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Sakya Trizin
From Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia
Ngawang Kunga,the 41st Sakya Trizin
Sakya Trizin (Tibetan: ས་སྐྱ་ཁྲི་འཛིན།, ZYPY: Sa'gya Chizin, literally "Sakya Throne Holder"; Chinese: 萨迦法王 or 萨迦崔津) or Sa'gya Gongma Rinboqê (གོང་མ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ།) is the traditional title of the head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism.
His Holiness Sakya Trizin is the supreme head of the Sakya Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
He was born on the seventh of September, 1947 in Tsedong, Tibet.
Presently His Holiness resides at the Sakya Dolma Phodrang, Rajpur, Dehradun and also travels around the world to turn the wheel of Dharma.
The Khön family, to which His Holiness Sakya Trizin belongs, has a long history that extends back more than 1400(?????) years to pre-Buddhist Tibet.
The Sakya Khön family's ancestors were "The Gods of the Realm of Clear Light" and so the family was known as Lha-Rig or "The Celestial Race".
Later, when they subjugated the Rakshas, they were called The Immaculate "Khön Gyi Dhung" or "The Family of Conquerors".
In the later eleventh century when they established the Sakyapa Order of Tibetan Buddhism, they were called "The Sakyapa Lineage".
In more recent times they became known as "The Dolma Phodrang" or "The Tara Palace Lineage", as their palace was next to the Turquoise Tara Shrine at the Sakya monastery in Tibet.
From the advent of the Khön race until now, many famous masters have appeared without interruption in this illustrious lineage, including the five great founders of the Sakyapa Order.
Vajradhara Ngawang Conga Rinchen, the previous pphead of the Sakya]] Dolma Phodrang, and Sonam Drolkar, the sister of a renowned minister of the Tibetan government had four children together.
The eldest, a daughter whose name is Jetsun Chime Thrinley was born in 1938 and currently lives and teaches in Canada. The next born were a son and daughter who both passed away in infancy.
Their youngest son, the present Sakya Trizin, was born in the Sixteenth Rabjung* in the year of The Wood Bird on the first day of the eight-month which is September 7th, 1945. He was born at the Sakya Palace of Tsedong.
Immediately after his birth, profound rituals were performed to increase his wisdom, including tracing the letter "Dhih" on his tongue. Many auspicious signs occurred on the day of his birth.
A rainbow tent appeared above the palace and milk collected from one hundred different Dris (female yaks) were offered to the palace as well as a statue of Guru Padmasambhava.
While he was an infant, his name was Ayu Vajra.
Later, when his father gave him his first major initiation of "The Nine Deities of Amitayus", he was given his present name Ngawang Kunga Thegchen Palber Thrinley Samphel Wangyi Gyalpo.
When the family returned to the main Sakya monastery the next year there was an extensive celebration of the anniversary of his birth. He received the major initiation of Vajra Kilaya and many other profound teachings from his father.
Both parents died while His Holiness was still young so his maternal aunt, Thrinley Paljor Sangmo, with great kindness, took extremely good care of him.
She appointed Jamphel Ponlop Kunga Gyaltsen as his first tutor and from him he learned the fundamental of the Tibetan reading, writing, memorization and the recitation of basic prayers.
He learned chanting, music, ritual dancing, mudras and other subjects from his junior tutor Kunga Tsewang.
After completion of these studies, a great celebration was held in which the Sakya Trizin officially entered both the Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries to perform the traditional Sakya ceremonies.
When His Holiness finished his studies at the Sakya Monasteries, he went to receive teachings at the Ngor E-Wam monastery.
There, at the age of five, he received "The Common and Uncommon Lamdre" and many other profound teachings, bestowed upon him by his main root guru the great Ngor abbot, Vajradhara Ngawang Lodroe Zhenphen Nyingpo.
In 1951 the Sakya Trizin made a pilgrimage to Lhasa.
There, at the age of six, he was designated the throne holder of the Sakya Order by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Accordingly, the next year a preliminary enthronement ceremony was performed in which he accepted the official seals of the office of the Sakya Trizin.
The following year from Ngawang Zhenphen Nyingpo's regent, Ngawang Tenzin Nyingpo, His Holiness received the initiation and reading transmission of "The Collection of Dharanas".
From Lama Ngawang Lodroe Rinpoche, he received the initiations and profound oral instructions of the Three Red Deities, Three Vajra Yoginis and the two main Protectors of the Sakya Order.
At the age of eleven he made another pilgrimage to Lhasa during which he received Dharma instructions in the Potala from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There, before a large audience, he gave an extensive explanation of the Mandala offering due to which his wisdom came to be proclaimed throughout Tibet.
During this period, from Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, he received many tantric initiations and teachings according to the Sakya tradition as well as the teachings and initiations of the Dzogchen Lineage.
In 1957, he received the Lamdre again, this time from the great abbot Vajradhara Jamphel Sangpo, according to the tradition of the Khön Lineage Transmission.
In 1959, at the age of fourteen, he was formally enthroned as the Sakya Trizin, beginning with a seven day Mahakala ritual followed by an elaborate three day enthronement ceremony during which representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government were in attendance.
Later that year, due to change in the political situation of Tibet, His Holiness along with some of his attendants moved to India.
The next year, His Holiness established the Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling and Sa-Ngor Choetsog in Gangtok and thus began his task of reassembling the Sangha.
On many different occasions in Tibet, as well as in India, His Holiness received extensive philosophical teaching in Logic, Abhidharma, Prajna Paramita and The Clarification of the Three Vows from many great scholars like the abbots Dosep Thupten, Tritso Rinchen and Serjong Appey.
From the last of them, he also received a thorough and detailed explanation of The Hevajra Root Tantra and many related teachings.
From one of the four Ngor abbots, Phendhe Khen Rinpoche, he received the initiation and explanation of The Yamantaka in the Ra Lotsawa tradition as well as The Collected Writings of Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub.
In 1964, He undertook the task of reestablishing the main seat of Sakya Order in Rajpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
In 1968 in order to benefit the lay followers of the Sakya Order, he established the Tibetan settlement in Puruwala in Himachal Pradesh, India.
During the years 1971 and 72, he received the initiations from "The Collection of All Tantras", "The Collected Writing of Ngorchen Kunga Sangpo", "The Uncommon Lamdre from the Tsarpa Tradition" and "The One Hundred Teachings of the Jonang Tradition" from Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, Ngawang Khyenrab Legshey Gyatso.
In 1974, to maintain the unbroken lineage of Khön family, His Holiness married Dagmo Kusho Tashi Lhakyi, the daughter of a minister of the king of Derge.
That year was highlighted by the auspicious birth of their elder son Ratna Vajra Rinpoche.
In 1978, he received the complete reading transmission of "The Collected Works of the Five Great Founders of Sakyapa Tradition" and "The Collected Tantric Works of the Omniscient Teacher Gorampa" from the Lord of Refuge Dezhung Rinpoche.
In 1979, his younger son Gyana Vajra Rinpoche was born.
The following Year, His Holiness performed the opening ceremony of the main Sakya Monastery Thupten Namgyal Ling in Puruwala, Himachal Pradesh.
In order to promote higher education and extensive philosophical training and to maintain the living transmission of the Sakyapa teachings and commentaries, His Holiness requested his own tutor, the most venerable Khenpo Appey Rinpoche, to establish the Sakya College and to be the Dean of the college.
Through his hard work and vast wisdom, the Sakya College was established in 1972.
Since then, the college has produced monks with exceptional scholastic virtues and caliber who had come from various monasteries.
At the college they received high quality and in depth instructions in Tantra, Sutra and other common subjects.
After graduation, they have returned to their respective monasteries or, as assigned by His Holiness, to serve in various capacities within the Sakya Order.
Thus, they have contributed greatly to the spread of this glorious tradition all over the world and benefited many sentient beings.
Through establishment of the Sakya College, His Holiness has revitalized both the sutric and tantric traditions of the Tibetan Buddhism and ensured the continuity of a new generation of well trained teachers and practitioners.
Until now, His Holiness has performed major and minor retreats of twenty deities of the Sakya Lineage.
From a very young age he has undertaken many retreats and has given many initiations such as "The Upper and The Lower Initiations of Vajrakilaya".
Since his arrival in India, he has given "The Common Lamdre" on four occasions and "The Uncommon Lamdre" once.
In addition, he was bestowed "The Common Lamdre" four times and "The Uncommon Lamdre" twice overseas.
Therefore in total he has given "Lamdre" eleven times and "The Collection of Sadhanas" thrice and has bestowed many initiations on "The Collection of Tantras".
For the benefit of those who wish to study Lord Buddha's doctrine, His Holiness has turned the wheel of Dharma all over the world.
So far, he has given teachings in America, Australia, Canada, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand.
To all of his fortunate disciples, he has extended his infinite compassion and wisdom.
This is evident in the books he has written. Until the present day, he has written two volumes containing the detailed list of all the teachings he has received from various masters and another volume enumerating the works of the great masters of the Sakyapa Order.
He has also written an autobiography of two volumes and another in a brief version.
He has written profoundly upon the Birwapa's "Guru Yoga Puja" and many other ritual texts and composed dedication prayers as well as many other short verses.
To preserve an unbroken lineage of teachings and the tradition of the Khön family, he has ensured that his two sons are receiving an extensive education of the Buddhadharma.
In short, His Holiness Sakya Trizin upholds the entire Buddhist doctrines and has spread it far and wide throughout the world. He has been an unfailing source of wisdom and compassion for all of his Dharma students.
Most of the time when he is not on a teaching tour and when he is not engaged in other religious commitments, he lives in Rajpur, Dehradun, at the Sakya Dolma Phodrang, and extends his infinite compassion and blessings to a stream of devotee everyday.
Sixty years cycle
from Extensive Bio of H.H. Sakya Trizin
His Holiness Sakya Trizin (Ngawang Kunga Tekchen Palbar Sampel Wangi Gyalpo) Tib. ས་སྐྱ་ཁྲི་འཛིན་, sa skya khri 'dzin, (b. September 7th 1945, 1st day of the 8th lunar month of the Wood Bird year) (called by Tibetans ས་སྐྱ་གོང་མ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, Wyl. sa skya gong ma rin po che) is the revered throne holder of the Sakya order of Tibetan Buddhism.
He is the 41st patriarch of the Khön lineage which dates back to 1073.
He is renowned as an emanation of both Manjushri and Mahasiddha Virupa, the founder of the Lamdré teachings, and also as an incarnation of Apang Tertön.
He is a brilliant master who manifests profound wisdom and compassion, and his excellent command of English render his teachings particularly beneficial to western students.
He was born in 1945 in Tibet and escaped with his family to India in 1959 where he continues to live and rebuild both the lay and monastic elements of the Sakya tradition.
He has guided the establishment of over thirty monasteries in India and Nepal and has helped found Sakya centres around the world.
His elder sister is Jetsün Kushok Chimey Luding.
He has two sons, Khonrig Ratna Vajra Sakya and Khondung Gyana Vajra Rinpoche.
Teachings & Empowerments Given to the Rigpa Sangha
15 August-3 September 1978, Dzogchen Orgyen Chöling, London, UK—teaches on Mahayana and Vajrayana in the context of Lamdré.
Gives Manjushri, Vajravarahi, Hevajra, Chenrezik from Thangtong Gyalpo & Vajrakilaya from Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö empowerments.
October 1984—spends eight days at the London Rigpa centre; gives the empowerments of Manjushri and Vajrakilaya and teaches on 'The Triple Vision', 'The Teaching of Buddha in Everyday Life' and the 'Nature of Mind'.
28-30 March 1989—teaches at Cornwall retreat, UK; gives Vajrakilaya & Manjushri empowerments.
3-4 April 1989—teachings in Paris.
October 1991—gives the Khön family lineage empowerment of Vajrakilaya in the London centre. His monks perform the sacred dances associated with the ritual at the Shaw Theatre.
May 1995—H.H. Sakya Trizin and Jetsün Kushok Chimey Luding visit Rigpa London. Teachings on Parting from the Four Attachments are given. 21 May, H.H. Sakya Trizin gives a Vajrakilaya empowerment.
14-15 September 1996, Paris, Salle Adyar, 'The Healing Power of the Mind' event—teaches on healing in the context of the Four Noble Truths and gives a Vajrasattva empowerment.
28-29 September 1996, Lerab Ling, 'Wisdom and Compassion' event—teachings on the heart and essence of the Mahayana, and gives Chenrezik and Manjushri empowerments.
3-4 June 2000, London Rigpa—gives an empowerment.
22-23 June 2007, Lerab Ling—gives Khön family lineage empowerment of Vajrakilaya.
3-7 July 2010, Rigpa Berlin Centre.
3 September 2011, Lerab Ling, Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik and Thangyal Tsédrup long-life empowerments
His Holiness Sakya Trizin, Freeing the Heart and Mind—Introduction to the Buddhist Path: Part 1, Wisdom Publications
Sandra Penny-Dimri,'The Lineage of His Holiness Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga' in The Tibet Journal, Vol.20 No.4 Winter 1995
Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness Sakya Trizin
Three Wisdoms—An Interview with H.H. Sakya Trizin
Throneholders of the Sakya school
H.H. Sakya Trizin's Official website
Video of the visit of His Holiness Sakya Trizin to Lerab Ling in June 2007
The Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism was founded in 1073, when Khon Konchog Gyalpo (a.k.a. Kön Gönqog Gyäbo), a member of Tibet's noble Khön (Koin) family, established a monastery in the region of Sakya, Tibet, which became the headquarters of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism.
Since that time, the leadership of the Sakya Order has descended within the Khön family.
Current Sakya Trizin
The current Sakya Trizin is the 41st Sakya Trizin.
His legal name is "Sakya Trizin" and he is referred to as His Holiness Sakya Trizin.
His religious name is Ngawang Kunga Tegchen Palbar Trinley Samphel Wangyi Gyalpo. H.H. Sakya Trizin is considered second only to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the spiritual hierarchy of Tibetan Buddhism.
Sakya Trizin was born on September 7, 1945 in Tsedong, near Shigatse, Tibet.
From his father, Vajradhara Ngawang Kunga Rinchen, he received important initiations and teachings in the Sakya lineage.
He began intensive religious study at the age of five. In 1952, he was officially designated as the next Sakya Trizin by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.
He continued intensive training from his main teacher Ngawang Lodroe Shenpen Nyingpo and many other famous Tibetan scholars, studying extensively in both the esoteric and exoteric Buddhist traditions.
In 1959, at the age of fourteen, he was formally enthroned as head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism.
In the same year, due to the political situation in Tibet, the Sakya Trizin, his family, and many lamas and monks from the Sakya Monastery relocated to India.
To maintain the unbroken lineage of the Khon family, in 1974 Sakya Trizin consented to requests that he accept Tashi Lhakee, daughter of a noble family from Dege in Kham as his consort.
In the same year his first son, H.E.Khondung Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, was born. In 1979, a second son, H.E.Khondung Gyana Vajra Rinpoche was born.
After leaving Tibet, in 1963, the Sakya Trizin re-established the seat of the Sakya Order in Rajpur, India, building a monastery known as Sakya Centre.
Since that time, he has worked tirelessly to preserve the thousand-year-old religious heritage of the Sakya Order and to transmit its teachings to succeeding generations.
He founded and directly guides a number of institutions, including Sakya Monastery in Rajpur, Sakya Institute, Sakya College, Sakya Nunnery, Sakya College for Nuns, Sakya Tibetan Settlement, Sakya Hospital, dozens of other monasteries in Tibet, Nepal, and India, and numerous Dharma Centers in many countries.
Sakya Trizin is a highly accomplished Buddhist master respected by all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and teaches widely throughout the world.
He has bestowed the extensive Lam Dre teaching cycle, which is the most important teaching of the Sakya Order over 18 times on various continents,
and also transmitted major initiation cycles such as Collection of All the Tantras, and the Collection of all the Sadhanas, which contain almost all of the empowerments for the esoteric practices of the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism to hundreds of lineage holders in the next generation of Buddhist teachers.
He has trained both of his sons, Khonrig Ratna Vajra Sakya and Khonrig Gyana Vajra Sakya as highly accomplished Buddhist masters, and they both travel widely, teaching Buddhism throughout the world.
The year 2009 marked the fiftieth anniversary of Sakya Trizin's headship of the Sakya Order.
The occasion was celebrated as a Golden Jubilee with extensive celebrations and tributes to his success in preserving and maintaining the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism.
Sakya Trizin lineage
Lharig, the divine generation
According to legend Ciring descended from the Rupadhatu (Realm of Clear Light) to earth.
Ciring
Yuse
Yuring
Masang Cije
Togsa Pawo Tag
Tagpo Ochen
Yapang Kye
Khön family, the royal generation
Because the previous generations subjugated the rakshas (demons), the family became the Family of Conquerors (Khon gyi dung shortened to Khön) and therefore a royal family.
Khön Bar Kye
Khön Jekundag, minister of Trisong Detsen, student of Padmasambhava
Khön Lu'i Wangpo Srungwa
Khön Dorje Rinchen
Khön Sherab Yontan
Khön Yontan Jungne
Khön Tsugtor Sherab
Khön Gekyab
Khön Getong
Khön Balpo
Khön Shakya Lodro
Sherab Tsultrim
Sakya lineage, generations as Buddhist teachers.
Khon Konchog Gyalpo founded the monastery in Sakya in 1073, and therefore the lineage was renamed Sakya.
Biographical data
Tibetan name
1. Khon Konchog Gyalpo 1034–1102 1073–1102
2. Bari Lotsawa Rinchen Drag 1040–1111 1103–1110
3. Tsewa Chenpo Sachen Kunga Nyingpo 1092–1158 1111–1158
4. Loppon Rinpoche Sonam Tsemo 1142–1182 1159–1171
5. [[Jetsun Rinpoche Dragpa Gyaltsen 1147–1216 1172–1215
6. Choeje Sakya Pandita 1182–1251 1216–1243
6a. regent of Sakya Pandita 1243–1264
7. Drogön Chögyal Phagpa 1235–1280 1265–1266
8. Rinchen Gyaltsen 1238–1279 1267–1275
7a. Drogön Chögyal Phagpa 2nd reign 1276–1280
9. Dharmapala Rakshita< 1268–1287 1281–1287
10. Sharpa Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen 1258–1306 1288–1297
11. Sangpo Pal 1262–1324 1298–1324
12. Namkha Legpa Gyaltsen 1305–1343 ca. 1324–1342
13. Jamyang Donyö Gyaltsen 1310–1344 ca. 1342-1344
14. Lama Dampa Sönam Gyaltsen 1312–1375 1344–1347
15. Tawen Lodrö Gyaltsen 1332–1364 1347–1364
16. Tawen Kunga Rinchen 1339–1399 ca. 1364-1399
17. Lopön Chenpo Gushri Lodrö Gyaltsen 1366–1420 1399–1420
18. Jamyang Namkha Gyaltsen 1398–1472 1421–1441
19. Kunga Wangchuk 1418–1462 1442–1462
20. Gyagar Sherab Gyaltsen 1436–1494 1463–1472
21. Dagchen Lodrö Gyaltsen 1444–1495 1473–1495
22. Kunga Sönam (22nd Sakya Trizin)|Kunga Sönam 1485–1533 1496–1533 }
23. Ngagchang Kunga Rinchen 1517–1584 1534–1584
24. Jamyang Sönam Sangpo 1519–1621 1584–1589
25. Dragpa Lodrö 1563–1617 1589–1617
26. Ngawang Kunga Wangyal 1592–1620 1618–1620
27. Ngawang Kunga Sönam 1597–1659 1620–1659
28. Ngawang Sönam Wangchuk 1638–1685 1659–1685
29. Ngawang Kunga Tashi 1656–1711 1685–1711
30. Sönam Rinchen 1705–1741 1711–1741
31. Kunga Lodrö 1729–1783 1741–1783
32. Wangdu Nyingpo 1763–1809 1783–1806
33. Pema Dudul Wangchuk 1792–1853 1806–1843
34. Dorje Rinchen 1819–1867 1843–1845
35. Tashi Rinchen 1824–1865 1846–1865
36. Kunga Sönam 1842–1882 1866–1882
37. Kunga Nyingpo 1850–1899 1883–1899
38. Dzamling Chegu Wangdu 1855–1919 1901–1915
39. Dragshul Trinle Rinchen 1871–1936 1915–1936
40. Ngawang Thutob Wangdrag 1900–1950 1937–1950
41. Ngawang Kunga Tegchen Palbar * 1945 1951–
Wikipedia:Sakya Trizin
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The three letters raising hope are not "USA" but "YPG"
Verfasst von: lowerclassmagazine.blogsport.eu. Übersetzt von: reader. Verfasst am: 15.08.2014 - 19:12.
These days that everybody is talking about it from Spiegel to CDU, the majority of the german left realizes: Oops, in Syria and Iraq, there are Kurds. And, oops again, there are islamistic militias. So far, solidarity with Kurds and support for Kurdistan used to be the issue of only a few hundred people in the whole country, who have been considered at least "weird" for their field of activism by most and were told again and again and again by an oh-so-correct-emancipatory vanguard they were supporting nothing but "nationalist" reactionaries – a.k.a. PKK. But now, under the impression of massmedia coverage, also those start an interest in the topic, who keep jumping from one ideological projection screen to the next.
So now it's Iraq, since Ohlauer Straße went boring when the spectacle faded out. But because one likes to "appeal" to which institution or people ever one believes they would be able to achieve something while oneself is incapable of doing anything at all, and because one is used to keep thinking in patterns that are state- and capital-compliant, there is just one, really great idea: the demand to ship arms to the Kurds.
It only requires a minimal effort to ask yourself the question to whom these arms would be shipped. Would these arms be shipped to the internationally branded "terrorist organization" PKK or her ally YPG? Or would these arms rather be shipped to the local representatives of the West, the corrupt clans in Bagdad and Mesud Barzani'S KDP, the party dominating the Kurdish regions in Iraq?
The guru of those, to whom Kurds are not much more than another opportunity to paint their US-fetishism in leftist colours, says: "There is a moral obligation and political necessity for everyone, to help the Kurds in their fight against the jihadists. But the Kurds do not cherish any hope for military aid from Germany or Europe. Their hope is called USA, once again." (Denis Yücel, taz)
"The Kurds," those words he, of course, did not chose unintentionally, considering their squishiness. The West is not starting to support those Kurds who are not members of the western cohort like Barzani and people like him. Quite the contrary: PKK and YPG are not demanding shipment of arms, they only speak in favor of humanitarian aid. The only one repeatedly calling on Washington to send weapons of war is Mesud Barzani, who is under suspicion by not only a few people of having pulled back his Peshmergas only to back up this demand.
So far only the US and France have announced to ship arms to "the Kurds of northern Iraq" (which of course means Barzani's KDP) and the "gouvernment of Iraq". The last one is a joke anyway. Besides the fact that the Al-Maliki administration has had a big share in the process that Sunnis in Iraq went through to develop the idea of tolerance towards former rappers and professional lunatics from Germany and Chechnya in their cities, this gouvernment is highly repressive, incites religious hatred and is corrupt up to a level that nobody can possibly tell where exactly these arms will end up. Even if they will make their way to that rifle club also known as "Army of Iraq", considering the level of disorganization there, these weapons will most probably not be contributing to a serious debilitation of IS. There's even more to it: The moment IS conquers their emplacements, these weapons will end up with IS. So it's a stupid idea.
But as a leftist you also can't support any shipment of arms to Barzani. Even the Tagesspiegel knows: "The autonomnous gouvernment of the Kurds of northern Iraq does tolerate the heavily armed kinsmen of the stalinist-like organized PKK, but actually wants to get rid of them. Mesud Barzani, president of the Kurdish autonomnous gouvernment in northern Iraq, and PKK-leader Abdullah Öcalan, currently imprisoned in Turkey, have been rivals in leadership of all Kurds for a long time. Also the Syrian PKK-subsidiary PYD used to give Barzani the creeps. Only lately, in spring this year, Barzani's people, the PKK and PYD experienced serious tensions." After solving the IS-problem, Barzani, acting in friendship with Erdogan, would definately use exactly those weapons leftists support to be shipped to him now, use against the only ones in the region that possibly can be supported from a leftist point of view: PKK and YPG.
And air strikes? Though thourougly celebrated by those whose greatest wish it is to prove that the USA are acting on grounds of charity, altruism and in support of human rights, these are nothing but means serving the interest of Washington. This means they are nothing more but the continuation of exactly that kind of politics that made Iraq resemble the failed state from Mad Max as much as it does now. It is impossible to "vanquish" IS anyway. The more the accursed USA intervene, the more Sunnis will join IS. Does one have to "reject" the air strikes because of that? The answer to this is pretty irrelevant, for they will be carried out even though we might reject it. The Kurdish liberation movement though can take advantage of them wherever it is possible, just the way you should take advantage of the contradictions imminent to imperalistic politics in favour of your own goals. Lenin did take the sealed train to Russia.
So does that mean one is supposed to do nothing and by doing so become guilty as well, like Evrim Sommer (Die Linke) is insinuating those do, who do not beg for military aid? Of course not. There's plenty of options. Those who like to "demand" and sign "petitions" could demand the complete abolition of shipment of arms instead of favouring one particular shipment. Or demand sanctioning states that support IS, like Turkey or Saudi-Arabia (there is way too little discussion about Turkey and it's involvement in international Jihadism anyway, besides some half-hearted statements made by members of Linkspartei). Revocation of the ban of PKK could be another step. At least supporting those who are fighting back IS would no longer be a crime. Also one can make contact with local Kurdish structures in exile and support solidarity efforts by one's own means, instead "demanding" shipment of arms to Barzani on grounds of sluggishness and moral duty and continuing the life of a couch potato. Those who feel this is not enough can find their inspiration among the international brigades. Wonderful comrades have done so again and again, just think of Andrea Wolf.
In a nutshell: rejecting the demand for shipment of arms is not demanding to do "nothing". It's the exact opposite of this. Hope for the people living in the region is not called "USA" but YPG and PKK.
Antimilitarismus & Krieg


While there are plenty of other electric car makers out there, there's no doubt that Tesla is leading the segment. With a quartet of models to choose from, including the luxurious Model S sports sedan, to the funky Model X SUV, to the dynamic Model 3, and even to the most recent Model Y compact crossover, it's pretty obvious that Tesla is now well-established in the market. Once derided as a flash-in-the-pan destined for the margins of history, Tesla has grown to be a car company unlike any the word has seen before. Autopilot, Falcon Doors, Ludicrous Mode… the list goes on and on.
No matter what your position on the company, there's no denying Tesla's influence. And that's reason enough to hit play and indulge in this in-depth (yet extremely entertaining) look at Tesla, courtesy of Donut Media.


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Outfront
KW Outfront
Awards & Headlines
From Food Stamps to Six Figures
HomeAgentsFeatures
Words by Shelby O'Neill|Photography by Ryan Kelly|Published: Sep. 21 2018
In less than 18 months, Ryan and Heather Bigger of the Fort Mill (S.C.) market center went from food stamps to six figures by taking a leap of faith.
With $9.75 million in production and just one year in the industry, Ryan and Heather Bigger of the Fort Mill, S.C., market center are making a splash. But it's a far cry from where they were two years ago.
At that time, as their family grew to include three children, the Biggers opted for Heather to stay home, while Ryan left his sales job for a better-paying opportunity driving a truck. Ryan later suffered a shoulder injury that left him unable to work, and one month after returning to that driving job following surgery, he was let go, meaning the Biggers went from having a single income to no income at all.
"Being a one-income family for three-plus years, we were cutting things tight as it was," Ryan says. "What I didn't realize before I took a job driving a truck is that no one wants to hire a truck driver for a sales job, even though I had a very good career in sales before."
With more money going out than was coming in, the Biggers were forced to take drastic action – depleting their savings and 401(k), selling things online, borrowing money from family, and eventually requiring government assistance.
"I was out of work for about a year, and we were at a point where we were pretty close to putting our kids on free and reduced lunches," Ryan says. "I was taking classes and trying to make opportunities happen, and nothing was happening."
An Unexpected Opportunity
Coincidentally, some friends were on the hunt for their first home, and Ryan, born and raised in Rock Hill, S.C., would send them home listings he found online in between job searches – Heather did as well. After complimenting Heather and Ryan at how great of a job they were doing, the friends asked if the Biggers had ever thought about getting into real estate, and a lightbulb turned on – real estate would be a meaningful career that would help them live the life they wanted. Plus, they had been wanting to enter into a business together for years.
"From the moment we started dating almost nine years ago, we have been inseparable, so starting a business together was a no-brainer," says Heather. "We had always really enjoyed touring open houses and viewing homes together, but starting a real estate business had never dawned on us."
So, they decided to take a leap of faith and borrowed money from Ryan's parents to go to real estate school, knocking out the classes in eight days. When they finished, they reached out to several brokerages, many of which weren't returning their calls. Another friend had recently joined Keller Williams and connected them with his assistant team leader.
"The moment we walked in the door, we were welcomed with Keller Williams culture," Heather says. "It was very warm and inviting, with everybody smiling and saying hello. It was just a feeling. Mind you, we didn't know anything at that point about real estate, but our decision was made up the minute we walked in."
The Biggers joined Keller Williams in September 2016 and enrolled immediately in Ignite – an action-focused, results-driven course that teaches lead generation, lead conversion, and contract negotiations.
Sticking to the Plan
"We were beyond blessed to join the market center at the same time as our productivity coach, Jake Dixon," Ryan says. "We plugged in, doing everything they told us to do." Yet, one month in, the Biggers were concerned. Ryan continues, "We looked around a month or so in, and others were getting appointments and contracts."
So we asked Jake, 'What are we doing wrong?' He assured us that we were on the right track, saying, 'Keep doing what you're doing. Look at the weekly scorecards. You're leading in trainings and contacts. When we look back in 90 days, you're going to start seeing the results from the hard work you're doing today.'"
The Biggers continued performing the activities they were taught: contacting everyone they knew, hosting open houses, door-knocking, and calling expireds and for sale by owners.
"We didn't try to reinvent the wheel," Heather says. "When we did those basic lead generation steps, like door-knocking, we didn't have any budget for fancy-color paper fliers, so we put three black-and-white fliers on one piece of paper. That's three fliers for a nickel."
Ryan adds, "It goes to show you that it's just about doing the activity. It doesn't have to be fancy or flashy. It's about getting out in front of people. Gary Keller tells us to lead with revenue. That first six months, there was no revenue to lead with. It was going out and knocking on doors, sending text messages, and talking to friends and family. The important lesson from that is, as a new agent, it's more about how many people you talk to and not at all about how much money you spend to talk to people."
Building a Business without Business
When they weren't lead generating, the Biggers invested all of their spare time into education, taking every course offered.
"We weren't busy with business, so we made ourselves productive by going and learning all that we could," Ryan says. "We didn't know anything about real estate or how to build a business, so we were just sponges. We would take people out to lunch or go get coffee and try to absorb everything they would tell us."
They also made an effort to come into the market center every single day so they could avoid the distractions of home. Without offices, they would sit in common spaces, the kitchen, or training rooms.
"We would lead generate and, in between, listen to the conversations these agents we looked up to were having," Ryan says. "I think it's so important for newer agents to be present and to surround themselves with people that are where they want to go."
The Biggers also knew that to get business, they needed to look like they had business.
"In the beginning, when we would go on appointments, we didn't have numbers to refer back to, so we used the Language of Real Estate (LORE) and the market center numbers, because that's volume," Heather says. "When we got into social media and made our Bigger Group Facebook page, we didn't have listings and weren't closing deals, so we would share our market center's listings, and it started to look like we were successful and busy."
Fruits of Their Labor
In November, the Biggers secured their first listings. Then, days before their annual dues to the National Association of REALTORS® were due, with nothing in the bank, they had their first closings on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28.
"Those two closings in 2016 were the only income we had for the year – just shy of $10,000," Ryan says. "In 2017, with GCI, profit share, and the amount of money we made off of referrals, we made over $300,000 and sold 40 units."
"We maintained our level of lead gen and narrowed our focus," shares Heather. "When we first started, we were literally trying everything: open houses, door- knocking, calling FSBOs and expired listings, social media, and of course prospecting through our sphere of influence. We realized fairly quickly that our biggest return was going to come from our sphere. So, for all of 2017, we focused on consistently touching our SOI and being consistent on social media."
They began posting about how they would go above and beyond for clients on social media, and, as a result, have built a core group of raving fans.
"We go to great lengths to help our friends and clients because that is what we love to do. Ryan has been known to cut the grass at listings before pictures, trim bushes, clean out gutters, and he once even ripped up the flooring for a first-time homeowner. By doing these things, we are growing our sphere with fans who love sending us leads. They don't want their friends and family to work with anyone else."
At the core of their business is a commitment to sticking to the activities, says Ryan. "We just did what we were supposed to do. If you follow what your coaches and the MREA and your mentors say, you can drastically change your life in a very short amount of time."
The Biggers' success comes with a "big why" driving it – their three children.
"As parents, there are times when you have to say no to your kids, and you don't want to have to say no because you can't afford something," Ryan says. "That's an awful feeling, and one that we'll never have again."
Heather adds, "We got to take our kids to the beach for the first time, the first family vacation we've ever had. One of the most eye-opening things was not having to look at our bank account when we took our kids back-to-school shopping. Keller Williams gave us the opportunity, and our lives truly did change."
RYAN & HEATHER'S WORDS OF WISDOM FOR NEW AGENTS
It's more about how many people you talk to and not at all about how much money you spend to talk to people.
When you go on appointments and don't have numbers to refer to, use the Language of Real Estate (LORE) and the market center numbers, because that's volume.
Don't get discouraged if you don't see your business grow right away. Stick to the activities. It takes 90 days to see the results of your hard work.
COMMIT TO LEARNING
When you aren't busy with business, make yourself productive by going to your market center, enrolling in classes, and learning all you can.
+ Add Heather to your referral network
+ Add Ryan to your referral network
Tags:Fail ForwardGoalsLead GenerationMindset
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Trump Plan to Require Drug Test for Unemployment Benefits Moves Forward
Home » Marijuana News » Politics
It's a Trump-lover's dream: The chance to utter to unwanted employees the president's most-famous catchphrase—the one before the president started coining words and became a social-media institution—and then, before they can suffer the bureaucratic ignominy of applying for unemployment benefits, humiliate them further by forcing them to piss in a cup in order to receive a dime.
After a 51-48 party-line vote in the Senate, states will be able to force fired workers to submit to and pass a drug test before receiving unemployment benefits.
The legislation is now on its way to the White House for President Trump's signature.
As The Hill reported, Trump, who has spent the last four decades cultivating an image of the ultimate tough boss, is expected to sign the legislation into law.
It will be up to states to decide if they want to do this to people out of work, but it's guaranteed that a handful will do so immediately.
Egged on by anti-worker wraiths like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Republicans in Congress have been itching to allow benefits recipients to undergo drug-testing for years—but it still required some parliamentarian trickery via the Congressional Review Act, a "rarely used" and "obscure" tool the Newt Gingrich-led Congress gifted itself in 1996 to roll back federal regulations it doesn't like by a simple majority vote.
So this is what we'll have: Workplaces that can fire workers for drug use, in the midst of the biggest expansion of legal cannabis in history, coming at the same time as a historic epidemic of opiate use; and states that can deny those workers a fraction of their former wages as they look for other jobs—which, by the way, aren't exactly plentiful.
Critics like Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden blasted the plan as "mean-spirited" and "ineffective." But, coming on the heels of the grand effort led by House Leader Paul Ryan to gut Obamacare, it does appear consistent with Republicans' apparent scheme to deny any government assistance to anyone, everywhere.
"If Republicans truly cared about helping those struggling with addiction, they would not be undertaking a full throttle repeal of the Affordable Care Act and cutting Medicaid funding for drug treatment programs," Wyden said on the Senate floor before the vote on Tuesday, according to KTVZ.
Amazingly, forcing laid-off or fired workers to pass a drug test before receiving unemployment is a relatively new "innovation"—one that started in earnest during the Great Recession, right when workers needed unemployment assistance the most. Faced with masses of laid-off workers in 2007 and 2008, states looked for ways to get out of paying them unemployment.
Forget that the Social Security Act, the New Deal-era law that created unemployment insurance in 1935, prohibits states from adding qualifying requirements that do not relate to the "fact or cause" of a worker's unemployment, as the National Employment Law Project wrote in a recent policy brief.
Irrelevant! As usual, the drug war provided a convenient excuse to punish poor people.
There was some precedent: Congress and many states have passed "drug-free workplace laws," which, in addition to providing penalties for bringing drugs to work, also gives bosses the authority to summarily fire workers for off-the-clock drug use. (This is the legal authority employers still wield when moving to fire medical marijuana patients for using cannabis outside of work hours.)
Instead of allowing widespread drug testing of all workers, in 2012, a (Democratic Party-led) Congress reached a compromise that would allow states to drug-test unemployment claimants who had either been fired for past drug use or worked in jobs that already have regular drug-screening, such as bus driver or police officer. That didn't sit well with Congressional Republicans, who waited until no bipartisan support was required to jam the drug-testing scheme through.
It's worth pointing out that other states have tried to force recipients of other government benefits programs to submit to drug-testing before receiving their paltry checks, but have been blocked by federal courts. To think that Congress will stop here and not plot to also require drug testing for food stamps, housing assistance and other vestiges of when America cared for its poor is wishful thinking.
Related Topics:Donald TrumpDrug Testunemployment
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Vancouver Lawyers Find Roadside Drug Testing Kits Yield Frequent False Positives
Canadian Government to Approve Second Roadside Drug Testing Kit
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New York Considering Ban on Drug Testing Potential Employees for Cannabis


Playfulness, movement, and color are overarching themes in Karyn Drum's landscapes - from undulating trees that seem to hula hoop the vines swirling all around to wildly vivid southwestern skies. Currently living and painting in eastern North Carolina, with literally a swamp in her backyard, Drum's bright colors convey her desert southwest childhood where her intense relationship with nature was instilled by fabulous adventurous outdoorsy parents. Camping, hiking, sailing, fishing, trail riding were regular weekend activities as well as visiting State and National Parks whenever possible. Additionally, although most of Drum's childhood was spent in the desert southwest, most Summers included a yearly drive across the country to visit her parent's home in the mountains of North Carolina with its amazing forests and rivers and green, and a family week on the Atlantic Ocean with big sky.
When asked how early she knew she wanted to be an artist, she replies "It was always there, a part of me, I don't remember ever a beginning." Drum's mother recalls Karyn's love for art making as early as 2 years old, perhaps because she was born in Italy where her Officer father was stationed at the time, sight seeing art from a stroller eye view that her world became so visual. Then reinforced by hours traveling in the back of a station wagon, looking out the window as the landscape changed whirling past, and sky watching during cloud season, the storms and desert monsoons that gallop across the vast openness. A look of longing and reverence comes to her eyes and she speaks of star gazing and the milky way out west.
However it happened, Drum was art making from an early age, entering contests and winning prizes for her mostly realistic drawings and paintings. She graduated a year early from High School, anxious to get to art school. At Texas Tech she was fortunate to study under colorful, whimsical, abstract painter, Alan Crockett who taught her "art is life" and introduced her to the writings of Henry Valentine Miller, both of which sparked a journey that continues to this day.
Near the end of her Senior year at Tech, a poster appeared on the wall outside the painting studio: "Located 65 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, East Carolina University's MFA program in painting..." made her decision for graduate school easy; to be close to family and the Ocean, "no brainer!" she says. Faced with the cost of out of state tuition however, Drum was only able to take one painting class, but, she was prolific. She was awarded the Special Talent Award which included a Teaching Assistantship and a tuition waiver. Many shows and awards followed including a one person show, Birdwords, featuring geologic formation symbols with osciligraphs of bird calls superimposed with names such as, "Igneous Intrusion with Three Toed Woodpecker" exhibited at the NCMA. Nature continued to be an integral part of Drum's art although the ocean visits were soon replaced by "swampin", kayaking in the amazing swamps of eastern North Carolina. Overwhelmed by green, claustrophobic from the trees and struggling to adjust to the semi tropical humidity, Drum would return to the desert most Summers maintaining a studio at UT El Paso where she worked on videos. "Shapes in search of a wall" was an escape from the gallery walls she explains: "I was working on big paper, which is something Alan Crockett would do, but instead of staying square and figuring how to hang them inside, I roughed them into shapes, grabbed some duct tape, threw them into my VW convertible and hit the road. I taped them to walls in Juarez, abandoned buildings in the desert and even set them in lawn chairs at the lake." This experimentation continued through graduate school culminating with her thesis show, a 20x20' installation called "Swamp Wander" where the viewer walked through a brightly painted cardboard forest. Drum titled her written thesis, The Desert turned to Swamp in Three Days, an ode to the drive between the vastly different landscapes.
After graduate school Drum taught Basic Design at UT El Paso. When Summer classes did not fill she decided to take the opportunity to visit her parents who were now living in Germany. While there she found a job as a graphic artist and decided to stay in Europe instead of returning to her teaching position in the states. Drum worked, traveled and painted for the next 2 ½ years. A teaching position opening at Humboldt State caught her eye, and her dream of living in the redwoods brought her to northern California. Although she did not get the position, she remained in the bay area returning to work as a graphic artist. She met her first husband, was married in the redwoods, and would soon move to more affordable Oregon where she raised her 3 children in the rivers and trees. She continued to paint, exhibit, and was a founding member of The Artback, a group of artists that continue to get together each Summer to paint a mural in the small town of Estacada. She also wrote and illustrated a children's book, calling it a "vegetable western," Broccoli Bob and the Organic Outlaws, humorously highlighting the struggle to raise her children organically. After 11 years, growing weary of the wet gloomy weather and deteriorating relationship, Drum moved to Asheville, NC to be near family and a familiar spot for her young children. Needing to be on her children's schedule, she returned to school for her k-12 art teacher certification. An elementary art position brought Drum and her children to Wake county, close to an active downtown Raleigh art scene and vibrant group of art teacher colleagues and art organizations where she entered shows and exhibited regularly.
A new marriage brought Drum and their blended family to Chapel Hill, another active art community where she continued to work and exhibit as her children grew. A mutual love for the swamp and kayaking inspired the couple to purchase a second home on a creek in eastern North Carolina eventually becoming home full time and the inspiration behind her vibrant swamp paintings. Drum calls the swamp her "Giverny" after Monet's garden; but she also calls Tucumcari Mountain (in her childhood home in New Mexico) her Pedernal (which Georgia O'Keeffe painted multiple times) as Drum recently (fall 2018) began a southwest series featuring the Mountain after a Summer visit. Prolific, working on several paintings at once, Drum has her work in multiple venues in the downtown art scene of Washington, NC and is a member of The River Walk Gallery.


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Netherlands Philharmonic, Albrecht/Guy/Berg (arr. Verbey), Liszt, Bruckner
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
From the Epoch Times: "…The concert began with Alban Berg's Piano Sonata, Op 1: an intensive twelve minutes that seem to float along in a style between late romanticism and modernism. Theo Verbey built the architectural waves in which the work is created, with a huge orchestral force that lets the piece build up again and again, returning to a simple string quartet. Between these waves, the brass and five (!) percussionists provide eruptive climaxes."And from Grammophone:[This version of the Berg Sonata…]"is much more convincing than you might suppose – an orchestration of Berg's early Piano Sonata by the young Dutch composer Theo Verbey. Aiming to clarify the complex polyphonic working behind the keyboard texture, Verbey employs an orchestral style redolent of Berg's Orchestral Pieces, Op. 6 and does so with real flair and refinement. The appropriation of echt-Bergian sonorities (string tremolandos am Steg, melismatic wisps of cor anglais and bass clarinet) ensures that the music scarcely betrays its origins."
Berg: Sonata for Piano, Op. 1
Ensemble: Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Marc Albrecht
Liszt: Concerto for Piano no 2 in A major, S 125
Artist: François-Frederic Guy (Piano)
Bruckner: Symphony no 6 in A major, WAB 106
Berg: Sonata op. 1 (1984)


We work closely with our local schools and children's centres to share information, offer support, improve our educational standards, and to ensure we give your family the best possible service.
We also work closely with other educational institutions. We offer student placements for a range of vocational and academic courses, and visit days for Early Years Practitioners and other interested visitors. If you would like to visit us, please contact the office.
If you are interested in further education, our Children Centre staff can help. Please ask in the office.


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Ask the Author: Joanne O'Sullivan
The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person's true nature through a series of probing (i.e., nosy) questions. In the hot seat today: Joanne O'Sullivan, author of the YA contemporary debut, BETWEEN TWO SKIES (Candlewick Press, April 25).
What is your idea of perfect happiness? I'm going to borrow from one of my favorite travel writers, Freya Stark: "To awaken in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world. You are surrounded by adventure." I love having time to explore an interesting place I've never been before with absolutely no schedule to adhere to.
What is your greatest fear? Not being able to help those I love when they need it.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Distractibility.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lack of curiosity.
Which living person do you most admire? I'm a lapsed Catholic if ever there was one, but Pope Francis gets my vote right now.
What is your greatest extravagance? Travel. I am very much a budget traveler, but given the choice between making a home improvement or buying a plane ticket, I will always choose the plane ticket. Consequently, our 90-year-old bungalow is in a state of benign neglect.
What is your current state of mind? Alternating between gratitude and anxiety.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Flat abs.
On what occasion do you lie? When I'm running late.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I'm sorry; Give me a second.
Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? I would love to be multilingual. I can speak adequate Italian and a little Spanish and French, but I'd love to be truly fluent in several languages.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Creating a loving family and a happy home.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? Probably a bird, but my dog seems to have it pretty sweet, too.
What is your most treasured possession? I'm not really big on possessions, but I do love the art I've collected through the years.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? To be without coffee in the morning. No, just kidding. Sort of. Probably to witness injustice and not be able to do anything about it.
What do you most value in your friends? Open-mindedness and open-heartedness, a sense of humor, authenticity, reliability, generosity.
Who are your favorite writers? Flannery O'Connor, Eudora Welty, Walker Percy, Evelyn Waugh, Seamus Heaney, Eric Newby, Barbara Kingsolver, Arundathi Roy, Carlos Ruiz Zafron, Miriam Toews, Jeanette Winterson, Amy Greene, Ta-Nehisi Coates…
Who is your hero of fiction? Snufkin from Tove Jansson's Moomin books. He's a philosophical, non-conformist explorer who values solitude!
Which historical figure do you most identify with? JK Rowling? Because we have the same first name and middle initial, we're close to the same age, she's the most successful author in history and I'm…also an author. : )
What is your motto? "Comparison is the thief of joy."
JOANNE O'SULLIVAN traveled the world teaching English as a Second Language and meeting fascinating characters before settling with her husband and two kids in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina, where she writes about people and places as a journalist, non-fiction author and armchair travels while planning her next big trip. Find Joanne on her website, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.
Sally P says
Love this! And now I must seek out the Moomin books….
I loved the Moomin books. My daughter too! 🙂
Joanne O'Sullivan says
I feel like my whole worldview was formed by the Moomins!


S1. Photo courtesy of Warren Mattox.
S1 is an artist-run project space in Northeast Portland. Since the summer of 2014, S1's dedicated staff works closely with local, national, and international artists to organize visual art exhibitions, performances, and late-night dance parties. For one night, S1 pulls its diverse artists and projects out of the basement for S1 Presents at THE WORKS.
S1 Presents will feature DJ sets, live performances, installations, and interactive video art. Celebrated avant-pop explorer Zola Jesus performs a rare DJ set, Coast2C displays her voracious enthusiasm for worldly electronic music with an expansive dance journey, and US Hard / Contemporary performs live, taking command of his machines to summon focused experiments in minimal beat music. Visual artists from around the globe—selected by S1's curatorial staff—will be featured on and off stage for an immersive experience.


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Strathclyde Personal Interactive Development and Educational Resource (SPIDER) is a virtual learning environment used by the University of Strathclyde to provide an online platform for class material, support and more.

History
SPIDER began in 1998 as a web project to convert a single course module into an interactive web environment. Originally in 1998 SPIDER was a "static" website and was coded in HTML. This type of coding became a flaw to development as hand scripting HTML became very time consuming.

Timeline
The development of SPIDER is documented from its creation in 1998. The following bullet points give the main development from previous versions.
 1998 SPIDER: Approximately 120 students.
 1999 SPIDER 1A: Move to dynamic, database backed system (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP).
 2001 SPIDER II: Caters for around 550 students.
 2002 SPIDER II/III: Improved content management system; new content creation tools; quiz builder.
 2003 SPIDER III: SPIDER system modified to allow for faculty wide use, using "clusters" to allow different departments/ groups of departments to control own content.
 2004: Authentication and integration with central university systems (LDAP/ADS, PEGASUS).
 2005 SPIDER V Start of session 05-06 sees over 10,000 registered users.
 2006: Around 900 classes from dozens of degrees use SPIDER to support their teaching.
 2007: Classes climb to over 1000 in 11 clusters, with over 7,500 users logging per month.
 2008: SPIDER has over 26,000 users (1,300 staff, 15,000 students, 10,000 alumni).
 2009: Over 20.8 million visits for the year, delivering 1400+ classes for over 160 degree programmes.
 2010: core of SPIDER re-written to improve database, data handling and form management; CSS reworked in combination with the core rewrite to allow for "SPIDER-mobile" .

Benefits of SPIDER

clusters
The SPIDER system is organised into clusters. Each cluster represents an academic degree or a series of related academic degrees, which allows administration and management of classes and content to be handled by different departments. For example, all pharmacy related content is in the pharmacy cluster, chemistry content in the chemistry cluster and so on, with each cluster having its own administrator, sub-administrators and editors in charge of management and control of their own classes and materials.

The availability of clusters is one of SPIDER's unique features. It allows for much finer control and better organisation of content than typical VLEs which have a very flat structure, a single layer of classes controlled by tutors. There may be hundreds or even thousands of these classes, but there is no unit or department structure to allow for sensible grouping of classes and their control.

SPIDER's cluster system provides an extra level of hierarchy that allows for devolved administration by allocating each class to a department within a cluster. Administrators within the cluster then have complete control of their own classes and content, but have no control over those in other clusters. At the same time student users are able to view classes and content across cluster boundaries.

As a result of this cluster being available, many of SPIDER's tools have the flexibility to operate at both the class and academic degree/ programme/ unit level. For example, staff users on SPIDER are able to target news items at several classes in their cluster or even at year level. This news will only be seen by students in the matching cluster - so if a Pharmacy lecturer were to post news for year 1 pharmacy students, this won't be seen by chemistry or physics students. However, if the target is a class code (e.g. a mathematics class taken by chemists and pharmacists) the news will be seen by anyone in any cluster who has the code set in their news filter.

In addition the user object exists within a cluster, allowing suitably authorised users to view all the data corresponding to a user in their cluster. This would allow a year co-ordinator to see all a student's results across all their classes without having to own or be a tutor in every single class that the student is taking

sessions
SPIDER makes use of an academic session to establish which content is current and which is archived. Class lists, group membership, class content, exam & quiz results and many other tools are 'session aware' so that the user is presented with the active data or can choose to view archived data. The session preserves the data in these tools as it was at the time the activity took place. This enables students who are viewing their previous classes for revision or resitting classes to see exactly the content and activities that were available at the time they took the class. Similarly staff can view session by session archives of the class as it was in previous sessions.

References

External links
SPIDER at Strathclyde
SPIDER Demo Website
Online Study Group & Rooms
Tips On How To Organize Study Notes

Learning methods
Content management systems
Virtual learning environments

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


1 Sift the flour, sugar and spices together in a large bowl, then add the yeast and salt.
2 In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, butter and eggs together. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and add the milk mixture to it while stirring. Mix well.
3 Cover the batter with clingfilm and let it set for 30 minutes.
4 Melt a small knob of extra butter in a medium pan and spoon 80 ml (? cup) pancake mixture into it. Fry the pancake for 2 minutes on each side, then keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter.
5 CARAMEL Heat the sugar in a medium saucepan over a medium heat. The sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a thick amber-coloured sauce. Use a whisk to evenly distribute the sauce in the pan and lessen the chances of it going dark brown (to prevent overcooking, put the bottom of the pan in cold water). Once the caramel turns amber, immediately add the butter.
6 Stir the butter until it is well incorporated − about 2 minutes.
7 Drizzle in the cream very slowly while stirring. Let the mixture boil for 1 minute, then allow to cool down before using.
8 In a bowl, add 45 ml (3 tbsp) caramel to the popcorn and stir to coat. Serve pancakes stacked, topped with popcorn and caramel drizzled over.


text:
/* Includes ------------------------------------------------------------------*/
#include "main.h"
#include "stm32f4xx_hal.h"

/* USER CODE BEGIN Includes */

/* USER CODE END Includes */

/* Private variables ---------------------------------------------------------*/
ETH_HandleTypeDef heth;

UART_HandleTypeDef huart3;

/* USER CODE BEGIN PV */
/* Private variables ---------------------------------------------------------*/

/* USER CODE END PV */

/* Private function prototypes -----------------------------------------------*/
void SystemClock_Config(void);
void Error_Handler(void);
static void MX_GPIO_Init(void);
static void MX_ETH_Init(void);
static void MX_USART3_UART_Init(void);
static void MX_USB_OTG_FS_USB_Init(void);

/* USER CODE BEGIN PFP */
/* Private function prototypes -----------------------------------------------*/

/* USER CODE END PFP */

/* USER CODE BEGIN 0 */

/* USER CODE END 0 */

int main(void)
{

  /* USER CODE BEGIN 1 */

  /* USER CODE END 1 */

  /* MCU Configuration----------------------------------------------------------*/

  /* Reset of all peripherals, Initializes the Flash interface and the Systick. */
  HAL_Init();

  /* Configure the system clock */
  SystemClock_Config();

  /* Initialize all configured peripherals */
  MX_GPIO_Init();
  MX_ETH_Init();
  MX_USART3_UART_Init();
  MX_USB_OTG_FS_USB_Init();

  /* USER CODE BEGIN 2 */

  /* USER CODE END 2 */

  /* Infinite loop */
  /* USER CODE BEGIN WHILE */
  while (1)
  {
  /* USER CODE END WHILE */

  /* USER CODE BEGIN 3 */

  }
  /* USER CODE END 3 */

}

/** System Clock Configuration
*/
void SystemClock_Config(void)
{

  RCC_OscInitTypeDef RCC_OscInitStruct;
  RCC_ClkInitTypeDef RCC_ClkInitStruct;

    /**Configure the main internal regulator output voltage
    */
  __HAL_RCC_PWR_CLK_ENABLE();

  __HAL_PWR_VOLTAGESCALING_CONFIG(PWR_REGULATOR_VOLTAGE_SCALE1);

    /**Initializes the CPU, AHB and APB busses clocks
    */
  RCC_OscInitStruct.OscillatorType = RCC_OSCILLATORTYPE_HSE;
  RCC_OscInitStruct.HSEState = RCC_HSE_ON;
  RCC_OscInitStruct.PLL.PLLState = RCC_PLL_ON;
  RCC_OscInitStruct.PLL.PLLSource = RCC_PLLSOURCE_HSE;
  RCC_OscInitStruct.PLL.PLLM = 4;
  RCC_OscInitStruct.PLL.PLLN = 168;
  RCC_OscInitStruct.PLL.PLLP = RCC_PLLP_DIV2;
  RCC_OscInitStruct.PLL.PLLQ = 7;
  if (HAL_RCC_OscConfig(&RCC_OscInitStruct) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }

    /**Initializes the CPU, AHB and APB busses clocks
    */
  RCC_ClkInitStruct.ClockType = RCC_CLOCKTYPE_HCLK|RCC_CLOCKTYPE_SYSCLK
                              |RCC_CLOCKTYPE_PCLK1|RCC_CLOCKTYPE_PCLK2;
  RCC_ClkInitStruct.SYSCLKSource = RCC_SYSCLKSOURCE_PLLCLK;
  RCC_ClkInitStruct.AHBCLKDivider = RCC_SYSCLK_DIV1;
  RCC_ClkInitStruct.APB1CLKDivider = RCC_HCLK_DIV4;
  RCC_ClkInitStruct.APB2CLKDivider = RCC_HCLK_DIV2;

  if (HAL_RCC_ClockConfig(&RCC_ClkInitStruct, FLASH_LATENCY_5) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }

    /**Configure the Systick interrupt time
    */
  HAL_SYSTICK_Config(HAL_RCC_GetHCLKFreq()/1000);

    /**Configure the Systick
    */
  HAL_SYSTICK_CLKSourceConfig(SYSTICK_CLKSOURCE_HCLK);

  /* SysTick_IRQn interrupt configuration */
  HAL_NVIC_SetPriority(SysTick_IRQn, 0, 0);
}

/* ETH init function */
static void MX_ETH_Init(void)
{

   uint8_t MACAddr[6] ;

  heth.Instance = ETH;
  heth.Init.AutoNegotiation = ETH_AUTONEGOTIATION_ENABLE;
  heth.Init.PhyAddress = LAN8742A_PHY_ADDRESS;
  MACAddr[0] = 0x00;
  MACAddr[1] = 0x80;
  MACAddr[2] = 0xE1;
  MACAddr[3] = 0x00;
  MACAddr[4] = 0x00;
  MACAddr[5] = 0x00;
  heth.Init.MACAddr = &MACAddr[0];
  heth.Init.RxMode = ETH_RXPOLLING_MODE;
  heth.Init.ChecksumMode = ETH_CHECKSUM_BY_HARDWARE;
  heth.Init.MediaInterface = ETH_MEDIA_INTERFACE_RMII;

  /* USER CODE BEGIN MACADDRESS */

  /* USER CODE END MACADDRESS */

  if (HAL_ETH_Init(&heth) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }

}

/* USART3 init function */
static void MX_USART3_UART_Init(void)
{

  huart3.Instance = USART3;
  huart3.Init.BaudRate = 115200;
  huart3.Init.WordLength = UART_WORDLENGTH_8B;
  huart3.Init.StopBits = UART_STOPBITS_1;
  huart3.Init.Parity = UART_PARITY_NONE;
  huart3.Init.Mode = UART_MODE_TX_RX;
  huart3.Init.HwFlowCtl = UART_HWCONTROL_NONE;
  huart3.Init.OverSampling = UART_OVERSAMPLING_16;
  if (HAL_UART_Init(&huart3) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }

}

/* USB_OTG_FS init function */
static void MX_USB_OTG_FS_USB_Init(void)
{

}

/** Configure pins as
        * Analog
        * Input
        * Output
        * EVENT_OUT
        * EXTI
     PA8   ------> USB_OTG_FS_SOF
     PA9   ------> USB_OTG_FS_VBUS
     PA10   ------> USB_OTG_FS_ID
     PA11   ------> USB_OTG_FS_DM
     PA12   ------> USB_OTG_FS_DP
*/
static void MX_GPIO_Init(void)
{

  GPIO_InitTypeDef GPIO_InitStruct;

  /* GPIO Ports Clock Enable */
  __HAL_RCC_GPIOC_CLK_ENABLE();
  __HAL_RCC_GPIOH_CLK_ENABLE();
  __HAL_RCC_GPIOA_CLK_ENABLE();
  __HAL_RCC_GPIOB_CLK_ENABLE();
  __HAL_RCC_GPIOD_CLK_ENABLE();
  __HAL_RCC_GPIOG_CLK_ENABLE();

  /*Configure GPIO pin Output Level */
  HAL_GPIO_WritePin(GPIOB, LD3_Pin|LD2_Pin, GPIO_PIN_RESET);

  /*Configure GPIO pin Output Level */
  HAL_GPIO_WritePin(USB_PowerSwitchOn_GPIO_Port, USB_PowerSwitchOn_Pin, GPIO_PIN_RESET);

  /*Configure GPIO pin : USER_Btn_Pin */
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = USER_Btn_Pin;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_IT_RISING;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
  HAL_GPIO_Init(USER_Btn_GPIO_Port, &GPIO_InitStruct);

  /*Configure GPIO pins : LD3_Pin LD2_Pin */
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = LD3_Pin|LD2_Pin;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_OUTPUT_PP;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Speed = GPIO_SPEED_FREQ_LOW;
  HAL_GPIO_Init(GPIOB, &GPIO_InitStruct);

  /*Configure GPIO pin : USB_PowerSwitchOn_Pin */
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = USB_PowerSwitchOn_Pin;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_OUTPUT_PP;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Speed = GPIO_SPEED_FREQ_LOW;
  HAL_GPIO_Init(USB_PowerSwitchOn_GPIO_Port, &GPIO_InitStruct);

  /*Configure GPIO pin : USB_OverCurrent_Pin */
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = USB_OverCurrent_Pin;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_INPUT;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
  HAL_GPIO_Init(USB_OverCurrent_GPIO_Port, &GPIO_InitStruct);

  /*Configure GPIO pins : USB_SOF_Pin USB_ID_Pin USB_DM_Pin USB_DP_Pin */
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = USB_SOF_Pin|USB_ID_Pin|USB_DM_Pin|USB_DP_Pin;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_AF_PP;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Speed = GPIO_SPEED_FREQ_VERY_HIGH;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Alternate = GPIO_AF10_OTG_FS;
  HAL_GPIO_Init(GPIOA, &GPIO_InitStruct);

  /*Configure GPIO pin : USB_VBUS_Pin */
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = USB_VBUS_Pin;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_INPUT;
  GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
  HAL_GPIO_Init(USB_VBUS_GPIO_Port, &GPIO_InitStruct);

}

/* USER CODE BEGIN 4 */

/* USER CODE END 4 */

/**
  * @brief  Period elapsed callback in non blocking mode
  * @note   This function is called  when TIM3 interrupt took place, inside
  * HAL_TIM_IRQHandler(). It makes a direct call to HAL_IncTick() to increment
  * a global variable "uwTick" used as application time base.
  * @param  htim : TIM handle
  * @retval None
  */
void HAL_TIM_PeriodElapsedCallback(TIM_HandleTypeDef *htim)
{
/* USER CODE BEGIN Callback 0 */

/* USER CODE END Callback 0 */
  if (htim->Instance == TIM3) {
    HAL_IncTick();
  }
/* USER CODE BEGIN Callback 1 */

/* USER CODE END Callback 1 */
}

/**
  * @brief  This function is executed in case of error occurrence.
  * @param  None
  * @retval None
  */
void Error_Handler(void)
{
  /* USER CODE BEGIN Error_Handler */
  /* User can add his own implementation to report the HAL error return state */
  while(1)
  {
  }
  /* USER CODE END Error_Handler */
}

#ifdef USE_FULL_ASSERT

/**
   * @brief Reports the name of the source file and the source line number
   * where the assert_param error has occurred.
   * @param file: pointer to the source file name
   * @param line: assert_param error line source number
   * @retval None
   */
void assert_failed(uint8_t* file, uint32_t line)
{
  /* USER CODE BEGIN 6 */
  /* User can add his own implementation to report the file name and line number,
    ex: printf("Wrong parameters value: file %s on line %d\r\n", file, line) */
  /* USER CODE END 6 */

}

#endif

/**
  * @}
  */

/**
  * @}
*/

/************************ (C) COPYRIGHT STMicroelectronics *****END OF FILE****/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


German romanticism and Italian charm combine with Shakespearean comedy: this was Otto Nicolai's inspiration for his »comic-fantastic« opera. The way in which the »Merry Wives of Windsor« give the smug Knight Sir John Falstaff – who has seen better days – the literal runaround, is a masterstroke of characterisation through music.
First performed on stage at the Hofoper Unter den Linden in March 1849, this work by the Berlin court conductor Nicolai quickly became a fixture in the repertoire. Besides energy, playful wit and theatrical comedy, Mozart's spirit and Mendelssohn's esprit are just as palpable as the Italian bel canto. Both in the libretto and score, the characters' individual profiles stand out, while the buffoonish twists and turns of the plot tip things over the edge, including the different shades of atmosphere in scenes that feature both light and dark sides. For many years this vibrant work, a comic opera in the best sense of the word, was no longer in the Staatsoper repertoire; but it now returns with its inspired score to the venue where it was premiered.


Thank you so much. We will reveal what is going on asap. Thank you for the happy thoughts!
Great sentiment Bentley! Helping others is a good way to grab some happy.
We always feel happy when we help others.
I hope I am guessing right as to what is going on with you all down there. I will keep it to myself, though.
I hope that you are too! We are anxiously excited and can't wait to tell all of our friends.
Oh how exciting, on assignment, I wonder just WHAT you are up to??????
We can't reveal any details now but hopefully in a few weeks there will be some exciting news on the bayou!
On assignment...just like the big guys.
We are even using our BFTB airplane!!
Have fun. See ya soon!
We will hopefully be back with the BFTB news next week.
Have fun on your assignment, guys!
Thanks! We are working on something REALLY big!
We should be back next week with more good news.
Whatever is going on, we hope it all turns out well (and hope it's what we think it might be!).
We are on pins and needles here!
That tiny human is a HUGE part of our assignment. We pray to be able to share exciting news soon.
On assignment, huh? We are wondering if you will be broadcasting from the Olympics in South Korea next month?
We are considering taking the BFTB plane over for some of the excitement.
Hope you are doing something exciting!!
Yeah, life does always get in the way. Isn't that annoying??
Hope you had a wooftastic MLK Day!


Laser therapy is an exciting new technology that improves the available treatment options for people with fungal nail.
There are a few different types of laser systems available for fungal nail treatment. At Entire Podiatry we have been keeping an eye on the various laser systems, and by looking at the results both overseas and interstate, we're convinced that the Genesis Plus Laser system will offer the best chance of superior results for our clients. For this reason, we are proud to be the first podiatry group to introduce the Genesis Plus laser system to Queensland.
The Genesis Plus laser is an ND:YAG1064 laser that is safe and effective for the treatment of fungal nail infection.
How does the Genesis Plus work?
Laser light from the Genesis Plus passes through the nail and the surrounding tissue. The laser light is absorbed by the pigment in the fungi, which causes the pigment to heat to 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. This heat kills or damages the fungal organism, and can subsequently result in your nail growing normally.
Check out the video below animation to see how the Cutera GenesisPlus Laser system works to treat toenail fungus.
Why do we use the GenesisPlus laser system?
In addition to being a powerful and effective laser, the Genesis Plus has a digital temperature feedback to enable operator's to monitor the temperature of the nail being treated. This is an important feature that is unique to the GenesisPlus. The GenesisPlus also has a larger spot size of 5mm, and offers the greatest depth penetration.
Although clinical results vary between patients, early studies indicate that 65-70% of patients treated with this system show significant nail improvement. To date, at Entire Podiatry our initial clinical results have shown an improvement in 80-85% of cases that we have treated with the Genesis Plus laser system.
What does the treatment regime involve?
We recommend a course of three laser therapy sessions for fungal nail, in combination with pre– and post– care treatment instructions which are designed to prevent re-infection during the course of treatment.
The most common side effect reported by patients is mild discomfort associated with the heat/warmth generated by the laser. Other complications are also possible although rare, and may include skin changes and infection. There is a requirement for anyone in the room during laser treatment to wear protective glasses which we provide, due to the risks of eye exposure to the laser.
Are there any contraindications to laser therapy?
There are some contraindications and precautions associated with the use of laser therapy and your Podiatrist will discuss these with you in detail prior to commencing any laser treatment plan. For example, laser therapy is contraindicated during pregnancy, and additional precautions may be required if you have a skin condition (such as vitiligo) or peripheral neuropathy.
Talk to your podiatrist for more information or specific advice regarding your fungal nail, including laser treatment protocols and costs.
Kimura, U. et al. (2012). Treating Onychomycises of the Toenail: Clinical Efficacy of the Sub-Millisecond 1,064 nm Nd:YAG Laser Using a 5mm Spot Diameter. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 11(4): 496-504.
Weiss, D. (2011). 3 Month Clinical Results Using Sub-Millisecond 1064 nm Nd:YAG Laser for the Treatment of Onychomycosis. Hammonton, NH: Weiss Foot and Ankle Centre.


is based on the idea of selling unique vintage clothes by the kilo.
A varied range of one-off items and accessories from past decades is a key element of our store concept and can be found in PICKNWEIGHT stores in Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and Munich.
What could be better than owning an item of clothing that no one else is wearing apart from you?
In recent years, an ever larger community of consumers has formed that has a strong awareness of sustainability issues. The pursuit of individuality also plays a major role. The dominance of cheap chain stores offering identical products means individuality is becoming increasingly rare.
PICKNWEIGHT offers a wide selection of high-quality vintage goods that are unique.
After its beginning as a fashion retailer, it has now become the go-to provider of second-hand clothing and accessories in Germany. Rare pieces from all over the world and detailed knowledge of this specific field will continue to be the crucial factors that help to set the company apart from its competitors.


text:
Posted on August 14, 2006 by fatbodypolitics
I hate when I open my self up to someone, only to have them reject me. It doesn't happen often, since I tend to shy away from being hurt. But when it does happen there are times that I wish I could take things I said back. Its easier to let things go when that person doesn't know you feel a certain way.
I left Champps yesterday; I want to put all of my time into this internship. I want more from my life than a couple dollars on a table. I praise the people that enjoy that job without wishing for more, but I want to do things that I cannot even explain. I want to change how people look at me. How people look at others like me. I am not stupid, I do not sit at home stuffing my face with food, I take showers, I do not gain weight constantly, I like to exercise, and at some point I want to feel accepted.
Stories like this one make me feel connected to someone who understands…
Marilyn Wann is fat. Got a problem with that?
BY NINA SCHUYLER
ITS SUNDAY MORNING at the swimming pool at Albany (Calif.) High School, and 15 large women are swimming laps, flutter-kicking with boards or dragging white foam barbells through the water. In the center is Marilyn Wann, bending at the waist and crunching her body in half to work her abdomen. When she climbs out a few minutes later, Wann doesn't grab a beach towel to conceal her 5-foot-4-inch, 270-pound frame. Instead, she boldly displays her purple, white and yellow flowered two-piece suit, her midriff widely exposed, and smiles with an enviable, breezy confidence.
This weekly swim isn't just about exercise and having fun. Its also a political act.
In a world that says, "We don't want to look at you because you're ugly, Im saying, Im here, and Im going to be physical and dress up in a way I think is fabulous, or what I call flabulous," says Wann, 88, MA 89. Creator of the Fat!So? hot-pink zine, website and book, she is masterful at creating funny, irreverent ways to wake people up to their assumptions about weight. In her book, published by Ten Speed Press in 1998, she urges readers to say to others, "You're looking good. Are you getting fat?"
Although the witty and articulate Wann earns her living as a writer and a public speaker, its her body that does a lot of the talking. She performs with the Bod Squad, a group of rotund cheerleaders who show up at public events to promote the notion that fat is beautiful. She used to belong to the Padded Lilies, a team of synchronized swimmers that appeared on the Tonight Show in 2000. "People who see these events take away a spirit of fun fat rebelliousness," she says, "unless they have a toothache."
On a more serious note, Wann says her work builds upon the legacy of civil rights movements challenging racism, sexism and homophobia. She worked to pass a landmark anti-discrimination ordinance regarding height and weight in San Francisco, and she regularly speaks to high school and college students about body image.
"The closet for a fat person is an unlived life, full of self-hatred," says Wann. She goes on to list the stereotypes associated with fatness: stupid, lazy, smelly, undisciplined, gluttonous, sexually voracious, sexually ineligible, freakishly nonhuman. "These sound familiar. They are the negative attributes that every oppressed people has been labeled with," she says. "They make it okay to mistreat people, and fat people are the last acceptable targets of discrimination."
Such prejudicial treatment is fairly well documented. Two years ago in the journal Obesity Research, researchers reviewed several dozen studies on discrimination and obesity and concluded that fat people suffer from bias in the workplace, at school and by health care professionals. But Wann finds greater resistance when she takes a position contrary to medical doctrine: that a person can be fat and fit.
EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASS HAS ONE, and Wann was it. The fat kid. Her mother, who also is fat, outfitted Wann in caftans made from colorful sheets. ("Please understand, my mother was not being intentionally cruel," she writes in her book. "It was the seventies.") Wann was shy, acutely aware she didn't conform to the ideal body norm and, inevitably, called names like "One-Ton," "Henrietta Hippo" or "Fatso." She compensated as best she could by being thoughtful, funny and a very good student. "Growing up, I felt there were the people who got to do things, and then there was me," she says.
That sense continued at Stanford, where Wann earned her undergraduate degree in linguistics with a focus on literature and a masters in modern thought and literature. Then 165 to 175 pounds, she remembers only a half-dozen people on campus who looked like her. "I always joked I was Stanford's token non-jogger."
Instead, it was her writing that she honed. As a freshman, Wann scribed for the Stanford Daily a series of George Plimpton-style features (adventures of a Dominos delivery person; her stint rowing crew), then served as the columnist for "Bug Me," answering readers questions. She later wrote a humor column, "Wannderings." (When she secured her Fat!So? book deal in 1997, she was intimidated by all the text required until she thought of it as a series of humor columns.) Wanns activism remained dormant at Stanford; then-president Donald Kennedy's messages to "question authority" and "make a difference" flew right by her.
That all changed on one really bad day about five years after graduation. First, her boyfriend said he was too embarrassed to introduce her to his friends because she was fat. Then, Blue Cross of California refused to give her health insurance because of her weight (at 27, the freelance journalist was roughly 245 pounds). "I was stunned, hurt, outraged," she writes in her book.
Slowly, she began to peel away the layers of cultural learning surrounding fat. She decided if a guy couldn't accept her weight, he couldn't date her. As for Blue Cross's label of "morbid obesity," it wasn't a diagnosis, but discrimination. She decided to speak up, producing her sassy, hard-to-overlook zine, which instantly took off, showing up on Oprah and MTV and in USA Today, the Washington Post and Glamour.
Wanns metamorphosis had begun. She became a cheerleader, a synchronized swimmer and a hip-hop dance performer. She appeared on TV news shows with the title "fat rebel" under her name. "Im not interested in people accepting my fat, but in fat peoples rights," she says. And now she has joined a small but growing number of advocates and researchers who are taking on the medical establishments pervasive message that fat kills.
THERE ARE TWO CAMPS IN THE DEBATE about weight and health. The traditional medical stance, shared by many policy-makers, is that being overweight itself is a major health problem, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and sleep apnea. In the other camp, the health culprit is not fat per se, but a sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet.
Camp Ones message is becoming louder as Americans get heavier. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in January that the percentage of adults who are obese increased from 19.8 in 2000 to 20.9 in 2001. (Many researchers categorize people as "overweight" or "obese" using the body-mass index, a calculation that relates weight to height.) That same month, researchers writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that obesity cuts between five and 20 years, depending on race and sex, from the lives of people in their 20s. And in April, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that 14 percent of deaths from cancer in U.S. men and 20 percent in women are attributable to increased body mass.
The establishments answer? Lose weight.
"If you are overweight or obese and lose 10 percent of your body weight, your risk of developing health problems diminishes substantially," says Virginia physician Denise Bruner, board chair of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.
Not so fast, say those in Camp Two. Many obesity studies show only correlation, not causation. In other words, they demonstrate that people at higher weights have greater incidences of certain health problems; the researchers or others then attribute the increased health risk to the increased weight.
Wann is quick to point out that few obesity studies consider the subjects diet and exercise habits. She admires the work of Steven N. Blair, director of research at the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research. In a 1999 study, Blair and his colleagues found that fit men, whether lean, normal or obese, had similar death rates over an eight-year period. "Lean men in our study had increased longevity only if they were physically fit; furthermore, obese men who were fit did not have elevated mortality," wrote the researchers. The lesson, says Wann, is that "anyone who walks, swims, rides a bike, dances on a regular basis is doing a huge benefit for their health, even if they don't lose weight."
Camp Two also asserts that doctors haven't necessarily explained why people are fat or whether they can do anything to change their weight permanently.
"Peoples weight is a combination of genetics and living in an environment that now tempts you with food at every turn," says Gail Woodward-Lopez, a nutritionist and health educator who serves as associate director of the Center for Weight and Health at UC-Berkeley. "It doesn't help that we are discouraged from being physically active because of time, safety and cost constraints."
Wann concurs that genetics plays a significant role. She cites a study showing a weight difference of only 10 percent between identical twins raised in different environments (and, anecdotally, notes that she inherited her mothers fat figure). "So the best you can do is change to healthy habits," she says, "and whether you gain or lose weight is beside the point."
She certainly walks the walk (and swims the swim). Wann completes four to five hour-long workouts a week, and can carry on a conversation immediately afterward. She eats primarily vegetarian fare (in her book, she recommends "that one meal you eat each day is stuff that you have to Wash & Chop"). And she insists she's healthy by standard medical measurements: her blood pressure is 110 over 70; her blood sugar and cholesterol levels are in the normal range.
But what about someone larger say, 500 pounds? Could she be fit? "The numbers on a scale are an inaccurate way of predicting health," says Wann.
Camp One adamantly disagrees. "That 500-pound person is a walking time bomb metabolically," says Bruner. "The joints are working harder; so is the heart. At the very least, a person that size has sleep apnea, which increases the risk of sudden death because of irregular rhythms of the heart. Fat-rights advocates shouldn't minimize the fact that obese people die prematurely."
William L. Haskells work may help resolve the feud. A professor emeritus of medicine who works at the Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Haskell is reviewing 12 studies conducted at research clinics to determine the relative roles of fitness and fatness in the development of heart disease and diabetes. While his report isn't complete, Haskell has drawn some preliminary conclusions. "When I look at the data, the people with the best long-term health outcomes are reasonably lean and engage in regular physical activity," he says. "But if you have trouble losing weight, don't give up on physical activity, because being active and overweight is better than being overweight and inactive. Still better, though, is being active and not overweight at all."
But, Wann argues, that may not be possible-or even desirable-for everyone. She points to the phenomenon of the yo-yo dieter, citing studies indicating that 95 percent to 98 percent of those who shed pounds gain them back within five years. Her book contains a timeline showing the health risks of popular diet drugs from the last 100 years.
Wann has dieted only once in her life, a week of eating white rice. She became so irritable she decided it was no way for an intelligent human being to live. "In my political worldview, the intention of eating to produce weight loss is counterproductive and does more harm than good," she says. While she denounces dieting, she advocates healthy eating. "Honoring ones own appetite, not denying the body's reality, with food that is nourishing, now that is health-enhancing."
A 24 HOUR FITNESS BILLBOARD advertisement featuring a space alien hovered above the tall buildings in downtown San Francisco: "When they come, they'll eat the fat ones first." Angry about the ad, Wann sent out e-mails to rally the fat community. To the song "The Way You Make Me Feel," about two dozen women paraded in front of the fitness club on Van Ness, waving signs that read, "Eat Me!"
Press coverage of the 1999 event caught the attention of the San Francisco board of supervisors, which called for hearings by the cities human rights commission. In May 2000, the supervisors adopted a height/weight anti-discrimination ordinance, joining three other jurisdictions: Michigan; Santa Cruz, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. "This was a huge victory," says Wann. "We had people testifying that at job interviews, they were told they were highly qualified but the company didn't want fat people working for it. We are still at that early stage where people think its okay to say things like that. We are pre-Stonewall," she says, referring to the 1969 Greenwich Village riots often considered the beginning of the gay rights movement.
Wann frequently invokes the language of civil rights movements, urging fat people to "come out" and to reclaim the word "fat" (as has been done with "queer") so no one can use it against them ever again. But how much is size like sexual identity? Like race? Leaders in the African-American community have objected to Wanns use of civil rights language, complaining that while race is immutable, weight is not. She counters that religion is not immutable, and yet it is protected from discrimination. As for the validity of her "coming out" analogy, "Is it a secret that Im fat?" she queries. "No. But for most of my life, Id been living in a kind of closet never wearing sleeveless or revealing clothes, never trying out for cheerleader."
In one of the first cases under San Francisco's ordinance, a friend of Wanns, 240-pound Jennifer Portnick, filed a complaint in September 2001 against Jazzercise Inc., which refused to sell her an instructor franchise until she complied with the companies "fit appearance" requirement. Jazzercise capitulated the following April, acknowledging, "Recent studies document that it may be possible for people of varying weights to be fit. Jazzercise has determined that the value of fit appearance as a standard is debatable."
In celebration and to commemorate International No Diet Day, the fat community partied at Justin Herman Plaza. Members of the Bod Squad, Wann included, grabbed their hot-pink and silver pom-poms and cheered, "Three-five-seven-nine, love your body, its just fine." Plus, "Two-four-six-eight, we do not regurgitate."
Nearly a year later, as the room thumps with Sir MixaLots "Baby Got Back" ("I like big butts and I can not lie"), Portnick stands on a stage in the basement of the Miraloma Community Church. Wann is in her usual front-row spot, wearing form-fitting black exercise pants and a fuchsia and orange sports bra. When the music switches to "Set Me Free," Wann and the others sing and clap, waving their arms overhead, traveling right and left, then punching the air. There isn't any mention of "no pain, no gain" or "working till you drop"; this is about having fun, about movement, about being fit at any size.
THATS ONE OF THE MESSAGES Wann happily and frequently takes into the classroom. Its late afternoon on a Wednesday at City College of San Francisco, and the halls are crowded with noisy students. The 24 students in Sex and Gender in American Society entered Room 267 slack-faced and yawning, but now they are sitting up in their chairs spellbound and slightly shocked. Wann has just announced, "Im so excited to be here to talk to you about fat!"
Wann has been speaking to high school and college students for almost a decade, ever since she read about several fat teens who committed suicide because they were tired of the teasing. It hit too close to home. "I felt I had something that might stop that from happening again," Wann says.
At the City College class, she writes "fat" on the chalkboard, draws a thick line beside it, then writes "thin." The students call out stereotypes associated with the two adjectives. "Which side of the line would you rather be on?" she asks. The choice is obvious. Thin means smart, sexy, in control, fashionable, successful. And fat? Well, the opposite. Wanns point is apparent, too: we've made weight a moral and character issue. "Im interested in erasing that line," she says.
Afterward, a young man comes up to her, tells her he's never thought of these things before and thanks her for coming. Wann beams. She cant erase fat prejudice single-handedly, but comments like those suggest she's made a start.
Reaching the next generation has become particularly important to Wann. She's planning a book for teenagers, tentatively titled "Fat!So? Rebel Handbook for Teens," because its something she wishes shed had when she was growing up. And she's pondering a fat camp for kids not for losing weight, but for being flabulous. Its a fitting next chapter in the story of a fat kid who stopped feeling bad about herself and learned to love her size. "Who knew," Wann muses, "that a shy little fat girl in a cul-de-sac could actually get attention and have people change their lives?"