for instance, in various kinds of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. Apart from direct ionization by electron impact, there exist also more complex ionization mechanisms which involve autoionizing resonances. Upon the collision, a bound electron can be excited to an autoionizing state which subsequently stabilizes through Auger decay Peart ; Hahn . Besides, for certain resonant energies, a dielectronic capture of the projectile electron to the target may occur, leading to double Auger ionization Hahn ; Muller . These indirect (e,2e) processes, which rely on intra-atomic electron correlations, can be substantially more important than the direct ionization channel.
Autoionizing transitions can also arise from electrons situated at two different atomic centers, with Penning ionization being a famous example representing such an interatomic correlation effect. In recent years, there have been extensive studies on another process driven by electron correlations in two or more atoms. An atom neighbouring another atom or ion in an excited state may receive the excitation energy radiationlessly via interatomic electron-electron interaction. Provided a sufficient energy transfer, the atom can then be ionized. Therefore, radiationless decay can happen in the system even when a single-center Auger decay is energetically forbidden. Despite its two-center nature, interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) ICD ; ICDres ; ICDrev as this process is called, can be much faster than the single-center radiative decay. Associated experiments have been carried out comprising noble gas dimers dimers , clusters clusters and water molecules water . Both theoretical 2CPI ; Perina and experimental 2CPIexp studies have been performed on the closely related process of two-center photoionization as well.
Photoabsorption serves as the common method to create the autoionizing state in experimental studies of ICD. Besides, a small number of experiments was carried out employing electron impact. Using electron energies in the range of 3 keV Lanzhou , 380 eV Lanzhou2 down to about 30–100 eV Dorn , ICD resulting from electron-impact ionization of one center, followed by molecular dissociation could be observed in noble-gas dimers and trimers. In these experiments there are, accordingly, three electrons in the final state: the primary scattered electron, the secondary ejected electron and the ICD electron. ICD was also implemented on water clusters adsorbed on condensed noble-gas surfaces using low-energy electron impact Grieves .
Figure 1: Scheme of two-center electron-impact ionization 2C(e,2e). A projectile electron first creates a two-center autoionizing state by collisionally exciting atom B (left). Subsequently, the latter transfers the excess energy radiationlessly to atom A, leading to its ionization via two-center Auger decay (right).
A few electron impact induced interatomic processes have been treated theoretically so far. In two-center dielectronic recombination (2CDR) an incident electron is captured by an ion, leading to resonance excitation of a neighboring atom, which afterwards de-excites via spontaneous radiative decay 2CDR . If the metastable intermediate state does not stabilize radiatively, but instead re-emits the captured electron, two-center resonance scattering (2CRS) takes place 2CRS . In interatomic Coulombic electron capture (ICEC) the incident electron energy is so large that, upon its capture to the ion, a neighboring atom is ionized ICEC ; q-dots . The process thus represents an interatomic charge exchange. To our knowledge, comprehensive theoretical descriptions of interatomic ionization processes by electron impact, which take all steps of these processes into account, are still missing.
In the present paper, we study electron-impact ionization via excitation-autoionization in a two-center atomic system consisting of atoms A and B – a process which has not been considered in the literature yet. The autoionizing state of this system is formed by collisional excitation of atom B, which afterwards stabilzes via two-center Auger decay (or ICD), leading to ionization of a neighboring atom A (see Fig. 1). Note that, in contrast to Refs. Lanzhou ; Lanzhou2 ; Dorn , the incident electron leads to excitation – rather than ionization – of atom B and, consequently, there are only two electrons in the final state (scattered projectile and Auger electron). We call this process resonant two-center electron-impact ionization 2C(e,2e). It interferes with the usual direct electron-impact ionization of atom A. We will show that, due to 2C(e,2e), electron-impact ionization can be qualitatively modified and strongly enhanced by several orders of magnitude in a narrow range of emitted electron energies. Resonant 2C(e,2e) can also provide a substantial contribution to the total electron-impact ionization cross section of atom A.
Our paper is organized as follows. In Sec. II we present our theoretical considerations of 2C(e,2e). After formulating the general framework, an expression for the energy-differential cross section of this process will be obtained. Quantum interference effects from the different pathways will be included. In Sec. III we illustrate our findings by some numerical examples and discuss their physical implications also including the angular distribution of 2C(e,2e). As specific example, 2C(e,2e) in a Li-He system at 1keV electron impact will be considered. Concluding remarks are given in Sec. IV. Atomic units (a.u.) will be used throughout unless otherwise stated. The Bohr radius is denoted as a0.
Ii Theoretical framework and analytical considerations
ii.1 General treatment
Focussing on the physical basics of 2C(e,2e), we approach the process in a simple atomic system consisting of two atoms A and B. These are initially in their ground states and separated by a distance R. In order to treat the two constituents individually and ignore molecular effects, R has to be large enough. Within this consideration, 2C(e,2e) can be viewed as a sequence of two sub-processes: The excitation of atom B by electron-impact and the ionization of atom A via dipole-dipole-interaction with atom B. We suppose that both nuclei are at rest and carry charges ZA and ZB respectively. In each atom only one electron is ”active” in the considered process. We set the position of ZA as the origin and denote the coordinates of the nucleus ZB, the projectile electron, the electron associated with A and the electron associated with B by R, ϱ, r and r′=R+ξ, where ξ is the position of the electron of atom B with respect to the nucleus ZB. We choose the z-axis to be along the incident electron momentum pin=pinez, also serving as our quantization axis.
Since the considered process involves two steps, we need to define the incident electron and initial, intermediate and final configurations of the two electrons associated with A and B, which are illustrated in Fig. 1:
(I) Ψpin,g,g=ϕpin(ϱ)φg(r)χg(ξ) with total energy Epin,g,g=p2in2+εg+ϵg. The initial state has an incident electron with momentum pin and electrons of A and B in their ground states; (II) Ψp′f,g,j=ϕp′f(ϱ)φg(r)χj(ξ) with total energy Ep′f,g,j=p′2f2+εg+ϵj. In this intermediate state the incident electron has scattered and changed its momentum to p′f, the electron of B has been excited and the electron in A remains in its ground state; (III) Ψpf,k,g=ϕpf(ϱ)φk(r)χg(ξ) with total energy Epf,k,g=p2f2+εk+ϵg with εk=k22. The final state consists of the scattered electron, the electron from A, which has been emitted into the continuum with asymptotic momentum k and the electron of B, which has returned to its ground state. Note that all continuum states are normalized to a quantization volue of unity. In order to ionize atom A in a two-center process including atom B, the ionization potential IA=|εg| has to be smaller than the energy difference ωB=ϵj−ϵg of an electronic transition in atom B.
Assuming a sufficiently high projectile electron energy, the probability amplitude of 2C(e,2e) is calculated via the second order of time-dependent perturbation theory,
S(2)=
×t∫−∞dt′WBj(q)e−i(Epin,g,g−Ep′f,g,j)t′. (1)
The matrix elements are given by
VAB(p′f,pf,k) = ⟨Ψpf,k,g|^VAB|Ψp′f,g,j⟩ (2)
WB(q) = ⟨Ψp′f,g,j|^WB|Ψpin,g,g⟩, (3)
where q=pf−pin is the momentum transfer experienced by the incident electron.
The interaction ^WB induces the electron-impact excitation of atom B and is given by
^WB=−ZBϱ+1|ϱ−ξ| (4)
^VAB describes the two-center interaction between the electrons of A and B, respectively
^VAB=r⋅ξR3−3(r⋅R)(ξ⋅R)R5. (5)
Here, we assume a dipole-allowed transition in atom B and neglect retardation effects, which is justified for R≪c/ωB.
Finally, is the integration over all intermediate continuum states of the scattered electron and the sum over all intermediate electron states of atom B. Note that, since ^VAB has no impact on ϱ, one obtains p′f=pf due to the orthogonality of {ϕp′f(ϱ),ϕpf(ϱ)}.
Integration of Eq. (II.1) over time yields
S(2) =−2πiδ(Epf,k,g−Epin,g,g)VAB(pf,k)WB(q)Δ+i2Γ, (6)
where Δ=p2in2+ϵg−ϵj−p2f2 is the energy detuning and Γ denotes the total decay width of the excited state χe(ξ). It has been inserted to account for the finite lifetime of this state and includes the radiative width Γrad as well as the two-center Auger width Γaug, often called ICD width, which are given by
ΓBrad = 4ω3B3c3∣∣⟨χg|ξ|χj⟩∣∣2 (7)
Γaug = ∫d3k(2π)2|VAB(k)|2δ(εk+ϵg−εg−ϵj). (8)
The δ-function in Eq. (6) expresses the energy conservation in the process:
⎛⎝p2f2+k22+ϵg⎞⎠−(p2in2+εg+ϵg)=0. (9)
The ground state energy ϵg of atom B effectively drops out from this expression since atom B plays the role of a catalyzer in the process.
In order to obtain the differential cross section from Eq. (6), we integrate the absolute square of the transition amplitude over the final momentum of the impacting electron pf and the solid angle Ωk of the emitted electron’s momentum. Dividing this by the interaction time τ as well as the incident flux j=pin, the differential cross section depends on the energies of the incident electron p2in2 and ejected electron εk:
dσ(2)dεk=1pin∫d3pf(2π)3∫kdΩk(2π)31τ∣∣S(2)∣∣2. (10)
Our aim is to study the characteristics of this two-center process. Therefore, we compare it to the one-center process of electron-impact ionization of atom A. Literature values for the one-center process of electron-impact ionization can easily be found for many atoms. Nevertheless, in order to be consistent with respect to the degree of approximation made, we calculate the cross section of this process within the first order of time-dependent perturbation theory. The transition amplitude has the following form:
S(1) = −i∞∫−∞dt⟨ϕpf(ϱ)φk(r)|^WA|ϕpin(ϱ)φg(r)⟩ (11)
×e−i((εg+p2in2)−(εk+p2f2))t
^WA=−ZAϱ+1|ϱ−r| (12)
where pf, pin and k are related due to energy conservation as shown in Eq. (9). This leads to the cross section
dσ(1)dεk=1pin∫kdΩk(2π)31τ∣∣S(1)∣∣2. (13)
The two-center channel competes with the direct electron-impact ioniziation. Furthermore, these two transitions interfere with each other and create a joint transition amplitude
S(1+2)=S(1)+S(2). (14)
We refer to the resulting cross section σ(1+2) as to the complete cross section for ionization of atom A and obtain it analogously to Eq. (10). Other competing channels may occur, such as impact-ionization of atom B. However, they do not interfere with the previoulsy established two, since they do not lead to the same final state. We will further refer to these channels in section III.
ii.2 Relation to single-center processes
In this subsection we will restrict our consideration to R=Rez along the incident electron momentum pin. We note that taking an average over the orierentation of R does not change the features of 2C(e,2e) qualitatively.
An advantage of the analytical approach to the two-center electron-impact ionization is the possibility of analyzing the mathematical form of the cross section. In order to enable comparison of our calculation to already known quantities, we try to express dσ(2)dεk as a composition of one-center processes. Analysing the terms depicted in Eq. (6) with the restriction to one intermediate state j, we can divide the expression into three one-center processes. The first step of electron-impact excitation of atom B can be transferred into its according cross section σBexc. The dipole-dipole interaction can be separated into two processes involving atom A and B individually. The resulting matrix element concerning atom B can be related to the radiative decay rate Γrad as in Eq. (7) from the excited state back to the ground state g. For atom A the matrix element can be expressed via the direct photoionization cross section σAPI.
A remark on the energy conservation conditions is appropriate. Within the composition consisting of one-center processes, we have two regulations of energy conservation: One in σAPI for k and one in σBexc for pf. In Eq. (6) however, we have only one δ-function, in which both k and pf are included. In the present consideration we disentangle this combined law of energy conservation by assuming that, in the first step, 12(p2f−p2in)=ϵg−ϵj holds, whereas in the second step the electron in ejected from atom A with energy 12k20:=εg+ϵj−ϵg.
We then find the following compact formula for the differential cross section of 2C(e,2e) at the resonance peak
dσ(2)dεk∣∣k=k0=2πΓaugΓ2σBexc(pin) (15)
with the two-center Auger rate
Γaug=32πc4ω4R6Γ(B)% radσAPI(ω). (16)
Here, ω=ωB is the transition energy of atom B in all quantities used in Eq. (15) in the case of k=k0. This expression enables a direct estimation of the cross section via one-center processes. For a fixed initial electron momentum pin, the cross section decreases with R−6 provided R is large enough so that Γrad≫Γaug is valid. In this case, the dependence of Γ on R is negligible. For a fixed interatomic distance R, the cross section depends on the one-center processes of photoionization regarding atom A and electron-impact excitation of atom B. As a result, 2C(e,2e) will benefit if the cross sections of one-center photoionization of neighbour A and one-center electron-impact excitation of neighbour B are high.
We can now insert literature values for the expressions in Eq. (15) and evaluate the ratio
ηk0=dσ(2)/dεkdσ(1)/dεk∣∣∣k=k0. (17)
Let us consider a simple system consisting of H (as atom A) and He (as atom B). We choose an impact energy of p2in2=250 eV and an internuclear separation of R=20a0. At this distance and with σHPI=0.064 a.u. Samson , one has Γaug≈Γrad=4.33×10−8 a.u. NIST for the dipole-allowed 1s-2p0 transition in helium. Note that we have to multpliy the expression for Γaug given in Eq. (16) by a factor 2 in order to account for the two electrons in helium. This will be discussed more thoroughly in Sec. III. With σHeexc(pin)=0.250 a.u. NIST and dσ(1)Hdεk|k=k0=1.94 a.u. Shyn , we therefore obtain a ratio of ηk0≈4.7×105. Thus the participation of the neighbouring helium atom tremendously amplifies the electron-impact ionization of hydrogen for ejected electron momenta close to k0.
When considering the total cross section however, one has to incorporate the behaviour for all k. The two-center process has a resonant nature in contrast to the one-center process. To highlight this difference we can approximate the two cross sections as follows:
σ(2) ≈ dσ(2)dεk∣∣k=k0δres (18)
σ(1) ≈ dσ(1)dεk∣∣k=k0δεk (19)
Using the effective resonance width δres=π2Γ which holds for a Lorentzian curve of the form dσ(2)/dεk∼1/(Δ2+14Γ2), we obtain the total cross section of resonant 2C(e,2e) in the form
σ(2)≈ΓaugΓσBexc. (20)
This formula allows for a very intuitive interpretation. The first step in resonant 2C(e,2e) is the electron-impact excitation of atom B, which enters into Eq. (20) by the corresponding cross section. The excited state may afterwards decay back into the ground state either by spontaneous radiative emission or by two-center Auger decay. The latter decay channel has a branching ratio of Γaug/Γ, which is reflected in Eq. (20) as well.
In the H-He example under consideration, we find σ(2)H-He≈0.12 a.u. for the resonant 2C(e,2e) cross section. In comparison, the total cross section for one-center electron-impact ionization of H amounts to σ(1)=1.22 a.u. Lotz at the same impact energy. Hence, the ratio of the fully-integrated cross sections is σ(2)H-Heσ(1)H≈0.1 at the chosen internuclear distance. The reason why the one-center process dominates over the two-center process in terms of the total cross section lies in their largely different effective widths. Using again dσ(1)Hdεk|k=k0=1.94 a.u. Shyn the value for the fully integrated cross section translates into an effective width δεk≈17 eV which is 7 orders of magnitude larger than δres.
Figure 2: Ratio σ(2)σ(1) calculated from literature values for H-He using p2in/2=250 eV (blue solid) and p2in/2=1 keV (red dashed).
Figure 2 shows the ratio σ(2)σ(1) of the total cross sections as function of the internuclear distance. The Lotz formula Lotz has been used for σ(1)H, while Eq. (20) has been evaluated to obtain σ(2)H-He. One can see that the cross section ratio saturates at distances R≲12a0 where Γ≈Γaug. In this region, the ratio attains a value of σ(2)H-He/σ(1)H≈0.2, indicating a noteworthy relevance of the two-center process also for the total cross section of electron-impact ionization of hydrogen. We also show the ratio for p2in/2=1 keV using σHeexc≈0.11a.u. Ganas since we will use this impact energy for our numerical calculations in Sec. III. The corresponding electron velocity is vin≈8.6 a.u. where the applicability condition for perturbation theory (vin≫1 a.u.) is well satisfied.
Iii Numerical results and Discussion
We want to further investigate the characteristics of resonant 2C(e,2e) by illustrating our findings of the previous section by some numerical results. H-He as the simplest diatomic system was already considered in Sec. II.2. However, H and He do not form a stable molecule. Therefore, we provide instead numerical results for a two-center system consisting of Li (as atom A) and He (as atom B). Both can form a 7Li4He van-der-Waals molecule, which could be used for an experimental test of 2C(e,2e) Friedrich .
Since we consider one ”active” electron for each atom, we choose effective nuclear charges ZA and ZB and electronic states χ and φ in order to achieve a reasonable comparableness to real atomic species. Our goal is to ionize the electron associated with Li, so ωB>IA as described in Sec. II. Using the single-active electron description, we describe lithium as a hydrogen-like atom with a 2s ground state. We choose the effective nuclear charge as ZA=1.259 to match the binding energy IA≈5.39 eV of lithium NIST . The neighbouring atom B is chosen as helium in its ground state (1s2). Within this example, we consider the dipole-allowed transition (1s−2pm) for the electron-impact excitation. We use this transition in order to calculate a common effective nuclear charge for both states. With an excitation energy ωB=21.218 \text{ eV}, we find ZB=1.435.
We note that excitations to higher lying states (such as 3pm, 4pm etc.) provide additional contributions to resonant 2C(e,2e). However, we restrict our considerations here to the 2pm states in helium, since they have the largest dipole transition matrix elements from the ground state.
Our model now captures some basic features of a real Li-He dimer. However, we do not take account for any effects of the molecular bond. As a van der Waals molecule, the dimer has a shallow interaction potential which allows for a large extension of the bond. Its mean distance R≈55a0 exceeds the equilibrium distance Req≈11.3a0, where the potential has a minimum Friedrich .
The incident electron, before and after impact on B, is described by a plane wave ϕpin=eipinϱ, ϕpf=eipfϱ. After ionization, the influence of the remaining lithium ion on the emitted electron of A is accounted for by using a Coulomb wave φk LandauQM with the same nuclear charge ZA as mentioned above. We recall that all continuum states are normalized to a quantization volume of unity.
In Sec. II, we established the theory for one ”active” electron per atom. Considering helium as atom B, we want to describe it including both electrons. Therefore, instead of χg(ξ) and χj(ξ), we apply symmetrized wave functions:
χg(ξ1,ξ2) =α1s(ξ1)α1s(ξ2) (21)
χj(ξ1,ξ2) =1√2[αj(ξ1)α1s(ξ2)+α1s(ξ1)αj(ξ2)] (22)
α1s and αj are hydrogenic wave functions with effective charge ZB. Both interaction Hamiltonians in Eq. (4) and (5) are then properly extended according to
^WB → −ZBϱ+1|ϱ−ξ1|+1|ϱ−ξ2| (23)
^VAB → ^VAB(r,ξ1+ξ2). (24)
These modifications lead to an additional factor of 2 in the 2C(e,2e) amplitude, as compared to the case when atom B is an effective one-electron system.
iii.1 Energy spectra
First we consider 2C(e,2e) as a separate channel and compare it to the one-center process.
As before, we restrict ourselves to R=Rez. The internuclear distance is chosen as R=20a0 and the incident electron energy as p2in2=1 keV. At the chosen interatomic separation, the ratio Γaug/Γrad≈0.2 shows an excess of the radiative width compared to the Auger width. We point out that, for reasons of self-consistency, we use in our numerical calculations the value of Γrad that follows from Eq. (7) when the wave functions in Eq. (21) are inserted. Note in this regard that the matrix elements appearing in Eq. (7) for the decay width are also constituent parts of the 2C(e,2e) cross section. Our calculated value of Γrad is by a factor of ≈1.5 larger than the literature value from NIST .
As we have already seen in Sec. II.2, the 2C(e,2e) singly differential cross section is very sensitive to ejected electron momentum k. For k=k0 we obtain a peak displaying resonance Fussnote . This represents a strong contrast to the one-center processes, where the lack of a resonance leads to smooth cross sections. The values of the one-center cross section exceed those for the two-center process by several orders of magnitudes for most ejected electron energies εk. On resonance however, the two-center process increases tremendously and we obtain dσ(2)/dεk=2.3×105 a.u.. For comparison, using instead Eq. (15) and the literature values Γrad≈4.33×10−8 a.u. NIST , σLiPI≈0.18 a.u. Bhatia and σHeexc≈0.11 a.u. Ganas for p2in2=1 keV, we find the approximate value dσ(2)dεk∣∣k=k0=2.5×105% a.u..
Figure 3: Singly differential cross sections of the one-center electron-impact ionization of lithium (black solid) dσ(1)/dεk, two-center ionization of lithium (blue solid) dσ(2)/dεk and one-center ionization of helium (black dashed) dσ(1)/dϵk for R=20a0 with R∥pin.
Figure 3 shows the correspondent singly differential cross sections dσ(2)dεk and dσ(1)dεk for a system representing Li-He at an internuclear distance R=20a0.
Figure 4: Ratios η(1+2)k (red dashed) and η2k (blue solid) for R=20a0 with Δεk=k2/2−k20/2.
Integrating in Fig 3 over all possible εk we obtain a value of σ(2)Li-He≈0.026 a.u.. For the one-center process our calculations using Z=ZA for the Coulomb wave function yield a total cross section of σ(1)Li≈0.79 leading to a ratio η(2)=σ(2)Li-Heσ(1)Li≈0.03. We point out that our result for σ(1)Li differs by a factor of ≈0.5 from the Lotz value Lotz . However, since the same wave functions for lithium are used in our 2C(e,2e) calculations, we expect to slightly underestimate σ(2)Li-He as well.
When the interatomic distance is reduced to R=10a0, the ratio ΓaugΓrad≈12.8 shows the great significance of the two-center Auger decay for the total decay width, so Γ≈Γaug. Inserting this approximation in Eq. (20) yields σ(2)Li-He≈σHeexc≈0.11 a.u. Ganas . This way, we obtain η(2)≈0.07 using σ(1)Li from Lotz . For the peak value our calculations yield dσ(2)dεk∣∣k=k0=2.16×105%a.u.. The corresponding value obtained from Eq. (15) is smaller by a factor ≈0.4.
We note that, in principle, the excited state in atom B could be subject to finestructure splitting due to spin-orbit coupling. This effect would lead to an according splitting of the resonance peak, which is typically on the order of 10−4 eV in light atoms. Since such a narrow dublet of lines is very difficult to resolve in electron-beam experiments, though, we refrain from its inclusion in our general treatment of resonant 2C(e,2e). Besides, no finestructure arises in the excited 1s2p spin-singulett state NIST in helium considered in the current section.
Figure 3 also shows the cross section of the one-center electron-impact ionization of center B, in our case helium. As mentioned before, this process can compete but not interfere with the ionization of lithium. It was calculated by applying the same technique as above. The helium ground state was used in the form of Eq. (21) and the continuum state was described by the symmetrized wave function
χk(ξ1,ξ2)=1√2[αk(ξ1)α1s(ξ2)+α1s(ξ1)αk(ξ2)] (25)
where αk denotes a Coulomb wave LandauQM . An effective nuclear charge Z=1.34 was applied which accounts for the correct first ionization energy of helium. This way we obtain results differing by a factor of ≈0.6 from the values in Lotz which fits in with the values for σ(1) seen above. The fully integrated one-center cross section for lithium exceeds the one for helium by more than an order of magnitude Lotz . The singly differential cross sections show this behaviour only for small εk. Around the resonance, one has dσ(1)He/dϵk≈dσ(1)Li/dεk. We may conclude that the background of ejected electrons from impact ionization of helium as well as the total loss of neutral helium atoms by this process are not very severe.
Next, we investigate the different characteristics of the two-center process and the complete two-center process involving quantum interference. Therefore, we plot the ratios η(1+2)k=dσ(1+2)/dεkdσ(1)/dεk and η(2)k=dσ(2)/dεkdσ(1)/dεk calculated similarly to Eq. (17). In Fig. 4 the ratios of cross sections are depicted for a small range of energies εk=k2/2 around the resonance. The ratio between the total cross section including the interference of both transition amplitudes S(1) and S(2) and the one-center process takes the constant value close to 1 for ejected electron energies εk off resonance. Therefore, the total cross section resembles the smooth curve of the one-center process for most values of k. For resonant k the ratio experiences the peak which has already been observed in Fig. 3. The peak representating a tremendous amplification has a narrow width. The calculation of the ratio comparing the two-center processes to the one-center process yields the peak behaviour on resonance which represents a strong amplification of the ionization for ejected electron momenta k near resonance. We find a ratio ηk0=3.24×106 at resonance when comparing the two-center process to the one-center process.
Figure 5: Ratios of the partial cross sections ηpart=σ(2)part/σ(1)part for H-He (red dashed) and Li-He (blue solid), taking an energy window of 1 eV around the respective resonance into account. The incident energy is 12p2in=1keV.
The resonance peaks shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are so pronounced, that the underlying 2C(e,2e) channel can give an appreciable contribution even to the total cross section of electron-impact ionization (see Fig. 2). Because of their very narrow widths, however, the peaks themselves are very difficult to observe directly in experiment. Therefore, we have calculated the partial cross sections σ(1,2)part which result from a resolvable energy range of ejected electrons around the resonance. For this purpose we have integrated the energy-differential cross sections over an interval of 1 eV width, including all electron energies εk between k202±0.5 eV. Figure 5 shows the dependency of σ(2)part/σ(1)part on the internuclear distances R. Considering this restricted interval of energies, we obtain an even greater relevance of the two-center process than we have seen in Fig. 2, reaching values ηpart>1. Consequently, the two-center process can dominate the electron-impact ionization in a measurable energy interval.
iii.2 Angular distributions
We also want to investigate the angular distribution of the ejected electron in order to show differences between the two processes. To this end we calculate the doubly differential cross section d2σ(2)/dθkdεk at resonance, where the polar angle θk of the ejected electron is measured with respect to the momentum pin=pinez of the incident electron. We choose R=20a0 and consider two orientations, R⊥=R√2(ex+ey) and R∥=Rez, of the two-center system. We point out that in a gas of Li-He dimers the internuclear separation vectors are randomly orientated. Hence, a prealignment of the molecular axes would be required to see the dependence on R of ejected electron’s angular distribution in experiment.
Figure 6: Doubly differential cross sections d2σ/dθkdεk|k=k0 for one-center electron-impact ionization of lithium (black, multiplied by a factor of 106), and two-center ionization of lithium in a Li-He system, with interatomic orientations R⊥=R√2(ex+ey) (blue dashed) and R∥=Rez (blue solid), respectively. The interatomic distance is R=20a0, the incident energy 12p2in=1 keV, and the emission energy 12k20≈15.8 eV.
In Fig. 6 the angular dependencies of the cross sections are depicted. All curves are smooth and symmetric with respect to reflection at θk=π/2. The angular distribution of the one-center process passes through a maximum at this angle. Because the plot shows the differential cross sections on resonance, the value of the direct pathway can by no means come up to the value of the two-center process. The latter depends on the orientation of R. For R⊥, we obtain the position of the maximum at θk=π/2 as well. While the overall shape looks similar, the slope on both sides slighty differs from the one-center case. Assuming instead an interatomic orientation along R∥ leads to a more drastic change of form. We then obtain a kind of plateau exhibiting two maxima and a shallow minimum at θk=π/2.
The two-center electron impact ionization thus noticably modifies the angular dependency of the ejected electron in contrast to the direct pathway. The indirect process includes contributions from various excited electronic states in atom B. We further analyse their individual angular dependencies by calculating the contributions to the cross section stemming from each of the excited states separately.
Figure 7: Doubly differential cross sections d2σ(2)/dθkdεk|k=k0 for the two-center ionization in a Li-He system, considering only the contribution from the excited state 2p0 for the orientations R⊥ (orange dashed) and R∥ (orange thick), respectively. Also the contributions from the 2p+1 excited state for the same orientations are shown (green dotted, green solid). The latter curves also illustrate the case of 2p−1 since it gives the same contribution. The other parameters are as in Fig. 6.
Figure 7 shows the angular dependence of the ejected electron for different excited states of atom B. When only considering the excited 2p state with angular momentum projection m=0, we obtain two maxima and a deep minimum at θk=π/2. When considering instead m=+1, the curves attain a single maximum at θk=π/2. Since m=−1 exhibits the exactly same curve, for the interatomic orientation R⊥, the contribution from m=±1 together is largely dominant and therefore resembles the corresponding angular distribution shown in Fig. 6 which includes all excited states. Conversely, for the orientation R∥ the solid curves in Fig. 7 show substantial contributions from all substates, which explains the appearance of the plateau shown in Fig. 6. Note, however, that the distributions in Fig. 6 cannot be obtained directly from summing the respective curves in Fig. 7, because the former also contains interferences between the contributions from the various excited states.
Iv Conclusion
Electron-impact induced ionization in a two-center atomic system has been studied. In this resonant 2C(e,2e) process, an atom is ionized by electron-impact excitation of a neighbouring atom which subsequently deexcites via an interatomic Auger decay. It was shown to considerably affect the characteristics of the well-known direct electron-impact ionization of a single center. In particular, due to resonant 2C(e,2e), the energy-differential cross section of electron-impact ionization may be enhanced tremendously in a narrow energy range. As a consequence, the two-center channel can provide a substantial contribution even to the total cross section of electron-impact ionization. This effect can be highlighted if the yield of electrons within experimentally resolvable energy interval around the sharp resonance is collected. The two-center channel can also significantly modify the angular distribution of ejected electrons.
Our general predictions may be tested experimentally by using heteroatomic van-der-Waals molecules. Suitable candidates, for instance, could be Li-He dimers as considered here, or He-Ne dimers, as used in the recent 2CPI experiments 2CPIexp .
This work has been funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Grant No. 349581371 (MU 3149/4-1 and VO 1278/4-1).
(1) T. D. Märk and G. H. Dunn (eds.), Electron Impact Ionization (Springer, Wien, 1985); A. Müller, Adv. At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 55, 293 (2008).
(2) B. Peart and K. T. Dolder, J. Phys. B 1, 872 (1968).
(3) K. J. LaGattuta and Y. Hahn, Phys. Rev. A 24, 2273(R) (1981).
(4) A. Müller, K. Tinschert, G. Hofmann, E. Salzborn, and G. H. Dunn, Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 70 (1988).
(5) L. S. Cederbaum, J. Zobeley, and F. Tarantelli, Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 4778 (1997); V. Averbukh, I. B. Müller, and L. S. Cederbaum, ibid. 93, 263002 (2004).
(6) So-called resonant ICD was studied, e.g., in K. Gokhberg, V. Averbukh, and L. S. Cederbaum, J. Chem. Phys. 124, 144315 (2006).
(7) For reviews on ICD, see R. Santra and L. S. Cederbaum, Phys. Rep. 368, 1 (2002); V. Averbukh et al., J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom. 183, 36 (2011); U. Hergenhahn, ibid. 184, 78 (2011); T. Jahnke, J. Phys. B 48, 082001 (2015).
(8) T. Jahnke et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 083002 (2004); Y. Morishita et al., ibid. 96, 243402 (2006); T. Havermeier et al., ibid. 104, 133401 (2010).
(9) S. Marburger, O. Kugeler, U. Hergenhahn, and T. Möller, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 203401 (2003).
(10) T. Jahnke et al., Nature Phys. 6, 139 (2010); M. Mucke et al., ibid. 6, 143 (2010).
(11) B. Najjari, A. B. Voitkiv, and C. Müller, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 153002 (2010); A. B. Voitkiv and B. Najjari, Phys. Rev. A 84 013415 (2011).
(12) J. Peřina, A. Lukš, V. Peřinová, and W. Leoński, Phys. Rev. A 83, 053416 (2011); V. Peřinová, A. Lukš, J. Křepelka, and J. Peřina, ibid. 90, 033428 (2014).
(13) F. Trinter et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 233004 (2013); A. Mhamdi et al., Phys. Rev. A 97, 053407 (2018).
(14) S. Yan et al., Phys. Rev. A 88, 042712 (2013); S. Yan, P. Zhang, X. Ma, S. Xu, S. X. Tian, B. Li, X. L. Zhu, W. T. Feng, and D. M. Zhao, ibid. 89, 062707 (2014).
(15) S. Yan, P. Zhang, V. Stumpf, K. Gokhberg, X. C. Zhang, S. Xu, B. Li, L. L. Shen, X. L. Zhu, W. T. Feng, S. F. Zhang, D. M. Zhao, and X. Ma, Phys. Rev. A 97, 010701(R) (2018).
(16) T. Pflüger, X. Ren and A. Dorn, Phys. Rev. A 91, 052701 (2015); X. Ren, E. J. Al Maalouf, A. Dorn and S. Denifl, Nature Commun. 7, 11093 (2016).
(17) G. A. Grieves and T. M. Orlando, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 016104 (2011).
(18) C. Müller, A. B. Voitkiv, J. R. Crespo Lopez-Urrutia, and Z. Harman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 233202 (2010); A. B. Voitkiv and B. Najjari, Phys. Rev. A 82, 052708 (2010).
(19) A. Eckey, A. Jacob, A. B. Voitkiv, and C. Müller, Phys. Rev. A 98, 012710 (2018).
(20) K. Gokhberg and L. S. Cederbaum, J. Phys. B 42, 231001(FTC) (2009); Phys. Rev. A 82, 052707 (2010).
(21) ICEC has also been studied in a system of two quantum dots, see F. M. Pont, A. Bande, and L. S. Cederbaum, Phys. Rev. B 88, 241304(R) (2013); J. Phys.: Cond. Matter 28, 075301 (2016).
(22) J.A.R Samson,The Measurement of the Photoionization Cross Sections of Atomic Gases,(Space Sciences Laboratory. G C A Corporation. Bedford)
(23) Atomic spectra database of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), available at https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database
(24) T.W. Shyn, Phys. Rev. A 45, 5 (1992)
(25) W. Z. Lotz, Zeitschrift fuer Physik 206, 205-211 (1967)
(26) P.S. Ganas, Journal of Applied Physics 52, 19 (1981)
(27) B. Friedrich, Physics 6, 42 (2013)
(28) L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Quantum Mechanics, (Pergamon, Oxford, 1965); see Sec. § 136 and App. § e.
(29) Contributions to resonant 2C(e,2e) from excited np states with n≥3 would lead to resonance peaks at correspondingly higher energies. They are not shown in Fig. 3.
(30) A. K. Bhatia, A. Temkin, and A. Silver, Phys. Rev. A 12, 2044 (1975)
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MILPITAS, CALIF. January 14, 2016 – Aryaka®, the leading cloud networking provider, today announced that it saw record bookings in Q4 2015, with 117 percent year-over-year growth from Q4 2014. The growth came from new customer acquisitions, strong traction from within its existing customer base, and channel partner contributions across all verticals and geographies.
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Religions should never be immune to criticism.
Submitted by Atheist Republic on Wed, 05/28/2014 - 13:52
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I don’t think anything will change until we actively challenge the things people take for granted...I see no reason why belief should be left unchallenged.
- Lizmari M. Collazo
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The things people take for
The things people take for granted are constantly challenged some people though are to blind to see it. Some even go as far as to say these challenges are test of their faith. Faith is blindness too, its a clear demonstration of inability to accept or see the world for what it is as our thoughts of what we would rather it be fog out the view.
When what people take for granted gets challenged or threatened some people of faith think "Oh, if we just pray harder and follow some advice written long ago when people did not have the capability to know better and things will get better!" but in fact this following this course of action is the best way to loose what you take for granted. When people do this, rather than actually doing something about the threat this is akin to leaving it in the hands of fate, a decision that can be a fatal decision for the things we take for granted.
To follow beliefs can actually make the situation threatening the things that we take for granted worse or increase the treat so in effect create a bigger threat. One thing these types of beliefs are threatening now is our ability to exist on this planet.
As we head into a population crisis religious people with their heads in the sand are still preaching for the faithful to go forth and multiply. They are even advocating against such things as abortion and contraceptives. As the world they take for granted they feel will eventually take at turn for the worse anyways, as is told in revelations and they believe their faith will carry them into a new kingdom of "God" if it was just their world they were taking for granted and threatening with their faith, I would say "Whatever, to each their own!" but this is our world their beliefs are threatening too.
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Coach Garrett Rowland | Head S&C Coach | Lee University
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Garrett Rowland, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Lee University, visits with the 1.Question Podcast during the 2018 CSCCa National Conference. Two years ago, Coach Rowland was asked to build Lee University’s first strength & conditioning program as the school was completing the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. Rowland discusses the process of getting coaches and administrators on board as he implemented the new program. He also touches on the intricacies of organizational structure.
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Consistency as an Asset: South Dakota State’s Stiegelmeier & Middle Tennessee State’s Stockstill
Guest John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State; Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee State; Glenn Caruso, University of St. Thomas
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Longtime Head Football Coaches, John Stiegelmeier of South Dakota State and Rick Stockstill of Middle Tennessee State, discuss how consistency has become a key asset in their respective programs. Both coaches touch on avoiding complacency, staying relevant, and balancing new ideas within a consistent culture. Glenn Caruso, Head Football Coach at University of St. Thomas moderates the discussion.
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Fighting for nature: Captain Val Sanderson
Portrait of Captain Ernest Valentine Sanderson, circa First World War.
© Private Collection.
A remarkable New Zealander, Captain Ernest Valentine 'Val' Sanderson emerged from two wars to become a leading figure in the fight to protect New Zealand's natural heritage.
Using skills and leadership gained through war, he was a key founder of what became the Royal Forest & Bird Society. Fronting national conservation efforts for three decades, he was instrumental in fostering greater appreciation for New Zealand's environment.
Born in Dunedin in 1866 and raised in Wellington, Sanderson first served in the South African War (1899-1902) where he excelled as a Quartermaster-Sergeant for the No. 12 Company (Wellington section), 5th contingent, New Zealand Mounted Rifles, being mentioned by both of his Commanding Officers for special notice. With a talent for administration and an 'exceptional capacity for hard work', he was first employed as an insurance clerk and went on to found successful business ventures while serving as a part-time soldier in the Territorials.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Sanderson again sought to enlist, amending his age by five years to be under the age limit of 45. After a number of applications he was finally accepted and sent to Egypt. There he served again as a Quartermaster and Honourary Captain, first for the third reinforcements, Otago Infantry Battalion, and then at the General Base Depot.
Forest and Bird, Bulletin No. 34 (October, 1934).
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His command and organisational abilities were to become invaluable after the war as he went on to found the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society, later known as the Royal Forest & Bird Society. He almost single-handedly built the organisation into the New Zealand's leading environmental protection group after finding his beloved Kapiti Island bird sanctuary stripped and overrun with introduced species when he returned from war in 1921. Bringing a patriotic zeal and a military determination to the fight for nature, he had a ‘single-minded devotion to preserving was what was left of the flora and fauna of Old New Zealand’ (Obit., Evening Post, 1945) . Comparing the stark landscapes of Egypt and Gallipoli to New Zealand no doubt reinforced Sanderson's special appreciation of the country's natural gifts and the acute threat to them as farms rapidly took over the landscape across the islands.
As conservation issues become ever more critical, we should remember the leadership of servicemen like Captain Sanderson who emerged from war to work tirelessly for the benefit of future generations.
To their foresight we owe much.
Forest and Bird, Bulletin No.51 (February, 1939) and Bulletin No. 52 (May, 1939).
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To discover more, take a look at Captain Sanderson's Online Cenotaph record.
Ross Galbreath. 'Sanderson, Ernest Valentine', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, (accessed 26 May 2017)
Obituary, Captain E. V. Sanderson. Evening Post (31 December 1945)
The late Captain Sanderson. Evening Post (31 December 1945)
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Sanderson memorial address : Captain E. V. Sanderson : the man and his work
McCaskill, L. W. (Lancelot William), 1900-1985, author
Type: Library / PictorialContributor: McCaskill, L. W. (Lancelot William), 1900-1985, authorPlace: [Wellington, N.Z.]ID: GE56.S26 MCC
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
Type: Library / PictorialContributor: Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New ZealandPlace: Wellington, New ZealandID: QH1 FOR
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Millar, Dan . Fighting for Nature: Captain Val Sanderson . Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 25 May 2017. Updated: 1 August 2017.
URL: www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/captain-val-sanderson
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Here’s what happens at the annual Uluru Camel Cup
Here's what happens at the annual Uluru Camel Cup
We have a sneaking suspicion that this is the best camel race on Earth.
By Georgia Rickard
Published: 29 May, 2017
The sky is bright blue. The earth is brilliant red. In the distance is one of the most world’s recognisable icons – but no one’s looking at it. Uluru might normally be the show-stopper around these parts but for one weekend of the year, when the annual Uluru Camel Cup comes to town, all eyes turn to the race of the season.
The Uluru Camel Cup just might be Australia’s most underrated sporting event. Each year, over a raucous weekend of camel racing, parties and good humour, this colourful outback festival sees local camels race the length of an outback track to determines the year’s champion camel. Some camels are born athletes. Others aren’t even interested in running. But all of them receive rewarding pats when they reach the end of the track – and at the end of the day, one lucky camel trots away as winner of the annual Uluru Camel Cup.
Queens of the desert
Camel Train Tour, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Red Centre, Northern Territory
Australia has a unique history with camels. With their immense strength and capacity for surviving desert conditions, these lovely animals were first brought to Australia in the 1800s to help explorers establish infrastructure in the country’s dry inland deserts. By the mid 1900s however, their services were no longer needed and sadly, the government issued an order for all remaining animals to be shot. What it hadn’t counted on, however, was how much Australia’s cameleers loved their animals, who secretly arranged for dozens of the camels to be let loose in the desert. The camels flourished in Australia’s outback; today, Australia is the only place with a wild dromedary (single hump) camel population on Earth.
Learn more about the Uluru Camel Cup
Rides at the rock
Uluru Camel Tours, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory
It was an Australian named Chris Hill who came up with the idea of the Uluru Camel Cup. A passionate cameleer (and we mean passionate – Chris had tracked across every major desert in Australia on a camel’s back before he had turned 21), Chris runs Uluru Camel Tours at his unique outback farm. When you visit Uluru, it’s practically a requisite that you experience a camel ride here – there’s nothing quite like sitting atop one of these friendly, one-humped creatures as it strolls along a red-dirt track, the setting sun lighting up the sky, with that famous rock just 11 kilometres (seven miles) away on the glowing horizon. Chris created a purpose-built track for racing, and launched the first annual cup in 2011.
Read more about Uluru Camel Tours
The bucks’ party
Uluru Camel Cup, Yulara, Northern Territory
Not just any camel gets to participate in the Uluru Camel Cup. The average camel has the intelligence of a 12-year-old human according to Chris, and some simply turn up their nose and refuse to take part in such a frivolous exercise. (“They’re like big kids,” he explains. “They have different personalities and different needs. Each even has its own custom-made personal saddle.”) Only camels who seem to enjoy racing are entered into the racing heats; each camel is ridden by a member of the Uluru Camel Tours staff (all trained cameleers). The cup is a time when the camels “let loose”, says Chris. “They know that the days proceedings are out of their normal schedule, and a lot of them get a bit silly during the race – pig rooting, misbehaving and bucking their way down the track with jockeys on their backs. It’s a real sight.”
Check out the Uluru Camel Cup Facebook page
The night before hump day
The night before the race begins visitors gather to attend the Camel Calcutta, where rights to each competing camel are auctioned off to the highest bidder. Whoever wins each camel is then in the running to win a portion of the prize money, if their camel places in the final cup. Human winners often celebrate their victory with a beer, while the winning camel is treated to an extra tasty type of hay.
Read more about the Camel Calcutta
Getting off track
Fashions on the Field, Uluru Camel Cup, Yulara, Northern Territory
But the best part of the Uluru Camel Cup is what happens off the track. Over the course of the day, as camels run their heats, you’ll find plenty of activity and atmosphere to enjoy: including kids’ games (sack races, egg and spoon races, wheelbarrow races), camel petting, live music and a Fashions on the Field competition. “People dress up, there’s a lot of banter, and at this time of year the weather is just lovely – bright and sunny but not too hot.” In the evening, the farm is transformed into the setting for an outback ball. “It’s called the ‘Frock Up and Rock Up’ ball but people have different ideas about what ‘frock up’ means,” Chris laughs. “Some wear stilettos and evening gowns; others come in stubby shorts and thongs [that’s Australian for ‘flip flops’].” Whatever you wear, however, it’s guaranteed you’ll enjoy yourself. “The entire weekend is a good time.”
See what else you can do at Uluru
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Home • News • Rem Koolhass and David Gianotten gift MPavillion to Monash University
Rem Koolhass and David Gianotten gift MPavillion to Monash University
Article by Online Editor
Naomi Milgrom AO, founder of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, today announced that MPavilion 2017, designed by world-leading urban thinkers and architects Rem Koolhaas & David Gianotten of OMA, has been gifted to the people of Melbourne and will be relocated from its temporary site at the Queen Victoria Gardens to its new home at Monash University, Clayton. The fourth MPavilion in a series of six to be gifted by Milgrom; the relocation is underway with assistance from the City of Melbourne.
Milgrom, founder of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation said: “The relocation of Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten’s MPavilion to Monash University ensures it will continue to be a dynamic incubator, where ideas about architecture, design, and creativity are encouraged and nurtured. I’m extremely pleased that it will carry on inspiring our young practitioners.”
Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten of OMA commented: “We are pleased that OMA’s MPavilion 2017 will be relocated to one of Melbourne’s universities; places of knowledge and debate. MPavilion will engage and support the development of Monash University and the City of Melbourne. We look forward to seeing it in its exciting new context.”
Work on the installation of MPavilion 2017 at the Monash University site has begun. Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO said the MPavilion would be located at the front entrance of the Clayton campus near the new Learning and Teaching Building and close to public transport and parking. “MPavilion is an exciting addition to the diverse array of performance, teaching and learning spaces available at Monash. As a unique space for activities and events, it will provide an invaluable asset for the benefit of the surrounding community. I am delighted that this innovative example of contemporary design will be situated at our Clayton campus,” said Professor Gardner.
Due to popular demand, MPavilion 2017’s summer season was extended and closed on Sunday 11 February. It welcomed more than 117,000 visitors and hosted 477 free events over 133 days, engaging more than 550 collaborators including cultural institutions, architects, artists, musicians, dancers, choreographers, scientists, designers and more.
As part of the foundation’s ‘Architecture in the City’ strategy, each MPavilion has been gifted to the city following its season in the Queen Victoria Gardens. MPavilion 2014, designed by Australian architect Sean Godsell, permanently resides in the gardens of the Hellenic Museum; MPavilion 2015, designed by British architect Amanda Levete of AL_A, is located at a park on Collins Street, Docklands; and MPavilion 2016, designed by Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai, India is now in Melbourne Zoo.
The commission for MPavilion 2018 has been awarded to internationally renowned Spanish-based architect and educator Carme Pinós of Estudio Carme Pinós. Education, social housing, humanist architecture and gender equality are the key themes that will underpin MPavilion this year.
Nebulae Lighting by Ross Gardam
MPavilion 2018 program announced
• News September 19, 2018
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— More AP college basketball: https: tag Collegebasketball and https: AP-Top25 Copyright 2018 by AP.However, in recent memory the Maple Leafs and Panthers haven’t engaged in too many player swaps.Deshon Taylor scored 13.
The 25-year-old blueliner has been productive in the minors this campaign, notching two goals and five points in seven contests.Okay, yes, I know you mean try again as in make another prediction for the upcoming season.Caffeine can cause symptoms in cats If you don’t have any extra money to spend on fancy pants syrups or find the thought of at-home milk frothing a bit daunting, Krochmalny said flavored creamer works just as well in drip coffee – although the stronger the coffee used, the better.
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For the second in a row, no hockey players cracked the top 100 Related Here’s why.The leagues are seeking payments from states or sports betting providers to help pay for the cost of making sure their games remain free from cheating.Skip to content Many hockey specialists and coaches profess that before anything else, a good hockey player should be an athletic player.So we like we have a guy we’ve developed as a starter stepping and we feel fortunate in that.
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Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver is one of the players who’s been talked about the past year or so as a potential top-five pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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In total, Dallas outgained the visitors, 576 yards to 256 while completely owning the time of possession, 45 to 22.That’s their decision more than ours.
Or am I overreacting?But Munoz was signed just before training camp, hyped as the NFL’s first million-dollar offensive tackle, and he started all season at LOT.Thus the fact that the Nets are the worst team in the NBA and on a 10-game losing streak and the Knicks are imploding, with Carmelo Anthony whining that Phil Jackson doesn’t perhaps want him around any longer, both make me giddy.
CLEMSON, S.C.To search for players who were born on a certain date, for example all players born on December 25, choose the month, day and year with the drop down boxes and then choose the ‘Full Date Search’ option.The Seahawks became the Olympics in 1940.Seth Smith is 3-for-6 against wholesale nfl jerseys china him and is the only Padres who has hit a home run off of him.All of that connection, it’s working.
Nobody dominates the offense.Andy Murray – Based on a combination of ranking and form, Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal would be the undisputed top three favorites in New York.That ranks them 12th in the NFL in punting average.
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Visiting North America give the team the best possible preparation for the new , using top class training facilities and playing some great stadiums, Woodward, Manchester United’s executive vice chairman, said a statement.But I know that one’s got a certain skill set and another body type and one is a little smaller, probably a little quicker, and has a different running style.There was some thought would handle a -cow role after DeMarco was released early March, but the Titans then acted quickly to sign , who profiles as ideal complement for the 240-pound Heisman Trophy winner.Some 60 rubber ducks drop off the Wabash Bridge into the Chicago River on Aug.
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Scotland continue their preparations for the UEFA Nations League with a trip to Lima to face Peru on May 29.There’s also a massive match Group B, where second-placed Portugal host first-placed Switzerland – live on and – with top spot on the line.Manchester United partners include many familiar to U.S.Brown was set to participate int eh Senior Bowl, but injury kept him off the field.The second-year back gained 13 of his yards on one , so he averaged a minuscule 1 yards on his other 27 totes.
Sweden, who beat 2 , are second Group A behind the French after Bleus’ incredible draw Toulouse, following a resounding 4 win Belarus with goals from Emil Forsberg, Christoffer Nyman, Marcus Berg and https://www.wholesalejerseyschina.us.com Granqvist penalty.Brown then redshirted his first Manhattan as a transfer student before starting all 13 games as a team captain 2011.Los Angeles Lakers vs.
The Aces statement from that night: Given the travel issues we faced over the past two day s- 25+ hours spent airports and airplanes, cramped quarters and having not slept a bed since Wednesday night-and after consulting with Players Association leadership and medical professionals, we concluded that playing tonight’s game would wholesale nfl jerseys china put us at too great a risk for injury.I kind of felt soft, said afterward.There would have been further gloss on the victory had Charlie Mulgrew converted a first-half penalty, but there were plenty of positives for McLeish to draw upon as he sets his sights on September’s UEFA Nations League campaign.July 26 Barcelona FedEx Field, Washington, D.C.Per Wolfe of the Titans are inclined to use quite a bit Saturday to exploit some holes the Patriots’ run defense.ManU’s array of marketing partners get extensive eyeballs across the nation, with many supporting via multi-media marketing.
thought he had a one-yard rushing touchdown the third quarter, but it was called back on a false start.Against Baylor, Brown intercepted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III to set up the Wildcats’ game-winning field goal — it was the only second-half interception RG3 threw all .July 17 Real Salt Lake Rio Tinto Stadium, Salt Lake ?now tops a running back depth chart that also includes Fluellen and Khalfani Muhammad, with the Titans likely to add further depth at the position free agency and or the draft.If you would like to search for all players born on a certain day, for example all players born on December 25th any year, choose the month and day with the drop down boxes and then choose the ‘Month and Day Search’ option.
‘s outplayed DeMarco on a per- basis all and likely be leaned on next week regardless of his veteran teammate’s status.I didn’t feel like a workhorse back.Visiting North America give the team the best possible preparation for the new , using top class training facilities and playing some great stadiums, Woodward, Manchester United’s executive vice chairman, said a statement.
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Though the top-seeded Patriots are heavy favorites the matchup, ‘s status as the unquestioned top option out of the backfield makes him a solid DFS building block against a New England rush defense that ceded 4 yards per during the regular , the second-worst the NFL.Majority owners are the Glazer Family, which also holds majority ownership of the NFL ‘s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Keeps eye on receivers running behind him, can stay with them across the field.Neither finished their careers with those schools, however, as they wholesale nfl jerseys china chose to complete them the same place — Manhattan, Kansas, to play for head coach Snyder.At 6-foot-3 pounds, the 2016 second-rounder should have no problem handling the added workload store.
9 as part of The 13th Annual Chicago Ducky Derby to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.July 20 Manchester City TBD ?The club said it has more than 659 million fans worldwide.By Barry Janoff 22: Manchester United, one of the most popular and most valuable soccer franchises the world, is heading https://www.majesticcheapjerseys.com back to the U.S.There would have been further gloss on the victory had Charlie Mulgrew converted a first-half penalty, but there were plenty of positives for McLeish to draw upon as he sets his sights on September’s UEFA Nations League campaign.
With that mind, is focused on running harder Saturday.Milwaukee Bucks vs.The Dutch are up to third Group A on 13 points, a point above Bulgaria but still three behind Sweden, who won 4 Belarus, and four off section leaders after they were surprisingly held 0 at home by Luxembourg.could get some competition for touches out of the backfield 2018 after the Tennessee Titans agreed to terms on a contract with on Tuesday, of The Tennessean reports.’s breakout performance the postseason suggests he’ll likely still receive the bulk of early down work, but the versatile should nearly monopolize the snaps on passing downs.
3 AFC playoff seed, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco relays that Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone doesn’t plan to rest his starters this weekend.Meanwhile, while the Jaguars are locked into the No.It didn’t take for to make impact at Kansas State and became the Wildcats’ most consistent force on the defensive side of the ball during his tenure Manhattan.By Barry Janoff March 22: Manchester United, one of the most popular and most valuable soccer franchises the world, is heading back to the U.S.Majority owners are the Glazer Family, which also holds majority ownership of the NFL ‘s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Scotland, who are currently without a permanent manager after parting ways with Strachan, host Costa Rica their first match of the year on 23.The draw for the UEFA Nations League take place on January 24, with Scotland Pot One League C.Against Baylor, Brown intercepted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III to set up the Wildcats’ game-winning field goal — it was the only second-half interception RG3 threw all .
Meanwhile, while the Jaguars are locked into the No.With no longer around to contend with, — health permitting — should easily eclipse the 176 carries that he logged 2017.If you would like to search for all players born on a certain day, for example all players born on December 25th any year, choose the month and day with the drop down boxes and then choose the ‘Month and Day Search’ option.There’s also a massive match Group B, where second-placed Portugal host first-placed Switzerland – live on and – with top spot on the line.
July 20 Manchester City TBD ?This be Manchester United’s fifth visit to the U.S.I am sure our fans relish away trips to Hungary, Peru and Mexico and be looking forward to a long-overdue rematch against Costa Rica.01 2018 by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire Titans’ : Another start on tap.
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The Aces statement from that night: Given the travel issues we faced over the past two day s- 25+ hours spent airports and airplanes, cramped quarters and having not slept a bed since Wednesday night-and after consulting with Players Association leadership and medical professionals, we concluded that playing tonight’s game would put us at too great a risk for injury.01 2018 by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire Titans’ : Another leading role on tap.Utah Jazz 10 PM ?Schemes with emphasis on outside zone are best known for maximizing the talents of physically underwhelming running backs along the lines of , Arian or , but there’s nothing to say a freak athlete like can’t also find success.Won’t blow up blocker front of him causing a log jam the hole.Rockets 3 PM ?
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Davy Propper, a surprise inclusion place of playmaker Sneijder, scored his first international goal after seven minutes a bright start for the hosts, who had not won their previous seven matches at the Amsterdam Arena.
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isn’t doing much more than stating the obvious, considering Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur has spent most of his career working under Kyle Shanahan.Manchester United partners include many familiar to U.S.Sweden, who beat 2 , are second Group A behind the French after Bleus’ incredible draw Toulouse, following a resounding 4 win Belarus with goals from Emil Forsberg, Christoffer Nyman, Marcus Berg and Granqvist penalty.Weaknesses.Back to Home Page.We’ve got a big first- and second-down back, Vrabel said of .
Matt Phillips’ first international goal three minutes into the second half proved enough for the Scots as they ended the international break on a high following Friday’s defeat to Costa Rica.9 as part of The 13th Annual Chicago Ducky Derby to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.Utah Jazz 10 PM ?The WNBA said the Las Vegas Aces have forfeited a game scheduled to be played on Aug.
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GCU opens new baseball stadium in season debut against TCU
Grand Canyon's renovated stadium might be one of the West Coast's sparkling jewels in college baseball
GCU opens new baseball stadium in season debut against TCU Grand Canyon's renovated stadium might be one of the West Coast's sparkling jewels in college baseball Check out this story on azcentral.com: http://azc.cc/2o2I0Ik
Richard Obert, azcentral sports Published 6:33 p.m. MT Feb. 16, 2018 | Updated 8:40 p.m. MT Feb. 16, 2018
GCU opened its new baseball stadium in its opener against TCU on Friday.
A view of GCU's baseball stadium from the dugout.(Photo: Richard Obert/azcentral sports)
When Tim Salmon threw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday night, he stepped into a stadium that looked nothing like the one he played in during the late 1980s.
Since bulldozing it after the last home pitch was thrown last season, Grand Canyon's baseball stadium has the look of a Cactus League complex with an upper-level concourse, sit-back purple seats, a grass berm, multi-room press box, a team shop, a practice infield with synthetic grass and a state-of-the art sound system. Lots of shade. And the mini-green monster left-field wall that has the old-fashioned, inning-by-inning home and away scoreboard in it.
"Amazing," Salmon, the former Angels outfielder, said. "So proud of my alma mater and where this program is going. Big league facilities make this an incredible experience for any amateur."
This is the 10th of the 10-piece project that makes GCU the athletic gem of the Western Athletic Conference. Last week, GCU opened its new softball stadium. Jerry Colangelo Museum, next to GCU Arena, opened before the basketball season. The 6,000-seat, state-of-the-art soccer stadium opened in 2016.
There were all done by the same designers and architects.
"We're excited to open this up," Athletic Director Mike Vaught said. "The university is all about striving for excellence. This is part of the campus build-out."
It is called Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark. Dave Brazell was the school's first baseball coach, starting in 1953, leading the school to its first NAIA championship in 1980.
Andy Stankiewicz, who has led the Antelopes in their NCAA Division I era, is happy how the stadium renovations turned out.
A view from the stands at GCU's baseball stadium. (Photo: Richard Obert/azcentral sports)
"We talked a little bit about the fan experience, trying to get the fans as close to the ballpark as we could," Stankiewicz said. "That was important to President (Brian) Mueller, as well."
The stadium can seat about 4,000 fans, including the grass areas.
The dugouts on both sides are spacious.
"A lot of times when we travel, we've got 35 guys in there and it's crammed up," Stankiewicz said. "One of the first things TCU said was, the dugouts are nice and big."
Stankiewicz said there is not too many college field like this on the West Coast. There are practice batting cages behind the left-field area, not far from Tim Salmon Clubhouse, a 5,000-square-foot facility that was built in 1999.
"Everything is right here for our guys to develop and get better," Stankiewicz said.
About 95 major-league scouts were out Friday night mainly to see the pitching matchup between TCU's Jared Janczak and GCU's Jake Wong, both junior right-handers. They're considered two of the best MLB draft pitching prospects.
"The day that we left last year after senior night for our last road trip, they were already flattening the place," said senior left-hander Jake Repavich, who is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday at home against Washington State. "It's completely different. I absolutely love it. The adrenaline goes up an extra notch when the cameras are out and the stadium is up."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.
Former Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Skaggs dies at 27
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October 2017 Summary
By Arianna Cecchetti02/11/2017Ι Reports
Autumn is definitely here! and although in the ocean you won’t likely see the typical red and yellow colours that tinge most of the landscapes at this time of the year, you can still tell it is autumn from the sightings.
October recorded various cetaceans species, 9 to be exact, and baleen whales were among these. Autumn is the second period for baleen whales to pass in the Azores, as they are on their way back from the feeding grounds located at higher latitudes. They are now heading towards their breeding grounds in the warmer subtropical and tropical waters (smart whales! 😉 ) to reproduce and give birth.
Frequency of the nine species sighted during October and relative distribution map (www.monicet.net)
Sei whales and fin whales were recorded on consecutive days until the mid of the month. We then had Ophelia visiting us with its strong winds and rain, which forced us to stay on land for at least one week. This prevented us to check if baleen whales were still around. No worries though, we were also accompanied by sperm whales which in the last two days gifted us with really nice encounters and with one adult breaching four times.
Synchronized dives for these two sperm whales
On one occasion we had a surprising encounter with false killer whales, surprising because this is not a species we see on a regular basis, so each encounter becomes special. They are also very good in turning any encounter special with their active and curious behaviour. Beside false killer whales we could enjoy the company of the rest of the great variety of dolphins with the common dolphins leadering the group in terms of sighting frequency.
Common dolphin
Diving sperm whales
Juvenile Atlantic spotted dolphin
In this post you can find the best captures of the month. Enjoy! 🙂
#ninespeciesoctobermonth
About Arianna Cecchetti
Arianna is a Marine Biologist and Guide at TERRA AZUL since 2009. Originally from Italy, she sees herself more as a world citizen. After a four years break for a Postgraduate course in the Azores Islands, she's back to enjoy guiding and collecting data for MONICET – The Azores Islands Cetaceans Research & Conservation long-term monitoring project.
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Aubameyang, Iwobi dazzle as Arsenal's Wenger bows out at Emirates
Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger has in his time at the club managed a sizeable number of African players. Two of his current African players dazzled as Arsenal played their last home game for the 2017/2018 English Premier League season.
The game against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium was also the last at the venue for Wenger. The Frenchman leaves the English Premier League side after twenty-two years in charge.
Gabonese international Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored the first and last goals of a 5 – 0 thrashing of Burnley in front of a full house. Aubameyang who transferred from German side Dortmund was officially Wenger’s last signing.
Academy product and Nigerian international Alex Iwobi also put up a man of the match display and scored a goal. The other two goals were by Kolasanic and Lacazette.
Wenger was given a guard of honour before the game started. He returned after the final whistle to do a lap of honour around the Emirates. He won two league titles and seven FA cup trophies during his stay.
Despite reaching two European Cup finals, Wenger’s teams at the time failed to clinch the continental accolades. His European dreams this season ended when Arsenal lost to Atletico Madrid last week in the Europa League competition.
He is Arsenal’s longest serving and most successful manager. Scores of his former players were at the Emirates for the send off. The hashtag #MerciArsene trended on twitter.
The club gave Wenger a miniature golden trophy that was handed to them for the record unbeaten season run in 2003/2004.
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Nigeria parliament on lockdown as police, protesters clash
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George Guest Farms Accommodation
George In Western Cape > South Africa George Apartments
Bodorp
Heatherlands
Glen Barrie
Eden George
Camphersdrift
Bos en Dal
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Johannesburg (Joburg)
Bela Bela (Warmbaths)
Pretoria (Tshwane)
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Guest Farms in George
In the southern region of South Africa between 600 and 500 million years ago, hot magma forced its way to the surface and over time, hardened to form granite. The city of George lies on this... Show more
jacuzzi, pet friendly, fireplace, apartments, backpacker, bed and breakfast, boutique hotels, chalets, cottages, golf lodges, guest farms, guest houses, guest lodge, holiday homes, hotels, resorts, self catering, villas.
George Reviews
Zharina Francis
Only the beach.
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Updating Results based on your filtering preferences...In just a few moments we should find the ideal George accommodation for you.
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Blanco, Bodorp, Eden George, Heatherlands, Glen Barrie, Bos en Dal, George East, Camphersdrift
Okay. 3 out of 5
Vanessa Smith
The scenery is beautiful..
Pat Hill
The local restaurants the attractions in George.
Evelyn Meyer
Business and health purposes and the accommodation options.
+ Add your review of George
More info about George
In the southern region of South Africa between 600 and 500 million years ago, hot magma forced its way to the surface and over time, hardened to form granite. The city of George lies on this hard rock in one of the most scenic parts of the country known as the Garden Route.
George is the largest city along this route and a golfing paradise where South Africa’s top rated golf course is located. With leading academic institutions in the city, major retail facilities and a domestic airport, George is a busy business hub for the region and a convenient stopover for travel between the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth port cities.
A stay in George affords the visitor the opportunity to explore the city’s rich heritage, the slave tree, interesting museums and architecture, and to breathe in fresh country air in a city surrounded by the stunningly beautiful Outeniqua Mountain range.
Top 8 reasons... Show more
Top 8 reasons to visit George
1. Golfers have a choice of teeing up at many fine golf courses in George, 3 alone at the premier Fancourt resort – the Links, Montagu and Outeniqua courses. Others nearby are the George Golf Club and the Sally Little course situated in the Kingswood Golf Estate.
2. The forested area around George is hiking heaven. The George Peak trail consists of a steep hike through patches of thick forest and pristine fynbos before reaching the peak at 1330m above sea level. Look out for the rare silver Mimetes flower found here.
3. Shop at the Garden Route Mall to pick up supplies or gifts and curios for family and friends. The mall has well over 100 stores to browse along with a food court and movie centre.
4. Travel to the tiny village of Herold between George and Oudtshoorn. Sections of the original village still remain, including a blacksmith shop. Visit Herald Wines, one of the highest vineyards in the Western Cape, for a wine tasting and enlightening cellar tour.
5. For best mountain and sea views, opt for a tandem paragliding flight offered by various qualified operators. Make a booking through the George Information Centre.
6. Take a day trip to Victoria Bay to swim at the marvellous beach, surf in the designated areas or fish off the jetty. Dolphins and whales are regularly seen from Vic Bay’s sloping grass embankment above the beach.
7. George is home to the largest hedge maze in the southern hemisphere. The 10000m maze is situated on the Redberry Farm and includes a 25m underground tunnel where visitors are challenged to pass through without a torch.
8. Take a trip on the Outeniqua Power Van that runs along an old railway line through the Outeniqua Mountains. This eco-friendly van is a unique way to experience travel through a scenic mountainous section, thick with vegetation.
The George Airport is stationed 8km outside the city. Several car rental agencies are based in George and at the airport to hire a vehicle, or you could order a rental online. There are a number of metered taxi companies in George. Shuttle service operators transport visitors between George, the airport and nearby Garden Route towns.
The 2003 President’s Cup was played on the Links course at Fancourt and ended in an unprecedented tie when, after 34 matches and 3 sudden death playoff holes, the teams could not be separated by nightfall.
Since the 1770s, the forests around George were steadily chopped down due to the great demand for wood from Dutch and British colonists in the Cape. It was over a hundred years later that the French Count of Vasselot, Médéric, came up with a system of successfully managing the forests, probably the first attempt at conservation in the country.
About Guest Farms
Guest Farms could very well be the most idyllic South African form of accommodation. If you are out in the country you should definitely consider staying at a Guest Farm. From romantic getaways to a family holiday, they are perfect. They can range from absolutely luxurious to comfortable and you could easily find one that suits your budget. If you have children they will easily be occupied by the animals and nature that surround. They are often well staffed with a restaurant on the premises and well situated amongst various nature activities. Heading into the country? Have a look at our Guest Farms listing on Accommodirect.
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Karoo Villas Accommodation
Karoo Karoo Game Lodges
related towns
Augrabies
Kakamas
Wolwefontein
Klaarstroom
Villas in Karoo
The Karoo, meaning place of thirst in the Nama language, aptly describes this vast inland region of South Africa. It’s a land of contrasts, where barren fields are instantly transformed into carpets of colourful flowers after... Show more
jacuzzi, pet friendly, fireplace, apartments, backpacker, bed and breakfast, boutique hotels, bungalows, camps, caravan parks, chalets, cottages, game lodges, golf lodges, guest farms, guest houses, guest lodge, health resorts, holiday homes, hotels, house boats, resorts, self catering, villas.
Karoo Reviews
Carolien Agema
Beautiful in the Karoo.
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De Rust, Prince Albert, Colesberg, Kakamas, Graaff Reinet , Somerset East, Cradock, Oudtshoorn, Calvinia, Richmond, Calitzdorp, Port Nolloth, Kimberley, Barrydale, Sutherland, Augrabies, Ladismith, Aberdeen, Vanrhynsdorp, Bedford
Still Bay - Holiday Home
The weather and clean towns in the Karoo.
Stephan Kruger
Peace and quiet for miles and miles.
Karl Henriksen
Incredible expanse of dry land that some people eek out an existence of.
Martin P Schmidt
Just enjoyed the open space in the Karoo.
Diana Weibel
The wide open spaces and the hot weather.
Shane de Bruyn
Lovely mountains and various views in the Karoo.
Go to Polka restaurant.
Dawn & Martin Oser
The Camdeboo National Park, especially the Valley of Desolation.
Karoo is a great place to relax and to experience nature.
+ Show more reviews + Add your review of Karoo
More info about Karoo
The Karoo, meaning place of thirst in the Nama language, aptly describes this vast inland region of South Africa. It’s a land of contrasts, where barren fields are instantly transformed into carpets of colourful flowers after rains and eternal springs are found near to lakes that remain dry for years.
The Karoo is geologically divided into the Great and Little Karoo, the Swartberg Mountain range splitting the two regions. The Little Karoo lies in a valley and is more fertile and mountainous than the Great Karoo. Combined, this arid area is roughly 500000km² in size.
Dig a little deeper and you will find a living desert filled with interesting creatures and nocturnal animals, diverse succulents, copper-infused rocks, old farmsteads and the occasional reclusive artist selling creative gems from home. Stare in awe at the big blue skies in the day and celestial showcase by night.
In the Karoo, visitors are able to appreciate the wide... Show more
In the Karoo, visitors are able to appreciate the wide open spaces and the silence, broken only by the sound of a sheep bell. Being in a vast land where human contact is irregular, the warm and friendly locals welcome visitors and make every effort to ensure their return.
Travel a dirt road here and you will greeted by every passing vehicle driver, cyclist and pedestrian.
Top 8 reasons to visit the Karoo
1. The Little Karoo is mostly ostrich and fruit country, visit the ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn to learn more about this large bird, travel to Barrydale to sample the region’s wines and deciduous fruits, and take a break at the hot springs resort in Calitzdorp.
2. From Oudtshoorn, head over the Swartberg Pass – into the Great Karoo – to reach the pretty town of Prince Albert with its 19 national monuments and tasty olives. Further on is Beaufort West, a well-known fossil bearing area with good hiking and 4x4 trails.
3. Sutherland is officially the coldest town in South Africa. It’s also where the astronomical observatory is located due to the absence of light pollution and regular clear skies. Check out the observatory while there, the largest in the southern hemisphere.
4. To the east is Graaff-Reinet, one of the country’s best preserved towns. Visit the starkly beautiful Valley of Desolation in the nearby Camdeboo National Park.
5. The Tankwa Karoo National Park is located in the country’s driest region yet over 120 bird species and a surprising amount of mammals are found here, including bat eared fox, baboon, leopard, porcupine and honey badger.
6. The large town of Kimberley was established following the discovery of diamonds in the 1800s. Tour the Big Hole, the deepest manmade hole that resulted in the scramble for diamonds, and have a drink at the world’s only drive-in bar.
7. Port Nolloth on the west coast of South Africa was once used as a harbour to transport copper via sea to Cape Town. Wagons loaded with copper would arrive until a train line was established further up the coast. The bay serves a small fishing community where rock lobster attracts hungry tourists.
8. The Augrabies falls at the Augrabies Falls National Park is a spectacular sight following rains when the Orange River is forced through a tiny ravine and the gushing waters cascade down into a pool 56m below. There are 48 mammal species recorded here and exciting hiking and mountain bike trails crisscross the park.
Depending on your location, the international airports are OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to the north and Cape Town International in the south. Kimberley has a domestic airport. Several towns such as Beaufort West, Springbok and Upington have small airports for chartered flights. Car rentals can be ordered at the airports and a few major towns. Use a hired car to travel the Karoo and opt for a 4x4 vehicle to best experience the region. The Trans-Karoo train stops off in Kimberley and Matjiesfontein on its route between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Expect to taste authentic lamb and mutton dishes in the Karoo, after all, this is sheep country. Karoo lamb is certified according to the Karoo Meat of Origin label and is similar to the protection given to other products such as Parma ham.
Following the Karoo Ice Age of between 260 and 360 million years ago, higher oxygen levels produced large insects such as a millipede 1.8m long and scorpions reaching 70cm in length. Fortunately for us, they all died out.
About Villas
Luxurious and large, Villas are ideal for those wanting to self-cater with all the comforts and amenities of high-end accommodation. These usually include several bedrooms, with at least the master ensuite. The kitchen and living areas are fully equipped with top-of-the-range facilities; making it easy to whip-up quick holiday meals or go full gourmet should you choose to. The lounge will have a full entertainment system, including Dstv, and wifi can be expected. Due to the general size of the Villas, they are best suited to families, with older children, or small to medium groups of friends.
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America and Romania in the Cold War
A Differentiated Detente, 1969-80
Paschalis Pechlivanis
This book examines the US foreign policy of differentiation towards the socialist regimes of Eastern Europe as it was implemented by various administrations towards Ceausescu's Romania from 1969 to 1980. Les mer
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This book examines the US foreign policy of differentiation towards the socialist regimes of Eastern Europe as it was implemented by various administrations towards Ceausescu's Romania from 1969 to 1980.
Drawing from multi-archival research from both US and Romanian sources, this is the first comprehensive analysis of differentiation and shows that Washington's Eastern European policy in the 1970s was more nuanced than the common East vs. West narrative suggests. By examining systemic Cold War factors such as the rise of detente between the two superpowers and the role of agency, the study deals with the dynamics that shaped the evolution of American-Romanian relations after Bucharest's opening towards the West, and the subsequent embrace of this initiative by Washington as an instrument to undermine the unity of the Soviet bloc. Furthermore, it revises interpretations about Carter's celebrated human rights policy based on the Romanian case, pointing towards a remarkable continuity between the three administrations under examination (Nixon, Ford and Carter). By doing so, this study contributes to the field by highlighting a largely neglected aspect of US foreign policy and uncovers the subtleties of Washington's relations with one of the most vigorous actors of the Eastern European bloc.
This book will be of much interest to students of Cold War Studies, US foreign policy, Eastern European politics and International Relations in general.
Forlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Innbinding: Innbundet
Språk: Engelsk
Den kalde krigen
Internasjonale forhold
Fredsstudier og konfliktløsning
Cold War History
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Man Stabbed Near Thomas Circle Church
by Andrew Ramonas October 7, 2016 at 8:20 am 0
A man stabbed another man near a church on the edge of the Logan Circle neighborhood early this morning, police said.
The stabbing happened outside the National City Christian Church on Thomas Circle NW about 2 a.m. today.
The two men were fighting when one of them stabbed the other one in his stomach, causing a “severe laceration,” police said.
“I don’t give a f–k about you,” the assailant told the victim, according to authorities.
The attacker then joined someone in what appeared to be a black Hyundai Elantra car with Virginia license plates and drove away.
Three good Samaritans came to help the victim, who was brought to a local hospital for treatment.
Police haven’t released descriptions of the suspects.
Crime, Logan Circle, stabbing
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Wayne Duggan , Benzinga Staff Writer
Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) shares traded higher by 3.6% on Wednesday and are up more than 33% year to date. A series of unusually large options trades Wednesday morning suggests the memory giant still has traders' attention.
The Trades
On Wednesday morning, Benzinga Pro subscribers were alerted to a series of unusually large Micron option trades. All together, the 13 Micron options trades represented a net bearish bet of more than $500,000 on Micron.
At around 9:39 a.m., a trader sold 516 Micron put options at a $44 strike price that expire July 26. The puts were sold at the bid price of $2.079 and represent a $107,276 bullish bet on Micron.
Within 10 minutes, a trader sold 906 Micron call options at a $43.50 strike price that expire on Friday. The calls were sold at the bid price of 87 cents and represent a $78,882 bearish bet on Micron.
At around 10:16 a.m., a trader bought 2,000 Micron put options at a $43.50 strike price that expire on Friday. The puts were purchased at the ask price of 74 cents and represent a $148,000 bearish bet on Micron.
At 10:47 a.m., a pair of Micron put buys were executed within a few seconds of each other. Together, the trader purchased 2,072 Micron put options expiring on Aug. 2 at the strike price of $42. The trader paid the ask price of between $1.15 and $1.155. The trades represented a bearish bet of more than $238,000 that Micron’s share price will be below $40.85 within a month’s time.
At around 11:01 a.m., a trader bought 900 Micron call options at a $45 strike price that expire on July 26. The calls were purchased at the ask price of 69 cents and represent a $62,100 bullish bet at a break-even price of $45.69.
Less than a minute later, potentially the same trader bought 501 Micron put options at a $42 strike price that expire on Aug. 9. The puts were purchased at the ask price of $1.29 and represent a $64,629 bearish bet.
At 11:14 a.m., another pair of Micron put buys were executed within a few seconds of each other. Together, the trader purchased 1,000 Micron put options expiring on Sept. 20 at the strike price of $44. The trader paid the ask price of $3.201. The trades represented a bearish bet of $320,100 that Micron’s share price will be below $40.80 in roughly two month’s time.
Less than a minute later, likely the same trader sold 500 of the same Sept. 20 $44 put options at the bid price of $3.201, potentially breaking even on the trade and reducing the net bearish bet to just $160,050 in size.
At 11:19 a.m. a trader sold 1,057 Micron call options at a $49 strike price that expire on Sept. 20. The calls were sold at the bid price of 95.1 cents and represent a $100,520 bearish bet.
Less than a minute later, likely the same trader bought 782 of the same Sept. 20 $49 call options at the ask price of 96.1 cents. The trader seemed to reestablish a large portion of his earlier position, buying back in at a 1% premium to the earlier sale price. The net bearish bet was reduced to just $26,152.
Finally, at 12:28 p.m., a trader bought 1,000 Micron put options at a $41 strike price that expire on Aug. 9. The puts were purchased at the ask price of $1.057 and represent a $105,700 bearish bet.
Options Insight
Even traders who focus exclusively on the stock market watch the options market closely to gain insight into what option traders may be thinking.
Due to the relative complexity of the options market, options traders are generally seen as more sophisticated than the typical stock trader. Large options traders are often institutions or wealthy individuals that may have a unique perspective and/or advance information on a given stock.
Another Memory Upcycle In Doubt?
The mostly bearish trading action in Micron on Wednesday suggests some traders are skeptical that 2019 will be the next 2016 for Micron. From June 2016 to June 2018, Micron shares gained more than 600% during a boom period in the memory market, a Seeking Alpha contributor recently noted.
However, management has guided for a 50% decline in earnings next quarter, DRAM spot prices are showing no signs of bottoming and downcycles in the memory market tend to last at least six quarters, longer than the current four-quarter downturn.
The mixed trading and repositioning in Micron options on Wednesday suggests traders don’t quite know what to make of Micron’s big 2019 rally and near-term outlook. Given the large number of positions being maintained and established, it would be reasonable to expect some volatility in Micron stock in the coming months.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to be 100% certain whether option trades represent standalone positions or hedges against larger stock holdings. Given the none of Wednesday’s trades represented more than $200,000 in value, they are unlikely to be institutional hedges in this instance.
Micron traded around $42.84 per share at time of publication.
Large Option Trader Makes Aggressive Bearish Play On Ford
How To Read And Trade An Options Alert
Photo credit: Mike Deal, Flickr
Posted-In: Options Top Stories Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga
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Singapore's Gardens by the Bay
Tangalooma Island Resort - this Aussie paradise is worth the trip
5 of our favourite Aussie road trips
Explore Queensland in the most breathtaking way possible
Australia's most romantic getaways!
BHG visits: the Gold Coast's new luxury hotel
Why Port Douglas should be on your visit list for 2019
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Orpheus Island: The Great Barrier Reef island Elton John stayed at
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BHG visits: The island that encourages you to feed the dolphins
Everyone needs to do this at least once in their lives! - by Grace Back
There are very few experiences that can leave you truly blown away.
Taking part in this Queensland resort's wild dolphin feeding was one of those "wow" moments.
Nestled just an hour off the coast of south-eastern Queensland lies Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Bay Island.
In among the resorts expansive list of sustainable and eco-conscious activities is it's wild dolphin feeding, and it's truly one to add to the bucket list.
The wild dolphin feeding program operates each and every evening at sunset.
As the sun goes down over Moreton Bay's glistening clear water, one-by-one the dolphins begin to enter the shallow water.
The pack come into the bay each night on their own accord, and every dolphin has a distinct personality that is undeniable.
We got to meet Echo, who first came to Tangalooma at 10 months of age. He was extremely vulnerable with no mother to care for him and was promptly adopted by the other Tangalooma dolphins.
Explore Tangalooma on Moreton Island
Eco-conscious
What makes this experience even more magical is that the eco-conscious resort has the dolphins best interest at the centre of everything offered in the feeding program.
The program enlists strict guidelines to protect these incredible creatures.
To ensure the dolphins maintain their natural instincts and independence, the resort only feeds allows each dolphin to consume 10 to 20 percent of their daily food requirement. This ensures they hunt for themselves and can survive without depending on the resort.
"We are entirely focused on environmental protection and after guests have had such a personal experience feeding the dolphins, they leave with a deeper understanding of our conservation goals," one of the resorts eco-rangers says.
The experience has become world famous, boasting many celebrity guests who have tried their hand at the unique encounter.
Even Roger Federer has fed the dolphins at Tangalooma!
Tangalooma's wild dolphin feeding is a completely unique experience, and it's origin story is no different.
Brian Osborne, Tangalooma's owner and director, visited the island as a guest several times between the years of 1977 and 1980.
Just like everyone else, Osborne was blown away by the dolphins that would visit the jetty every night.
During the 80s, the staff at the resort continued to visit the jetty every night to look for the dolphins.
Slowly, many guests and staff began feeding the dolphins their reject fish and bait, which became cause of concern for the eco-rangers.
Eventually, resort staff began to monitor each dolphin and their eating - giving a strict diet to each one so they would not depend on the island for their daily food intake.
It didn't take long for the dolphins to learn the routine, and thus began what is one of Australia's most unique experience.
Tangalooma ship wrecks
For more visit www.tangalooma.com.
Grace Back
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With SpotOn, dogs are fenced in invisibly — anywhere
By Max Reyes Globe Correspondent,March 14, 2019, 8:14 p.m.
With the SpotOn collar, wherever the dog goes, so goes the ability to set up a virtual barrier.(SpotOn)
When Ken Solinsky bought a second home in Florida, his golden retriever Kai quickly decided to check out his new pool. But the water didn’t agree with her: Kai developed irritating hot spots.
So Solinsky set up a virtual fence to keep her high and dry — an electronic barrier linked to a high-tech collar that emitted two harmless but attention-grabbing warning tones any time she got close to the pool. The collar can also deliver a mild static shock, but Solinsky said he opted not to use that feature.
The technology behind the so-called invisible fence — and electronic collars — isn’t new, but Solinsky says his startup, OnPoint Systems, is using it in a unique way. Unlike most invisible fences, which have to be installed in fixed positions — such as on the perimeter of a yard — the Bedford, N.H., company’s SpotOn device is built into a dog’s collar. That makes it portable. Wherever the dog goes, so does the barrier. OnPoint says it can cover an unlimited area, thanks to satellite technology.
The company says the audio warning becomes “harsher” as a dog gets closer to the boundary. If that doesn’t stop the pooch, the collar can deliver a shock that OnPoint likens to “shuffling your feet on a carpet and touching a doorknob.”
Solinsky said he got the idea for SpotOn after a landscaper asked him whether it would be possible to develop a virtual fence free of clunky hardware or buried wires.
He joined with Scott Sterling and Sung Vivathana to found OnPoint Systems in 2015. The trio had worked together previously at Insight Technology, a company that developed night-vision goggles and similar equipment for clients like the US military.
The SpotOn collar, which is the firm’s first product and is available through its online store, relies on three satellite systems to map and monitor a dog’s location. It’s connected to an app the owner can use to track the pet.
To set up a fence, you turn the collar on, sync it with the app, and walk along the perimeter of the area you want to enclose. SpotOn translates your path into a border.
The collar and app can store fences in up to 10 locations, which is convenient for people who regularly take their pets to various places. The owner also has the option of setting the device to cover a specific range — between 20 and 1,000 meters — instead of a fixed boundary.
Such on-the-go tech doesn’t come cheap — at $1,495, the collar is more expensive than in-ground virtual fence systems advertised on Amazon that cost $200 to $400, plus several hundred dollars in installation fees.
And some owners who have trained their dog for obedience might not see the need for such high-tech options in the first place.
“A dog isn’t trained if you need a tool,” said Larry Krohn, a trainer who works out of Kentucky and Tennessee. Krohn has written a book called “Everything You Need to Know About E Collar Training,” which is focused on training collars that deliver static shocks to correct unwanted behaviors.
But Solinsky said customers will pay for convenience and versatility.
“We see with this collar the ability to take your dog with you . . . wherever you go,” he said.
Sterling said the collar can serve as a backup against unexpected behavior by an otherwise well-behaved pet.
“If a dog is motivated enough, whether it’s [by] a squirrel or another dog, it can run away,” he said.
The collar also can detect when a dog that has breached the invisible barrier is returning. In that instance, the device does not generate a warning tone or static jolt.
The seven-employee company also offers training programs to get dogs used to the collar, developed by professional trainer Nicole Skeehan. SpotOn, she said, focuses more on positive reinforcement than traditional virtual fences.
“Overall, positive reinforcement hands-down has better results,” Skeehan said.
The Humane Society of America’s website advises against using negative stimulus whenever possible. It says electronic collars can deliver a sensation that ranges from “mild tickling” to a “painful shock.”
While SpotOn is still new, its founders see potential to carve out a niche in the multibillion-dollar pet industry.
“Every time we spoke to somebody and let them know what this product did,” Vivathana said, “people . . . were super excited. Just like, ‘Wow, why hasn’t anybody done this before?’ ”
Max Reyes can be reached at @MaxJReyes.
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IT WILL BE A GREAT OCCASION
Bantams midfielder Billy Knott believes this Saturday's trip to Premier League leaders Chelsea will be a great occasion for everyone connected with the football club.
Helped by three Knott goals over two separate games, City defeated Championship side Millwall in a F.A Cup third round replay in front of a vocal home support last Wednesday to secure a match with Jose Mourinho's all-stars.
While City's dream date with Chelsea has understandably caught the imagination of just about every Bradford fan going, for Knott, it gives the Canvey Island-born attacker an opportunity to make a return to the Blues.
Knott spent three years in Chelsea's youth ranks between 2007 and 2010 before moving on to fellow Premier League side Sunderland.
The 22 year-old said excitedly: "I think I kept my family up almost all night talking about this game after the Millwall match!
"We had a great win over Millwall to get to this stage and it is going to be a great day out for all involved.
"I was at Chelsea when I was a youngster so it will be good to go back there.
"Everybody in the squad, even those on the bench, will be giving it 100% and we'll be going there hoping that we can even cause an upset.
"As everyone knows, Chelsea are Chelsea - they will always have world class players available to them.
"They probably have some of the best players in the world in the team but everybody in the starting eleven and on the bench will be giving it their all to push them as far as we can.
"It will be a great day out for all of the fans regardless of the result, however, and we're all looking forward to it."
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From issue 67 of The Bretton Woods Update
Energy Strategy Concept Note
IFIwatchnet
¿Negocios como siempre?
Access for the poor?
Controversy continues: The World Bank's hydropower
Large hydropower: renewable or not?
The World Bank's new energy strategy
World Bank still supporting carbon-intensive future
World Bank's DRC hydro project derailed
Business as usual?
by Jakob Kane Loukas
By Jakob Kane Loukas, Bank Information Center
The World Bank’s planned energy strategy review focusses on energy access for the poor and environmental sustainability, but NGOs fear it will justify continued fossil fuel finance.
The Bank produced a concept note on the energy strategy review in June, which was distributed to selected NGOs but was still not on the Bank’s website by September. After discussing the fundamental dangers of climate change in the developing world, the note states that economic concerns may trump environmental ones. The Bank estimates that climate change mitigation may require a $600 billion annual investment in the developing world. On energy, however, the concept note is dismissive of available renewable technologies and their applicability to developing countries. It does not offer any alternatives to current Bank policy, nor does it rule out environmentally hazardous energy sources, like coal and nuclear.
fails to acknowledge the need for investments in innovative, clean and off-grid energy options
Bruce Rich of US-based NGO Environmental Defense Fund says that although new coal plants financed by the Bank will likely employ supercritical technology, they will be carbon-intensive and will generate significantly more CO2 emissions than renewables. He concludes: “public international finance should support the necessary transition from coal power in the developing world and economies in transition. Otherwise it will be impossible to achieve the reductions in CO2 needed to prevent unstoppable climate change.” Moreover, new coal plants have an operating life of up to 50 years and rehabilitated plants about 20 years, committing the world to enormous emissions for many years to come.
The concept note also calls for large hydroelectric projects, despite the adverse impacts on habitats and livelihoods, and evidence that large dam reservoirs are a significant sources of emissions ( Update 66). An approach paper that elaborates on the goals of the energy strategy is expected to be released by end September.
Accepting that the Bank is still a major source of finance for carbon-intensive projects ( Update 65), the UK recently called on the Bank to increase its clean energy and energy efficiency portfolio to 60 per cent of all energy investments in the next three years. Bank statistics show 35 per cent of its portfolio as being “clean in 2008” but approximately 40 per cent of this is large hydroelectic and other controversial forms of energy. “The UK’s efforts to clean-up the Bank should focus on renewable energy,” says Dominic White of international NGO WWF, “and ensure that the highest standards of environmental and social impacts are considered before investments in any energy deemed as ‘clean’.”
There remain questions over whether the proposed strategy can meet its objectives of alleviating poverty and expanding energy access to the poor. Although coal fired power plants and large hydroelectric projects have enormous power generation capacity, past investments in large infrastructure projects have often proved difficult, costly to implement and open to abuse where governance is weak. Power often failed to reach local communities while at the same time creating substantial adverse environmental and social impacts.
While the Bank struggles to reconcile energy access and sustainability, the US Treasury published a response to the concept note in mid July. It noted that “the World Bank’s energy access agenda is largely not at odds with the climate agenda,” and suggested focusing on improving supply-side efficiency and eliminating incentives for electricity overuse by industry. It did however, point out that the energy strategy concept note has not adequately addressed the issue of fossil fuels. As both NGOs and the US government push for higher environmental standards at the Bank in advance of the Copenhagen climate talks, there is a rare opportunity to resolve contradictions within the Bank and advocate for a reformed approach to energy investments.
Fabby Tumiwa, executive director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform in Jakarta, reflected the general feelings of many NGOs when he said, “the concept note fails to acknowledge the need for investments in innovative, clean and off-grid energy options that directly expand access to the poor.”
Going for the Grand Inga
During his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), World Bank president Robert Zoellick expressed the Bank’s intention to finance the 39,000 mega watt, $80 billion Grand Inga hydropower project in conjunction with the Southern Africa Development Community, the New Partnership for African Development and the World Energy Council. This dam project is being touted by proponents for its potential to bring electricity to millions of Africans and jumpstart industrial development on the continent. It would be the most expensive dam in the world and double the size of the current largest Dam, China’s Three Gorges.
Observers are sceptical, noting that a significant proportion of the power generated would be diverted to the mining sector and for export to elsewhere in Africa and southern Europe. Anders Lustgarten of the The Bretton Woods Project warns that “under the guise of bringing power to poor Africans, development banks are looking to put tens of billions of public money into a flight of fantasy that would benefit huge western multinationals and quite possibly feed African energy into European households.” A 2007 Bank project appraisal document found that the DRC lacks the electrical grid to transport power to rural areas. A forthcoming report from European NGOs argues that the European and industrial power connections are needed to make the project viable, putting its positive development impact in question.
The Bank planned to hold the first consultation with civil society on the energy strategy at the October annual meetings, but has since postponed consultations until after the December Copenhagen climate talks. A revised approach paper is due in early 2010 with consultations beginning in the spring of 2010. A draft policy will go before the relevent Bank board committee next autumn.
With a Copenhagen agreement anticipated to determine new flows for climate finance and the institutions that will manage them, many civil society actors feel that the energy strategy and its continued support for investments that significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reinforces arguments that the Bank is not the appropriate channel for climate finance.
Push no one behind: How current economic policy exacerbates gender inequality
Gender and Development Network
Sustainable development needs fundamental governance changes
The Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
EU working to get European candidate to replace Lagarde at IMF, official says
Construction firm wants debt settlement as part of Congo IMF deal
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Escaping the Prison of Contingency: Another Attempt to Pin Down the Utopian Impulse
July 03, 2019 by Cameron Summers in Analysis, Political, Personal, Written by: Cameron
What I am calling the Utopian Impulse is a hypothetical third drive, something to break the Freudian dichotomy of sex and death. What Marcuse called “The Great Refusal” and Mark Fisher called “the Specter of the world that could be free”, I view as expressions of the Utopian Impulse. I don't want to think of it as anything mystical, but I can't help but feel inflected by mysticism when I discuss it. It is a haunting spirit, a radical outside, an alchemical potential. (Image is taken from instagram user @prismattco.)
July 03, 2019 /Cameron Summers
Utopian Impulse, Mark Fisher, George Trow, Herbert Marcuse, postmodernism, Acid Communism, Within the Context of No Context, Gary Gygax, Alchemy, Robert D. Putnam, Bardo Thodol, Tibetan Buddhism, Andy Griffith, Mayberry, Las Vegas NM
Analysis, Political, Personal, Written by: Cameron
Ethics and Aesthetics are Not the Same Thing: USA Electoral Politics, July 2019
July 01, 2019 by Cameron Summers in Written by: Cameron, Political, Analysis
I would not say that I have a hope that electoral politics can fix our situation, but I would say that I wish that it will – and I intend to take steps to make that wish a reality. It's been written that there are four boxes to make use of in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammunition, and that it is best to use them in that order. Today I'm hoping to make use of the first of those boxes, as well as some of the tools that Edgar and I have laid out in these brief essays.
Politics, Analysis, 2020 Presidential Election
Written by: Cameron, Political, Analysis
Crafting a Healthy Masculinity: Part 1
June 12, 2019 by Cameron Summers in Written by: Cameron, Political, Personal, Analysis
Much has been written about toxic masculinity, much of it by much better scholars than me. What I would like to do in this piece, and subsequent pieces under similar headings, is analyze non-toxic manifestations of masculinity, discuss their functioning, and – as much as possible, without oversimplifying – present guidelines so that we can follow them in the future. There are, of course, pitfalls here and I want to acknowledge them at the beginning: just about everything we do has unintended consequences, and the suggestions that I make here will no doubt be liable to have them, too. Moreover, any behavior can be twisted into a toxic manifestation: you have to have the self-awareness to try to recognize that when it happens, and to accept the criticism when it comes up.
June 12, 2019 /Cameron Summers
The whole thing smacks of gender, Judith Butler, Twin Peaks, Dale Cooper, Garland Briggs, Bobby Briggs, Mad Max: Fury Road, Max Rockatansky, Nux, Avatar, Uncle Iroh, Doom Patrol, Robotman, Fred Rogers, LeVar Burton, Masculinity, Healthy Masculinity, Toxic Masculinity, Analysis
Written by: Cameron, Political, Personal, Analysis
The Collapse of Possibility: The Problem of Aesthetics and Ontology in Science Fiction
June 05, 2019 by Cameron Summers in Analysis, Political, Written by: Cameron
But all of this is beside the point: the fact that we can pick out two dominant aesthetics in the visual media form of what is supposed to be a “literature of ideas” is a problem. It indicates, if anything, a lack of ideas. If our options are just a visual vocabulary iteration of the old Star Wars vs. Star Trek debate that no one but the people having it are interested in, we've got problems.
Science Fiction, aesthetics, Philosophy, cyberpunk, The Expanse, Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Hannu Rajaniemi, The Quantum Thief, Too Like the Lightning, Ada Palmer, Roger Zelazny, Lord of Light, Virgil Ortiz, Native Futurism, Black Panther, Afro-Futurism, Star Trek, Gravity (2013), Star Wars, Used Future, Jobsian Minimalism, Transhumanism, Mind Uploading, Peter Frase, Four Futures
Analysis, Political, Written by: Cameron
Reality Gives Way to the Real: The Epistemic Crisis and the Damaging Omnipresence of the Sublime
May 27, 2019 by Cameron Summers in Written by: Cameron, Analysis, Political
While the news media sometimes talks about an Epistemic Crisis, or discusses the caustic effect that social media has on discourse, or features a think piece about how kids these days don't share the values of their elders, et cetera, et cetera. This isn't what I'm talking about, or not the whole thing. I feel that we are in a dangerous and critically important period of epistemic uncertainty. To whit, in addition to the examples that I mention, I want to introduce some anecdotes (which is an ironic move as far as proof goes; more on that some other time.)
May 27, 2019 /Cameron Summers
epistemic crisis, aesthetics, Philosophy, Weird Fiction, Analysis, H.P. Lovecraft, Lacan
Written by: Cameron, Analysis, Political
Ex-Child Prodigies and Broken Promises: The Millennial Meta-Narrative of Coping with Failure
I think that this resonates with many of us because we were given such reason to hope for the future when we were younger and it didn’t pan out. We were born in the “End of History,” when western liberal democracy had triumphed over the Soviet Union, and the future was supposed to just be an asymptotically perfecting version of the present with no huge revisions.
aesthetics, Politics, Mob Psycho 100, Gary and His Demons, The Millennial Condition, The Boy Detective Fails, Joe Meno, Umbrella Academy, Gerard Way, The Magicians, Lev Grossman, Meddling Kids, Edgar Cantero, BoJack Horseman, The Kestrel, Lloyd Alexander, Mad Max: Fury Road, Avatar, Persona 5, Sincerity, September 11, Hurricane Katrina, 2008 Financial Crisis
Some Notes on Aesthetics
May 15, 2019 by Maggie Boyles in Analysis, Political, Written by: Edgar
We have been taught, in a variety of ways that aesthetics are bullshit: in part, and not unreasonably, because what do Truth and Beauty (yes, with title caps) mean to a world that had, y’know, the whole twentieth century, and has so far made a fucking hash of the twenty-first?
May 15, 2019 /Maggie Boyles
aesthetics, Fashion, Analysis, Politics
Analysis, Political, Written by: Edgar
A Wind Out of Nowhere: The Utopian Impulse
May 01, 2019 by Cameron Summers in Written by: Cameron, Political, Analysis
That’s a bit of a left turn, there at the end, but it’s on my mind a lot lately. Give a well-educated person not one but two jobs where their major duty is reading signs to people and you’re bound to get weird.
Reflection, creativity, Analysis, Utopian Impulse, DeVotchKa, Zeal & Ardor, William Shakespeare, Joseph Heller, Catch-22, The Bridge, Hart Crane, Criticism
Teratology: on Monsters in Fiction.
April 10, 2019 by Cameron Summers in Analysis, Written by: Cameron, Political
Episode 9, “The Hounds”, is the episode I commonly think of as “mine” (the finale, of course, has my grubby fingerprints all over it, but that’s a discussion for another time,) just as Episode 8, “Cassandra”, belongs to Edgar.
April 10, 2019 /Cameron Summers
Analysis, monsters, Perdition's Teeth
Analysis, Written by: Cameron, Political
"Do You Consider Yourself Anti-Capitalist?": On Making Political Art
February 13, 2019 by Cameron Summers in Written by: Cameron, Political, Analysis
My parents are renovating the house I grew up in, and their kitchen has been unusable for some time. As Edgar can attest, one of my primary means of showing affection is making food for people: for me, nothing shows care quite so much as sharing a home-made meal, so I brought them dinner (vegetarian chili, with a small container of browned beef alongside it, in case they didn’t want to have it vegetarian.)
While there, I spoke to my mother about the ongoing loneliness epidemic that has been on my mind lately: I’m an adjunct instructor, and I’ve recently gotten a crop of so-called “Generation Z” students. These young people are (according to experts,) the most isolated generation in recorded history, and who have the most precarious mental health situation of any living generation, succumbing in record numbers to anxiety and depression. I am I feel, not improperly, worried about them.
February 13, 2019 /Cameron Summers
Reflection, Leftism, Writing
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Immigration: Government Can Only Regulate Legal Markets
By Alex Nowrasteh
Details about the Boston bombers are surfacing by the minute, but many opponents of immigration reform are already using it as an excuse to oppose reform. There is no reason to assume that continuing the status quo immigration policy will prevent future terrorist attacks.
Legalizing the peaceful and otherwise law-abiding unauthorized immigrants here will allow law enforcement to focus on legitimate national security and crime threats. It is more costly for the government to weed out criminals and national security threats when there is such a large and relatively peaceful unauthorized immigrant population. Shrinking the size of that immigrant black market quickly and cheaply through responsible legalization, and allowing more immigration of workers in the future, will channel scarce government resources toward legitimate security and criminal screenings and away from enforcing economic protectionism. Every minute that a government official currently spends raiding workplaces and checking whether immigrants will affect the wages of technology workers or Washington lawyers is a waste.
Removing peaceful people from the immigration black market and channeling future immigrants into a legal system—after security, criminal, and health checks—is likely to increase safety, not diminish it. The number of permitted immigrants should be determined based on the demands of the market, not the whims of politics. The government should shed its economic protectionist role in immigration enforcement and instead devote its resources to weeding out the terrorist and criminal needles in an otherwise peaceful and productive haystack.
Boston, bombing, immigration reform, illegal immigration
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Fukushima meltdown apology: "It was a cover-up"
June 21, 2016 / 8:28 AM / AP
First look inside Fukushima nuclear plant 31 photos
TOKYO -- The utility that ran the Fukushima nuclear plant acknowledged Tuesday its delayed disclosure of the meltdowns at three reactorswas tantamount to a cover-up and apologized for it.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. President Naomi Hirose's apology followed the revelation last week that an investigation had found Hirose's predecessor instructed officials during the 2011 disaster to avoid using the word "meltdown."
"I would say it was a cover-up," Hirose told a news conference. "It's extremely regrettable."
Japanese woman breaks silence on Fukushima-related cancer
TEPCO instead described the reactors' condition as less serious "core damage" for two months after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, wrecked the plant, even though utility officials knew and computer simulations suggested meltdowns had occurred.
The Fukushima disaster workers 16 photos
An investigative report released last Thursday by three company-appointed lawyers said TEPCO's then-President Masataka Shimizu instructed officials not to use the specific description under alleged pressure from the Prime Minister's Office, though the investigators found no proof of such pressure.
Japan struggles in cleanup of Fukushima meltdown
The report said TEPCO officials, who had suggested possible meltdowns, stopped using the description after March 14, 2011, when Shimizu's instruction was delivered to vice president at the time, Sakae Muto in a memo at a televised news conference. In a video from that day, a company official rushes over to Muto, showing the memo and telling him that the Prime Minister's Office has banned the word.
Disaster in Japan More
Workers start removing fuel from Japan's quake-damaged nuke reactor
Robot probes nuclear reactor
Robot probes crippled nuke reactor for melted fuel
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More in Disaster in Japan
Government officials also softened their language on the reactor conditions around the same time, the report said.
Former officials at the Prime Minister's Office have denied the allegation. Then-top government spokesman Yukio Edano, now secretary general of the main opposition Democratic Party, criticized the report as "inadequate and unilateral," raising suspicion over the report by the lawyers seen close to the ruling party ahead of an upcoming Upper House election.
TEPCO has been accused of a series of cover-ups in the disaster, though the report found TEPCO's delayed meltdown acknowledgement wasn't illegal.
Hirose said he will take a 10 percent pay cut, and another executive will take a 30 percent cut, for one month each to take responsibility.
Fukushima: Three Years Later
The report said Shimizu's instruction delayed full disclosure of the plant's status to the public, even as people who lived near the plant were forced to leave their homes, some of them possibly unable to return permanently, due to the radiation leaks from the plant.
TEPCO reported to authorities three days after the tsunami that the damage, based on a computer simulation, involved 25 to 55 percent of the fuel but didn't say it constituted a "meltdown," even though the figures exceeded the 5 percent benchmark for one under the company manual.
TEPCO in May 2011 publicly acknowledged "meltdown" after another computer simulation showed significant meltdown in three reactors, including one with melted fuel almost entirely fallen to the bottom of the primary containment chamber.
The issue surfaced earlier this year in a separate investigation in which TEPCO reversed its earlier position that it had no internal criteria regarding a meltdown announcement, admitting the company manual was overlooked.
First published on June 21, 2016 / 8:28 AM
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Aerial photos: Huntingdonshire
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Areas » Huntingdonshire
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ZknRM376
Hampton 2006
ZknSF57
Woodwalton Fen
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Space Station Friendship
A Visit with the Crew in 2007
Dick Lattimer
Format Available
Dimensions : 231 X 151 mm
The year is 2007, the fiftieth anniversary of the Space Age. Space shuttle Discovery is about o dock at the first permanent U. S. space station, which author Dick Lattimer called Friendship. In all but name, the space station depicted in these pages is based on NASA plans.
To help you project yourself on board, Lattimer has created a fictional crew, including three rookie crew members—doctoral candidates who have been chosen to do special work on their theses. By viewing the space station through their eyes, you'll learn about the important work to be done there.
Friendship reflects existing technology and projected plans. As part of his extensive research, Lattimer, along with his son, illustrator Michael Lattimer, had the unique opportunity to spend several different days aboard the space station mockup at Huntsville, Alabama.
Inevitably, there will be design modification. But life aboard out first permanent space station will probably resemble life on space station Friendship.
In these pages you'll v
Pennsylvania Ghost Towns
Susan Tassin
Dear Harry
D. Giangreco, Kathryn Moore
Hitler's Wings of Death
Otto Lehmann-Russbueldt
Inside the Army of the Potomac
J. Acken
Kill-Cavalry
Lincoln's Spymaster
Project Space Station
Brian O'Leary
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$$$Hot List 2018
Luxury minimalism at its best. This is Hoshinoya's first property outside of Japan, and the rooms are larger while the room count is smaller (30 villas total) than most of their properties.
www.hoshinoresorts.com
Powered by Expedia
Luxury minimalism at its best
Discrete and serene
Balinese warmth
How did it strike you on arrival?
The discretion and serenity of Hoshinoya sinks into you from the start, at a property where you're more likely to hear the sound of the jungle than the occupants of your neighboring villa.
Nice. What's the crowd like?
Stylishly-dressed Japanese tourists, both young old. There's a mixture of friends, couples and even multi-generational travelers. I'd expect to see Sting here, or any celebrity who wants the VIP treatment in a zen-like setting where near anonymity can be achieved. The property is currently aimed at Japanophile Bali travelers, but I think they'll soon break out from this pigeon-holing as the resort has a much broader appeal for anyone in love with Balinese culture, but who is over the congestion and overrun tourism of the island's more beaten paths. Hoshinoya is a quieter, more tranquil place with an emphasis on immersing oneself in nature's beauty rather than a party or art scene.
The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
Luxury minimalism at its best. This is Hoshinoya's first property outside of Japan, and the rooms are larger while the room count is smaller (30 villas total) than most of their other properties. The resort was designed by Rie Azuma, who spent considerable time researching Hindu temples and traditional Balinese culture. It was important for them to keep an aspect of Japan in the design as a Japanese group, but they integrated it seamlessly with local design—beautiful wood and stone carvings can be found throughout the private and public areas of the resort. After getting used to such calm, I found the idea of going into town a bit daunting! My villa (Jalak) had the best views of the jungle and sunrise.
You're starving. There's a knock at the door. OMG, it's room service! What's on offer there or elsewhere in the hotel?
Room service was impeccable. The management staff has worked diligently to balance Balinese warmth with a Japanese hands off approach. They deliver the full dining set-up to your room with the meal, and there's also a nice traditional tea service in suspended gazebos over the jungle in the afternoons, where you're enveloped in nature despite being so close to your bed.
Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.
Water is an important element to the property. The villas are arranged around three canal-like pools—different from a typical resort situation where each room has its own. However, there were private sections of the pool off of each villa, so guests could experience both the more typical/secluded swimming environment or venture beyond into a long, river-like pool to do laps or explore the property from the water's edge. And this is all contributing positively to local sustainability: the pools feature a subak channel (Bali's UNESCO designed irrigation system) which runs down to neighboring rice paddy fields. Also, there's a no-tipping policy! Service charges are included in your stay and they've asked staff to flat out refuse any tips.
Bottom line: worth it, and why?
Luxury minimalism at its best. This is Hoshinoya's first property outside of Japan, and the rooms are larger while the room count is smaller (30 villas total) than most of their properties. The resort was designed by Rie Azuma, who spent considerable time researching Hindu temples and traditional Balinese culture.
Got the skinny on this place? Let our editors know!
The island riding an eternal wave
COMO Uma Ubud
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
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NewsHistory
A bronze cherub from the wreck of the Titanic is among the highlights of a 5500-piece collection of artefacts being fought over in a US bankruptcy court. The RMS Titanic Inc Collection has become available after a US company that owns the items filed for bankruptcy. A campaign has been launched to bring the items to Belfast for display at the Titanic museum. Titanic Belfast, the Titanic Foundation, National Museums Northern Ireland and the National Maritime Museum united to launch the multimillion dollar Titanic Artefacts Collection campaign. The collection includes personal jewellery from the 1503 people who died in the disaster, with rings, necklaces, pendants, watches and brooches among the trove along with buttons, tiepins, hairpins, belt buckles, cufflinks, medals, a coin purse, a jewellery box and eyeglasses. It also includes fittings and furniture from the ill-fated liner, such as bench frames, table bases, a dining room seat back, bed frames, portholes and stained glass windows. The list describes the bronze cherub, from the ship's grand staircase, as the most exceptional item because it is the "only substantial figural object in the collection". As well as the cherub, the collection includes sections of the garland and balustrade from the grand staircase which became famous following the James Cameron movie about the sinking of the ship. Some of the more poignant items include letters, shoes, combs, mirrors and a toy plane. Australian Associated Press
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/8e12987f-b2ba-4b12-bdc4-1f724ec6670a.jpg/r0_74_800_526_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Staircase among Titanic artefacts sought
Rebecca Black
A campaign is under way to return more than 5500 items from the Titanic to a museum in Belfast.
A bronze cherub from the wreck of the Titanic is among the highlights of a 5500-piece collection of artefacts being fought over in a US bankruptcy court.
The RMS Titanic Inc Collection has become available after a US company that owns the items filed for bankruptcy.
A campaign has been launched to bring the items to Belfast for display at the Titanic museum.
Titanic Belfast, the Titanic Foundation, National Museums Northern Ireland and the National Maritime Museum united to launch the multimillion dollar Titanic Artefacts Collection campaign.
The collection includes personal jewellery from the 1503 people who died in the disaster, with rings, necklaces, pendants, watches and brooches among the trove along with buttons, tiepins, hairpins, belt buckles, cufflinks, medals, a coin purse, a jewellery box and eyeglasses.
It also includes fittings and furniture from the ill-fated liner, such as bench frames, table bases, a dining room seat back, bed frames, portholes and stained glass windows.
The list describes the bronze cherub, from the ship's grand staircase, as the most exceptional item because it is the "only substantial figural object in the collection".
As well as the cherub, the collection includes sections of the garland and balustrade from the grand staircase which became famous following the James Cameron movie about the sinking of the ship.
Some of the more poignant items include letters, shoes, combs, mirrors and a toy plane.
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AltitudeTV.com
May 16 Rapids Report on Altitude TV to feature former defender Chris Martinez
May 16, 201312:28PM MDT
Don't forget to catch this week's edition of Rapids Report, which airs on Altitude each Thursday at 6pm.
Tonight Rapids legend Marcelo Balboa, talking tactics, scouting and preparation with Colorado Rapids head coach Oscar Pareja.
Balboa’s co-host, Richard Fleming, catches up with former defender Chris Martinez, who played for the club between 1997-2001.
And, in the week that the Rapids got an insight into who they may meet in the U.S. Open Cup, the show looks at how another Colorado club made their own slice of history in the competition.
As always, Rapids Report will reflect on the most recent game - Colorado's 2-0 win at Columbus - and take a quick glance ahead to the trip to San Jose this weekend.
Also, join Fleming and Balboa on Altitude on Saturday starting at 8 pm MT for comprehensive coverage of the Earthquakes versus the Colorado Rapids.
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Junior Cheer
COMMUNITY IMPACT CHALLENGE
The Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders are excited to launch a new Community Impact Challenge program. Through this program, each member of the squad has teamed up with a local charity to create an idea for a community service project. After Colts fans vote for their favorite project, the winning project will receive a $10,000 grant so that the Colts Cheerleader who proposed the project can bring it to life.
Cast your vote below for your favorite project! Voting will end on December 16, 2018, and the winning project will be announced at the Colts vs Giants game on December 23.
College Mentors for Kids
Provide a year of mentoring (approximately 640 hours) for children in need. They will learn about education, career opportunities, community service, and cultural diversity with college students.
Visit College Mentors for Kids
Child Advocates of Marion County
Assemble activity kits for children who have suffered abuse and neglect. Items would assist with recovery and provide sensory stimulation to promote positive coping and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Visit Child Advocates of Marion County
Host a cooking class for kids with their parent/guardian where they will learn together how to prepare and cook healthy meals with a professional chef to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Visit Boys & Girls Club
Energy Krazed
Provide funding for nutrition and health education to Marion County schools. The goal of this program is to decrease childhood obesity and increase overall health, mind and body. Energy Krazed educates Hoosier families on leading a healthier life through Right Minds, Right Meals, and Right Moves!
Visit Energy Krazed
JDRF
Provide fully paid scholarships for young girls with type 1 diabetes to participate in the Colts Junior Cheer program. This program would provide them with fun physical activities despite their family’s financial situation. The remaining money would be donated to JDRF research.
Visit JDRF
Angels and Doves
Support the mission of preventing bullying, injuries, and bullying suicides in K-12 by supplying school districts in Indiana with toolkits, holding interactive workshops & presentations, and implementing peer to peer peacekeeping programs.
Visit Angels and Doves
Provide attire and training workshops to help women prepare for new career opportunities, as well as provide a mentorship program with Colts Cheerleaders. This partnership would help women of Indianapolis seek new career opportunities.
Visit Dress for Success
Carissa
Gleaners Food Bank – BackSacks Program
Host a fundraiser in support of the BackSack program, which provides weekend meals for at-risk youth. Colts fans would be asked to donate $5 to cover the cost of a BackSack and the funds would be used to match all donations up to $10,000.
Visit Gleaners Food Bank
Caroline B.
Purchase sensory packs for fans with special needs or conditions that attend Colts games at Lucas Oil Stadium, allowing them to enjoy the gameday experience.
Visit Autism Speaks
Caroline K.
Orchestrate a special experience for youth in our city who are patiently waiting for a Big Brother/Sister mentor, and help build the brightest possible future for our community by raising awareness for the mentoring program.
Visit Big Brothers Big Sisters
Cortney
IndyHumane
Transform a puppy play yard into a beautifully landscaped, functional area for adoptable dogs to participate in play groups, enrichment, and quality time; creating a stellar opportunity for potential adopters to view available dogs at play!
Visit IndyHumane
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Provide resources for a neighborhood cleanup around Lucas Oil Stadium. Pop tabs from any cans collected that day will be used to make a Buddy Bench at a local school or park.
Visit Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Provide funding for Young Women in Leadership (YWIL), which is a leadership development program focusing on college and career preparedness. In YWIL, girls go on career field trips, participate in mock interviews, and conduct a community service project.
Visit Girls Inc.
Provide two complete school uniforms to every child in the School on Wheels program who needs one during the spring semester. Uniforms are a key way to help ensure regular attendance. While 87% are enrolled in school, only 77% attend school regularly.
Visit School on Wheels
Riley Cheer Guild
Create developmentally appropriate sensory bags for the unique needs of children with autism/developmental delays at Riley Hospital for Children. These bags would include take-home items for patients that could be used both in the hospital and at home.
Visit Riley Cheer Guild
Partner with Special Olympics Indiana and the Unified Champion Schools initiative to host an inclusive football and cheerleading camp for individuals of all abilities, giving everyone the opportunity to participate in one of America's most beloved sports.
Visit Special Olympics
Dayspring Center
Create a welcoming space for homeless families by renovating, repainting and updating the children's play area, so that it's equipped with tables, chairs and educational toys to enhance motor and cognitive skills.
Visit Dayspring Center
Speedway High School
Assist Mia Benge, a junior cheerleader who’s a tumor and stroke survivor, in creating a legacy around blanket tying therapy to be included as curriculum in her class at Speedway HS.
Visit Speedway High School
Reach The World
Create an outreach program that provides low-income youth with educational experiences (tea ceremonies, sushi, art, etc.) that features Japanese culture.
Visit Reach The World
NubAbility Athletics Foundation
Provide Indiana children with limb differences the opportunity to attend a NubAbility Athletics Foundation camp. In addition, Colts Cheerleaders would coordinate with their cheer and dance programs to serve as guest coaches to the campers.
Visit NubAbility
Sponsor four Indiana families to experience an unforgettable week at Camp Sunshine, an all-inclusive retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
Visit Camp Sunshine
Riley Children's Foundation
Coordinate a themed photo shoot for the patients at Riley Hospital for Children. Families would be provided with a memorable keepsake photo that would feature their child in their theme of choice (Princess, Superhero, Animated Character, etc.).
Visit Riley Children's Foundation
Changing the Face of Beauty
Organize a photo shoot that highlights people with disabilities to promote media and advertising that are inclusive and representative of the population. The goal is to share the message, "All Abilities are Welcome Here."
Visit Changing the Face of Beauty
Sarah T.
Gleaners Food Bank - School-Based Pantry
Coordinate with pre-existing school based food pantries in Indianapolis to implement nutrition education for pantry clients which would include cooking demos, recipes and education on how to eat healthy on a budget.
Visit Gleaners Food Bank - Mobile Pantry
NeuroHope
Assist NeuroHope with an event at the "Incrediplex" Sports Complex to help fund a newly accessible wellness program and state-of-the-art Neuromuscular electrical stimulation program (as 1 of 11 places in the U.S.).
Visit NeuroHope
Zhanna
IPS Schools
Create a fun “Future Fair” event for middle schoolers to attend and learn about different professions and opportunities. This would promote excitement and drive for education leading into the high school years.
Visit IPS Schools
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Home » DC Comics » Justice League #27 Review
August 23, 2017RokkDC Comics, Justice League0
The Legacy story arc got kicked off with the last issue. Bryan Hitch delivered an unremarkable start to this new story arc. You can read our review of Justice League #26 here. It was not a bad issue, but Hitch certainly did not do anything to get it above being an average at best story. Hopefully, Hitch is able to flesh out the Justice League’s children a bit more and delivery a story with more meat on its bones with Justice League #27. Let’s hit this review.
Words: Bryan Hitch
Pencils: Fernando Pasarin
Inks: Oclair Albert
Colors: Brad Anderson
Story Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: We begin with the Justice Leaguers and their children back on the Watchtower Satellite. The kids are excited to be back on the Watchtower Satellite. They have fond memories as little kids playing on the Watchtower Satellite.
Everyone enters the main computer room where Cyborg is busy running scans on all of the children to confirm that they really are the children of the Justice Leaguers. Mera states that she does not remember giving birth to any children. Hunter says that they are from 22 years in the future. Mera asks why the children came here. Serenity says they came here to find their parents: The Justice League. Hunter said they came to the past because they knew for sure that the Leaguers would be present. And they are their parents so of course the Justice Leaguers would want to help them.
Jessica Cruz starts stressing out and says that she cannot get her head around any of this. Nora calls Jessica “Mom” and tells her to calm down. Nora says that she used to hate seeing Jessica get upset. Jessica is stunned and asks if she is Nora’s mom. Nora says yes. That Jessica is mom to Nora, Jenny and Jason. Jessica is in shock and says that she does not know what to do.
Click for full-page view
Barry steps in and tells the kids to back off a bit. Barry asks if the kids have any proof to back up what they are claiming. Jason says that why wouldn’t the Justice Leaguers believe their children.
Jenny starts to cry. Jenny says that they have not seen mom and dad is so long. Jenny hugs Jessica and says, “Please, Mom.” Superman steps in and says that he is sure that they can sort all of this out.
Nora then calls Barry “Daddy” and says that she knows this is weird. Barry is shocked and asks “Wait, I’m going to be your Dad? With Jessica? Oh, boy. How am I gonna tell Iris…?” (Because Barry is dating Iris over in The Flash solo comic.) Nora says that her full name is Nora Allen and everyone calls her Cruise. Nora says that Barry named her after his mother.
Superman approaches Wonder Woman and says that she has not said anything. Superman asks if she is okay. Wonder Woman replies that she can feel that they are telling the truth. But, that there is something else. Wonder Woman approaches Hunter and said that he told her that she had no right to care. Wonder Woman asks if she is his mother.
Hunter gets angry and says that he knew it would be like this. Hunter says that he should not have expecting anything else from Wonder Woman. Cruise steps in and tells Hunter to relax. Serenity replies that Hunter has every right to be angry. Cruise says that this is not the proper time for this type of talk.
Wonder Woman asks why Hunter would be angry at her. Wonder Woman asks what she has done. Hunter replies “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” Hunter says that Wonder Woman abandoned him the minute he was born. Hunter says she abandoned him because he was not a girl. Because he was not an Amazon. (Ohhh, damn. Wondy just got burned to a crisp.)
Hunter grabs Wonder Woman’s golden lasso and says if she doesn’t believe him then she can use the lasso and face the truth. (Damn. Hunter is bringing it in this scene.) Wonder Woman gets sad and ashamed and looks away. Wonder Woman says that Hunter is telling the truth.
Jenny starts getting upset and yellow power ring energy starts enveloping her. Jenny says that this is horrible. That this was supposed to be a good and happy time. Jason hugs Jenny and tells her to calm down. That it will be okay. Cruise tells Barry that she got his speed. That Jenny and Jason got the Lantern light. All of it. All of the emotions. All of the colors. That when they get upset it can get a bit crazy.
Jessica goes over to Jenny and holds her and says that everything will be okay. Cyborg then announces that his computer readings have finished. Cyborg says that the computer scans confirm that these are indeed the Justice Leaguers’ children. Superman says that this might be a good time for proper introductions.
Nora, Jenny and Jason introduce themselves to Jessica and Barry. Cube introduces himself to Cyborg. Cyborg is impressed with Cube’s Mother Box technology that has been integrated into his body. Cyborg and Cube then do the bro handshake. (Really?! This is you freaking son!! I have two boys. They have gotten hugs and kisses from day one. Damn. Hug your son, Cyborg. Don’t be that guy.)
Serenity introduces herself to Mera. Serenity says that she is Queen of Oceana and she sits on the throne of Atlantis and that she has brought magic back to the waters and united the seven seas. Mera smiles and says, “I like her.” (Me, too.)
Superman introduces himself to Hunter. Wonder Woman stands there ashamed and embarrassed. Hunter says that he grew up with Superman. Superman took him in when Wonder Woman abandoned him. Superman and Lois raised him. Jon Kent was like a big brother to Hunter. That Superman always made Hunter feel like he was Superman’s son even though he wasn’t.
Hunter says that Jon and Damien would get irritated when Hunter would hang around them and the Super Sons club that they started. Hunter says that he thought Jon and Damien were the coolest. Hunter says that Superman took him in when Wonder Woman abandoned him and that Superman always did his best. Hunter then looks at Wonder Woman and says, “What did she ever do?” Wonder Woman looks away from the two men.
Jenny then tells Baz that he ends up leading the Yellow Lanterns after he killed Sinestro. (Dude!! Don’t talk about the future!! You will screw up the space-time continuum! Head Doc Brown’s warnings!)
Superman asks why did the children come here and why now. Hunter replies that they had nowhere else to go. Cyborg says that they need to fill them in on what the children experienced. Cube says he can download his memories to Cyborg and then they can upload them to the computer screen for everyone to watch.
We see the Justice Leaguers giving birth to the children. The kids all grew up together. Then there was a massive superhuman war. It was the most brutal war the world had ever seen. The Justice Leaguers had their children hidden way on Olympus. The Justice Leaguers said they would return. But, they never did.
The children waited. They grew into adults. They never knew what happened to their parents. They eventually found their way out of Olympus and headed back to the world. All of the super heroes were gone.
Serenity claimed her throne in Atlantis which was now the last remaining free nation in the world. Then Sovereign came. She took Olympus and smashed it into the Earth. Sovereign spread her reign of terror across the planet. Earth became like Apokolips.
The children then found the last Forever Stones. They used them to travel back in time to this moment to find their parents. Jessica hugs her children. Jessica says that that is no kind of life for any child.
Hunter says that everything that happens takes place in about a decade. Superman says that the children are probably tired and hungry. Cruise says she is starving. Barry says that he understands that.
Jessica says that she and Barry should take their children home. That their children came here to find us and they need to be looked after properly. Cruise asks “Dad, will you come, too.” Barry responds “Sure, I mean, should I?” Jessica then kisses Barry and says, “You really should. Not being a single parent today.” (Hold on. Wait a minute. Isn’t Barry dating Iris over in The Flash solo title?!)
Hunter says that he would like nothing more than to go home with Superman. Wonder Woman looks at Hunter but Hunter looks the other way. Serenity asks Mera if Dad will be home. Mera says that Arthur is currently lost. (She seems really nonchalant about the fact. Kind of like how you might casually lose a sock or something.)
Superman says that he and the Justice Leaguers need to make some arrangements. He tells the children to wait and that they will be right back. The Justice Leaguers all gather together. Wonder Woman asks them if they are sure about this. (Worst. Mom. Ever.) Superman says that they cannot just let them wander around alone. That the children need guidance. (Best. Dad. Ever.) Mera agrees saying that they need to watch over the children while they figure out what to do next.
We cut to the children standing together. Jenny is so happy to have seen her parents again. Hunter reminds everyone that they cannot tell their parents about why they are here. Cruise says that they need to enjoy this moment a little while they can.
Superman steps back into the room and tells the children that everything is ready. That it is time to go home. Everyone leaves the room except for Baz and Wonder Woman. Baz asks Wonder Woman “So, I kill Sinestro?” Wonder Woman asks Simon to please leave her alone. We see Wonder Woman standing there staring at the ground.
We shift to the Batcave. Batman is on the Batcomputer. Batman asks the Batcomputer to show him all the information on the Kindred. The Batcomputer asks “Okay, Bruce. Would you like to play a game?” (Nice Wargames reference that nobody under 40 caught.) Batman says not now.
Batman asks if the Batcomputer has gotten any information on the Kindred’s song. The Batcomputer says that it is a signal. Batman asks if there are any comparable signals. The Batcomputer says there is one. It is in Midway City. It is still broadcasting. Batman tells the Batcomputer to get this information to the Watchtower and to Cyborg.
The Batcomputer says that the signal is being jammed. The Batcomputer then asks “Would you and Aquaman like to play a game?” Suddenly, a smoke grenade lands next to Batman. A figure then attacks Batman. The mysterious attacker beats the crap out of Batman.
We then see the smoke begin to clear. We see that the attacker is the Old Man Aquaman from the future. Old Man Aquaman stands over Batman and says, “It’s been a long time, Bruce. I need to borrow your stuff.” End of issue.
The Good: Justice League #27 was a solid read. The clear strength of this issue is the character work and the interplay between the Justice Leaguers and their children. One of the main problems with Justice League #26 was the character work. The Justice Leaguer’s children were nondescript and lacked any real personalities. Hitch addresses that problem with Justice League #27. While certainly not perfect, Hitch manages to flesh out a few of the children in this issue. Hitch also gives the reader a much better sense for the relationships between the various children and their Justice League parents.
While I enjoyed all of the Justice Leaguer/children pairings there was one that I thought stood out from the rest. I found the Hunter/Wonder Woman/Superman plot line to be by far the most intriguing and fascinating of all the parent/children relationships. Hitch really excelled with this plot line.
The dynamic between Hunter, Wonder Woman and Superman was absolutely spot one. It was the perfect use of all three characters. Hitch is able to take this complex relationship and highlight the core personality traits of each of the three characters. Hitch was also able to give Hunter’s character more depth as well.
First off, I was thrilled that Hitch revealed that Hunter was not Superman and Wonder WOman’s son. I would sooner have a root canal with no novocaine rather than have to see that pairing again in any form or fashion. Hitch swerves the reader with a brilliant little plot wrinkle by revealing that Hunter is Wonder Woman’s son but that she gave him up at brith and Superman raised him. This was the dramatic high point of this issue.
This plot swerve manages to play to Superman’s core strengths as well as make Wonder Woman a more compelling and interesting character. Hitch understands that Superman is the ultimate boy scout. And instead of running from that fact Hitch embraces it.
It makes perfect sense that Superman would take in Wonder Woman’s child and raise Hunter as if he was Superman’s own son. It is this type of strong male qualities that makes Superman a classic strong male character and the ultimate father figure that inspires all of those around him. Hunter’s love and respect for Superman emphasizes how Superman is the ultimate role model.
On the other hand, Hitch uses this plot surprise to make Wonder Woman’s character more interesting and complex. I often find Wonder Woman’s character boring. The main reason is that DC normally places Wonder Woman on a pedestal and has her act as a paragon of virtue rather than a real person. DC is afraid of Wonder Woman being a real woman and avoids characters flaws and sexuality when dealing with her character. The result is that she often comes across as more of a symbol for a particular ideal rather than an actual character.
Wonder Woman abandoning Hunter at birth because he was born a male is historically consistent with how the Amazons viewed men. Historically, the Amazons have been inherently sexist and have viewed men as something less than desirable. Hitch uses this fact to have Wonder Woman act in a manner consistent with a proud Amazon. However, while the reader understands why Wonder Woman would act in such a manner this still makes Wonder Woman look awful as a person.
What makes this moment even more fascinating is Wonder Woman’s reaction of pure shame. Wonder Woman does not get angry. She does not get defensive. She does not reach out to Hunter to try and apologize and protest why she would ever do such a horrible act. No. Instead, Wonder Woman becomes completely silent. Wonder Woman displays pure shame. It is a moment of tender vulnerability in a character that is normally presented as power and perfection personified.
And this quiet shameful moment is what draws the reader even closer to Wonder Woman’s character. This gives Wonder Woman some nuance and texture to her personality. Heroes who have a few flaws are always more compelling and engaging. Hitch completely drew me in with this plot line. I am fascinated to see how Wonder Woman reacts to this revelation. We all know that this story arc will end with Hunter and Wonder Woman reconciling at some point. But, it is the journey to that reconciliation that is going to be such a fascinating read.
There is also the remaining plot mystery surrounding Hunter’s background. And that would be the identity of Hunter’s father. I am curious to see who Hitch reveals as the father and how it impacts the story.
Hitch does a nice job fleshing out Hunter’s character as well. Hunter’s anger toward his mother is palpable and understandable. Hitch deftly contrasts Hunter’s hostility for Wonder Woman with his love and respect for Superman. This gives Hunter some depth to his character and makes him more multi-dimensional.
I also liked how Hitch managed to weave the Super Sons comic into this storyline by referencing Hunter’s relationship with Jon Kent and Damien Wayne. I always appreciate it when a writer can give their story some firm context within the larger shared universe. It is always nice to establish ties between various characters and titles when it makes sense. Having Jon and Damien serve as big brothers for Hunter is a nice and logical way to tie Hunter into both the Bat Family and the Superman Family. This makes Hunter the nexus for DC’s Trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.
Hitch also managed to do the impossible with Justice League #27: make me like Jessica’s character. Normally, I find Jessica unbearable. She vacillates between being vanilla and boring and being whiny and irritating. However, Hitch manages to find a role that suits Jessica’s character. Rather than being the unconfident and accidental hero Jessica gets a chance to embrace her role as a mother. Jessica’s personality shines in this issue as she is the first of the Justice Leaguers to accept the children’s story and to embrace them with the love that they deserve. I must admit that Jessica’s character really grew on me with this issue.
I also liked how Barry responded to the revelation that Jason, Jenny and Cruise were his children. Hitch walks a fine line making Barry reticent but at the same time caring. Barry is not immediately accepting the children in a loving embrace like Jessica. The skepticism works with Barry’s personality. However, Barry is never hostile toward the children and immediately embraces them once he is able to process this new information.
Other than Hunter, the other two children who really shine in this issue are Cruise and Serenity. Hitch does an excellent job fleshing out both Cruise and Serenity and getting the reader engaged in both of their characters.
Cruise is a neat character. She seems to present an excellent mixture of both Jessica and Barry’s personalities. Hitch manages to generate some nice chemistry between Cruise and Barry in short fashion. Cruise has the classic positive super hero personality that reflects the style of hero that Barry is.
I like that Hitch refrained from making all of the children simply anti-hero versions of their parents. I like that Cruise has the same bright and positive heroic character of Barry. I like that Jenny and Jason have the same heroic but unconfident personalities of Jessica. I love that Serenity has the confidence and attitude of Mera.
Speaking of Serenity, what a cool character that Hitch has presented with her. I love her confidence and badass persona. Hitch is able to quickly establish that Serenity is a character that nobody wants to mess with. I like that it is the child of Aquaman and Mera who is the heavy hitter. This helps boost the credibility of the Aquaman family which has always lagged behind the other families of the DCU.
Fernando Pasarin and Oclair Albert combine to deliver an absolutely gorgeous issue. Justice League #27 has exactly the quality and style of art that I expect from a mainstream super hero comic book. I am a massive fan of both Pasarin and Oclair. Both artists are on the top of their game and two of the best in the industry.
Pasarin deserves massive praise for taking Hitch’s relatively shallow story and breathing life into it. Pasarin adds another layer of detail and texture to the story.The art was fantastic. Pasarin does a masterful job with the characters’ facial expressions. From Hunter’s hurt and anger, to Wonder Woman’s shame to Serenity’s regal and confident air, Pasarin is able to inject plenty of emotion into the story.
Hitch gives Pasarin almost nothing to work with in terms of action or adventure in this issue. It is much easier to deliver artwork for an issue crammed full of action and adventure and double page splash shots.
Pasarin had to take a script that is nothing but talking heads until the final two pages. That is a tough task for any artist. It is hard to craft a story of nothing but talking heads into a visually appealing issue. However, Pasarin manages to do it with aplomb. Not only that but Pasarin is able to give the story more emotion and impact upon the reader.
The Bad: Justice League #27 does suffer from the fact that Hitch’s story is not particularly complex or deep. The story is still very much on the surface. There is some potential for a more meaty story with the mystery surrounding Wonder Woman abandoning Hunter and the backstory for evil Aquaman. However, at this point, Hitch is not doing much other than delivering a standard issue super hero story. The story still feels rather formulaic.
Justice League #27 is also a slow issue. The pacing is slow and Hitch delivers little plot progression in this issue. Nothing really happens in this issue at all. Hitch hangs his hat on a few plot surprises like Wonder Woman abandoning Hunter and Baz killing Sinestro in order to keep the reader interested.
Hitch falls into the typical formula for a modern day decompressed comic book. Cram the issue full of talking heads that barely advance the overall plot lines and then deliver a wild and crazy hook ending with the final few pages designed to get the reader excited for the next issue and forgetting that not much happened at all in this issue.
Hitch spends 16 pages introducing the children and establishing that they are who they say they are. Other than the plot surprises involving Wonder Woman abandoning Hunter and Baz killing Sinestro the reader does not learn anything new at all. The reader already knew about the children and their backstory. Hitch basically repeats information that the reader pretty much already knew.
Then Hitch delivers a 4 page scene in the Batcave. This is the hook ending that provides for the only action in this entire issue. That is the two page fight scene between Batman and Old Man Aquaman. Other than that brief moment of action the rest of this issue is just talking heads. Justice League #27 suffers from a paucity of either action or adventure.
Hitch has also failed to properly flesh out all of the children at this point. Jenny, Jason, and Cube? They are all nothing more than cardboard cut-outs at this point. All three characters are terribly bland.
I am also confused about the pairing of Barry and Jessica. What exactly is going on and how does this fit in with what is going on in the Flash monthly title? Over on the Flash’s solo title we see Barry together with Iris. However, Hitch has Jessica all over Barry like the two of them are a couple. Now this might just be an issue with me and not a screw up by DC. Either I am totally missing something or DC’s editors have let this continuity issue slip past them.
Overall: Justice League #27 is a solid but certainly not spectacular read. The $2.99 cover price makes the lack of any substantial plot progression a little less irritating than when it is a $3.99 or #4.99 Marvel comic book. However, the lack of depth to the story and the lack of real plot progression make this issue tough to completely recommend. If you like character drive stories then definitely pick up Justice League #27. However, if you demand a fair amount of action and adventure in your stories then you might not find Justice League #27 worth the price of admission.
Comic Book Starter Guide: Spider-Man's Sinister Six
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Aruba Airheads: Generation mobile forces Wi-Fi rethink
Aruba Networks tells customers to rethink their Wi-Fi deployments to meet the expectations of a cohort of workers called GenMobile
Alex Scroxton
Networking Editor
At its annual Airheads@ EMEA Atmosphere conference on the shores of Italy's Lake Maggiore, Aruba Networks expanded on its vision for the future of wireless networking, and encouraged its customers to evolve and adapt their businesses to account for the growth of concepts such as mobile-defined networking and a new breed of user that Aruba refers to as Generation Mobile, or GenMobile.
Aruba self-defined the GenMobile concept earlier this year. It is described as a group of people not defined by age parameters but by their preference for multiple devices and non-traditional working hours and locations. Aruba believes this generation will reshape the workplace in the coming years.
In his keynote at Airheads, Aruba CEO Dominic Orr spoke about the ‘third place’, an area he defined as neither home nor business, but where work is still done.
“Traditionally, the third place was dead space for data communications and computer networking, but you are finding you do a lot more work in the third place,” he said. “You find your working life now is divided not into one-hour segments, but 15 to 20-second segments. This is creating dramatic stress on the infrastructure needed to support that environment.”
Aruba's mobile-defined network solution – which it claims “transforms enterprise networks into intelligent systems” – consists of a next-generation mobility firewall that uses advanced deep packet inspection to provide more granular policies, service quality and control; a newly-launched interactive unified communications dashboard for visualising and controlling UC apps, such as Microsoft Lync, over Wi-Fi; security workflow product ClearPass Exchange; automated sign-on software for apps such as Salesforce; and AirGroup, a screen and media-sharing service.
Aruba founder and CTO Keerti Melkote said: “Mobility-defined networks enable IT departments to build intelligent and self-optimising infrastructures where security actions are automated, performance is enhanced, and efficient workflows adapt to the dynamics of mobility.
“The resulting right-sized network reduces capital costs associated with the fixed, wired infrastructure and delivers an integrated mobility experience that everyone can depend on.”
‘Third place’ customers evolve Wi-Fi deployments
Aruba customers such as Heathrow Airport and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust have already bought into this concept, both being good examples of the kind of ‘third place’ defined by Orr and beloved by GenMobile.
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust head of IT service development and business support, Rob Harder, said: “Wireless is a given now, both at home and at work. That nobody mentions our Aruba network is a good sign. It’s like electricity – it’s part of the infrastructure.”
The Trust has been an Aruba customer since 2008, and originally chose Aruba because its hardware could handle the requirements of the Trust's large, complex and architecturally distinct campus.
But in the past six years, the Trust’s wireless requirements have grown exponentially, said Harder.
“More users, not just staff but patients and visitors, are demanding access, so we have had to change and adapt,” he said.
In 2008, Wi-Fi was a nice to have and accepted as a premium product. By 2013, it was expected to be there as a basic service network
Dave Draffin, Heathrow Airport
Harder’s team revisited the deployment recently when the local NHS community health organisation also started asking for Wi-Fi to support mobile district nurses and health visitors with a tablet solution. It has now deployed Aruba’s Via to enable seamless roaming from Wi-Fi onto 3G and 4G networks.
The Trust is also exploring further extensions to its wider IT infrastructure based on its Aruba deployment, and is exploring a pilot of Windows 8 tablets and a review of Android and iOS devices with a view to implementing a BYOD policy.
Heathrow Airport’s innovation architect, Dave Draffin, installed the airport’s first Wi-Fi network seven years ago, but found that customer satisfaction with the paid-for product, delivered through Boingo, was falling year-on-year to a point where “Heathrow was regarded as second-worst in Europe in terms of Wi-Fi satisfaction.”
“We came up with two main reasons why,” said Draffin. “As traffic levels changed and consumerisation caused a surge in usage, the infrastructure was starting to become constrained. Secondly, there was a change in perception. In 2008, Wi-Fi was a nice to have and accepted as a premium product. By 2013, it was expected to be there as a basic service network.”
Heathrow completed a major upgrade project with Aruba last year that has seen it offer free wireless networking to passengers for the first time, all delivered over the same network that the back-end functions of the airport – baggage handling, retail and hospitality tenants, and so on – use for their day-to-day work.
Elsewhere in the aviation sector, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul specialist Lufthansa Technik is currently exploring the deployment of Aruba 802.11ac Gigabit wireless technology on its parent, Lufthansa’s, fleet with the intention of enabling passenger Wi-Fi that is less expensive and more user-friendly than solutions such as satellite – which is being explored by competitors such as BA.
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Lufthansa Technik’s director of innovation, Andrew Muirhead, said in-flight internet had focused on applications such as email and the web, and this was why take-up had been limited, because external connectivity is a perennial problem at 39,000ft.
“We needed to distinguish between in-flight Wi-Fi solutions without connectivity, and connectivity-based solutions,” he said. “Even with limited connectivity, or perhaps with no connectivity at all, there are lots of ways to provide services to passengers.”
One potential application of the technology that Lufthansa is exploring is to take offline content, such as printed safety cards or menus, online and offer content that is currently provided on seatback screens – such as movies, music, news and the in-flight map service – on passenger devices. Benefits for the airline include reduced printing and distribution costs, and lighter planes, which save fuel.
Lufthansa Technik acknowledged that it would probably never be able to do away with long-haul seatback screens because not every passenger would carry a device or want to watch a two-hour movie on it, but the applications for short-haul flights were quite different.
“The installation of Wi-Fi is less complex and lighter than built-in screens, which reduces the investment for the airline and might open up possibilities for retail service on board,” said Muirhead. “On short-haul, it will change from pure entertainment to value-added services.”
Whether or not Aruba customers will buy into the marketing-driven concept of GenMobile, the demands that end users place on Wi-Fi networks are growing massively and will continue to do so. The lessons learned from public sector and ‘third place’ experience could force a rethink in the wider enterprise sector. After all, the evolution forced by mobile workers is already in progress and its effects will be far-ranging.
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ALL POSTS TAGGED WITH EMP weapons
09/03/2017 / By Mike Adams
North Korea claims breakthrough: Hydrogen bomb warheads and EMP weapons… it’s time for Trump to deal with Kim Jong-Un
According to reports across the mainstream media — including the Wall Street Journal — North Korea claims to have successfully …
http://www.wwiii.news/2017-09-03-north-korea-claims-breakthrough-hydrogen-bomb-warheads-and-emp-weapons-its-time-for-trump-to-deal-with-kim-jong-un.html
North Korea’s nuclear missiles can now reach New York City, Boston and Los Angeles, analysts conclude… are you awake yet?
According to David Wright, physicist and co-director of the UCS Global Security Program, North Korea’s latest ICBM — tested just …
http://www.wwiii.news/2017-07-30-north-korea-nuclear-missiles-can-now-reach-new-york-city-boston-and-los-angeles.html
North Korean hackers have stolen submarine and warship blueprints from South Korea, claims lawmaker
November 7, 2017 By Frances Bloomfield
Ransomware cyberattack on England’s NHS was North Korea’s doing, says U.K. security minister
November 6, 2017 By Jayson Veley
200 dead at nuclear test site in North Korea, according to Japanese media
Russia set to test ballistic missile that could “obliterate an area the size of France”
Security experts urge protection again EMP attack, concerned that North Korea could kill 90% of Americans
October 25, 2017 By Jayson Veley
COPYRIGHT © 2017 WWIII NEWS
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Previous Story Connected at hip: Cavs, Celtics intertwined since big trade Next Story Hawks offer glimpse of renovated arena with virtual tour
Borrego ready to coach Hornets team with existing roster
By Associated Press May 11, 2018 12:57 pm
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — New Hornets coach James Borrego plans make Charlotte relevant again in the NBA’s Eastern Conference by developing the existing players on the roster.
He may not have any other choice.
Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said Friday “there is no master plan to blow up this team right now” when asked about the chances of dramatically overhauling the roster after back-to-back 36-win seasons. He said Borrego was hired with the understanding that “he was going to coach the guys that are on this team right now.”
Borrego, who was hired Thursday night as the first Hispanic-American head coach in the NBA history, appeared to be up to the challenge when he was introduced at a news conference on Friday.
“My mentality is this is our group and we are moving forward with it,” said Borrego, who becomes the 11th head coach in franchise history . “I’m excited about that current group as it stands right now. I think our biggest room for growth is the internal development piece.”
That’s a good thing since Kupchak said the Hornets don’t have a lot of salary cap flexibility at this time, something which could what the team can do this offseason in terms of free agency and trades. The GM noted that “right now the likelihood is we are going to go forward with this team.”
Borrego said it is up to him to develop younger players Malik Monk and Dwayne Bacon, who saw limited playing last season as rookies under former coach Steve Clifford. He also pointed toward getting more out of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a former No. 2 overall pick who is still just 24, and Frank Kaminsky, also a first-round draft pick.
“There is a group of young guys that after this summer should take a major leap,” Borrego said. “If they take a major leap our roster changes significantly.”
While he was quick to acknowledge turning the Hornets into a winner will be a challenge and that he doesn’t bring “a pocket full of fairy dust” with him from San Antonio, Borrego does feel the Hornets have quality pieces in place, including two-time All-Star Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum and Dwight Howard.
Borrego said he is a “big fan” of Walker and his goal is to open up the floor for him on offense to make more plays.
“It’s my job to put him in position to succeed,” Borrego said. “For me that means giving him space and a floor that is open to create, so he should be excited about that. I’m in his corner. I back him. I’m with him.”
He likes Batum too, calling him an unselfish player that is hard to find. He also praised Howard for a terrific first season in Charlotte.
The 40-year-old Borrego, who is from Albuquerque, New Mexico, knows what it’s like to win.
He spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA, including 10 with the Spurs working under Gregg Popovich where he won two NBA championship rings and went to four Western Conference finals.
He has been a part of staffs that have led teams to the playoffs 11 different times during that span with stints in San Antonio, New Orleans and Orlando.
Borrego said he plans to play an up-tempo style on offense, while placing an added emphasis on defending the 3-point line on defense.
“There are pieces in place here to play that style,” Borrego said.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball
AP Online - Sports AP Online Basketball News Basketball Charlotte Charlotte Hornets Coaching Dwayne Bacon Dwight Howard Frank Kaminsky Gregg Popovich Hispanics Kemba Walker Malik Monk Men's basketball Men's sports Michael Kidd Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Mitch Kupchak National Basketball Association National Basketball Association NBA basketball NBA Eastern Conference NBA Playoffs NBA Southeast Division NBA Southwest Division NBA Western Conference New Orleans Pelicans Nicolas Batum North America North Carolina Professional basketball s Sports Sports business Sports team management changes Sports trading Sports transactions Steve Clifford United States
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The Doyle Report: Cisco Reinvigorates Debate Over Best-of-Breed Security Approaches vs. Single-Vendor Strategies
Written by doylet
The sorry state of affairs has once again raised the age-old question, “what is the best strategy for staying one-step ahead of the bad guys?” Cisco kicked this discussion into high gear recently with a single Tweet.
Brought to you by MSPmentor
It’s RSA week and time again to take a closer look at the state of security.
By almost any measure, security is in awful shape. From Yahoo hacks to Russian attacks to denial of service incidents using IoT devices such as video cameras, threats seem never ending. (And that’s before I mention ransomware.)
The sorry state of affairs has once again raised the age-old question, “what is the best strategy for staying one-step ahead of the bad guys?” Cisco kicked this discussion into high gear recently when its services division sent out a Tweet that read, “Would you fly in a plane made out of 50 planes? So why are companies using up to 50 different security vendors?”
Cisco says that companies use as many as “50 different security vendors” to protect their data, applications, people and organizations. A better approach? “…An integrated architectural approach that gives digital menaces less time to make their mark,” Cisco says.
That made me smile. As a former Cisco employee, I know that very few Cisco platforms don’t include parts from other vendor’s products. Acquisitions, after all, have been an important part of the company’s strategy for years. Cisco buys companies to gain access to new technology, talent and territory.
If you look at the security buys that Cisco has made in recent years, you realize that its “integrated architectural approach” contains a lot of components from “other planes.” Last June, for example, Cisco bought CloudLock, which developed cloud access security broker (CASB) technology that “provides enterprises with visibility and analytics around user behavior and sensitive data in cloud services, including SaaS, IaaS and PaaS.” That followed the October 2015 acquisition of Lancope, Inc., which “provides network behavior analytics, threat visibility and security intelligence to help protect companies against top cyber security threats.”
These are but a few of the security companies that Cisco has bought. Others include Portcullis Computer Security, OpenDNS, Neohapsis, ThreatGRID, Cognitive Security and more.
To be fair, Cisco has a respectable record when it comes to integrating different technologies, but not always. (Remember Jabber and all its various forms? Oh boy.)
Which brings us back to the central question at hand: are your customers safer with a best-of-breed approach, or an integrated, single-vendor strategy?
The benefits of a single vendor approach are several. Think better integration, easier deployment, and a single pane of glass management. Alternatively, a multi-vendor approach avoids the single point of failure issue that some vendors face because they use shared code throughout their product lines. It also promises greater flexibility and broader protection, albeit at the cost of simplicity.
What do I mean by that? Well, it’s like the old line about a man with two watches. Because they are rarely in sync, he never really knows what time it is. Alternatively, a man with one watch thinks he does. Is he blissfully ignorant or foolishly close-minded?
Let me know your perspective.
p.s.: If you’re wondering how many different manufacturers contribute to the plane you last flew in, take a look at this graphic from Reuters showing where the 787 Dreamliner’s parts come from. It’s not a 1:1 rebuttal to what Cisco tweeted, but you get the idea.
Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Security
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