Airsep Portable Oxygen Concentrator. Light weight and portable. Accepted by most large airlines.
First there was stationary. Then there was portable. Now there is the Inogen One, the Independent System that defines a new category of oxygen device.
Designed to perform as both a stationary and a portable device, the Inogen One system is engineered to meet the changing demands of the oxygen industry. For patients, the Inogen One presents an opportunity for spontaneity and more active life both at home and on the road.
Introducing the new Platinum 10 concentrator. The Platinum 10 delivers the reliability, performance and value advantage you have come to expect from the Platinum line of concentrators and provides an attractive alternative to liquid systems. The Platinum 10 is available at up to 10 LPM for high flow patients, and has less than 10 parts different from the Platinum XL 5-Liter concentrators.
The Invacare 5 Liter Concentrator (with or without OSD) is designed to be reliable, quiet, energy efficient and lightweight.
NewLife Intensity is AirSep's new high pressure/high flow oxygen concentrator, especially designed to power special respiratory applications. This concentrator can replace the need for external compressors, etc. NewLife Intensity can save on equipment needs and overall power consumption as well.
Operating at 20 psig (138 kPa), with up to 8 lpm single or combined dual flow capability, NewLife Intensity is the only concentrator in today's marketplace that enables both high pressure and high flow in one unit.
All units can be equipped with and without oxygen monitor to verify concentration.


text:
Meet the Founder: Courtney Bonzi
Courtney Bonzi is the founder of Spark*l and the inspiration behind just about every band and accessory you see on this website. Backstories and origin stories of founders always get a little filtered, and accounts tend to read like a highlight reel in the afterglow of success. But Courtney is still in there, every day, pushing for Spark*l to become not just the company she envisioned but one with more surprises in store.
Products: Limited Edition Bow Band in Upcycled Saddle GG in Coffee
Visit House of Bonzi's Like to Know Page to Shop Courtney's Look
Here, some of her keys to success and a few things that have surprised her along the way.
Spark*l has grown fast over the last couple of years: But it wasn't always a fast trajectory. "When we started putting bands online, we were making some sales but not a lot. So we were doing trunk shows to get the word out and meet people in real life. I'm very introverted, and I was encouraged by another designer to choose that path, but it didn't really take."
At the same time, the online sales were not going very well: "We were selling a couple a week, maybe. I was pretty done—just kind of disenchanted by the whole thing. I felt very much like a failure. I felt—I was on a walk with Joe, my husband, and explained to him that I should just give up. I was really sad and just felt like it was time to give up. He said, "Just keep at it, keep going if you love it, keep doing it. Don't worry about whether or not you're selling a certain number per day. Maybe it'll just grow slowly." He gave me encouragement. I used Instagram initially, but things only happened after Joe, and I had our talk. Then a certain influencer shared the bands, and that's when it happened. About a month to the day after our walk, it took off."
Changing the definition of success as you go: "My vision of success was to make one band a day. Make my one a day, contribute to my family, and have some flexibility in my schedule. It took off, and suddenly our home was taken over by bands—so it was time to expand the business."
And then came a pandemic: "The first thought we had was people aren't going to be spending money—but that was OK because, at that time, there was no substantial financial investment or risk. No lease. Three or four employees. So we thought, OK, well, if people stop buying these because they are frightened with their money right now, it'll just be me making the bands again, or I'll find something else. And I'm good with that."
We quickly realized: "We were getting a boom in orders. It grew so fast, but we were having a hard time with employees because we were afraid to hire people during COVID. And we were working out of our home. And it was lockdown. We were hiring family members and roommates, so we didn't go out of our COVID circles. We had to quickly shift and send [unbuilt band] packets home with workers. Our seamstresses took our sewing machines home—we were coordinating everything remotely and in lockdown. It was a lot. But we learned a lot. Shifting around employees and making sure everyone's safe, then growing and having remote workers, and then a crisis of materials —it's been one thing after the next. It's stressful, yes, but worth it."
My vision of success was to make one band a day. Make my one a day, contribute to my family, and have some flexibility in my schedule. It took off, and suddenly our home was taken over by bands.
Just as there was a little breathing room: "We lost a dear friend in the middle of all this craziness and expansion. It happened in a tragic accident that we were witnesses to. It was our best and oldest friend, and we're grieving in a home that had no privacy and dealing with the growth of the business—all in a pandemic… I don't miss those days. A lot of founders look back and get whimsical about the early days. I don't."
Time to get stronger: "As a result of where we've been, the small everyday challenges: computer issues, sourcing, finding the right formula with employees, don't seem so big. Things happen every day beyond your control, but you have to put it in perspective. You put people in place who know how to find solutions, and it works out. The [people we've hired] have surpassed our expectations. When we walk in and see our team do the things they do, forming a relationship with customers and building these bands, and creating content—it really blows us away. To do this and connect with nonprofits and connect our emotions to our mission to the world outside—and all this happened with a handful of watchbands, it's just… When you have the best employees and the friendliest customer base in the world, it makes the other stuff seem easy."
The challenges ahead: "We're not [located in] a big manufacturing area. Hiring is a challenge right now. I know it is everywhere, but we're not a big metro. We don't have a reputation for high fashion. And people who want to work in textiles, in manufacturing—people who'd find satisfaction and happiness working with their hands, they're not in abundance here. It's really important that people who work for Spark*l enjoy what they do, that they like their job, that they're feeling well-paid, taken care of. It's hard to find that type of workforce anywhere, but no matter what, we're always keeping the HQ and studio here. We're not going to ever give up on SLO, so we just have to continue to want to make this a place people want to work for."
Courtney's favorite: "I'm gonna say it's the bow band in Vachetta, my birthday band. It's my ride or die. The Vachetta is so timeless it goes with everything, and the bow band is my first style that we created that was uniquely different and 100-percent completely designed by me. And really, the beauty of raw leather changes. The longer you wear it, the more character it gets. It kind of signifies Spark*l in general. At first, it's new and shiny, and then it gets scars or marks on it, and you figure it out. As the wear goes in it gets more and more interesting, more and more beautiful. It's like if you have a Vachetta band, if you splash water on it, you say, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe I did that!" Eventually, it sinks into the leather and darkens—and then you take a good look and realize it becomes more timeless with wear."
« Making of the Band: Luxe Quilted Leather in Black
Spark*l's Answer to Fast Fashion »
Band on the Run
Making of the Band
Meet Your Maker
Current Favorite
Get to Know: Raya Coleman

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The coverstick is enriched with bisabolol, allantoin and farnesolto. These ingredients helps to calm the stressed skin. The coverstick quickly and reliably covers up small spots, redness and impurities of the skin.


The holidays are a time for family gatherings, but can also be a stressful time for pets. While most pet owners want their four-legged family members involved in the festivities, a few rules may be helpful, according to Bartlesville Animal Control Officer Rita Harvey.
"If your pet is not people-friendly or stresses easily, it is best to keep them separated away from visitors. Keep small children away from fearful pets. Our pets are not always fond of strangers and loud sounds. What we may find fun, dogs and cats may find scary," Harvey said.
The Christmas tree can be enticing to an inquisitive puppy or cat. Harvey says pet owners should make sure the tree is secure so it won't fall over. Harvey also recommends if using a live tree, cover the base so pets won't drink the water. Also, keep ornaments and tinsel out of your pet's reach.
An alternative is using artificial plants and trees. Many live plants, such as poinsettias, mistletoe and pine can be toxic to an animal, Harvey said.
When friends and family are visiting, Harvey recommends asking guest to not give your pets any extra food. Following a few helpful suggestions can make holidays fun for both pet owners and their pets, Harvey said.


Want to hear a cliche story about how a guy loses weight? Want to stop swearing while you are trying to lose some weight? You are in the right place! This guy was borderline obese until the age of 25, and he was literally the one who made the geeks in gym class look good. When he met the love of his life, he decided that before proposing to her, he would get in shape – and this is how the title for this blog was created. His name is James Fell, and he is incredible! Even though his weight loss process took a lot of time, it taught him a lot of valuable lessons – he now knows how to eat healthier, how to respect his body, learned the value of slow and steady work, and how to develop passion for physical activities. The thing he realized is that yes, you can have good genetics and work out just a bit, and be fit and healthy, but what you can do is that you can also make yourself do the program and work your body until you make it. This is a fun blog through which you can learn a lot, including how to never stop working on yourself, from every aspect in life.
Studies have found that overweight people who ate a moderate-fat diet containing almonds lost more weight than a control group that didn't eat nuts. Snacking once or twice a day is one of the easy ways to lose weight that helps stave off hunger and keeps your metabolism stoked. You can also pack up baby carrots or your own trail mix with the healthiest nuts you can eat, plus raisins, seeds, and dried fruit. Here are 30 healthy snacks that can help you lose weight.


CHECK OUT: till 12 p.m.
CHECK IN: after 3:30 p.m.
This price includes: the transportation from Camp Vodenca to the activity and back, all equipment, licensed guides, permits for Soča river, insurance and loads of fun.


Mountain Karren in Dornbirn in the Austrian region of Vorarlberg is known for its nice panoramic views and hiking trails. You can't drive up there by car, you can only use the cable car which runs frequently throughout the day. The day I visited Dornbirn to have Lunch at Karren Panorama Restaurant, was one of the worst of the week (probably even of the month ?). In the morning the sun was out, but then, very quickly, the weather changed. First, we were greeted by rain, followed by not that soft winds later on. Before I went up the cart cableway there was only some rain, so everything seemed fine. The cable-car runs every 15 minutes, summer and winter, and only takes less than 5 minutes to go all the way up to 976 meters above sea level. Return Tickets cost 11.10€ per adult and 5,50€ per Kid, but there are also Combi-Tickets available, including either a breakfast buffet on the weekend or a Lunch for 17€ per Person in the Restaurant. The Karren Panorama Restaurant is the only Restaurant up there, and they don't even have a little shop or something, so you should definitely bring your own snacks and drinks if you want to go hiking. Instead, they offer free WiFi.
Once you bought your ticket, you have to scan it to proceed to the entrance of the cable-car. Starting from 9 am in summer and 10 am in the winter season, the cars run every 15 minutes. For exact dates, you should check out their website, as linked below.
On usual days, you will be greeted with a stunning view of the Rhinedelta with Lake Constance, Vorarlberg, as well as parts of Switzerland and Germany. Karren is not the only mountain that can be accessed via a cable-car, there are also others like Pfänder (you can either hike, take the cable-car or your own car) which is closer to Lake Constance.
The cable car seems like such a neat way to travel. The views below are so green and lush!


text:
Table containing PBAC Positive Recommendations for December 2001
Drug use and type
Listing requested by Sponsor
PBAC Recommendation and Comments
Amoxycillin trihydrate, tablets 1g, Maxamox® - Biochemie Australia Pty Ltd
An antibiotic Unrestricted listing Recommended for restricted benefit listing for acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, on the basis that this restriction is in accord with the TGA-approved indication.
Carbomer 980 ocular lubricating gel, 2mg per g (0.2%) 30 x 0.6 g single dose units, Viscotears® - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
Ocular lubricant Authority required listing for severe dry eye syndrome in patients who are sensitive to preservatives in multi-dose eye drops. Recommended for listing as requested.
Ciprofloxacin tablets 250 mg, 500 mg and 750 mg, Ciproxin®, Bayer Australia Limited
Change to listing
A fluoroquinolone antibiotic Retain the listing for immunocompromised patients. Amend the listing for as follows:
Respiratory tract infection proven or suspected to be caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in severely immunocompromised patients;
Bacterial gastroenteritis proven or suspected to be caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in severely immunocompromised patients.
Recommended to clarify that this is the patient group to whom ciprofloxacin should be targeted to limit further the possibility of development of resistance.
Clonazepam tablets 500 g and 2 mg Rivotril®- Roche Product Pty Ltd and Paxam - Alphapharm Pty Ltd
Change restriction
A benzodiazepine used to treat epilepsy. Amend authority required restriction to "Neurologically proven epilepsy" and add a caution "Abuse of clonazepam has been reported. Refer to the current product information." Recommended following advice from the Health Insurance Commission that clonazepam continues to be a drug of abuse.
Clostridium botulinum type A haemagglutinin complex, Dysport® - Ipsen Pty Ltd
Additional indication
A drug to treat spasticity. Treatment of dynamic equinus foot deformity due to spasticity in ambulant paediatric cerebral palsy patients 2 years of age or older. Recommended as requested. A minor change was also recommended to the Botox brand for consistency by insertion of the word "ambulant"
Dalteparin sodium, pre-filled syringes 5 000 units, 7 500 units, and 10 000 units Fragmin® - Pharmacia Australia Pty Ltd
An antithrombotic. Transfer to unrestricted listing Recommended as requested for consistency with September 2001 recommendation for enoxaparin (Clexane®).
Donepezil hydrochloride, tablets 5 mg and 10 mg, Aricept®, Pfizer Pty Ltd
Amend restriction
A drug to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease To allow certain patients who cannot achieve a score on the MMSE scale of 10 or more, for reasons other than their Alzheimer's disease (AD), who would normally be diagnosed as suffering from severe AD, subsidised access to the drug. The PBAC recommended that the restriction be revised for equity reasons, as follows:
Initial treatment of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease. Confirmation of this diagnosis must be made by a specialist/consultant physician (including a psychiatrist). The authority application must be in writing and include the result of the baseline Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). This baseline MMSE must be a score of 10 or more and, if this score is at least 25 points, the result of the baseline Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive sub-scale (ADAS-Cog) must also be specified. Up to a maximum of 1 month's therapy plus 5 repeats will be issued.
Continuing treatment, following initial therapy, of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's Disease in patients with demonstrated improvement in cognitive function as measured by an increase of at least 2 points from baseline on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); OR a decrease of at least 4 points from baseline on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive sub-scale (ADAS-Cog) for patients with an MMSE baseline score of at least 25 points (the initial authority application for continuing treatment must include the relevant result from the MMSE or the ADAS-Cog and must be in writing);
Initial treatment of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease of patients with a baseline Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 9 or less, who are unable to register a score of 10 or more for reasons other than their Alzheimer's disease, as specified below. Confirmation of this diagnosis must be made by a specialist/consultant physician (including a psychiatrist). Such patients will need to be assessed subsequently using the Clinicians Interview Based Impression of Change (CIBIC) scale. The authority application must be in writing, include the result of the baseline MMSE and specify to which group(s) (see below) the patient belongs. Patients who qualify under this criterion are from one or more of the following groups:
Unable to communicate adequately because of lack of competence in English, in people of non-English speaking background;
Limited education, as defined by less than 6 years of education, or who are illiterate or innumerate;
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders who, by virtue of cultural factors, are unable to complete an MMSE test;
Intellectual (developmental or acquired) disability, eg Down's syndrome;
Significant sensory impairment despite best correction, which precludes completion of an MMSE test;
Prominent dysphasia, out of proportion to other cognitive and functional impairment.
Up to a maximum of 1 month's therapy plus 5 repeats will be issued.
Continuing treatment, following initial therapy, of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's Disease in patients with demonstrated improvement in function, based on a rating of "very much improved" or "much improved" on the CIBIC scale, which must be assessed by the same clinician who initiated treatment (the initial authority application for continuing treatment must state the improvement achieved on the CIBIC scale and must be in writing).
Eptifibatide bolus injection 20 mg per 10 mL and infusion 75 mg per 100 mL, Integrelin® - Schering-Plough Pty limited
Platelet aggregation inhibitor. Authority required listing for (1) patients with high risk unstable angina; (2) patients with non-Q-wave myocardial infarction; (3) and the prevention of death, myocardial infarction, urgent revascularisation and the need for acute antithrombotic rescue therapy in patients undergoing non-urgent percutaneous coronary intervention with intracoronary stenting. Recommended for listing as an authority required benefit for patients with high risk unstable angina who have ongoing chest pain lasting longer than 10 minutes, AND either:
(i) ST elevation or depression greater than 0.5mm; or
(ii) deep T wave inversion in three or more leads; or
(iii) elevated markers of myocardial injury (especially cardiac troponin I or T).
Patients with non-Q-wave myocardial infarction.
(2) The prevention of death, myocardial infarction, urgent revascularisation and the need for acute antithrombotic rescue therapy in patients undergoing non-urgent percutaneous coronary intervention with intracoronary stenting.
Recommended on a cost-minimisation basis vs tirofiban.
Galantamine hydrobromide, 4 mg (base) and 8 mg (base), Reminyl® - Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd
A drug to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease To allow certain patients who cannot achieve a score on the MMSE of 10 or more for reasons other than their Alzheimer's disease (AD), who would normally be diagnosed as suffering from severe AD, subsidised access to the drug. The PBAC recommended that the restriction be revised for equity reasons, as follows:
(1) Unable to communicate adequately because of lack of competence in English, in people of non-English speaking background;
(2) Limited education , as defined by less than 6 years of education, or who are illiterate or innumerate;
(3) Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders who, by virtue of cultural factors, are unable to complete an MMSE test;
(4) Intellectual (developmental or acquired) disability, eg Down's syndrome;
(5) Significant sensory impairment despite best correction, which precludes completion of an MMSE test;
(6) Prominent dysphasia, out of proportion to other cognitive and functional impairment.
Gliclazide tablet 80 mg, Glyade® - Alphapharm Pty Limited
Pricing matter
Oral hypoglycaemic To justify higher price compared with glibenclamide. The PBAC accepted the small price premium that immediate release gliclazide has over glibenclamide is warranted.
Gliclazide tablet 80 mg, Diamicron® - Servier Laboratories (Australia) Pty Ltd
Lopinavir with ritonavir capsule 133.3 mg-33.3 mg and oral solution 400 mg-100 mg per 5 mL, Kaletra® - Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd
Re-submission
A combination treatment for HIV/AIDS. Section 100 for treatment of HIV infection in patients with CD4 counts less than 500 per mm3, or viral load greater than 10,000 copies per mL. Recommended for listing on a cost-effectiveness basis, as requested, for use in combination with 2 or more other anti-retroviral drugs.
Montelukast sodium tablets 4 mg and 5 mg, Singulair® - Merck Sharp & Dohme
Asthma treatment Authority required listing for first line preventer medication for children, 2-5 years (4 mg) and 6-14 years (5 mg) when used other than in conjunction with cromolyns or inhaled corticosteroids. Recommended on a cost-minimisation basis vs sodium cromoglycate, with advice to the Pricing Authority that a price-volume arrangement be negotiated, with volumes to be based on the sponsor's submission to the PBAC.
Oxcarbazepine, tablets 150 mg, 300 mg and 600 mg, Trileptal® - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd
An anti-epileptic Authority required listing for treatment of partial epileptic seizures and primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures, which are not satisfactorily controlled by other anti-epileptic drugs. Recommended for listing on a cost-minimisation basis, as requested, in the second-line setting compared with lamotrigine, with advice to the Pricing Authority that a price-volume arrangement be negotiated.
Quetiapine fumarate tablet 300 mg (base) Seroquel® - Astra Zeneca Pty Ltd
For schizophrenia Authority required listing for schizophrenia Recommended for listing on the basis of the price being acceptable relative to the existing strengths of quetiapine fumarate.
Reboxetine mesilate tablet 4 mg (base), Vestra® - Pharmacia Australia
An antidepressant Restricted benefit listing for major depressive disorders Recommended for listing as requested on a cost-minimisation basis compared with fluoxetine, on the basis that 8.73 mg reboxetine is equivalent to 25.67 mg fluoxetine.
Risedronate sodium tablet 5 mg, Actonel® - Aventis Pharma Pty Limited
Re-submission requests listing in patients who have already sustained a fracture. Original submission proposed listing as prevention before fracture had occurred. Authority required listing for the preservation of bone mineral density in patients who are osteopenic (T-score<-1), who are undergoing long term treatment with high dose corticosteroids (> 7.5 mg prednisolone or equivalent) and who have fracture due to minimal trauma; for the treatment of corticosteroid induced osteoporosis in patients undergoing long term treatment with high dose corticosteroids (> 7.5 mg prednisolone or equivalent) and who have fracture due to minimal trauma. A change was recommended to allow use in patients with established cortico-steroid induced osteoporosis in patients with fracture due to minimal trauma.
Rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate, capsules 1.5 mg, 3 mg, 4.5 mg and 6 mg and oral solution, 2 mg (base) per mL, 120 mL, Exelon® - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia
Sildenafil citrate tablets 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg, Viagra® - Pfizer Pty Limited
For erectile dysfunction. Authority required listing for use in males with erectile dysfunction of organic origin secondary to: Diabetes (type I and II), treatment of prostate pathology, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, radical pelvic surgery, renal failure (transplant and dialysis treatment), severe pelvic injury, spinal cord injury, spina bifida.
Only one application per six months with no increased maximum quantities or repeats will be authorised.
Recommended for listing with minor changes to the proposed restriction:
For use in males with erectile dysfunction of organic origin secondary to:
(1) pharmacological treatment for diabetes (Type I and II); or
(2) surgical treatment for prostate hypertrophy; or
(3) surgical or chemical or radiation treatment for prostate cancer; or
(4) multiple sclerosis; or
(5) Parkinson's disease; or
(6) radical pelvic surgery; or
(7) dialysis treatment for renal failure or renal transplant; or
(8) severe pelvic injury; or
(9) spinal cord injury; or
(10) spina bifida.
Recommended on the basis that the Government has previously decided that subsidised treatment for erectile dysfunction is appropriate and with the advice that the PBAC has grave concerns that the projections for usage may be substantially underestimated.
Temazepam capsule 10 mg Normison® - Wyeth
Temaze® - Alphapharm
Euhypnos® - Sigma
Hypnotic Amend unrestricted listing to authority required listing "As an adjunct in the management of insomnia in individuals who have failed to respond to treatment with a tablet presentation of temazepam, either because of insufficient effectiveness or an inability to use that dosage form appropriately" Recommended as requested because of concerns of misuse by IV-injecting drug abusers. A "Caution" is also recommended to apply, stating that "Significant adverse health outcomes are associated with the injection of temazepam in gel-filled capsule form. Tablets should be prescribed in preference to capsules whenever possible."
Tramadol hydrochloride injection 100 mg per 2 mL, Tramal® - CSL Limited
Injectable analgesic. Restricted benefit listing for acute pain. Listing in Emergency Drug (Doctor's Bag) Supplies. Recommended for listing as requested on a cost-minimisation basis compared with pethidine injection, on a 1-to-1 pricing ratio.
Whey protein formula supplemented with amino acids, vitamins & minerals; low in protein, phosphate, potassium and lactose, powder 400g can, Kindergen® - Scientific Hospital Supplies
A food product for seriously ill children Authority required listing for infants and young children with chronic renal failure requiring treatment with a low protein and a low phosphorus diet, or a low protein, a low phosphorus and a low potassium diet Recommended for listing on the basis of acceptable cost-effectiveness.
Zoledronic acid, injection set containing1 vial powder for IV infusion 4mg and 1 ampoule solvent 5mL, Zometa ® - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd
Bisphosphonate used to treat hypercalcaemia. Section 100 availability for treatment of hypercalcaemia of malignancy (HCM) refractory to anti-neoplastic therapy. Recommended for listing as requested on the basis of acceptable cost-effectiveness.
Amino acids-synthetic formula, compound powder, 400 g, EleCare® - Abbott Australasia Pty Limited
A food for inborn error of metabolism Authority required listing for initial and continuing treatment for combined intolerance (not infant colic) to cows' milk protein, soy protein and protein hydrolysate formula in children, when the child has failed to respond to a strict cows' milk protein free and strict soy protein free diet with a protein hydrolysate (with or without medium chain triglycerides) as the principal formula;
Treatment for combined intolerance (not infant colic) to cows' milk protein, soy protein and protein hydrolysate formula in children, where the child is assessed by a suitably qualified allergist or paediatrician at intervals not greater than 6 months;
Severe intestinal malabsorption including short bowel syndrome where protein hydrolysate formula has failed or the patient has been receiving parenteral nutrition;
Galactosaemia;
Glycogen storage disease due to glucose-6-phophatase deficiency in children.
Authority required listing for initial treatment, for up to 3 months, for combined intolerance (not infant colic) to cows' milk protein, soy protein and protein hydrolysate formula in children up to the age of 2 years, when the child has failed to respond to a strict cows' milk protein free and strict soy protein free diet with a protein hydrolysate (with or without medium chain triglycerides) as the principal formula. The age of the patient must be included in the authority application;
Continuing treatment for combined intolerance (not infant colic) to cows' milk protein, soy protein and protein hydrolysate formula in children up to the age of 2 years, where the child is assessed by a suitably qualified allergist or paediatrician. The age of the patient must be included in the authority application;
Treatment for combined intolerance (not infant colic) to cows milk protein, soy protein and protein hydrolysate formula in children over the age of 2 years, where the child is assessed by a suitably qualified allergist or paediatrician at intervals not greater than 6 months. The age of the patient must be included in the authority application;
Severe intestinal malabsorption including short bowel syndrome where protein hydrolysate formula have failed or the patient has been receiving parenteral nutrition.
Carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, mineral and trace elements, powder 400 g, Pro-Phree® - Abbott Australasia Pty Limited
A food product for inborn errors of metabolism Restricted benefit listing for patients with inborn errors of protein metabolism who are unable to meet their energy requirements with permitted food and formulae Restricted benefit listing as requested.
Mineral mixture, powder 250 g jar, Metabolic Mineral Mixture® Scientific Hospital Supplies
Mineral supplement to accompany certain foods for inborn errors of metabolism Restricted benefit listing for metabolic disorders Recommended for listing as requested.
Protein formula with essential amino acids, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals and trace elements, powder 400 g, Kindergen® - Scientific Hospital Supplies
A food product for special medical purposes Restricted benefit listing for infants and young children with renal disease who have the following symptoms:
Inadequate nutrient intake and anorexia
Disturbances in electrolyte balance
Imbalances in serum phosphate and calcium levels (renal osteodystrophy)
Growth retardation
Fluid overload requiring fluid restriction.
Recommended for listing as requested
Soy protein and fat formula with vitamins and minerals - carbohydrate free, liquid 384 mL, RCF® - Abbott Australasia Pty Limited
A food product for inborn errors of metabolism Restricted listing for patients with inborn errors of metabolism who are unable to meet their energy requirements with permitted food and formulae Recommended for listing as requested


I have owned this (much loved) camera since new (Dec 2006) but autofocus is now not working as lens requires replacement SWM.
Original box, battery and battery charger and manual included. Original Nikon dealers record available if wanted.
Shutter count: 15625 (obtained from myshuttercount.com on 16 May 2018).
← Previous Previous post: Olympus XA1 and A9m flash.


text:
Q: Error in AsyncConsumer in Django channels I used a tutorial for creating a video chat app. But when i run the code it gives me error and it's not so clear to know what is exactly making the problem.
Error:
WebSocket CONNECT /ws/videochat/ [127.0.0.1:38466]
Exception inside application: You cannot call this from an async context - use a thread or sync_to_async.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/fields/related_descriptors.py", line 172, in __get__
    rel_obj = self.field.get_cached_value(instance)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/fields/mixins.py", line 13, in get_cached_value
    return instance._state.fields_cache[cache_name]
KeyError: 'callee'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/channels/sessions.py", line 183, in __call__
    return await self.inner(receive, self.send)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/channels/sessions.py", line 183, in __call__
    return await self.inner(receive, self.send)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/channels/middleware.py", line 41, in coroutine_call
    await inner_instance(receive, send)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/channels/consumer.py", line 59, in __call__
    [receive, self.channel_receive], self.dispatch
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/channels/utils.py", line 51, in await_many_dispatch
    await dispatch(result)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/channels/consumer.py", line 73, in dispatch
    await handler(message)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/vcp/chat/consumers.py", line 156, in websocket_receive
    f"videochat_{videothread.callee.id}",
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/fields/related_descriptors.py", line 186, in __get__
    rel_obj = self.get_object(instance)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/fields/related_descriptors.py", line 153, in get_object
    return qs.get(self.field.get_reverse_related_filter(instance))
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/query.py", line 411, in get
    num = len(clone)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/query.py", line 258, in __len__
    self._fetch_all()
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/query.py", line 1261, in _fetch_all
    self._result_cache = list(self._iterable_class(self))
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/query.py", line 57, in __iter__
    results = compiler.execute_sql(chunked_fetch=self.chunked_fetch, chunk_size=self.chunk_size)
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/db/models/sql/compiler.py", line 1149, in execute_sql
    cursor = self.connection.cursor()
  File "/home/nimda/Desktop/videotest/test/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/utils/asyncio.py", line 24, in inner
    raise SynchronousOnlyOperation(message)
django.core.exceptions.SynchronousOnlyOperation: You cannot call this from an async context - use a thread or sync_to_async.
WebSocket DISCONNECT /ws/videochat/ [127.0.0.1:38392]

consumer.py
The codes are in a pastebin because here gives error for a lot of code:
Show code
How can I solve this? and I should say that the tutorial was okay and that coder made it run.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


CimeXa Insecticide Dust's engineered silica composition quickly kills bed bugs, fleas, ticks, cockroaches, ants, silverfish, spiders, mites and drywood termites by destroying the pest's waxy cuticle — resulting in rapid dehydration and death. It is also effective on pyrethroid-resistant pests, the company says. Featuring low toxicity and a broad label, CimeXa is odorless, non-staining and non-repellent, and lasts up to 10 years when undisturbed. It can be mixed with water and applied as a spray. CimeXa is packed in 1-quart bottles (holds 4 ounces net weight) and 5-gallon buckets, which hold 5 pounds.


text:
Open source powers AI, yet policymakers haven't seemed to notice
by Matt Asay in Artificial Intelligence on September 3, 2021, 12:06 PM PST
Commentary: Open source is driving AI policy without policymakers getting involved, argues a Brookings Institution briefing.
Image: iStock/metamorworks
"Open source software quietly affects nearly every issue in AI policy," wrote Alex Engler in a Brookings Institution briefing, yet this is barely discussed by government policymakers. This is a mistake, and it's one that crosses the political aisle. The Trump administration barely mentioned open source in its AI policies, while the Obama administration touted open source as driving AI innovation but stopped there. In Europe things are no better, with new regulations about AI skipping the topic of open source entirely.
Given how prevalent open source has become in the artificial intelligence software that companies and governments use, policymakers would do well to pay attention, noted Engler.
SEE: Artificial intelligence ethics policy (TechRepublic Premium)
Open source is powering AI innovation, but at what cost?
More about AI
AI trends for 2022: Four predictions from experts at Sony
Deloitte: How sensitive AI data may become more private and secure in 2022
AI to see stricter regulatory scrutiny starting in 2022, predicts Deloitte
Artificial intelligence ethics policy (TechRepublic Premium)
One reason open source is so heavily used in AI is that it increases innovation while significantly lowering the bar to productivity. According to Engler, "[W]ell-written open-source AI code significantly expands the capacity of the average data scientist, letting them use more current machine learning algorithms and functionality." Open source AI code gives data scientists high-powered tools without requiring them to become high-powered mathematicians.
Open source also allows researchers to more easily replicate results that others have produced. "OSS [open source software] is most directly helpful to reproducible research because the same OSS is available to many different researchers," said Engler.
All of this is great, and helps would-be AI developers to accomplish more. And yet there are problems with how AI open source code is growing, Engler noted.
While OSS is often associated with community involvement and more distributed influence, Google and Facebook appear to be holding on tightly to their software. Despite being open-sourced in 2015, the overwhelming majority of the most prolific Tensorflow contributors are Google employees, and Google pays for administrative staff to run the project. Similarly, almost all of the core developers for PyTorch are Facebook employees. This isn't surprising, but it is noteworthy. Even in open sourcing them, Google and Facebook are not actually relinquishing any control over the development of these deep learning tools.
This may be standard for how corporate open source often works, but it can have negative implications. "By making their tools the most common in industry and academia, Google and Facebook benefit from the public research conducted with those tools, and, further, they manifest a pipeline of data scientists and machine learning engineers trained in their systems," Engler stated. I've written about this before, detailing how big vendors increasingly use open source as an on-ramp to proprietary services.
While this may not seem to matter, it points to potential landmines. "The apparent dominance of Tensorflow and PyTorch means that Google and Facebook have outsized influence in the development and common use of deep learning methods—one they may be reluctant to cede to consensus driven organizations" like standards bodies, argued Engler. It's not that these companies are necessarily nefarious, but for government policymakers, ceding control of such an important area of innovation may be short-sighted, Engler suggested. As he asked, "Are we comfortable with an AI world dependent on open source, but entirely corporate controlled, software?"
It's a good question, and it's one that policymakers would do well to try to answer.
Disclosure: I work for MongoDB, but the views expressed herein are wholly my own.
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Comment and share: Open source powers AI, yet policymakers haven't seemed to notice
By Matt Asay
Matt Asay is a veteran technology columnist who has written for CNET, ReadWrite, and other tech media. Asay has also held a variety of executive roles with leading mobile and big data software companies.
| See all of Matt's content
Artificial Intelligence Open Source Innovation Internet of Things Big Data Analytics Developer Artificial Intelligence on ZDNet


All you need to do is insert new R-SIM11 with your new SIM and follow the on-screen instructions according to your apple device iPhone 7 compatible . Lock Carrier Function improved. You can now use your iPhone as Factory Unlocked with Lock Carrier Function.
4G Network Signal drop fixed with new Self-Repair Function. SPRINT (CDMA) iPhones using 4G SIM cards on 4G Network bugs fixed with Self-Repair Functions. No activation request pop-up flaw using SPRINT or CDMA iPhones. DUAL mode Function implemented on the menu for 3G only Networks on iOS9.X. Lock Carrier Function improved. You can now use your iPhone as Factory Unlocked with Lock Carrier Function.
we recommend you to use of 64Kb SIM cards for perfect compatibility.
R-SIM 11works to Unlock iPhone 7,6S,6,5S iOS 10 iOS 9 Easy Unlocking Activation SIM.


text:
Куй — китайская фамилия (клан). Современное значение иероглифа — «крутой».

Известные Куй 隗
 Куй Сяо, 隗嚣 (? — 33 г.) — военачальник династии Восточная Хань. Уроженец провинции Ганьсу района Тяньшуй.

Другое
 Куй Синь — мифологический бог экзаменов, помощник бога литературы Вэнь Чана, отождествляется с одной из звёзд Большой Медведицы.

См. также
 Сто фамилий

Китайские фамилии

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


My research interests are in the investigation of the one-celled pathogens that cause the tropical disease malaria, and in particular Plasmodium falciparum, which causes deadly malaria tropica. I am an expert in the complete life cycle stages of the malaria pathogen, i.e., the liver, blood, sexual and mosquito stage of the parasite.
3. Characterisation of new agents against the blood and sexual stages of the pathogen. Working in collaboration with partners from chemistry and pharmacy, we are developing and testing new agents. We are particularly interested in combination medications (against the blood stages and the sexual stages, against malaria/HIV or malaria/bacterial infections). We have developed a series of screening systems towards this goal.
Schoof, et al.: Angewandte Chemie 49, 2010.
Pradel, Schlitzer: Curr. Mol. Med. 10, 2010.
Kühn, Pradel: J. Biomed. Biotechnol. 2010, 976827. 2010.
Simon et al.: J. Biol. Chem. 284, 2009.
Barthel, et al.: Antimicrob. Agents Chemother 52, 2008.
Pradel, G.: Parasitology 134, 2007.
Pradel, G. et al.: J. Exp. Med. 199, 2004.
Pradel, G. et al.: Mol. Microbiol. 45, 2002.
Pradel, G., Frevert: Hepatology 33, 2001.
Mota et al.: Science 291, 2001.


text:
Album Review of Invisible Vortex by Jim Ottaway
Jim Ottaway is an electronic music composer from Australia, whose album Invisible Vortex was created using an impressive array of electronic music gear and equipment, including several different keyboards and synthesizers. Dedicated in part to the memory of Tangerine Dream founder, Edgar Froese (1944-2015), notable influences of musical styles spanning several decades are evident, in particular, 80s-era European electronic music, 90s-era trance-techno, modern electronica, chill-out and a touch of progressive rock.
The highly energetic "Come Dance with Me" opens the album with a trance-techno dance-floor beat, digital bleeps and scratchy sounds, as the listener embarks on an interstellar voyage through space and time. "Alien Cries" follows next, which is characterized by a pronounced bassline and an electronic rock rhythm. Finally giving way to what is perhaps the album's pinnacle, is a track called "Takin' the Time". Featuring Rick Fenn of the 70s-era British rock group 10cc on guitar, this incredible piece evokes the wonders of the universe, with its intergalactic, otherworldly tone, which is conveyed by swirling chimes, voice-like effects, and a potent driving rhythm. Right from the opening sequencers on "Just Another Dream", which is a lighter trance-techno track, I could detect the nod to Tangerine Dream; perhaps not surprising, since the piece is a glowing tribute to the band's soundtracks for "Risky Business", "Thief" and "Sorcerer". "Call for Peace" is another favorite, a slower piece led by a pronounced staccato down-beat and alternating hazy, distorted effects. A bonus 'Chill Out Mix' of the same tune closes out the album, clocking in at a full eleven minutes and twenty seconds. This slower-paced alternate version is equably carried along by a muffled breakbeat, until it eventually drifts away into oblivion.
Jim Ottaway has done a stellar job of connecting the past with the future on Invisible Vortex, by combining the sensibilities of both vintage and modern electronic music. The compositions herein explore the limitless bounds of space and time, sending the listener soaring above the stratosphere and cruising into the cosmos. The highly outgoing, dynamic and active nature of this album makes for a thoroughly rewarding sonic adventure, which will certainly appeal to electronic music enthusiasts who enjoy aural concepts exploring science fiction and retro-futuristic worlds. ~Candice Michelle
This album is available at Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby.


Now and then a photo with you may have a shocking foundation and in some cases, the foundation might be salvageable. In every such situation, the rescuer for you is cutting way in Photoshop. Photoshop altering is likewise about changing the picture in a practical way. Notwithstanding when the foundation evacuated, a few impacts still stay on the photo that must be expelled for guaranteeing the picture a refined look.
To change the picture on to another foundation or document, imaginative strategies are to utilize. Simply guarantee that you are working not on foundation layer but rather on a layer. For making the foundation a layer, double tap on the foundation while you press the Alt Key.
There is a considerable measure of steps associated with the procedure of photograph cutting. Here in this section way, instructional exercise, most noticeable among them is uncovered. Now we are going to learn about- Advanced Clipping Path Service.
Making utilization of this procedure to evacuate foundation isn't a huge undertaking the concerned picture? Above all else, just open another photo in Photoshop or else simplified. Make a copy of the foundation layer before you begin. Proceed onward to the Photoshop toolkit to the screen's left side. In the event that in the event that you can't, in any case, observe it, from the Windows menu, select apparatuses. Make utilization of Pen Tool as it is utilized particularly for the procedure of way cutting. Taken after by it, select a shape layer and way for the photo.
Utilizing the Adobe Pen Tool, stamp out around the photograph finely. On choosing Pen Tool, the point over off your mouse will take after a pen. Tap on to the picture edges and the grapple focus to take the whole picture in till the underlying stay point is come to. Presently the entire picture is effectively chosen. Erasing and altering changes are encouraged by Anchor Point Tools. An expert organization offering cutting way benefit is very much familiar with the best apparatuses to utilize and at the perfect time. If you need advance clipping path service then Clipping Path EU Ltd is the best place for you.
Other than the Pen Tool, there are Path Layers. On the layer, double tap and it will change to cut-out way from the working way. You now get a container opened and sparing possible using Path and the default name Path 1. Presently to remove the current foundation and including a white one, Ctrl + Click would work for Windows. The same can accomplish in MAC by squeezing summon and afterward clicking. After that select Layer took after by Layer through Copy in the Menu Bar for sparing it to the white foundation. This is one of most vital in the propelled cutting way procedures.
You may add a characteristic drop shadow to the picture for giving it a more real and notable look. From the Layers Panel, pick the layer for which the shadow should need including. At the Layers Panel base, there is Layer Style catch; tap on it. A rundown will show up from where you can pick the Drop Shadow alternative. With this, the procedure is finished.
Guide Systems houses experts gifted and prepared in completing picture concealing procedures perfectly and in a quick way. On occasion, there are unpredictable pictures having diagrams with shapes and curves. In such situations when uneven layouts ruin smooth process help, we make utilization of cutting-edge Photoshop apparatuses and methods to do the errand flawlessly.
Section way systems are important to actualize for neck joint or apparition mannequin, which generally utilized for showing items in online stores. Our group makes utilization of fitting manual section forms for guaranteeing spotless picture foundation evacuation administrations. Our methods are exceptionally proficient and the photographs on which we work look 100% legitimate without even the smallest sign of altering deserted. As a piece of our administrations, we expel undesirable individuals and vehicles. In addition dull spots and different kinds of interruptions.
Web-based business organizations depend immensely on picture quality. On the off chance that you neglect to inspire the guests with photos on your store, odds are minimum that would even stay, disregard changes. With our zenith quality online business photograph altering administrations. You keep the eyes of guests stuck on your item photographs and it imperative for the most part utilized. As a part of internet business items like pieces of clothing, attire, furniture, and so on. We complete proper item picture cutting with shading amendment. Altering to guarantee that clients get greatest insights about the item through pictures showed.
After foundation expulsion, we do shadow creation in Photoshop. To make it look all the more exuberant and genuine. With our drop shadow benefit, your photo seems three dimensional and alluring. Whatever sort of impact you require, we can create splendidly. Give it a chance to be for individuals, objects, vehicles, structures on anything. We make utilization of most recent Photoshop apparatuses to make the coveted and impactful impacts.
It is relatively like the drop shadow with a distinction that the system makes the unique shadow of the picture. An expert section way specialist organization would swap it with a charming white foundation which makes hoists the triviality of shadow to the watchers. Shadow altering procedures are hugely useful when it comes outlining magazine notices, item photography and so forth.
It is in certainty a realistic yield bringing a fantasy of phony shadow or at the end of the day shadows from the lighting to a photo. The three-dimensional impact gives to question in an advanced picture in order to pull in more clients towards the item. With this smoothie look benefited by such foundation expulsion strategies, a few organizations deliberately bait clients.
We had introduced the best shopping basket and were putting forth items at a less expensive rate than every one of our rivals. Still, the business was not doing that extraordinary. Understanding the criticality of circumstance, an inward gathering and discourse process was led.
Clipping Path EU– offer you any sort of picture control administrations and photograph cutting is one of our principal strengths. Simply send us the photos and we will take a shot at it to settle all the concerned issues.
We utilize Photoshop pen device to cut pictures and get bona fide appealing and precise result. We give single layer cutting, multi-cutting with the wanted number of layers, foundation expulsion utilizing our Photoshop cutting way specialists. Various cut-out ways permit foundation evacuation as well as aides in redoing shading or outlines.
Wherever cutting way isn't an alternative we utilize natty gritty covering, alpha channel veiling to get you top class comes about. Our hair or hide veiling works even with small-scale strands of hair hiding in your pictures refine them. Give you an extraordinary survey understanding.
Our customers who outsource to picture cutting administrations us utilize such yields for magazines, sites, commercial materials, and daily papers. Having our mastery close by, you can appreciate access to any protest inside the snap that you need. Unmatched advantages you appreciate by outsourcing to our organization incorporate the accompanying.


Claiming to balance hormones, promote healthy breasts, make periods effortless, and create PMS support, Estrosense provides women with a supplement that helps improve numerous hormonal elements which can disturb daily activities.
Although this product can produce hormonal balance for many women, can it help those who are going through the stages of menopause?
In order to answer this question, let us take a deeper look at Natural Factors' product.
Estrosense users are encouraged to take 1 capsule 2-4 times per day with food. There is no indication as to what time of day these capsules should be taken.
While Estrosense does not mention any side effects associated with their product, reports show that some consumers have seen an increase in acne when using Estrosense.
Estrosense can be purchased for $28.79 on The Vitamin Shoppe. It is also important to note that when customers sign up for The Vitamin Shoppe's email list, they will receive a 10% discount on their purchase. With each purchase of Estrosense, customers will receive 60 capsules. Calculated with daily dosage, this is a 15-30 day supply.
While researching information concerning this product, no guarantee could be found. This should be of concern to customers as there is no safety net for void results.
After reviewing the researched information provided, it is easy to say that this product may not be the best supplement for women in menopause. The reason for this derives from the fact that ingredients known to help reduce the symptoms of menopause are not found in Estrosense. Therefore, it seems taking this supplement for menopause would leave users dissatisfied. Besides the fact that the ingredients could not help women in menopause, there are other elements which should concern users. First concerns the amount of daily pills. Taking the highest dosage, consumers will take four tablets throughout the day. This is a rather high number as many people cannot remember to take pills all throughout the day. Also, if the highest dosage is taken, consumers will have to repurchase every two weeks, thus resulting in users having to pay over $60 a month. Another concern is the lack of a guarantee. Guarantees create security factors for all customers. When a guarantee is not provided, companies are reducing the customers' trust thus decreasing overall satisfaction.
Jackie Horowitz	reviewed Estrosense	on April 9th	 and gave it a rating of 2.


text:
Stockholm Center for Freedom
Abroad French intellectuals protest Macron inviting Turkey's Erdoğan to World War I ceremonies
French intellectuals protest Macron inviting Turkey's Erdoğan to World War I ceremonies
A group of French intellectuals, politicians and civil society organizations published a joint letter in Le Monde on Tuesday protesting French President Emmanuel Macron for inviting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to participate in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I in Paris on Nov. 10-11.
According to a report by online news outlet Ahval, the group said the events were meant to express a joint will to prevent a repetition of the horrors of World War I and reminded that, accordingly, the Élysée Palace indicated that the events would be organized as a peace forum rather than a military parade.
The letter said that Erdoğan had perpetuated the Turkish state's denial of the Armenian genocide, the extermination of reportedly 1,5 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, adding that peace could not be achieved by complacency towards crimes in the past.
The signatories agreed that the aggressive nationalism of the Turkish state had escalated since Erdoğan had come to power with his Islamist leanings. Turkey also pressures minorities, particularly the Kurds, against whom it wages wars inside and outside the country, the letter said.
The letter criticized Erdoğan for continuing what the signatories called the military occupation of Cyprus, a member of the European Union. The letter also accused the Turkish government of fuelling jihadism and anti-Semitism by inciting hatred against Israel.
The infringement of liberties inside Turkey has reached new heights, the letter added, pointing out that Turkey is the biggest jailer of journalists in the world and is holding some 55,000 political prisoners.
The signatories asked Macron to "show the necessary clarity to his 'guest' so that his presence could in no way be interpreted as a recognition of his methods, his governance, his regime, and his manifestations of violence that had no place in the message of the Armistice's 100th anniversary."
Philosopher Pascal Bruckner, film director Costa Gavras and French deputy Valérie Boyer, known as a strong advocate for Armenian issues, are among the signatories of the letter.
Meanwhile, the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF) sent a separate letter to Macron to protest his invitation to Erdoğan, Deutsche Welle reported. The CCAF said that Erdoğan's presence contradicted the spirit of the event.
The CCAF last week criticized a French deputy of Armenian descent, Jacques Marilossian, for attending the reception hosted by the Turkish ambassador to France on Oct. 29, the 95th anniversary of Turkey's founding.
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Turkish gov't critic arrested shortly after his release
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Turkish court sentences German-Kurdish singer Cane to 6 years in prison
Erdogan's Long Arm: The Case of Senegal
Download PDF Turkey has expanded its witch hunt against critics to the West African nation of Senegal, specifically targeting...
Clampdown on foreign journalists in Turkey
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Free Thought under Siege in Turkey: the Crackdown on Education
Download PDF - Crackdown on education sector in Turkey victimized nearly 100,000 teachers and academics The crackdown on critical thinking in Turkey with an unprecedented witch...
'Erdoğan's Long Arm: The Case of Sweden'
Download PDF Turkey has expanded its witch hunt against critics to Sweden, using government institutions, affiliated NGOs and operatives, a report released by the Stockholm Center...
Kurdish political movement under crackdown in Turkey: The case of the HDP
Download PDF - New report highlights crackdown on Kurdish political movement in Turkey The Kurdish political movement has come under intense pressure from the current government...
Erdoğan's Long Arm: The Case Of Norway
Download PDF - Erdoğan's long arm reaches to Norway, targeting critics of Turkish government Turkey has escalated its witch hunt persecution on critics to Norway using...
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Tortured to Death: Holding Gökhan Açıkkollu's Killers To Account
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Download PDF - New research decodes how Turkey brands law abiding & peaceful people as terrorists The authoritarian government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's open contempt...
Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF) is an advocacy organization that promotes the rule of law, democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms.
Contact us: info@stockholmcf.org
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved / Stockholm Center for Freedom


Lie down on this Sealy Posturepedic Crown Germaine low-profile queen mattress set and get swept up in the bed's refreshing feel. Using Posturepedic Technology™ in the springs, each pocket coil is expertly designed to offer the right support to every inch of your slumbering body. Targeted Active Memory Foam easily responds to your night moves while your pressure points are cradled into relief by Pressure Relief foam. By using gel-infused high-density (HD) foam and SealyAir fibre together, you can savour the cool feeling of sleeping on this Germaine mattress.


Fairwinds - Spokane offers exceptional independent living and assisted living services in our elegant senior living community in the heart of Spokane.
Fairwinds - Spokane offers a continuum of care services, including assisted living. Our unique licensing allows our residents to stay in their familiar and comfortable apartment homes, where you know your neighbors and feel at home, even if your needs should change over time.
Assisted living services at Fairwinds - Spokane are customized to meet the special needs of each resident. Our staff is committed to meeting needs before and as they arise, ensuring each resident is as comfortable and healthy as possible. No matter if you'd like someone to walk you to dinner, help you choose the perfect outfit for happy hour, or could use assistance managing a complex medication schedule - we are here for you.
Our unique approach to assisted living is designed to empower seniors and to build independence where possible, while also being meticulous about providing high-quality care services that improve the quality of life for each resident. Our residents and their families enjoy peace of mind, knowing our community is in a prime location near world-class medical facilities including Providence Holy Family Hospital, Multicare Deaconess Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente Riverfront Medical Center.
Our care team conducts initial and ongoing assessments to be sure that each resident is receiving an appropriate level of care, perfectly balancing independence and assistance. Assisted living costs are in addition to the monthly rent and are based upon an assessment of individual needs and preferences. Our staff will conduct an evaluation of services provided on a regular basis.
I saw Fairwinds - Spokane on Leisurecare.com, and immediately thought of you! Check it out, schedule a tour, and see if you like it.


text:
import match = require('autosuggest-highlight/match');
import parse = require('autosuggest-highlight/parse');

function matchTest() {
    let matches = match('some text', 'te'); // $ExpectType [number, number][]
    matches = match('some sweet text', 's s'); // $ExpectType [number, number][]
}

function parseTest() {
    const parts = parse('Pretty cool text', [[7, 9], [12, 13]]); // $ExpectType { text: string; highlight: boolean; }[]
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
WATCH: This Advert Was Banned For Being Irresponsible...
The high-octane advert was deemed "harmful" by the ASA.
A Superdry advert has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority for being "socially irresponsible".
Watch the ad above and decide with yourself.
The promo for the clothing brand sees a free runner Harry Gallagher walking along a steel girder at a great height above a city landscape without the use of ropes or a harness.
The wording alongside the video, which was posted on Facebook during October, read: "To celebrate our range of jackets, we've worked with a team of extreme creators and asked them to put their favourite jacket to the test to find the jacket that gets them through. First up, Nightscape and the jacket that gets you high. Try the jacket, but don't try this at home".
It now however just reads: "This is the Jacket".
The ASA, who called the advert "socially irresponsible" said in a statement: "The ad must not appear again in the form complained of. We told Superdry to ensure their advertising did not condone or encourage an unsafe practice."
As Gloucestershire Live reports, the brand defended their decision to use professional parkour and free running athlete, arguing "that the mere depiction of an athlete undertaking a risk based activity did not encourage the activity and should not be seen as socially irresponsible".
Do you think the Superdry advert should have been banned? Would it encourage you to have a go?
Let us know here:
Photo and video credit: Facebook/Superdry
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Billie Eilish for James Bond 007: No Time To Die theme song?


text:
What Would Satan Do?
Switching gears for the moment, I want to discuss The Screwtape Letters, which I read for the first time a week or two ago. As readers no doubt know, it consists of a series of tutelary letters from a senior demon, Uncle Screwtape, to his nephew Wormwood, who is but a novice in soul snatching and possession.
The book is full of my highlights, which implies that it must be "about" something real, even if one doesn't believe Satan is real. Indeed, it is very much as if there is a Satan-shaped influence on the human soul, which we call... Satan.
For this shape is consistent, timeless, and universal, so it must be something. A Jungian archetype? Maybe, but that only begs the question. I studied Jung back in the 1980s, as he is a kind of semi-spiritual alternative to a purely secular psychoanalysis. Nevertheless, I soon enough found him to be simplistic, presumptuous, reductionistic, and incoherent, so I moved on. If you find him adequate, you may want to question your own adequacy.
As usual, I'm going to just flip through the book and blogviate (the g is silent) on whatever arrested my attention and seemed ripe for commentary.
It begins with a quote by Thomas More to the effect that the devil "cannot endure to be mocked." So true is this observation that it also applies the other way around: there is something diabolical in those who cannot endure mockery, who cannot make fun of themselves. Jumping straight to Godwin's Law, do you think Hitler ever laughed at himself? Stalin? Mao? Castro?
Jumping next to Godwin himself, trolls have been mocking me for over 14 years. But if they really want to know what is ridiculous about me, they should just ask. It's never what they think. They always get it wrong.
What is it about self-mockery that is so healthy? Well, for starters, it implies self-awareness, objectivity, and humility. Once again turning this around, there is something demonic in anyone lacking in self-awareness, objectivity, and humility; or at least these are the wounds through which the demonic energies enter and further influence the person.
If we were playing Jeopardy and the answer was "Lacking in self-awareness, objectivity, humility, and irony," I can think of two immediate answers: What is the MSM?! or What is academia?!
I defy anyone to point to something genuinely witty that has ever been written by Paul Krugman, Maureen Dowd, Thomas Friedman, Charles Blow, or Nicholas Kristof, AKA the Times idiotorial page. This is not intended as an insult. Rather, a diagnosis. Likewise, say what you want about feminism, but it is the cure for hypocardiopathy, or in layman's terms, a light heart.
Jumping ahead momentarily to the next book we will be discussing, Traditional Truth, Poetry, Sacrament, Pieper observes that
one could even go so far as to speak of the cheerfulness connected with not being able to comprehend, a cheerfulness which is closely related to humor and which is based on the fact that man knows that he is a not-absolute being -- a creature.... The claim to absolute certainty contains not only something which is fundamentally humorless but even formally un-human.
And for this very reason -- the combination of blind certitude and utter cluelessness -- these incarnations of incognition are always inadvertently funny, from the demonic Mullahs running Iran into the ground to Democrat morons running aground in Iowa.
Funny, like Elizabeth Warren. Who is as funny as Greta Thunberg. Who is as funny as Rachel Maddow, or Adam Schiff, or Jerry Nadler. Which is pretty comical. The impeachment is already a mockery, but the senate really needs to bring out the humor by calling Schiff and the Bidens to the witless stand. Comedy gold if handled correctly.
It just occurred to me that since I've been alive, the funnier (or at least less unfunny) candidate has always prevailed, for example Kennedy over Nixon, Reagan over Carter, Bush 1 over Dukakis, Clinton over Bush & Dole, Bush 2 over Gore & Kerry, Obama over McCain & Romney, and of course Trump over Hillary.
Which means that President Trump will win in a landslide over any of the current crop of dour and sourpussies.
Let's get back to the Letters. In the preface, Lewis notes that our demonic colleagues are equally delighted if a man is a magician or a materialist, for these reduce the same thing.
A Darwinian materialist, for example, cannot account for the soul except by an appeal to magic, just as the physicist who denies the transnatural must inhabit a cosmos that magically gives rise to information, law, order, beauty, truth, life, consciousness, teleology -- and, of course, physicists. If physics could account for physicists, knowledge of physics would be impossible.
Speaking of ineluctable logic, i.e., of things that cannot not be the case, Screwtape highlights the danger of trying to use logic to turn people away from God, because this will -- if pursued logically -- lead to awkward questions about the ground and nature of logic itself. He doesn't put it exactly this way, but the point is the same, and reminds us of the truism that while a little philosophy inclines one to atheism, a lot of it leads straight to God. D'oh! Atheism is a kind of arrested development whereby logic is arrested at an arbitrary point.
Screwtape cautions his naive pupil that logical argument poses the danger of awakening the transrational intellect, and this is the last thing Satan wants. Of course, he doesn't mind people being locked into reason, i.e., rationalism, because this is ultimately a self-enclosed anti-philosophy that ensures a lifetime of mental masturbation or soph-tautology. Atheists are nothing if not proud, and this is why: unlike you, they are rational! Just ask one.
We're running out of time. Bottom line for today:
The trouble about argument is that it moves the whole struggle on to the Enemy's [God's] own ground.... By the very act of arguing, you awake the patient's reason; and once it is awake, who can foresee the result?
So never wonder why the left responds to argument with censorship, slander, smears, accusations, and -- irony of ironies! -- demonization.
Nothing funny about this video -- plus, she's TOTALLY self-aware:
God's Own Reality Tunnel
Why on earth would you ever want to be happy, let alone joyful?
Asked no one, ever.
This is because, or so it seems, happiness is the thing -- or better, a name for the thing -- we all seek. It is our telos, that to which we are ordered.
So, while no one asks, "Why do you want to be happy," we've all wondered why you think that, of all things, will make you happy. Because that not only won't make you happy, it will make you unhappy. Fine. Do it your way.
Says God, to everyone, ever.
Now, if you believe God exists, then he is the ultimate reality to which we are ordered. Or, if you understand that man is ordered to a transcendent and nonlocal archetype, you can be certain that this is because God exists. In the end, if God doesn't exist, then there's no plausible explanation for why we should be ordered to him; or, more concretely, for the existence of saints and sages -- the perfection, from our side, of sanctity and wisdom, respectively. Man can only get to ten because God goes up to eleven.
In a previous post we alluded to the ego <---> reality tunnel dialectic. Clearly there are degrees of reality, such that people can be more or less "in touch" with it. We call a person "psychotic" because he has lost touch with reality, or crossed a divide in which the world is more delusion or hallucination than reality; it is more the projection of his own subjectivity into the world than the reception of the objective world into his psyche.
Speaking of which, this subject is handled brilliantly in Joker. (Spoiler alert? I'm not sure.) You may have to view it twice to realize it's difficult to say exactly which parts of the movie happened vs. which parts are pure hallucination -- and everything in between. The film doesn't offer any clear guidance. It doesn't announce This Never Actually Happened This Way in the Real World. But this mirrors the sad reality of the psychotic person, who is psychotic precisely because he can't distinguish between world and hallucination, or truth and delusion.
Compare it to what happens in dreams. Dreaming has a kind of psychotic structure, in that we are plunged into a world where things routinely happen that couldn't possibly happen in real life, and yet, we don't realize it. Last night, for example... nah, never mind. Other people's dreams are only of interest to the person who dreamt them. Suffice it to say that the dream is a reality tunnel that we inhabit even while not realizing that we -- somehow -- are the creators of that very world.
So, just like real life, since -- at least in a free society such as ours -- people are freed to live in their own reality tunnels, instead of being permitted only to inhabit one determined by the state -- as in the North Korea, or Iran, or elite college campuses. Being woke means: do not dare disturb me from my nightmare, or else! No gratitude whatsoever.
Another crossroads, with six possible directions... Let me briefly finish up with Joker, which I think is brilliant. Nor do I know or care what the director's "intent" might have been. In my reality tunnel it gets an A, in particular, Joaquin Phoenix's performance. But many critics disagree. Different reality tunnels. I saw some of them on Rotten Tomatoes, and could scarcely believe what I was reading. I realize that in these psychotic times, nothing should surprise us, but still... Examples:
Joker doesn't understand its representation of violence because it doesn't know what to do with its politics, opting instead for a confused aestheticization of anarchy, all incendiary chants and masked malcontents thronging the streets.
Joker is a visual feast about mental illness, the crumbling of an unstable economic system, and toxic masculinity that thinks it has something groundbreaking to add to the comic book universe, but merely adds an obtuse reflection.
It's unclear if the movie thinks that the Joker doesn't know that his statement is political, or the film itself doesn't understand it's own political nature...
Like "The Dark Knight", this film demonizes the mentally ill. It also distorts NY realities in the early 80s.
Suffice it to say that I didn't see any statements about politics, economics, toxic masculinity, demonization of mental illness, or the conditions of New York four decades ago.
Reality tunnels. Yesterday I read -- or started to read -- a piece that is so detached from reality that I suppose I reacted to it in the way the above critics reacted to Joker. I'm speaking of an essay by Frank Rich called What Will Happen to The Trump Toadies? Being a Trump Toady myself, I am naturally curious to find out what's going to happen to me.
Here are some examples of the graffiti on the walls of Rich's reality tunnel; in fact, note the rich irony of accusing the president and his supporters of being out of touch:
The definition of "facts" has been so thoroughly vandalized that Americans can no longer agree on what one is, and our president has barreled through so many crimes and misdemeanors with so few consequences that it's impossible to gainsay his claim that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it. Donald Trump proves daily that there is no longer any penalty for doing wrong as long as you deny everything, never say you're sorry, and have co-conspirators stashed in powerful places to put the fix in.
What crimes? What misdemeanors? He doesn't say.
John Kennedy, the Louisiana senator who parrots Vladimir Putin's talking points in his supine defense of Trump, acts as if there will never be a reckoning. While he has no relation to the president whose name he incongruously bears, his every craven statement bespeaks a confidence that history will count him among the knights of the buffet table in the gilded Mar-a-Lago renovation of Camelot.
Now, that is some bad writing, but the Russia hoax? If you ever believed this hoax, it was because you wanted to believe it. If you still believe it at this point, it must be serving a vital function -- a projected container for one's own unmanageable psychic distress.
"For all the damage inflicted since Inauguration Day 2017" -- wait -- what damage? Again, he doesn't say. Apparently, in his reality tunnel the damage is so self-evident that everyone sees it.
"Rather than being the end of American history as we know it," -- wait -- what? The end of history as we know it? I'm not exaggerating when I say this is psychotic. Not that Rich is psychotic per se, but that this kind of catastrophic thinking emanates from a psychotic dimension of the mind, or from what are called unmetabolized beta elements.
Very soon, white supporters of the president will be Judged by our fellow Citizens of Color, and it won't be pleasant:
That judgment will be rendered by an ever-more demographically diverse America unlikely to be magnanimous toward cynical politicians who prioritized pandering to Trump's dwindling all-white base over the common good.
I don't know. Might they be too busy working and improving their lives, thanks to President Trump?
"All cults come to an end, often abruptly, and Trump's Republican Party is nothing if not a cult." Wait -- what?
I've reached my limit. Let someone else do the fisking.
As to the title of this post, just as there is a dialectic between ego and world, there is one between the soul and God, or between (¶) and O. You might call the latter the attempt to build an "ultimate reality tunnel."
But clearly, anything (¶) can construct is not going to be ultimate. Still, it can get pretty far, much farther than can the horizontal ego. This is the realm of natural theology, but so long as it's from our side, it's still going to be a manmade reality tunnel.
The only way to exit a manmade tunnel is if God provides the tunnel. We have to wrap this up, but in my opinion and experience, God has done this. He has given us a reality tunnel back to him. It is the most valuable gift we could possibly imagine, being that it is the way, the truth, and the life, and what could be better than that?
Envy, Gratitude, Happiness, and Hell
Apologies in advance: this post veered way off course, but it couldn't be helped. We'll try to right the bus tomorrow.
We left off with the idea that happiness must have something to do with getting and having what we want; or certainly it can't involve getting what we don't want.
This seems simple enough, but simple isn't necessarily easy. For as Pieper says, beneath this are two implicit questions, first, "What does man want?," and second, "What is meant by 'have?'"
Vis-a-vis the latter, I'm reminded of that fact that I live in an area where I am literally surrounded by open space for miles around. Few people take advantage of this space, certainly considering its expanse. Therefore, for all practical purposes it might as well be mine. I can "have" it to myself any time I want. It is as if I can have and enjoy the privileges of ownership without the burden of property taxes. So again: what is meant by "have"?
At the other extreme, what does it mean to "have" your own property in a country with weak to non-existent property rights? What does it mean to have a house in Iran or North Korea -- or even Hong Kong? I suppose the protests in Hong Kong have much to do with the meaning of "have," because if mainland China prevails, its residents will be had. Tyrants will always have what they have, and will have what you have as well.
Haves and have-nots. What makes leftists doubly nauseating is that they conceal their envious wantery under a fig-leaf of disingenuous have-nottery. Which is why:
When the exploiters disappear, the exploited split into exploiters and exploited. Yes, but only every time. What did Asians and Jews ever do to the left, aside from supporting it? And yet, they are among the primary victims of the left's institutional racism.
The revolutionary is ultimately an individual who does not dare to rob by himself. He doesn't even dare call it robbery, or even taxes -- rather, contributions. Moreover, Elizabeth Warren is only going to ask for them. But oddly enough, we won't be able to explain to the IRS that we politely decline the request.
The left claims that the guilty party in a conflict is not the one who covets another's goods but the one who defends his own. The left is the institutionalization of envy. Moreover, envy for the left has gone from one of God's own Top Ten Obligations or Celestial No-No's to an actual virtue! Indeed, if you aren't saturated with envy, you can scarcely be called Woke.
The only man who should speak of wealth or power is one who did not extend his hand when they were within his reach. Warren? Ha! Imagine a person who would sink so low as to claim Indian Privilege for personal enrichment? Sanders? Ho! By selling envy to the envious, he has gone from living in a treehouse to living in three houses. Biden? Don't call him envious and grasping -- if you do, you're liable to be impeached.
Yes indeed, Revolutions do not solve any problem other than the economic problem of their leaders. Say what you want about AOC or Mayor Pete, but leftism has solved their own economic problems. Likewise Al Sharpton or the Obamas -- people with no skill but the ability to sell you a lot of the last thing you need.
No social class has exploited the others more brazenly than the one that today calls itself "the State." The Trump presidency has been an ongoing revelation of just how brazenly we have been and are being exploited by the deep state.
The state was bad enough, but come to find out it is only the surface structure of a much deeper and more pernicious cancer which has metastasized into everything. It is why journalism and academia, for example, are so thoroughly corrupted. Note that a college education used to be about curing ignorance. Now it's about contracting a virus of the soul and intellect and spreading it to others.
What's up, Bob? This post is supposed to be about happiness, but it's veering way into envy! Fair point, except it turns out that happiness and envy are literally at psychic -- and spiritual -- antipodes. To revisit my psychoanalytic training -- I'll try not to bore you with details -- one of my seminal influences published a book called Envy and Gratitude, which you might say form the Hinge of Happiness.
Let's see how briefly I can conceptualize the essence of the crux of the gist. In psychoanalysis, envy is distinguished from jealousy, in that the latter is the painful desire for what one lacks, while envy essentially eliminates the pain of jealousy by attacking and spoiling the good object. This mechanism is vividly seen in many policies of the left, too many to chronicle here.
For example, as Heather MacDonald has so exhaustively documented, the entire infrastructure of the diversity scam revolves around the denial of black underachievement; or, more specifically, a transformation of this reality into something it is not. Therefore, as in so many areas, leftism is the disease it pretends to cure, the problem it pretends to solve, and the ignorance it pretends to relieve.
Meanwhile, the underachievement worsens, while white SJWs feel better about themselves, so it's a whine-win situation.
Back to the psychoanalytic definition of envy: at bottom -- i.e., unconsciously -- it is "a destructive attack on the sources of life, on the good object, not on the bad object." If this sounds crazy, it's because it is. Why, for example, does the left ceaselessly attack the most decent nation in history, while defending one of the worst, Iran? Why does it attack Western Civilization? Christianity? White men? Israel? At least in part to make the pain go away.
Take the so-called Palestinians. I have a two word solution to all their problems: Imitate. Israel. Indeed, I can also reduce the source of all their problems to two words: Destroy. Israel. If they could only cease the latter and engage in the former, affluence and happiness would follow. But then, this would also destroy a lucrative regime that enriches a whole class of leaders that mirrors our own class of Sharptons, Obamas, and other grievance mongers.
Again, gratitude isn't only at the other psychic extreme, but isn't possible so long as one is filled with envy. It is "akin to object-love" and is "counterposed to envy, a response which diminishes or kills gratitude to the object."
To open this discussion to the widest possible angle, if God is love, then envy is very nearly the "anti-God," since it isn't just the absence of the good, but an attack on it. Which is frankly diabolical, no? Gosh. Might this be why the most hellish -- and unhappy -- places on earth were built with bricks of envy? Communism. National socialism. Democrat run cities. Etc.
Funny/sad story: my wife was recently accused of being a white supremacist because of something the accuser saw in my office. Am I a white supremacist? No, worse: I am grateful!
What is Happiness?
Trick question: it is nothing, because it can't be an IS. I used to think otherwise, back in both my atheist and Vedanta days.
Let's start with atheism. Since the atheist denies transcendence, what is simply is, and there's not a thing we can do about it. Or, we can either accept what is, or pretend there is some escape. Therefore, happiness, such as it is, would come down to a stoic acceptance of -- or resignation to -- what is.
There's some truth in that, but it depends on what is is. For is there a difference between animal and human happiness? Can we even call an animal "happy," or is happiness a specifically human reality? I think the latter, or happiness would simply come down to being warm and well-fed. The temporary cessation of wants and needs can't be all there is to it.
However, we can't say that want and need have nothing to do with happiness. I suppose it comes down to what we "really" need and want.
We'll return to atheist man, but Vedanta man is in much the same boat, albeit in first class instead of in steerage with the other third class thinkers. Here's one straight from the Ganges' mouth, Patanjali. In his commentary, Swami Prabhavananda explains that the times we've been happy occurred when
we had temporarily ceased to feel anxious; when we lived -- as we so seldom do -- in the depths of the present moment, without regretting the past or worrying about the future.
Swami P distinguishes this state from the mere satisfaction of a desire, which not only lasts for short time, but inevitably "gives rise to another, and so the moment of happiness ends in further anxiety." True, of course, but is there something more to happiness than this entirely negative definition? In other words, is it only the absence of anxiety, or a positive presence?
The Swami points to the latter: one might suppose that "an absence of desire would merely produce a dull, neutral mood, equally joyless and sorrowless." But this isn't the case, at least for the sort of happiness he is describing, which comes down to the joy of the Atman which "is always within us." This prior condition
can be released at any time by breaking down the barriers of desire and fear which we have built around it. How otherwise could we be so happy without any apparent reason?
Here we're getting warmer, but with insufficient light. The light creates the warmth, not vice versa, and the Swami tosses out some shady concepts that will require some additional fleshing out. Literally, but we'll get to that later.
One of the central principles of Vedanta is that ultimate reality is bi-polar, so to speak, with a transcendent absolute (Brahman) at one end, and an immanent one (Atman) at the other. There is God-Beyond and God-Within, and these are ultimately not-two. They say Atman is Brahman, but this can be misconstrued.
It is analogous to what the early fathers mean when they say "God became man that man might become God." This doesn't imply that we become the creator of the universe, rather, that we share in his divine nature. We are "not-two." Only Jesus is literally one with the Creator, and our task is to get on board the ark of salvation and participate in his eternal and vertically circular trinitarian descent <---> ascent.
At the end of Shankara's Crest-Jewel of Discrimination there's a helpful Q & A with the master. To the question "What is happiness?," the one word answer is "detachment." From what? From the ego, or better, the ego-world complementarity (for the ego gives rise to a -- not THE -- world, or to a self-enclosed reality tunnel).
The ego has disappeared. I have realized my identity with Brahman and so all my desires have melted away. I have risen above my ignorance and my knowledge of this seeming universe. What is this joy I feel? Who shall measure it? I know nothing but joy, limitless, unbounded!
That sounds pretty, pretty, pretty good. Chalk one up for the East. But can we do better?
Wayback in my doctoral program I studied psychoanalysis. Long story short, while psychoanalysis started out with one school -- Freudian -- soon enough, like Protestantism, it ramified into dozens of competing versions with very different models of the psyche in both sickness and health. Therefore, you have to pick the "best" one. How do we do that? On what basis can we choose?
I can only speak for myself. I don't want to get sidetracked, but in retrospect, it seems to me that my mind -- or maybe my whole being -- called out for a model that was sufficient to contain its expanse: its height, width, and depth. Which means, for starters, that there is an interior reality and that the model is there to conform to this. All too often I saw the converse, that is, students and professors reducing the psyche to their model. Which means they were trying to squeeze the wider world of being into what could be seen via their model. This is to confuse one's reality tunnel for the reality, and charge people good money to live in your tunnel.
So, that's where O came from. O is the ultimate reality prior to our theorizing about it, and which no theory can contain.
Stop digressing. Back to the question: can we (in the Western Division) do better? I think so, because the principle of Incarnation includes a great deal that Samadhi (release from the ego and identification with Atman) excludes -- little things like the body, the universe, other people. Here's some more joy from the liberated fellow above:
Now, finally and clearly, I know that I am Atman, whose nature is eternal joy. I see nothing, I hear nothing, I know nothing that is separate from me....
Nothing binds me to this world. I no longer identify myself with the physical body or the mind. I am one with the Atman, the undying. I am the Atman -- infinite, eternal, at peace forever.... My nature is pure consciousness.... I am the infinite Brahman, without a second. I am Reality, without beginning, without equal
Etc. Again, I don't knock it. But note what is left out: for example, no body, just pure consciousness. Let's say I have no prior religious commitment, but it's time to choose one. I'm going through the brochures. Here's Vedanta, which promises to liberate me from this slab of animal meat into pure consciousness-bliss. I like that. Don't recycle that one just yet.
Ooh. Check this one out -- it promises not escape from the world and body, but the divinization of them! And God does the hard part. We have only to participate in it. We don't have to lift ourselves by our own buddhastraps. Rather, there's this thing they call "grace" and a fellow they call the Holy Spirit that do the heavy lifting.
As usual, this whole post was provoked by a single sentence by Pieper. If you open your Piepers to page 116, in a chapter on the subject of happiness, he discusses the notion,
perhaps always present down through the ages, that happiness consists of existence itself. This is the hidden presupposition both for the utilitarian plans of totalitarianism and for the quasi-religious overvaluing of psychotherapy.
Yes. Both approaches work fine so long as man isn't for something -- something beyond man. Now, what is a man for? It seems to me that happiness must be bound up with this question. I'm reminded of a canine officer I recently evaluated. Somehow we got into the question of whether police dogs are happy in retirement, but he said they are miserable. Having a job to do gives them purpose, structure, stimulation. Remove these and they're a mess. He implied that putting them down is putting them out of their misery.
Hold that thought. Back to man:
First point: what do we really want? The very formulation of the question implies that there is something we only seem to want, or think we want, but don't really want (Pieper).
He brings in Socrates, who remarked that the tyrant may well be able to do whatever he pleases, but not necessarily what he wants. Socrates' partner in dialogue calls this claim absurd, insisting that happiness means doing as we please, and that's all there is to it. Nevertheless, Socrates digs in his sandals.
This post has gone on long enough. I have to accomplish some actual work. We'll get to our exciting conclusion on Tuesday.


text:
Durin's Tower
"Zirak-zigil" by John Howe
Location Atop Zirakzigil
Type Tower
Description Carved out of the living rock of the mountain
Inhabitants Formerly Dwarves; none by the War of the Ring
Events Battle of the Peak
Gallery Images of Durin's Tower
Durin's Tower was the tower upon the Silvertine. It was built by the Dwarves in ancient times on the peak of the Silvertine, which they called Zirakzigil - one of the three Mountains of Moria under which lay the realm of Khazad-dum. The tower was carved out of the living rock of the mountain and stood upon a high eyrie. The Endless Stair led to the tower from the foundations of the mountain.[1]
By the end of the Third Age, Durin's Tower had long been lost. Some Dwarves believed it had been destroyed, while others thought it was only a legend. On 23 January T.A. 3019, Gandalf and the Balrog climbed the Endless Stair to Durin's Tower. Upon the Silvertine they fought until Gandalf defeated the Balrog two days later.[2] During the battle, the tower was destroyed and the entrance to the stair was blocked.[1]
↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The White Rider"
↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
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Categories: Moria | Towers