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She longed to read Ulysses, and when Virginia [Woolf ] produced
it for her, Katherine [Mansfield] began by ridiculing it, and then
suddenly said: “But theres something in this.” This scene, Virginia
thought, remembering it almost at the end of her life just after
Joyce’s death, “should figure I suppose in the history of literature.” 1

The Life and Times of Abū Tammām (Akhbār Abī Tammām) by Abū Bakr al-Ṣūlī,
more than any other book, illustrates the role of poetry in premodern Islamic
society. Composed over ten centuries ago, it brings together two salient person-
alities of cultural history from one of the most dynamic periods of Arabic poetry.
This is the first English translation of the work.2

Abū Tammām

Abū Tammām (d. 231/845 or 232/846) is one of the most celebrated poets in
the Arabic language. He ranks alongside Abū Nuwās (d. ca. 198/813), famed
wine poet and hedonist, and al-Mutanabbī (d. 354/965), self-declared prophet
and supreme panegyrist. Yet Abū Tammām is virtually unknown in the West.
This is largely because his poetic style is very difficult, resulting in a dearth of
translations of his verse. Furthermore, Abū Tammām excelled in the composi-
tion of the panegyric, a genre that does not sit well with current sensibilities
and expectations about the nature and purpose of poetry. Still, classical Arabic
poetry, including the panegyric as a major genre, was understood to be a pow-
erful and prestigious form of communication, and a specific audience response
was the declared goal of much of this poetry. The present book aims to remedy
the dearth of translations and the obscurity of genre and poet by making many
passages of Abū Tammām’s odes available side by side in Arabic and English and
by presenting these excerpts within their performance context, showing how
these poems “worked”—that is to say, why they were written, which issues they
treated, and how their audience reacted to them.

and of Greek Christian background (his father owned a wine shop in Damascus). which programmatically imported foreign sci- ence and offered non-Arabs far greater opportunities for professional and social advancement than had previously been the case under the Umayyads (41–132/ 661–750). grammarians and poets were important cultural forces. Born in the Syrian countryside. 218–27/833–42). and on the execution of General Afshīn for high treason. Abū Tammām was appointed head of the postal service in Mosul through the good offices of one such patron. Unlike many poets of the time. where Abū Tammām traveled to present them his odes. he engaged in menial occupations until he eventually took up the study of poetry. The Book on Bravery (Kitāb al-Ḥamāsah). Abū Tammām’s poetry captured the atmosphere of his time. Abū Tammām’s career reached its peak under Caliph al-Muʿtaṣim (r. His success was slow in coming. Government scribes and high-ranking civil servants also patronized the poet. on the quelling of the Bābak revolt. 86. In the last year of his life. Abū Tammām’s next patrons were generals in the army of Caliph al-Maʾmūn (r. Abū Tammām did not serve an apprenticeship with any other poet. xiv . The poet celebrated al-Muʿtaṣim’s reign in famous odes.3). nor did they need to follow the standards of linguistic purity generally held to be the preserve of the Bedouin. among them. In it he pro- moted and developed an avant-garde aesthetic that mirrored the intellectual and artistic flourishing of the day. Another group of patrons comprised regional rulers. His first patrons were local Syrian dignitaries whom he lampooned when his praise poems did not yield the desired result—payment. It also reflected the greater cultural open- ness of the Abbasid dynasty. but studied his predecessors’ work in book form (§§65. 197–218/813–33). Poets no longer hailed solely from Arab tribes. such as those on the conquest of the Byzantine border fortress Amorium. Abū Tammām is said to have put this book together in a patron’s library when he was snowed in during his travels. though some deemed (the threat of ) lampoons a more effective tool. In Baghdad. They became long-standing supporters and were the recip- ients of many of Abū Tammām’s odes throughout their lives. Panegyrics consti- tuted the main source of income for a professional poet. From such books he also compiled a number of anthologies.2. his loss was mourned by this patron and by many fellow poets. When Abū Tammām died. Introduction At first glance Abū Tammām3 seems an unlikely candidate for a poetic career. The Abbasid elite took pains to acquire and demonstrate their eru- dition. some from as far away as Khurasan (northeast Iran).

and antitheses. and enjoying the social status that came with their wealth. They swiftly climbed the social ladder. one had to be prepared to discuss it (§10. paradoxes. One social group that figures prominently in al-Ṣūlī’s book is the scribes. In the far-flung lands of the Abbasid caliphate. Financially secure in their government employment.2). His verse most obviously displays the features of what came to be known as the “New Style” (badī ʿ ). non-Arabs (mostly Persians and Aramaic-speakers) flourished in administrative service.1). who are ubiquitous as financial supporters and artistic partisans of Abū Tammām. They came from many different back- grounds. Introduction They now came from many backgrounds. outweighed factors such as religious persuasion or ethnic prov- enance. Abū Tammām relied greatly on his own ingenuity in introducing what some thought were incongruous elements into his particular brand of the New Style. his poetry sounded very different from what had come before. however. It echoed the tradition but gave it a new feel. Baghdadi sophistication came to compete with the cultural ideal of Bedouin purity of language. was that they were not dependent on poetry as xv . In fact. they were in a stronger position than were the poets and scholars on whom rulers called at their whim. sorely needed to run the empire. These scribes acted as sponsors of poets. It quickly became both wildly controversial and wildly popular. But he merged these with an archaic Bedouin lexicon and older poetic motifs. as go-betweens who secured stipends and rewards for them. Abū Tammām forcefully promoted a new avant-garde aesthetic that introduced more craftsmanship and rhetorical finesse into poetry. especially Persian and Byzantine. and not all of them were Muslims. some scribes even tried their hand at poetry them- selves. and specialized in the per- sonification of abstract concepts. Al-Ṣūlī says as much himself. but their skills. As a result. Some found it daring. these highly educated clerks became the mainstay of government. and petitions” (§11. whether one liked his verse or not. so much so that it shocked. writings. He created logical twists. The difference. Their profession necessi- tated training in sundry subjects of elite culture beyond basic competence in the Arabic language and script. and as amateur critics of poetry. Even his critics recognized that he had invented an impres- sive array of poetic motifs. pithy sayings. and created new genres that reflected contemporary material and intellectual life. and some estab- lished veritable dynasties. Others deemed it strange. Abū Tammām was the talk of his time. referring to Abū Tammām and other modern poets: “Their poetry is also more suited to its time and people employ it more in their gatherings.

He was writing a century after the events he records. 356/967) quoted al-Ṣūlī extensively. helping them to while away their idle hours with erudite and entertaining xvi . with the exception of al-Ṣūlī’s uncle Ibrāhīm ibn al-ʿAbbās (d. and al-Mubarrad. His Turkish ancestor Ṣūl had governed the region of Jurjān southwest of the Caspian Sea and adopted Islam under the general Yazīd ibn al-Muhallab (d. though the debate had shifted from the Ancients (awāʾil) versus the Moderns (muḥdathūn) to the pitting of individual modern poets against one another. and gifted with an aesthetic perception that enabled him to compose nuanced portraits of literary life both of the earlier third/ninth century and his own day. 371/981–82). 102/720). Some half a century later al-Marzubānī (d. and he quotes many addi- tional authorities in his works. Subsequent family members were mostly officials in the chancery. Al-Ṣūlī’s contemporary al-Āmidī (d. 335/946 or 336/947). In introducing and commenting on Abū Tammām’s life and poetry. but matters were not yet completely settled. Thaʿlab. The tumultuous state of Abū Tammām’s reception is conveyed in the fresh and refreshingly opinionated voice of Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā l-Ṣūlī (d. Al-Ṣūlī studied with the leading scholars of his day. including the philologists Abū Dāwūd al-Sijistānī. Introduction a source of income. because their authority hinged on their expertise in the ancient corpus. champions the latter. 413/1022) in his Flowering of the Literary Arts (Zahr al-ādāb).5 Al-Ṣūlī Abū Bakr al-Ṣūlī6 was a man steeped in the culture of his time. who excelled both as a poet and a secretary. and eminent luminaries like al-Marzubānī and Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣbahānī (d. His student al-Tanūkhī (d. in his Embroidered Book (al-Muwashshaḥ). A shorter debate is cited by al-Ḥuṣrī (d. al-Ṣūlī laid the groundwork for a tradition of serious poetic criticism of Abū Tammām’s work. a liberty that the philologists could not afford. 384/994). positioned through descent and education at the very top of society. in his book Weighing Up the Merits of Abū Tammām and His Disciple al-Buḥturī (Muwāzanah bayna Abī Tammām wa-l-Buḥturī). Thus they judged it according to their taste and were open to new fashions. The bulk of al-Ṣūlī’s life was devoted to serving several caliphs as compan- ion. 383/994) became a cel- ebrated adab author in his own right.4 Al-Āmidī also includes in his book the record of a long debate between supporters of the two poets. collects Abū Tammām’s poetic short comings. 243/857 or later).

1). 329–33/940–44) al-Ṣūlī’s fortunes waned. Muzāḥim ibn Fātik. who died in 286/899 and 291/904 respectively. which means that it probably happened during al-Ṣūlī’s temporary absence from court under al-Qāhir (r. he made his way to the Turkish commander and future regent Bajkam (d. During the previous century. where he died in 335/946–47. remains strangely obscure. Thus a text’s journey from mem- orization to oral transmission to written transcript. show the history of their inception in their structure—and they differ from the continuous text we expect of books today. gave al-Ṣūlī a privileged position at court. sometimes over as long a period as three centuries. when he became Caliph al-Rāḍī in 322/934. Al-Ṣūlī lived at a time when literary scholarship about an earlier oral tradition had become primarily a written exercise. and as tutor of their sons. The eulogies al-Ṣūlī appended to the names of the two grammarians al-Mubarrad and Thaʿlab (§4. though it did not sacrifice person-to- person teaching and transmission. Introduction conversation. one of whom. was carefully documented. the standardiza- tion of the Arabic language (ʿarabiyyah) and the introduction of papermaking from Central Asia had supported a flourishing book culture. 320–22/932–34). The main ingredient of early Arabic prose was short texts. Al-Ṣūlī owned a large library.4). provide a post quem for the epistle. In search of new patrons. The dedicatory epistle may be a petition for sponsorship and patronage. or akhbār (sg. transmitter after trans mitter. Oral transmission continued to alternate with the use of written sources and is preserved in the introductory chains of transmission (isnād). In fact. 289–95/902–8). however. 329/941) in Mosul before retiring to Basra. the large body of orally transmitted literature accelerated the process of book composition and was one of the conditions for the cultural revolution that xvii . The addressee of its introductory epis- tle. whose favor al-Ṣūlī sought when his star was fading.7 No contemporary source mentions him. The composition of The Life and Times of Abū Tammām probably dates to the last two decades of al-Ṣūlī’s life. Muzāḥim may thus have been a military man of minor impor- tance but with literary interests. Thereafter al-Muqtadir (r. khabar). which had been transmitted from as early as the sixth century ad.8 but claimed to have studied all his books with relevant authorities. or after his final departure from it under al-Muttaqī. but al-Ṣūlī tells us that the composition of The Life and Times of Abū Tammām took place during a period of disgrace (§2. It was his chess playing that first earned him the attention of Caliph al-Muktafī (r. 295–317/908–29) entrusted him the care of his two sons. The books of this era. With al-Muttaqī (r.

treat history and poetry. sorted. from the most recent to the earliest—“headnotes” so to speak. In the fourth/tenth century. and chains of transmitters lost their original function. the oral texts in circulation needed to be collected. Authors wrote in this way because they wanted to authenticate their materials. Al-Ṣūlī is an “interfering” compiler who leaves his readers in no doubt about his interpretation of the material he collected. Compiling required its own set of skills—the sources still needed to be cited—but disci- plines differed in the level of strictness in evaluating the reliability of the trans- mitters: those of literature and history were not given the same scrutiny as those of Hadith. He collected the work of nearly every major Abbasid poet and of numerous minor ones. But al-Ṣūlī also treated poetry in its social context. the lines of transmitters are akin to modern footnotes. and integrating them into a new overall narrative. Abū Tammām. and his list of edited dīwāns10 reads like a who’s who of early Abbasid literature. and presented on the page. clustering variant retellings of the same event. And because many of his texts were contemporary with his subject. which served as a basis of religious ritual and law. commenting on their differences and relative authenticity. Individual compilers differed in their degree of intervention in their material. was referred to as taṣnīf. simply arranging snippets of text into thematic chapters. many of which are extant. or it could be more extensive. except that they come at the begin- ning of an account in reverse chronological order. There were two main terms for the production of a book. and The Scribe’s Vademecum (Adab al-kuttāb) imparts technical advice and epistolary etiquette to secretar- ies. One kind. as he deemed audience appreciation important in a proper evaluation of the art of the word. the redacting of oral matter. The composing of a text from scratch was known as taʾlīf. each piece captures one situation from a specific angle and together with the others creates a kaleidoscope. It could be minimal. thus. While a compiler basically arranged preexisting texts. compil- ing was no less scholarly or creative than composing anew. Al-Ṣūlī’s own writings. To this end he collected xviii .9 His Book of Folios (Kitāb al-Awrāq) chronicles literary aspects of the court during the reigns of caliphs he knew personally. they strengthened al-Ṣūlī’s case of showing the poet’s acclaim historically. writing from scratch would come to dominate. But al-Ṣūlī’s main concern was modern poetry. Introduction led to the emergence of the Arabic book. becoming instead a literary device authors played with or something they invented outright. Compilation does not make for fluid reading—like a snapshot.

the first stage represented by the akhbār. Al-Ṣūlī also throws light on the social classes that made it possible for the elite patrons to sponsor poets. during Abū Tammām’s lifetime no other poet “could earn a single dirham” (§58). The patrons formed one important audience group. What is more. worked against making Abū Tammām’s innovation uniformly welcome. Introduction narratives about poets’ verses recited in public. generals. We meet the patrons who rewarded poetry with generous sums of money. According to some contemporaries. 69. Rulers. and between poets and their intermediaries.1–4).12 Al-Ṣūlī includes chapters on select patrons who supported Abū Tammām as a testimony to the poet’s success. and the second by the activity of the compiler. This support of the elite was both material and verbal (§§66. their occasions of delivery. The Life and Times of Abū Tammām offers unique insight into the formative phase of Arabic poetic criticism. and high officials made the novel style not only acceptable but turned it into the ruling fashion for panegyrics in their honor. Baghdad.1–2. the philologists. it reveals two stages in the eventful process of the reception of Abū Tammām and his poetry. The first stage. others found objectionable. who connected them to the corridors of power. What some relished and paid highly for. and intellectual developments. charts practical criticism from the poet’s time: different groups of critics (and fans) are featured and their agendas are evident. As a compilation.14 xix . disliked. the layer of the akhbār. It showcases the vibrancy of the life of poetry in the third/ninth century. robes of honor. and paid positions.11 The Life and Times of Abū Tammām The Life and Times of Abū Tammām takes readers to the heart of classical Arabic literary and court culture. A similar work on al-Buḥturī does not survive as an independent book but has been reassembled from its quotations in the sources by the scholar Ṣāliḥ al-Ashtar. and poetry was a principal source. or did not understand. The book lies at the crossroads of various cultural.13 The high Arabic language was still being codified in grammar books. literary. and their critical reception. He describes the day-to-day dealings between indi- vidual poets. His book on Abū Tammām is a fine demonstration of this. He thus paints a lively picture of literary life in the capital. and in the palatine city of Samarra. This central role of poetry as a cultural commodity and the importance of its professional stakeholders.

al-Ṣūlī was an even-handed arbiter between ancient and modern poets. which claimed the status of schol- arship. When he was asked. as well as his extensive commentary on sev- eral of the accounts he cites. “Did al-Muʿtaṣim understand anything of your poetry?” (§167). “Why can’t you understand the poetry that is composed?” (§42.6). “Why don’t you compose poetry that can be understood?” Abū Tammām answered impatiently. Al-Ṣūlī lived a century after his protagonist.1). while considering features other than the purely linguistic. What was true for caliphs also applied to phi- lologists and transmitters. when personal attack had matured into scholarly debate. who had a professional mastery of classical Arabic. Al-Ṣūlī. shows those ideas in ferment. the poet’s answer was ambiguous. The material al-Ṣūlī provides is unusually concise. Their apprecia- tion of his poetry was something the caliphs did not necessarily share. and the contested ideas were being reformulated with greater precision. He speaks in his own voice as an expert arbiter. composed when xx . The same is true of his subject Abū Tammām. Introduction Abū Tammām’s sophisticated intellectual style was of particular appeal to the scribes. even though he boasted of his own additions: “The ancient poet has left so much for the modern!” (§109). and concrete. Despite his clear preference for. Thanks to the efforts of al-Ṣūlī. he well knew the indebtedness of the Moderns to their predecessors. and defense of. and as one who defends the separation of poetics and philology. 392/1002) Mediation between al-Mutanabbī and His Opponents (al-Wasāṭah bayn al-Mutanabbī wa-khuṣūmihi). who excerpted and reused ancient poetry. The second stage. His ire was directed at those critics of the Moderns whom he deemed incom- petent and dishonest (§§9–10 and 69. the contemporary poetic style. Abū Tammām thus heralded a crucial phase of growth in the study of Arabic as a language and of literary criticism: much of the debate surrounding the poet can be explained as a turf war between the recently established discipline of lan- guage and the competing fledgling discipline of poetics. In response to one scholar’s question. This layer of the compilation thus presents the words of others. the layer of the compiler’s craft. accessible. presents the arguments of the author-collector al-Ṣūlī himself. Being a poet and an expert on poetic motifs. the contemporaries of Abū Tammām. by collecting sources contemporary with Abū Tammām. who occasionally conceded their befuddlement at Abū Tammām’s verse. Abū Tammām was enshrined as one of the classics in al-Qāḍī l-Jurjānī’s (d. He highlights the significance of the new type of poetic criticism. cast into a vivid tableau.

But the favor of the patron and his brothers encourages al-Ṣūlī to continue with the com- mission.1–26. Al-Ṣūlī then (in §§3–5. The epistle is followed by a long chapter on the status of Abū Tammām as recorded in instances of practical criticism.15 The open- ing (§§2. He next explains (in §§5. experts on ancient poetry. and a prince represent elite support and establish the wide acclaim the poet received.1–18. Contents The Life and Times of Abū Tammām opens with an introductory epistle. two governors. two high officials. addressed to one Muzāḥim ibn Fātik. The subsequent fifth/eleventh and sixth/twelfth cen- turies saw a wealth of commentaries on both Abū Tammām’s Dīwān and his Hamāsah anthology. had become the major bone of contention.2) makes an unfavorable com- parison between over-ambitious and pretentious contemporary literary schol- arship and the integrity of the previous generation.16 In his rebuttal al-Ṣūlī shows how the Moderns improved upon the motifs of the Ancients. Al-Ṣulī intimates that his new and superior edition will supersede any other extant versions of Abū Tammām’s poems. about whom almost nothing is known. 471/1078 or 474/1081) defined metaphor and imagery through a heavy reliance on both Abū Tammām’s and al-Mutanabbī’s verses. and then by chapters that describe Abū Tammām’s dealings with illustrious patrons. Introduction the next genius of Arabic poetry. The Life and Times of Abū xxi . In §§9. which is also intended as a corrective to the circulation of corrupt variants of verses by Abū Tammām. The great theorist ʿAbd al-Qāhir al-Jurjānī (d.1–8) how badly he has suffered at the hands of contemporary scholars. He describes how this group criticizes Abū Tammām as a means of self-promotion. al-Mutanabbī. The treatise concludes with shorter chapters on negative criticism and the end of the poet’s life. Al-Ṣūlī rebuts the criticism of one particular metaphor and lambasts the ignorance of critics in general and sets Abū Tammām’s borrow- ing alongside his inventiveness. two generals.3). in the same way as al-Ṣūlī’s edition of Abū Nuwās’s collected poems had done (§27). who deliber- ately avoided his poetry and modern poetry generally.17 Al-Ṣūlī next identifies the second kind of critic of Abū Tammām: would-be litterateurs (§§19.1–4) recapitulates the conversation between al-Ṣūlī and Muzāḥim that prompted the commission to compose The Life and Times and edit the Collected Poems of Abū Tammām. he describes how Abū Tammām was and continues to be faulted by one group of scholars. The epistle ends (§§27–28) with the plan of the book. A judge.

19 and a Nuʿmānī scribe (§95. who claimed poetry as their scholarly province. 179). admitting his innovation not in kind but in degree. briefly characterized in what follows. notably in the Qurʾan. 51.1–3). excluding him from his book on poets and referring to him as an orator instead (§122. they touch on many more aspects than are reflected in the chapter headings. Abū Tammām’s verse posed a particular challenge. such as Ibn al-Aʿrābī (§123). “The Superiority of Abū Tammām.6. and the etiquette of literary gather- ings.1–2) and al-Mubarrad (§§4. The short texts that make up the collection depict real-life situations. Fellow poets were divided. or which hurdles he had to brave to find a sponsor or get a promised reward dis- bursed. 10. Other philologists remained puzzled and undecided. To the philologists. were admirers. such as al-Ḥasan ibn Wahb.2.1–4). the secretary al-Ḥasan ibn Wahb (§61. what sort of tools he had at his disposal. ʿAlī ibn al-Jahm (§§31. the court poets of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṭāhir (§64. They even include circumstantial details. who combined material support for the poet with vociferous defense of his odes.3).2). Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥāzim al-Bāhilī (§35).6.1–3. Al-Ṣulī records testimonies by the philologists Thaʿlab (§§4. Criticism In this evolving phase of poetics as a discipline. Many other poets. Ibn al-Rūmī. They contain fascinating information about the professional life of poets.1–2). 91. criticism often took the practi- cal form of abridging odes to include only the best verses. and Muḥammad al-Tawwazī (§125).1–3) and Ibn al-Muʿtazz (§52. Introduction Tammām was in fact originally intended as a preface to the edition of Abū Tammām’s Collected Poems (§28). or by heart). 95.18 In the first and longest chapter. Abū Ḥātim al-Sijistānī (§124). such as imitation and innovation. as al-Ṣūlī tells us was done by the poets ʿUmārah ibn ʿAqīl (§§30. Most importantly. Ibn al-Muʿtazz halfheartedly defended Abū Tammām’s rhetorical figures by claiming older precedents for them. Those most vocal in the poet’s defense were government scribes. 50. how they supported or competed with each other.1–3). and al-Buḥturī (§39).2) in which they either reserved judgment or begrudg- ingly acknowledged Abū Tammām’s merit.” and a later shorter chapter. xxii .” al-Ṣūlī assembles compet- ing opinions about the poet. Notable are the recurrent topics of poetry and poetics. “Criticisms of Abū Tammām. such as ʿUmārah ibn ʿAqīl (§50. such as how a poet composed (with ink on papyrus. Di ʿbil al-Khuzāʿī even denied Abū Tammām the title of poet.

1–6). Imitation Poetic experimentation and toying with older. Introduction In his commentaries.1).5 and 69. “copying. for the general meaning of a passage. Al-Ṣūlī notes how.1. or the fallen moon as an image of the irreplaceable loss of General Muḥammad ibn Ḥumayd al-Ṭūsī (§§69.1)21 reveal as much about attitudes to the influence of one poet on another as they do about specific opin- ions on individual cases of borrowing. maʿnā stands. and self-reliance (§§11. first.1–9).2. This last verse. such as fever for generosity (§21.” “imitating. part of Abū Tammām’s lament for the general.1–2).1–6) and water for blame (§22. “taking. “emulating” (§69. to wit. since such a thing was literally unavoidable in a continuous poetic tradition.1–2). were his novelty. 23. It had already been established that it was not the act of poetic theft itself that mattered for the evaluation. Meaning The principal concepts that were to dominate the discipline of poetics were not yet defined. but rather xxiii . 26. existing motifs led to a debate about originality versus imitation and about authorship. a sword falling from the sky on one’s head as an image of bravery (§71. such as the figs and grapes mentioned in the Amorium ode (§20.1. those that were emphasized time and again. for a smaller theme within a poem. trans- posing.” “reliance” (§44. 52. Novelty The most salient features of Abū Tammām’s skill as a poet. such as exile from home.8. In The Life and Times of Abū Tammām.10–28). is elsewhere condemned as a plagiarism (§94.” “stealing. A good example is maʿnā: this term carries many meanings and nuances that are at times hard to distinguish.20 and his skill at improvisation (§110.2. 72. Abū Tammām transformed a familiar theme of exile as a painful experience into an individual’s decision to enhance his appreciation through absence (§30). al-Ṣūlī argues against criticism of specific metaphors.13).1–10). his development of motifs (§51. and third. Thus al-Ṣūlī argues that criticism of the same verse as both a bad motif and a good theft shows that the criticism is gratuitous.” and “being inspired” (§§55. 103). and against criticism of motifs.1). for example. Different terms. for the particular way in which a poet formulated this. inventiveness. second.

He assembles several series of motifs that show the versatility of poets when they return to the same themes over time. It presents a lively picture of how hotly these were debated and how highly remunerated. and people who do not even merit a lampoon (§§24.8) or “condition” (§81. love lyric).1–6). In other words.5). xxiv . into a more natural language than that of his mentor. One series lists poems describing robes (§§92.. Introduction the manner in which it was carried out. apology. placed in the context of their first recitation and subsequent discussion in literary circles. boast. Al-Buḥturī poured the ideas that he bor- rowed from Abū Tammām. each of which included a catalog of common themes. Poetic Themes Most classical Arabic poems belong to a fixed set of larger genres. responsibility for endeavor but not success (§§25. as al-Ṣūlī shows.1. Abridgments Finally.22 namely precedence in the authorship of a motif in terms of chronology. though inarticulate. precedence in terms of quality (e.2–18). Al-Ṣūlī also lists some themes that the Moderns rendered more successfully than the Ancients did (§§11. al-Buḥturī was clearly second to Abū Tammām.2). 34. §13. the work features selections and abridgments of Abū Tammām’s most famous poems in all genres (panegyric. considered in terms of eloquence and invention. move their listeners (§§100. A poet could thus “earn” the ownership of an existing motif if he outdid its creator.1.1. Audiences and critics would compare the two.1–30). such as pan- egyric or lament. 81. but al-Buḥturī’s fame among contemporaries would soon match Abū Tammām’s.1– 6).1–10). and among contemporaries.5) posited by experts. 52. but al-Ṣūlī makes the point that in terms of cre- ativity. and each poet had his particular supporters.g.24 Al-Buḥturī was a younger poet whom Abū Tammām took under his wing. such as metaphors involving water (§§22.4). poetic excellence creates entitlement (§§26.23 The Presence of al-Buḥturī A long section deals in particular with al-Buḥturī’s borrowings from Abū Tammām (§§44 and 46–48). Al-Ṣūlī refers in this context to a “rule” (§§26. In this way the poet became “more worthy of it” (§§34. sounds that. satire.1–5). lament.

1–3). as confirmed by Ibn Abī Ṭāhir (§53). but then does so. and used his works without giving him credit (§6. The Life and Times of Abū Tammām inaugu- rates a long line of poetic treatises that react to innovations in poetry. and he condemns religious and other biases against.4.3). with “I will mention this” (see §§9. Impressionistic and discursive. 24. Inversely. But he misses no opportunity to promote his own expertise as a com- mentator of poetry (§§2. For example. he proceeds to do so a paragraph later. Al-Ṣūlī dismisses their arguments as gibberish (§§70. Conclusion The Life and Times of Abū Tammām also affords a window on the academic world of Baghdad in the first half of the fourth/tenth century.1.1. Al-Ṣūlī demonstrates great respect for the intellectual property of others (§46. 87.6). 69.9). or slander of. after declaring that God would not ask him to explain scholars’ and poets’ unwarranted criticism of Abū Tammām (§69. 101.1–4).2).1). making a show of not criticizing col- leagues openly (he toys with not naming them). esp.1–2).1–2. 4. poets (§§86. He boasts of his own scholarly propriety.6–9. In the course of his argument. Language- centered philologists and transmitters made up one faction (§§9. Along with Arabic grammar.5. premodern Arabic poetics never lost its dynamic character— ever unfolding in the wake of the seemingly inexhaustible creativity of its poets. He lauds al-Mubarrad and Thaʿlab for not overstepping the limit of their competence by remaining faithful to their discipline (§§4. xxv . Self-promoting amateurs made up the other (§§19. and 28). he complains that scholars like Abū Mūsā l-Ḥāmiḍ25 did not treat him with the same respect.1–8.3.1–7).1). claiming a sense of scholarly duty. mentioning the popularity of his edition of Abū Nuwās’s Collected Poems (§27) and the failure of competitors to match his collection The Life and Times of al-Farazdaq with a similar work on Jarīr (§7. 23. al-Ṣūlī pronounces on professional ethics and his own scholarly eti- quette. 78. Introduction Factions Al-Ṣūlī throws light on the two factions that attacked Abū Tammām.

Related Interests


For Non-Astronomers

The centers of most galaxies in the Universe each contain a supermassive black hole with a mass of more than a hundred million suns. Owing to this massive amount of mass, the gravity from a black hole is so strong that not even light itself can escape from the black hole. In essence, black holes should be, well, black and invisible in space. However, when we look out into the Universe, the most luminous objects are “active galactic nuclei” (AGN) – galaxies who’s centers are so staggeringly bright we often cannot see the rest of the galaxy. The brightness of these AGN are related to the black hole at the center – but how can an object so massive that light cannot escape make so much light!?

The 2015 undergraduate research team at Colgate University Foggy Bottom Telescope (06/2015).

That is the basic question driving my research. The term “active galactic nuclei” is actually an over-arching term for specific types of objects we see in space. In particular, I study blazars – objects similar to other AGN, but with enough differences that blazars can be considered on their own. In fact, the differences are similar to squares and rectangles – all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. All blazars are AGN, but not all AGN are blazars. However, of all galaxies in the Universe, only 10% are “active”, and of those 10%, only one in a thousand AGN are a blazar.

What makes blazars unique is that a jet of high-energy charged particles, such as electrons and protons, are streaming away from the central black hole at speeds near the ultimate speed limit of the universe – the speed of light. These jets are oriented almost directly towards the Earth, similar to a flashlight beam pointing at you at night! Don’t worry, though! These objects are so far away we are only awash in the glow of light coming from the jet, and not actually being hit by anything dangerous!

Just how do these charged particles get going moving so fast? That’s the question!

In order to answer it, I use light across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Just like you can take light and separate it into all the colors of the rainbow, the electromagnetic spectrum extends beyond colors that humans can see. At the lowest-energy end are radio waves, and at the highest energies are gamma rays. I use light from all parts of the spectrum to try to piece together what is causing the light from a blazar and how the charged particles are moving so quickly.

Presenting at the 229th AAS meeting in Grapevine, Texas.

For Astronomers

Blazars are a subclass of quasars, a type of active galactic nuclei (AGN). Blazars are relatively rare, comprising only 5-10% of all quasars, and yet they are the most luminous non-transient sources in the Universe. They produce highly variable broadband emission (from radio waves to gamma rays) dominated by emission from a relativistic jet of charged particles with Lorentz factors as high as 50.

The driving central engine for an AGN is the conversion of gravitational potential energy into radiation as gas and dust falls into the central supermassive black hole of galaxies.

Presenting at the Undergraduate ALFALFA Training meeting at the National Radio Astronomical Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia (06/2016).

The black holes usually have a mass of near a billion solar masses, and have large, likely thick accretion disks providing a thermal component of the radiation. For a reason yet unknown, relativistic jets start extremely close to the black hole near the axis of the accretion disk. However, the dominant components of the observed spectral energy distribution depend on the direction of our line of sight. For objects where our viewing angle is within 40° of the disk equator the object is classified as a non-blazar. If the viewing angle is within 20° of the relativistic jet, the object is classified as a blazar.

In the case of blazars, the emission is dominated by the relativistic jet, as light originating in the jet is relativistically beamed towards us. From other relativistic effects, this light can have extremely short variability timescales, on the range from months and years to as little as tens of minutes.

I currently study the shortest timescales of variability across the electromagnetic spectrum. By observing the differences in brightness across the electromagnetic spectrum, we can begin to piece together what physical processes are occurring in the jet, and what the charged particle distribution is like. To this end, I utilize data obtained at radio wavelengths with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), optical wavelengths with a variety of telescopes (such as the 14-inch telescope at the Colgate University Foggy Bottom Observatory, and the 72-inch Perkins Telescope and 4-meter Discovery Channel Telescope of Lowell Observatory), and gamma-ray wavelengths with the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope.

My most recent research project is characterizing the 2016 multi-wavelength outburst of the blazar 3C454.3. In June 2016 the blazar increased in brightness by a factor of 10 over a week and a half, before decaying to pre-outburst levels over the span of 3 days. This decay was the most precipitous decay seen ever. This structure was seen at both optical and gamma-ray wavelengths. At optical wavelengths the source exhibited variability on the order of 1 magnitude over the course of a single night, dubbed intraday variability. Also, the source exhibited variability of the order 0.05 magnitude over the course of just hours, dubbed micro-variability, that has been exceedingly rare in the observed history of most sources. The findings from this research will be published in an upcoming paper.

Astronomy is useful because it raises us above ourselves; it is useful because it is grand; …. It shows us how small is man’s body, how great his mind, since his intelligence can embrace the whole of this dazzling immensity, where his body is only an obscure point, and enjoy its silent harmony. – Henri Poincaré


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Thought of the Moment

What to Invest In

When it comes to your skills, invest in your strengths.

When it comes to your qualities, invest in your weaknesses.

- Jay Shetty

Slowing Down

- Ovid

New Path

Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation which is not nurturing to the whole person.

- Maya Angelou

Love and Separation

- Kahlil Gibran

Why Haters Hate

Haters hate because there’s something missing within them or within their lives that they see in you. They believe they can’t have it and that causes negative emotion within them. If they believed they could have it too, they would be inspired by you to get it themselves. It would be a positive emotion. The fact that it brings out hate or jealousy is because they don’t believe they can. Belief in possibility is the difference between jealousy and inspiration.

- Emily Maroutian

Kindness is in our power even when fondness is not.

- Henry James

The things you own

The things you own end up owning you.

- Chuck Palhniuk

Be Selective With Your Energy

If you dilute yourself trying to please everyone, you won't have anything substantial or powerful to offer anyone, including yourself. Be selective about where you choose to focus your energy.

- Emily Maroutian

Lust, Love, and Like

- Carl Reiner

Real Freedom

- Russell Brand


What is the dream about the accident?

Natalia Gredyushko
Natalia Gredyushko
August 6, 2012
What is the dream about the accident?

What is the dream about the accident? To learn about the interpretation of this dream definitely will not work, as various sources offer their definitions.

For example, in the dream book, Denise Lynn responds - what a dream is happening to - this is: “this is a pointer that warns and recommends to slow down”. That is, you need to assess the situation in your life, understand what you want and what you expect from life. If the accident occurred on the water, then it is necessary to pay attention to emotionality, perhaps, to reconsider their attitude towards something. The collapse of a small aircraft symbolizes the spiritual body of man. Maybe something is wrong with him?

But the "New Family Dream Book" is alarming. The accident, seen in a dream, in which you have fallen, will indicate only unforeseen circumstances awaiting you in real life. Firstly, it will be health related. If you see that you have easily avoided an accident, then this can mean one thing - you can just as easily get out of a difficult and confusing life situation.Becoming a witness to a catastrophe means that unpleasant situations will occur, but you will not be affected in any way. If you saw in a dream only the consequences of an accident, then in life you should not rely on others then there will be no problems.

What is the dream car accident?

A car accident with fiery jets, screaming, panic, even in a dream will frighten anyone. But in real life it will be a warning about the upcoming scandal, quarrel, conflict situation with the collapse of hopes.

The result will be as follows: the dream that has dreamed does not bode well for real.

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23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 2. Nihilism

[human life seems pointless and absurd]

14 ideas
Jacobi was the first philosopher to talk of nihilism [Jacobi, by Critchley]
The ethical teacher exists to give purpose to what happens necessarily and without purpose [Nietzsche]
Initially nihilism was cosmic, but later Nietzsche saw it as a cultural matter [Nietzsche, by Ansell Pearson]
Nietzsche urges that nihilism be active, and will nothing itself [Nietzsche, by Zizek]
Evidence suggests that humans do not have a purpose [Cioran]


by Eunice Lipton

Rachel Friedberg is a painter at a time when painting is not in fashion, and that's a fact of no consequence, because what Friedberg paints - how the works look, what they're about - is important. "From My Mother's Garden" is an ensemble of pictures addressing issues that compel many writers, choreographers, composers, as well as visual artists today - issues of death, memory and narration.

Friedberg's paintings are about a place: Her mother's garden in Brooklyn where she grew up. It is the focal point, psychologically and metaphorically, of life and death, presence and absence. It is in and around the garden that the crucial conversations take place.

The garden is figured as a round form with paths entering at either end; occasionally it is a bower and rectangular in shape. Sometime the round form is simply a table, the rectangle a door or an architectural enclosure. But all are sites where life does or does not unfold.


Thursday, February 11, 2010

What's Next?

I’ve got one more book in the series I’ve been writing over the past few years. The cover will be blue. I know most of the characters. I know something of the events that will be taking place in town at the time of the story. I know some of the things that will happen. I used the previous book to setup part of the story. I just have one problem; I don’t know what the story is about.

With me knowing so much already, you would think I would be set. If I were like some authors, I might just start typing and see what happens, but I haven’t found that to be an effective way to work. If someone were to ask me about the story, I could say that Sara is the protagonist and that a movie is being filmed on the street in front of Ellen’s café. Kelly has a role in the movie. David and the other movie people from And Thy House are all there. Ellen has a contract to feed the cast and crew, so Sara has a good excuse to hang around the movie set. Kelly’s dad will be making an appearance. I may bring Neal home for the summer, and Kelly’s mother still has all of her problems. With Kelly’s dad in town and Kelly involved with it, she is not going to be a happy camper. But all of that is just setting and backstory. What I need is a premise that is suitable for a character of Sara’s caliber and one that will allow me to incorporate the storylines of the other characters.

It comes down to a question of what will happen in the first part of the second act, which in our Universal Outline is the fun and games section. What is it that Sara will be doing in her effort to accomplish whatever it is that she wants to accomplish? In Searching for Mom she was looking for a suitable mother through an online dating service. In For the Love of a Devil, Geoff was doing things that showed his love for Heather, even when she was much too affectionate with other men. So what goal can Sara try to accomplish in this next novel that is suitable for the situation? When I can answer that, I’ll have a story.


Andaman Nicobar, Islands,Port Blair, India

Monday-Saturday : 9:00 AM to 8:00 PMSunday : Closed

Dolphin Cruise

Andaman Dolphin Cruises - Port Blair

Uncover the beauty of the underwater kingdom lying beneath the Andaman Sea, without getting your toes wet. We provide a luxurious window into the mesmerizing world of corals and marine life of Port Blair, from within the comfort & safety of our international quality speedboat.

So come glide with us over the Andaman Sea, explore, and get enchanted!!!

Spacious, luxurious and stylish glass bottom sightseeing commercial hydrofoil boat that offers best in class upscale passenger experience.

Speedboats can run to a speed of 15-40 Knots thus taking you to coral patches where no other boats can reach in time.

The Boat Glides on the sea further enhancing your comfort. Thus the dual advantage of speedboat ride as well as exploring the vibrant marine ecosystem comes under the same package.


Change Your Name Legally

How to Legally Change Your Name

There are many reasons why you may want to change your name. According to Holmes, Diggs & Sadler, the most common motivations behind legal name changes are marriage, divorce, adoption, and custody change. Perhaps you simply want a new name! Here’s how to successfully navigate the legal name changing process:

  1. The first and most important step of a legal name change is choosing what you would like your new name to be. If you’re getting married or divorced, this choice is probably very simple. However, if you choosing a brand new name there are a few rules you must follow. Your new name cannot be generally offensive, violent, or racially charged. You are also not permitted to choose the name of a celebrity, like Brad Pitt or Taylor Swift.
  2. Find all necessary materials and documents. This will differ slightly depending on what state you live in, but in general you will need a petition for Change of Name, your social security card, your birth certificate, a valid photo ID, and an order to show the reason behind your Change of Name.
  3. Once you have gathered all your forms and materials you must file them with the correct court. You will be asked to sign and date all forms at your local court, as well as pay a fee of $100-$200.
  4. The next step is a court hearing. During the hearing, the judge will review your documents and petition and will decide whether or not to grant you a legal change of name. Most name change hearings are quite short and simple.
  5. Lastly, begin the transition into your new name. This includes informing all governmental, financial, and business institutions of your new name. Some necessary institutions to notify include your school, bank, post office and place of work.

Florida Marijuana Possession

Arrested for marijuana possession in Florida?

Dog Bite Injuries

Dog Bite Injuries – The Basics

Dogs are known as man’s best friend, but unfortunately, not all dogs are the sweet and cuddly pets that we know and love. In fact, dog bites account for about 90% of all animal bites in the United States. There are currently around 70 million dogs living in the US and an estimated 4.5 million dog bite incidents occur each year. In 2013 alone, 31 people died from causes related to a dog bite.

According to Spiros Law, P.C., some of the most common injuries and complications that come from dog bites include severe lacerations and puncture wounds, fractured bones, disfiguring scars, life-threatening infections, severe contusions, and nerve damage. About 27,000 dog bite victims undergo reconstructive surgery each year.

There are a few ways to avoid dog bite incidents. For example, stay away from dogs you don’t know and never leave a young child alone with a dog, whether it is familiar or not. When approaching a dog, it is best to do so slowly and give the dog a chance to approach you. Also, never approach or try to play with a dog that is eating or a female dog that is feeding her puppies. If you find yourself in a situation with an aggressive dog, do not panic or run and scream. The best thing to do here is back away slowly and avoid eye contact with the angry canine.

If you have been bitten by a dog and your injuries are not severe, you may feel like you can treat yourself at home and avoid the emergency room. However, it is always best to seek medical attention after a dog bite, especially if the dog was unfamiliar to you. If the bite is deep, you cannot stop the bleeding, or there are any signs of infection, seek medical help right away.

Drinking and Boating

The Danger of Drinking and Boating


FAQ for 4 Buttons triggered MP3 Player Board with 10W Amplifier (FN-BC04)

Q3: Can you add multiple sound files on each of the buttons, i.e. can each button cycle through multiple sound files.

A3: This module only supports one sound file per button. You can load 4 sound files in total, and depending on which of the 4 buttons are pressed, the specific sound file for that button will be played back. If you need multiple sounds per button to see the FN-BC20 or FN-BC10. Also, the USB5M supports more than one sound file per button.

Q4: How do I adjust the volume of the board?

A4:  All you need is a small star point screwdriver. The onboard potentiometer used to adjust the volume is the small blue square just next to the headphone jack. Turn clockwise to increase volume. Turn anticlockwise to decrease volume. This potentiometer only controls the onboard amplifier. It does not control the 3.5mm audio jack volume.

Q6: Is there any way to have an indication of a signal of a state change from the module?

A6: FN-BC04 doesn't support this. Please see the FN-BC10 for that function.
Q7: Is the square potentiometer able to be used to adjust the volume for the audio output from the headphone jack as well?

A7: No, the headphone jack gives an audio signal only to an external amplifier/active speaker/headphone. The volume adjustment relies on the connected devices.

Q8: What bitrate must the MP3 file be?

Q9: What sampling rate must the .WAV file be?

A11: First thing would to do is test if the cable works with other devices such as a phone, if not try a different cable.  Some micro USB cords can only transport power through them, so it is important to make sure the cable can transfer both power and data.

App - https://macpaw.com/cleanmydrive


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Tuesday, 21 August 2018

SSC CPO : English Language Quiz | 21 - 08 - 18

Mahendra Guru : Online Videos For Govt. Exams
SSC CPO : English Language Quiz | 21 - 08 - 18

Q.1-5.ln the questions given below choose the word most opposite in meaning to the given word and mark your answer.

Q.1. Jettison

(A) Accept

(B) Reward

(C) Preserve

(D) Consent

Q.2. Perspicuity

(A) Vagueness

(B) Dullness

(C) Unfameness

(D) Unwillingness

Q.3. Rebellion

(A) Forgiveness

(B) Retribution

(C) Submission

(D) Domination

Q.4. Idiosyncrasy

(A) Insanit

(B) Sanity

(C) Generality

(D) Singularity

Q.5. Sanguine

(A) Diffident

(B) Hopeless

(C) Cynical

(D) Morose

Q.6-10.In questions below out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentence and mark your answer.

Q.6. Release of a prisoner from jail on certain terms and conditions.

(A) Parole

(B) Parley

(C) Pardon

(D) Acquittal

Q.7. To struggle helplessly.

(A) Flounder

(B) Founder

(C) Fumble

(D) Finger

Q.8. Code of diplomatic etiquette and precedence.

(A) Statesmanship

(B) Diplomacy

(C) Hierarchy

(D) Protocol

Q.9. Impossible to describe.

(A) Miraculous

(B) Ineffable

(C) Stupendous

(D) Appalling

Q.10. Detaining and confining someone.

(A) Interruption

(B) Interrogation

(C) Interment

(D) Internment

Q.1.(A) Jettison - to devide, to throw

Consent - agreement

Q.2.(A) Prespicuity - clear, lucid

Vagueness - unclear, unknown

unfaimess - not known everywhere

Q.3.(C) Rebellion - voilent action organized by a group of people

Retribution - deserved and severe punishment

Submission - Give, when a person or group submits to someone.

Q.4.(C) Idiosyncrasy - generality

Sanity - having a healthy mind and not mentally ill.

Q.5.(A) Sanguine - diffident, cheerful

diffident - happy

morose - hopelessly

Q.6.(A) Parley - both sides agreed to settle their differences.

Acquittal - convict, five years ago he was acquitted on a shoplifting charge.

Q.7.(A) Fumble - to do 5th awkwardly.

Q.8.(D) Diplomacy - The management of relationships between countries.

Hierarchy - a system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance.

Q.9.(B) Stupendous - usually in a pleasing way.

Appalling - shocking and very bad.

Q.10.(D) Interment - the act of burying a dead body.


The rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is an eastern bee whose workers have a small rust-colored patch on the middle of their second abdominal segment. This bee was once commonly distributed throughout the east and upper Midwest of the United States, but has declined from an estimated 87% of its historic range in recent years. The rusty-patched bumble bee is an excellent pollinator of wildflowers, cranberries, and other important crops, including plum, apple, alfalfa and onion seed.

Where these bees were once very common, they were nearly impossible to find. B. impatiens has not shown a dramatic decline; Robbin Thorp hypothesizes that B. impatiens may serve as a carrier of an exotic strain ofNosema bombi, although it may not be as severely affected by the disease as B. affinis, B. occidentalis, B. terricola, and B. frankliniB. affinis, B. occidentalis, B. terricola, and B. franklini are closely related to each other (they all belong to the subgenus Bombus sensu stricto). B. impatiens is not as closely related, which may explain the difference in sensitivity to a pathogen. This hypothesis is still in need of validation, although the timing, speed, and severity of the population crashes strongly supports the idea that an introduced disease caused the decline of bees.

A storymap of the #rustypatched bumble bee


For a brief overview of Scarpitta and his art please click here.

Salvatore Scarpitta’s Trevis Race Car (Sal Gambler Special) arrives at SIE.

Exhibit Specialists used cardboard to make detailed templates for creating mounts.

After using the cardboard templates to create acrylic prototypes, CAD files were generated for laser cutting the final pieces out of steel.

For additional support, steel gussets were cut by hand and welded to the laser cut components. The surface of the completed pieces were then polished and given a high gloss powder coat paint.

A total of 8 unique mounts were created to make the cars appear to be resting on their tires. In reality, their weight is being completely supported by the new custom brackets.

SIE staff examine Scarpitta’s Sal Cragar

After leaving SIE the cars were displayed at The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.


Posts Tagged ‘fatigue’

daylight saving blues copy

If you’re still feeling knackered from the time change with daylight saving  you’re not alone. Changing the time throws a kink in the fragile and sensitive human biological clock, leaving many people feeling continuously jet lagged for a few weeks.

An hour of lost sleep might not sound like a big deal, but if you or your friends and coworkers are any indication, it makes for some groggy and grumpy days, bouts of insomnia, and feeling generally off.

It’s not just a hunch — scientific studies have demonstrated various ways in which the bi-annual time change messes with our health.

The body has genes that flip on and off to keep us in a steady rhythm of sleeping and waking. When we throw those genes off beat by artificially changing the time, the effect extends into the rest of the body, including muscles, the skeleton, the pancreas, etc. The disruption is felt body-wide.

How daylight saving time can impact health

This disruption dulls the brain and throws the body’s systems off, resulting in serious and even fatal consequences for some people.

For instance, past studies have shown driving fatalities, workplace injuries, and heart attacks go up after the spring-forward change in time. An Australian study found that even suicides increase after the time change.

Unsurprisingly, work productivity goes down as well, causing losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Night owls, people who naturally are more inclined to stay up late and sleep later in the morning take the longest to recover.

Worst of all, some studies suggest our bodies never really adjust to time changes. We’re designed to sync with natural changes in light throughout the year, not artificially inflicted ones.

How to recover from daylight saving time

Although people complain and we see a spate of news stories every spring bemoaning the change in time, we’re nevertheless stuck with it until politicians add it to their to-do list.

Understanding the effect of the time change on your body can help you better know how to ease the transition into suddenly waking up an hour earlier.

Avoid overdoing it for a while. Because you know your whole body is struggling to adjust to being thrown out of whack, don’t expect too much from yourself. Avoid scheduling high-risk or energy demanding activities the week after the time change. And be extra careful driving.

Schedule in some naps and restful mornings. If you’re like most people, you’ll be sleep-deprived for a week or two. Take a lunch nap in your car at work, let yourself rest on a weekend morning, and be extra disciplined about getting to bed early enough.

Wear orange glasses at night. Wear some orange safety glasses a couple of hours before bed to shield your eyes from artificial blue light from light bulbs, the TV, and computer and phone screens. This facilitates production of sleep hormones and will help ease you into the new schedule.

Get some sunshine during the day. Our bodies were designed to wake and sleep according to the light of the seasons, not an industrialized schedule. Get as much natural light as you can during the day and avoid artificial sources of blue light (computer, TV, smart phones) in the evening.

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crash and awake copy

Why you’re wide awake at 3 or 4 a.m.

At least in theory.

How to fall asleep if you wake up at 3 a.m.

How to avoid the afternoon crash

How do you know if you have low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar symptoms include:

  • Sugar cravings
  • The need for caffeine for energy
  • Eating to relieve fatigue

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DST health impacts

Do you curse every spring when we have to move the clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time (DST)? Does it take you weeks to recover? You’re not alone. Studies show DST is hard on our health and dangerous to boot, making it an outdated relic that adds stress to an already over-stressed society.

DST doesn’t just make people tired in the morning. Studies show the number of car accidents increases after DST, likely due to tired drivers. A Swedish study also found that the risk of heart attacks goes up the first few days after DST, and that risk drops after setting the time back to Standard Time. An Australian study showed an increase in suicides the first few weeks after DST goes into effect.

Some people aren’t ruffled by the change in time, others recover in a few days, and then there are those for whom DST means a few weeks of feeling out of whack while their body adjusts. In fact, one study showed our bodies never fully adjust to DST until we switch back to Standard Time. Night owls are affected the worst, taking as long as three weeks to recover. Research has shown on their days off, people revert to sleeping and waking according to what’s seasonally appropriate, not what DST dictates.

We are designed to gradually adjust to the changes in light as the seasons change. Forcing this change overnight once a year flies in the face of our internal clocks, which are tuned into nature.

This is because light dictates how much of the sleep hormone melatonin we make. The more light we are exposed to the less melatonin we make so that we are awake longer.

The sudden disruption to our internal clocks with the time change and loss of sleep causes a loss in production, concentration, and memory, as well as fatigue and sleepiness during the day.

DST bad for business as well as health

Enacted during World War I to decrease energy costs, DST has now been shown to actually increase energy demands, due largely to more air conditioner use and more driving time to daylight activities. Also, contrary to popular belief, it does not benefit farmers; they actually oppose it. Dairy farmers in particular say cows do not easily adapt to the change in schedule. Orthodox religions don’t like their sunrise and sunset prayer tinkered with. However, the golf, barbecue, and retail industries love it.

Broader research has shown DST costs the economy anywhere from $400 million to $2 billion due to loss of productivity, workplace injury, and “cyber loafing.”

How to cope with Daylight Saving Time

If DST is wrecking you those first few weeks, you can do a few things to help ease the transition (in addition to signing an online petition to end DST):

Lay low until you adjust. Honor the disruption to your natural rhythms and take it easy by avoiding taking on extra activities or added stressors until you feel back to normal. Also, avoid dangerous activities.

Add in extra time to rest and nap. The biggest cost of DST is sleep loss, especially if you are a night owl. It is difficult to go to bed and wake up an hour earlier. Make time for a nap or at least some time to lie down and rest during the day those first few weeks.

Block blue light at night to help you adjust. Wearing orange glasses in the evening a couple of hours before bed will also help increase the production of sleep hormones so you can fall asleep. Exposure to sunlight during the day will also help regulate sleep hormones. You can use a light box in the mornings to help you wake up.

Ask my office for advice on helping you sleep better.

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lazy and unmotivated copy

Are you lazy and unmotivated? Do you have plenty to do, yet spend all your time watching TV or goofing around online, and then beat yourself up for it? Your lack of motivation could signal chronic health issues more so than regrettable character flaws. Although we all need some degree of discipline, life’s daily duties shouldn’t feel like insurmountable chores. Good health means you have the energy, motivation, and desire to not only manage daily life, but also make in time for hobbies, sports, socializing, and special projects.

In functional medicine, laziness and lack of motivation are seen as symptoms of larger health issues that, when addressed and corrected, can make the couch feel like a prison and life outside a playground of adventures waiting to be experienced.

Health issues that can make you lazy and unmotivated

Below are issues that may be sapping your energy, motivation, and desire to more fully live your life.

Blood sugar blues. If you skip breakfast and other meals, subsist on coffee and energy drinks, or if the majority of your meals are based around rice, noodles, pastries, cereal, sugar, and other processed carbohydrates, you are probably riding a roller coaster of blood sugar highs and lows.  Eventually this causes fatigue, brain chemistry imbalances, depression, poor stress-handling, and other fallouts that will send you to the sofa.

Hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. It is the leading cause of hypothyroidism and causes symptoms that include depression, fatigue, weight gain, lethargy, and low motivation. If you have lost your get-up-and-go, have your thyroid screened using functional medicine lab ranges.

Brain chemistry imbalance. Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters relay messages between neurons and play a large role in how we feel and function. When the neurotransmitter dopamine is low it can cause poor motivation and low self-esteem. Serotonin, GABA, and acetylcholine are other neurotransmitters that affect mood, energy, and motivation. Hormonal imbalances, hypothyroidism, high or low blood sugar, and chronic stress are factors that can skew neurotransmitters.

Brain fog. Brain fog is a symptom of brain inflammation. It simply means your brain is firing slowly, causing that heavy, thick, tired feeling in your brain. Things that can cause brain fog include chronic inflammation, an autoimmune reaction in the brain (when the immune system attacks the brain), food sensitivities, hypothyroidism, leaky gut, and hormonal imbalances.

Gluten intolerance. Gluten intolerance has become more common and really drains the energy out of some people. It also causes inflammation, depression, fatigue, and other symptoms that make the couch awfully inviting. Other foods that may cause these reactions include dairy, eggs, soy, corn, and other grains.

Leaky gut. Leaky gut means the lining of the small intestine has become inflamed and overly porous, allowing undigested food particles, bacteria, fungus, and other pathogens into the bloodstream, where they don’t belong. This triggers inflammation in the body and brain. The result can be fatigue, lethargy, lack of motivation, and other couch potato characteristics.

These are just a few examples of how a subtle but chronic health issue can drain you of your drive. Of course, it’s hard to make drastic lifestyle changes when you have no energy or motivation, but start with something small and gradually add in new changes. Ask my office for help on restoring the energy and vitality you were meant to enjoy in life.

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311 always tired

Common causes of constant fatigue

Ask my office how we can help you manage fatigue.

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George Takei (born April 20, 1937) is an American actor and activist who provides the voice for Kyo Heyerdahl. He is best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek franchise, and is also known for his involvment in social media, recently, most notably his criticism against the administration of U.S. president Donald Trump and his cabinet on Twitter.

Following the Harvey Weinstein scandal, he was accused of sexual assault on November 10, 2017 by former model Scott. R Brunton in 1981.


Openings >> HVAC Assist (General Labor)
HVAC Assist (General Labor)
Title:HVAC Assist (General Labor)
Job Type:Full Time
Work Shift:N/A
HVAC Assist
A.      Mission and Scope
The purpose of this position is to perform maintenance and service repairs on heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. Installs new units or replacement parts for existing units according to specifications and established safety guidelines under general supervision and in support of the USSRC mission, vision and values.
B.      Qualifications
Computer Experience:  Must possess knowledge of Windows based operating systems; including some basic associated software applications (i.e. word processing and spreadsheet).
C.      Physical Requirements of the Position
This position has the following special requirements:
  • Walking and climbing (stairs) to access other departments, buildings, and to travel.
  • Sitting for long periods of time (4-6 hours) developing proposals, corresponding with donors, and handling other documents.
  • Standing for short periods of time (2-4 hours) conducting presentations to potential donors, agencies, individuals, and officials.
  • Carrying and lifting supplies and equipment up to 30lbs waist high.
  • Bending, kneeling, and reaching to experience all areas of the USSRC and to conduct tours.
  • Sight, reading, wrist movement, and feeling to operate computer terminal, handle documents, operate automobile for travel, and interact with donors.
  • Talking and Hearing to communicate with supervisors, co-workers, and donors in person and over the telephone.
This position involves working in a climate controlled office environment.  This position will require frequent airline and automobile travel in various weather conditions.  This position deals extensively with individuals and organizations on behalf of the USSRC and the Foundation.  This position deals with employees who interact with assigned area of responsibility.
D.      General Requirements
  1. Willingness to be open to learning and growing
  2. Interpersonal skills to work as an integral part of a team
  3. Appropriate interpersonal/personal boundaries
  4. Maturity of judgment and behavior
  5. Accepts full responsibility of their actions and how these may affect others
  6. Adherence and participation in the Center’s Safety Program
E.       Professional Standards
  1. Understands and follows all policies & procedures
  2. Maintains high standards for work areas and appearance, presents self in a highly professional manner to others and understands that honesty & ethics are essential
  3. Ensures that excellent customer service is maintained with each customer
  4. Maintains a positive attitude toward the position, the company and co-workers
  5. Appreciates that promptness and attendance at work is apart of sustaining a professional relationship with the company
F.       Teamwork Standards
  1. Takes an interest and initiative in the development of the Department’s team
  2. Maintains pleasant and professional relationship with co-workers & assists as needed
  3. Remains positive about the team and facilitates an optimistic approach to resolution of issues
  4. Maintains productive, effective and professional relationships with all departments
G.       Position Duties
  1. Install, maintain and repair heating, ventilation, and cooling units.
  2. Diagnose and repair of electronic, mechanical and electrical components of these systems.
  7. Participate in company provided training opportunities on latest industry technologies.
The above duties reflect the general responsibilities necessary to describe the principal work functions of the job, and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be in the position.
Employee is responsible for working in a safe manner and keeping his/her workplace safe.
This opening is closed and is no longer accepting applications
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Christmas parties - A guide for the socially anxious

Christmas party social anxiety shy introvert help the skill collective psychologist counselling subiaco perth stress burnout

At this time of the year we’re right in the midst of numerous social gatherings – end-of-year drinks with friends, work Christmas parties, holiday catch-up with the soccer team, family gatherings, the list goes on.

While it’s a social time, for some the prospect of enduring gathering after gathering full of people is something that triggers anxiety and even panic. For those experiencing social anxiety, we’ve put together a guide to help get through the holiday season.

What is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety occurs when we feel anxious in social performance situations because of the perceived potential for scrutiny by others or for our anxiety symptoms to ‘leak out’ and be visible to others.

The degree of anxiety experienced can vary according to different factors including who we're around (e.g. people in positions of authority vs. peers) or the type of occasion (e.g. public speaking vs. one-to-one).

In such situations, we can experience a range of physical changes (e.g. increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, butterflies in the stomach, and feeling flushed) as well as cognitive changes (e.g. worrying, jumping to conclusions, mind-reading). There is typically a preference to avoid the situation or, if this is not possible, to endure the situation with intense anxiety.

Social situations can cause us all to feel nervous from time to time, for example when meeting our partner’s family and friends for the first time, or when delivering a presentation to a hundred people.

Signs of nerves getting a bit out of hand include some of the following [1]:

  • The anxiety is in excess of what others would experience in a similar situation.
  • There's deliberate avoidance of situations, for example, sending emails to the manager so as to avoid face-to-face meetings, or catching up individually with team members (at a significant time cost) rather than address everyone at once.
  • There is a need to do certain things to help decrease anxiety in order to get through a situation. This may include drinking alcohol to calm the nerves, carrying medication to calm anxious feelings before they get too intense, or ensuring that our best friend or partner is there before agreeing to attending an event.
  • The anxiety, and the avoidance of such social situations, is having a negative impact on daily functioning. This includes missing out on promotions because the new work role involves public speaking, or turning down the opportunity to coach a sporting team because that would lead to being the focus of attention during a game.

How common is social anxiety disorder?

The 2007 Australian National Mental Health Survey found that, of the 16 million individuals surveyed, 4.7% of these individuals had a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder in the previous 12 months [2]. That’s about 1 in 20 who experience sufficiently severe levels of social anxiety to warrant a diagnosis.

Of course, this only captures those with a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder, and does not include those who may be living with similar difficulties but not yet identified what it is.

Right, so how do I get through Christmas then?

We've put together some simple tips to help you over the next few weeks.

1. Face the fear… one baby step at a time

When we have to face any unfamiliar situation it definitely helps to practice beforehand. Unfortunately it can be difficult to recreate our very own ‘practice work Christmas party’. Instead, try making small talk in ‘low stakes’ situations such as making small talk at the checkout when buying groceries, or asking a stranger for the time. If the consequences of the interaction are small - in that the likelihood of encountering this person again is low - it becomes easier to face the fear.

2. Prepare in advance

Often part of the fear is knowing what to say, particularly when there is a lull in conversation. If it helps, prepare some general conversation topics that could apply in most situations.

For instance, when talking to people who work, some general questions could include asking around how their year at work has been, what projects are on the horizon, and what they have planned for the holidays or how much time they're taking off work.

When talking to parents, you could ask them if they have anything special planned for Christmas, or ask them about their kids.

If you know they're into food and dining you can ask them if they have favourite cuisines, or what the best meal that they've ever had is.

3. Live in the moment, not in your head

We’ve probably all been in conversations where we’ve noticed that the other person isn’t quite listening. Rather, it feels like they're waiting for us to pause before jumping in to say what's been on their mind, irrespective of whether it fits with the flow of the conversation.

These disjointed conversations often arise because we place pressure on ourselves to find something to talk about, or to find 'common ground' with the other person. And, when we live in our heads, we miss out what is in the moment during the conversation.

So, learn to listen actively instead. It is, quite simply, one of the best ways to work out a talking point. Not convinced? Let's say we're talking to an acquaintance about her upcoming holiday in South America where she is particularly looking forward to visiting Machu Picchu in Peru.

Rather than focusing on our thoughts which may include, "What do I know about South America that I can talk about?" or "I have to come up with my own exciting holiday so I don't seem boring.", by focusing on listening to why she is especially looking forward to about Machu Picchu we can 'springboard' off her topic. Questions that easily flow on from looking forward to?", or "Are there other places in Peru that you're planning to visit?"

4. Check your thoughts

We do say to ‘check your thoughts’ a lot at The Skill Collective, and that’s because we really believe that our thoughts can ‘ramp up’ our anxiety. By assuming that we'll definitely embarrass ourselves, that we can’t cope with this awful situation, and that everyone will be staring at us, we let these thoughts increase our anxiety and question our ability to cope.

How true are our thoughts?

  • Do we, ourselves, pay full attention to the situation that we’re in, or are we sometimes caught up in our own thoughts about how tasty the Christmas turkey looks or how we're going to finish our report before we go on leave? If we do sometimes live in our heads, is it possible that others do too, rather than focusing their entire attention on us or judging us negatively?
  • What is the worst thing that someone could think about us? How likely is it that they will be having this exact thought about us?
  •  If we make one small mistake – for example knocking over dropping a bit of salad on the table – how significant will that one small mistake be? Will it be the talking point at Christmases to come? Will anyone else remember dropping the salad?

5. Keep stress levels down in the lead up to the event

Heading straight from one event to another in a short space of time is a recipe for stress and anxiety. So, space out social gatherings where possible, take time prior to the gathering to compose nerves, and do some relaxation to calm stress levels. Just a simple case of breathing slowly in and out can help.

6. Be wary of a bit of 'Dutch courage'

Ah yes, it becomes all too easy doesn’t it, when the majority of social gatherings that we attend serve alcohol. A bit of social lubricant may seem like a good idea at the time, but taken to the extreme we can then forget what we have said, thus potentially creating a further layer of thoughts where we worry about having potentially embarrassed ourselves.

Also, if we rely on alcohol to cope, how can we ever learn that it is possible for us to manage anxiety on our own? That is, we become reliant on alcohol, and we don’t really face the issue.

The steps that we have outlined above are to help make things more bearable over the coming weeks and, as such, focus on small but manageable steps.

While they may be of help over the Christmas period, if you do identify with many of the symptoms of social anxiety described above, please do seek advice from your mental health professional about how to best tailor the above tips to your own situation to produce longer-term improvements.

Thanks for reading. Know someone who may find this of interest? If so, please share with your connections/ social media network.

Want more? You can connect with The Skill Collective in the following ways:

  • Contact us to make an individual appointment to get started on making changes.
  • Want more Wellbeing? Sign up for our FREE 14-day Wellbeing Challenge. Tailored for busy lives we're talking wellbeing tips for better body, mind, and heart in just 15 minutes a day, delivered straight to your inbox.

[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008). National survey of mental health and wellbeing: Summary of results, 2007, cat 4326.0, retrieved 11th December 2015,$File/mha25.pdf


Tag Archives: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

8 Feb

(spoiler alert!)

I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, I have read all the short stories, though still need to read all the novels. I love mysteries, and the detectives who solve them. I was excited about the first Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downy Jr. and was rewarded by the excellent movie. For anyone who is familiar with the Holmes stories it was obvious the character portrayed was, mostly, accurate.

However, I was not as impressed with this second movie. In my opinion they packed too much humor into it, and it seemed more of a action/adventure than a mystery. For every situation it seemed Holmes had to be a clown more than a mastermind. Even in the final moment of him taking down Moriarty it was a joke, “Be careful what you fish for.” Instead of some classy line like “The game is up.”

I like humor mixed in with my shows, but it made the whole movie seem less serious. The first movie did have humor, yes, but you saw Holmes working and investigating more than clowning around. Holmes isn’t really supposed to have a sense of humor, he’s supposed to be eccentric.

The only real part I liked in the movie was the conclusion, the final conflict between Holmes and Moriarty. But it seemed the whole movie was too long of a buildup just for the one reveal. I would have liked more smaller reveals during the movie. More examples of Holmes’ intellectual prowess.

Now I really loved the way Holmes fell over a cliff with Moriarty, because that is exactly the way it happened in the short stories. Both Holmes and Moriarty are master martial artists and they have a final face to face confrontation on a cliff edge. They both fall off, and Holmes actually dies. But by popular demand Doyle had to bring Holmes back to life for more adventures.

Original drawing of their final fight


Taillis by Claire Chauvel

30 copies

 226.84 993.39

Choose a color for floater frame option

Claire Chauvel

Born in 1986, Claire Chauvel has painted and drawn for many years. She immerses herself in nature seeking vibrations, forms and colours to record on canvas, the medium for her internal states. Painting is a link between the inside and outside. She considers each of her paintings as a representation of the given moment, a stage in an endless quest.

Website: www.clairechauvel.fr


Kids DXB Animal Party

Go on safari with Kids DXB’s animal party.

This party allows children to get into the character of their favourite animal through interactive games, recieve a balloon shaped animal of their choice and learn fun facts about animals from around the world.

Games And Activities

Icebreaker 0- 5 minutes

Tiger Chase: One child is given a tail and the other children have to chase the tiger. Children then talk about other animals they know that might have a tail and these are introduced to the game.

Warm Up 5-15 mins

Zoo Keeper: The space is divided into 4 ‘zones of the zoo’ and given a name after an animal children have to move from zone to zone as called out by the party leader in the character of the animal that the zone is named after.

Snake! Children have to jump over a ‘snake’ (rope) as it orbits the party leader in the middle of the circle.

Challenge Time 15-35 mins

Kangaroo Hop: Hoops are laid out in a trail around the space with one group of children at one end and one at the other. The aim is to bound like a kangaroo from hoop to hoop eventually getting to the end of the trail and conquering the other teams base

Draw My Animal: Children put into pairs, with one child given a picture of a certain animal. They have to try to explain what to their partner how to draw the animal that they have on the card without showing them. The first pair to corectly guess their animal wins.

Games 40-60 mins

Activities finish on a high with game based activities giving children the chance to work off that least bit of energy before birthday cake!

Tic Tac Toe For Bears: Teams are divided into 2 with a tic tac toe board placed between the groups. Children have to race to the middle in a bear crawl position and place there team marker in the board. A team that connects three marker wins!

Animal Treasure Hunt: Animal related props are hidden throughout the space for children to find.

How To Enquire


Climate change lead to Amazon rainforest growth

For years, it was assumed that humans were nothing but bad news for the Amazon rainforest. Our ancestors were believed to have kicked things off by clearing large patches for agriculture and construction, and we continue to do so today (along with a hearty helping of man-made climate change). According to researchers from the University of Reading, that couldn’t be further from the truth: The expansive, lush rainforest we know today only got that way due to climate change some 2,000 years ago.

“Our findings have serious implications for understanding past climate change, and how the Amazon basin might react to more modern forest clearance. It suggests that Amazonia was neither pristine wilderness, nor has it shown resilience to large-scale deforestation by humans in the past,” said Dr John Carson, a University of Reading paleoecologist who led the study.

Rather than a pristine, untouched forest slowly defiled by humans, the findings suggest that conditions were… kind of the opposite, actually. Prior to the transition to a warmer, wetter climate between 0-300 AD, much of what is now the southern Amazon was once fertile, open grassland – ideal for agriculture and constructing the large earthworks that have since been consumed by the jungle.

Ancient people just weren’t contributing much to deforestation, because until very recently, they simply didn’t need to.

It appears the most early peoples did was to suppress forest growth as it threatened to overtake their lands, and that ended around 1500 AD, when most of indigenous populations had been eradicated. With the effects of man-made climate change becoming more evident each day, scientists hope this glimpse into the Amazon’s past will help predict how it will respond to climate change in the future.


Step 1:

Use a large cook’s knife to cut pumpkin into wedges. To make it easier, use the ridges in the pumpkin as a guide.

Step 2

Step 2:

Use a metal spoon to remove seeds from one wedge. Discard. Repeat with the remaining pumpkin wedges.

Step 3 – Mark O’Meara

Step 3:

Place the pumpkin flat and use a large sharp knife to carefully remove the skin from each wedge, if desired.


The way we interact with the world around us is changing. Developments in technology, society and the economy have led to us living our lives in very different ways to what we might have done 50 years ago.

According to Pew Research Center, one in five Americans lives in a multigenerational household. A multigenerational household is defined as including at least two adult generations or grandparents and grandchildren under the age of 25. Since 1950, American multigenerational households have risen from 32.2 million to 64 million in 2016.


DC Government Will Step In to Prevent Muth Starvation

The Office of the Attorney General may seek a court order to prevent Albrecht Muth from starving himself to death while incarcerated.

The DC government said on Thursday evening that it will “take steps to seek a court order” to prevent Albrecht Muth—who was arrested last summer and charged with the Georgetown murder of his wife, Viola Drath—from starving himself to death.

A statement issued by the Office of the Attorney General said: “While Albrecht Muth’s condition is being constantly monitored by medical staff, the District of Columbia’s agencies are working closely with doctors, hospitals, and the court to determine the proper course of action. The District is going to take steps to seek a court order authorizing any needed provision of nutrients and healthcare to avoid harm or death to Mr. Muth.”

Muth, 47, has been in and out of the hospital after refusing to eat. He was returned to the hospital last night. He is being represented by the DC Public Defender Service, though he has said he prefers to represent himself. Thursday morning Superior Court judge Russell Canan held a hearing in which he said that Muth was “incapable of representing himself” and suspended his right to self-representation. Canan said that Muth’s health situation would become “grave” if something wasn’t done. He scheduled another hearing for next Tuesday.

Muth was sent to the DC jail after being charged with the fatal beating of Drath, his 91-year-old wife, at their Georgetown home. Her body was found in an upstairs bathroom.

The attorney general’s office would not say precisely when it will seek the court order.


Mika Rottenberg

Mika Rottenberg presents new and existing work in an exhibition that will run throughout seven galleries in Goldsmiths CCA.

at Goldsmiths CCA

Featuring two new films, Rottenberg will respond to the building incorporating purpose-built installations alongside sculptural objects. Mika Rottenberg is known for her ability to highlight themes such as the inequalities of our global economy and the fragility of the human body, spun through a lens of humour, absurdity and confusion. She juxtaposes the vulnerabilities and strengths of her protagonists within uncanny interpretations of our physical world.

Rottenberg’s elaborate visual narratives draw on cinematic and sculptural traditions to forge a new language that uses cause and effect structures to explore labour and globalisation, economy and production of value, and how our own affective relationships are increasingly monetised. The artist explains that through film, architectural installation, and sculpture, she “designs systems with their own subjective logic, precarious systems that are constantly on the verge of collapsing, both logically and physically but somehow are able to hold themselves together through this motion of perpetual movement and growth, until they also pop…”

Two new works have been commissioned for the exhibition: Untitled (Ceiling Projection) and Study#4, which examine the human body’s physical and psychological potential and limitations. Rottenberg attempts to create a kind of psychological state, a spiritual state and a cosmic state, where energies transform things from one state of matter to another. There’s a crucial pivot point in these works, where they “become little solar systems or salad spinners, governed by their own perpetual centrifugal force”.

Goldsmiths CCA

Opening Times
8 September - 4 November 2018
Wednesday, 11am-6pm
Thursday, 11am-9pm
Friday to Sunday, 11am-6pm

Goldsmiths CCA
St James'
SE14 6AD


Orbital plane (astronomy)

Orbital plane (astronomy)

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All of the planets, comets, and asteroids in the solar system are in orbit around the Sun. All of those orbits line up with each other making a semi-flat disk called the orbital plane. The orbital plane of an object orbiting another is the geometrical plane
Plane (mathematics)

 in which the orbit is embedded

. The orbital plane is defined by two parameters, Inclination
Inclination in general is the angle between a reference plane and another plane or axis of direction.-Orbits:The inclination is one of the six orbital parameters describing the shape and orientation of a celestial orbit...

 (i) and Longitude of the ascending node
Longitude of the ascending node

 (Ω). Three non-collinear
Line (geometry)

 points in space suffice to determine the orbital plane. A common example would be: the center of the heavier object, the center of the orbiting object and the center of the orbiting object at some later time.

By definition the inclination

 of a planet in the solar system
Solar System

 is the angle

 between its orbital plane and the orbital plane of the Earth

 (the ecliptic
The ecliptic is the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. In more accurate terms, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the ecliptic plane, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun...

). In other cases, for instance a moon orbiting another planet, it is convenient to define the inclination of the moon

's orbit as the angle between its orbital plane and the planet's equator.

Artificial satellites around the Earth

For launch vehicles and artificial satellites, the orbital plane is a defining parameter of an orbit; as in general, it will take a very large amount of propellant
A propellant is a material that produces pressurized gas that:* can be directed through a nozzle, thereby producing thrust ;...

 to change the orbital plane of an object. Other parameters, such as the orbital period
Orbital period
The orbital period is the time taken for a given object to make one complete orbit about another object.When mentioned without further qualification in astronomy this refers to the sidereal period of an astronomical object, which is calculated with respect to the stars.There are several kinds of...

, the eccentricity
Orbital eccentricity
The orbital eccentricity of an astronomical body is the amount by which its orbit deviates from a perfect circle, where 0 is perfectly circular, and 1.0 is a parabola, and no longer a closed orbit...

 of the orbit and the phase of the orbit are more easily changed by propulsion systems.

Orbital planes of satellites are perturbed by the non-spherical nature of the Earth's gravity
Earth's gravity

. This causes the orbital plane of the satellite's orbit to slowly rotate around the Earth, depending on the angle the plane makes with the Earth's equator. For planes that are at a critical angle this can mean that the plane will track the Sun

 around the Earth, forming a Sun-synchronous orbit
Sun-synchronous orbit
A Sun-synchronous orbit is a geocentric orbit which combines altitude and inclination in such a way that an object on that orbit ascends or descends over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local mean solar time. The surface illumination angle will be nearly the same every time...

A launch vehicle's launch window
Launch window
Launch window is a term used in spaceflight to describe a time period in which a particular launch vehicle must be launched. If the rocket does not launch within the "window", it has to wait for the next window....

is usually determined by the times when the target orbital plane intersects the launch site.


Come Android N Preview to Non-Nexus Mobile?

Until now, the only way to test the very latest version of Google’s operating system is to have a Nexus device. And if you sign up in the Android Beta program program, the truth is that the process is quite simple.

However, this program is very limited, because it is only available for six devices: 6 nexus, Nexus 5 X, Nexus 6 p, Nexus Player, Nexus 9 and Pixel C. Any other mobile is not supported officially, but that could perhaps change in an undetermined future.

Reddit FUNExtreme user has found the track to analyze the code source of Android N Preview information page. A hidden text intentionally by Google speaks of the support for more devices, including devices OEM.

The text is still there

When a hidden webmaster part of content on a web page, it can usually be two reasons: is saved for later use or someone has changed his idea and don’t you want to show more on the page. But instead of deleting it definitively leave commented, just in case it.

The truth is that the page of developers has more hidden text apart from this. Another hidden paragraph is reserved for Announcing Developer Preview 3 When available, as well as include a shortcut to the notes, discharge and feedback.

In any case, while it is clear that like the designer of this page hide pieces “for later”, we cannot conclude that the piece announcing support for OEM manufacturers will be a reality in the future. All we can say is that the text is still there, hidden. To make it more visible, This is how it would look if it is not commented in the code.

The relevant paragraph, translated into the Spanish:

More supported devices, including those of OEMs.

The text doesn’t seem to have too much sense in terms of its format and location, but we can neither assume nothing from this because to be hidden no one has bothered to make it look nice. Can you try in the future Android N on your Sony, Motorola, HTC or Samsung? Time will tell.