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__label__wiki	0.628614	0.628614	Utilities hail electric cars to cut bills, reduce emissions Australian utilities hail cheap running costs of electric cars. They would like to see more EVs to offset falling demand. Emma Fitzpatrick Posted on 13 January 2014 13 January 2014 0 Comments A new report has uncovered that the cost of recharging electric cars could be as little as a quarter of the $1.50 a litre it currently costs to fill petrol-run cars. Analysis by the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) found that an equivalent litre of electricity, or e-litre, could cost from 37 cents in off peak up to 62 cents in peak prices. It found that electric cars have the equivalent fuel costs of approximately 3 cents per kilometre, compared to 10 cents per kilometre for conventional cars. The ESAA represents most of the country’s generators and network suppliers. Many of these businesses are being impacted by reduced demand for electricity. Some analysts, and some of its members, suggest that increased electric vehicle ownership could be a solution to those problems. CEO Matthew Warren says electric cars are not only a “faster, cleaner, quieter and safer driving experience, they are also cheaper to run,” with electric engines being “simpler and far more efficient than the most advanced combustion engines.” Electric cars release almost no air pollutants when they are driven, allowing consumers to eliminate daily greenhouse gas emissions that would have once come from petrol based cars. (Although it should be noted that electric vehicles may only be as clean as the fuel that charges the battery). However, ESAA said if fuel combustion alone is considered, even when the electricity used to charge electric vehicles (EV’s) comes from a carbon dioxide-emitting source, such as a coal or gas-fired powered plant, the net CO2 production from an electric car can be lower than from a comparable combustion vehicle. An EV will emit around 22 per cent less CO2 equivalent than new passenger vehicles. ESAA says that this percentage will continue to improve as the electricity supply continues to decarbonise over time, and consumers are able to purchase green power products which enable them to source electricity from low or zero emissions sources. Warren highlighted “a big selling point for consumers in the future” is savings of up to $10,000 over the cars lifetime, despite higher initial retail prices. “Rising petrol prices are an understandable source of concern for motorists,” Mr Warren said, “Electric cars will be much cheaper to run and will be an increasingly competitive option as the market develops and cost of EVs comes down.” Certain areas such as California have already jumped on the electrical car movement where, according to Warren, “there is a critical mass of consumers, vehicle options and recharge facilities”. Australia’s electric car fleet is still emerging; fewer than 500 pure electric cars have so far been sold here and only a handful of those under development or in production are available locally. Around 180,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have been sold globally, most in the last two years with strongest sales in the US, Japan and Europe, but the plug-in electric vehicle market still only represent around 0.2 per cent of the global car fleet. According to the industry group the recent emergence of mass market electric vehicles is the result of a convergence of key factors; sustained increases in the cost of fossil fuels, innovation in electric motor and storage technology and the strategic decision by some car companies to take a more aggressive and pro-active approach to electric car development. These trends plus many more are making electric vehicles more and more affordable. In its report Sparking an Electric Vehicle Debate in Australia, the ESAA recommends several policy options available to Government to increase the incidence of electric cars on Australia’s roads including tax concessions, new infrastructure and capital options, electricity tariff reforms and on road privileges such as use of transit lanes. As well as these, ESAA wants to reduce barriers to entry including insurance discounts, reducing planning restrictions to enable EV charging stations and discounted vehicle registration fees. The industry group undertook a review of the Californian market for EVs and identified key demographic and geographic factors common among early adopters of electric vehicles including distance from the CBD, availability of off street parking and households with two or more cars. Using data from the 2011 Census and applying these metrics to Australian capital cities, esaa uncovered potential electric vehicle hotspots in our state capitals including suburbs such as Frenchs Forest (NSW), Ivanhoe East (VIC), Happy Valley (SA), Bridgeman Downs (QLD), Karrinyup (WA), Acton Park (TAS) and Macarthur (ACT) and potential commercial partnership opportunities with car share companies, airline fleets and retailers. The ESAA currently planning to launch and e-litre comparison tool which will be regularly updated and feature state-by-state analysis of average petrol and electrical litre prices. Read the full report here. More : electric cars, electric vehicles, ESAA, EVs New York makes $1 billion in new funding for solar projects Five tips to cool the house and save energy in heatwave	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8089
__label__wiki	0.790783	0.790783	UMBC responds to travel ban decision Maryland communities rebuild after historic flood Marching towards a more inclusive tech world Threats on social media raise safety concerns in schools Wisdom Institute encourages participation from retired faculty and staff Amidst controversy, a call to action Request for more involvement events after Involvement Fest confusion New York Times had the right to publish “Anonymous,” but the author should have come forward Follow your heart, just make sure you can trust it Cultural diversity at UMBC thrives within student orgs Exploring life, love and pain through dance An interview with The Faim’s Josh Raven “Once Upon A December” evening The Faim prove they are the real deal Kumu Hina and living in the middle Metamorphosis and mortality: a Mayan perspective Tumultuous season leads to playoff berth Baseball players from fall scandal return UMBC embarks on unknown horizon after first round exit A Desolate Decade for Men’s Lacrosse Inside the Bark: Courtney Coppersmith Science meets religion: Mark Lamontia and the origin of life At Freedom Seder, an ancient story of liberation feels universal The night of engineers Libraries Lead: UMBC takes full advantage of Library Week 2018 Why should students care about SGA? Women’s basketball introduces new Head Coach - 2019-04-30 Varsity: better than sports - 2019-12-31 Creating new holiday memories at the Baltimore Christmas Village - 2019-12-23 OCA Mocha and Retriever Music Society expand the cultural horizons of UMBC - 2019-12-13 The case for political apathy - 2019-12-04 UMBC across the sea: thoughts on Brexit - 2019-12-04 The Daily and the caveats of student reporting: A response to Northwestern’s student newspaper controversy - 2019-12-04 Continue to publicly shame the Republican party - 2019-12-04 UMBC alumna stars in new Netflix series - 2019-12-04 Beach Bunny makes the broken heart flutter - 2019-12-04 We can rethink criminal justice - 2019-12-04 Varsity: better than sports Creating new holiday memories at the Baltimore… OCA Mocha and Retriever Music Society expand… The case for political apathy UMBC across the sea: thoughts on Brexit The Daily and the caveats of student… Continue to publicly shame the Republican party UMBC alumna stars in new Netflix series Beach Bunny makes the broken heart flutter We can rethink criminal justice SGA Senator links UMBC to Arbutus businesses “Girls on a Dirt Pile” unearths the… Killing yourself with kindness US students sign joint statement about Hong… UMBC’s Book Club is rekindling students’ love… Access for all: UMBC’s first multi-user all-gender restrooms Katie Poteet Twitter Facebook Google + Linkedin Over the summer, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County opened multi-user all-gender restrooms in five buildings on campus in an effort to accommodate LGBTQ students who are uncomfortable using gendered restrooms. Students may recall that all single-user restrooms at UMBC became all-gender restrooms (AGRs) in 2018. This created 41 single-user AGRs inside academic and student life buildings and 16 facilities in the residence halls. While this was a major achievement in the push for increased accessibility on campus, one stall per building was not enough to fulfill the demand for such facilities, and many buildings still lacked an AGR altogether. This prompted the need for multi-user AGRs on campus so that more people could benefit from the facilities. “Imagine if there was only one single-user restroom for everyone… and there was only one per building,” said junior psychology major Shannon Ashley. Ashley is a member of the All-Gender Restroom Steering Committee, a group of “students, faculty and staff dedicated to making a more welcoming environment on campus for transgender and gender non-conforming people to just use the restroom.” The committee, which formed early last semester, brought together advocates from organizations like the LGBTQ Student Union and the LGBTQ Faculty/Staff Association to tackle the issue of AGRs. The committee played an invaluable role in the creation of the multi-user facilities. The committee worked with various people on campus to get the job done. “We would get people who work in Facilities [Management] to come to speak to us,” Ashley said about the committee’s meetings. According to President Hrabowski, “it has been a very constructive process of shared governance… this is about respect and support of all people on campus.” Multi-user AGRs are now open in the new Interdisciplinary Life Sciences building, the Performing Arts and Humanities building, the Fine Arts building, Sherman A building, and the Information Technology and Engineering building. The AGR steering committee is working with Facilities Management to install multi-use AGRs in additional buildings on campus during the 2019-2020 academic year, including the Biological Sciences building, the library, the Administration building, and the Retriever Activities Center. Ashley noted that the process of creating a multi-user AGR was not as easy as opening the single-user facilities, which required a simple change of signage in most cases. For the multi-user facilities, “[the committee] had to find a restroom to start with,” Ashley said, citing strict anti-discrimination laws that require traditional gender-segregated restrooms to be placed in pairs on each floor of a building. This meant that on floors with just one male and one female restroom, neither could be converted into an AGR. Luckily, the committee found that the second floor of Sherman Hall contained two female restrooms and only one male restroom. This floor, which spans across both Sherman A and B buildings, originally had two male restrooms until one was closed due to construction. This left the floor unbalanced and in violation of the law. For this reason, the committee was granted permission to create UMBC’s first multi-user AGR using the extra female restroom. “Once we had one [multi-user AGR], things moved much faster,” Ashley said. The steering committee receives support from many other organizations on campus. The Women’s Center has been a long-time advocate for AGRs around campus. According to Amelia Meman, the Program Coordinator for the Women’s Center, talk of creating AGRs has floated around campus for years but “the problem was that there was no sense of urgency in the matter.” However, initiatives such as Retriever Courage and support from the LGBTQ Student Union gave momentum to the idea and turned it into a reality. As expected, not everyone has been supportive of the new restrooms. The Women’s Center has yielded “a couple transphobic comments” and “passive complaints” about the new multi-user restrooms, but Meman said that the unveiling of these facilities has been fairly quiet. The bottom line is that “people just need a safe place to use the restroom,” she said. Meman hopes that the push for increased accessibility on campus will not stop here, and promises that the Women’s Center will continue “providing continued advocacy.” Although the new multi-user AGRs on campus are a great first step, many buildings still lack such facilities, “especially on Academic Row.” Meman specifically noted that this could be difficult for transfer and commuter students who often spend most of their time in this area. To address this concern, the steering committee is working to provide multi-user AGRs in the rest of the academic buildings on campus over the next two to three years. Although both Ashley and Meman note that there is still much work to be done, they seem hopeful that bigger changes are coming to campus. Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected to clarify that the AGR steering committee works exclusively on multi-user AGRs, and to identify the correct locations of the current and projected multi-user AGRs. The correction also addresses the timeline for the project’s completion. Corrected Sept. 18, 2019. Photo: The all-gender restroom sign, designed by a UMBC staff member. Photo by Eliska Merchant-Dest. Posts by this author. When Rahne Jones transferred to the University of Maryland, Baltimore Count The complaint that the University of Maryland, Baltimore County is not much Student veteran club fosters a community on campus The upcoming end of the fall term marks the first full semester for RetrieV One man’s trash, another man’s treasure: How a print media fundraiser repurposes abandoned art Most of the student works that hang along the walls of the Fine Arts buildi UMBC orgs gear up for 2020 presidential election With the 2020 presidential election less than one year away and primary ele Musicals to kick off the semester Trump: Countercultural icon or con man? The RetrieverFollow The Official Twitter account of The Retriever. University of Maryland, Baltimore County Student-Run Newspaper. #BarkWithBite The Retriever@retrieverumbc· Thanks so much to @pwoodreporter for hosting The Retriever staff at the @baltimoresun this morning! We loved getting an inside look at the magic. New changes are coming! Check out the Staff Ed: Our wish list for the new health services and counseling building... on myUMBC or the Retriever website! (link in bio) 🐾 @umbcuhs @ UMBC https://www.instagram.com/p/B5tgUfnntgZ/?igshid=12ik2mx3q48aa © 2020 Newscore All Rights Reverved. Theme designed by RadiumThemes.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8093
__label__wiki	0.743486	0.743486	BRIITT CASS New RDI 企业申请 Silk Road takes Chongqing lemons afar CHONGQING, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- David Adamia first traveled to Tongnan District in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality in November, to look for new lemons for his company. After taking tours of several lemon growing bases in Tongnan, the sales director of Russia Green Planet Co., Ltd. signed a 600-million-yuan (85.2 million U.S. dollar) purchase order with a local company on Nov. 14. Shortly after that, fresh lemons were loaded on a China-Europe freight train in Chongqing and appeared in Russian markets after an eight-day trip. Adamia said the high quality and reasonable price of Tongnan lemons attracted him. Located at 30 degrees north latitude with an average annual temperature of 17.9 Celsius degree, Tongnan and its surrounding area is one of the world's top lemon producing areas, along with California, Sicily and other regions. The lemons of Tongnan, however, have not been known in the international market, as its landlocked location means costly and lengthy logistics. "Cargo from Tongnan used to take at least 40 days to reach Moscow, but fresh lemons only have a shelf life of up to a month," said Adamia. Thanks to the China-Europe freight trains launched under the Belt and Road Initiative, Tongnan lemons can now reach Russia in eight days, and Western Europe in 13 days. Tongnan lemons are well received by Russian consumers for its high quality and affordable price, Adamia said. At Russia's Food City, one of Europe's largest farm producer wholesale markets, 85 percent of the lemons are from Tongnan. Tongnan lemons are also sold to Southeast Asian countries including Singapore and Indonesia. Zhong Shuixing, the legal representative of Indonesia's Hongyuanda Agricultural and Sideline Products Company, said they have recently placed an order of 600 million yuan for Tongnan lemons. Thanks to the launch of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, logistics time between Chongqing and Southeast Asian countries has been cut by over 10 days, Zhong said. The corridor is a trade and logistics passage under the framework of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity. Launched in 2017, it has been gaining steam as its rail-sea routes offer faster and cheaper freight transport options between western China and other countries and regions. "We have established a long-term supply relationship with Tongnan. We look forward to win-win cooperation," Zhong added. The lemon growing area in Tongnan has increased from 7,333 hectares in 2015 to over 20,000 hectares in 2019, with an annual output of over 3 billion yuan. Last year, Tongnan produced around 350,000 tonnes of lemons, half of which were exported to more than 30 countries and regions. The local government has teamed up with enterprises to boost the intensive processing of lemons, turning the fruit into products with higher added value. Chongqing Huida Lemon Technology Group Co. Ltd has processed lemons into more than 300 kinds of products, including lemon juice, beverages, essential oil, facial masks and liquid aromas. "Tongnan's deep-processing products based on lemons are mainly sold at home. We are making efforts to accelerate the expansion of overseas sales channels," said Chen Changshu, an agricultural official of the Tongnan District. RDI News Expert: 4th Industrial Revolution Innovation defines smart future... Dr. Zhao Baige: Focus on The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Accelerate Mo... Dr. Baige Zhao talks about "Belt and Road Initiative": Sharing In... Dr. Zhao Baige Led A Delegation from RDI Member Entrepreneurs to Visit Heng... The 2019 International Forum On The Air Silk Road Was Successfully Held In ... The Third "Belt and Road Initiative" Doctor Forum of China The &q... RDI International Think Tank Participated in "Three Invitations and Th... The First Forum on Prevention and Control of White Pollution and Developmen... 龙永图：面对当前百年未有之大变局，要坚持开放、坚持稳字当头... 蔡昉：2020年经济学和政策应该关心什么？... Belt and Road infrastructure index still at high level... Xi's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second Belt and Road Fo... Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations For an Asian Co... Xi urges joint efforts to open up new prospects for Asian security, develop... China, Russia, Mongolia vow to strengthen trilateral cooperation... Xi calls for closer community with shared future between China, Pakistan... Bilateral Documents Cooperation Priorities Policy Coordination Facilities Connectivity Unimpeded Trade Financial Integration People-to-people Bond Wechat Service Baijia E-mail:webmaster@rdi.org.cn TEL:010-85351800-881 Record No：京ICP备18049890号-1 All rights reserevd “Belt and Road” Initiative International Think Tank, CASS	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8098
__label__wiki	0.618776	0.618776	Michael Bloomberg Plays Dumb About All the Criticism of His Stop-and-Frisk Support He reversed position only as he decided to run for president and now seems surprised he’s getting asked about it. Scott Shackford \| 12.6.2019 1:45 PM (Suzi Altman/ZUMA Press/Newscom) The decline and collapse of Kamala Harris' presidential ambitions should serve as a lesson that Democratic presidential candidates shouldn't try to paper over a history of harsh practices in the criminal justice arena. But never mind, here's former New York mayor and self-funding Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg trying to act as though criticism of his stop-and-frisk policy is a brand new thing that just came up because he's running for president: Former NYC Mayor @MikeBloomberg tells @GayleKing "nobody asked" him about stop & frisk until he started running for president. "I'm sorry. I apologize. Let's go fight the NRA and find other ways to stop the murders and incarceration. Those are things that I'm committed to do." pic.twitter.com/ww1pJPraBt — CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) December 6, 2019 In that clip from CBS This Morning, Gayle King notes that there's some suspicion about how sincere Bloomberg really was when he apologized for his city's stop-and-frisk searches, which heavily targeted minority citizens but rarely uncovered the contraband drugs or guns used to justify them. Bloomberg responds that "nobody asked me about it until I started running for president." This, of course, is utter nonsense. Bloomberg hasn't just been criticized for New York's stop-and-frisk policy; the city was sued over it. Even as he was doing some initial groundwork for his presidential run, he was still defending the policy. Just a year ago—in response to, yes, people asking him about it—he was still insisting that it helped lower crime rates in New York City, even though there's little data to back up this claim, and even though crime continued to fall after the practice ended. One federal judge ruled that these warrantless dragnet searches based on no probable cause were unconstitutional. Does Bloomberg want is to believe that no one at any point in that process "asked me about it"? The reality is that Bloomberg himself only reversed his position right before announcing his run for president. That's why his sincerity is being questioned. His entire history as mayor and everything he said on the subject up until last month made it clear that he believed his stop-and-frisk policy was a good idea—facts, criticism, and judicial rulings be damned. He does indeed acknowledge now that crime has kept falling even after New York City ended these spot searches. He sees this as a "mark of an intelligent, competent person when they make a mistake, they have the guts to stand up and say 'I made a mistake, I'm sorry.'" But he still doesn't seem to acknowledge the deeper issues at play. The policy was intrusive, racist, and unconstitutional, but hey, the mayor meant well. Nor has he learned the broader lesson here: that there are problems that cannot be solved by heavily policing the populace. The relentless nanny inside Bloomberg is still fully in charge. So he'll be more than happy to go after gun owners (he immediately tries to deflect criticism by pivoting to an attack on the National Rifle Association), and he will doubtlessly keep wanting to use the government to control our private decisions. And if he keeps making the wrong choices on our behalf? He meant well, and maybe the next time he runs for office he'll apologize about it. NEXT: No, Trump's Food Stamp Plan Wouldn't Have Cut Off AOC's Family Scott Shackford is an associate editor at Reason. Michael Bloomberg Stop and Frisk Election 2020 Warrants New York City Criminal Justice Presidential Candidates December.6.2019 at 1:55 pm Fortunately, he’s a Democrat so he can just say he identifies as a woman of color and claim it’s racist and sexist to bring up his past the same as Kamala. December.6.2019 at 10:34 pm Well, it’s certainly not exactly true to say that he “reversed position” on this delicate matter. It’s always good to admit error, but at the same time it’s also important to keep as many criminal elements as possible off the streets. At any rate, it is indeed surprising that the mayor gets asked about such a relatively minor manner–he would far prefer receiving questions, for example, about the important role he may have played in keeping our streets, as well as the minds of our youth, safe by securing the conviction of our nation’s leading criminal “satirist.” See the documentation at: https://raphaelgolbtrial.wordpress.com/ “he will doubtlessly keep wanting to use the government to control our private decisions” Not when it comes to accessing abortion care, however. And as Koch / Reason libertarians, if there’s one thing we stand for ……. well, OK, it’s making billionaires even richer. But if there are two things we stand for, the second is keeping abortion legal, for any reason, throughout all 3 trimesters. And Bloomberg’s pro-choice credentials are immaculate. #LibertariansForBloomberg I'm sorry about your cryapism LEARN CODING!!! HackJackerson What about open borders? You forgot open borders. Geraje Guzba //Nor has he learned the broader lesson here: that there are problems that cannot be solved by heavily policing the populace. The relentless nanny inside Bloomberg is still fully in charge.// This was certainly the most annoying part of his time as mayor. He has alienated both the right and the left. Seems to me that Bloomberg jumped into the race solely as a fallback the account for a scenario where Biden drops out and the Democrats need another “safe, moderate, white guy” to pick up the slack. Fat Mike's Drug Habit As baffling as it is, Uncle Joe actually has people who like him and want to vote for him. I can’t explain it, but it’s true. Bloomberg wasn’t even popular in NYC. If his level of nannying can’t get over in one of the bluest places in the country, how on earth does the DNC think he’ll fly elsewhere? retiredfire What was annoying about stop, question and frisk? The complaints were that thousands of young black and brown men were jailed over it. What were they jailed for? Why, being illegally in possession of a gun. Isn’t it the mantra that “we need to keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them”? Sounds like it was a major success for the crowd, that wants that. But that crowd hates Bloomberg for that success. That he owns a media conglomerate that will not negatively cover any Democrat is more of a problem, IMO. Media bias towards Democrats is the only thing that isnt considered by Democrats to be an in kind contribution at this point. Don’t point it out! It’s an insurance policy. If Bloomberg, or Biden, or any other Democrat is elected in 2020, then we can use the Bloomberg news scandal as a ground for impeachment. OK, I guess I don’t really understand political parties. The Democrats HATE billionaires. Bloomberg is a billionaire. HOW does he get to run as a democrat? Can Trump just say he is running a a democrat? Are there any rules at all about protecting the ‘brand image’ of a political party? Are all parties REQUIRED to let any damn fool run as a candidate of that party? Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf Could Trump run as BOTH Democrat and Republican? That would be untoppable. Aside from that, Bloomberg is telling the truth. The trick (there’s always a trick with politicians) is that he began running for President a zillion years ago. Naaman Brown _ Democrat until 2001 _ Republican 2001-2008, _ Independent 2008-2018, _ Democrat 2018-to present. _ Republican 1987–1999 _ Reform 1999–2001 _ Democrat 2001–2009 _ Independent 2011–2012 _ Republican 2012 to present Basicly Trump and Bloomberg are New York Billionaires. That’s the consistency. chemjeff radical individualist Good Lord. Yet another authoritarian asshole. He’d be better on immigration than Orange Hitler though. Probably shut down the concentration camps on his first day in office. #DemocratsDontCageKids Yeah he probably would be better than Trump on immigration. Hard to imagine he’d be worse. Still an authoritarian asshole though. Well, he IS a Democrat… “Nor has he learned the broader lesson here: that there are problems that cannot be solved by heavily policing the populace.” Can’t this really be said about ALL of the Dem candidates and some of the GOP pols? living in nc I have to check if reason has critized republicans for the same actions? They seem to be in favor of heavily policing the monority population. Remember stop & frisk was started by Rudy giuliani. Bloomberg responds that “nobody asked me about it until I started running for president.” This, of course, is utter nonsense. “Well, nobody of consequence.” He’s been running for President for a zillion years. It just wasn’t public until now. December.7.2019 at 7:56 am Considering that, in his own mind, Bloomberg has been running for President for years now, his statement may in that narrow sense be technically true. Hey, at least Bloomberg is finally being honest and running as a Dem; instead of pretending to be a Republican. Might be the first honest moment of his political career. So he’ll be more than happy to go after gun owners (he immediately tries to deflect criticism by pivoting to an attack on the National Rifle Association)… Hopefully he goes full Beto on this sooner rather than later so we don’t have to endure much of his campaign. Isn’t that the same deflection tactic Harvey Weinstein used when his sexual misconduct came to light? Attacking NRA is the first and last refuge of a scoundrel. Ask Joseph B. Tydings how that worked out. Adans smith He’s not playing. Beat me to it. He’s learning from trump. Of all the major party candidates for president, Bloomberg is the only one I consider to actually be evil. Corruption is one thing. Even Warren’s authoritarianism doesn’t go that far. Bloomberg thinks he should have the right to control people below his social class like nobody else does. he looks like one of the reptile aliens in a suit Hmm. Warren vs Bloomberg on the evil scale. Warren hasn’t had an opportunity to impose her evil as an excutive yet so I’m gonna call a draw at this point. you wanna believe a dude who made a billion dollars isn’t a moron but Michael Bloomberg Are these the same ones started by Rudy giuliani? December.8.2019 at 11:09 am People in high crime communities asked for and got stop and frisk. No CC allowed in NYC so they can’t protect themselves. Bummer for everyone all around. He’s a perfect nannie kind of guy. Spoon feeding everybody crazy drivel.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8106
__label__cc	0.558851	0.441149	Cuisine & Culture Entertainment \| Pop Culture Events \| Advertising Reflector Reviews: Del Sur August 24, 2017 By Araya Jackson Four reporters, four restaurants, and one tasty journey to unfold and unveil the new flavors to hit the Statesboro market. insert dramatic story music It was the Reflector’s mission to hit the new restaurants to come to the Statesboro community, which included: Del Sur, Nonna Picci, Roundabout Cafe, and Soul Food. Myself being one of those chosen to embark on this journey, and having the keen taste for spicy Mexican food and strong margaritas that I do, I jumped to be one of the first to try Del Sur Taqueria and Cantina. I went with a group of 10, so we inevitably waited a solid 15 minutes for a table to clear. Which, to me, wasn’t too bad considering they were packed when we arrived. We sat on the outside benches underneath the string-lit cover while we glanced over the front and back of the menu. The immediate vibes of the place make you feel a sense of familiarity, particularly if you’ve ever been to their partnering restaurant, Gnats Landing. But with an identity of its own, the refurbished building features exposed brick, neon lights, picnic table seating, a cozy indoor area, and a walk-right-in entrance. Photo Credit: Araya Jackson We started off with a round of drinks. The drink menu offers a variety of cocktails, margaritas, and 20 premium beers on tap at their full service bar. What really caught my eye was their beer flight option: Four 5-ounce beers of your choice brought out on a wooden paddle. I went with the Sweetwater Blue, Founders Day IPA, Angry Orchard, and the Hoptical Illusion. I like to have a variety of a little bit of hops, a little bit of sweet, and a little bit of bitter. Their beer list is sure to have something for everyone, whether you’re a beer connoisseur or the average domestic drinker. Being a very indecisive person, I thought I would never be able to choose which dish I was going to dive in to, but on this particular day I was starving. Thus, I wanted something that would really fill me up. Most guests at my table went with the taco dinners, with give you two gourmet tacos and a side. They have options ranging from ahi tuna, buffalo chicken, and even a veggie taco for you non-meat eaters out there. I decided to take a path of my own and went with the steak taco salad. Let me tell you this, I am so incredibly glad I did and I will probably get that almost every time I go back. Featuring seared steak, sliced avocado, black beans, corn, pico de gallo and topped with a queso fresco crumble, I was in love. To say the dish was fresh would be an understatement. The array of delights left me very full, but not hating myself for cleaning my plate spotless. The only thing I believe may turn students away is the prices. For the freshness and quality of food you get, it’s fairly priced. Then again, in the eyes of college kids used to $4 happy hour deals, it may seem a little pricey. I urge you to treat yourself and give Del Sur a try. You’ll find a welcoming staff, laid back atmosphere, and some really good tacos. Located on the Blue Mile off South Main St., they’re open Tuesday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. At the end of the meal and the end of the day, we had a slight buzz going, satisfied taste buds, and one mission sincerely accomplished. beerBlue MileDel SurFoodMexican foodrestaurantsstatesboro Araya Jackson Araya is a senior (sigh) multimedia journalism major and the Reflector's Online Engagement Editor. Her post-graduation dreams include hitting the west coast for a little while and working as a record label representative (maybe.. that's one of like, five options). As she tries to cope with the fact that she's graduating on time, you can find her spending her days in Sanford hall and her nights at Dingus. She tends to spend too much money on music festivals, drink too much coffee, and wait too long to do assignments. Follow her sarcastic life on Twitter or Instagram @rayajacqjack. From London With Love: My Top 5 Things About Studying Abroad The Inner Monologue of a Crazed Fan During the Game of Thrones Season Finale Brunching in the Boro January 16, 2020 By Savannah King The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich: Did it meet Georgia Southern students expectations? September 27, 2019 By Madeline Branch London, the comparably cleaner and more colorful cousin of New York. This past summer during B term, I studied abroad in London... Reflector Magazine \| magseditor@georgiasouthern.edu \| Copyright 2016	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8110
__label__wiki	0.647717	0.647717	Christian Solidarity at Test in Syria 2019. április 05., péntek The delegation of the Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH) continued its travel from Lebanon into Syria. The delegation visited local congregations in Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo to learn more of the ministries of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) and the Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria. Short account of a challenging journey. In the footsteps of Apostle Paul In Damascus the delegation of the Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH) visited a school run by the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) in the city, which is planning to be renovated soon thanks to the Hungarian funds. The delegation was received by Bishop Armash Nalbandian, primate of the Armenian St. Sarkis Church in Damascus, who talked about the active ecumenical relationship between the Armenian Orthodox and Evangelical Communities in Damascus, which often hold celebrations together. In Damascus, the delegation visited the Evangelical Church of Damascus, where Rev. Butros Zaour, moderator of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) and pastor of the local church, shared stories on the life of the community which had suffered from the war as the church building was hit by multiple missiles. Due to the war, many children could not go to school in the city, and many people, including pastors, left the country. Hatred and fear spread which was not characteristic in Syria; Moderator Zaour said that the church sees its mission in healing the wounds of society and working towards reconciliation through the education ministry. Listening to the situation in Damascus, the city where the eyes of Apostle Paul were opened, Bishop Fekete reflected, “It is encouraging to see that the eyes of the church community in Damascus have opened. They want not only to restore the past, but also welcome a new beginning. They paid a big price but they understand the importance of building the future on healing the souls of the children. I see a community of strong spiritual endurance, which even in its weakness empowers us, Hungarian Reformed people.” The time spent in Damascus involved a short visit to the ancient underground Chapel of Saint Ananias, and Rev. Zaour also arranged a visit to the Great Mosque of Damascus and a meeting with the leader of the religious community. The Imam, close friend of the moderator, himself was kidnapped and mutilated by the rebels. Sign of hope In Homs, the delegation visited another NESSL congregation, led by Rev. Youssef Jabour. The congregation runs an elderly home that was also operating during the siege of Homs. The delegation joined the elders and members of the congregation for a prayer service and listened to their testimonies. The leaders of the various ministries of the congregation introduced their activities, and engaged with the RCH delegation in honest conversation about the hostility spread by extremists, the problem of Christians’ emigration and the future for young people in Syria. The congregation runs youth services for different age groups, including Sunday school. The community is also strongly dedicated to the work for reconciliation of society by running a program called Space for Hope. This project, in addition to bringing together young people from different religious backgrounds, offers workshops and training programs to enhance the social awareness and address crucial topics. The congregation also opened a library to give space for cultural events in the city of Homs. All these activities aim to help and support the Christian community to stay in their homeland. The Bishop thanked the congregation for the kind welcome and talked of the connection he sees between the Syrian and Hungarian community, referring to the Hungarian diaspora. He said that here in this congregation, he sees hope and what it means to believe and keep hope alive despite the tragedies. The Bishop continued, “In Hungary, Reformed pastors are praying for all countries, and the Syrian community is also being lifted in these prayers.” He also assured the congregation of the continuous support for all efforts to preserve the Christian presence in the region. The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) continues to foster cooperation with the churches in the Middle East by resuming the donation campaign inviting Hungarian Reformed Church (HRC) congregations to dedicate an offering to the community and humanitarian programs of the Reformed communities in the region, with special focus on Syria. The delegation also visited the Jesuit Community in Homs and remembered the Dutch martyr, Father Frans van der Lugt, who had gained recognition for insisting on staying in besieged Homs despite the daily shelling and dwindling supplies. He was shot and killed in 2014. The visit in Homs included a meeting and table fellowship with members of the congregation and church leaders from the Greek Orthodox Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church, two churches that are in good relationship with the local Evangelical community. The delegation was greeted by Metropolitan George of the Greek Orthodox Church of Homs and Father Selwanos Boutros Alnemeh, the Metropolitan of Homs, Hama, and Tartus for the Syriac Orthodox Church, who also shared of his visits to Hungary and thanked the support of Hungarian people. An oasis in the desert The last days of the visit were spent in the city of Aleppo visiting both NESSL and Armenian Evangelical programs and activities with special attention to major construction projects of both churches. For a special moment, the RCH delegation attended the rededication service of the Armenian Orthodox Forty Martyrs Church in Aleppo. Armenians in Aleppo gathered in the centuries-old church for the first mass since its restoration began more than a year ago. At the end of the service, Catholicos Aram I. personally welcomed the delegation. The RCH has been giving special attention to the history and situation of the Armenian community in the world. In 2013, former RCH Presiding Bishop, Gusztáv Bölcskei met Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, at the World Council of Churches General Assembly. In 2015, the RCH Synod issued a declaration on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and since 2016 the RCH treasures the partnership with the Armenian Evangelicals in the Middle East. The delegation continued its program by visiting schools in Aleppo run by the NESSL and Armenian Evangelical Community: the Aleppo College for Boys, the Aleppo College for Girls, the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel School, the Syriac Evangelical School, and the various education institutions of the Bethel Church. The schools encourage and strengthen the inclusive environment, allowing a safe space for Muslims and Christians to learn and live together. The schools run by the Reformed Churches in Syria serve as an important instrument in promoting love, inclusivity, and mutual understanding. The ten private schools of NESSL and the UAECNE take pride in the quality education provided for their 3 756 students. These church schools are well- known and greatly appreciated by their communities and the state. RCH has been supporting in cooperation with HEKS/EPER the operation of the schools through the Scholarship program dedicated to help the most vulnerable students. “Having seen all of this, three memories come to mind: my mother taught me to speak, my grandmother taught me to pray, and my first teacher taught me the alphabet. You are teaching all three to these children. May God give you strength and blessing in the work you do,” said Bishop Szabó to the teachers while visiting the Aleppo College for Girls of the Armenian Evangelical Community. The delegation also visited the demolished Evangelical Church in Aleppo and the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church. Both reconstruction and renovation projects of these churches have received Hungarian support. Rev. Joseph Kassab, general secretary of NESSL, and Rev. Ibrahim Nseir, local pastor, with the engineers responsible for the project, explained the reconstruction that will place in the Old City of Aleppo. During the siege, the building of the NESSL Church of Aleppo was hit by missiles and completely destroyed by rebels by an underground explosion. Thankfully no one was in the building. After the bombings, the community worshipped in an apartment and then moved to a new church building. NESSL plans to build a community conference center in place of the former church, giving space for various activities. The funds from the Hungarian Government are contributing to the construction plans. The Hungarian government funds are also to be used for the renovation and extension of the Armenian girl’s dormitory in Aleppo, and the boy’s dormitory run by the Arab-speaking church. Furthermore, some of the funds are allocated for the renovation of Bethel’s church centre, and for the extension of the doctor’s offices operated by them. The Armenian community’s school buses that have been destroyed during the war are also to be replaced, and the humanitarian programmes of both churches are also to be financed this way. In 2017, the RCH delegation visited the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church which was also suffering major damages. Through the German Aid organization, Gustav Adolf Werk, the RCH also contributed to the renovation project of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Aleppo. Along with the funds from the Hungarian Government, the renovation was completed, allowing the church community to worship in their church building once again. The RCH delegation joined in the thanksgiving service with the congregation of the Emmanuel Church. Bishop Szabó presented the community with a painted wooden panel depicting a pattern typical in a Southern Transdanubian village, Kórógy, with the sign saying ‘Áldás, békesség,’ the customary greeting among members of the Reformed community in Hungary, meaning ‘Blessing and peace’. When the delegation visited the Old City of Aleppo, they saw the ruined churches, mosques, and other sites of cultural heritage. As the local hosts said, terror did not select among religions: it targeted civilization, as Christianity and Islam is part of it, terror worked to demolish both. The delegation enjoyed the hospitality of both the Evangelical Church in Aleppo and the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church. Concluding the program in Aleppo, the delegation worshiped in both congregations on Sunday. In the Evangelical Church in Aleppo, Dean Zsigmond Vad gave a sermon on Matthew encouraging the congregation to continue to be the light of the world and salt of the earth as it has been doing through its dedicated service in their educational ministry, the Sunday school project, and the planning of a policlinic in the near future. Bishop István Szabó gave a sermon in the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church. On Isaiah and Luke, he spoke of the resurrection that gives hope in the midst of hardships. “We believed that God also threw Him away – but He bore our pains! We hoped in vain that He would resurrect His people – but God resurrected Him! We thought that we hoped for peace and blessing in vain – but He conquered death through His own death! We thought we could never return home – but God turns our misery into something good. We thought that evil would never end – but God has kept all of His promises. We thought one thing – but God thought another. We cannot stop thinking about evil – but God has ensured that there is good in this world.”- Read the full sermon of Bishop Szabó The worship celebration in the Bethel Church concluded with a presentation from the Sunday school kids. Márton Juhász, CEO of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA), talked of the relaunching of the HRCA campaign for the Sunday school project. He emphasized that by supporting this project, they are also supporting the future generation of Syria. At the end of the service, on behalf of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria, Rev. Selimian presented a silver plaque symbolizing the Emblem of the Armenian Protestant Community to Bishop Dr. Istvan Szabo as a token of appreciation to the delegation of the Hungarian Reformed Church. After worship, Rev. Harout Selimian and Bishop István Szabó paid tribute to the memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide by laying wreaths by the memorial monument of the Bethel Church. During fellowship with the three Armenian Evangelical churches, Rev. Selimian introduced the different ministries of the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church such as the educational ministries and the policlinic. Gyula Sümeghy, the director of International Relations at Károli Gáspár Reformed University, gave a short presentation on the study programs at the University and the scholarship opportunities for Syrian young people made possible by the Hungarian Government. The solidarity visit, with all its challenges, deeply inspired and moved the delegation members. This provided them with the opportunity to meet, carefully listen, and engage in conversations with local people from different denominations and religions on burning issues such as migration, minority situations of the Christian churches in the region and the RCH church leaders were able to experience and receive first-hand impressions. Throughout the journey, the delegation was accompanied by Rev. Harout Selimian, President of the Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria and pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church. The Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria, the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and the Reformed Church in Hungary wish to see this partnership, affirmed by the signed memorandums of commitment, grow further in various levels. The RCH delegation included representatives from various levels of church life both men and women, lay and ordained and young people: Rev. Dr. István Szabó, Presiding Bishop of RCH Synod, Rev. Dr. Károly Fekete, Vice Presiding Bishop of the RCH Synod and Bishop of the Transcibiscan Reformed Church District, Mr. Tibor Ábrám, Vice-Lay President of the RCH Synod and Lay President of the Cistibiscan Reformed Church District, Rev. Zsigmond Vad, Convener of the Ecumenical and International Affairs Committee of RCH Synod and Dean of the Debrecen ReformedPresbytery, Mr. Márton Juhász, CEO of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, Mr. Gyula Sümeghy, Director of International Relations at Károli Gáspár University of the RCH, Rev. Dr. András Harmathy, pastor of the Reformed Congregation in Szentendre, Rev. Balázs Ódor, Ecumenical Officer of the RCH, Ms. Szabina Sztojka, Seminary Student of Károli Gáspár University and Student Associate Minister of the Scottish Mission, Mr. György Feke Editor-in-chief of the Reformatus.hu, Ms. Diána Erdélyi Ecumenical Secretary of RCH, member of the WCRC Executive Committee. Written by RCH Ecumenical Office Photos by András Harmathy, Bethel Church union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne), middle east, national evangelical synod of syria and lebanon (nessl), partnership, Middle East, syria School for Christmas Serving and Learning in Community with Budapest International Conference on Christian Persecution Reformed Schools’ Campaign for Syria Károli Scholarship for Christian Students Newletter of the Armenian Evnagelical Bethel Church PDF / 4.2 MB / Click here if you are interested in twinning. Reformed Church in Hungary Address: H-1146 Budapest, Abonyi utca 21. PO Box: 1140 Budapest 70, Pf. 5 Phone/Fax: + 36 1 460 0708 Email: oikumene@reformatus.hu English, German and Korean language services in Budapest St. Columba's Church of Scotland in Budapest Deutschsprachige Evangelisch - Reformierte Kirchgemeinde in Budapest Korean-speaking Reformed Congregation in Budapest Reformation Jubilee 2017 Church Revision Process Roma Strategy Statements and Synod Documents Hungarian Reformed Church Aid Hungarian Reformed Church Károli Gáspár University of the RCH 175 Years of the Scottish Mission in Budapest Refugee Integration Ministry of RCH Our church through American eyes We encourage you to read our former GM intern Kearstin Bailey's blog about her time, spent in Hungary. World Communion of Reformed Churches Member Church News: Disasters, Anniversaries, Activists Conference of European Churches CEC General Secretary Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen World Council of Churches Bible app brings Week of Prayer to on-the-go people across the globe Warm Homes in Cold Times The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) helps people in deep poverty to keep their homes warm in the cold season. HRCA started the firewood project to save lives. Professor of UCLA at Károli University Dr. Miklós Sárközy interviewed University of California trained visiting professor, Dr. Lee Beaudoen, who teaches at Karoli University of RCH for the academic year 2019-20. Education is of key significance when it comes to the peaceful coexistence of various religions in the Middle East. This year’s fundraising by the Reformed Educational Fund in the Carpathian Basin supports schools in Syria. Communique issued by the Presidium of the General Convent about the issue of the legal representation of the Hungarian Reformed community. Solidarity amidst Christmas Crowds Refugee women will be in the centre of attention at a Christmas market in Budapest, at the booth of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, thanks to the Sewing project of Kalunba. Copyright © 2012 Reformatus.hu. All rights reserved Select feed News Select feed	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8111
__label__cc	0.720426	0.279574	Best Films 2017 Posted on 29 Dec 2017 by Clive The Best New Film I saw this year was Get Out, which was so scary I had to go back and see it again a couple of days later. This was pretty much the only grown-up movie I saw at the cinema this year, apart from Dunkirk, which was what it was, proper cinema for sure. There are lots of films I didn’t see but wanted too…. I did see The Breakfast Club on the big screen for the first time ever, which was odd, because it’s the first time I ever watched this movie (I have watched it a lot) without pausing and/or rewinding, and and both La La Land and The Last Jedi, but those last two in the company of a 10-year old, so not sure they count as grown-up. The Best thing I watched on Netflix was Shimmer Lake, not least because I didn’t even realise it was going to be backwards (oops, gave it away, but not really). I started Wormwood, but haven’t finished that yet. West of Memphis is a bit old now, but was still great, and sad, and now I understand Lucinda Williams’ song a bit better (and there’s an interesting side-story going on about celebrity activism). Stranger Things was fun. I also caught up on some Hollywood oldies, including Johnny Guitar (I have a bit of a thing for Sterling Hayden), Sorry Wrong Number (Barbara Stanwyck doing 120% frantic), Double Indemnity (actually, you can catch up on pretty much the whole of Stanwyck’s Noir career on Netflix), and It Happened One Night (which I didn’t quite realise was what it was until I realised what it was). The Best Old Film I watched was Laura, which is now just my favourite film ever. I was genuinely knocked sideways by the ‘twist’ in the middle – it took me about 10 minutes to settle back down and realise what was really going on (I can’t tell if you if you don’t know, because you need to not know before watching it). I watched lots of old films this year, the sort of old films that one is led to by the odd conjuncture of binge-listening to Karina Longworth in the car on the way to work and having read too much of the ‘lighter’ Stanley Cavell on Hollywood comedies and melodramas. The Best newish-old film I watched again was a tie between Desperately Seeking Susan and Something Wild (“Yeah. I’m a rebel. I am! I just channelled my rebellion into the mainstream” – since first watching this movie as an undergraduate in 1987, I have tried my very hardest to live my own life by that principle). The Best Kids Film was Captain Underpants. This is now up there with Frozen and Box Trolls in my all time Best-movies-I-saw-with-my-children-which-I-wouldn’t-have-watched-otherwise Top 3. Last, but not least, the Best Documentary Series I watched this year (a bit late again) was definitely Little Lunch. I learnt so much from watching this, again, and again, and again. Posted in Favourite Thinkers, Media \| Tagged Film, Film Noir, Karina Longworth, kids movies, Laura, Lucinda Williams, Movies, Stanley Cavell \| Leave a reply Best Films 2016 (that I saw in St Helens) 1). The BFG. 2). Jason Bourne. 3). Sully (actually, a terrible film – if you’re a bit of a plane nerd). Posted in Media \| Tagged Film \| Leave a reply Best Film not from 2016 that I saw on a plane in 2016 Closely followed by Saturday Night Fever, but I’d seen that before. Best Films 2016 (that I saw on a plane) 1). Deadpool. 2). The Nice Guys. 3). Elvis and Nixon. Bite Size Chandler “I think today there are much better film writers than I could ever be, because I never quite saw things in the terms of the camera, but always as dramatic scenes between people. I suppose you know the story of the writer who his racked brains how to show, very shortly, that a middle-aged man and his wife were no longer in love with each other. Finally he licked it. The man and his wife got into a lift and he kept his hat on. At the next stop a lady got into the lift and he immediately removed his hat. That is proper film writing. Me, I’d have done a four page scene about it. What his chap did took a few seconds.” Raymond Chandler, 1957 (The Raymond Chandler Papers). Posted in Bite Size Theory, Favourite Thinkers \| Tagged Film, Raymond Chandler, Writing \| Leave a reply Cultural Geography is Dead! Long Live Cultural Geography? Posted on 5 May 2015 by Clive I’ve been pondering a new paper in Progress in Human Geography by my former OU colleague, Gillian Rose, which addresses the conceptual and methodological challenges presented to cultural geography by the emergence of digital modes of cultural practice. The paper is entitled ‘Rethinking the geographies of cultural “objects” through digital technologies: interface, network and friction’. Here is the abstract: “This paper addresses how geographers conceptualize cultural artifacts. Many geographical studies of cultural objects continue to depend heavily on an approach developed as part of the ‘new cultural geography’ in the 1980s. That approach examined the cultural politics of representations of place, space and landscape by undertaking close readings of specific cultural objects. Over three decades on, the cultural field (certainly in the Global North) has changed fundamentally, as digital technologies for the creation and dissemination of meaning have become extraordinarily pervasive and diverse. Yet geographical studies of cultural objects have thus far neglected to consider the conceptual and methodological implications of this shift. This paper argues that such studies must begin to map the complexities of digitally-mediated cultural production, circulation and interpretation. It will argue that, to do this, it is necessary to move away from the attentive gaze on stable cultural objects as formulated by some of the new cultural geography, and instead focus on mapping the dynamics of the production, circulation and modification of meaning at digital interfaces and across frictional networks.” There is a lot going on in the paper, but two things strike me as important about it: first, it brings into view, that is, it explicitly names the distinctive object of analysis upon which a significant amount of so-called ‘new cultural geography’ depended; and then, secondly, it announces that this object of analysis and associated methodologies of ‘reading’ are more or less redundant. That’s not quite how Gillian puts it, admittedly, but it’s not far off. (It should probably be noted that not all forms of ‘reading’ necessarily presume the specific type of ‘object’ that Gillian defines in her paper – more on that below). Now, I happen to think that to a large extent both ‘new cultural geography’ and ‘the cultural turn’ really refer to a series of missed opportunities. And it’s in light of this prejudice of mine that I have been provoked by Gillian’s paper. Amongst other things, I have always wondered how this entire field has ever managed to be taken quite so seriously, indeed how it ever managed to take itself quite so seriously, while seeming to be constituted as if radio and television were never invented, or indeed as if The Beatles, Elvis, or The Supremes never happened (interesting work on these worlds had tended to be produced by economic geographers and others, not by cultural geographers). Cultural Geography has always seemed to me to be a bit un-Pop. This is partly, as my colleague Sam Kinsley has suggested, to do with an aversion to considering ‘vulgar’ cultural forms as worthy of attention; but as he further suggests, this has implications for how geographers think about what one might call the ‘ontology of media’. My second frame for thinking about Gillian’s argument is a broader thought, another prejudice of mine if you will, about the ways in which human geography’s narratives of disciplinary ‘progress’ often tend to invest heavily in the idea that the best way of moving forward is by compounding a series of previously accumulated errors (see: ‘non-representational theory’). So here, I want to pinpoint one or two aspects of Gillian’s argument about the challenge of digital technologies to cultural geography that might be framed slightly differently: partly these are matters to do with the constitutive elision of ‘the fact of television’, to borrow a phrase from Stanley Cavell, although I would be inclined to extend this into a more encompassing notion of ‘the fact of pop’; and beyond this, to questions of how to avoid mis-attributing to one specific media form a set of relational features around which a broader project of differentiating cultural mediums might be pursued. 1). The work of art before and after the age of digital reproduction The focus of Gillian’s paper is with “the legacy of those new cultural geographers who were concerned to interpret cultural objects”. She is referring to what one might characterise as the self-consciously ‘arty’ end of the spectrum of approaches to cultural analysis in geography, not so much because of its focus on arty-artefacts per se, but because of a distinctively arty concept of the object of cultural analysis. As she puts it, the focus is on discerning the meanings of “stable cultural objects”, such as maps, buildings, films, novels, and photographs. The paper does not say so clearly, but this is a strand of work that has operated with a quite distinct set of understandings of “meaning” and “reading”, when compared, say to the type of ethnographic work on ordinary food cultures developed by Peter Jackson (which elaborates a clear sense of the notion that ‘meaning is use’), or the work developed by Don Mitchell excavating the hidden injuries of landscape, or indeed Gillian’s own work on the practices of domestic photography. I’ll leave it others to determine how extensive the particular strand of work targeted by Gillian in this piece is representative of the best of the whole field. Gillian’s argument is that the assumptions about the stable objects of cultural geography have been unsettled by the rise of digital modes of cultural production and distribution. As she puts it, “since the creation of so many cultural objects – though certainly not all, and not everywhere – is digitally mediated now, the stable cultural object is currently the rare exception rather than the rule.” The related claim that “close reading of stable cultural objects is ill-equipped to engage with the defining characteristics of contemporary, digitally-mediated cultural activity” is true enough. But I do wonder why the kind of approach that Gillian focuses on in this discussion was ever considered adequate, 25 years ago and ever since? Or, to put it another way, why is it that it is the fact of digital technology that seems to be the occasion for presenting cultural geography (of one sort at least) with the challenge of grappling with the constitutive role of technologies of dispersal, iteration, recomposition and translation in cultural life? And further, what might be elided by making ‘the digital’ so central to this conceptual and methodological disruption? In accounting for the predilection for analysing stable cultural objects, Gillian refers to Walter Benjamin’s account of ‘aura’. Her suggestion is that the canonical objects of cultural geography were ‘auratic’ objects: “the new cultural geography emerged at a historical moment when the vast majority of cultural objects could be traced back to an original: an original manuscript, a building, a reel of film, a map.” Gillian’s strong implication is that these forms are, indeed, auratic objects. Now, it seems more plausible that this may have been how cultural geography constructed its objects of analysis. Either way, in so far as it holds true, then it is actually quite extraordinary. Benjamin’s point, in so far as it is a simple one, was that the auratic understanding of cultural artefacts was lost to modernity, and that modern modes of cultural practice opened up wholly new forms of apprehending and experiencing meaning. The argument is an inherently spatial one, in so far as aura is a concept related to the here-and-now presence of a subject before an object as the scene for a certain sort of aesthetic experience. The loss of aura is, in turn, a kind of shattering or dislocation of aesthetic experience, but crucially, of course it is a ‘loss’ that is found to be always already inscribed within the movement of cultural life (I am paraphrasing here, and largely based on half-forgotten readings of Samuel Weber’s rendition of Benjamin’s work on ‘mediauras‘ and on the centrality of the suffix ‘-abilites‘ to Benjamin’s style of conceptual analysis). To be clear, Gillian’s presentation of how cultural geography addresses a stable cultural object certainly rings true to me. But in so far as it is accurate, we should be clear that this is the result of a motivated theoretical construction, it is not a result of the innate characteristics of cultural practice three decades ago. The significance of Benjamin’s accounts of aura, of ‘the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction’, of translation, and other themes, all written in the 1920s and 1930s, has always been in providing prescient resources for understanding the spatially dispersed and temporally strung-out forms of culture that already defined his time (print, film, radio) as well as ones soon to come (television, video, digital). Which gives rise to the question of how in the world cultural geography ever got away with holding so strongly to what, from a strictly Benjaminian perspective, looks like a distinctively pre-modern concept of culture? Gillian’s claim in the paper is that received methods of “close reading” of “cultural texts” need to be reconsidered, indeed supplanted, because of the changes wrought by the rise of digital technologies: “For in the three decades or so since the emergence of the new cultural geography, both cultural objects and the technologies and practices in which they are embedded have altered significantly. Over the past 30 years there have been profound changes in the processes and practices of cultural production, in the circulation and display of cultural objects, and in the processes of audiencing, participation and critique.” Taken in isolation, this reads as an uncontroversial claim. But remember, what Gillian is arguing here is that these new developments challenge a notion of ‘stable cultural objects’ understood as more or less ‘auratic’ forms, containing more or less determinate meanings. My point is that this notion of culture was already redundant way back in the 1980s, when we were all busy learning to love our video machines and wrecking the music industry by taping the Top40 from the radio and listening to mix-tapes on our Walkmans. Cultural meaning did not become dispersed across multiple sites, spread across multiple media platforms, ‘massified’, or split up and recombined across fragile networks only recently, in the last couple of decades. Nor did this start in the 20s or 30s, when Benjamin was writing (his point is that it has always been happening, that it a movement that lies at the source of any and all ‘originals’). I am trying to make two related points. First, that digital technologies no doubt introduce all sorts of new dimensions into cultural life, but that whatever these might be, they are not best understood by reference to the idea of stable cultural objects that have held cultural geography in thrall. Secondly, the stability of cultural objects presumed by cultural geography, according to Gillian’s account, should not be mistaken as some sort of inherent ‘material’ feature of forms such as the novel, films, or photographs. If this is how cultural geography thought of its objects of analysis from the 1980s onwards, then this is something that needs to be accounted for on other grounds (as a specific response to a certain intuition of loss, perhaps?). Approaching paintings, or photos, or novels as stable cultural objects to be read for meaning is a particular achievement, one that depends on various procedures such as practices of exhibiting, or paratextual networks of reviewing and marketing. Take, for example, the way in which ‘Film’ has become a staple object of analysis not just in cultural geography, but in other fields such as Classics and Political Theory in the last three decades. Before that, the academic analysis of Film, and its most famous theoretical products such as Auteur Theory or Screen Theory, were largely the preserve of specialist film schools. Now, we can all do it. This generalisation of ‘Film’ as a potential stable object of academic analysis is dependent, of course, on the widespread dissemination of video technology from the 1980s onwards, that is, it is dependent on the widespread and cheap distribution of an archive of film history, and the possibility of recording films off the telly, and in turn the possibility for anyone to watch and re-watch, stop and pause and rewind, and to do so not only as ‘research’ but also as a teachable methodology. This is just one example of how the stable cultural objects that cultural geography focussed on were made available by a series of distributed, networked, mobile technologies that stand as the conditions of possibility of that imputed autonomy and stability. (You could make a similar argument about the degree to which the emergence of a shareable canon of Theory upon which ‘the cultural turn’ depended, that could be learnt and mastered even in an odd discipline like Geography, was dependent on the photocopier). And I invoke this example because it indicates how the attributes that Gillian defines as peculiarly new ones, associated with digital technologies, are not just discernible in other modes of cultural practice, but more precisely, that the erasure of these modes of mediation from ‘new cultural geography’ might well be the condition for the particular framing of the challenge of digital technology as it is now felt in geography and articulated so clearly in Gillian’s paper. 2). Acknowledging media Gillian’s argument is that the artefacts of digital technologies are distinguished by three features, understood by reference to the magical signifier ‘materiality’: they are mutable, multimedial, and mass. I think the categories are really useful, but they clearly do not categorically distinguish digital artefacts from non-digital ones (they only appear to do so because of what we have established to be a bizarrely restrictive construction of the object of cultural-geographic analysis). I think there is a danger here of reserving for one particular mode of cultural practice, the digitally mediated, a set of features that actually should be better understood as relational terms of comparative analysis and judgement, as if they were attributes of a particular mode. The language of ‘materiality’ just reinforces this tendency, which is a kind of category error. Lots of practices of meaning are mutable (you can forge other people’s handwriting, or fake photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald in the backyard (maybe)); lots of cultural forms are multi-medial (song is a theatrical form, an amplified form, a recorded form, only sometimes all at the same time; films have soundtracks); writing, as Raymond Williams memorably demonstrated, is a form inscribed in all sort of non-literary cultural forms, from public speaking to theatre to television and film (and digital technologies are significant not least, surely, for reviving and inventing a range of practices of literacy); and ‘mass’ culture, defined by what Gillian refers to as ‘the sheer amount of cultural production now’, but which really refers to a difficulty of containing and tracking where meaning flows that is not just about quantity, has been with us for quite some time, at least since the time of Caxton. I suspect that the difference that digital technologies makes to these practices of translation, movement, and projection is better theorised in terms of the reconfiguration of parameters of speed, expertise, perhaps crucially, cost. Trying to pin down the distinctive features of digital technology by reference to the assumptions made about stable cultural objects, assumptions that we have seen depended on pretending that a whole history of modern media simply did not impinge on cultural-geographic analysis, threatens to misapprehend not so much what is new and different about digital technologies, but rather to misconstrue how to go about conceptualising what is new and different about any media practice. Going back to Benjamin, one thing we might think about is the idea that historically novel forms actually throw into new relief the characteristics of ‘old’ ones – they enable us to acknowledge features of the old ones previously unavailable to perception or sense. Related to this, we might pause and consider the degree to which thinking seriously about culture and media and technology really requires us to engage in some reflection on the nature of a particular sort of reasoning, namely analogical reasoning. ‘New’ media and the cultural forms they make possible are routinely made sense of through a process of selecting and enforcing authoritative analogies: this is the case in legal decision-making about new technologies; it is also evident in the very names given to innovative forms of cultural expression associated with new digital practices – forms such as e-mail, webpages, YouTube. These are not mere lazy affectations, they are small indices of the ways in which ‘new’ media forms emerge through process of learning that draw on formal and informal competencies to draw and act upon appropriate analogies. Gillian’s analysis of these three features of digital technology culminates in a claim about the distinctive spatiality of digital culture, according to which the analytical challenge is to appreciate that “meaning is performed and materialized at specific sites; it is accessed, made to travel, searched for, modified, patched and laboured over in an uneven, variable and frictional network held together by diverse forms of work which do not always succeed in making meaning move.” This is a great description of how we might conceptualise the geography of meaning; only, it seems to me that it stands as a perfectly good description of modern print cultures, or of how broadcasting emerged as a cultural form in the 1920s, or indeed, a quite good paraphrase of what certain sorts of literary theorists once conceptualised as ‘textuality’. Again, my point is not to suggest that there is nothing new or distinctive or unsettling about digital media, just that the interesting question is to ask how these dimensions are configured by this mode of meaning-making, rather than supposing that they are emphatically characteristics of this mode alone. There are important questions raised by Gillian’s paper about how one might approach the task of doing ‘media ontology’. I happen to think that thinking in terms of the ‘materialies’ of particular media or forms or technologies is likely to lead us astray, not least by encouraging the mis-atttribution of relational modalities or emergent ‘-abilities’ to singular forms or technologies. I prefer thinking about what Albert Hirschman liked to call ‘structural characteristics’ of practices, by which he meant the different combinations of spatial and temporal wiggle-room or latitude that shaped the pathways of different projects. I also like Cavell’s style of thinking through the ontology of film, as well as television, one which gets at what is distinctive about different mediums by asking, for example, what it is about a new medium that attracts disapproval. But more profoundly, Cavell thinks of the ontology of different mediums as what it is that they allow to be revealed or acknowledged about the human condition (and yes, this requires a certain sort of ‘reading’ of more or less canonical objects, but not of the sort which would be much approved of by cultural geographers I suspect (it would appear too naively characterological); besides, perhaps we should also allow that there is more than one way of ‘reading’ a ‘cultural text’, that Fredric Jameson’s style of addressing a film or novel as a totalising crystallisation of historical epochs is not quite the same as the reading by Robert Pippin of Westerns or Noir as allegories for certain recurrent political dilemmas, and further, that none of these examples looks much like anything undertaken in cultural geography). Cavell’s discussion of ‘the fact of television‘ revolves around the idea that there might be something about TV that seems to resist acknowledgement, that it seems to be a medium distinguished by it being so taken-for-grantedly there and available (the occasion for Cavell’s discussion was the early 1980s ‘video revolution’). So the absence of TV from cultural geography is not necessarily a failure, it might be part of a broader phenomenon (one related, while I think about it, to the degree to which a great deal of critical academic discourse is shaped by an understanding of pressing political imperatives that derive from the world routinely disclosed to us as ‘News’). One of Cavell’s recurring concerns is with thinking of the distinctive qualities of different mediums in terms of genre. The problem of genre is for him the entry point for acknowledging the ontological qualities of film, or television, or painting. One of the qualities of film that passes over into television, he suggests, is the series; television, in turn, he suggests, is characterised not by particular objects, more by formats (like the sit-com). The point of recalling this sort of analysis is to indicate how the singular, stable objects of cultural analysis are made available to us from within these elusively structured modes of making meaning (and by the forms of forgetting that inhere within them too). Anyway, all of this work about ‘genres’, ‘structural characteristics’, and ‘-abilities’ has one thing in common that might still meet with resistance from the paradigm of new cultural geography that Gillian’s paper addresses: none of it allows one to suppose that the best way of approaching cultural analysis is by supposing that cultural forms somehow shape or change subjectivities. The idea of subjectivity is the principle of totalization that continues to anchor cultural geography – from the presumption that culture is a medium for the construction or, worse, the production of subjectivity; to the ways in which this same idea remains the primary reference point for asserting the significance of stories about affectively imbued flows and encounters; and now, it seems, an interest in distinctive forms of digital or online subjectivity. It is this idea – that there is a thing called ‘subjectivity’ that it is the task of cultural analysis to comprehend in all its contingency and variety by attending to its modes of production – that is the most enduring feature of the paradigm of analysis that focusses on finding the meaning of stable cultural objects. And for as long as this anchor point remains in place, taken for granted even when disavowed, little progress will have been made in moving beyond the closures of the new cultural geography. 3). The pressure for meaning I have been assuming throughout my discussion here that Gillian is essentially correct in saying that the new cultural geography rose to prominence through the elevation of a distinctive method of reading for the meanings of stable cultural objects. I have suggested that this should be recognised as a motivated construction, rather than a more or less natural response to the ‘materialities’ of pre-digital media cultures. And I have tried to raise some questions about what we are to make of this closure of questions about the mediums of media cultures, a closure that I think might well continue to frame discussions of the challenge presented by digital technologies to established paradigms of geographical analysis. I have also suggested there is one thing that remains constant across Gillian’s discussion of the new cultural geography and its stable cultural objects, and the new forms associated with the interfaces, frictions and networks of digital cultures: the assumption that the main thing at stake is understanding something called ‘subjectivity’. What remains constant, across more constructivist approaches, self-righteously ‘non-representational’ approaches, and new work on digital culture, is the strong idea that cultural technologies do things to people, and that understanding what they do to people is the key concern that justifies ‘critical’ analysis. The persistence of this problematic of subjectivity is indicated by Gillian’s refrain about the need to attend to how the “forms of contemporary subjectivity” are being changed by digital technologies. Once upon a time, the idea that subjectivity was constructed through culture depended on the assumption of stable spatial and temporal relations between a singular cultural object and a fixed viewer/reader. These days, the image that recurs is one of mobile bodies immersed within environments saturated with affectively configured meanings, moving from one screen to the next. In both cases, ‘the subject’ is assumed to be totally encompassed within the milieu of its own subjection. It’s the recurring image that once underwrote important arguments about ‘cultural politics’ and assertions of ‘resistance’, and which now underwrites misanthropic arguments about the ability of states to manipulate people’s feelings or about the real subsumption of subjectivity to capital. In Gillian’s argument, there is an analytical slippage involved in counterposing the idealised model of a viewer/reader in front of a photo, film, or book to a nuanced description of the conditions through which digital technologies enable cultural forms to be produced and circulated. This is not comparing like with like, it should be admitted. I’ve already suggested that the conditions through which those stable cultural objects are made available for analysis are not quite so different from the conditions defined as distinctively ‘digital’. But one might perhaps be a little more charitable towards the analytical constructs of the new cultural geography. One thing that this mode of analysis does at least begin to approximate is the ordinary ways in which cultural forms are apprehended – as novels, as films, and so on. The concepts of ‘reading’ invoked in such work were highly stylised version of more ordinary modes of engaging with cultural forms, to be sure. But they do at least acknowledge that people engage with identifiable cultural forms, and not with technologies. Gillian’s characterisation of the distinctive features of digital culture seems to take for granted the adequacy of the previous formation of stable cultural objects in their own time, but in the wrong way. Reckoning only with the obvious limitations of that paradigm threatens to erase its virtues (an appreciation of the ordinary forms through which culture circulates): a complex, nuanced understanding of the modes of production and distribution of cultural forms is, after all, only ever interesting in relation to a concern with those ordinary formations – it is not a substitute for them, and it is certainly not the secret to understanding how power is exercised through mediated cultural artefacts. It is best not to think of any type of understanding of the conditions of meaning as somehow throwing ‘critical’ light upon ordinary forms of engagement; as revealing constructions of subjectivity, the exercise of power, or the manipulations of affect. It is better to think of any such understanding as a resource for the better appreciation of what is at stake in those ordinary forms of apprehending cultural forms. Having outlined an account of the networks through which digital culture circulates, Gillian suggests in her conclusion that there is a need for “a richer analytical vocabulary for the power relations performed through this convergent network”. Perhaps what is really needed is a reassessment of the very idea that culture is a medium for exercising power at all; and a reassessment too of the idea which anchors this assumption about power, namely that it is at all respectable to think of people’s subjectivities as primarily formed in a subordinate relationship with their favoured cultural forms. In fundamental respects, the paradigm of cultural analysis that Gillian dissects in this paper might well get things the wrong way around, making a mistake that the diagnosis of digital cultures is only likely to compound for as long as it is not recognised: what William Kentridge calls the ‘pressure for meaning’ is not best thought of as an imperative imposed upon subjects by so many produced, circulated, distributed, dispersed cultural forms; it is, rather, something that we bring to those forms, more or less expertly, more or less successfully, and with more or less serious or hilarious consequences. Posted in Blogs, Favourite Thinkers, Geography, Long Form, Media, Social Science \| Tagged cultural geography, digital media, Don Mitchell, Film, Fredric Jameson, Gillian Rose, Media, media theory, mediation, Ontology, Open University, Ordinary, Peter Jackson, Robert Pippin, Sam Kinsley, Samuel Weber, Stanley Cavell, Walter Benjamin, William Kentridge \| 3 Replies Growing Old Posted on 31 Oct 2014 by Clive You know you’re of a certain age when all the movies you go to see are animations, and are mostly U rated. I just saw my tenth kids’ movie of the year, not counting Frozen, which I have seen twice this year at the cinema, after seeing it twice last year when it first came out, and of course, having watched it again, and again, and again at home on DVD; and not counting Home Alone either, which I got to see on the big screen for the first time as a birthday treat earlier in the year. I have no expectation of seeing a better movie than Frozen for quite some time. Here is my list of this year’s lot, in a rough order, and bearing in mind there are two months to go still: The Boxtrolls [awesome] The Book of Life [the least scary kids’ movie with loads of death in it that you could imagine] Earth to Echo [ET meets Blair Witch without the scariness of either] The Nut Job [clever doubling of human and animal capers] Peabody and Sherman [a movie for dads] Tinkerbell and the Pirate Fairy [the least disappointing of the lot] The Lego Movie [awesome only in parts] Dolphin Tale 2 [not good enough to make me watch the first one] Tarzan (The Legend Starts Here) [very peculiar] Postman Pat: The Movie [forgot about all the good characters] I seem to have missed a couple aimed at the target audience of which I am now a part, such as Maleficent and Muppets Most Wanted. This year, I have seen a grand total of 1 grown-up movie, which was ’71. On the basis of this rather skewed sample, I think the difference between kids’ movies and grown-up movies is that death always seems to have a redemptive purpose in the kids’ movies – ‘cos there is a surprising amount of death in most of these films. 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__label__wiki	0.843341	0.843341	Bartlett, Loop, Fortson, Walker, and Other Families Twins Index Archive/Library Willie Sue Fortson F, ID# 17101, b. 23 June 1907, d. October 1984 Father: Henry Alfred Fortson1 b. 17 Jun 1873, d. 17 Dec 1954 Mother: Clara Eleanor Warren2 b. 1 Jan 1880, d. 14 Mar 1956 Birth: She was born on 23 June 1907.3,4 Death: She died in October 1984 at age 77.5 Note: They had no children.3 Last Edited: 6 Jul 2003 Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), p. 228 (naming Henry Alfred Fortson as her father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 228 (naming Clara Eleanor Warren as her mother). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 228. [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 6 Jul 2003. [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 6 Jul 2003 (not naming the place of death but stating that she lived in Elberton, Ga. when she died). Prince Albert Holmes M, ID# 17103 Marriage: He married Maude Alma Whitman. Family: Maude Alma Whitman Maude Alma Whitman F, ID# 17104 Marriage: She married Prince Albert Holmes. Family: Prince Albert Holmes Dixie Eliza Fortson F, ID# 17121, b. 7 September 1913, d. 6 December 1981 Birth: She was born on 7 September 1913.3,4,5 Death: She died on 6 December 1981 in Elbert County, Georgia, at age 68.6,7,8 Burial: Interment was in Dove's Creek Baptist Church cemetery, Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.5 Note: She was not married.3 Last Edited: 7 Feb 2004 [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 148. [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 6 Jul 2003 (stating that she died in Dec 1981; not naming the place of death but stating that she lived in Elberton, Ga. when she died). [S931] Ann Clark Holloman, comp, Elbert County, Georgia Death Records 1875-1876 and 1919-1995 (Albany, Ga.: Ann Clark Holloman, 1997), p. 55, certificate no. 12901. [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 148 (giving the date but not the place). Dalton William Webb M, ID# 17122, b. 25 September 1902, d. April 1978 Dalton William Webb, 1960. Photo originally posted to Find A Grave website by Find A Grave contributor, J_Dove222. Photo used by permission. Birth: He was born on 25 September 1902 in Dove Creek, Elbert County, Georgia.1,2 Marriage: He married Mary Thomas Fortson, daughter of Walter Okeifer Fortson and Mary Albert ('Allie') Fortson.3,2,4 Death: He died in April 1978 in Dove Creek, Elbert County, Georgia, at age 75.5,2 Other Names: Dalton Webb. • His Find A Grave memorial, which includes a picture of his tombstone, is here. Last Edited: 29 May 2017 Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn (#1), Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn (#2) Family: Mary Thomas Fortson b. 17 Aug 1905, d. 24 Jun 1996 Mary Hazel Webb+6,7 b. 14 Oct 1925, d. 31 Aug 2014 Byron Neil Webb8,9 b. 11 Dec 1927, d. 13 Nov 2001 Wendell Maurice Webb8,10 b. 15 Feb 1930, d. 27 Mar 2007 Sidney Lowell Webb8,11 b. 20 Jan 1932, d. 24 Aug 1968 [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 6 Jul 2003 (giving the date but not the place). [S961] Find A Grave, online at http://www.findagrave.com, memorial for Dalton William Webb, memorial no. 36191489, viewed on 29 May 2017. [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), p. 229. [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Mary Thomas Fortson Webb, memorial no. 36191284, viewed on 10 Apr 2017. [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 6 Jul 2003 (not naming the place of death but stating that he lived in Elberton, Ga. when he died). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Mary Hazel Webb Almond, memorial no. 135408985, viewed on 10 Apr 2017 (naming Dalton William Webb as her father). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Dalton William Webb, memorial no. 36191489, viewed on 10 Apr 2017 (naming Dalton William Webb as her father). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Dalton William Webb, memorial no. 36191489, viewed on 29 May 2017 (naming Dalton William Webb as his father). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Byron Neil Webb, memorial no. 36185040, viewed on 29 May 2017 (naming Dalton William Webb as his father). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Wendell Maurice Webb, memorial no. 138864838, viewed on 29 May 2017 (naming Dalton William Webb as his father). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Sidney Lowell Webb, memorial no. 89462661, viewed on 29 May 2017 (naming Dalton William Webb as his father). Elizabeth Jane Mattox F, ID# 17123, b. 19 June 1914, d. 19 February 1992 Marriage: She married Milton Sidney Fortson Sr., son of Walter Okeifer Fortson and Mary Albert ('Allie') Fortson.3,4 Death: She died on 19 February 1992 at age 77.1 Other Names: Elizabeth Mattox, Elizabeth Jane Mattox Fortson, Elizabeth Mattox Fortson, Elizabeth Jane Fortson, Elizabeth Fortson. Last Edited: 2 Nov 2015 Family: Milton Sidney Fortson Sr. b. 13 May 1907, d. 18 Jan 1971 Milton Sidney Fortson Jr.5 b. 7 Oct 1940, d. 16 Oct 2015 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 229, 712. [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), pp. 148 (stating that she was the wife of Milton Sidney Fortson), 150 (stating that he was the husband of Elizabeth Jane Mattox). [S961] Find A Grave, online at http://www.findagrave.com, memorial for Milton Sidney Fortson Jr., memorial no. 153878591, viewed on 1 Nov 2015 (naming Elizabeth Jane Mattox as his mother). Lon Nunnally Fortson M, ID# 17124, b. 8 November 1878, d. 19 July 1937 Father: Elijah Richard Fortson1 b. 1 Feb 1842, d. 2 Jan 1913 Mother: Mary Jane Snellings2 b. 3 Mar 1858, d. 4 Nov 1932 Birth: He was born on 8 November 1878 in Elbert County, Georgia.3,4,5 Marriage: He married Lois Herndon, daughter of John A. Herndon and Mary Mildred Brown, on 8 November 1899.3,6 Death: He died on 19 July 1937 in Elbert County, Georgia, at age 58.7,8,5 Burial: Interment was in Elmhurst Cemetery, 400 N. Oliver St., Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.3,9 Other Names: Lon Fortson, Lonnie N. Fortson, Alonzo N. Fortson.10,11 Note: • They lived in Elberton, Georgia. • One source gives his name as Lonnie N. Fortson, and another says it was Alonzo N. ('Lon') Fortson. • He was shot to death by an escaped convict in an incident on his farm in which a tenant and his son, Herndon Fortson, were seriously wounded. • His murderer was executed in May 1942.12,13,14,15,16 Last Edited: 19 Feb 2018 Family: Lois Herndon b. 6 Mar 1880, d. 24 Feb 1969 Herndon Herman Fortson17 b. 31 May 1905, d. 16 May 1972 Dallas Vandiver Fortson+17 b. 5 May 1908, d. Apr 1971 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), p. 229 (naming Elijah Richard Fortson as his father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 229 (naming Mary Jane Snellings as his mother). [S931] Ann Clark Holloman, comp, Elbert County, Georgia Death Records 1875-1876 and 1919-1995 (Albany, Ga.: Ann Clark Holloman, 1997), p. 56, cert. no. 3162 (not giving the date but stating that she was fifty-eight years old when she died on 19 Jul 1937). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 670 (giving his name as Alonzo N. ['Lon'] Fortson and giving the date but not the place). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 670 (giving his name as Alonzo N. ['Lon'] Fortson and not giving the date). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 229 (giving the date but not the place). [S931] Ann Clark Holloman, comp, Elbert County, Georgia Death Records 1875-1876 and 1919-1995 (Albany, Ga.: Ann Clark Holloman, 1997), p. 56, certificate no. 3162. [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 670 (giving his name as Alonzo N. ['Lon'] Fortson). [S931] Ann Clark Holloman, comp, Elbert County, Georgia Death Records 1875-1876 and 1919-1995 (Albany, Ga.: Ann Clark Holloman, 1997), p. 56, cert. no. 3162 (giving his name as Lonnie N. Fortson). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), (giving his name as Alonzo N. ('Lon') Fortson). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 229 (first bullet). [S931] Ann Clark Holloman, comp, Elbert County, Georgia Death Records 1875-1876 and 1919-1995 (Albany, Ga.: Ann Clark Holloman, 1997), p. 56, cert. no. 3162 (giving his name as Lonnie N. Fortson) (second bullet). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 670 (giving his name as Alonzo N. ['Lon'] Fortson) (second bullet). [S1411] The Greenville News, Greenville, S.C., online at http://www.newspapers.com, 5 Apr 1939, p. 6, col. 5 ("Rivers Ponders Williams Case") (third bullet). [S1397] The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C., online at http://www.newspapers.com, 16 May 1942, p. 8, col. 3 ("Georgia Prisoner Is Electrocuted After Having 7 Reprieves") (fourth bullet). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 229 (naming Lon Nunnally Fortson as his father). Lois Herndon F, ID# 17125, b. 6 March 1880, d. 24 February 1969 Father: John A. Herndon b. 1857, d. 1908 Mother: Mary Mildred Brown Birth: She was born on 6 March 1880.1,2,3 Marriage: She married Lon Nunnally Fortson, son of Elijah Richard Fortson and Mary Jane Snellings, on 8 November 1899.1,4 Death: She died on 24 February 1969 in Elbert County, Georgia, at age 88.5,6 Burial: Interment was in Elmhurst Cemetery, 400 N. Oliver St., Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.3 Note: Social security records give 15 Feb 1969 as her death date, and another source gives 24 Mar 1969.7,8 Family: Lon Nunnally Fortson b. 8 Nov 1878, d. 19 Jul 1937 Herndon Herman Fortson9 b. 31 May 1905, d. 16 May 1972 Dallas Vandiver Fortson+9 b. 5 May 1908, d. Apr 1971 [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed on 31 Jan 2004. [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed on 31 Jan 2004 (stating that she died on 15 Feb 1969; not naming the place of death but stating that she lived in Elberton, Ga. when she died). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 670 (giving 24 Mar 1969 as her death date). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 229 (naming Lois Herndon as his mother). John A. Herndon M, ID# 17126, b. 1857, d. 1908 Birth: He was born in 1857.1 Marriage: He married Mary Mildred Brown in 1877.1 Death: He died in 1908.1 Family: Mary Mildred Brown Lois Herndon+ b. 6 Mar 1880, d. 24 Feb 1969 Mary Mildred Brown Marriage: She married John A. Herndon in 1877.1 Family: John A. Herndon b. 1857, d. 1908 Herndon Herman Fortson M, ID# 17128, b. 31 May 1905, d. 16 May 1972 Father: Lon Nunnally Fortson1 b. 8 Nov 1878, d. 19 Jul 1937 Mother: Lois Herndon2 b. 6 Mar 1880, d. 24 Feb 1969 Birth: He was born on 31 May 1905 in Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.3,4,5 Marriage: He married Frances Schroeder in October 1928.3 Marriage: He married Helen Carroll Thornton.3,6 Death: He died on 16 May 1972 at age 66.7,8 Note: • He was known as Herman. • He was married twice, lived in Atlanta, Georgia, and did not have children. • He was seriously wounded in a 1937 incident near Elberton, Georgia, in which an escaped convict killed his father.9,10,11 Family 1: Frances Schroeder Family 2: Helen Carroll Thornton b. 15 Feb 1908, d. 20 Nov 1980 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), p. 229 (naming Lon Nunnally Fortson as his father). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 669 (giving his name as Herman H. Fortson and giving the date but not the place). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 669 (giving their names as Helen Carroll and Herman H. Fortson). [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 7 Jul 2003 (stating that he died in May 1972; not naming the place of death but stating that he lived in Atlanta, Ga. when he died). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 669 (giving his name as Herman H. Fortson). [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 7 Jul 2003 (first bullet). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 229-30 (second bullet). [S1411] The Greenville News, Greenville, S.C., online at http://www.newspapers.com, 5 Apr 1939, p. 6, col. 5 (third bullet). Dallas Vandiver Fortson M, ID# 17129, b. 5 May 1908, d. April 1971 Birth: He was born on 5 May 1908 in Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.3,4,5 Death: He died in April 1971 at age 62.6 Note: He was married twice, lived in Atlanta, Georgia, and was a member of Grace Methodist Church. One source says that he died in 1972.7,8 Last Edited: 14 Dec 2003 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 229 (giving the date but not the place), 230. [S895] John Fortson, electronic mail to Roger Bartlett, 5 Feb 2001, (stating that he was born in 1908 without giving the date or place). [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 7 Jul 2003 (not naming the place of death but stating that he lived in Atlanta, Ga. when he died). [S895] John Fortson, electronic mail to Roger Bartlett, 5 Feb 2001, (stating that he died in 1972). Frances Schroeder Marriage: She married Herndon Herman Fortson, son of Lon Nunnally Fortson and Lois Herndon, in October 1928.1 Family: Herndon Herman Fortson b. 31 May 1905, d. 16 May 1972 Helen Carroll Thornton F, ID# 17131, b. 15 February 1908, d. 20 November 1980 Birth: She was born on 15 February 1908.1,2 Marriage: She married Herndon Herman Fortson, son of Lon Nunnally Fortson and Lois Herndon.3,4 Death: She died on 20 November 1980 at age 72.1,5 Last Edited: 9 May 2004 [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed on 9 May 2004. [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed on 9 May 2004 (stating that she died in Nov 1980; not naming the place of death but stating that she lived in Royston, Ga. when she died and that last benefits were sent to an address in Royston, Ga.). Ernest Linwood Fortson M, ID# 17136, b. 3 November 1876, d. 16 June 1955 Father: Henry A. Fortson1 b. 3 Apr 1846, d. 9 Aug 1906 Mother: Lura A. Brown2 b. 2 Nov 1856, d. 30 Mar 1908 Birth: He was born on 3 November 1876 in Elbert County, Georgia.3 Marriage: He married Delree Herndon.3,4 Death: He died on 16 June 1955 at age 78.3 Burial: Interment was in Memorial Park, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida.3,5 Family: Delree Herndon b. 1878, d. Aug 1918 Julius Linwood Fortson6 b. 1 Sep 1900, d. 30 Nov 1988 Sarah Lou Fortson7 b. 11 Oct 1902, d. May 1981 Minnie Flora Fortson7 b. 22 Aug 1908, d. 27 Sep 2001 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), pp. 230-31 (naming Henry A. Fortson as his father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 230-31 (naming Lura A. Brown as his mother). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 669 (stating that he is buried in St. Petersburg, Florida without naming the cemetery). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 231 (naming Ernest Linwood Fortson as his father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 231 (naming Ernest Linwood Fortson as her father). Charles Hardman Fortson M, ID# 17137, b. 2 September 1878, d. 14 January 1917 Birth: He was born on 2 September 1878 in Elbert County, Georgia.3,4,5 Marriage: He married Louise Mildred Gaines, daughter of Francis Gaines and Margaret Maley, on 4 December 1902.6,7 Death: He died on 14 January 1917 at age 38.6,8,5 Burial: Interment was in Dove's Creek Baptist Church cemetery, Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.6,8,5 Family: Louise Mildred Gaines b. 14 Feb 1872, d. 6 Dec 1947 Pearl Elizabeth Fortson9 b. 22 Apr 1905, d. 29 May 1978 [S929] Early Cemeteries and Gravestones Elbert County, Georgia (Elberton, Ga.: Elbert County Hist. Soc'y, 1874), p. 62. [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), pp. 148 (not giving the date but stating that he was the husband of Mildred Gaines), 150 (not giving the date but stating that she was the wife of Charles H. Fortson). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 232 (naming Charles Hardman Fortson as her father). Mary Elizabeth ('Mamie') Fortson F, ID# 17138, b. 25 September 1880, d. 22 February 1929 Birth: She was born on 25 September 1880 in Elbert County, Georgia.3 Marriage: She married Billy Winston Oglesby.4 Last Edited: 12 Jul 2003 Family: Billy Winston Oglesby b. 26 Sep 1882, d. 22 Feb 1918 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), pp. 230-31, 233 (naming Henry A. Fortson as her father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 230-31, 233 (naming Lura A. Brown as her mother). Abner Delancy Fortson M, ID# 17139, b. 26 August 1882 Birth: He was born on 26 August 1882 in Elbert County, Georgia.3 Marriage: He married Emma Belle Johnson, daughter of Wiley Baxter Johnson and Sarah Wesley, on 16 October 1904 in Twiggs County, Georgia.4 Family: Emma Belle Johnson Cary Nam Fortson ?, ID# 17140, b. 22 March 1884, d. 20 July 1885 Birth: He was born on 22 March 1884.3,4 Death: He died on 20 July 1885 at age 1.3,4 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), pp. 230-31 (naming Henry A. Fortson as this child's father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 230-31 (naming Lura A. Brown as this child's mother). Ila Tulula Fortson F, ID# 17141, b. 7 January 1886, d. 22 April 1983 Birth: She was born on 7 January 1886 in Elbert County, Georgia.3,4 Marriage: She married Roscoe Llewellyn Eavenson.5,6,7 Death: She died on 22 April 1983 at age 97.8,6 Burial: Interment was in section H, Rose Hill Cemetery, Winder, Barrow County, Georgia.6 Other Names: Ila Fortson, Ila Tulula Fortson Eavenson, Ila Fortson Eavenson, Ila Tulula Eavenson, Ila Eavenson. Note: One source gives 7 Jan 1887 as her birthdate.9 • Her Find A Grave memorial, which includes a picture of her tombstone, is here. Family: Roscoe Llewellyn Eavenson b. 22 Aug 1886, d. 13 Jul 1961 John Henry Eavenson+10 b. 22 Mar 1912, d. 21 Jan 1962 [S961] Find A Grave, online at http://www.findagrave.com, memorial for Ila Fortson Eavenson, memorial no. 77307329, viewed on 12 Apr 2015 (giving the date but not the place). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Ila Fortson Eavenson, memorial no. 77307329, viewed on 12 Apr 2015. [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Roscoe Llewellyn Eavenson, memorial no. 77307330, viewed on 12 Apr 2015. [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 12 Jul 2003 (giving the month and year; not naming the place of death but stating that she lived in Winder, Ga. when she died). [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 12 Jul 2003. [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 235 (naming Ila Tulula Fortson as his mother). Fannie Gertrude Fortson F, ID# 17142, b. 16 December 1888, d. 23 November 1953 Birth: She was born on 16 December 1888 in Elbert County, Georgia.3,4 Marriage: She married Stockton Madison Hudson, son of Stockton Cobb Hudson and Louise Martha Dye.5 Death: She died on 23 November 1953 at age 64.6 Other Names: Fannie Fortson, Fannie Gertrude Fortson Hudson, Fannie Fortson Hudson, Fannie Gertrude Hudson, Fannie Hudson. Note: She had no children.7 • Her Find A Grave memorial is here. Family: Stockton Madison Hudson b. 1891, d. 12 Feb 1969 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), pp. 230-31 (naming Henry A. Fortson as her father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 230-31 (naming Lura A. Brown as her mother). [S961] Find A Grave, online at http://www.findagrave.com, memorial for Fannie Fortson Hudson, memorial no. 44205376, viewed on 12 Apr 2015 (giving the year but no other information). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 235 (giving his name as Stockton Cobb Hudson, Jr.). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Fannie Fortson Hudson, memorial no. 44205376, viewed on 12 Apr 2015. Lee Anderson Fortson M, ID# 17143, b. 16 May 1891, d. 12 September 1977 Father: Henry A. Fortson1,2,3,4 b. 3 Apr 1846, d. 9 Aug 1906 Mother: Lura A. Brown5,6,7,8 b. 2 Nov 1856, d. 30 Mar 1908 Birth: He was born on 16 May 1891 in Elbert County, Georgia.9,10,11,12 Marriage: He married Callye Campbell, daughter of Warren W. Campbell and Lula Temples.13,14,15,16 Death: He died on 12 September 1977 in Anderson, Anderson County, South Carolina, at age 86.17,15 Burial: Interment was on 14 September 1977 in Nancy Hart Memorial Park, 1171 Royston Highway, Hartwell, Hart County, Georgia.17,18 Other Names: Lee Fortson. • His Find A Grave memorial is here. Family: Callye Campbell b. 1891, d. 1963 [S1158] Obituary of Lee Anderson Fortson, online http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/elbert/obits/f/…, viewed on 15 Sep 2007 (citing The Elberton Star, Elberton, Ga., 13 Sep 1977) (naming Henry A. Fortson as his father). [S1159] Chandler Eavenson, notes accompanying 1977 obituary of Lee Anderson Fortson, online http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/elbert/obits/f/…, viewed on 15 Sep 2007, (naming Henry A. Fortson as his father). [S961] Find A Grave, online at http://www.findagrave.com, memorial for Lee Anderson Fortson, memorial no. 94822830, viewed on 12 Apr 2015 (naming Henry A. Fortson as his father). [S1158] Obituary of Lee Anderson Fortson, online, above, (naming Lura Brown as his mother). [S1159] Chandler Eavenson, notes accompanying 1977 obituary of Lee Anderson Fortson, above, (naming Lura A. Brown as his mother). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Lee Anderson Fortson, memorial no. 94822830, viewed on 12 Apr 2015 (naming Lura Brown as his mother). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 231 (giving only the date), 235 (giving the date and place). [S1158] Obituary of Lee Anderson Fortson, online, above, (not giving the date but stating that he was born in Elbert County, Ga. and was eighty-six years old when he died on 12 Sep 1977). [S1159] Chandler Eavenson, notes accompanying 1977 obituary of Lee Anderson Fortson, above, (giving the date but not the place). [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Lee Anderson Fortson, memorial no. 94822830, viewed on 12 Apr 2015 (giving the year and place). [S1159] Chandler Eavenson, notes accompanying 1977 obituary of Lee Anderson Fortson, above. [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Lee Anderson Fortson, memorial no. 94822830, viewed on 12 Apr 2015. [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Callye Campbell Fortson, memorial no. 94822795, viewed on 12 Apr 2015. [S1158] Obituary of Lee Anderson Fortson, online, above. [S961] Find A Grave, online, above, memorial for Lee Anderson Fortson, memorial no. 94822830, viewed on 12 Apr 2015 (not giving the date). Henry A. Fortson Jr. M, ID# 17144, b. 30 November 1896 Birth: He was born on 30 November 1896 in Elbert County, Georgia.3 Marriage: He married Viola C. Wiley.4 Note: They owned and managed Castaways Motel and Apartments in Redington Beach, Florida.4 Family: Viola C. Wiley b. 2 Aug 1896 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), pp. 230-31, 235 (naming Henry A. Fortson as his father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, pp. 230-31, 235 (naming Lura A. Brown as his mother). Delree Herndon F, ID# 17145, b. 1878, d. August 1918 Birth: She was born in 1878 in Elbert County, Georgia.1,2,3 Marriage: She married Ernest Linwood Fortson, son of Henry A. Fortson and Lura A. Brown.4,5 Death: She died in August 1918.4,6,7 Burial: Interment was in Elmhurst Cemetery, 400 N. Oliver St., Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.4,8,5 Family: Ernest Linwood Fortson b. 3 Nov 1876, d. 16 Jun 1955 Sarah Lou Fortson10 b. 11 Oct 1902, d. May 1981 Minnie Flora Fortson10 b. 22 Aug 1908, d. 27 Sep 2001 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), p. 231 (naming the place but not giving the date). [S929] Early Cemeteries and Gravestones Elbert County, Georgia (Elberton, Ga.: Elbert County Hist. Soc'y, 1874), p. 14 (giving the date but not the place). [S929] Early Cemeteries and Gravestones Elbert County, Georgia (Elberton, Ga.: Elbert County Hist. Soc'y, 1874), p. 14 (giving only the year). [S930] Elbert County Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (n.p.: n.pub., 2002), p. 669 (giving only the year). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 231 (naming Delree Herndon as his mother). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 231 (naming Delree Herndon as her mother). Julius Linwood Fortson M, ID# 17146, b. 1 September 1900, d. 30 November 1988 Father: Ernest Linwood Fortson1 b. 3 Nov 1876, d. 16 Jun 1955 Mother: Delree Herndon2 b. 1878, d. Aug 1918 Birth: He was born on 1 September 1900.3,4 Death: He died on 30 November 1988 at age 88.5 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), p. 231 (naming Ernest Linwood Fortson as his father). [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 7 Jul 2003 (not naming the place of death but stating that he lived in St. Petersburg, Fla. when he died). Sarah Lou Fortson F, ID# 17147, b. 11 October 1902, d. May 1981 Birth: She was born on 11 October 1902.3,4 Death: She died in May 1981 at age 78.5 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), p. 231 (naming Ernest Linwood Fortson as her father). [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 7 Jul 2003 (not naming the place of death but stating that she lived in St. Petersburg, Fla. when she died). Minnie Flora Fortson F, ID# 17148, b. 22 August 1908, d. 27 September 2001 Birth: She was born on 22 August 1908.3 Death: She died on 27 September 2001 at age 93.4 [S312] Social Security Death Index, online at http://tinyurl.com/AncestrySSDI, viewed 7 Jul 2003 (not naming the place of death but stating that she lived in Fairfield, Calif. when she died). Louise Mildred Gaines F, ID# 17149, b. 14 February 1872, d. 6 December 1947 Father: Francis Gaines1 b. 1842, d. 1902 Mother: Margaret Maley2 b. 1846, d. 1898 Marriage: She married Charles Hardman Fortson, son of Henry A. Fortson and Lura A. Brown, on 4 December 1902.3,5 Death: She died on 6 December 1947 at age 75.4 Note*: One source gives 5 Feb 1947 as her death date.3 Family: Charles Hardman Fortson b. 2 Sep 1878, d. 14 Jan 1917 [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson (1742-1824) and Some of His Descendants—Early Settler of Elbert County, Georgia (Danielsville, Ga.: Heritage Papers, 1973), p. 232 (naming Francis Gaines as her father). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 232 (naming Margaret Maley as her mother). [S27] John Wright Boyd, A Family History: Lt. Thomas Fortson, etc., above, p. 232 (naming Louise Mildred Gaines as her mother). I always welcome additions, corrections, and comments. Compiler: Roger Bartlett, Austin, Texas Site updated on 7 Jan 2020 at 4:19:54 PM; 16,662 folks	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8125
__label__wiki	0.835221	0.835221	/ Modified apr 27, 2016 1:20 p.m. Federal Appeals Court Will Hear Tucson Elections Case City asked for review of ruling that its hybrid election system is unconstitutional. by Associated Press TWEET SHARE The full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will review the constitutionality of Tucson's local elections systems after a three-member panel of the court ruled against it. A three-judge panel previously found that the city's primary and general elections hybrid system puts many voters at a disadvantage by giving the upper hand to Democratic candidates in a largely Democrat city. The city is divided into six wards, and residents can only vote for candidates in their ward during primary elections. But they can vote for any city council candidate during general elections. That means the few pockets of Republican communities lose out because Democrats who are elected at the ward-level have wide support city-wide. The court found the system violates the 14th Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause. The new hearing will be in late June. A group of Republican voters filed the case last year, and the appeals court ruling came one week after the biannual City Council election in which all three Democratic incumbents won new terms. Two of those three incumbents, Ward 2's Paul Cunningham and Ward 4's Shirley Scott, won the city-wide vote but got fewer votes than their respective Republican rivals within their wards. MORE: Government, News, Politics, Tucson US Supreme Court Upholds Validity of Tucson Election System Republicans' Challenge to Tucson Election Dismissed METRO WEEK: Tucson Election System Unconstitutional	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8126
__label__wiki	0.616277	0.616277	iPit Intellectual property versus information technology About the iPit Initial interest confusion under EU trade mark law 24 June 2013 · by Robert Cumming · in iPit. · Initial interest confusion is a concept in trade marks law which allows for a finding of liability where a brand owner can demonstrate that a consumer was confused by a defendant’s sign at the time of interest in a product or service, even if that initial confusion is corrected by the time of purchase. The position in the European Union was considered in detail by Mr Justice Arnold in Och-Ziff Management Europe Ltd and Anor v OCH Capital LLP & Others[2010] EWHC 2599 (Ch) (iPit post here). The most frequently used illustration of the concept relates to a roadside branding which relies on a deception which is later corrected but only at the point where the consumer has invested enough time in pursuing the “bait” that he finds it easier to simply purchase from the deceiver rather than travel to the true brand owner. The case of, BP Amoco plc v John Kelly Ltd [2002] FSR 5, involves petrol stations rather than video stores and relates to UK trade marks registration numbers 1469512 and 1469513 (shown below). It illustrates the issue well: BP was the proprietor of a registered trade mark for the colour green as applied to the exterior surface of the premises used for the sale of the goods, which was registered for goods which included lubricants and fuels in Class 4. The first defendant adopted a petrol station design which featured the colour green. The Court of Appeal of Northern Ireland upheld the claim for trade mark infringement. …[W]hen a motorist travelling at speed sees a green station, at a distance at which the logo cannot be made out, and starts to make preparations to turn off into the station, he is liable to continue his manoeuvre even though he may descry the logo as he nears the station and appreciate that the petrol on sale is that of the respondents and not of BP. As he put it, the antidote to the bane has not been applied and that is a customer lost. We consider that there is force in this contention. The use of an identical mark in relation to identical goods or services in the European Union does not require a likelihood of confusion. However, the guidance from the Court of Justice of the European Union makes clear that it does require that there is an adverse effect on the one of the functions of the trade mark (see in particular Case C-487/07 L’Oréal SA v Bellure NV [2009] ECR I-5185). However, where the marks are not identical, can there be infringement where there is no confusion as to origin at the point of sale? Article 5(3)(d) of the Harmonisation Directive 2008/95/EC states that the use of the sign on business papers and in advertising may constitute trade mark infringement. Furthermore, the CJEU stated in Interflora (iPit post here) and Die Bergspechte (iPit post here) that the use in advertising of a sign similar to a registered trade mark relating to similar goods or services is sufficient for there to be infringement. These cases are supported by the rationale that only a likelihood of confusion is required and not actual confusion and follow the reasoning in Google France (iPit post here) and Portakabin (iPit post here) that: where a third party’s ad suggests that there is an economic link between that third party and the proprietor of the trade mark, the conclusion must be that there is an adverse effect on the function of indicating origin. The likelihood of confusion must be assessed at the moment when the advertisement is viewed, whether or not it leads to a sale and whether or not there is any confusion at the time of the sale. This is because although there may be no diversion of sales, the confusing advertisement may: Affect the reputation of the mark Erode the distinctiveness of the mark In short, no sale is required in order to infringe. Tags: Initial interest confusion, likelihood of confusion, trade mark infringement ← Interflora v M&S – High Court judgment IP rights in tattoos under UK law → Innocent infringement INTA Bulletin IP Magazine ITMA Review World Patent & Trademark News RT @ByDonkeys: Boris Johnson: hypocritical feckless bully (Location: Houses of Parliament - SOUND ON) https://t.co/pmHif4zWFW 1 month ago Follow @robertcumming Search the iPit	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8129
__label__wiki	0.976699	0.976699	Collins, Charles (c.1777–1806?) School friend. The son of William Collins and his wife Sarah Astell of Maize Hill, Greenwich, Kent. Educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford (matric. Jan 1793). Married Jane Forman, by whom he had one son. Died c. 1806. Collins’s biography is difficult to reconstruct as Records of Old Westminsters and Alumni Oxoniensis both confuse him with his son, also named Charles Collins, and give a later date of death. A note, now in the Huntington Library, written by an eponymous descendant confirms that he died young. In 1815, Southey referred to Collins’s widow and in 1828 described him as long dead. Southey met Collins at Westminster and later described him as ‘one of my most intimate school and college friends’. However, by early 1794 their friendship had cooled and they seem to have had no contact with one another after Southey’s departure from Oxford later that year. 4. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [c. 14 April 1792] 6. Robert Southey to Charles Collins, [c. 16 April 1792] 9. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [c. 5 May 1792] 15. Robert Southey to Thomas Davis Lamb, [c. 18 June 1792] 20. Robert Southey to Thomas Davis Lamb, [c. 31 July 1792] 22. Robert Southey to Charles Collins, [c. summer/ autumn 1792] 23. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [c. September 1792] 26. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [c. 6 October 1792] 28. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 21 October 1792 30. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [16–17 November 1792] 32. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 29 November [1792] 33. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 4 December 1792 35. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 26 December 1792 39. Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 12 [–13] January [1793] 40. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 16 [–21] January [1793] 42. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 25 January –8 [February] 1793 43. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [started before and continued on] 15 March [1793] 45. Robert Southey to Charles Collins, [31 March 1793] 46. Robert Southey to Thomas Phillipps Lamb, 3 April [1793] 47. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 4–20 April 1793 48. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 5 May 1793 49. Robert Southey to Thomas Davis Lamb, 17–29 May 1793 50. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [c. 3 June 1793] 51. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 8–16 June 1793 52. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [c. 21 June 1793] 53. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 14–21 July 1793 54. Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 25 July [– c. 5 August] 1793 56. Robert Southey and Grosvenor Charles Bedford to Charles Collins, 16 September 1793 60. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 14 [–18] October 1793 64. Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 30 October–7 November 1793 66. Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 3[–4] November 1793 67. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 6–8 November 1793 68. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [12–15] November [1793] 69. Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 13–16 November 1793 72. Robert Southey to Horace Walpole Bedford, 12 [–15] December 1793 73. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [started before and continued on] 14 December [1793] 75. Robert Southey to Nicholas Lightfoot, 22 December 1793 Addressed in 2. Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 10 [–11] December 1791 12. Robert Southey to Charles Collins, [begun 4 June 1792]	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8131
__label__cc	0.645313	0.354687	Wagyu? If you're looking for a restaurant that serves food in that category, then you've come to the right place. Here, you'll definitely find a restaurant that fits your search criteria, so take a look! [Okinawa] A Selection of 10 Restaurants Serving Premium Wagyu Beef Okinawa’s beaches of turquoise, blue seas and fine, white sand contribute significantly to its attraction as a premier resort area in Japan. Between marine sports, shopping, and cultural experiences, you won't have a dull moment with all of the recreational activities to try. After a full day of being out and about, there are throngs of different restaurants that satisfy your hunger. To narrow it down a bit, this will be an introduction to 10 of the best places to feast on some sumptuous, tender Wagyu beef in Okinawa. [Kyoto] 10 Yakiniku Spots With Excellent Wagyu Beef Kuroge Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef) and all the other types of wagyu beef in Japan are renowned for their particularly fine and tender texture. The most popular is the marbled meat, characterized by a rich sweet flavor due to the high fat content. This article introduces 10 restaurants in the Kyoto area where you can try wagyu. Check them out! A Unique Ninja Wagyu Beef Restaurant 5 Minutes from Shinjuku Station! We all look forward to enjoying delicious gourmet food when we visit Japan! So, why not spend some quality time at a restaurant that offers a unique atmosphere you can only find in Japan? One particularly recommended restaurant with this kind of atmosphere is NINJA SHINJUKU, an entertainment restaurant that immerses its diners in the world of the ancient Japanese ninja. At the NINJA SHINJUKU’s calm and quiet private room, you can savor remarkable specialties made with carefully selected ingredients, such as premium Omi beef. The entire course menu is ingenious not only in taste but in presentation, as well. After you enjoy your meal, you can enjoy a magic show right at your table! Our staff visited NINJA SHINJUKU to thoroughly research this restaurant’s unique charms. We hope this may give you a tip as a guide when you plan your next visit to Tokyo! Spy who made use of special tricks and techniques known as "ninjutsu." Editor's Recommendation 15 Teppanyaki Restaurants in Osaka for Enjoying Delicious Wagyu When visiting Japan, Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef) really is a must-try food, and having a skilled chef prepare it as teppanyaki (grilled on an iron griddle) is a great way to experience this excellent beef. Here are 15 places in Osaka where you can try teppanyaki-style Wagyu! 29 Excellent Steak Restaurants in Tokyo Competition between restaurants is fierce in Tokyo, and there are many famous restaurants offering steaks that are sure to make meat lovers' mouths water! Here are 29 spots in Tokyo, ranging from high-end spots to casual spaces, and from well-established restaurants to newly-opened ones! Selected Restaurants in Mie Prefecture, the home of Matsusaka beef, where You can Get Delicious Sukiyaki When people in Japan think of Mie, Matsusaka beef often comes to mind. One of the best ways to savor world-famous beef brands from Mie, such as Matsusaka beef and Iga beef, is with a hot pot stew called sukiyaki. If you want to try it, here is a list of popular restaurants in Mie that make fantastic sukiyaki. Enjoy the melt-in-the-mouth deliciousness of premium meats! What Popular Gourmet Sites Recommend Get Your Fill of Steak While Watching the Chef at Work! 5 Recommended Kobe Steak Restaurants in Sannomiya with Counter Seating Kobe beef is one of Japan's Sandaigyu (three major beef brands). This meat preserves the lineage of Hyogo Prefecture's Tajima breed of cattle, and cannot be called "Kobe beef" without adhering to strict regulations. In fact, these standards for judging beef are the strictest in the world. Furthermore, the style of cooking the meat directly in front of customers seated at the counter originated in Kobe, so it's only natural that when eating a steak in Kobe, you expect to see a performance as well! Here is a collection of restaurants from around Sannomiya Station where you can experience Kobe beef with all five of your senses! Ultimate Wagyu Spots! 15 Recommended Yakiniku Restaurants in Osaka If you visit Japan, you have to try Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef) at least once! Check out this collection of 15 recommended yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) spots in Osaka, the so-called "kitchen of Japan". Top 30 Yakiniku Restaurants in Tokyo For Enjoying Delicious Wagyu Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef) is renowned for its fine texture and tenderness. Those who wish to enjoy delicious Wagyu to the fullest should head to a yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurant. This article introduces the top 30 yakiniku restaurants in the capital of Tokyo . Looking for Wagyu in Hokkaido? 11 Superb Steak Places in Sapporo! Sapporo isn’t just about jingisukan (grilled lamb or mutton). There are just as many restaurants where you can eat dishes made with Wagyu (a type of high-quality cattle) raised on the vast open plains of Hokkaido. The selected restaurants are all unique, but they love their locality and make the most of their ingredients. Whether you’re feeling hungry and need a big meal, or just want to sip on some wine and leisurely enjoy the umami (Japanese savory taste) of meat, there’s sure to be something suitable for you in Sapporo! Top 15 Yakiniku Restaurants in Shinjuku Offering Premium Wagyu (Tokyo) Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef) is known for its soft texture and rich umami (Japanese savory taste), a perfect balance that is highly regarded in the worldwide gourmet scene. If you are planning to go to Japan, particularly to Shinjuku in Tokyo, these 15 yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurants may come in handy. They offer a variety of choices of meat, including premium Wagyu brands such as Kobe and Yamagata beef. Top 14 Restaurants in Okinawa that Serve Ishigaki, Motobu, and Other Premium Okinawan Beef Brands Going to Okinawa? Are you looking forward to tasting premium beef brands like Ishigaki beef (a type of Kuroge Wagyu - high-quality beef) from Yaeyama Island and Motobu beef from Motobu Farm in Okinawa? If so, read on to find out about the top 14 restaurants that serve these wonders. Discover more restaurants by area Tokyo Area Near Tokyo Kyoto and Osaka Area Hokkaido Area Northern Honshu (Tohoku) Central Honshu (Chubu) Western Honshu (Chugoku) Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa and Southeast Islands A Complete Guide to the Origin and Taste of “Robatayaki”, the Local Delicacy of Japan’s Countryside! A Guide to Japanese New Year's Soba [Tsukiji, Tokyo] Try One of Japan's Most Popular Noodle Dishes at a 180-Year-Old Soba Restaurant Japanese Cuisine (161) Kaiseki (3) Nabe (9) Okonomiyaki (7) Shabu Shabu (3) Teppanyaki (2) Tonkatsu (2) Yakitori (6) Sukiyaki (5) Japanese Cuisine (95) Taverns(Izakaya) Cuisine (48) Izakaya (48) Western Cuisine (17) Steak/Hambuger steak/Curry (14) Italian/French Cuisine (2) Yakiniku Korean Cuisine (32) Yakiniku (31) Chinese Cuisine (2) Gyoza dumplings (1) Ramen (Noodles) Cuisine (10) Ramen (10) Cafe/Sweets Cuisine (31) Other Asian Cuisine (1) Global/International Cuisine (5) Sake (12) Vegan/Vegetarian/Macrobiotic (3) Kyoto and Osaka (155) Shinsaibashi (4) Kobe (16) Umeda (11) Kyoto Station (2) Roppongi (5) Shibuya (12) Shinjuku (21) Ebisu (3) Ueno (15) Ikebukuro (9) Jiyugaoka, Denenchofu, Nakameguro (4) Shimokitazawa (2) Kichijoji (2) Omotesando, Harajuku, Aoyama (6) Akabane (1) Kagurazaka (1) Akasaka (2) Tsukishima, Harumi, Toyosu (1) Okinawa and Southeast Islands (32) Okinawa (20) Naha (12) Near Tokyo (35) Kamakura (15) Funabashi/Urayasu (1) Kawagoe (4) Sapporo (26) Hakodate (8) Northern Honshu (Tohoku) (6) Hiraizumi (1) Iwate (1) Central Honshu (Chubu) (23) Western Honshu (Chugoku) (15) Hiroshima (10) Tottori (1) Kyushu (27) Fukuoka (17) Hakata (11) All-You-Can-Eat Chef Recommendations Close To Station Famous Tourist Spot Japanese alcohol Kushiage Multilingual Menus Photogenic Site Rice Bowl Dish (Donburi) Setouchi Area Signature Dish Solo Diners Welcomed Terrace Seating Explore Restaurants By Area Japan's largest city, Tokyo, is the center of culinary culture in Japan. Near Tokyo Coastal areas, mountains and valleys surrounding Tokyo are bursting with tourist destinations, such as hot springs and ski slopes, where many unique foods are only available locally. Kyoto and Osaka Area The cities of Kyoto and Osaka, together with their surrounding areas, have greatly influenced Japan's culinary culture since the 7th Century. Hokkaido Area The island of Hokkaido is home to wide-ranging produce of the finest quality, such as rice, meat, vegetables, fish and fruit. Northern Honshu (Tohoku) The northern end of Japan's main island, Honshu, is renowned for its seasonal fruit and vegetables, nation-leading harvest of fish. Central Honshu (Chubu) Chubu is in the center of Japan's main island, Honshu, and its culinary culture reflects its position between Japan's western and eastern halves. Western Honshu (Chugoku) Chugoku, on the southwest of Japan's main island, is rich with diverse produce. The mild climate of Shikoku is ideal for growing citrus fruit such as sudachi. Western culture was first introduced to Japan through Kyushu, Japan's third largest island, where the influence of Portuguese and other western cuisine influenced the creation of a colorful culinary tradition. Okinawa and Southeast Islands Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is a treasure trove of distinctive dishes and drinks that have become popular throughout Japan, including Okinawa soba, unique sushi toppings and Awamori distilled liquor. Handling of personal Nothern Honshu(Tohoku) Western Honshu(Chugoku) Chef directory Japanese food glossary 20 restaurants favored by visitors to Japan 2018 (Janualy to June 2018) 20 restaurants favored by visitors to Japan 2017	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8135
__label__wiki	0.739194	0.739194	Browse: Home / SBU and IFCU Partner Up, Rename Stony Brook Arena Stony Brook Independent Stony Brook University News Why We Should Rethink Juicing (& How We Can Make It Healthier) The Great White Way’s Efforts to Go Green Five Overlooked Ways of Creating Winning Business Strategies What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like? Trump’s ‘Public Charge’ rule change exposes classism in the U.S. SBU and IFCU Partner Up, Rename Stony Brook Arena Posted by Jimin Kim on November 3, 2014 in News \| 418 Views \| Leave a response SBU President Samuel L. Stanley, Jr. with IFCU President and CEO Bret Sears at a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014 announcing the corporate partnership. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics. By Jimin Kim Stony Brook University has joined a 10-year, $7 million partnership with Island Federal Credit Union, which will be providing funds for programs by the Long Island State Veterans Home and the new Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. The deal has also officially renamed the Stony Brook Arena as the Island Federal Credit Union Arena. Bret Sears, president and CEO of IFCU, said that the multi-faceted deal will not only impact IFCU members and the campus community, but all of Long Island. “This comprehensive partnership with one of the area’s premier institutions gives Island the opportunity to reach a new, much broader group of Long Islanders through our banking presence and extraordinary financial services,” Sears said. The partnership also includes IFCU holding exclusive rights to banking services at SBU as two retail IFCU banks and multiple ATMs will be placed on campus. The existing Bank of America and Teacher’s Federal Credit Union ATMs will be replaced with IFCU’s. The company has also invested in the creation of a new banking education program through the SBU’s College of Business in a mission to cultivate prospective interns and employees, as well as offer students learning opportunities. Facilitated by the Faculty Student Association, a 501 (c) (3) organization, IFCU will offer $7 million to the Long Island State Veterans Home and the new Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. A 10-story hospital pavilion is under construction on the east campus and two floors of it will be dedicated to the children’s hospital after it opens in 2016. The Island Federal Credit Union Arena, after a $21.1 million renovation, will host its first basketball game on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics. The annual summer Stony Brook Film Festival hosted by the Staller Center will now be called the “Stony Brook Film Festival Presented by Island Federal Credit Union,” in addition to IFCU’s title sponsorship of Stony Brook Arena, the newly renovated 4,000-seat facility that was inaugurated on Oct. 3. Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Thomas Chen said that although IFCU brings a sense of prestige to the venue, it won’t impact the recruiting ability of the SBU basketball program. “What matters is that the school is a good fit for them both athletically and academically,” Chen said, regarding prospective players. “I find it hard to believe that a student-athlete will choose a school based on what the name of the building is.” When it comes to the new name, students hold differing opinions. “I personally don’t really care that much to be honest,” Jenny Schwartzman, a junior business major, said. “I wasn’t super attached to the name.” Freshman physics major, Riley McHugh, said that the new name lacks originality. “I would rather have it been something more school-spirited probably than just some business sponsor.” The arena will host the game against Columbia on Friday, Nov. 14 at the season opener of the Stony Brook University men’s basketball team. IFCU representatives have been invited to the game. Chen said that the arena is planning to install a new sign and add floor decals of the building’s title on the basketball court. Posted in News \| Tagged ATM, bank, banking education program, Bret Sears, College of Business, deal, Hospital Pavillion, IFCU, Island Federal Credit Union, Island Federal Credit Union Arena, Long Island State Veterans Home, partnership, President Samuel L. Stanley, renaming, SBU, SBU basketball, sponsorship, Staller Center, Stony Brook Arena, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook Film Festival, Stony Brook Film Festival Presented by Island Federal Credit Union, Stony Brook University, title sponsorship Jimin Kim Five Overlooked Ways of Creating Winning Business Strategies→ Interim President Bernstein delivers his first State of the University address→ Faculty and Students Unite in Disability Rights Protest On Stony Brook Campus→ SBU proposes to increase fee for fiscal year 2019-20→ December 30, 2019 / guest November 18, 2019 / mckenzimurphy November 11, 2019 / guest October 28, 2019 / guest October 23, 2019 / jedinedaley On Kylie Minogue’s New Album, “Kiss Me Once” Was All She Said ‘Divergent’ Hits its Mark 7 Reasons To Watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier Bombay Bicycle Club Is Back With A Bang ‘Need for Speed’ Tries Hard, Misses Finish Line Want everything to just be sent right to you? Sign up for our newsletter. Don't forget to check your spam. Thanks! Like what you see? Or don't? Either way, let us know during our weekly general meetings on Wednesday nights at 6:30. We're located in 307L in the Student Activities Center media wing. Have a story idea you want to write, or want to take a pitch from our Facebook page? Email [email protected] with questions, concerns or qualms. ©2018 Stony Brook Independent	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8137
__label__wiki	0.810298	0.810298	Mohammad Shami left out of BCCI’s central contract list amid allegations of domestic abuse The board on Wednesday announced a pay raise for the Indian players. Mar 07, 2018 · 06:35 pm Updated Mar 07, 2018 · 07:24 pm India pacer Mohammad Shami on Wednesday was left out of the central contracts list by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on the day reports of domestic abuse levelled against him became public knowledge. Shami was reportedly accused of assault and having extramarital affairs by his wife Hasin Jahan. A BCCI source confirmed the development to The Field: “Shami would have been in Grade B but his name has been withheld due to the allegations.” “The BCCI has taken cognisance of all the reports emerging about Mohammed Shami’s personal life,” another official was confirmed as saying by PTI. “It is purely a personal matter and the BCCI has nothing to do with it. However, keeping in mind that the woman in question has met the police commissioner of Kolkata, it is only prudent on BCCI’s part to wait for any official inquiry to take place,” the offical added. “Hence Mohammed Shami’s name, for the time being, has been withheld from the central contracts that were announced. We would like to reiterate this decision has nothing to do with Shami’s merit as a player but a safeguard in the prevailing circumstances,” he added. I'm Mohammad Shami. Ye jitna bhi news hamara personal life ke bare may chal raha hai, ye sab sarasar jhut hai, ye koi bahut bada humare khilap sajish hai or ye mujhe Badnam karne or mera game kharab karne ka kosis ki ja rahi hai. — Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) March 7, 2018 In the newly announced list for the men and women cricketers, captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan were the first set of players to feature in a new category, Grade A+, and will earn an annual fee of Rs 7 crores. Pay hike was announced for the women as well. Earlier, Jahan took to Facebook to post screenshots of text messages allegedly sent by Shami by a number of women. This also included photographs of the women and their phone numbers. Jahan reportedly read the messages on a phone which was allegedly hidden in the 27-year-old cricketer’s car. Jahan alleged that Shami and his family members were “torturing” and had even “attempted to kill her”. Shami played a crucial part in India’s recent tour of South Africa, picking up five wickets in the final Test at Johannesburg to lead his side to a famous win. Mohammad Shami Return of Smith, Warner makes Australia favourites in Test series against India: Mathew Hayden	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8142
__label__wiki	0.613548	0.613548	SubTopic Government security Minerva Studio - Fotolia RNC leak of voter database exposes poor cloud security practices A massive voter database RNC leak underscores the poor cloud security practices in place in the U.S. government and many enterprises. Michael Heller, Senior Reporter There has been a rash of bad cybersecurity practices uncovered in the U.S. government over the past couple of years, but the most recent is an RNC leak of voter database information that experts said could have been avoided. A researcher from the UpGuard Cyber Risk team found a Republican National Committee (RNC) leak of voter database information that was left exposed and unsecured by Republican data firm Deep Root Analytics on an Amazon Web Services (AWS) server for anyone to uncover. UpGuard cyber-risk analyst Chris Vickery found 198 million voter database records unsecured on an AWS server connected to the RNC. And Vickery said it was "not very difficult" to find the data. "The specter of misconfigured cloud-based storage servers spilling data onto the open internet continues to be an all-too-common phenomenon, as evidenced by UpGuard's discovery of an RNC data firm's publicly accessible database exposing the personal details of 198 million potential voters," the UpGuard team told SearchSecurity. "While the scale may be unprecedented, the core issues driving the exposure are pervasive across the internet. There was a six-letter character subdomain between 198 million people and exposure. This database was publicly exposed for an unknown period of time, and if anyone entered that six-letter subdomain, they could have accessed it." Making matters worse, the voter database information in the RNC leak was "very detailed," according to UpGuard. It included data on potential voters for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012; potential voters for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016; as well as individuals who may vote regarding issues such as the environment or education in science, technology, engineering and math. The database also included information about people who vote on specific issues, such as the Affordable Care Act, fossil fuel usage, infrastructure investment, illegal immigration, or whether the voter felt positively or negatively toward the financial situation of the U.S. According to Adam Conway, vice president of product management at Bracket Computing, a cloud computing security company based in Mountain View, Calif., this RNC leak is likely "indicative of how easy it is to make mistakes configuring cloud storage resources -- mistakes that can put critical, sensitive assets at risk." The discovery comes less than a month after Vickery uncovered a similarly unsecured AWS file repository that appeared to be registered by Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), a government services company headquartered in McLean, Va. "[The] public cloud is self-service, and anyone with admin account access can change the privacy settings on a server like the ones in the [BAH] and Deep Root examples. Developers or contractors might set servers to public accidentally, to make it easier to configure applications accessing the data, or [they may set servers to public] maliciously," Conway told SearchSecurity. "All organizations -- government agencies and enterprises alike -- are vulnerable to this scenario because it's so hard to prevent in a self-service world." Itsik Mantin, director of security research at Imperva, based in Redwood Shores, Calif., said when dealing with the cloud, "controlling sensitive data in the modern era of data flooding is a challenge to most of the industries." "In order to test whether a bucket is public, the only thing you need to know is the bucket name," Mantin told SearchSecurity. "A malicious actor that is interested in a specific organization can try various guesses for names related to the target, and if the bucket is misconfigured, as [it] was in this case, the right guess will lead to data exposure." Michael Patterson, CEO of Plixer, a network traffic analysis company based in Kennebunk, Maine, told SearchSecurity that "any organization that harbors confidential information on systems that are connected to the internet [is] at risk." "Most governments are a target and should assume that they are already infected with malware, which intends to heist their data. Bad data protection practices are certainly part of the problem," Patterson said. "Having good monitoring systems in place that provide network traffic intelligence is another issue. When compromises occur -- and they will -- how will the organization investigate what happened?" Ben Johnson, CTO at Obsidian Security, a cybersecurity startup based in Newport Beach, Calif., said, "Unprotected databases are either found through active engagement -- essentially hunting and poking around -- or through automated means." "On the automated front, sometimes, it is as easy as figuring out the proper Google query to find exposed data. Whereas other times, attackers write automated systems to scour the internet -- or the cloud providers -- for certain accessible elements, which then lead to the treasure trove of data," Johnson told SearchSecurity. "Once these exposures are made public, more actors jump into the mix to try to exploit and monetize the data." Likely widespread RNC leak issues Given the poor security efforts demonstrated in this RNC leak of voter database information, experts said it was likely there was a more widespread issue. "If you see one problem, you likely have a widespread problem. Even government agencies that have very strong data protection practices are likely to be working with third-party contractors that do not. BAH and Deep Root are most definitely not the only agencies [or] contractors that have left data unprotected in the public cloud," Rich Campagna, senior vice president of products and marketing at Bitglass Inc., a cloud and mobile security company headquartered in Campbell, Calif., told SearchSecurity. "To find these unsecured data stores, you need to look for them. But anyone that knows how to execute a simple scan can access this data directly, without cracking passwords, encryption, etc." "The theft of personally identifiable information [PII] is rampant. Every time a third party irresponsibly posts data or they are breached, people's lives are impacted. Bad actors are able to correlate stolen data from multiple sources to piece together the information they need to make monetary gains. Any data that is connected to the internet is vulnerable," Patterson said. "It is the responsibility of any organization gathering and storing PII to take best-practice approaches to monitoring the integrity of that data and providing timely notification if that data is compromised." Ken Spinner, vice president of field engineering at Varonis, a security software company based in New York, said in the case of the RNC voter data, "it appears that the exposed sensitive information goes beyond personal data -- names, addresses, phone numbers -- and includes analysis on potentially controversial topics and political issues; all of it [is] sitting on a publicly accessible Amazon server." "Exposing this type of data, and this much of it, is a huge red flag. Not only can critical data and research be compromised, but personal data can be leveraged to breach more secure systems," Spinner told SearchSecurity. "Organizations -- including contractors -- need to make sure their data has basic controls in place. Data can't be open to everyone, users shouldn't be able to access what they're not supposed to, and all access should be monitored and recorded. You can't catch what you can't see, and too many organizations are flying blind." RNC leak in regard to cloud security According to John Bambenek, threat intelligence manager at Fidelis Cybersecurity, based in Bethesda, Md., "If the data is sensitive to disclosure, real thought needs to be given on whether to put this sensitive data into cloud services in the first place." "If an organization opts to do that, then they need to ensure effective security controls are in place to control access. That means, at a minimum, access keys -- or username [and] password -- but likely encryption should be examined, too," Bambenek told SearchSecurity. "Access keys can be stolen, and once they are, very rarely are those keys changed." Tim Prendergast, CEO of Evident.io, a cloud security company based in Pleasanton, Calif., said the RNC leak might be due to the RNC team having "the right intentions, but 'intent to secure' isn't enough." "Government organizations and those working with the government have the highest responsibility to enforce continuous security and compliance monitoring, as they have an obligation to protect their citizens' data," Prendergast told SearchSecurity. "Hackers are always looking for the path of least resistance, so when there's an easy way to access data, once discovered, it will be exploited immediately. It's also important to note that when data is this available, it's vulnerable even to nonmalicious intent. An unauthorized, but well-meaning, actor could inadvertently delete, change or even duplicate files and share outside of the intended group of users." Avoiding cloud data leaks Imperva's Mantin said, "Enterprises should take control of their business-critical data, regardless of whether it is stored within the organization perimeter in endpoints, databases and file shares, or via cloud services." "This includes monitoring and auditing data access and using analytics tools to identify attacks and anomalous behavior," Mantin said. "For example, retrieving a large amount of sensitive data that raises an alert to a security officer can lead not only to examining whether it was done for legitimate reasons, but also reviewing the practices taken by the user to keep this data safe." Mike Shultz, CEO of Cybernance Corp., a cybersecurity company based in Bee Cave, Texas, said the first step in preventing an exposure like that of the RNC leak is to "understand your organization's current cybersecurity posture." "Requiring the same level of cybersecurity maturity of your third-party partners as you do of yourself is vital for protecting the information your organization works so hard to secure," Shultz told SearchSecurity. "Regular employee training programs for all departments, including full- and part-time staff, must be upheld, as 80% of breaches are due to failures of people on the inside, not failures of technology. Accountability is the last piece of this puzzle, which should fall on leadership's shoulders. If executives do not implement and mandate enterprise-wide awareness and training, liability falls to them in the event of an inevitable breach." Prendergast said creating a "culture of security within an enterprise is a first step." "Things like multifactor authentication and demanding complex passwords are a good start," Prendergast said. "Beyond that, IT and DevOps teams should be constantly monitoring and auditing the different parts of their internal operations to determine where vulnerabilities tend to happen, and employ strict and fast remediation policies to fix issues and ensure they don't happen in the future." Scott Petry, CEO of Authentic8, a Mountain View, Calif., cloud browser company, said, "Organizations need to treat all data as sensitive and protect it." "A loss of data can present existential risk to an organization, and their information security perspective needs to change," Petry told SearchSecurity. "When firms outsource work to contractors, they need to be as vigilant, if not more so, than with the work product of an employee. A number of high-profile breaches over the last year point back to contractors or consultants." Learn to control AWS traffic with routing policies Find out about AWS best security practices Get info on the AWS Web Application Firewall Dig Deeper on Government information security management Another Amazon S3 leak exposes Attunity data, credentials Third-party Facebook apps expose 540 million users’ details By: Warwick Ashford AWS moves to curb S3 data leaks, but Chris Vickery is doubtful Research claims 'widespread' Google Groups misconfiguration troubles Michael Heller asks: What should state and local governments do to protect voter databases from misuse? How Education and Public Sector Organizations Can Capitalize on Data to ... –DellEMC The Strategic Movement from an App-Focused User Experience to a Holistic One –Citrix Rethinking the Data Centre with Intel Optane Technology –Intel Risk & Repeat: RNC voter database left open to the ... – SearchSecurity Republican contractor exposes personal data of nearly... – ComputerWeekly.com NSA data leak exposed Army INSCOM project information – SearchSecurity Michael Heller - 21 Jun 2017 12:24 PM CyberSydneyCat - 21 Jun 2017 4:58 PM Your article is excellent, and does a great job poking holes in the mythical magic of "the cloud," and reminds people that security is extremely important and how hard it is to do well. However, your opening is a bit misleading, i.e. the RNC is not "government," but a private corporation. Also, the data wasn't exposed by the "government," but by another private corporation, working for the first private corporation, which was collecting data from public records, and their own private corporate collection agencies, and storing it all on a private corporate hosting service. Which, in my mind, raises a couple of concerns: 1) is the hosting service providing enough security (and are they even responsible to?); 2) do data handling professionals have enough grasp of how hard it is to secure data, and how do we make them take it more seriously?; 3) as individuals, how do we better protect our data from collection and aggregation firms that can exploit that data? Most websites have a privacy policy that says "we don't collection personal information," but clearly the RNC (a private corporation) spent millions of dollars and thousands of man-hours collecting and compiling enormous of amounts of personal information about 198 MILLION individuals. As much as the hole in the data security, the collection of the information (by non-government agencies) in the first place freaks me out. gkITArchitect - 26 Jun 2017 1:08 PM Store them in Private Cloud, better still store them in Mainframes	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8150
__label__wiki	0.515258	0.515258	Literary Event of the Week: Seattle Writers + Seattle Artists Published by Paul Constant Earlier this fall, Cascadia Magazine founder Andrew Engelson announced that the magazine was "significantly scaling back" its publication schedule. Engelson continues to publish a weekly newsletter and some great work like Kristen Millares Young's essay on writing for the Seattle PI before the print publication shut down. And Cascadia continues to promote local writers by publishing poetry and, occasionally, putting on interesting events. Tomorrow night, Cascadia will take over Vermillion bar and gallery for a free show that juxtaposes four local authors with four local visual artists. Here's how Cascadia described the event: You’ll hear readings of new work by former Seattle civic poet Anastacia Renée; prose writer Kristen Millares Young; fiction writer Ruth Joffre; and poet Shankar Narayan—each reading original pieces published online at Cascadia Magazine. Each reading will be accompanied by a collection of images from four Seattle-based visual artists: painter and installation artist Carol Rashawnna Williams; artist, illustrator, and filmmaker Sarah Samudre Salcedo; artist, poet, and illustrator Clare Johnson; and Monyee Chau, an artist who works in a variety of mediums. It's a fun idea, and it's the kind of thing that Cascadia does well: it combines disciplines and ideas together in a great big party that celebrates this place we call home. This event will feature time for audience questions, and it should also serve as a celebration of what Engelson accomplished in setting up Cascadia and an opportunity to toast the beginning of a new future for the magazine. Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar, 1508 11th Ave., 709-9797, http://vermillionseattle.com, 6 pm, free.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8152
__label__wiki	0.964116	0.964116	Mitchell & Kenyon: Edwardian Sports Mitchell & Kenyon: Edwardian Sports Featuring some of the earliest surviving film of professional football, cricket and rugby as well as exploring amateur sport and leisure in Edwardian life The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon: Edwardian Britain on Film (Book) Electric Edwardians: The Films of Mitchell and Kenyon (Book) Mitchell & Kenyon in Ireland The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon Electric Edwardians: The Films of Mitchell and Kenyon Over a century ago, filmmakers Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon roamed Britain and Ireland filming the everyday lives of people at work and play. For around 70 years, 800 rolls of this early nitrate film sat in sealed barrels in the basement of a shop in Blackburn. Miraculously discovered and painstakingly restored by the BFI, this now ranks as the most exciting film discovery of recent times. Following on from the hugely successful BBC TV series, The Lost World of Mitchell & Kenyon and the BFI's first DVD volume Electric Edwardians are two DVDs containing a new unreleased selection of films – Mitchell & Kenyon in Ireland and Mitchell & Kenyon: Edwardian Sports. Mitchell & Kenyon: Edwardian Sports offers an unparalleled opportunity to see and learn about sporting action at the turn of the century. A remarkable selection of sporting highlights from the Mitchell & Kenyon collection, it brings together some of the earliest surviving films (1901-7), featuring the titans of professional football, cricket and rugby whilst also rediscovering the Corinthian spirit of amateur sport and leisure in Edwardian life. Liverpool, Hull, Kingston Rovers, Everton, and Blackburn Rovers are all featured, alongside a swimming gala in North Shields, the AAA championships of 1901 and the Mold cricket controversy – an early 'chucking' storm with an Australian umpire at its centre. The DVD is programmed by Dr Vanessa Toulmin of the National Fairground Archive at the University of Sheffield Library, author of the BFI book Electric Edwardians: The Films of Mitchell & Kenyon and editor of The Lost World of Mitchell & Kenyon: Edwardian Britain on Film. Commentary by Dr Vanessa Toulmin, read by broadcaster Adrian Chiles Improvised musical accompaniment by Stephen Horne and Martin Pyne including the use of popular tunes The DVD contains an 18-page illustrated booklet with an introduction and film notes by Dr Vanessa Toulmin. BFIVD738 Sagar Mitchell & James Kenyon Silent with music English Hard of Hearing Roll Out the Barrel: The British Pub on Film (2-DVD set) On Yer Bike	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8162
__label__wiki	0.533851	0.533851	contact@shopsierrabelle.com $7 Flat Rate U.S. Shipping New boutique for Midtown - Sierra Belle Boutique New Boutique in Midtown Posted on Dec 7 , 2015 By NNBW \| view original post Sierra Belle, a women's fashion boutique, is now open in the Sticks development in Midtown. Store owner, Katherine Bock, moved from Southern California to Reno four years ago with her husband. She noticed a lack of unique, fashionable and affordable clothes for women in the area and found herself waiting to go back to California to buy the items she wanted. This inspired her to open her own boutique in the Biggest Little City. "I wanted to open a boutique in Reno because being from Southern California, I was having a hard time shopping for unique and fashionable, yet affordable clothes," said Bock. "I would always have to travel back and fourth and have to wait to shop at my favorite boutiques in California." Bock noticed the empty retail space, located at 726 South Virginia Street, while eating at Two Chicks restaurant in the same development center. She learned from Troy Schneider and Bernie Carter, two of the developers for The Sticks Project, that the space was available and signed the lease for the 13,000 square foot store on Aug. 31. Sierra Belle held their grand opening on Black Friday and has received a positive response to the business. "Everyone is really digging it so far," Bock said. "A lot of time went into the design of the store and the displays are pretty unique. It is not your typical store in Midtown." Currently, Bock and one employee run the store with help from Bock's husband. They anticipate that they will hire more employees in the future. "We will be looking to expand (staff) as the time goes on," Bock said. Sierra Bell sells a unique selection of shoes, candles, jewelry and clothing from brands such as OTBT (Off the Beaten Track), Pol, En Crème and more. According to Bock, the average price range for tops are $40, and sweaters range from $60 to $90. Bock buys a limited amount of items so that customers will continually be able to find new and unique items in her store. She buys her merchandise from venders and showrooms in Southern California where she handpicks the items for her store. "I don't want to sell something that is not high quality," Bock said. One of Sierra Belle's most popular items are the sweet tobacco soy candles made in Long Beach. Bock has previous retail experience working for a shoe store in southern California for four years. There, she learned about running a small business and was a buyer for the store. She also has a good friend who owns a similar boutique who has given her a lot of insight. Sierra Belle joins several other new retailers which have recently opened in the Sticks development including Hello Yoga Apparel and Dragonfly Bath and Body along with a new medical spa which is scheduled to open soon. The boutique is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Belles Trendy Boutique Keep up with the belles on the latest sales and events! THE BELLES CARE - Supporting Local! Sierra Belle Featured in Reno Tahoe Tonight for Excellent Service 726 South Virginia Street Reno Nevada © 2020, Sierra Belle Boutique Theme by Safe As Milk. Powered by Shopify Hey #bellebabe Enter your email and get 15% off your first order!	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8170
__label__cc	0.737813	0.262187	Trade Deadline Reflections Well, now that we’ve all calmed down after the rush that is NHL trade deadline day, it’s a good time to sit back and reflect on what happened yesterday. – Ales Kotalik was shipped to Edmonton for a 2nd round draft pick. While the team will miss Kotalik’s mad blasts from the point and wicked backhands during the skills competitions, he probably wasn’t going to be re-signed at the end of the year and so better to send him somewhere and get something for him. – Tellqvist was acquired by the Sabres in exchange for another draft pick. Everyone needs to take a step back and realize this isn’t a sign that Ryan Miller’s injury is more severe than first thought. It just means the team needed to bring in some goalie depth, a proven veteran to spell Lalime on occasion. (And according to Miller himself, he’s still keeping active while on the DL. I do appreciate that he calls himself a wimp when it comes to tattoos. I’ll make no bones about joining him in that boat. The needles thing is what does me in.) Let’s give Tellqvist a chance before we automatically throw him and the team off the SS Playoff Chance. – Dominic Moore was acquired from Toronto for a 2nd round draft pick. From what I know of Moore, his style seems like it would fit in with the Sabres, a mix of mucking and grinding and solid dependable play. While he may only be a rental player, let’s give him a chance before we write him off as gone at the end of the season. – And in probably the most shocking news of the day, the Sabres signed Tim Connolly to a 2-year, $9 million contract extension. It wasn’t the fact that he was re-signed that was the most shocking, it was the dollar amount and length of the deal that caused many an eyebrow to be raised. Most people – yours truly included – thought that Timmy would be signed to a one year deal at a pretty significant discount. The fact that he was given a raise despite playing less than half of the games in his current contract. Darcy has to know something we don’t or Timmy has to have pictures of LQ at the company Christmas party with a lampshade on his head, that’s the only reason for such a wacky deal. Right? I wish Timmy nothing but the best, and pray that he remains healthy for the next two-and-a-half years. – It will be interesting to see whether Calgary implodes with the addition of Olli Jokinen to its roster. General perception around teh internets is that Jokinen is a locker room cancer. It seems that Calgary is also slightly distressed that Lombardi was sent packing in this deal as well. If the room is already tempestous, how will adding such a volitile player affect the chemistry of the team? – Just what Philly needs: two more rock-em, sock-em robots in McLaren and Carcillo. And it looks like that Marty to Buffalo rumor didn’t quite come true. Guess we’ll all have to look elsewhere for quotable material. – I hope that the news that Kotalik is playing with Hemsky and Horcoff results in an uptick in production for all three. I would be quite distressed if Hemsky’s production suffered, as he is one of the leading producers for The Little Honkers. Yes, it is all about me, why do you ask? – And in other news, sounds like Vanek is in the market for a new road roomie, as Kotalik was his roomie for the past three years. I wonder if Lindy will slot one of the new guys in, or break up an existing combination? And in other roomie news, while at Barnes & Noble last night, I was reading The Hockey News and Andrew Peters mentioned that Kaleta is his road roomie. Peters likes Kaleta since Kaleta lets him control the remote. Heh. Would you want to go up against Peters over the remote control? I don’t think so. – Last night’s game against the Habs was beautiful to watch. Gaustad set the tone early with his crushing hit. The team responded and took shots, and charged the net. Gaustad’s excellent tip of Rivet’s shot and his breakaway goal definitely put him as the second star of the game in my book. First star was Lalime for obvious reasons. Sure, he pulled a Miller and let in a goal with less than a minute remaining in the game to give up the shutout, but he was solid as solid could be for the entire game. – I liked that the broadcast pointed out Rivet’s absolute happiness with Danny Paille during one of the goal celebrations. Joy like that for a teammate is something nice to see every now and then. – Sometimes I think that Harry Neale exists solely in the broadcast to announce inane trivia like “on the second Tuesday of each month during the full moon, Patrick Lalime has let in two goals against the Montreal Canadians when playing at HSBC Arena.” Alright, so that’s slightly exaggerated, but you get my point. Harry tries to be a font of knowledge, but sometimes it’s not inserted at the right moment of the broadcast. Posted in Ales Kotalik, Paul Gaustad, Thomas Vanek, Tim Connolly, Trade Time! \| Leave a Comment » You are currently browsing the Shots off the Crossbar blog archives for the day Thursday, March 5th, 2009.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8171
__label__cc	0.658059	0.341941	Archives for posts with tag: satire Mantra, poem by Wm. Todd King (Celebrity Free Verse Poetry Series) September 4, 2014 // by Wm. Todd King is never going to be stick-skinny under pressure perfect curvy cellulite. SOURCE: Kim Kardashian at brainyquote.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Wm. Todd King is a poet and Regulatory Compliance Supervisor living in Kentucky. He is the recent finalist in the Found Poetry Review’s Dog Ear Poetry Contest, and a participant in 2013’s Pulitzer Remix project. His works have appeared in STILL, the Silver Birch Press NOIR Erasure Poetry Anthology, Life’s Vivid Creations, and Found Poetry Review. Tags Authors, celebrities, erasure poetry, found poetry, Hollywood, Humor, Kim Kardashian, Poem, poetry, poets, Reality TV, satire, Writers, Writing Categories Celebrity Free Verse A Poem by Andy Rooney by Richard Garcia A POEM BY ANDY ROONEY by Richard Garcia How about these paperclips? Consider the humble paperclip. Paperclips do not like to remain in their containers. Paperclips can be found at the bottom of the sea. The first paperclip was made of mastodon ivory. Some paperclips are covered in plastic. Some paperclips are plastic. Metal paperclips are desirable. You can twist them while on the phone. You can use one to pick your teeth. It is not recommended to use a paperclip to pick your teeth. A paperclip can unlock a handcuff. A paperclip cannot unlock a plastic handcuff. Last time I mentioned paperclips I received boxes of paperclips in the mail. Here are some candy paperclips. You can use them to attach important papers together. You can eat candy paperclips. Paperclips are like some marriages. They clip things together temporarily. Please don’t send me any more paperclips. You can use paperclips to brush your eyebrows. It is a little known fact, but every computer has a secret tiny hole somewhere on its body into which you can insert a straightened paperclip. Usually, a frozen computer will start up again when you insert the unfolded paperclip into its tiny, secret hole. Your IT guy at the office would rather you did not know about the tiny, secret paperclip hole in your computer. Paperclips have been sprinkled into space by scientists. Paperclips ring the planet. Some planets have rings of ice, boulders, bits of exploded comet, purple and yellow meteor dust. Our planet has a ring of millions of paperclips. Recently it had been noticed that the paperclips are joining together, each clip attaching to each clip forming a paperclip chain in the ionosphere. Maybe Mankind could learn something from all the paperclips that have fallen into remote corners of our offices. Here are some biodegradable paperclips made of recycled paper. Here are some paperclips made of compressed diamond dust. Here is a paperclip I have carried in my pocket since 1944. It saved my life at Omaha beach by deflecting a sniper’s bullet. As you can see by its girth, they don’t make paperclips like they used to. SOURCE: Rattle Issue #33, available at Amazon.com. Visit the publisher at rattle.com. Tags Authors, comedy, funny, Humor, office supplies, Poem, Poet, poetry, Reading, satire, television, Writers, Writing Categories Humor, Poetry Dickens Gets the Hemingway Treatment December 4, 2013 // A CHRISTMAS CAROL RETOLD IN THE MANNER OF ERNEST HEMINGWAY By New Street Communications 1: Marley’s Ghost Marley was dead to begin with. Ten years dead. He had carried every weight the world could lay upon a man, but in the end he died all the same – in fact, made his own exit in his own time – and did so without complaint. He wanted more. There was none. And so he departed. He was cold in the ground, his eyes closed to all things, his feet pointed east. Scrooge no more thought of his old friend, however, than he did of his second divorce or of the time (on a Christmas Eve, just like this) at Havana’s Floridita when he’d matched drinks one-for-one with a man who was a coward. Each downed glass after glass of rum; neither got drunk. The coward, who claimed to be a good Catholic, was long gone. Over the course of six decades, one left much behind and could count many graves. But, if one was honest and unflinching, he understood that there was no tragedy in this. The snows of Idaho were as beautiful as they were silent. Light from the full moon fell across the Big Wood River. Sprays of pine rose with great dignity amid the white of the valley and the white of the distant Boulder Mountains. Cottonwoods stood naked. Trail Creek, Warm Springs Creek, Silver Creek and even the river itself lay frozen on their surfaces… BOOK DESCRIPTION (FROM AMAZON): Ketchum, Idaho – Christmas, 1959: Blizzard-bound, Ernest Hemingway occupies himself with wine and prose, recreating his own rendition of Charles Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol. The story he spins carries echoes of himself. Afflicted by depression and concern over what he feels are his failing artistic powers, he reaches back to a timeless story of renewal, and to memory, to kindle a sense of joy and redemption. (Note: The book is 48 pages in length.) Tags A Christmas Carol, Authors, Charles Dickens, Christmas stories, Ernest Hemingway, famous authors, holiday stories, Humor, parody, satire, Writers, Writing Categories Ernest Hemingway, Holidays, Humor ‘Twas the Day After Thanksgiving, poem by Greg Caggiano ‘TWAS THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING by Greg Caggiano ‘Twas the day after Thanksgiving, it has come at last The memories of yesterday’s feast, they are all in the past Getting up at midnight to do your shopping The blood vessels in your eyes are sure to be popping The turkey you ate, it has not even been digested And you know hundreds of morons will soon be arrested Rush your family out of the house, you need to get your rest Will you become immersed in Black Friday madness, the ultimate test? Who really cares about Thanksgiving, it’s just an ordinary day The pilgrims who we celebrate, they were murderers anyway So come on, get your wallet, and fill it with cash 5 a.m shopping at Wal-Mart is going to be a bash! When you cannot buy your favorite items, you are filled with sorrow You’re too dumb to realize, they’ll be there tomorrow You lash out at the cashier, you attack your loved ones A barbarian you look like, even to Attila and his Huns Running through the store you go, a maniac with a cart Like a killer you pounce, with a black hole for a heart In the sporting goods section, someone was strangled with a fishing net Hey, it beats getting run over by a shopping cart in Target Every store offers such great discounts In hospitals and trauma centers, the number of wounded amounts People just don’t understand, this is the American way Destroy all that you want, just make sure that you pay The stores open so early, they call it “Moonlight Madness” The crazed psycho shoppers fill me with sadness Trampled to death someone will be As they always are, by a 400-pound woman who has a bum knee When you get to the checkout line, you realize the store told a lie Remember when you came through the turnstiles wondering if you were going to die? But you don’t care, you got what you came for Just make sure to get dad’s gift at the discount liquor store The Macy’s Parade, you had watched it the day before When all you wanted to do was shop, my, what a bore! You come home late at night, and watch the news reports of all the shoppers that died But you got your child the latest toy, and are more than satisfied Pretty soon, it will be the Christmas season We have to call it the “Holidays”, for a non-offensive reason A month later, the stockings will be hung by the chimney with care As I hope the apocalypse soon will be there Note: Reblogged from gcaggiano.wordpress.com Tags Authors, Christmas, Christmas shopping, holiday shopping, Humor, parody, Poems, poetry, poets, satire, shopping, thanksgiving, Writers, Writing Categories Holidays, Humor, Poetry Author Rachel Carey Talks About Her Novel, DEBT Author Rachel Carey Talks About Her Debut Novel, Debt The original inspiration for Debt was my rediscovery, as an adult, of the works of Charles Dickens. I’d always liked Dickens, but I really fell in love with his writing when I was old enough and cynical enough to appreciate how smart he was about human weakness. But as I was reading Bleak House and Little Dorrit, I was also tracking the news about the financial meltdown of 2008, and I began to wonder what Dickens would have made of a figure like Bernie Madoff. What would he have had to say about students who owed a hundred thousand dollars in student loan debt, or bankers who received a government bailout and immediately paid themselves million dollar bonuses with taxpayer money? I think Dickens would have understood those people very well, because people like that appear in all his novels: people who take out debt because they convince themselves it’s necessary, poor people who struggle against a system they don’t understand, rich people who justify any amount of self-indulgence by claiming that they are “important.” But if there was a modern American writer tackling our debt-ridden society with Dickensian scope, I wasn’t sure who it was. So I decided to take on a challenge: writing the book I thought Dickens would have written, if he’d been alive to witness our current social ills. Of course, the book didn’t turn out at all like a Dickens novel, because my own voice and perspective quickly took over the project. But many elements of Debt are stolen straight from Dickens: the picaresque characters from all walks of society, the dense plot filled with fantastic coincidences and illegitimate children, even a little lame boy who says, essentially, “God bless us, every one.” I also created a protagonist — an orphan, of course — who shared some superficial elements with my own life, not out of narcissism but because Dickens frequently did so. One of my favorite qualities in Dickens is the democratic quality of his plots, the way he weaves together the lives of the rich and poor, so I tried to keep that essential truth in my plotting of Debt: social classes are more interconnected than they appear, and sometimes the pauper has the power to bring down the king. This book was my tribute to my favorite social satirist. I hope it brings some of the pleasure to my readers that his work has brought to me. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rachel Carey is a writer and filmmaker. She received an MFA in Film Directing from NYU, a M.Ed. from Harvard, and a BA in English from Yale. She currently teaches college film classes — and lives with her husband and daughter in New Jersey. Rachel is still paying back her student loans — and has dedicated her novel to the Sallie Mae Corporation. ANNOUNCEMENT: For her outstanding and original writing, Silver Birch Press is nominating Rachel Carey for a 2013 Pushcart Prize. NOTE: A FREE Kindle version of the Silver Birch Press release Debt, a novel by Rachel Carey is available through Monday, Nov. 18, 2013. You can download the Kindle version— which retails for $6.99 – for free at Amazon.com. PHOTOS: Author photo and cover photo by Jeff McCrum. Tags Authors, Books, Charles Dickens, Debt, finance, free ebooks, free Kindle books, free offers, Jeff McCrum, money, Novelists, Novels, photographers, photography, Rachel Carey, Reading, satire, Women Authors, women writers, Writers, Writing Categories Book Giveaway, Book Recommendations, Books, ebooks, novels, Rachel Carey, Reading Free on Tuesday, 8/6: Kindle Version Debt, a novel by Rachel Carey The Silver Birch Press release DEBT, a novel by Rachel Carey is available for free at Amazon.com on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. You can download the Kindle — which retails for $6.99 – at Amazon.com. Set in New York City, Debt – a satirical look at the 2008 financial meltdown — follows a range of characters who owe something to someone in a variety of ways. From main character Lillian Fitzgerald — a recent grad with an Master’s in Creative Writing in one hand and $100,000 bill for her student loans in the other — to Henry Bolt, the mysterious force who owns the bank that financed Lillian’s student loans, and an assortment of other people up and down the debt chain (bill collectors, stock market mavens, the wealthy, the foreclosed, the bankrupt, the desperate, the spoiled, the gamblers, the winners, and the losers), Debt covers a wide universe without leaving the five boroughs. Find Kindle read apps — for free — at Amazon.com. Tags Authors, Debt, ebooks, finance, free, free Kindle, free offers, freebies, Novels, satire, student loans, Women Authors, Writers, Writing Categories ebooks, Rachel Carey, Women Authors Rocket Man, novel by William Hazelgrove For many years, novelist William Hazelgrove has had the privilege of writing in the attic of Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace at 339 N. Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park, Illinois, where he was writer in residence. The result — Rocket Man, a novel released by Koehler Books in May 2013. Considering Rocket Man‘s impressive reviews, Hazelton has done Hemingway proud. “Rocket Man is a charming tale of fatherhood, family, and the American Dream.” Midwest Book Review “The funniest serious novel since Richard Russo’s Straight Man, rich with the epic levity of John Irving and salted with the perversion of Updike.” Chicago Sun Times NOTE ABOUT THE BOOK FROM WILLIAM HAZELTON: Rocket Man was written after I moved to the suburbs from the city. I looked around and found myself and others unable to keep up with what had become the American Dream…the big car, house, basically the overheated middle class life that had become the American nightmare. When I became the Rocket Man for my son’s scout troop I knew I had a motif to write this novel about a man isolated in a world rapidly spinning out of control. Rocket Man is a story of our time. A man about to lose his home, trying desperately to hang on to what really matters in life. In this way, Rocket Man is really about us. Find the book at Amazon.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: William Elliott Hazelgrove is the best-selling author of Ripples, Tobacco Sticks and Mica Highways. His novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, selected for Book of the Month Club, received ALA Editors Choice Awards, and have been optioned for the movies. He was the Ernest Hemingway Writer in Residence, where he wrote in the attic of Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace. His latest novel Rocket Man was chosen Book of the Year by booksandauthors.net. He has been the subject of interviews in NPR’s All Things Considered and features in the New York Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Richmond Times Dispatch, USA Today, and People. Learn more at williamhazelgrove.com. Tags American Dream, Authors, Books, comic novels, Ernest Hemingway, family stories, famous authors, famous writers, fathers and sons, Fiction, Novelists, Novels, Reading, satire, William Hazelgrove, Writers, Writing Categories Books, Chicago, novels Chicken Poetry, cartoon by Doug Savage by A Chicken Road. is within. other side. CREDIT: “Chicken Poetry Reading” cartoon by Doug Savage, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Tags animals, Authors, birds, cartoons, chickens, fun, funny, Humor, Poems, poetry, poets, satire, Writers Categories Animals, Art, cartoons, Humor, Poetry Cow Poetry, Far Side Cartoon by Gary Larson DISTANT HILLS by A Far Side Cow The distant hills call to me. Their rolling waves seduce my heart. Oh, how I want to graze in their lush valleys. Oh, how I want to run down their green slopes. Alas, I cannot. Damn the electric fence! CREDIT: Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Tags animals, Art, cartoons, cows, fun, Gary Larson, Humor, Poems, poetry, poets, satire, The Far Side, Writers, Writing Pynchon at Craigville Beach, story by Rodger Jacobs PYNCHON AT CRAIGVILLE BEACH by Rodger Jacobs Thomas Pynchon had been engaged in a hard-fought wrestling match with a character in the new book he was writing; it was the central character, in fact, and the sonofabitch kept eluding Pynchon’s descriptive skills. Pynchon’s wife offered a solution over breakfast one morning. She had made his favorite: pancakes shaped like rocket ships. “I think the character sounds a lot like you,” she said. “Just meditate on yourself in some abstract manner. Think about how you would describe yourself as a character.” After breakfast Pynchon felt a depression coming on. He decided to take a leisurely summer drive. That usually scared the darkening shadows away. Before long Pynchon found himself on Route 6, headed into Cape Cod. He drove to Craigville Beach and parked the car in a public lot adjacent to the sand and surf. At Four Seas Ice Cream he pondered his wife’s advice over a scoop of vanilla. A stroll to the beach was in order after his tasty frozen treat. At the border where the asphalt met the wet sand, Pynchon removed his shoes and socks, placed them in one hand, and stepped into the cold, wet sand. He felt the sand squish between his toes. He stood staring into the deep waters, trying to conjure up his qualities, both good and bad. He started with his physical qualities and didn’t get very far. He was, he calculated, physically average for a man his age. Lifestyle? Nothing too lavish. Intellectual prowess? Well, that depends on what the critics and the academics are saying lately. But aside from his success as a novelist, everything else in his life came out to just about average. Normal. Healthy. Respectable. He was talented, yes, he knew that, but once he extracted that from the equation… “Damn,” he said with a sigh. “I’m nondescript.” ABOUT THE STORY: “Pynchon at Craigville Beach” by Rodger Jacobs is from a section entitled “Writers at the Shore,” part of a volume of Jacobs’ collected short pieces called Invisible Ink — hailed as “the most exemplary L.A. book of 2012” by CityWatch L.A. The story will appear in the Silver Birch Press SUMMER ANTHOLOGY, available by June 21, 2013. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rodger Jacobs has won multiple awards and grants for his work as a journalist, documentary writer and producer, screenwriter, playwright, magazine editor, true crime writer, book critic and columnist for PopMatters, and live event producer. In 2010, he provided the preface and original inspiration for Jack London: San Francisco Stories (Sydney Samizdat Press). He is the author of the novel The Furthest Palm, published by Silver Birch Press in 2012. Photo: “Craigville Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts” by xpucmok, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Tags Authors, beach, Books, famous authors, famous writers, Humor, Novelists, satire, summer, Thomas Pynchon, Writers, Writing Categories Humor, Rodger Jacobs, Seasonal, Summer Anthology	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8174
__label__wiki	0.524958	0.524958	Search State of the Territory News Understanding tech, culture, & politics in the U.S. Virgin Islands Headlines » Op-ed: Changing…The…Course? Understanding Governor Bryan’s Support for WAPA Op-ed: Changing…The…Course? Understanding Governor Bryan’s Support for WAPA By Makiel Cepeda on November 21, 2019 In a two-page memo filed to the V.I. (PSC) discussing the upcoming base rate case, first-term Governor Albert Bryan Jr. showed unwavering support for a proposed Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority (WAPA) base rate increase. Bryan also asked for the independent commission’s “firm support of the Government of the Virgin Islands for granting base rate relief be included in the findings of facts and conclusions of the hearing examiner.” Governor Bryan’s memorandum reads, “While we have a strong desire to suppress any escalation of the electric rates for obvious political and economic reasons, we also understand that starving VIWAPA of the cash resources it requires to conduct basic operations is not a prudent solution. The utility needs to be authorized to charge a base rate that reflects its current operating expenses and create sufficient liquidity to retain the confidence of the financial markets.” @govbryan announced Wednesday, along with the Department of Finance and the Office of Management and Budget thay all outstanding prior years and current year bills owed to WAPA by central government agencies, have been fully paid as of July 30, 2019. https://t.co/bH0f2NjftL — Government House USVI (@govhouseusvi) August 14, 2019 He also wrote about government and the economy, “As a government, we don’t have the luxury of second-guessing or ignoring the decisions made by our predecessors. Government is a continuum and we must live with the decisions made by prior leaders and own up to those obligations. How we learn from the decisions of the past and move towards future progress for our community is what matters most.” This quote above seems to contradict the previous platform of the then gubernatorial candidate. During the 2018 election then-candidate, Albert Bryan Jr. became popular for his invitation for Virgin Islanders to “Change the Course” by voicing their concerns at the polls. This was a direct challenge to then-Governor Kenneth Mapp. Contrary to what Governor Bryan states in his memo, accepting “the minimal” raise in electricity is not the only proposed route to take. Congresswoman Plaskett, for example, proposes that the Virgin Islands declare a state of emergency due to the current state of the territory’s complex electrical grids, water distribution systems and the reoccurring multi-island blackouts at the hands of WAPA. This could lead to more emergency funding for the restructuring and hardening of this territory’s critical infrastructure. Plaskett’s proposed state of emergency coincides directly with the current state of the territory. With power outages throughout the territory in what seems to occur multiple times a week, all while some Virgin Islands citizens report that they received water and power bills in an excess of $3,000. On Wednesday, Senator Sarauw said it was improper for Governor Bryan to file a memorandum with the Public Service Commission. Sarauw cited political influence in an independent process meant to protect ratepayers and consumers in a number of local markets. “The Governor was simply placing his position on record with the PSC, as they sought input from the public,” Government House said in a statement. “The people of the Virgin Islands have a right to be livid regarding the posture the executive branch has taken on WAPA,” Sarauw said. “WAPA simply cannot ask for increases when they have made no changes internally to show they are willing to do things differently. There are still exorbitant rents, exorbitant credit card usage, bills are still being estimated and customers continue to overpay based on these wrong estimates.” The problem is that the public only learned about the existence of the memo this week. As public conversation about the rate hike continued, the memo surfaced nearly a month later. It also goes to show the lengths the government is willing to go to ensure that WAPA receives the cash it says it needs to continue operations at its power plants. While Governor Bryan maintains the right to petition the PSC on matters like this, residents don’t seem to be sold that he is representing the interests of consumers and what they are demanding from WAPA — accountability, transparency and reliable service. The memorandum from Government House continues, “The condition provides an immediate offset to the overall customer rates of 3.08 cents per kilowatt-hour. VIWAPA is also currently petitioning for a reduction in the fuel surcharge (LEAC) of 2.56 cents per kilowatt-hour. When compared to the requested increase of 5.8 cents per kilowatt-hour. As the Government would like to avoid any rate increases, that is a reality we can live with. The LEAC rate reduction will remain in effect for at least six months, which provides us time to continue the implementation of the necessary cost-cutting measures such as the refinancing of the VITOL capital expenditure debt.” The proposed increase in rates is a common solution that long-living Virgin Islanders are all too familiar with. Bryan also pointed out in the memo that residents would see “minimal impact” to their bills if the new base rate is approved. Knowing all of this, the question is simply, is this the course the Virgin Islands will stay on? Is Governor Bryan truly the change Virgin Islanders expected when they cast their ballots in 2018? Governor Bryan is still just months into his first term and only weeks away from delivering his second State of the Territory Address in 2020. The PSC will hold a public hearing to consider the base rate increase for WAPA on December 11th. Published in Articles, Economy, Elections, Government, Infrastructure, Opinion and Policy Makiel Cepeda Makiel Cepeda is a Digital Marketing Specialist and Creative Director for the State of the Territory News. On his down time he is a ramen enthusiast and dedicated Philly Eagles football fan. Makiel works out of North Carolina and is originally from St. Croix. More from ArticlesMore posts in Articles » Readers Changed the Name of @sottvi with 50+ Parody Possibilities 𑁋 See Reactions January 30TH Deadline For Summer 2020 Distance Learning Center STEMPREP Project Combing Through Governor Bryan’s 12,324 Word Address to the Virgin Islands Read Governor Bryan’s 2020 State of the Territory Address in 9 Tweets More from EconomyMore posts in Economy » VITEMA Issues Tips as Nearby Earthquakes Continue HUD Releases Additional $779 Million to USVI 28 Months After Irma & Maria Made Landfall VITEMA Puts Territory on Alert in Wake of Regional Earthquakes in Puerto Rico 10 Things to Know About the Regional Library at Tutu Park Mall More from ElectionsMore posts in Elections » Plaskett on House Manager Role 𑁋 “I’m Able to Go Up Against Whomever” House Judiciary Committee Passes Trump Impeachment Articles July in the Virgin Islands Zoned in on Epstein, Elected Officials & Ethics Plaskett Won’t Return Donations from Epstein, Pledges to Donate to Women & Children’s Charities More from GovernmentMore posts in Government » Rumor: Former Governor Roy Lester Schneider Did Not Die This Weekend House Votes To Restrain Trump on Iran More from InfrastructureMore posts in Infrastructure » President Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for Puerto Rico After Destructive Earthquakes Letters from the Founder 𑁋 Fear + Hopelessness The Seriousness of Underage Drinking During Carnival No, Mulan Will Not Be Transgender. Yes, you were duped. And this is a big problem. Op-ed: It Worries Me When Virgin Islanders Say, ‘I May Move to Denmark’ More from PolicyMore posts in Policy » Powering USVI Without Propane Would Cost WAPA $200,000 Daily & $6 Million Per Month Follow updates! By Amaziah George By Makiel Cepeda By Mint Team Read Transcript: Governor Bryan Delivers Second State of the Territory Address 𑁋 2020	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8182
__label__cc	0.544003	0.455997	Dating Female Bodybuilders Rises in Popularity as New Dating Site Offers the Chance to Meet Them Online Sep 30, 2017 \| Lifestyle Men who are into female bodybuilders are flocking to the Internet in the hopes of meeting macho dolls of their dreams. MIAMI, FL, September 30, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ — Female bodybuilders are competitive chicks who like to be fit and look good even if it means spending countless hours at the gym every single day and not socializing outside of bodybuilding circles. As for many female bodybuilders, this sport was an obsession until recently – unless the men who wanted to meet them were pumping iron themselves, it was almost impossible to come across them. But all that’s changed thanks to Female Bodybuilder Dating, a community that has vowed to make as many matches with muscle chicks as possible, and finally make dating a female bodybuilder a reality. Not surprisingly, it has been very successful in drawing in new members and making its users happy campers. Although professional female bodybuilding has seen a major decrease in popularity over the past several years, including the drop of the Ms. Olympia competition in 2015, there are still tons of guys out there hoping to meet the ladies like Brooke Holladay Ence or Pauline Nordin. Those men wishing for a headlock or a wrestling match with the likes of Eva Andressa and the gang are joining Female Bodybuilder Dating in huge numbers where they might not meet the pros per se, but where they definitely do meet iron chicks next door who make their fantasies come true. At the same time, our society is spending alarming amounts of time online so it’s only natural that female bodybuilders and their fans are creating online communities where they can meet, establish close friendships and connections, and praise those ladies for all the hard work they’ve been doing that the offline world seems to be neglecting at the moment. They’re definitely safe online, and there is no doubt that Female Bodybuilder Dating will only grow stronger in the future. Female Bodybuilder Dating is available all over the country 24/7, and it can be found at https://www.femalebodybuilderdating.com. PreviousKidney Community Applauds Bipartisan Senate Legislation to Improve Access to Kidney Care Treatments, Improve Quality of Life for Individuals with Kidney Disease Next2018 Mardi Gras Parades Grandstand Tickets On Sale Now How to Sell a Used Rolex Watch? Los Angeles Jewelry Buyer Explains with New Q & A MillionaireDatingGuide.com Now Provides Accurate and Reliable Sugar Daddy Dating Websites Reviews Advanced Body Scan Announces New Brand Ambassador Jason Witten SoleNumbers Cracks the Code: Lessons on How to Calculate and Interpret the Guiding Number in Your Life	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8183
__label__cc	0.605366	0.394634	JobsAOCS and Algorithms Engineer at In-Space Missions Ltd AOCS and Algorithms Engineer In-Space Missions Ltd Direct Entry Job Permanent Bordon, UK In-Space Missions Ltd is a small space mission consultancy and spacecraft service provider based in Bordon, Hampshire. The company was formed in August 2015 and has grown since then, building a team of experienced Space industry professionals to support large and small Industrial partners, government agencies and academic institutions. In 2018 In-Space also announced its “Faraday” service – the first European commercial payload hosting service for which the first spacecraft, Faraday-1, is scheduled to launch imminently. In-Space has a fun and dedicated team who value hard work, a positive attitude and solution-focused thinking. We welcome applicants who will embrace their role and the flexibility required when working in a small company, and we reward dedication and results with a flexible environment to allow employees to flourish while meeting other requirements they may have in their life. This is an exciting role which will suit an enthusiastic, self-starting individual who is happy to work on a range of activities from detailed algorithm and software development to the development of small spacecraft systems and subsystems. They will be comfortable working as part of a team to deliver projects to a variety of customers including institutional, academic and commercial organisations. The successful individual will enjoy working as part of a team, is willing to flex their priorities to support others where necessary and is comfortable with a fast-paced environment. It will require someone who takes pride in their work, and can present a professional face to clients, suppliers and partners. The role requires some knowledge and experience of algorithm & software development and scripting, a strong background in maths and physics, a willingness to learn and the ability to work with others to identify and resolve technical issues. The right attitude/aptitude is equally as important as background and experience as this is an unparalleled opportunity to gain knowledge and hands-on experience of designing spacecraft Attitude and Orbit determination and control algorithms alongside a very experienced team. While the primary responsibilities of the role lie in technical delivery, the role may require some bid support and other reasonable responsibilities as required by the business. You will be actively encouraged to maintain a current interest in space industry developments and there may be opportunities for the successful candidate to present technical results externally if interested. Responsibilities will include: Derivation of Spacecraft Attitude and Orbit determination and control algorithms from first principals (with support from specialists); Development and verification of software to implement spacecraft Attitude and Orbit determination and control algorithms (with support from specialists); Derivation of spacecraft attitude and orbit knowledge, estimation and control requirements from user, mission and system requirements; Derivation of requirements & development & verification of algorithms and software for automation of parts of the design & implementation process; General support to/governance of the development of the spacecraft software by other team members and/or subcontractors; Algorithm definition for technical specifications to be provided to software developers; Management of technical requirements through the spacecraft lifecycle; Selection of appropriate subsystem hardware to support meeting the knowledge, estimation and control requirements; Co-ordination of subsystem requirements and dependencies with the wider spacecraft system design activities. Derivation and management of subsystem technical budgets and margins, with support from senior team members as required. Management and execution of Validation and Verification activities at a subsystem and system level (including lab testing). Collaboration with project managers to provide inputs to schedules; risk management plans; budget management and other project artefacts as required; Technical pre-sales support to prospecting and bid activities; Support to spacecraft operations; Provision of technical inputs into technical consultancy activities such as customer supports, studies and R&D projects. You will report into a senior member of the Space Systems Team and your work will be prioritized in discussion with them. Generous company pension contribution and private healthcare. 30d holiday as standard. Follow the link here to apply, or send a CV and covering letter to the [email protected] with the job reference 6293. Educated to at least degree -level in a relevant mathematical, scientific or engineering discipline; Ability to pick up new concepts quickly; Proven ability to work well as a member of a team. Knowledge/experience in some of the following areas is required: Dynamics & control system theory and engineering; Delivery of software across the full development lifecycle; Technical delivery of complex systems; Delivery of space technology and/or space mission studies or R&D projects; Working in and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams; Reporting project progress to internal stakeholders. Knowledge/experience in some of the following areas would be beneficial: Working with suppliers; Spacecraft operations; Technical pre-sales support during bid activity; Knowledge of Space Standards (i.e. ECSS); Knowledge of UK Space Industry. Proficiency in at least one high-level programming language (preferably C and/or C++) and in scripting (preferably Python) and a general aptitude for picking up new languages; Proficiency of working on various operating systems including UNIX/LINUX; A good understanding of rigid body dynamics and other dynamic motions (i.e. orbital motion); Proficient in use of appropriate technical modelling tools (for example MatLab and/or others); Proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Project); Confident working in project delivery and bid teams. Qualities: Self-starter; Autonomous worker; Positive and helpful attitude; Willingness to learn; Attention to detail; Organised; Calm and professional approach to work. Other Jobs at In-Space Missions Ltd	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8185
__label__wiki	0.548826	0.548826	What do Meghan Markle and Chrissy Teigen have in common? Deal Or No Deal! By Helena Saadeh The “heart and soul” of the legend family, as described by her husband, has nevertheless a common feature with the queen of prince Harry’s heart. They were both briefcase models of the popular show Deal Or No Deal. Chrissy appeared in just 8 episodes while our duchess appeared in 34 events, each in a different season. Even though for Teigen the memories of this show are blurry, she jokes about her chances of being a Princess Harry. She jokingly said to Ellen DeGeneres and to her husband that if she knew Deal or No Deal models could be royals, she would’ve done things differently. The 32-year-old model seems to be highly protective over the Duchess of Sussex. There was a certain tweet attacking and pejoratively comparing Meghan Markle to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, that made John Legend’s wife really angry. The model posted a comeback at Katie Hopkins, as the later tweeted a photo of the two duchesses stating “You can’t buy class”. Teigen’s post included a headline which implies that Hopkins is applying “for insolvency agreements to avoid bankruptcy”. Later on, the model tweets: “I am EX TREME LY protective of meghan markle despite not knowing her. I will not apologize”. Chrissy complimented Markle by saying she was “sweet” and that she rarely says that about people, but she meant it. Guess What The Weeknd Bought Selena Gomez This is surreal! Prince Harry and Megan Markle celebrate their first child's baptism Congratulations baby Archie! Video Insight Look of the day: Amal Clooney	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8191
__label__wiki	0.894544	0.894544	India^ International^ newstennis2 months ago ATP Pune Challenger \| Prajnesh Gunneswaran loses three-set thriller Top seed Prajnesh Gunneswaran suffered a tough loss in the third round of the KPIT-MSLTA Challenger in Pune on Thursday, losing to the Netherlands’ Tim van Rijthoven in three sets. Meanwhile, three other Indians made it to the quarter-finals, with two of them set to clash against each other. Davis Cup \| AITA announces unprecedented eight-man squad for tie against Pakistan The All India Tennis Association has decided to ready an eight-member contingent for their Davis Cup ties against Pakistan with the much-debated tie set to finally take place on November 29-30. Amongst the names missing from the squad are Arjun Kadhe, Vijay Sundar Prashanth, and more. Pune ATP Challenger \| Prajnesh Gunneswaran to lead 21 singles player India’s top ranked tennis singles player Prajnesh Gunneswaran would be leading a contingent of 21 singles players of India in the upcoming Pune ATP Challenger event. Gunneswaran hasn’t won a single title this season and the season-ending event could offer him a crucial chance as well as points. Sumit Nagal, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Ramkumar Ramanathan to feature in the KPIT-MSLTA Challenger India’s top singles players including the likes of Sumit Nagal, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, and Ramkumar Ramanathan will feature in the KPIT-MSLTA Challenger, which will commence in Pune from November 11. The singles winner will get a prize money of $7,200 and will also earn 80 ATP points. AITA forced to name Leander Paes for Davis Cup clash against Pakistan The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has been forced to name Leander Paes for India’s highly-anticipated Davis Cup tie against Pakistan after Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to travel to Islamabad, citing security concerns. The Asia-Oceania Group-I tie is scheduled for November 29-30. Prajnesh Gunneswaran eliminated in China challenger quarterfinals India’s top-ranked tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran was stunned in straight sets by Canada’s in the quarterfinals of the $162,480 Challenger tennis tournament in Ningbo, China. However, Riya Bhatia and Rutuja Bhosale made it to the semi-finals of the $25,000 ITF women’s event, Lagos. Let’s ban India-Pakistan Davis Cup ties instead of wasting ITF’s time, suggests PTF After All India Tennis Association (AITA) has kept postponing their Davis Cup tie against Pakistan repeatedly, a frustrated Pakistan Tennis Federation has called for a ban on all future ties. After the initial announcement, AITA has now been contemplating a second string to Pakistan for the tie. Mental and physical attribute the main difference between top 10 and 100, says Leander Paes Veteran Indian tennis player Leander Paes has stated that the biggest difference between a player in the top 10 world ranking and in the top 100 is often the physical and mental attribute. The 46-year-old has also praise the Tennis Premier League for giving chances to the young blood. Tennis Roundup \| P Gunneswaran advances to round of 16 in Japan, Ankita Raina loses in China India’s second seed Prajnesh Gunneswaran had a smooth sail in Japan’s Kaohsiung Challenger on Tuesday as he overcame Shuichi Sekiguchi 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the pre-quarterfinals on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ankita Raina was ousted by Magdalena Frech of Poland in Guangzhou’s $500,000 event. ATP Rankings \| Sumit Nagal goes ahead of Ramkumar Ramanthan After some tremendous displays in the last one month or so, Sumit Nagal was rightly rewarded with a stupendous jump of 16 places in the ATP rankings taking him two places ahead of compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan. India’s top-ranked tennis player, however, is still Prajnesh Gunneswaran.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8194
__label__wiki	0.965094	0.965094	Indian Air Force Takes Delivery of Three Rafale Fighter Jets: Defence Ministry New Delhi (Sputnik): The Rafale will greatly enhance the capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and give it an edge over Pakistan and China, Chief Air Marshal R.K.S Bhadauria claimed last month. Indian Defence Minister to Receive Rafale Fighters From France in October New Delhi (Sputnik): India signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement in 2016 with the French government and Dassault Aviation of France for the acquisition of 36 multirole fighter aircraft in fly-away condition at the cost of over 7.8 billion euros. Rafales are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons and missiles. France Set to Deliver First of 36 Rafale Fighter Jets to India in September New Delhi (Sputnik): India and France have reiterated that their defence cooperation is one of the strongest pillars of their bilateral relationship, and they are making substantial progress in this sector. Miniature Rafale Jet Model Installed Outside House of IAF Chief (VIDEO) The scaled down model has been installed amid reports of the jet being scheduled to be inducted into the 17th Squadron of the Air Force, known as the "Golden Arrows", which was commanded by Birender Singh Dhanoa in 1999 during the Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan. Over $30 Bln in Defence Deals May See Light of Day After PM Modi’s Win - Analyst Having come out victorious, despite corruption charges levelled by opposition parties in the Rafale fighter jet deal, the Narendra Modi-led government may now find it much easier to sign defence contracts during its second term, observes defence procurement analyst and ex-financial adviser to the Defence Ministry Amit Cowshish. Break-in Attempt at Indian Air Force's Rafale Fighter Jet Facility in Paris The $8.7 billion Rafale fighter jet contract, signed in 2016 between India and France, has been subject to controversy from the outset, due to it being a costlier purchase, as well as allegedly arbitrary decisions taken by the Indian government. Leaked French Intel Report Contradicts Paris’ Claims its Weapons Aren’t in Yemen A secret French government report detailing the Saudi-led coalition’s extensive use of French-made weapons in the war in Yemen has been leaked to the press. It’s only the latest expose of how Western nations have provided the coalition with the tools to further the conflict, which has snowballed into a humanitarian catastrophe. Indian Court Agrees to Hear Review Petition in Rafale Sleaze Case Against Gov't India's top court has decided to review its 14 December 2018 judgement, in which it exonerated Modi's government of blame in the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal. This development is expected to provide salvo to the opposition Congress party against Modi during the seven-stage national election process, which starts Thursday. Rafale Jet Deal Features in Election Manifesto of India's Main Opposition Party India’s main opposition Congress party has promised an inquiry into the alleged irregularities of the Indo-French Rafale fighter jet deal in its election manifesto, which was released by party president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. Indian Government Warns Leaked Rafale Docs THREATEN National Security While India’s apex court is hearing a petition seeking a review of its earlier verdict on the Rafale deal corruption case, the government has argued that the papers submitted as proof in court had been “stolen” from the Defence Ministry and that by doing so the conspirators had compromised national security - an act that attracts penal action. Merkel Wants European Aircraft Carrier as Germany, France Boost Defence Cooperation Germany and France are already building a joint aircraft and combat system, inviting other European states to join, as both Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron are pushing the idea of creating a pan-European army. Indian Court Handed 'Secret' Docs on Rafale Deal, Says They're Stolen - Govt. Attorney General Venugopal argued in court that documents on the Rafale deal relied upon by petitioners were marked 'secret' and 'classified', therefore they are in violation of the Official Secrets Act. He further informed that the documents had gone missing from the Defence Ministry a long time ago and that an investigation is pending. Modi Lashes Out at Opposition After Rafale Jets Remark Amid Row With Pakistan While Indian Prime Minister Modi has accused the Opposition of delaying the induction of Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force by creating unnecessary controversy over the deal, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said it was Modi who had delayed the induction for the benefit of his businessmen friends. Dassault Aviation Refuses to Comment on Rafale Jet Crash Reports in Egypt PARIS (Sputnik) - French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation's representatives refused to provide RIA with a comment on media reports about an alleged crash of the company's newest Rafale jet in Egypt. Paris, Berlin Take First Step Toward Jet That Will Replace Rafale, Eurofighters Paris and Berlin, which have pushed the idea of creating a joint European army, unveiled their ambitious goal to design the new Future Combat Air System (FCAS), including a fighter and associated weapons in July 2017. It has taken them almost two years to proceed to taking concrete steps. 'No Amount of Spin Will Help': Rafale Deal Becoming Modi’s Nemesis as Opposition Steps Up Probe Demand The deal between India and France to purchase Rafale fighter jets is proving to be the proverbial albatross around Prime Minister Modi’s neck as new facts emerge, putting him under further scrutiny. France Denies Buying Rafale Fighter Jets at a Price Cheaper Than India The controversy over the purchase of French Rafale fighter jets by the Indian government refuses to die down. A media report claiming that France purchased the Rafale jets at a 50% lower price than the Indian government has given the controversy fresh life. Indian opposition leaders are accusing the Modi government of signing an overpriced deal. India's Air Force Fighter Jets' Strength Fell by One-Fifth in Decade - Minister Replying to the opposition charge of irregularities in the fighter jet purchase from France, the Indian Defence Minister has justified it while informing Parliament that the fighter jet strength of the country had fallen substantially during the last decade in contrast to China & Pakistan, who have been adding air power. Spain to Join French-German Project to Build European Sixth-Gen Fighter Jet Germany and France will have a new partner in their bid to build a European fighter aircraft: Spain will become one of the countries contributing to the high development costs of building a new-generation air combat system, according to a new report. Opposition Alleges Dassault Aviation's Investment in Indian Firm a 'Kickback' India’s main opposition party has alleged that Dassault Aviation paid $45 million as a kickback for a Rafale fighter jet deal to Anil Ambani’s Reliance group, the company has refuted the charges and said that the investment is in no way linked to the Rafale contract.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8199
__label__cc	0.621124	0.378876	Fortification of corn masa flour with folic acid in the United States: an overview of the evidence Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2014; 1312:8-14 Ann N Y Acad Sci Hamner, Heather C. ; Tinker, Sarah C. ; Hamner, Heather C. ; Tinker, Sarah C. Less ▲ Corn masa flour, used to make products such as corn tortillas, is a staple food for Hispanic populations residing in the United States, particularly among Mexican Americans and Central Americans. Research has indicated that Hispanic women in the United States continue to be at a higher risk of having a neural tube defect-affected pregnancy than women of other races/ethnicities, even after the introduction of folic acid fortification of cereal grain products labeled as "enriched." Corn masa flour has, therefore, been suggested as a potential food vehicle for folic acid in the United States. This paper explores the potential impact that folic acid fortification of corn masa flour could have on the Hispanic population in the United States. Corn Masa Flour Food, Fortified urn:sha256:289d43c524e4dfec9069098671f8dd387d32d59d5d9c8e298935e718c78b1f88 nihms701491f1.gif nihms701491f1.jpg Adding folic acid to corn Masa flour: Partnering to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce health disparities✩ Flores, Alina L.; Cordero, Amy M.; Dunn, Michael; Sniezek, Joseph E.; Arce, Miguel A.; Crider, Krista S.; Tinker, Sarah; Pellegrini, Cynthia; Carreón, Rita; Estrada, Jose; Struwe, Sara; Boyle, Coleen; Prev Med. 106:26-30. Although strides have been made in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs), Hispanic women remain more likely to have a baby born with an NTD and less likely to know the benefits of, or consume, folic acid than women of other race/ethnic groups. In 199... Estimate of the potential impact of folic acid fortification of corn masa flour on the prevention of neural tube defects Tinker, Sarah C.; Devine, Owen; Mai, Cara; Hamner, Heather C.; Reefhuis, Jennita; Gilboa, Suzanne M.; Dowling, Nicole F.; Honein, Margaret A.; Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 97(10):649-657 BackgroundHispanics in the US have a higher prevalence of neural tube defect (NTD)-affected pregnancies than non-Hispanic whites, and lower median total folic acid (FA) intake. FA fortification of corn masa flour (CMF) is a policy-level intervention ... Retrospective Assessment of Cost Savings From Prevention Grosse, Scott D.; Berry, Robert J.; Tilford, J. Mick; Kucik, James E.; Waitzman, Norman J.; Am J Prev Med. 50(5 Suppl 1):S74-S80. IntroductionAlthough fortification of food with folic acid has been calculated to be cost saving in the U.S., updated estimates are needed. This analysis calculates new estimates from the societal perspective of net cost savings per year associated w... Updated Estimates of Neural Tube Defects Prevented by Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification — United States, 1995–2011 Williams, Jennifer; Mai, Cara T.; Mulinare, Joe; Isenburg, Jennifer; Flood, Timothy J.; Ethen, Mary; Frohnert, Barbara; Kirby, Russell S.; MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015; 64(1):1-5. In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 µg of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). NTDs are major birth defects of the brain and spine that occur early in pregnan... National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities; strategic plan 2011-2015 National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) "The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) works to advance the health and well-being of our nation's most vulnerable populations. Our focus on women, children, people with a range of disabilities and complex disabl...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8200
__label__cc	0.683715	0.316285	You are here: Home / Computer / Mac / New Mac mini 2016 release date rumours Uk New Mac mini 2016 release date rumours Uk Rohit Shetty Mac Oct 16th, 2019 0 Comment A new Mac mini is predicted to launch in 2016, since the line wasn’t up to date at all in 2015; however Apple (as usual) is giving not anything away. Despite the fact that, based totally on experience and the specifications of modern-day Macs, we have been given an honest idea of what to expect from the new Mac mini, and while to count on it. we have got all the new Mac mini recommendations and rumours for you right here. Study on for the next Mac mini’s in all likelihood release date, specifications, layout modifications and new features. We’ll update this article each time new records is unearthed, so test lower back frequently for the brand new Mac mini update rumours. And don’t forget to check our Mac shopping for manual for contemporary buying recommendation. Now not the no-brainer it’d sound want to eager mini-heads: lots of in any other case tech-savvy people are not aware the Mac mini even exists. Certainly, occasionally it looks as if Apple itself is not privy to its presence. That would definitely give an explanation for the long gap earlier than the 2014 model was released. The Mac mini is Apple’s smallest laptop Mac and additionally its most inexpensive Mac, at £399. It is a full-blown OS X computer that fits into a self-contained chassis no bigger than a hard and fast-pinnacle container. It’s an inexpensive residing-room Mac that lacks the strength of even a few MacBooks and comes and not using a keyboard, mouse or display, but one which works flawlessly as the centre of your virtual home – Not least as it comes with HDMI sockets, in order that plugging it into a contemporary Television is a doddle E-Live Net. There was once a Mac mini with OS X Server to be had for £849 but Apple eliminated that choice from the road-up in October 2014. Apple closing updated the Mac mini on sixteen October 2014 after a two-12 months wait: the preceding version came out on 23 October 2012. Mac mini fanatics are actually watching for the next generation of the smallest and most inexpensive Mac. We’re hopeful that it is able to pop out this year, and recent records points to an update in autumn 2016. (Of direction, it isn’t that easy. Apple used to update the mini extra regularly; before 2012 there had been new fashions in 2009 (twice!), 2010 and 2011, and the greater constructive among Macworld’s body of workers had expected Apple to announce A brand new Mac mini within the autumn of 2015, possibly along the new iMac with 4K Retina show, or on the equal time as the El Capitan release. however, the ones opportunities have been and long gone.) One famous concept for some times become that the new Mac mini would possibly make a look at WWDC 2016, which commenced on thirteen June 2016 – however within the event, Apple did not announce any new Macs in any respect. (Even though Mac fans can console themselves with all the news about the approaching macOS Sierra operating gadget, and what that means to your contemporary system. You may installation macOS Sierra in your Mac mini proper now, if It’s a 2010 version or later, however you may need a developer account.) We are searching forward to the subsequent Mac mini replace, Not least due to the fact Apple has brought new Skylake Intel processors to its laptops and computers, leaving the Mac mini in the dirt. In truth, the following technology of Intel chips is due close to the stop of 2016 – they are called Kaby Lake – and It’s possible that the brand new Mac mini may want to characteristic processors from this batch. however We are getting ahead of ourselves. We’ll communicate about processors, and other specifications, in a later segment of this newsletter. Also Examine: Mac mini vs MacBook Air New Mac mini 2016 rumours: Will Apple discontinue the Mac mini? Apple, to paraphrase a colleague, is usually excellent at killing its darlings: at understanding when it makes feel to drop a miles-cherished product or product characteristic – one that is frequently still popular and/or worthwhile – and switch recognition to something else that has greater of a destiny. Assume the iPod traditional or the optical power. It’s why rumours that it’ll drop the headphone port from the iPhone 7, or switch its digital track commercial enterprise completely from downloads to streaming, appear so workable. A Makeup Collection With MAC This US software program organisation desires to positioned driverless taxis on roads by 2020 Character lifestyles insurance top rate up barely for first half of 2016 6 Pointers for Reducing Net of thingsupdated Safety Dangers Indian-foundation software program enterprise veteran Ajei Gopal named CEO of us company There are more than one candidate to be the subsequent iPod traditional. The MacBook Air is one. However, the Mac mini, which hasn’t been updated on account that 2014, is not often mentioned at activities, and feels surplus to necessities now that the Apple Television is making its claim as a media centre tool (Although for storing a big quantity of films the mini stays an super preference, providing 500GB as widespread and as much as 2TB as a configuration alternative), may be awaiting a P45 more than maximum of Apple’s product line-up. The layout of the Mac mini hasn’t changed drastically since it become first released and is beginning to experience a touch dated, and the tool would not have a clear promoting factor (or at least, Apple isn’t always doing an excellent activity of communicating one). So it would not surprise us if Apple quietly retired the road at its subsequent Mac release occasion. It’s either that or provide it an intensive overhaul. If Apple does kill off the mini, we might have to start asking questions on the ‘mini’ branding in standard, and wondering if the iPads are going to be reorganised: there’s already a feel that the ‘Air’ emblem is on the way out, throughout each MacBooks and iPads. however, That is a tale for every other day.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8202
__label__cc	0.539759	0.460241	Energy & Fuel Supply Natural Gas & Electric Port Authorities, Public Entities & General Commodities Regional Railroads, Motor Carriers & Water Carriers William L. Slover C. Michael Loftus, Of Counsel John H. LeSeur Kelvin J. Dowd Robert D. Rosenberg Frank J. Pergolizzi Andrew B. Kolesar III Peter A. Pfohl Daniel M. Jaffe Katherine F. Waring A. Rebecca Williams Donald G. Avery, Of Counsel Christopher A. Mills, Of Counsel Slover & Loftus Railroad Law Administrative Law Contract Law Legislative Law Federal Preemption Energy Law Past President and Board Member, Association of Transportation Law Professionals Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers (2016-2019) The Best Lawyers in America, Transportation Law Ranked by Chambers USA, “Leaders in their Field,” for Transportation: Rail (for Shippers) (Nationwide) Band 1 2019 ed: "[Pfohl] earns client praise for his 'strong knowledge of rail and transportation, and his timely and thorough responses.'" 2018 ed: "Pfohl is an 'intelligent, knowledgeable and reasonable' attorney 'who keeps on top of developments,' according to market sources." 2017 ed: “[Pfohl] maintains a broad railroad practice, regularly appearing before the STB in proceedings in connection with a range of competition issues and service regulations. Sources note that ‘he’s getting more and more on the radar screen – he’s been doing good work.’” 2015 ed: “‘Excellent lawyer’ Peter Pfohl regularly advises on transportation service, railcar purchase and lease agreements, and is also much sought after for his strengths in a diverse range of cases before the STB.” 2014 ed: “[Pfohl] is praised by clients and peers as an ‘outstanding lawyer’ with ‘very analytical’ approach.” 2013 ed: “Pfohl is ‘incredibly bright, very thorough and very practical’ and ‘delightful to work with,’ according to impressed sources.” 2012 ed: “Market commentators regard Peter Pfohl as a major future talent in the space and reserve specific praise for his effective and analytical approach to matters. He is also lauded by clients, who especially single out his willingness ‘to go the distance to get the right information.’” Slover & Loftus LLP Peter Pfohl is a partner at Slover & Loftus LLP specializing in transportation, energy, administrative law, and legislative matters. He has been with the firm since 1997, and has represented a wide variety of clients, including railroad consumers, trade associations, state and local entities, and short-line and regional railroads. Mr. Pfohl actively participates in administrative adjudications, rulemakings, and hearings, in court litigation and appeals, and in the legislative arena. Prior to joining Slover & Loftus LLP, Mr. Pfohl worked as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill covering transportation, energy, and other issues. Practice Focus Mr. Pfohl has actively represented individual entities and trade association clients in virtually every major policy proceeding before the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) over the last 15 years, including in proceedings involving railroad competition, railroad rate regulation, railroad service, the common carrier obligation, railroad fuel surcharges, railroad commodity and class exemptions, complaint filing fees, administrative alternative dispute resolution, and railroad indemnity/liability. He has also been involved in numerous administrative adjudications in a wide variety of matters, including rail rate cases, railroad mergers, unreasonable practice cases, declaratory order proceedings, and railroad construction and abandonment cases. In addition, Mr. Pfohl has been engaged in a variety of court litigation, arbitration, and appellate matters, with a focus on rail transportation and energy supply disputes. Mr. Pfohl has also assisted clients in the negotiation and administration of transportation service agreements, coal supply agreements, and railcar purchase and lease agreements. He has counseled clients on Federal Railroad Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, and Association of American Railroad Interchange Rules safety and compliance matters; performed due diligence in railroad and rail assets acquisition transactions; helped negotiate and implement trackage rights arrangements for receivers and shippers of rail; and advised investors on railroad policy and administrative risk matters. In addition, Mr. Pfohl leads the firm’s legislative practice, and has been a leading participant and advocate for railroad customers in STB reauthorization, railroad reform, and railroad antitrust matters before the United States Congress. Representative Legal Matters Regularly represents leading shipper trade organization before regulators, the courts, and Congress seeking to promote pro-competitive railroad activities and practices and effective regulatory policies (e.g., in proceedings addressing railroad competition; rate regulation; rail fuel-surcharges; railroad coal dust tariffs; railroad acquisition premium pass-throughs; complaint filing fees, etc.). Successfully represented regional railroad and leading shipper trade association in administrative and appellate review proceedings approving the largest railroad construction project in modern history to reach the western coal mines against significant environmental law challenges. Successfully represented public and private clients in railroad abandonment and rail acquisition and operation administrative proceedings, preserving vital common carrier service to communities and businesses. Part of legal teams successfully representing clients in several nationally prominent actions overcoming federal preemption challenges to state property rights and tort actions under the ICC Termination Act and the Federal Railroad Safety Act. Part of legal teams successfully representing utility coal shippers in challenges to rail rates, including a decision issued by the STB in 2009 awarding approximately $350 million in reparations and rate reductions (as estimated by the STB) and which the STB described as “the single largest reduction in rail rates ever awarded by this agency.” Part of legal teams successfully representing clients in several breach of contract and force majeure disputes under rail transportation and commodity supply agreements, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in savings and damages avoidance. Part of legal teams successfully representing public and private clients in rail merger proceedings in obtaining various competitive and environmental/safety protective conditions. Frequently represents and advises clients regarding federal and state laws and regulations involving the transportation of hazardous materials and federal preemption matters, and on PHMSA and FRA hazardous materials enforcement matters, regulations, and rulemakings involving railcar equipment. District of Columbia Bar United States District Court for the District of Columbia United States District Court for the District of North Dakota United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit University of Notre Dame (B.A. 1989) Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America (J.D., cum laude, 1997) Member of the Catholic University of America Law Review “Who Should Pay for Agency Adjudication? A Study of $200,000 Filing Fees at the Surface Transportation Board,” 25 Transp. L.J. 57 (1997) “Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking: the 104th Congress and the Salvage Timber Directive,” 14 J. L. & Pol. 1 (1998). "Update on STB," Association of Transportation Law Professionals Transportation Forum XV, Washington D.C., Nov. 5, 2018. “Emerging Issues in Rail Transportation,” Canadian Transport Lawyers Association 2016 Conference. Toronto, Canada, Sept. 23, 2016 “Comparison of Canadian & U.S. Regulation Impacting Shippers & Carriers,” 30th Annual Conference on Transportation Innovation & Cost Savings, Toronto, Canada, Sept. 26, 2016 “Transportation Officials Panel,” Moderator, Association of Transportation Law Professionals, 87th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2016 “Congressional Passage of Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Legislation – Review and Implications For Shippers of Coal,” Presentation Before the Western Coal Traffic League, Phoenix, Arizona, Feb. 10, 2016 "Challenges Facing Coal Shippers," Presenter, 2015 American Public Power Association (APPA) National Conference & Public Power Expo, Minneapolis, MN, 2015 Annual Meeting Program Chair, Association of Transportation Law Professionals, 85th Annual Meeting, Annapolis, Maryland, June 2014 “Growth of Hazmat Rail Shipments: Fall-Out, Issues, and Implications for Coal Shippers,” Presentation Before the Western Coal Traffic League, Phoenix, Arizona, Feb. 20, 2014 "Update on Rail Legislative/Regulatory Issues," Peter A. Pfohl, Presenter, Midwest Association of Rail Shippers, Summer Meeting, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, July 9, 2013 "Marketing Developments and the Future Role of the Short Lines in the Rail Industry." Peter A. Pfohl, Panel Organizer and Presenter, Association of Transportation Law Professionals, 84th Annual Meeting, Atlantic Beach, Florida, June 25, 2013 “Railroad Transportation Regulatory and Related Developments,” Peter A. Pfohl, Presenter, National Mining Association, Transportation Committee Meeting, Washington, D.C., June 20, 2013 “Rail Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Review,” Presentation, Western Coal Traffic League, Winter Meeting, Phoenix, AZ Feb. 13, 2013 “Railroad Transportation Regulatory Update,” Briefing, National Mining Association, Washington, DC, Dec. 18, 2012 “Railroad Transportation Regulatory and Related Developments,” Briefing, Steel Manufacturers Association, Transportation Committee, Washington, DC, Nov. 13, 2012 “Update on Rail Regulatory Proceedings,” Moderator, Association of Transportation Law Professionals, Transportation Forum IX, Washington, DC, Nov. 9, 2012 “Railroad Regulation, the SJVR, and the Proposed G&W/RailAmerica Merger,” Briefing, Central California Rail Shippers & Receivers Association, Tulare, CA, Aug. 29, 2012 "Rail Policy Regulatory Developments," Presentation and Panelist, Association of Transportation Law Professions, 83rd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, June 15, 2012 "The State of North American Surface Competition and Trade," Panel Organizer and Moderator, Association of Transportation Law Professions, 83rd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, June 14, 2012 “Contracting with Railroads – Then and Now,” Presentation Before the Western Coal Traffic League, Winter Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, Feb. 15, 2012 Rail Lawyers Square Off On Regulatory Paths, Argus Coal Transp., Oct. 4, 2011, at 8 (quoted extensively on status of STB hearings on rail competition and exempt traffic policies) “To Act or Not to Act’ – That is the Question,” Presentation and Panelist, Association of Transportation Law Professionals, Transportation Forum VIII, Washington, DC, Oct. 3, 2011 (panel addressed STB hearings on rail competition and exempt rail traffic) Josh Mitchell, Railroads, Shippers Face Off, Freight Customers Complain of Lack of Competition, Rising Rates at Hearing, Wall St. J., June 23, 2011, at B3 (quoted extensively on state of rail competition from testimony before the STB in hearing in Ex Parte No. 705, Competition in the Railroad Industry) “Show Me the Money,” Panel Organizer and Moderator, Association of Transportation Law Professionals, 82nd Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN, June 27, 2011 (organized and moderated panel, including FRA Chief Counsel, addressing federal investment programs for passenger and freight transportation systems) “Railroad Legislation 2010, Is ‘Now or Never’ Now Only ‘Never’? – A Post Mortem and a Look at the Future,” Presentation Before the Western Coal Traffic League, Winter Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, Feb. 16, 2011 “Railroad Reform Legislation: To Be Or Not to Be?” Presentation and Panelist, Association of Transportation Law Professionals, 81st Annual Meeting, St. Michaels, MD, June 28, 2010 (panel addressed railroad reform and railroad antitrust legislation and prospects) “Duty of Railroads to Provide a Rate and/or Service – It May Not Be as Simple As You Think,” Presentation and Panelist, Canadian Transport Lawyers Association Annual Conference, Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Oct. 2, 2009 (panel addressed railroad common carrier obligation regulatory issues and decisional law as applied in United States and in Canada) 1224 Seventeenth Street NW \| Washington, D.C. 20036 \| Phone: (202) 347-7170 \| Fax: (202) 347-3619 \| Copyright © 2020 Slover & Loftus LLP	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8205
__label__cc	0.650891	0.349109	You are here: Home / Australia / Crookwell Cooked: NSW Planning Dept Slams Chinese Backed Wind Farm Project Crookwell Cooked: NSW Planning Dept Slams Chinese Backed Wind Farm Project May 10, 2019 by stopthesethings 2 Comments The Gullen Range wind farm was a disaster from the get go (see our post here) – with hundreds of homes turned into sonic torture traps (see our post here). There are 32 non-involved residences within 1.5 km of turbines; about 60 within 2 km; and 118 within 3 km. Within 5 km there are about 240 non-involved residences. The planning “process” was a complete farce, from go to whoa. Its Chinese owner, Goldwind has been pushing to expand its operation near Crookwell in NSW for years. However, locals have had enough. This time the community was better organised and went on the offensive. And, uncharacteristically, the Department of Planning and Environment has sided with the community, rather than swallow the developer’s standard line that rural folk just can’t wait to get dozens of 300 tonne monsters speared into their backyards. DPE recommends against Crookwell 3 Wind Farm Crookwell Gazette Clare McCabe The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has recommended that the application of the Crookwell 3 Wind Farm is refused due to significant visual impacts on the landscape and residents. The project was recommended for approval by the DPE in 2015, however, the planning has changed with new information and insight, a spokesperson said. Seventeen of the proposed 23 turbines were less than 2.1 kilometres from residences, with some as close as 1.1 kilometre. This is inconsistent with the rules of wind farm development in the NSW Wind Energy Framework introduced by the government in 2016. “The proposal is also inconsistent with local planning controls, which classify more than two-thirds of the proposed site as an environmental management zone. “Overall, our assessment concluded the site is fundamentally not suitable for a large-scale wind farm,” executive director of resource assessments, Mike Young said. Crookwell 3 will now be referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for the final decision. The project for 23 turbines up to 157 metres in height was about five kilometres from Crookwell. “The proposal is right next door to the Crookwell 2 Wind Farm, built by the same proponent.” “Some people would be able to see five wind farms from their front door.” An independent visual expert advised there would be significant visual impacts on up to 27 residences. “We considered this project on its merits and our recommendation to refuse it draws on extensive community consultation and advice from an independent visual expert,” Mr Young said. “When it comes to visual impact, lots of factors need to be considered from wind farm distance to residential areas to distracting blade glint and turbine flicker. “We acknowledge the proponent has made changes to reduce impacts and has reached an agreement with a number of landowners.” The project was a development of Crookwell Development which is owned by Global Power Generation. No rubber stamps, this time! Filed Under: Australia, Big wind industry, Big wind politics, New South Wales Tagged With: Bill Shorten 50% renewable target, community hostility wind farms, community opposition wind farms, Community support for wind power, Crookwell 3 Wind Farm, Goldwind Gullen Range wind farm, Goldwind wind farm NSW, Gullen Range wind farm, NSW Department of Environment, NSW energy policy, NSW renewable energy, Opposition to wind power « Batteries Not Included: $Trillions Spent on Storage Won’t Save Intermittent Wind & Solar Wind Industry Meltdown: North Carolina Set to Slap Total Ban On All New Wind Projects » Charles Wardrop says: Ironical for China to supply wind turbines purporting (falsely) to offset manmade climate changes while greehouse gases continue to be put out from China, the manufacturers.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8210
__label__wiki	0.627824	0.627824	Documents / Lwów under the Swastika: The Destruction of the Jewish Community Through the Eyes of a Polish Writer Tadeusz Zaderecki המחיר שלך: $30.00 "The entire Jewish neighborhood did not sleep, because it could not. Trucks made rounds in the streets at all times, and loud knocking on house entrances resounded constantly. Everybody listened intently for whether they were the target; lookouts stood on guard in dark windows. At one moment one’s heart was gripped by terrible fear, and the next moment, there was a sigh of relief: 'It’s not for us.'" Tadeusz Zaderecki was a Catholic Pole, an intellectual, and a passionate scholar of Judaic studies. During the interwar period, he established and maintained a close and amicable relationship with the local Jewish community in his native Lwów. On the eve of World War II, the city’s 110,000 Jews, about one third of its inhabitants, made Lwów the third largest Jewish population center in Poland. Following the Polish defeat, the city became part of the Soviet occupation zone. Large numbers of Jewish refugees arrived from the German-occupied areas and the number of Jewish residents doubled. In June 1941, when Germany launched its assault on the Soviet Union, Lwów was quickly overrun. Zaderecki witnessed the violent Nazi campaign against the Jews that began immediately. As relations between Jews and non-Jews deteriorated quickly, he struggled to maintain contact with his Jewish friends, many of whom were ghettoized and subsequently sent to concentration camps. Zaderecki felt compelled to bear witness. He closely followed all developments, took risks to witness events personally, and collected as much information as possible from both Jewish and non-Jewish sources. At the end of the war, he turned his notes into a detailed historical account. Translated from the Polish, widely annotated, and with an introduction by Zaderecki’s friend and Holocaust survivor Rabbi David Kahane, Lwów under the Swastika is a unique, important, and moving document that offers a variety of perspectives and a comprehensive understanding of the Holocaust in Lwów. No. of Pages 492 pp. Size 16X23 cm. Format Hard Cover Translator Jerzy Michalowicz Bookmark: Maroon Brown Das Auschwitz Album: Die Geschichte eines Transports Hrsg.: Israel Gutman und Bella Gutterman 17 Days in Treblinka: Daring to Resist, and Refusing to Die Eddie Weinstein Letters Never Sent: Amsterdam, Westerbork, Bergen-Belsen Mirjam Bolle To be a Jew in Berlin: The Letters of Hermann Samter, 1939-1943 Edited by Daniel Fraenkel	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8213
__label__cc	0.625345	0.374655	What is the current Job Outlook for a Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists? The job outlook for Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists is considered Below Average because: 1. Employment grew at a below-average rate. 2. Hourly wages ($15.73) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is above average. 3. The unemployment rate (3%) is close to the 2004 average (7%). What is a day in the life of a Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists like? Secretaries perform administrative duties/clerical activities using office software and operating other office... more What education do you need to become a Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists? 1. To be a secretary (except legal and medical), you must have a high school diploma, and complete a one- to two-year... more What is the future Job Outlook for a Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists? Your job outlook will continue to be Below Average because: 1. The employment growth rate will likely be below... more How much does a Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists make? The average hourly wages for Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists is $15.73/HR, which is close to the average... more What is the currently unemployment rate for a Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists"? 3% of Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical,... more How many Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are employed part-time? 21% of Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 251 700... more How many Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are self-employed? Roughly 5% of Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are self-employed. This is considered Average for the... more What is the average age of a Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists? The earlier-than-average retirement age (60) combined with an expected older-than-average age (44) of worker will... more A Day in the Life of an Obstetrician/Gynecologist What does it take to become a Pilot A Day in the Life of a Retail Buyer A Day in the Life of a Speech Therapist How Much do Lawyers Make A Day in the Life of a Health Services Manager A Day in the Life of a Microbiologist	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8221
__label__cc	0.532154	0.467846	Suttronix Blog Jump List Jump List Select Category Browsers (5) Facebook (4) Games (4) Hardware (6) Hosting (1) ICS (1) Internet (30) Android (11) Cyanogen Mod (3) Bookmarks (1) Google (9) Intel (2) P2P (1) PayPal (1) microsoft (1) Mobile (2) Movies (2) New Technology (16) Pearltree (1) Photography (4) Digital (4) Robots (1) Sci-Fi (2) Science (1) Security (1) Suttronix Updates (26) Twitter (7) Uncategorized (6) Wordpress (4) Why Believing in Ghosts Can Make You a Better Person We Bring a change…! Nexus 10 (16GB) – Google Play Dolphin Add-ons Ofcom must play fair over 4G, says Everything Everywhere Android ICS 4.0.4 rolling out to Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S? Google’s Android will overtake Windows by 2016 Harder than diamond, stronger than steel. Suttronix SkyDrive Suttronix Web Design Posts Tagged ‘android’ Posted: 03/29/2012 in Android, Cyanogen Mod, Facebook, Google, Hardware, ICS, New Technology, Suttronix Updates, Twitter, Wordpress Tags: android, Android Market, Blog, Companies, Evolved HSPA, facebook, free, Galaxy Nexus, google, HTC Desire HD, Mobile computing, Motorola Xoom, news, Nexus, suttronix, twitter, update, Wi-Fi Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4 has reportedly started rolling out to the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S devices The Android ICE Cream Sandwich update (version 4.0.4) is now rolling out across SIM free Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S devices in Europe. Google announced the milestone on its own Google+ page. The exact announcement read: ‘We’ve started rolling out Android 4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich, to UMTS/GSM Nexus S, Xoom Wi-Fi, and HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus devices, and we’ll be rolling it out to more devices in the coming weeks. Some of you will be receiving Ice Cream Sandwich for the first time, while others will be receiving an update to your existing Ice Cream Sandwich experience with stability improvements, better camera performance, smoother screen rotation, improved phone number recognition and more.’ Followed by a load of predictable comments asking when it will be released for other devices, including the HTC Desire HD, Xperia-branded devices, Galaxy Note and Galaxy S2 (network-branded devices). Google declined to comment when all these other updates would be coming, but everyday we’re hearing about more devices benefiting from the update. If you do have the Galaxy Nexus or Nexus S, it may be a good idea to check whether the update has arrived. For those with network-branded devices, you may have to wait a little longer for your network to properly test the update before rolling it out. via Android ICS 4.0.4 rolling out to Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S? – News – Know Your Mobile. Posted: 03/29/2012 in Android, Cyanogen Mod, Google, Internet, microsoft, New Technology Tags: android, Blog, Companies, cyanogen, google, microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Mobile computing, new, news, online, suttronix, twitter, update, Windows Android devices will surge to slim lead in 2016 Number of ‘smart devices‘ shipped worldwide will DOUBLE in five years to 1.84 billion in 2016 By 2016, devices running Windows will be eclipsed by phones and tablets running Google’s Android, according to a report by analysts IDC. More than 90 per cent of the world’s PCs still run Windows – but the whole technology landscape is changing around Microsoft’s operating system. By 2016, Microsoft’s leading market share of 35.9% will slip to 25.1%. Devices running Google’s Android will climb from 29.4% to 31.1%. As smartphones grow in relation to PCs, Microsoft’s market share will slide so that its once-dominant Windows software will be second-placed after Google’s Android. Microsoft is to launch a new ‘tablet friendly’ version of Windows, Windows 8, later this year. But analyst IDC still predicts a ‘dramatic shift’ towards devices running Android. ‘IDC expects a relatively dramatic shift between 2011 and 2016, with the once-dominant Windows slipping from a leading 35.9% share in 2011 down to 25.1%,’ the analyst predicts. The number of Android-based devices running on ARM CPUs, on the other hand, will grow modestly from 29.4% share in 2011 to a market-leading 31.1% share in 2016. Google ‘to launch’ new GDrive storage service in April to take on rivals such as Dropbox Meanwhile, iOS-based devices will grow from 14.6% share in 2011 to 17.3% in 2016. Last year, 916 million smartphones, tablets and PCs were shipped worldwide. By 2016, that figure will have doubled to 1.84 billion units. ‘Android’s growth is tied directly to lower-priced devices,’ said Tom Mainelli, research director, Mobile Connected Devices. ‘So, while we expect dozens of hardware vendors to own some share in the Android market, many will find profitability difficult to sustain.’ Samsung’s mid-sized Galaxy Note device which recently passed 5 million units shipped: In the next four years, Android devices are predicted to pass Microsoft’s Windows in terms of units shipped. ‘Whether it’s businesses looking at deploying tablet devices into their environments, or educational institutions working to update their school’s computer labs, smart, connected devices are playing an increasingly important role in nearly every individual’s life,’ said Bob O’Donnell, vice president, Clients and Displays at IDC. Next year, 1.1 billion ‘smart devices’ – smartphones, PCs and tablets – will ship worldwide. The numbers are growing at a compound annual growth rate of 15.4%. Research conducted by IDC suggests that many individuals own and regularly use multiple smart connected devices. ‘We are in the multi-device age,’ continued O’Donnell, ‘and we believe the number of people who use multiple devices will only continue to increase. The trick, moving forward, will be to integrate all these devices into a unified whole through use of personal cloud-type applications and services. That’s the real challenge of what we have often called the ‘PC Plus’ era.’ ‘Smartphone growth will be driven by Asia/Pacific countries, especially China, where mobile operators are subsidizing the purchase of 3G smartphones, thus increasing the total addressable market. In many if not all instances, the smartphone will be the primary connection to the Internet,’ said Will Stofega, program director, Mobile Phone Technologies and Trends. ‘In countries where devices are not subsidized by the mobile operators, competitive and component-based pricing will help drive volume.’ Google’s Android will overtake Windows by 2016 \| Mail Online. CyanogenMod-7.2.0-RC1 is upon us… Posted: 03/18/2012 in Android, Cyanogen Mod, New Technology Tags: 2.3(.7), 7.2.0, android, Blog, cyanogen, CyanogenMod, cyanogenmod7, free, HTC Desire, LG Optimus Black, Motorola, news, Nexus S, rc1, samsung, Samsung Galaxy S, suttronix, twitter, update It’s been a long time in the making, but it’s finally here: CyanogenMod 7.2, the latest version based on Android 2.3(.7), has reached the release candidate stage! We’ve been delaying it for too long, mostly because new devices kept being submitted to us, and now we feel that at 69 devices, CM7.2 is more than ready for everybody to enjoy 🙂 7.2 adds a couple of backported features and fixes from Android 4 (ICS), over 20 new devices when compared to 7.1, and even some new features to boot (be sure to check out the new predictive contact search in the phone dialer!). We’ve also fixed some bugs along the way. Some of them device-specific, others that affected everybody, and one in particular that’s been plaguing Android for a long time: the mysteriously vanishing SD-card ringtones are no more! You can check the full list of noteworthy changes at the CHANGELOG. As usual, you can submit bug reports on these builds: if you find anything broken in your device while running CM7.2-RC1, (as downloaded from our mirrors or ROM Manager! Please do not submit reports if your build came from elsewhere), be sure to submit a report through http://code.google.com/p/cyanogenmod/issues/ , so that we can fix it in time for the final 7.2 release. Also worthy of note: the new release files have a slightly modified naming-scheme, including the codename instead of the commercial/common name in the filename. So the following is a handy “translation chart” to make sure you don’t mis-identify your device: ace – HTC Desire HD anzu – SE XperiaArc-LT15i blade – ZTE Blade bravoc – HTC Desire CDMA bravo – HTC Desire buzz – HTC Wildfire c660 – LG Optimus Pro captivatemtd – Samsung Captivate click – HTC Tattoo coconut – SE LiveWithWalkman-WT19i cooper – Samsung GalaxyAce crespo4g – Google Nexus S 4G crespo – Google Nexus S desirec – Droid Eris droid2 – Motorola DROID2 droid2we – Motorola DROID2 World Edition e510 – LG Optimus Hub e730 – LG Optimus Sol e739 – T-Mobile LG myTouch encore – Barnes&Noble Nook Color epicmtd – Samsung Epic espresso – HTC Slide fascinatemtd – Samsung Fascinate galaxys2att – Samsung Galaxy S2 ATT galaxys2 – Samsung Galaxy S2 galaxysbmtd – Samsung GalaxyS_B galaxysmtd – Samsung GalaxyS glacier – T-Mobile myTouch 4G / HTC Glacier hallon – SE XperiaNeo-MT15i heroc – HTC Hero CDMA hero – HTC Hero inc – Droid Incredible iyokan – SE XperiaPro-MK16i jordan – Motorola Defy legend – HTC Legend liberty – HTC Aria mango – SE XperiaMiniPro-SK17i mesmerizemtd – Samsung Mesmerize morrison – Motorola Cliq motus – Motorola Backflip olympus – Motorola Atrix one – Geeksphone ONE p920 – LG Optimus 3D p925 – LG ATT Thrill p970 – LG Optimus Black p990 – LG Optimus 2X p999 – T-Mobile G2x passion – Google Nexus One saga – HTC Desire S satsuma – SE XperiaActive-ST17i shadow – Motorola Droid X sholes – Motorola Droid showcasemtd – Samsung Showcase smultron – SE XperiaMini-ST15i speedy – HTC Evo Shift supersonic – HTC Evo tass – Samsung GalaxyMini u8220 – Huawei U8220 urushi – SE XperiaRay-ST18i v9 – ZTE V9 vega – Advent Vega vibrantmtd – Samsung Vibrant vision – T-Mobile G2 / HTC Desire Z vivo – Droid Incredible S vivow – Droid Incredible 2 zeppelin – Motorola CliqXT zero – Geeksphone ZERO zeusc – SE Xperia Play CDMA-R800x zeus – SE Xperia Play -R800i And that’s all, folks; Head on to http://get.cm/?type=RC , install, and have fun! via CyanogenMod-7.2.0-RC1 is upon us \| CyanogenMod. Google rebrands US Android market as ‘Google Play’ Posted: 03/07/2012 in Android, Browsers, Google, Internet, New Technology, Suttronix Updates Tags: android, Android Market, apps, google, Google Play, Mobile computing, online, play, suttronix, tablet, update, YouTube Google wants to sell you “content” that you might otherwise buy from Amazon, Apple or Microsoft etc. It has therefore rebranded the Android Market as Google Play, and pulled its apps, ebooks, music, and movies — excluding its YouTube movie service — into a single cloud-based offering. Or at least, it has if you live in the USA. If you’re one of the UK residents contributing £6 billion a year to Google’s revenues, you can just wait in line with the rest of the world, though there is hope…. Google introduced Google Play in a blog post today that says: “In the US, music, movies, books and Android apps are available in Google Play. In Canada and the UK, we’ll offer movies, books and Android apps; in Australia, books and apps; and in Japan, movies and apps. Everywhere else, Google Play will be the new home for Android apps.” However, the link from “When will I get Google Play?”, at the bottom of the home page, brings up a page that says: “We’re sorry, but the information you’ve requested cannot be found.” It should lead to the Play FAQ. Google says that “Google Play is entirely cloud-based so all your music, movies, books and apps are stored online, always available to you, and you never have to worry about losing them or moving them again.” If so, “always available” means users can access their files when they have a working internet connection. This could work out very expensive for people who pay for bandwidth. Cross-platform approach Only Android apps are actually written for Android, and the content files are mainly cross-platform, so the Android name had to go. Google could have held on to “Market” but this has a somewhat downmarket feel, so that went as well. Play is dull but does the job, though it remains to be seen if the popular online retailer Play.com will object. (Google would have rejected iPlay as making the service sound too much like an iTunes knock-off.) Being cross-platform should give Google an advantage against Apple, which is only really interested in providing content to play on Apple devices, and tries to force Windows PC owners to use its widely-hated iTunes software. However, that hasn’t helped Amazon much, even though it frequently offers better products than Apple at lower prices. But at this stage, it’s not clear whether Google actually intends to target Play at the cross-platform market. Play could be aimed mainly at users of Google TV, and possibly at owners of Google-branded mobile phones and tablets, in the way that Amazon uses its Kindle Fire tablet as a shop window. In December, Google chairman Eric Schmidt apparently told an Italian publication: “In the next six months, we plan to market a tablet of the highest quality.” In May, before that, Google showed developers some Android@Home devices that streamed music. An FCC application has revealed that Google is testing the device in homes this year, from 17 January to 17 July. Google is in the process of buying Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion — a 63 percent premium on what it’s worth — so it should soon own its own hardware division. This would enable Google to make phones, tablets, set-top boxes and other devices without consulting or involving other Android users such as Samsung and HTC… and risk wrecking the Android ecosystem. @jackschofield via Google rebrands US Android market as ‘Google Play’ \| ZDNet UK. New Suttronix Facebook Group. Posted: 03/05/2012 in Suttronix Updates Tags: android, facebook, free, news, online, Social network, suttronix, twitter, update, Web design Come join the Suttronix.co.uk Facebook group to talk with like minded people and to ask any technology related questions. Click to visit... Dolphin Browser Comes to Barnes & Noble’s Nook \| Dolphin Browser® Blog Posted: 02/13/2012 in Android, Browsers, Internet, New Technology, Suttronix Updates, Twitter Tags: android, Blog, browser, Dolphin, news, nook, suttronix, tablet, tablets, twitter Browsing just got sweeter for those of you with a Nook tablet. Dolphin Browser HD is the fastest, easiest and most fun mobile Web browser. It’s also the world’s first Gesture, Webzine and Add-on enabled mobile web browser on Android — All of this is now available on Barnes & Noble’s Nook. Continue to browse your favourite sites, books, magazines and videos through Dolphin Browser on your Nook. Download your free Dolphin Browser for Nook Colour and Nook Tablet here. #1 Mobile Web Browser on Android Market Over 10 million downloads #2 on CNETs 100 Android Apps for 2011 #1 PC Mags “The 40 Best Free Apps for 2011″ Dolphin Browser’s Gestures and sidebars make Web surfing fast, intuitive and fun while on the go. – USA Today Its a great, simple browser that feels more at home on a touchscreen device than pretty much anything else you’ll try. – Lifehacker Gesture – Let your inner artist out and create a personal Gesture (symbol) to access the mobile and desktop websites you use the most. Webzine – Fast Web page loading, with no ads. Dolphin Webzine simplifies the way you read your favourite mobile content, from news to blogs and websites. Speed Dial – Visit you favourite mobile and desktop websites on the go with one touch. Tabbed browsing – No need to toggle between screens, tabbed browsing lets you open and switch between Web pages fast as lightning. Sidebars – Make the best of mobile interface via Dolphin Sidebar. via Dolphin Browser Comes to Barnes & Noble’s Nook \| Dolphin Browser® Blog. Android To Run On Intel Chips Posted: 10/04/2011 in Android, Hardware, Intel, New Technology, Wordpress Tags: android, arm, Blog, chips, Companies, google, intel, Intel Corporation, microsoft, Mobile computing, news, wintel Google and Intel on Tuesday said that the two companies will work together to ensure that future versions of Google’s Android operating system function on Intel’s Atom processors. The partnership will help Intel compete against ARM chips, which have been supported by Android since 2008. It also underscores the fact that the “Wintel” alliance between Microsoft and Intel isn’t what it used to be. Intel CEO Paul Otellini showed off a smart-phone running Android on a Medfield chip at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on Tuesday, though details about the specific version of Android were not revealed. He characterized the partnership as a step toward bringing Intel-powered phones to market. Google SVP of mobile Andy Rubin showed up too, signalling the two companies’ continued commitment to a relationship that encompasses Intel’s involvement in Chrome OS, Google TV, and its effort to port Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” to the x86 chip architecture. Rubin said that all future versions of Android will be optimized for x86. Presumably this includes the next major Android release, known as Ice Cream Sandwich, which is expected before the end of the year. Intel has had trouble convincing mobile device makers to use its x86-based chips because of their power consumption characteristics. Instead, many have preferred the ARM architecture. Apple, for example, bought chip design company PA Semi in 2008 and has been deploying its own ARM-based A-series chips in its mobile devices. Intel is reportedly interested in manufacturing Apple’s chip designs, a testament to the direction in which the mobile market is moving. Even Microsoft is moving to support ARM chips in Windows 8, in addition to x86 chips. The company provided details about its ARM support plans at its BUILD conference on Tuesday. To compete more affectively against ARM designs, Intel is betting on its Medfield chip platform, which includes a low-power Atom design for mobile phones, and on chips arriving in 2012 based on a 22-nm manufacturing process. Android To Run On Intel Chips – Hardware – Processors – Informationweek. 10 Hackers Who Made History Posted: 09/27/2011 in Internet, Security, Suttronix Updates Tags: android, Blog, Blue Box, Cyber Security, facebook, hacker, hackers, history, it security, Konrad Zuse, security, social engineering, Steve Wozniak, suttronix, update The computer world has a rich history of hackers who steered the progress of computer science and gave shape to computers, the internet and networking as we see it today — in some cases single-handedly. And while yes, there are the Black Hat hackers behind internet mayhem, thievery, and chaos, there are also White Hat hackers who use their computer savvy for good. There’s also a different kind of hacker entirely: the tinkerer. They all played parts, big and small, in creating the computer world as it exists today. Here are 10 of the greatest: Konrad Zuse It all begins with Konrad Zuse, arguably the very first computer hacker. He may not have been a hacker in the modern sense of the word, but none of it would have been possible without him. You see, Zuse made the world’s very first fully programmable (Turing-complete as they say) computer, known as the Z3. It began, of course, as the Z1, and while it wasn’t built in a cave with a box of scraps, Zuse did build it himself in his parents’ apartment, completing it in 1938. Zuse eventually gained some backing by the German government, leading to the evolution from the Z1 to the Z3, which, complete in 1941, is considered the mother of modern computing. John “Captain Crunch” Draper John Draper was hacking computers long before computers were even common place. Draper’s hacking heyday was back in the early 1970s, when the largest computer network to which the general public had any access was the telephone system. At the time, telephones were managed by an automated system using specific analogue frequencies which could be exploited to make free long distance or even international calls. It was called “Phreaking”, and one of the most well-known Phreaking tools was a toy whistle that came in a box of Cap’n Crunch cereal. With this whistle, Draper created another popular Phreaking tool known as the Blue Box, a device that could produce many other tones used by the phone companies. A contemporary to John Draper, Wozniak was no stranger to Phreaking. In fact, after Draper shared the details of his Blue Box design during a Homebrew Computer Club meeting, Wozniak built a version of his own. Steve Jobs saw the marketing potential in the device, and the two Steves began their first joint venture together. Wozniak’s hacking days weren’t all spent on projects of questionable legality, though. With the proceeds from their blue boxes as well as selling Wozniak’s cherished HP calculator and Jobs’ VW van, Wozniak created the Apple I. With the other Steve’s marketing prowess, their company became the industry leader it is today. Robert Tappan Morris As a graduate student at Cornell University, Robert Morris created his claim to fame: the computer worm. According to Morris, he created the worm as an attempt to gauge the size of the internet at the time. After its release on November 2, 1988, the Morris Worm went on to infect approximately 6000 systems (about 10 per cent of the internet attached computers at the time). The worm was intended to be unobtrusive, but due to a flaw in its replication algorithm, it copied itself excessively, causing heaving system loads and ultimately leading back to Morris. In 1989, Morris became the first person indicted and later convicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986. Mark “Phiber Optik” Abene Here’s a name you may not be familiar with: Mark Abene. He never hacked into the D.O.D. nor did he steal millions of dollars in some Swordfish-style bank heist. What he did do was piss off AT&T. As a member of the hacker group Masters of Destruction, Abene was often poking around on AT&T’s systems. When AT&T’s telephone system crashed, leaving 60,000 customers without phone service for over nine hours, they quickly blamed Abene. The Secret Service paid him a rather aggressive visit, confiscating his equipment, and while AT&T eventually admitted that the crash was a mistake on its part, Abene was charged with computer tampering and computer trespassing in the first degree. Later, he would face more charges and ultimately serve a year in federal prison, making him the first hacker to do so. Kevin “Dark Dante” Poulsen Poulsen holds claim to one of the more amusing hacks of all time. A radio contest held by KIIS-FM promised a shiny new Porsche 944 S2 to the 102nd person to call into the station. Rather than try his luck among the multitude of Los Angeles listeners, Poulsen took over all of the telephone lines to the station to ensure he’d be the 102nd caller. He eventually had to disappear once he became a fugitive of the FBI. This landed him a spot on the popular TV show Unsolved Mysteries. The show’s hotlines crashed when the episode aired. Coincidence? In 1991, Poulsen was arrested and eventually pleaded guilty to various counts of computer fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. Interestingly, since his incarceration, Poulsen made a complete 180, helping in cyber crime cases, and even capturing sexual predators on MySpace. Kevin Mitnick is perhaps the most famous hacker in computer history, likely due to his being the first hacker to make the FBI’s Most Wanted list. As a master of social engineering, Mitnick didn’t just hack computers; he hacked the human mind. In 1979, at the age of 16, he hacked his way into his first computer system and copied proprietary software. He would often engage with admin personnel, such as in phone calls and email messages, and trick them into giving up passwords and other security information. After a two and a half year pursuit, Mitnick was finally arrested and served five years in prison. He now runs his own computer security consultancy, Mitnick Security Consulting. Tsutomu Shimomura Not all hackers fall under the Black-Hat umbrella. Tsutomu Shimomura is a White-Hat hacker credited with capturing Kevin Mitnick. In 1994, Mitnick stole some of Shimomura’s personal files and distributed them online. Motivated by revenge, Shimomura came up with a trace-dialling technique to back-hack his way in to locating Mitnick. With Shimomura’s information, the FBI was able to pinpoint and arrest Mitnick. In his early years, Stallman was a graduate student and programmer at MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Labs where he would constantly engage with MIT’s rich hacking culture. As an advocate for just about everything Open Source, Stallman fought back when MIT installed a password system in its Computer Science department. He would decrypt users’ passwords (not an easy task given the processing power of the 1970s) and send them a message with their password in plaintext, suggesting they leave the password blank in order to re-enable anonymous use. Going into the 1980′s, Stallman didn’t like the proprietary stance many manufacturers were taking on their software. This eventually led Stallman to create the GNU General Public licence and GNU operating system, a completely free Unix-like OS that is completely Unix-compatible. Following Stallman’s lead, Linus Torvalds is another White-Hat hacker. His hacking days began with an old Commodore VIC-20 and eventually a Sinclair QL, both of which he modified considerably. On the QL in particular, he programmed his own Text Editor and even a Pac-Man clone he dubbed Cool Man. In 1991, he got an Intel 80386 powered PC and began creating Linux, first under its own limited licence but eventually merged it into the GNU Project under the GNU GPL. Torvalds hadn’t originally intended on continued support for his Linux Kernel, but due to the nature of the Open Source project, it grew into one of the most hacker friendly (and secure) operating systems available. 10 Hackers Who Made History \| Infostruction. Androinica » Android: A History in Infrographic Form [STATS] Posted: 08/25/2011 in Android, Internet, New Technology Tags: android, Android Developers, Android Market, cyanogen, cyanogenmod7, google, Handhelds, Honeycomb, Information graphics, [X]CUBELABS Infographic by Android Developers at [x]cubelabs While the version distribution is a little dated at this point (its from July 5), this great little graphic provides us with a good bit of information. It covers the release date of every major Android update, from 1.0 clear though to Honeycomb. Along with those, it gives us major feature additions as well as Android’s market share at that point. As you can see, this if a really well put together infographic history of the little green robot. We can use this to remember our humble beginnings, and to make sure look forward to the future with hope. Android keeps getting better all the time, and hope for the future will always remain. via Androinica » Android: A History in Infrographic Form [STATS]. Come visit Suttronix.co.uk The Best Browsers for Android \| PCMag.com Posted: 04/24/2011 in Android, Browsers, Google, Internet, Suttronix Updates Tags: android, bookmark, browser, Dolphin, free, happy, love, Mozilla Firefox 4, news, suttronix, Web browser Image via CrunchBase Your Android phone didn’t ship with the best Web browser. That isn’t to say that Google hasn’t bundled a good all-around browser. The stock browser supports multiple windows, bookmarks, and a host of sharing options. Add to this JavaScript, and, if you’re running Android 2.2 or later, Adobe Flash, and what you see on your phone looks a lot like what you see on your desktop. But that doesn’t change the fact that a mobile browser can be so much more. That’s why we’ve reviewed and rounded up the most talked about alternatives. Android Means Choice There’s a flurry of activity in the mobile browsing market. Cult-favorite Dolphin continues to lap the competition with rapid-fire updates to their Mini and HD browsers. Mozilla recently released Firefox 4 for Android alongside the desktop release. And, in the same week, Opera revved their Mobile browser to version 11 and refreshed their massively popular Mini browser. Now is the time to consider out the fruits of the competition. Regular or Mini? For this roundup, I’ve explored five alternatives to Android’s stock browser: Dolphin Browser HD 4.5, Dolphin Browser Mini 2.1, Firefox 4, Opera Mobile 11, and Opera Mini 6. The easiest way to sort these browsers is by cleaving them into two categories: traditional, full-featured mobile browsers—Dolphin Browser HD 4.5, Firefox 4, and Opera Mobile 11—and smaller, data-frugal Mini browsers—Dolphin Browser Mini 2.1 and Opera Mini 6. Mobile browsers tend to deliver a more desktop-complete mobile experience with advanced feature sets and support for embedded video, whereas Mini browsers tend to prize performance and backward compatibility. However, boundaries prove porous with closer examination. For example, while Firefox 4 isn’t classified as a mini browser, Mozilla disabled support for embedded video in order to improve performance. Dolphin Browser Mini 2.1 wears the mini moniker but supports Flash, and, in my testing, failed to miniaturize load times. Browsers Benchmarked I’ve benchmarked these browsers wherever possible, and in the case of the mini browsers—not suited to JavaScript tests—I’ve performed real-world testing. Take a look at the reviews, performance charts, and slideshows. What you think you want may change, but, no matter what, you ought to find an exciting alternative to that dusty old stock browser. via The Best Browsers for Android \| PCMag.com. 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__label__cc	0.649992	0.350008	Alcatel-Lucent and Telefónica vow to collaborate further on NFV Written by Scott Bicheno 08 July 2015 @ 11:57 Kit vendor Alcatel-Lucent and Spanish operator Telefónica have signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) that signifies their commitment to extend their collaboration over NFV testing. Telefónica has already tested A-Lu’s Virtualized Service Router using the OpenMANO NFV orchestration stack, claiming the tests to be an unqualified success. The aim, from Telefónica’s point of view, is to further explore the network performance and efficiency benefits of NFV. “We are pleased to continue our work with Alcatel-Lucent on the use of NFV technologies to transform future networks,” said Enrique Blanco, Global CTO at Telefónica. “We have already seen an outstanding performance in the testing of Alcatel-Lucent’s VSR, showing that it delivers comparable performance to hardware-based routers. Use of these technologies will open up new opportunities as we continue innovating to exceed our customer’s expectations.” “As innovation leaders, Alcatel-Lucent and Telefónica are aligned on our goal to transform the future of mobile networks,” Michel Combes, CEO of Alcatel-Lucent. “We have a comprehensive portfolio of NFV technologies that can be used to optimize networks and meet the ever-growing connectivity demands of the future.” It’s reasonable to question why companies bother to publicise things like this. In this case A-Lu is, of course, in the process of being acquired by Nokia, so maybe Telefónica is keen to cement its R&D partnership in advance of that. Additionally both companies will be keen to demonstrate to their customers and the market in general that they’re on the case, regarding things like NFV. Tags: Alcatel-Lucent, NFV, Telefonica Cable Next-Gen Breakfast Series Software-Driven Operations Network Virtualization & SDN Americas Telefonica sells 2,029 towers in Ecuador and Colombia Telefónica Deutschland picks Huawei and Nokia for its 5G RAN Spain and Portugal resist US pressure over Huawei Telefónica enters ‘new era’ with major business restructure	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8240
__label__wiki	0.675013	0.675013	The Pain-Reducing Power of Water Workouts How to get more intense exercise and less joint pain By Laine BergesonAugust 19, 2014 By Laine Bergeson Credit: Thinkstock High intensity water workouts significantly reduce joint pain in adults with osteoarthritis, while improving mobility, balance and function, according to new study. An estimated 27 million Americans have osteoarthritis, and research has shown that osteoarthritis in the knee is the leading cause of functional limitation among older adults. Both increased muscle strength and reduced body weight have been shown to improve pain, says Eadric Bressel, a professor in the health, physical education and recreation department at Utah State University. Those suffering from joint pain, however, are often unable to do intense, muscle-strengthening and weight-loss-promoting workouts because of their symptoms. “We had participants do high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, in the water,” says Bressel. “This same kind of high-intensity interval training on land would be unfathomable because of the load-elicited pain.” (MORE: HIIT: One Way to Burn Fat and Lose Weight) Intense Workouts With Achy Knees For the study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Bressel and his team had 18 participants with knee osteoarthritis complete a six-week, non-exercise control period where they didn’t do any specified training. Following the control period, the researchers had the same participants complete an exercise program that included HIIT and balance training on an aquatic treadmill. Participants were immersed in water up to chest height while they exercised, and the team used water jets to add resistance and destabilize the participants while they walked. Participants reported high ratings of perceived exertion. After the six week exercise period, participants reported significantly reduced joint pain and improved balance, mobility and function. No participants reported adverse effects, or exacerbation of pain or injuries. Based on the strength of their findings, researchers believe aquatic HIIT training may be effective at managing symptoms of osteoarthritis. (MORE: 7 Ways to Pain-Proof Your Knees) Adds Bressel: “Perceived pain was statistically reduced after each exercise session — and for a week afterward.” Why Water Works Water’s workout-boosting ability comes largely from its buoyancy. “When you stand in chest-high water, the buoyancy unloads 70 percent of your weight,” says Bressel. “It’s like being on the moon.” If you weigh 164 pounds on land, for example, you would weigh the equivalent of 53 pounds in water — and with that much less weight to move, you can work out harder with less pain. Water also confers hydrostatic pressure, or the gentle pressure of the water against the body. People with osteoarthritis often “have really bad balance and a really high fear that they will fall,” says Bressel, “but the hydrostatic pressure is like a security blanket around them, increasing their willingness to take risks in the water.” They may step out further than they normally would, for instance, or move faster than they would otherwise be comfortable moving. (MORE: How to Get a Full Workout in the Pool, No Swimming Required) Aquatic treadmills aren’t as common (yet) as pools or other gym equipment. Many major hospitals have them, says Bressel, as well as senior centers. And they’re nearly compulsory for major sports teams, who use them for injury rehabilitation. Says Bressel: “Any university with a Division 1 football team has one of these treadmills.” If you have joint pain, it may be worth exploring nearby aquatic workout options (you can use a pool in some cases. See tips below). “We’ve had a lot of subjective comments from patients who say, ‘This is the first time in years I’ve walked without pain,’” says Bressel. “That is pretty powerful to hear.” 3 Tips for Water Workouts Want to reap the benefits of a water workout? Here’s some advice on getting fit in H2O: 1. Use the deep end. If you don’t have access to an aquatic treadmill, you can improvise in the deep end of a standard pool. Use a flotation device to hold you up, says Bressel, and then mimic sprinting through water. He hasn’t tested this practice in a clinical setting, but, he adds, “It makes common sense that you would see similar benefits.” 2. Don’t go above chest height. When you wade into water deeper than chest high, you lose the ability to walk normally. When you’re doing intense training in H2O, keep the waterline at mid-chest. This applies in the deep end, too. Make sure the flotation device keeps your chest up. 3. Find a treadmill. “Using water to heal has been around since the Greeks and Romans,” says Bressel. “But we have less availability today, thanks to suing.” Aquatic treadmills are becoming increasingly common, however, especially in major cities. You might find one near you at a specialized fitness center, a rehabilitation or sports medicine clinic, a major teaching hospital or a University sports center. Laine has researched and written about health for the past 15 years, covering everything from the nutritional benefits of rhubarb to the proper way to swing a kettlebell. 8 Ways to Relieve Knee Pain Boomer Knees and Thighs: A Missed Ad Opportunity Your Next Vacation May Include a Knee Replacement Find a Fitness Trainer to Get the Most Out of Workouts Huff/Post 50: Hatha Yoga Boosts Brain Power in Older Adults The 10 Best Exercises to do at Your Desk	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8245
__label__wiki	0.766469	0.766469	Victoria Embankment (EC4) National Submarine War Memorial Frederick Brook Hitch Commemorative plaque with a bronze relief depicting, in cross section, the interior of a submarine in which sailors carry out their work in cramped conditions. On either side, sea creatures in human form surround the vessel with nets and seaweed. Below this is shown a submarine on the surface. The plaque is flanked with two statuettes, TRVTH and JVSTICE. To the left and right is a list of lost submarines 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. erected to the memory of the officers and men of the british navy who lost their lives serving in svbmarines 1914 - 1918 & 1939 - 1945. a.h. ryan tenison friba f brook hitch rbs Frederick Brook Hitch (London 1897 - 1957), British sculptor, son of Nathaniel Hitch. (Wikipedia). Sources & Information Wikipedia, List of public art in the City of London. Bob Speel, London sculpture. London Remembers, Monument: National Submarine War Memorial. Andrew Kershman, London's Monuments (London: Metro Publ., 2013), p. 115. Peter Matthews, London's Statues and Monuments (Botley: Shire, 2012), p. 58. Town: London Subdivision: Greater London Hitch, Frederick Brook War Memorial (UK - various) Location (N 51°30'38" - W 0°6'38") Item Code: gblo121; Photograph: 7 August 2014	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8249
__label__wiki	0.501762	0.501762	Stephan's Universe Be critical of the media you love <3 Gender Diversity Popular Culture Video Games Everything Wrong with Dunkey by Stephan N. Reilly UPDATE 08/11/2018: Look, this article doesn’t reflect what I believe anymore. It was written in an evening more as a compilation of talking points for a conversation I was having with my roommate, and then blew up afterwards when he posted it to the official Dunkey subreddit. To see where I stand today please read my new post About my Dunkey Article… I’m not going to delete this post because I think it’s important for posterity at least, and so I can look back in a couple years for a good dose of embarrassment. Anyways, here it remains. Trigger Warning: This article contains sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, mentions (with links to depictions) of physical and sexual abuse, mentions of paedophilia, many slurs. There’s a YouTuber named Dunkey who’s quite popular, with 3.4 million subscribers and millions of views within days of each new video. He’s famous in the video game community for his brutal takedowns of bad games and his genuine adoration for others. However there’s a thread through his content over the years that anyone who’s tried to honestly critique the video game community can clearly recognize as typical “Gamer” shittiness. Dunkey uses homophobic, ableist, racist and sexist slurs in his videos. He thinks it’s hilarious to beat and murder women in his videos and often screams sexist pejoratives while doing so. As of this writing, he’s never apologized for any of it and continues to make money off it. Anyone who supports Dunkey needs to know that they’re supporting a man who’s said such horrible things as “big tits bimbo” in reference to Elizabeth from BioShock Infinite and told Dora the Explorer to “suck my dick” (which is in fact paedophilia). Let’s break down everything wrong with Dunkey into categories: Dunkey has repeatedly released videos in which he finds it hilarious to beat and murder female characters in the games he plays. Dunkey reinforces the dangerous misconception that women are less than human, that they’re objects existing for the enjoyment of men. Here’s just a sample: Murders woman (Source) Beats woman (Source) Beats more women (Source) Punches woman until she falls over, calls her “tramp” (Source) Shows brutal slitting of woman’s throat (Source) Objectifies women, then murders them (Source) Calls woman “dumb btch”, then kills her (Source) Kills woman (Source) Beats another woman (Source) Beats two more women (Source) Kills another woman, calls her “btch” (Source) Murders cowering woman, ogles her naked dead corpse (Source) It’s like a montage of how many different ways you can be a sexist piece of shit on YouTube, but there’s more. Dunkey is white. So it’s pretty unbelievable when in his rap video for Red Dead Redemption he repeatedly uses the n-word and other racist slurs (Source). In a karaoke section of one video game, Dunkey purposefully mocks the Japanese song, singing gibberish (Source). In another video for Sleeping Dogs, a video game set in Hong Kong, Dunkey walks up to some Asian women in a market and flatly states, “All you Asian people look the same to me” (Source). Blatant Misogyny Dunkey almost exclusively calls women “Btch” in his videos, often times before or after abusing or murdering them which he believes to be funny. But there’s nothing funny about what he’s doing. He does it so often I gave up trying to sort through it all and resigned to the fact it’s an integral part of his content. Take a listen: Calls Fat Princess “That btch” (Source) Calls another woman “stupid fucking btch” (Source) Says “fuck a lot of whres” (Source) and again (Source) Says “Shut up dumb btch” (Source) and “shut the fuck up you stupid btch” (Source) Says “I’m gonna go fuck a whre” (Source) Says “I found this black btch and she’s got bigger tits” (Source) Calls character “This btch” (Source) Calls Elizabeth from BioShock Infinite “big tits bimbo” (Source) Calls Elizabeth “dumb btch” (Source) Still thinks it’s funny to objectify women (Source) Calls the main character a “prostitute” (Source) Says “make your btches booty drop” (Source) Screams “btches” at female characters (Source) Calls woman “dumb btch” and shoots her (Source) Plays Dora game, calls her a “pussy” (Source) Tells Dora to “suck my dick” which would be paedophilia (Source) Says “Got a lot of whres” (Source) Raps “btches leaving chores cause they think they got an ass, I’ll escort these hoes out and say I’m taking out the trash “ (Source) Calls woman “vile, dirt, filth whre… all used up and disgusting“ (Source) On a select your gender screen he picked male and said “Select your difficulty? I pick hard” insinuating being a woman is easier (Source) He also used a sexualized woman in a thumbnail, using a gay slur because of course he did: This feeds into the next issue with Dunkey’s content. Dunkey has also used gay slurs in his content. In a video for the N64 game Glover Dunkey refers to one of the enemies as a “fggot” (Source). In another video for Max Payne 3, Dunkey was commenting on the game’s music, stating it’s “so awesome that you could just be doing the gayest shit” and then plays the game music over video of him cracking an egg (Source). He’s insinuating that cooking is a gay thing I guess? The point is that he has no problem using homophobic slurs and demonstrates a complete disregard and disdain for LGBT folks. In another video for the multiplayer game Blackwater, he includes one of his friends saying “It’s not gay if you’re at sea for several days” confirming that not only is Dunkey homophobic but so are his friends (Source). Dunkey is also no stranger to using slurs against those with learning disabilities. He uses the word “retarded” as a pejorative here, here, here and here. I found counts of Dunkey’s disregard and insults for those with learning disabilities from 2012 to a couple months ago. He really sees no issue with what he’s doing. Getting Banned from League of Legends In 2015 Dunkey was banned from League of Legends for saying: He goes on to say in his video that “I can understand being banned for cheating or going afk or feeding on purpose but talking shit to some guy that is a total dumbass? What is this? Fucking pussy-ass baby preschool time?” (Source). This clearly indicates Dunkey has no understanding of how words can affect people and how utterly oblivious he is to the notion of other player’s feelings. It’s clear to the viewer that this whole whiny video is just a result of Dunkey’s feelings being hurt and instead of reflecting on what behaviour led to his situation he chooses to blame Riot Games for failing to appreciate him. He believes he is more important than the other players and exceptions should be made for him because he’s a YouTuber. The whole video is essentially Dunkey throwing a tantrum, it’s disgusting and embarrassing. With this perspective, it’s no wonder that Dunkey can say such horrendous things about women and minorities without any guilt or regard for how his words might affect them. He is a callous, conceited man whose arrogance really is what’s making the video game community such a toxic, uninviting place. Dunkey has made transphobic remarks more than once over the years. He referred to Elizabeth from BioShock Infinite as “Urkel with tits” (Source) purposefully misgendering her. In another video, Dunkey refers to Nicki Minaj as Jay Z’s husband “Nick Garage” also purposefully misgendering her (Source). Dunkey believes that misgendering women is some hilarious insult when in fact it’s grossly transphobic. The Team Siren Mockery One of Dunkey’s most famous videos is one in which he mocks the first all-female League of Legends team, named Team Siren. He falsely paints them as man-hating, unintelligible whiny girls, which if you watch the original video couldn’t be farther from the truth. What Team Siren was trying to do with their formation and their announcement video was show the world that there’s room in the eSports scene for women to compete. And yeah it used dubstep and some flashy transitions but that’s just eSports, you can’t single out Team Siren for these things. But Dunkey couldn’t let that be and he thought it’d be best to create another video mocking them which he titled “Dead Serious Girl Gamers” because of course he fucking did how dare women try to get into games. He broke down each aspect of the trailer with his own voice over, imitating each woman in a mocking, whiny voice and teasing them. It’s frustrating to watch considering how discouraging it already is for many women to get into games without shitheads like Dunkey treating tearing them down just for doing so. The “Guide to Girls” One of the most egregious videos Dunkey has made, and one of the ones that launched his career, is a video entitled “League of Legends : Guide to Girls” Dunkey states that about 95% of his viewers are male, so he’s going to tell them how to pick up girls in League. But before that he goes through some comments from viewers saying they’re women, calling one a “stuck-up btch” (Source). He then proceeds to tell the presumed male viewer that you need to identify which people in your lobby are playing as female heroes, those are your most likely “targets.” He says you should make sure you let those heroes kill you because “girls like it when you let them win” (Source), implying that female players can’t play on male player’s level. He then proceeds to say “but you also have to show them that you don’t take shit from them, from that stupid btch that I’m the man in this relationship!” (Source). He then goes around targeting all the female heroes, claiming he’s “sending them to hell” and that no one else can kill them screaming “she’s mine! That’s my woman!” (Source). He released a follow-up video called “Guide to Girls 2” in which he claims “I’ve become the forthright authority on League of Legends women” and that he’s talked to “all 150 girls in League” during which he flashes up a card with “Actual (boobs + vagina)” written on it (Source). This only further illustrates Dunkey’s sexism and transphobia, reducing them to their sex appeal and genitalia. He refers to the women who play League of Legends as “stupid bimbos” and for the rest of the video he goes on about the different types of “btches” you’ll encounter and how to course them. Don’t Support Him I want to close out by just saying that supporting Dunkey is supporting sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, racism, ableism and a toxic gaming community. Dunkey represents much of what’s wrong with the video game community and why it’s so shitty and abusive towards anyone who is not a straight, white male. While people will try to defend him, saying he doesn’t demonstrate these beliefs in every single video, it shouldn’t matter because the fact he demonstrates these beliefs at all is reason enough to end your support. And some may even say that just because he makes these “jokes” doesn’t mean he believes them, which a) if he’s making the jokes he believes they’re funny and b) when you have an audience of millions it doesn’t matter if you believe it because you are normalizing that kind of behaviour. If you look at the patterns of behaviour over the years it’s impossible to deny this is a really shitty guy. He rose to fame off of sexist content, and while he may not murder a woman in every video he carries all of that misogyny with him in all his work. If you read through all of this and are still okay with supporting him then you’re just as bad as he is. I implore anyone still reading to look for new artists to support who don’t use their platform to say and do such horrible things to already victimized and vulnerable people. People who’ve worked with Dunkey (to avoid): cr1tikal, Sky Williams, Dyrus, LeahBee Alternative YouTubers with great content: Polygon, Feminist Frequency, Pockets Full of Soup If you liked what you read, share it! Tagsdunkey • homophobia • Racism • racist • Sexism • sexist • videogamedunkey • youtuber About Stephan N. Reilly Freelance writer and designer. stephanreilly.com/ 172 comments on “Everything Wrong with Dunkey” This is one of the most ignorant, pretentious, and unequivocally brain dead articles I think I have ever-read in my life. Jokes have to be at the expense of something in order to to be classified as comedy. Even the most liberal, progressive, and forward thinking people would firmly disagree about your positioning on Gastrow. Ur dense. Stephan N. Reilly Hey thanks for reading 🙂 I disagree with your definition of comedy, anything that makes people laugh or amuse someone can be comedic, it doesn’t have to be at the expense of something. And I’m the same density as every other human being: 985 kg/m³. See? Classic comedy. GAYmer42 yikes, dude. It’s depressing that your motive is actually to make everyone feel safe and okay, and yet you’re just so irreparably naive that you actually will attack people for jokes. Jokes. It’s hard to hate you as much as I hate people who make a similarly detrimental impact on the world with idiocy, though. You do, somewhere in there, beyond all of this pain you and those similar inflict on the world, want the best for people. Have you ever taken into consideration that this blatant extremism is actually starting to become a form of discrimination of its own? Nobody feels safe anymore because of this abhorrent ideology you people sling about, high above your heads. Do you know why these people hate you? Eat my pp Stephen You know how fucking retarded you are? You libtard scum shitface “ dunkey has no idea of how his words effect on people” omg you’re a pussy words are something that comes outta someone’s mouth, grow sum nuts lose the vagina you’re a man. you fucked with wrong fan base dumbas Hey thanks for reading! If you’ll check out the ammendment at the start of the post you’ll find my more recent thoughts on the topic. Eat my pp again Also your joke fucking sucks nobody fucking likes you, maybe a feminist does but they don’t count Flim Flam That’s gonna be a yikes from me idk what you mean, that joke was at the expense of your sex life……. thanks jimmy This article is ridiculously stupid. Like Dunkey isn’t trying to offend anyone, you are just a salty baby. So what if he kills a woman in a video game (its a video game, not real) and everything “offensive” he says is said in a comedic way not a hateful way. Most of the time it’s not in a hateful way, although his “Girl Gamers” video might be. But it doesn’t matter if it’s hateful when he makes it, what matters is that his content reinforces stereotypes and tropes that hurt people already being pushed out of games by the toxic community. cornman In the words of a wise man, “What the fuck? This lady is the biggest bitch in the fucking seven seas.” Source: https://youtu.be/WDQNWYOogOI?t=55 Dude, i’m not trying to be a dick or anything. I don’t have anything againt you or anything. But goddamn, aren’t you able to see that dunkey does this to purposelly trigger people like you? He embodies everything thats bad about the community ON PURPOSE, he is making fun of how ignorant, sexist , and an overall dick he is. Every single slur, every single insult or ignorant comment he does is written and premeditated for comedic purposes. Comedy needs to be at expenses of somebody, it’s the very definition of comedy itself (Comedy=Tragedy + Time) In this case Dunkey makes fun both of himself as a character, and of people like you that rage at him. He created a character, and you fell for it. Congrats, you became the classic Tumblr sterotype everyone laughs at on the internet. thanks for reaeding John! If you’ll read the referenced article at the top in the update this article doesn’t entirely reflect how I feel anymore. Per your points, if Duneky is trying to satirize toxic gaming culture (which I can’t find confirmation anywhere he is, but if you have any I’d love to see it) then he’s doing it pretty badly. Anyone stumbling onto him on YouTube could take him seriously, if satire is indistinguishable from the source material you haven’t made satire you’ve just made more of the source material. That’s just my thought anyway, thanks again for reading! fdghjjgkl but it is distinguishable if you have a sense of humour got em lol Bing Bong Blaster (@gourleygourmand) Holy shit, this retard must actually be autistic. The vids he pointed out are some of the most blatant parody I’ve ever seen, but “dunkey said a naughty word and that hurts my precious little feel-feels”. I hope this dude dies of an estrogen overdose; by the sound of it his levels are already dangerously high You know, I don’t actually enjoy Dunkey’s more offensive videos (most of the ones listed, for the listed reasons), but I also think this article is sorely lacking in context. You list many times when Dunkey has gone to the extreme with his comedy and use it to say that he is sexist/ableist/homophobic, while seemingly both ignoring all the times he does it towards other groups and missing some of the satire/comedy. I’ll list a few examples of what I mean: 1. In one of your examples (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu6ixyJ_Y-0&feature=youtu.be&t=2m33s), you show how he just randomly kills a woman and this is used as proof that he’s sexist. Do I find this funny? No. But is it sexist? Not really. Not only does he do this frequently to male characters, he does it in this same video (at the 2 minute mark) where he murders two random guys. 2. Another is when you showcase him getting his male Sim to beat up other female Sims (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTAoTeUpKnI&feature=youtu.be&t=4m1s). However elsewhere in this video he burns a male Sim to death – it’s not so much that these types of videos are horrible/sexist towards women, they’re just horrible towards everyone (often to an absurd extent). 3. As an example of missing the joke, you say that him saying “all you Asian people look the same to me” is racist, but it’s a joke based on how they’re all using the same character model and literally look the same. 4. And a final example, the Grand Theft Auto video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-5uEbrQR3s&feature=youtu.be&t=53s), where he goes into a nightclub, watches the strippers, and then murders everyone inside. Again I don’t really like this type of content, but pointing this out as an example of misogyny is disingenuous to me, as Dunkey precedes this clip with murdering a bunch of men, and then afterwards murders a bunch more men. To conclude, I think that if many of the things you take issue with had happened to men you wouldn’t have any issues with them. I’d also like to note that in at least one of your listed items (perhaps more, I haven’t looked through all of them) your description of events is wrong. For this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-5uEbrQR3s&feature=youtu.be&t=5m3s) you said that Dunkey called a group of women bitches, but it’s actually a group of men. Hey thanks for reading! If you check out the link I’ve updated at the top of this post it doesn’t really represent my views anymore, but thank you for taking the time to read and leave such comprehensive feedback. It’s pathetic. “Hey see my update” in response to your long and thought out post and their update in almost no way addresses your post. Fucking Christ. Trumpism at it’s finest. Their more recent articles are just disgusting bait. John Byerly You are probably the most stuck up person I have ever met. Your really calling someone sexist for killing a fucking sims 3 character. What the fuck. How much of a bitch can you be. Hey John thanks for reading 🙂 It’s not the action in particular I’m saying is sexist, it’s the context within which he’s doing it. Also if this comment section is any indication I’d say I’m a massive bitch, so thanks 🙂 Your fucking gay Bro it’s funny as shit and if you think he’s really sexist and shit and not kidding you probably grew up with 2 gay Dads that teach philosophy and I fucking hate you you gay slut whore big tits bimbo he’s fucking joking you ass also if you are joking then 1) disregard everything I just said 2)this is pretty convincing and actually annoying because it just pisses me off cuz I think you are serious Hey bro, I my parents aren’t gay but my mom has taught philosophy so that might’ve contributed to my desire to look at content I enjoy beyond a superficial layer and try to ciritque and analyze it. You should give it a try sometime! Felledoh This is the only example of virtue signalling I’ve ever found that legitimately upset me, and I want to tell you why. I discovered dunkey while I was recovering from surgery, and his videos really helped me. For me, the funniest thing about dunkey is the exaggerated emotion. The way he has a complete meltdown when he loses, and is filled with absolute euphoria when he wins. It’s pure camp, and really helped see the absurdity of my situation (crippled and filled with impotent rage) in a more humorous light. For you to take something that helped me survive the darkest moment of my life and reduce it to clickbaity point scoring is just disgusting. You can hide behind “I don’t feel that way now tho”, but the damage is done. Next time you wanna speak truth to power, try going after someone with actual power hey thanks for reading 🙂 I’m glad Dunkey was able to help you through a dark time in your life. I’d caution that just because you’re emotionally connected to someone doesn’t mean they’re irreproachable and shouldn’t be criticized. Also you’re a little naive if you don’t think a cultural icon with over 5.3 million followers doesn’t have any power… Larryg (@DeHozen) What an absolutely retarded fucking article. What an absolute typical gamer 😛 What an absolute typical “journalist” Clake Lad Hahahahaha wow that was a boring article. Just say you’re jealous of the dunkey and you’re very insecure at least then you might be able work on you’re issues by acknowledging them. Seacrest out! KKK Member Oh no he racism I think your name did too.. Vaibhav Dangwal fair enough Thefreeman Welcome to the salt mines! Grab a helmet and a shovel …and of course don’t forget bad spelling and maybe glasses since we’re up for a magic trip through the comment section and article. Hey Stephan, I just wanted you to know that I don’t think you should kill yourself, and I think you make some valid points in both this article and your more recent update. I’ve watched a lot of Dunkey’s videos and I’ve personally found quite a bit of his content really funny, but I’m a garbage human being with a really twisted and fucked up sense of humor so me finding him funny is probably not a great sign. In seriousness, some stuff about his content really doesn’t sit well with me, even though I really do want to like him, and that kinda sucks. Sorry that some people took your article about how gamer culture can normalize abusive language and used it as an excuse to direct a bunch of abusive language at you. Us gamers really are good at being ignorant assholes sometimes. Keep your head up! Hey Phil, thanks for reading and for your advice ❤️ I wasn’t planning on killing myself anytime soon so it’s good to hear some people agree lol It is a little ironic that an article about how abusive gamers should rethink their actions resulted in a bunch more gamers being abusive but c’est la vie. I appreciate your comment a lot it makes me hopeful that there’s room for a discussion around these issues. Cheers! so many of these examples are taken out of context. and dunkey is one of the most genuine people you can meet if u actually paid attention to the good parts of his videos you could maybe tell. there really isn’t an argument here, its just you being sensitive to something that’s obviously supposed to be taken as a joke. Good article ignore the fanbois deepthroating that Dunkey dick. thanks yaya ❤ Zachary Clarke this isnt so much a critique as a confession on your part that you have no sense of context or understanding of nuance and take words at face value always and think that that gives you the moral high ground to claim that its hateful when even the softest of softies would understand and not be offended about it in the context of the video. your amendment doesn’t really do much in the way of excusing the way you take every “talking point” (lol) out of context for the sake of pearl clutching and virtue signalling. there are people on youtube that actually spout hateful rhetoric, maybe write stink pieces on them instead. oh but thats not controversial enough huh. “stink pieces” heh 😛 This was a lot of trouble to go through to get girls to like you. rukhal Nice shit post. Oh wow you moderate comments nevermind you are actually offended. Daniel Huw Morgan Stephan, I think you’re trying to do the right thing here and aren’t being self righteous. You’re absolutely right about how much the gaming community sucks but as an actual piece written by a freelance writer, this is bad. I’m a left-wing, liberal politics student – and while I appreciate you’ve tried to evidence the source of each point you’ve made, your argument stinks. Gastrow embodies the toxicity of the gaming community as ironic comedy; he is using satire. If your argument is seriously that this satire is indistinguishable from actual toxicity then this really is shockingly unintelligent. This type of blind criticism to bring down others is exactly what makes folks ridicule us liberal minded people. You’re either desperate to attack someone else in order to paint yourself as some kind of social justice hero, haven’t a shred of a sense of humour, somehow innocently missed the entire premise of Gastrow’s videos or you’re an imbecile who couldn’t detect sarcasm if it hit you with a slightly offensive yet satirical spin move. I’d personally like to believe it’s the penultimate one. Everyone’s got to be the butt of a joke once in while Stephan, but keep your head up – some of the comments on here just reinforce your point about toxicity in the gaming world fantastically. Thanks Daniel, I’ll keep my head up ❤ Sounds to me like you’re whining about comedy, which regardless of what you deem “offensive” is meant to push societal norms and boundaries in order to get us to laugh at ourselves. Hell you can argue almost every youtuber/content creator has made a joke or two that has been deemed incredibly “offensive and bigoted”. You probably are also in the group calling Dave Chapelle an Uncle Tom for making jokes about his own race and people. I don’t mean to disrespect but a youtuber is towards the bottom of people you should be worried about what they believe in. YouTubers have audiences of millions, often young and impressionable viewers. I think we should be quite worried about what they’re doing and normalizing, and critique them accordingly. Thanks for you feedback Darnell, I hope you’ll read my follow up piece I linked at the top. Sai Ashwin Pewdiepie is a Nazi, Dunkey is a sexist moron, Gamers are toxic, Water is wet. Mike Hunt You’re a fuckin twat for making this article. It’s all towards video game characters. Who cares if he calls a woman a bimbo in a video game? It’s not a woman, it’s fucking polygons you imbecile. You think a woman like Leah would marry the person you describe? Hey Mike, thanks for reading. I don’t know the specifics of Leah and Jason’s relationship, no clue how he treats her I hope it’s well. I hope you’ll take the time to read my updated piece about where I stand now, and hope you’ll take a more open and less toxic approach to commenting in the future 🙏 Leave a Reply to Timothy Brentwood Cancel reply Archives Select Month January 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 June 2019 March 2019 February 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 January 2015 December 2014 January 2014 October 2013 September 2013 Follow Stephan's Universe on WordPress.com © 2019 Stephan Reilly	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8250
__label__wiki	0.736283	0.736283	ASUS Xonar Essence STX by Rory Buszka on April 6, 2009 in Audio & Media The majority of the high-end PC audio cards targeted at enthusiasts typically focus on multi-channel performance, with a variety of decoding modes, DSP enhancements, and other features tossed in. The Xonar Essence STX from ASUS has an entirely different focus – delivering audiophile-quality stereo output. Page 2 – First Impressions The ASUS Xonar STX comes in a box that’s similar in design to the one that our Xonar D2 card came in. The front of the box swings upward to reveal the card, encased along with its accessories in a multi-level plastic (PET) shell. However, the design on the carton is a departure from the other Xonar cards we’ve seen thus far. The entire box is black, and a Chinese tiger figure is emblazoned on the front. It’s the same marvelous packing job we saw with the Xonar D2, and the effect is no less meaningful here – we’re being introduced to a top-class product. The products in ASUS’ Xonar lineup have typically had excellent accessory bundles included with them – the Xonar D2, for example, included basic versions of popular multitrack audio recording software, a full set of adaptors, and even a short optical audio cable. The Xonar Essence STX bundle includes an adaptor from the card’s mini-optical output jack to a Toslink connector (the type of digital connection on most home audio electronics) and an adaptor from the card’s stereo RCA output jacks to a single 3.5mm stereo jack. The bundle also includes an instruction manual and a pair of poster-size pages that explain the significance of the tiger figure – it was discovered on a small chime that dates from ancient China, over 4000 years ago. Also included with the Xonar Essence STX’s bundle is an elegantly-bound “Audio Precision Test Report”, which was generated using laboratory-grade test instruments made by Audio Precision. The same instruments used to measure the Xonar Essence STX’s performance characteristics are used in the testing of high-end audio electronics that feed multi-kilobuck audiophile systems; ASUS’ goal here is clearly to establish the Xonar Essence STX sound card as a true high-end audio component. The AP test report contains test results for a golden sample card’s analog inputs and outputs, which are representative of the best performance from a typical non-modified card. The Xonar Essence STX is a PCI Express 1x card, which means that like other PCI-E Xonars before it, it requires a 4-pin power connector. The card itself is built on a black PCB, and its upper half is shrouded by a black brushed-finish EMI shield, which also features the tiger figure from the front of the card’s packaging. Together with the gold-plated connectors and the gold-colored capacitors on the card, it completes a styling motif that oozes panache and class. ASUS Xonar Essence XTC Specifications Audio Processor: ASUS AV100 Digital-to-Analog Converter: TI Burr-Brown PCM1792A (14bit, 127dB SNR) Bus Compatibility: PCI Express x1 Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR, A-Weighted): 124dB for front-out, 117dB for 600-ohms headphone-out, 118dB for line input THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise; @1kHz): Front-out: 0.00003% (-110dB); headphone-out: 0.001% (-100dB); line-in: 0.0002% (-113dB) Frequency Response: <10 Hz to 90kHz (-3.5 dB) Analog Playback/Recording Resolution: 192kHz/24-bit S/PDIF Digital Output: 192kHz/24-bit Headphone Impedance: Optimized for 32-600 ohm Analog Outputs: RCA x2 (Stereo L/R), 6.3mm x1 (1/4″ headphone output) Analog Inputs: 6.3mm jack x1 (Line In/Mic In) Digital Output: Coaxial/TOSLINK Combo Aux I/O: Aux-In 4-pin header; Intel HD Audio and AC’97 Compatible Front Panel Header Driver Features: Dolby Digital Live, Dolby Headphone, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Pro-Logic II, DS3D GX 2.5, VocalFX, SmartVolume, Acoustic Echo Cancellation, Karaoke Functions, FlexBass, ASIO 2.0 In terms of audio performance, judging by the specs alone, the Xonar Essence STX has it where it counts – it puts up the best specs we’ve yet seen for a PC sound card. The most remarkable specification is the Essence STX’s stratospheric 124dB signal-to-noise ratio through its line-level stereo output, which is unmatched by any multichannel sound card, including Auzentech’s X-Fi Prelude or ASUS’ own Xonar HDAV1.3. In addition, the Essence STX may lack multichannel analog outputs, but it’s still capable of Dolby Digital multichannel output via its digital Toslink/coaxial combo jack, and it can produce virtual surround-sound effects via its stereo outputs. The focus of the card, of course, is headphone listening, and the card claims to drive headphones rated from 32 to 600 ohms to comfortable levels, though at a slightly-reduced 117dB SNR (which is still excellent). Next, let’s delve into the technical details of ASUS’ latest Xonar creation, and find out what sets the Xonar Essence STX apart from the other high-end sound cards out there. 2. First Impressions 3. Design Features 4. Driver Software; Hardware Testing 5. Listening Tests	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8255
__label__wiki	0.949109	0.949109	Prosecutors Play Coy To Judge About Their Reversal On Flynn Trial Testimony WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 01: Michael Flynn, former national security advisor to President Donald Trump, leaves following his plea hearing at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse December 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. Spec... WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 01: Michael Flynn, former national security advisor to President Donald Trump, leaves following his plea hearing at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse December 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged Flynn with one count of making a false statement to the FBI. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS By Tierney Sneed If prosecutors are rethinking their cooperation deal with former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn they’re keeping those cards close to their chest in a new filing with the judge overseeing Flynn’s case. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered prosecutors and Flynn to explain what was happening after it was revealed that prosecutors had backtracked on their plans to call on Flynn to testify in the upcoming trial of Flynn’s former business associate. The documents highlighted a dispute between prosecutors and Flynn’s new legal team over Flynn’s testimony about the foreign lobbying project for Turkey he worked on with the associate, Bijan Rafiekian (who also goes by Bijan Kian). The dispute also suggests Flynn’s relationship with prosecutors has grown tense since he brought in the new group of lawyers — among them, a prominent critic of special counsel Robert Mueller — to replace the original set of attorneys that negotiated the plea deal. In their filing with Sullivan Wednesday, prosecutors said they couldn’t “speculate” how the unsealed records in the Rafiekian case could affect the “government’s sentencing position” in the Flynn proceeding in front of Sullivan. “Although the records raise numerous issues, the Rafiekian trial may still impact the government’s position,” the prosecutors said. “For example, Rafiekian could call the defendant to testify at trial. As a result, the government intends to reassess its sentencing position at the conclusion of that trial.” Their decision not to put Flynn on the stand did not change their position that Flynn’s sentencing could wait until after Rafiekian’s trial, the filing said. The change in Flynn’s testimony plans in the Rafiekian’s case likely piqued Sullivan’s interest because, after a roller coaster of a hearing last December, Sullivan agreed to delay Flynn’s sentencing until after his cooperation in that case was completed. Flynn was slated to be sentenced in December, but the sentencing memo his old attorneys filed enraged the judge by casting doubt on his guilty plea. Sullivan hinted Flynn could face prison time even though prosecutors weren’t asking for any. His lawyers successfully sought the delay so Flynn could receive the benefit of the cooperation he is offering in the Rafiekian case. In a filing unsealed in the Rafiekian case Tuesday, Flynn’s new team of lawyers hit many of the similar notes of the December sentencing memo by criticizing some of the government’s tactics and by downplaying the seriousness of the conduct Flynn has already admitted. The current dispute is over whether Flynn knew at the time he filed foreign lobbying forms for his Turkey project that the forms were false. His new lawyers insist that he did not know they were false at the time he filed them and that that’s what he has consistently told investigators. The government, in one of the newly unsealed docs in the Rafiekian case, said it does “not necessarily agree with these characterizations.” Flynn has been ordered to respond by Thursday to the filing with the prosecutors filed Sullivan. Read the Justice Department’s new filing with Sullivan below: Tierney Sneed (@Tierney_Megan) is a D.C.-based investigative reporter. She focuses on voting rights and previously covered health care for TPM.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8267
__label__wiki	0.553455	0.553455	Home > Unfolding Consciousness > Spirituality & the Tamil Nation > Thirumuraikal > 63 Nayanmars - Sri Swami Sivananda > Periya Puranam - பெரியபுராணம் - சேக்கிழார் > Canto 1, Carukkam -1(திருமலைச் சருக்கம்) & 2 (தில்லை வாழ் அந்தணர் சருக்கம்) > Canto 1, Carukkam -3 (ilai malinta carukkam) > Canto 1, carukkam -4 (mummaiyAl ulakANTa carukkam) > Canto 1, carukkam 5 (tiruninRa carukkam) > koRRavan2kuTi umApati civAcAriyAr's cEkkizAr cuvAmikaL purANam - History of Periyapuranam Publishers Note - The first edition of this rare treatise on Sixty-three Nayanar Saints from the prolific pen of the Himalayan Sage and Savant, Sri Swami Sivananda, was published by the Divine Life Society of South Africa in 1962. The invaluable services rendered by Sri Swami Ramananda of Sivanandashram, Rishikesh, in the preparation of the manuscript was duly acknowledged. This precious book has been out of print for a long time. The fourth edition of 1,000 copies is now being published by the Divine Life Society, Malaysia Branch through the courtesy and generosity of two devout devotees: Guru Seva Ratna Sri V. Seenivasagam and Guru Bhakti Ratna Sri T. Saravanamuthu both of whom have had long connections with the Divine Life Society, Malaysia Branch. The Saivites in Malaysia and the world at large, and the Hindus in general, will heartily welcome this publication as a great boon. Apart from the biographies of the Sixty-three nayanar Saints, this book contains an authoritative article on the Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy, the life of Saint Manicckavasagar, selections from the utterances of Nayanar saints, and articles on Glory of Lord Siva, and Puja and Ishta Devata, all by Sri Swami Sivananda, and an evaluation of the Nayanars� Message for us by Sri Swami Venkatesananda. We express our indebtedness to the Divine Life Society Headquarters for granting permission to publish this edition in Malaysia. Hagiography of 63 Saiva Saints The Saiva devotional literature in Tamil, mostly in the form of hymns in praise of the Lord, right from the Tiruvachakam of Manikkavasagar to the Tiruvarutpa of Ramalinga Swamigal who lived a couple of centuries ago, spans over two millennia. Countless mystics, saints and devotees have lived and sung the glory of God during these centuries. This voluminous literature was canonised as the 12 Tirumurai-s by Nambiandar Nambi during 11th century A.D. which includes all the significant compositions of the saints who lived till that time. Another work, the Tiruthondar Tiruvandadi, in 89 verses, of this Tirumurai compiler is hagiographical in nature and thus is a documentation of the lives of the Saiva saints. This he composed on the basis of Sundaramurthy Swamigal's Tiruthondarthogai which catalogues the devotees of Lord Siva till his time. Thus Sundarar sowed the seed of Saiva hagiography and this gives the lie to the criticism that the Tamils did not record their history properly. ...." Famous Saints of Saivism 63 Nayanmars Sri Swami Sivananda - A Divine Life Society Publication � The Divine Life Trust Society The Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy The Nayanars� Message For Us 1. Sundaramurthi Nayanar 2. Tiru Neelakanta Nayanar 3. Iyarpahai Nayanar 4. Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar 5. Maiporul Nayanar 6. Viralminda Nayanar 7. Amaraneedi Nayanar 8. Eripatha Nayanar 9. Enadinatha Nayanar 10. Kannappa Nayanar 11. Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar 12. Manakanchara Nayanar 13. Arivattaya Nayanar 14. Anaya Nayanar 15. Murthi Nayanar 16. Muruga Nayanar 17. Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar 18. Tiru Nalai Povar Nayanar 19. Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar 20. Chandesvara Nayanar 21. Tiru-Navukkarasar Nayanar 22. Kulacchirai Nayanar 23. Perumizhalai Kurumba Nayanar 24. Karaikal Ammaiyar 25. Appuddi Nayanar 26. Tiruneelanakka Nayanar 27. Nami Nandi Adigal 28. Tiru Jnana Sambandar 29. Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanar 30. Tiru Mula Nayanar 31. Dandi Adigal Nayanar 32. Murkha Nayanar 33. Somasira Nayanar 34. Sakkiya Nayanar 35. Sirappuli Nayanar 36. Siruthonda Nayanar 37. Cheraman Perumal Nayanar 38. Gananatha Nayanar 39. Kootruva Nayanar 40. Pugal Chola Nayanar 41. Narasinga Muniyaraiyar 42. Adipattha Nayanar 43. Kalikamba Nayanar 44. Kalia Nayanar 45. Satti Nayanar 46. Aiyadigal Kadavarkon Nayanar 47. Kanampulla Nayanar 48. Kari Nayanar 49. Ninra Seer Nedumara Nayanar 50. Mangayarkarasiyar 51. Vayilar Nayanar 52. Munaiyaduvar Nayanar 53. Kazharsinga Nayanar 54. Seruthunai Nayanar 55. Idangazhi Nayanar 56. Pugazh Tunai Nayanar 57. Kotpuli Nayanar 58. Pusalar Nayanar 59. Nesa Nayanar 60. Kochengat Chola Nayanar 61. Tiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar 62. Sadaya Nayanar 63. Isaijnaniyar Manickavachagar Selections From The Utterances Of Nayanar Saints Glory Of Lord Siva The Siva Lingam Puja And Ishta Devata Introduction: In the books which treat of Saivism, there is a reference to four schools, viz., the Nakulisa-pasupata, the Saiva, the Pratyabhijna and the Rasesvara. Saiva Siddhanta is the philosophy of southern Saivism. It owes its origin to no single author. It is midway between Sankara�s Adwaita and Ramanuja�s Visishtadwaita. Its literature consists chiefly of: (1) the twenty-eight Saivite Agamas, (2) the collection of Saivite hymns known as Tirumurai compiled by Nambi Andar Nambi, (it contains Tirumanthiram of Tirumular; the Thevaram of Appar, Sundarar, and Sambandar, and the Tiruvachagam of Manickavachagar), (3) the collection of the lives of Saivite saints, known as the Periyapuranam, (4) Meykandar�s Siva-jnanabodham, (5) Arulnandi�s Sivajnanasiddhiar, and the works of Umapati. Tirumular�s work Tirumanthiram is the foundation upon which the later structure of Saiva Siddhanta philosophy was built. The central doctrine of the Saiva Siddhanta philosophy is that Siva is the Supreme Reality, and that the Jiva or the individual soul is of the same essence as Siva, but not identical. Pati (God), Pasu (soul), and Pasa (the bonds) and the thirty-six Tattvas or principles which constitute the world, are all real. The Saiva Siddhanta system is the distilled essence of Vedanta. It prevailed in Southern India even before the Christian era. Tirunelvely and Madura are the centres of the Saiva Siddhanta school. Even now, Saivism is a very popular creed in South India. It is a rival school of Vaishnavism. Characteristics of the Supreme Reality: The Supreme Reality is called Siva. He is infinite consciousness. He is eternal, changeless, formless, independent, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, one without a second, beginningless, causeless, taintless, self-existent, ever free, ever pure, and perfect. He is not limited by time. He is infinite bliss and infinite intelligence. He is free from defects, the all-doer, the all-knower. Lord Siva is the God of Love. His grace is infinite. His love is infinite. He is the saviour and Guru. He is engaged in freeing the souls from the thraldom of matter. He assumes the form of a Guru out of His intense love for mankind. He wishes that all should know Him and attain the blissful Siva-Padam (the state of Siva). He watches the activities of the individual souls, and helps them in their onward march. He liberates the individual souls from their fetters or bonds. The Five Activities of the Lord: The five activities of the Lord are: Creation, Preservation, Destruction, Veiling and Grace. These, separately considered, are the activities of Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshwara, and Sadasiva. Siva, Shakti and Maya: Lord Siva pervades the whole world by His Shakti. He works through Shakti. Shakti is the conscious energy of the Lord Siva. She is the very body of Lord Siva. The potter is the first cause for the pot. The stick and the wheel are the instrumental causes. The clay is the material cause of the pot. Similarly, Lord Siva is the first cause of the world. Shakti is the instrumental cause. Maya is the material cause. Shakti is not the material cause of the universe, because She is of the nature of consciousness (Chaitanya). Siva is pure consciousness, but matter is pure unconsciousness. Shakti is the intermediate link between the two. Shakti is the reflex of Siva. It has no independent existence. Siva assumes this form out of His great love for mankind. Siva wishes that all should know Him. Evolution of the Tattvas from Suddha Maya: The world undergoes evolution for the benefit of the souls. The whole process of creation is for the sake of the salvation of the souls. The world is real and eternal. The world of matter and souls forms the body of the Lord. The Saiva Siddhanta analyses the universe into 36 Tattvas or principles, as against the 25 of the Sankhya. The 36 Tattvas arise from Maya, the material cause of the world. Suddha Maya is Maya in its primal state. From it arise the five pure principles called Siva Tattva, Shakti Tattva, Sadasiva Tattva, Iswara Tattva, and Suddhavidya Tattva. Siva functions through these five pure principles. Maya evolves into the subtle principles, and then into the gross. Siva Tattva is the basis of all consciousness and action. It is undifferentiated (Nishkala Suddha Maya). The Shakti of Siva starts her activity. Then Siva becomes the experiencer. Then He is called Sadasiva, known also by the name Sadakhya, Who is not really separate from Siva. The Suddha Maya becomes active. Then Siva, the experiencer, becomes the ruler. He is then Iswara, Who is not really separate from Sadasiva. Suddhavidya is the cause of true knowledge. The bonds that bind the soul (Anava, Karma, Maya): Souls (Pasu) are by nature infinite, all-pervading, eternal, and all-knowing like Lord Siva (Pati). Yet they think that they are finite, limited and little-knowing, ignorant, and temporary. This is due to the bonds (Pasa), viz., Anava, Karma, and Maya, which are called the three Malas or impurities. Anava is the impurity which makes the all-pervading Jiva think itself to be atomic (Anu). It produces the erroneous notion of finiteness. The second impurity or bond is Karma. The soul acts in certain ways on account of its limitation, and does good and evil actions. Karma brings about the conjunction of the soul with its body. The results of the Karma have to be worked out in the world. There should be worlds and bodies, in order to experience the fruits of actions and acquire knowledge. These are provided by Maya, the third Mala or bond. Maya is the material cause of the world. The soul gets experience and limited knowledge through Maya. The soul learns, by long experience, that this Samsara is full of pains and is transitory, and that he can attain eternal bliss and immortality only by attaining Sivatva or the nature of Siva or God-realisation. He develops Vairagya (dispassion), and Viveka (discrimination between the Real and the unreal, the Permanent and the impermanent). Discipline and grace culminate in Jnana. Jnana is the supreme means of salvation or the attainment of the final beatitude. Karma and other means are only subsidiary to it. They are auxiliaries. The attainment of Sivatva or Siva-nature does not mean complete merging of the soul in Siva. The liberated soul does not lose its individuality. It continues to exist as a soul in God. Sivatva is the realisation of an identity of essence in spite of difference. The soul attains the nature of Siva or God, but it is not itself Siva or God. Three orders of Jivas: The Siddhantins divide Jivas or Pasus into three orders, viz., Vijnanakalas, Pralayakalas and Sakalas. Vijnanakalas have only the Anava Mala (egoism). Maya and Karma have been resolved. Pralayakalas have been freed from Maya alone, in the stage of Pralaya. Sakalas have all the three Malas. The Malas affect only the Jivas, and not Siva. Those who are freed from the Malas or impurities attain Sivatva or the nature of Siva. They are the Siddhas or perfected beings. The way to the attainment of Sivatva or God-realisation: You must free yourself from the three bonds, if you want to attain salvation. You must annihilate Maya, which is the root of all sins. You must destroy all Karmas which produce rebirth. You must remove the erroneous notion of a finite self. The three bonds can be removed only through rigorous Tapas and proper discipline, the help of a Guru, and, above all, the grace of Lord Siva. Charya (observance), Kriya (rites), and Yoga (Yama-Niyama) constitute the discipline. When the aspirant practises in right earnest Charya, Kriya and Yoga he obtains the grace of Lord Siva. Then the Lord instructs the soul, reveals Himself and illumines him. Then the soul realises its nature as Siva. Guru Puja It is customary to observe the day on which these saints attained the Lord�s Feet, as a holy day. Given below are such days in respect of the Four Great Saivite teachers, with their respective holy days, according to the Tamil Calendar. Pray, fast and study their lives in these days. Tirunavukkarasar Tiru-Jnanasambandar Sundaramurthi Swamigal Chitrai Sadayam Vaikhasi Moolam Ani Makham Adi Swathi How shall we evaluate this work by a saint on the lives of saints? A wise saying in Sanskrit echoes what we mean by �Only a Shakespeare can understand Shakespeare.� Gurudev�s secondless devotion to God is amply reflected in the inspiring presentation of these great lives, simple, lucid and touching. We could have had none better qualified for it. Gurudev�s handling of it adds lustre to the illustrious lives. There have been many �intellectuals� even in India who have looked down upon the path of Bhakti (devotion) as something inferior to Jnana (wisdom). Their short-sightedness becomes at once apparent when we study the lives of the great Four Teachers (Appar, Sundarar, Manickavachagar and Sambandar) and realise that these great Jnanis, too, were great Bhaktas who loved to visit the temples and sing the glories of the Lord. Look at the humility of Appar who carried Sambandar�s palanquin: this reminds us of Gurudev�s own inimitable humility. It is not born of the weakness of the ignorant: but it is the culmination of true knowledge! How shall we understand the wonderful spirit of renunciation that characterised the lives of many royal Nayanars, if we regard them as weaklings? They had understood the true nature of the world, and wanted only God. Can we not draw a parallel in our own divine Master who, similarly, renounced a royal life of a doctor in Malaya, in exchange for poverty and the begging bowl? Love of the Lord cuts at the very root of our attachment to this world, and snaps all worldly ties, to father, mother, son, wife or relatives. As the stories of the Nayanars illustrate, the devotee is ever ready to renounce all, in favour of devotion to Lord Siva. Chandesvara Nayanar, in his complete absorption in His worship, could inflict a mortal blow on his own father: but, that was because he saw not his father, but an obstacle to Siva Puja. When Arivattaya Nayanar found, for instance, that his weak body was getting unfit to carry on His worship, he was ready to cut his own throat. If Murkha Nayanar chose to gamble and even resort to violence to carry out his vow, Kannappa Nayanar would pull out his own eyes to serve the Lord! This great truth has been beautifully brought out again and again in these lives�love of God completely removes the devotee�s attachment to his own body. Who could even approach Siruthondar�s breath-taking devotion to the Lord and His devotees? Let us also never forget that in the case of all the Nayanars devotion invariably meant expansion of the heart, and, therefore, service and charity. It is essential that, in our study of these great lives, we take them as a whole: the sixty-three blending into one marvellous scripture on devotion. Else, it might lead to perversion. Perversion in spiritual path can be quite disastrous. Gurudev would often narrate, for example, the case of a wicked man who would catch fish in the Ganges, cut it and eat it, quoting (as a devil would) from the Gita: �Weapon cannot cut the Atma, which is immortal.� The perverse intellect reads in the Gita, a sanction for the use of violence. Stories in which there is seeming use of violence by the Nayanars have to be read with this caution: we have to take them as allegories exhorting us to rout out the inner obstacles to our Sadhana, ruthlessly. The story of Eripatha Nayanar, for instance, should be taken as an exhortation for us to kill lust, anger and greed, the powerful impediments on our spiritual path which, in the twinkling of an eye wreck our worship of the Lord. If we study the lives as a whole, we will not fail to note that Anaya Nayanar, and Pusalar Nayanar hold before us the ideal Para Bhakta, supreme exemplars of the highest form of devotion. If we approach these saints with faith and devotion in our hearts, we shall grasp the message they have for us. We shall also understand why they gave such a great place to externals like the sacred ash, Rudraksha, etc. These symbols remind one constantly of God: and, when they are said to remove our sins, they remove our sinful tendencies, too, by constantly reminding us of God, and keeping evil out of our mind. May we all walk the path of devotion and attain the Lord in this very birth is my humble prayer at the divine feet of our master. That is the only way in which we can repay the debt we owe him for what he has done for us. Dust of Gurudev�s Feet Venkatesananda Sundaramurthi Nayanar flourished in the 8th century. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva. He is one of the Tamil Samaya Acharyas (four Tamil religious Teachers). Sundaramurthi Nayanar sang the glories of Lord Siva at all the sacred places that he visited. These hymns are called Thevaram. They have been collected into a book-form. All devotees sing the Thevaram even today. The hymns sung by Sundarar, Appar or Tirunavakkarasu, and Tirujnana Sambandar are called Thevaram. The hymns of Manickavachagar are called Thiruvachagam. Sundarar had the Sakhya Bhava or the attitude of a friend towards the Lord. He freely demanded of the Lord whatever he wanted. He did not do so with selfish desire, however. Whatever he asked for was for the sake of those who were dependent on him. He lived only eighteen years. Sundaramurthi Nayanar was born in Thiru Navalur where the entire atmosphere was full of spiritual vibrations and Saivism was well established. In this place, there lived a pious, devout and respected Brahmin by name Sadaiyanar whose ancestors were all ardent devotees of Lord Siva. Isaignaniar was his dutiful wife. She gave birth to a divine child whom the parents named �Nambi Arurar� after its grandfather. In his previous incarnation Arurar was Alala Sundarar, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. When the Milky Ocean was being churned by Devas and Asuras, a deadly poison began to spread on the surface of the ocean threatening the existence of all beings. Then Alala Sundarar collected that poison in his hand and gave it to Lord Siva Who drank it for the protection of the world. Hence, Sundarar got the word Alala (for Halahala, the poison) prefixed to his name. Once when Alala Sundarar was living by the side of Lord Siva in the Mount Kailas, serving the Lord and bringing flowers from the garden for His worship, he cast a lustful look at Aninditi and Kamalini, the attendants of Goddess Parvathi who had also gone to the garden to collect flowers for the divine Mother�s worship. They, too, fell in love with him. Lord Siva, through His divine vision, understood all that had happened in the garden. He called Alala Sundarar and said: �Sundarar, since you fell in love with these girls, you and they, too, will go down to the earth and take a human birth. You will marry them and enjoy the pleasures of the world.� Sundarar wept bitterly, regretting his folly which had resulted in his separation from the Lord. He prayed to the Lord: �Oh Lord! It is due to my evil thought that I have to undergo this separation from Thee. I am afraid lest I should be steeped in ignorance and forget Thee. Oh Lord of mercy! Let this not happen to me. Oh Lord of compassion! Dispel my ignorance soon and take me back to Your lotus feet.� Lord Siva granted this wish. There was another cause for Sundarar�s human birth. To an ordinary man it may appear that Sundarar was a victim to lust, even in the divine realm of Kailasa. It was not so. Sundarar was only an instrument in the hands of God. It was Lord Siva�s wish that Sundarar should sing Tiru Thonda Thogai for the benefit of mankind. So, Lord Siva entered his mind and created a desire for these two girls. Also, the Lord wanted to teach mankind a great lesson. Lust is extremely powerful. It can delude even a great devotee of the Lord like Sundarar, if he is not ever vigilant. Maya�s charms are powerful. Unless this evil quality is burnt, the Jiva cannot reach Siva. Yet another lesson. The lustful eye was the cause of Sundarar�s downfall. But, when it is used in the service of the Lord (for looking at the holy shrines, holy images of God, saints, and study of scriptures) the very same organ will help towards our emancipation. Sundarar was, therefore, born as Arurar. The king of that place, Narasinga Munaiyar, happened to see the beautiful child. He liked him. He wanted to bring him up himself and asked for the parents� permission, Sadaiyanar, whose mind was full of dispassion and who was not attached to anything in this world, immediately complied with the king�s wish. As we shall see later, he and his devout wife are also regarded as Nayanars. The boy grew up under royal care. At the proper age, the parents wanted to get their son married. Sadaiyanar sought Sandakavi Sivachariar�s consent to obtain his daughter�s hand for his son, Arurar. Sivachariar gladly agreed. But, the wedding was not to take place. Just when the ceremony was to begin, an old Brahmin, with sacred ashes on his body, Rudraksha around his neck and matted locks on his head appeared and said: �This man, Arurar, is my bond-slave. I have a document to that effect executed by his grandfather. He cannot marry.� This put an end to the ceremony. Sundarar and the Brahmin left the place. The young bride fixed her mind on the holy feet of Sundarar, shed her mortal coil and attained the immortal abode of Lord Siva. Sundarar and the old man had a heated argument. Sundarar asked him: �Who are you and from where have you come?� To which the Brahmin replied: �I belong to Tiruvennai Nellur.� Sundarar called him a liar and said: �Come, let us go to Tiruvennai Nellur and get this dispute settled by the wise men there.� At Tiruvennai Nellur, before an assembly of wise men the old Brahmin produced the document which read as follows: I, Aruran, the Adi Saivite of Tirunavalur, execute this bond of slavery with heart and soul. I and my progeny for all time to come are bond-slaves to Pithan of Tiruvennai Nellur, and we are bound to serve him by all means. Pithan means Lord Siva who delights to be called a �mad man�, to exemplify the state of the highest Yogi whose behaviour resembles that of a mad man but who teaches us that there is nothing in this world worth taking any notice of and the worldly �wise men� are all mad people in truth. After examining the witnesses cited in the document and verifying the grandfather�s signature, the assembly confirmed the old man�s claim. Sundarar had to accept it as God�s will. Followed by all of them the Brahmin entered the temple of Tiru Arul Turai on the pretext of showing them his house, and promptly vanished. Arurar understood that it was the Lord Himself who had appeared as the old man to save him from the shackles of Samsara. He was afflicted very much at heart that he had not recognised Him earlier. He cried aloud. The Lord appeared before him and blessed him: �Oh noble soul. You are already My Bhakta. You were in My Abode in Kailasa before this birth as a man. A wrong thought made you take this birth. Now I have Myself come to save you.� Because Sundarar had quarrelled with Him, the Lord Himself called him Vanthondan (the devotee who used harsh words) and asked him to sing His glories. �My clear child, you called Me Pithan (madman) during your quarrel. So, begin with this word and compose a poem.� Sundarar did so: the result was that inspiring poem Pitha Pirai Soodi. The Lord Himself came to be known as Taduthatkonda Iswar (the Lord prevented and saved him from Samsara). Sundarar later visited a number of holy places and sang the praise of the Lord in all of them. He came to Adigai Virattanam, the sacred place where Appar served the Lord Viratteswarar and was blessed. Sundarar did not like to place his foot on the sacred ground and so stayed on the outskirts of the village. That night when Sundarar was asleep, the Lord in the guise of an old man entered the Mutt. He lay down close to where Sundarar was sleeping and pretended to sleep. He then placed His feet on the head of Sundarar. When Sundarar objected to this, the old man apologised. Sundarar went over to another corner of the room. There, too, the old man repeated the same action. Sundarar did not lose his temper. He calmly asked him for his identity and explanation for the abnormal behaviour. �Oh friend, don�t you know me?� asked the Lord and disappeared. Sundarar realised that it was again the Lord Himself. Since he had not gone into the place for His Darshan, the Lord Himself had come out to where the devotee was! Sundarar prayed: �Oh Lord! How kind and merciful You are! Even devotees who are well versed in Vedas and Agamas cannot touch Your feet. Out of love towards this poor creature, You left Your abode and came here to bless me with Your Holy Feet.� Sundarar again continued his pilgrimage. At Tillai (Chidambaram), he went into a trance even as he saw the temple tower. In his ecstasy he rolled on the ground and shed profuse tears of love. He had the Darshan of Lord Nataraja. A heavenly voice commanded him to go to Tiruvarur. He then visited many other shrines and came to Tiruvarur. The Lord appeared to the Brahmins of Tiruvarur and asked them to receive Sundarar with due honours. They did so. As Sundarar was worshipping the Lord in the temple, he heard a heavenly voice: �Sundarar! I have made you My friend. I prevented you from getting married. Hereafter you will appear for ever as a bridegroom and sport on earth.� Immediately, Sundarar became a handsome bridegroom. People called him Tambiran Thozhar (friend of God). In Tiruvarur, there was a chaste woman by name Paravayar who was none other than Kamalini, the attendant of Parvathi in Kailasa. Daily she would go to the temple and worship the Lord with faith and devotion and sing His glories. One day, she came to the temple, as usual, with her friends, to worship the Lord. At the same time, Sundarar, with his devotees entered the temple. Prompted by past Karma, Sundarar was attracted by Paravayar�s beauty. He wanted to marry her, and entered the shrine of the Lord with this thought. The Lord was his friend, and so, he expressed his desire to Him! Paravayar who had seen Sundarar in the temple also fell in love with him and wanted to marry him. The marriage was pre-ordained by Lord Siva Himself and it was now His duty to bring it about. He appeared to both of them in their dreams and told them that they would get married. He also commanded His devotees in dream to arrange for the wedding of Paravayar and Sundarar the very next day. This was done accordingly, to the joy of both Paravayar and Sundarar. One day, Arurar went into the temple and found a number of devotees of the Lord there. He wanted to sing their glories. The Lord Himself sang the first line of the famous poem Tiruthonda Thogai and by His grace, Sundarar completed it. During his stay at Tiruvarur, a Vellala by name Kundaiyur Kizhar who was very highly devoted to him, was regularly supplying Paravayar with enough grains and groceries for the maintenance of Sundarar and the devotees. Suddenly there was famine in the district and people suffered for want of food. Kundaiyur Kizhar was also affected. He was afflicted at heart because he could not supply the needs of Sundarar. Lord Siva appeared in his dream and promised enough grain! Kubera, the God of wealth, did the needful, as commanded by the Lord. The next morning, Kundaiyur Kizhar found huge heaps of grain. At the same time the Lord appeared before Sundarar and informed him of the incident. At once Sundarar left for Kundaiyur to meet Kizhar. They met half-way. Sundarar saw the heaps of grain at Kundaiyur and knew that it was His Lila. He went to a nearby Koili and sang the praise of the Lord, and entreated Him to have the grain removed to Tiruvarur. A celestial voice immediately assured him of this. Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur and informed Paravayar of all that happened. That night the Bhuta Ganas, the servants of Lord Siva, removed the heaps of grain and filled the entire town of Tiruvarur with it! Paravayar offered repeated prostrations to the Lord and sang His glory. She asked the people to take the grain to appease their hunger. Thus the famine came to an end. All the people glorified the Lord and Paravayar. Kotpuli Nayanar of Tirunattiyattankudi, the Commander-in-chief of a Chola King, and an ardent devotee of Lord Siva came to Sundarar and entreated him to grace his house with his presence. Sundarar agreed to this and went. After worshipping Sundarar, Kotpuli Nayanar prostrated himself at Sundarar�s feet along with his two daughters, Singadiyar and Vanappahaiyar, and pleaded that Sundarar should marry the two daughters. Sundarar, however, placed them on his lap and fondled them, treating them as his own daughters. Then Sundarar went to the temple and sang in praise of the Lord, a song in which he called himself Singadiappan, since he took Singadiyar as his daughter. Sundarar then returned to Tiruvarur. It was Paravayar�s custom to distribute plenty of money and other articles in charity on Panguni Uttaram, a festival day. Sundarar went to Tirupugalur and prayed to the Lord to give him gold for the sake of Paravayar. That night he slept there with a few bricks as his pillow. The next morning, he woke up to find that all the bricks had been converted into gold. Sundarar was surprised at this miracle of Lord Siva and sang His glory and returned to Tiruvarur. On the way he had a vision of the Lord at Tiru Panaiyur. After visiting many holy places again and singing hymns in praise of the Lord, Sundarar came to Tiru Pachilasramam. There he worshipped the Lord and asked for a gold coin. He did not get it immediately. He sang a Padigam (song) and the Lord at once gave him a heap of gold. The Lord was so fond of hearing Sundarar sing. Then, Sundarar left for Vridhachalam, visiting a number of holy places on the way. He had omitted Tiru Koodalaiyarrur. So, the Lord came to him as a Brahmin of whom Sundarar enquired the way to Vridhachalam. The Brahmin led the way up to a certain distance, and then suddenly disappeared. It was close to Tiru Koodalaiyarrur which Sundarar now visited and sang a song in praise of the Lord there. Then Sundarar came to Vridhachalam. He worshipped the Lord, and sang a Padigam expressing his desire for gold coins. The Lord gave him 12,000 pieces of gold. Sundarar prayed to the Lord to remove these gold pieces to Tiruvarur. The Lord asked him to throw them into the river Manimukta and to receive them back at Tiruvarur. Sundarar did so, keeping a piece for identification. On return to Tiruvarur, Sundarar and Paravayar went to the tank to get back the gold pieces. Sundarar dived into the eastern side of the tank and searched for the gold, as though he had put them there. He could not find them. Sorely afflicted at heart, he sang a song. That was what the Lord wanted. Sundarar got the gold. All were amazed. But, on identification, it was found that the gold was inferior in value to the piece that Sundarar had kept back with him. He sang a song: and the Lord restored to them their original value. So fond was He of hearing Sundarar sing a song. Sundarar went out on another pilgrimage again. On the way, he was afflicted with hunger and thirst. The Lord Who is the Indweller of our hearts, erected a water-shed and was waiting for Sundarar there in the guise of a Brahmin. Sundarar and the devotees entered the shed, singing the Panchakshara. The Brahmin offered him food and water and asked him to rest awhile. All of them appeased their hunger, but the quantity of the food remained the same. When they were resting, after food, the Lord disappeared. They knew that it was none other than the Lord Himself. Sundarar sang a song alluding to this incident. On another occasion, soon after this, while on a visit to Tirukachur, Sundarar went to the temple, worshipped the Lord and was resting outside the temple, feeling hungry. The Lord understood it: and so, in the guise of a Brahmin came to Sundarar and said: �It appears that you are hungry. Please wait here. I will give you food.� The Lord at once went out in the scorching sun, begged from each and every house, and offered the food so obtained, to Sundarar. As Sundarar and the devotees were eating, the Brahmin disappeared: and they understood that it was the Lord Himself. Sundarar sang a song alluding to this incident, revealing the Lord�s supreme mercy. Later on, he went to Tiruvotriyur and stayed there for some time, worshipping the Lord there. Aninditiyar, the other maid-servant of Parvathi in Kailasa, who had also taken a human birth, was now Sangilyar in Jnayiru in Thondai Nadu. Her father was Jnayiru Kizhar, a Vellala by caste. He was also a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. Sangiliyar was devoted to Parvati from her very childhood. Once her parents mentioned that she should get married, but the very word �marriage� made her faint. Later, a respectable Vellala wanted to marry her. He sent some people to approach the girl�s father. Jnayiru Kizhar did not like even to speak to his daughter about it. He sent them away with an evasive reply. Soon after, the boy who wanted to marry Sangiliyar, and the party that went to negotiate,�all of them died. When Jnayiru Kizhar heard this, he understood the greatness of his daughter. He took her to Tiruvotriyur and built a small Ashram for her there. It was part of Sangiliyar�s Sadhana to make garlands for the Lord in the temple. She regularly visited the temple and worshipped the Lord. One day Sundarar and the devotees went to the temple. After the worship, they came to the place where some devotees were making garlands for the Lord. Sangiliyar was also there. Sundarar was attracted by her beauty, due to past Samskaras. He wanted to marry her, and expressed this wish to the Lord. The Lord promised to fulfil his wish. The Lord appeared in Sangiliyar�s dream and said: �Oh noble soul, I am highly pleased with your devotion. Now I tell this for your own good. Sundarar wants to marry you. He is My friend. He asked Me to arrange the marriage. So, marry him. You will be happy.� Sangiliyar prostrated before the Lord and said: �Oh Lord, I will obey Your command and marry him. But, he may desert me since he is already married.� The Lord asked her to get a promise from Sundarar that he would not part from her under any circumstance. Then the Lord appeared before Sundarar and said that Sangiliyar had agreed to marry him on condition that he would not part from her. Sundarar said: �Oh Lord, how can I agree to this condition since I am constantly moving about visiting many holy shrines? But, if You so desire, then assure me that You will withdraw Your presence from the Lingam in the temple and will take Your abode in the nearby tree, when I take the oath before Your image.� The Lord granted him this wish and disappeared. He again appeared before Sangiliyar and said: �Oh noble soul, Sundarar has agreed to your condition. But, ask him to make this promise, not before the Lingam in the temple, but in front of the nearby tree.� The next morning Sangiliyar came to the temple. Sundarar was waiting there for her. Sangiliyar�s friends told him that she wished the promise to be given in front of the nearby tree. He was taken aback, but accepted the proposal. The promise was given. The marriage was immediately solemnised. In Tiruvarur, Vasanta Utsavam was being celebrated on a grand scale. Sundarar remembered the festival and longed to go there. He also recollected that Paravayar would sing and dance there in front of the Lord. At the same time, he could not part from Sangiliyar. For a long time, he struggled between the two conflicting duties. Finally, he decided to leave. When he crossed the border of Tiruvotriyur, he suddenly lost his eye-sight and fell down on the ground. The Lord is impartial. None can escape the operation of the Law of Divine Justice. Sundarar slowly regained his consciousness. Immediately he realised his fault and prayed to the Lord for forgiveness, asking for the grant of the eye-sight. �Oh Lord, I take complete refuge in You. I always repeat Your Name. Even when I fell down losing my eye-sight, I remembered You only. Oh Lord of Mercy, even if I commit a crime, is it not Your duty to forgive me? Oh Lord of Compassion, save me.� In spite of the blindness, however, his thirst for the Darshan of the Lord at Tiruvarur did not abate. With the help of some people on the way he came to Tiru Mullaivayil. Here, again, he prayed to the Lord to give him eye-sight. At Tiruvembakkam he again prayed to the Lord in a similar strain. In the temple, he prayed and asked: �Oh Lord Who accepted me into His fold, prostrations unto Thee. Oh Lord Who cleverly played a trick on me, are You inside the temple?� The Lord gave a stern reply: �I am here; you can go.� and gave him a blind-man�s stick. This attitude of indifference on the part of the Lord pained Sundarar and he pleaded for mercy. �Oh Lord of Mercy, have I not taken You as my sole refuge and support? I committed a mistake thinking that You will pardon me. You are even indifferent to public criticism. Will they not accuse You for turning a deaf ear to a devotee who is sincerely weeping at Your feet, accepting his fault and craving for pardon? Oh Lord, can You not understand suffering? Like a loving child that has been separated from its mother for a long time and wants to hug her, I have come to You: but, instead, You treat me like a stranger. Oh Lord, You deceived me, who asked You to remain for a while near the tree, by cleverly informing Sangiliyar of the same and asking her to get the promise from me near the tree. Oh Lord, You gave me Sangiliyar and all the pleasures. But, now You give me the blind-man�s staff and say �You can go�. Oh Lord, am I unfit to receive Your mercy? Pardon me and relieve me of my sufferings.� Then, completely resigning himself to God, Sundarar came to Conjeevaram, after visiting many holy places on the way. He worshipped Mother Kamakshi and expressed his sufferings to her and pleaded to her to relieve him of his sufferings. Sundarar then worshipped Lord Ekambareswarar. Mother Who is seated on His left side, had already been moved by Sundarar�s prayers and wanted to shower Her grace on him. Lord Siva understood this. He at once restored vision to Sundarar�s left eye. In ecstasy he rolled on the ground, shedding profuse tears of love. After spending some days there, singing the glories of the Lord, Sundarar proceeded to go to Tiruvarur. At Tiruvavaduthurai, he again prayed to the Lord to forgive him and restore sight to the other eye, too. Sundarar then came to Thiruthurithi. The Lord asked him to take a dip in the northern tank there. Sundarar did so, and came out of it. To the surprise of all, his body had become as bright as polished gold. People were amazed at this change. Sundarar went into the temple and prayed. Sundarar reached the outskirts of Tiruvarur. He grieved that, due to his partial sight, he could not get a complete Darshan of the Lord. The very sight of the temple tower entranced him. Sundarar wanted to feast both his eyes on the beauty of the Lord and so prayed to Him to restore vision to his other eye also. Sundarar�s supreme devotion and lamentation moved the Lord�s heart. He at once cured the other eye also. Sundarar was extremely happy. He worshipped the Lord and remained completely absorbed in divine bliss. In the mean time, people whom Paravayar had sent to greet Sundarar and inform him of her eagerness to meet him, found out that he had married Sangiliyar. They went back and told Paravayar about this. Paravayar was sunk in grief. She was annoyed, too. Paravayar�s people refused to allow Sundarar�s devotees to enter the house. When Sundarar heard of this, he was afflicted at heart. He sent some elderly devotees to Paravayar, to bring about a reunion. They failed. At midnight when all the devotees were asleep, he prayed to the Lord for His help in pacifying Paravayar. The Lord appeared before him and assured him of His help. The Lord disguised Himself as Sundarar�s messenger, a Brahmin priest, and went to Paravayar�s house. The Brahmin pleaded Sundarar�s cause and asked her to accept him back. She refused, though she herself was grief-stricken at the separation from Sundarar. Her annoyance at his second marriage was so great! The Lord coolly returned to Sundarar, who was anxiously awaiting His return. When the Lord informed Sundarar of all that had happened, Sundarar fell down on the ground, in grief. �If You do not help me, Oh Lord, I will give up my life.� The Lord seeing Sundarar�s pitiable condition, assured him of help and again set out to go to Paravayar�s house. In the mean time, the devout Paravayar had understood that the Brahmin was no other than the Lord Himself and was suffering from terrible anguish for not recognising Him. The Lord again went to her house: and this time He appeared before her in His real form. Paravayar at once prostrated before Him. The Lord said: �O Paravayar, I have again been sent by Sundarar to plead his case. Do not refuse this time. He is undergoing terrible agony on account of separation from you. Accept him and allow him to come to your house.� Paravayar prostrated to the Lord again, with folded palms and said: �Oh Lord, first You came in the guise of a Brahmin but I did not recognise You. Again You have come and have shown me Your real form. Oh Lord, how kind You are! You have graced my hut and showered Your grace on me. You have taken so much trouble this midnight, for the sake of Your friend. How can I go against Your wish? I will accept and obey Your command.� The Lord was immensely pleased with her. He blessed her and returned to Sundarar. The Lord informed him that he had pacified Paravayar and that he could now return to her. He then disappeared. Sundarar was overwhelmed with joy and sang the Lord�s glories. In the mean time, Paravayar had decorated her house beautifully and was eagerly waiting for her Lord. Sundarar, with his devotees, entered the house. Paravayar fell at his feet. Thus they were re-united after a long separation. Yet, this was not all. The news that Sundarar had sent Lord Siva Himself as his messenger, had reached the ears of Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanar of Tiru Perumangalam in Ponni Nadu. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva. He was terribly angry with Sundarar for treating the Lord as a messenger to settle a domestic quarrel. How, in a wonderful and mysterious manner Lord Siva brings about a reconciliation between the two Nayanars, both of them greatly devoted to Him, we shall see, when we describe the life of Kalikama Nayanar. Equally interesting is the way in which the Lord unites in friendship Sundarar and Cheraman Perumal Nayanar, another royal devotee of the Lord. We shall describe it in detail when we come to the life of Cheraman Perumal Nayanar. When, along with Cheraman Perumal, Sundarar was proceeding to Madurai, they arrived at Tirunagaikkoronam. Here Sundarar sang a song in which he asked the Lord to give him a pearl garland, precious stones, musk, spectacles, fragrance, clothes, jewelry, one-third of the wealth of Tiruvarur, horses which ran as fast as the wind, golden flowers, palanquin, etc. How wonderful is the relation between the devotee and the Lord! Sundarar regarded God as his friend, because God Himself had wanted it to be so. He adopted towards God the Sakhya Bhava (attitude of a dear friend). In the company of Cheraman Perumal, Sundarar went on several pilgrimages, and met many of the kings of South India. Once, when they were at Tiru Kandiyur, they saw Tiruvaiyar on the opposite bank of the river. Cheraman desired to visit that place also. The river was in flood, and it was impossible to cross it. Sundarar sincerely prayed to the Lord to help them. He sang one of his songs which easily pleased the Lord. At once the river gave way, leaving a sandy tract through which they could walk across to the other bank. As soon as they reached the other bank, the river resumed its former form. They were delighted at this miracle of the Lord. Even the five elements are ever ready to serve the devotees of the Lord, at His command. Cheraman then took Sundarar to his own place, with great honour and pomp. Sundarar stayed with Cheraman for some time. He suddenly remembered the Lord of Tiruvarur and wanted to go there. Cheraman could not accompany him and was therefore grief-stricken. Sundarar consoled him and asked him to stay behind and rule the country wisely and justly. Cheraman prostrated himself before him and gave him rich presents. He sent his own people to carry these presents, and to accompany Sundarar. It was the Lord�s wish that Sundarar should receive gifts only from Him! How could His friend receive from others? Hence, He desired to deprive Sundarar of what Cheraman had given him. When Sundarar and his retinue were passing through Tirumuruganpondi, the Lord sent His Servants to rob Sundarar of all the riches that he had received from Cheraman. The Lord�s Servants disguised themselves as hunters and attacked the party that was carrying the presents. The party dropped all and fled. They went to Sundarar and reported to him what had happened. Sundarar went to the local temple and sang a Padigam. He came out of the temple and to his surprise he saw there all that they had been robbed of. Now, it was a gift from the Lord Himself, and so Sundarar, God�s friend, could have it. Wonderful are the Lilas of the Lord. After some time, Sundarar again desired to see Cheraman Perumal. On the way to Kundakolur, he went to Tiru Pukkoliyur Avinasi. As he entered this place, he heard simultaneously auspicious as well wailing sounds emerging from different houses. On enquiry, he learnt how two Brahmin boys of the same age, from these two houses went to tank for a bath; and how one of them was caught by a crocodile, and the other escaped, providentially. The latter was being invested with the sacred thread that day, and hence the auspicious sound from that house. The people in the deceased boy�s house were bemoaning the loss of the boy, sore at the feeling that, had he been alive, he would also be celebrating the sacred thread ceremony that day. Sundarar wanted to console the bereaved family. As he stood in front of the house, the people stopped wailing and came out to receive Sundarar. They were eager for a long time to get his Darshan, and so, forgetting their sorrow, they came to welcome him. Their devotion moved Sundarar�s heart. He was prompted by the Lord to bring the dead boy back to life. So, he went to the same tank and sang a song on the Lord of Avinasi to give the child back to the parents. The Creator, pleased with Sundarar, entered the stomach of the crocodile and re-constituted the body of the boy, though it had already been digested. Lord Yama, too, for his part, released from his custody, the life he had once removed and the crocodile vomitted the boy! To the wonder of all, the boy was much more handsome than when he met with the accident, and he showed signs of growth, appropriate to the lapse of time. All were amazed at this miracle of Sundarar. The parents of the boy were immensely pleased and embraced Sundarar�s feet. Sundarar took the boy to the temple and worshipped Lord Avinasiappar. He himself performed the sacred thread ceremony for him. At Kodunkolur, Cheraman, who had already come to know of the crocodile miracle, received Sundarar with still greater love and veneration than before. Sundarar stayed with the king for some time. One day Sundarar visited the temple alone and worshipped the Lord. The very sight of the Lord sent him into trance. He rolled on the ground shedding tears of God-love. The hairs on his body stood on end and his mind was filled with rapture. He regained consciousness after a long time. He was tired of worldly existence and so requested the Lord to take him back to Kailasa. He sang a Padigam. The Lord, desiring to take Sundarar back to His Abode, commanded the celestials to bring him to Kailasa on a white elephant. He also informed Sundarar of this. Sundarar came out of the temple. The white elephant was waiting for him there. He mentally wished to take Cheraman Perumal also with him to Kailasa. Then he climbed the elephant and proceeded towards Kailasa. In a Padigam he sang on this occasion, Sundarar himself reveals that this departure for Kailasa was not in his physical body, but in his spiritual body. The physical body was discarded here in this world itself, and the elements of which it was composed were returned to their sources. Cheraman learnt by intuition of Sundarar�s departure for Kailasa. At once, he mounted a horse and came to Tiru Anchaikalam. There he saw Sundarar going along the sky on the celestial elephant. At once Cheraman pronounced the Panchakshara in the ears of the horse. The horse flew up and reached Sundarar. Cheraman worshipped Sundarar there. Both of them went to Kailasa in their spiritual body. At the Gate of Kailasa, Sundarar was allowed to enter, while Cheraman was not. Sundarar went into His presence and praised His mercy: �Oh Ocean of Mercy, You have pardoned my sins and released me from the quagmire of Samsara. You have taken me back into Your fold, and bestowed on me the Immortal Bliss. How kind and merciful You are!� He then informed the Lord that Cheraman was outside the Gate. To please His friend, Lord Siva sent His Mount, Nandikesvarar to bring Cheraman also in. The Lord asked Cheraman how he could come to Kailasa without His permission. Cheraman replied that when he saw Sundarar proceeding to Kailasa, he could not bear separation from him and so accompanied him. Now, by the good offices of Sundarar which earned for him the Lord�s grace he had been admitted into the Lord�s Abode. In these words, Cheraman expressed a very great truth: that even if the devotee is undeserving, if he is devoted to a saint (the Guru), he will also gain a place in the kingdom of God, through the intercession of the Guru. Sundarar, as before, engaged himself in His service with all his heart and soul. Paravayar and Sangiliyar, being purged of their Karmas, also reached Kailasa. They resumed their original duty as the servants of Mother Parvathi. In Chidambaram, there once lived an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. He was a potter by caste and profession. He had the highest regard for the devotees of Lord Siva, too. He was ever eager to serve them. He was leading an ideal household life. He made beautiful begging bowls of clay and offered them free to the devotees of Lord Siva, with great joy. Siva, in His aspect of Neelakanta was his sole refuge and prop. Hence, he was called Tiru Neelakanta Nayanar. He would always tell others how, for the protection of the world the Lord drank the virulent poison, and he would assure his friends that they who took refuge under His feet would be purged of all sins and would finally be taken to His Abode. In spite of his virtuous qualities, once he fell a victim to lust. One day, he visited the house of a prostitute. When he returned home, his dutiful and pious wife understood this. This irritated her, though she did not show this and continued to serve him, as before. But, she had decided not to have any sexual relation with him. Nayanar could not understand the reason. One day, as he approached her with passion, she took an oath and said: �In the name of Neelakanta, I ask you: do not touch us.� Though she only meant herself, she had used the word us. Since she took the Name of the Lord and since she had used the word us, Neelakanta Nayanar decided that from that day he would not touch any woman in the world. Such was his sincere devotion to the Lord. They continued to live together. They did not want to make a fuss over their own resolve. No one knew about it. Years rolled by and they had grown old. Lord Siva wanted to reveal the greatness of His devotee and thus to immortalise his name. So, in the guise of a Siva Yogi (a Saivite mendicant) the Lord came to Tiru Neelakantar�s house. Neelakantar welcomed him and worshipped him. The Yogi gave him a begging bowl and said: �Oh noble soul, kindly keep this in your safe custody, till I come back for it. To me it is extremely precious. It has the wonderful property of purifying anything that comes into contact with it. So, please protect it with the greatest care.� Then the Siva Yogi left the place and Neelakantar kept the bowl in a very safe place in the house. After a long time, Lord Siva came to the house of Neelakantar, as the same Siva Yogi and asked for the bowl. The Lord Himself, by the power of His Maya, caused it to disappear from the house! Neelakantar searched for it, but could not find it. It was a mystery to him. He was ashamed of himself. Trembling with fear, he fell at the Yogi�s feet and said that he could not find it. At this, the Yogi got very angry and accused Neelakantar, calling him a thief and cheat. Neelakantar offered to replace the bowl with a costlier one; but the Yogi would not accept. Again and again Neelakantar pleaded that he had not stolen the bowl and that by a divine mystery it was missing from the house. The Yogi demanded that if that was the truth, Neelakantar should say so on oath, holding his wife�s hand. When Nayanar, who had resolved, in the name of the Lord, not to touch anyone, declined this, the Yogi attributed this unwillingness to the fact that Neelakantar had in fact been guilty of theft. They went to the court. The Brahmins heard the case. They asked Neelakantar to promise, as desired by the Yogi. Neelakantar got into the tank, along with his wife; they had a stick in their hand, and each of them was holding one end of it. The Yogi objected to this and wanted that Neelakantar should actually hold his wife�s hand with his own. Neelakantar could not hide the secret relationship that existed between him and his wife any more, and so, related the whole story to the court. After this narration, Neelakantar and his wife caught hold of the two ends of the stick and took a dip in the tank. A miracle happened. As they emerged from the water, they shone with youth and beauty. The Siva Yogi disappeared from their midst and Lord Siva and Mother Parvathy appeared in the sky, blessing all of them. The Lord said: �Due to the merit of having lived a life of self-control and devotion, you will live in My Eternal Abode, forever youthful.� The Lord thus revealed the glory of supreme devotion to Him (which alone made it possible for Neelakantar to refrain from lustful thoughts or actions, after his wife had sworn in the Name of the Lord) and a life of celibacy which bestows eternal youthfulness on you, and the unostentatiousness of a saint�s virtue. �Charity, free from the mean utterance I have none is found only among men of good birth� says the Kural. Among such noble souls Iyarpahai Nayanar ranked high. Charity was ingrained in him. It was his practice to invite Siva Bhaktas to his house, worship them with faith and devotion and give them all they wanted. He had taken a vow never to say no to what a Siva Bhakta wanted. Iyarpahaiar was a native of Kaveripoompattinam. He was a Vaisya by caste. To him Siva Bhaktas were the living manifestations of Lord Siva. Lord Siva was pleased with His devotee. He wanted to reveal his true greatness to the world. So, the Lord, in the disguise of a Brahmin, with sacred ashes smeared all over his body, came to Nayanar�s house. He welcomed the Brahmin with great joy, as the very sight of the holy man thrilled the Nayanar. The Brahmin said: �Oh noble soul, you are far famed for your charitable nature. Learning that none returns empty-handed from your house, I have come to you for a gift. I shall disclose it to you, if you promise to give what I want.� The Nayanar agreed readily �provided I have it with me.� The Brahmin at once revealed what he wanted: �It is the gift of your wife.� Nayanar had no difficulty at all in granting this! The supreme devotee of the Lord that he was, he did not stoop to doubt the credentials of the Brahmin who, though he appeared to be a Siva Bhakta, had such an undesirable desire: such is the unquestioning nature of devotion. Nor would Nayanar hesitate to fulfil the Bhakta�s wish, on the plea that it involved unrighteousness: for, to him worship of the guest (Guest is God) was greater Law than all the moral codes. Nayanar went inside the house and informed his wife of all that had happened. She was shocked at first, but quickly regained her composure. To a chaste wife, the husband is God, and whatever he commands is Law and Dharma. She readily agreed to follow the Brahmin-guest as his wife. Nayanar came out with his wife and asked the Brahmin to accept the gift. The Brahmin, however, feared the wrath of the wife�s relatives and asked Nayanar to accompany them till they were safely out of the town and out of danger. Nayanar agreed to do so and armed himself to protect the Brahmin. They then proceeded to go. In the meantime the relatives of Nayanar�s wife came to know of the whole story and were furious. They followed the Nayanar and party and threatened the Brahmin with death, unless he abandoned his impious desire. The Brahmin pretended to be scared. Nayanar�s wife, however, assured him that Nayanar was capable of defeating them all. Nayanar was ready to fight them. The relatives endeavoured to convince Nayanar of the unrighteousness of the whole thing, and, when they found that they could not, they preferred to die at his hands, than submit to the shame. Nayanar at once pounced upon them and chopped off their heads. All of them died and Nayanar, happy at the thought, that through the grace of Lord Siva, he had succeeded in keeping his vow of worshipping His devotee, proceeded further with the Brahmin and the wife. When they reached the temple of Tiruchaikadu, the Brahmin asked Nayanar to leave them and return. Nayanar prostrated to the Brahmin and turned his steps homeward. As he had hardly proceeded a few yards on his homeward journey, the Brahmin again called Nayanar aloud. Thinking that there might have been another attack on the party, Nayanar hastened to where the Brahmin was: but, to his amazement, found that he had disappeared and that his wife was standing alone there. He searched here and there for the Brahmin, and was worried when he could not be found. Lo and behold, Lord Siva and Mother Parvathy appeared in the sky and blessed Nayanar and his wife: �Oh noble souls, I am immensely pleased with your devotion to My Bhaktas. Both of you will very soon reach My Abode.� With these words, the Lord disappeared. The Nayanar and his wife reached His Abode and rejoiced there. Nayanar�s relatives who died at his hands also attained the lotus feet of the Lord. Thus had the Lord proved the nature of supreme devotion, which does not question. And, the Lord also revealed the truth that such unquestioning devotion does not result in the violation of the Dharma. All glory to the Lord and His devotees. Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar was a farmer. Maranar was his name: he lived in a village called Ilayankudi. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva and His devotees. He took the greatest pleasure in serving them. This Sadhana was known as Maaheswara Puja (or worship of the devotees of Mahesvara or Lord Siva). It is described as follows: �On seeing a devotee of Lord Siva, with the external marks of Vibhuti, Rudraksham, etc., taking him as Lord Siva Himself, welcoming him, prostrating before him, washing his hands and feet, drinking that water (Charanamrit), giving him a seat, worshipping him with flowers, Doopa, Deepa, and Naivedya, pleasing him with sweet words, thanking the Lord for the opportunity, and accompanying the guest for some distance while sending him away�these constitute Maaheswara Puja. This is also included in Chariyai (one of the main Saivite disciplines).� Offering food to the Lord�s devotees had purified his heart and made him a fit receptacle for the grace of God. As Tiruvalluvar has said in the Kural: Fortune dwells with a delighted heart in the house of the man who honours his guest with a pleasant countenance. Nayanar had been blessed with all the wealth of the world. But, he considered that the wealth belonged to the Lord, to be utilised for the benefit of His devotees. Lord Siva was highly pleased with the Nayanar�s devotion. He wanted to show to the world that His devotee would be undaunted by the worst calamity and would remain unshaken in his virtue. Nayanar�s wealth melted away. His wealth had left him, but not his virtue. On the contrary, his devotion to the Lord and His devotees grew more and more intense. Nayanar sold all his property and had to sell even himself in order to be able to serve the devotees of the Lord. One day it was raining heavily. Nayanar and his wife were starving. No one came forward to help them. Finally, he bolted the door and was about to fall asleep. Just then he heard a knock at the door, and, on opening it, found a Siva Bhakta standing in front of the house, drenched with rain. Nayanar at once took the guest inside, dried his body and gave him fresh clothes to wear. �Rest awhile, Swami, while we prepare some food for you to appease your hunger,� said Nayanar and told his wife of his predicament: there was nothing to offer the devotee of the Lord. But, the devout wife suggested that Nayanar could go into the backyard and collect the grain-seeds that they had just sown that very day. Nayanar accepted the suggestion. On account of the heavy rain, the grains were floating and it was easy to collect them in a basket. As soon as he brought the grains, the wife fried and crushed them, and with the help of some greens that grew in their own backyard, cooked a nice dinner for the guest. Nayanar was supremely happy. And, as he went to awaken the guest, he discovered that he had disappeared. At the same time, Nayanar saw in sky, Lord Siva Who had come in the form of the devotee and Mother Parvathy showering Their blessing on him and his wife. The Lord said: �Oh noble souls, I am highly pleased with your devotion. You will soon attain My Abode and live there for ever.� Maiporul Nayanar was a pious king. He ruled over the hill tribes of Sethi. He was chivalrous and brave. He fought many battles and was always victorious. There was peace and plenty in his kingdom. People worshipped him as the living God. He was well versed in the Agamas. He was an ardent devotee of the Lord. To him Siva and His devotees, adorned with matted locks, Rudraksham and sacred ashes represented the only truth, Absolute Truth: and all the rest of the world was straw. He saw everything as Sivamayam. Siva Bhaktas enjoyed absolute freedom in his country: they were honoured by the king and the people alike. Though he ruled the kingdom as the king, his mind was always at the Lord�s Feet. Daily, special prayers and festivals were conducted in the temples in his realm. Nayanar�s fame soon spread far and wide. This evoked the jealousy of Muthanathan, the king of the neighbouring state. He collected a big army and attacked Nayanar several times; but he was repeatedly defeated. So, Muthanathan resorted to foul-play. One day, he disguised himself as a Siva Yogi (for he knew that Nayanar had supreme devotion to Siva Bhaktas) and entered the palace at night. The gate-keepers did not question him, but allowed him to proceed. Dathan, the faithful and intelligent servant of Nayanar, was guarding the bedroom in which the king was sleeping. When the Siva Yogi approached the bedroom, Dathan tried to dissuade him from disturbing the king�s sleep; but the Yogi refused to listen, saying: �I have some secret Shastra to teach the king. I cannot wait.� So, Dathan had to allow the Yogi to enter the bedroom of the king, though he was a little suspicious. Nayanar�s wife got up and, finding a Siva Yogi in the room, quickly awakened her husband. The Siva Yogi told the king that the Shastra was a great secret, revealed by the Lord Himself, and that only the king was entitled to hear it. At once the king sent even the queen away and prostrated before the Yogi, ready to receive the secret. At that moment, the Siva Yogi, who was none else than the jealous king Muthanathan, quickly stabbed Nayanar on his back, with a knife he had kept hidden. At that time, the shrewd Dathan, as he entered the room, found the king on the floor in a pool of blood and Muthanathan with a knife in his hand. He was ready to strike down Muthanathan, when the dying Nayanar said: �Datha, he is our man. He has the appearance of a Siva Yogi and so must be honoured as one. Do not harm him. Kindly escort him to the borders of our kingdom, and see that he is unharmed.� Dathan obeyed the commands of his master. As he was escorting Muthanathan, the people who had heard what happened went to attack Muthanathan, but, as soon as Dathan told them of the king�s commands, they withdrew, admiring the supreme devotion of their king. Thus, Muthanathan was safely escorted out of the kingdom. And, Dathan hastened back to the palace to convey this news to the dying king who was eagerly waiting for it. As soon as Dathan conveyed the news to the king, the Nayanar called all his Ministers and relatives to his bedside, and spoke to them as follows: �It is our duty to serve the Bhaktas. They must be honoured and worshipped at all times and under all circumstances. Let our people walk in the footsteps of the Siva Bhaktas. Let the country be flooded with Siva Bhaktas. By their blessings, let peace and prosperity reign in our land.� With these words, he closed his eyes and meditated on Lord Siva. Lord Siva at once appeared before him and blessed him as follows: �I am immensely pleased with your devotion to My Bhaktas. I am immensely pleased with your cosmic love and your unquestioning devotion to My devotees. Even in a murderer you saw Me. You are, therefore, fit to reach the Highest Abode which even the Devas cannot hope to reach. You will soon come to My Abode.� With these words the Lord disappeared: and Maiporul Nayanar (whose very name meant �one for whom God was the sole reality�) also attained His Abode. Viralminda Nayanar was born in Sengunru, a hilly place. He was a Vellala by caste. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. Through His grace, he was free from �I�-ness and �mine�-ness. He had equal vision. He served His devotees and attained purity of mind. To him worship of Siva Bhaktas was equal, if not even superior to the worship of Lord Siva Himself. He felt that no one could get Siva�s grace without first worshipping Siva Bhaktas, and that he who worships even the Siva Lingam with all faith and devotion, would not attain salvation if he insults Siva Bhaktas. Daily he used to visit the temple. Before worshipping the Lord, he used to worship the Siva Bhaktas who might be found there. He left Sengunru on a pilgrimage and came to Tiruvarur. One day when he was worshipping the Lord, Sundaramurthi Nayanar came to the temple. Sundarar by-passed the Bhaktas who were in temple and went into the sanctum sanctorum to worship the Lord. This upset Viralmindar, who was observing this. He could not tolerate this insult to His Bhaktas. He said to Sundarar: �You have insulted the Siva Bhaktas. By this act you have rendered yourself unfit to remain in the holy circle of Siva Bhaktas. Hence, you are excommunicated from this circle.� He added further: �And, Siva, for having so thoughtlessly accepted such improper worship at your hands, He, too, shall be regarded as an outcaste from the divine fold.� So firm was he in his conviction that he could thus �reprimand� God Himself! In fact, it was Siva Himself Who spoke through him to instruct His Bhaktas in the proper attitude they should have towards His Bhaktas. Sundarar immediately understood Viralmindar�s inner Bhav towards the Bhaktas as well as towards Lord Siva, and prostrated before him. He then sang a Padigam praising him. The Padigam melted Viralmindar�s heart so much that he greeted Sundarar and said: �Your mind is well established in the service of Siva Bhaktas. You have got sincere devotion to them.� Lord Siva was greatly pleased with Viralmindar�s great steadfastness in his devotion to Siva Bhaktas. Thus had the Lord revealed the great glory of the Bhakta. He was then elevated to the blessed plane of the Siva Ganas where the Lord made him leader of the Ganas. Glory to such Bhaktas! Amaraneedi Nayanar was a Vaisya by caste. He belonged to Pazhaiyaarai in the Chola Kingdom. Pazhaiyaarai was a very fertile place, surrounded on all sides by gardens and green fields. In those days this place was very famous. Amaraneedi Nayanar was a trader in gold, diamonds, silks and cotton goods. He used to import these goods from foreign countries and was selling them at reasonable prices. He earned money honestly and became rich. Though he was engaged in worldly activities, his mind was fixed on Lord Siva. He was an ardent Siva Bhakta. He would invite Siva Bhaktas to his house and worship them. He would give the Kowpeenam, cloth, etc., and feed them nicely and send them away happy, with other gifts. He used to visit the sacred temple of Tirunallur during festivals and worship Lord Siva with intense faith and repeat Panchakshara Mantra daily with Bhava. Not being satisfied with this visit during festivals only, he wanted to settle down there once for all, always enjoying the Lord�s Darshan, and feeding Siva Bhaktas. So he left Pazhaiyaarai and migrated with his family and relatives, to Tirunallur. He built a beautiful Mutt there to accommodate Siva Bhaktas who visited the temple. Daily he used to invite Siva Bhaktas and offer Kowpeenam, etc. Lord Siva was highly pleased with Amaraneedi Nayanar�s Kowpeena charity and extreme kindness to Siva Bhaktas. He wanted to show to the world His Bhakta�s greatness and also shower His blessings on him. So, one day Lord Siva in the guise of a Brahmachari, with beautiful matted locks on his head, sacred ashes on his forehead, with a staff on his shoulder, appeared before Amaraneediar�s Mutt. Two Kowpeenams and a small ash-bag were tied to one end of the staff. He had a charming face. His eyes were glittering. He walked gracefully into the Mutt. Amaraneediar, with extreme joy, welcomed him and worshipped him. The Brahmachari said: �Oh friend, you are a noble soul. People are highly praising your Kowpeena charity. I have come to you for Darshan.� Amaraneediar begged of him to take Bhiksha. He readily agreed and said: �I shall go to the river and return after finishing my bath and Nitya Karmas. Rain may drench my Kowpeenams. So, please keep this dry Kowpeenam safely with you, and I shall come back for it. The Kowpeenam is very precious, as you already know. So, please keep it safe.� The Brahmachari went away, and Amaraneediar kept the Kowpeenam safely inside the house. But, the Lord willed that it should disappear! Soon after the Brahmachari came back after his bath, etc., and asked for the dry Kowpeenam as rain had drenched the Kowpeenam he had on the staff. Amaraneediar could not find it. He prayed hard to the Lord. Yet, he could not find it. He approached the Brahmachari, trembling, with another Kowpeenam, and explained his predicament to him. But, the Brahmachari was in no mood to take any explanation. Amaraneediar offered much wealth, etc., in compensation. But, the Brahmachari said: �What have I to do with all this wealth? All these are of no use to me. I only need a Kowpeenam.� And, in saying so, the Lord in the guise of the Brahmachari, uttered a very great truth. He continued: �I have got another Kowpeenam: you can give me another of the same weight.� Amaraneediar was greatly relieved when he heard this. He brought a balance. He put the Kowpeenam on one side and another piece on the other. The Brahmachari�s scale went down. Whatever Amaraneediar put on his side, the Brahmachari�s scale was heavier. Amaraneediar was amazed: and he understood that it was God�s own Lila. All his wealth could not equal the Brahmachari�s Kowpeenam! How could it? Lord Siva�s Kowpeenam represents the Vedas. The fibres of His Kowpeenam represent the Shastras. Amaraneediar was on the horns of a dilemma. He fell at the Brahmachari�s feet and asked him to allow himself, his wife, and his child to be weighed against the Brahmachari�s Kowpeenam. The Brahmachari agreed. Amaraneediar got on the scale with his wife and his child, saying: �If I have truly served the Siva Bhaktas, with faith and sincerity, let this sca1e be equal in weight to the other one.� Immediately the two scales were equal. The merit of Amaraneediar�s selfless service of the Siva Bhaktas was equal to the merit of Lord Siva�s Kowpeenam. The people who witnessed this were wonderstruck. They prostrated before Amaraneediar and praised him. Devas from the heaven showered Parijatha flowers. The Brahmachari disappeared and Lord Parameswara and Mother Parvathi appeared on Their Rishabha before Amaraneediar, his wife and child. He blessed them: �I am immensely pleased with your whole-hearted and sincere service of My Bhaktas. I am immensely pleased with your Kowpeena charity. You three will come to My Abode and live there happily for ever.� On account of the Lord�s grace, the balance itself turned into a celestial car in which Amaraneediar, his wife and his child attained Siva�s Abode. Eripatha Nayanar was born in Karuvur, one of the main cities of the Chola Kingdom. It was a very sacred place, situated on the bank of the river Ambiravati. On both the banks of this river saints and sages were doing Tapas and were radiating spiritual vibrations. A famous temple was there, too, dedicated to Lord Pasupatheesvarar Who was showering His grace on the king and the people alike. They were all happy. Eripatha Nayanar was daily worshipping Lord Pasupatheesvarar with great faith and devotion. His one aim in life was to serve Siva Bhaktas and to offer them every kind of protection. He always carried a weapon, an axe, for this purpose. With the axe he would punish anyone trying to harm Siva Bhaktas. He was doing by this the Lord�s own work! In that city, there lived a Siva Bhakta by name Sivakami Andar. He was very regular in his daily worship of Lord Siva. Early morning would find him in the garden after bath, collecting flowers, making garlands for taking to the temple and offering to the Lord. This was his routine. On a Maha Navami day when all the people were jubilant, Sivakami Andar was rushing to the temple, as usual, with a basket of flowers. At the same time, the king�s pet elephant was returning from the river, after its bath. On its back were two Mahouts, and three others were escorting it. Suddenly, it went mad and was chasing the people. They were running here and there. It ran towards Sivakami Andar. It caught hold of him, wrenched the basket of flowers from him, threw it on the ground and ran away. The flowers were all scattered on the ground. Sivakami Andar was greatly upset. The elephant had destroyed the flowers he had kept for the worship of the Lord. He chased the elephant. He was very aged and soon fell down exhausted. He was weeping bitterly, crying aloud: �Sivada, Sivada� (a cry expressing agony). Eripatha Nayanar happened to pass that way. He heard Sivakami Andar�s pitiable cry and the cause of it. �Where is that elephant?� asked Eripathar and began to run in the direction indicated by Sivakami Andar. Soon he overtook the elephant and hurled his powerful axe, killing it with one stroke. Then he pounced on the Mahouts and killed them, too. The news of the elephant�s fate reached the king who immediately reached the spot on his horse, surrounded by his soldiers. He could not see who had killed the elephant, for, he could not associate the Siva Yogi Eripathar with such an act. He began to shout: �Who killed my elephant?� When someone pointed to Eripathar, immediately the king�s wrath vanished, for he knew that if the Siva Yogi had done so, there should have been a very valid reason for it. �He must have killed it in self-defence,� thought the king and felt happy that the elephant had done no harm to the Siva Yogi. He addressed Eripathar: �Oh Swamin, I did not know that you killed the elephant. Definitely, the elephant and the Mahouts must have done some harm to you and you rightly punished them.� Eripathar narrated to the king all that had happened, and said: �Since the elephant and the Mahouts were guilty of Siva-Aparadham, I killed them.� The moment the king heard the expression Siva-Aparadhara (sin against Lord Siva) he suffered terrible mental agony. He fell at the feet of Eripathar and said: �O Swamin, for what they have done, the punishment awarded by you is not enough. I have committed a great crime by keeping such an elephant and such Mahouts. Now, I do not deserve a death through your holy weapon, the axe. Here is my own sword. Please be gracious enough to cut off my head with it.� Eripathar was stunned to hear these words. He himself was struck with remorse. �What a great pain have I inflicted on the king! What a noble king he is!� he thought; and, lest the king should execute the punishment on himself, he took the sword from the king. Eripathar felt that he was the cause for the king�s affliction, and in self-punishment, he began to cut his own throat. The king was alarmed. He thought that he would now be guilty of another offence and at once gripped the sword and stopped Eripathar from cutting his own throat. The Lord�s Lila was over. A voice was heard in the sky: �Oh noble souls! This is Lord Pasupatheesvarar�s Lila. It is His wish that His Bhakta�s sincere and faithful service to Him must be recognised by the world.� Immediately, the elephants and the Mahouts got up, as from sleep. Sivakami Andar�s flower basket was full. All were amazed and began to sing Lord Pasupatheesvarar�s glory. Eripathar placed the sword at the king�s feet and prostrated to him. The king also fell at Eripathar�s feet. Both embraced each other and were in great joy. Eripathar wished that the king should mount his pet elephant. The king did so. Eripathar returned to his place. Sivakami Andar went to the temple with the flowers. Eripathar continued to serve Siva Bhaktas. Finally he cast off his mortal coil and reached the Abode of Lord Siva. Enadinatha Nayanar was a Shanar (toddy tapper). He was born in Eyinanur in Chola Kingdom. It was situated to the south-east of Kumbakonam on the bank of the river Arisol. It was very fertile and rich. Enadinathar was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. Like Maiporul Nayanar, however, he was devoted even to the external marks of Siva Bhakti. To Enadiar, the three white lines of Vibhuti or sacred ash on one�s forehead were sufficient to evoke his own reverence. It would not be out of place here to say a word about this mark on the forehead of devotees of Siva. Through this mark Lord Siva teaches silently that the spiritual aspirant should destroy the three types of impurities, viz., Anavam (I-ness), Karma (selfish activity), and Maya (illusion): the three desires or Eshanas, viz., desire for worldly goods, for son and for wife: the three Vasanas or subtle tendencies, viz., Lokavasana (worldliness), Dehavasana (attachment to the body) and Shastravasana (blind faith in the scriptures and polemics), and that he should transcend the three bodies (physical, astral and causal), and the three states, viz., waking, dreaming and deep sleep,�and eventually attain union with Lord. The Shastras assure us that the Bhasma or sacred ash is a divine healer. It cures all diseases, including the disease of birth and death, and bestows on the devotee who wears it, the highest wealth, viz., Moksha. Such is the glory of the sacred ash: and, no wonder Enadiar worshipped whoever came to him with the ash on his forehead. Enadiar saw Lord Siva in him. He was ready to give even his own life at the feet of the devotee who wore the ash. Enadinatha Nayanar was a very good swordsman. He was a tutor to the princes in fencing. He earned a good income from his profession. He spent all his income in the service of the Siva Bhaktas. He became very popular, too. This evoked the jealousy of another man belonging to the same profession, by name Atisuran. Contrary to his name (which means a great hero), he was not at all skilful and not strong either, because he was full of vices. Yet, he wanted to fight with Enadinathar and defeat him. One day Atisuran marched towards Enadinathar�s house, with all his relatives, fully armed: he hoped to defeat Enadinathar, with the help of his relatives. He stood in front of Enadinathar�s house and challenged him to a fight�jackal coming to fight the lion. Enadinathar accepted the challenge and came forward to fight. Atisuran got frightened. He asked Enadinathar to come to the nearby grove to fight with him. The relatives of Atisuran were waiting in the grove. In the mean time, the friends of Enadinathar had also gathered around him. The two parties fell on each other, and in the terrible fight that ensued many lives were lost. Atisuran ran away from the grove. He wanted to kill Enadinathar, not in open fight (which was impossible), but by strategem. The next day, he sent a message to Enadinathar: �Let us fight again, but without any assistance this time: otherwise, many innocent people die on our account. Let us go to a lonely place, without anyone�s knowledge and fight.� Enadinathar accepted it. The next morning, Enadinathar went away secretly and was awaiting Atisuran�s arrival at the stipulated place. Atisuran, with the sacred ashes on his forehead (which was cleverly hidden by his shield) approached Enadinathar. Enadinathar pounced upon him, with a big roar. In a moment, Atisuran removed the shield, revealing the sacred ashes. Enadinathar quickly lowered his sword and thought: �What a sin I was about to commit! He has become a Siva Bhakta now. I must not harm him. Let him achieve his object of killing me.� Endinathar wanted to throw the sword away, but kept it in his hand, else he would be compelling his opponent (a Siva Bhakta!) to incur the sin of killing an unarmed person. As he was mutely standing thus, Atisuran killed him. Lord Siva was highly pleased with this self-sacrificing devotion that Enadinathar had for the ashes. He appeared before Enadinathar as he fell, and took him to His Abode. Nagan was the king of hunters at Uduppur in Pottapi Nadu. His wife was Tattai. They were great devotees of Lord Subramanya. By His grace, they had a child, after a long time. It was very heavy: so, they named him Tinnanar. Tinnanar was Arjuna in the previous birth, according to Tiru Kalahasthi Puranam. When he went to worship Siva, to get Pasupatha Astra, and when the Lord came to him as a hunter, Arjuna did not recognise Him. So, he had to be born as a hunter again and adore the Lord, before attaining Final Liberation. Tinnanar was educated according to the hunters� customs. He became a good archer. Even when he was young, his father retired, and crowned him king. Though he was a hunter and carried on hunting as his Dharma, Tinnanar was full of love and would not kill young ones, females, diseased animals, etc. Spiritually, he had already killed the animals within himself, viz., lust, anger, greed, vanity, etc. One day, Tinnanar went out hunting. A pig escaped from its net and was running away. Tinnanar pursued it accompanied by two others, Nanan and Kadan. The pig was tired and stood near a tree. It was quickly killed by Tinnanar. They were tired, too, and thirsty. They proceeded towards the Ponmukali. Tinnanar wanted to climb the nearby mountain. Nanan, too, volunteered to follow him, saying that on that, the Kalahasthi hill, there was Lord Kudumithevar (God with a Tuft). Kadan was busy cooking the pork. Even when he began to climb the hill, there was a definite change coming over Tinnanar, owing to past Samskaras. He felt that a great burden was being lifted off his shoulders. He was losing body-consciousness. As he saw the Lord there, he felt supreme love surging in his heart. He embraced the Lingam and kissed It. He began to shed tears of joy. He felt that the Lord was lonely there, and that he should thenceforth remain with Him. Again, he thought that the Lord might be hungry. Though he was reluctant to leave the Lord alone, he quickly came down the hill to fetch some food for the Lord. He took the best pieces of the pork, tasted them and ear-marked the very best for Him. In the mean time, he gathered from Nanan that the Lord was worshipped daily with water, flowers, etc, before the food was offered to Him. So, he began to collect the other articles of worship. He filled his own mouth with water from the river. Flowers, he gathered and wore them on his head! He took the pork, bow and arrow and went up the hill again, alone this time. At the temple, Tinnanar poured from his mouth, the water that he had brought for His worship. That was his �Abhishekam�. Then he decorated the Lingam with the flowers he had brought on his own head. This was his �Archana�. He then placed the pork before the Lord. He went out and stood guard for Him, at the entrance, lest some wild animals should hurt Him. In the morning again he went out to hunt and bring fresh food for the Lord. In the mean time, Nanan and Kadan worried about the change that had come over Tinnanar (which they thought to be madness). They went and reported the matter to Tinnanar�s parents. They came and tried, in vain, to take him back. They, too, went away. When Tinnanar left the temple in the morning to get food for the Lord, Sivagochariar, the temple priest, came there for the usual orthodox worship. He was horrified at the desecration that some unknown person had done in the temple. He was well versed in the Agamas (rituals of Siva-worship). He performed the necessary purificatory rites and took bath again and began his formal worship. He brought water in a holy pot, with a bandage around his own mouth, lest the breath of his mouth should pollute it. He brought fresh flowers in a holy basket. He brought fruits and sweets, newly made and unpolluted by anyone tasting it, before the Lord for being offered to Him. He went home after the worship. Tinnanar returned with fresh meat. He removed the priest�s decorations, and did the worship in his own way, and then as usual, stood guard at the entrance. This went on for five days. The priest was greatly upset about the desecration of the holy place. He appealed to the Lord to stop it. Lord Siva wanted to show to Sivagochariar the nature of Tinnanar�s supreme devotion. He commanded him in a dream, to hide himself behind the Lingam, when Tinnanar went to the temple the next day, and watch what took place. On the sixth day, Tinnanar went out as usual for getting the Lord�s food. While returning, he saw many ill omens, which made him feel that something had happened to the Lord: he was so unconscious of himself, that he did not think that something could happen to him. He ran towards the Lord. He was grieved to see blood issuing from the Lord�s right eye. The articles he had brought for the worship dropped from his hand. He wept bitterly. He could not find who had done this to the Lord. He treated the eye with herbs he knew of. Still the bleeding did not stop. A simple idea occurred to him: �flesh for flesh�. At once, with his own arrow, he took out his own right eye, and fixed it over the right eye of the Lord. The bleeding stopped. He was very happy. When he was dancing in ecstasy, he noticed that the Lord�s left eye had begun to bleed. But, he had already found out the remedy. There was only one problem: how to locate the eye of the Lord, when his own eye had been pulled out. So, Tinnanar planted his foot at the place where the Lord�s left eye was on the Lingam, and began to pull his left eye out, with his arrow. At once, Lord Siva caught hold of his hand and said: �My dear child, Kannappa! Stop plucking your eye.� The Lord repeated the word Kannappa thrice. Kannappar was thrice blessed. Tinnanar became Kannappar, because he gave his own eye to the Lord. Lord Siva took him with both Hands, and kept him on His right side. Kannappar regained his vision and lived as god himself. Sivagochariar understood the true nature of devotion. This story has an esoteric meaning, too. Nayanar had conquered all other evils: but, Anava Malam or egoism had to be killed, too. The wild pig represents this. Supreme Bhakti dawned, the moment this was killed. In its chase, the seeker is accompanied by good and evil (the two hunters Nanan and Kadan). Nanan (good) described the glory of the Lord to him: Nanan represents good Samskaras. Kadan (the evil) had to be left behind. The aspirant with good Samskaras, goes to His Presence. But, when he has to attain God-realisation, even this has to be renounced. Hence, Nayanar, when he went to worship Him, went alone. Nayanar�s parents (the hidden good and evil tendencies and worldly desires) tried but failed to take him away from God. The Lord asked the priest to hide behind Him, while Tinnanar was in front: this means, true Bhakti is far superior to mere ritual. Tinnanar�s readiness to pluck out his own eyes for His sake is total self-surrender or Atma-Nivedan, the highest peak of devotion which immediately reveals the Lord in all His glory. Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar was born in Tirukadavur in the Chola kingdom. The Lord of this place is called Amirda Ghateswarar. Once Devas and Asuras came to this place with nectar in a pot. They wanted to take bath. So, they left the pot on the ground and went to the river. When they came back to the place, they could not lift the pot. The pot itself had been transformed into a Lingam. Hence this Lingam is known as Amrita Lingam. Markandeya worshipped this Lingam and became an immortal boy of 16 years. The Goddess in this place is called Abhirami Amman. Abhirami Pattar, a great devotee of Mother, sang beautiful songs in praise of Her: and the Mother Who was highly pleased with this, changed the new moon day into a full moon day, in order to save him from the king�s wrath. Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar was a Brahmin by caste He got the name because he was always holding a pot (an incense pot) in his hand. He considered burning of incense before the Lord was the best service to Him. Lord Siva was highly pleased with the Nayanar�s intense devotion and his wonderful service. He wanted to put it to test, so that the true glory of his supreme devotion to the Lord may be understood by all. By the will of Lord Siva, Nayanar became poor suddenly. He sold all his property. His family was starving. Still, he continued to burn incense before the Lord. One day his dutiful wife thought: �Everything has been sold. Only this Mangalyam (a sacred thread with a pendant, which every married woman must always have on her person, till the husband dies, when it is removed), is left. I will give it to my Lord: though it is inauspicious to do so. Let him sell it and obtain some rice, with which we could feed the children who may die of hunger otherwise.� She removed the Mangalyam and gave it to her husband, who gladly received it. As he was proceeding to the market to sell it, Lord Siva Himself appeared before him, in the guise of a hawker and said that he had very good incense. The word incense at once made Nayanar forget himself and the mission! He quickly bought incense for the price of the Mangalyam, and went to the temple to burn it before the Lord. His wife patiently waited for his return, and, not finding him even after nightfall, put the children to bed and remained praying. The Lord was immensely pleased with this noble couple. The faithful wife was prepared to part with even the most sacred ornament for the service of her lord, her husband. The Kural says: �Rain falls at the bidding of her who, on waking from sleep, worships no other God but her husband.� That night Lord Siva appeared in her dream and blessed her with all wealth. She woke up from her sleep and was amazed to find all types of wealth in the house. She sang His glories. Immediately she prepared a nice meal and was waiting for her lord�s return. After blessing the Nayanar�s wife, thus, Lord Siva appeared before Nayanar in the temple and said: �Oh noble soul, I am immensely pleased with your devotion. Your dutiful wife is anxiously waiting for you in the house with milk and food. Kindly go to your house.� It was only then that Nayanar became aware of this world! He returned to the house and found that it had been transformed into a heaven, by the grace of the Lord. Siva Bhaktas, too, had assembled in the house in large numbers. They all sang the glories of the Lord. The Nayanar treated the wealth that the Lord had bestowed upon him as the property of Siva Bhaktas and served them. One day Nayanar wanted to visit the temple at Tiruppanandal. The Lord of this temple is Arunasatesar. Thatakai was the daughter of an Asura. For getting a son, she worshipped the Siva Lingam regularly. One day at the end of the worship, she wanted to garland the Lingam. As she lifted the garland with both her hands, her cloth began to slip from her waist. She held it with her elbows, and hence could not raise her hands (and the garland) high enough. To relieve her, the Lord leaned to one side and accepted the garland. Many people tried to pull the Lingam straight: but it could not be done. Nayanar heard that the king of the place was upset about it and wanted the Lingam to be straightened. Nayanar wanted to help the king. He tied the Lingam to his neck with a rope (the rope of God-love) and gently pulled it. The Lingam became upright! Devas rained flowers from heaven. All were amazed and recognised the glory of the Nayanar and his great devotion to the Lord. After spending some more time in the service of Lord Siva and His Bhaktas, Nayanar reached His Abode. Kancharur was a fertile place in the Chola kingdom. The people were all Siva Bhaktas. In this place there lived a staunch devotee of Lord Siva by name Manakancharanar. He was a Vellala by caste. He was a hereditary Senathipathi. People of the community had the highest regard for him. He was a contemporary of Sundaramurthi Nayanar. To him adoration of Siva Bhaktas was the highest form of worship of the Lord. He would read their minds from their look, and would serve them without their asking. He had no children for a long time. He worshipped Siva with faith and devotion and obtained the boon of a daughter from Him. Nayanar celebrated the birth of this divine child, with a lot of charity. In due time, the girl attained the marriageable age. She was engaged to be married to Eyarkon Kalikamar who was also an earnest and sincere devotee of the Lord. The date of the wedding had been fixed and all arrangements made. In the mean time, Lord Siva wanted to shower His supreme grace on the Nayanar. He took the form of a Maha-Vrathiar (man of great vow) who wears the sacred ash on his forehead, matted locks adorned with a garland of bones, and a sacred thread made of human hair on his chest. The Maha-Vrathiar appeared before Manakancharanar who received him with great delight. When the ascetic enquired about the cause of the festive appearance of the house, Nayanar explained that his daughter was to wed that clay. He asked the girl to bow to the ascetic and receive his blessings. The ascetic saw her flowing hair, and said: �Oh noble soul, I am delighted to see her hair. This can be conveniently made into a Panchavati (the thread that adorns my chest).� At once, Nayanar took a knife and, without thinking for a moment, cut the hair on his daughter�s head and handed it to the ascetic. In his extreme devotion to the Siva Yogi, he did not even consider the fact that he was disfiguring his only daughter, and that the bridegroom might refuse to accept her. The Lord in the form of the ascetic immediately disappeared. He gave Nayanar and his family Darshanam along with Mother Parvathy and blessed them. Eyarkon Kalikamar, the bridegroom, and his party arrived there soon after, and came to know of all that had happened. He was sorry that he had not come earlier and had the Lord�s Darshan. When he saw the disfigured bride and hesitated to accept her, Lord Siva, the Indweller, understood the cause, and restored the hair to her head. Nayanar and his family were very happy and proceeded with the wedding. There once lived in Kannamangalam in the Chola kingdom a rich Vellala by name Thayanar. He was leading the life of an ideal Grihastha (householder) of whom the saint Tiruvalluvar has sung: He will be placed among the gods in heaven who in this world follows the law of the householder�s life. Thayanar was a great devotee of Lord Siva. His devotion took the form of a daily offering to the Lord of food prepared with red rice, a sauce made of red herb, and mango pickle. He considered this as an act of great devotion to the Lord. The Lord was highly pleased with Thayanar�s devotion. He wanted to put it to the test, in order to manifest it to the world in all its glory. By His Will, poverty struck Thayanar. Thayanar got himself employed and earned his wages in kind (red rice). He himself would not eat this red rice, but lived on the inferior khar rice. The Lord tested him further. All the fields in the place grew only red rice. But, Thayanar would not touch it. His wife cooked for him some green leaves from their garden. Thayanar was content and was intent on his usual offering to the Lord. The Lord put His devotee through more severe tests. Even the green leaves withered away and there was nothing left. Thayanar was not at all perturbed. He happily lived on mere water: his mind was full of the bliss of the worship of the Lord and he felt neither hunger nor thirst. One day, Thayanar, now emaciated and weak, was taking his usual offering to the Lord, followed by his wife. He stumbled on the way and fell down. The offering he had, was spilt on the ground. Thayanar was greatly upset. He began to weep bitterly: �Oh Lord, today the food intended for You has been spilt on the ground. What great sin have I committed to deserve this? Please forgive me. Have mercy on this poor creature. You are omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. If this is true, You must be present here also. Kindly come and accept the offering here. If You do not eat this, I will give up my life.� With these words, he began to cut his throat with an Arival (sickle). Hence, the name Arivattaya Nayanar. Lord Siva was highly pleased with his devotion. His Lila was over. He at once stretched His hand and caught hold of Nayanar�s, thus preventing him from cutting his own throat. Nayanar did not realise what was happening. At that time, he heard the sound of someone biting a mango pickle. He understood the Lord�s Lila, sang His glories and danced. The Lord and Mother Parvathi appeared before him and blessed him: �Oh noble soul, I am immensely pleased with your devotion. You and your chaste wife will soon come to My Abode and live happily there.� Tirumangalam was an important place of pilgrimage in Mazhanad (Trichnopoly District). The Lord Who dwells in this place is called Samavedesvarar. It was He Who purified Parasurama of the sin of killing his mother and also gave him the axe. In that enchanting place, there was a cowherd by name Anayar. Because he was tending cows, he was known by that name. He was a staunch devotee of the Lord. He was devoted to the Bhasma, and also to Siva Bhaktas, irrespective of their caste. His devotion to the Lord took the form of playing on his flute the holy Panchakshara Mantra of Siva. He aspired to realise the Lord, through this Mantra. One day when he was playing the Mantra on his celestial instrument, under a Konrai tree (a favourite of Lord Siva), the music captivated all the cows and calves. Even the birds sat on trees and silently heard the enrapturing music of the flute. The peacocks danced in joy, keeping time with the music. Hearing the music, other animals stood motionless. The music captivated the hearts of the deer, snakes, lions, elephants, tigers, etc. The snake and the peacock, the lion and the elephant, shed their enmity and lived together happily. The rivers stopped in their course. The waves in the sea calmed, to hear the music of Ayanar. Even the celestials (Vidyadharas, Kinnaras and Devas,) came in their celestial cars to hear the music. The Lord was immensely pleased with Ayanar�s sincere devotion. The sweetness of the music of the flute and the effect of the Panchakshara Mantra both melted His heart. He appeared before Nayanar, with Mother Parvathi, blessed him and took him to Kailas. To adore Lord Siva with sandalwood paste, smearing it all over the Lingam is regarded as a great form of His worship. This kind of worship was done by Murthi Nayanar. He was born in Madura in Pandya kingdom. He was a Vaisya by caste. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva. Daily he used to offer sandalwood paste to the Lord. At that time, the city was invaded by a Karnataka king. In the battle the Pandya king was defeated. The Karnataka ruler became the Pandya king. He was a follower of Jainism. He wanted to exterminate Saivism and to spread his religion. He began to persecute Saivas. �Murthi Nayanar also had to bear a lot of sufferings. But, he was undaunted. He continued his worship of the Lord, with sandalwood. The king, with a view to convert Murthi Nayanar forcibly to Jainism, made it impossible for anyone in Madura to obtain sandalwood. This greatly upset the Nayanar. He prayed to the Lord: �Oh Ocean of Mercy, this country is ruled by a tyrant and he is bent upon exterminating Your devotees. When will we be fortunate enough to get a king who will be devoted to You?� He knew that the people would follow the king, out of fear and in an effort to win his favour. He, therefore, wanted a Saivite king! He searched throughout the day for a little sandalwood to offer his worship. He could not get any. With a broken heart, he went to the temple: and he had a wonderful idea. He began to rub his own elbow (in the place of sandalwood!). The hand was bleeding profusely. Lord Siva was highly pleased with his devotion. A heavenly voice said: �Oh noble soul, I am immensely pleased with your devotion. Kindly stop rubbing your elbow. All your grievances will be redressed. Kindly take up the reins of the kingdom. After ruling the country justly and wisely for a long time, you will come to My Abode.� Nayanar was amazed to hear this and to see that his elbow regained its original shape. Murthi Nayanar did not aspire for kingship, but it was the Lord�s will. That night the cruel king died. The next day, the Ministers sent the palace elephant to choose their king, in accordance with an ancient custom. The elephant proceeded towards the temple. Murthi Nayanar had come there for his worship. The elephant bowed to him and placed him on his back and returned to the palace. The Ministers begged of Nayanar to become their king. Nayanar stipulated this condition: �If I become king, I will not have any luxury bath, but will bathe only with the sacred ashes. My jewel will be only Rudraksham and my crown will only be matted locks. I shall strive to let the love of Lord Siva be enthroned in the hearts of all.� The Ministers accepted these conditions with great joy and satisfaction. Nayanar ruled the country justly and wisely for a long time, and eventually attained Siva�s Abode. To do Archana with flowers mentioned in Siva Agamas, to offer flower garlands to the Lord, and to repeat the Panchakshara Mantra is the ideal form of worship. Panchakshara Mantra is considered a very great Mantra because it occurs in the centre of the Sri Rudradhyayi, which occurs in the middle of the middle Khanda of the Yajur Veda. He who does Japa of this Mantra is at once relieved from the disease of birth and death. Muruga Nayanar excelled in this worship. He was born in Tirupukalur, made famous by many other Nayanars also. Daily he would wake up well before sunrise, take bath, wear the sacred ash on his forehead, do his Nitya Karmas, and go to the garden with a basket. Repeating the Panchakshara he would collect flowers, and as mentioned in the Siva Agamas, make colourful garlands and offer to the Lord. One day the great Jnana Sambandar came to his place. Muruga Nayanar invited him and worshipped him and won his favour. Sambandar took him as his dearest friend. Muruga Nayanar got the great good fortune of attending Sambandar�s wedding when he, the bride and all others (induding Muruga Nayanar) got merged in the Divine Effulgence of the Lord. Hence, the Kural says: �Rarest of all rare things is to win the great to one�s side by courting it.� Muruga Nayanar�s devotion won for him Sambandar�s friendship, and, through that, God-realisation. There are seven Khandas in the Yajur Veda regarded as the Head of the Lord. Sri Rudram is in the centre of the middle Khanda of the Yajur Veda. Its recitation is a great purifier. It describes the Lord�s wonderful manifestations. Standing in the river and reciting this sacred scripture is regarded as specially efficacious, and bestows Moksha on the devotee. Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar was a great devotee of Lord Siva and he resorted to this Sadhana. He used to recite Sri Rudram standing in water, neck deep and was, therefore, blessed by the Lord with Moksha. Nandanar was a Paraiah (untouchable) by caste. He was born in Adanoor in the Chola kingdom. He was an embodiment of humility and devotion. Lord Siva was his sole refuge. He would often visit the holy places of pilgrimage, and supply leather drums and such other musical instruments for the temples. When he went near the temples, he always remained outside and worshipped the Lord mentally. Once he had a desire to have Darshan of the Lord at Tirupunkur. He was also eager to do some service to the Lord there. He went to Tirupunkur and stood in front of the temple. He was grieved because Nandi which is always right in front of the Lord was hiding Him. Nandanar prayed to the Lord fervently. The Lord was highly pleased with his devotion and asked Nandi to move a little so that Nandanar might have His Darshan. Even today, at Tirupunkur, Nandi is leaning to one side! Nandanar had a delightful Darshan of the Lord. After digging a tank near the temple he returned to Adanoor. The desire now arose in him that he should go to Chidambaram and have Darshan of Lord Nataraja. The love of the Lord had grown so intense that he would shed tears of love and tell his companions: �I will surely go to Chidambaram tomorrow.� This expression earned for him the name Tiru Nalai Povar (one who would go tomorrow). One day he actually left his place and went to Chidambaram. He went round the village and, thinking of his low birth, did not want to enter it. He prayed: �Oh Lord, I want to see your Cosmic Dance in Your Nritya Sabha. But, how can I? On account of my low birth they will not allow me to enter the temple.� For days he went on praying like this. The Lord, pleased with his devotion, appeared in his dream and said: �Oh noble soul, do not grieve. You will come to Me. Take a fire bath. Then come to My Kanaka Sabha along with the Brahmins.� Nandanar woke up and was highly pleased. At the same time, the Lord appeared before the Brahmins of Tillai, in their dream, and said: �O Brahmins, My dearest devotee, Tiru Nalai Povar, has come to Tillai. Prepare a sacred fire. Nandanar will take bath in it and then come to Me.� The next day, the Brahmins prepared the sacred fire. They went to Nandanar, prostrated before him and related their dream. Nandanar went round the fire, and with His Name on his lips and his mind fixed on the lotus feet of the Lord, he jumped into the fire. He emerged from the fire with a new holy body, with sacred ashes smeared all over, the holy thread and matted locks. He was then taken inside the temple. In the Kanaka Sabha, he worshipped the Lord. He went into a divine ecstasy and was completely absorbed in the dance of the Lord. A dazzling light was seen in the room, and Nandanar had disappeared. He had become one with Lord Nataraja. Thondamandalam was a prosperous land. Its capital was Kanchipuram. Here, Parvathi worshipped the Lord, according to the Agamas. The Lord here is called Ekambaranathar. Tiruthondar was born here. He was a washerman. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. He served Siva Bhaktas, understanding their need by watching for the signs on their face, and hence he had earned the name Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar. His service consisted mainly of washing the clothes of Siva Bhaktas. Lord Siva wanted to bless this devotee: and, as usual, it had to be preceded by a severe test. The Lord disguised Himself as a poor man, with Rudraksham on his neck and sacred ashes over the body, and appeared before Tiruthondar wearing a dirty rag. The very sight of the Siva Bhakta put Nayanar in a trance. He worshipped him. Thondar then asked him: �You have purified my house by your visit. How is it you are so emaciated? And, your rag needs washing. Kindly allow me to do this service for you.� The Siva Bhakta agreed to let him do so on one condition: the rag should be washed, dried and returned to him before sunset, otherwise his emaciated body would perish in the cold. When Thondar accepted the work, there was brilliant sunlight. He had washed the rag and immediately, it began to rain heavily. It was nearing sunset time. There was no hope of getting the rag dried. Thondar was greatly upset. Instead of serving the Siva Bhakta, he was going to put him to great hardship. Thinking of this sin, Thondar, dashed his head, prayerfully, on the washing stone, and began to weep. Lord Siva appeared before him, held his hand and said: �Oh noble soul, I am highly pleased with your sincere devotion. You will soon come to My Abode and live happily there forever.� Tiru Kurippu Thondar fell at the Lord�s Feet and sang His glory. Vichara Sarman (who was later known as Chandesvara Nayanar) was born in Tiruchaijnanallur, which was famous for Vedic recitations, Tapas, and Siva Bhakti. He was a prodigy. At the age of five he had learnt the Vedas, and all the Agamas, by himself, on account of previous Samskaras. After his Upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony), he learnt the Vedas, under a Guru: but the Gurus were wonder-struck at the intelligence of the disciple. He wanted to attain Final Emancipation in that birth. One day Vichara Sarman, with his friends, was walking along a road. He noticed a cowherd severely beating a cow because it had slightly pushed him with its horn. Vichara Sarman could not endure this. He was greatly moved and spoke to the cowherd: �Oh ignorant man? Do you not know that the cow is worshipful and divine. All the Devas dwell in her. She is indispensable for all religious activities. It is our sacred duty to tend and protect the cows. Whoever harms the cow is hurled into the Naraka. Whoever worships the cow wins a place in heaven or in Siva�s Abode. You have committed a great sin today. Hereafter, you need not tend to the cows: I will do that myself.� Vichara Sarman took the work upon himself from that day. The cows grew healthier. They liked Vichara Sarman very much. The Brahmins who got more milk thereafter were able to fulfil their religious duties very well, and they were pleased with Vichara Sarman. There was so much of surplus milk now, that Vichara Sarman, who loved Lord Siva and His worship, decided to perform Abhishekam for Lord Siva. He used to sit under an Atti tree on the bank of the river, construct a temple from the mud, and also make a mud-image of Siva Lingam and offer the milk, to bathe the Lingam. Then he would perform Archana with the Atti flowers. The cows were giving plenty of milk both to Vichara Sarman and to the Brahmins. One day, when Vichara Sarman was doing this Puja, a villager happened to pass by, and he watched all this. He reported the matter to the owners of the cows, and complained that Vichara Sarman was pouring precious milk on mud and river sand. These Brahmins summoned Vichara Sarman�s father, Echhadattan, and passed the complaint on to him in rather strong terms. The father was naturally shocked. He came home, but did not speak to Vichara Sarman. He wanted to find out for himself. So, the next day, he followed Vichara Sarman at a distance without his knowledge. When Vichara Sarman began pouring milk on the improvised Siva Lingam, the father, without understanding the son�s wonderful devotion, hit him with a stick. The boy was so much absorbed in his Puja that he did not even feel pain. Then, the father, getting still more angry, knocked the milk-pot down. It was then that Vichara Sarman realised that his father was interfering with his worship and had committed an unpardonable offence against Lord Siva (Siva Aparadham). He at once took a stick and hit his father�s leg: by the will of the Lord, the stick was transformed into an axe. Again, by His will, it killed the father. It was to test the depth of Vichara Sarman�s devotion. He was so engrossed in the worship, that he did not mind what had happened and continued the worship. Lord Siva was immensely pleased with the intensity of Vichara Sarman�s devotion and appeared before him, with Parvathi. Vichara Sarman prostrated before the Lord. The Lord embraced Vichara Sarman and fondled him. That very instant, Vichara Sarman attained the divine Form of Lord Siva. The Lord removed a garland from His own neck and put it around Vichara Sarman�s. He had attained Saroopya Mukthi (liberation, with the attainment of the form of the Lord). The Lord said: �My child, you cut your own father�s leg for My sake. Now, I am Your Father. You will soon attain Chandikesvarar�s Abode. You worshipped Me with food, clothes and flower garlands. In the same manner, you will also be worshipped.� The Lord disappeared. Vichara Sarman also went to the Abode of Chandesvarar. No sin attached to him, for having killed his own father, because of his supreme devotion to the Lord. His father, too, because he was killed by such a great devotee of the Lord, was purged of the sin of interfering with His worship, and reached the Abode of Lord Siva. Appar or Tiru Navukkarasar flourished in the 7th century A. D. He is one of the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas (Saivite spiritual teachers). He was born in Tiruvamoor in Tirumunaipadi Nadu. Pukalanar was his father; Mathiniyar, his mother. Mathiniyar gave birth to a daughter whom they named Tilakavathi. After some years, Mathiniyar had a son whom they called Marulneekiar, the dispeller of darkness or ignorance. Early in life he mastered all the Shastras. When Tilakavatiar reached her twelfth year, she was betrothed to Kalaipahayar, a military commander in the Pallava army. Before the wedding, however, he was sent by the king to fight another, and he died in battle. Pukalanar fell seriously ill and died. Mathiniyar committed Sati (died on the husband�s funeral pyre). As the children were recovering from this shock, the news of Kalipahayar�s death reached Tilakavathiar: and as she, since her betrothal, had regarded him as her husband, she decided to commit Sati, too. But, Marulneekiar pleaded with her reminding her that now she was his mother, and also threatened to die if she would not change her mind and live. Tilakavathiar changed her mind for the young brother�s sake. Even though she was young, she led the life of an ascetic. She was highly devoted to Lord Siva. Her glorious ascetic life has been sung by Sekizar, the author of Tirumurai. She was mother to Appar. Marulneekiar, even while young, had realised the unreality of the world. He engaged himself in all kinds of charitable works. He was eager to find out the best religion and to follow it. He had heard much about Jainism and its wonderful practice of Ahimsa. He believed that Jainism would give him emancipation and so became a convert. He even went to Pataliputra (in South Arcot district) and joined the Jain school. He attained mastery over all their scriptures. Tilakavathiar was heart-broken over this change in her brother. She abandoned her native place and settled in Tiruvadigai Virattanam, in a Mutt she built there. She prayed fervently to Lord Virattaneswarar to save her brother and shower His grace upon him. The Lord appeared in her dream one day and said: �My child, your brother has already done severe Tapas in order to attain Me. I will surely turn his mind, by making him suffer from severe colic, and then take him to My fold.� Marulneekiar fell a victim to severe colic. He could not bear the pain. The Jains tried their best but could not relieve the pain. He felt intuitively that it was an eye-opening experience. He lost faith in Jainism. He thought of his sister. He threw away the Jain garb and without informing anybody, returned to his sister. He fell at her feet and prayed to her to protect him. She understood it was His Lila, and said that by the grace of Lord Siva, he would be all right. She smeared the holy ashes on his forehead and repeated the Panchakshara Mantra. His ignorance vanished. She took him to the temple of Virattanesvarar. He worshipped the Lord and sang a hymn: �Oh Lord, I have insulted You and Your religion. I have committed many evil acts. Once on the bank of Godavari, I argued with the saints and established the superiority of Jainism. For all this evil, Lord Yama himself has come to me in the form of this excruciating pain. Oh Lord, You are my sole prop and refuge. Save me. I will ever keep Your Lotus Feet in my heart.� When he concluded the song, the pain disappeared. A celestial voice said: �From now on you will be known as Tiru Navukkarasar, �Lord of Speech�. Your glory will spread everywhere.� Thus Lord Siva�s grace restored his faith in Saivism. Tilakavathiar was immensely happy, too. Tirunavukkarasar became a staunch devotee of Lord Siva and lived in Him repeating the Panchakshara Mantra. The Jains at Pataliputra were afraid that, if the king came to know that because of their inability to treat Tirunavukkarasar (to whom they had given the name Dharmasenar) he had left them and gone back to Saivism, he would take them to task. So they concocted a new story and showed Tirunavukkarasar as a traitor against the king and the royal religion, viz., Jainism. The king ordered his ministers to produce Tirunavukkarasar before him. They went to Tiruvathikai, with an army. When Tirunavukkarasar heard of the charge against him, he said: �Oh Ministers! I am no longer your king�s subject. I am the subject of Lord Siva, the protector of all beings, the destroyer of all sins, the Lord of all gods, the bestower of immortality and eternal bliss. Disobedience to the king may amount to treason in the case of other people, not mine, because I am under His protection. Fear cannot approach me, because I am under the protection of one who once kicked Lord Yama, to save His (Siva�s) Bhakta.� The Ministers recognised his greatness: but were afraid to return without him. They, therefore, begged of him to come with them out of his supreme compassion, and to establish the glory of Saivism. Tirunavukkarasar went with them. The very sight of Tirunavukkarasar enraged the king who asked the Jain heads to decide upon the proper punishment to be meted out to him. They suggested that he be thrown into a burning lime kiln. Accordingly, he was shut up in a kiln for seven days. He remained there, fixing his mind on the Lord and repeating His Name. By His grace, the heat of the kiln was transformed into a cool breeze. At the end of seven days, the Jains, to their surprise, found Tirunavukkarasar alive, and absorbed in deep meditation. They attributed this to the power acquired by him when he was a Jain: and advised the king to poison him. Again, by the grace of Lord Siva the poison was transformed into nectar. Again, the Jains attributed this to the efficacy of the Jain Mantras which Tirunavukkarasar had learnt from them, and advised the king to have him trampled by the elephant. Tirunavukkarasar, boldly facing the elephant sang a hymn in praise of the Lord. Tirunavukkarasar�s loving look transformed the elephant�s nature and it went round him and prostrated to him. The Mahouts goaded it: but it got wild and attacked the Mahouts and the Jains and killed some of them. Those who escaped ran to the king and fell at his feet. This was a great disgrace. The king was greatly worried. The Jains finally advised the king to have Tirunavukkarasar tied to a stone and thrown into the sea. In accordance with the king�s orders, this was done. Tirunavukkarasar fixed his mind on Lord Siva and was continually repeating the Panchakshara. He sang hymns in praise of the Panchakshara. As soon as he finished the song the stone began to float. Tirunavukkarasar sat on the stone and was happily borne on the waves and safely taken to the shores of Tiruppapuliyur. Thus did the Lord save His Bhakta. At Tiruppapuliyur, there was a huge congregation of Siva Bhaktas to welcome him. He worshipped the Lord and sang hymns in praise of the Lord. �Oh Lord, the unseen Protector: You are my guide and saviour. You are my father, mother, sister and everything. Oh Lord of Mercy, You saved me from all dangers. Due to Your grace and love alone I am alive.� Addressing the mind, he says: �Oh mind, when you have totally surrendered yourself to Him, why do you fear any danger? None can harm you. Fear not.� Again, turning to the Lord, he says: �Oh Lord of Mercy, I want no more birth. If I take birth at all, owing to past Karma, let me remember Your Name always. Even if I take birth as a worm, let me not forget Your Name. Let me find delight in uttering Your Name.� Then Tirunavakkarasar returned to Tiruvathikai, after visiting many holy places on the way. When Pallava king who persecuted him came to know this, and when he recalled the many miracles he had witnessed, he was convinced of the superiority of Saivism. He went to Tiruvathikai, fell at Tirunavukkarasar�s feet, and begged his pardon. Tirunavukkarasar embraced the king with all love and affection, and the king embraced Saivism and built the magnificient temple of Siva called Gunabharaveechuram at Tiruvathikai. Tirunavukkarasar then spent his days in worshipping and serving the Lord in various ways, to set an example even to saints that they should not relax their eternal spiritual vigilance, lest they should fall a prey to Maya and to exhort them to lead the ideal life of a humble devotee for the guidance of others. He also visited many sacred shrines, thus emphasising the glory of pilgrimage. The thought that he had lived for some time with the Jains, eating their food and mixing with them made Tirunavukkarasar feel that his body was still impure, for the worship of Lord Siva. He prayed to Lord Siva: �I do not want to live any more in this impure body. Let me have the stamp of Your Trident and Nandi on my body, and then I shall regard it as fit for Your worship.� At once a divine servant of Lord Siva approached Tirunavukkarasar and put the stamp of the Trident and Nandi (one of the Saivite rituals of initiation, according to the Agamas) on Tirunavakkarasar�s shoulders. He experienced supreme bliss immediately. Tirunavukkarasar then went to Chidambaram. The very sight of the temple tower sent him into a trance. He sang thrilling hymns here and prayed: �Let me serve You. Your Bhaktas know no want nor fear. Even Lord Yama cannot dare to approach them. I have come to Your Abode where no sin can approach. I have surrendered myself to You. I have enshrined Your Lotus Feet in my heart.� At Chidambaram, he heard of the glory of Tiru Jnanasambandar and how he was blessed by Parvathy. He was eager to meet the great saint who was at Shiyali. As Tirunavukkarasar was proceeding towards Shiyali, Sambandar also was happy and was eagerly looking forward to this meeting. When Tirunavukkarasar reached the outskirts of Shiyali, Sambandar went forward to receive him. They fell at each other�s feet, and set an example in saintly conduct. They went to the temple and worshipped the Lord. At Sambandar�s request, Tirunavukkarasar sang a hymn here: �When the whole world was submerged during Pralaya, Lord Thoniappar was seated with His Consort in the boat of Pranava (OM) surrounded on all sides by Devas in the form of birds.� Even now the temple of Lord Thoniappar is in the form of a boat. They who cling to His feet are protected. Along with Sambandar Tirunavukkarasar visited the temple at Tirukkolaka. He then took leave of Sambandar and left the latter�s Ashram and after visiting many shrines, reached Tiruvavaduthurai. He sang a hymn here expressing intense Vairagya: �Oh Lord, I am caught in the wheel of births and deaths. I am tired of this. Show me a way to get out of it.� Then he came to Sattimutham. He prayed to the Lord: �Oh Lord, place Thy Lotus Feet on my head before I leave this body.� The Lord said: �Come to Tirunallur. I will fulfil your wish.� Tirunavukkarasar accordingly went to Tirunallur and worshipped the Lord Who placed His Feet on the head of Appar. He sang: �Oh Lord, Thy Holy Feet are adored by men on earth and the gods in heaven. Even great Tapaswins cannot touch Your Feet, if their devotion to You is tainted. But They are easily accessible to the real devotees who serve with faith and devotion. The sacredness of Your divine Feet cannot be understood by ordinary men. They are the bestowers of all prosperity and immortal bliss.� After visiting some more places of pilgrimage, Tirunavukkarasar went to Tingalur, where he formed a miracle and brought saint Appudi Adigal�s son back to life�we shall read this in Appudi Adigal�s life. At Tiruvarur, he was given a rousing welcome by the Siva Bhaktas. He had the Lord�s Darshan there. His heart was overflowing with love. He shed tears of love. He danced in joy. He was immersed in divine bliss. He sang hymns expressing regret for his mistake in joining Jainism. He felt that he would have been blessed with the Lord�s Darshan earlier had he remained a Saivite and carried on His worship, with devotion. He also sang a hymn praising the sincere devotion and greatness of Nami Nandi Adigal who lighted the lamp with water in this sacred shrine when he could not get oil anywhere. Then Tirunavukkarasar went to Tirupukalur, after visiting other shrines on the way. Tiru Jnana Sambandar was there, too, and the two saints met each other for the second time. At Appar�s instance, Sambandar went to Tiruvarur and had the Lord�s Darshan there. Both the saints remained at Tirupukalur for some time: and many other saints took this golden opportunity of having the Darshan of these two great Acharyas (spiritual preceptors) together. Tiru Neelakantha Nayanar, Siruthondar, Muruga Nayanar and many others came to Tirupukalur, and the place was converted into a divine realm during the stay of the two Acharyas. The two saints then moved on to Tiruveezhimalai. Famine raged there at that time. Appar (another name for Tirunavukkarasar) and Sambandar were greatly moved by the suffering of the people and prayed to the Lord for relief. The Lord promised to give them a golden coin each every day, with which they could feed the people. Lord Siva placed two coins, one at the western entrance and the other at the eastern entrance to the temple: the Nayanars collected the coins and relieved the suffering of the people. The famine soon came to an end. Both the saints praised the glory of the Lord and left. Then they came to Tirumaraikadu or the present Vedranyam. Once upon a time, the Vedas themselves used to worship the Lord here. When people neglected the study of the Vedas, this was discontinued. From that time, the door by which the Vedas used to enter, remained closed. There was another door by which people would go in and worship. Appar and Sambandar heard of this when they came there. Sambandar desired to enter through the door which remained closed. He requested Appar to sing a song. The doors opened by themselves, by the Will of God. They went in and worshipped the Lord. When they returned to that entrance, Appar requested Sambandar to sing a song, so that the door could close again. Sambandar sang and the door closed again. At night one day, Lord Siva appeared and commanded Appar to come to Tiruvaimoore. The Lord appeared before him and walked in front of him. Appar followed Him, but could not approach Him. Suddenly the Lord entered the local temple and disappeared. Appar went inside the temple but could not find the Lord. In the meantime, Sambandar, learning of Appar�s departure, followed him and came to the temple. Appar entreated the Lord to bless Sambandar with His Darshan. The Lord fulfilled Appar�s wish. Then, they went to Tiruvaimoore and from there returned to Tirumaraikadu. Mangayarkarasiar and Kulachirai Nayanar, the queen and the minister of the Pandyan king, sent messengers from Madurai to Sambandar, reporting the evil influences of the Jains and urging for his immediate presence in Madurai. Sambandar wanted to go there immediately. Appar, in the meantime, told him of all that happened to him and tried to stop him from going. But, so great was Sambandar�s eagerness to serve the Lord, that he went. Tirunavukkarasar then visited Tiruvavaduthurai, and came to Pazhaiyarai. Here he came to the Vadathalai temple and worshipped the Lord from outside. He came to know that the Jains had converted this into a Jain temple, and that they had removed the Siva Lingam to an unknown place. He prayed to the Lord: �Oh Lord, I will not proceed an inch from here till I have the Darshan of Your image which has been removed by the Jains to an unknown place.� The Lord appeared before the king in his dream and said: �Oh king, My Bhakta Tirunavukkarasar is fasting, to have My Darshan. Go at once and drive out the Jains, so that Tirunavukkarasar could enter the temple and have My Darshan.� He also told the king where the Lingam lay hidden. The king woke up and immediately summoned his ministers. He went to the temple, drove away the Jains and fell at the feet of Tirunavukkarasar. The temple was immediately reconverted into a Siva temple and the Lingam installed once again. Tirunavukkarasar worshipped the Lord and was happy. During another pilgrimage, Tirunavukkarasar felt the pangs of hunger as he was approaching Tirupainjeeli. Lord Siva wanted to appease his hunger and thirst. He created a tank and a garden on the way, so that Tirunavukkarasar could quench his thirst and rest in the garden. The Lord Himself waited there in the guise of a Brahmin, with food in hand and gave it to Tirunavukkarasar as soon as he arrived there. Appar took the food, drank the water and was resting when the Brahmin enquired where he was going. He said that he was going to Tirupainjeeli. They both started to walk. When they were near the place, the Brahmin suddenly disappeared, and Appar understood that it was none other than the Lord Himself. He wept bitterly for not recognising Him earlier and rolled on the ground on account of His separation. After visiting Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, and Kalahasthi, where he sang the glories of Kannappar, Appar felt a desire to go to Kailasa. He went to Banaras, and worshipped Lord Viswanath. He turned northwards and crossed many thick forests infested by wild animals. By his mere look, the wild animals became tame! He walked night and day. His feet were sore. Then he crawled with his hands. His elbows began to bleed now. Then he used his chest and crawled on. His chest also began to bleed and the ribs began to break. Still, Appar, undaunted, continued his journey to Kailasa, rolling on the ground. Appar wanted to go to Kailasa: but the Lord wanted that he should live in the world for many more years singing His glories. The Lord created a tank nearby and appeared before Appar in the form of a saint, with matted locks, Rudraksham and holy ashes. The saint found out from Appar that he was proceeding to Kailasa, and said: �Oh friend, the Lord of Kailasa cannot be seen by human beings. So, turn back.� Appar said: �So long as I have this body, I will not turn back, without going to Kailasa,� and turned towards the saint again after bowing to him: but the saint was not there. Appar understood it was the Lord Himself. The Lord afterwards kept Appar invisible company, giving him encouraging words now and then. Appar mentally prayed to the Lord: �Oh Lord, give me a fresh body, so that I may continue the journey.� The Lord directed him to take bath in a near-by tank and said: �You will see Me and My Abode, Kailasa in Tiruvayar.� Appar, repeating the Panchakshara, took a dip in the tank. He came out of the tank, and found himself in the tank at Tiruvayar, hundreds of miles away, to the south! He came outside and saw everywhere Siva and Sakti. He entered the temple and saw Mount Kailasa there. He saw Lord Siva seated with Mother Parvathy, surrounded by gods, and celestial servants praising His glory. He went into a trance and sang His glories and danced. Then, Appar had a Mutt built for him at Tirupoonthurai and remained there. Sambandar had, in the meantime, defeated the Jains at Madurai and was coming to Tirupoondurai. Appar went forward to receive him. Without Sambandar�s knowledge, Appar quietly joined those who were carrying his palanquin. On reaching Tirupoonthurai, Sambandar cried out: �Where is Appar?� and Appar, from below the palanquin coolly announced himself. At once Sambandar jumped out of the palanquin and fell at the feet of Appar who had, by his example, demonstrated the humility of a true saint. They embraced each other and shed tears of love. (Incidentally, it is interesting to note that Appar was advanced in age and Sambandar was only seven years old at the time.) Then, Tirunavukkarasar wanted to see the state of Saivism in the Pandyan kingdom, for himself and left for Madurai. The king, Ninra Sheer Nedumara Nayanar, the queen Mangayarkarasiar, and the minister Kulachirai Nayanar welcomed him with devotion. Appar remained there for some days, worshipping the Lord. Then he went to Rameswaram and other sacred places before returning to Tirupukalur. Lord Siva wanted to test him here. When Appar was doing his services in the temple, the Lord made the entire floor appear as though it was strewn with gold and diamonds. To Appar, gold and diamonds were worthless �straw�. He collected all of them and threw them in a near-by tank. Again, the Lord made celestial damsels appear before him and tempt him with their charms. Appar remained undisturbed. His entire heart and soul was centred on the Lotus Feet of the Lord. Appar spent the rest of his life there and at the age of 81 merged himself in Lord Siva. In devotion to Siva Bhaktas, Kulacchirai Nayanar excelled. He was born in Manamerkudi, in the Pandyan kingdom. This place was frequently graced by Siva Bhaktas. Kulacchirai Nayanar was the leader as well as the supporter of the people. To him adoration of Siva Bhaktas was equal to adoration of Lord Siva Himself. He saw no difference between Siva Bhaktas and Siva. He was the Prime Minister of the Pandyan king. Yet, he regarded himself as the slave of Siva Bhaktas. He was the richest man in the place: yet, to him wealth was only dust. Nothing belonged to him: it was the property of Siva Bhaktas. Even Sambandar extolled his virtuous qualities in a song. Nayanar was an able soldier and administrator. Yet, his mind was ever absorbed in the Lord. He helped the queen in stemming the tide of the evil influence of Jainism. Nayanar invited Sambandar to Madurai to fight this evil influence. The Jains set fire to Sambandar�s camp. Sambandar sang a song. The fire was extinguished. The Pandyan king had high fever, which the Jains could not cure, but which was cured by the sacred ash which Sambandar applied on him. Sambandar argued with the Jains and defeated them. Kulacchirai sent the defeated Jains to the gallows. He served the Siva Bhaktas and finally attained Siva�s Abode. Guru is God. The same Lord Who is never separate from us, Who is our sustainer and support appears to us as the visible form of the Guru. He who adores the Guru with faith and devotion will attain all Siddhis (psychic powers) and eternal bliss. Perumizhalai Kurumba Nayanar excelled in Guru Bhakti. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva and Siva Bhaktas, too. He heard of Sundaramurthi Nayanar�s greatness and mentally accepted him as his Guru. To him, Sundarar was the sole refuge. He adored the Guru in thought, word and deed. By the Guru�s grace, he attained all the Siddhis. He was immersed in Siva Bhakti and Guru Bhakti. In the meantime, Sundarar came to Tiruvanchaikalam from where he was taken to the Lord�s Abode. Kurumba Nayanar, through his Yogic powers, came to know that this would happen. He did not like to remain in this world after the Guru: and, therefore, through the method of Siva Yoga, Nayanar cast off his mortal coil and reached the Abode of Siva, a day before Sundarar�s departure. Punithavathiar as Karaikal Ammaiyar was called, was born in a Vaisya family. Her father was Danadathan. He was a wealthy merchant. He was very virtuous, too. He and his dutiful wife prayed to the Lord for a child, and the child the Lord blessed them with they called Punithavathy. From her childhood, Punithavathy had an intense love for Lord Siva and His Bhaktas. She was married to Paramadattan, a wealthy Vaisya. Both of them were leading an ideal householder�s life. One day Paramadattan sent two mangoes to his house. Punithavathy kept them safely so that she could serve her husband with them at meal-time. In the meantime, a Siva Yogi appeared before her. He was hungry and completely exhausted. Punithavathy worshipped him and offered him Bhiksha. She had nothing to give him, except the mangoes. She gave one to the guest. At midday Paramadattan came to the house. The wife served him with one mango. He liked it, and asked for the other. She was upset. She appealed to the Lord for help. When she finished her prayer, mysteriously a mango fell on the palm of her hand. She gave it her husband. He tasted it. It was exceptionally sweet. He asked her to tell him from where she got it, as he was quite sure it was not the mango he had sent. Punithavathy told him the whole truth. Paramadattan, however, would not believe this and challenged her to produce another. She prayed again to the Lord. Another mango appeared on her palm. She gave it to him. But, at once it disappeared from his hand. He was astounded. He understood the greatness of his wife. He felt that it was a great sin to live with her as her husband. On the pretext of going to a foreign country for trade, he sailed with a ship load of goods. On return, he established himself in a big city in the Pandyan kingdom. He married a Vaisya girl and lived happily. He had a daughter by her and he named her Punithavathy, after his first wife. Punithavathiyar�s relatives came to know of her husband�s whereabouts and took her also there in a palanquin. When Paramadattan heard that Punithavathy was coming to him, he, with his second wife and child, went forward, and fell at Punithavathy�s feet. When the people demanded an explanation, he revealed that he regarded her, not as his wife, but as a Goddess. Punithavathy understood his mental condition, and prayed to the Lord: �In that case, Oh Lord, deprive me of the present physical charm and let me have a demonaical form.� Her prayer was immediately granted and her charming body was transformed into a skeleton. Then she went on a pilgrimage to the holy Kailasa. Feeling that it would be a great sin to place her foot on those sacred grounds, she made the last part of the journey on her head. Mother Parvathy was surprised to see Punithavathy�s strange form and her wonderful devotion. Lord Siva told her of Ammaiyar�s greatness. When she went near Him, Lord Siva welcomed her with extreme love and granted a boon to her. She fell at His Feet, and prayed: �Oh Lord of Mercy, give me sincere, pure, unalloyed, eternal and overflowing devotion unto You. I want no more birth. If, however, I have to take birth here, grant me that I should never forget You. Whenever You dance, I must be at Your feet singing Your praise. This is my only wish.� Lord Siva granted the boon and asked her to proceed to Tiruvalangadu to witness His dance. She went to that place and spent her life singing the praise of Lord Siva. In devotion to the Guru, Appudi Nayanar excelled. He was an ardent Siva Bhakta. He was leading the ideal householder�s life. He belonged to a Brahmin family in Tingalur in the Chola kingdom. Appudi had heard of the glories of Tirunavukkarasar or Appar. He had heard of how God�s grace made the stone float and how Appar rode on it and floated on the sea and went to a place of safety. Even though he had not seen Appar, he had taken him as his Guru, and literally worshipped Appar. He knew that Lord Siva Himself, out of compassion for the spiritual aspirants, appeared as the Guru. He meditated on the lotus feet of the Guru. He had named all his children �Tirunavukkarasu�: and all the household articles had also been named after the Guru. He had erected a number of water-sheds, for the service of pilgrims, and had named all of them after the Guru. Thus had he ensured that he would constantly remember the Guru, and experience his grace. Appar himself passed through Tingalur one day. He went into one of the water-sheds. He was surprised to see his own name everywhere. He found out from some other pilgrims that the shed had been erected by Appudi and went to meet him. Appudi received the Siva Bhakta (though he did not know who it was) with great devotion. Appar said: �Oh noble soul, I have heard a lot about your greatness and glory. I wanted to pay my respects personally to you. Please tell me, why have you named the water-shed after somebody, and not yourself.� Appudi was upset at this casual reference to the blessed name of his Guru. He said: �Oh friend, though you appear to be a Siva Bhakta, you do not seem to know Tirunavukkarasu Swamigal, who through the grace of the Lord withstood successfully all the persecutions of the Pallava king and re-established Saivism. Have you not heard how the king tied him to a stone and threw him into the sea, and how he floated back to the shore? Who are you?� Appar was very much moved by Appudi�s devotion and replied: �I am that humble soul who fell a victim to severe colic and then took shelter under the Lord�s Feet. I am that humble soul who, due to the grace of Lord Siva, got cured of that disease and returned to Saivism.� Look at the difference between the two descriptions! Appudi remembers the glory of Appar: whereas Appar chooses to recall his own failing (to preserve his humility) and the Lord�s supreme saving grace. As soon as he heard this, Appudi understood that the Siva Bhakta was none other than Appar and was overjoyed. He worshipped Appar, along with his wife and prayed to Appar to accept his Bhiksha (food). While their son had gone to the garden to bring a banana leaf, for Appar to use as his plate, the boy was bitten by a cobra. The son of a Nayanar: he was also a great devotee of the Lord! He ran to the mother eager to fulfil his duty. He handed the leaf to his mother and immediately fell down dead. Appudi did not want to let this disturb his worship of Appar Swamigal: and, therefore, hid the corpse. He invited Appar to have his meal. Appar sat down and blessed Appudi and his wife with Bhasma, and then called for their son. Appudi tactfully replied: �He is not in a position to come.� Appar sensed that there was something wrong and asked Appudi to tell him the truth. Appudi informed him what had happened. Immediately Appar got up and asked Appudi to lay the corpse in front of the temple: and he himself sang a song. A miracle took place. The boy got up, as if from sleep. All were happy, except the parents of the boy. They regretted that this incident had caused some delay in Appar having his meals! Such is the nature of true devotion. Appar immediately took his meals and blessed the family. Appar lived in Appudi Adigal�s house for some time. Appudi gained the grace of the Lord, by his wonderful devotion to his Guru, Appar Swamigal. Tirusattamangai was an important city in the Chola kingdom. It was a place full of spiritual vibrations and Siva Bhakti. The Brahmins were devoted to the study and recitation of the Vedas and worship of the Lord. And, the women were devoted to their lord (the husband) and served them as they would serve God Himself. It is situated seven miles east of Nannilam. There is a temple in this place called Ayavanthi. The Lord presiding over this is Ayavanthi-Nathar. His Consort is Malarkanni Ammai. In this city there lived the glorious Brahmin, Tiruneelanakka Nayanar. He was well versed in the Agamas and was regular in his ritualistic worship of the Lord. On a Tiruvathirai day he was devoutly worshipping the Lord in the temple. His wife was also with him. A spider fell upon the Siva Lingam, when the worship was in progress. The saint�s wife, without a moment�s hesitation, blew it away, and spat on the spot where it had fallen, on the Siva Lingam�this is what they do when a spider falls on the body of a child or other human being. But, the husband was enraged at the wife�s sacrilegious action: she had spoilt the worship and polluted the temple by spitting on the Lingam. Without a second thought, he abandoned her and returned home. The lady appealed to Lord Ayavanthinathar for his mercy. He appeared in the saint�s dream that night and showed him His body�all the parts of His body except that on which his wife had spat, had been affected by the spider poison. He realised that Bhakti was superior to ritualistic worship. He recalled the glimpse of the Lord he had, in his dream and rejoiced, rolled on the ground, wept out of sheer joy and danced. The next morning he went to the temple and worshipped the Lord, and returned home with his wife, the noble devotee to whom the Siva Lingam was not a stone, but a Living Presence. Once Tiru Jnana Sambandar visited his place with Tiruneelakanta Perumbanar and Virali. Tiruneelanakka Nayanar was very eager to meet the great saint Sambandar. He welcomed the saint with due honours. That night, Sambandar asked Tiruneelanakkar to give some accommodation to the other two who were with him. They were not of the �high� (Brahmin) caste! Tiruneelanakka Nayanar hesitated to let them sleep inside the house. He asked them to sleep near the sacrificial pit. As soon as they went near the pit, the Nayanar was astounded to see that the sacrificial fire began to burn of its own accord. He understood that, through the fire of their devotion they had attained to a stage which was far higher than what mere ritual could lead to. The mist of caste distinction also vanished from the eyes of Nayanar. Next morning, Sambandar went to the temple and sang a song in which he glorified Tiruneelanakka Nayanar also. When Sambandar wanted to leave the place, Tiruneelanakkar also wanted to accompany him: but Sambandar instructed him to stay there itself and serve the Siva Bhaktas. He obeyed. He was, however, longing to be always at the feet of Sambandar. Soon his wish was fulfilled. He heard of Sambandar�s marriage, and went to Nallur Perumanam to witness it. When Sambandar got merged in the Light of Lord Siva, Tiruneelanakka Nayanar also got merged in it. In Emaperur in the Chola kingdom there lived a Brahmin called Nami Nandi Adigal. Daily he used to go to Tiruvarur and worship Lord Siva, his sole refuge. One day, he felt an intense desire to light many lamps in the temple, which is an act highly extolled in the Siva Agamas. So, Nandi Adigal went to a near-by house and asked for ghee to light the lamps with. It was a Jain�s house: and the Jain said scornfully: �I have no ghee: if you are so eager, you may as well use water, instead.� Nandi Adigal was filled with anguish to hear this. He went to the temple and prayed to the Lord. He heard a voice: �Don�t grieve. Bring water from the near-by tank and light the lamps with it.� With great joy Nandi Adigal did so. Through the supreme grace of the Lord, all the lamps burned brightly! All the Jains were amazed to witness this miracle. Nandi Adigal did so on several days continuously. By that time, people�s faith in Jainism was lost through the miracles of Nandi Adigal of Tiruvarur. People embraced Saivism. The Chola king, hearing of Nandi Adigal�s greatness, appointed him as the head of the temple. He used to celebrate the Panguni Uttaram festival on a grand scale. The Lord would be taken to a place called Tirumanali where people of all castes would flock around and worship Him. On one such occasion, after finishing his duties, Nandi returned home. Feeling that the touch of people of all castes had polluted him, he did not enter the house and do the usual worship before he went to bed. He asked his wife to bring some water so that he could bathe and then enter the house. But, before the water came, he was overpowered by sleep. In a dream, Lord Siva said: �Oh Nandi! All those who are born in Tiruvarur are my Ganas (servants). They cannot be regarded as impure. You yourself will see this with your own eyes.� Nandi Adigal woke up from sleep and told all this to his wife. He repented for his wrong notion. He at once performed the worship. In the morning he went to Tiruvarur. There he saw that all the people who were born there had the same form as Lord Siva Himself. Nandi Adigal prostrated before them all. They resumed their original forms: Nandi Adigal understood it was the Lila of the Lord. Then, Nandi Adigal settled down in Tiruvarur. He served the Lord and His Bhaktas so nicely that Appar praises him as �Anipon� (pure gold). Ultimately he attained the glorious realm of the Lord. In sacred Sirkali (which, according to a legend was the Noah�s Arc during a cosmic dissolution) there lived a pious Brahmin by name Sivapada Hridayar with his virtuous wife Bhagavathiar. Both of them were ardent devotees of Lord Siva. They refused to embrace Jainism and give up Saivism, even though the forces of Jainism were powerful and devastating. Sivapada Hridayar prayed to the Lord for the boon of a worthy son to him who would reestablish the glory of Saivism. The Lord granted this boon, and Bhagavathiar soon brought into this world a radiant male child. They brought up this child with great love and devotion, knowing fully well that it was a purposeful gift from the Lord. The child, too, would weep for his separation from his divine parents Lord Siva and Parvathy, though ordinary people mistook it for a baby�s crying habit. One day Sivapada Hridayar and his wife took the child with them to the temple tank in which they wanted to bathe. The child had insisted on being taken with them. They left the child on the bank and went in to bathe. The child looked at the tower of the temple and began to cry for his parents. This outwardly appears to be a mere childish action, but the Lord knew its inner meaning. Lord Thoniappar wanted to bless the child. So, He appeared with Mother Parvathy and asked Her to feed the child with the milk of divine wisdom. To obtain His grace and divine knowledge, the grace of the Mother is necessary, Mother Parvathy fondled with the child and suckled him with the Milk of Wisdom. From that moment he was known as Aludaiya Pillayar or one who enjoys the protection of the Lord: and also as Tiru Jnana Sambandar as he attained divine wisdom through the grace of Lord Siva and Parvathy. From the moment he drank the Milk of Wisdom, he began to sing soul-stirring songs in praise of Lord Siva. The collection of these songs is called Thevaram. After finishing their bath, the parents came to the child, and found a golden cup in his hands (the cup in which Parvathy gave him the milk) and milk overflowing from his mouth. Sivapada Hridayar thought that somebody had given milk to the child: he did not like that his child should accept milk from all sorts of people. So, he brandished a cane before the child and asked him who gave the milk. The child, shedding profuse tears, pointed to the Lord Who appeared in the sky along with Mother Parvathy. He also sang a song in praise of the Lord. Sivapada Hridayar could not see the Lord, but guessed from the child�s behaviour that he must have had a vision of the Lord. He followed the child into the temple, as he went towards it. Many devotees had also come to the temple. They had come to know of what had happened to Pillaiyar and glorified him. The parents were very happy. They took the child on their shoulders and went round the town in a procession. The people had decorated the town nicely and received Sambandar with great devotion. The next day Pillaiyar went to Tirukkolakka and sang a song, clapping his hands to keep time. Lord Siva, pleased with this, presented him with a pair of golden cymbals. Sambandar began to sing, with the help of the golden cymbals. Even Narada and the celestials were charmed by this. Sambandar then went on pilgrimages. Once Tiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar, an ardent devotee of the Lord and an expert musician on the Yazh (Veena) met Sambandar. They all went to the temple. Sambandar requested Yazhpanar to play the Yazh. The music melted the heart of Sambandar. Yazhpanar wanted to be always with Sambandar, to play on his instrument the songs that Sambandar sang in praise of the Lord. Sambandar granted this wish. Sambandar went on a pilgrimage to Chidambaran. The very sight of the Lord entranced him. He had heard about the greatness of the Brahmins of Tillai (Chidambaram). To him, they actually appeared as Siva Ganas (celestial servants of Lord Siva). He showed this to Yazhpanar and they were thrilled. The Brahmins fell at his feet. Before they did so, Sambandar had fallen at their feet! After visiting the birth-place of Yazhpanar, Sambandar wanted to go to Tiru Arathurai. He would sometimes walk and at other times sit on his father�s shoulders. In this manner they approached Maranpadi. They were all tired due to the heat of the sun and the arduousness of the journey. They rested at Maranpadi for the night. The Lord wanted to alleviate His child�s suffering by presenting him with a palanquin. He appeared in the dream of the Brahmins of Tiru Arathurai and told them that they would find a pearl palanquin and a pearl umbrella, and asked them to take them to Sambandar who was then proceeding towards Tiru Arathurai. At the same time, the Lord appeared in Sambandar�s dream and informed him of the gift! The next morning, the Bhaktas handed over to Sambandar the Lord�s gifts to him. Sambandar worshipped the gifts and ascended the palanquin. Sambandar returned to Sirkali, after visiting a number of shrines on the way, and singing Padigams in praise of the Lord everywhere. His parents performed the sacred thread ceremony. The Brahmins then began to teach him the Vedas. But, even before hearing the Vedas from the teacher, Sambandar could recite them, on account of previous Samskaras and divine grace. Then Sambandar taught them the essence of the Panchakshara and also sang a Padigam. It was at this time that Tirunavukkarasar also met Sambandar. During the course of his pilgrimage, Sambandar came to Tiru Pachilasramam. The daughter of the Mazhava King there, who was a great devotee of Lord Siva, was suffering from an incurable disease. The king had, in despair, taken her to the temple and placed her in front of the Lord. At the same time, Sambandar had come into the temple. He saw the pitiable condition of the girl, who was lying unconscious. He sang a Padigam praying for His grace upon the girl. She at once got up to the surprise of all. All were amazed at this miracle. At Senkunrur, during his pilgrimage, Sambandar found that the cold was very severe and that many people suffered on account of it. They entreated him to alleviate their sufferings. Sambandar sang a song, and immediately, they were relieved of their suffering. After some more pilgrimages, Sambandar came to Tiruvavaduthurai. His father wanted to perform a big Yajna. He wanted a lot of money for that. Sambandar went to the temple and sang a song. At once a Siva Gana appeared before him, handed him a purse containing one thousand gold coins and said. �This purse has been given to you by Lord Siva.� Sambandar glorified the Lord�s grace, handed over the purse to his father (who went away to Sirkali) with the assurance that it would give inexhaustible wealth. At Dharmapuram, which was the home of the Yazhpanar�s mother, the people glorified Yazhpanar for his proficiency in music. Yazhpanar felt that it was due to Sambandar�s grace that he was allowed to accompany Sambandar and that he could really not reproduce on the Yazh the divine melody of the saint�s Padigams. To prove this Sambandar sang a song in praise of Lord Ganesa which Yazhpanar was unable to play on his instrument. He tried to break the instrument in desperation. But, Sambandar prevented him from doing so, and asked him to be content with what he could achieve with it, assuring him that that was a lot. Sambandar went to Sattamangai where he was received by Tiruneelakanta Nayanar with great love and devotion. Sambandar sang a Padigam in which he glorified the Nayanar. At Tiru Keizhvelur, similarly, he met Siruthondar and glorified him in a Padigam. Such is the nature of the truly great ones: they adore even devotees of the Lord as the Lord Himself and sing their glories, not regarding that as worship or adoration of a human being, but of manifest divinity. During his stay there, Sambandar would daily go to Tiru Marugal to worship the Lord. One day a merchant had come there with his wife. When they were asleep, a poisonous snake bit the man and he died. Doctors failed to revive him. The wife prayed to the Lord for His mercy. At that time Sambandar entered the temple and heard the woman�s wailing. Sambandar consoled her, and she narrated to him her story and her pitiable condition. Sambandar sang a song, and the merchant at once came back to life! All of them worshipped the saint�s holy feet. At the request of Siruthondar, Sambandar wanted to have the Darshan of the Lord at Chenkattankudi. When he was taking leave of the Lord, He gave him Darshan in the form as He is in Chenkattankudi. On the way, Sambandar stayed at Tiru Pukalur as the guest of Muruga Nayanar, and sang his glories. At the suggestion of Appar Swamigal, Sambandar visited Tiruvarur and had Darshan of Lord Thiageesa. Then both the saints stayed with Muruga Nayanar for some time. They then went to Tiru Kadavur, met Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar and sang his glories. They then came to Tiruveezhimizhalai. During their stay there, the Brahmins of Sirkali met Sambandar there, and pleaded that he should go to Sirkali and have the Darshan of Lord Thoniappar. The Lord Himself, however, did not want His child to undertake this journey. The next morning, Sambandar went to the local temple for worship. There he saw Lord Thoniappar seated in front of him. He sang His glories. He informed the Bhaktas of this and sent them back to Sirkali. Appar and Sambandar stayed at Tiruveezhimizhalai for some more time. There was a severe famine there. Appar and Sambandar were moved by the sufferings of the Bhaktas. They offered prayers to the Lord Who promised to give them some gold coins daily, with the help of which they could serve the people. Both of them found a gold coin, at different entrances to the temple. Appar was immediately able to get provisions for his gold coin, whereas Sambandar could not. He had to exchange his coins for pure gold coins, before he could obtain the provisions. Sambandar understood that it was because of Appar�s sincere service to the Lord, and sang a Padigam praising the Lord. The Lord then gave him also pure gold coins and he had no difficulty in getting the foodstuffs. The miracle that they performed at Tirumaraikadu or Vedaranyam, has already been described, while dealing with the life of Appar Swamigal. As has already been stated, Jain influence was growing in Madura, and even the king had succumbed to it. There were only two persons who were free from the influence, and they were the queen Mangayarkarasiar and the minister Kulacchirai Nayanar. They were Saivites by inner conviction, though they did not wear the external Saivite marks, for fear of the king�s wrath. They had heard the glory of Sambandar. So, without the knowledge of the king they sent some wise men to Tirumaraikadu to persuade Sambandar to rescue Saivism from the Jain influence. Sambandar informed Appar of his desire to leave for Madura immediately. Appar, out of sheer love for the young Boy, pleaded that he should not go, but, realising his divine nature, let him go! The Jains living all over the Pandyan kingdom saw many evil omens. They reported to the king. At the same time, Mangayarkarasiar and Kulacchirai saw many good omens and were happy. By this time, the news of the arrival of Sambandar reached the queen who sent the minister to welcome him. She herself went to the temple and offered special prayers to the Lord. The minister who proceeded to the border, heard the sound of trumpets and chanting of Vedas. He went towards that direction. The very sight of the Bhaktas who were coming in advance, thrilled him. He fell at their feet and did not get up at all. The devotees carried this news to Sambandar. Sambandar got down from his palanquin and went to Kulacchirai. He lifted the minister up and embraced him. Sambandar worshipped the Lord the moment he beheld the temple tower from a great distance. He sang the glories of the minister and the queen. They went to the temple. The queen, standing on one side, offered mental prostrations to Sambandar. Then, she fell at his feet. Sambandar blessed her. The news of Sambandar�s arrival had reached the Jains. The holy vibrations of the Panchakshara pierced their ears. They decided to bring the wrath of the king on those who welcomed the saint. They told him that they had all been polluted by the sight of the Saivites who had entered the city, following the arrival of �one young Brahmin alleged to have been blessed with Divine Knowledge by Lord Siva directly and who wants to defeat us in a religious debate�. The king took counsel. The Jains sought his permission to burn Sambandar�s camp with the help of black magic. He gave them permission. But, it did not succeed. In the meantime, seeing the king worried, the queen ascertained the cause, and suggested that both the rival parties should be invited to argue their case and prove the superiority of their own religion. The king agreed. The Jains failed to set fire to Sambandar�s camp. So, they set fire to the camp in which the devotees were lodged. They got up, ran to Sambandar and told him what had happened. He sang a Padigam expressing the wish that (in accordance of the law of Karma) the fire for which the king was responsible should proceed towards him. Next morning, the news reached the queen and the minister. They were grieved. They wanted to put an end to their lives, but changed their mind when they heard that nothing had happened to Sambandar or the devotees. As soon as Sambandar sang the Padigam, the fire in the camp died out and proceeded towards the king, in the form of a dreadful disease. The king experienced burning sensation all over the body. All the endeavours of the doctors and the Jain priests to alleviate the king�s suffering proved futile. The queen and the ministers understood the real cause of the king�s ailment and were worried. They informed the king of their feeling and requested him to call Sambandar immediately so that his grace might relieve him of the distress. The king acceeded to their request and decided to embrace Sambandar�s faith, if he could cure the disease. The queen at once went out, surrounded by her maid-servants, to invite Sambandar. Kulacchiraiar also went ahead of her. They reached the Mutt in which Sambandar was staying. They fell at his feet and informed him of the king�s condition: �The atrocity of the Jains had recoiled on the king who is suffering from intense agony which the Jains have failed to relieve. With folded palms we entreat you to relieve him of the distress, and then defeat the Jains in argument and convince the king of the superiority of Saivism.� Sambandar assured them that he would fulfil their wishes. He went to the temple to get the Lord�s blessings for defeating the Jains in debate and establishing Saivism in the land. Followed by the queen and the minister, Sambandar went to the palace. The king had him received with all the honours. The Jains were worried and suggested knavishly that, even if he was cured by Sambandar, he should give the credit to them only, for the preservation of Jainism! The king refused to be unjust and partial. Sambandar came into the king�s apartments. The king had him seated on a nicely decorated throne, which greatly annoyed the Jains. They challenged him to a debate. The queen was afraid that they might behave in an unruly manner towards Sambandar who was but a boy in age. She suggested that the king�s disease should first be cured. The king agreed to this. Sambandar also assured her that he was not afraid of anything. The king asked the two parties to demonstrate their powers by curing his disease. The Jains volunteered to cure the disease on the left side, leaving the right to be dealt with by Sambandar. The king agreed. The Jains touched various parts of the king�s body with peacock feathers, chanting their Mantras. The pain only increased! The king looked pleadingly at Sambandar. Sambandar sang a Padigam in praise of the sacred Ash (Bhasma) and with his own hand smeared the Ash on the right side of the king�s body. At once the burning sensation stopped and the king experienced a cooling sensation. The king told the Jains that they had already been defeated and turned to Sambandar and entreated him to cure the disease on the left side also. Sambandar applied the holy Ash on the left side also and the disease vanished completely. The queen and the minister fell at Sambandar�s feet. The king followed suit and praised him. The Jains, however, attributed the cure to Sambandar�s poetical talents, and were quite sure that he could not defeat them in philosophical arguments. They began to think of some other means of defeating Sambandar. When Sambandar invited them to open the debate, they said that they preferred practical demonstration to theoretical discussions. They wanted to challenge Sambandar to a fire test. They said that both the parties should write the essence of their respective religions on palm leaves and put them into fire: that religion should be considered as the real one whose inscriptions survived this test. Sambandar agreed to the condition. The fire was lit. Sambandar, offering his prayers to the Lord, opened the bundle of palm leaves which contained his soul-stirring hymns on Lord Siva and removed the Padigam which he had composed at Tiru Nallaru. To Sambandar, Lord Siva was the Absolute Truth, and so, the song sung in praise of Him, should also be eternal. With the firm conviction that no harm would come to the palm leaf, he put it into the fire. The Jains also put their writings into the fire. The latter was at once burnt: Sambandar�s leaf was quite safe. The Jains, ashamed to face the king, dropped their gaze. The king declared that the Jains had been defeated a second time. The Jains, however, would not agree, and wanted a third test. This time both the parties should throw their palm leaves in the river Vaigai and the palm leaf which swam against the current contained the Truth. Sambandar agreed to this, too. This time Kulacchiraiyar intervened and asked: �What should be the punishment to be meted out to the party that fails in this test?� The Jains, in their anger, said that the party which fails in the test should be hanged. The Jains threw their palm leaf into the river: the current was swift and the leaf was washed away. Sambandar threw his leaf which swam beautifully against the current, without sinking or getting lost. In the Padigam which won this test, Sambandar invoked the Lord�s grace on the king. On account of this, the king�s birth-deformity, viz., a hunchback was also cured. The leaf reached the place known as Tiruvedagam. The minister wanted to take possession of the leaf and followed it. Knowing this, Sambandar sang another song, which stopped the leaf. The minister took the leaf, went to the temple and worshipped the Lord. Sambandar, accompanied by the royal couple, went to the temple and worshipped the Lord. The king was convinced of the superiority of Saivism. The Jains, according to their own contract, were hanged. The people followed the example of the king and became Saivites. Thus was Saivism re-established in Madura. In Sirkali, Sambandar�s father was waiting for the illustrious son�s arrival. One day, the desire was strong and Sivapada Hridayar came to Madura and was received by Sambandar with great reverence. After staying at Madura for some time, Sambandar proceeded on a pilgrimage, accompanied by the royal couple and the minister. From Rameswaram, they offered mental prostrations at the Feet of the Lord of Tirukonamalai and Tiruketheesvaram (in Ceylon). They also visited the birthplace of the minister. Sambandar took leave of the Pandyan king and went into the Chola kingdom. He came to Mullivaikarai. There the river was in flood. The boatmen had abandoned their boats and had left them tied to the tree on the bank. Sambandar wanted to cross the river and worship the Lord at Tiru Kollampoothur. Sambandar asked the devotees to unfasten the boat and get into it. He sang a Padigam. This itself proved to be the oar. They reached the other side safely and worshipped the Lord. The party then reached the place called Bodhimangai. It was a Buddhist centre. Sambandar�s devotees were blowing the trumpets and singing their Guru�s glories as they entered the place. This annoyed the Buddhist who asked them to stop blowing their trumpets. The devotees informed Sambandar. A disciple of Sambandar, by name Samba Saranalayar, who used to record all of Sambandar�s songs, himself sang a Padigam and said that a thunder should fall on the head of Buddhanandi, the leader of the Buddhists� group. Buddhanandi was at once destroyed by a thunder. The others fled. But, soon they reappeared under the leadership of Sari Buddhan and challenged the Saivites to a debate. With the blessings of Sambandar, the disciple Samba Saranalayar himself defeated the Buddhists in debate. Sari Buddhan himself embraced Saivism and his followers followed suit. Sambandar blessed them all. Sambandar then went to Tirukadavur. When he heard that Appar Swamigal was at Tirupoonthurithi, Sambandar went forward to meet him. At the same time, Appar came half-way to welcome Sambandar. Quietly, he got mixed with the crowd and joined the group of devotees who were carrying Sambandar�s palanquin, without anybody�s knowledge. When Sambandar enquired about Appar, Appar responded from below: �Here I am, carrying the palanquin, due to the virtuous deeds of many past lives.� Sambandar was surprised. He jumped down and embraced the great saint Appar. After some more pilgrimage, Sambandar returned to Sirkali. Tiruneelakanta Yazhpanar and his wife took leave of Sambandar and returned home. Sambandar wanted to visit Thondai Nadu. Taking leave of Lord Thoniappar, he left Sirkali, and after visiting many shrines on the way, reached Tiru Annamalai. The very sight of the hill sent him into a trance. He rolled on the ground and shed tears of God-love. Then he reached Thondai Nadu and came to Tiruvothur. During his stay there, a Bhakta came to him and said: �I have planted many palmirah trees in my garden, but all of them are male trees and they do not yield any fruits. The Jains are mocking at me for this. Please protect me from their scorn.� Sambandar went to the temple and sang a song mentioning the devotee�s plight: and the male trees were at once changed into female trees and they yielded good fruits. Due to this miracle, some more Jains embraced Saivism. Because Sambandar had specifically mentioned the palmirah trees, they, too, were helped in their evolution. By stages, Sambandar reached Tiru Alankadu, the holy place where Karaikkal Ammayar �walked� on her head, not wishing to pollute the place. He, too, did not enter the place, but had the Darshan of the Lord in his dream. Sambandar then went to Kalahasthi and had the vision of Kannappa Nayanar and also of Kailasa, Ketharam, Gokarnam, Tirupatham, Indraneela Parvatham, etc. Sambandar then came to Tiru-Votriyur. In Mylapore there lived a merchant by name Sivanesar. He was a staunch Siva Bhakta. He had all wealth but had no children. In answer to his sincere prayer, Lord Siva blessed him with a female child. They named her Poompavai. She was very beautiful. Sivanesar heard of Sambandar�s greatness and felt that he was the only suitable match for his daughter. Mentally, he had offered her to Sambandar. One day when Poompavai was gathering flowers in the garden, she was bitten by a poisonous snake and she died. Sivanesanar even announced that he would give any amount of money to anyone who would revive her: but it was of no use. Then he recollected that he had mentally offered her to Sambandar: this put great courage into him. He at once cremated the body of the girl, collected the ashes and preserved them in a pot. Daily he would decorate the pot with flowers, etc., and sit near it meditating on Sambandar. The news that Sambandar was staying at Tiruvotriyur reached the merchant. At once he erected a big pandal from Mylapore to Tiruvotriyur and followed by Bhaktas began to proceed towards Tiruvotriyur to meet Sambandar. The latter also was coming towards Mylapore. They met on the way. Sambandar had heard about Sivanesar and his worship of the pot which contained the ashes of his daughter. He wanted to please Sivanesar by bringing the girl back to life. They reached Mylapore, worshipped the Lord, sang hymns and, coming out of the temple, asked Sivanesanar to bring the pot of ashes. Sambandar addressed the pot: �Oh Poompavai, the very purpose of human birth in this world is to serve the Lord and His devotees, and to feast the eyes by seeing the festivals of Lord Siva. If this is true, arise in the presence of all. Are you going away without seeing the festival?� Then he sang a Padigam. When he finished the first stanza, Poompavai got her form. When he finished eight stanzas, she got her life and became a twelve year old girl. When he finished the tenth stanza, she came out of the pot, even as Lakshmi came out of the Lotus. All were amazed at this miracle. Sivanesanar and Poompavai worshipped Sambandar�s feet. Sivanesanar entreated Sambandar to accept the girl as his wife. Sambandar, however, explained that the original Poompavai whom Sivanesanar had mentally offered to Sambandar was dead and that the present girl had the relationship of daughter to him. Sivanesanar had to bow to the wishes of Sambandar: he built an Ashram for his daughter where she spent her days in worship of the Lord and attained Him. After visting a number of shrines, Sambandar returned to Sirkali. He had reached his sixteenth year. His father wanted to get him married. He argued that it was necessary for him to engage himself in the performance of Vedic rites. Sivapada Hridayar selected the daughter of Nambandar Nambi of Nallur Perumanam. He, too, welcomed the alliance. The wedding was to take place at Nallur Perumanam. On the appointed day, Sambandar took leave of Thoniappar and reached Nallur Perumanam. Sambandar went to the temple, worshipped the Lord and got His blessings. Then he went to a Mutt nearby. The bride�s party came there to receive him. Sambandar, in his wedding dress, took his seat in the pearl palanquin. People accompanied him, singing �Long Live Sambandar.� Sambandar came to the place where the wedding was to take place. Sambandar holding his wife�s hand, went round the fire, the manifestation of the Lord. Accompanied by the devotees, the couple went into the temple and worshipped Him, with total self-surrender. Sambandar sang a Padigam praying for Liberation. The Lord granted his wish and said: �Oh Sambandar, you, your wife, and all those who witnessed your marriage will merge in the Siva Jyoti and come to Me.� At once, an effulgent Light emerged from the Lord. Before merging in that Light, Sambandar sang a Padigam known as the Panchakshara Padigam. Then all those who were there merged in the Light of Siva. Tiruneelakanta Nayanar, Muruga Nayanar and Tiruneelakanta Yazhpanar were also there! In Tiruperumangalam in Ponni Nadu, there was a Vellala by name Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanar. He belonged to the family called �Eyarkudi� which produced Commanders-in-Chief to Chola kings. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva. The news that Sundaramurthi Nayanar had used Lord Siva Himself as a messenger to settle the domestic dispute between him and his wife Paravayar, so greatly annoyed devout Kalikamanar that he said to himself: �Is this man who behaved like this a devotee? I am a great sinner, too, otherwise my life-breath would have departed on hearing the news.� Sundarar came to know of Kalikamar�s attitude. He realised his own fault and entreated the Lord to appease Kalikamar�s anger. The Lord caused Kalikamar to suffer from colic and told him in a dream that only Sundarar could cure it. Kalikamar preferred death to being cured by Sundarar! In the meantime, the Lord appeared in Sundarar�s dream and asked him to go to Kalikamar and cure him of the colic. Sundarar at once went to meet Kalikamar. As soon as he heard that Sundarar was coming to cure him, Kalikamar gave up his life by cutting his bowel open. Sundarar was greeted by Kalikamar�s wife. When he asked for Nayanar, she made her people say that there was nothing wrong with him and that he was asleep. After much persuasion, they showed him the Nayanar�s body. In desperation, Sundarar also wanted to cut his throat. By the grace of Lord Siva, Kalikamar at once came back to life. They embraced each other. Kalikamar spent the rest of his life in the service of the Lord and His devotees and finally reached His Abode. Tirumula Nayanar was a Saiva Siddha. He was one of the eight students of Tirunandi Devar Who showered His grace on them. They were all Yogis. He was called Tirumular because he entered into the mortal frame of Mulan. Tirumular desired to see Agastya Rishi in Pothia hills. So he left Kailasa and went southwards. On the way, he visited many Saivite shrines. When he came to Tiruvavaduthurai, he took bath in the river Kaveri and went to the temple. He went round the temple twice and offered prayer to the Lord. When he was walking along the bank of Kaveri, he saw a herd of cows shedding tears. He found out the cause: the cow-herd lay dead. Tirumular wanted to pacify the cows. He entered the body of the cowherd after safely depositing his own body in the trunk of a tree. The cows rejoiced again. This cowherd was known as Mulan, a resident of Sattanur. In the evening, he drove the cows back into the village. Mulan�s wife was eagerly expecting the return of her husband. But, when she approached him that day, he would not allow her to touch him, but said: �Oh lady, I am not your husband. Adore Lord Siva and attain Liberation.� He left her and went away to a near-by Math. The lady complained to the leaders of the place, about the conduct of her husband. They examined him and came to the conclusion that he had attained great spiritual evolution. So, they asked her to leave him alone. The next day, Tirumular followed the cows, but could not find his body where he had left it. It was the Lord�s Lila. Lord Siva wanted Tirumular to write a book on Saiva Philosophy, containing the essence of all Siva Agamas, in Tamil. Tirumular understood His wish and returned to Tiruvavaduthurai. He worshipped the Lord and sat under the near-by peepul tree in deep meditation. He was in Samadhi for three thousand years. But, every year, he would come down from Samadhi and compose a stanza: thus, in three thousand years he wrote three thousand stanzas. This book is called Tirumandiram. The Lord�s mission had thus been fulfilled. Then, Tirumular went back to Kailasa. In Tiruvarur, in the Chola kingdom, there was a pious Bhakta by name Dandi Adigal. He was born blind. But, he always repeated the Panchaksharam and visualised the Lord with his inner eyes. He would daily go to the temple, do circumambulation, and worship the Lord. There was a tank on the western side of the temple which was surrounded by Jain dwellings. Dandi Adigal wanted to extend the area of the tank. But, how could he, a man born blind, do it? But, with a determination and complete faith in the Lord, he decided to do it. He erected a post inside the tank where it was to be dug and tied a rope to it. The other end of the rope was tied to the other post which was fixed on the bank. Then guided by the rope he would go to where the digging had to be done. He would dig with a spade, collect the earth in a basket and again with the help of the rope, he would go to the bank and throw the earth away. The Jains were watching the blind man�s miracle. They were jealous of his achievement, too. So, they wanted to disturb his faith. They put forward a cunning argument. �You are blind and you cannot see. While digging, you are killing many insects which is a great sin. So, give up this foolish act.� Nayanar explained to them the sacredness of the work, which was highly pleasing to the Lord, and also that by His grace, he was sure no insect would be injured. He went on with work. The Jains were insulting in their behaviour now. They said: �You were born blind: but now you are deaf, too. Even though we are giving you good counsel, you are not listening.� Nayanar replied: �Oh ignorant people, what do you know of the Lord�s glories? To me He is the sole refuge. I live only to serve Him. Do not mock at His grace. By His grace, if I regained my eye-sight and you lost yours, what will you do?� This reply greatly annoyed them: they snatched the spade and the basket from his hands. With a broken heart, Dandi Adigal went to the temple and expressed his grievances to the Lord. The Lord appeared in his dream that night and assured him of His help. He also appeared before the king in his dream and asked him to redress the grievances of Nayanar. The king summoned the Jains. Dandi Adigal was also there. The king addressed Dandi: �Oh devotee, you said that by God�s grace you could get your eye-sight back and the Jains would lose theirs. Prove this.� Dandi Adigal said: �Lord Siva is the real God. He is my sole refuge and prop. I am only His slave. If this is true, let me regain my eye-sight and let the Jains lose theirs.� He then uttered the Panchaksharam and went into the tank. When he came out, his eye-sight had been restored and at the same time, the Jains lost their eye-sight. All were amazed at this. The king banished the Jains from his kingdom and restored people�s faith in the Lord. Dandi Adigal attained God-realisation. This saint was a Vellala by caste and he belonged to Tiruverkat in Thondai Nadu. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva and was doing Maahesvara Puja by regularly feeding His Bhaktas at any cost. He had spent all his wealth in such feeding. So, he resorted to a strange way. He used to gamble and use the money for feeding Siva Bhaktas. He went away from his village in search of gamblers! He would not spare anybody: if someone refused to gamble with him, he would resort to violence! (So the name Murkha Nayanar which means wicked Nayanar!) But, he would never utilise the money for his own expenses. It was all for His Bhaktas. So, the Lord, the Indweller, showered His blessings on him. This is an extraordinary illustration of the nature of supreme devotion or Para Bhakti. It is its own law. The devotee knows nothing but God and is actually oblivious of the world and its manners. He lives in God, for God and he is of God. At such a stage, God Himself takes charge of him! The completeness of the surrender is severely tested before this. It is the extreme difficulty of this path that made Sage Narada exclaim that even a saint should not violate the canons of morality. Hence, so long as you are aware of your own individuality, stick to the code of right conduct: do not foolishly imitate the sages who dwell in a plane of consciousness, to which you are a complete stranger. Somasira Nayanar was a Brahmin by caste. He lived in Tiruvambur. He was a great devotee of the Lord and served His Bhaktas, irrespective of their caste. He did Yagas and worshipped the Lord, without expecting any reward. He went to Tiruvarur and lived with Sundaramurthi Nayanar to whom he had totally surrendered himself. Thus he got His grace. Here is a simple life of saintliness. On the face of it there does not seem to be anything spectacular about this Nayanar. But, we have to bear in mind the conditions that prevailed in South India in the Nayanar�s days. It was almost impossible for a Brahmin in those days to mix with people of other castes, however devoted they might be to God. For a Brahmin to serve them was unthinkably difficult. It required very great will power, determination and devotion to God and His Bhaktas. Again, in those days no one would even think of performing a Yaga without expectation of a reward. Yagas were performed only with a specific selfish desire. That Nayanar performed them selflessly and desirelessly, shows that he had already reached a high stage of Jnana or spiritual insight. He was a true Jnani and Karma Yogi. Over and above all these, he was highly devoted to the Guru, Sundaramurthi Nayanar. What cannot Guru Bhakti achieve? And, yet, foolish and arrogant man speaks lightly of it and ridicules Guru Bhakti! This saint was a Vellala born in Tirucchangamangai. He was totally disgusted with worldly life and wanted to attain Liberation. He sought the best way to get this. Due to false propaganda, he fell a victim to Buddhistic influence. He became a Buddhist, but it did not satisfy him for long. He was immediately attracted to Saivism and was convinced that, whatever be the external appearance or conduct of one, if he had intense devotion to the Lord, he would attain Liberation. Though he did not give up his external appearance of a Buddhist, he adored Lord Siva. One day, as he was sitting in an open Siva temple and meditating on the Lingam, completely absorbed in the divine bliss, he self-forgetfully threw a stone at the Lingam. On the next day, he went to the temple again and recollected the previous day�s action. He felt that it was the Lord s Will, to reveal the profound truth that He would accept anything offered by His Bhakta in devotion. He threw a stone that day too. That was his daily worship, without which he would not take his food! One day, when he was about to take his meal, he remembered that he had not done his usual Puja: and unmindful of the hunger, went to the temple and threw a stone with great devotion. The Lord appeared before him, blessed him and took him to Kailasa. Sirappuli Nayanar was a pious Brahmin. He lived in Tiruvakur in the Chola kingdom. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva and His Bhaktas. He used to worship them and serve them sincerely. He would repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, with Bhav and sincerity, throughout the day and night. He also performed the Vedic sacrifices in honour of Lord Siva. All these earned for him the supreme grace of Siva. A special spiritual practice of this Nayanar seems to have been the ceaseless repetition of the Panchakshara Mantra (Om Namah Sivaya). This extremely simple practice is capable of bestowing incalculable benefit on man: and yet, ignorant man, full of delusion, refuses to resort to it. The continuous repetition of the Mantra will change the very mind-substance. It contains a divine vibration. Modern science has reached a stage when it no longer believes in mass and quantity. Even the gross and impure intellect of a scientist has come to recognise the superior power in the subtle atom or cell. Great indeed is the foolishness of man if he still refuses to believe that the sound-vibrations (even the subtler thought-vibrations) can bring about a radical change within himself and heal him physically, vitally, mentally, psychically and spiritually. This is the highest Yoga: to remember God always and constantly to repeat His Name. In Tiruchenkattangudi in the Chola kingdom, there lived a Siva Bhakta by name Paranjyoti. His was a family of army commanders. He himself was the Commander-in-Chief of the Chola king. He realised that devotion to the Feet of Lord Siva was the best means of obtaining Liberation from Samsara and so, he clung to Them. Once, at the instance of his king, he waged war with a North Indian king, defeated him and returned with a big booty. The king was highly pleased. The minister informed the king that Paranjyotiar was able to achieve the victory because of his intense devotion to Lord Siva. This shocked the king, who was a Siva Bhakta himself: he regretted having compelled a Siva Bhakta to wage a bloody war. He called Paranjyotiar, apologised for having sent him, a Siva Bhakta to war, and, after giving him rich presents, sent him back to his village, with the request that he should henceforth engage himself in His Puja. Paranjyotiar returned to his village and from that time was engaged in the worship of the Lord and His Bhaktas. He would not eat without first feeding a Siva Bhakta. He regarded himself as the lowly servant of the Lord and His Bhaktas: hence the name Siruthondar (small servant). Lord Siva wanted to bring out the glory of this noble saint. So, one day He appeared in front of Siruthondar�s house, in the guise of a Vairavar (a special class of Siva Yogis). He enquired of Siruthondar�s maid-servant, Sandana Nangaiyar, whether her master was at home. She said: �No, he has gone in search of a Siva Bhakta, without feeding whom he would not take his food.� But, afraid lest this Siva Yogi should go away, she entreated him to come into the house. The mendicant would not: �I shall not enter the house in which a woman is alone.� Siruthondar�s wife Tiruvengattu Nangaiyar heard these words and came out hurriedly and prayed to the Vairavar to stay in the house till the husband returned. The Vairavar repeated his objection and said: �When he comes back tell him I am under the tree near the temple.� The Vairavar went away. Immediately afterwards, Siruthondar returned. His wife told him all that had happened in his absence. Siruthondar was overjoyed because he was unable to find any other Bhakta that day. At once he ran to the temple and fell at the feet of the Vairavar and invited him to the house for Bhiksha. The Vairavar, however, hesitated and remarked: �I doubt whether you will be able to fulfil the exacting conditions I shall demand for accepting your Bhiksha: so, better leave me alone.� Siruthondar was greatly grieved. He had thought that this mendicant had been specially sent by God to enable him to adhere to his vow and feed a Bhakta every day. He was prepared to meet any demand from the Bhakta, if only he agreed to take the Bhiksha. Now, the mendicant revealed his condition: �Oh devotee, it is my habit to eat once in six months the fresh meat of a Pasu. That time has now come. I doubt whether you will satisfy me.� This word Pasu has two meanings: an animal and a human being. Siruthondar thought that the mendicant only meant animal meat: and readily agreed! To his surprise, however, the mendicant revealed that meant human flesh! He also added: �Oh friend, it should be the meat of a child. The child should be five years of age. He must be healthy. He should be the only son of his parents. Such a boy must be held by the mother and cut into pieces by his father. This meat must be cooked nicely and offered to me.� Without the least hesitation, Siruthondar accepted conditions and took the mendicant home. How to find a boy of the mendicant�s description? Siruthondar thought of his own son who fitted the description. The noble wife agreed, too, and asked him to get the child from school. As soon as he came the mother held him on her lap. The innocent child was laughing when Siruthondar, with one stroke cut his throat. The head is generally unfit for cooking, and is not fit for being offered to the Lord. So, they gave it away to the maid-servant and began to cook, the rest of the meat. After worshipping the mendicant, Siruthondar was preparing to offer him Bhiksha. The mendicant ascertained the method adopted by them in cooking the meat and Nayanar explained everything (except the fact that it was their own son that they had sacrificed). The mendicant said he would eat the head, too. The maid-servant had anticipated this and had the head cooked and ready. Once again, Siruthondar requested the Yogi to have his meal. Now, the Yogi wanted another Siva Bhakta to eat with him: and there was no one except the Nayanar himself. So, he sat with the Yogi, ready to eat the flesh of his son, to please the Yogi. Yet, one more condition had to be fulfilled! The Yogi said that unless the host�s son ate with him, he would not eat! Nayanar tactfully explained that his son was not in the house and so could not join with them. But, the Yogi insisted: �Go out and call for him: he will come.� Nayanar wanted to obey the Yogi and did as the Yogi had asked to do. Wonder of wonders: the young boy came running to the father as soon as the father had cried aloud: �Sirala, come here: the Yogi wants you to eat with him.� The parents were astonished to see their child, Siralan come back to life. They entered the kitchen, but could not find the Yogi there. The meat had also disappeared! As they were searching for the Yogi, the Lord appeared before them, blessed them and took them to His Abode. Cheraman Perumal Nayanar was born in Kodunkolur. It was the capital city of Malai Nadu or the present Kerala. He was born in the royal family of Kothayars, otherwise known as the Uthiyan family. The name Cheraman was the common name for all Cheras. Perumal was the title adopted by him after his coronation. His original name was Perum-Ma-Kothayar. He was endowed with good Samskaras. He had great devotion to the Lord even as a child. As he grew, his devotion also grew. He had a remarkable degree of dispassion and discrimination. He did not like to rule the country: and so, when he came of age, he renounced the world and went to Tiru Anchaikalam and engaged himself in the worship of the Lord there. The country was ruled by Sengol Porayan. He, too, soon realised the evanescence of worldly life and renounced the world! He had no issues and the throne was vacant. They went to Tiru Anchaikalam and requested Perum-Ma-Kothayar to ascend the throne. Though he was reluctant, lest it should interfere with his daily worship, he bowed to the divine will. He went to the temple and offered a prayer. The Lord permitted him to accept the rulership. By the Lord�s grace he ascended the throne and ruled the country justly and wisely. He could understand all languages, even the language of the birds. The Lord had bestowed upon him all the Aiswaryas, great strength, royal vehicles, etc. After the coronation, he went to the temple and after worshipping the Lord he was returning to the palace. On the way, he saw a washerman whose body had been smeared with white sand and mud. The very sight enraptured Cheraman who saw in him the image of Lord Siva with the sacred ash smeared all over the body. He was raised to God-consciousness. He descended from the elephant and fell at the feet of the washerman, in spite of the latter�s protest. All were wonderstruck to witness the supreme devotion of Cheraman. By his many acts of devotion and piety, he earned the grace of Lord Siva. The Lord sent to him a renowned musician and devotee, Banapatirar, with a palm leaf on which was the Lord�s own song in praise of Cheraman! It read: �Oh king who honours great poets with rich presents, who rules his subjects with love! Glory to you! I am very highly pleased with your devotion and charitable nature. The bearer of this message is Banapatirar who is a great devotee like you. He is a great musician and always sings My glories on his favourite instrument, Yazh. He has come to see you. Welcome him with due respect and honour him with plenty of riches.� Cheraman welcomed the musician with great love and devotion. When he read the song of the Lord, he was overjoyed and rolled on the ground. He said to Banapatirar: �Oh noble soul, kindly take possession of all these and accept my kingdom also.� Banapatirar was astounded to witness the king�s devotion and said: �Oh king, I am highly pleased with your Darshan. I shall accept only what is absolutely necessary for me, for that has been the command of the Lord.� He took what he needed and left Kodunkolur on an elephant. Cheraman escorted him up to the border. Cheraman was greatly devoted to Lord Nataraja. He had surrendered his body, mind and soul to Him. He would daily worship the Lord: and, by His grace, at the time of his prayer, he would hear the musical sound produced by the Lord�s anklets during His dance. One day, however, at the time of the prayer, he did not hear the usual divine sound. Cheraman was greatly afflicted at heart. He thought that he must have been guilty of a great crime and decided to end his life, with his sword. At once he heard the divine sound and a voice in the sky explained: �Oh noble soul, My friend Nambi Arurar has come to Tillai and he was singing sweet Tamil songs. I was completely absorbed in that and hence the delay in blessing you with the musical sound of My anklet.� The Lord wanted to create a friendship between Sundarar and Cheraman and so spoke highly of Sundarar to Cheraman. Cheraman, desirous of worshipping Lord Nataraja and also of meeting Sundarar, at once started for Tillai. The very sight of the Lord in Tillai entranced him. He sang �Pon Vannathu Anthadi� on Lord Nataraja. In appreciation, the Lord blessed him with the musical sound of His anklets. Cheraman was swimming in divine bliss. Before Cheraman reached Tillai, Sundarar had already left the place. Cheraman proceeded to Tiruvarur where he met Sundarar. They embraced each other and fell at each other�s feet. They became fast friends. At Tiruvarur Cheraman composed the famous �Tiru Mummanikovai� on Lord Thiagaraja. Then they went to Vedaranyam. There Cheraman sang his �Tiru Anthati� on the Lord. After visiting many shrines on the way they came to Madura. The Pandyan king welcomed them. The Chola prince who was staying with the Pandyan king also welcomed them. In their company the great saints visited many shrines. Taking leave of the kings, Cheraman and Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur. From there, at the request of Cheraman, Sundarar accompanied him to Kodunkolur. There Cheraman took Sundarar on an elephant and went round the city in procession. When Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur, he had instructed Cheraman to rule the country justly and wisely. Cheraman obeyed the saint�s commands. On the next occasion when Sundarar visited Kodunkolur one day Sundarar suddenly left the place and went to the sacred shrine at Tiru Anchaikalam where he sought the Lord�s grace and attained Liberation. By intuition, Cheraman learnt of Sundarar�s release and he also attained the Lotus Feet of the Lord, as we have already seen, while dealing with Sundaramurthi Nayanar�s life. In Kailasa, Cheraman became the chief of Lord Siva�s Ganas (servants). Gananathar was a pious Brahmin of Sirkali. He was a great Bhakta of Lord Siva. People admired his virtue and devotion and came to him for advice. He invariably gave them some work connected with the temple, according to their ability. They would clean the temple, make garlands, work in the gardens, burn lamps in the temples, etc. Thus he infused devotion in them for the Lord and transformed them into Siva Bhaktas. He was greatly devoted to Jnana Sambandar. All these earned Siva�s grace for him. Here is another great but simple spiritual practice. Talk to other people about God and the glory of devotion, etc. You will be building up a powerful spiritual fortress around you. You will be able to avoid people wasting your time: you will not indulge in nor allow others to lead you into, gossip which is the spiritual aspirant�s arch-enemy. People who may in the beginning, think that you are strange in your behaviour, will soon understand you and they will, of their own accord, avoid useless talk in your very presence. At the same time, you will be rendering a very great service to humanity, by directing everyone�s mind towards God and Dharma. Here is a wonderful Yoga which helps you and others, too, at the same time. Put it into practice and realise its miraculous effect. This saint was a chieftain of Kalandai. He was extremely devoted to Lord Siva. Daily he would repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, and serve the Bhaktas. The Lord made him more powerful, and bestowed on him all wealth and strength. Nayanar captured many places in the Chola and Pandyan kingdoms. He wanted that the three thousand Brahmins of Tillai should crown him king: they refused, because they owed allegiance to the Chola king. All of them even left Tillai fearing his wrath. Only one was left to do the Puja. Even he refused to accede to Nayanar�s request. One day Nayanar prayed to the Lord: and, in answer, the Lord Himself appeared before him and crowned him by placing His Feet on his head. Nayanar continued to worship the Lord and finally attained Him. The Lord, the Indweller of our hearts knew that, when the Nayanar asked the three thousand Brahmins to crown him, it was only to spiritualise the coronation and to enable him to feel that the crown was but a symbol of the Feet of the Lord. When the Brahmins feared political repercussions, the Lord Himself fulfilled the devotee�s wish. Pugal Chola Nayanar was a king. He was living in Uraiyur in the Chola kingdom. He was greatly devoted to Lord Siva and His Bhaktas. He was an ideal king and people loved him and followed in his footsteps. Once he went to Karur to collect tributes due to him from the kings of Kuda Nadu. All of them paid at once: but the ministers reported that a petty king named Adigan had not. He ordered his troops to invade Adigan�s fort. In the meantime, the king�s elephant was killed by Eripatha Nayanar for a Siva Aparadham (as we have already seen in Eripatha Nayanar�s life). Ultimately, both Eripathar and the king had the Lord�s Darshan. As this drama was being enacted, elsewhere, the king�s troops had demolished Adigan�s fort, killing many of his men, and Adigan himself had run away. Pugal Cholar�s troops returned with a lot of wealth and the heads of men killed. They placed all these at the king�s feet. Among the heads, the king noticed a head with the braid of hair on top�it belonged to a Siva Bhakta. Stricken with terrible remorse the king had a big fire made, went round it having the head on a golden plate in his hand and entered the fire chanting the Panchakshara Mantra. Thus he entered the Lord�s Abode. This saint was a petty chieftain. He lived in Tiru Munaipadi. He was highly devoted to Lord Siva. He was a champion of Saivism. On every Tiruvathirai day he would conduct special Puja, feed Siva Bhaktas in whatever form they appeared and offer the gift of a hundred gold coins to each. On one such occasion, one Bhakta came with sacred ashes on his stark naked body: this evoked disgust in the hearts of the other Bhaktas. Nayanar understood this and fell at the naked devotee�s feet and welcomed him with more respect. He fed him nicely and gave him 200 gold coins. This earned the Lord�s supreme grace for the Nayanar. Here is an illustration of the subtle way in which saints manifest their cosmic vision, and also the subtle way in which they bring about the necessary change in the outlook of others. To the Nayanar, all the devotees are the manifestations of Lord Siva. The naked man does not evoke the least trace of disgust or contempt. When he finds this unhealthy attitude in others, he does not violently correct them. In his own subtle, mysterious but very effective way, he demonstrates the truth: and brings about a change in the attitude of the ignorant. Both these lessons are important. This saint was a fisherman born in Nulaipadi near Nagapattinam. It was his practice to let go one fish from his catch daily, as an offering unto the Lord. The Lord wanted to reveal his greatness to the world. Once it so happened that for many consecutive days he could catch only one fish. He let it go, in the name of Lord Siva, and went without food. One day he caught a golden fish, again only one for the day. And, he stuck to his vow and let it go, in the name of Lord Siva. The Lord appeared before him and blessed this illiterate, fisherman saint! Not indeed by vast erudition, nor by breath-taking austerities, nor by hearing and talking a lot, but by unflinching devotion alone can God be realised. This humble, simple, fisherman saint has proved that beyond the least trace of doubt. But, look at his steadfastness, Nishta! It is not easy to acquire, unless you have living faith in God. Otherwise, the mind will bring up all sorts of reasons (lame excuses!) for breaking the vow. This supreme faith and devotion is itself the highest Jnana. Only an ignorant man studies books: what need is there for a great scholar to study an elementary book on grammar? What need is there for one to whom God is a living presence, to stuff himself with words? Intellect is a help, if it serves faith: it is a hindrance if it shakes it. Devotion is indispensable for attaining Him. This saint was a Vaisya by caste and he lived in Pennagadam in the Chola kingdom. He was doing some service in the temple. He was very devoted to Siva Bhaktas in whom he saw the Lord Himself. His wife, too, helped him in all this. One day, his former servant came to his house in the guise of a Bhakta. Nayanar, as usual, welcomed him, washed his feet and worshipped him. But, his wife who recognised the former servant did not join. Nayanar understood her lack of devotion, cut off her hand and continued his worship of the Bhakta. Practising this form of Yoga Sadhana, he attained Him. This saint has dramatically proved the great truth which Sage Narada has emphasised in his immortal work �Bhakti Sutras�: there is no distinction of caste, creed or status, among the devotees of God. They do not recognise such distinctions among themselves: and others, too, shall not entertain such distinctions. It is blasphemy against God. The great devotees have become one with Him. They are all manifest divinity. Whatever might have been their past life, caste or faith, they have now become divine and hence such distinctions have no meaning. Kalia Nayanar was an oil monger of Tiruvotriyur. His adoration of the Lord, to Whom he was highly devoted, took the form of lighting the temple lamps daily. He was rich. But, in order to reveal his greatness the Lord made him poor. His family people also refused help. He began to work as a labourer to earn the oil. Even this became impossible. He wanted to sell his wife: but no one would buy. At last, in despair, he wanted to cut his own throat and use the blood instead of oil, to burn the lamps. In that attempt, Lord Siva caught hold of his hand and blessed him. What greatness, and what intensity of devotion is portrayed in this simple life! Self-forgetfulness is the key-note in devotion. Remembering God always, the devotee is so thoroughly absorbed in Him, that nothing but God and His worship matters to him. By all means His worship must go on: no obstacle shall stand in the way. The devotee�s heart and mind are always positive, never letting a negative thought enter them. He sees opportunities in difficulties and is never beaten by any obstacles which serve him as steps to God! Satti Nayanar was a Vellala by caste. He was born in Varinjiyur in the Chola kingdom. He was a sincere devotee of Lord Siva and honoured His devotees. He could not tolerate anyone speaking ill of them. If anyone did so, he would cut off the slanderer�s tongue. Lord Siva understood his pure inner Bhav and showered His grace on him. Besides revealing the glory of the Nayanar�s devotion, this simple life also holds for us a great object lesson�never speak ill of the saints or devotees of God. They have attained union with God: and, so, if you vilify them, you are vilifying God Himself. It is the greatest sin, the greatest, Himalayan blunder. You cannot judge them: they live on a different plane of consciousness from yours. Our scriptures contain numerous illustrations of the strange behaviour of saints, sages and Yogis. Sometimes they behave as little children: sometimes as mad-men; sometimes as fools. Mysterious is the nature of saints. Always worship and adore them: you will be benefited. Do not criticise them or speak ill of them or find fault with their conduct. Our scriptures say that he who blames the conduct of the sages, gets their bad Karma, and suffers doubly in consequence. Beware! If anyone speaks ill of a saint or devotee of God, in your presence, leave that place at once. Otherwise, your own moral and spiritual structure will be dangerously undermined. Beware! Aiyadigal Kadavarkon Nayanar was a Pallava king who ruled over Kanchi. He infused the spirit of Saivism into his people, too. Soon he got disgusted with worldly life, renounced the world, after installing his son in his place, and undertook a continuous pilgrimage of the various shrines singing hymns in His praise, wherever he went. Lord Siva was highly pleased with his devotion and blessed him with His Darshan. This king has set an example for all kings and social leaders to follow. Leaders should be the best example for their followers. They should encourage the masses to walk the path of virtue and Godlines. Otherwise, they live in vain: and, what is more, they take upon their shoulders a good part of the sins of their followers, for they are responsible for those sins. This Nayanar lives in our hearts even today because he served his subjects both by precept and by his own personal example. He taught them; he encouraged them; and, finally, by his own life of renunciation and wholehearted devotion of the Lord, set a glorious example for them to emulate. Such is the life of an ideal leader. Kanampulla Nayanar was a wealthy man in Irukkuvelur. He was a great Siva Bhakta. He wanted to utilise all his wealth in His service only. So, with unswerving devotion he would light the lamps in Siva shrines and sing His praise. Lord Siva wanted to reveal his devotion. He withdrew his wealth. He went over to Chidambaran. There also he continued his service, with the money got by selling his possessions. There was nothing left in the house. He had to cut grass, sell it and purchase ghee with the money and burn the lamps. Because he cut grass known as Kanampul, he was known as Kanampulla Nayanar. One day he could not sell the grass. He did not want to swerve from his duty, however. He went to the temple and made a wick out of the grass and burnt it. The quantity of grass was not enough. So, he brought his own head near the lamp, spread his hair on the lamp, and began burning it. At once Lord Siva appeared before him, and blessed him. This ardent devotee of Lord Siva was a native of Tirukadavur. He was a scholar in Tamil. He used to go to the three Tamil kings, and get money by singing Tamil Kovais (anthology). He earned a lot and built temples. Thus he spread the cause of Saivism. He also served Siva Bhaktas and earned His grace. A true devotee of the Lord lives for His sake only. All that he has is offered to the Lord as the devotee�s worship. God is your creator, your father and mother, friend and Guru. He has given you the various talents and skill. They belong to Him. He dwells in all, and expects you to utilise them in the service of all. This is the simple logic by which the saints arrive at the conclusion that they should see God in all, serve the Lord in all, and love Him in and through cosmic love, expressed as selfless service and charity. By leading such a selfless and divine life, you will conquer your worst spiritual enemy, viz., egoism, and realise God in this very birth, nay, this very second. 49. Ninra Seer Nedumara Nayanar And Koon Pandyan, the Pandyan king, was ruling in Madura. He was called Koon Pandyan because of his hunchback. He was himself a poet and he patronised the Tamil poets and established a Tamil Sangam. His wife was Mangayarkarasiyar. She was the daughter of a Chola king. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. Kulacchirai Nayanar was his minister: and he was also a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. Tiru Jnana Sambandar has sung Padigams in praise of both. Koon Pandyan had fallen a victim to the influence of Jainism. The queen and the minister feared that unless something was done, Saivism would be wiped out. When Sambandar came to Madura and was staying outside the city, Kulacchirai Nayanar invited him into the city. The Jains tried in vain to destroy Sambandar. When Sambandar sang a song, the king�s hunchback was cured, as also his burning pain. He came back to Saivism. Since then he was known as Ninra Seer Nadumara Nayanar, as his hunchback had disappeared and he stood erect and tall. The Pandyan king then defeated the northern kings at Tirunelvely and spread Saivism there. Mangayarkarasiyar helped her husband a lot in this. Both the husband and the wife worshipped Sambandar with great faith and devotion. Their devotion to the Guru and love of Saivism earned His grace for them. He was a Vellala by caste. He belonged to Mylapore. He was a Siva Bhakta. He constructed temples mentally and did Manasic (mental) worship. He built the temple of non-forgetfulness, lit the shining lamp of Self-illumination, bathed the Lord in the waters of immortal Ananda (bliss) and worshipped Him with the elixir of supreme love. Thus he obtained salvation. Here is the life of a Para Bhakta, a supreme devotee. He had transcended the stage of idol worship. He had attained great purity of heart and clarity of inner psychic vision so that, without the aid of a symbol and without the help of rituals, he could raise his mind to the sublime heights of the Abstract. The inclusion of this wonderfully simple life of Vayilar Nayanar is to point out that devotion is of many types, to suit the taste and temperament of different individuals. Whatever be the path the choose, ultimately they reach the same goal, union with the Lord, Siva. The Hindu sages have always declared that the spiritual path is not a stereotyped one, the same drug for all diseases, the same food for all people at all ages (from infancy to old age!), but that the spiritual life is adapted (within broad limits) to the needs of each individual. Everyone pursues the path or the combination of paths suited to him, and ultimately reaches the same goal. This saint was a Vellala by caste. He belonged to Tiru Nidur in the Chola kingdom. He was a great Bhakta of Lord Siva and His devotees. He was always the hope of the desperate, the weak and the vanquished. They would call upon him to turn their defeat into a victory. He would hire himself out as a professional fighter. He fixed a wage for this service and with that money he would feed the Siva Bhaktas and look after them. He earned money in this way and hence he was called �Munaiyaduvar�. Lord Siva was highly pleased with him and blessed him. Two vital lessons that this Nayanar�s life hold should not be ignored. The first and foremost, even in the exercise of the God-given talent of fencing, the Nayanar took care to see, that it was used to defend the weak, the oppressed and the downtrodden. Strength, too, is a manifestation of the Lord, according to Him: but it should be used in His service in a righteous way. The second one is that the fruits of such service were always dedicated to the Lord. This is the very core of the teaching of the Bhagavad Gita, and the teachings of all saints and sages. Righteousness rests on this pedestal of dedication to God and unselfishness. Selfishness is the root cause of all sins and consequent miseries. 53. Kazharsinga Nayanar And Kazharsinga Nayanar was an ardent devotee of the Lord. He was a Pallava monarch, belonging to the family of Kadavar. Due to God�s grace he defeated the kings of the northern country and established Saivism there. He went on many pilgrimages. Once he came to Tiruvarur with his queen and visited the temple. The queen, coming round the temple, came to the place where flowers had been kept for Siva�s worship, and she smelt a flower which had accidentally fallen on the floor. Seruthunai Nayanar, a pious Vellala of Tanjore, who was doing the service in the temple, was annoyed by her action. He at once cut off the nose of the queen that smelt the flower. The king, hearing the pitiable cry of the queen, rushed to the spot. He was terribly angry with the man who was responsible for the brutal act. Seruthunai Nayanar explained to him the queen�s action which was an insult to Lord Siva (Siva Aparadham). The king at once gave an additional punishment to her, by cutting off her hand which picked up the flower! Both the king and Seruthunai Nayanar were glorified by the people and the celestials rained flowers on them. Both of them attained the grace of Lord Siva. This saint was the king of Velas in Kodumbalur. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. He had made arrangements with all the Siva temples to perform worship according to the Siva Agamas. There was another Siva Bhakta in the same locality doing Maaheshwara Puja. He became very poor and so he could not continue his Puja and feeding of Bhaktas. So, one day he entered Idangazhi Nayanar�s granary at night and began to steal paddy. The watchman caught him red-handed and took him to the king. The king learnt on enquiry that the Siva Bhakta�s motive for stealing was to feed the devotees of the Lord. The king let him go. This incident opened the eyes of the king. He realised that nothing belonged to him and that the real owners of his property were Lord Siva and His Bhaktas. So, he gave permission to all Siva Bhaktas to enter his palace and granary and take whatever they wanted. Thus he displayed his zeal for the spread of Saivism. Thus he earned Lord Siva�s grace, too. This saint was a pious Adi Saiva of Seruviliputhur. He was an ardent Siva Bhakta. He was a Pujari (priest) in the temple. His daily duty was to bathe the image, uttering the Mantras and do the Puja, according to the Siva Agamas. Once a famine swept over the land and he had no money to buy food. He loved the deity and his daily duty so much that he did not like to leave the place in spite of the starvation. He stuck to that place and continued the Puja. His body was emaciated. One day, in spite of his weakness, he fetched water for the Lord�s Bath (Abhishekam) and, when he was pouring the water on the Lingam, the water-pot slipped from his hand and fell on Him. Nayanar forgot himself in sheer exhaustion and fainted away. The Lord appeared in his dream and said that He would leave one coin in the temple every day till the famine was over so that he could procure the necessary food with that money and appease his hunger. Nayanar woke up and found that the dream was true! The Lord thus enabled His Bhakta to get over the famine. He continued his daily Puja in the temple and finally reached the Lord�s Abode. This saint was a Vellala by caste. He was the Commander-in-Chief of a Chola king. He was highly devoted to Lord Siva. He was very pious and virtuous. It was his practice to purchase paddy out of his income and give it to Siva temples for the Lord�s food. He was doing this for a long time. Once he had to go out on military duty. So, he stocked a sufficient quantity of paddy for the temple use, handed it over to his relatives, with clear instructions that it was meant only for the Lord and that they should not touch it for their own use. During his absence, there was a famine and his relatives had to suffer for want of food. So, they laid their hands on the paddy meant for the Lord and appeased their hunger. The Nayanar returned from his duty and heard of his relatives� action. He was annoyed with them. He called them to his house and killed them, including his parents, for this crime. His supreme love for the Lord had so completely overshadowed his love for his own near and dear ones! The Lord appeared at once before him and blessed him, and also all the relatives who had died at his hand, and took them all to His Abode. Pusalar was a Brahmin of Tiru Ninravur in Thondai Mandalam. He excelled in the mental worship of the Lord. Mental worship is thousands of times better than external ritualistic worship: mental worship soon leads to Samadhi (superconscious state) and Self-realisation. He strongly desired to build a temple for Lord Siva, but he did not have the money for it. So, mentally he gathered the necessary materials for the purpose. He laid the foundation stone on an auspicious day. He raised the temple and had even fixed an auspicious day for the installation of the deity in it. The Kadava king who was also a great devotee of Lord Siva had built a magnificent temple in Conjeevaram. By chance he had also fixed the date which Pusalar had mentally chosen, for the installation of the Lord in his temple. The Lord wanted to show the king the superiority of Pusalar�s great devotion. So, the Lord appeared in the king�s dream and asked him to postpone the installation ceremony in his temple, as He would be going to the temple constructed by His devotee at Tiru Ninravur. The king woke up from sleep and was intensely eager to have the Darshan of the devotee mentioned by the Lord and also have a look at the great temple he had built, which he thought would be far superior to his temple. The king came to Tiruninravur and searched all over the place for the temple: he could not find any. Then the king enquired about Pusalar. He found out Pusalar�s house and approached him. Pusalar was stunned when he heard of the king�s dream. Soon, he recovered and was filled with joy. He thought: �How kind and merciful is the Lord. I am only a wretched creature and He has accepted my mental shrine as His Abode. I am really blessed.� He told the king that that temple was only in his mind. The king was greatly surprised to hear this. Admiring Pulasar�s devotion, the king fell at his feet and worshipped him. Pulasar installed the Lord in his mental temple and continued to worship Him till he attained His Abode. This saint was the native of Kampili. He was a weaver. He was highly devoted to the Lord and His Bhaktas. His mind was well fixed on the lotus feet of the Lord. His lips always uttered the Panchakshara Mantra. His hands were ever busy in the service of His Bhaktas. These three virtues gained the Lord�s grace for him. Here is another instance of the glory of the Name of God. We have already seen the glory of the Lord�s Name (Vide page 51) while studying the life of Sirapulli Nayanar. Constant repetition of the Mantra enables you to remember Him always, throughout the day and even during sleep! The technique is this: as soon as you wake up in the morning, sit down for half an hour and mentally repeat the Mantra. And keep up the current during your work, too, by withdrawing yourself for a few moments every hour and mentally visualising the presence of the Lord in you and mentally repeating the Mantra. If you are established in this practice, very soon you will find that even when you are talking or are engaged in other activities�nay, even during sleep, the mind goes on repeating the Mantra. You will get God-realisation. In addition to this glorious Japa Yoga, Nesa Nayanar also practised the Yoga of Synthesis. He thought of God, he lived for God, he worked for God, he was highly devoted to God and loved Him. In Chandra Tirtha in the Chola kingdom there was a thick grove. In that grove under a Jambul tree there was a Siva Lingam. A white elephant used to come there daily and prostrate before the Lingam. A spider which was also devoted to Him, noticed that dry leaves were falling on Him and to prevent this wove a web above the Lingam. The next day when the elephant came to worship, he found the web, and, thinking that someone had polluted the place, tore the web, offered his worship and went away. The spider came upon the scene, felt sorry that his web had been destroyed, wove another web and went away. The next day, as the elephant was pulling the web away, the spider which was present there, gave him a sting: the elephant died of the poison on the spot. The spider, too, was caught in the elephant�s trunk, and perished. Due to His grace, this spider was born as the son of Suba Devan, the Chola king. He and his dutiful wife went to Chidambaram and eagerly prayed to the Lord Nataraja for a son. The Lord granted their wish. Soon Kamalavati conceived the child. The day of delivery arrived. Astrologers foretold that if the child could be delivered a few minutes later, it would rule the three worlds! The queen asked that she should be tied to the roof of the room upside down, with a tight bandage around her waist. When the auspicious time came, she was released and the child was born. This was the spider reborn! The child had red eyes as he had remained in his mother�s womb a little longer. The mother, looking into his eyes, said: �Kochekannano� (the child with red eyes), and expired. Hence, he was named Kochengat Cholan. When he reached the proper age, his father enthroned him king, retired from the world and, after severe penance, reached the Lord�s Abode. Kochengat Cholan promoted Saivism. In Tiru Anai Ka he built a beautiful temple and installed the Siva Lingam under the same Jambul tree! In Chola Nadu he built many shrines and mansions for the use of the three thousand Brahmins of Tillai. He provided for regular worship at Chidambaran. Finally he reached the Lord�s Abode. His glories were sung by the poet Poygayar in his �Kalavazhi Narpathu�. In Tiru Erukattanpuliyur, in the Chola kingdom, there lived an ardent devotee of Lord Siva by name Tiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar. He was an expert in playing the Yazh (Veena, a musical instrument). It was his habit to visit many sacred shrines and sing His glories on the Yazh. He once went to Madura. He was standing at the entrance and singing. The Lord wanted to hear him at close quarters and so asked the devotees in their dream, to bring Yazhpanar into the inner shrine the next day. When the Brahmins took him inside the shrine, Yazhpanar was surprised, but understood it was His Lila and that He wanted to hear him play on the Yazh. As he was singing, a voice was heard in the heaven: �If the instrument rests on the wet floor, it will be spoilt: give him a golden seat to occupy.� At once a golden seat was offered to him. Yazhpanar prostrated to the Lord and sang of His supreme compassion, standing on the golden seat. Yazhpanar then went to Tiruvarur and, here, too, he remained outside the shrine and sang. And here, too, the Lord wanted him to sing in His immediate presence. So, He created another opening on the northern side of the temple. Yazhpanar understood the Lord�s will and entered through the gate and sang in His Presence. How he joined Sambandar and got Liberation, has been told in Sambandar�s life. 62. Sadaya Nayanar And In Tirunavalur in Tirumuraipadi there lived an Adi Saivite by name Sadayanar. All his ancestors were ardent devotees of Lord Siva. He was also pious and devoted. Isaijnaniyar was his dutiful wife. She was also devoted to the Lord. Due to their virtuous deeds in their past life, a divine child was born to them. He was no other than Sundaramurthi Nayanar. Narasinga Munaiyar, the king, was attracted by the child�s beauty and wanted to bring it up himself. The king approached the parents and they, without a moment�s hesitation, handed the child over to him. By this action, they showed that they had no attachment at all to anything in this world. They led the ideal Grihastha (household) life and finally attained His grace. Worldly attachment is the only chain with which man binds himself to this Samsara. When there is attachment, there is Samsara or bondage: if you are completely detached, you are at once freed, you become a Jivanmukta. You enjoy the Bliss of Brahman here and now, this very moment. This is the unique glory of Hinduism: it promises immediate Liberation here in this world, while yet embodied! Immediately the entire world is transformed into a manifestation of Divine Light. All the paradoxes and mysteries of Creation are understood. In Tiruvadavur in the Pandya kingdom there lived a pious Brahmin. He and his dutiful wife, due to merit earned in past lives, got a worthy son whom they named Vadavurar, after the native place. As the child grew, his wisdom increased as well. Soon he had mastered all the scriptures. He also shone as the embodiment of all virtues and won the love and esteem of all. Even learned Pundits and saints were attracted by his personality and wisdom. The king of Madura, Arimardana Pandyan, heard of Vadavurar�s qualities and discovered that he was an all-rounder and was proficient in administration also. The king made him his Prime Minister. Even here Vadavurar shone with extraordinary brilliance and won the title of Tennavan Paramarayar. As days passed, however, dispassion grew in Vadavurar�s heart. He had realised the unreality of the world. To him everything was painful: birth, disease, death, rebirth, etc. He wanted to enjoy the eternal bliss of Sivanandam. Even while he was administering the affairs of the state, his mind was fixed on the Lotus Feet of the Lord. He would invite learned men and discuss with them the intricate points in the Vedas. Soon, he realised that a Guru was necessary for real spiritual progress. He longed to meet the real Guru. Whenever he went out on duty, he also searched for his Guru. One day, while the king was holding his Court, the head of his cavalry entered and informed him that the cavalry needed immediate replenishment, as age, death and sickness had greatly depleted its strength. The king immediately ordered the purchase of good horses. The task of buying good horses from the right place was entrusted to Vadavurar. He was extremely happy, as he was sure that he would find his real Guru, during that tour. It was a God-sent opportunity for him. He offered sincere prayer to Lord Somasundarar in His temple and, besmearing His holy ash on his body and with His name on his lips, Vadavurar started on the errand of buying horses, with enough money. He reached Tiru Perunturai. Lord Siva, Who is the Indweller of all hearts and so knew Vadavurar�s mental condition, had decided to take him to the divine fold. In the guise of a Brahmin and with a copy of the book Siva Jnana Bodam in his hand, the Brahmin was seated under a Kurunta tree near the temple at Tiru Perunturai. He was surrounded by others (the celestial servants in disguise). Vadavurar entered the temple and stood motionless before the Lord, in intense prayer. He shed tears of God-love. Then he went round the temple. Near the tree he heard the holy vibrations of the Lord�s Name (Hara, Hara) which melted his heart. The Brahmin�s magnetic personality attracted him. With overflowing love and devotion, Vadavurar ran to the Brahmin, as a calf to its mother, after a long separation: and he fell at the Brahmin�s feet. By His grace, Vadavurar was able to recognise him as his real Guru. Holding his feet with his hands Vadavurar prayed: �Oh Lord, kindly accept me as your slave and bless me.� The Lord was waiting for this! He cast a graceful glance on Vadavurar. This at once removed all his sins and purified his heart. Then the Lord initiated him into the divine mysteries of Siva Jnana. This very initiation entranced him. He tasted the divine bliss and was self-forgetfully absorbed in it. Then Vadavurar regained his consciousness and again fell at the Guru�s feet. He prayed: �Oh Lord, Who has come to initiate me into the divine mysteries! Oh Lord Who has captivated me by a mere look! Oh Lord Who has melted my mind! Oh Lord Who has made me surrender all wealth, body, mind and soul! Oh my Jewel! Oh Wealth Imperishable! Oh Ocean of Bliss! Oh Nectar of Immortality! Prostrations unto You!� Singing His glories thus, Vadavurar removed all his belongings and offered all at the Feet of the Guru. He had become a Sanyasi. Smearing his body with sacred ashes, fixing his mind on the lotus feet of the Guru, Vadavurar plunged into deep meditation. When he awoke from this meditation, he was filled with an eagerness to sing the glories of the Lord. With love as the string and his nectarine words as the gems, he made a garland and offered it at the Guru�s feet. The Lord was highly pleased with it, and called him �Manickavachagar� since the hymns sung by him were like gems in wisdom. The Lord asked him to stay on at that place, and disappeared. Separation from the Lord and Guru, made Manickavachakar suffer intense pain and anguish. Soon, he consoled himself and lived in the remembrance of the Lord and Guru. The king�s servants who had accompanied Vadavurar thought that he had forgotten the mission, and, so, after waiting for a few days, gently reminded him. Manickavachagar sent them back to the king with the message that the horses would reach Madura within one month. When he heard of what had happened to Vadavurar, the king was angry: but, waited patiently for a month. At Tiruperunturai, Manickavachagar was devoted to the Lord, forgetting the king and the mission: and he spent the money he had brought, in the construction of a temple. After waiting for a month, the king sent him an angry note reminding him that one should be as alert in dealing with the king as one would be when dealing with a cobra, and asking him to appear before the king at once. Manickavachagar was upset. He went to the temple. He prayed for the Lord�s protection. Moved by his sincere prayer, the Lord appeared in his dream that night in the same form of the Guru who initiated him and said: �Oh noble soul, fear not. I myself will bring the best horses to Madura. You can go in advance. Tell the king that the horses will arrive there on Avani Moolam.� The Lord disappeared after placing a very costly diamond in his hands. The next morning, Manickavachagar took leave of the Lord of Perunturai and donning his ministerial robes started for Madura. He bowed before the king and gave him the diamond. He explained: �Your Majesty, I have already purchased the horses for the entire money I had taken. I was waiting for an auspicious day on which to bring the horses here. Avani Moolam is an auspicious day. In the meantime, as commanded by Your Majesty, I have returned. The horses will reach here on the auspicious day.� The king apologised to him for the rash note he had sent. Manickavachagar built a big stable for the horses. His relatives, apprehensive of the real state of Manickavachagar�s mind, appealed to him to look after them and not to renounce the world. He laughed and said: �Oh friends, the day the Lord initiated me. I have offered everything at His Feet. I have now no relatives except the Lord and His devotees. I have no connection with this body, even. My only attachment is with the Lord Who is the remover of all our sins and bestower of Immortal Bliss. Birth is painful. Death is painful. Everything that is not connected with the Lord is painful. I do not worry about anything in the world now. I will beg happily with my palm as my begging bowl and appease my hunger with the food that is received by chance. When the earth is ready to give me shelter, why should I resort to a special dwelling place? The perfume I smear my body with is the sacred ash. My only belonging is the garland of Rudraksha which destroys the sins of many births. Oh friends, when I am under His protection, why should I fear anybody?� With his thought fixed on the Lord, Manickavachagar was expecting the auspicious day. In the meantime, one of the ministers had told the king that in truth Manickavachagar had spent all the money in the construction of temples and that Manickavachagar�s statement was false. The king�s suspicion increased. He sent some messengers to Perunturai to see whether the horses were really there. They returned with a negative reply. Only two days remained now. The king did not get any information about the horses. So, he ordered his soldiers to torture Manickavachagar and get the money back. They informed Manickavachagar of all that had happened in the Court. He kept quiet. They tormented him, according to the king�s orders. He bore everything, fixing his mind on the Lord. The Lord Himself bore all the torture, and the Bhakta was relieved. The soldiers could not understand the secret of his endurance. They tortured him further! He prayed to the Lord. The Lord heard His Bhakta�s prayer and wanted to play His Lila. He willed that all the jackals of the place should assume the form of horses. He also sent His celestial servants to act as horsemen. He Himself assumed the form of a trader in horses. He reached Madura. The dust raised by the gallopping horses filled the sky. The people were wonderstruck to see the fine horses. That day was Avani Moolam. The thought that he had unnecessarily tortured Manickavachagar pained the king�s heart. He at once released him and apologised to him. Both of them went to the place where the horses had been stationed. The king was happy to see the good quality of the horses. The merchant was also very handsome. Manickavachagar knew that it was the Lord Himself and so mentally prostrated to Him. The king�s servants led the horses to the stable. Day passed into night. In accordance with the Lord�s will, the horses assumed their original form of jackals, broke the reins and fled from the stable, howling. Some of them injured even the real horses. A few old jackals remained in the stable. The next morning, the horsemen did not find any of the horses and there were only a few old jackals in the stable. They immediately reported the matter to the king. The king got terribly angry with Manickavachagar who, he thought, had deceived him by magic. The king�s soldiers again began to torture him and Manickavachagar prayed to the Lord for His help. At once the Lord caused a heavy flood in the river Vaigai. There was panic everywhere in the town. The people could not understand the cause of this untimely flood. The soldiers who were guarding Manickavachagar also fled. He went to the temple. He worshipped Lord Somasundarar and was completely absorbed in meditation. The king was puzzled. He wanted to save the city from destruction. So, he ordered everyone in the city to bring one basketful of mud and throw it on the bank of the river to stem the flood. Everyone, except an old woman by name Vandi, did so. She sold Pittu (a sweetmeat) and eked out her livelihood. She was so much devoted to Lord Somasundarar that she would daily offer it to Him first and then sell it. She was in distress. She prayed to the Lord for help. Lord Siva, out of His compassion, appeared as a labourer before the old woman and offered his services in return for a handful of Pittu. With a dirty cloth around his waist and a basket on his head, he would sing and dance and then put the mud on the bank of the river. He ate her kind offering and threw the mud with such force that it caused new breaches! For some time he would sit idle and again sing and dance. The king�s servants found the breach not closed where the Lord was working and reported the matter to the king. The king who personally supervised the work, noticed the idleness of the labourer, and hit him with a stick. The Lord threw the mud on the breach and it was closed. The blow, however, was felt by all beings in the whole universe. The king at once understood that it was all the Lord�s Lila. He recognised the greatness of Manickavachagar. At that time, he heard an invisible voice: �Oh king, your entire wealth was spent on Me and My Bhaktas. By this act Manickavachagar earned for you great merit. Instead of being grateful to him, you have tortured him. The jackals turning into horses, and this sudden flood, were all Lilas performed by Me for the sake of My devotee. At least now open your eyes and learn a lesson for your future.� In the meantime, Manickavachagar had reached the temple and was absorbed in meditation. He, too, felt the blow that the king gave the Lord. He got up from meditation. The king was in search of him. On the way he learnt that the old woman had been taken to the Lord�s Abode in a celestial car. He came to the temple in Tiru Alavai and prostrated before Manickavachagar. He requested Manickavachagar to accept the rulership of the kingdom. The saint refused this offer but asked to be permitted to go to Perunturai. Both of them came to Madura and worshipped the Lord. Manickavachagar then left for Perunturai. The king also renounced everything soon after this and reached the Lord�s Abode. At Perunturai, Manickavachagar sang highly inspiring songs and prayed that he should see the Lord in the form of the Guru, as He appeared at first. The Lord fulfilled his wish. He asked him to go to Chidambaram. On the way he visited many shrines. In every shrine, unless the Lord appeared in the original form of the Guru, he would not be satisfied. At Tiru Uttarakosha Mangai, he wept bitterly when he did not see Him as the Guru. The Lord had to accede to his wish! By stages he reached Chidambaram and rolled on the holy ground. He stayed in a garden near the temple and sang the famous Tiruvachagam. The people of Tillai heard the songs and enjoyed its bliss. In Ezha Nadu (Ceylon) there was an ascetic who was constantly repeating �Long Live Ponnambalam�. The king of the place could not understand this, as he was a Buddhist, and had called the ascetic to him. The ascetic went to the palace and sat down in front of the king with the same words! Upon being asked by the king to explain the meaning, the ascetic said: �Oh king, Ponnambalam is a sacred place in the Chola kingdom. This place is also called Chidambaram. Here the Formless God takes a Form, of Nataraja, the divine dancer, for the welfare of the world. The object of His dance is to free the souls from the fetters of Maya. Inside the temple there is a tank called Siva Jnana Ganga tank. In this tank Hiranyavarman, the son of Manu, took his bath and got his leprosy cured. Those who take a bath in this sacred tank and then worship Lord Nataraja are purified of all sins. For them there will be no more birth. They will attain Eternal Bliss.� The Buddhist Guru who heard all this questioned: �Oh king, how can there be a God other than Lord Buddha? I will myself go to Chidambaram and defeat the Saivite in argument and convert the temple into a Buddhist shrine.� So saying he left for Tillai. The king also accompanied him, with his dumb daughter. The Saivites sent a message to the Chola king asking him to arrange a debate with the Buddhists when the latter had arrived at Chidambaram. The day prior to the appointed day, the Brahmins prayed to Lord Nataraja for success in the debate. That night the Lord appeared in their dream and said: �Approach Vadavurar and request him to oppose the Buddhist Guru in argument�. The next morning, the Brahmins approached Vadavurar who readily agreed. He went to the temple, worshipped the Lord, and entered the hall of the debate. He did not like to see the face of the Buddhists: so, he sat behind a curtain. The Buddhists opened the debate. Manickavachagar explained the principles of Saivism. The Buddhists could not offer counter-arguments. They went on repeating their arguments! Manickavachagar prayed to the Lord for help. At His instance, Devi Sarasvathi withdrew Her grace from the Buddhists, and they became dumb. The Buddhists were defeated in argument. The Buddhist king understood Manickavachagar�s greatness. He said: �You have made my teacher and all his disciples dumb. If you can make my dumb daughter speak, I and my subjects will embrace Saivism.� Manickavachagar asked him to bring his daughter. He prayed to the Lord for His help and then asked the girl to give proper answer to the questions put by the Buddhist Guru on Lord Siva. The dumb daughter not only began to speak but gave fitting answers to those questions. They were all wonder-struck at this miracle. The king and the Buddhists recognised the superiority of Saivism and embraced it. Manickavachagar restored speech to the Buddhists also. One day Lord Siva desired to hear Tiruvachagam from the lips of Manickavachagar and bestow Moksha on him. He went to Manickavachagar in the disguise of a Brahmin. Manickavachagar welcomed the guest with respect and enquired of his needs. Lord Siva told Manickavachagar: �I want to hear Tiruvachagam from your own holy lips. I shall write it down, so that I can learn it and with its help free myself from the shackles of Samsara.� Manickavachagar recited the Tiruvachagam. The Brahmin (Lord Siva) wrote it down on palm leaves. Then he suddenly disappeared! At once Manickavachagar knew that the Brahmin was the Lord Himself. He felt terrible anguish for not having recognised Him. The Lord wanted to immortalise Manickavachagar and to spread his glory. So, He kept these songs on the step of Panchakshara of the Chit Sabha. The Brahmins of Tillai were surprised to see them lying there. They opened the leaves and read the contents. In the end it was written �Manickavachagar repeated this, Tiru Chitrambalam wrote this.� The Brahmins wanted to know the meaning of these verses: so they showed this to Manickavachagar who took them to the temple, and, pointing out to the image of Lord Siva, said: �This Tillai Nataraja is the purport of these stanzas.� He at once merged himself at the Feet of Lord Nataraja. Appar Or Tirunavukkarasar The rare jewel of the Brahmins is the Veda with its six angas (parts). The rare jewel of the Saivite is the Panchakshara. Everything is the manifestation of Lord Siva. Siva is Narayana, Brahma, the four Vedas, the Holiest, the most Ancient, the Perfect. Though Siva is all these, He is none of these. He is without name, without birth, death or disease. He is at once the transcendent and the immanent. Love of Lord Siva must be felt and manifested. Sing. Pray. Worship. Weep. Dance. Lord Siva is the music or melody in the song, the sweetness in the fruit, the thought in the mind, the lustre in the eyes. He is neither male, nor female. He is without dimensions. Subdue the senses. Practise regular meditation. Practise the four-fold Saivite discipline. Develop dispassion (Vairagya). Transcend the three bodies. Unite the individual soul with the supreme soul or Lord Siva. You will attain eternal bliss and immortality. You can behold Lord Siva if you look for Him with the light of wisdom issuing forth from the wick of life, fed with the ghee of meditation in the lamp of the mind within the house of your body. Plough with truth. Plant the seeds of desire for Self-knowledge. Irrigate the mind with the water of patience. Supervise your work by looking within or introspecting. Build the fence of Yama, Niyama, or right conduct or right living. You will soon attain Sivanandam or eternal bliss of Siva. Regard your body as the temple of Lord Siva, your mind as the worshipper, Truth as purity which is necessary for worship, the jewel of the mind as the Lingam, love as the ghee, milk, etc. Perform Puja to Lord Siva thus. Lord Siva cannot be obtained without making the mind one-pointed and meditating on the Panchakshara. Tirumular Tirumandiram deals with the practical and theoretical aspects of Saivite religion and philosophy. The treatment of Pathi (Lord Siva), Pasu (individual soul), and Pasam (attachment) in the old method is found in this book. By the practice of the eight limbs of Raja Yoga, the Yogi obtains the blessing of Uma and attains Amarapadavi (Godhood) by the practice of Yama (self-restraint). He attains Siva Padam the (Abode of Siva) by the practice of Niyama (religious canons). He hears Nadam (mystic sound) by the practice of Asana (Yoga posture). He attains the stage, by the practice of Pranayama (restraint of breath) in which all the gods eulogise him. He attains the form of Siva by the practice of Pratyahara (abstraction of the senses) and the gods become confused as they cannot differentiate him from Siva. He can go anywhere including the worlds of Brahma and Vishnu by the practice of Dharana (concentration). He can walk into any place just as one can walk on earth. He attains the Abode of Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Indra, by the practice of Dhyana (meditation). He frees himself from all the Upadhis (limiting adjuncts) or fetters and unites with Lord Siva by the practice of Samadhi (superconscious state). God alone is the Guru or the spiritual teacher. He reveals Siva. Sat Guru is Ambalam or Chidakasa (the divine plane of Consciousness). You will have to search for the Guru in your own heart. Knowledge, devotion, purity, Siddhis (psychic powers) are obtained through the grace of the Guru. The grace descends on the virtuous aspirant who has purity, dispassion, etc. The thirsting aspirants should get help from the Param Guru. He imparts spiritual instructions to the aspirants. Then Suddha Guru confers upon them divine grace. When the aspirant obtains the divine grace, he gets several powers: purity, the power to know the Mantra, higher psychic powers, etc. Then the Sad Guru reveals him in the Chidakasa (the seat of Consciousness in the ether of the heart), breaks the three bonds, viz., Anava (egoism), Karma (action) and Maya (illusion), and helps him to enter the illimitable domain of Moksha or supreme abode of eternal bliss. Siva Guru presents himself later on and manifests Sat (Reality), Asat (unreality) and Sat-asat (that which is indescribable as either). When the Jiva (individual soul) attains the final knowledge he becomes Sivam Himself. The Guru who presents himself in the earlier stages, too, is Siva Himself. The devotee attains the grace of the Lord when he meditates on Him in the chambers of his heart; in the space between the two eye-brows and in the head. The holy Feet of the Lord are highly eulogised. The holy Feet of the Lord are Mantra, beauty and truth. Jneya or that which is to be known is Siva Ananda which is a product of Siva and His grace, Shakti. The Jnata (knower) is the individual soul or Jiva. He knows Siva by abiding in Siva Ananda and obtains Jnanam or Knowledge. Moksha is the attainment of Siva Ananda. He who attains Moksha will attain supreme knowledge of Siva. He who gets established in Siva Ananda will attain knowledge and Moksha (final emancipation). The Jiva who knows Siva Ananda dwells for ever in it. He attains Siva and Shakti in Siva Ananda. He is endowed with true knowledge which is really union of Siva and Shakti. Lord Siva shows the path which leads to Moksha, to the aspirant who is endowed with dispassion, non-attachment, and renunciation, and who praises Him always and performs regular worship. The devotee of Lord Siva gets strength to resist the temptations of the world and Indra, through his Tapas or austerity. He does not care at all for the celestial pleasures offered by Indra. He is quite contented with the Supreme Bliss attained through union with Lord Siva. OM I bow with folded palms to Lord Siva Who is the Lord of the universe, World Teacher, Who is the Destroyer of Tripuras (three cities of lust, anger and egoism), Who is the Lord of Uma, Gauri, Ganga, Who is full of light, knowledge and bliss, Who is the Lord of Yogis, who is the storehouse of knowledge and Who is known by the various names as Mahadeva, Sankara, Hara, Sambhu, Sadashiva, Rudra, Soolapani, Bhairava, Uma-Maheshwara, Neelakantha, Trilochana, Tryambaka, Viswanatha, Chandrasekhara, Ardhanaareesvara, Maheshwara, Neelalohita, Parama Siva, Digambara, Dakshinamurthi, etc. How merciful He is! How loving and kind He is! He even wears the skulls of His devotees as a garland around His neck. He is an embodiment of renunciation, mercy, love and wisdom. It is a mistake to say that He is the destroyer. Lord Siva in reality is the regenerator. Whenever one�s physical body becomes unfit for further evolution in this birth, either by disease, old age or other causes, He at once removes this rotten physical sheath and gives a new, healthy, vigorous body for further quick evolution. He wants to take all His children to His Lotus Feet quickly. He desires to give them His glorious �Siva-Padam�. It is easier to please Siva than to please Hari. A little Prem and devotion, a little chanting of His Panchakshara (the Mantra OM NAMAH SIVAYA which has five letters) is quite sufficient to infuse delight in Siva. He gives boons to His devotees quite readily. How large is His heart! He gave Pasupatha Astra (a weapon) to Arjuna, without any difficulty, for his little penance. He gave a precious boon to Bhasmasura. In Kalahasthi, near Tirupathi, He gave Darshan to Kannapa Nayanar, the devoted hunter. In Chidambaram, even the untouchable saint Nandan had the Darshan of Lord Siva. He ran with tremendous speed to make the boy Markandeya immortal, when he was in the clutches of the God of Death�Yama. Ravana of Lanka pleased Lord Siva, with his Sama-chantings (Sama is one of the three Vedas). He initiated the Four Divine Youths (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanathana, Sanatkumara) into the mysteries of Jnana, in the form of Dakshinamurthy. In Madura He assumed the form of a boy and carried earth on His head for a devoted lady. Look at His unbounded mercy for His devotees! When Brahma and Vishnu went to find out the Head and Feet of Lord Siva, He assumed the form of an infinite, expansive blaze of light. They were baffled. How magnificent and self-effulgent He is! He lived for several years in the house of Pattinathu Swami of South India, as his adopted son, and disappeared, after giving him the small note: �Even the broken needles will not follow you after death.� The reading of this note was the starting point for attainment of Jnana for the Swami. Why do you all not attempt this very second, with sincerity, to realise God? Hatha Yogis awaken the Kundalini Shakti that is lying dormant in the Muladhara Chakra, by Asana, Pranayama, Kumbhaka, Mudra and Bandha, taking it up through different Chakras (centres of spiritual energy) viz., Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha and Ajna, and join it with Lord Siva at the Sahasrara, the thousand-petalled lotus at the crown of the head. They drink the nectar of Immortality. This is termed Amrita-Srava. When the Shakti is united with Siva, full illumination comes to the Yogi. Lord Siva represents the destructive aspect of Brahman. That portion of Brahman that is enveloped by Tamo-guna-pradhana-Maya is Lord Siva Who is the all-pervading Iswara, and Who also dwells in Kailasa. He is the storehouse of wisdom. Siva minus Parvathy is pure Infinite Being. With Maya, He becomes Saguna Brahman (personal God) for the purpose of pious devotion of His devotees. Devotees of Lord Rama must worship Siva also. Rama Himself worshipped Lord Siva at the famous Rameshvaram. Lord Siva is the Lord of ascetics and Lord of Yogins robed in space (naked - Digambaras). His Trisul (trident) that is held in His right hand represents the three Gunas�Satva, Rajas and Tamas. That is the emblem of sovereignty. He wields the world through these Gunas. The Damaru (drum) in His left hand represents the Sabda Brahman (OM) from which all languages have been formed. It is He Who formed the Sanskrit language out of the sound of the Damaru. The wearing of the crescent moon on His head indicates that He has controlled the mind perfectly. The flow of the Ganga represents the nectar of immortality. Elephant represents, symbolically, the Vritti (mental modification) of pride. Wearing the skin of an elephant denotes that He has controlled pride. The tiger represents lust and his sitting on the skin indicates that He has conquered lust. His holding a deer in one hand indicates that He has removed the tossing or wandering nature of the mind. Deer jumps from one object to another. His wearing of serpents around His neck denotes wisdom and eternity. Serpents live for a large number of years, and represent Time which glides away smoothly! He is Trilochana (Three-eyed), in the centre of whose forehead is the third eye, the eye of wisdom. Nandi, the bull that sits in front of the Siva Lingam represents Pranava (OM). The Lingam represents Adwaita (monism). It points out �I am one without a second� just as a man raises his right hand above his head pointing out his right index finger only. Kailas hills in Tibet are a huge range with a central, beautiful, naturally carved and decorated shining peak, eternally clad with silvery snow, 22,980 feet above sea-level. Some take the height to be 22,028 feet. This particular peak is in the from of a natural, huge Siva Lingam. This is worshipped as the form of Lord Siva from a distance. There is neither a temple nor a priest, nor daily worship here. I had the fortune to have Darshan of Kailas through the grace of Lord Siva on July 22nd, 1931. I even climbed with panting breath to the foot of Kailas peak where the river Indus takes its origin. It is a picturesque and soul-stirring scene. You will have to ascend from Didipha Guha, the first halting place in the Parikrama (circumambulation) of Kailas which covers 30 miles. It takes three days. On the way comes the famous and sacred Gauri Kund which is eternally covered with snow. You will have to break the snow when you take a bath. The following are the twelve Jyotir Lingas of Lord Siva: 1. Somnath in Gujerat. 2. Mallikarjun in Sri Saila Parvat near Tirupati. 3. Mahakalam in Ujjain in Gwalior State. 4. Omkareshwar on the banks of the river Narmada in Amaleshwaram. 5. Bhaijnath near Gaya. 6. Naganath in Southern India. 7. Kedarnath in the Himalayas. 8. Tryambak, near the source of the Godavari, in the Nasik district, Bombay. 9. Rameswaram in South India. 10. Bhima Sankar, near Poona. 11. Viswanath in Banares. 12. Grineshwar (Gokarna) in Kharwar district. Even if people remember these 12 places both morning and evening, the sins of seven births will be destroyed. You will find in the Linga Purana: Pradhanam Prakritir Yadahurlingamuttamam Gandhavarnarasairheenam sabda sparshaadi varjitam The foremost Lingam which is primary, and is devoid of smell, colour, taste, hearing, etc., is spoken of as Prakriti�Nature. Linga means mark in Sanskrit. It is a symbol which points to an inference. When you see a big flood in a river, you infer that there should have been heavy rains the previous day. When you see smoke, you infer that there is fire. This world of countless forms is a Lingam of the Omnipotent Lord. The Siva Lingam is a symbol of Lord Siva. When you look at the Lingam, your mind is at once elevated and you begin to think of the Lord. Lord Siva is really formless. He has no form of His own; and, yet, all forms are His forms. All forms are pervaded by Lord Siva. Every form is the form or Lingam of Lord Siva. There is a mysterious power or indescribable Shakti in the Lingam, to induce concentration of the mind. Just as the mind is focussed easily in crystal gazing, the mind of a devotee is easily concentrated when he looks at the Lingam. That is the reason why the ancient Rishis of India and the seers have prescribed Lingam for being installed in the temples of Siva. Siva Lingam speaks to you in the unmistakable language of silence: �I am one without a second. I am formless.� Pure, pious souls only can understand this language. A curious, passionate, impure foreigner of little understanding or intelligence says: �Oh, the Hindus worship the phallus. They are ignorant people. They have no philosophy.� When a foreigner tries to learn Tamil or Hindustani language, he first tries to pick up some vulgar words. This is his curiosity nature. Even so, the curious foreigner tries to find out some defects in the worship of the symbol. Lingam is only the outward symbol of the formless Being, Lord Siva, Who is the indivisible, all-pervading, eternal, auspicious, ever-pure, immortal essence of this vast universe, Who is the undying soul seated in the chambers of your heart, Who is your Indweller, innermost Self or Atman, one with Brahman. Sphatikalingam is also a symbol of Lord Siva. This is prescribed for Aradhana or worship of Lord Siva. It is made of quartz. It has no colour of its own, but takes on the colour of the substance which comes in contact with it. It represents the Nirguna Brahman or the attributeless Supreme Self. For a sincere devotee, the Lingam is not a block of stone. It is all radiant Tejas or Chaitanya (Light or Consciousness). The Lingam talks to him, makes him shed profuse tears, produces horripilation and melting of heart, raises him above body-consciousness, and helps him to commune with the Lord and attain Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Lord Rama worshipped the Siva Lingam at Rameshwaram. What a great mystic Shakti there should be in the Lingam! Puja is the common term for ritual worship, of which there are numerous synonyms such as Archana, Vandana, Bhajana, etc., though some of these stress certain aspects of it. The object of worship is the Ishta Devata or the guardian deity or the particular form of the Deity whom the devotee worships. Whilst all things may be the objects of worship, choice is naturally made of those objects which, by reason of their effect on the mind, are more fitted for it. An image or one of the useful emblems is likely to raise in the mind of the worshipper the thought of God. In Puja, an image or picture representing some divine form is used as the object of worship. The image is adored. A Lingam represents Siva. All forms are one. All are adoring the same Iswara. The differences are only differences of names due to difference in the temperament of the worshippers, but not in the object of adoration. It is only out of ignorance that different religionists and different sects fight and quarrel amongst themselves. Regular worship, Puja or other modes of demonstrating our inner feeling of recognition of Divinity in the idol unveil the Divinity latent in it. This is truly a wonder and a miracle. The picture comes to life. The idol speaks. It will answer your questions and solve your problems. The God in you has the power to awaken the latent Divinity in the idol. It is like a powerful lens that focusses the sun�s rays on to a bundle of cotton. The lens is not fire and the cotton is not fire either, nor can the sun�s rays, by themselves, burn cotton. When the three are brought together in a particular manner, fire is generated and the cotton is burnt. Similar is the case with the idol, the power of the devotee�s concentration and faith makes the idol shine with resplendence. God is then enshrined in the idol. From here, He will protect you in a special manner. The idol will perform miracles. The place where it is installed is at once transformed into a temple, nay, a Vaikuntha (abode of Lord Vishnu) or Kailasa (abode of Lord Siva). Those who live in such a place are freed from miseries, from diseases, from failures and from Samsara itself. The awakened Divinity in the idol acts as a guardian angel, blessing all, conferring the highest good on the devotees. All the Nayanars attained God-realisation through the worship of the Lingam, the image of Lord Siva. A pseudo-Vedantin feels ashamed to bow down or prostrate before an idol. Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar etc., had the highest Adwaitic realisation. They saw Lord Siva everywhere and yet they visited all temples of Siva, prostrated before the idol and sang hymns which are on record now. The Nayanar saints practised Chariyai and Kriyai only and attained God-realisation. They swept the floor of the temple, collected flowers, made garlands for the Lord, and put on lights in the temple. They were illiterate, but attained the highest realisation. They were practical Yogis and their hearts were saturated with pure devotion. They were embodiments of Karma Yoga. All of them practised the Yoga of Synthesis. The idol in the temple was a mass of Consciousness for them. Lord Krishna gives a description of worship to Uddhava in the eleventh chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam: �The sun, fire, earth, or clay, water, a Brahmin, any image of Mine in the concrete, clearly thought of as seated in the heart, may be worshipped in My Name sincerely with such articles as could be obtained by him. The worship should be sincere and whole-hearted and the devotee should imagine Me as his preceptor. The devotee should begin My worship for obtaining My grace and not for any other desire. In ordinary images I should be invoked at every time of worship. I can be pictured in the mind. The worship of My image in the heart should be with accessories pictured in the mind. �The image should be washed or bathed, cleaned and adorned with ornaments and marks. The devotee should not rise in the midst of worship to get some articles. Once seated, he must finish it before he rises for anything. He should be seated on Darbha grass or other clean seat. He must put My image facing north or east or must himself sit facing north or east. He must sit facing Me or sideways. He should repeat the mantras for purifying himself. He should clean his body by control of breath. He should sit quiet and meditate on Me for some time. �He should fancy Me as in a lotus with eight petals, overflowing with fragrance and radiant with light. Sandal-wood, saffron, camphor, Kumkum and fragrance should be used. Purusha Sukta (a Vedic prayer) and other sacred literature should be recited. My devotee may adorn Me with cloth, gems, sacred thread, sandal, flowers, saffron, and ointments, etc. The devotee should offer water for washing the Feet, Achamanam (for sipping), sandal, words of greeting, invitation, and hospitality. He should also wave incense, light and camphor at My altar. He can sing aloud hymns in My praise. He can sing songs and dance in My altar reciting My various deeds and achievements. He should seek My grace, prostrating himself duly before Me. Putting his head on My Feet, he should ask for My grace to protect him and save him from the wheel of births and deaths. �He should adorn himself with the flowers and sandal used in such worship. The devotee may worship Me in any form in all objects or in himself in the manner that appeals most to his mind, and inclinations, as I am immanent in all things. My devotee, worshipping Me thus with rituals, Mantras or both, attains not only bliss and Self-realisation, but also all things he desires. By building temples, altars, etc. devotees attain power over all the worlds. By worship of Me they attain Brahma Loka. By all the acts, they attain My power and immanence.� Bells are rung in the temples, and while doing Puja, to shut out the external sounds and to make the mind inward and concentrated. Lights are waved before the Deity. This denotes that the Lord is supreme Light. The devotee says: �Oh Lord, Thou art self-effulgent, Light of the universe. Thou art the light in the sun, moon, and fire. Remove the darkness in me by bestowing your divine Light on me. May my intellect be illumined.� This is the significance of waving lights. Incense is burnt before the Deity. The smoke spreads through the whole room. It acts as a disinfectant. It denotes that the Lord is all-pervading and fills the whole universe by His living presence. The devotee prays: �Oh Lord, let the Vasanas and Samskaras dormant in me vanish like the smoke of this incense and become ashes. Let me become stainless.� Burning of camphor denotes that the individual ego melts like the camphor and the Jiva becomes one with the Supreme Light of lights. The pasting of sandal reminds the devotee that he should, in his difficulties, be as patient as the sandal. Sandal emanates sweet odour when it is ground. So also, the devotee should not murmur when difficulties arise, but, on the other hand, remain cheerful and happy and emanate sweetness and gentleness like the sandal. He should not hate even his enemy. This is another precept we learn from this. Though the sandalwood is crushed and ground, it silently wears itself out, emanating only very sweet odour. One should return good for evil. It is the understanding of this inner meaning of Puja that brings in the higher form of devotion. Bhakti is of two kinds, viz., higher Bhakti or Para Bhakti, and lower Bhakti or ritualistic Bhakti. Ritualistic Bhakti is formal Bhakti. The mind becomes purer and purer. The aspirant gradually develops love for God through ritualistic worship. Hinduism leads the aspirants gradually from material images to mental images, and from the diverse mental images to the one Personal God, and from the Personal God to the Impersonal Absolute. Do Japa of the Panchakshara�Om Namah Sivaya. You can even sing the Panchakshara nicely: Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namah Sivaya. People used to dance, during my tours, whenever I sang the Siva Tandava Kirtan: Agad Bhum, Agad Bhum Baje Damaru, Nache Sadasiva Jajad Guru Nache Brahma, Nache Vishnu, Nache Mahadev Kappar Lekey Kali Nache Nache Adidev. Do Puja regularly with faith and devotion. Always and at the end of your prayers, Puja, meditation or Japa, repeat the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra� Om Tryambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaan- Mrityor Muksheeya Maamritaat. for the health, long life, peace and happiness of all. This great Mantra in praise of Lord Siva works wonders, averts accidents, heals diseases and bestows long life. It will also liberate you from Samsara. Abhishekam � Bathing the image of God. Aiswarya � Wealth. Agama � Scripture dealing with ritualistic worship. Archana � Worshipping the image with flowers. Bhasma � The holy ash. Bhav � Attitude, faith. Deva � Celestial being. Jivanmukta � The sage, liberated while living here. Jnana � Wisdom, relating to God. Karma � Effect of past action (in past births). Khanda � Similar to chapter, in the Vedas. Kowpeenam � Loin cloth. Mutt � A monastery. Nitya Karmas � Daily obligatory duties. Pralaya � Cosmic dissolution. Rishabha � Bull, the vehicle of Lord Siva. Rudraksham � A kind of bead used by devotees. Samsara � Transmigration, round of birth-death. Samskaras � Subtle mental impressions. Tapas (Tapaswin) � Austerity (one who does). Vairagya � Dispassion. Vaisya � A businessman. Yajna (Yaga) � Ceremonial sacrifice. NOTE: In the case of some proper names, the Tamil tradition of using them in different forms has been adopted: viz., Enadinatha Nayanar is referred to as Enadinathar or Enadiar. These will be obvious. The names of some festivals, viz., Panguni Uttaram, Vasanta Utsavam, Maha Navami, have been retained. There are a number of other proper names, too, with which the reader will become familiar.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8268
__label__cc	0.691591	0.308409	Making the Law Count November 25, 2009 January 6, 2014 adefinty2 Uncategorized Did you know that in 1996 that 3 362 people died as the result of accidents in Chinese coal mines. Or that 16 workers died building the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Building the Empire State building led to the deaths of five construction workers. Death at work is a tragic and mostly unnecessary thing. Recognising this governments the world over have enacted Occupational Health and Safety Laws (OHS). Indeed OHS is in our faces all the time. Have you seen the latest ads on TV. Where workers fall off ladders or slip on floors, as they fall we see their limbs hitting the ground and they are in X Ray format. In all their gory detail we see the pain etched in the faces of the workers and their bones shattering in slow motion. Its queasy but effective advertising that leaves the watcher in no doubt that OHS is an important thing. In the Australian Capital Territory gross breaches of OHS laws that lead to death can attract manslaughter charges. Fines can reach $1 million and there is a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for gross breaches of OHS laws that lead to death. State OHS laws in Australia vary but standards must be maintained. Large fines and imprisonment are the norm. Employers are subject to random spot checks from inspectors that can lead to substantial fines. In short OHS is no joke. Employers breach OHS laws at their peril. And rightly so because serious injury and death is no joke either. But it has not always been the way. For years employers got away, virtually, with murder. It goes as far back as the Industrial revolution when workers were forced to work in dangerous conditions and for ridiculously long hours. It took unions and intensive lobbying to get OHS laws implemented. To this day OHS laws still are not seen as being strong enough and industrial advocates continue to lobby for further protection. Thankfully governments have largely enforced OHS laws, introducing imprisonment and large fines for breaches of the laws. In short OHS laws today offer PROTECTION. Employers are left in no doubt as to what they must do and what can happen if they do not meet the required standards. This is a far cry from our disability discrimination laws. Our disability discrimination laws offer loop holes that are so big a herd of elephants could get through them. Our disability discrimination laws rely on the principle of reasonable adjustments and unjustifiable hardship. In short organisations can argue that they have taken all reasonable steps to avoid discrimination and they can even argue that they discriminated only because they did not have enough money to not discriminate. Compare this with our OHS laws. Imagine Judy going to work tomorrow. The safety cover on the meat slicer is broken. She chops of her hand and can’t work in her chosen area ever again. The employer argues that they tried to fix the cover several times but couldn’t. Last month they lost a few thousand dollars and simply couldn’t afford to fix the cover. The judge takes a look at the case and says OK .. you did everything within reason and if you fixed it you would have gone out of business. Case dismissed. Meanwhile Judy is left waving her stump in a pathetic effort to remind everyone that she was the victim .. “WHAT ABOUT ME” – she cries. Too bad – money and profit comes first. Of course this scenario is unlikely to happen in Australia or any other developed countries. Employers KNOW that if they break OHS laws they face big fines and are LIKELY to make sure the workplace is as safe as it possibly can be. Random spot inspections from OHS authorities serve to keep employers on their toes. In the case of injury workers compensation is likely to support workers like Judy. Admittedly there is no compensation for the loss of her hand but at least there is help. Did you know that the Cinema industry have applied to the Australian Human Rights Commission for an exemption for another 2.5 years from increasing cinema captioning. Arts Access Victoria put out a media release today imploring all and sundry to reject their application for exemption. Arts Access Victoria provided figures that showed that at current rates of progress it will be 1000 years before the deaf get full captioned access to cinemas. An absurd state of affairs. In 2004, for example, Greater Union Cinemas posted a net profit of $52 million. Healthy by any standards yet it will not commit to any substantial increase in captioned cinema. We deaf people are expected to say thank you very much for whatever paltry handout we get and then accept this as our lot for the next three years. Imagine if we had Discrimination Standards similar to OHS laws whereby the standard was that all Multiplex Cinemas must commit to at least 1 captioned session of EVERY movie per day including at least four peak time showings per week. If they don’t then they face huge fines or six months in jail. (Ok Jail might be a bit extreme.) I bet you they would comply quick sharp. Imagine if there were disrimination inspectors. At random they visit schools or workplaces. They ask to see disability action plans, they check for accessible formats for information, they check if all meetings are interpreted for deaf participants and so on. If you don’t comply .. Fines. And what is more there are no excuses! Organisations have a responsibility to KNOW. Just like with safety. Imagine with DVDs if we have a law that says EVERY DVD will be captioned … no excuses. $10 000 fines for distributors that don’t comply. Every DVD checked by the inspectors … No captions then face the consequences! Would they comply? HO HO HO HO .. you bet they would. Legislating for discrimination in the same way as OHS is not hard. You just recognise that people who are deaf or have disabilities are active and contributing members of our society. You recognise that discrimination, like injuries in the work place, is preventable and abhorrent and you draft laws with punch that protect and prescribe what must happen. Enough of this Reasonable Adjustments crap … Enough of unjustifiable hardship nonsense – if safety can be dictated and prescribed then why not discrimination laws. Its not hard and it is not as far fetched as it seems! FACEBOOKERS November 23, 2009 adefinty2 Uncategorized … Every word like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness …. Samual Beckett. Beckett could well have been foreseeing Facebook because many would say that this quote describes Facebook to a tee . There are cynics of Facebook, and I am one sometimes, who believe that Facebook is nothing more than inane drivel. Often it is but it is also hellish fun and it has done something that we cant do fully in real life. It has bridged the gap between hearing people and deaf people. I guess this is truer for those deaf who have a good grasp of the English language and who can use text easily. Nevertheless hearing and deaf, through Facebook, communicate and interact as if their are no communication barriers. There is no broken sign language or exaggerated lip movements. No please repeat that, no pretending you have got the joke and laughing along so as to not look like a miserable bastard .. it’s just people interacting, sharing loving and laughing together at will. The truth is that Facebook mirrors real life. Those people who say, me included, that Facebook is inane drivel need to look back at their last face to face conversation. They would be hard pressed to remember what it was. Mine was talking about the relative merits of Carlton Cole and Zavron Hines with my son. This is serious stuff. One is a six foot three centre forward with pace and strength to burn, the other is a short zippy right half with an eye for goal. They balance the team wonderfully. Important stuff this!!! Meanwhile on Facebook my wife has announced she has hurt her finger at netball. This is, of course, something we all really needed to know. We just could not survive not knowing. Somehow the announcement has sent people off on tangents. Brendan has started talking Arabic, my wife has replied in French, Colleen has shared that she didn’t like her French teacher while I have responded to Brendan that he is trying to get Colleen in the sack. Inane drivel, funny drivel .. pointless .. but no more pointless than my discussion with my son on the relative merits of two West Ham players. On Facebook I can meet virtually anyone who has a good grasp of English and start communicating with them at will. I can do this through the chat feature or I can play on the status updates. I can share wit and wisdom at will. Hearing friends who know how will sometimes caption the videos they put up so that I miss out on nothing. It’s almost a perfect virtual world. Almost because I can not share in the audio and the music but no matter, I can interact fluently anytime. I can’t do this in my real world. I can’t walk into a pub and start a conversation with someone at the bar. Well I can, but chances are it will be stilted. Chances are that the conversation will stop and start. If I meet someone I would hope to hell that there wasn’t anyone with them so that I could just focus on that one person instead of trying to follow a conversation with multiple participants. We deafies from hearing families all dread the family reunions. Where everyone is laughing and joking and we have to hope that someone will cue us into the joke. Where auntie Martha with her moustache that makes her impossible to lipread insists on being the only person that will talk to you. We indulge the family, do our bit and go home. Usually exhausted at the trials of trying to be part of the group. But on Facebook I meet people and have virtual dinner parties. We link up on Yahoo messenger and all chat and joke at will. No one is left out. We post pictures of our food. Share videos and photos. We have little asides with individual members of the group . We share, laugh and sometimes cry. It takes us away from the constant struggle to be included and lets us experience something that is often not possible in the real world. All praise Facebook – for all its faults it means that for the deaf the virtual is often better than the real reality!! FRUSTRATING!!! November 3, 2009 adefinty2 Uncategorized I have written about this before, and I will write about it again because it frustrates the hell out of me. Namely Australia’s deafness sector and Australia’s disability discrimination laws. The sector because it is over represented by a myriad of organisations who work at tangents to each other. The discrimination laws because they are putrid bags of nothing that require us to complain to get anything changed. Putrid because the moment anyone complains against an organisation it immediately creates a putrid air of non-cooperation to the point that it becomes a cesspool of bad blood where there has to be a winner and a loser. It is frustrating because complain is all that deaf people and the sector seem to do. Apparently at a recent Government enquiry into deafness one guy, to the embarrassment of the deafness sector, told the enquiry that Australia had many deafness sector organisations -“And they all hate each other.” Although the Government enquiry was probably not the best place to air this opinion he probably isn’t too far off the mark. Take for example the bun fight that happened between Deaf Can Do and the National Auslan Booking Service this year in South Australia. It required the intervention of Deaf Australia. Traditionally, although it seems to be improving, Deaf Australia and Deafness Forum have not been the best of buddies and continue to eye each other with a degree of mistrust. More recently there was an alleged disagreement between two organisations where one took a significant bequest from another deafness organisation because the bequester had not realised there had been a change in the targeted organisations name. This latter example apparently ended up in court. A few years ago there was also the bizarre situation of a Government funded organisation virtually stealing the business name of another. The established service was known as Hearing Solutions while the new service called itself Hearing Loss Solutions. When approached about the similarities in the names the new service could not or would not see how consumers might be confused. In a bizarre twist the new service offered virtually the same service as the established one and the two service providers were located no more than five minutes apart in the CBD. Our deafness sector is often its own worse enemy. It seems all we can do in the deafness area is complain …and I am well aware this is exactly what I am doing now, just in case you wish to point this out to me. When we are not complaining amongst ourselves we have to complain about discrimination because this is the only way to make Australia’s discrimination laws work. At a recent meeting one hearing impaired woman said that she dare not make any more complaints because she had so many in the pipeline. This was in regard to a complaint about captions on DVDs. My own wife feels that she sticks out like a sore thumb at work because the only way to improve access is to constantly complain about the lack of it. It wears you down in the end. But that’s the lot of the Deaf and people with a disability in Australia. If they feel they are being discriminated against they have to first complain to the Australian Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission will then attempt to resolve the complaint. If they cannot, the next option is the courts. Usually everything just stops there because there are few willing to risk their house on losing a court case even when it is clear they are being discriminated against. Australia’s discrimination law does not tell you what you must do or not do in terms of discrimination .. it just says discrimination is illegal. Other laws say dont kill or dont steal or go to jail. Australia’s disability discrimmination laws just say dont discriminate unless it’s within reason! If an individual feels they are discriminated against they have to make a complaint. Then it’s in the lap of the gods .. they have to hope that the powers that be agree with them. And if they don’t then they have to risk tens and thousand of dollars on a court case that they might still lose. It’s crazy. We Deaf people and our organisations often don’t help ourselves either. We often cant even agree what it is we will complain about or how we will complain. Take the captioned cinema campaign. It’s been going on for years. Apparently one person has decreed that Rear Window Captioning is not wanted because some Deaf people don’t like to stand out in a cinema as the ones using the technology. For those that don’t know, RWC is technology that allows the watcher to view captions on a device that is attached to the seat in front of them. The alternative is to have open captions for all. The benefit of RWC is that not everyone has to watch the captions meaning the general public are not inconvenienced. RWC potentially could mean that all movies could be captioned rather than just a select few put aside for Deaf people. So because one or two don’t like the idea of RWC the whole campaign to consider cinema captioning through RWC was, allegedly, dropped. I would have thought captioning any which way is what people would want but apparently, because a few sensitive souls don’t want to stand out, we all have to make do. Feel like screaming? You’re not the only one! Join me its therapeutic. Suffice to say there has to be a better way than this!	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8270
__label__wiki	0.857659	0.857659	The Soccer CEO The Business of Soccer – Analysis & Commentary \| EPL, MLS, Bundesliga, La Liga High quality, curated news about the soccer business. Crossed into your (in)box every two weeks. Never any spam. Business news and analysis for global soccer. Oft discussed: Transfer market, Financial Fair Play, licensing-tv-branding revenues. EPL, MLS, Bundesliga, La Liga. Search? Real Madrid Revenue Hits $831m Madrid, Juve, Barca tap credit markets for €1b+ in financing FC Stumbras: Tollbooth to Europe? Transfer Spending Perspective in the Summer of Neymar Wanda Group strikes FIFA partnership April April DerlenFIFA, Wanda Group, Wang JianlinLeave a comment Wang Jianlin and Gianni Infantino The Wanda Group has become FIFA’s latest global partner, with the property-developer-conglomerate sponsoring competitions, including four world cups, through 2030. Wanda becomes the first Chinese company to join the top tier of FIFA sponsors, a small group consisting of companies Adidas, Coca-Cola, Gazprom, Hyundai/KIA and Visa. Previously, Chinese solar panel manufacturer Yingli Solar was a second-tier Fifa sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. The Chinese partnership is the first major success for the world soccer governing body which is still recovering from last year’s corruption scandal in which current and former top level officials where named in indictments by the United States. The subsequent fallout eventually led to the unseating of long term FIFA President Sepp Blatter and the election of Gianni Infantino in an effort to steer the organization toward more transparent governance and stem the pressure on existing commercial partners. As the first top tier deal of Infantino’s administration the Wanda partnership suggests the change may have worked and stemmed the uproar over the 2015 scandal. No financial terms of the deal were disclosed but estimates of partner level fees ranged between $24m and $44m in 2010. If the growth in soccer television rights in the past five years is instructive then it would be reasonable to expect those partner fees to have increased in the time since. The Wanda Group likely sounds familiar because it’s part of the handful of Chinese companies that have become increasingly active in the soccer media space, with Wanda most recently purchasing a majority stake in sports rights leader Infront Sports & Media. This jump in private activity is no fluke as it is an open secret that the Chinese government sees progress in soccer as a national priority in terms of both international prestige and also commercial opportunity. Wang Jianlin, Wanda’s Chairman had this to say at the partnership’s announcement: “The Chinese Government is committed to this development and as a company we strongly support these efforts. In order to professionally grow the existing grassroots movement into a sustainable and well managed sport, we are delighted to tap into the vast experience of the most competent advisor – FIFA. We believe in football as one of the most attractive sports globally and have the highest trust in FIFA and its newly established organisational structure under the lead of President Gianni Infantino.” Blatter faces Swiss investigation September September DerlenFIFA, Jack Warner, Michel Platini, Sepp BlatterLeave a comment The storm around FIFA continues to grow as Sepp Blatter is reportedly under investigation by Swiss authorities for violating his fiduciary duties by redirecting funds for the personal benefit of other members. It is thought that a 2005 sale of TV rights to a company affiliated with Jack Warner and a 2011 payment to Michel Platini are at the heart of the investigation. The BBC has an excellent article covering the report, I suggest you take a read over there. Full article>> Sorrell, Payne Discuss Outlook for Soccer Governance (video) July July DerlenFIFA, Martin Sorrell, Michael Payne, WPPLeave a comment Interesting interview by Bloomberg with Martin Sorrell and Michael Payne on the FIFA allegations and the future of the organization: WPP Plc Chief Executive Officer Martin Sorrell and Michael Payne, a former executive of the International Olympic Committee, discuss the outlook for world soccer governance. They speak with Mark Barton on Bloomberg Television’s “Countdown” in an interview from Zurich. See more @ Bloomberg >> Video Interview (10:13) Liberia FA head Bility announces run for FIFA presidency June June DerlenFIFA, Musa BilityLeave a comment Breaking: Liberia FA Pres Musa Bility announces run for FIFA presidency: “If Africa doesn’t put up a candidate it says a lot about us” — Rob Harris (@RobHarris) June 18, 2015 The 48-year-old is the second person to declare his candidacy after former Brazil international Zico. “Africa is the largest voting bloc in Fifa and we must take the lead to bring football together,” said Bility. “We all agree that football is facing a difficult moment and it is in difficult moments that great leaders emerge.” Bility, who has led the Liberian FA since 2010, becomes only the second African to make a bid to become Fifa president. Piers Edwards and Sammy Darko, BBC Africa Sport Full article @ BBC >> Musa Bility: Liberia FA boss to stand for Fifa presidency FIFA officials arrested on charges of corruption May DerlenChuck Blazer, corruption, Eugenio Figueredo, FIFA, Jack Warner, Jeffrey WebbLeave a comment FIFA officials escorted out behind sheets in Zurich. Image credit: Pascal Mora for The New York Times The New York Times is reporting that top officials of FIFA have been arrested in Zurich on charges of corruption and face extradition to the United States. The US Department of Justice indictment names 14 people on charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Among those named are Jeffrey Web, president of CONCACAF, Jack Warner, former president of CONCACAF, Eugenio Figueredo, former VP of CONMEBOL and Jose Maria Marin, president of the Brazilian FA. “The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” said United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. United States officials also revealed that four people, including the former FIFA executive Chuck Blazer, and two sports marketing companies had entered guilty pleas. Blazer forfeited $1.9 million when he entered his guilty plea in 2013, and agreed to make a second payment at sentencing Sepp Blatter was not named in the indictments. FIFA is scheduled to complete an election this Friday to determine its leader for the next four years. Check out the full article. A televised FIFA presidential debate. Spread this idea! January January DerlenFIFA, governanceLeave a comment I love David Cushnan’s idea to have Sepp Blatter and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein participate in a live televised debate as part of the FIFA presidential election. He floated this idea in a great piece on the SoccerEx blog and it that should be spread far and wide. He likens the event to the first televised debates in the UK during the national election in 2010 where voters were able to get a sense of each candidate. Similarly soccer lovers around the world would get a similar look: It would be a rare chance to give football fans around the world a proper insight into what makes the men that want the most powerful job in the world’s most popular sport tick. Imagine Blatter, Prince Ali and even the outsider, Jerome Champagne, engaging in a genuine debate over the big issues facing world football and how they intend to run the sport over the next four years. Imagine them picking holes in each other’s manifestos, face-to-face. Imagine them asking each other questions and interacting in front of the cameras. There might even be the odd joke. “Why Fifa should stage a live, televised presidential debate” – SoccerEx Blog One can only imagine the mother lode of Blatter soundbites to potentially be had…Comedy aside, I would be emphatically in favor of it as any additional insight into the FIFA-bubble is a step towards more transparency. It would surely be more theater than candid conversation but the egos involved are far too large to ignore the spotlight for long. Supporters worldwide will finally get a glimpse of the men behind soccer. Although supporters are irrelevant to the vote the nature of the broadcast will force candidates to address supporters (as a group) and their ideas. There is a psychological significance to that acknowledgement which could have an effect on candidates even if they may not believe it themselves. It also creates engagement among supporters, feeling involved is powerful and important if any real change in FIFA is ever going to happen. It’s a great idea and I hope it gains some support. The 4 biggest events hitting the soccer business in 2015 January January DerlenFIFA, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Sepp Blatter, Streaming, Third-Party OwnershipLeave a comment In the spirit of the new year here is a look forward at four events that are sure to produce the biggest waves for the business of soccer in 2015. THE Third Party Ownership FALLOUT The FIFA ExCo has taken the principle decision that third-party ownership (TPO) shall be banned with a transitional period. — FIFA Media (@fifamedia) September 26, 2014 Last September, FIFA released a statement announcing its decision to ban third-party ownership, a practice in which entities other than clubs are able to control the registration of players. At the time it was just a warning with no time frame, but in December FIFA dropped a mini-bomb by setting a deadline of May 2015 for the practice. This came as a shock to . While all existing TPO agreements will be honored until expiration and new contracts formed between now and May are capped at a one year duration. FIFA’s decision (a correct one in my opinion) has created a horizon whereby investors will be forced to sell in order to realize the value of their agreements before expiry. Previously the only timeframe was the end of a player’s career due to age or injury, as it was extremely unlikely a player would not renew the relationship with the investor. The exit of investor money should have a significant impact on transfer prices, particularly for players from markets like South America and Portugal where TPO is more common. Whether that shock is seen as early as this summer’s window remains to be seen but there could be some interesting action in the windows ahead. A NEW FUTURE FOR FIFA? Sepp Blatter is coming up for re-election this year in what would be his fifth term as the President of FIFA. Blatter was re-elected in 2011 after his only opponent, Mohamed Bin Hammam, then President of the Asian Football Federation, withdrew due to bribery allegations. The past four years have seen FIFA rocked by allegations of corruption in the World Cup bid process, vote buying in internal elections and the general misconduct of federation chiefs, including bribery and intimidation, in governing their respective territories. All have contributed to a growing public awareness of an institution holding unprecedented control over a multi-billion dollar sport and business with little accompanying accountability or transparency. John Oliver summed it up best this past summer: Clearly there are big questions over Blatter’s ability (or willingness) to bring change to FIFA. This doubt was most recently piqued by the resignation of independent ethics investigator Michael Garcia after an alleged attempt to misrepresent the results of his inquiry. January 29th is the deadline for FIFA members to declare their candidacy; currently the only rumored challenger is Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan. May 29th is the election date, it’s worth marking down to see what direction FIFA chooses to head in. FULL FORCE Financial Fair Play UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations will have been in force for 3 years at the end of the 2014-15 season. Although 2011-12 was the first year of FFP regulations, 2014-15 marks the first three year period in which the rules have been fully in effect without exception and at the lowest level of permitted deficit. Image courtesy of FinancialFairPlay.co.uk The 2014-15 season then becomes an extremely important gauge for FFP as it should reflect an overall lower level of spending as clubs acclimate to the new regulations. The coming year will also be a test of FFP’s enforcement mechanisms and whether they represent credible threats to the clubs. Last year UEFA handed out sanctions for failing the break-even rule, most notably to Manchester City and Paris St-Germain. The punishments came in the form of caps on wage increases, transfer spending and squad limits for European competition but fell short of the stringent competition bans desired by some. Whether these penalties are a true deterrent or merely a luxury tax on clubs with luxury to spare remains to be seen. HELLO, IT’S INTERNET. Our final issue takes a step away from governance, regulation and transfer issues and squarely into the business of soccer, specifically the broadcast world. ESPN has just announced a streaming service available for a monthly fee and independent of any cable relationship. Although long anticipated, the launch marks the beginning of streaming as a widespread viable stand-alone alternative to traditional broadcast and cable distribution. Up till now soccer streaming services have been unimpressive suffering from either limited content (“Oh boy, the Polish Ekstraklasa…”), poor technical performance, little freedom from traditional contracts or just be plainly illegal. The supporter with a computer or mobile had few options to choose from. While this doesn’t spell the end of traditional distribution channels it is the beginning of a shift for established soccer markets and a drastically new way to reach fans in developing ones. Do you agree? Did I miss something important? Did I get things totally right? Totally wrong? Tweet at @thesoccerceo	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8273
__label__wiki	0.963762	0.963762	Love blames Sheen for drug use BANG SHOWBIZThe West Australian Friday, 27 May 2011 10:06AM Camera IconLove blames Sheen for drug use Credit: The West Australian Courtney Love says her "heroin drama" began after "shooting up" during a party at Charlie Sheen's house. The Hole rocker - who's had a high-profile addiction to drugs in the past - claims she went to party at the former Two and a Half Men star's home several years ago and started taking the class-A substance, resulting in her addiction to the illegal drug. Courtney - widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain - told thefix.com: "One night, my boyfriend at the time, who was working for Ben Stiller, took me to this star-studded party at Charlie Sheen's house in Malibu. Tom Cruise was there, and Madonna, and my friend Jennifer Finch, who used to be the lead singer of L7. At some point Jennifer - who has been very clean for 16 years now - convinced me to shoot up. 'Come on, everyone's doing it.' So that's when my whole heroin drama began." However the mother-of-one insists she's been clean since 1996, although she briefly relapsed in 2005 by taking heroin as she wanted to die. Courtney, 46, said: "I promised I would never shoot heroin again, and I haven't, except for one incident in July 2005, where I shot myself up on purpose to kill myself." Going nuts over Brazil’s superfoodPremium Burning question over Megxit agreementPremium Tennis champ Stan Wawrinka hints at retirementPremium FREE FUEL FOR A YEARSubscribe to The West Australian and go in the draw to win a years’ worth of free petrol! Celebrity GossipNewsEntertainment	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8275
__label__wiki	0.991688	0.991688	Ebden succumbs to Tsitsipas in ATP Dubai Wednesday, 27 February 2019 5:26AM Camera IconMatt Ebden fought hard in his loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the Dubai Championships. Matt Ebden has taken a set off Stefanos Tsitsipas but the world No.11 proved too good for the Australian in their opening round encounter at the ATP Tour's Dubai Championships. Two days after he lifted the title in Marseille, Tsitsipas overcame world No.47 Ebden 6-4 3-6 6-3 to record his 12th win in 16 tour-level matches this season. Greek 20-year-old Tsitsipas, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals last month, won 92 per cent of first-serve points to claim victory after one hour and 43 minutes. Top seed Kei Nishikori overcame ailing Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-4 6-3 to reach the second round. The world No.6, making his debut in Dubai, saved seven break points in the first set before he took advantage of Paire's troublesome right knee to prevail in 81 minutes. "It's never easy playing Benoit. He has a great serve and a great backhand," Nishikori said. "I think the key was the longest game at 2-1 in the first set... If he broke back, anything could have happened. It was a good match." Croatian sixth seed Borna Coric was pushed all the way in his 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-4) win over luckly loser Jiri Vesely. It wasn't all plain sailing in the opening round for the seeded players with Marin Cilic and Daniil Medvedev crashing out. Veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils knocked out Croatian third seed and former US Open champion Cilic 6-3 4-6 6-0. "I have new goals, [a] new team, [a] new routine," 32-year-old Monfils said. "Obviously, wins under my belt. Everything is going fine. I am just trying to keep doing what I'm doing." Monfils won his eighth ATP Tour title two weeks ago in Rotterdam. World No.113 Ricardas Berankis stunned eighth-seeded Russian Medvedev 6-3 6-3. "I was feeling good today. I'm really happy with my game," 28-year-old Lithuanian Berankis said. "The plan was to stay as close as possible and not to get in his game, which is to get into those long rallies which he loves." Twice finalist Tomas Berdych faced a stern test from lucky loser Ilya Ivashka but the Czech veteran pulled off a 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-4) victory. Other first-round winners on Tuesday were wildcard Marcos Baghdatis, Hubert Hurkacz, Denis Kudla and qualifier Egor Gerasimov. Don’t sleep on these rising stars in MelbournePremium From idol to opponent: Aussie young gun ready for Open Russian’s title win ‘better than beating Federer’Premium	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8276
__label__wiki	0.956787	0.956787	Good Beer Co Great Barrier Beer: The Good Beer Co. The social enterprise making boozing a charitable act. It does not get more Australian than inviting people to save the Great Barrier Reef by drinking beer. Brisbane-based James Grugeon is planning to turn everyday Aussies into environmental heroes with his new social enterprise The Good Beer Co. The craft beer company is aiming to brew 10 different strains of beer over 10 years, raising money for 10 different Australian charities. It has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the production of its first drop, Great Barrier Beer, with at least 50 per cent of the profits to be directed to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. The Good Beer Co founder James Grugeon and Australian Marine Conservation Society chief executive Darren Kindleysides toast the partnership. Image first published on thegoodbeerco.com.au. “The reef is so important for Australia and Queensland in terms of not just it being this iconic, beautiful natural resource, but also from a tourism point of view and for the economy,” Mr Grugeon told the ABC. “This is an issue which with resonate with people and was important.” He said the Australian Marine Conservation Society was a small team of people who really punched above their weight. “It’s a big step for them to take as a charity, to get behind a beer. “But I think it’s a really bold step that will hopefully not just be good for them and the work they do to protect the reef, but help get the message out to an audience they may not already be reaching.” Mr Grugeon, who has a background in corporate social responsibility and environmental charities, said to classify as a social enterprise at least 50 per cent of the company’s profits must go to charity. “The ‘at least 50 per cent’ is an important distinction in terms of our ability to have the right to call ourselves a social enterprise,” he said. “I‘ve been inspired by the Who Gives a Crap toilet people and they take the same approach.” Ditching big brands for environmentally sustainable crafts Mr Grugeon said Australians were increasingly making the switch from big beer brands including XXXX and VB to craft beer. “They enjoy the taste of it and the story behind it — the authenticity that it is often located in their local community, they might know the people brewing it. Those brewers probably work with local farmers and suppliers and in many cases brewing beer in an environmentally responsible way. The hipsters get into our beers and I want them to, [but] I also want the beers to be as accessible as possible to all people.” Mr Grugeon said those who contribute would have the opportunity to be the first to enjoy the brews and have a say in future recipes, labels and causes. Image first published on thegoodbeerco.com.au. A crowd of 250 people recently gathered in Brisbane at music venue The Triffid — whose founder, former Powderfinger member John Collins, has backed the cause — to vote on the recipe for Great Barrier Beer. The deciding vote was for an Indian Pale Ale — mid-strength and “easy to drink“, according to Mr Grugeon. The Good Beer Co has partnered with the Bargara Crewing Company for the first brew. “They are located at the gateway to the reef … they’re a fantastic organisation that is going above and beyond in terms of environmental sustainability,” Mr Grugeon said. Great Barrier Reef is at a tipping point The Good Beer Co is yet to partner with other charities but Mr Grugeon said discussions had begun with several organisations. “Other than their organisation structure and ability to demonstrate impact and alignment with our values … we’d be looking for organisation we can have a really good impact,” he said. Australian Marine Conservation Society chief executive Darren Kindleysides said the organisation was thrilled to be a founding partner. “As a passionate environmentalist and a craft beer fan myself, this is an exciting venture,” he said. “It’s such a refreshingly innovative way to raise much-needed awareness and funds for the protection of our reef. Our iconic Great Barrier Reef is at a tipping point, having lost about half of its coral cover in the past 30 years. Unless we take action now to protect it, the outlook for this natural wonder of the world looks bleak. However, by helping to crowd-fund Great Barrier Beer, Australians will be helping to reverse damage to the Reef and protect it for future generations.” The above article by Kellie Scott first published on abc.net.au in Dec, 2015. « Arthouse Meath The Bike Project »	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8279
__label__cc	0.642119	0.357881	Family Information Service Directory Early Help Practitioner's Hub Youth Offer Categories Contact THRIVE Wandsworth Wellbeing Wheel THRIVE online Currently the language of this page is English EN Category All Subjects Family Information Service Directory Advice and Money Matters Abuse and Domestic Violence Being a Parent or Carer Health Learning and Skills Things To Do SEND Local Offer Early Years Education Education Health and Care Plans Health Housing Leisure, sport and activities Preparing for adulthood Social Care and Short Breaks Support and Advice WAND card Travel and Transport What do you think? Education and Childcare Childminders Nurseries Schools Paying for Childcare Early Help Practitioner's Hub 0-5 Years 5-11 Years 11-18 Years 18+ Years Worried About a Child? 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Cerebra's guide has been prepared for parents of children and young people… 0800 328 1159 0800 328 1159 info@cerebra.org.uk Website The Lyric Buildings, King Street, Carmarthen, SA31 1BD Add to Shortlist Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) supports operational effectiveness through the provision of support to service and eligible MOD civilian families. CEAS provides advice, support and guidance regarding the educational well-being of the children and young people belonging to families in all 3 services. All advice… CEAS helpline: 01980 618 244 CEAS helpline: 01980 618 244/ or 94344 8244 or 94344 8244/ Fax: 01980 618 244 or 94344 8245 Fax: 01980 618 244 or 94344 8245 dcyp-ceas-enquiries@mod.gov.uk WebsiteAdd to Shortlist The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) This is the umbrella body for the disabled children and young people's sector in England. It is the only national body that brings together the diverse range of organisations that work with and for disabled children and young people (0-25 years old) to support the development and implementation of policy and practice. … 0207 843 1900 0207 843 1900 cdc@ncb.org.uk Website 8, Wakley Street, London, EC1V 7QE Add to Shortlist Direct payments are available to people who have been assessed by social services as needing help, and who would like to arrange and pay for their own care and support services instead of receiving them direct from the Council. Direct payments are a way of assisting… Aged 18 and over: 020 8871 7707 Aged 18 and over: 020 8871 7707/ Aged 0-17: 020 8871 6622 Aged 0-17: 020 8871 6622 Website Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London, SW18 2PU Add to Shortlist Disability Access Fund - Info for Providers and Parents/Carers The purpose of the Disability Access Fund (DAF) is to help children with special educational needs or disabilities (SENDs) to find places in Early Education settings. 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for the DAF if they: are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and; receive… 020 8871 8339 020 8871 8339 eecp@wandsworth.gov.uk 1, Siward Road, London, SW17 0LA Add to Shortlist Disabled Children's Register (DCR) Wandsworth's Disabled Children and young People’s Register (DCR) records details of children and young people in the borough who have a physical or learning disability.The voluntary register collects information on children and young people aged 0 - 17.The information is… 020 8871 8907 020 8871 8907 eleanor.thain@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk Town Hall Extension, Wandsworth High Street, Wandsworth, LONDON, SW18 2PU Add to Shortlist Disabled Children: A Legal Handbook 2nd edition \| Council for Disabled Children "Disabled children: a legal handbook" written by Steve Broach, Luke Clements and Janet Read is an authoritative yet accessible guide to the legal rights of disabled children and their families in England and Wales. The authors expertly navigate the many, often overlapping, sources of law,… Dyslexia Action Dyslexia Action is a national charity that takes action to change the lives of people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties. Dyslexia is a hidden disability that affects approximately 10% of the population to varying degrees. It doesn’t affect intelligence but predominately causes difficulties with reading,… 0300 303 8357 0300 303 8357/ 01784 222334 01784 222334 Website 10, High Street, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9EA Add to Shortlist Early Years Briefing from the Council for Disabled Children and Dept for Education What do the 2014 SEN and disability reforms mean for early years settings? This briefing paper from the CDC and Department for Education sets out how the special educational needs (SEN) and disability reforms set out in the Children and Families Act (CFA) will work.… EHC Plan examples from Council for Disabled Children (CDC) This is guidance from the CDC which offers good practice examples for each section of the EHC plan. Disclaimer / Confidentiality 2018 © Wandsworth Council Powered by Open Objects © Idox plc	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8283
__label__wiki	0.56234	0.56234	Town of Clarkstown » Town Hall » News from Town Hall » Business and Economic Development Committee SUPERVISOR HOEHMANN CREATES CLARKSTOWN BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (New City, NY) - Supervisor George Hoehmann announced the creation of the Clarkstown Business and Economic Development Advisory Committee, charged with developing a strategic, pro-growth plan for the town. The Committee will focus initially on studying continued shifts occurring in the town’s vitally important retail sector and ways the Town can partner with businesses to further solidify its position as the place for retail in Rockland County and the greater metropolitan region. “Clarkstown has served as the retail hub of Rockland County and the region for the last century. This committee will help solidify and strengthen our position for years to come,” Supervisor George Hoehmann said. The Committee includes a number of local business leaders who will lend their expertise to the Town and produce specific recommendations on how the Town’s zoning and building codes can be maximized to attract not only retailers, but other types of industry to the Town. The committee will be Chaired by Howard Hellman, Chairman of All Bright Electric and member of the Rockland County IDA. Other Committee Members Include: Steven Yassky, President of Rockland Realty Walter Goldman, Business Expense Advisors Rob Mayer, President of Clarkstown business Autopro LLC Raja Amar, President of Clarkstown business Portables Unlimited, Member of Rockland County IDA Brion Hayman, President of Clarkstown business Gateway Building Services Michael Shilale, Principal of Clarkstown business Michael Shilale Architects, LLP Mark Glasel, Associate Broker, Triforce Commercial Real Estate Jeremy Schulman, President of Rockland Economic Development Corp Phyllis Tucker, Director of Operations and Marketing, Rockland Economic Development Corp Al Samuels, President of the Rockland Business Association Rene Rodriguez, President of the New City Chamber of Commerce Risa Hoag, President of the Nanuet Chamber of Commerce Jose Simoes, Clarkstown Town Planner Albert T. Moroni, Chief of Staff Robert Alberty, Director of Finance Committee Chairman, Howard Hellman said, “It is an honor to be asked by Supervisor Hoehmann to serve as the chair to the Clarkstown Business and Economic Development Advisory Committee. I look forward to working with this talented group of people to develop a robust plan that will keep Clarkstown the economic force that we are.” The committee has been tasked with producing an interim report within six (6) months to examine and provide specific recommendations for the following topics: Improving the way the Town promotes and facilitates various approval processes for those seeking to do or expand business in Clarkstown A comprehensive look at trends in the retail sector and how they inform the sustainability and long-term growth of retail in Clarkstown The development of a marketing plan to reach emerging retailers who are looking for an ideal environment to shape their business spaces to attract consumers that live in the metropolitan area The formulation of a framework for a complete economic development plan to be incorporated into the Town's Comprehensive Plan, which is set to begin work in 2020 To make recommendations for potential changes to building and zoning laws to be considered by the Town Board to help promote business development and growth within the Town Monday’s press conference was held at the soon- to-be redeveloped Macy’s at the Shops at Nanuet, which has served as the anchor store since 1969. The location is emblematic of how times have changed, but also an example of how retail spaces are being re-imagined. Recently, the acquisition of the property was made by Metropolitan Realty Associates, whose CEO Joseph Farkas is redeveloping the space to include a new retailer, At Home. The Texas-based company is an emerging, forward leaning home furnishings retailer. “The Town of Clarkstown was the perfect location for this type of redevelopment. Clarkstown is at the heart of this region, with an abundance of ways for people to access it. Supervisor Hoehmann and his team have been effective partners in bringing about this redevelopment,” Joseph A. Farkas, CEO of Metropolitan Realty Associates said. Clarkstown is Rockland County’s economic engine, accounting for sixty percent of the commercial rateables in the county. The two major malls that call Clarkstown home account for at least 25% of of the total sales tax collected countywide. From a tax assessment perspective, retail locations account for nearly $44 million in real estate taxes collected for the Town of Clarkstown and the school districts within the Town. “As the Town approaches finalizing the Nanuet Transit Oriented Development and begins work on a comprehensive plan, I am confident that the members of this important committee will be instrumental in laying the foundation for a dynamic economy for Clarkstown for the next generation,” Supervisor Hoehmann said.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8286
__label__wiki	0.667974	0.667974	Etiket arşivleri: Hardware Dolphin Progress Report: May 2019 Yazar: MayImilae, JMC47 ile 12 Mayıs 2019 The past few months have been quite hectic with a slew of gigantic changes requiring lengthy articles alongside them. These big features all hitting together seems to have brought up a talking point in the community would be irresponsible to ignore. Everyone wants to know when Dolphin 6.0 is coming. After all, Dolphin 5.0 launched nearly three years ago and lacks features like Ubershaders, Bluetooth Passthrough, Hybrid XFB, Emulated Motion Plus... the list goes on. Unfortunately, we have to announce that we aren't especially close to a release right now. A release build is about more than just having exciting features, it's meant to be stable, reliable, and highly compatible. Since Dolphin 5.0, there have been a lot of minor and major regressions that haven't been fully worked out yet. Whether it's a game like Ed, Edd, & Eddy: The Mis-Edventures hanging on a loading screen or audio being broken in Resident Evil 2. There are dozens, if not over a hundred of these little issues that just take time and effort to address. Some of these issues are close to being resolved while others haven't even been investigated yet. All we can ask of users is to continue using the latest development builds, continue reporting bugs, and be patient with the next release. With that out of the way, it's time to get to this May's Notable Changes. As always, users who want to try these features can download the latest development builds on the download page or use the auto-updater to get a new dev build every month automatically. Enjoy. Myth Debugging: Is the Wii More Demanding to Emulate than the GameCube? Yazar: JMC47 ile 21 Temmuz 2018 / Son güncelleme: 21 Temmuz 2018 / Kısa link On the Dolphin Forums, one of the more common questions that come up is "How come I can emulate this Wii game just fine but this GameCube game is slow?" While those more knowledgeable about the intricacies of emulation may roll their eyes, it does warrant some explanation. Usually when stepping down from a newer console emulator to an older console emulator, the minimum requirements for emulation drop significantly. While there are some exceptions when dealing with exceptionally obtuse hardware, that concern doesn't hold up here: The GameCube and Wii, … Plugged In - Wii USB Support Yazar: JMC47 ile 26 Ocak 2016 We at the blog love to demonstrate new, cutting edge features and documenting them for current and future users of the emulator. Wii USB device emulation is one of those things that lacks data and testing in Dolphin. It requires real hardware just to try it out and only a select few people are crazy enough to work on anything involving the Wii IOS HLE. The first time E-ticket Service Launch support was added to Dolphin, it managed to break connecting Wiimotes; that's just how touchy that code can be! When looking around, the most common answer is that USB Devices won't work with Dolphin, with examples of the Konami microphones being given and recommendations toward an old branch that implemented Wii Speak support (which still doesn't support those microphones.) For anyone searching, the answer to "Do Wii USB devices work in Dolphin?" came up as a flat no on the wiki, issue tracker, and forums. It turns out that a lot of these devices work perfectly in Dolphin! Support was added way back in 2013, but seems to have been mostly forgotten by time. The primary reason for this was that it was a part of the Wii Networking merge. The main focus of that merge was to add Wifi support to Dolphin for playing games on the still active Nintendo servers. Hidden within that was an USB HID implementation for Dolphin. Somehow, this wasn't really tested or noted for the most part and snuck into the emulator almost unnoticed. When a discussion about this came up on IRC a few days ago, we just had to try and see what would happen when we plugged some Wii accessories into our computers for Dolphin. Skylanders Portal Demonstration	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8288
__label__wiki	0.872484	0.872484	Dealer “Highly Rated” Awards Business Rules (“Rules”) The Dealer “Highly Rated” Awards are subject to the Main Advertising Terms & Conditions which are incorporated into the Rules by reference. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms have the following meanings: “Award Stickers” means the physical stickers and digital labels which are awarded by Auto Trader to the Award Winners; “Award Winners” means Advertisers who, at Auto Trader’s sole discretion, satisfy the Qualifying Criteria in respect of the applicable calendar year and are therefore awarded the Dealer “Highly Rated” Awards; “Dealer “Highly Rated” Awards” means the annual awards relating to reviews of Advertisers on the Auto Trader and third party platforms, which are open to all Advertisers and are determined by Auto Trader in accordance with the Qualifying Criteria, resulting in the award of Award Stickers to the Award Winners; “False Review” means any review of an Advertiser where the source, content and authenticity of such cannot be determined to be accurate and genuine to Auto Trader’s satisfaction, having made reasonable enquiries; and “Qualifying Criteria” means in respect of the applicable calendar year, the internal criteria which Auto Trader shall determine and apply to Advertisers in respect of the reviews of Advertisers on the Auto Trader and third party platforms, such criteria to be published following the notification of the Award Winners for such year. Auto Trader assesses reviews of Advertisers and applies the Qualifying Criteria to determine the Award Winners. This includes aggregating review data from Auto Trader’s partner websites, if the Advertiser has been successfully set up to do so. More information on Auto Trader’s partners can be found here: https://trade.autotrader.co.uk/packages/adding-reviews-from-other-review-websites. All Advertisers who satisfy the Qualifying Criteria will receive the Dealer “Highly Rated” Award for the applicable year, unless, in Auto Trader’s sole opinion, they: do not adhere to Auto Trader’s best practice requirements which are located at: https://trade.autotrader.co.uk/assets/downloads/Auto_Trader_Dealer-Reviews-Best-Practice-Guide_2018.pdf; or attempt to deceive consumers through the practice of accumulating False Reviews. Auto Trader will notify the Award Winners that they are the successful recipients of the Dealer “Highly Rated” Awards in or around July of each year, and the Award Stickers will be delivered to the Advertiser and applied to the Auto Trader platforms (as applicable) following such notification. Auto Trader will also publish the Qualifying Criteria following such notification. The Award Stickers can be used by the Advertisers only in respect of the calendar year in which the Award Stickers relate to. Auto Trader reserve the right to withdraw the Dealer “Highly Rated” Award and the Award Stickers from any Award Winner who attempts to deceive consumers through the practice of accumulating False Reviews. Auto Trader cannot guarantee that any Award Winner who subsequently ceases to be an Auto Trader customer shall be entitled to an existing Dealer “Highly Rated” Award should it return to Auto Trader as a customer at a later date. Auto Trader’s decision in respect of the Dealer “Highly Rated” Awards is final. Auto Trader reserves the right to amend, modify or remove the terms of the Dealer “Highly Rated” Award at any point with immediate effect.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8290
__label__wiki	0.735631	0.735631	India Is The IPO Capital Of The World; $3.9 Billion Raised Via IPOs In 1st 6 Months Of 2018! Total of 90 IPOs were launched in the first half of 2018 By Mohul Ghosh On Jun 28, 2018 India is the IPO capital of the world? (Image: Wikipedia) India is slowly but gradually becoming the IPO capital of the world. As per a recent report, it was revealed that maximum number of IPOs were launched in India, compared to any other country in the world. Which sectors produced most number of IPOs? Read on find more! India Had Most Number Of IPOs! As per EY India IPO Readiness Survey Report, which tracks the state of IPOs in the country and globally, there were total of 90 IPO launches across Indian stock exchanges, in the first half of 2018. 15 of these IPOs were listed on both NSE and BSE, and accounted for 93% of the total proceeds. This is by far the most number of IPOs that any country had launched in the same period. Vish Dhingra, Partner, Financial Accounting Advisory Services, EY India said, “Our survey indicates that good quality companies, coupled with attractive pricing and right timing are the key factors for a successful IPO,” These 90 IPOs raised $3.9 billion or Rs 26,000 crore. If we talk about India, then the fund raised via these 90 IPOs is 16% of the overall funds infused in the Indian stock exchanges. And globally, these 90 IPOs in India were 5% of the overall proceeds of the global exchanges. Compared to Indian stock exchanges, then 90 new IPOs which were launched between January and June, 2018 was 28% more compared to last year in terms of quantity and $3.9 billion raised was 27% more compared to last year, in terms of value. Which Sectors Had Maximum Number Of IPOs? As per the findings of the report, the top 5 sectors which attracted most number of IPOs were: #1: Industrials, which had 27 IPOs #2: Consumer staples, which had 18 IPO #3: Materials, which had 14 IPOs #4: Consumer products, which had 10 IPOs #5: Technology, which had 5 IPOs. In terms of fundings raised, the top 5 sectors were: #1: Industrials, which raised $1.5 billion #2: Financial sector, which raised $1.5 billion #3: Consumer staples, which raised $279 million #4: Media & entertainment, which raised $160 million #5: Health care, which raised $158 million While National SME was responsible for 42 listings, it contributed to only 5% of the overall proceeds of stock investments, meanwhile Bombay SME was responsible for 37 listing, and contributed 2% to the overall fund infusion into Indian stock exchanges. We will keep you updated, as receive more inputs. "India Is The IPO Capital Of The World; $3.9 Billion Raised Via IPOs In 1st 6 Months Of 2018!", 5 out of 5 based on 1 ratings. BSEIPONSEStock Exchange Mohul Ghosh 4092 posts 3 comments Mohul keenly observes the nuances of Indian startup world; and tries to demystify the secrets behind Technology, Marketing, Mobile and Internet. He is a Writer by passion, Marketer by choice and Entrepreneur by compulsion. Follow him on Twitter here: @_mohul No Indian Will Be ‘Extremely Poor’ By 2030; Rate of Poverty Reduction Highest in India! Airtel Beats Reliance Jio In 4G Speed Test Across Delhi-NCR; Vodafone Has Best Upload Speed! JustDial Accounts Of 15 Crore Users Breached Via Security Flaw; JustDial Says No… IRCTC IPO Raises 11,062% More Money Than Expected; Hailed As Biggest IPO In 20 years! Corporate Tax Slashed For All Indian Companies; Nifty Posts Biggest Single Day Gain… Indiamart IPO Has Launched: 5 Things Every Investor Should Know (#5 Is About… TCS Has Beaten IBM, Reliance In Valuation; About To Overtake Adobe, SAP At $121… Xiaomi To Launch New Premium Smartphones in India, Maps Expansion Plans Chaitanya Deshpande says 2 years ago I think it’s a good news as making a company an IPO can help it in raising funds. #TrakinTechOP6Giveaway	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8294
__label__cc	0.66269	0.33731	My assessment / Coursework Submission / Penalties for Late Submission of Coursework Unexcused late submission of assessed work will be penalised in order to avoid the unfair advantaging and disadvantaging of students. Unless granted a formal extension for submitting coursework by AMBS’s Student Support Team, a mark penalty will apply in the case of late submission of an assignment. A day constitutes the 24 hour period following the submission deadline. The mark awarded will reduce by 10% of the maximum amount available per 24 hours (e.g. if the work is marked out of 100, this means a deduction of 10 marks for each 24 hours late. If the work is marked out of 20, the deduction would be 2 marks for each 24 hours late.) The penalty applies as soon as an assignment is late; a 10% deduction would be issued if an assignment is submitted immediately after the deadline, and the work would continue to attract further penalties for each subsequent 24 hours the work was late, until the assignment is submitted or no marks remain. All days including Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays count. This will be regardless of how much the assessed work counts towards the final mark. Late penalties are determined by the time on the receipt you receive i.e. it is not the time when you click to upload your work. It follows that you should allow yourself sufficient time to submit your work before the deadline and that you don’t leave it until the last minute. Please note that this is in accordance with the University’s Policy on Submission of Work for Summative Assessment on Taught Programmes and it is not at the discretion of the School or the individual lecturer to abate the policy. This guidance relates to first attempts only. Students who submit referral assignments after the deadline will be automatically subject to a mark of zero. There is no sliding scale in operation for resits/referrals.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8296
__label__wiki	0.994415	0.994415	Syrian army, with Russian air support, advances inside Palmyra Dominic Evans BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government forces advanced into Palmyra on Saturday with heavy support from Russian air strikes, taking control of several districts in a major assault against Islamic State fighters, Syrian state media and a monitoring group said. Television footage showed waves of explosions inside Palmyra and smoke rising from buildings, as tanks and armoured vehicles fired from the outskirts. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was the biggest assault in a three-week campaign by the Syrian army and allied militia fighters to recapture the desert city and open up the road to Islamic State strongholds further east. Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said Syrian soldiers and allied militias had taken control of one-third of Palmyra, mainly in the west and north, including part of the ancient city and its Roman-era ruins. Soldiers were also fighting on a southern front, he said. Syrian media and Arab television channels broadcasting from the slopes of Palmyra’s mediaeval citadel, one of the last areas of high ground seized by the army on Friday, said troops had advanced inside Palmyra and had taken several neighbourhoods. The recapture of Palmyra, which the Islamist group seized in May 2015, would mark the biggest reversal for Islamic State in Syria since Russia’s intervention turned the tide of the five-year conflict in President Bashar al-Assad’s favour. Russia says its warplanes hit Islamic State targets in Palmyra - agencies Syria government says will restore ancient Palmyra The group and al Qaeda’s Syrian branch the Nusra Front are excluded from a month-long cessation of hostilities that has brought a lull in fighting between the government and rebels battling Assad in western Syria. The limited truce has allowed some aid deliveries to get to previously inaccessible areas under siege. The International Committee for the Red Cross said on Saturday it brought food and hygiene items to three areas of south Damascus the day before. Peace talks have also resumed in Geneva, but progress has been slow, with the government and its opponents disagreeing fundamentally on the terms of a political transition, including whether Assad must leave power. Russia, which sponsored the talks along with the United States, has withdrawn some forces from Syria but has strongly supported the Palmyra offensive, saying this week that a Russian special forces officer was killed in combat near the city. Russian news agencies quoted the defence ministry in Moscow as saying Russian jets had made 40 sorties around Palmyra in the last 24 hours, hitting 158 Islamic State targets and killing more than 100 militants. Forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad gesture as they advance into the historic city of Palmyra in this picture provided by SANA on March 24, 2016. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters RESTORING THE TEMPLES Palmyra had a population of 50,000 according to a census more than 10 years ago. Those numbers were swelled hugely by an influx of people displaced by Syria’s conflict, which has raged since 2011, but most fled when Islamic State took over. Recapturing the city would open up eastern Syria, where Islamic State controls most of the Euphrates Valley provinces of Deir al-Zor and Raqqa, to the army. “Our heroic forces are continuing to advance until we liberate every inch of this pure land,” a soldier told state-run television in a broadcast from the slopes of the citadel, which overlooks the city’s monumental ruins. In August, Islamic State fighters dynamited two ancient buildings, the temples of Bel and Baal Shamin, which had stood as cultural landmarks in Palmyra for nearly two millennia. The United Nations described their destruction as a war crime. Antiquities chief Maamoun Abdelkarim said on Saturday Syria would try to restore the temples, as well as funeral towers and a triumphal arch which were also blown up last year. “We will rebuild them with the stones that remain, and with the remaining columns,” he told Reuters in Damascus. “(We will) bring life back to Palmyra”. He also said that recent film from Palmyra, including drone footage, revealed that many structures were still standing including the walls around the Temple of Bel, the amphitheatre and the long colonnaded avenue. Slideshow (8 Images) Saturday’s assault against Islamic State in Palmyra came a day after the United State said it had killed several senior leaders including Abd ar-Rahman al-Qaduli, described as Islamic State’s top finance official and aide to its leader. Iraqi and U.S. sources said the group would struggle to replace Qaduli, a veteran jihadist with a bounty of $7 million (5 million pound) on his head - second only to the $10 million offered for Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Additional reporting by Kinda Makieh in Damascus; Editing by Gareth Jones	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8300
__label__wiki	0.725689	0.725689	Tulip Frenzy Commentary On Music (Mostly), With An Occasional Photo Archive for Mekons Wand's "Laughing Matter" is Tulip Frenzy's 2019 Album Of The Year Posted in Uncategorized with tags 2019 Tulip Frenzy Top 10 List, Albums of the Year 2019, Angel Olsen, Best Music of 2019, Cosmonauts, Feels, Kelley Stoltz, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Mekons, Moon Duo, The Proper Ornaments, Tulip Frenzy Top Ten List, Ty Segall, Wand on November 30, 2019 by johnbuckley100 The year 2019 produced so much good music, the criteria for making our Top 10 List prompted debate at Tulip Frenzy World HQ. It wasn’t exactly an existential crisis, but there was a fierce discussion about our purpose. Was our Top 10 List the rank ordering of our fave albums? Or was it our verdict on which recs would pass the test of time, and be seen, years from now, as having had an impact on Real Rock’n’Roll, whose sacred tablets it seems we are the keepers of? The debate ended as a stalemate, as our list contains a little bit of both — albums that, in a proper universal order would define this year the way Let It Bleed and Abbey Road defined 1969, and a listing of our favorite albums we are too well aware will find an audience not too much wider than the readers of our little episodic journal. Gentle readers, fellow members of The Remnant, blow on the dying embers and by their light read what follows… #10. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Fishing For Fishies It is not at all true that we chose King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s best album of the year (yeah, once again, they released multiple recs) just to spite that numbskull at Pitchfork who sniffed at this record, prompting our editors to weigh in on what a dry fart modern rock criticism, at least as exemplified by that rag, has become. This fun, sweet and joyous romp by the prolific Aussie ensemble dangled like earrings from our ear buds throughout the late spring. If you’re looking for that fun record to give your hip but musically lost 16-year old nephew, try this one. It was among our team’s fave, even if it likely won’t — due to pecksniffs in the rock critter establishment — get a 50th Anniversary box release in 2069. #9. Angel Olsen All Mirrors Since we set up this dichotomy between favorite music — albums we played over’n’over — and that which we chose because we understand their greatness, let us offer up as Exhibit B Angel Olsen’s incredible All Mirrors. We don’t think there has ever been an album that has made the Tulip Frenzy Top 10 List (c) that we have played less. Some of its absence from our car stereo speakers is that Mrs. Tulip Frenzy is not a fan, but mostly it’s that Olsen’s album, like her voice and the string arrangements on it, is so intense, one has to lash himself to the car’s hood ornament in order to glide past the Sirens’ Songs contained herein. All Mirrors belongs to that tradition of incredible albums that are also hard to listen to — you don’t put it on for company or to clean the apartment; it demands total and complete submission to its spell. We loved it. Even as we went whole months without listening to it. #8. Ty Segall Taste Tulip Frenzy’s Artist of the Decade released an album that had as its concept — and likely motivation — the absence of electric guitars. Ty Segall’s Taste was no entrant into the annals of Unplugged sessions, no sir. For his sixth album since January 2018, the young genius released a stunningly fun rock’n’roll rec with stringed instruments including sitars and, I dunno, fuzz-drenched and wah-wah pedaled balalaikas, but nary a Fender Strat. And it worked! Of course, who needs guitars when you have a double-drum set up as powerful as Charles Mootheart (and Ty himself?) thundering toward ya like a herd of pachyderms who’ve just sniffed your water bottle, as well as the multi-instrumentalist Mikel Cronin filling in with No Wave bleatings like the Contortions jamming with DNA. This wasn’t Ty’s best album of the last two years — some might even have given the Steve Albini-produced Deformed Lobes, a live album released mid-winter, the nod over this ‘un — given that Freedom’s Goblin took the 2018 Tulip Frenzy Album o’ the Year gold cup. But it shows that even when Ty resorts to a gimmick of sorts he can make astonishing music. #7. The Proper Ornaments 6 Lenins When a divorce occurs, friends take sides, which is how Uncut could list Jack Cooper’s band Modern Nature high in their list of top 2019 disks and Tulip Frenzy instead chose The Proper Ornaments’ amazing 6 Lenins. The breakup of Ultimate Painting, a band featuring Cooper and James Hoare, two quietly smoldering popsmiths, was a dark day for lovers of British lower-case, minor-chord Beatles-esque music. But whereas Cooper went on to produce pastoral psychedelia in the manner of Traffic, Hoare kept up his DeBeers’ volume output of melodic gems. 6 Lenins is a stunner, even better than 2017’s gorgeous Foxhole. If you, like me, still play the La’s “Here She Comes,” you’ll swoon for “Please Release Me,” and “Bullet From A Gun” ranks as high on our list of perfect songs as anything Hoare and Cooper produced together in Ultimate Painting. If you are in the know, you’ll realize just how profound that statement really is. Buy this record. #6. Cosmonauts Star 69 It wasn’t, as it turns out, a reference to Peter Bogdanovich’s Star ’80. The title of the Cosmonaut’s first album since 2016’s wonderful A-Ok! evoked the yearning expressed by pressing *69 on one’s iPhone to call that last number you missed. Progenitors of tasty psych-punk from L.A., the former Orange County band moved into the heart of West Coast pop culture to assert their claim to the list that Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, Wand and White Fence dominate — you know, only the best progenitors of Real Rock’n’Roll on the planet. From the slide guitar and harmonica added to album opener “Crystal,” you might think that Cosmanauts were driving the wrong way onto the off-ramp, but “Seven Sisters” soon choogles along and you know these So Cal wonders have settled into the groove that has made them one of Tulip Frenzy’s favorite bands. With a rhythm section that knows no bottom — a positive reference here, unlike when we use that term in conjunction with our president — and two guitarist-songwriters who can pack their own wallop, Cosmonauts have, on their past two albums (both ranked on T Frenzy’s Top 10 Lists (c)), entered a certain pantheon of punk rock brilliance. #5. Mekons Deserted If your parents played the Mekons’ The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen whilst you were in your crib, you’d have celebrated your 40th birthday this year, which is why it gives us so much pleasure — and not a fair amount of surprise — to list their latest album in our 2019 list. Just as Ty Segall had to come up with his no-guitar gimmick to motivate himself to make a new album, since the Turn of the Century, the Leeds-originated, Chicago-based First Wave Brit punks turned Alt Country progenitors have a) re-recorded one of their earliest albums, b) gone to an island off the Scottish coast with Robbie Fulks, and c) gathered under a single mic in a Brooklyn boîte to record new work. Deserted was recorded in Joshua Tree, and many of the songs, starting with “Lawrence of California”, have a desert theme. But the album is so good, and sounds so much like the complete community of Mekons all gathered around the campfire — like it’s 1989 and they’re churning out Rock and Roll — that one wonders about just what it means to be a band. After all, they live separate lives, yet can come together and configure themselves to sound not just like they used to, but better than ever. It’s a miracle — and you’ll say this over and over when you listen to Deserted, one of our favorite albums of the year and one of the Mekons best albums of the past five decades. #4. FEELS Post Earth In March, we wrote this: “The only things you really need to know about FEELS are these: their songs pack a post-punk punch. And whereas on their first rec some of the tunes might take odd detours from the melody, on this ‘un, Laena Geronimo and Shannon Lay never veer far from hummability, and they are warbling angels even if they candy-crush it for a few measures before returning us back to a state of Pylonesque grace. There isn’t a dull moment on the record. It is absolutely astonishing, and deserves to be mentioned in the same paragraph as Gang o’ Four’s Entertainment and Sleater-Kinney’s Dig Me Out, to name two records you know they’ve listened to.” Eight months later, we stand by every word. Post Earth is a concept album (there’s a storyline about leaving the planet to get away from Trump, which we surely un’erstand.) This album, as simple and catchy as the best thing you remember from the last time you played a B-52s album, but about eight times more political and profound, is both a fave and one for the ages. #3. Moon Duo Stars Are The Light At first, when having read enough code words in reviews to understand we should see what Moon Duo were up to on Stars Are The Light, we give the rec a twirl, we thought they were light and dreamy, melodic purveyors of modern electronica. Over time, we found ourselves playing this album over and over, and we realized that Wooden Shjips’s guitarist Ripley Johnson and his keyboard-playing partner Sanae Yamada had recorded one of prettiest albums we’ve heard in years. Some people hear echoes of disco in the beat, but all we know is that this album can thrill and lull, a hard combo to pull off. Everything is perfect, from the Eno-esque production to the layers of instruments and quiet singing. Take a chance album opener “Flying” and if you don’t keep listening to the whole thing you are not someone we’d want lay down with in a field, looking at the light from the stars overhead. #2. Kelley Stoltz My Regime It took Kelley Stoltz releasing probably the best record of his amazingly productive career for us to quit marveling on how he does it to just succumbing to what it is he’s done. Over and over and over again, we have put his records on the Tulip Frenzy Top 10 List — and he tied with perennial faves Wand for #1 honors just two years ago — trying to get this pop genius the audience and recognition he deserves. But we’ve spent too much time grokking on how he records painstakingly constructed albums without benefit of bandmates. On My Regime, we settled into enjoying the music with nary a care that unlike, say, the Beatles he can do this without the London Symphony Orchestra bringing songs to their “Day In The Life” crescendo. Here’s how we put it a month ago: “Kelley Stoltz produces, all by himself, records as sophisticated — and as fun — as Ray Davies fronting Echo and the Bunnymen with David Bowie along for the tour. His music is powered along by first-rate drumming and bass-playing that somehow convey a well-meshed rhythm section that can swing. He adds layers of guitars and keyboards — even harpsichord! — with the enthusiasm and deceptive precision of Jackson Pollock adding paint to a canvas. He writes classically constructed pop songs of amazing variety — heavy emphasis on British Invasion and New Wave — with vocal harmonies that have such pleasing properties, the last time a single singer pulled this off, it was Steve Miller circa Your Saving Grace.” Someday, history will record the early 21st Century was the era of Kelley Stoltz. Until then, if your bones can still shake to songs as catchy as “My Regime,” just buy the fucking album. #1. Wand Laughing Matter True story: two days ago, Mr. Tulip Frenzy Jr. asked his loving papa, Is Radiohead the greatest band operating today? Swear to God, the response offered was, Well, no, that honorific goes to Wand. And we meant it. Here’s how we put it in the early summer: “At first I didn’t understand all the Radiohead comparisons rock critters were throwing at ’em, because to me Laughing Matter just sounded like the inevitable next step after Plum and Perfume. I mean, Wand’s growth since 2014 rivals, I dunno, The Beatles between 1963 and 1968, but somehow I missed framing them within Radiohead’s geometry. The last two albums already showed Cory Hanson playing guitar in the same league as Tom Verlaine and Nels Cline, and the yin/yang between their minimalism and maximalism is one of the most unique experiences in rock.” Wand is today operating at an unparalleled level — a young and profound band with the musical skill of, say, Wilco and the ambitions of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. We missed their 2019 show in DC at the tiny Songbyrd, but the fact that they’re playing at a club and not headlining Fedex Field tells you everything you need to know about injustice in the arts, and almost endless theme of ours… one that hits close to home… but when put in the context of a band like Wand, makes us angry enough to want to march in the streets. We said this in June: “Wand shoots the moon with Laughing Matter, and it ain’t funny. It took me a month to be sure. This is the single best album since at least White Fence’s For The Recently Found Innocent, only the best album released in 2014, the year Wand came on the scene as a recording group. We don’t know what the rest of 2019 is holding back from us, nor the years ahead. All we know is that Wand is in the front ranks of our era’s greatest bands, and in Laughing Matter they have released a masterpiece. Again.” Now we do know what 2019 held in store. Nothing released by any other artist knocked Wand off the top spot. Oh, and since we have recently declared that White Fence album the best rec of the 2010s, it shouldn’t surprise you that Laughing Matter ranked high on the same list. The Mekons’ Miracle in the Desert Posted in Uncategorized with tags "Deserted", Jon Langford, Mekons, Sally Timms, The Mekons on April 2, 2019 by johnbuckley100 Thought exercise: try imagining the Rolling Stones, 42 years after their founding, releasing the strongest record of their career — a record that at once harkens to their 1964 debut but also their strongest work from their Golden Age. By this math, the record would have to come out in… 2004. Lord, forgive us as we write on the very day that Mick Jagger has announced he’s to have heart surgery, but is it in the realm of possibility that the Stones’ could, in 2004, have put out a record on a par with Beggars Banquet, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main Street? We think you know the answer. Yet on Deserted, by our count the Mekons’ 20th album since their formation in 1977, this dearest of bands haven’t just touched upon their former glory. They have produced the greatest album of a long, cursed and hilarious career. There is a technical term for this: a fucking miracle. Thirty years ago, the Mekons released Rock and Roll, which always seemed likely to be their high-water mark, artistically. I (Heart) the Mekons (from ’91) may have had as many great songs, but the production was so harsh that to this day, we put gauze and vaseline on our earbuds before playing it. The run of albums that stretched from Me (’98) to Journey to the End of the Night (’00) to OOOH! (Out of Our Heads) (2002) had between them the greatest batch of Mekons’ songs and recorded performances, but boil all three recs down to what’s essential and you have a single Long Player. From wild start to beautiful finish, though, Deserted has not a single weak moment. It is the apogee of the recorded output of this grizzled, sprawling spawn of the punk-era. It fill us with hope and gratitude. It is adding years to our life. It revives our faith in the art form. Singers Jon Langford and Sally Timms don’t fully commit to their vocal chores the way the warble-voiced Tom Greenhalgh does, but make no mistake, this is the Mekons in the finest of fettles, fit as an old bass fiddle. Sequestered in Joshua Tree to produce an album, they chose to write songs with desert imagery, the usual nod to the lost “glory” of the British Empire, a recognizable dissonant squall, and some of the prettiest songs ev-er. From the start, it’s been hard to get the Meeks to take things seriously — I remember interviewing them on New Year’s Eve 1980 and could barely get a useable quote — even though, underneath it all, you don’t keep a venture like this going for 40+ years without a decided commitment. On Deserted, the Mekons mask their ambition inside the usual antics, but this greatest of punk-era bashers have produced an artful delight we plan on listening to for just as long as our batteries last. Tulip Frenzy’s Berlin Field Trip Posted in Uncategorized with tags "Heroes" by David Bowie, "Memphis, 35mm Summilux Asph, Berlin, Egypt", Leica M9, Mekons, Summilux 50mm on April 7, 2012 by johnbuckley100 Leica M9, 50mm Summilux The shadow of the past is everywhere in the new Berlin. Right here, across the Spree from the reborn Reichstag, people died trying to swim to freedom. While remembrance, admirably, is to be found throughout the city, perhaps the most interesting thing about Berlin in the 21st Century is how much it takes its sad and awful 20th history in stride, how much it has moved on. The entire gang from Tulip Frenzy World Headquarters has long wished to return to the city of “Heroes,” of Achtung Baby, of Iggy singing “Nightclubbing/We’re nightclubbing/We’re what’s happening.” We were here twice in the ’80s, passing through Checkpoint Charley from the vibrant West Berlin to the soot-stained, depressed East. We’ve dearly wanted to stage a field trip here ever since. Berlin and rock’n’roll are connected in ways that virtually no other non-English speaking cities ever have been. For how marvelous it was that, the same year the Mekons released “Memphis, Egypt,” (“East Berlin/Can’t buy a thing/there’s nothing they can sell me/Walked through the wall/no pain at all/I’m born inside the belly of rock’n’roll”), that wall came down, and we could be heroes for more than one day. What once was the center of the city, and then was locked away behind The Wall, is once again the center of the city. The Brandenburg Gate is open enough for half-marathoners to pass through where once The Wall stood, before the admonishment to tear it down was, if not heeded, then simply overtaken by events. We tried to remember if that 1987 speech by President Reagan was on the same trip when he visited, because Helmut Kohl asked him to, the SS burial ground in Bitburg, giving rise to one of the Ramones’ best and least appreciated songs, “Bonzo Goes To Bitburg.” This all was such a long time ago. Different from when last we were here was the way the German government now directly addresses its past. This photograph of disposessed Jews, expelled from the German Volk, is embedded in concrete on the sidewalk outside the building in which Goring once held forth: And in the Bebelplatz, where the books were burned, even in the shadow of one of the world’s great universities, there now is a thick pain of glass that allows light to emanate from an emptied library below. Look carefully. Click on the photograph to see the ghostly details. At the Topography of Terrors, a modern museum that tells the story honestly about the horrors of Hitler’s machinery of murder, and on the very spot where Himmler and the other psychopathic gangsters planned their crimes, history is laid open. No punch is pulled. Whether or not Germans visit it could not be told; most of the conversations we overheard were in English. But it has been open for some years now… Though our sense was that at the stunning Memorial To The Murdered Jews Of Europe, the visitors were as much German school children as tourists. But on a sunny day — we actually had one — it’s a gorgeous city, and it exists in living color, not the black and white of news reels. One walks around a city that has shrugged off most notions of division, and has punctuated what survived the war — and what survived the communists — with the post modernism and precise design sense of a rich and sophisticated city that weirdly has little in the way of contemporary airs. It’s somewhat stunning to learn that Angela Merkel lives in a modest town house just across the street from the Museum Island, protected by a single policeman. But in the context of what Berlin — and Germany — is now, it makes perfect sense. At night, on the east side of the Brandenburg Gate, where once guards stood with machine guns lest anyone try bolting for the West, there now is freedom to demonstrate, and in behalf of causes — the environment — that only rich countries pay attention to. The Germans now take transparency almost to the level of fetish, but can you blame them? After having been ruled by a criminal gang that brought destruction down on everyone, the most vulnerable in particular, until finally the rubble came down on the German people themselves — after 45 years of imprisonment behind a Curtain and 27 years behind a Wall — walking in the clear light of a normal country is an achievement, and one to admire. For more images of the new Berlin, go here. On “Orc,” John Dwyer’s Oh Sees Make A Statement	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8301
__label__cc	0.747389	0.252611	The Americans 4.12 “A Roy Rogers in Franconia” Review: “Did You Have to do That?” It is hard to hide who you are on The Americans when confronted with a moment of danger and when Elizabeth’s protective motherly instincts kicked in with her training last week there was only going to be one winner against the two would-be muggers/rapists. Elizabeth was not only quick in her methods; taking out both guys in a matter of seconds, but her calm demeanor after the incident also has Paige questioning the few non-specific bits of information her parents have given in regards to their work. There are only so many vague and repeated phrases a girl can take before she demands a little more and seeing her mom in full self-defense mode has sped up this process. Questions and doubt are seeping through the ever growing cracks and it isn’t just the threads on the Russian containers that are unstable. Paige is in shock over what she witnessed and Elizabeth is doing her best to keep her queries to the minimum. Yes she had to do that and no this is not the first time. The conversation about ‘how many?’ is never a fun one, but on this occasion it is even more problematic (don’t even ask Elizabeth or Philip the more common and often contentious between couples ‘how many?’ query) and even if Elizabeth did know the number (and I can’t see her keeping a tally of the dead) it isn’t going to offer Paige any comfort. They’ve also told Paige that they’re not going to lie to her and so going with a non-committal “I don’t know” is the safest option. Paige is pushing back in a big way this week as we have seen her do on a number of occasions and part of this includes a common grumble from a teenager; they’re treating her like she is 12. The difference here being that anything they do tell her could severely impact their safety and how she sees her parents. When Elizabeth tries the “I wanted to serve my country” party line Paige calls her out on this and so we get a deeper insight into Elizabeth’s motivations for joining the KGB beyond her mother. Mirroring Paige’s conversation with her father about his background we find out more about the city of Smolensk and how like a lot of Russia it was torn apart during WWII and the years that followed involved a lot of hardship. In essence what Elizabeth took from this experience was seeing a community up against it surviving and fighting. This is all she wanted to do and it didn’t matter whether it was dangerous or not. What this does is reinforce Philip’s proclamation that it wasn’t about what you liked growing up because they grew up in a war ravaged and poor climate worlds away from where they are. Danger still exists, but it is the cloak and dagger variety. Although it is worth noting that this season opened with a mugging turned murder in Philip’s flashback and a version of this has happened in the present; danger lurks beyond their work. The difference here being that it is Paige who is new to this killing business and she will also need therapy. EST probably is not the answer. Elizabeth’s explanation works on a couple of levels as it deflects Paige from some of the more insidious answers she could give about the work they do (multiple murders for example) while also giving Paige the connection to her past and family that she craves. Elizabeth mentions how much she would love to go back home with Paige to see how much has changed and this is the first time Russia has been discussed by either Philip or Elizabeth in a way this season that hasn’t been tinged with the notion of having to return home as a last resort. Throwing a spanner in the works is Philip having to leave for work during these conversations with Paige as it just prompts more questions they’re not inclined to answer. However, Paige keeps pushing and in these pauses Philip and Elizabeth do the wordless communicating with their eyes thing that is so incredibly effective; these silent agreements to tell Paige a little bit more coupled with the way each of them takes part of the info dump reinforces the notion that the Centre matched well when they paired Elizabeth with Philip. It doesn’t matter how much they differ in their opinions on matters such as the bio-weapon plan, when it comes down to their family they will present a united front. Luckily for them the op Philip is leaving for is William and not Kimmy and I’d love to see them explain away why he needs to go hang out with a 16 year-old and smoke pot. Fear, intrigue and wonder all cross Elizabeth’s face as she watches Paige with Matthew; Paige is becoming exactly what the Centre wanted and yet there is something a little disturbing about seeing her in this role. Another place where the pauses are loaded with meaning is when Elizabeth tells Philip about what happened prior to the violent incident and this is the thing she can’t stop thinking about; Paige was reporting what Matthew had told her about Stan and Martha (Gabriel follows through on his promise to contact Martha’s parents to Philip’s satisfaction). They don’t need Paige to spy on Matthew for them and they are concerned as to what her motivations here are especially as Elizabeth has witnessed a little bit of flirting between the pair. Little do they know that Paige just had her first ever (?) kiss with him and it is hard to read exactly what Paige is doing here as we do know she used to have a crush on him. Philip and Elizabeth are fine with her being friends with him or whatever (I would love to see exactly how they would be with Matthew if they start dating), but as long as it is on her terms and not for them. Paige is concerned about what Henry might have been saying to Stan and I’m with Paige on this one, particularly how they shut Henry out after the ‘mugging’ incident. This is where Paige really digs her heels in and she wants to know what Philip is doing beyond a meeting as she now knows they lied to her about the lack of danger. She has a point when she mentions that her mom killed someone in front of her and she might as well know everything, right? Well Paige, let me tell you a few stories. Regardless, they do relent and reveal the weapon part, but not the gory details of ‘squirting yourself out your anus in liquid form.’ The way Holly Taylor responds with “Great” to this secret is ultimate teen disdain and The Americans continues to get their teens so right. What Philip doesn’t know is he is walking into a trap and so is William. William has been resistant to getting those codes ever since Philip and Elizabeth first approached him and his concern is about how fucked up this weapon is. William doesn’t want to be part of something that could cause this much death, but Gabriel works his Gabriel convincing magic laboring the points about home and duty. Philip is surprised that William was that easy to convince, but Gabriel knows what it feels like to be alone and he taps into that part of William we have been seeing. As with soaps like General Hospital it is “not logical, it is emotional.” Side note – there is nothing funnier this week than seeing Elizabeth trying to ‘get’ an American soap opera. Connections are important and Elizabeth and Philip’s partnership is the rarity in this business of so many people working and ending up alone. No matter their differences they are the spy equivalent of #RelationshipGoals. Oleg has been grappling with his position and what this whole war means in a way that parallels William and the death of his younger brother has had a huge impact. When Tatiana jokes about killing half the population of the Eastern Seaboard he takes this joke seriously as he understands that while they have brilliant scientists they also have terrible resources. One such example is the near missile miss when a glare of sunshine read as a weapon and here he sees himself as the steadfast hand that didn’t leap to conclusions. Oleg does what William cannot and warns their enemy of this bio-weapon plot putting Philip in danger of being caught. Philip knows that Stan hasn’t been home from work for two days and this might be vital in reading the William situation even if his instincts have been all over the place this year. Mail Robot comes into play in a secondary sting operation as the FBI discover a surveillance device within it and catch the person who has been switching out the tapes. The title of this week’s episode “A Roy Rogers in Franconia” is also where this woman met the so-called mobster who offered $500 a week to swap out the tapes and it sounds like the most run of the mill location there is. Just how they like to do these dead drops. The key is to not draw attention. While the William op takes precedent, a car with a video camera has been left to watch this drop and I’m worried about what might happen to Hans as he seems like the number one most likely person to take the fall for this. Everything is amping up for next week’s season finale and it is incredible to think just how much has taken place this year from the first half of the season with Nina’s sad demise and the Martha conclusion to every development in Paige’s somewhat unintentional junior spy training. Feelings have come into play far more this season than any before it with Philip’s earlier spiral and Elizabeth’s new found vulnerability reinforce this idea that it is emotions and not logic that drive things. Even when you are a spy. Shot(s) of the Week The Rezidentura set is great for a number of reasons including how it feels like a completely different country – which it kind of is – and the huge portrait of Lenin which pulls focus. In the first shot he stands over Tatiana’s shoulder and is the constant reminder of where this version of the USSR started. Oleg is to the side of him in both these scenes and it suggests the resistance he is currently experiencing. He is feeling a duty to something bigger because of how shitty their resources are and there is real fear in his mind. I also love that he is using his coat in the first shot in such an expressive way that would imply he is also hiding an IRL bump (he is not). Speaking of which – best use of a kitchen appliance so far this season. Also A+ reaction face from Elizabeth as Matthew tells Henry how to hook the computer up to the TV. Disguise of the Week Only one disguise this week and it is Philip’s standard William attire as they don’t know when the surveillance teams will be on him and it really weirds me out how much this version of Philip looks like my dad in the 1980s. Outfit I Would Wear in 2016 I’m going the easy route this week with the classic plaid shirt and jeans option and once again the costume department is doing a terrific job in concealing Keri Russell’s bump. And not just with an endless supply of coats. Excellent wardrobe repeating with Paige’s choice of pajama shirt too. Tags: "A Roy Rogers in Franconia", 4.12, Holly Taylor, Keidrich Sellati, Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich, The Americans Categories The Americans ← Behind the Insta-Scenes: Photos from the Set Out of the Box: Look of the Week → 3 Responses to “The Americans 4.12 “A Roy Rogers in Franconia” Review: “Did You Have to do That?”” The Americans Season 5 Trailer: Gonna Need a Training Montage \| TV Ate My Wardrobe - February 8, 2017 […] seeing her mother take out two dudes – including killing one of them – at the end of last season Paige has even more […] The Americans 6.02 “Tchaikovsky” Review: The Dark Parts \| TV Ate My Wardrobe - April 5, 2018 […] is okay. Just another day at the spying office. Of course this isn’t the first time Paige has witness the aftermath of a violent act, but it isn’t getting any easier. And I don’t think Paige is ready for Disposing of a […] The Americans 6.03 “Urban Transport Planning” Review: The Way We Were \| TV Ate My Wardrobe - April 12, 2018 […] the last time Paige saw a violent act up close and personal, she doesn’t seem particularly shaken even though she can’t get […]	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8304
__label__wiki	0.900441	0.900441	New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Today Doomtree Records releases a dramatic, black-and-white music video for "Velodrome," recorded live on stage by Dessa and the Grammy-winning Minnesota Orchestra. The track is both elegant and menacing, as Dessa riffs deftly on free will, instinctive forces, and humans as social animals. It's the first video release from her upcoming album Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall—the ambitious reimagining of Dessa's catalog, performed with full symphonic orchestration arranged by Andy Thompson and due November 8th on Doomtree Records. The video for "Velodrome" (directed by Mercies May) is a grayscale meditation on determinism, that leans in for mesmeric close-ups and pulls back for aerial footage from a god's eye view. The inspiration for "Velodrome" (dictionary definition: "a cycle-racing track, typically with steeply banked curves") emerged from a conversation between Dessa and a bike messenger. Of the song, she says, "As far as I could tell, there was a whole subculture of riders--competitive, passionate, and full of nicknames--with obvious parallels in the world of independent musicians. I thought a velodrome would be a great setting for a set of lyrics about free will. The course is preordained. And we still go around in neat loops, every rider choosing left." As the biker in the video circles the velodrome, so goes a silver marble through sand, drawn by an invisible magnetic pull. Dessa herself makes a cameo, armed with both a hammer and a torch--symbols of human control that her lyrics slyly imply might be an illusion, as we loop through our daily routines. "All lines are curved in the velodrome/we pitch and roll/wheels flesh and bone/ total control and it's ours alone." Even big ideas are hefted easily in her confident, alto delivery. 2019 has been a big year for Dessa: to follow-up on the release of her critically acclaimed, Billboard-charting studio album, Chime, she contributed her first piece to National Geographic Traveler, published new fiction in the Mississippi Review, and released the paperback version of her book, My Own Devices: True Stories from the Road on Music, Science, and Senseless Love, which made NPR's Best Books List in 2018 (Dutton, Penguin Random House). On November 7th, the night before the big album release, she'll make her European orchestral debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, where a second show was added after the first sold out in under a week. Dessa also hits the road this fall with a string quartet, all dates below. About Dessa Dessa is a rapper, writer, and public speaker whose extraordinary career spans many genres. As a writer, she has contributed to The New York Times, the Star Tribune, the hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale, and literary journals around the country. She's hosted radio and TV events, delivered keynote speeches around the country, contributed to The Hamilton Mixtape, and tried every dessert that was ever offered to her. Dessa has toured North America, Europe, Australia, China, and South Africa, both as a solo artist and as a proud member of the Doomtree hip-hop collective. In August of 2019, TED.com featured a talk on heartbreak and neuroscience that Dessa delivered in Hong Kong. In the weeks since, her speech, titled Can We Choose to Fall Out of Love, has accrued more than a million views. Other recent career accomplishments include 2018's acclaimed album Chime, a Super Bowl 2018 performance, in spring of 2019, she performed her sixth straight sold-out show with the Minnesota Orchestra at Orchestra Hall. The Utne Reader called her simply a "one-woman powerhouse." Dessa will be joined by a string quartet at all the dates below, with the exception of the Cardiff concert where she'll perform with the full BBC NOW Orchestra. Chicago's deep-pop group MONAKR will also perform a set most dates as well. Nov 7 - Cardiff, Wales, Millennium Center (w/ full BBC National Orchestra of Wales) Nov 20 - NYC, The Greene Space, hosted by John Schaefer Nov 21 - DC, Sixth & I Nov 22 - Brooklyn, National Sawdust Nov 23 - Boston, City Winery Nov 24 - Philadelphia, City Winery Jan 16 - San Francisco, The Chapel Jan 18 - Seattle, Crocodile Jan 19 - Portland, Aladdin Theater Now That's What I Call Music! Presents Today's Top Hits On 'Now That's What I Call Music! 72' And 'Now That's What I Call 80s Hits & Remixes' J. 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Dead By Wednesday Releases Limited Edition Vinyl LP Re-Release Of Self-Titled Album With Bonus Cover Tracks! 4 Times Entertainment Presents The World Premiere Of 'The Soul Of Broadway - Impossible Dreams' Starring TV And Broadway Leading Man Terron Brooks DJ Shadow Unveils "Urgent, Important, Please Read" Featuring Rockwell Knuckles, Tef Poe And Daemon From Double Album Our Pathetic Age (November 15) Beyond Music Volume 1 - Same Sky Hits #1 On iTunes World Music Chart In US And Top 10 Internationally The Glorious Sons Score Their Second Straight No1 As "Panic Attack" Earns Top Position On Billboard Mainstream Rock And Mediabase Active Rock Charts Travis Scott Shares New Track 'Highest In The Room' The Beatles' Abbey Road Returns To No 1, Sets UK Albums Chart Record DaBaby's 'Kirk' Album Debuts At No 1 On Billboard 200 Ed Sheeran Reveals Official Video For 'South Of The Border' Ft. 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__label__cc	0.520151	0.479849	Home Head Coach Analysis The Tactics of Eintracht Frankfurt under Adi Hütter Head Coach Analysis The Tactics of Eintracht Frankfurt under Adi Hütter Eintracht Frankfurt was capable of winning all of their group stage matches in the Europa League. Thanks to the recent success, the side of Adi Hütter is one of the high-flying teams of the Bundesliga. However, many forget that the start of Adi Hütter, who took over from Niko Kovac, was a stuttering one. Eintracht Frankfurt was overrun by Bayern Munich in a 0-5 defeat in the Supercup and was eliminated in the DFB Pokal by fourth division team SSV Ulm – a debacle. Obviously, Adi Hütter made the turnaround and surprised the league with his successful approach. How Hütter adjusted his ideas to the team and what tactics led to the success will be revealed in the following analysis. Back to back-five One of the main factors of Eintracht Frankfurt was the deployment of a system with a back-five. In the beginning of his time in Frankfurt, Hütter used a back-four in defence. As Frankfurt struggled to gain defensive stability with four defenders, the Austrian decided to switch back to a line of five defenders like in the previous season under Kovac. Common line-up of Eintracht Frankfurt in 2018/2019 The deployment of a back-five also makes sense due to their wing-backs. Danny da Costa is defensively extremely solid and can further stabilize the defence as a wing-back. Moreover, the dynamic defender can contribute to the offence with pacy long-line runs. Filip Kostić on the other side benefits from the space he gets on the wing, starting from a more defensive position. Even though being a “learned” winger, Kostić likes to move between the opposition winger and fullback. Thereby the Serbian has more space to start into in order to utilise his pace. Being tightly marked by the opposition full-back, Kostić often wasn’t capable of using his tempo. Positions & Passing Network of Eintracht Frankfurt in their match against Leverkusen (by 11tegen11) Although Frankfurt is a center-focused side, it is difficult to stop their attacks as Kostić and Da Costa provide penetrating power on the wings. The Positions & Passing Network above shows that both wing-backs play a key role in the Frankfurt system by providing width. Having only an average possession rate of 47.5% in the Bundesliga so far, Frankfurt’s defensive phase is a key to their success. Frankfurt attempts to keep the ball away from their own goal during the defensive phase. Eintracht Frankfurt try to prevent the opponent from getting out of their own half. The midfielders mark the ball near central midfielders of the opposition. In the meantime, the striker duo attempts to prevent the opponent from switching play or playing back passes to the centre-backs. That way, Frankfurt often force their opponents to play long balls. Frankfurt’s press in a 5-2-3 formation against Marseille The number of 23.3 won aerial duels per game, which is the best value of all Bundesliga sides, speaks of high individual quality. This allows the more offensive players to keep up their shape instead of aggressively pressing the central defenders during build-up. That leads to a more compact shape and makes it nearly impossible to outplay Frankfurt’s press through the centre. Vertical build-up phase Verticality is a huge part of Hütter’s concept. The build-up reflects the philosophy under the new Austrian coach. Instead of retaining possession and circulating the ball, the central defenders always aim at finding a way to play forward. Frankfurt’s build-up with a vertical pass In addition to that Frankfurt likes to play through the central lane of the pitch. Whenever a central midfielder is unmarked, the three defenders, who build up play, attempt to find this spare man. Receiving the ball within the opposition block, Frankfurt further searches for possibilities to play directly towards the goal. Instead of playing into wide areas, the midfielders quickly turn and use only few touches to pass the ball to either of their attackers. On the one hand, this poses a risk. As most opponents try to close down the centre, it is more difficult. This leads to a higher probability of losing possession. But with three defenders and two defensive midfielders behind the ball, Frankfurt deploys a good cover to prevent from counter-attacks. On the other hand, this strategy is a chance to get to the opposition goal with only a few passes. This does not allow their opponent to retain organisation in case of being outplayed. Flexibility in midfield In midfield, Frankfurt has a lot of flexibility with plenty of options. Whereas Hütter deployed a system with a double pivot and a single offensive midfielder in the beginning of the successful period, he recently deployed other different formations depending on the opposition and available players. One option was playing with one holding midfielder who protects the space in front of the back line and two advanced midfielders supporting the attack. Frankfurt’s formation with a box midfield in their Europa League match against Lazio Rom In their Europa League match against Lazio, Hütter even lined up a box midfield comprising two defensive and two offensive midfielders and therefore played with only one striker. This underlines the flexibility of Frankfurt, making the side unpredictable. Whereas Frankfurt seems to have a fitting attack for Hütter’s approach, the midfield lacks a bit of pace to make their style of play even more threatening. Especially when Frankfurt directly play forwards, the midfield at times gets torn apart revealing space for the opposition to win possible second balls. Unstoppable attack In the attack, Frankfurt often play with the strikers Sébastian Haller and Luka Jovic who perfectly complement each other. While Haller is capable of acting as a target man for crosses with his heading ability, Jovic has the quality to accurately finish with the first touch in and around the penalty-box. The striker duo of Eintracht Frankfurt in goal scoring positions Being lined up together with playmaker Ante Rebic, media call them the “magical triangle”. Whereas some call it magic, others will claim it is the simple utilisation of clever counter-movements and the creation of numerical advantage. As Frankfurt often use two strikers up front, they usually occupy two central defenders of the opposition. Offensive midfielder Rebic moves between the lines being unmarked most of the times. This allows the three attackers to outnumber the opponent’s defence. Whenever either of the strikers drops to create a passing lane, Rebic moves into the position of this striker. Being confronted with two players, the centre-back will have to either leave the back line to follow the striker or stay on his position. Either way will allow Frankfurt to have one available passing option by the simple creation of a two-versus-one situation. Typical counter-movement of Frankfurt’s attacking players Therewith, the three attackers have scored 24 goals together thus far. Counter-attacks After regaining possession, Frankfurt like to make use of the disorganisation of the opponent. Instead of keeping possession, Frankfurt directly attempt to break defensive lines and threaten the opposition goal. With four goals, Frankfurt scored the second most goals from counter-attacks of all Bundesliga sides. Therefore one can claim Hütter’s side to be a transition based team. Frankfurt searching the direct way towards the opposition goal after retaining possession Eintracht try to find one of their strikers as quick as possible. Whereas one of the attackers drops to receive, the other striker starts a run in behind the last line of defence. But not only the strikers are included in their counter-attacks. Fast counter-attack of Frankfurt against Schalke The wing-backs also play a big role when transitioning from defence to attack. Depending on the location of the ball, at least one wing-back is contributing to the offence with a full-speed run. They either join the penalty-box being on the ball far side or provide a further passing option on the ball near wing. But also the defensive department moves up the pitch during counter-attacks. Thereby they are able to win second balls or immediately counter-press after losing the ball. Adi Hütter was capable of adjusting the formation and style of play to the strengths of his players. His side impresses with fast counter-attacks and a stable defence. Especially the movements of wing-backs and attackers present their opponents with big issues. Therefore, Eintracht Frankfurt definitely deserve their recent success in Bundesliga and Europa League. It remains to be seen whether Frankfurt can continue this path. However, all signs are pointing to the continuation of their story of success. If you love tactical analysis, then you’ll love the digital magazines from totalfootballanalysis.com – a guaranteed 100+ pages of pure tactical analysis covering topics from the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and many, many more. Get your copy of the FIRST of two December issues for just £4.99 here or preorder the SECOND of the December issues with an annual membership right here. Previous articlePaco Alcacer Next articleThe four secrets to penalty taking success: Scientific analysis of the art of taking penalties Quique Setien at Barcelona 2019/20 – tactical analysis Can Abelardo Fernández save Espanyol from relegation? Bundesliga 2019/20: How Markus Gisdol is turning around Koln’s season – tactical analysis Ligue 1 2019/20: Paris Saint-Germain vs Lille – tactical analysis Match Analysis November 25, 2019 Renan Lodi 2019/20 – scout report Player Analysis August 24, 2019 How did Ajax dominate Real Madrid? Match Analysis February 15, 2019 Serie A 2018/19: Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli Head Coach Analysis October 26, 2018 UEFA Champions League 2019/20: Dinamo Zagreb vs Manchester City – tactical... Match Analysis December 13, 2019	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8309
__label__cc	0.743079	0.256921	Marc Faber on Dubai’s Stocks and Property Market, Gold Investment, Oil and the Global Crisis at 12:06 AM 1 comment: Links to this post Silver Will Be in a Severe Supply Shortage by August 2012 Placing my a** hat on the table in front of me, I predict that silver will go into a severe supply shortage by August 2012 or sooner. Greek sort of got bailed out, leaving the price of silver to float upwards as opposed to downward should central banks and private owners need to dump PMs to get liquidity. Absorption of silver continues apace with speculative and aggressive longs outnumbering shorts two to one. The discount to real silver value will not go unnoticed for long. Sovereign wealth funds in China and Middle East have over $2 trillion in funds ready to deploy. War brings out the best in wealthy buyers. They buy for safety when the chips are down and financial insecurity abounds. Read More @ SilverDoctors.com If the Economy’s “Recovering,” Why is the Largest-Ever U.S. City Bankruptcy on the Horizon? By brotherjohnf By Elliott Wave International As pundits chatter about an economic recovery, 80 miles east of San Francisco you’ll find a city (pop. 292,000) facing bankruptcy: Stockton is on the verge of becoming the largest city in the United States to declare bankruptcy… San Francisco Chronicle (3/4) Bloomberg reports (2/25) that it costs the city $175,000 just to get a consulting firm’s fiscal evaluation. Management Partners issued a report which said: …the city took on a large amount of debt in anticipation of ongoing growth that now exceeds the city’s ability to pay. Compensation packages exceeded sustainable levels and the city assumed a significant liability for improved retiree health coverage without sufficient recurring revenues to cover growing costs… Stockton also has one of the nation’s highest home foreclosure rates and has been called “Foreclosureville USA.” And Moody’s just downgraded Stockton’s rating to Ba2, which is two levels below investment grade. In the same Bloomberg article, the California State Treasurer said “The reputational stain can bleed onto other local issuers and the state, and that can hurt taxpayers in the bond market.” John Williams: Intensifying Crisis & Staggering Unemployment from King World News: John Williams just warned that the ongoing financial problems have horrendous implications for the markets and systemic stability. Williams, who founded ShadowStats, also noted that U6 unemployment levels are not being reported by the mainstream media and they are at staggering levels. Here is what Williams had to say about the situation: “The outlook for the broad economy remains bleak, despite relatively upbeat February payroll data. Deterioration in the January trade deficit and related revisions suggest negative impact on first-quarter 2012 GDP reporting, along with increasing downside pressure on the U.S. dollar from underlying economic and political fundamentals.” John Williams continues: Read More @ KingWorldNews.com This Pizza Company Could Create a Double-Digit Return By Dr. Melvin Pasternak -- March 10, 2012 Some traders shy away from stocks that have just hit an all-time new high. Personally, I am attracted to these stocks. They frequently represent low-risk/high-reward trading opportunities. Stocks hitting new highs often continue to advance because there isn't any technical resistance in sight. That's why I'm excited about today's trade. After announcing strong fourth-quarter and full-year results on February 28th, shares of Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ) shot up 14%, hitting an all-time high, near $40. In the process, the stock broke out of a multi-month holding pattern and formed a highly bullish flag formation. The stock has recently broken out of the top end ("flagpole") of a flag formation -- and has hit a series of new highs. Fueling Domino's growth is a change in its dough and sauce recipes, followed by an aggressive advertising campaign that promises "better tasting pizza." Domino's has also improved its online ordering system, while maintaining competitive prices. Also driving sales is the company's growing store numbers. Currently, Dominos operates nearly ten thousand franchised and company-owned stores in the U.S. The pizza retailer also operates in over 70 countries worldwide. Despite this strong international presence, it sees further international expansion as a primary driver of future growth. The company plans to open between 350 and 450 stores in coming years, up from previous projections of 250 to 300 units. Given that Domino's will franchise many of these stores, operating and start-up costs should be kept to a minimum, but corporate profits will likely rise. Traders appear to favor the company's plans. Shares are on a tear and show no sign of slowing down. As the daily chart shows, from mid-October through late February Domino's traded in a rectangular range between support, near $30.30 and resistance around $35.30. During most of February, the stock hovered around the flat 50-day moving average, which intersected near $33. However, upon announcing stellar fourth-quarter and full-year results on February 28th, the stock gapped up from its 50-day moving average, bullishly breaking the multi-month rectangular holding pattern. In a single day, shares skyrocketed nearly $5.40, on very heavy volume, creating a large bullish candle. This candle marked the "flag pole" of a highly bullish technical pattern known as a flag formation. The flag's pennant formed over the ensuing trading days, as the stock cooled and consolidated around the $38 range. Flag formations usually resolve bullishly. Shares now appear to be heating up and are re-testing their recent all-time $39.92 high. A small shelf of resistance has formed here; however, if the stock can break out past this level, it could go much higher. The bullish technical outlook is supported by strong fundamentals. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 4.5% to $501.7 million, from $480 million in the year-earlier period. The increase was driven by strong pizza demand in the domestic and internationals markets. Due to increased demand, full 2011 year revenue edged up 5.2% to $1.7 billion, from $1.6 billion last year. Analysts project full-year 2012 revenue will increase a further 2.9% and will jump 4.4%, to $1.8 billion by full-year 2013. For the quarter and full-year, same-store-sales -- an important metric of retail growth -- increased both domestically and internationally, making the 72nd quarter and 18th full year of consecutive quarterly growth! Due to higher store traffic, fourth-quarter domestic same-store-sales rose 6.8%, while international comps increased 4.7%. Over the full-year, domestic comps rose 3.5%, while international increased 6.8%. For the full 2012 year, the pizza chain expects domestic same-store sales will increase 1% to 3%, with international comps projected to rise 3% to 6%. Due to same-store-sales and margin expansion, fourth-quarter earnings rose 30% to $0.52, from $0.40 in the comparable year-ago quarter. Full-year earnings surged 18% to $1.71 per share, from $1.45 a year ago. Through continued international expansion, analysts project full-year 2012 earnings will jump 15.2%, to $1.97 and will increase an additional 13.7% to $2.24 by full-year 2013. Given this bullish fundamental outlook, supported by currently bullish techincals, I plan to go long on the pizza company. Risks to consider: Domino's stock appears to be completing a highly bullish technical pattern known as a flag formation. Flags typically present explosive short-term trading opportunities. However, if the stock cannot decisively break out of the pattern in a 15 to-20 trading period, the flag formation could fail. Traders then risk buying the stock at the top of an all-time high. As such, I will place a buy-on-stop order at $40.01, just above current resistance and the psychological resistance mark of $40. This means if the stock does not hit or go above $40.01, I will not enter a position. If DPZ can penetrate $40, I think it should move to the mid-$40's and am setting a target of $47.31. My stop-loss is $33.99, which would represent a break below support and the current intersection of the 50-day moving average.At current levels, the risk reward ratio is 1.36:1. Bob Chapman - Europe is Doomed - March 11, 2012 Bob Chapman - Hard Money Watch - March 11, 2012 : Greece just bought some more time , they should have allowed Greece to go bankrupt three ago , Europe is doomed says Bob Chapman it is only a matter of time before all of the countries go down. US Weekly Economic Calendar time (et) 8:30 am Retail sales Feb. 1.2% 0.4% 8:30 am Retail sales ex-autos Feb. 0.7% 0.7% 10 am Inventories Jan. 0.5% 0.4% 2:15 pm FOMC announcement 8:30 am Import prices Feb. 0.6% 0.3% 8:30 am Current account 4Q -- -$110 bln 8:30 a.m. Jobless claims 3-10 8:30 am Producer price index Feb. 0.5% 0.1% 8:30 am Core PPI Feb. 0.2% 0.4% 8:30 am Empire state index March 18.0 19.5 10 am Philly Fed index March 12.0 10.2 8:30 am Consumer price index Feb. 0.5% 0.2% 8:30 am Core CPI Feb. 0.2% 0.2% 9:15 am Industrial production Feb. 0.4% 0.0% 9:15 am Capacity utilization Feb. 78.7% 78.6% 9:55 am Consumer sentiment March 76.4 75.3 Marc Faber on Dubai’s Stocks and Property Market, ... Silver Will Be in a Severe Supply Shortage by Augu... If the Economy’s “Recovering,” Why is the Largest-... John Williams: Intensifying Crisis & Staggering Un... This Pizza Company Could Create a Double-Digit Ret...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8310
__label__cc	0.619567	0.380433	Utopia or Dystopia where past meets future Tag Archives: Jeff Stibel How the Web Will Implode Jeff Stibel is either a genius when it comes to titles, or has one hell of an editor. The name of his recent book Breakpoint: Why the web will implode, search will be obsolete, and everything you need to know about technology is in your brain was about as intriguing as I had found a title, at least since The Joys of X. In many ways, the book delivers on the promise of its title, making an incredibly compelling argument for how we should be looking at the trend lines in technology, a book which is chalk full of surprising and original observations. The problem is that the book then turns round to come up with almost the opposite conclusions one would expect. It wasn’t the Internet that imploded but my head. Stibel’s argument in Breakpoint is that all throughout nature and neurology, economics and technology we see this common pattern of slow growth rising quickly to an exponential pace followed by a rapid plateau, a “breakpoint” at which the rate of increase collapses, or even a sharp decline occurs, and future growth slows to a snail’s pace. One might think such breakpoints were a bad thing for whatever it is undergoing them, and when they are followed by a crash they usually are, but in many cases it just ain’t so. When ant colonies undergo a breakpoint they are keeping themselves within a size that their pheromonal communication systems can handle. The human brain grows rapidly in connections between birth and five after which it loses a great deal of those connections through pruning- a process that allows the brain to discard useless information and solidify the types of knowledge it needs- such as the common language being spoken in its environment. His thesis leads Stibel to all sorts of fascinating observations. Here are just a few: Precision takes a huge amount of energy, and human brains are error prone because they are trading this precision for efficiency. The example is mine, not Stibel’s, but it captures his point: if I did the math right, IBM’s Watson consumed about 4,000 times as much energy as its human opponents, and the machine, as impressive as it was, it couldn’t drive itself there, or get its kids to school that morning, or compose a love poem about Alex Trebek. It could only answer trivia questions. Stibel points out how the energy consumption of computers and the web are approaching what are likely hard energy ceilings. Continuing on its current trajectory the Internet will consume, in relatively short order, 20% of the world energy, about as much as the percentage of calories that are needed to run the human brain. A prospect that makes the Internet’s growth rate under current conditions ultimately unsustainable runless we really are determined to fry ourselves with global warming. Indeed, this 20% mark seems to be a kind of boundary for intelligence, at least if the human brain is any indication. As always with, for me at least, new and surprising observations, Stibel points out how the human brain has been steadily shrinking and losing connections over time. Pound for pound, our modern brain is actually “dumber” than our cave man ancestors. (Not sure how this gels with the Flynn effect.) Big brains are expensive for bodies to maintain, and its caloric ravenousness relative to other essential bodily functions must not be favored by evolution otherwise we’d see more of our lopsided brain to body ratio in nature. As we’ve been able to offload functions to our tools and to our cultures, evolution has been shedding some of this cost in raw thinking prowess and slowly moving us back towards a more “natural” ratio. If the Internet is going to survive it’s going to have to become more energy efficient as well. Stibel sees this already happening. Mobile has allowed targeted apps rather than websites to be the primary way we get information. Cloud computing allows computational prowess and memory to be distributed and brought together as needed. The need for increased efficiency, Stibel believes, will continue to change the nature of search too. Increasing personalization will allow for ever more targeted information, so that the individual can find just what they are looking for. This becoming “brainlike”, he speculates may actually result in the emergence of something like consciousness from the web. It is on these last two points, on personalization, and the emergence of consciousness from the Internet that he lost me. Indeed, had Stibel held fast to his idea of the importance of breakpoints he may have seen both personalization and emergent consciousness from the Internet in a much different light. The quote below captures Steibel’s view of personalization: We’re moving towards search becoming a kind of personal assistant that knows an awful lot about you. As a side note, some of you may be feeling quite uncomfortable at this point with your new virtual friend. My advice: get used to it. The benefits will be worth it. As Kevin Kelly has said: “Total personalization in this new world will require total transparency. That is going to be the price. If you want to have total personalization, you have to be totally transparent. “ (93) I suppose the question one should ask of Steibel is transparent to whom and for what? The answer, can be seen in the example of he gives of transparency in action: Imagine that the Internet can read your thoughts. Your personal computer, now a personal assistant, knows you skipped breakfast, just as your brain knows you skipped breakfast. She also knows that you have back to back meetings, but that your schedule just cleared. So she offers the suggestion “It’s 11:00am and you should really eat before your next meeting. D’Amore’s Pizza Express can deliver to you within 25 minutes. Shall I order your favorite, a large thin crust pizza, light on the cheese with extra red pepper flakes on the side?” (97) The answer, as Stibel’s example makes apparent, is that one is transparent to advertisers and for them. In the example of D’Amore’s”, what is presented as something that works for you is actually a device on loan to a restaurant- it is their “personal assistant”. Transparent individuals become a kind of territory mined for resources by those capable of performing the data mining. For the individual being “mined” such extraction can be good or bad, and part of our problem, now and in the future, will be to give the individual the ability to control this mining and refract it in directions that better suit our interest. To decide for ourselves when it is good and we want its benefits ,and are therefore are willing to pay its costs, and when it is bad and we are not. Stibel thinks personalization is part of the coming “obsolescence of search” and a response of the web to the need for increased efficiency as a way to avoid, for a time, reaching its breakpoint. Yet, looking at our digital data as a sort of contested territory gives us a different version of the web’s breakpoint than the one that Stibel gives us even if it flows naturally from his logic. The fact that corporations and other groups are attempting to court individuals on the basis of having gathered and analysed a host of intimate and not so intimate details on those individuals sparks all kinds of efforts to limit, protect, monopolize, subvert, or steal such information. This is the real “implosion” of the web. We would do well to remember that the Internet really got its public start as a means of open exchange between scientists and academics, a community of common interest and mutual trust. Trust essentially entails the free flow of information- transparency- and as human beings we probably agree that transparency exists along a spectrum with more information provided to those closest to you and less the further out you go. Reflecting its origins, the culture of the Internet in its initial years had this sense of widespread transparency and trust baked into our understanding of it. This period in Eden, even if it just imagined, could not last forever. It has been a long time since the Internet was a community of trust, and it can’t be, it’s just too damned big, even if it took a long time for us to realize this. The scales have now fallen from our eyes, and we all know that the web has been a boon for all sorts of cyber-criminals and creeps and spooks, a theater of war between states. Recent events surrounding mass surveillance by state security services have amplified this cynicism and decline of trust. Trust, for humans, is like pheromones in Seibel’s ants- it gives the limits of how large a human community can be before breaking off to form a new one, unless some other way of keeping a community together is applied. So far, human societies have discovered three means of keeping societies that have grown beyond the capacity of circles of trust intact: ethnicity, religion and law. Signs that trust has unraveled are not hard to find. There has been an incredible spike in interest in anti-transparent technologies with “crypto-parties” now being a phenomenon in tech circles. A lot of this interest is coming from private citizens, and sometimes, yes, criminals. Technologies that offer a bubble of protection for individuals against government and corporate snooping seem to be all the rage. Yet even more interest is coming from governments and businesses themselves. Some now seem to want exclusive powers to a “mining territory”- to spy on, and sometimes protect, their own citizens and customers in a domain with established borders. There are, in other words, splintering pressures building against the Internet, or, as Steven Levy stated there are increased rumblings of: … a movement to balkanize the Internet—a long-standing effort that would potentially destroy the web itself. The basic notion is that the personal data of a nation’s citizens should be stored on servers within its borders. For some proponents of the idea it’s a form of protectionism, a prod for nationals to use local IT services. For others it’s a way to make it easier for a country to snoop on its own citizens. The idea never posed much of a threat, until the NSA leaks—and the fears of foreign surveillance they sparked—caused some countries to seriously pursue it. After learning that the NSA had bugged her, Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff began pushing a law requiring that the personal data of Brazilians be stored inside the country. Malaysia recently enacted a similar law, and India is also pursuing data protectionism. As John Schinasi points out in his paper Practicing Privacy Online: Examining Data Protection Regulations Through Google’s Global Expansion, even before the Snowden revelations, which sparked the widespread breakdown of public trust, or even just heated public debate regarding such trust, there were huge differences between different regimes of trust on the Internet, with the US being an area where information was exchanged most freely and privacy against corporations considered contrary to the spirit of American capitalism. Europe, on the other had, on account of its history, had in the early years of the Internet taken a different stand adhering to an EU directive that was deeply cognizant of the dangers of too much trust being granted to corporations and the state. The problem was this directive is so antiquated, dating from 1995, it not only failed to reflect the Internet as it has evolved, but severely compromised the way the Internet in Europe now works. The way the directive was implemented turned Europe into a patchwork quilt of privacy laws, which was onerous for American companies, but which they were able to often circumvent being largely self-policing in any case under the so-called Safe Harbor provisions. Then there is the whole different ball game of China, which Schinasi characterizes as a place where the Internet is seen without apology or sense of limits by officialdom as a tool of for monitoring its own citizens placing huge restrictions on the extension of trust to entities beyond its borders. China under its current regime seems dedicated to carving out its own highly controlled space on the Internet a partnership between its Internet giants and its control freak government , something which we can hope the desire of such companies to go global might help eventually temper. The US and Europe, in a process largely sparked by the Snowden revelations appear to be drifting apart. Just last week, on March 12, 2014 the European parliament by an overwhelming majority of 621 to 10 (I didn’t forget a zero), passed a law that aims at bringing some uniformity to the chaos of European privacy laws and that would severely restrict the way personal data is used and collected, essentially upending the American transparency model. (Snowden himself testified to the parliament by video link). The Safe Harbor provisions, while not yet abandoned ,as that would take a decision of the European Council rather than the parliament, have not been nixed, but given the broad support for the other changes are clearly in jeopardy. If these trends continue they would constitute something of a breaking apart and consolidation of the Internet- a sad end to the utopian hopes of a global and transparent society that sprung from the Internet’s birth. Yet, if Steibel’s thesis about breakpoints is correct, it may also be part of a “natural” process. Where Steibel was really good was when it came to, well… ants. As he repeatedly shows, ants have this amazing capacity to know when their colony, their network, has grown too large and when it’s time to split up and send out a new queen. Human beings are really good at this formation into separate groups too. In fact as Mark Pagel points out in his Wired for Culture its one of the two things human beings are naturally wired to do: to form groups which breakup once they have exceeded the number of people that any one individual can know on a deep level- a number that remains even in the era of FaceBook “friends” right around where it was when we were setting out from Africa 60,000 years ago- about 150. If we go by the example of ants and human beings the natural breakpoint(s) for the Internet is where bonds of trust become too loose. Where trust is absent, such as in large scale human societies, we have, as mentioned, come up with three major solutions of which only law, rather than ethnicity or religion, is applicable to the Internet. What we are seeing- the Internet moving towards splitting itself off into rival spheres of trust, deception, protection and control. The only thing that could keep it together as a universal entity would be the adoption of global international law, as opposed to mere law within and between a limited number of countries, which regulated how the Internet is used, limited states from using the tools of cyber-espionage and what often amounts to the same thing cyber-war, international agreements on how exactly corporations could use customer information, and how citizens should be informed regarding the use of their data by companies and the state would all allow the universal promise of the Internet to survive. This would be the kind of “Magna Carta for the Internet” that Sir Tim Berners-Lee “the man who wrote the first draft of the first proposal for what would become the world wide web” is calling for with his Web We Want initiative. If we get to the destination proposed by Berners-Lee our arrival might have been as much from the push of self-interest from multinational corporations as from the pull of noble efforts by defenders of the world’s civil liberties. For, it plausible that to the desire of Internet giants to be global companies may lead help spur the adoption of higher limits against government spying in the name of corporate protections against “industrial” espionage, protections that might intersect with the desire to protect global civil society as seen in the efforts of Berners-Lee and others and that will help establish a firmer ground for the protection of political freedom for individual citizens everywhere. We’ll probably need both push and pull to stem, let alone rollback, the current regime of mass surveillance we have allowed to be built around us. Thus, those interested in political freedom should throw their support behind Berners-Lee’s efforts. The erection of a “territory” in which higher standards of data protection prevail, as seen in the current moves of the EU, at this juncture, isn’t contrary to a data regime such as that which Berners-Lee proposed where “Bill of Rights for the Internet” is adhered to, but helps this process along. By creating an alternative to the current transparency model being promoted by American corporations and abused by its security services, one which is embraced by Chinese state capitalism as a tool of the authoritarian state, the EU’s efforts, if successful, would offer a region where the privacy (including corporate privacy) necessary for political freedom continues to be held sacred and protected. Even if efforts such as those of Berners-Lee to globalize these protections should fail, which sadly appears ultimately most likely, efforts such as those of the EU would create a bubble of protection- a 21st century version of the medieval fortress and city walls. We would do well to remember that underneath our definition of the law lies an understanding of law as a type of wall hence the fact that we can speak of both being “breached”. Law, like the rules of a sports game are simply a set of rules that are agreed to within a certain defined arena. The more bound the arena the easier it is to establish a set of clear defined and adhered to rules. To return to Stiebel, all this has implications for the other idea he explored and about which I also have doubts- the emergence of consciousness from the Internet. As he states: It took millions of years for human to gain intelligence, but it may only take a century for the Internet. The convergence of computer networks and neural networks is the key to creating real intelligence from artificial machines. I largely agree with Steibel, especially when he echoes Dan Dennett in saying that artificial intelligence will be about as much like our human consciousness as the airplane is to a bird. Some similarities in terms of underlying principle, but huge differences in engineering and manifestation. Meaning the path to machine intelligence probably doesn’t lie in brute computational force tried since the 1950’s or the current obsession with reverse engineering the brain, but in networks. Thing is, I just wishes he had said “internets” as in the plural rather than “Internet” singular, or just “networks”, again plural. For my taste, Stiebel has a tone when he’s talking about the emergence of intelligence from the Internet that leans a little too closely to Teilhard de Chardin and his Noosphere or Kevin Kelly and his Technium, all of which could have been avoided had Steibel just stuck with the logic of his breakpoints. Indeed, given the amount of space he had given to showing how anomalous our human intelligence was and how networks (ants and others) could show intelligent behavior without human type consciousness at all, I was left to wonder why our networks would ever become conscious in the way we are in the first place. If intelligence could emerge from networked computers as Stibel suggests it seems more likely to emerge from well bounded constellations of such computers rather than the network as a global whole- as in our current Internet. If the emergence of AI resembles, which is not the same as replicates, the evolution and principles of the brain it will probably require the same sorts of sharp boundaries we have, the pruning that takes place as we individualize, similar sorts of self-referential goals to ourselves, and some degree of opacity visa-vi other similar entities. To be fair to Stibel, he admits that we may have already undergone the singularity in something like this sense. What he does not see is that ants or immune systems or economies give us alternative models of how something can be incredibly intelligent and complex but not conscious in the human sense- perhaps human type consciousness is a very strange anomaly rather than an almost pre-determined evolutionary path once the rising complexity train gains enough momentum. AI in this understanding would merely entail truly purposeful coordinated action and goal seeking by complex units, a dangerous situation indeed given that these large units will often be rivals, but one not existentially distinct from what human beings have known since we were advanced enough technologically to live in large cities or fight with massive armies or produce and trade with continent and world straddling corporations. Be all that as it may, Stibel’s Breakpoint was still a fascinating read. He not only left me with lots of cool and bizarre tidbits about the world I had not known before, he gave me a new way to think about the old problem of whither our society was headed and if in fact we might be approaching limits to the development of civilization which the scientific and industrial revolution had seemed to suggest we had freed ourselves eternally from. Stibel’s breakpoints were another way for me to understand Joseph A. Tainter’s idea of how and why complex societies collapse and why such collapse should not of necessity fill us with pessimism and doom. Here’s me on Tainter: The only long lasting solution Tainter sees for increasing marginal utility is for a society to become less complex that is less integrated more based on what can be provided locally than on sprawling networks and specialization. Tainter wanted to move us away from seeing the evolution of the Roman Empire into the feudal system as the “death” of a civilization. Rather, he sees the societies human beings have built to be extremely adaptable and resilient. When the problem of increasing complexity becomes impossible to solve societies move towards less complexity. Exponential trends might not be leading us to a stark choice between global society and singularity or our own destruction. We might just be approaching some of Stibel’s breakpoints, and as long as we can keep your wits about us, and not act out of a heightened fear of losing dwindling advantages for us and ours, breakpoints aren’t all necessarily bad- and can even sometimes- be good. 2 Comments Posted in Dystopia Tagged and everything you need to know about technology is in your brain, Differences Privacy Law EU US China, Jeff Stibel, John Schinas, Mass Surveillance, Politics, Practicing Privacy Online: Examining Data Protection Regulations Through Google's Global Expansion, Privacy, Review Breakpoint: Why the web will implode, search will be obsolete, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Technology, Web We Want We Are All Thursdays Now Pray for a Good Behemoth Capitalism, Communism and the end of Nature The Wicked Problem Am I a machine? 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__label__cc	0.64477	0.35523	Aesthetic way to hide ones face [closed] Closed. This question is opinion-based. It is not currently accepting answers. Want to improve this question? Update the question so it can be answered with facts and citations by editing this post. What could be solution for hiding/ obscuring the face of a person on a photo. The need is to protect privacy, yet still keep the image visually attractive. image privacy PatmanPatman In order to get good anwers, could you please elaborate what the use case is? About what kind of pictures are we talking? Profile pictures? Random pictures that could contain one's face? – Bart Gijssens Aug 11 '15 at 8:59 So you want to censor pictures without blurs, pixelated blocks, black bars or (domain-specific) stickers/stamps (e.g. smileys)? You probably already know that some image effects are reversible, e.g. swirls, and hence unsuitable. – Crissov Aug 11 '15 at 9:12 The least distracting solution is IMO to crop the picture so the face is outside the canvas, but this is of course not always possible without also removing what you do want to show. – Philipp Aug 11 '15 at 11:07 The most confusing thing about your use case is I don't understand if (or why) you want to show the body but not the face. People are pretty identifiable from their body and clothing anyway, if you know them. – Level River St Aug 11 '15 at 14:32 As always, context is everything. The answer to this depends on the specifics of your needs/goals. – DA01 Aug 11 '15 at 17:07 Have a default face to put instead of the 'blurred' person. That way you could have actual faces, thus leaving the overall visual of the image, whereas a blur or pixelation would make it more obviously edited. (source: kym-cdn.com) Note: I'm only half-serious about the solution, but if you do this you should obviously use a more neutral face like these. It'll be (near-impossibly) tough to pull this off convincingly in an automated setting, though. PixelSnaderPixelSnader +1 for the work that went into providing that mockup. Very aesthetic indeed! :-) – Bart Gijssens Aug 11 '15 at 13:15 Not a bad idea from an aesthetic point of view, but you should consider the personality rights of the person whose face you use for replacing other peoples faces. It would put them into situations they might not feel comfortable with. When you want to protect the identity of someone photographed in an embarrassing situation, puting a model from a stock photo in the same situation instead isn't much better. – Philipp Aug 11 '15 at 13:24 FYI, do not visit facesplat(dot)com. It appears to be a weird spammy virusy page. – Ken Mohnkern Aug 11 '15 at 13:27 @KenMohnkern just in case, here are virustotal's report and netcraft's report - doesn't seem virusy, but definitely looks like a spam trap: virustotal.com/en/url/… - toolbar.netcraft.com/site_report?url=http://www.facesplat.com – mechalynx Aug 11 '15 at 18:10 @ivy_lynx I'll update the answer with a different image, just in case. – PixelSnader Aug 11 '15 at 21:01 Well, here are some of the common methods: Are any of those aesthetic? Well, we are dealing with Trump. So we could argue they are all improvements. But, ultimately, no. None of these types of methods are aesthetic because they are all unnatural. Humans even at a few days old have an ability to 'see' faces quite well. Any editing that would seem the least bit unnatural is going to stick out in a photograph and ultimately be the main point of focus. So it's best to avoid any direct editing of the face if at all possible. At that point, I think you're left with two options: Blocking the face from view A (quick and dirty) example of blocking the face from view might be: there's no mistaking that wig though – Dave Haigh Aug 12 '15 at 7:54 i liked the titles for each methods! – pzv Aug 13 '15 at 4:06 A Gaussian blur is definitely soft and appealing as a form of censorship. As far as straight up censorship goes, it's the least invasive and least harmful. For better alternatives to blatant censorship, take a look at some advertising banners. You can often censor people's features by providing an overlapping object/banner. An easy way to do this is stitch two images together using another image of a person (without features), i.e. a rectangle with two sections, cut by a slash in the centre. It's all about crop and positioning. Another, albeit when done wrong may look grimey, solution is to have a reel of images or text along people's features. Like in movie posters. You can't please everyone with censorship or it's design. insidesininsidesin Facebook is currently have blur option for people who are not in your friends of friends list. In other words, strangers can just feel what the pic is about but not clear crisp information. – Abektes Aug 11 '15 at 10:42 I don't think "censorship" is an appropriate term here. You use it a lot like you're trying to make some kind of point, but its meaning doesn't appear to fit the case in question. Perhaps redaction is what you're looking for? (yes, it can be applied to images as well as text) – Lightness Races with Monica Aug 11 '15 at 13:12 It's definitely censorship. There's information that is being hidden for (privacy) reasons being controlled by one governing factor. That's censorship. – insidesin Aug 11 '15 at 13:27 be careful how you blur - blurring spreads the pixel information around but does not necessarily destroy it. i.e. it may be possible to partially or fully recover data from the burred part if all you doing is applying a gaussian – jk. Aug 11 '15 at 14:43 Yes. Like all sensitive information, it can be found out if you happen to secure it incorrectly. The bigger the lock, the more annoying it is for both you and the thief... That said the stronger your blur (lock), the more you lose information here, but so does any potential thief. – insidesin Aug 11 '15 at 14:54 Chop them off at the neck, like they do on netaporter (would work on a fashion sales site) Create a mask to put over every face, like in Being John Malkovich (would work on a film review site) You don't give much context to your question, so it's difficult to give a meaningful answer... jackiembjackiemb chop them off at the neck – Dave Haigh Aug 11 '15 at 16:13 The solution chosen by the iOS/Android camera app Aillis (formerly known as Line Camera) is a simple one, but one very dependent on personal taste: They offer censor bars/blockers which are themselves visually attractive (within a particular aesthetic of social media, which includes decorated photos). This is an effective option for photos of the type which Aillis is expected to handle, i.e. personal snapshots. It's the opposite of subtle - in fact, they're a lot more flashy than a solid-colored box. But in the casual context where personal snapshots are shared, it's more in keeping with the tone of the medium than blur/pixelation. I think silhouette would be one of the more aesthetically pleasing effects, provide a nice uniformity and you could set the dark to color to be something that harmonizes with the site colors. The question is is it anonymous enough? obeliaobelia Wipe them out Back to the Future style. Content-aware option in Photoshop allows the background to show through... this keeps the image visually attractive. Dave HaighDave Haigh A body without a head waving at me... You have a strange definition of "attractive" – Bart Gijssens Aug 12 '15 at 7:02 in this particular example you could replace his head with the mickey mouse graphic. – Dave Haigh Aug 12 '15 at 7:52 Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged image privacy or ask your own question. How big should an image be on a computer for you to clearly see someone's face? Studies showing what prompts users to view the privacy policy of a website that does not have user accounts? Should images be given alt text if they contain no information? “Click to Enlarge Image” help text Placeholders for missing images Child registering for a service/app, parental concerns. Any experiences? What best practices exist for preserving, protecting, or passing your digital footprint to another after death? Most Intuitive way to organize images into albums? How to represent a translated formula in an accessible and visually clear way?	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8315
__label__wiki	0.978174	0.978174	HypaSpace (2002–2008) Season: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unknown Year: 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Unknown Episode #6.1 Be the first one to add a plot. "Snakes on a Plane" slithers on to DVD. And "The Covenant" also makes its way to the DVD shelves. We check out a new character on "Stargate: Atlantis." And we find out what's new this week on the comic book shelves. Director George Miller talks about the fate of the proposed "Mad Max 4" film. And we take a look back at the highlights from the 2006 San Diego Comic Con. We take a look back at some of the best Hypa stories from 2006. HypaSpace gets an adrenaline rush with the release of "Crank" on DVD. We look at the romantic thriller "The Illusionist" now out on DVD. Freddie Highmore talks about his character in the new film, Arthur and the Invisibles. And in even more Arthur news, Rob and Nathan Corddry talk about their participation in the film. We take a look at the new film, Arthur and the Invisibles. And we check out what's new on the comic book shelves. We check out the visually stunning new film, "The 300." And it's time for "Stargate: Atlantis" Season 2. S6, Ep10 Episode #6.10 We go behind the scenes on "The 300"; check out the new animated film "Arthur and the Invisibles"; explore season 2 of "Stargate: Atlantis"; Nat sink's her teeth into some "Buffy" toys and Jon Llyr has "The Scoop." Sean Bean is "The Hitcher." And "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" saws it's way to DVD. We have a sneak peak at the new series, "The Dresden Files." And we stick our thumb out for "The Hitcher." R.G. Taylor on his comic The Silencers and Sophia Bush plus Sean Bean talk about their roles in The Hitcher. Paul Blackthorne talks about "The Dresden Files." And we go against everything Mother used to tell us and pick up "The Hitcher." We check out the nominees for this year's Razzie Awards. And "Saw III" hits the DVD shelves. "Pan's Labyrinth" picks up six well-deserved Oscar nominations. And we check out the new flick, "Smokin' Aces." We check out the new film "Smokin' Aces." And Darwin Cooke talks about his "Spirit" comic. Alicia Keys stars in "Smokin' Aces." And Agnes Bruckner stars in "Blood and Chocolate." Along with an unhealthy infatuation with Trisha Helfer's Playboy layout, we take a look at "Smokin' Aces," "Blood and Chocolate," see who got nominated for a prestigious Razzie Award this year, and Jon Llyr has "The Scoop." Nat reports from the 67th Annual Canadian Toy and Hobby Fair in Toronto. And "Open Season" arrives on DVD. We blame "The Messengers." And "Flyboys" comes to DVD. Kristen Stewart stars in "The Messengers." And we check out what's new in comics. We pay a visit to "1408." And check out the new sequel, "Evan Almighty." We take a look at two new movies, "The Messengers" and "Hannibal Rising"; Billy Bob Thornton talks about his film "The Astronaut Farmer"; Nat takes us around The 67th Canadian Toy and Hobby Fair and Jon Llyr dishes "The Scoop." "The Grudge 2" comes to DVD. And "Hollywoodland" also hits the DVD shelves. A new animated "Hellboy" movie hits the DVD shelves. And season 2 of the new "Doctor Who" comes to DVD. We take a bite out of "Hannibal Rising." And we check out what's new on the comic book shelves. "Hannibal Rising" rubs the lotion on our skin. And we check out what's new in toys. Natasha Eloi takes us on a fascinating trip through the world of vinyl toy collectibles. We cross the "Bridge to Terabithia." And "Zoom" speeds on to DVD. Nic Cage fills us in on "Ghost Rider." And Gerard Butler talks about the violent "300." Nic Cage is getting into the comic book business. And we put the "Hex" on new comic book day. "300" star Gerard Butler talks about the film. And Eva Mendes talks about her character in "Ghost Rider." We check out new movies "Ghost Rider" and "Bridge to Terabithia"; preview "300" and "The Number 23"; Nat's got "Ghost Rider" toys; We look at the new "Jonah Hex" comic and Jon Llyr has "The Scoop." We look at the significance of "The Number 23." And we dig up "The Astronaut Farmer." The animated "Flushed Away" comes to DVD. And "The Prestige" magically appears on the DVD shelves. We launch "The Astronaut Farmer." And we check out what's new on the comic book shelves. Billy Bob Thornton talks about "The Astronaut Farmer." And Nat's got some Howie Mandell related toys. No, really. This week we check out "The Abandoned," "The Astronaut Farmer," "The Number 23," Nat covers The New York Toy Show and Jon Llyr gives you "The Scoop." We explore some of the signs of the "Zodiac." And "Stranger Than Fiction" arrives on DVD. The journey that changes everything has begun. The Willow reveals herself and leads you on the path to happiness. We've got more "300" madness. And we check out what's new on the comic book shelves. Robert Downey Jr. talks about his new film, "Zodiac." And we count to "300." On this week's show we have an in-depth look at "300"; check out the signs of the "Zodiac"; look at a new video game called "Crackdown"; Nat's got toys and Jon Llyr has "The Scoop." We introduce you to the new monster movie, "The Host." And "Decoys 2" is now out on DVD, featuring SPACE's Kim Poirier. Lena Heady talks about "300."And Jason Momoa joins "Stargate: Atlantis." Gerard Butler stops by SPACE to talk about "300". We check out the new comedy about two out-of-work Easter Bunnies, "Mike and Hank". We've got tons of Gerard Butler and "300" for you this weekend, plus the buzz on "Premonition", "Decoys 2" and "The Host". "300" star Gerard Butler drops by SPACE. And Sandra Bullock is about to have a "Premonition."	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8316
__label__wiki	0.720921	0.720921	'; xmlhttp.open("GET", fragment_url); xmlhttp.onreadystatechange = function() { if (xmlhttp.readyState == 4 && xmlhttp.status == 200) { element.innerHTML = xmlhttp.responseText; } } xmlhttp.send(null); } << Search Results Core Record Title Portrait of a Gentleman of the Soranzo Family Collection Harewood House, Leeds Artist Veronese, Paolo (Italian painter and draftsman, 1528-1588) Date Earliest probably 1565 Date Latest probably 1570 Description This well known portrait by the great Venetian artist Veronese shows a member of the Soranzo family who were Procurators of St Mark's. The provenance of this important painting can be traced back to the seventeenth century, when it was displayed alongside a portrait of the sitter's wife in the painting gallery of the Rienst family in Venice. It then belonged to Nicolas Regnier, a Flemish painter who settled in the city. The painting shows Veronese's ability to paint sumptuous fabrics that reflected the wealth of his sitters. Current Accession Number HHTP:2001.1.13 Former Accession Number 73 (Borenius) Subject portrait (male of the Soranzo family) Measurements 184.0 x 112 cm.0 cm (estimate) Material oil on canvas Acquisition Details Acquired from Charles Robinson, after 1916 and before 1920. Provenance Giovanni Rienst, Venice by 1648; Nicolas Regnier (artist), Venice by 1666; sold in 1666 at Regnier's death; Sir Charles Robinson by early 20th century. Principal Exhibitions National Loan Exhibition, Grafton Galleries, London, 1909 - 10, cat. no. 47; Leeds City Art Gallery, 1936, cat. no. 4; Mostra di Paolo Veronese, Ca' Giustinian, Venice, 1939, cat. no. 76; The Genius of Venice 1500-1600, London, Royal Academy, 1983, cat. no. 141; The Art of Paolo Veronese, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1988, cat. no. 99. Publications Ridolfi, C., Le meraviglie dell'arte, 1648, Berlin, 1914, i, p. 340 as 'nella Galleria del Signor Giovanni Reinst in Venetia... due ritratti di sposi di casa Soranza'; Pallucchini, R. (ed.), Mostra di Paolo Veronese, Venice, 1939, cat. no. 76, pp. 180-181; Berenson, B., Italian Paintings of the Renaissance, Venetian School, London, 1957, p. 132; Pignatti, T., Veronese: L'Opera completa, Venice, 1976, cat. no. 270, p. 153, ill. pl. 613; The Genius of Venice 1500-1600, London, 1983, cat. no.141, ill., p.137; Rearick, W. R., The Art of Paolo Veronese, Washington, 1988, cat. no. 99, p. 192, ill. p. 193; Pignatti, T., and F. Pedrocco, Veronese. Catalogo completo dei dipinti, Milan, 1991, no. 206 p. 280, ill.; Veronese, Gods, Heroes and Allegories, Milan, 2004, p. 173. Notes A preparatory drawing for the painting, attributed to Veronese, is published in Veronese, Gods, Heroes and Allegories, Milan, 2004, p. 173, ill. p. 174. Henry Lascelles inherited the capital to buy paintings in 1916. Included in the Inventory of Chesterfield House, 1920, p. 78 as Italian nobleman by Veronese. Rights Owner By kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Harewood and the Trustees of Harewood House Trust Author Dr Phillippa Plock	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8317
__label__cc	0.651811	0.348189	Jay Hersh Hersh, Jay Doris Whitman Tartakoff Tartakoff, Doris Whitman Mary "Sitte" Abidiwan-Lupo Abidiwan-Lupo, Mary "Sitte" Jerri Hershman Hershman, Jerri Bonnie Velazquez Velazquez, Bonnie Rosemarie Canty Canty, Rosemarie Stacey Flynn Flynn, Stacey Steven Reimer Reimer, Steven Margaret "Marge" Lewandowski Lewandowski, Margaret "Marge" James Frantz Frantz, James Miller, Bruce Velma Jean DiRoberto DiRoberto, Velma Jean Bruce Shankin Shankin, Bruce Gregory Czura Esq. Czura Esq., Gregory Rose Matarese Matarese, Rose Marijo Highland Highland, Marijo Kimberly Schroeder Schroeder, Kimberly Carl Lupo Lupo, Carl William "Bill" Rech Rech, William "Bill" Margaret "Mitsy" Granzow Granzow, Margaret "Mitsy" Morgan, John Email: info@varcoethomasfuneralhome.com Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home of Doylestown, Inc. When it comes to honoring a loved one, there are many options to consider. Our caring and considerate staff will gladly meet with you to discuss the different funeral services we offer. Whether it’s a more traditional funeral service that you desire or a less formal and more personalized funeral ceremony, we can accommodate your needs. We invite you to read further to learn the simple answer to the question "what is a funeral?". Should you have questions about what you read here, we encourage you to call us. One of our funeral professionals will be delighted to explore which of our Doylestown funeral services is right for you and your family. Anthropologists label a funeral as a rite of passage, which affects everyone involved–including the deceased. His or her social status changes dramatically, from a living contributing member of the community to one whose contributions are in the past, and relegated to memory. But the status of each of the survivors—the immediate family most especially—has also changed. In fact, the funeral service can be the start of a defined period of mourning for bereaved family members, marking this transition in a uniquely identifiable way. It could be said then, the focus of a funeral—no matter where, no matter when—lies in acknowledging change. And without doubt, human beings (as individuals and as a community) have trouble dealing with profound changes like the death of an integral member of the group. When you take this perspective, it becomes easier to understand the importance of ceremonially acknowledging the tear in the social fabric and the symbolic restoration of its integrity. Components of a Traditional Funeral Service A traditional funeral service includes: Visitation: This is often called a viewing or a wake. Guests come to pay their respects to the deceased by viewing their casketed body and spending time with the grieving family. A visitation can occur at any time before the funeral service. Funeral Service: This event commonly takes place at the funeral home, a church, or at the graveside. It can include music, the reading of literary or religious passages, a eulogy, prayer, and the singing of hymns. Committal Service: If the family plans to bury the deceased, this stage involves the vehicle procession to the cemetery. Funeral Reception: Many choose to host this post-service gathering (or repast) at a reception hall. This is considered a time to share memories, laughter, and support. A funeral service, whether traditional or more modern (memorial service or celebration-of-life), has two functions: to acknowledge the death and lifetime achievements of an individual and to bring grieving family members and friends together in support of one another during this difficult time. Funeral Services in Doylestown For families and individuals living in this region (as elsewhere in the nation), a funeral service can mean many things. Some fall back on what is commonly called a "traditional funeral service"; others see that same traditional service as an emotionally unfulfilling event. Fortunately, thanks to a number of unique social forces, there are alternatives. Today, end-of-life commemorative services range from the traditional funeral, to a memorial service and the increasingly popular celebrations-of-life. If you have yet to realize the immense value of such a collective acknowledgement of loss, reach out to us. Call to speak with one of our experienced funeral service professionals so we can help you make an informed decision for your loved one. Huntington, Richard and Peter Metcalf, Celebrations of Death: The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual, Cambridge University Press, 1979 Rostad, Curtis, "The Basics of Funeral Service", Indiana Funeral Directors Association, 2014	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8319
__label__wiki	0.950538	0.950538	Relativity Buys Stake in Gnarls Barkley, Mos Def Label Downtown Records By Variety Staff Variety Staff Follow Us on Twitter @Variety FOLLOW Variety's Most Recent Stories Gregg Smith, Dancer and Choreographer Assistant, Dies at 73 Spotify in Talks to Acquire Bill Simmons’ The Ringer: Report Relativity Media has acquired a stake in Downtown Records, the label home of Gnarls Barkley, Mos Def, Cold War Kids and other artists. Pact is designed to provide a capital influx to Downtown and access its talent and catalogue for other Relativity activities. Relativity COO Happy Walters, who runs the Relativity Music division, will oversee the investment. “Relativity is a content engine that has the unique ability to help other entertainment companies reach the next level,” said Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh in announcing the deal. “In just eight years, Josh Deutsch and Terence Lam have built a cutting edge music business, and we are excited to provide new opportunities for their incredible talent as Relativity continues to grow.” Gotham-based Downtown was founded in 2006 by Deutsch and Lam, both exec vets of major labels. Company has had success with Gnarls Barkley, the outfit that launched Cee-Lo Green’s career, and rockers Cold War Kids (pictured). Its roster also includes artists Mike Snow, Chet Faker and Santigold and a catalog of 5,000 songs. Downtown has a distribution pact with Sony Music’s RED arm. “Leveraging Relativity’s broad platform, Downtown will generate innovative new opportunities for artists, composers and music fans alike,” said Deutsch, Downtown’s chairman-CEO. “We are excited to work with Ryan, Happy, Tucker and the entire Relativity team to grow Downtown Records’ recorded music, music publishing and live events divisions and to contribute our premium content and music services to Relativity’s global media business.”	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8320
__label__wiki	0.641628	0.641628	Towards Understanding the Cybersecurity Challenge Below is a Pixar pitch of the cybersecurity challenge: Once upon a time anonymous adversaries exploited the rich interconnectivity provided by cyberspace and wreaked havoc on the global interconnected finacial system. Everyday they were able to penetrate systems with weaker defenses, deface home pages, disrupt supply chains, stealing private and sensitive data and causing chaos and economic harm. Many nations struggled to work together due to the prevailing atmosphere of mistrust, eroding partnerships and preferred to play the zero-sum game. A powerful guiding coalition of businesses and nations made a shared commitment to work together to tackle the cybersecurity challenge head-on. One day, after an arduous Hero’s Journey that stood the test of time, everything had transformed. Every business and nation had organically learned how to anticipate and prevent cyberattacks, limit cyberattacks and recover to trusted states. Because of that immersion, everybody experienced a value shift and learned the ABCs of building and nurturing trust and the art of building a resilient cyber ecosystem. Until finally, everyone finally realized that the power of two is the recipe for financial and social stability in a volatile, uncertain, chaotic and uncertain environment. Anonymous computer hackers have been recently targeting several technology companies such as Foxconn, among others, and wreaked havoc in the global financial system. The 2013 Data Breach Investigations Report analyzes more than 47,000 reported security incidents and 621 confirmed data breaches from the past year. In addition, according to Werbach, “every mobile app is a potential security risk.” We have to work together to solve this wicked problem which sometimes gets warped in a state of confrontation. A solution has a technical side and a social side. The best minds are actively working on this problem globally on the technical side. We need to build greater traction and sustain momentum on the social side by understanding the cybersecurity challenge via dialogue-knitting conversations. “We estimate that the overall damage to the Chinese economy exceeded Rmb5.36bn, affecting 110.8m Chinese users and 1.1m websites in 2011” due to cybersecurity breaches and cyberespionage. (paper published by Gu Lion, Zhuge Jianwei, Duan Haixin, 2012) cited in Financial Times, May 20, 2013 Although the world is flat, today we live in a world of differences, as illustrated by BRICS (), where people need to inculcate a new way of thinking in order for a firm to create a strategic identity, a community of shared values, and trust-based relationships with employees, customers, community, and investors. ( BRICS :: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and other countries) “It is strange that many people perceive the rise of China and India only as a threat. The idea that these countries’ ascent is a zero-sum game — it can occur only at everyone’s expense — defies economic logic.” Tarun Khanna. China + India: The Power of Two. Harvard Business Review, Dec 2007. The key takeaway from the “power of two” example is that during every interaction, while there is one opportunity for success (win/win), there are three opportunities for failure (win/lose, lose/lose, lose/win). The broader challenge to achieve win/win outcomes scales in complexity when there is an n-party interaction (think BRICS). If achieving win/win were viewed as corporate center profitability, then 1.5 + 1.5 = 3 because the individual business units is outperforming (1.5 vs 1) in their markets that have a walled garden of cybersecurity-proofing with a grounded philosophy that “ethics pays.” The value creation premise that “ethics pays” is an “ethic-onomic” yardstick that calls for a rich repertoire of reasoning skills that can be harnessed through improvisation, dialogue and deliberation with actors who may have had a history of tense relationships, misunderstandings and “sticking points”. The resilience to tackle of the challenges of cybersecurity requires a shared, long-term commitment and coup d’oeil to navigate the “Hero’s Journey” where ethics and economics are intertwined in a dynamic dance to spark a new level of consciousness, revise out-of-date mental maps and nurture trust. Sustaining resilience means overcoming active inertia of self-delusions (“we don’t need cybersecurity”), avoiding the trap of playing the blame game or deflecting naysayers (“it’s beyond our authority to manage the cybersecurity challenge”). Building a resilient cybersecure ecosystem is an art and science and there is no silver bullet. In concert with software developers, we need to assemble an orchestra of talent from diverse fields to tackle the cybersecurity security challenge that grows in complexity everyday. Viewed through my crystal ball, I envision the traditional role of FTE to morph as a three-legged stool — Fraud Prevention, Turnaround Management, and Entrepreneurship. This FTE will maintain an excruciating mission focus in: Serving as an on demand, tactical resource in assisting businesses implement cybersecurity measures and a software assurance infrastructure Assisting businesses in defining and achieving operational excellence Actively contributing in the co-creation of a world of purpose called S@SFO (Sustainability using Art and Therapy (@) for achieving Solution Focused Outcomes) S@SFO resonates with Silicon Valley innovation and, using the cybersecurity challenge as a powerful frame of reference, we can seize this not-to-miss opportunity to incorporate this mindset and solve an array of economic and social challenges (“wicked problems”) akin to Palantir. (This is a living blog in progress.) Towards Shared Understanding of the Priorities of Harvard Business School Moneyball and Hedge Fund Activism	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8322
__label__wiki	0.502546	0.502546	News > ONE TO WATCH: ONEILL SCORES AGAIN TO MAKE IT 7 IN 5 ONE TO WATCH: ONEILL SCORES AGAIN TO MAKE IT 7 IN 5 FOOTBALL, YOUTH, FUTURE As part of our 'ONE TO WATCH' series, we follow the progress of young English striker, Louis O'Neill, playing for Chapeltown Juniors. In our first feature, 10-year old Louis broke his scoring duck for the season in his first game wearing TruSox, picking up a pair after seeing his idols and role models wearing the revolutionary product. Since then, four games on, and Louis has really been seeing the effects that TruSox have had to offer, and has scored 7 goals in the 5 TruSox-wearing games! O'Neill, who scored a hat-trick the week before last, has since earned his manager's praise, and his father has said that everyone has noticed the difference since he started wearing TruSox. "He's been playing brilliantly, and it's been reflecting in being named the Player of the Week a few times by his manager," said his father Russell. "He has even joked that the whole team should wear TruSox given Louis' recent goalscoring improvement! But I genuinely think that they would help, they'd be a TeamTruSox force to be reckoned with." As can be seen in the upturn in fortunes for young Louis, TruSox can help you and your performance no matter what level you play at, or what sport you are playing. We will be catching up with Louis to monitor his progress again in the coming weeks! TAGS: FOOTBALL, YOUTH, FUTURE	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8326
__label__cc	0.568053	0.431947	Other Solutions To Illegal Immigration. 01 Sep 2018 09:22 #61 The movie you show was made by jews.. Jews are great businessmen, so they knew pretty and handsome white stars (like in Oklahoma) are what the public wanted to see because it brought in big bucks at the box-office. But nowadays there are too many black actors in movies and TV and I for one won't watch them. Who's dumping blacks on us like that, the jews or the estab or what, and why are they doing it ? People like pretty much what they're told to like. That includes the movie Oklahoma. Which, as I said, no doubt contains a touch of poison. Also, the jews used to make many gangster movies. At one point and for some time, they had Gangsters being the second most admired people in the U.S. Only the movie stars themselves topped them. And even they were by far disproportionately jewish. Also, I am reminded of a short bit from Monte Python. Their tiny skit involved making a star out of a cinder block. As to why there are so many darkies in the movies and on TV, the answer is simple. Jews hate White people. They want us destroyed. One way of doing that is by promoting species mixing. Rocco wrote: I don't think Blacks are bad people. It's the Jew that messes them up. Physically remove the Jew and natural order will be restored Did you not read my thread "Listen to the children scream." There is another thread in the human condition section that you should read. It is called, "The Inferior american African." Also, there isn't a negro populated country on the planet that is worth a damn. I don't think the jews had a lot to do with that. Then there is the country of Ethiopia. It is full of jewish negroes. And it is a shithole too. What we need to do in this country to set things right is to remove both jews and negroes. Yeah, I didn't mean they can all stay, most of 'm will have to go. Specially the new arrivals from Africa. I'm more lenient to people descendant of slaves and people from the colonies. They have earned their keep. But it doesn't serve any good to disrespect them and their conditions in Africa. I don't think living in a mud hut makes one inferior to us, it just makes them incompatible with our ways of living ..Jews hate White people. They want us destroyed. One way of doing that is by promoting species mixing. Possibly a small minority of some hardcore Jews hate our guts, but species mixing is promoted far more by mushbrained liberals who are by far the bigger enemy. Anyway race mixing will never work because no normal white men and women are attracted to blacks because our DNA is hardwired to respond only to the opposite sex of our own white race.. All Jews DNA is hardwired to live at the expense of gentiles You should read my thread, "The joy of being offensive." Disrespecting them is the only way to go. Also, you might be interested in my thread, "The inferior american African." Feel free to read it and leave a reply. Any reply. A small minority? You have to be fucking high. Any jew who follows judaism has to believe what their religion teaches. Which is that they are the "chosen of god." By default, that means that everybody else is shit. Next, did mush brained liberals or jews own and control the movie studios like MGM, Warner Brothers, Columbia, Universal, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, etc? Or do mush brained liberals control the banking system? The mush brained liberals are the same as the hard core conservative republicans. They are the patsies of the jews. You could learn much from reading the book "The Truth: Unforbidden!" As I said, it is only about 100 pages long with quite a few pictures. But from everything I have gathered from you so far, you aren't interested in learning anything. Yes. They sure do seem to be into the whole slavery thing. But I am reminded of some species of ants that have evolved using the practice of enslaving other ants. Now the slaver ants cant even feed themselves. The slave ants feed them. With that being the case, in my opinion it is the slaver ants who are the real slaves. Anyway race mixing will never work because no normal white men and women are attracted to blacks because our DNA is hardwired to respond only to the opposite sex of our own white race.. [/quote This assessment by the house pervert nonce must be true, after all, who knows better about human relationships than agoraphobe Ughly? The Only Limit is Your Own Imagination A truth seeker is someone who dares to wade through thick series of toxic smoke screens and tries not to inhale - Gaia "What do you call 'genius'?" "Well, seeing things others don't see. Or rather the invisible links between things." - Vladimir Nabokov (1938) "The silence of conspiracy. Slaughtered on the altar of apathy." - Lords of the New Church (1982) ..Any jew who follows judaism has to believe what their religion teaches. Which is that they are the "chosen of god.".. Sure, they may have been God's "chosen people" in ancient times, but that's only because they were slightly more civilised than all the other heathen tribes, they were only the best of a bad bunch. Later they fucked up bigtime by killing his son, so if they're still his "chosen people" I'm Mary Poppins.. In fact even before that he had to send combat-class star cruisers to try to knock some sense into their thick heads.. - "And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the Lord looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem" (1 Chronicles 21:16/16) Last Edit: 03 Sep 2018 12:23 by Ugh. Ugh quote- "Anyway race mixing will never work because no normal white men and women are attracted to blacks because our DNA is hardwired to respond only to the opposite sex of our own white race".. Gaia wrote: Sure, some white men such as Prince Harry have got defective DNA and like black pussy, but they're just a small minority, as most white blokes are only interested in white females, it's the natural law of nature.. "Oh Judy Judy Judy.." First of all, from what I have heard, the jews still consider themselves to be the chosen of god. What a christian may think doesn't mean shit to them. Next, if only you supported White people. Then you would stop posting horse shit. And maybe talk about what this thread is about. Other solutions to illegal immigration. (invasion) Last Edit: 04 Sep 2018 00:05 by steamroller. ..the jews still consider themselves to be the chosen of god. What a christian may think doesn't mean shit to them. Next, if only you supported White people. Then you would stop posting horse shit. And maybe talk about what this thread is about. Other solutions to illegal immigration. (invasion) All nonchristian cults including jews think they're the chosen of god but that doesn't mean they are ! As for the solution to immigration, that's easy, voters need to stop voting for the parties that let the fuckers in.. All cults including jews, christians, hindus, muslims, buddhists and others think they're the chosen of god but that doesn't mean they are ! Gaia mate, that's at least the second time you've faked one of my posts to make it look like something I said! Do you by any chance work for the fake media, because that's the sort of thing they do?.. The fact is, God himself said that Christians are his chosen sons and daughters, and he also said all other religions are crocks, so you'd better argue it out with him when you meet him.. The """fact""" is, God himself said ... That you have a rather "creative" interpretation of facts is what you have made clear in all of your short history here, Ugh.... The Bible is a chronicle of human close encounters with offworld beings spanning many centuries, and all open-minded truthseekers naturally find them fascinating.. For example when Belshazzar stepped out of line, God sent a ghostly hand to write words on the wall which translated as- "You're fucked mate" .. The Bible is a chronicle of human imagination. Return of Zorro Yeah, course he did. The 'God' of the OT is ''rent-a-ghost''..... I don't doubt there's actually some historical fact to parts of the bible, it would have unlikely had such an impact on so many people if there wasn't, but on the flip side some of the stuff is just fairy stories. And for what half the stuff in the bible is worth, you had just as well believe that Santa Claus comes down the chimney every Christmas eve. The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. – Marcus Aurelius Last Edit: 04 Sep 2018 20:30 by Return of Zorro. No, it’s because he’s a jew. Jews lie and distort as easy as they breathe. He’s just out-trolling you, so he might look more genuine to others on this forum so he can troll some more. ww2truth.com/	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8328
__label__cc	0.591612	0.408388	Halal Standard CEO-Message UHA Complies with UK / EU laws and the Islamic Shariah. ANIMAL WELFARE IN ISLAM HALAL – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ! The word Halal conjures up a notion of meat to all of us. In English dictionary too the word is described in terms of meat from animal slaughtered according to religious rituals. It is an Arabic word meaning “lawful” contrasted with the word Haram or “Unlawful”. In reality, it applies to all matters and activities relating to our lives. Most communities, who derive their teaching from spiritual sources, tend to have certain dietary and other restrictions substantially to govern the health, welfare and safety in the physical world in which we live and prepare ourselves for the next life. In Islam, this could not be more vivid and pronounced. Let us look at a few examples: 1. Male circumcision. - Research in Kenya now tells us that the rate of HIV infection among circumcised male is 60% lower than those who are not. 2. Prohibition against eating pork (5:3) – It is well known among other things that pig is the most dirty animal. 3. Prohibition against consuming blood (5:3) – being a carrier of all germs, chemicals, enzymes and other body fluids harmful to human health. 4. Eating meat from dead animals (5:3) – Animal could have died of diseases or is left to decompose and therefore injurious to health. (Muslim) 5. Urinating in shaded areas and water courses to prevent infection and risk of contamination. 6. Prohibition against the use of tobacco to prevent deadly diseases and premature death. The list is endless. When it comes to food, the reality is that Allah, has legislated for its purity, fitness, quality and nutrition to secure good health, welfare and safety of mankind. The world Halal itself makes purity and fitness of food [Tyyiban as mentioned in the Quran] as essential. Unfortunately, vast majority of the Muslim community is steeped into purely orthodox belief of spiritual connotation of Halal and would reach out to the Arabic icon irrespective of how that food was produced. This is not unlike other aspects of our religious practices omitting or at best marginalising the common sense, pragmatism and rationality. The other more perceptible but unarguable fact is that we tend to pick orthodox practices that suit us and perpetuate what has been drummed into us at our infancy about the facts and fancies of our religious observances. This is all at the cost of us ignoring the advances in science, medicine and technology. In so doing, the image of Islam remains at stake especially in the modern multi-cultural society and yet being modern and up-to-date is not inimical to our faith. On the contrary, Muslim history is replete with such examples of advancements and achievements in science, medicine etc. The following are some examples of our changes in traditions and practices because of advances in technology, science, and environment. 1. Using meteorologically computed prayer times for five daily prayers instead of physical observation of the sun’s movement across the sky. (This religious requirement is one of the core issues in Islam one may argue is non-changeable.) 2. Using mechanised transport such as cars and now even trains to make what was a walking journey from Makkah to Mina and again to Mudzaliffa during the Hajj (pilgrimage) performances. (Again a central issue which can be considered non-changeable) 3. Using tissue instead of pebbles for personal washing where water cannot be found. (Ablution procedures in readiness for prayers one may argue is yet another core issue) 4. Using wool and other fabric carpets for prayers in place of bare sand /soil or improvised matted palm leaves. 5. Using anaesthetics to render unconscious a patient prior to surgery. Ironically this is to render the patient insensitive to pain and yet when it comes to animals it is an anathema because animals do not feel the pain. 6. Heavy and most expensive embellishment of mosques with sumptuous domes and minarets in place of half thatched roof with mud walls like that of the Prophet (saw) mosque in Medina. 7. Use of wide range of modern drugs and medicines including those obtained from animals and intoxicants officially sanctioned by the scholars where life could be in danger where no permitted substitutes are available. 8. Attending mixed sex schools and universities even in Muslim countries, a far cry from the religious scruple that sexes must not mix. Many other aspects of our modern life such as dress code, facial and body enhancements, prayer routines etc have changed dramatically and yet animal has to be tortured to obtain meat which is so vastly consumed that the health and environmental damage, central to our religious teaching, is yet again just ignored. So is it a wonder that today we have a lot of research in science and technology to assure us that a mild dose of electricity administered to an animal to render it unconscious and insensitive to pain is necessary before its throat is cut? None of the present methods of stunning an animal was available at the time of the Prophet (saw). Indeed no electricity existed nor were there slaughter houses. Is it not sufficient for us to understand that any method employed today to put animal at ease (as mentioned in the Hadith in Muslim) prior to slaughter is not only permissible but essential. Kindness to animal is therefore a foremost requirement in Islamic theology. Let us not forget that this standard was enshrined in the Muslim slaughter practice since the sixth century whereas in the West, animal welfare only began to be discussed in 1875 and stunning laws promulgated two decades later. Nizar Boga BSc LL.B(Hons) DMA FRSPH MCIEH JP CEO – Universal Halal Agency Our Trusted Partners : Universal Halal Agency 70 Friern Park, N12 9LA	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8330
__label__wiki	0.807126	0.807126	/sooh"meuhr/, n. an ancient region in southern Mesopotamia that contained a number of independent cities and city-states of which the first were established possibly as early as 5000 B.C.: conquered by the Elamites and, about 2000 B.C., by the Babylonians; a number of its cities, as Ur, Uruk, Kish, and Lagash, are major archaeological sites in southern Iraq. Region of southern Mesopotamia and site of the earliest known civilization. It was first settled с 4500–4000 BC by a non-Semitic people called the Ubaidians. They were the first civilizing force in Sumer, draining the marshes for agriculture and developing trade. The Sumerians, who spoke a Semitic language that came to dominate the region, arrived с 3300 BC and established the world's first known cities. These polities evolved into city-states, which eventually developed monarchical systems that later came to be loosely united under a single city, beginning with Kish с 2800 BC. Thereafter, Kish, Erech, Ur, Nippur, and Lagash vied for ascendancy for centuries. The area came under the control of dynasties from outside the region, beginning with Elam (с 2530–2450 BC) and later Akkad, led by the Akkadian king Sargon (r. 2334–2279 BC). After the Akkadian dynasty collapsed, the city-states were largely independent until they were reunified under the 3rd dynasty of Ur (21st–20th centuries BC). That final Sumerian dynasty declined after being weakened by foreign invasions, and the Sumerians as a distinct political entity disappeared, becoming part of the Babylonia in the 18th century BC. The Sumerian legacy includes a number of technological and cultural innovations, including the first known wheeled vehicles, the potter's wheel, a system of writing (see cuneiform), and written codes of law. ▪ ancient region, Iraq site of the earliest known civilization, located in the southernmost part of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, in the area that later became Babylonia and is now southern Iraq from around Baghdad to the Persian Gulf. A brief treatment of Sumerian civilization follows. For full treatment, see Mesopotamia, history of: Sumerian civilization (Mesopotamia, history of). Sumer was first settled between 4500 and 4000 BC by a non-Semitic people who did not speak the Sumerian language. These people now are called proto-Euphrateans or Ubaidians, for the village Al-Ubaid, where their remains were first discovered. The Ubaidians were the first civilizing force in Sumer, draining the marshes for agriculture, developing trade, and establishing industries, including weaving, leatherwork, metalwork, masonry, and pottery. After the Ubaidian immigration to Mesopotamia, various Semitic peoples infiltrated their territory, adding their cultures to the Ubaidian culture, and creating a high pre-Sumerian civilization. The people called Sumerians, whose language became the prevailing language of the territory, probably came from around Anatolia, arriving in Sumer about 3300 BC. By the 3rd millennium BC the country was the site of at least 12 separate city-states: Kish, Erech, Ur, Sippar, Akshak, Larak, Nippur, Adab, Umma, Lagash, Bad-tibira, and Larsa. Each of these states comprised a walled city and its surrounding villages and land, and each worshiped its own deity, whose temple was the central structure of the city. Political power originally belonged to the citizens, but, as rivalry between the various city-states increased, each adopted the institution of kingship (king). An extant document, The Sumerian King List, records that eight kings reigned before the great Flood. After the Flood, various city-states and their dynasties of kings temporarily gained power over the others. The first king to unite the separate city-states was Etana, ruler of Kish (c. 2800 BC). Thereafter, Kish, Erech, Ur, and Lagash vied for ascendancy for hundreds of years, rendering Sumer vulnerable to external conquerors, first the Elamites (Elam) (c. 2530–2450 BC) and later the Akkadians, led by their king Sargon (reigned 2334–2279 BC). Although Sargon's dynasty lasted only about 100 years, it united the city-states and created a model of government that influenced all of Middle Eastern civilization. After Sargon's dynasty ended and Sumer recovered from a devastating invasion by the semibarbaric Gutians (Guti), the city-states once again became independent. The high point of this final era of Sumerian civilization was the reign of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, whose first king, Ur-Nammu, published the earliest law code yet discovered in Mesopotamia. After 1900 BC, when the Amorites (Amorite) conquered all of Mesopotamia, the Sumerians lost their separate identity, but they bequeathed their culture to their Semitic successors, and they left the world a number of technological and cultural contributions, including the first wheeled vehicles and potter's wheels; the first system of writing, cuneiform; the first codes of law; and the first city-states. Sumer — est une civilisation et une région historique située dans le sud de l Irak, la Mésopotamie. Elle a duré de la première colonie d Eridu dans la période d Obeïd (fin du VIe millénaire av. J. C.) en passant de la période d Uruk (IVe millénaire… … Wikipédia en Français SUMER — Le terme de Sumer se rapporte à l’une des plus importantes périodes de l’histoire mésopotamienne, une des plus brillantes aussi, si l’on songe à la civilisation et à l’art qu’elle évoque, dont nous sommes d’ailleurs encore tributaires après… … Encyclopédie Universelle Sümer — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Cevdet Sümer (* 1922), türkischer Springreiter Özkan Sümer (* 1937), türkischer Fußballspieler und trainer Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselb … Deutsch Wikipedia Sùmēr — m 〈G Suméra〉 geogr. pov. država u J Mezopotamiji, o. 1700. pr. Kr. ušla u sastav babilonske države; Šumer … Veliki rječnik hrvatskoga jezika Sumer — Sùmēr m <G Suméra> DEFINICIJA geogr. pov. država u J Mezopotamiji, o. 1700. pr. Kr. ušla u sastav babilonske države; Šumer … Hrvatski jezični portal Šumer — Šùmer m DEFINICIJA v. Sumer … Hrvatski jezični portal Sumer — (from Akkadian Šumeru; Sumerian … Wikipedia Sumer — Sumēr, Reich in Mesopotamien, s. Babylonien … Kleines Konversations-Lexikon Sumer — [so͞o′mər] ancient region in the lower valley of the Euphrates River … English World dictionary Sumer — Das Reich Sumer und Akkad und sein Umfeld Das Land Sumer lag südlich von Akkad in Mesopotamien. Die Sumerer beeinflussten im Laufe des 4. Jahrtausends v. Chr. den Übergang zur mesopotamischen Hochkultur entscheidend. Ihr Land nannten sie… … Deutsch Wikipedia	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8331
__label__wiki	0.589666	0.589666	Yvie Holder Yvie recalls her childhood and family life in Hull in the 60s and 70s, describing her home and the games she would play in some depth. She also talks about the influence of her West Indian father and English mother on her identity and school life. https://untoldhull.org/wp-content/uploads/Archive/1143-YvieHolder/1143-A-YvieHolder.mp3 Interviewee Forename: Yvie Interviewee Surname: Holder Interviewer: Dan Dearing Time Code Notes [00:00:00] Born in London, moved to Hull from Liverpool in 1962. Father relocated while working for Bird’s Eye. Went to Eastfield School at this time. Memories of new house in Hull. Family happy that father now had the job he had worked for. [00:04:57] Early impressions of Hull. Family focus on food as father had cosmopolitan tastes from Trinidad. Playing out on bike as roads were quiet. Peter Pan Park at Costello Playing Fields played a role. Pickering Park – aviary, monkeys. [00:09:35] Memories of house in Anlaby Park – 1920s semi modelled on Garden Village idea. Installation of central heating and the difference it made in winter. Parkray, Creda Carefree cooker, twintub washing machine. [00:18:20] Mother did not work until family were older. Did A-levels through nightclasses (adult education). Worked in children’s book department of W H Smith. [00:20:45] Mother’s involvement in community – ran the Brownie pack alongside household chores and family. [00:22:15] Bird’s Eye – pea season, demands at this time. [00:23:35] Dietary influences from father’s West Indian roots and mother cooked to his taste. Very different at the time and eventually influenced own cooking. [00:29:50] Playing games – family games of cards, ludo, draughts. At school – marbles, skipping, roller skates. Home – elastics (French skipping), ballgames, lots of children played together – hide and seek, block 123. Collected bubble gum cards, stamps. [00:35:50] Television – black and white, watching Dr Who, limited hours broadcast. Gramophone player – father brought from America with LPs. Radio – light programme, Pop Pickers. [00:40:53] Influence of Beatles and pop music on Yvie and influence of music on the family. [00:44:05] Eastfield School – recollections of what mattered, being with people, enjoyable time, support of parents, influences on future life. [00:50:24] Kingston High School – Head Girl. 11+, memories of educational experience. Recollections of shift to comprehensive education, gender split and it’s influence, children challenging the rules and the adults. [01:02:34] Racism – recollection of incidents at secondary school, in the community. Influence on direction of work as an adult. [01:11:50] Influence of cultural heritage on daily life and aspirations. [01:19:40] University life – York – difficult with leaving home. Reconnected with city through City of Culture. [01:24:00] Teenage years – youth club, Girl Guides, ballroom dancing, Florence Hall School of Dancing, socialising with friends, cinema, theatre. Saturday job at post office provided money for entertainment. City Youth Orchestra rehearsals. These time code notes are provided as a rough guide to the above recording. Untold Hull would like to thank all the volunteers who took part for their time and hard work in producing this information. Archive, Childhood, Life Stories Mary Burniston	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8333
__label__cc	0.523281	0.476719	Phillips: Why Criner has all-white jury in UT murder case, and not jury of peers Potential jurors are sworn in before jury selection in the capital murder case of Meechaiel Criner, the transient man accused of killing University of Texas student Haruka Weiser in April 2016, in District Judge David Wahlberg’s 167th district court Monday July 9, 2018. RALPH BARRERA / AMERICAN-STATESMAN Travis County prosecutor Rickey Jones concedes an all-white jury is far from ideal in a case in which the defendant is an African American, who would be sentenced to life without parole if he is found guilty of the capital murder charge he faces. “It doesn’t look like a jury of one’s peers,” he told me. “People – especially African Americans — notice those things and raise questions.” Those are the very questions Jones wants to avoid, not just in the current high-profile case in which Meechaiel Criner is on trial for killing and sexually assaulting University of Texas student Haruka Weiser, but in felony criminal cases that involve lengthy prison sentences. Criner, 20, has pleaded not guilty to the 2016 crime on UT’s campus. He would spend the rest of his life in prison if the all-white jury finds him guilty. Jury selection in the case brought into focus the deep distrust people of color harbor about the criminal justice system. Along with other challenges (such as concerns about missing time from work or not having child care) that affect most people’s ability to serve on juries, the belief that the criminal justice system discriminates against African American and Latinos makes it tough to seat them on juries, Jones said. READ: Meechaiel Criner trial: Race at issue in second day of jury selection That kind of revelation coming from a prosecutor is uncommon. But Jones, assistant director of the trial division for the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, knows something of the difficulties in seating blacks on a jury. He worked as a criminal defense lawyer for 23 years before joining the DA’s Office. From that perch, Jones got an up-close look at the jury-selection system. In many cases, including Criner’s, Jones said it was not mostly prosecutors striking blacks from the jury, but blacks taking themselves out of jury selection because they don’t trust the criminal justice system can be fair to African Americans. While jurors publicly uttering those beliefs during jury selection can be rehabilitated by a defense lawyer, prosecutor or judge, it’s the next step that disqualifies so many African Americans, he said. “If they have this belief (about the criminal justice system), I can put that aside if they say they can be fair in this case,” Jones explained. “If they say, ‘no,’ they can’t be fair in this case, then that is the end of it because that is the law.” Jones said that is the step that eliminates minority jurors. He has witnessed many African Americans come right out and say that they would be unable to be impartial in assessing evidence and deciding sentencing of a black defendant charged with a serious felony. “That is where we lose our black jurors,” he said. “We can’t rehabilitate them after that.” Jones doesn’t deny that African Americans have good reason to believe the deck is stacked against them when it comes to the criminal justice system. The many exonerations by juries of police officers for shooting and killing unarmed African Americans under questionable circumstances are a case in point. Then there are the patterns and practices of too many prosecutors who have been known to strike African Americans from juries because of their race, particularly in serious felony or death penalty cases involving black defendants. Such practices spurred the U.S. Supreme court to bar racial discrimination in the selection of juries. In Texas, such practices were unearthed in 1986 by The Dallas Morning News which cited a 1963 internal memo in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office directing prosecutors when picking juries not to take “Jews, Negroes, Dagos, Mexicans or a member of any minority race on a jury, no matter how rich or how well educated.” Such behavior by Dallas prosecutors continued, according to an analysis by the Morning News that showed as recently as 2002, Dallas County prosecutors were excluding eligible black prospects from juries at more than twice the rate they excluded whites. RELATED: Study: Blacks routinely excluded from juries A study reported by NPR in 2010 showed ongoing discriminatory tactics by prosecutors. Bryan Stevenson’s nonprofit group Equal Justice Initiative detailed widespread discrimination in the selection of jurors across the Deep South. One of the most troubling reasons prosecutors cited for dismissing black jurors, Stevenson said, were assertions about their intelligence, even though many of those potential jurors were college graduates. Those dynamics continue, including in the Criner case. One African American was struck for having a felony background, as required by law. Another was struck by a prosecutor who questioned his fitness to serve because a questionnaire he answered had many confusing answers, Jones said. But three of the other four blacks were dismissed because they were unable to follow the law regarding impartiality and fairness because of their views regarding the criminal justice system, Jones said. The fourth was let go for similar causes because of her views that the criminal justice system treats people with mental disabilities unfairly. Aside from losing those potential jurors, another Travis County minority resident, who said he recently became a naturalized U.S. citizen, stated that during his time living in the country he has come to believe that minorities accused of a crime do not get fair trials. He, too, was dismissed. With that, the standard – a jury of one’s peers – fell. An all-white jury was seated. Jones believes things must change to prevent further erosion of public trust. He is right. That has got to start with African Americans not opting out of jury service because of their legitimate beliefs about discrimination in the criminal justice system. Having those beliefs is OK, but as jurors, they must be impartial in assessing a defendant’s guilt or innocence regardless of his or her race. Preventing unfair or unjust verdicts and sentencing requires sacrifice in giving one’s time to jury service when called. And it requires fairness from prosecutors in not using lame excuses to strike qualified people of color to justify keeping African Americans and other minorities off juries. Author: Alberta Phillips Editorial writer and columnist for the Austin American-Statesman, Statesman.com View all posts by Alberta Phillips Author Alberta PhillipsPosted on July 17, 2018 July 17, 2018 Categories African Americans, Civil Rights, Criminal Justice, Politics, Travis County, U.S. Supreme CourtTags criminal justice system, news, Travis County District Attorney, Travis County jury system Previous Previous post: Grumet: Did Austinites really buy into the city’s plastic bag ban? Next Next post: Grumet: Don’t disparage the ‘Anti-$100 Bill Coalition’ in soccer debate Fire in San Marcos apartments offers lessons for homeowners Community event offers free wellness knowledge, and BBQ, too Grumet: Don’t disparage the ‘Anti-$100 Bill Coalition’ in soccer debate Texas’ Republican le… on Jade Helm takeover was #FakeNe… Ann Kitchen Austin African American history Austin bombings Democrat Presidential contest Ed Fund Fisher v. University of Texas Freedome of Information GOP presidential contest Gov. Greg Abbott Gun reform Nancy Reagan Sid Miller Statesman Investigates U.S. Census Bureau	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8342
__label__cc	0.605768	0.394232	Today the American-Statesman’s editorial board joined hundreds of newspapers around the country in standing up for the importance of a free press, particularly as President Donald Trump continues his dangerous rhetoric against journalists. While Trump’s cries of “fake news” ring hollow against the well-sourced reporting about his administration, however, there’s no denying the media sometimes suffers from a troubling credibility gap with the public. A Gallup poll last year found just over a third of Americans (37 percent) believe news organizations “get the facts straight.” That’s a depressingly low metric for people in my industry, and one I think grossly underestimates the painstaking work journalists do everyday. Yes, reporters sometimes make mistakes. But most traditional news organizations strive to correct the record quickly and with transparency. Part of the problem, of course, is the catchall nature of “the media,” a term that includes everything from local newspapers to the New York Times and the Washington Post, local television affiliates and 24-hour cable news, online news outlets and blogs, not to mention the hodgepodge of information showing up in people’s Facebook feeds. I reached out this week to Kathleen McElroy, the new director of the journalism school at the University of Texas, and she suspects much of the consternation revolves around 24-hour cable news, which offers a mix of news and political commentary, largely around hot-button national issues. Her advice to people growing disillusioned with media coverage? Turn your focus to local news coverage. “Very little of what’s newsy is what’s happening on cable,” said McElroy, who worked at the Statesman in the late 1980s and later became an editor at the New York Times. “How much of what you’re consuming is national politics? If you’re consuming only national politics, maybe it’s time to think about your school board, your city council, your planning board, what’s going on in the churches in your area.” Indeed, many of the issues most likely to affect your everyday life — your commute, the conditions at your kid’s school, what you’re paying in taxes and getting in services, even this new-fangled Major League Soccer stadium you might have heard about — are local topics covered by your friendly neighborhood newspaper. “People cannot go to a 12-hour City Council meeting in Austin,” McElroy told me. “They can try to read CodeNext on their own, when that was still viable, but good luck on that. How much information do you need from neutral, professional sources? I think it’s a lot more than people think. Whether it’s a restaurant review or reading about the classification ratings that are coming out in schools or about the (California) wildfires, that’s information that goes beyond what’s going on in Washington.” While we’re talking about neutral, professional sources, please bookmark PolitiFact.com/Texas, the truth-squading project spearheaded by the Austin American-Statesman, in collaboration with the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News. Their rigorous work seeks to verify or debunk various statements made by local and state officials, and they post links to all their backup materials so you can check the math yourself. They’re even tracking how Gov. Greg Abbott and Austin Mayor Steve Adler are faring on their campaign promises. You can also see how the Austin City Council has voted on dozens of issues, including the ones you’re most interested in, at the Statesman’s wonderful VoteTracker project. The database goes all the way back to the start of the 10-1 council in January 2015. Spend some time with it to see what your district rep has been up to. It’s worth knowing before heading to the polls this fall. Please support the work of the Statesman and other local news outlets that work tirelessly to cover Austin news. We all have a stake in keeping this community strong. Author Bridget GrumetPosted on August 16, 2018 August 16, 2018 Categories UncategorizedTags newsLeave a comment on Grumet: Feeling frustrated with the media? Switch off cable TV and turn to local news In the great map room There was a consultant And a neighborhood vexed And a picture of The transect zones from CodeNext And there were 11 council members In yellow vests and hard hats And a planning commission At odds with the ZAP And three drafts of a code That made people holler And piles of invoices For eight million dollars And a petition drive for an election fight And a frustrated mayor who turned off the light. Goodnight CodeNext. Goodnight residents vexed. Goodnight transect zones we had to reject. Goodnight hard hats And the yellow vests Goodnight meetings Goodnight protests Goodnight codes Goodnight roads Goodnight maps Goodnight ZAP Goodnight density cries And goodnight preservation sighs Goodnight complaints And the petition drives Goodnight nobody Who wants CodeNext revived And goodnight to the mayor keeping his reelection alive. Goodnight affordability. Goodnight to all that’s fair. Goodnight to growth problems everywhere. Author Bridget GrumetPosted on August 2, 2018 August 2, 2018 Categories Austin City Council, UncategorizedTags newsLeave a comment on Grumet: Goodnight CodeNext (with apologies to Goodnight Moon)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8343
__label__wiki	0.562428	0.562428	Phone: +92 (51) 4862 383 House #88-A, Nazim Uddin Road, F-8/4, Islamabad, Pakistan. Email: info@waheedgroup.com.pk Our Concerns Industrial Fat WGC Interprises Ltd Waheed Group Of Companies What started off over four decades ago as a small business has today spread out by leaps and bounds to be-come Pakistan’s largest business group. Our company’s operations are widely spread all over the country and abroad, providing high quality standards of products and services to our clientele. We are the business leaders and have set a pattern of success stories that have let our organization grow and receive immense respect from consumers and our trade partners alike. Today, the company generates an annual turnover of over three hundred and fifty million US dollars ($350 million), contributing significantly to the country’s economy. All our businesses are incorporated as private limited companies under the Companies Act 1913 and Ordin-ance 1984 of Pakistan. Waheed Group of Companies is also one of the largest entities in the field of manu-facturing and import of edible oil, bulk import and distribution of Crude Palm Oil, RBD Palm Oil, RBD Palm Olein, import of various food industry chemicals, Electrolytic Tinplate Sheets, import and sale of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Equipment and Stations, running of (CNG) Filling Stations, and Real Es-tate and construction of Commercial Buildings. Moreover, we are also in the hospitality business and our hotel, ‘Laraib Inn’, is a prime example in this re-gard. Situated in the heart of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, it has become a popular hotel for multiple client needs. Venturing into hospitality has only helped further the company’s commitment to providing highest standards of quality. The group is consists of more than 17 business organizations out of which 07 are incorporated as private limited companies , the scope of services and nature of activities of wgc are broadly diversified. Waheed group of companies (wgc) has to its credit the manufacturing and export of edible oil, bulk import & distribution of crude palm oil, rbd palm oil, rbd palm olien, import of various food grade chemicals, electrolytic tinplate coils, import and sale of compressed natural gas (cng) equipment and running of (cng) filling stations, real estate , hotel, restaurants, wedding halls, and franchise of cm pak limited, one of pakistan’s leading mobile communication company. The group consists of: Khadija Edible Oil Refinery (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi Waheed Hafeez Ghee Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Hattar Malakand Oil & Ghee Mills (Pvt) Ltd, Malakand Feroz Sons Tank Terminal (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi Laraib Enterprises, Islamabad Laraib Canada Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, Canada Laraib Inn, Islamabad Fahad Enterprises, Islamabad Awais Enterprises, Rawalpindi Siraj Ghee Industury Zaheer Hafeez Oil Terminal WGC Enterprises, Canada Fahad Hammad Oil and Ghee Industries (Pvt) Limited AK Oil and Ghee Industry (Pvt) Limited Zaheer Hafeez Ghee Industries (Pvt) Limited Lal Ghee and Oil Mills (Pvt) Limited Alliance textile Mills Jhelum (Pvt.) Limited Kandaan Associates, Lahore A.K. Filling Point, Rawalpindi Neelam Ghee Industury (Pvt.) Limited Bara Ghee Industury (Pvt.) Limited Welcome to the Waheed Group of Companies! What started off over four decades ago as a small business has today spread out by leaps and bounds to be-come Pakistan’s largest business group. Mr. Abdul Waheed Sheikh - welcoming Guest of Honor Mr. Faisal Javed Khan 2019-06-20 Mr. Abdul Waheed Sheikh - welcoming Ambassador of UAE 2019-06-20 Mr. Abdul Waheed Sheikh - welcoming Ambassador of Somalia 2019-06-20 Bitwise Soft © 2022. All Rights Reserved. "); // } else { // // view uploaded file. // // $("#err").html(data).fadeIn(); // console.log(data); // $("#subMessage").html(" Subscribed Successfully!. "); // // $("#contactForm")[0].reset(); // } // }, // error: function(e) { // $("#subMessage").html(" Error While Subscribing Please Try again later. "); // } // }); // }else{ // $("#subMessage").html(" Please Enter a Valid Email!. "); // } // }	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8348
__label__cc	0.539591	0.460409	Become A 1919 Reseller Log In wahlpro.com 100 Year Anniversary Wahl Pro Wahl Gear Hot Lather Machine Know Your Canvas Wahl Men’s Method Wahl Product Selector Fade It Forward Online Mentions MLB Virginia The Shop MLB Virginia Home / Uncategorized / MLB Virginia http://originalmajorleaguebarber.com/ 0 Has Sold Wahl Professional is proud to partner with Major League Barber for the 2019 season! Compete in a variety of competitions for your show to prove your stuff. Wahl education is available at many of these events! February 27, 2017 This event has passed ARMSTRONG MCCALL CLASS (AUSTIN, TX) CosmoProf Class (York, PA) March 6, 2017 This event has passed CosmoProf Class (Naperville, IL) CosmoProf Class (Ashtabula, OH) Scissors & Scotch Class (Oklahoma City, OK) Scissors & Scotch Class (Greenwood Village, CO) ISSE (Long Beach, CA) SalonCentric Class (Orange Park, FL) Burmax Class (St. Petersburg, FL) Wahl Info ©Wahl Clipper. All rights reserved. \| Privacy Notice Benny Machado Benny is a passionate man for the culture of barbering and the beauty industry. From winning the most excellent student in barbering workshop at high school graduation in 2002 to winning the first Wahl Online Barber Battle in 2017 he demonstrates his dedication and continuous effort in his growth and professional development. The now W.E.A.T. member continues his journey as an educator sharing his knowledge with the intention to be a voice that educates, motivates, and inspires fellow colleagues to grow in their careers. Even while being in a platform that many may admire Benny pursues continuous education in this he communicates that learning is a never-ending journey and that a good leader not only has followers to whom he has the responsibility to influence in a positive manner but that a good leader also has the responsibility to follow those that procced them and have the experience to take them to the next level. Benny is characterized for his versatile approach to men’s grooming, for his Caribbean touch and having a humble heart. Kevin Nguyen “Hard work and perseverance is what keeps me driven” says Nguyen, Wahl’s 2018 Barber Battle winner. Having a motivated mindset from a young age, and a philanthropic spirit, Kevin has traveled to Vietnam, China, Philippines, Hawaii and Mexico to donate his barbering services to the less fortunate. Overwhelmed with joy knowing he can disseminate his passion and knowledge through Wahl Education & Artistic Team, Kevin is forever dedicated to improving himself for the industry. Attending countless hair shows, seminars and competitions (winning 25 trophies to date) inspires Kevin to continue gaining knowledge and understanding the responsibility to give back. Corina Reyes A multi-award-winning artist licensed as a master barber, cosmetologist and instructor. Known for her innovation, originality and impeccable design work, Corina remains humble and dedicated to this competitive and fast-moving industry. An advocate for philanthropy, she continues to give back by sharing her industry knowledge accumulated from over 20 years of experience. Striving to motivate, educate and inspire through teaching, Corina uses her social media presence to interact and share her authentic style with those across the world. Tracey Nugent-Bracewell Little did Tracey Nugent-Bracewell know that she would be the driving force behind the new Wahl Men’s Method Course Book when she was prepping hair for one of the most magical platform stage performances at a NYC trade show 20 years ago. But that’s what happens when absolute determination and a passion for hair fuse into one’s life calling. Tracey has done just about everything – excellently – at some point during her versatile career: National Educator, Cosmetology Instructor, licensed barber and cosmetologist, and most recently: Education and Artist Coordinator for Wahl Professional, U.S. And while Tracey is just as comfortable behind the chair as she is in the classroom, her infectious personality has led to countless students finding their true potential with every curriculum she creates and every classroom she leads. Tracey is a huge believer in the promise of Wahl’s potential and is unshakable in her drive to make significant contributions in her position as a W.E.A.T. member. Laura VanderMoere As Director of Education for Wahl Professional, Laura VanderMoere shares her extensive knowledge with the W.E.A.T. members so they can grow internationally and as industry influencers while upholding the standard in Wahl education. With over 30 years of combined experience as a Master Barber and Barber Instructor, Laura skillfully generates and directs all educational opportunities and events for Wahl. She also develops education globally while frequently traveling to share her knowledge with Wahl’s global partners. Laura joined W.E.A.T. in 2008 and has dedicated her career to education, program development and the progression of the barber industry. One of the goals Laura actively pursues is to reach professionals who don’t have the opportunity to attend shows in bigger cities; leaving no artist behind. In addition to her 30-year imprint on the industry, Laura strives to be an agent of change in transforming the industry to dissolve industry titles and embrace creativity, encouraging artists to challenge mental boundaries to be versatile in their skillsets and with their tools. Jose Barba With his sharp ability to learn and succeed, Jose Barba is a testament to the advantageous initiative of investing in yourself. Jose’s unrelenting determination propelled him to attend multiple additional classes before even graduating from barber college. Not only completing his classes and training, Jose chose to learn from the experts in local barbershops and salons at every chance he could get. Now, Jose has emerged as an expert, participating in training classes, hair shows and barber battles regularly, even educating a group of barber students in China last fall. Jose’s experience in straight razor shaving, detailed men’s haircutting, cutting and fading with metal blade sets, shear cutting and color services have served as a platform for Jose to step into any environment and thrive. Quickly becoming a revered industry barber, Jose Barba’s artistry and enthusiasm to delve into evolving trends such as urban barbering have shaped him into a well-rounded artist on the rise. Miquel Rosas Passionate about hair, Miguel Rosas opened his first barbershop in his teens, routinely being the first to show up at his shop and the last to leave. You’ve seen Miguel from his numerous television appearances battling the best of the best, winning him over 25 trophies. One of his most notable achievements includes his first place win on Cedric’s Barber Battle, garnering him a $15,000 prize and championship belt. He shines not only as a good barber, but an excellent role model. He is known for executing intricate designs and portraits, along with his positive attitude, bringing new ideas and the ability to intrigue others while educating and demonstrating new haircutting techniques. Creative and innovative with his hairstyles and designs, Miguel joined W.E.A.T. to provide education that opens your eyes to different ways to cut hair. Armed with his mission, he won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Julius Arriola Naturally charismatic, Julius ‘Caesar’ Arriola’s animatic stage presence encapsulates the passion shared within the hair industry. Julius ‘Caesar’ specializes in precision fading, clipper over comb, point cutting and heavy textures—all executed in mixing classic barbering methods with progressive new ideologies. His strengths include traditional and urban men’s hairstyles, with diversity in all hair textures, from straight to coarse hair. Julius ‘Caesar’ has shared his talents globally, performing and teaching in some of the biggest hair convention stages including in Hawaii, Toronto, London, Prague, Tokyo and more. Joining the Wahl Education platform had been a long-term dream and goal of his, and having it come to fruition is nothing short of amazing. Progressively growing within the industry, Julius ‘Caesar’ is sure to evolve exponentially with the W.E.A.T. family, discovering not only more about the world he’s surrounded by, but discovering more about his own self along the way. Andres Reyes A true artist, Andres ‘Dre’ Reyes shines in his artistic ability. His creativity, passion and commitment accompanied with his many skills and talents, including videography/photography, graphic design, illustration and art in general. He fully embodies the notion that hair is where art and design meet. Andres ‘Dre’ aims to elevate the creative status within the industry, working on a platform to showcase talent and creative insight. His experience in men and women’s cutting, clipper cutting, hair tattooing/designing, in addition to the technical skills of managing and marketing his own barbershop and production company while educating within the industry makes him an elite artist. Being a member of W.E.A.T. allows his passion for the industry to thrive while collaborating with some of the best in the industry, all in addition to giving back to others—a gratifying sensation. Nieves Almaraz Owner of Jacob’s Barber Shop Inc. salon and educational brand How To Fade Hair Inc., prominent hair artist, business owner and educator, Nieves Almaraz maximizes his potential within the industry’s limitless possibilities. Licensed in both cosmetology and barbering, Nieves is recognized for his advanced yet simplified clipper cutting techniques, such as Chicago graphic hair designs—also known as hair tattoos—in addition to his blending and fading techniques. All of his techniques can be translated in both English and Spanish, expanding the capacity of his education to reach even more professionals. Initially inspired to pursue a career as an educator in the industry after attending hair shows as a student, Nieves is proud to be a part of W.E.A.T. and represent Wahl Professional, the world’s leading clipper company. Lauren Milner Utilizing knowledge from both her barbering and cosmetology backgrounds, Lauren Milner brings a wide perspective of haircutting to demonstrate to professionals of all skill levels new ways to improve their techniques, helping lead to increased efficiency. Quick to pay it forward and share her experience in men’s haircutting, she joined W.E.A.T. to help others advance their clipper cutting techniques. But behind Lauren the great hair artist is an exceptional businessperson and social media guru. You can follow Lauren online as she creates content on barbering, education and of course, her favorite Wahl tools. Her strengths in social media, customer service, retail sales and salon productivity maximize her versatile potential behind the chair. With her passion equates the pragmatic business aspect of the industry—the combination at which Lauren excels. Bilingual and dual-licensed, Juan ‘Jay’ Ramos breaks language barriers in haircutting education, making him an invaluable asset to the industry. A master of fading, cutting hair is his strongest passion, creating change with his hands and his favorite pair of Wahl clippers. Juan ‘Jay’ first started as a cosmetologist and is now a phenomenal barber. Skilled in cutting diverse hair types and translating information well, teaching is ingrained in his skillsets. You can see his work from the Barbershop 3 Mobile Grooming Tour. Owner of multiple salons, Juan ‘Jay’ ventured from behind the chair to share his knowledge and creative cutting techniques to help strengthen industry professionals’ skills. His drive to motivate others armed with his bilingual talents allows him to seamlessly translate talent and techniques in his education, teaching nationally in English and internationally in Spanish in such places as Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Shelley Craft As the owner of a cutting-edge men’s barberspa and a dual- licensed artist, Shelley Craft uses her distinctive business leadership skills and southern charm to focus on the customer experience within the industry. With over two decades of salon experience, she has an inclusive focus on all hair types, including men, women and children’s hair. Shelley aims to close the gap between the barbering and cosmetology mindset by encouraging hair artists to add to their sense of creativity behind the chair with the ability to maneuver a multitude of tools. Shelley finds creative inspiration all around her, putting her own spin on nationally-evolving trends and reveling in new challenges with enthusiasm. She now spends most of her salon time working on men’s hair: the smallest canvas for a hair artist. Shelley’s ability to examine hair textures and growth patterns allow her to determine the best tool for the situation while making her fundamental to the barbering industry and the W.E.A.T. team. Rick Morin Schooled in barbering and proud to have his dual-license, barber Instructor license and a successful business Flawless Barber Shop in Corpus Christi, Texas, Rick Morin, also known as “Da People’s Barber,” brings hair diversity to W.E.A.T. with the ability to execute flawless cuts on all types of hair textures. Recognized as one of the top 50 barbers in the country, Rick’s skills position him as one of the most successful barbers today. A chameleon in talent, he can shift his skills to fit his clients’ needs and Wahl’s needs, whether in the U.S. or in any part of the world. A U.S. Army veteran, Rick didn’t seek out barbering. Instead, barbering chose him. After being honorably discharged following a knee surgery, Rick was tasked with writing the next chapter of his life. With some guidance from his wife, Rick made the leap and enrolled in barber school—graduating one of the most successful barbers today. Gustav Mendoza Highly respected among the beauty, barber and fashion cognoscenti for his innovative, evolutionary approach to hair, third-generation master barber Gustav Mendoza routinely creates breathtaking and modern hair while pushing industry boundaries. Gustav delved into the industry to make creative, high-fashion haircuts that are easier, faster and better with clippers. Gustav graduated with high honors and earned an AAS degree in barbering, cosmetology, esthiology and nail technology. Together, his education and training led him to join the Wahl Education and Artistic Team, teaching stylists and performing groundbreaking hair shows. Gustav’s specialties cover the entire spectrum of hair, including clipper cutting, razor cutting, refined cuts, impressive finishing work and straight razor shaves. He now teaches specialty master barbering workshops, hands-on clipper classes and certified educational seminars with Wahl Professional. Kristi Faulkner Kristi Faulkner, engaging educator, multicultural-inspired artist and salon owner, is an avid enthusiast for the industry. Picking up her favorite pair of Wahl clippers has turned out to be a life-changer for Kristi. She’s the first to tell you that because of Wahl, she has had the opportunity to do what she loves, and to travel the world, from her hometown of Clearwater, Florida to São Paulo, Brazil. Kristi joined W.E.A.T. to share her enthusiasm and delve into her passion for education, teaching nationally and globally. Always striving to learn more, Kristi continuously strengthens her techniques and encourages her students to learn different hair textures to be more prosperous in the industry, especially multicultural haircutting techniques. Her specialties include custom design parts, precision bald fades, tapers and women’s tailored haircuts. A natural communicator, Kristi’s well-versed knowledge has led to new opportunities, creating a platform for success and connecting her to industry leaders. Anthony Barmer From cutting hair at the age of 13 to becoming the owner of three barbershops, hair artist Anthony Barmer, a successful business owner, brings his extensive expertise in clipper cutting to Wahl and W.E.A.T for more than 18 years. An expert with any Wahl tool and all hair textures, he is known for his diverse skillset and ability to take clipper cutting to the next level, using clippers in ways that others cannot. Proficient in clipper over comb and texturizing, his go-to technique is “raking,” a technique in blending that Anthony elevates to new levels. Anthony seamlessly connects with all crowds, thanks to his inclusive clientele. Anthony is known for exuding confidence, whether he is in the classroom or performing on stage. His love for the people and the industry shines through in his education platform, consistently inspiring and motivating crowds to be their best at their skills and in business. Christina Goree A champion barber, top educator and award winning stylist, Christina Goree surpasses the industry standard. With over three decades of experience and advanced haircutting training for Emmy award winning stylists for the Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild (I.A.T.S.E. Local 706), Christina has worked in all facets of show biz and hair care, including men and women’s grooming, long and short trend cuts, hair coloring and texture specialization both here and across the globe. Dominant on social media, her competitive and aggressive nature has upheld her position in the industry as an icon and influencer. Limits don’t stop Christina, she has a special talent for motivating, inspiring and challenging others to be their best while she works to be the best herself. One of the greatest rewards from working in the industry is working as a mentor to some of the top professionals in the industry. But Christina truly works for RESULTS. Results from hard work and dedication. Between traveling and teaching, she never forgets to reflect on her gracious opportunity to change lives. Tom Quigley Pivot Point-trained, Cosmo instructor, American Board certified hair colorist, barber Tom Quigley has challenged himself in every possible way throughout his highly technical career in the salon. Seeking out some of the industry’s top education to learn from the best, he turned to clipper cutting years before the barbering craze and his choice has paid high dividends. Tom’s top knowledge, hair artistry, adaptability and most importantly, humbling work ethic make him a fierce stylist. Tom proves that haircutting skillsets are not inclusive to geometric, short or mechanical, but can be visual with movement—considering all the factors in creating a haircut. His approach is methodical, yet he makes clipper work look easy. Known for his clipper styling techniques that combine barbering with styling, his vast knowledge proves beneficial, practical and successful for all who watch him perform. Lorenzo Gonzalez Garland "G-Whiz" Fox Licensed master barber and cosmetologist, licensed barber and cosmetology instructor and W.E.A.T. platform artist Garland ‘G-Whiz’ Fox is recognized as a global educator and master competition judge. Licensed in the state of Illinois and Indiana and certified to teach in the UK, Garland ‘G-Whiz’ made his way to the top with passion and determination. His ability to attract and captivate a crowd with his raw talent and sense of humor places him as a go-to barber for major television, film and record companies. This paramount combination also allows him to inspire other professionals in education and leadership. Multi award-winning barber Garland ‘G-Whiz’ aims to make a difference in others’ lives through his passion for hair and education, gaining residency in each of their hearts. Garland ‘G-Whiz’ is honored to share a piece of his dream and his gift each place he travels throughout the world with Wahl Professional and W.E.A.T. to perform, educate and introduce new products. April Guiliani From grooming horses at the young age of 14 to owning a salon today, April Guiliani Amarillas has always been skilled with a pair of clippers. April is known for her fluency in all aspects of men’s and women’s techniques, along with inventing new techniques as she learns new ways to approach hair. Her clientele is as diverse as her skillset, cutting hair for local celebrities, professional baseball players, reality TV stars, along with contributing work for select music video productions. She owns City Salon and Spa in the Scottsdale area, while also contributing her expertise as an instructor at a leading Cosmetology school. Proficient in all things related to haircutting, barbering, permanent texturing, and hair colouring, April’s passion for hair doesn’t stop at the salon. She also shares her skills with the homeless, receiving national recognition for spearheading a local event for the homeless. April credits her success story to the sentiment, “Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable.”	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8349
__label__wiki	0.55832	0.55832	A Perfect Circle – Eat The Elephant (Album Review) Posted on April 19, 2018 in Album Reviews, Reviews // 0 Comments A Perfect Circle – Eat The Elephant Released: 20th April 2018 A Perfect Circle: Maynard James Keenan – Vocals Billy Howerdel – Guitar James Iha – Guitar Matt McJunkins – Bass Jeff Friedl – Drums Expectation is the burden of many a band. Multiplied over a sustained duration and you’ve got the equivalent of Firefly fans jacking it over the idea of a season two. So here it is, a solid fifteen years since the release of the amazing The Thirteenth Step, A Perfect Circle find themselves on the cusp of rebranding themselves with the release of Eat The Elephant. So what does it mean to be A Perfect Circle in 2018? Opener and title track ‘Eat The Elephant’ perfectly exemplifies the album as an entire entity. Bringing the piano and vocals to the fore, whilst guitars are used more to provide atmospheric nuance as opposed to the heavy onslaught found on Mer De Noms. Maynard’s lyrics are as eccentric as ever, with this song, in particular, appearing to reflect on death – a somewhat recurring motif within the album as a whole. Subsequent song ‘Disillusioned’ follows along the same lines with hypnotic keys adding a greater sense of grandeur, whilst the soaring guitar melodies transport you into a world of introspection. It’s the perfect song for those times you’re on the verge of tears and want to down a bottle of red. Preferably from Keenan’s own vineyard. The heaviness of old returns in a new form with ‘The Doomed’ a song about Keenan’s own view of our modern world. Heavy on the drums and with a driving guitar line powering through, it’s exactly what you need when you’re standing on a cliff, witnessing the end of the world. The final moments of this song will threaten to swallow you whole. All bets are off once we hit ‘So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish’ a song which has more in common with Depeche Mode than classic A Perfect Circle and yet it works in all the ways it should. Opening with electronics, before morphing once the guitar lines kick in, sending the song soaring into the stratosphere. Lyrically Keenan references everything from Carrie Fisher to David Bowie and crafts some of the most exquisite lyrical content of his career. There’s just so much to love on this album. Standout song ‘By And Down The River’ makes a return on the album, retooled for this release, it’s a slower, more introspective number this time around, with the haunting vocal lines of Keenan intact. It’s a slow descent into sadness, as it reaches the crescendo and pulls you into the abyss. My personal highlight, however, is the amazing ‘Hourglass’ – heavy on the electronics and making about as much sense as Donald Trump presidency, it’s an intoxicating amalgamation of everything this album does so well. It’s just utterly jaw-dropping. Overall this album is undeniably A Perfect Circle. However, this is not the band you once knew. There is very little to relate this band to the one who recorded Mer De Noms, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this is probably not the record for you. But if you’re looking for something a little more mellow, slightly moodier and containing one of the best vocalists in music. This album might be just what you’re looking for. Given the time, this album will be seen as every bit as important as their previous efforts. A Perfect Circle – Eat The Elephant tracklisting 1. Eat the Elephant 2. Disillusioned 3. Contrarian 4. The Doomed 5. So Long, And Thanks For All the Fish 6. TalkTalk 7. By and Down the River 8. Delicious 9. DLB 10. Hourglass 11. Feathers 12. Get the Lead Out Eat The Elephant is out Friday, April 20th via BMG. Pre-order here Review by Kaydan Howison Billy Howerdel Eat The Elephant Jeff Friedl Kaydan Howison Matt McJunkins Mer De Noms The Thirteenth Step About KaydanHowison (155 Articles) Final year university student in journalism, part time photographer and writer for Wall of Sound. Primarily here to make you cry and tell it how I see it. Enter Shikari Offer Fans Studio Updates Via WhatsApp! Wall of Sound Presents: Tattoos of UNIFY Gathering 2020 Anti-Flag - 20/20 Vision (Album Review)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8351
__label__cc	0.718	0.282	Three Tips for TFT Players that are… Jeffrey Okudah 2020 NFL Draft Profile T2P – The Reunion Overwatch Hero 32 Candidate Tier List How Much Will Overwatch 2 Cost? Overwatch – Chasing the Dream: The Story… How to Earn Exclusive Overwatch In-Game Sprays… The 10 Best Carry Champions in TFT… CDL Team Preview: The Atlanta Faze The Dog Days of OWL From Our Haus to Yours Overwatch Contenders Los Angeles Gladiators Seoul Dynasty Dignitas Evil Geniuses Team SoloMid Rainbow Six Seige Bartlett’s Battle Frontier The Esports Academy Rocket Launching Watch Haus DiTullio and Doerger College Sports Show The Third and Don Football Show Courtside Ramblings Steelers Country Weekly LCS Weekly The Game Haus Baseball Show Week 4 NFL picks against the spread NFL Sports by Dylan Streibig September 28, 2017 October 1, 2017 0 Week three in the NFL was full of surprises. Given the crazy week, a 6-9-1 record against the spread is not terrible. My season record of 14-30-3 is still quite the eyesore though. The good news is it only takes one great week to change that. My picks are bolded, outright upsets have an asterisk and all lines are from rtsports.com at the time of my writing. For better or worse, here it goes. Bears at Packers (-7) – The Bears peskiness was finally rewarded last week against the Steelers. However, going on the road to face Aaron Rodgers on a short week is a tall order. Given Green Bay’s strong finish last week and Chicago’s subpar quarterback situation and secondary, this could get ugly. GB 34 Chi 20 Saints (-3) at Dolphins (London) – These London games are becoming impossible to predict. Anyone who says that they had Jacksonville winning by 37 last week is lying. With Drew Brees at the helm, the Saints are going to score anywhere against anyone. The trick is getting a few stops on defense, like they did last week. The Jay Cutler experiment has not gone well for the Dolphins to this point. Miami was manhandled by the Jets last week. Thus, the Saints should be able to do what is needed on defense. NO 27 Mia 20 Bills at Falcons (-8) – This matchup is fairly simple. Atlanta is really good, especially at home. Buffalo is not very good on the road. Despite a 2-1 mark, Buffalo has yet to put up more than 26 points in a game this year. They will need a whole lot more than that if they want to keep this close. I don’t see that happening. Atl 41 Buf 21 Panthers at Patriots (-9) – The Patriots are the Patriots. They will be at the forefront of the conversation when winter rolls around. However, they are having more early-season issues then we are used to, particularly on defense. Given that New England has not fully hit its stride yet, Carolina has enough talent to hang around here. Tom Brady won’t be going through the Carolina defense like a hot knife through butter. The linebackers in particular are too good to allow that. After a lackluster start, Cam Newton’s offense should be able to get going against a Patriots defense that is just leaving too many people open right now. Ultimately though, the all-too-familiar turnovers and inconsistencies will doom the Panthers again. NE 30 Car 22 Bengals (-3) at Browns – As an Ohioan, I am grateful to have the NFL Sunday ticket package. Thus, this is not the only game I will have access to. Despite another loss last week, the Bengals figured out how to get the ball to their playmakers thanks to new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. They certainly have more of those than Cleveland does. What Hue Jackson is doing in Cleveland to build from the ground up is admirable, but if it does not pay off in the form of wins soon, he will not be around the seemingly never-ending rebuilding process in Cleveland for much longer. Cin 30 Cle 23 Lions (-2) at Vikings – Much like the line for Minnesota’s game last week, this line will fluctuate wildly until Sam Bradford’s playing status becomes clearer. Case Keenum showed that he can get the job done in this league from time to time. Detroit’s habit of relying on late comebacks finally caught up with them last week, even though it was literally by an inch. Against this defense on the road, the Lions cannot afford another slow start. The problem is that it seems they are incapable of avoiding one. Min 28 Det 27 Jaguars (-3) at Jets – The Jets at .500 at the end of September? The defense has not lost all of its edge from a few years ago when Rex Ryan really had it cooking. Josh McCown sure is not flashy, but there is a reason he has been around as long as he has. To play quarterback in the NFL in your late 30s, you must be doing something right. The Jets ground game has also been adequate to this point. Jacksonville is not in London or playing a team that can’t decide who its quarterback is. Based on recent history, that means they will lose. Start saving for those playoff tickets Jets fans! Okay that might be a bit of a stretch, but .500 when the calendar flips to October is not. NYJ 14 Jac 13 Rams at Cowboys (-6) – When the Rams made Sean McVay the youngest head coach in league history, it raised more than a few eyebrows. However, what he has done with this offense is remarkable. Photo: turfshowtimes.com Many of the same players that Jeff Fisher could not even get first downs with have helped contribute to 107 points through the first three games. Wade Phillips does not have the defense clicking yet, but the front seven is still one of the best in football. It is just a matter of time. The offense should also come back down to Earth before long, but this is a team that will cause problems for every opponent it faces. The Cowboys had a nice bounce back win on the road last week and still have more firepower than their fast improving opposition. I think they get the win. However, if they are expecting anything less than a dogfight, they will get beat. Dal 30 LAR 27 Steelers (-3) at Ravens – This is one of my favorite matchups in the NFL. No matter the records, it is always hard hitting and close. Neither team is playing particularly well at the moment. However, the Steelers’ offense is littered with playmakers. Baltimore’s offense makes my head hurt. Pit 21 Bal 17 Photo: fanspeak.com Titans (-1.5) at Texans – From an outsider’s perspective, Tennessee must be an incredibly difficult team to prepare for. No one else plays like they do. Their physical, mistake free, run-first approach makes them feel like a team that belongs in the 80s. Teams do not get a handle on how to play them defensively until it is too late. Houston is riding the roller coaster that is having a rookie quarterback. Deshaun Watson was brilliant last week, but horrible in the week before. Watson has to play well for his team to have a chance here. Tennessee will be too solid for the inconsistent youngster. Ten 20 Hou 14 Giants at Buccaneers (-3) – I was very high on both of these teams before the season. It has not panned out particularly well for them to this point. The Giants may be winless, but they showed signs of life last week and did some good things. Meanwhile, Jameis Winston folded and Tampa Bay made Case Keenum look like a top-tier quarterback. Even if you are on the road, you have to win against backup quarterbacks in this league. The Bucs loss last week shows that they are a young football team that may not be anywhere near true contender status this year. NYG 23 TB 17 Eagles at Chargers (-1) – The Chargers have to catch a break at some point. Philip Rivers continues to compete his guts out for a city that is now indifferent to how good he is. Rivers had a tough one last week, and I expect him to bounce back. If this matchup were taking place next year, Carson Wentz and the Eagles would probably have the edge. However, Rivers still has a bit of good left in him, and his coach is more committed to the run game than their opponent. LAC 27 Phi 19 49ers at Cardinals (-7) – The theme of last week was bad teams showing up, playing well and in some cases, coming out on top. The 49ers were on the wrong end of a shootout against the resurgent Rams, but there was a lot of positives from the offense. They did everything well after digging themselves an early hole. I expect that to carry over. However, this pick has more to do with the Cardinals. In every game this year, their aging roster has come out strong only to fade or barely hang on down the stretch. The rebuild probably should have started already. Carson Palmer is on his last leg. The window is closed. A home upset by a winless division rival will establish that once and for all. SF 20 Ari 17 Raiders at Broncos (-2.5) – Both of these teams were given sobering reminders as to how hard it is to win on the road in the NFL last week. The Raiders’ offense has an endless wealth of talent. We have seen what Derek Carr and company are capable of, but something is missing early in the season. Khalil Mack is great, but the Oakland defense as a whole is still well below average. The Broncos offense is still a work in progress, but has been more dynamic in the early part of 2017 than it was at any point last season. When it comes down to it, the Raiders could not move the ball at all against the Redskins. How in the world are they going to move the ball enough to beat the Broncos in Mile High? Den 24 Oak 17 Colts at Seahawks (-13) – Whatever ratings issues Sunday Night Football may or may not be facing, this matchup will not help. The Titans proved the Seahawks defense may not be what it once was last week, but Russell Wilson and the offense did get going and Seattle is back home this week. Despite recent improvement thanks to Jacoby Brissett, the Colts are still bringing a knife to a gunfight. Sea 27 Ind 12 Redskins at Chiefs (-7) – After watching the Redskins Sunday night, there is nothing they cannot do on offense. Kansas City might be the best team in football right now, and explosive offense is no longer a weakness. However, defense is still where KC’s bread is buttered. That style does not lend itself to blowouts. The Redskins’ offense is easily the most balanced the Chiefs have faced this year. They will get theirs here. KC 31 Was 30 Featured image from sportingnews.com You can ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and eSports articles from other great TGH writers along with Dylan! Arizona CardinalsAtlanta FalconsBaltimore RavensBuffalo BillsCarolina PanthersChicago BearsCincinnati BengalsCleveland BrownsDallas CowboysDenver BroncosDetroit LionsGreen Bay PackersHouston TexansIndianapolis ColtsJacksonville JaguarsKansas City ChiefsMiami DolphinsMinnesota VikingsNew England PatriotsNew Orleans SaintsNew York Jetsnfl week 4 picksnfl week 4 picks spreadOakland RaidersPhiladelphia EaglesPittsburgh SteelersSan Diego ChargersSan Francisco 49ersSeattle SeahawksTampa Bay BuccaneersTennessee TitansWashington Redskins A look at Rick Pitino’s time at Louisville Drafting the right quarterback in the NFL Dylan Streibig A college graduate, dog lover, and a huge fan of most sports. For Game Haus purposes, I am about the NFL! Also a tennis fanatic and lover of 90s country music AL Playoffs Feature No Front-Runner Tim Miller November 22, 2015 November 23, 2015 The Lists: Week 10 Edition The Game Haus Staff November 22, 2015 November 23, 2015 Kobe Bryant Ranked 93rd Joe DiTullio November 22, 2015 December 3, 2015 Thanks for reading! Let us know what your thoughts are on the article! Cancel reply Three Tips for TFT Players that are new to League of Legends January 19, 2020 Jeffrey Okudah 2020 NFL Draft Profile January 19, 2020 T2P – The Reunion January 19, 2020 @TGHEsports The Game Haus aims to bring unbiased, factually sound opinions to audiences across a range of mediums that are not readily accessible in the day-to-day media outlets. We cover the latest news in Call of Duty, CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, Fighting Games, NBA 2K, Halo, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Pokemon, Rocket League, Smite, Starcraft II, Fantasy Sports, MLS, EPL, MLB, NASCAR, NBA, NCAAB, NCAAF, NFL, NHL, and PGA. Follow us on Social Media for updates! Sports: Facebook Twitter Esports: Facebook Twitter @2020 - thegamehaus.com. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign The Game Haus	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8352
__label__wiki	0.571154	0.571154	Tom Siedle, Traci Newman, Camson Alevy, Faneal Godbold, David E. McMahon Durden Godfrey Durden Godfrey, Taurean Royal (Co-writer), Jared Rush (Co-writer) "I Am Going to Kill Someone This Friday" Set to Build off Local Premiere There's a little bit of Mister Rogers in everyone. Here's the thing. There's also a little bit of Patrick Bateman in everyone, too. Indie filmmaker Durden Godfrey is back with his latest film, the psychological thriller I Am Going to Kill Someone This Friday, an equally involving and disturbing film about Robert Partridge (Tom Siedle), a seemingly normal guy with a normal wife (Traci L. Newman) and a normal kid (Camson Alevy) and a damn fine job and a damn fine home. Everything's normal. Well, except for Robert. It's difficult to describe I Am Going to Kill Someone This Friday without giving an awful lot away, something that I don't want to do and you wouldn't want me to do if you're lucky enough to check this flick out either at a festival near you or somewhere along its indie release journey. While I Am Going to Kill Someone This Friday has structural similarities to the standout Michael Douglas film Falling Down, to stop there would be an injustice to the film. I Am Going to Kill Someone This Friday goes a little deeper, a little darker, and feels just a little more contemporary than Douglas's film (which happens to be one of my favorite films of all-time). This doesn't mean that it's a better film, just a different sort of cinematic beast than it appears to be on the surface. Co-written by Godfrey with Taurean Royal and Jared Rush, I Am Going to Kill Someone This Friday takes place over the course of a week in the life of a man who would seem like he was on the edge if he didn't actually seem simultaneously so normal. Much of the credit for that sense of normalcy must go to lead Tom Siedle, whose embodiment of Robert Partridge avoids caricatures and radiates just enough of a sense of humanity that you never know quite how dark he's going to go even as the clock is ticking and we're working our way toward Friday. Siedle finds Robert's fractured humanity, eliciting not so much empathy or sympathy as much as our emotional investment in his journey. It's a terrific performance and it should be the kind of performance that leads to Siedle getting a few more cinematic offers thrown his way. The rest of the ensemble cast is strong as well, especially Taurean Royal as Mister Basilicus and both Traci L. Newman, as Robert's long-suffering and stressed out wife, and Camson Alevy, a twisted ball of aching vulnerability as Robert's conflicted son Bobby. The original music by Doctor Jones is riveting, a cacophony of dissonance and dramatic chaos that envelopes the film's performers and seems to heighten with each passing day. William Bishop's lensing immerses you in Robert's world, heck even his psyche', and leaves you feeling worn out and tossed about along the way. Godfrey has long been known as a visual storyteller and, indeed, it's the visual storytelling elements in I Am Going to Kill Someone This Friday that linger in your heart and mind most vividly. With the exception of Robert, and perhaps Bobby, most of the characters drawn rather broadly, somewhat intentionally, and on more than one occasion I found myself less concerned with the words being spoken than the images being displayed. So be it. I was still deeply involved. Fresh off its local premiere in Jacksonville, Florida presented by the Jacksonville Film Festival, I Am Going to Kill Someone This Friday should have no problem finding both festival and indie distribution options whichever way Godfrey chooses to go. Regardless, it's a unique and involving psychological thriller and if you get a chance you should definitely check it out.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8358
__label__cc	0.574185	0.425815	the janus observer delivering cold doses of reality… semi-regularly Tag: Puerto Rico Worthy Insights / Opinion Pieces / Advice NYT – Tracking the President’s Visits to Trump Properties – Karen Yourish and Troy Griggs 7/16 Markets / Economy Bloomberg – Giant Pork Pile Awaits Americans as Trade Wars Risk Exports – Megan Durisin and Justina Vasquez 7/13 “American production is poised to reach an all-time high this year, and output is forecast to surge again in 2019. The supply boom comes as tariffs from China and Mexico threaten to curb export demand, leaving Americans with a mountain of cheap meat.” “Total U.S. meat production is forecast at a record in 2018 and is set to climb again next year, the USDA estimates. Cash hogs may average about 42 cents a pound in 2019, down 7.7% from this year, the department predicts.” NYT – After Storm, Foreclosures in Puerto Rico Stopped. They’re Starting Again. – Matthew Goldstein 7/15 Bottom line, the imposed foreclosure moratoriums are ending. FT – Sovereign wealth funds abandon active managers – Chris Flood 7/15 “More problems lie ahead as SWFs look to switch more equity holdings.” WSJ – Daily Shot: China Beige Book – China Construction Growth YoY Change 7/16 “Here is the reason steel rebar futures have been rallying.” FT – US bankers warn on commercial property risks – Alistair Gray 7/15 “US bankers have warned about mounting risks in commercial real estate, with figures showing they are putting the brakes on loans to buyers of office buildings, hotels and shopping malls.” “JPMorgan’s latest quarterly results published on Friday showed its commercial real estate business had its slowest period for at least 10 quarters, with average balances flat from the previous three months.” “Wells Fargo’s CRE loan book shrank by $2.5bn in the second quarter because of declines in construction funding and mortgages on existing properties. In contrast, its non-property commercial portfolio expanded by $1.9bn.” “Default rates remain low but bankers are concerned that CRE loan terms are too loose, especially as the Federal Reserve’s interest rate rises push up their own funding costs.” “Tim Sloan, Wells Fargo’s chief executive, said CRE underwriting standards had been deteriorating ‘for some time’. He added, though, that the slippage was ‘nowhere near what we saw in 2006 and 07’, before the financial crisis.” FT – Peak oil demand forecast for 2036 – David Sheppard 7/15 “One of the world’s most influential oil consultancies has forecast that global oil demand will peak within 20 years, as a ‘tectonic’ shift in the transport sector towards electric cars and autonomous vehicles gathers pace.” “’A lot of our clients recognize that peak demand is real,’ said Ed Rawle, Wood Mackenzie’s head of crude oil research. ‘It’s just a question of when it arrives.’” “Mr. Rawl at Wood Mackenzie said the consultancy’s thinking on peak demand was driven by a renewed assessment of the impact of not just electric cars but growing signs that autonomous electric vehicles will play a major role in the future of transport.” “In the next 10 years the biggest impact on slowing global oil demand growth — which is expected to hit 100m barrels a day for the first time this year — would be fuel efficiency, Mr. Rawl said.” “The improvement in fuel efficiency standards in conventional cars over the past decade has already had an effect, while the coming years should see the retirement of many older, gas-guzzling cars, leaving a less fuel-hungry fleet on the road.” “Petrol demand is expected to be the first component of oil demand to peak around 2030 as a result.” “Seeing peak oil demand on the distant horizon, does not, however, mean lower prices in the short term, Mr. Rawl said.” WSJ – Why a $1 Trillion Mountain of Private-Equity Cash Matters – Ben Eisen 7/10 FT – Tencent and Alipay set to lose $1bn in revenue from payment rules – Gabriel Wildau 7/15 “China’s two mobile payments giants, Alipay and Tencent, are poised to lose around $1bn in combined annual revenue to a new central bank requirement that third-party payment groups hold all customer funds in reserve.” “Chinese mobile payment transactions reached Rmb109tn ($16tn) last year, according to research firm Analysys Mason, as consumers switched to smartphones from cash for supermarkets, taxis, and payments to friends. The platforms are also increasingly used to purchase mutual funds, peer-to-peer loans and other wealth management products.” “Ant Financial’s Alipay and Tencent’s WeChat Pay dominate the industry, with market shares of 54% and 39% respectively in the first quarter. Ant Financial is the finance affiliate of Alibaba.” “Together the two groups control hundreds of billions of renminbi in customer funds that accumulate on their platforms when users receive payments but do not immediately transfer the funds to a bank account or other investment.” “Previously, third-party payment groups were permitted to invest customer funds, much as banks use deposits to make loans and other investments, even though unlike banks, the payment groups pay no interest to users.” “In January 2017, the People’s Bank of China announced that it was requiring third-party payment groups to keep 20% of customer deposits in a single, dedicated custodial account at a commercial bank and specified that this account would pay no interest.” “In April, the ratio was increased to 50%, and last month, the central bank announced that it would raise the reserve requirement to 100% by next January. At that point, payment groups will earn zero interest on all customer funds.” “The ostensible reason for the change is to prevent fraud and protect customers.” “Large players like Alipay and Tencent handled customer funds conservatively, but they were still able to earn significant revenue by depositing funds in interest-bearing accounts at commercial banks. Tencent earned Rmb3.9bn in interest income in 2017, or 1.7% of total revenues, according to its annual report.” “The PBoC’s balance sheet shows that ‘deposits of non-financial Institutions’ — a category that mainly includes payment companies — increased from nothing in May 2017 to Rmb501bn by the end of May. Before the implementation of reserve requirements, nearly all that money would have been generating interest for Alipay, Tencent, and their smaller rivals.” Filed under: Alibaba, Commercial Real Estate Lending, Dry Powder, Peak Oil, Pork, Puerto Rico, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Tencent, Trade War The Verge – South Korean millennials are reeling from the Bitcoin bust – Rachel Premack 4/3 “From the outside, the Korean economy appears to be flourishing: the country is home to major industry leaders such as Samsung, Hyundai, and Kia. It’s the 11th-largest economy in the world, with semiconductors, car LCDs, and other high-tech products dominating its exports. The overall unemployment rate is just 4.6%.” “Still, young people can’t find jobs. Youth unemployment has hovered around 10% in Korea for the past five years. The underemployment rate — defined by those involuntarily working jobs they’re overqualified for or are part-time — is even higher as of this year: it hovered at 38% in 2016, according to Dongseo University professor Justin Fendos.” “In this highly educated economy, it can be hard for young Koreans to distinguish themselves from their peers. Nearly 70% of all Koreans ages 25–34 have a post-secondary degree, the highest of all Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and a high school degree is nearly universal. Entire neighborhoods in Seoul are full of college graduates studying to pass hiring exams in order to get in at Korea’s biggest companies or the enviable public sector.” “’The design of Korean society is a big reason why the cryptocurrency became so popular,’ says Yohan Yun, a 25-year-old assistant reporter in Seoul who invested around $400 in Ethereum. ‘People here are generally unhappy with their current status in society.’” “Even employed young people are pessimistic about their economic prospects: a survey conducted in 2015 showed that half of young Koreans don’t believe that they will do better than their parents’ generation, compared to 29% in 2006.” “For young Koreans, cryptocurrency seems like a rare shot at prosperity. Months after last year’s bubble started to implode in February, the Korean won remains the third most traded currency for Bitcoin. The country of 52 million comprises 17% of all Ethereum trading, and it was the location of two-thirds of world’s biggest exchanges this winter, Korea Expose reported in February.” “An estimated three in 10 salaried workers in Korea had invested in e-currencies by December 2017, according to a survey by Korean recruiting firm Saramin. Eighty percent of those people were in their 20s and 30s.” “But now that the prices of cryptocurrency coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple have tanked, many Korean youths are dealing with the mental and financial aftermath of their losses. Korean psychologists have reported an uptick of patients from the so-called ‘Bitcoin blues,’ divorce counselors say marriages are splitting from failed investments, and even the country’s prime minister said that virtual currencies are on track to cause ‘serious distortion or pathological social phenomena’ among Korea’s young population.” “Real estate used to be the traditional way to grow one’s fortune in Korea, but prices have become exceedingly expensive for even upper-middle-class people. And interest rates for savings accounts are rarely more than a few percentage points a year.” “Koreans’ hyperconnectivity helped spur Bitcoin’s popularity. Teens and young adults spend around four hours a day using mobile phones in Korea. Nearly every Korean home has internet access, and 88% have smartphones, the highest percentage globally. Such an abundance of connectivity allowed potential traders of all ages to learn about the craze and hear about the insane amounts of money one could make on trading. Cryptotrading clubs, where people can meet like-minded traders and share tips, popped up at many Korean universities.” “Thanks in part to the frenzy, some coins cost up to 51% more in Korean markets than anywhere else. Bitcoin’s price was up nearly $8,000 in January, Bloomberg reported. The ‘kimchi premium’ drew foreign traders to buy their coins abroad and trade them in the Korean market.” “But then came the crash. From January 6th to January 16th, 2018 the price of Bitcoin to Korean won tumbled from a high of a US-equivalent $25,065 to $13,503, according to Korbit. It continued to fall to $7,410 by February 5th, and as of April 2nd, the price of a bitcoin sits at $7,241.” “In total, the Bitcoin crash wiped out $44 billion of value in January, or more than Ford’s entire market capitalization, according to Bloomberg. New regulations against cryptocurrency trading, particularly ones from a worried South Korean government, helped usher the fall.” Business Insider – People have stopped paying their mobile-home loans, and it’s a warning sign of the economy – Matt Turner 4/3 “The mobile-home market is showing signs of stress.” “The delinquency rate on mobile-home loans has increased by 200 basis points, or 2 percentage points, over the past year, according to research cited by UBS. The 30-day-plus delinquency level is now about 5%, the highest level since 2005.” “The increase in the number of struggling mobile-home borrowers suggests that a large chunk of these people haven’t benefitted from the economic growth of the past few years, despite the low unemployment level.” “This data represents a piece of a jigsaw puzzle of the condition of consumer finances in the US. And the picture that’s emerging, according to UBS, is of a two-speed economy, with lower-income consumers and younger borrowers with substantial student debt moving at a slower pace than more affluent and established participants.” “‘We believe weakness in these two groups (lower-income consumers and younger borrowers) will drive higher credit losses at some stage over the next few years — particularly in credit card, installment, and student loans — with macroeconomic inflection from job growth to job loss as a likely catalyst,’ UBS said.” NYT – How Dr. King Lived Is Why He Died – Jesse Jackson 4/3 WSJ – Telsa’s Model 3 Is No Model T – Charley Grant 4/3 “First-quarter production is not as rosy as the electric-car maker believes.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Deutsche Bank – US Actual vs Potential GDP 4/4 WSJ – Iowa’s Employment Problem: Too Many Jobs, Not Enough People – Shayndi Raice and Eric Morath 4/1 John Burns RE Consulting – California Has Density Solutions, but Not Enough New Housing – Pete Reeb 4/3 WSJ – Daily Shot: Deutsche Bank – European Bond Issuance v ECB Purchases 4/4 WSJ – Daily Shot: Deutsche Bank – Emerging Market USD & EUR Debt Issuance 4/4 WSJ – Daily Shot: Deutsche Bank – Credit Expansion in BRIC Countries 4/4 WSJ – Daily Shot: Hong Kong Retail Sales 4/4 “Hong Kong’s retail sales jumped by most in eight years as wealthy shoppers from the mainland return.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Deutsche Bank – Declining Service Quality in Japan 4/4 “Instead of inflation, Japan’s extremely tight labor markets are translating into reduced-quality services for consumers. The US is starting to experience this trend as well.” Bloomberg – Stunned Investors Reap 95% Gains on Defaulted Puerto Rico Bonds – Michelle Kaske 4/3 “Not only are Puerto Rico’s bonds the top performer in the $3.9 trillion municipal market, they’ve gained more than any other dollar-denominated debt in the world, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Puerto Rico General Obligation Bonds 4/4 Filed under: Bonds, China, Cryptocurrencies, ECB, Emerging Markets, GDP Growth, Hong Kong, Investment Management, Japan, Martin Luther King Jr., Mortgage Delinquencies, Puerto Rico, Real Estate, South Korea, Tesla, Unemployment FT – Naspers trims Tencent stake with $10bn share sale – Joseph Cotterill and Louise Lucas 3/22 “Naspers, the South African media company that is one of the biggest shareholders in Tencent, said that it would sell down part of its stake in the Chinese technology giant for the first time in almost two decades.” “In a statement on Thursday, Naspers said that it would sell stock worth more than $10bn, equivalent to 2% of the shares in Asia’s biggest company by market capitalization, to fund investments elsewhere.” “The transaction would reduce Naspers’ stake in Tencent, the world’s biggest gaming company and the owner of China’s WeChat and QQ social networks, from 33% to 31%.” “Naspers added that it did not plan to sell any more of its Tencent shares for at least the next three years.” “But even Thursday’s limited sell down is a landmark for what has been one of the most successful venture capital investments in history, and comes as Hong Kong-listed Tencent shifts strategy after years of explosive growth.” “Naspers’ investment of $32m in Tencent in 2001, now worth $175bn, powered its rise from a publisher and pay-TV operator to Africa’s biggest company by market capitalization.” Approximately a 65.91% compound growth rate over 17 years. How do you like them apples? Forbes – Canadian Real Estabe Bubble Blowing Up North – Bob Haber 4/2 “According to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, single detached homes in Vancouver (on a local currency basis) have risen from approximately $400K CAD to $1.75 million CAD since 2002. That’s a 337% increase in 15 years. With incredibly fast rising prices, a large portion of the population is engaged in real estate brokerage, real estate development, construction, renovations, and everything that goes along with that. The echoes of Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Diego from 2006 cannot be ignored.” “…Taxation and interest rates are going higher. Cap rates on rentals or commercial properties are shockingly low (think 1% to 3% in most circumstances). In fact, Canada’s price-to-rent ratios are now well above what they were in the U.S. during the 2006 housing debacle. According to the Bank of Canada, 47% of Canada’s mortgages will reset in the next 12 months. To put that in perspective, a five-year fixed mortgage rate in Canada averages approximately 5.14%. This is 11% higher versus the 4.64% that it averaged for most of the past 2 years.” NYT – Teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky Walk Out: ‘It Really Is a Wildfire’ – Dana Goldstein 4/2 engadget – New York approves surcharge for Uber and Lyft rides in Manhattan – David Lumb 4/2 “As part of the budget that New York lawmakers passed last Friday, ride-hailing services and taxis face a new fee if they drive in Manhattan. These aren’t nickel-and-dime increases, either: Uber, Lyft and the like face a $2.75 charge for each ride, taxis get a $2.50 increase and group ride services like Via and uberPOOL will be charged $0.75 per customer. It’s meant to combat congestion and help fund subway repair and improvements, providing an expected $400 million per year going forward for the MTA.” “Unsurprisingly, it’s already catching flak from customers and from taxi drivers, who have become far outnumbered by ride-sharing cars in the last several years. Of the 103,000 vehicles for hire in NYC, 65,000 are driven by Uber contractors alone, while taxis remain capped by law at 13,600, The New York Times reported. As a result, average traffic in Manhattan has slowed from 6.5 miles per hour to 4.7.” “Other cities have enacted their own surcharges for ride-hailing services in recent years, but they are far lower than those New York just passed. Seattle instated a $0.24 charge for each trip in 2014, Portland, OR agreed to levy a $0.50 fee per customer in 2016, both of which funnel money collected toward regulating ride-sharing services. Chicago passed one in 2014 that will reach $0.65 this year and directs part of the funds raised toward public transit, much like New York’s will.” FT – Walmart extends money transfer operation to 200 countries – Anna Nicolaou and Ben McLannahan 4/2 “Walmart is expanding its money transfer operation to 200 countries, the latest move in the retail giant’s slow but steady push into financial services.” “Through the new scheme, people will be able to deliver money from Walmart’s nearly 5,000 US stores to locations abroad within 10 minutes, the company said.” “Arkansas-based Walmart first unveiled a money transfer service four years ago, allowing customers to send funds between its stores, and aiming to reach the “underbanked” — about 27% of Americans have limited access to traditional banking, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Walmart claims it has saved customers $700m in fees because it charges cheaper rates.” “The retailer has partnered with MoneyGram, one of the big wire transfer groups, to expand globally this month. The service will allow US residents to send money to countries such as Mexico, which received nearly $30bn in remittances last year, according to Mexico’s central bank.” “Walmart’s push into money transfers comes a few months after it announced it was partnering with PayActiv and Even, two financial-technology firms, to offer its 1.4m US employees tools for money management and on-demand access to their earned wages.” “The moves suggest the retailer may see itself as a partner of the big financial services companies rather than a direct rival going head to head with basic products such as checking accounts or credit cards.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Political Calculations – Why Bad News for Big Tech Is Bad for Stocks 3/29 WSJ – Daily Shot: SPDR Americas – Equity Geographical Flows 4/3 WSJ – Daily Shot: Deutsche Bank – Drawdown Durations 4/3 FT – Manhattan apartment sales plunge – Lindsay Fortado 4/2 “The number of co-op and condominium sales in Manhattan fell nearly 25% during the first quarter compared to the same period last year, according to new research by Miller Samuel real estate appraisers and Douglas Elliman real estate brokers.” “It was the largest annual decline in sales in nine years, according to the report.” “The average sale price across Manhattan fell by 8.1% from the year-earlier quarter, and the average price per square foot also recorded a sharp decline, falling by 18.5% to $1,697.” “Luxury apartment sales, considered the most expensive 10% of all properties, were hit particularly hard, as were new developments.” “The average sales price of a luxury apartment fell 15.1%, down from $9.36m in the first quarter of 2017 to $7.94m in the first quarter of this year, and the number of sales was down 24.1%. The number of newly built apartments that went into contract fell 54%.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Black Knight – Mortgage Equity 4/3 “Turning to consumer credit, how much borrowing capacity do households have against their homes? The answer is $5.4 trillion. $2.8 trillion of that capacity is with borrowers who have the highest credit scores.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Black Knight – Hurricane-related mortgage delinquencies in Florida and Puerto Rico 4/3 WSJ – Daily Shot: Deutsche Bank – Countries with Negative-Yielding Bonds 4/3 Cryptocurrency / ICOs Bloomberg – The Crypto Hedge-Fund Bubble Is Starting to Deflate – Olga Kharif 4/2 FT – Why south-east Asia’s politics are proving problem for Facebook – John Reed and Hannah Kuchler 4/2 “One of the company’s fastest-growing markets is also one of its most complex where hate speech and political manipulation are making it hard to remain neutral.” FT – China moves its factories back to the countryside – Emily Feng 4/2 “After decades of urbanization and rural neglect, China’s Communist party is seeking to revitalize the countryside, where wages and standards of living have stagnated compared with those of big cities.” FT – Chinese developers seek piece of booming education market – Emily Feng 4/2 “When China’s premier Li Keqiang recently vowed progress on a property tax intended to rein in home prices, it signaled to the country’s real estate developers that more than a decade of double-digit growth would soon end.” “Facing slowing growth in their core business, top developers are betting on the education market, building and operating international schools for tens of thousands of students.” “The country’s three biggest property developers — Country Garden, Evergrande and Vanke — have seen sales slow in the first quarter of this year, according to an industry ranking compiled by research agency China Real Estate Information Corp. Meanwhile, home price growth has dipped following a clampdown on lending and property speculation.” “That has already made a dent in developers’ financials. Dalian Wanda reported a revenue drop of almost 11% in 2017 while other residential developers are girding for longer-term impact. JPMorgan Chase has forecast as much as a 6% decline in mainland Chinese home sales this year.“ “Now developers are ‘looking at other sectors in which to invest in order to get the returns that they need to continue growth’, says John Mortensen, regional director of real estate investment and management company JLL, which often works with universities.” “Meanwhile, China’s education market is booming. The sector will grow from Rmb1.64tn ($261bn) in revenue in 2015 to Rmb2.9tn ($461bn) in 2020, according to Deloitte, with particularly high demand for English-language curriculums.” “Amid fierce competition to get into good universities at home and overseas, proximity to a good school is often a key factor in determining Chinese property prices. A 2012 study of Shanghai housing found that prices were more than 40% higher in top-rated school districts.” “That has prompted residential developers to build new complexes with schools within walking distance of apartments, hiring or building in-house education teams to recruit teachers and design bilingual curriculums.” “Guangzhou-based Country Garden, China’s top residential developer by sales, is now also among the country’s biggest private education providers. Its education subsidiary, Bright Scholar, runs 52 bilingual international schools that each offer a full education from kindergarten to secondary school. Bright Scholar listed on the New York Stock Exchange last year, raising more than $150m.” “Vanke Group, China’s second biggest residential developer by sales, set up its own education group in 2015 as part of a strategic shift aimed at offering a ‘full ecology’ to families.” “Dalian Wanda is another property group with a growing interest in schools — its children’s education and entertainment group almost tripled its sales last year even as the group’s total revenues fell more than 10%.” NYT – Jeweler to the Stars Flees as India Seethes Over Bank Fraud – Maria Abi-Habib 4/3 “About a week after Mr. Modi grinned for the cameras with the prime minister, a state-run Indian bank told regulators that it had found nearly $1.8 billion in fraudulent transactions linked to the jeweler’s account. Indian officials now accuse Mr. Modi, his family and business associates of assembling a global empire with nearly $3 billion in money obtained illegally, mostly from government-run banks. He denies wrongdoing.” “For many Indians, the allegations against Mr. Modi further cement the notion that taxpayer-owned banks are footing the bill for the lavish lifestyles of a rising elite. That idea has particular resonance in a country where stark poverty — India is home to a third of the world’s poorest people — remains dire.” “Just a decade ago, during the global financial crisis, Indian lenders were held up as a bastion of stability. Today, they are considered more vulnerable than those in other leading emerging markets, mostly because state-controlled lenders dominate the sector, according to the International Monetary Fund.” “Of the $6.5 billion in fraudulent loans that have hit the industry over the past two years, the most egregious cases were at government-owned banks, according to figures released by Parliament. Executives at those lenders are more likely to be appointed for their political connections than for their talent, financial analysts say.” FT – Russia plans ‘bad bank’ for $19bn in toxic assets – Max Seddon 4/2 “Russia’s central bank is to create a ‘bad bank’ to ringfence Rbs1.1tn ($19bn) in toxic assets from three nationalized top-10 lenders, vastly increasing the total bill for bailing them out.” “Vasily Pozdyshev, a deputy central bank governor, told Russian news agencies on Monday that the central bank would transfer assets from three collapsed banks into Trust, another failed lender.” “Taxpayers are footing the largest bank rescue bill in Russia’s history to fund the central bank’s takeover of three privately held banks last year to stave off a collapse in the sector.” “The largest of them, Otkritie, was Russia’s biggest privately held bank by assets until it was nationalized in August. The central bank then nationalized B & N Bank, another top-10 lender, and Promsvyazbank to stop them from going under.” “Under Ms Nabiullina (Elvira Nabiullina, Russian central bank governor), the central bank is conducting an unprecedented clear-up of the sector under which it has wound down more than 300 banks since 2013. To rescue the three top-10 lenders, however, Ms Nabiullina had to create a separate bailout mechanism that allowed the central bank to take direct stakes in their capital.” FT – Russia’s $55bn pipeline gamble on China’s demand for gas – Henry Foy 4/2 “The pipeline is Russia’s most ambitious, costly and geopolitically critical energy project since the fall of the Soviet Union, and represents a $55bn bet on uncharted territory by the world’s biggest gas company.” “Russia’s first eastern pipeline is the most striking physical manifestation of President Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic pivot towards China amid rapidly worsening relations with the west. It is the biggest and most critical element in a suite of energy deals, funding packages and asset sales that seek to warm a once frosty relationship.” “For Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled gas export monopoly behind the pipeline, the mega-project is the largest and most expensive in its history. When the taps are switched on in December 2019, the world’s largest gas exporter will be connected for the first time with its largest energy importer.” Filed under: Bonds, Canada, China, Country Garden, Cryptocurrencies, Dalian Wanda, Evergrande, Facebook, Florida, Home Equity, India, Interest Rates, Investment Management, Manhattan Real Estate, Mortgage Delinquencies, Naspers, Negative Rates, Puerto Rico, Real Estate, Ride Sharing, Russia, Southeast Asia, Teacher Pay, Technology, Tencent, Vanke, Walmart If you were only to read one thing… FT Alphaville – China’s household debt problem – Matthew C Klein 3/6 “The rapidity and size of China’s debt boom in the past decade has been almost entirely without precedent. The few precedents that do exist — Japan in the 1980s, the US in the 1920s — are not encouraging.” “Most coverage has rightly focused on China’s corporate sector, particularly the debts that state-owned enterprises owe to the big four state-owned banks. After all, these liabilities constitute the biggest bulk of the total debt outstanding, and also explain most of the total growth in Chinese debt since the mid-2000s.” “Chinese households, however, are quickly catching up. This is bad news.” “The simple story of China’s debt boom is that government-backed companies borrow from government-controlled banks to pay for wasteful investments to support jobs and other political objectives. This creates lots of problems for China today and in the future, but it does have one virtue: the losses from centralized credit allocation can be distributed over a broad population over a long period of time.” “Household debt is different. Borrowers are widely dispersed and lack political power. The lenders are often newer finance companies or loan sharks. Worst of all, there is essentially zero chance that additional household borrowing pays for productive investment. Some of China’s additional infrastructure and manufacturing capacity may prove valuable one day. Household debt probably won’t. Atif Mian and Amir Sufi have ably shown that increases in household borrowing tend to predict slower income growth and higher joblessness.” “This chart is therefore cause for concern:” “As of mid-2017, Chinese households had debts worth about 106% of their disposable incomes. For perspective, Americans currently have debts worth about 105% of their disposable incomes, on average. The difference is that American indebtedness has been basically flat the past few years after steady declines since 2007.” “Chinese households have been experiencing rapid income growth by rich-country standards for a long time, but their debts have grown far faster:” “Since the start of 2007, Chinese disposable household income has grown about 12% each year on average, while Chinese household debt has grown about 23% each year on average. The cumulative effect is that (nominal) income has slightly more than tripled but debts have grown by nearly a factor of nine. The mismatch has been getting worse recently, as can be seen in the kink in the pink line towards the end.” “All this is finally starting to affect the aggregate debt numbers. Household debt in China is still small relative to the total — about 18% as of mid-2017 — but household borrowers are now responsible for about one third of the growth in total nonfinancial debt:” “The problem is that households cannot service their debts out of GDP. Instead they have to rely on their meagre incomes. Since 2007 the share of Chinese national output going to households has ranged from as high as 46% to as low as 42% of GDP. (The rest of China’s national income is mostly captured by government-controlled enterprises and their elite managers.) The household share of income has dropped by about 1 percentage point just in 2017:” “For comparison, disposable income in the US has tended to hover between 71% and 76% of GDP over the past few decades.” “The trick for Beijing now is to bring non-productive investment down as rapidly as it can without causing unemployment to rise to dangerous levels. Because it has proven difficult to replace non-productive investment with productive investment (and, I have long argued, unrealistic even to expect it could happen), the only way to do so is to replace it with consumption. But levered consumption obviously cannot solve the problem of rapid debt growth, so rising consumption must be driven by rising household income, even as declining investment causes workers on investment projects to be fired. In the end this may be politically a difficult problem, but economically it is just an arithmetic problem about wealth reallocation.” – Michael Pettis CNBC – 42% of Americans are at risk of retiring broke – Jessica Dickler 3/6 © GOBankingRates US Census Bureau – Irish-American Heritage Month and St. Patrick’s Day 2/6 Business Insider – Underpaying drivers is ‘essential’ to Uber’s business model, according to a new study on low wages – Shona Ghosh 3/7 Economist – How the West got China wrong – Leaders 3/1 “It bet that China would head towards democracy and the market economy. The gamble has failed.” FT – Forget flu, it’s time for your fake-news jab – Hannah Kuchler 3/6 “News literacy should be taught like sex and drugs education, to protect individuals and society as a whole.” Medium – A Lack of Clarity is The Biggest Inhibitor of Progress Towards Your Goals – Srinivas Rao 3/5 WSJ – Daily Shot: Cresset Wealth Advisors – US Housing Price Change from Pre-Crisis Peak 3/7 WSJ – New York Housing Is Getting (Gasp!) More Affordable – Josh Barbanel 3/7 “Housing costs are taking a smaller bite out of the typical household’s monthly budget, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau survey that is conducted every three years. The survey also shows a record amount of new housing and the third-highest rental-vacancy rate since the bureau’s first survey in 1965.” WSJ – That Much Prophesied Commercial Property Bust Still Hasn’t Happened – Esther Fung 3/6 “The delinquency rate for securitized loans in the commercial real-estate industry has dropped for eight consecutive months, defying expectations in recent years of a wave of defaults.” “According to real-estate data provider Trepp LLC, the delinquency rate for real-estate loans in commercial mortgage-backed securities clocked in at 4.51% in February, down from 5.31% in the same period a year earlier. The rate hit an all-time high of 10.34% in July 2012.” “Investors had been expecting an increase in defaults in 2016 and 2017 as the large volume of CMBS packaged during the 2006 to 2007 period reached maturity. But rising real-estate values, low interest rates and a surge of debt capital from insurers and other sources have allowed property owners to refinance or restructure their debts.” Yahoo Finance – Foursquare CEO: There are 2 types of malls that are seeing growth – Melody Hahm 3/6 “While consumers are getting lured online by cost savings and the convenience factor, there’s still ample data on foot traffic into physical stores, said Foursquare CEO Jeff Glueck. In fact, he’s found that the rise in online shopping has largely affected middle-market malls. Malls serving high-end and low-end customers are actually seeing growth.” WSJ – The New ID Theft: Millions of Credit Applicants Who Don’t Exist – Peter Rudegeair and AnnaMaria Andriotis 3/6 Bloomberg – Bitcoin Dives After SEC Says Crypto Platforms Must Be Registered – Camila Russo and Lily Katz 3/7 WSJ – Daily Shot: Change in Construction Producer Price Index 3/7 “US construction firms continue to struggle with rising materials costs. Higher steel prices will exacerbate the problem, especially for commercial property developers.” Asia – excluding China and Japan WSJ – In China’s Shadow, Communist Vietnam Links Arms With Old Enemy, the U.S. – Jake Maxwell Watts 3/2 WSJ – China’s Financial Reach Leaves Eight Countries Vulnerable, Study Finds – Josh Zumbrum and Jon Emont 3/4 WSJ – Daily Shot: FRED – European Central Bank Balance Sheet 3/7 WP – Exodus from Puerto Rico grows as island struggles to rebound from Hurricane Maria – Arelis R. Hernandez 3/6 Filed under: Advice, China, Construction, Credit Card Fraud, Cryptocurrencies, ECB, Fake News, Investment Management, Irish Ancestry, Puerto Rico, Real Estate, Retirement Savings, South China Sea, Uber NYT – By Day, a Sunny Smile for Disney Visitors. By Night, an Uneasy Sleep in a Car. – Jennifer Medina 2/27 Economist – How Putin meddles in Western democracies – Leaders 2/22 FT – A world of debt mortgages our economic future – Derek Scissors 2/22 “Irresponsible borrowing by the US, China and India imperils global growth.” WSJ – The Wayfair Riddle – Elizabeth Winkler 2/26 “The furniture retailer’s business has serious flaws, but the stock keeps soaring.” FT – Rising interest rates punish US power sector – Ed Crooks 2/22 “US utilities, sustained for years in a warm bath of favorable financial conditions, are facing a cold shower.” “An expected rise in interest rates and the shake-up of the tax system passed into law at the end of last year are threatening to squeeze utilities’ finances. Already, the S&P 500 utility sector index has dropped 13% from its peak in November.” FT – Fundamentals do not matter to new breed of oil speculator – Gregory Meyer 2/27 FT – Rising tide of debt to hit rich countries’ budgets, warns OECD – Kate Allen and Chris Giles 2/22 “Developed nations face a rising tide of government debt that poses ‘a significant challenge’ to budgets as interest rates increase around the world, the OECD has warned.” “Low interest rates have helped sustain high levels of government debt and persistent budget deficits since the financial crisis, according to the OECD, but the ‘relatively favorable’ sovereign funding environment ‘may not be a permanent feature of financial markets’.” “The warning on the longer-term consequences of high public borrowing marks a shift in stance by the OECD, which as recently as November was praising countries for easing fiscal policy to help global growth.” “In an Economic Outlook, published at that time, the Paris-based organization said that ‘even a lasting increase in 10-year government bond yields of 1 percentage point . . . might worsen budget balances on average by only between 0.1% and 0.3% of GDP annually in the following three years’.” “The total stock of OECD countries’ sovereign debt has increased from $25tn in 2008 to more than $45tn this year. Debt to GDP ratios across the OECD averaged 73% last year, and its members are set to borrow £10.5tn from the markets this year.” “Because much of the debt raised in the aftermath of the financial crisis is set to mature in the coming years, developed nations will have to refinance 40% of their total debt stock in the next three years, the OECD said.” Economist – How to stop lead poisoning – Leaders 2/22 WSJ – Daily Shot: To Stay on the Land, American Farmers Add Extra Jobs – Jacob Bunge and Jesse Newman 2/25 FT – Norway oil fund posts $131bn return for 2017 – Richard Milne 2/27 “Norway’s $1.1tn oil fund returned 13.7% — or NKr1tn ($131bn) — beaten only by 2009 and 2013 in percentage terms.” “Strong stock markets contributed to a 19.4% return for equities while property returned 7.5% and bonds 3.3%.” Nikkei Asian Review – The hidden risks of China’s war on debt – Yusho Cho 2/28 FT – Huge fraud at Indian bank spurs privatization calls – Amy Kazmin 2/27 “In 1969, India’s then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, transformed the country’s banking landscape when she nationalized its 14 biggest commercial lenders, which together accounted for around 70% of the system’s deposits.” “Nationalization was touted as way to protect depositors and force banks — which mainly catered to big industrial houses — to lend to a broader swath of the population, including farmers, traders and small businesses.” “State dominance over the banking system has not worked out so well for India. Politically driven lending decisions, difficulties agreeing realistic debt workouts when loans sour, as well as uninspired, even fearful bureaucratic management and outdated IT systems have left state lenders with a far higher bad debt burden than their private rivals, hindering India’s economic prospects.” “Now, the discovery of an alleged $1.8bn fraud at India’s second-largest state lender, Punjab National Bank, is prompting vigorous and concerted calls for New Delhi to admit the failure of Mrs. Gandhi’s bank nationalization — and reverse it.” “According to PNB, staff at one of its Mumbai branches issued fraudulent bank guarantees for luxury jeweler Nirav Modi, and his diamond-trader uncle Mehul Choksi, to take cash advances from the overseas branches of other Indian banks — all ostensibly guaranteed by PNB.” “Antiquated software systems — guarantees were issued without requisite documents or collateral — meant PNB’s management had no idea of the obligations mounting in its name. Nor did the banks that received the guarantees, mostly other state lenders, suspect any impropriety.” “Analysts say the scam, which PNB says went on for several years without detection, highlights the rot in state banks and the need for radical change.” “At the heart of India’s banking crisis, however, is New Delhi’s political control over what should be run as commercial entities and the inherent conflict of interest in the state’s multiple roles as economic policymaker, the largest bank owner and the industry regulator.” “While New Delhi is now in the middle of a $32bn recapitalization scheme to shore up bank balance sheets after the last wave of bad debts, the PNB fraud has raised fears the government is simply throwing good money after bad.” “Privatization of some, or even most, of India’s state banks is not a simple or quick solution to the sector’s problems. Analysts say the legacy of five decades of state ownership — and its impact on personnel, incentives and decision-making — will take years to undo. But the PNB fraud has persuaded many Indians it is time to start.” WSJ – Daily Shot: TD Securities – Japanese Investors Looking For Returns Abroad 2/27 WSJ – Daily Shot: CNN – ‘Exodus’ from Puerto Rico: A visual guide – John D. Sutter and Sergio Hernandez 2/21 Bloomberg – Hungry Venezuelan Workers Are Collapsing. So Is the Oil Industry – Fabiola Zerpa 2/22 “Starving employees are growing too weak for heavy labor, hobbling the refineries that keep the economy running.” Filed under: Agriculture, Debt, Energy, Health / Medicine, India, Interest Rates, Japan, Norway, P2P Lenders, Puerto Rico, Punjab National Bank, Russia, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Venezuela, Wages, Wayfair Economist – Pyramid schemes cause huge social harm in China 2/3 “The authorities call them ‘business cults’. Tens of millions of people are ensnared in these pyramid schemes that use cult-like techniques to brainwash their targets and bilk them out of their money.” “Many countries suffer from Ponzi schemes, which typically sell financial products offering extravagant rewards. They pay old investors out of new deposits, which means their liabilities exceed their assets; when recruitment falters, the schemes collapse. China is no exception. In 2016 it closed down Ezubao, a multi-billion-dollar scam that had drawn in more than 900,000 investors. By number of victims, it was the world’s largest such fraud.” “Chinese pyramid schemes commonly practice ‘multi-level marketing’ (MLM), a system whereby a salesperson earns money not just by selling a company’s goods but also from commissions on sales made by others, whom the first salesperson has recruited. People often earn more by recruiting others than from their own sales. Since 1998 China has banned the use of such methods, although it does allow some, mostly foreign, MLM companies to do business in China as ‘direct sellers’. This involves recruiting people to sell products at work or at home.” “The distinguishing feature of the Chinese scams is the way they combine pyramid-type operations with cult-like brainwashing.” “Many perfectly legal companies try to boost morale by getting staff to sing company songs or organizing awaydays. China’s business cults, however, combine such techniques with violence.” “Business cults seem to be growing. In the first nine months of 2017 the police brought cases against almost 6,000 of them, twice as many as in the whole of 2016 and three times the average annual number in 2005-15. This was just scratching the surface. In July 2017 the police arrested 230 leaders of Shan Xin Hui, a scheme that was launched in May 2016 and had an estimated 5m investors just 15 months later. In August 2017, after the government launched its campaign against ‘diehard scams’, police in the southern port of Beihai, Guangxi province, arrested 1,200 people for defrauding victims of 1.5bn yuan ($223m). One scheme in Guangxi, known as 1040 Project, was reckoned to have fleeced its targets of 600m yuan.” “The scale of the scams worries the government. Their cultish features make it even more anxious. The Communist Party worries about any social organization that it does not control. Cults are especially worrisome because religious and quasi-religious activities give their followers a focus of loyalty that competes with the party.” “The authorities will find it hard to curb the scams for three main reasons. First, in order to encourage cheap loans for industry, the central bank keeps interest rates low. For years they were negative, i.e, below inflation. That built up demand among China’s savers for better returns. With gross savings equal to just under half of GDP, it is not surprising that some of that pool of money should be attracted to schemes promising remarkable dividends.” “Second, it is often hard for consumers to spot frauds. In 2005 China legalized direct selling, arguing that there was a distinction between that practice and the way that Ponzi schemes operate. But Qiao Xinsheng of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law argues that the difference is often ‘blurred’ in the eyes of the public. Scammers can easily pass them themselves off as legitimate. Dodgy companies exploit government propaganda in order to pretend they have official status. For example, they may claim to be ‘new era’ companies, borrowing a catchphrase of China’s president, Xi Jinping.” “Third, argues Mr Li, business cults manipulate traditional attachments to kin. Companies in America often appeal to individual ambition, promising to show investors how to make money for themselves. Those in China offer to help the family, or a wider group. Shan Xin Hui literally means Kind Heart Exchange. It purported to be a charity, offering higher returns to poor investors than to rich ones. (In reality everyone got scammed.) Business cults rely on one family member to recruit another, and upon the obligation that relatives feel to trust each other. This helps explain why investors who have lost life savings continue to support the companies that defrauded them.” Economist – Why sub-zero interest rates are neither unfair nor unnatural – Free exchange 2/3 NYT – Early Facebook and Google Employees Form Coalition to Fight What They Built – Nellie Bowles 2/4 NYT – Amazon Asked for Patience. Remarkably, Wall Street Complied. – Michael Corkery and Nick Wingfield 2/4 “In a business environment that demands, and rewards, quarterly profits and short-term strategic thinking, Amazon showed extraordinary resolve in focusing on long-term goals, somehow persuading investors to go along.” “Over its first decade in existence, including long stretches where it consistently reported losses, Amazon enjoyed a luxury afforded few companies: leeway.” “Amazon has reported an annual profit in only 13 of the 21 years that it has operated as a publicly traded company, according to FactSet, a financial data firm.” “And its profit margins, already low by some measures, have fluctuated from year to year — hardly moving in the straight upward line that Wall Street usually likes to see.” “Yet investors have rewarded Amazon for plowing its profits back into growing its businesses, whether in online retail, cloud computing or, most recently, in grocery stores, with the acquisition of Whole Foods Market.” Vanity Fair – Twitter’s Dirty Secret – Nick Bilton 2/2 “Twitter knew about all its fake followers, and always has – eliminating just enough bots to make it seem like they care, but not enough that it would affect the perceived number of active users on the platform.” WSJ – China Shows How It Will Fight a Trade War – Nathaniel Taplin 2/5 “U.S. agriculture will be in China’s crosshairs if a trade war erupts.” The Real Deal – Everything must go: Chinese investors sell off their foreign RE holdings – Erin Hudson 2/3 WSJ – Daily Shot: Bankrate.com US 30-Yr Fixed Rate Mortgage Rate 2/2 WSJ – Daily Shot: FRED – Home Equity Loans 2/5 “Home equity loan balances continue to slip as Americans remain uneasy tapping this form of credit.” Reuters – JGBs pare losses as Bank of Japan offers “unlimited” buying to curb rising yields – Hideyuki Sano 2/1 WSJ – What Markets Are Really Telling Us About Higher Rates – Richard Barley 2/5 “Companies are paying slightly more to borrow, but higher risk-free yields haven’t fed through fully. This is significant.” “…the ECB, is still at play. The ECB’s bond-buying actions have a twist: in the first four weeks of January, corporate purchases as a share of government purchases stood at 27%, versus 11.5% when the program was running full-tilt at €80 billion a month, according to Deutsche Bank . In other words, corporates are still getting decent support from ECB purchases.” “One snag is that corporate-bond spreads are already so tight there is little room for error. In Europe, the investment-grade ICE BofAML corporate index yield premium over government bonds is just 0.74 percentage points, its lowest level since August 2007.” “Investors should watch closely if spreads do widen significantly. It would mean either companies are making riskier, top-of-market types of bets or investors are getting concerned about growth and underlying cash flows. For now, the message from higher interest rates is, don’t sweat it.” FT – ‘Crypto crazy’ Japanese mystified by virtual heist – Leo Lewis and Robin Harding 2/2 “The $500m theft of XEM coins by an anonymous hacker is threatening the country’s faith in cryptocurrencies.” FT – Bitcoin investors find tax demands are not virtual – Ben McLannahan and Vanessa Houlder 2/4 “Cryptocurrency traders in many jurisdictions may be liable for hefty capital gains tax bills.” NYT – Making a Crypto Utopia in Puerto Rico – Nellie Bowles 2/2 Reuters – Bitcoin extends slide, falls below $7,000 – Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss 2/5 “Digital currency bitcoin BTC=BTSP fell more than 15% on Monday to a nearly three-month low amid a slew of concerns ranging from a global regulatory clampdown to a ban on using credit cards to buy bitcoin by British and U.S. banks.” “On the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange, bitcoin fell as low as $6,853.53 in early afternoon trading in New York. That marked a fall of more than half from a peak of almost $20,000 hit in December.” “Bitcoin has fallen in six of the last eight trading session.” “The currency, which surged more than 1,300% last year, has lost about half its value so far in 2018, as more governments and banks signal their intention for a regulatory crackdown. Last week bitcoin suffered its worst weekly performance since 2013.” Economist – A revolution in health care is coming – Leaders 2/1 WSJ – Samsung Heir Lee Jae-yong Freed From Prison by Appeals Court – Eun-Young Jeong 2/5 The Sydney Morning Herald – China said to mull legal gambling on Hainan – Keith Zhai and Daniela Wei 2/4 Bloomberg Businessweek – India’s Phantom Flats Leave Homebuyers’ Dreams in Tatters – Pooja Thakur Mahrotri, Upmanyu Trivedi, and Dhwani Pandya 1/30 “Across the metropolitan area that surrounds New Delhi, a string of real-estate developers including Unitech, Jaypee Infratech Ltd. and Amrapali Group have been dragged to court by irate homeowners who shelled out payments for apartments that have yet to be completed. Many of these firms took money from a stream of buyers. As sales slumped and the once red-hot market cooled, their businesses unraveled — leaving them grappling with debt.” “The fallouts from the shakeup in the $126 billion property market are reverberating across companies, markets and the broader economy. Unitech, once India’s largest developer, has plunged to a fraction of its previous valuation. Jaypee is in insolvency court. State-owned banks — the lifeblood of the economy — are grappling with a pile up of bad loans from the industry. Indian families, who have long poured their life savings into real estate, are now pulling back.” “Indian real-estate businesses expanded as long as firm were able to draw new buyers for planned projects. But as the economy slowed and demand softened, many firms were left short of cash and struggling to manage their debt. The downturn only worsened last year after the government tightened regulations to protect homebuyers and separately introduced a new services tax across all industries. India’s residential sector appears to have shrunk to a fraction of its size in less than a decade, according to Shishir Baijal, managing director of Knight Frank India.” “Prices dropped 3% on average across the top six cities, according to Knight Frank, with some declining as much as 15% after accounting for developer discounts. And in the capital region, last year’s prices were 9% below their 2015 peak. The outlook remains bleak.” “The property developers are adding to a pile-up of bad loans in India’s banking sector, which is already struggling to manage a spike in stressed assets across several industries.” “India’s government has stepped in to regulate the real-estate industry with new laws, including one that forces developers to use at least 70% of sale proceeds to complete residential projects, rather than funnel money to different jobs. Other measures prevent them from pre-selling apartments before all building approvals are obtained.” “The pain hasn’t been restricted to the North. India’s financial capital, Mumbai, last year witnessed a decline in residential property prices for the first time in a decade. New residential launches across eight Indian cities dropped 41% last year and were down 78% from their peak in 2010, Knight Frank data show.” Bloomberg Businessweek – Venezuelan Pirates Rule the Most Lawless Market on Earth – Jonathan Franklin 1/30 Economist – China moves into Latin America – Bello 2/1 “The Asian giant is taking advantage of other powers’ lack of interest in the region.” Filed under: Amazon, China, Cryptocurrencies, Facebook, Google, Hainan, Health / Medicine, India, Interest Rates, Multi-Level Marketing, Puerto Rico, Pyramid Schemes, Real Estate, Samsung, Social Media Bots, Technology, Twitter, Venezuela BLS – TED: The Economics Daily – Union Membership Rates in each State, 2017 1/25 “New York continued to have the highest union membership rate (23.8%), while South Carolina continued to have the lowest (2.6%).” statista – The Countries Most Optimistic About 2018 – Niall McCarthy 1/22 Visual Capitalist – Visualizing a Global Shift in Wealth Over 10 Years – Jeff Desjardins 1/26 WSJ – Daily Shot: US Upward Mobility 1/26 A Wealth of Common Sense – Some Lessons For Living From Older Generations – Ben Carlson 1/25 Project Syndicate – Blockchain’s Broken Promises – Nouriel Roubini 1/26 WSJ – My 10-Year Odyssey Through America’s Housing Crisis – Ryan Dezember 1/26 Bloomberg – Worthless Auto Trade-Ins Signal Riskier Loans – Claire Boston 1/25 “A growing share of the trade-ins that U.S. auto dealers and lenders accept for car-purchase financing are worthless on paper, a sign that banks and finance companies are making riskier loans to keep up revenue as vehicle sales slow.” “Almost a third of cars traded in last year were worth less than the loans that had been financing them, according to car-shopping website Edmunds. That’s up from about a quarter a decade earlier, said Edmunds, which looked at cars traded in as part of financing packages for new auto purchases in the U.S.” “Underwater trade-ins are just one example of the greater risks that lenders are taking now. New vehicle sales fell 1.8% to 17.2 million in 2017, but lending volume for new and used car purchases was on track to be higher than ever, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and consumer credit bureau Experian. The growth in the average amount financed for a new car outpaced median income growth between 2013 and 2016, Moody’s said, suggesting borrowers are getting more strained.” “Any pain from car-loan trouble will likely be just a shadow of the housing bubble collapse, because the auto debt market is much smaller. There were around $9 trillion of mortgages outstanding at the end of the third quarter, compared with $1.2 trillion of auto debt, the New York Fed said. And so far, many of the bonds backed by subprime auto loans are performing well thanks to built-in protections for investors. Wells Fargo analysts said in a note Wednesday that bonds issued by two of the biggest subprime auto lenders — Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. and General Motors Co.’s finance arm — have room to reach prices not seen since before the financial crisis.” “The higher percentage of underwater loans on trade-ins may be a sign that car owners are trading in their vehicles sooner than they had previously. A consumer is often the most underwater on his or her auto loan in the first few years of ownership, because the value of the vehicle drops fastest over that time.” “For borrowers who do trade in their underwater cars, lenders are essentially giving them the money to pay down their loan. The dealer sells the used car, and whatever balance remains on the old loan is folded into the new loan. The borrower might get a longer-term loan than he or she had before to help keep monthly payments manageable.” Commercial Property Executive – REIT Gets SEC OK for St. Regis Aspen Resort IPO – Gail Kalinoski 1/26 “Aspen REIT Inc. has been given approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission for a $33.5 million initial public offering allowing investors to buy shares in the luxury St. Regis Aspen Resort in Colorado.” “Upon closing of the IPO, Aspen REIT will be the first single-asset REIT to list on a national securities exchange in the U.S., according to the company.” “Aspen REIT is offering 1,675,000 shares at $20 per share in the Regulation A+ IPO. The REIT applied to list its common stock on the NYSE American stock exchange under the ticker symbol AJAX. Aspen REIT intends to use substantially all of the net proceeds from the IPO, together with equity in Aspen REIT’s subsidiary operating partnership, to acquire the St. Regis Aspen Resort, a full-service, 179-key luxury hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain in the Rocky Mountains.” Well that’s another way to ‘crowd source’ / syndicate funds. Topdown Charts – ChartBrief 182 – Bond Yield Outlook – Callum Thomas 1/24 “There has been a lot of talk lately about trendlines, key levels and breakouts by some of the big names… Ray Dalio, Jeffrey Gundlach, Bill Gross. But anyway, you don’t need to be a famous hedge fund manager to see the writing slowly showing up on the wall here across the major global sovereign bond markets. The charts below show US and German 10-year bond yields have already broken out, and Japan/UK are getting close.” WSJ – Daily Shot: US 3 Month LIBOR Rate 1/24 Bloomberg – Coincheck Says It Lost Crypto Coins Valued at About $400 Million – Yuji Nakamura and Andrea Tan 1/26 Yale News – 2018 Environmental Performance Index: Air quality top public health threat 1/23 Reuters – Mexico’s drug cartels, now hooked on fuel, cripple the country’s refineries – Gabriel Stargardter 1/24 NYT – Hurricane-Torn Puerto Rico Says It Can’t Pay Any of Its Debts for 5 Years – Patricia Mazzei and Mary Williams Walsh 1/24 “The devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria has made Puerto Rico’s already dire financial situation even worse: The island’s leaders acknowledged late Wednesday that they will not be able to pay down any portion of their more than $70 billion debt for the next five years because of the damage.” “Just before the hurricane, Puerto Rico had made plans to pay creditors a total of $3.6 billion through 2022. That was a fraction of the amount due, had the island, a United States territory, not gone into default.” “Now, Puerto Rico expects its budget to be $3.4 billion in the red this year — a deficit that will take five years to close — because of the storm’s toll.” “Nearly a third of customers remain without electricity, more than four months after the storm.” “The government projects its population will shrink by 19.4% over the next five years, with a total exodus of over 600,000 people.” Filed under: Auto Industry, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Energy, Environment, Interest Rates, Investment Management, LIBOR, Mexico, Optimism, Puerto Rico, Real Estate, Social Mobility, Union Membership, Wealth WSJ – Daily Shot: Credit Suisse – US Household Net worth by quantile 12/15 WSJ – Daily Shot: Credit Suisse – US Household Ownership of Equities by quantile 12/15 Bloomberg – He Stole $100 Million From His Clients. Now He’s Living in Luxury on the Cote d’Azur – Liam Vaughan 12/17 A Wealth of Common Sense – Seeing Both Sides – Ben Carlson 12/17 Economist – Why is America more tolerant of inequality than many rich countries? – C.K. 12/18 “Ignorance about the scale of the problem is part of the answer.” Huffpost – Why millennials are facing the scariest financial future of any generation since the Great Depression – Michael Hobbes 12/14 A summary of the numbers provided by Erica Pandey of Axios on 12/17: “300% more student debt than their parents, on average.” “1/2 as likely to own a home as young people — ages 25–34 — were in 1975.” “One in five of young adults live in poverty.” “2.9% average annual returns on 401(k) plans, compared to 6.3% returns for baby boomers.” “Many millennials will have to work until the age of 75, based on an analysis of federal data.” “A typical 2009 college graduate could earn up to $58,600 less than a typical 2007 college graduate over a decade, based on current trends.” “The American racial wealth gap is widening, with the median white household projected to have 86 times more wealth than the median black household by 2020.” NYT – World’s Most Expensive Home? Another Bauble for a Saudi Prince – Nicholas Kulish and Michael Forsythe 12/16 NYT – What Is Bitcoin Really Worth? Don’t Even Ask. – Robert Shiller 12/15 Project Syndicate – Complacency Will Be Tested in 2018 – Stephen S. Roach 12/14 “Alas, there is an important twist today that wasn’t in play back then –central banks’ swollen balance sheets. From 2008 to 2017, the combined asset holdings of central banks in the major advanced economies (the United States, the eurozone, and Japan) expanded by $8.3 trillion, according to the Bank for International Settlements. With nominal GDP in these same economies increasing by just $2.1 trillion over the same period, the remaining $6.2 trillion of excess liquidity has distorted asset prices around the world.” “Therein lies the crux of the problem. Real economies have been artificially propped up by these distorted asset prices, and glacial normalization will only prolong this dependency. Yet when central banks’ balance sheets finally start to shrink, asset-dependent economies will once again be in peril. And the risks are likely to be far more serious today than a decade ago, owing not only to the overhang of swollen central bank balance sheets, but also to the overvaluation of assets.” The Reformed Broker – Sometimes it’s not complicated – Joshua M. Brown 12/15 Vanity Fair – Of the 1%, By the 1%, For the 1% – Joseph Stiglitz, May 2011 FT – Wildfires in California add to ‘horrific year’ of disaster losses – Alistair Gray and Oliver Ralph 12/17 “String of catastrophes expected to drive insurance prices higher.” MarketWatch – We’re still building the wrong kind of homes for renters – Andrea Riquier 12/14 “11 million Americans spend more than 50% of their income on rent.” NYT – The Next Crisis for Puerto Rico: A Crush of Foreclosures – Matthew Goldstein 12/16 “About one-third of the island’s 425,000 homeowners are behind on their mortgage payments to banks and Wall Street firms that previously bought up distressed mortgages. Tens of thousands have not made payments for months. Some 90,000 borrowers became delinquent as a consequence of Hurricane Maria, according to Black Knight Inc., a data firm formerly known as Black Knight Financial Services.” “Puerto Rico’s 35% foreclosure and delinquency rate is more than double the 14.4% national rate during the depths of the housing implosion in January 2010. And there is no prospect of the problem’s solving itself or quickly.” “At the moment, dealing with a mortgage lender about a missed payment may be a distant concern for many of the 3.4 million people in Puerto Rico. They are literally still picking up the pieces, struggling to live without electricity or trying to get insurance companies to pay claims to repair their homes. More than 100,000 people are believed to have left to go live with friends and family on the mainland.” “Residents won a reprieve when the federal government imposed a temporary moratorium on foreclosures, which stops banks and investors that bought mortgages at cut-rate prices from evicting delinquent borrowers or starting new foreclosures. Many lenders also have agreed to waive missed payments during the moratorium.” “But that moratorium is scheduled to expire in early 2018, and lawyers and housing counselors expect that to trigger a surge in foreclosures.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Investing.com – Bitcoin 12/18 “The cryptocurrency is gunning for $20k as it hit another record high over the weekend.” WP – ‘We feel like our system was hijacked’: DEA agents say a huge opioid case ended in a whimper – Lenny Bernstein and Scott Higham 12/17 NYT – As Venezuela Collapses, Children Are Dying of Hunger – Meridith Kohut and Isayen Herrera 12/17 Filed under: Cryptocurrencies, Health / Medicine, Inequality, Insurance, Investment Management, Markets, Millennials, Ponzi Scheme, Puerto Rico, Real Estate, Venezuela VC – Walmart Nation: Mapping the Largest Employers in the U.S. – Jeff Desjardins 11/17 NYT – A Great Migration From Puerto Rico Is Set to Transform Orlando – Lizette Alvarez 11/17 “More than 168,000 people have flown or sailed out of Puerto Rico to Florida since the hurricane, landing at airports in Orlando, Miami and Tampa, and the port in Fort Lauderdale. Nearly half are arriving in Orlando, where they are tapping their networks of family and friends. An additional 100,000 are booked on flights to Orlando through Dec. 31, county officials said. Large numbers are also settling in the Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach areas.” “With so many arriving so abruptly, the migration is expected to transform Orlando, a city that has already become a stronghold of Puerto Ricans, many of them fleeing the island’s economic crisis in recent years. The Puerto Rican population of Florida has exploded from 479,000 in 2000 to well over one million today, according to the Pew Research Center, with the better part settling in Orlando.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Moody’s – Global Demographic Shifts 11/17 A Teachable Moment – If You Are Reading This, You Already Won the Genetic Lottery – Anthony Isola 11/16 A Teachable Moment – 6 Ways to Foil a Financial Predator – Dina Isola 11/17 CNBC – Homeownership doesn’t build wealth, study finds – Diana Olick 11/16 Essentially, depends where you live and how disciplined you are with your savings. Further, if you live in a part of the world where home price appreciation has lagged, there is value in having flexibility to move to parts of the country where it hasn’t (which of course further builds on that trend). FT – Donald Trump’s silence over Roy Moore speaks volumes – Edward Luce 11/16 “…Then there is the evangelical vote. Mr Trump appears single-handedly to have changed their moral position. In 2011, 70% of white evangelicals said bad private behavior should disqualify an individual from public office, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. That had dropped to just 28% last year. It is perhaps the most astonishing sea change among any group of voters in recent years. It is also a good example of ‘negative partisanship’ — no matter how bad your candidate might be, he or she could not possibly be worse than the other party’s.” FT – Prepare to bet against bitcoin as it becomes civilized – Gillian Tett 11/16 “If the cryptocurrency ceases to be a ringfenced product, the normal rules of investing will apply.” NYT – Middle-Class Families Confront Soaring Health Insurance Costs – Robert Pear 11/16 WSJ – Upbeat Moody’s Misses the Mark on India – Anjani Trivedi 11/17 “Ratings company’s upgrade is its first in more than a decade, but still looks premature.” FT – Investors sue Monte dei Paschi over cancelled bonds – Rachel Sanderson, Robert Smith, and Thomas Hale 11/16 Bloomberg – China’s Outbound Investment Plunges as Irrational Deals Curbed – Jeff Kearns and Jessica Sui 11/15 WSJ – Daily Shot: China 5yr AAA Average Corporate Bond Yield 11/16 FT – China tightens rules on asset management to rein in risky lending – Tom Mitchell 11/17 “China’s central bank outlined sweeping new regulations aimed at curbing financial risk in the asset management industry on Friday, in the latest signal of its determination to rein in the country’s runaway shadow banking sector.” “The new rules, affecting $15tn of asset-management products, are aimed at unifying regulatory practices across the financial industry and will come into force in June. They will prohibit asset managers from promising investors a guaranteed rate of return, while also requiring them to set aside 10% of the management fees they collect for provisioning purposes.” “Fears about the potential impact of regulatory tightening have contributed to a recent spike in Chinese sovereign bond yields, with the China 10-years rising through 4% this week for the first time since 2014.” “On Thursday the PBoC injected almost $50bn into the financial system to calm investor fears, its largest intervention in almost a year. But Friday’s regulations indicated that Mr Xi’s administration will not back away from the more stringent approach it has adopted towards risk management.” “In a party congress speech last month that marked the beginning of his second five-year term in office, Mr Xi indicated that his administration was prepared to accept lower rates of economic growth in order to defuse financial risks.” “In August the International Monetary Fund warned that non-financial sector debt was poised to exceed 290% of GDP by 2022, compared with 235% at the end of last year.” WSJ – Daily Shot: Venezuelan Household Purchasing Power 11/17 FT – Exodus the only answer for thousands of Venezuelans – Gideon Long and John Paul Rathbone 11/17 Filed under: China, Cryptocurrencies, Demographics, India, Monte dei Paschi, Puerto Rico, Real Estate, Venezuela, Wal-Mart FT – Billionaire boom is a sign that rates need to rise – Merryn Somerset Webb 10/27 “It has been a good week for billionaires. The UBS/PwC Billionaires Report 2017 claimed the combined wealth of the world’s 1,542 billionaires rose by almost a fifth last year to $6tn: more than double the UK’s gross domestic product.” “It has not been a particularly good week for governments. They have to deal with the fallout from rising wealth inequality, and that fallout is getting increasingly nasty. This kind of report does not do much for central bankers, either: the rise of the billionaires is as much about financial globalization as it is easy money, but every time a report lands on their desks, central bankers must stop to think about the economic, social and political havoc their policies have caused over the past 10 years.” “The desperate attempt to avoid deflation via quantitative easing and record-low interest rates has had horrible side effects, and this observation is hardly controversial. The rich have become much richer; corporate wealth has become more concentrated; soaring house prices have created intergenerational strife; low yields have made all but the super-rich paranoid that they will be entirely unable to finance their futures. Most markets have ended up overvalued (this will really matter one day), while pension fund deficits and a constant sense of crisis have discouraged capital investment — and have possibly held down wages in the UK.” “Set a target, get a distortion. This is standard stuff. But the fact that extreme monetary policy has been going on for so long means that central bankers do not just have macro problems to feel bad about. They are also effectively responsible for the increasingly dodgy micro policies governments have felt forced to put in place in an attempt to alleviate the nasty side effects of very low interest rates, over which they have no control.” “A bit of good news is that this monetary experimentation has been about inflation targeting (everyone, for no obvious reason, is after 2%). And if you set a target and pursue it at the cost of everything else you usually get to it. So inflation is back. In the US, where expectations of inflation are low, September numbers showed average hourly earnings jumping 2.9%, the biggest rise in a decade.” “The Monetary Policy Committee could dig out a list of excuses not to raise rates despite the last GDP growth numbers being rather better than expected. Raising rates will do harm at some point (asset prices will fall and the indebted will suffer). But not reversing is beginning to look like it could do more harm. Unless, of course, you are a billionaire.” Axios – ‘Degree inflation’ may be pushing workers out of the middle class – Christopher Matthews 10/25 “A growing number of U.S. employers are requiring bachelor’s degrees for jobs that have long been performed by workers without them, contributing to a rise in income inequality, according to a report published today.” “Why it matters: The report, by Harvard Business School, Accenture, and Grads of Life estimates that 6 million American jobs are at risk of ‘degree inflation,’ a result of employers increasingly using a bachelor’s degree ‘as a proxy for a candidate’s range and depth of skills.'” “‘This phenomenon is a major driver of income inequality,’ Joe Fuller of Harvard Business School tells Axios. ‘We’re hollowing out middle-class jobs and driving everyone to the extremes of the income spectrum.'” “The number of U.S. job openings has reached an all-time high, but more than 13 million Americans — the vast majority with less than a four-year college degree — are unemployed or working part-time when they want full-time positions.” “The costs of the shift are ‘profound’ for the two-thirds of American adults who lack a college degree, Fuller says.” “90% of companies use screening software to weed out applicants lacking the education requirement. That means, even with the right experience, an applicant won’t even be considered by a human.” “‘This puts significant pressure for people with certain aspirations to get a degree even when it’s not directly relevant to their career.'” “When the 6-year graduation rate for 4-year schools in America is just 59%, that means Americans lacking the aptitude to excel in college take on debt for degrees they’ll never receive.” “Hispanics and African Americans are disproportionately hurt by the phenomenon, because they have lower college graduation rates than the population at large.” Visual Capitalist – Commuters and Computers: Mapping U.S. Megaregions – Nick Routley 10/28 “We tend to think of cities as individual economic units, but as they expand outward and bleed together, defining them simply by official jurisdictions and borders becomes difficult. After all, many of the imaginary lines divvying up the country are remnants of decisions from centuries ago – and other county and state lines exist for more counterintuitive reasons such as gerrymandering.” “By ignoring borders and looking purely at commuter data, geographer Garrett Nelson and urban analyst Alasdair Rae looked to map the relationship between population centers in their paper, An Economic Geography of the United States: From Commutes to Mega-regions.” “The study used network partitioning software to link together 4 million commutes between census tracts. This gives us a very granular look at the ‘gravitational pull’ of America’s population centers, and helps us better understand the economic links that bind a region together.” “By combining visual and mathematical approaches, and some creative place-naming, the researchers created a map that they hope reflects America’s true economic geography.” WSJ – Daily Shot: State College Graduation Rates – Highest & Lowest 10/29 The Atlantic – Harvey Weinstein and the Economics of Consent – Brit Marling 10/23 “The blunt power of the gatekeeper is the ability to enforce not just artistic, but also financial, exile.” Bloomberg View – When Wall Street Looks Pricey, the Rest of the U.S. Thrives – Conor Sen “When stocks are expensive, those with capital are more inclined to expand a business or start a new one.” Bloomberg View – Faster Growth Begins With a Land Tax in U.S. Cities – Noah Smith 10/24 This would cause a major political fight. The odds are that a land value tax would initially be passed onto tenants, until of course there is enough push back. Granted, this goes against the goal of having property in core markets with the ability to benefit from economic rents… Business Insider – Jeff Flake isn’t brave, he’s helpless – and he doesn’t understand why – Josh Barro 10/24 FT – Investors pass the buck on governance – Rana Foroohar 10/29 “Proxy advisers incentivize the wrong company behavior by creating rigid checklists.” NYT – A Long-Delayed Reckoning of the Cost of Silence on Abuse – Jim Rutenberg 10/22 NYT – Forget Washington. Facebook’s Problems Abroad Are Far More Disturbing. – Kevin Roose 10/29 WSJ – Daily Shot: Moody’s – US Single Family Home Sales 10/29 “Moody’s is projecting that many more homes will be sold next year as homeowners finally make their move.” Others are not as optimistic. WSJ – Daily Shot: John Burns RE Consulting – US Existing Single Family Home Sales 10/29 FT – Sand castles on Jersey Shore: property boom defies US flood risk – Gregory Meyer 10/29 “Sandy exposed the perils of shoreline living, as the climate warms and sea levels creep higher. In the US alone it left 162 dead, laid waste to 650,000 homes and cost $65bn — the second most expensive weather disaster in history.” “On New Jersey’s fragile barrier islands, the response to Sandy has not been to withdraw inland but rather to build bigger. ‘They did not rebuild bungalows. They knocked those down and built McMansions,’ says Walter LaCicero, Lavallette’s mayor.” That’s one way to do eminent domain. “Improbably, the disaster created a once-in-a-lifetime buying opportunity. Older families unable to pay for repairs sold properties.” “House prices in the worst-hit communities cratered after Sandy. In Lavallette, the median sale price of $532,500 in October 2012 had more than halved to $225,000 by February 2013, according to New Jersey Realtors. This past summer, median prices reached $660,000 and were higher by the beach.” “The Federal Emergency Management Agency has paid out more than $25bn in New Jersey and New York alone, reimbursing towns for the cost of removing debris, repairing roads and bridges, and renting emergency equipment. Gaps in local tax revenue lost when assessed property values collapsed were filled with federal money. The agency granted $1.4bn to 179,000 people and households in the region to cover their costs of shelter and rebuilding.” “Critics say federal policy rewards local officials for hazardous coastal development. ‘If someone told you you’re going to get a new beach every time the oceans washed yours away, you’re probably going to feel more secure allowing high-priced homes to be built there,’ says Rob Moore, senior policy analyst at the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council).” “The aid has strings attached: all new and rebuilt houses must now rest on stilts at least one foot above the estimated crest of a once-in-a-100-year flood.” “Relatively cheap schemes such as hazard zoning and land purchases have typically received about 5% of disaster relief funds, according to a report by the National Research Council, an expert body. Washington is also picking up a bigger tab from coastal disasters, covering 75% of the damages from Sandy compared with 6% for Hurricane Diane in 1955.” “‘Developers, builders and state and local governments reap the rewards of coastal development but do not bear equivalent risk, because the federal government has borne an increasing share of the costs of coastal disasters,’ the council’s study said.” “The prospect of higher and more frequent floods driven by climate change comes as the Trump administration unravels US commitments to rein in carbon emissions, including pulling out of the Paris agreement and abandoning an initiative to factor climate risks into infrastructure spending. As Irma bore down on Florida last month Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said the time to discuss the causes and effects of the storm was ‘not now’.” WSJ – Stuck in Place, U.S. Homeowners Hunker Down as Housing Supply Stays Tight – Laura Kusisto and Christina Rexrode 10/29 FT – Boston prices its graduates out of starter homes – Hugo Cox 10/24 WSJ – Your Next Home Could Run on Batteries – Christopher Mims 10/15 “The rise of these home batteries isn’t just a product of our collective obsession with new tech. Their adoption is being driven by a powerful need, says Ravi Manghani, of GTM Research: renewable energy.” “Without batteries and other means of energy storage, the ability of utility companies to deliver power could eventually be threatened.” “Solar power, especially, tends to generate electricity only at certain times—and it’s rarely in sync with a home’s needs. In some states, such as California and Arizona, there’s an overabundance of solar power in the middle of the day during cool times of the year, then a sudden crash in the evenings, when people get home and energy use spikes.” “For utilities, it’s a headache. The price of electricity on interstate markets can go negative at certain times, forcing them to dump excess electricity or pay others to take it.” “’This is not a long-term theoretical issue that might happen—this is now,’ says Marc Romito, director of customer technology at Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest electric utility.” FT – Wall St banks ride boom in leveraged loans as volumes soar – Joe Rennison and Eric Platt 10/29 “Wall Street banks are having a strong year underwriting and selling riskier loans, with the volume so far this year already surpassing the whole of 2016.” “The overall industry has underwritten leveraged loans worth $1.251tn, and earlier this month eclipsed its previous full-year record set in 2013, according to Dealogic. Volumes are up 38% from a year earlier and more than 60% of the deals have been companies refinancing existing loans.” “The relative dearth of new loans, as opposed to refinancings, has also given borrowers the upper hand. As well as lower rates, borrowers are also able to cut the number of investor protections, called covenants, written into the loans.” “’Net new supply is relatively low so demand is exceeding supply,’ said Christina Padgett, an analyst at Moody’s. ‘Investors are going to get squeezed on price and the issuers are going to take advantage so they have really flexible credit agreements.’” FT – Why credit is the Hotel California of markets – Michael Mackenzie 10/24 “The endless debate over valuation metrics that have accompanied the storming bull run in stocks misses a much bigger point about investing in 2017. Thanks to the outsized role of central banks, it is the credit markets that run the show. If you want clues on when the bull run in equities is entering the red zone, keep your eyes on the corporate debt market.” “Before central banks’ quantitative easing policies engineered the current cycle of financial suppression, credit markets had already established their bona fides as an early warning system for investors. When equities peaked in October 2007, the credit market had already begun turning lower.” “A decade on, the risk premium, or additional yield, offered by corporate bonds over that of a US government bond is at its narrowest since 2007. That provides very little protection for buyers, with even a modest drop in bond prices erasing the meagre fixed income being paid by borrowers.” “The big lesson digested by investors since the financial crisis is that you need to own yield, and the money gushing into bond funds remains immense. About $241bn flowed into US high grade bond funds and exchange traded funds in the first nine months of the year, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates. That’s a whopping 34% higher than 2012’s full-year record of $180bn, the bank says.” “This high tide of money means companies can keep selling debt — running at a record $1.4tn pace this year in the US — at very low interest rates. The resulting higher leverage in the system helps explain why the equity market keeps updating the record books with alacrity.” “’As long as people are tripping over themselves to buy bonds, it remains a very favorable environment for risk taking,’ says Jack Ablin, chief investor officer at BMO Wealth Management.” “True, a number of strategists concede the current credit cycle is looking a little long in the tooth, but they also think the water can remain warm and soapy for a while yet.” “The Federal Reserve may have begun trimming its balance sheet, but other central banks are still buying and the scale of their largesse keeps US credit spreads tight as international money hunts yield. Not until next March will collective bond buying from the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England peak at around $15.3tn, according to BofA.” “But kick the tires of the credit machine a little harder and there are nascent signs of trouble.” “The quality of covenants — designed to protect bondholders from a borrower defaulting — loiters in the gutter, reflecting a market awash with far too much money.” “In another troubling sign, companies have raised just $215bn from the US high yield market in 2017, the second-slowest figure since 2011, as flows of money into the sector have been choppy this year. While this suggests that some money managers are doing their credit homework, the recent bankruptcy filing of Toys R Us sends a grim tiding about market complacency.” “Bonds in the highly indebted retailer were trading near par and then plunged below 30 cents on the dollar.” “So where does this leave investors? Sure the music is still playing and will probably do so for some time yet. But watch the yield curve. The Fed’s autopilot sequence of rate increases has sharply narrowed the difference between yields on short and long dated Treasuries. This reflects expectations that inflation will stay low — bad for debtors — as well as concern that the economy’s growth prospects are limited.” “If there’s further curve flattening after a tax reform deal, that will send a gloomy signal about the economy, finally push credit spreads wider and should worry the most ardent of equity bulls.” “As we know from 2008, there is no exit once the credit market turns. Credit is the Hotel California of markets — and equity investors usually discover they are trapped in the basement.” FT – Inside China’s secret ‘magic weapon’ for worldwide influence – James Kynge, Lucy Hornby, and Jamil Anderlini 10/25 “Xi is quietly ramping up a Communist party department to expand Beijing’s soft power.” FT – India agrees $32bn plan to recapitalize state banks – Simon Mundy 10/24 “India’s government has announced a $32bn recapitalization plan for the country’s ailing state-controlled banks in a bid to tackle a festering economic problem.” “The finance ministry promised on Tuesday to take a ‘massive step . . . to support credit growth and job creation’ by shoring up bank balance sheets strained by soaring corporate defaults over the past three years.” “The state banks have been faced with weak credit demand this year and have lost market share to private sector rivals.” “Concerns about the condition of the state-owned banks, which account for more than two-thirds of sector assets, have been mounting along with estimates of their bad loans.” “This is because of a spurt in loans to companies in sectors such as steel and infrastructure over much of the past decade, many of which subsequently turned sour. Gross non-performing loans at the state-controlled banks rose to 13.7% of their assets at the end of June, up from 5.4% in March 2015.” “Beyond the recapitalization, the government promised to push the banks to step up their lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, including by partnering with financial technology companies.” “This sector was badly hit by India’s demonetization last year, which triggered a shortage of bank notes that rocked companies long used to dealing entirely in cash.” WSJ – Japan to Young Investors: Loosen Up – Suryatapa Bhattacharya 10/29 Rhodium Group – America’s Biggest Blackout – Trevor Houser and Peter Marsters 10/26 NYT – In Russia, a Bribery Case Lifts the Veil on Kremlin Intrigue – Andrew Kramer 10/21 WSJ – Daily Shot: Latinobarometro – Does Your Government Favor the Elite 10/29 It would be hard to argue it doesn’t. Filed under: China, Corporate Governance, Debt, Education, Energy, Environment, India, Inequality, Investment Management, Japan, Jeff Flake, Latin America, Mapping, Puerto Rico, Real Estate, Russia, Sexual Abuse thejanusobserver Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: DailyMag.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8359
__label__wiki	0.520117	0.520117	Peter Schiff blasts socialist AOC in two savage tweets In Gov't Incompetence, Opinions LikeALibertarian “The interesting thing about socialism is that matter how many times it fails. People expect it to succeed.” – Peter Schiff Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) made history last November becoming the youngest women ever elected to Congress. She’s stirred up controversy not only advocating for socialist ideals a la Bernie Sanders, but is also shifting the Overton Window in her own Democrat Party. AOC also charms the world with her old dancing videos and mastery of social media marketing. When she cannot name the three branches of government and promotes the economic fallacy that wealth is finite that maverick allure fades fast. ‘Sarah Palin of the left’ is fitting with when she says things like, “You just pay for it,” regarding Medicare for all, or claiming “Climate Change is ‘Our World War II.’ AOC championed social justice in college according to Boston University. Standing up for the oppressed is admirable and bold claims about fixing inequality by government fiat stimulate emotion. However history shows socialism and communism more often than not lead to misery. Criticizing the American education system is nothing new for Schiff so keep that in mind when reading his savage tweets from Wednesday morning: People are accusing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of being uneducated because of the idiotic things that she says. But she graduated cum laude from Boston University with a degree in international relations and economics. What a waste of money. She was indoctrinated not educated!— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) January 23, 2019 By indoctrination one can assume Schiff is referring to the fact that millennials have a higher opinion of socialism than capitalism. Hence, its popularity amongst younger voters. 2. The second tweet rails against how AOCs ideas and how they presumably garner a mob rule mentality that is antithetical to the American republic. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a perfect example of why the Founding Fathers were so fearful of democracy, referred to it as mobocracy, and created America as a Republic instead. At a minimum we need to raise the federal voting age to 30 and the age for serving in Congress to 35!— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) January 23, 2019 Llya Somin explained how socialism and communism fails this in his 2017 Washington Post story ‘Lessons from a century of communism: To make socialism work, government planners needed to have the authority to direct the production and distribution of virtually all the goods produced by the society. In addition, extensive coercion was necessary to force people to give up their private property, and do the work that the state required. Famine and mass murder was probably the only way the rulers of the USSR, China, and other communist states could compel peasants to give up their land and livestock and accept a new form of serfdom on collective farms – which most were then forbidden to leave without official permission, for fear that they might otherwise seek an easier life elsewhere. The vast power necessary to establish and maintain the communist system naturally attracted unscrupulous people, including many self-seekers who prioritized their own interests over those of the cause. But it is striking that the biggest communist atrocities were perpetrated not by corrupt party bosses, but by true believers like Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. Precisely because they were true believers, they were willing to do whatever it might take to make their utopian dreams a reality. Even as the socialist system created opportunities for vast atrocities by the rulers, it also destroyed production incentives for ordinary people. In the absence of markets (at least legal ones), there was little incentive for workers to either be productive or to focus on making goods that might actually be useful to consumers. Many people tried to do as little work as possible at their official jobs, where possible reserving their real efforts for black market activity. As the old Soviet saying goes, workers had the attitude that “we pretend to work, and they pretend to pay.” Concentrated power leads down a grim path regardless of campaign promises made or how much history politicians and dictators ignore. Which is why our founding fathers, for all their faults established a republic with various levels of checks and balances. Be wary of big promises regardless of which political aisle they stem from. After all no one wants a dictator or mob rule even one they agree with. Hopefully. Follow Like A Libertarian on Twitter. NOTE: Here are the screen shots in case Schiff is banned from Twitter: Rand Paul Says He Fears Republicans Won’t Let Trump ‘Choose His Witnesses’ In Impeachment T	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8362
__label__wiki	0.524732	0.524732	The Life Force Institute illuminating your life Inner Knowledge Illumement The Universal Force The Life Force Illuminating Your Life with Knowledge Exceed Mindfulness Endeavours Introduction to Wellbeing Realising Your Energy Understanding Thought Causality Awareness The Energy Mechanism Achieve Wellbeing Select a page...Webshop Home ► Terms of Sale Welcome to TLFI Limited, by purchasing materials from us you are bound by these Terms of Sale, our Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy which explains how we use your information. 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__label__wiki	0.555538	0.555538	Like us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TwitterSubscribe on YouTube The Manc - There's a lunar eclipse in the UK tonight and this is when you can see it" There’s a lunar eclipse tonight and this is when you can see it By Sam Ridgway Follow 10th January 2020 Wolf Moon The first of four lunar eclipses will occur tonight in the UK which also coincides with the first full moon of the year. Dubbed the 'Wolf Moon', it will peak this evening shortly after the eclipse, and you won't want to miss it. Below is everything you need to know... What time will the lunar eclipse be in the UK tonight? A lunar eclipse can only occur when there is a full moon, and you will see it tonight at 7.21pm UK time when the moon positions itself directly in front of the Sun. Tweeting about tonight's eclipse, astrologer Tom Kerss said: “Happening today! A deep penumbral eclipse, maximum at 7.10pm GMT, and therefore visible across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.” Happening today! A deep penumbral lunar eclipse, maximum at 19:10 GMT, and therefore visible across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. https://t.co/bwsDAxMXoK — Tom Kerss (@tomkerss) January 10, 2020 At around 7.10pm GMT, the Moon will be nearest to the centre of the penumbra, which will mark the midway point of the eclipse. The Moon will then leave the Earth’s shadow around 9.12pm. However, if you don't get the chance to see anything tonight, there's no need to worry. There are three more penumbral eclipses to come in 2020, with the next coming in June. Now, grab those binoculars... A dachshund cafe is coming to Manchester next month Piccadilly Gardens cordoned off by police following ‘serious incident’ Join The Manc Mailing List Yes, I would like to subscribe and consent to my data being stored in line with The Manc's privacy policy. WhatsApp is down and people are not happy Dog trainer who publicly abuses dogs has £600 per person seminar booked in Manchester Decorator paints angry message on front of house after not being paid Tesco’s £20 Valentine’s Day meal deal is perfect for lazy partners Designs for a Piccadilly Gardens overhaul are finally being worked up These are the top 10 worst places to live in England This is why noisy chewing makes people so angry The 2020 ‘Top 10 Worst Places to Live in England’ list has been released Martin Lewis urges people who don’t own a house to put £1 in this ISA now The happiest place in the UK is only an hour from Manchester © 2020 The Manc	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8366
__label__cc	0.504847	0.495153	HomeLifestylesArts & CultureThe Sea as Life: Cargo and VLOSA Arts & Culture Lifestyles The Sea as Life: Cargo and VLOSA Ian Bethell-Bennett The sea as life One is buoyed on by levity, not dropped like a lead weight to the bottom of the sea, where there are souls that link from Africa to the New World and back again. These disembodied figures, souls linking lands, the submarine link, or submerged mother of Edward Brathwaite’s creation, bind us together. They travel up from Haiti through the Ragged Island passage to northern shores. This is life suspended in a watery elixir of death and blue green beauty: the irony of nature. The sea as death Waves, swells, surges rush in flooding the plains, only these plains are the low-lying flat lands of island communities. Water washes with each wave, over, over, over roofs, houses, cars and people. The trauma of sea incursion onto the land will only be told by those who live. The silence of drowning is not silent. The memories of enslaved Africans, piled into the bellies of boats to cross the Atlantic on the way to produce goods for European consumption. European products and industry of the finest quality (sugar, rum, molasses, coffee, and chocolate) built in and on the backs of those who were not thrown overboard, not left to die in a briny coffin, open to flow into the future, and return to the past, on a suspended sentence. The silence of slavery, not that bad, not that painful, easier here, not so long ago, far too long ago, unimportant, does not matter, of no consequence, all but devoured by epistemic foreclosure. Death is an unsilencing of the silence of the living. It is the haunting of Diary of Souls (1999), as history repeats, in March 2019, Haitians drown in Bahamian waters, this time not buried on Bitter Guana Cay. This time it is more seen, more evident, more obvious because social media has changed life. It is like the Visual Life of Social Affliction (VLOSA) that speaks out against silence imposed over death. Undocumented death. If one lives an undocumented life, does one die an undocumented death? Is death, does death, does drowning document itself later, after the end of undocumented being? Perhaps it does. Kareem Mortimer’s award winning film Cargo (2017) challenges all these assumptions, unknowns, and asks even more questions. How do we rewrite this with a kinder ending? The Visual Life of Social Affliction: A Small Axe Project, currently on display at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB), along with the NAGB, hosted the screening of Cargo on Thursday, October 23, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. The crowd was large and especially interested in how visual imagery gives new and different life to silenced realities, or disembodied figures shown on news reels that demonstrate, not humanity but influx, invasion, disease and contagion. Mortimer’s film revisions the lives of Haitians fleeing disaster and poverty in Haiti; and escaping exploitation, exile and migrancy in The Bahamas. These people can find themselves entombed in the bowels, belly, the innards of a boat that leaves them stranded in shallow or deep water. Left to disappear into the recesses of time, we see the lives they lived undocumented become visually documented and revalued. The semiology of this is significant. The significance of race as a floating signifier, according to Cultural Studies scholar Stuart Hall, is clearly palpable in this art form. Cinema, short experimental film and long narrative film bring another aspect of life to life as they tell stories through witness that are often lost in undocumentation. Mortimer works wonders with his casting, the storyline and lens show the pain, suffering, possibility, closure and too, corruption and inhumanity in two hours of image and sound. The sound of the boat engine, switching from two to one; and waves forgetfully breaking on a shore as death lies in the balance. Cargo is a cinematic rendering of VLOSA; a recasting of Edwidge Danticat’s poignantly painful short story “Children of the Sea” (Krik? Krak! 1995). “They treat Haitians like dogs in The Bahamas, a woman says. To them, we are not human. Even though their music sounds like ours. Their people look like ours. Even though we had the same African fathers who probably crossed these same seas” (Danticat, 1995, p. 15) and so it goes, ebb and flow documenting the undocumented lives of undocumented migrants, documented refugees and work permit workers whose permits got washed away, taken away, burnt, lost in the storm. Cargo gives us a moment to reimagine life and the possibility for humanity. We see undocumented lives lived and died in poverty yet deep humanity, though tragically flawed, usually through no fault of their own. (Though the poor is usually blamed for their poverty). The un-hero protagonist, Kevin Pinder (played by Warren Brown), makes deeply flawed and misery-inducing, socially damning decisions/choices in his life. He ultimately creates destruction and discord in the lives of all those around him. His single-minded selfishness is reminiscent of Faustian greed/blindness. The Faustian deal is easy and smooth until the turning point when one of Pinder’s ‘victims’ returns to find him and remind him of his pact with the devil and to promise death upon him for abandoning vulnerable souls in the Berry Islands they left behind and not rescued–as Pinder had promised they would be. The bad overtakes the good at this point, though the turning point seems almost unremarkable, until it gathers speed and destroys just about every aspect of humanity. Kareem Mortimer addresses the audience after the screening of his award winning film “Cargo” at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. Remarkably, the lesson Pinder gives to Celianne (Gessica Geneus) on how to float, a paradoxical moment in his less than stellar life, allows her to save her life and her son’s life. Yet what does this life saving, floating on the sea of death, hold for them as they come to the fore? Tragedy here is not undone, but speaks once more to documenting the undocumented life. Fiction is often less strange than life. VLOSA brings a new vision as many of my students who attended, noted. The irony is that as often as these tragedies are (re)lived in The Bahamas, they are not remembered; human awareness of them vanishes shortly after they leave the headlines. This film captures stories in ways that allow us to see, hear, feel and experience so much of those undocumented migrants, refugees, immigrants and boat people washed up on inhospitable shores, branded through poor operation of law and exiled from opportunity through paperless existence. This is the power of art. This is the power of creating dangerously, (Danticat, 2010). It’s hard for those of us who are from places like Freetown or Port-au-Prince, and those of us who are immigrants who still have relatives living in places like Freetown or Port-au-Prince, not to wonder why the so-called developed world needs so desperately to distance itself from us, especially at times when an unimaginable disaster shows exactly how much alike we are. The Visual Life of Social Affliction: A Small Axe Project and Mortimer’s Cargo bring to the fore the distance created between us and them, as Danticat discusses in “Another Country” of Hurricane Katrina. What of the voicing of undocumented lives adrift on seas of death that brings life through revalorisation voices from the diaspora under the sea, submarine links, submerged mother? We are here! Art is magic. Slavery is not that foreign. Death is not always the end. Latest posts by Ian Bethell-Bennett (see all) Sustainable tourism and the research it requires - December 10, 2019 Creative Time Summit X: Speaking truth to power - November 23, 2019 Sustainable tourism and the research it requires - November 22, 2019 Bahamian swimming tr No mud, no lotus Lifestyles Spice Wildly successful Art and the environm Specimens of memory	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8369
__label__cc	0.573431	0.426569	Home2019November (Page 3) NIB workers stage protest President of the Union of Public Officers (UPO) Ghion Roach said yesterday that his members will continue on work to rule as the union is unable to meet the November 30 deadline set by the minister to continue delayed negotiations on its outstanding industrial agreement. Members demonstrated Property sales VAT break on sliding scale for Dorian-impacted islands The value-added tax (VAT) break for real property sales on the islands and cays impacted by Hurricane Dorian will be implemented on a sliding scale, the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) revealed yesterday. Acting DIR Comptroller Gaynell Rolle said the government is cognizant that there may URCA to host pop-up meetings on GB In keeping with its mandate to act as a regulator of various key sectors including electronic telecommunications and energy, the Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) has also provided a platform for consumers to register complaints and concerns. On December 2 and 3, a team from Clephane’s last-second shot lifts Ball State over Lehigh With 2.8 seconds left in the game, Ball State Cardinals’ Anna Clephane collected an offensive rebound and put it back up to give her team a 54-52 victory over the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks as the inaugural Bahamas Hoopfest got underway inside the New Providence Ballroom at B4A Championship game set! Gonzaga University Bulldogs’ Joel Ayayi sealed their game with an and-one play on Thursday to give his team a 73-72 overtime victory over the University of Oregon Ducks, booking the final spot in the 9th Annual Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis (B4A) Tournament inside the Imperial A total of 23 teams set to compete at SSL Finals An elite gathering of 23 star-studded teams will be competing at the 2019 Star Sailors League (SSL) Finals in The Bahamas next month, including a number of wildcards drawn from many parts of the world of high-level sailing. There are legends aplenty in the 22-country fleet, Dear Editor, Leadership has been defined by many social and political science as the art of persuading people to follow your agenda or to adopt one’s positions relative to the growth and development of a corporation or societal organization, a political party a household or even Let’s start talking about reparations Dear Editor, I am a Bahamian of African decent. I am here because over 300 years ago some wicked white people motivated by the prospect of profit, engaged in the slave trade and in the economy of slavery. In the process of making money white people The high price of mismanagement One of the more pressing threats to the country’s stability is the extent to which growing numbers of Bahamians and businesses, driven by the high cost of living, are being pushed further and further away from the ability to survive and thrive. What was expected to Bain, Lumbejacks stun No. 1 Duke A Bahamian is at the center of the heart of college basketball in America, hitting the game-winning shot to help the Stephen F. Austin (SFA) Lumberjacks record the biggest upset this season and seal arguably the biggest win in program history. In overtime with the score deadlocked at 83,	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8370
__label__cc	0.622109	0.377891	You are here: Home / RESOURCES / Mexican Christmas Traditions What is a Rosca de Reyes? 13 · Jan 4, 2019 · Leave a Comment Rosca de Reyes is a sweet yeasted bread that has been a part of Dia de Reyes in Mexico for more than 400 years. The ring-shaped cake, which is considered to be a type of pan dulce, arrived from Spain during the conquest, as part of the celebration of the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem on the Epiphany (aka Three Kings Day) to visit the baby Jesus. The Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 each year. Holidays, Pan dulce Día de Los Reyes Guide to Mexican Pan Dulce 84 · Dec 8, 2018 · 13 Comments Mexican pan dulce can encompass pastries, sweet breads and even cookies, and are typically purchased from a panadería, or bakery. Popular kinds of pan dulce that you’re probably familiar with may include varieties such as conchas, sweet empanadas, cuernos, and puerquitos or marranitos. Bread and pan dulce first came to be in Mexico after wheat was introduced to the country by the Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th Century. However, Mexican pan dulce as we know it today rose to popularity during the French occupation in the mid 1800s. French influence on Mexico’s gastronomy grew exponentially from the time Porfirio Díaz, a Francophile, took control as president in 1880 and flourished into the early 1900s. And although the French occupation of Mexico ended in the mid-1860s, they left behind an indelible impression when it came to Mexicans’ palate for sweet breads and baking techniques. French pastries and sweet breads adopted by Mexico morphed into uniquely Mexican creations, with a variety of shapes, textures and creative names—some of which still exist today. In fact, scholars estimate there may be as many as 2,000 different types of pan dulce in Mexico. Below you’ll find an alphabetical listing of common types of Mexican pan dulce, as well as some that are found only regionally. This list is not comprehensive by any means (there are hundreds of types of pan dulce throughout Mexico, and some are known by different names in different regions). If there’s a type of pan dulce missing from my list that you’d like to know more about, please drop me a comment here on the blog, and I’ll happily add your favorite pan dulce to the list! Mexican pan dulce from A to Z Beso: Made from a raised dough, the baker makes two spheres with it, bakes, joins them using a jam or jelly, and covers them with butter and powdered sugar. It owes its name to the figurative kiss between the two pieces or spheres. It can be found mostly in the central part of Mexico. The version pictured here is rolled in finely shredded coconut. Banderilla: Made from buttery puff pastry dough, this crunchy, flaky treat takes its name from the daggers used during the second third of a bullfight. It’s finished with egg whites and sugar, which caramelize during baking. Bigote: A very close cousin of the croissant. Its main difference with its French relative is the liberal use of sugar as a coating. Whereas a French croissant is very flaky from the use of laminated dough, a bigote has more of a bready consistency. Bisquet: Much denser than a scone and not too different from a buttermilk muffin, this all-day treat can be easily identified by a circular depression on its top, which is painted with egg whites and sugar. Borrachito: Very common in Mexico City, this bread has a shot glass shape. It has raisins and is covered with a heavy syrup with rum or brandy. In the state of Oaxaca, the dough can be reddish and the syrup will have mezcal. Broca: Made from puff pastry dough, this crunchy treat takes its name from a drill bit, as it looks just like one. Buñuelo de viento: A crunchy fritter made from the airiest of doughs and deep fried using a cast-iron mold. It’s typically covered in sugar and cinnamon. A Christmas favorite up and down the entire country, buñuelos have also been a staple of industrial production for decades. Calvo: Think of a concha, a dome-shaped bread, but dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with dried coconut on its edge, made to resemble a bald, old man’s head. Campechana: Made from a dough not too far off from pastry dough, but sometimes replacing butter with lard, this crunchy bread is a staple of breakfast tables throughout the country. Originally from the state of Campeche, thus its name, campechanas can take many shapes and sizes, but are always a very crunchy, sugary treat. Cartera: This is basically a French pain au chocolat: same dough and same shape. It may or may not contain the semisweet piece of chocolate inside. Churros: Originally from Spain, churros are made from a basic choux pastry dough made of flour, salt and water (although some add eggs, sugar and even lard), squeezed through an extruder and deep-fried. In Mexico, it’s the norm to cover them in sugar and they’re never filled. Colchón de naranja: A pillowy, doughy bread with a hint of orange and egg in its aftertaste, somewhat similar to the King’s Hawaiian bread we consume in the U.S. Concha: The most popular and widely-known Mexican pan dulce. It has a dome shape and it’s decorated with a unique four and sugar paste resembling a seashell, which gives it its name. Traditionally the paste topping can be white or brown, the latter made with cocoa powder. Today, more colorful sugar paste toppings have emerged, including pink, yellow and even blue. In the state of Veracruz, conchas also known as bombas. Cono de crema: A dessert treat made with puff pastry, filled with confectioners cream or custard, and dusted with confectioners sugar. Corbata (or moño): A riff on the bigote, but with a literal twist in the middle, to resemble a bowtie, and thus its name. Chilindrina: Similar to a concha in its shape, size and dough, this bread has a lumpy sugar crust. In Oaxaca, it’s used to thicken a type of stew called manchamanteles. Cubilete: This pastry is a three-bite cheesecake with a more buttery crust, and with a satisfying, soft, creamy center usually made with fresh cheese, not cream cheese. Can be doused in a liquor-infused heavy syrup and sometimes it has pineapple. Cuernito: Not quite literally a croissant, because the dough usually has much less butter or even no butter, which is substituted with lard, giving it a different, more pillowy consistency. However, the croissant shape remains. Dona: Doughnuts in Mexico are usually not yeasty and are seldom fried, which can be a huge letdown for some people. Mexican donuts, in general, are sprinkled with sugar. In the U.S., it’s more common to find yeasted and fried doughnuts with Mexican-flavored glazes or toppings, such as Mexican chocolate glazed doughnuts or hibiscus glazed doughnuts. Dough Doughnuts from Mexican Chef Fany Gerson in New York City and Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts from Mexican-American actor Danny Trejo in Los Angeles are great examples of these more American doughnuts with a Mexican-flavored spin. Elote: This cookie takes its name from the shape and the finish given to the outer dough, and to a vegetable colorant used to fill a separate piece of dough that fills the outer shell. The dough contains lard and yeast, making it crumbly but airy. Not to be confused with pan de elote. Empanada de fruta: A fruit-filled hand pie, which can be made from either flaky puff pastry or a less buttery dough. It can also be sprinkled with sugar or painted with egg wash to achieve a glossy finish. Galleta con grageas: A sugar cookie covered in colorful nonpareils. Garibaldi: Popularized by the bakery chain El Globo, garibaldi are now a staple of any breakfast in Mexico. It’s a individual-sized pound cake brushed with apricot jam and rolled in white nonpareils. There is also a chocolate-flavored version with raspberry jam, very popular for after lunch dessert. Gordita de nata: Using flour, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs and, most importantly, nata, a thick, pancake-like disc is formed, given time to rise, and cooked on a griddle. There are many forms of this treat throughout the country varying mostly in size and amount of nata used. Nata is the cream that thickens and congeals when boiling raw milk, also known in English as clotted cream. Gusano: Again, a figurative name based on the shape of the cookie, but this time, one that may give you the willies. And also, much like its brother, the elote, the gusano is made with a yeasty dough with lard and eggs, but with added cinnamon. It’s finished with a cinnamon-sugar coating. Hojarasca: Cookies with a fragile dough typical of the state of Coahuila, usually placed on guests’ tables at weddings as a snack. Tradition says that the bride’s family or friends are in charge of making and placing them several days in advance. In the state of Michoacán and in the rest of the central region, they’re made with flour, yolks, butter, lard and piloncillo syrup infused with clove, cinnamon and aniseed. Lima: A traditional bread found in Oaxaca that resembles the shape of the fruit as well as its color, by using vegetable coloring. The dough is very similar to that of a concha and the shell, which encompasses the entire piece, is made of sugar, lemon peel and the aforementioned coloring. Mantecada: A synonym of panqué, a buttery pound cake. Sometimes confused with cupcakes due to their shape and paper wrapper. Marranito de piloncillo (or puerquito or cochinitos): A cookie in the shape of a pig—thus the name—made with piloncillo. Very typical of Western Veracruz and Eastern Puebla. It can be found throughout the country and the recipe may vary slightly, but its main ingredients are flour, eggs, piloncillo, cinnamon, baking powder and an egg wash for its shiny finish. Try this recipe for marranitos from Chicano Eats. Novia: Very similar to bigotes or corbatas but shaped in a coil similar to a cinnamon roll. Also made with a yeasty dough and doused in liberal amounts of sugar. Nube: A concha with a fancier, more delicate shell and a sprinkling of sugar that looks like little clouds. Ojo de buey: A bread or pastry dough piece filled or capped with a sugar paste similar to that used atop a concha, usually orb-shaped, and made to resemble an eye. The inner circle is made of different In some regions, the pan dulce listed above here as a “beso” is also called ojo de buey. Literally means “ox’s eye.” Orejas: Puff pastry cookies of French origin, orejas are also known as palmeras in Spain. They are sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, or sugar alone, between layers and rolled to resemble the shape of an ear. Palmera: See orejas. Larger in size than orejas and formed in a circle shape to resemble a palm leaf. Pan de anis: Fluffy, airy, yet doughy bread with plenty of aniseeds and covered in sugar. A must if you visit Mexico City’s famed El Cardenal during breakfast hours. Pan de elote: Cornbread. Sweet corn kernels, eggs, butter, baking powder, sugar and flour. Found all over the country (and the continent). Pan de muerto: Yeasty dough, orange peel and orange blossom water with dough pieces crossed on top made to resemble bones. This is typical of the entire country in the weeks before All Saints Day and Day of the Dead in early November. Panqué: Pound cake. Made with flour, butter, eggs and sugar. Peine: Puff pastry filled with jam or jelly and cut in the shape of a comb. Similar-looking to a bear claw pastry. Picón: Cone shaped bread with three points on one of its ends, covered with an egg, sugar and lard-based custard. Pollo: Brioche-style bread filled with custard or confectioners cream and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Polvorón de naranja: Crumbly orange-flavored cookie. Polvorones (Mexican Wedding cookies): Hard, crumbly cookie typically offered as dessert in country weddings. Rebanada: A thick slice of white loaf bread, with a thick slather of a sugar paste on one side and baked again. Rehilete: Similar to a danish but made in the shape of a spinning wheel, or rehilete in Spanish. Rieles de fruta: Can be made with puff pastry or cookie dough, but either way, they’re stuffed with jam or jelly. Rol de canela: Cinnamon rolls. Mexicans like to add raisins and use much, much less frosting. Rosca de Reyes: Yeasted sweet bread made in the shape of a ring or oval, decorated with sugar-crystalized fruit and acitrón (crystalized biznaga cactus). Inside the dough, small, Baby Jesus figurines are hidden within. The rosca is the traditional treat served for the Epiphany (January 6) and it is customary that those who find the figurines inside their slice must invite the other guests to tamales and atole on February 2, Candlemas Day. Rosquilla de canela: Dry, flat, crumbly cookie shaped like a donut and covered in a cinnamon-sugar mix. Trenza de hojaldre: A braided puff pastry, sometimes with frosting, similar to a coffee cake. Volcán: A type of concha made with the same ingredients, but with a shell made to resemble a volcano that just spewed rocks. Guides pan dulce Easy Watermelon Margaritas 1 · Aug 19, 2018 · 1 Comment A watermelon margarita is a tasty summer cocktail that’s easy to make and also a great way to use up extra fruit. I can’t think of a better way to close out the final weeks of summer on the patio than a fresh watermelon margarita. Can you? These are also perfect for sipping by the pool on a hot day. These margaritas are super easy to make, and you can even use fresh, store-bought watermelon juice if you don’t have a juicer at home. (Although there are so many inexpensive juicers on the market nowadays, you can find lots of decent options on Amazon with Prime shipping!) … Cocktails, Recipe margarita, tequila blanco, watermelon Moras con Crema Popsicles 3 · Jul 6, 2018 · Leave a Comment Mixed berries and cream popsicles are a spin on the traditional fresas con crema, loved all over Mexico. This version incorporates blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, in addition to strawberries. My fresas con crema popsicles are some of the most popular paletas on the blog, and with good reason: they’re the perfect way to enjoy summer berries! I created this version with mixed berries a few years ago and loved the way it came out. It’s similar, but different enough that you get a different flavor palate with all the berries. The best way to get these berries to bloom with flavor is to macerate them. Similar to the way I macerate sliced strawberries with sugar for my fresas con crema popsicles, we’ll macerate the berries in this recipe, too, with one key difference. It’s essential to break some of the blackberries, blueberries and raspberries while macerating them, otherwise you won’t get much berry juice. I gently break the berries with a potato masher, but you can also use a fork or other kitchen tool. Remember: you want broken berries that will hold their shape, but ooze some juice. You don’t want berry pulp. A couple of acknowledgements here: Blueberries are not all that common to find in some parts of Mexico, despite the fact that Mexico grows a lot of the blueberries eaten in the U.S. If you’re not a blueberry-lover, you can sub in more blackberries (called zarzamoras in Spanish). These popsicles are heavy on the dairy, and they don’t translate well with coconut cream (vegans and non-dairy folks who like to make substitutions, be warned, you won’t get the same results). If you don’t eat dairy, I’d suggest making strawberry hibiscus popsicles instead to avoid tummy troubles. And if you REALLY like blackberries and can tolerate sweetened condensed milk, you might want to try my Oaxacan horchata popsicles, which have blackberries and cantaloupe in them—just like you’d float on top of the drink. During the warmest months of the year, I suggest freezing these berries and cream popsicles completely overnight before serving so they aren’t quick to melt in the heat. You’ll need a few things to make this recipe: Wooden popsicle sticks Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus (or another food processor or blender that can make whipped cream) Inactive 8 mins Yield 10 3-ounce Similiar to the popular fresas con crema dessert, this version uses a mix of summer berries for a spectacular berries and cream popsicle you'll make again and again. 2/3 cup chopped strawberries 1/2 cup blackberries 1/2 cup raspberries 1/2 cup pure cane sugar (not white sugar) or raw sugar 1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream Wash all berries, pat dry, and remove strawberry stems. Chop 2/3 cup strawberries (about 4-6 large strawberries) and add to a glass bowl. Place blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in the glass bowl and break some of the berries slightly with a potato masher to release their juices. Mix the berries gently with a spoon and sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar. Stir to make sure all the berries are coated, then allow the berries to sit undisturbed for 20 minutes to macerate and draw out the juices. After the berries have been macerating for about 15 minutes, add 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream to a food processor and process for about 2 minutes or until a thick whipped cream is formed. (If you over-process, you'll end up with butter.) Use a spatula to fold the whipped cream into the macerated berries, being careful not to over-mix and cause the whipped cream to go flat. Spoon into a popsicle mold, add sticks and freeze for 8 hours or overnight. To remove popsicles from mold, gently run lukewarm water over the bottom edges of the popsicle mold for a few minutes to loosen them. If you want to cut some of the fat and calories, you can substitute regular whipping cream for the heavy whipping cream without losing much of the creamy taste. You might also like: Mangonada popsicles Dessert, Popsicles, Recipe blackberries, strawberries How to choose a ripe avocado 20 · Feb 4, 2018 · Leave a Comment If you’ve ever struggled with finding a ripe avocado in the grocery store, here are my foolproof tips to make sure you never buy unripe avocados by mistake again. Avocado is a very versatile ingredient in Mexican cuisine. And although most people think of avocado just as a savory ingredient, you can use it for sweet recipes, too. Aside from typical recipes like guacamole and salsa verde with avocado, this fruit is also great for making avocado paletas, avocado fudge pops, and avocado chocolate pudding. With so many potential uses, you’ll want to ensure you always have avocados on hand. But when it comes to choosing a ripe Haas avocado, there are a few cardinal rules to follow. Evaluate the avocado’s skin color and texture, and remove the stem to determine ripeness. Squeeze the avocado. There’s a difference between using your fingers to gently feel if the skin gives—indicating softness—and squeezing it, which can damage the flesh inside, and in some cases, break the outer skin. Put avocado in the refrigerator before they’re ripened. Guides, How To, Mexican Ingredients avocado	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8371
__label__wiki	0.850886	0.850886	Cancellations, Closings, & Delays Snommegang Beer Festival 2020 Anderson East, Foy Vance Team Up for 2020 12 Rounds Tour Getty Images (2) Anderson East and Foy Vance are teaming up for a co-headlining acoustic tour in 2020. The soulful singer-songwriters will begin their 12 Rounds Tour in late February. East and Vance's 2020 12 Rounds Tour will begin on Feb. 19, in Knoxville, Tenn. The two will "share the stage, swap songs, cover each other's tunes and likely hurl a friendly insult or two," a press release explains, during the 19-date trek, which will conclude on March 15 in Cincinnati, Ohio. East and Vance first met backstage at the Edmonton Folk Festival, over a decade ago, "and I always thought, if I ever got a chance to do something with him I’d love to make it happen,” Vance explains. East recently got to thinking, "I’d love to do something outside of my normal wheelhouse, be a bit more creative, strip it back a bit,” and when he came to Vance with the idea, Vance was immediately on board. Tickets for East and Vance's 2020 12 Rounds Tour will go on sale to the general public on Friday (Dec. 6) at 10AM local time. Pre-sale tickets will be available starting on Wednesday (Dec. 4). Visit 12RoundsTour.com for full details. In 2019, East released a live album, Alive in Tennessee, recorded at the Ryman Auditorium; his most recent studio album, Encore, arrived in 2018. Vance, meanwhile, released two new album, From Muscle Shoals and To Memphis, this year. The records were recorded at Muscle Shoals, Ala.'s FAME Studios and Memphis, Tenn.'s Sun Studios, respectively. Vance is also planning a new studio album for 2020. Anderson East and Foy Vance, 2020 12 Rounds Tour: Feb. 19 - Knoxville, Tenn. @ Bijou Theatre Feb. 21 - Chattanooga, Tenn. @ Walker Theatre Feb. 22 - Charlotte, N.C. @ McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square Feb. 24 - Charleston, S.C. @ Charleston Music Hall Feb. 25 - Athens, Ga. @ Georgia Theatre Feb. 26 - Florence, Ala. @ Shoals Community Theatre Feb. 28 - Dallas, Texas @ Granada Theater Feb. 29 - Houston, Texas @ The Heights Theater March 1 - Jackson, Miss. @ Duling Hall March 3 - Kansas City, Mo. @ Madrid Theatre March 4 - St. Louis, Mo. @ The Sheldon Concert Hall March 6 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ The Cedar Cultural Center March 7 - East Moline, Ill. @ The Rust Belt March 8 - Chicago, Ill. @ Thalia Hall March 10 - Indianapolis, Ind. @ The Vogue March 11 - Lexington, Ky. @ Kentucky Theatre March 13 - Louisville, Ky. @ Old Forester’s Paristown Hall March 14 - Columbus, Ohio @ Newport Music Hall March 15 - Cincinnati, Ohio @ Bogart’s Who Else Is Going on Tour in 2020? Source: Anderson East, Foy Vance Team Up for 2020 12 Rounds Tour Filed Under: foy vance Margaretville to Host 4 County Opiod Summit Oneonta Business Listings 2020 92.1 Big Kat is part of the Taste Of Country Network, Townsquare Media, Inc. All rights reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8382
__label__cc	0.708252	0.291748	utm_source=google&utm_medium=flight-seo&utm_campaign=Koh Samui-Kuala Lumpur USM→→KUL SQ-951 TG-5941,TG-415 USM→BKK→KUL GA-9593,GA-867,GA-9274 USM→BKK→CGK→KUL CX-6504,CX-5731 USM→HKG→KUL FAQ about Flights from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur Q. When is the last flight from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur ? A. The last flight from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur is at 21:50 and is operated by Malaysia Airlines. Q. When is the earliest flight from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur ? A. The earliest flight from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur is at 06:00 and is operated by Malaysia Airlines. Q. How many flights are there from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur ? A. There are 207 flights from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur. Q. How much time does it take to fly from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur ? A. It takes 1Hrs 0Min to fly from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur. Q. Which airline operates the most number of flights from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur ? A. KLM currently operates the most number of flights from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur. Q. Which are the top airlines that fly from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur ? A. The top airlines operating from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur are Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Silk Air, Bangkok Airways, Thai. Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur Flights Still searching for flights from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur? Via Thailand offers you a fast, simple and easy way to book cheap flight tickets online. Welcome to a super smooth flight booking interface featuring powerful filters and user-friendly sorting tools. This unique combination helps you find the perfect flight in a matter of minutes! If you are flexible with your dates, you can use our Airfare Calendar tool to find the cheapest flight from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur for a period of six months. However, the best way to increase your chances of getting the lowest airfare is to book well in advance. No matter how specific a flight you need, we'll find it for you within seconds. Let's say you need a direct flight from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur with onboard meals and extra baggage allowance. No problem, simply choose the direct flight, meals and extra baggage filters to view the flights instantly. Or maybe you need to find a low-cost flight from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur that leaves early in the morning. Simply click on the Lowest Fare carousel and sort the result by Departure time to find your flight. That's not all, we understand your need for comprehensive and transparent information about your flight schedule, meals, baggage allowance and cancellation policy. That's why our flight search offers you all these details so you can make an informed decision. Book your air ticket online on Via Thailand offers you several exclusive benefits like instant confirmation, easy cancellation, reward points, multiple payment options and special discounts. Flights to Kuala Lumpur From Bangkok To Kuala Lumpur Flights From Phuket To Kuala Lumpur Flights From Chiang Mai To Kuala Lumpur Flights From Sapporo To Kuala Lumpur Flights From London To Kuala Lumpur Flights Airlines operating from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Airlines Flights From Koh Samui To Kuala Lumpur Philippine Airlines Flights From Koh Samui To Kuala Lumpur Singapore Airlines Flights From Koh Samui To Kuala Lumpur China Eastern Airlines Flights From Koh Samui To Kuala Lumpur Silk Air Flights From Koh Samui To Kuala Lumpur Bangkok Airways Flights From Koh Samui To Kuala Lumpur Thai Flights From Koh Samui To Kuala Lumpur	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8384
__label__cc	0.589541	0.410459	Jewelry designer Laura Lobdell’s dog Foo viewing her 10th anniversary collection through a magnifying glass. Photo courtesy Inside Laura Lobdell’s Joyful Jewelry Party Celebrating a decade at New York City’s tiniest boutique If you look down at your phone for even a second when you are walking by Laura Lobdell’s boutique at 183 1/8 West 10th Street in New York City, you will miss it. The designer’s adorable flagship is tiny and narrow. I am pretty sure it’s the smallest jewelry boutique in Manhattan. It’s also one of the most joyful retail locations anywhere and now I think it’s safe to call it something of a West Village landmark. This holiday season marks the 10th anniversary of the Laura Lobdell boutique. To celebrate the milestone Laura took the party uptown to the private room at La Grenouille located at 3 E. 52nd Street. She explained during the festivities, the historic space was built in the 1860s and was once the home of noted French artist Bernard LaMotte. During World War II, the author of The Little Prince Antoine de St. Exupery, who shares a birth date with Laura, stayed in the townhouse with his friend and wrote parts of his celebrated novella. “It is truly useful since it is beautiful,” one line from The Little Prince Laura shared with her guests really summed up the sentiment so many of us feel about jewelry and the arts. Jewelry designer Laura Lobdell holding a magnifying glass and her dog Foo at her 10th anniversary party. She is wearing a Bubble Wand necklace among many other of her designs. Photo courtesy For the event Laura also introduced a deluxe new collection of her Champers rings, handmade jewels in the shape of the wire cage and cover that fits over the cork on a champagne bottle—officially called a muselet. The designs were all engraved with Laura’s favorite places to have champagne. Several of her beloved destinations are in Paris including The Ritz, Caviar Kaspia and Café de Flore. There are also New York institutions immortalized in the Champers rings such as The Carlyle and The Four Season and, of course, La Grenouille. A guest wearing a collection of Laura Lobdell Champers rings and viewing the new collection. Photo courtesy The rings were displayed under coupe champagne glasses on a table. There were plenty of magnifying glasses on hand so that the intricate details of the hand engraving could be enjoyed and reviewed closely by the guests. After the celebratory cocktail hour toasting Laura’s anniversary, guests sat down for lunch. Each place card was decorated with a glittered Champagne Cork. There were also Bubble Wands at the table for guests to blow bubbles. The magical tools are another one of Laura’s signature jewels. Laura Lobdell’s Caviar Kaspia Champers Ring and a black diamond ring. Photo courtesy During the course of the meal, guests discussed their favorite Laura Lobdell memories and the special occasions when they had commissioned a one-of-a-kind jewel. There was also a unanimous love for dogs expressed at my table where Laura’s new Japanese Chin puppy Foo joined us for the festivities. By the end of the party we were all talking about where Laura might possible celebrate her next big anniversary. Many of us thought an excursion to Paris to enjoy champagne in the designers favorite places would be perfect. Laura Lobdell and some of her guests before the 10th anniversary lunch at La-Grenouille began. Photo courtesy Irene Neuwirth Launched The Dreamiest Website The 3 Must-See Exhibits at L’Ecole in New York Inside Daniela Villegas’s Party at Deyrolle	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8385
__label__wiki	0.604548	0.604548	ILB last won the day on May 30 2015 ILB had the most liked content! About ILB Alt* csteacy Locust strike ILB posted a topic in Airline Aviation Forum 1. Approach no. 1, hit cloud of locusts, obscured windshield, went around, climbed to 8500, depressurized, opened flight deck window, cleaned window. 2. Approach no. 2, hit cloud of locusts, obscured windshield, went around, climbed to 8500, depressurized, opened flight deck window, cleaned window. 3. Diverted. Details and pics at AvHerald.com AC DASH 8 LOSES WHEEL ILB replied to Marshall's topic in Airline Aviation Forum Q4 Jazz wheel.mp4 New flight delay compensation rules arrive Sunday ILB replied to Airband's topic in Airline Aviation Forum Are there any penalties for budgets that fail to balance themselves? SWA Pilots allegedly streamed bathroom video to cockpit https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/10/25/southwest-airlines-lawsuit-pilots-livestreamed-plane-bathroom-flight-attendant-claims/2458570001/ A Phoenix-based Southwest Airlines flight attendant has sued the airline, accusing the Dallas-based carrier of retaliation after she reported spotting two pilots livestreaming video from the lavatory to an iPad in the cockpit on one of her flights. A suit filed in federal court for the District of Arizona alleges that on Feb. 27, 2017, Renee Steinaker was working as a flight attendant on Flight 1088 between Pittsburgh and Phoenix. The suit alleges that 2½ hours into the flight, the pilot, Capt. Terry Graham, asked Steinaker to come to the cockpit so that he could leave to use the restroom. Southwest Airlines policy requires two crew members in the cockpit at all times, so Steinaker was asked to staff the cockpit with co-pilot Ryan Russell in Graham's absence. The suit states that when Steinaker entered the cockpit, she spotted an iPad mounted to the windshield to the left of the captain’s seat. On it, she reportedly could see a live stream of what appeared to be Graham in the bathroom. The filing states that Russell looked panicked and told her the cameras were a new top-secret security measure that had been installed in all Southwest Airlines planes, which Steinaker did not believe to be true. "They led her to believe that she and others had been filmed — had been videotaped if you will — while they were using the lavatory. It's really hard to imagine a more outrageous kind of conduct," aviation attorney Ronald L.M. Goldman, who is representing Steinaker, told the Arizona Republic. Goldman is a senior partner at Baum Hedlund Aristei Goldman, with offices in California, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. According to the court filing, Steinaker took a photograph of the iPad with her cellphone to document the incident. Upon landing, the pilots violated airline protocol and "disembarked, leaving the aircraft unattended by piloting staff," Steinaker alleges in the suit. It also claims that Graham "left a loaded firearm unattended in the cockpit, a violation of FAA regulations." Steinaker and other crew members reported the incident to the airline. The suit claims the pilots were allowed to proceed to their next flight and they continue to fly with the airline today. Steinaker claims she was told not to talk to anybody about the incident and was warned that "if this got out, if this went public, no one, I mean no one, would ever fly our airline again." Goldman also represents Steinaker's husband, David, also a Southwest flight attendant. The suit alleges the Steinakers have faced retaliation through stalking, being monitored by managers in a "threatening and bizarre manner" and being subjected to an increased number of performance audits. "In my view, Southwest Airlines has treated this as 'how dare they report it' rather than 'thank you for letting us know,'" Goldman said. In an emailed statement to the Arizona Republic, a representative for Southwest Airlines said: "The safety and security of our employees and customers is Southwest’s uncompromising priority. As such, Southwest does not place cameras in the lavatories of our aircraft. At this time, we have no other comment on the pending litigation." We reached out to the attorney representing the two pilots named in the suit by email and phone. We will update this story when we receive a response. In court, attorneys for the pilots have denied that the two engaged in livestreaming the lavatory. Court filings also deny that the two violated any airline policy or protocol. To Goldman, the incident indicates both privacy and safety concerns. "In my opinion as an aviation lawyer with many years of experience, this does compromise the safety of flight and the safety of passengers, not even to mention for the potential of violating the privacy of all of the passengers as well as the crew," Goldman said. Welcome Aboard. Y'all or ? Sometimes forgotten is that while women were enfranchised federally in 1918, for provincial elections Quebec was the last province to grant this right to women in 1940--well before non-status Indians who generally got this right in the early 50s and status Indians around 1960. Men who didn't own property also couldn't vote until around 1920. Air Saguenay Aircraft Crash From dhc-2.com photo by https://bushflyingcaptured.com/ Cell phones causing RF interference ILB replied to conehead's topic in Airline Aviation Forum The issue was with CRT (not LCD) screens and Wi-Fi frequencies (not cell). The screen-blanking effect could be reliably replicated under certain conditions and thus the flight deck ban on Wi-Fi until all CRTs had been replaced with LCDs. The cellular frequencies don't interfere with any of the screen types--although I can hear the interference in my Bose A20 headset when they ring. I can also hear the sweep of the SSR in YWG and YOW. Air Canada Diversion to HNL Great video. In 25 years of flying, I've never experienced severe turbulence, and I hope I never do. I've gone down to 25 to get below SIGMETed areas of forecasted SVR TBC. Sometimes that's not an option. An APP to keep you alert or wake you up? ILB replied to Kasey's topic in Airline Aviation Forum The Tech Keeping Planes in the Sky Another 737 MAX down. ILB replied to Maverick's topic in Airline Aviation Forum Curious four other snags on same tail during a span of seven days in December: The report states that maintenance action was performed and no reoccurance of same faults. Maintenance action consisted of BITE checks with no faults founds and thereafter ground-tested serviceable. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeings-emergency-procedure-for-737-max-may-have-failed-on-ethiopian-flight/ Further down: Westjet FA Wins Appeal, Can Proceed with Class Action Lawsuit Over Sexual Harassment ILB replied to deicer's topic in Airline Aviation Forum Which battle is that, specifically? Do you have an interest in a particular outcome? Gender Neutral Airline Tickets ILB replied to Malcolm's topic in Airline Aviation Forum Sooo...weigh-in at check-in? Is the M/F not primarily for being able to arrive at standard weights? 777 Tail strike...Hkg ILB replied to UpperDeck's topic in Airline Aviation Forum PRELIMINARY REPORTby the AAIA	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8386
__label__cc	0.707926	0.292074	THE ARRANGEMENT by ROBYN HARDING Published July 30, 2019 by Gallery/Scout Press Natalie, a young art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not go online and find a sugar daddy—a wealthy, older man who will pay her for dates, and even give her a monthly allowance? Lots of girls do it, Nat learns. All that’s required is to look pretty and hang on his every word. Sexual favours are optional. Though more than thirty years her senior, Gabe, a handsome corporate finance attorney, seems like the perfect candidate, and within a month, they are madly in love. At least, Nat is…Gabe already has a family, whom he has no intention of leaving. So when he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking him: watching him at work, spying on his wife, even befriending his daughter, who is not much younger than she is. But Gabe’s not about to let his sugar baby destroy his perfect life. What was supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession, and, when a body is found near Gabe’s posh Upper East Side apartment, murder. 4 – 4.5 Stars!! LOVED this juicy thriller!! I’m very intrigued by the “Sugar” lifestyle so I was drawn in by this story from the very beginning. Natalie has just told her father that she killed someone. We will not know who the victim is until later in the book. The phone call is a very difficult one, as Nat has been estranged from her father for many years. Nat had been a struggling New York City art student, overworked but barely making ends meet and constantly arguing with her roommates. She is desperate for a solution but loves the city and does not want to leave school. Nat’s friend Ava lives in a beautiful apartment, always had money for luxuries like coffee and wears lovely clothes. Ava clues her in: she has sugar daddies, men who pay her for companionship and even a relationship. At first Nat is absolutely horrified but Ava helps her navigate this brand new world of sugar relationships. “She made it sound so mature, so reciprocal, almost liberating. Ava and her suitors were up front with their needs, their wants, their parameters. It sounded positively evolved.” Ava explains that the sex is completely optional and only if the feelings are mutual. Ava seems so financially secure that Nat is ready to jump in. After positing her profile online, Nat receives many messages. Some of the men are positively repulsive, but one man stands out: Gabe Turnmill. Gabe is handsome, brilliant, cultured and older than her father. Nat immediately feels safe with Gabe and soon becomes absolutely entranced by the wealthy older man. The theater, opera, fine restaurants…Nat loves her new lifestyle and begins to fall for Gabe. “As clichéd as it sounded, she had never felt this way. Not even in the early days with Cole. Not with Miguel. Those boys couldn’t make her feel secure, cherished, adored. That took a man. But this was not a storybook romance; she knew that. It was a financial arrangement between two consenting adults who had laid out the parameters of their relationship up front. “ Gabe, too, begins to develop feelings for Nat that he knows he shouldn’t have. He loves her honesty and fresh-faced beauty and the way she looks up to him. But could he divorce his wife and leave his family behind for her? Their chemistry was honest and well-written and I could feel them both falling in love with each other! “No strings. No commitment, obligation, or drama. And above all, no emotional attachment. This was about enjoying their time together, as limited as it may be, with no thought for the future. Because there wouldn’t be one. Her brain knew it, but her heart begged to differ.” The story begins to get very complicated as Gabe becomes afraid that someone will find out about his “arrangement”. The plot takes a VERY dark turn. Reading Gabe’s perspective added to the depth of this book and I loved the tension and twists in this story. Would Gabe really leave his family for Natalie? Would Nat be able to sustain her lifestyle without Gabe’s financial assistance? “He felt a surge of anger, fear, and lust. Natalie’s eyes met his, reflecting his ambiguity. I hate you. I want you. I’m going to ruin you.” It is clear that the author really did her research on this lifestyle and I was even educated on the terminology! While some of the plot was a little far-fetched, overall I loved this intriguing domestic thriller and felt very connected to the characters. I could not put it down! Sex, envy, obsession, love and suspense, this wicked, fast-paced thriller has it all. “Sometimes, we do things we don’t feel good about to survive. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.” (ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.) Categories : 4 Stars, Contemporary, Domestic Thriller, Mystery, Reviews, Suspense Tagged : Robyn Harding, The Arrangement	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8391
__label__wiki	0.932654	0.932654	60 'Firsts' Hip-Hop Milestones 20 Rap Songs That Sample Aretha Franklin Best Rihanna Duets in the 2000s Lil' Kim's Most Notorious Beefs Album Anniversaries TLC's 15 Best Deep Cuts & Album Tracks TLC became the best-selling American female group of all time, but how well do you know the trio's discography? Check out their most underrated tunes. Princess Gabbara Prince's 'Diamonds and Pearls': A Guide to Every Track Coming after a few underperforming albums, 1991's 'Diamonds and Pearls' was a career reboot for Prince. Ian Aikman 20 Years Ago: Jay-Z's 'Hard Knock Life' Turns Him Into a Star On its 20th anniversary, we look back at the album that propelled Jay-Z to superstar status, 'Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life.' Jacinta Howard 20 Years Ago: OutKast Release Their Masterpiece, 'Aquemini' World-wise, wary, alien and earthy, 'Aquemini' is the quintessential OutKast album. Prince's 'The Gold Experience': A Guide to Every Track Prince released 'The Gold Experience' in the middle of his public feud with Warner Bros. 15 Years Ago: Outkast Blow Up With 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' 'Speakerboxx/The Love Below' is one of hip-hop's most successful releases of all-time, and also signaled the end of OutKast. Why Run-DMC's Final Album Never Had a Chance Undone by internal strife, creative differences, and inner demons, Run-DMC's final album never had a chance to succeed. Redman Disses MC Hammer on Debut: Sept. 22 in Hip-Hop History Sept. 22, 1992 saw five artists, including Redman, release their debuts. Five years later, Janet Jackson found common ground between Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell. How Solange's 'Sol-Angel' Redefined Black Womanhood & "Wokness" Newly divorced and raising her son, Solange's sophomore album showed the several complicated layers of black womanhood while being the spearhead of what we now describe as "wokeness." Ashlea Brandon How Lauryn was The Student & The Teacher on 'The Miseducation' As we remember 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,' we look back at how the student became the teacher, and why it is important to remember the message over the controversies. Maxwell on 'Rigorous, Rewarding' 2018 Tour, New Album Plans Best Sex Songs Rappers Who Killed People Rappers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: A Complete History The Most Important Events in Hip-Hop by Year: 1973-Present Music's Greatest Afros Best Rappers Turned Actors, Ranked Funko Pop! Hip-Hop and R&B Figures: A Complete Guide Rappers Who Disappeared 20 Underrated Rap Albums You Need in Your Collection 5 Reasons LL Cool J Should Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 5 Reasons Janet Jackson Belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame The Beastie Boys' Ad-Rock Buys a Really Green House for $1.7M Eazy-E Clowns Dr. Dre: Oct. 19 in Hip-Hop History Digable Planets Drop 'Blowout Comb': Oct. 18 in Hip-Hop History Best Booties Thickest Yams 2020 The Boombox is part of the The XXL Network, Townsquare Media, Inc. All rights reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8392
__label__wiki	0.50454	0.50454	Upload E-book 2019 Crater Literary Festival, Enugu Authors and Speakers at the #CraterLitFest19 2019 Crater Literary Festival Schedule 2018 Crater Literary Festival Enugu Call for Submission 2018 Crater Literary Festival Winners of the 2018 CraterLitFest Call for Submission CLF18 Schedule of Activities Faces to Expect at the #CraterLitFest18 2018 CraterLitFest Art Exhibition Catalogue CLF17 Presenters CLF17 Schedule of Actvities Faces at the CLF17 Mrs. Paula Chinwe Prize for Creative Non-fiction Winner, 2018 Mrs Paula Chinwe Okafor Prize for Creative Non-Fiction 2019 Mrs Paula Chinwe Okafor Prize for Creative Non-Fiction Dr Emmanuel C. Adukwu Prize for Literature Loretta Ogboro-Okor Prize for Short Story Fiction 2019 CraterLitFest Book Pitch Competition Cart: ₦0.0 Practical Empowerment E-book Home / Non-Fiction/Academia / Guides/Manuals / Practical Empowerment E-book Return to Previous Page View cart “Bribery and Corruption” has been added to your cart. National Examinations Council (NECO) Analysis of Performance of Candidates, Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) 2011-2015 ₦0.0 The Orthographic Assimilation of Nsibidi Ideograms. ₦5,000.0 ₦5,000.0 A general handbook and step by step guide on how to make toiletries, detergents and Nigerian fast food. The Author, Ojewale Funmilola, a graduate of biochemistry from Bowen University, Iwo inOsun state, and currently an entrepreneur with first hand experience in the production of all that is stated in her book. This practical book: Consists of all we see in the book cover. has a list of minimum cost price needed to start some major products gives an analysis of the product name lists the best places to purchase chemicals (Ojota,Lagos Nigeria) and with other contact details. lists sites to visit for unique training. directs on how to go about your NAFDAC number. You also get these bonus files for purchasing this volume; Richest man of Babylon Manual on all you need to know about soap/soap making by purchasing this Two other packages on cake and snacks making Be kind and leave a review for the author. Categories: Guides/Manuals, Handbooks, Non-Fiction/Academia Tags: Air freshner, Bar/solid soap, Bleach, Cold starch, Cosmetology, Custard powder, Dettol, Dishwasher detergent, DIY Empowerment, Empowerment, Emulsion white paint, Fumigation, Germicide guide, Hair conditioner, Hair cream, Hair shampoo, Hand sanitizer, Harpic, izal, Liquid detergent soap, Liquid insecticide, Liquid toilet cleaner, Oyewale Funmilola, Perfumed baby jelly, Practical, self employed, self-help, Shave cream, steps Tutorial Be kind and leave a review Free Public Domain E-book, Non-Fiction/Academia The Real History of Ijebu Igbo The Real History of Ijebu Igbo attempts to trace the origins of Ijebu Igbo which is in Ogun state, Nigeria. It is written by Hon Osifeso Olukorede ,Chairman CAC Ijebu North, Ogun state, Nigeria. Source: Internet Archives - Free Public Domain Format,Conversion and Book cover: Crater Library & Publisher ₦0.0 Download Now Handbooks, Librarian's Pick, Non-Fiction/Academia Nigerian Foods and Calories A compilation of Nigerian foods and its calorie content for weightloss patients residing in Nigeria or any Nigerian food aficionado. ₦0.0 Add to cart Guides/Manuals, Handbooks, Non-Fiction/Academia, Self-Help Tai Chi & Chi Kung Secrets Secrets of Tai Chi & Qi Qong explains the secrets of the Chinese martial arts to the public. Also different exercises and meditation is included. This book is written by Douwe Geluk. Douwe Geluk is Dutch Champion of Tai Chi & Qi Qong and owns Tai Chi Apeldoorn his school. Data, Grey Literatures/Non-Commercial Govt Documents, Non-Fiction/Academia NBS 2015 Petroleum Products Consumption Statistics This contains information on petroleum products consumption statistics in Nigeria for Q1-Q4 of 2015.Data collated and published by the National Bureau of Statistics in November 01, 2016. Source: NBS Free Public Domain E-book, Non-Fiction/Academia, Textbooks Leopards of the Magical Dawn Leopards of the Magical Dawn: Science and the Cosmological Foundations of Igbo Culture Igbo traditional life is ritual-centric, quite simply, for Igbo culture is primarily and largely a mystical culture, propelled by a deeply primal awareness of the spirituality of life. Igbo culture gravitates towards an ordered universe of interconnection of life. Hence, if ritual is the language of the spirit, the language which speaks to the interconnected whole of life, it is only surmisable that, a culture in continuous adherence to its own rituals is a culture in unbroken communication with its own spirit. Written by Nze Chukwukadibia E. Nwafor Biography, Creative Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction/Academia Victor Banjo: An Untold Account of the Nigerian Civil War Victor Banjo: An Untold Account of the Nigerian Civil War concentrates on Victor Banjo between 1966 and 1967 when he died. The first issue is Victor Banjo’s role in the January, 1966 coup. Yesufu completely exonerates Victor Banjo of any role in the January 1966 coup. Yesufu tried to explain many events which may never be completely understood. The documents are not available to do proper research into these complicated issues. The events of the coup and the aftermath, the details of the Benin invasion, the trial of Banjo and three others will never be fully documented. Yesufu’s book is a welcome addition to the literature about these controversies. ₦1,000.0 Add to cart Biography, Free Public Domain E-book, Inspirational, Non-Fiction/Academia, Religion Anna Hinderer of Yoruba Anna Hinderer Nee Martin was a missionary who lived in Yorubaland with her clergy husband, Rev. David Hinderer who worked in connection with the Church Missionary Society in Yoruba (Lagos- Ibadan- Abeokuta, all in Nigeria). This is a chronicle of Anna Hinderer's life as a missionary in Yorubaland. After years of illness, she passed on the 6th of June 1870 at the age of 43. 2015 Rivers State Budget 2015 budget of Rivers State, Nigeria. Grey Literatures/Non-Commercial Govt Documents, Non-Fiction/Academia Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (First-Alteration) Act 2010.pdf This act alters the provisions of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria constitution. Also contains citations. Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (Second Alteration) Act 2010.pdf This act alters the provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria constitution and the first alteration act. Also contains citations. Handbooks, Non-Fiction/Academia Igbo Proverbs: A Compilation This is a compilation of 1,000 proverbs in Igbo language, each followed by a usable English translation. The author, Onyekachi H. Ibekwe made this compilation after much personal reflection on the remote origins and existential imports of the proverbial mode of communication. Proverbs remain vital and peculiar elements of Igbo traditional religion, daily discourse and contemporary worldview. Made available on the digital platform, it is the author's hope that this compilation will serve as a portable, easily navigable reference for anybody that has an interest in the subject matter. Author: Onyekachi H.Ibekwe; Published: 2017-11-08; ISBN: 9781386499817. Exam Preparation Modules, Handbooks, Non-Fiction/Academia, Onitsha Market Literature, Textbooks How to study and write good letters,applications,compositions, telegrams, agreements, better sentence,important letters, speaking in public and teach yourself good English. Written by Onwuka,Wilfred in the 1960s. Learn and teach yourself English, public speaking, letter and telegraph writing,agreements,applications and composition. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.pdf The complete 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from chapter I to chapter VIII with schedules and parts intact. Edited by SNIPPARZ EFX. Non-Fiction/Academia, Textbooks Applied Economics for Africa Economics is full of surprises. Its foundations might at first glance seem counterintuitive, but they have proved themselves true, again and again in practice. People in countries where citizens and their governments understand economics have higher standards of living and more personal liberty than do people who have the misfortune to live in countries where these principles are ignored or misunderstood. Dr. George Ayittey understands these principles, and Applied Economics for Africa shows exactly how ignoring them has contributed to the struggles Africa faces today. This book demonstrates that the key to Africa’s development lies in building upon “its own indigenous heritage of participatory democracy based upon consensus (under the chiefs), free village markets, and free enterprise.” Guides/Manuals, Non-Fiction/Academia Share Anonymous Initiative Share Anonymous Initiative is an ongoing project that is transforming society's understanding and response to sexual and domestic violence through storytelling, data, and technology. This free e-resource is guide and tool for survivors and victims of sexual and domestic violence to track their progress and compare themselves to others who have experienced the same things, they could learn more about how to improve their outcomes. 2015 Bauchi State Approved Budget Bauchi State approved budget of the year 2015. 2016 Lagos State Government Approved Budget Lagos State House of Assembly Approved 2016 Budget. Free Public Domain E-book, Guides/Manuals, Non-Fiction/Academia Bibliography of Yoruba Sculptures The literature on Yoruba sculpture and sculpture-related problems is extensive, but as yet there is no publication which describes the true range and depth of the art. This bibliography, therefore, is designed not as an exhaustive survey but as an aid to further research. The list has two sections: the first contains sources on the Yoruba, the second, general handbooks and exhibition catalogues. Asterisks in the index mark those works which provide the most detailed, careful, or latest studies of a given subject. Certain kinds of research concern the relationship between Yoruba sculpture and the arts of Nok, Ancient Ife, "Great Benin", Esie, and the traditional sculpture of contemporaneous neighboring peoples. In the interest of brevity however, most references on these other styles have not been included. Much unpublished data has also been excluded; for this kind of material the student is referredto the archives of the Western Region Secretariat (ibadan, Nigeria), the archives in the Nigerian Museum (Lagos), and the IRAN archive (Porto Novo, Dahomey). In addition to commonly known types of wood sculpture — figures, masks, headdresses, staffs, house posts, and doors — Yoruba artists created works in wrought iron, brass, pottery, ivory, beads, leather, and stone. Most of these objects served various cults, each of which has its own repertory of songs, dances, and symbols. The richness and complexity of this sculpture is a function of many interrelated factors: over five million people divided into ethnic sub-groups unified by language; an old and unusual tradition of urbanism; an extensive pantheon of spirits (brisa), at least twelve of which call for sculptural forms recognized across Yoruba land; an elaborate cosmology; a complex social and political organization; a frequent interaction of sculpture, music, and dance; and a well-developed sense of artistic quality. Only recently, however, have scholars begun to communicate the originality of Yoruba artistic thought and the complexity of iconography, and to classify sculpture into styles and schools. Primitive Art Bibliographies The Library The Museum of Primitive Art 15 West 54 Street New York 19, New York NO. Ill 1964 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF YORUBA SCULPTURE by HERBERT M. COLE and ROBERT FARRIS THOMPSON Federal Government of Nigeria 2016 Budget Proposal/Appropriation Bill 2016 Federal Government of Nigeria appropriation bill/ budget proposal. Essays, Fiction, Handbooks, Non-Fiction/Academia, Relationships How to write and reply letters for marriage, engagement letters,love letters and how to know a girl to marry. Published by J.C Brothers in the 1960s.Do you find yourself in need of a love letter tutorial or sample? This 1960's model might work for you. It contains samples of engagement or love letters and a simple drama on how to find a wife in a city of girls with questionable morals. Articles, Essays, Non-Fiction/Academia Life turns man up and down Published by Njoku and Sons Bookshop.This booklet examines the lifestyle of the youths in the 1960s. The author gives his opinion on how trashy music and club women have corrupted the young men in Nigeria. Non-Fiction/Academia, Poems The Sex of Language A poetry collection on love and compatibility written by Tares Oburumu and Dawn Baridor. Published by Crater Library & Publisher. Free Public Domain E-book, Journals, Non-Fiction/Academia Life Among the Nupe Tribe in West Africa A.W Banfield, who lived among the Nupe Tribe, wrote this book in 1905 in order to give the people of America an insight of that part of the great West Coast of Africa, known as Nigeria, and especially Northern Nigeria, which is Great Britain's latest Protectorate. He also hoped it would aid the missionaries who came down to West Africa to convert the natives. NBS Nigerian Aviation Report Q1- Q2 2016 Nigerian Aviation recorded a decline in activity between the first half of 2016 and the second half of 2015, both in terms of the numbers of travelers and aircrafts and the weight of cargo and mail moved. This data was collated by the National Bureau of Statistics and published on 25th October, 2016. Source: NBS Guides/Manuals, Journals, Non-Fiction/Academia A Guide to Nigerian Journals and Institutional Repositories Worry has been expressed over the reliance on foreign journals which are products of research carried out in and around those societies, when there are so many local journals in and about the country. One of the reasons for this discrepancy is the invisibility of local journals published in Nigeria. Researchers in most cases are only aware of the journals published within their environment or online. Nigeria is a big country with many academic institutions and research institutes that make frequent journal publications. This work “A GUIDE TO NIGERIAN JOURNALS & INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORIES” is an attempt to promote the use of local journals in Nigeria. The publication has collected all the journal titles with their table of contents published locally within 2017/2018 in the field of Agriculture, Engineering, Arts, Science & technology, biology and life sciences, information science etc. EDITORS: ASOGWA, J.I; NWIMO, L.C & ORUKA, J 103 TRANSFORMATIONAL PHRASE AND QUOTES 103 Transformational Quotes and Phrase culled from the book 'Learning to learn: Developing a Reading Culture' by Uma Uche Gabriel aka UC d MC Compiled by Anyimba Legacy Okezie This contains information on petroleum products consumption statistics in Nigeria for Q1-Q3 (Jan-Sep) of 2016.Data collated and published by the National Bureau of Statistics in November , 2016. Source: NBS Data, Grey Literatures/Non-Commercial Govt Documents, Non-Fiction/Academia, Serials/Bulletins Central Bank of Nigeria 2009 Statistical Bulletin Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin for the year 2009. Free Public Domain E-book, Handbooks, Non-Fiction/Academia The Sayings of the Wise- Ibibio Proverbs The Sayings of the Wise is a collection of Ibibio - a Nigerian language- proverbs and idioms. It is written by Anietie Akpabio. Written by Anietie Akpabio Marshall Press, 8 Paul Bassey Street, Uyo Source: Internet Archives (Free Public Domain Book) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (third alteration) Act 2010.pdf This act further alters the provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the establishment of the National Industrial Court under the constitution. Also contains citations. 2015 Kano State Approved Budget Kano state approved budget for 2015. Oyo State Government 2015 Budget 2015 Oyo state, Nigeria approved budget Benue State Budget 2016 2016 Benue State budget. Source: yourbudgit.com Documentaries, Essays, Non-Fiction/Academia, Onitsha Market Literature Cocktail Ladies ''Cocktail Ladies'' is a compendium of a series of broadcast by Mr Nkwoh on Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation.It was part of the Community Social Register programme which analysed social behaviour of the nigerian society in the 1960s. Data, Grey Literatures/Non-Commercial Govt Documents, Non-Fiction/Academia, Reports Central Bank of Nigeria Economic Report 2012 Central Bank of Nigeria Economic Report for the year 2012. Non-Fiction/Academia Tai Chi Chuan ‘Book of Essence’ Non-Fiction/Academia, Relationships, Self-Help Lessons on Love Everybody who desires to learn how to increase their love life, happiness, friendship and interactions in this busy world should grab this thought-provoking book which is bound to transform the way you deliberately build your relationships. Written by Uma, Uche Gabriel aka UCdMC 2015 Zamfara State Approved Budget Zamfara State approved budget of the year 2015. Non-Fiction/Academia, Technical Writings The Orthographic Assimilation of Nsibidi Ideograms. In this dissertation, Henry Ibekwe calls into question the silently-held presumption that the Latinization (i.e. the use of Latin alphabets in transcription) of indigenous languages in southeastern Nigeria is both necessary and sufficient for their orthography. The arguments presented herein aim to demonstrate the fact that Latinization has systematically excluded an entire realm of symbols and meanings which facilitate the inter-subjective transfer of ideas; realms that cannot always be navigated by relying upon transcription by way of Latin alphabets. In order to adequately address several of the weaknesses identified in the Latinized scripts, the author argues for an expanded orthography that is more inclusive and representative of the sociofacts, mentifacts and artifacts that are peculiar to southeastern Nigeria. Author: Henry Ibekwe Date of Publication: 2016-07-07 ISBN:978-3659840319 Non-Fiction/Academia, Onitsha Market Literature Written by Nkwoh, Marius, this book addresses bribery and corruption in the Nigerian society.it is important to note that as far back as 1965,corruption was a bane to the Nigerian society as much as it is presently. Data, Grey Literatures/Non-Commercial Govt Documents, Librarian's Pick, Non-Fiction/Academia National Examinations Council (NECO) Analysis of Performance of Candidates, Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) 2011-2015 This contains an analysis of candidates performance in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination/ National Examinations Council (NECO) from 2011 - 2015. Data was collated and complied by NECO and published on NBS site. Source:NBS Federal Government of Nigeria 2016 Approved Budget Federal Government of Nigeria 2016 Approved Budget. Source: yourbudgit.com Guides/Manuals, Handbooks, Non-Fiction/Academia, Technical Writings Node.js Server Setup Node.js { Server Setup is an open source e-book by Greg Sidelnikov. It was created to speed up the learning process of setting up the JavaScript-based Node server for building your own applications. Inspirational, Non-Fiction/Academia, Religion Triumph Over The Giants Everyone in life has Giants. There is a Goliath for every David. When you have a destiny, you will have to deal with your giants. In this book Lisa Chilombo Sakala leads every reader in principles that will help you Triumph Over Your Giants.The Author will show you the significance of Dreams and what could threaten your dreams, keys of facing giants and more. In over 23 years of Ministry I highly recommend this book to everyone who has a destiny and faced with challenges. BISHOP EDDIE MULENGA Presiding Bishop of Liberty Christian Centre . ISBN: 978-9982-950-20-6 Social Media Usage Guide for Health Workers Social Media Usage Guide for Health Workers is an open access resource and tool for healthcare professionals who wish to engage and share accurate health information or correct medical misinformation on social media. It was written and designed by Healthhub Africa - A network of innovators, leaders, influencers and key players in the health sector, collaborating to advance #SDG 3; Good health and Well being ₦0.0 About TheCraterLibrary Say hello to the smartest way to publish your book online Address: 14 Charles Leme Street, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus Phone: +234 80 600 11469 Email: support@thecraterlibrary.com www.thecraterlibrary.com Evolution – Winner, Loretta Ogboro-Okor Prize for Short Story Fiction by Crater Library & Publisher Witches on Campus MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF MOLE-HILL © 2016 TCL \| THE CRATER LIBRARY Broadcasts/Speeches Horror/Supernatural Onitsha Market Literature Free Public Domain E-book Stock Pictures Librarian's Pick Auto-biography Exam Preparation Modules Grey Literatures/Non-Commercial Govt Documents Guides/Manuals Serials/Bulletins Technical Writings Pre-colonial	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8395
__label__wiki	0.854241	0.854241	India send South Africa spinning to series loss Ashwin takes five-wicket haul as tourists' resistance ends in final session on fifth day. Ashwin has taken 176 wickets in 32 Tests [Reuters] Hosts India overcame South Africa's dogged resistance in the final session to beat the visitors by 337 runs in the final Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Monday and complete a 3-0 win in the four-match series. AB de Villiers batted for about six hours, much of it with a swollen thumb, for his 43 to fuel South Africa's faint hopes of salvaging a draw after extraordinary stonewalling from the visitors in their remarkably dour second innings. India struck back in the final session, claiming five wickets to bowl out South Africa for 143 runs in 143.1 overs to seal victory and vault into the second place in world Test rankings. ICC Test rankings 5. England 7. Sri Lanka 8. West Indies 9. Bangladesh 10. Zimbabwe Resuming on 72-2 on a hazy morning, South Africa employed the same ultra-defensive strategy that marked their batting on Sunday. Determined to eke out a draw, captain Hashim Amla and de Villiers continued to frustrate the Indian bowlers with resolute stonewalling. The number of bowlers Virat Kohli employed rose to eight, including the India skipper himself, as he grew desperate to try and separate Amla and de Villiers. Kohli surrounded the batsmen with up to six close-in fielders for his spinners but success eluded the hosts until the 13th over of the day. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja earned the breakthrough in the fifth over after the hosts had taken the new ball, spinning one past Amla's tentative bat to hit the top of the off-stump before embarking on a celebratory run. Amla departed after nearly five hours of dour defending, scoring 25 painstaking runs from 244 balls in what was thought to be the slowest ever test innings of 200 or more balls. The Test match run rate of 2.10 is the lowest for a Test in India in the last 25 years (Min 90 overs in the Test) https://t.co/hNl3LjIJIl — S Rajesh (@rajeshstats) December 7, 2015 The 27 runs he added with de Villiers in 253 balls was also the slowest Test partnership of 175 balls or more. New man in Faf du Plessis displayed the same obduracy with the bat and took 53 balls - seven more than skipper Amla - to get off the mark. Jadeja, who sent down 17 consecutive maiden overs in the second innings, struck again after the lunch break, trapping du Plessis leg before for 10, ending the batsman's two-hour vigil. Ravichandran Ashwin (5-61) dismissed the scoreless JP Duminy but de Villiers and Dane Vilas (13) joined hands to thwart the Indians to ensure that the Test spilled into its final session. The hosts struck immediately after tea with Yadav sending back Vilas before Ashwin dealt the biggest blow, ending de Villiers' marathon 297-ball stay as Jadeja took the catch at leg slip. It was one of the slowest innings by de Villiers, who holds the record for the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in one-day cricket, made more remarkable by the fact that he had been hit on the thumb by an Umesh Yadav delivery. Once de Villiers departed, South Africa came completely unstuck and lost their last five wickets for seven runs in the space of five overs. Scorecard: India 334 all out & 267-5d (Rahane 100*, Morkel 3-51) South Africa 121 all out & 143 all out (de Villiers 43, Ashwin 5-61)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8405
__label__cc	0.567131	0.432869	The Most Terrifying Serial Killer We Didn’t Know Existed Book Review: American Predator, by Maureen Callahan (Amazon / Book Depository) In March 2012, Texas Highway Patrol needed a reason to stop a man on their highways. He’d been using the ATM card of missing 18-year-old Samantha Koenig, who’d been abducted at gunpoint from the coffee stand where she worked in Anchorage, Alaska. When he went slightly over the speed limit, the resulting traffic stop marked the beginning of the end for Israel Keyes, a self-employed contractor who was one of the scariest serial killers no one yet knew of, although he’d been methodically hunting and killing people for more than a decade. His acts of violence crossed the country, spanning Alaska to Vermont. Koenig’s kidnapping provides the chilling starting point for New York Post reporter Maureen Callahan to build this comprehensive, detailed account of what’s known of Keyes’ background, crimes, and the investigation after his apprehension. She avoids the recent true crime trend of inserting herself in the narrative, and even more admirably, she doesn’t make this sensational. It would’ve been an easy trap to fall into because Keyes’s crimes are the stuff of nightmares. (Quite literally; I had them while reading it.) Keyes had no typical victim profile, no standard method or signature, and wasn’t tied to any of his victims or their locations, until he uncharacteristically slipped up and took Samantha in his own city. He traveled extensively, burying “kill kits” around the country where he could retrieve them later. The murders he’d committed were cold cases until investigators pieced together enough for him to confirm. Keyes refused to tell anything that they couldn’t find on their own. While Keyes was proud… he had made it clear from the outset: He was only going to give them information that they would inevitably discover themselves. If they somehow found a body without him, that would be their win, and he would confess. Otherwise his victims were his alone. Investigators also found calendar entries referencing operations performed in Mexico, including gastric surgery. Realizing that Keyes could go 12 hours without eating led to the unfortunate question, “Had Keyes begun biohacking his own body in his quest to become the perfect serial killer?” He had the utmost confidence from never having been questioned or associated with any of the murders (some of which he’d been periodically checking on, based on internet history.) That this all happened and no dots had been connected seems unfathomable. On a queasy note, he admitted to reading FBI agents’ books on serial murder and profiling to plan better. It’s worth asking: In a post-9/11 world, how did a self-employed construction worker with below-average income purchase so many one-way plane tickets and never get flagged by Homeland Security? Was Keyes a beneficiary of racial profiling? He sometimes traveled with guns, breaking them apart and stashing them in carry-ons, yet was never once questioned by the TSA. Chapters covering Keyes’s background and military service are revealing, including that his family were ultra-conservative Mormons. When a detective asked Keyes’ mother to plead with her son to give up any information he had about then still-missing Koenig, who they hoped was alive, she refused, adding, “If God wants that girl to be found, she’ll be found.” Callahan’s dive into the background that shaped this person is telling. And her storytelling is chillingly detailed to the point that you’re almost squirming. I especially found the details around the kidnapping and murder of Samantha Koenig to be haunting. Interspersed with accounts of what happened is a focus on the investigations, spanning states and jurisdictions, to capture him then find other crimes to question him about. For the most part the team working on Keyes’ case was commendable, especially considering the tricky particulars (he’d been unusually successful in staying off law enforcement’s radar, despite also robbing banks) and his unusual methodology. Payne always likened the first meeting with a suspect to telling an author his own story. And, of course, only the author knows how the story ends. On the other hand, a pushy US Attorney got final say on Keyes’ interrogation, which may have yielded much more information if not for his ineptitude. Major political missteps allowed this inexperienced prosecutor to conduct the interrogation, which almost derailed the endeavor entirely and almost certainly hindered efforts to learn more. Everybody wanted to be in that room for the first interrogation — of course they did — but you would think that the integrity of the case and the hunt for an eighteen-year-old girl would come first. And it blew my mind that investigators seriously considered that Samantha faked her own kidnapping, despite her abduction on surveillance video. We like to think we’re at the apogee of investigative technology and methods, with the most surveillance and equipment and best know-how, but investigations still get burdened by some good old-fashioned victim blaming. When they could have just finished watching the video, which showed Keyes returning later to the coffee stand, alone, to clean up any evidence he might’ve left. His exact victim count is unknown but believed to be around 11. He committed suicide in jail in December 2012 and took valuable information to the grave. Callahan includes chapters covering crimes that fit some of the limited clues Keyes provided about unidentified victims. Like that he alleged there are bodies in Washington’s Lake Crescent, probably well-preserved thanks to “pristine” freshwater conditions, but the FBI doesn’t want to spend the money to look. Excellently written and structured, this comprehensive narrative is intelligent and absolutely page-turning if outright terrifying. We’d like to think that in this age of forensic and technological advancement, serial killers are a dying breed, but Keyes proved that better mousetraps can create smarter mice. 4.5/5 American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century published July 2, 2019 by Viking book review, investigative journalism, narrative nonfiction, true crime Alaska, criminal, detective, forensics, investigation, israel keyes, murder, mystery, profiling, serial killer, unsolved 12 Mid-Year Favorites from 2019’s New Nonfiction Voices of the Second World War’s Children, Curated by Svetlana Alexievich 37 thoughts on “The Most Terrifying Serial Killer We Didn’t Know Existed” They keep saying the golden age of serial killers is over but more keep popping up in the news. There is currently a serial killer/rapist terrorizing Detroit. I hadn’t heard about that, omg! I wonder if a lot of it has to do with not being able to link crimes, like happened with his. It seems crazy to me that there’s still so much trouble communicating across states or even cities/counties. I think a lot of it still has to do with who they target. A majority of the current ones still target sex workers. Zuky the BookBum says: This is going straight on my TBR!!! Fantastic review 🙂 Thank you! It’s so scary but so good. Baaahhhh this sounds terrifying. I have a minor fascination with violent serial crime, though I generally deal with it by reading Wikipedia entries – this sounds like a fantastic, if distressing, deep-dive. I know what you mean, I started with Wikipedia and eventually graduated to books. This one was really good but maybe not the best if you don’t read a lot in the genre already. It was so unsettling, and the depth of detail made it even more disturbing. Paul's Picks says: Great review! I’ve been interested in this one and it’s up on Edelweiss as a “Download Now…” So I think I’ll pick it up. Definitely, it’s a really good one. Wow, this sounds like a wonderful book but one I don’t think I could stomach. Terrifying stuff. Great review! It was a really well done book but I was thinking when I read it that it’s probably not a good one if you’re not already kind of used to true crime. Some of the detail was really rough. Ahhh, I just listened to the Isreal Keyes episode of Crime Junkie. I will be picking this up at the library! Looking forward to hearing what you think of it! What a chilling book and review. Adding it to my TBR pile immediately. And that’s a really interesting point about authors inserting themselves into modern true crime narratives. I’ve been reading a lot of paperbacks in the genre from the ’80s and ’90s lately, and I can’t think of a single book where that happens unless they had a specific connection to the case … I wonder why that became popular. Isn’t it such a strange trend? I get it when it’s something like Ann Rule actually knowing Ted Bundy, but the people who are stretching to insert themselves into the narrative is driving me crazy. I kind of wonder if it’s a way to make the endeavor more literary as true crime makes a shift in that direction and away from the more lurid, sensational style sometimes popular in the past. It’s like they feel they have to explain their interest in or connection to it somehow. I read an advance of one that’s coming out next year and at least half the book is the author’s memoir of her time in the region where the crime happened. She includes a few paragraphs, finally, saying basically “I told this story about myself so you’ll understand why telling the crime story was important to me.” She had just been to the location where bodies were found. It’s a mess. It was so refreshing in this one that stories were told from every angle except the author’s own. That’s an excellent point about Ann Rule, and I think she sort of set the standard for when it’s compelling to insert yourself into a true crime narrative. If it’s a story that only you can uniquely tell, then do it. Because it doesn’t matter if it’s literary or not if you’ve jumbled the narrative by invading a story you’re not part of. I’m definitely looking forward to reading your full review on that one because it sounds … rough. Literary Elephant says: Great review! This one’s on my TBR. It is really creepy that killers might use books about other killers to hone their methods. 😳 Great review! This one’s on my TBR. It’s definitely creepy to know that killers might be studying published work about previous killers to hone their methods! 😳 I know! That’s especially scary. I’ve heard some of the FBI profilers/former agents say they’re careful not to reveal too much or certain things that would be helpful, but I guess enough of it is anyway. Another one for my list. Sounds horribly fascinating – gastric surgery so he could go without food longer. Freaky! I did find when I read that book ??Monsters by the FBI profiler that my sleep was definitely disturbed. Am currently reading a true crime book The Adversary by Emmanuel Carrère where the killer had a double life. I know, that surgery detail was particularly freaky. The story of the girl kidnapped from the coffee stand just hit some nightmarish nerve with me, it was so scary. I read The Adversary last year, it was pretty good! Although that story was really freaky too. The guy covered in this book has a double life too, his live-in girlfriend apparently didn’t suspect anything. I still can’t believe that’s even possible. Oh gosh, you really have read so many books. I must read your review of The Adversary once I have finished it. I love the double life shock moment – the “they phoned [insert name of employer] and they had never heard of him” thing. Wonder if there is a name for that moment? Job-ghosting? Employment-fake? I can’t even imagine telling such a huge lie like that that’s so easily fact checked!!! How confident was he, really! That story was really weird in that his lies didn’t unravel sooner, considering that. And he was supposed to be a doctor but was always completely broke and taking money from people, just so strange! Job-ghosting really made me lol 😂 silverbuttonbooks says: This is far too scary for me but I have a friend that cannot get enough of serial killer books and I cannot wait to get a copy for her. I love this review! Thank you! Happy I could recommend it 🙂 It’s for sure a must-read if she likes serial killer books. Really scary (pretty much too scary for me and I read way too much of this stuff) but a good book in general, not just a good serial killer book, you know? I was really impressed with the author. The Paperback Princess says: This sounds so scary!! I went into it your review thinking ‘ok but they caught him so it won’t be scary.’ But I see that actually there is still so much that isn’t known that this will absolutely give me nightmares. Not one to read home alone or in the dark! His mom saying if God wants them to find the girl is one of the most heinous things I’ve ever read someone say. Guess this is going on the TBR too! Not even exaggerating, I really did end up with nightmares from it and you know how much of this kind of stuff I read! It’s not that it doesn’t phase me but it doesn’t usually affect me like THAT. But ugh, the Samantha Koenig story is just the worst and then the thought that there’s all this stuff we still don’t know. Definitely don’t read it in the dark, or at night…I made that mistake at first and then realized nope, this is strictly a daytime book. His mom is also a piece of work, and the extreme religious upbringing bit made me queasy. It’s a lot of awful stuff all around but somehow it ends up being a really good book anyway, despite it all. The author is kind of brilliant in managing that! And yet, this is making me want to read it even more. I know. It’s just so compelling. Jeeeesus just reading this review creeped me out, no wonder this book gave you nightmares. I haven’t read alot of true crime myself, but I do like reading and understanding more about it (as weird and wrong as that sounds). If I read it too much, I’ll probably become too paranoid though, so best I don’t get too much of it LOL I don’t think it sounds weird or wrong, I think that’s why it’s a popular genre in the first place. This one was unique, for me at least, in that it did unsettle me pretty badly but I don’t find that true crime makes me more paranoid, maybe just more aware. I realize there was stuff I used to do without thinking that was actually pretty risky and I’m much more aware of things like that now. But everyone is different — if you think it’d make you more paranoid, then definitely best to avoid it! I’m really glad that the author remained as objective as possible as a journalist. Part of the reason I don’t like to read stories about serial killers is because they are sensationalized to make for better reading. Sounds like this person got it right in an ethical way. The more I read nonfiction (and for some reason I’m doing so more than usual this year), the more I’m paying attention to ethics and style than I did in previous years. I think there’s been a move away from the old-style lurid true crime narratives towards a more literary one that takes ethical issues into consideration and considers more about victims, legal issues, etc. I think the author did great work in this one. Wow, this sounds like an incredible (albeit terrifying) read. Your review was fantastic and I’m going to try to pick it up sooner rather than later! Thank you so much! It was absolutely terrifying but really a brilliant read. The author did amazing work organizing it into such a well told and detailed story. Pingback: Nonfiction November Week 2: Nonfiction / Podcast Pairing – What's Nonfiction? Leave a Reply to Elle Cancel reply	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8409
__label__cc	0.582129	0.417871	Difference between revisions of "HaskellWiki talk:Guidelines" Wolfgang Jeltsch (talk \| contribs) (added some comments) ::::MediaWiki is broken in not creating an '''h2''' element for a headline with single equal signs. So we should work around this brokeness by making our top-level headlines <tt>==</tt> headlines. -- [[User:Wolfgang Jeltsch\|Wolfgang Jeltsch]] 21:22, 8 March 2006 (UTC) :::::I've added a respective section to [[HaskellWiki:Guidelines]]. -- [[User:Wolfgang Jeltsch\|Wolfgang Jeltsch]] 21:40, 8 March 2006 (UTC) ==Page nameing== OK. Everything on the project page should have a consensus. Everything else should be discussed here. I have adjusted the project page accordingly. —[[User:Ashley Y\|Ashley Y]] 06:34, 3 March 2006 (UTC) :What is the “project page”? -- [[User:Wolfgang Jeltsch\|Wolfgang Jeltsch]] 21:22, 8 March 2006 (UTC) ::Ah, I understand. It's [[HaskellWiki:Guidelines]]. -- [[User:Wolfgang Jeltsch\|Wolfgang Jeltsch]] 21:40, 8 March 2006 (UTC) == Headlines == 1 Headlines 2 Page nameing 3 Official guidelines? Brett, this is not to offend you. It just expresses my conviction. -- Wolfgang Jeltsch Not to worry Wolfgang - I never take offence :) - My thoughts on the usage of level 2 only were primarily due to the size balance, but also I note this is a guideline for the original mediawiki site. Does anyone know why that is? BrettGiles 22:11, 25 February 2006 (UTC) No idea, but it seems loose to me. -- Wolfgang Jeltsch 22:40, 25 February 2006 (UTC) I did some research on metawiki and this is the reason they start at level 2. "So that when a user without CSS, or a text-mode browser, or a screen reader visits, they'll be presented with a page that at least has a logical document flow." From what I can tell, by default, the page title is rendered as a h1 element. So are single = headings. Double == are h2 and so on. So from that point of view it does make sense to start at two equals. I think the real issue is that the software is slightly broken in not generating an h2 for a single equals sign. So, what do you think? BrettGiles 22:36, 26 February 2006 (UTC) I prefer starting with ==, like Wikipedia. —Ashley Y 00:52, 2 March 2006 (UTC) MediaWiki is broken in not creating an h2 element for a headline with single equal signs. So we should work around this brokeness by making our top-level headlines == headlines. -- Wolfgang Jeltsch 21:22, 8 March 2006 (UTC) I've added a respective section to HaskellWiki:Guidelines. -- Wolfgang Jeltsch 21:40, 8 March 2006 (UTC) Page nameing I see that we are doing renaming of pages pretty much whenever someone doesn't follow the unofficial guideline. Is it time to move that to an official guideline? Do we need a large consensus to do so or just persuade the sysops? BrettGiles 19:24, 1 March 2006 (UTC) Official guidelines? What makes a guidline an "official" guidline? What's the process? —Ashley Y 00:53, 2 March 2006 (UTC) I suspect that a large number of the users / contributors to this site have an academic background. My experience with academia is that some kind of consensus based decision is the most successful at getting the decision adopted. In a community like this wiki, I’m not sure how to get that. We could send out notices on the various mailing lists, we could post notes on the front page and probably other ways as well. Like any consensus decision making it would take a long time. On the other hand, those that support the site could just be autocratic, set the rule and if there is too much flak, change it. As to what actually makes an "official" guidline, I think it is up to the sysops whether we even have such a thing. The word tends to mean that sysops are required to monitor and fix the site when these are not followed. So, we might not even want to go to official, stay at unofficial and just let the community grow the guidlines (and do the monitoring) as they see fit. Sometimes, a certain level of anarchy works fine.BrettGiles 16:06, 2 March 2006 (UTC) I think that the traditional consensus decision making process is too slow. In addition, not everyone is interested in every guideline question, so it is not sensible to bother everyone with each of these questions. Therefore, it seems to me that it is better to follow your “autocracy approach”. And I also doubt that it is sensible to let some sysops decide about what guidelines are official. At least, this would be a bit contrary to the wiki approach, in my opinion. So I propose that users are allowed to set up guidelines they think of as sensible—possibly after some short discussion—and to declare them as official. If others don't like the guidelines, the guidelines can still be discussed (again) and changed. -- Wolfgang Jeltsch 21:22, 8 March 2006 (UTC) OK. Everything on the project page should have a consensus. Everything else should be discussed here. I have adjusted the project page accordingly. —Ashley Y 06:34, 3 March 2006 (UTC) What is the “project page”? -- Wolfgang Jeltsch 21:22, 8 March 2006 (UTC) Ah, I understand. It's HaskellWiki:Guidelines. -- Wolfgang Jeltsch 21:40, 8 March 2006 (UTC) Each page has a title which is automatically shown near the top of the page (currently centered and in red). So it doesn't make sense to put a single level 1 headline at the top of the page. (At the moment, you will see this on a few pages of this wiki. I suppose this is a legacy which comes from copying content from the old website to this wiki.) For top-level structuring, level 1 headlines (the ones denoted by single equals signs in the source) should be used. It is semantically incorrect to use level 2 headlines for this purpose. I note that level 1 headlines are currently rather large and in a font that might not be preferable. However, the solution to this is not to refrain from using level 1 headlines but to change the stylesheet appropriately. —says User:Wolfgang Jeltsch Note that is is currently being discussed. Level 1 (single equals) create an <h1> heading, which is the same level as the page title. We may (or may not:) switch to the standard of starting at level 2 (double equals) —says User:BrettGiles I prefer starting with level 2 as per Wikipedia. I consider the page title to be implicitly level 1 (whether it gets rendered as h1 or not). —Ashley Y 06:34, 3 March 2006 (UTC) Retrieved from "https://wiki.haskell.org/index.php?title=HaskellWiki_talk:Guidelines&oldid=2854"	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8415
__label__cc	0.568416	0.431584	AdvancedPartitionerRewrite Size: 19200 Editor: cai17 Comment: fixed broken link for OS X partitioning Editor: 82-69-40-219 Comment: interwikification * '''Launchpad Entry''': https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/ubiquity-advanced-partitioner * '''Launchpad Entry''': UbuntuSpec:ubiquity-advanced-partitioner Launchpad Entry: ubiquity-advanced-partitioner Created: Date(2006-06-05T11:42:21Z) by ColinWatson Contributors: ColinWatson, JeffWaugh, BradBollenbach, MattWilson, EllenReitmayr, AdamConrad, JamesTroup Packages affected: ubiquity, partman-* Rewrite Ubiquity's advanced partitioner, concentrating on usability and commonality of code. The use of gparted/qtparted in Dapper's live CD installer (Ubiquity) was expedient in terms of developer time, but it wasn't the long-term right answer. Using an external partition editor has many inherent problems, such as complex communication requirements with the rest of the installer, UI inconsistency between frontends, and behavioural inconsistency with the text-based installer and with autopartitioning. Furthermore, both gparted and qtparted are complex independently-designed C++ programs which require complicated patches to work in both standalone and installer mode; updating them has become a risky and time-consuming business, and fixing bugs can require investigating the design of both programs from the ground up. To replace this, we will write a simple Python frontend to partman using ubiquity's standard debconffilter framework, with relatively small PyGTK/PyQt shims. The UI will be designed from scratch with an eye to usability, and will be sufficiently similar between the GTK and KDE frontends to offer familiarity. Observation of bug mail and other user requests indicates that a very wide range of both existing and desired partitioning setups are required by users of Ubiquity's advanced partitioner, with multiple disks, many (well over 10) partitions per disk, the full range of supported partition types, etc.; it is necessary to support these to at least the approximate level of functionality provided by the current external partition editors. LVM and RAID are in use by some users, and it is necessary at least to have a visual design which will be able to accommodate this in the future, although it is probably not necessary to make it possible to create such setups for Edgy. A quick screenshot survey of some other major distributions' advanced partitioners (please don't get offended if I've left one out!): [http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/588/9.gif Gentoo 2006.0] Mandriva 2006: [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_mandriva_2006/6.jpg 1] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_mandriva_2006/7.jpg 2] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_mandriva_2006/8.jpg 3] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_mandriva_2006/9.jpg 4] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_mandriva_2006/10.jpg 5] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_mandriva_2006/11.jpg 6] [http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/302/9.gif RHEL 4] SuSE 10.1: [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_suse10.1/13.png 1] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_suse10.1/14.png 2] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_suse10.1/15.png 3] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_suse10.1/16.png 4] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_suse10.1/17.png 5] [http://www.howtoforge.com/images/perfect_setup_suse10.1/18.png 6] [http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html Mac OS X 10.4] [http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Partition-Magic-Screenshot-2118.html Partition Magic] The coloured graphical view of the disk presented by Gentoo and Mandriva (and by RHEL without colours) is a useful visual cue. I don't think it's wise to rely on it entirely as Gentoo appears to; that has obvious accessibility problems and doesn't present much in the way of detailed information up-front. The RHEL display is visually plainer and in particular makes no use of colour, but it strikes a reasonable balance between visual cues and presentation of information up-front. SuSE's detailed view crams in lots of information without looking too cluttered, which I like. We should be able to borrow ideas from all of these. Judith has been using Unix for some time, and wants to install Ubuntu using a custom partition layout with separate /, /usr, and /var filesystems. She wants reasonably fine control over the sizes of these partitions, and wants to choose which filesystems to use for each. Eugene has a number of different operating systems installed for experimentation, and wants to add Kubuntu to the list. To make room, he will resize one of his existing partitions and delete another. Chris has been trying out both Ubuntu and Kubuntu, and is confused by the way the advanced partitioners are so different in each. He would like to be able to transfer his experience from one to the other. James has a system with two hard drives that mirror each other using RAID1, to reduce the risk of data loss from drive failures; the hard drives are both much larger than he needs right now, so he uses LVM on these so that he can extend filesystems easily without having to set up the partition table perfectly first time. He would like to use Ubiquity to install Ubuntu on this system. (edgy+1) A successful implementation will provide a working and reliable advanced partitioner for both Ubiquity's GTK and KDE frontends that behaves similarly to that of the text-based installer but has a more attractive and better-designed UI, properly integrated into Ubiquity. LVM and RAID functionality is not required in a first iteration, but may be added later if time permits. We draw the distinction between an automatic partitioner and an advanced partitioner. An automatic partitioner consists of simple recipes for certain very common cases, and offers little or no configurability beyond perhaps single simple variables. An advanced partitioner offers direct control of all or most important items in the partition table, although it may use whatever presentation seems most effective. partman, the partitioner used in the text-based installer, is a debconf application whose main control flow features a basic UI revolving around a select widget with one line per partition ([http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/658/13.gif screenshot]). On selecting each partition, a submenu of information and operations that can be applied to that partition is presented, including method (use a filesystem, don't use, swap, other specialised uses), flags (e.g. boot), create (when selecting free space), resize, delete, and others. Some of these operations cause further prompts to be presented, while others present the submenu anew with updated information and perhaps different operations. partman's backend has been polished by use in one Debian and three Ubuntu releases, and while it certainly still has bugs they are generally relatively minor. partman's UI, on the other hand, while reasonably effective as far as it goes, is basic and can be confusing. Much of the confusion arises from the fact that it is not possible to cram all the available useful information into a single screen of text, and from limitations in cdebconf and its newt user interface that require partman to present select lists where in some cases buttons or other widgets would be more appropriate. Fortunately, these limitations do not apply to a graphical interface, and we already have the technology required to transform debconf protocol requests into a pretty good graphical user interface. Driving partman Any graphical user interface to partman is likely to require presenting information from the partition submenus up-front. As such, the Ubiquity partman component will on occasion (certainly on startup) need to navigate internally through all the available partition submenus and cache information about all of them; this can easily be done with the aid of a state machine. When the user performs an action in the user interface, the partman component will navigate to the proper partition submenu and select the requested action. When partman's update.d scripts are called for a particular partition, as happens following certain operations, the cache of information for that partition will be invalidated, and the partman component will need to reload it as soon as possible; some operations (such as deleting a partition) will update all partitions and so the cache will need to be reloaded from scratch. While cache updates will take a little time to complete, the author expects that this can be optimised at need, and that the benefits of caching will render update times not generally a problem. Anchor(resizing-constraints) Resizing constraints (This section is primarily informational, included because of the effect of these real-world constraints on any user interface design.) partman keys its database of partition information off the start and end points of the partition segment. As a direct result of this, resizing operations must be applied immediately, because the backend cannot track changes that include a resize operation. This also means that choosing to resize a partition in the user interface cannot be undone. This limitation may be lifted in the future, although this would require considerable care. The start of a partition cannot easily be moved; doing so requires shuffling all the data and metadata around on the disk which is inherently more dangerous than resizing, and requires considerable care in order to ensure that a power failure in the middle of the operation does not destroy the filesystem. A few partition types are exempt from this (for instance, swap partitions without a hibernation signature, or partitions that have not yet been committed to disk), but it seems best to simply skip this for the time being. libparted cannot resize all filesystem types. Naturally, it is not possible to grow a partition if there is a partition immediately after it. There is a tension between, on the one hand, attractive and clean visual design and easy manipulation, and on the other, accurate presentation of information and fine control. It seems likely that the partitioning screen will need to comprise two major elements in order to achieve this. We recommend a split between a visually attractive list of disks with graphically-oriented controls, and a primarily textual presentation of detailed information about partitions in the disk selected in that disk view with controls that pop up detailed dialog boxes. The disk view occupies the top part of the page, and looks as follows: There is a vertically-arranged sequence of disks, which scrolls vertically if necessary. Each disk is represented by a horizontal bar, which is divided into partitions. Each partition is coloured according to its type (although of course it must not be necessary to be able to distinguish the colours used in order to use this) and includes a small amount of information about the partition table (type and mount point). There is a minimum width for partition segments, to avoid very small partitions being invisible. A tooltip is displayed when hovering over the partition so that small partitions can be narrower than any text that would normally be displayed in it, since horizontal space may be at a premium. Free space on a disk appears similarly to real partitions. It should have some suitably inactive-looking colour, such as grey. The disk view is initially displayed with the first disk and the first partition segment (whether it represents a partition or free space) on that disk selected. Selecting a disk causes an appropriately-coloured background to be drawn around it, and the nearest partition to the click to be selected. Selecting a partition or free space has the following effects: The horizontal bar segment representing the partition or free space is drawn pushed down like a button, and all other segments are drawn pushed up. Contextual buttons appear below the disk within the surrounding coloured background. (The buttons are placed here rather than below the entire disk view to avoid them jumping around as different disks with different available options are selected, and to reduce the amount of mousing around required to operate on a disk. Be careful to disable the click handler until any shrinking of regions representing no-longer-selected disks is complete, to avoid incautious multiple clicks activating unwanted buttons.) If the segment does not represent free space, then a resize grip appears at its right-hand side, provided that the [#resizing-constraints resizing constraints] are satisfied. Dragging this asks for confirmation and if given resizes the partition immediately (see [#resizing-constraints above]). As the start of a partition cannot easily be moved, it should be clear in which directions the resize grip can be dragged. There is no detailed resize control here; that will live in the Edit dialog. For free space segments, a "Create a new partition" contextual button is displayed. Pressing this button pops up a dialog that asks for the new partition size (using a bar with a resize grip), mount point, partition type, and whether the partition is primary or logical. The resize bar operates similarly to the resize interface for partition segments on the disk view; it covers just the selected region of the disk, and is initially 100% full. The mount point selector will be a GTK ComboBoxEntry (or equivalent) widget that allows either selection from a list of preset mount points or manual entry of a custom mount point. For partition segments, "Edit partition" and "Delete partition" contextual buttons are displayed. Pressing the Edit button pops up a dialog with detailed information on the partition and the facility to modify at least its size (using a bar with a resize grip, as above), mount point, partition type, whether the partition is primary or logical in the case of DOS partition tables, and whether to format the partition in the case of real partitions; this dialog is clearly quite similar to that presented on creation, although the initial values will differ. If the user requests that the partition be resized, the partitioner asks for confirmation and if given resizes the partition immediately (see [#resizing-constraints above]). Pressing the Delete button asks for confirmation and if given deletes the partition. There will be a visual cue to indicate the difference between real partitions and virtual partitions. Real partitions are already on disk, and therefore require formatting if the partition type is changed and cannot have their primary/logical state changed; virtual partitions have not yet been committed to disk, and thus must be formatted and can be changed freely between primary and logical as long as the partition table layout allows it. A locked icon would be inappropriate here as real partitions are not immutable, but some kind of "saved" icon in the partition segment to indicate that it is on disk would be reasonable. Real partition segments will have a "Check file system" contextual button, which runs libparted's check function on that file system. Other contextual buttons may be present; for example LVM and RAID will require further contextual operations. Similarly, right-clicking on a partition segment will present a context menu of operations that can be performed there. A global "Revert" button is displayed below the sequence of disks, which asks for confirmation and if given undoes all changes that have been made to partitions (possibly only since the last resize operation, depending on [#resizing-constraints partman limitations]). The partition view occupies the bottom part of the page, and looks as follows: To avoid having two independently-scrolling panes which represent the same data, the partition view only displays partitions in the disk selected in the disk view above. There is a simple tabular list of partitions on the selected disk which exposes at least device name, mount point, type, whether to format the filesystem, size, start, and end (i.e. pretty much the information exposed by Anaconda); the partition label may be useful too. If horizontal space is short, the start and end positions may be omitted as they can be inferred from sizes. Regions of free space are listed along with other partitions, so that it is straightforward to select them and create a partition in them. Double-clicking the partition opens an edit dialog, which is essentially the same as that presented by editing in the disk view. A right-click context menu may also be offered. Apart from the possible exception of [#resizing-constraints resize operations], the interface will include text making it clear that changes will not be committed until the user proceeds past Ubiquity's summary page. In all cases, adequate keyboard accelerators for buttons will be made available; tab navigation between the disk and partition views and cursor-key navigation within the views is allowed; and other obvious keyboard shortcuts such as left/right cursor-key resizing may be included if time permits. The implementor should test the result on a 640x480 desktop to ensure that it can reasonably be used there. This will also help users who require large fonts. Data preservation and migration Partitioners involve an inherent risk to data, which must be mitigated as far as possible. Errors raised by partman will generally be presented to the user and may include an option to continue or go back. Steps will be taken to ensure that partman cannot proceed past its confirmation question to commit changes to disk unless the user has positively confirmed the changes. partman now supports encrypted partitions, which are useful on laptops. If it is straightforward to do so, we should integrate this; it should just require extra entries in the Create and Edit dialogs. LVM and RAID are not explicitly addressed in this specification, and require improved integration with partman (although LVM integration has recently been improved upstream so this may no longer be a blocker in that case). However, we have attempted to take them into account in this user interface design so that they can be implemented in future. We suggest that the interface provide two broad approaches to assembling composite devices such as LVM volume groups and RAIDs: either control-click on all component devices and select Assemble, or select Assemble with just one device selected and be offered a selection of all possible component devices. Some people find the container concept from Partition Magic is useful; using it for extended partitions may be overkill, but it may be useful once we start doing LVM and/or RAID. JamesTroup suggests a "wipe disk" button for each disk so that you don't have to go around deleting all the partitions if you want to blank the disk. CategorySpec Ubiquity/AdvancedPartitionerRewrite (last edited 2008-08-06 16:16:19 by localhost)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8417
__label__wiki	0.90215	0.90215	Listen on our App At Home With Gary SullivanAt Home With Gary Sullivan A Grand Rapids College Professor Goes On Trial For Manslaughter Accused of killing his son, Professor Timothy Koets, faces the courts. Timothy Koets, a professor at Grand Rapids Community College, whose severely autistic 16-year-old son drowned in an icy backyard pool in March will go to trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that authorities said the son, Samuel, had his arms bound when he was found face down in the above-ground pool behind the family's home in Georgetown Township. The Father, Timothy Koets had left him outside when he went to work, and Samuel's mother, Michelle Koets, was asleep inside after working a third shift as a registered nurse. It has been reported that the parents restrained the boy's arms to prevent him from harming himself or others. Samuel was non-verbal and with a history of aggression and wandering off. His parents were advised to not leave the teenager alone, for his own protection. The story continues to become more heart wrenching, as details come out. Timothy's daughters, ages 13 and 18, both testified about witnessing their brother standing in the pool in frigid temperatures. In the past Child Protective Services have been involved with the family and Judge Judy Mulder said Timothy Koets should stand trial for the more serious charge he faced in connection with the March 28 death of Samuel Koets, which is second-degree child abuse. A Grand Rapids Adoption Goes Viral Filed Under: Murder 2020 WKMI, Townsquare Media, Inc. All rights reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8423
__label__cc	0.50032	0.49968	Cael Brunson is very excited to jump into journalism Always being interested in journalism but never really following through with the interest, Brunson is excited to continue with the year. “I have so many topics I want to cover, un-average topics that most students at West Linn High haven't even thought of” stated Brunson in a recent interview. With a love of wrestling, professional e-sports, and vexillology, Brunson has many often unseen topics to share, and insider access to popular topics that very few other journalist get. “As an avid competitor in SSBM tournaments, and a passion for Counter-Strike, it’s my main goal to bring the world of e-sports into West Linn. There's so much potential hidden in this small city, and I'm surprised it hasn’t been brought to its full potential yet.” Brunson said In his future, Brunson hopes to get a degree in software development, and a degree in bioengineering. He also hopes to continue to wrestle through college, “Wrestling has been a major part in my life for as long as I can remember. Wrestling has taught me how to lead, work hard, and understand the process to accomplishments” Brunson is eager to start the year, and will be pushing out material to the best of his ability. Cael Brunson, Staff Reporter Athletes tackle PowderPuff (Story) Interview with my mother about my brothers, wrestling, disappointment, and success (Story) What SafeOregon is and what they do (Story) Cael Brunson	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8424
__label__wiki	0.544115	0.544115	Edward II (1307-1327) was physically very like his father Edward I but in character he was very different. Edward II was no warrior and had no head for government. He ignored his nobles and had two favourites, Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser, on whom he lavished titles and gifts of lands. This led to vicious fighting between Edward and his nobles and much uncertainty and unhappiness for the country and people. Edward II's wife, Queen Isabella, was the daughter of King Philip IV of France and a beautiful, clever and respected lady. She put up with a lot from her husband but when Henry and Despenser began to wage war against the barons she decided she had had enough! She left her husband and, together with her lover, the nobleman Richard Mortimer, she raised an army in 1326 and moved rapidly through England while the king's forces deserted him. She imprisoned Edward and ruled herself as regent to her young son, Edward IV. In prison Edward was murdered horrifically with a red hot poker! Some say that Queen Isabella ordered the murder but of course there is no proof! Caernarfon Castle Newspaper Writing Prompt We have left space for a headline so you can choose your own story on this newspaper writing prompt. Perhaps you might write about the building of the castle or the birth of Edward II or perhaps you might like to write about a visit or event that you attended. Caernarfon Castle Poster Whether you are making a display about Wales, looking at landmarks of the UK, or looking at King Edward I we have a Caernarfon Castle poster for you to print and display. Caernarfon Castle Poster 2 Edward I spent a huge sum of money building Caernarfon Castle - around £22,000 at a time when a skilled craftsman only earned around 3 pence per day! Caernarfon Castle Writing Page Use our Caernarfon Castle writing page to plan or record a visit or to write up research on the history of the castle. Edward III British Kings and Queens House of Plantagenet	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8427
__label__cc	0.521899	0.478101	the star of Hellblazer comics and the movie Constantine John Constantine is the central character in the comic book series Hellblazer. He is portrayed as a humanist in the comic book series, but was overtly portrayed as a Catholic character in the feature film adaptation titled Constantine, starring Keanu Reeves in the title role. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Constantine From: David Wade, "Culture Watch: Holy Warrior Nuns, Batman! Comic books take on the world of faith and spirituality", published in Sojourner Magazine, July 2004 (http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0407&article=040738; viewed 6 June 2006): The offspring of Eisner's groundbreaking work is found in Vertigo Comics, an imprint of DC Comics, the home of Superman. These comics have had a love affair with Christian eschatology since day one, according to Vertigo writer Mike Carey. Titles such as Hellblazer, Preacher, Sandman, and Lucifer have all drawn on Christian imagery and ideas for some or all of their setup, characters, and backdrops. From: "An argument for why religion should stay out of comics" message board started 17 May 2006 on official DC Comics website (http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/thread.jspa?threadID=2000076170&start=15; viewed 30 May 2006): phunengames No religion in comics? Here are some of the things that may be missed or have to be adjusted. Post subject: Religious Inclinations of heroes What about other heroes? I notice religion rarely plays a part in mainstream superhero comics (absent things like the Vertigo line) but have you ever picked up on hints or outright admissions by some heroes as to their religious inclinations? Seems that atheistic heroes are as rare in comics as in real life. If they are religious it's a sort Judaeo-Christian wishy washy sort of religion... Any other examples of guesses? What category would Constantine fall under? He knows God and the devil exist. He's literally given the finger to the three rulers of hell and caused an archangel to fall from grace. Course, he despises Catholicism with an extreme passion. Can't say he doesn't believe in them, since he's had first hand encounters. So... where would he fit in? Stofsk Antitheist, perhaps? From: alasdairw Date: Thurs, May 14 1998 12:00 am re: "Alright. Does anyone have any other instances of positive (or negative) portrayals of religion in comics?" Preacher, Hellblazer, Books of Magic, Sandman, Invisibles, Swamp Thing, Hitman. Just off the top of my head. It does rather depend on what you define as religion. kingfish hobo juckie (jdsalmo...), December 1st, 2005 I wonder how that guy feels when angels and demons and Lucifer show up in Hellblazer? From: reader comments accompanying "Holy Superheroes" article, written by Steven Waldman and Michael Kress, posted 12 June 2006 on BeliefNet.com website; reprint of "Beliefwatch: Good Fight" article published in Newsweek, 19 June 2006 issue (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/193/story_19306_1.html; viewed 14 June 2006): dplatt I agree, this is a great topic. Jestrfyl, thank you for mentioning Testament, which is a wonderful comic. I would also mention Promethea (paganism), Sandman..., Kirby's New Gods... and even Hellblazer. I'm impressed that comics have been so daring in this subject... I find this [religious comic book characters] an interesting topic... BTW, one Hellblazer annual (John Constantine's book) was extremely Pagan. ;-) [winking smiley emoticon] My alternate title for this topic was "Mommy, what religion is the Hulk?". This web-site has a listing of most superheroes and supervillains and their religious affiliation. I've been having lots of fun with this site! John Constantine is listed as a humanist. Apparently Superman is Methodist. Who knew? Apparently someone named Orgazmo is a Latter Day Saint . . . well, now. How many of the villains will be atheist? Most? No, Mothman, for one, is Jewish. Of course. Holy sh--! Death is Mormon! I kid you not! That blows my freakin' world! All these questions and more will be answered here! ...Now I think about it, wasn't Constantine raised Catholic as well? You get that impression from a lot of Delano's stuff, even if he's turned to secular humanism since. (And all of Ennis', obviously.) What was Constantine's parents' religion? Would it be safe to guess Church of England? Cheryl and Tony were Protestants of some kind (I can't see Catholics going along with the Resurrection Crusade). QUOTE: Cheryl and Tony were protestants of some kind (I can't see Catholics going along with the Resurrection Crusade). That was more Tony than Cheryl though, wasn't it? (Although now I think about it, there's suggestions that he cold have been raised as either. Ennis has that line about the first priest he ever met trying to cut his dick off with a razor [apparently a "humorous" reference to circumcision], which suggests more that he's Anglican. Jenkins and Delano, on the other hand, seem to suggest that he's more likely to be Catholic.) QUOTE: Ennis has that line about the first priest he ever met trying to cut his dick off with a razor, which suggests more that he's Anglican. In Rake At the Gates Of Hell: it's a reference to a story Ennis did for an annual, in which he runs into a priest with a few odd hang ups while he's in his late teens. If that was the first priest he met, then presumably he'd been dealing with vicars as a child. jaynova I got the reference to the Hellblazer Special; I just didn't realize that they weren't called "priests" in the Anglican church. Can't swear to it, but I'm pretty sure it's vicars not priests the Anglicans have. Right. But, the guy who tried to cut his dick off is referred to as a "priest" in the Special, isn't he? So, that'd make him Catholic, not Anglican. That's what I was saying Christian (possibly not very clearly, for which I apologise): if the sort with a razor was the first priest Constantine met, then he must have been raised within the Anglican church, where they have vicars rather than priests, y'see? There's also the fact that the clerical sidekick Ennis introduced for him was CofE as well, though that may have more to do with Ennis' bile against the Catholic church than anything else. coralys I think that makes sense, Dogpoet. When I read that line "The first priest I ever met..." I understood that he wasn't raised Catholic. Oh, OK. You were referring to Constantine as an Anglican, not the priest. I thought you were saying the priest was an Anglican, because the Anglican church only has Vicars, which makes no sense. I'm pretty sure Jay was confused in the same manner and that's why he thought you were making a joke about Anglicans earlier. I always assumed that John was raised Anglican. After all, it isn't just Catholics that have ownership of guilt! Mar 6, '06, 7:10 pm I think John Constantine is Catholic, too. Bruce Wayne might be Zen Catholic, but I'm just guessing here. Constantine isn't Catholic in the graphic novel, and he is barely Catholic in the movie. Good B movie though, I love how they portray Satan... Comment from: Eric Russell What I find ethically disturbing is the relatively new wave of badboy superheroes who are dark and dirty people but obtain the good guy status just because they fight bad guys. In terms of recent movies, I'm thinking Hellboy, Constantine, Spawn, The Punisher, the guys in Sin City, etc. It's like writers want to make their characters as cool as possible to the fanboy masses while still maintaining an image of a hero who does good. Comment from: The Only True and Living Nathan - http://www.tachyon-city.com Eric, I think part of the problem here is that you're lumping characters who are nominally superheroes, though on the outside edge of that definition, with characters who really AREN'T superheroes. They're comic-book characters; that's not the same thing. Constantine and the Sin City cast draw much more of their foundation from the moral ambiguity found in hardboiled pulp (Sin City especially, though it's stylized almost to the point of parody). This isn't new by any stretch. It's an expansion of the format to include engaging characters who aren't part of the "changing clothes in a phonebooth" crowd. Weiser_Cain I think writers should avoid the subject [of religion] so as not to alienate the fans. Unless it an important part of the story, like in Hellblazer. From: "Increasing comic circulation through different perspectives" forum discussion, started 30 November 2005 on "Comic Bloc" website (http://www.comicbloc.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-15542.html; viewed 20 July 2007): Mark Matthewman ...I also disagree that liberals are inherently more artistic. Some of the greatest artists in comics history have been conservative. Steve Ditko just to name one. Now, granted, most of those who graduate with liberal arts degrees are in fact liberal, but I tend to think that's more of a function of the schools themselves. Look at some of the most popular authors in America to draw a comparispon to a related industry. Tom Clancy's books have an extremely conservative hero and morals written in to their very fabric. I myself have walked away from comics because the message was simple too overt, its one of the reasons why I no longer read Hellblazer. Really I guess what bugs me are the unspoken assumptions in Comics. Businessmen are bad, Politicans are inherantly bad, Soldiers are rarely good, Religon is rarely positive, Poverty is evil. Capital punishment is non-existent, Republicans are very bad, bankers are bad, writers, artists, lawyers, teachers, and swocial workers are inherantly good, the rich are greedy and evil while the poor are noble and good, etc. Like I said, it's why I stopped reading Hellblazer and, in fact, why I no longer read anything by Alan Moore. As good of a writer as he is, as talented as he is, I know that if I read anything he does, I am going to be beat over the head with the message that conservatives are evil, small minde-people who are ruining the world and sending it to hell. And I am not paying good money to get insulted. From: "Religion in the DCU?" forum discussion, started 25 October 2006 on "Comic Bloc" website (http://www.comicbloc.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-37480.html; viewed 20 July 2007): Mark MacMillan I posted this in another thread, but since it goes off-topic I decided to start my own. Anyways... If Fourth World is still in continuity and The Presence is the God of the three major religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) I was wondering... Where do Moses, Jesus and the Prophet Mohammed stand in the DCU? I know the Spear of Destiny is laced with the blood of Christ, but is there anything else that's been mentioned? I know in Hellblazer, they've confirmed Jesus' existence numerous times. I remember (either Ennis or Ellis' run) where Gabriel stated that he had impregnated Mary, and Jesus came from that. CapeandCowl In Hellblazer all religions and all gods are "true". Jesus and the Christian mythos is just part of a larger spiritual world that Constantine is always railing against. From: "Is Bruce Wayne A Religious Person?" forum discussion, started 20 April 2006 on "Killer Movies" website (http://www.killermovies.com/forums/f50/t400582.html; viewed 27 July 2007): Well I know [Batman] KNOWS there's a God. He was on the Justice League (not sure about anymore, have been busy with things other than reading comics) with Zauriel, who's an Angel. Haven't they come into contact with The Spectre, who is God's Wrath? Too many supernatural things, and things that have to do with a higher being have taken place for him to just ignore those things. I think he's too smart to remain ignorant on that. BUT there is a difference in KNOWING and BELIEVING in it. I think he knows but chooses not to believe in it. Chooses not to think that Him being there will change any thing of have any effect in his life. Wasn't that the case with Constantine? He knew but didn't believe? Something like that. [http://www.killermovies.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=400582&pagenumber=2] Constantine knew and believed, but hated it. I guess if you had to do God's dirty work and fight Demons and Hell while still being mortal you would hate to believe what you know as well. Dave_F Did Hellblazer get mentioned yet? I think it was the first comic I ever read that put forth the notion that Angels might not be so good, Devils not so bad. Goes back at least to Jamie Delano's original run, but might extend to some degree back to Alan Moore's Swamp Thing. I remember thinking it was some pretty crazy, subversive stuff back in the late 80s, though it became more and more conventional at Vertigo over time. Webpage created 30 May 2006. Last modified 18 August 2007.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8429
__label__cc	0.618819	0.381181	New Housing Appointment for Home Group Our housing team is delighted to have our first employer’s agent appointment under the Home Group Framework; a development of 39 new two, three and four bedroom homes on South Street, Stillington. £8m UCLan Project Moves Forward A contractor has been awarded to the University of Central Lancashire’s £8 million social spaces project and work has commenced on site. This scheme is a key component of the university’s £200m masterplan. Our teams are project managing the scheme and delivering quantity surveying services. AoC Capital and Estates Conference Our team is looking forward to exhibiting at the AoC Capital and Estates Conference on Wednesday this week. New challenges and opportunities are facing the FE sector and our team is working with a number of colleges providing strategic and property due diligence advice for proposed mergers and funding applications. For further info, call Asif Khamisa on 0845 303 2721. £5.8m Mixed Retail and Residential Development A planning application has been submitted to Trafford Council for a £5.8 million mixed retail and residential development on Norris Road. The exciting scheme for Trafford Housing Trust will include new build apartments, houses and retail units. Practical Completion on £1.2m Housing Scheme A £1.2 million affordable housing scheme has reached practical completion this week. Our teams have been working with Pennaf Housing Group on the sympathetic refurbishment of 8 existing Victorian houses and a public house to provide 10 affordable homes to the Rhyl community. £10m Transformation for Octagon Theatre AA Projects is delighted to be providing quantity surveying services for the £10 million redevelopment of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, which opened in 1967. The plans for redevelopment focus on modernising and enlarging the building to improve accessibility and accommodation for the theatre’s on and off-stage projects.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8432
__label__cc	0.713422	0.286578	Home » Publications » Religious Studies News » Online Issues » RSN October 2013 » Features RSN October 2013 Spotlight on Teaching Academic Abby Ask the Diva Sarah Levine slevine@aarweb.org Guest Column: Mentoring Models with Promise W. Anne Joh, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary W. Anne Joh received her PhD from Drew University in 2003 in theological and philosophical studies. She is the cochair of the Theology and Religious Reflection Section of the American Academy of Religion as well as the faculty director of the Center for Asian/Asian American Ministry at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Joh’s areas of research interests include postcoloniality, gender, affect, war, militarism, trauma, political theory and race, economies of freedom, rights, debt, critical Cold War studies in relation to transpacific Asian America, and theorizing politics of love. She has also written Heart of the Cross: A Postcolonial Christology (Westminster John Knox Press, 2006). Forthcoming are Terror, Trauma and Hope: A Spectrality of the Cross (Westminster John Knox Press) and a co-edited volume, Engaging the United States as a Military Empire: Critical Studies of Christianity from Asian/Asian North American Perspectives. Her contributed essays include “Teaching to Learn from the Other,” “Postcolonialism in Fugue: Contrapuntality of Asian American Experience,” “Loves’ Multiplicity: Jeong and Spivak’s Notes Toward Planetary Love,” “Interrogating Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality in Feminist Theology,” “Gender and Sexuality in Asian American/Pacific Islander (API) Religious and Theological Studies,” “Violence and Asian American Experience: From Abjection to Jeong,” and “Relating to Household Labor Justly.” Joh recently coauthored a report on the 2013 Fund for Theological Education's doctoral theological education consultation, which focused on the mentoring of doctoral-level scholars of color. The full report is available at the Fund for Theological Education's website. At most institutions, mentoring happens capriciously, accidentally, selectively, informally, and sporadically. It is usually characterized as a one-on-one, discreet relationship that is decentralized and unmoored from the very life of the institution. However, good mentoring is about guiding and assisting the birth of a unique scholar—a scholar who can find her own sense of professional identity. This understanding of mentoring places it at the heart of institutional life. Thus a contribution to the emerging theological landscape would be finding ways to deepen and broaden our practices of mentoring within and across institutions. This effort would include thinking more precisely about the distinctions between mentoring and advising, as well as the formal and informal dimensions of mentoring. Mentoring and advising are two distinct ways of nurturing doctoral students. They are not mutually exclusive, but they are also not synonymous. Although an advisor is usually someone within the student’s home institution, the ideal mentor or mentors should not be. An advisor with cultural competency best serves the needs of students by negotiating and navigating their particular institutional culture and the specific requirements of their program. On the other hand, a mentor often offers more general support, critical feedback, and, significantly, contribution to the student’s scholarly formation and self-identity. Programs tend to admit students on an individual basis, paying little or no attention to cohorts of students. Institutions relegate the task of mentoring outside their formal structures if they rely too much on peer mentoring. Doing so requires entering students to scramble for informal ways to negotiate and survive the doctoral program among their cohort. However, given that doctoral programs are competitive and rigorous, institutions should not expect students to mentor each another. Just as relegating the intensive labor of mentoring to faculty of color is an unfair and, in the end, counterintuitive practice to enhance institutional diversity, so too is overreliance on peer mentoring among doctoral students. Institutions could better support doctoral students of color by providing long-term and sustained efforts to keep them in their respective programs until completion, to continue to contribute to their professional development, and to help them find employment after graduation. Mentoring and mentoring styles assume various shapes and forms. Although an individual mentor may contribute much to support and enrich a student’s professional formation, collaborative mentoring—which includes multiple mentors as well as diverse sites—enhances the experience. In particular, students of color experience communal and collective mentoring as two of the best types of mentoring. Yet such practices diverge from what tends to be structurally in place at most institutions. We need to develop more collaborative ways of modeling the multiplicity of mentoring practices and valuing the multiple sites from which such mentoring can emerge. Literature on mentorship best practices also points toward the promise of peer mentoring—an almost untapped resource among doctoral students. Although peer mentoring is important and contributes to the overall health and vitality of students of color, it often happens only informally and in spaces external to the student’s home institution, such as the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI), the Fund for Theological Education (FTE), United Methodist Women of Color (UMCWOC), Pacific, Asian, and North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry (PANAAWTM), and Asian Theological Summer Institute (ATSI). While informal modes of mentoring often happen outside of institutions of higher education, it is critical for these institutions to offer institutional habits of mentoring across racial and ethnic differences. To provide a wide range of support for doctoral students, mentors should include not only people from students’ particular communities, but also mentors who present an intercultural opportunity. For this kind of mentoring to emerge, we must form alliances both within and beyond the local contexts that forge the students’ identities. So far research and data on mentoring students of color is scarce. Even less literature exists on mentoring graduate students of color. Still, it is clear that, although good preparation for intellectual labor happens officially in classrooms, such preparation is insufficient for providing students with the breadth and depth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom they need to successfully navigate a particular profession. Thus, mentoring has become paramount. Debunking Myths about Mentoring Mentoring is not a “banking” or “cloning” system in which the mentee becomes the repository of his/her mentor’s knowledge and opinions. In other words, mentoring is not the process by which the mentor replicates his- or herself through the student. Mentoring is also not extra advising—the belief that mentoring is “advising-plus” gets in the way of truly understanding the nature of the process. Brown, Davis, and McClendon (1999) define mentoring as the process by which a beginner is “positively socialized by a sagacious person for the purpose of learning the traditions, practices, and frameworks of a profession, association, or organization” (Peabody Journal of Education, 74(2): 105–118). Their findings in “Mentoring Graduate Students of Color” suggest the need to debunk existing myths in order for institutions to provide good mentoring. The first myth is the mistaken belief that mentoring graduate students of color is a “moral” and “just” thing to do, but that doing so provides the institution and faculty with no practical benefits. The pervasive mantra “publish or perish” leaves little or no room for work other than what institutions currently count toward faculty promotion and tenure review. Institutions and faculty must give up the myth that mentoring is a one-sided relationship in which only the institution gives to the benefit of the student. Institutions and faculty need to be sensitized to the fact that mentoring is a mutually enriching relationship in which the institution, faculty, and student all benefit from each other’s knowledge and perspective. The second myth is the notion that engaging students of color in the classroom is sufficient. Effective mentoring takes place outside of classrooms when mentors offer students supplemental information, such as pragmatic experiences and insights that are difficult to share within the classroom setting. These venues of academic interaction “move the student closer to witnessing, if not participating in, the totality of his or her chosen professional or academic arena” (Brown et al., 107). Mentoring both inside and outside the classroom improves students’ self-confidence in their ability to do professional work and teaches them how to navigate the formal and informal structures of their profession. According to the study by Brown et al., the third myth is that only faculty of color can mentor students of color. “It is unacceptable for White faculty and their compeers to relegate the mentoring of students of color to faculty of color” (Brown et al., 108). Students of color can be mentored by faculty who are white and by faculty who are not racially marginalized—just as white students can be mentored by faculty of color. Mentoring should not be restricted or confined to shared racial/ethnic markers but should also be transracial. The task of recruiting and nurturing students of color through the commitment of all faculty (and not just faculty of color) requires institutional commitment as well. Institutional commitment is essential because practices conditioned by the previous myth, for example, easily contribute to an unequal workload that can disadvantage faculty of color. The myth not only claims that faculty of color are somehow naturally better suited to mentor students of color, but it also makes less visible the fact that faculty of color also mentor white students. The unspoken and implicit expectation on faculty of color is that in addition to taking care of white students, they will also mentor students of color. Failure to let go of this assumption maintains an unfair division of labor and results in what some faculty of color call “cultural taxation.” In other words, they are expected to pay and perform within the institutional whiteness that fails to recognize the labor-intensiveness of mentoring. Brown et al. find that one of the more damaging myths is the belief that faculty should mentor only those students whose research interests, philosophical perspectives, and backgrounds strongly resonate and reflect their own. Even more so is the idea that mentor and mentee should have strong similarities in “polisocioecoracial” kinship (Brown et al., 109). Of course there are congruencies among some mentors and mentees. However, their study suggests that by placing such a premium on congruence, institutions place graduate students of color at a disadvantage because, in many cases, students who want to do research relevant to his or her community cannot find a mentor. Regardless of race, institutional ethos and habits must encourage faculty to step outside of their own comfort zones because criteria for most research methodologies are not based on one’s race or ethnicity. This last point highlights the importance of institutional clarity on what it means to promote a will for diversity and generating new institutional habits. For example, elsewhere has been noted the need for strategies such as incentives that take account of mentoring in the faculty portfolio. This strategy makes room for mentoring practices not limited to readily perceivable identity markers, whether race, gender, or even research topics. In the process of taking formal account of mentoring, we must recognize that mentoring students whose work challenges institutionalized norms or carries the aftermath of personal or communal trauma requires additional mental and emotional energies. Mentoring requires enormous amounts of energy and time—efforts that often go completely unaccounted for and unacknowledged at the institutional level. Failure to distribute the mentoring workload further disadvantages “racial/ethnic representative” faculty when compared with their white colleagues, who remain free to do the so-called “real” work of the academy. Institutions need structures in place that value and reward such efforts, and that simultaneously create ways of sharing the labor of mentoring students of color across all faculty. Numerous ways exist to remedy the unequal mentoring burden. Institutions need to see the “invisible” labor that faculty of color are often called upon to offer on an individual basis and the significance of such mentoring to students of color and to the institution. Formal ways to recognize and reward faculty who engage in serious mentoring include course reduction, consideration of mentoring in the tenure and promotion portfolio, and inclusion of mentoring as part of one’s administrative load. These institutionalized ways of accounting and acknowledging the labor of mentoring might increase awareness and encourage other faculty to become more engaged in the process, thus contributing to an overall effort to take mentoring more seriously. Multiple Mentoring Modes There is a direct challenge emerging to the predominant notion that scholarship is about knowledge acquisition alone. Rather than separating scholarship from ministry and activism, mentoring sites need to sustain and nurture ways for students to embrace the multiple aspects of their sense of calling—scholarship, teaching, ministry, activism, community development, etc. As a consequence, good mentoring requires more than what can happen within a classroom site. Brown et al. suggest that good mentoring includes three necessary modes: academic midwifery, role molding, and ‘frientoring’ (Brown et al., 113). In the role of academic midwifery, mentors assist the student to find clarity about his or her potential. It involves the “care of the intellectual soul of students” (Brown et al., 114). Mentors assist students in birthing their intellectual ideas, professional practices, and research methodologies; as well as accompany them along their professional development and encourage their scholarly acumen and sense of vocation. A quick reminder here: just as the saying goes “It takes a village to raise a child,” so too does it take a village of mentors to mentor a student. Good academic midwifery requires openness to new ideas and ways of knowing that the student brings. In light of the aforementioned myths, it bears emphasizing that good midwifery can be transracial and involve a mentor’s willingness to become interculturally competent, as well as be available when students experience “intellectual contractions.” Role molding is the mode in which faculty actively engage in the lives of their students by assisting them to enter and carve out space for themselves in their profession. This practical side of mentoring might involve staging mock interviews for the job search process, alerting students to professional events, encouraging them to present research papers, and helping students to link with editors. The third mode of good mentoring is “frientoring.” Frientoring is the interesting nexus between friendship and mentoring. While acknowledging the vast asymmetrical nature of the mentor-mentee relationship, the faculty member provides guidance, and the student provides a modicum of respect in the interactions. Frientoring is the most complex because different cultural backgrounds often have different understandings of this nexus between friendship and mentoring. In some cultures, one’s teacher ought never to be treated as a mutual colleague and friend; in this context, a mentee would hardly ever refer to the mentor by first name. In another paradigm, it might be the most routine practice for mentees to be on a first-name basis with mentors because the relationship is presumed to be on "mutual" footing. Out of the three critical components to mentoring offered by Brown et al., this last one is the most ambivalent and ambiguous because frientoring is the most fraught with cultural coding. Such complex coding can lead to misunderstandings, but it can also lead to opportunities for intercultural growth. The key to successful mentoring of doctoral students from historically underrepresented communities is institutional recognition. Institutions that adopt both inter- and intra-institutional approaches to mentoring by providing financial support and administrative oversight expand the pool and pipeline for faculty of color as their goal, especially in light of the demographic shifts in the United States. Institutions can begin or strengthen the mentoring work already being done by faculty—they can expand and deepen their recognition of how vital and necessary mentoring is to the success of their doctoral programs. Such efforts need to move beyond the expectation that cohorts of incoming students will forge and sustain systems of peer mentoring. If we are to meet the needs of the diverse students currently enrolling, our institutions must recognize that mentoring is integral to the very life of any and all educational environments. One model that theological disciplines might do well to consider is the Compact for Faculty Diversity. The compact is a partnership of regional, federal, and foundation programs that focuses on minority graduate education and faculty diversity across disciplines. In addition to funding doctoral education through multiple fellowship programs, it also offers mentoring, conferences, and a directory of institutions interested in employing persons of color across numerous disciplines. The push for structural and institutional commitment to formal structures of mentoring does not in any way diminish the validity and need for informal mentoring. This happens and is inevitable, given that people are relational. What we do not have and are urgently in need of is something that those in leadership positions committed to empowering diversity and justice can commit to doing: implementing various formal structures for mentoring. Scholarly formation is ongoing and includes the work of knowledge acquisition and vocational formation, as well as mentoring the next generation. Mentoring never stops—mentees become mentors who continue to benefit from more mentoring. Mentoring is the collective and ongoing work of a community that desires to birth the next generation of competent and compassionate leaders for the world. In the Public Interest: "Jean Bethke Elshtain (1941–2013) and the Chastened Lives of Public Scholars" Back to Features main menu	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line8433

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