text:
The two Resurrections: The minor resurrection and the major one:
Dear brother, let's ponder over a new wise saying from Al-Fawa'id (A collection of wise sayings by Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him) which is about the Two Resurrections: The minor resurrection and the major one. The minor resurrection is the stupor of death. Allah the Almighty says:
"And the stupor of death will come in truth"
[Qaf, 19]
Consider the following Ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:
"Who has created death and life"
[Al-Mulk, 2]
Why did Allah the Almighty mention death before life? That is because when man is born he has too many options, but when the Angel of Death comes to him, he will have only two possibilities; he will either enjoy the everlasting bliss of Paradise or face the everlasting torment of Hell. Thus, you have two paths to follow; either the path which leads you to the everlasting bliss of Paradise, or that which leads you to the eternal torment of Hell.
The real success is to prepare yourself for death:
Dear brother, the utmost success, excellence, intelligence, rationality and prosperity are not to live the past or the present, but rather to live the future. The most critical future event is the stupor of death. Allah the Almighty says:
"Now We have removed your covering, and sharp is your sight this Day!"
Some scholars said, "Your Love for something makes you completely blind to its disadvantages." They also said, "The deep affection for this worldly life is the root cause of every sin", because when someone is strongly attached to the worldly life, this love will make a covering on his vision (which will make him unable to discover the reality of the worldly life.)
Every human being in the world, even the most brutal tyrant, will discover that what the Prophets, peace be upon them, informed people was true. The evidence of that is mentioned in the following Noble Ayah in which Allah narrated what Pharaoh said:
"I am your lord, most high"
[An-Nazi'aat, 24]
Pharaoh also said:
"I know not that you have an ilah (a god) other than me"
[Al-Qasas, 38]
Nevertheless, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe". He went on saying:
"And I am one of the Muslims (those who submit to Allah's Will)."
[Yunus, 90]
But Allah the Almighty said to him:
"Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before"
Man's choice to believe in Allah is just a matter of time:
Consider the following critical point: Man has too many choices in his everyday life. For instance, he can choose the house he wants to buy, the girl he wants to marry, the work he wants to do and the place he wants to travel to. Hence, he has too many options concerning these matters, but when it comes to believing in Allah the Almighty, it is just a matter of time. Let me repeat it again: Regarding the innumerous matters related to his daily life, man has the free choice to accept or reject them; he may travel or not, he may get married to that girl or not or he may perform a certain job or not. However, believing in Allah the Almighty is a matter of time; he will either believe in Allah at the proper time (when he is still alive in the worldly life), or when it is too late (when the stupor of death comes) like Pharaoh. Thus, every human being on earth, whether he is a Muslim, a non-Muslim, an atheist, a secularist or ignorant will realize the truth when the Angel of Death comes to him, and the covering on his eye will be removed. Allah the Almighty says:
This is the minor resurrection. In fact, many people are only concerned about the Day of Resurrection, but before thinking about that Day, you should be extremely concerned about the minor resurrection; the stupor of death.
The major resurrection VS the minor resurrection:
Dear brother, the agony of death is the time when man meets Allah the Almighty, when his deeds is presented before Him and when he realizes Allah's Wisdom behind the reward and the punishment which Allah hastens to him in the worldly life, whereas the major resurrection is described by Allah the Almighty as follows:
"And the Trumpet will be blown, that will be the Day whereof warning (had been given) (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)."
The minor resurrection is mentioned in the following Noble Ayah:
"And the intoxication of death will bring the truth;"
While the major resurrection is mentioned in the Noble Ayah below:
On the Day of Resurrection, everyone will come to meet Allah the Almighty accompanied by two angels; an angel which will lead him to trial, and the one which will bear witness against him. Allah the Almighty says:
"And every person will come forth along with an (angel) to drive (him), and an (angel) to bear witness."
It is similar to the way the accused man is driven to the worldly court where there is a judge and some witnesses. Thus, on the Day of Resurrection man will be driven to the trial with a witness, but who will bear witness against him? It is his limbs, his hearing, his sight, the land where he walks on, the angels who writes all his good and bad deeds, the places where he performs his deeds, his skin- which is a euphemism for committing adultery- with which he commits sins and so on… Allah the Almighty is the Most Fair and the Most Judge of judges.
The utmost success is leaving the worldly life pleased:
When I was at university, I studied the subject of intelligence in precise details, and what I liked the most was the following comprehensive and inclusive definition of it: "Intelligence is the ability to adapt". Thus, the real success is to keep in mind the most critical event in life after the one of your birth. When you were born, you entered the world of the living creatures. Allah the Almighty says:
"Has there not been over man a period of time, when he was nothing to be mentioned?"
[Al-Insan, 1]
Once I skimmed through a book, and I found that it was published 2 years before I was born. At that time I was nothing to be mentioned; I had no existence yet. Allah the Almighty says:
The most critical event is that you entered the worldly life and have become something to be mentioned; you have become a human being who has a civil registry document in which the date of birth, your father's name, your mother's name, the place of birth, and your sex were registered. Also, you have become a human being who has capabilities, character, talents and abilities. Thus, the most critical event which occurred to you is your birth. However, leaving this life is not less critical than coming to it. When the baby is born, all people around him are happy; they laugh, clap their hands, and utter trilling cries of joy, while the baby is crying alone! The utmost success is to be pleased alone when the Angel of death comes to you, and all people around you are crying.
The prudent man is he who programs his mind to think about death:
Dear brother, Allah the Almighty calls death in the Noble Qur'an "the calamity of death" (Al-Ma'idah', 106), because you will lose whatever you collect during your whole life in a second; the movable or immovable properties, houses, companies and foreign currency balances which are deposited in other countries as a reserve. Thus, you will lose whatever you possess and collect during your life (seventy years, for instance) when your heart stops because of a myocardial infarction, a stroke, a cardiac arrest, a malignant tumor, renal failure, cirrhosis, and so on. Hence, you will lose whatever you own in a second. There are many lessons around you but few people take admonition. Therefore, when you program your mind to always think about the most critical event in your future life, i.e. death, you will be a truly successful person.
Actually, there is a slight difference between success and prosperity; prosperity is achieved in this worldly life when you buy a land, for example, then due to exceptional circumstances its price doubles 200 times, which means – to use a contemporary terms- this wealth will benefit not only your children but also your grandchildren. This is the prosperity achieved in the worldly life. I heard about a man whose relative died and left one billion lira to the inheritors. After precise calculations, he found that his share was about 90 million lira, so he closed his small shop to carry out the transaction of inheritance. He exerted fairly hard effort for six months, but unfortunately he died before receiving his share of the inheritance! This is the reality of the worldly life. Allah the Almighty is the Best of the inheritors as mentioned in Surat Al-Anbiya' (21: 89).
Whoever prefers the Hereafter to the worldly life will gain them both:
The most critical future event is leaving this worldly life, as your status, power, character, wealth and high position are dependent on your heartbeat; when the heart stops you will die, and people will post your death notice on walls. You will not be a living creature anymore, but rather you will be a piece of news (people will inform each other about your death). Once, while I was on my way from Morocco to Damascus, the plane flew over Tunisia, and we had to wait an hour at Tunis airport. I saw from my window people putting a coffin with other luggage. That dead body had been treated as a human being when he was alive, but after his death he was treated like goods; he had to obtain documents and customs clearance exactly like goods. Many passengers were treated as human beings who had seats in the plane, but after their death they were treated like goods and had to return with luggage. Every creature will die and only the Glorified and the Mighty One remains.
The poet said:
No matter how long night might be,
dawn surely will break.
No matter how long one might live,
descending the grave is a must for him.
Every human being, no matter how long he lives,
will be carried one day in a coffin to be buried.
So if at a funeral you carry a coffin to the grave,
know that one day you will be carried in a coffin too.
Dear brother, once we escorted one of our brother in faith to his grave, may Allah have mercy upon him. When he was buried in his tomb, I was there, and it came to my mind that the wisest man among all inhabitants of the earth is he who prepares himself properly for the moment of death by performing righteous deeds, adhering to Allah's Orders and Prohibition, spending money on charity for the Sake of Allah, raising his children properly according to the teachings of Islam, applying the Islamic principles in his house, convincing his daughters to wear Hijab, providing his sons with financial aid in order to help them get married and so on…. It was said, "The ways to perform righteous deeds in order to get closer to the Creator are as countless as the number of the creatures' breaths". Thus, no one in the world is more intelligent or wiser than he who prepares himself for the moment of death.
Due to working in the noble field of Da'wah (calling people to Allah), I hear about some of our noble brother in faith who are enormously wealthy and who are fairly interested in spending money on charity, feeding the hungry, caring for the needy and spending money on the foreign seekers of Islamic knowledge (the students who came from foreign countries to learn about Islam in order to get back to their countries as Islamic missioners). Whenever I meet one of those rich people I say to him that he is one of the wisest people in the world, because he prepares himself for the moment of death. Actually, whoever prefers the Hereafter to the worldly life will gain both of them, and worldly gains will undoubtedly come to him. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever is too busy with the Qur'an for remembering Me and asking Me, then I shall give him more than what I give to those who ask."
[At-Tirmidhi]
((As long as they (believers) worship Allah regularly in Masajid (and serve Allah's creations), Allah takes care of their affairs.))
I heard many stories about people who were very busy with performing righteous deeds, and Allah the Almighty facilitated their daily needs; their marriage, study, work, and raising their children in the Islamic way. Thus:
Man is considered intelligent, wise and successful when he acts upon Allah's Order:
Dear brother, death is the greatest lesson one can learn. You may have a fairly wealthy relative whose luxurious house is about 500 m2, its price is 180 million lira, its floor is covered with Italian tiles and it is furnished elegantly; you can see valuable paintings and modern gypsum board ceiling designs in it. Whenever I enter such a luxurious house after the death of its owner in order to express condolence to his family, I ask myself: Who chose this tile? Who bought these valuable paintings? Who chose these decorations? It is the deceased. Where is the deceased now? He is in his tomb!
At the beginning of seeking Islamic knowledge, some scholars advised me to follow funerals even if the deceased is not one of my acquaintances or relatives. People put the dead in his casket first, and when they reach the grave, they lift the lid, hold the dead, put him in the tomb and put a slab on his tomb. After that, they bury him, and everything comes to an end. What will the final destination of that descended be? It will either be Paradise with eternal blessing or Hellfire with everlasting torment. Accordingly, the real intelligence, wisdom, triumph, success, prosperity and excellence are manifested when you get yourself ready for the hour of death. You are allowed to marry, work and excel at your work or your study, but you are supposed to do these things according to Allah's Order. In other words, you should reject any doubtful matter, even if it an astronomical amount of money. In fact you will not benefit from this amount of money, but you will be held accountable for it. I am not exaggerating when I say that you will not benefit except from the things you use in your daily life, such as the shirt you wear, the bed you sleep on, the food you eat and so on. Thus, provision is related to the things you benefit from, while your earning is related to your financial capital.
The foolish person is he who is completely heedless of being held accountable:
Dear brother, it becomes fairly obvious to you that the minor resurrection is the stupor of death. Allah the Almighty says:
"And the stupor of death will come in truth:"
Dear brother, the major resurrection is the Day of Resurrection. It is the Day when Allah the Almighty will gather all people and call them to account for their deeds. In the lecture I gave yesterday, I told you that most scholars said that the evidence of the Day of Resurrection was informative; it was taken from the Noble Quran and Sunnah, while other scholars like Ibn Al-Qayyim said that the evidence of the Day of Resurrection was a rational one, because Allah the Almighty is the Utterly Just. In this worldly life some people are rich while other ones are poor, some people are powerful while other ones are weak, and in some countries people are indulging in sins while in other occupied countries, people are greatly oppressed, and they are starving. For example, in Gaza, 1300 women and children were intentionally killed. Their enemy used giant helicopters and bomber aircrafts in order to destroy the civilians' houses and to kill women and children. Will the one who did that be saved from punishment? No, he will not, because his safety contradicts the Existence of Allah, the Utterly Just. Thus, it is absolutely impossible. Allah the Almighty says:
"So, by your Lord (O Muhammad, peace be upon him,), We shall certainly call all of them to account.* For all that they used to do."
[Al-Hijr, 92-93]
"Let not the free disposal (and affluence) of the disbelievers throughout the land deceive you.* A brief enjoyment; then, their ultimate abode is Hell; and worst indeed is that place for rest."
[Aal-'Imran, 196, 197]
By Allah, no one in the world is more foolish than he who does not take into consideration that he will die and will be held accountable for all his deeds.
Leaving this life is the most critical future event:
By Allah, dear brother, no drop of blood that was and will be shed on the earth from the time when Adam was created till the Day of Resurrection, but the one who shed it will be held accountable for it on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"A believer continues to guard his Faith (and thus hopes for Allah's Mercy) so long as he does not shed blood unjustly".
Scholars excluded the blood of the one who was killed while inflicting the prescribed punishment upon him, like applying the death penalty on the killer, because Allah the Almighty takes it upon Himself, and no one will be held accountable for it. Thus, the utmost success is to live the future and to prepare yourself for the most critical future event which is leaving this worldly life.
Once I found an old tape of voicemail messages of my answering machine which I used 10 years ago, and when I listened to it, I found that 12 people of those who left messages in my voicemail at that time are now dead. Similarly, after one hundred years, no one of us will remain alive in this world. Thus, the real success is to live the future and to program your mind to always think about the stupor of death. Allah the Almighty says:
"And the stupor of death will come in truth: "This is what you have been avoiding!"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The first generation of coils were quick to wear, and there is still issues with pinch points when collapsing the shaft in the body of the detector. I put its detection abilities in the middle ground between the SDC on small gold, and the GPX 4500 on deeper gold. Replacement or additional coils are prohibitively expensive for most, and do not offer any real additional performance when compared to the stock DD coils. The only aftermarket coil that seems worthwhile is the 8", and it's not for increased performance as much as it is maneuverability in tighter areas. I am finding the iron grunt future saves me considerable time when working hot hydraulic areas littered with can slaw and square nails. The detector makes a pretty recognizable double bleep over square nails, when on their sides, in which case using the iron ID often isn't necessary.
I love compact detectors, this ones biggest weak point is it's heft. It's a solid performer for those who have no problem throwing the weight around.


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Lichfield Cathedral hosts anti-Semitic conference which bars Zionist Jew from asking questions
"The daily life of the Cathedral is the responsibility of the Dean", explains the Lichfield Cathedral website. And the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral is the Very Rev'd Adrian Dorber, who decided to organise a whole weekend conference dedicated to the Israel/Palestine conflict. Quite why he chose that strife over (say) those of India and Pakistan or of Saudia Arabia and Yemen (or even Iran and Syria) is unknown. But cathedral deans are powerful people: if they want a conference to debate their particular theological bent or political grievance, they are free to organise one and invite whichever speakers they choose to present their preferred slant (as we've seen in Manchester Cathedral).
The Dean of Lichfield Cathedral clearly has a lot of time for Palestine and boundless sympathy for Palestinians, and not much time or sympathy at all for Israel and Jews.
Perhaps his poster design gives a clue: 'Holding Palestine in the Light', it proclaims, conveniently shunting the very existence of Israel into the darkness. Sure, the Zionist State gets a footnote, but what manner of equitable conference is it which delegitimises one party or nullifies one perspective in its very publicity? Imagine a cathedral conference entitled: 'Holding India in the light: the context of the conflict'. One or two Pakistanis might sense a certain bias. And David Collier's account of Adrian Dorber's conference – 'Antisemitic hate festival in Lichfield Cathedral' – evidences bias (not to say blatant disinformation and anti-Semitism) in surplus overplus. The whole piece merits reading, but consider these highlights:
..I had little doubt I was walking into a hate-festival. One of the 'secrets' of such an event is that the range of speakers is always skewed. People such as Ilan Pappe see sharing a stage with Zionists as 'normalisation'. Jewish self determination, the right of a 'Jewish home', these are positions too 'dirty' for anti-Israel activists to accommodate. Therefore if Pappe is present, you know their views have been ideologically protected by the structure of the event itself. The building has been cleansed of all support for the Jewish national movement.
..I made my way to the café and had to walk passed another exhibition. On display was pro boycott material. I saw more leaflets on display. I picked up a magazine from the group 'Friends of Al Aqsa'. This is a group that has recently had its bank account closed because of possible funding of "illegal or other proscribed activities".
This set the theme of the weekend. Every single stall, every part of the exhibit, was designed or delivered by activists supporting the boycott. There was a book stall. Every single book was one that castigates Israel and Zionism. Not a single opposition voice was on display..
..In the simple comment that 'Jesus was a Palestinian', is an absolute denial of Jewish history… There were even attempts to rewrite attendees at very early Christian events as being 'Arab' rather than Jewish.
..A group called 'Lichfield Concern for Palestine'. All talk was about Israeli brutality. No mention of Arab violence anywhere.
..Next up was Professor Kamel Hawwash, Vice-Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign… There will be no starting point for peace until Israelis get down on their knees and beg for forgiveness. Total submission… This is the vision of 'peace' that the church invited to talk.
..I have seen Ilan Pappe now more times than I can count. He is charismatic antisemitism personified. Pappe wastes no time. 'There is no such thing as modern antisemitism'.
No such thing as modern anti-Semitism? How in the name of Christ could that refutation be permitted in a Church of England cathedral? And then came this appalling incident:
..This time, with the knowledge that Mandy was a Zionist, the Chair was visibly ignoring Mandy's raised hand. The Chair was desperately seeking questions from elsewhere in the audience. The questions had dried up. It was a stand-off. Mandy became vocal:
'Why won't you let me speak?'
'Because you spoke earlier' came the reply.
As an answer it did not suffice. Several people had asked more than one question. The situation was absurd. There were no more questions. Only Mandy's hand remained aloft. There were still 10 minutes left till the end of this session.
Several people became visibly agitated. A member of the audience asked why the chair was ignoring Mandy's question. Mandy spoke up again:
"Isn't this a conference, why is only one side allowed to be heard?"
All of this comes just a fortnight after the Archbishop of Canterbury declared: "Antisemitism is an insidious evil." And he made it absolutely clear that "the virus continues to seek a host. It latches onto a variety of different issues: financial inequality, wars and depressions, education, politics and government, grave international issues, such as the rights of Israelis and Palestinians.." And conferences organised by zealous deans in our national cathedrals? The allegation against the Dean of Lichfield is not that he is an anti-Semite, but that he naively sought to have the 'Palestine' issue debated in his cathedral without ensuring balanced advocacy and an impartial chairman, and thereby desecrated Lichfield Cathedral with the whiff of anti-Semitism, anti-Zionist conspiracy theory and the delegitimisation of Israel.
The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Rev'd Michael Ipgrave, who also happens to be Chairman of the Council of Christians and Jews, has previously been unequivocal in his condemnation of these sorts of views:
To me there seems no question that denying the right of Israel to exist, failing to take seriously the claim of its citizens to security and recognition, viewing the complex situation in the Holy Land as an unparalleled example of injustice when it is fact surrounded by egregious instances of oppression and unsettlement, adopting a one-sided view which fails to recognise the legitimate interests and real anxieties of all sides – all these can be manifestations of, or excuses for, real antisemitism.
So why would he allow his cathedral to host an exhibition and conference which not only denies Israel's right to exist, but denies the very phenomenon of modern anti-Semitism?
"The fact that antisemitism has infected the body of the Church is something of which we as Christians must be deeply repentant," the Archbishop of Canterbury said. "We live with the consequences of our history of denial and complicity.antisemitism needs to be confronted in every part of our communal life and cultural imagination." If Justin Welby is right (and he is), and if Michael Ipgrave meant what he wrote (and there's no reason to believe he didn't), then the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral needs to issue an unequivocal apology – not only to offended Israelis and Jews, but to Christians and all people of goodwill for whom this conference was an overt anti-Semitic outrage. The Church of England should neither condone nor facilitate anti-Israel hate: our task should be peace and reconciliation in the light of the truth. As the Archbishop of Canterbury said:
Antisemitism.. permeates and pervades all that it touches when it is swept under the carpet, denied and not confronted head-on. The challenge for us is to be united in facing the uncomfortable truths of our history and for faith groups to take a lead in being transparent and honest in exposing the hidden recesses of prejudice.
If Lichfield Cathedral sweeps this under the carpet, the Church of England becomes complicit in anti-Semitism, which, as the Archbishop said, "..undermines and distorts the truth: it is the negation of God's plan for his creation and is therefore a denial of God himself."
Both the Dean and Bishop have issued statements:
Bishop Michael:
I want to reaffirm my welcome and support for the Archbishop of Canterbury's recent condemnation of the 'virus' of antisemitism. I attended part of the conference at Lichfield Cathedral, as a guest, as a mark of my commitment to ongoing dialogue and building better relationships. The CCJ will continue to engage in dialogue with the cathedral to build a relationship of deeper understanding that I hope will bear great fruit in the future.
Dean Adrian Dorber:
Cathedral naves are the traditional meeting places for people to come together and debate matters of concern, to learn, reflect and find wisdom in the middle of difficulty and confusion. Our recent weekend conference 'Holding Palestine in the Light – the context of the conflict' was an attempt to help people understand the complexity of the situation and what roads to peace are available for all the people of the Holy Land, Israelis and Palestinians. There were some passionate exchanges and contributions from the floor representing very diverse views. It takes courage to make peace and the first step is to listen. That is a proper requirement for everyone who is concerned with the long term future and flourishing of all the Israeli and Palestinian people. We hope that the opinion, prayers and righteous action of people of faith and goodwill could yet help bring all sides together on a path to a lasting peace. It is my hope, and that of the Ecumenical Planning group who arranged the conference, that the weekend was a small contribution to understanding, and an encouragement to people of faith to pray and work for peace.
Clean sweep: dustpan and brush not required.
More Under: Adrian Dorber, Anti-Semitism, Conspiracy, Council of Christians and Jews, David Collier, Dean of Lichfield, Ilan Pappe, Israel, Jews, Justin Welby, Lichfield Cathedral, Michael Ipgrave, Middle East, Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinians, Peace, Political bias, Reconciliation, Zionism
Which is worse in a presidential candidate – dirty words about sexual assault or conspiring to conceal rape?
Cathedral conference: 'Holding Heretics in the Light: the context of conflagration'


It may be early, but one fan already believes he knows which NFC team will be playing in the Super Bowl.
NFL kickoff 2014 is nearly a month away, too far into the future to hear any predictions about who's likely to reach the Super Bowl. Especially from a fan touting his own team.
But if my early prediction about the World Cup is any indicator, I deserve an exception.
The San Francisco 49ers are about to embark on a tremendous season.
The offseason has been tumultuous, to say the least. This may ultimately serve to provide the intrinsic motivation the team needs to push them forward for a great start to the season. They'll need it, to be sure. Coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke have been embroiled in a power struggle that hasn't yet been resolved. The season will need to be a rousing success in order to keep everyone happy.
On top of that, some players are unhappy about contracts, and defense is worrisome due to the ongoing threat of suspension of Aldon Smith due to off-field antics (if you can call a fake bomb threat to LAX 'antics'). Chris Culliver and Adam Kilgore were arrested in the offseason, and even Colin Kaepernick had a run-in with the law (though was rightly exonerated of any wrongdoing).
Despite losing Super Bowl XLVII to the Baltimore Ravens, Colin Kaepernick still had one of the finest performances in Super Bowl history.
Since Super Bowl I in 1967, the "big game" has become the premier stage for NFL players to either create or cement their legacy. The first 47 Super Bowls are full of special Super Bowl performances. Some were by familiar names that used the Super Bowl to either put a stamp on a Hall of Fame career or propel them into a spot in Canton. But not every Super Bowl hero was a household name before their performance on the big stage. There have been several players whose otherwise unspectacular career includes one shining performance in front of one of the largest television crowds of all-time.
In this article and the second part (which will be posted later this week), we are looking specifically at the 50 best individual performances on offense in a Super Bowl. This list includes only offensive performances and not kickers or special teams players.
To develop the list we did take into account game statistics, but also looked at game situations when analyzing which players and moments were worthy of inclusion. For example, though Joe Montana tossed five touchdowns as the 49ers routed Denver in Super Bowl XXIV, he actually was ranked higher in other Super Bowls because his performance in critical moments was instrumental to their victory.
In ranking performances whether the team won the game was considered, but there have been some Super Bowl performances by players on losing teams that were clearly among the most important. One thing that received little consideration was who was awarded the Super Bowl MVP as there have been numerous occasions when the MVP award has gone to someone other than the player who seemingly provided the best performance.
So below is a countdown of performances 50-26.
If he has been able to lead the 49ers to a final touchdown and victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Kaepernick's performance in his first Super Bowl would have certainly been higher on the list. However, even in defeat the first year starter led his team to a near-comeback victory using both his arm and feet.
Utilizing a talented receiving corps that included Art Monk, Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders, Rypien picked apart the Buffalo Bills with a pair of touchdown passes and time consuming drives to lift the Redskins to their third Super Bowl in a decade (all with a different starting quarterback).
For a fleeting moment, it appeared that Kurt Warner was going to be the first quarterback to lead two different franchises to Super Bowl victory. He and the Cardinals played well enough to win, but a late Pittsburgh drive denied them of victory. Interestingly enough, Warner holds the record for the top three passing yardage totals in Super Bowl history with his 377 yards in Super Bowl XLIII ranking second.
While Terrell Davis and John Elway are the best remembered offensive players from their back-to-back Super Bowl wins, receiver Rod Smith also played an important role in their win over the Falcons. His 80-yard reception in the second quarter helped break the game open and he finished with 152 receiving yards.
Lucky Seven: Peyton Manning had a night for the ages to open the season.
After seven long months of OTA's and talking about Tim Tebow, football returned this Thursday under the lights in Denver, Colorado. And this time the lights stayed on for the whole game. The season got started with one of the best players of this generation reminding us all that he can still get it done, included a first for a veteran wide receiver, the extension of a couple of Opening Day streaks, one milestone coaching victory and a first for a Lions' player since the days of Barry Sanders. Here are all the important notes, interesting accomplishments and head-scratching statistics from Week 1 of the brand new season.
Peyton Manning tied the all-time single-game record with seven touchdown passes in the Broncos' 49-27 win over the defending champion Ravens Thursday night. He became the first quarterback to throw seven TD passes in a game since Joe Kapp in 1969. It was the 74th time in his career he has thrown three or more touchdown passes in a game – the most all-time. Denver's 22-point win was the largest ever opening-week win by a team against a defending Super Bowl champ.
The Falcons lost their first ever season opener against the Saints as they fell, 23-17, after blowing a 10-0 first-quarter lead. Atlanta had been 6-0 all-time against New Orleans to open the season. In the loss, however, Tony Gonzalez became just the third player to record a touchdown catch in 17 different seasons, joining Jerry Rice (19) and Irving Fryar, who also did it 17 times.
With two against the Bills, Tom Brady has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in 49 consecutive games for the Patriots – five shy of tying Drew Brees for the all-time record. He also improved to 21-2 in his career against Buffalo. New England won its 10th straight opener and they forced at least one turnover in their 28th straight game.
The Bucs fell to 0-7 all-time in road games against the Jets as New York pulled out the 18-17 win on a last-second field goal. Tampa committed 13 penalties in the game, leading to five New York first downs and helped put them in position to kick the game-winning field goal. Rookie Geno Smith helped lead the Jets with a 76.0 QBR in the fourth quarter.
Marc Trestman joined Chip Kelly and Andy Reid in winning their debuts with new teams.
A.J. Green hauled in nine passes for 162 yards to break Chad Johnson's franchise record for receiving yards in a season opener, but the Bengals fell to the Bears in Marc Trestman's debut, 24-21.Bears kicker, Robbie Gould, set a Soldier Field record with a 58-yard field goal in the win.
Seattle and Carolina combined for just 19 points in the Seahawks' 12-7 win. Cam Newton put up career lows in total yards (163) and passing yards (125) for the Panthers in the loss. Russell Wilson threw for 320 yards, despite managing just the 12 points and it was the first 300-yard game of his career.
Ben Roethlisberger threw for just 191 yards as the Steelers mustered just nine points and fell to the Titans, 16-9. It was the fifth time since 2011 that Big Ben threw for less than 200 yards in a game. Though this was Pittsburgh's first loss in a home opener since 2002, Roethlisberger did go over the career 30,000-yard passing mark on the day. Pittsburgh got on the board three seconds into the game after it was ruled that Tennessee kick returner, Darius Reynaud, fielded the opening kickoff before the goal line and then took a knee in the endzone. The safety tied the fastest score in any game since the merger.
The Browns lost their ninth straight season opener, 23-10, at the hands of the Dolphins. Nine straight is the longest active streak in the league. The teams combined for just 67 rushing yards and the Browns were just 1-for-14 on third down. Brandon Weeden set a new career-high for pass attempts in a game with 53, but threw three interceptions and was sacked three times.
After coming close a year ago, Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers will look to return to the Super Bowl.
The 2013 NFL season started with a bang as one of the all-time greats, Peyton Manning, matched an NFL record with 7 touchdown passes against the defending Super Bowl Champions.
With that as a prelude, expect the rest of the 2013 season to be exciting and perhaps filled with more records and amazing performances.
There was a time in NFL history when quarterbacks were expected to spend multiple years learning the league and the system of their specific team before being thrust into the starting lineup.
However, over the past decade that practice has given way to higher immediate expectations for rookie quarterbacks and the expectation that a quarterback should be ready to play right away.
In 2008 rookie quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan each led their teams to the playoffs and the following campaign Mark Sanchez took the New York Jets to the AFC Championship Game.


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Athletes, Rolex
What Watch Does Conor McGregor Wear?
Written by Andre Wallace
Conor McGregor is an Irish-born professional mixed martial artist who is well known for fighting in the UFC. McGregor is one of only two people in UFC history to win a contest at both the featherweight and welterweight levels.
McGregor is a very impressive individual who has carved out a great deal of success for himself at such a young age. He is also quite well known for his extensive watch collection, which is evident by a quick peruse of his Instagram account (@thenotoriousmma)
Rolex Sky Dweller
One of the watches he can be seen frequently wearing is the Rolex Sky Dweller. The Sky Dweller is a beautiful watch put out by Rolex featuring their Oyster Perpetual movement. One of the key selling points of the watch is its simplicity. It features several complications, including a date display and a monthly calendar, and has several functions including 24 hour time and a second time zone setting – functions which can be found by adjusting the bezel.
However, as beautiful as the Sky Dweller is, it is a $40,000 watch. This puts the watch out of the price range of the average person.
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Sky-Dweller Alternatives
Luckily there are plenty of great alternatives to the Sky Dweller! If you're looking for a watch that achieves the look and feel of the Sky Dweller without the enormous price tag, then we recommend the Citizen Eco Drive Stainless. The watch by Citizen is a Stainless Steel case with a mineral composite crystal and Japanese Quartz movement. While it is a battery powered watch, the battery should last for quite a while and very easily changed.
The best part about the citizen? Its priced around $90, making it an affordable alternative to the Sky Dweller. And while there definitely is a notable difference between the two watches, if you're looking for a quality and affordable watch that captures the feel of the Sky Dweller, this Citizen Eco-Drive won't let you down.
Rolex Day Date
Also among Conor's impressive collection is his super suave Ice Blue Platinum Rolex Day-Date that he wore in the lead-up to his fight with Mayweather.
The platinum version of the quintessential Rolex Day-Date packs a large punch (pun intended… sorry) in both performance and aesthetics. Combining classic features of the Rolex Day-Date Oyster collection such as 100m water resistance (perfect to use as a dive watch), robust perpetual movement of the Rolex Calibre 3255 (automatic), full day of the week displayed at 12 (available in 26 languages!) and a 26 hour power reserve.
The platinum version features an elegant ice blue face, and is considerably heavier than the other metal versions of the Rolex Day-Date.
Day-Date Alternatives
Not getting $70 Million for a fight like McGregor and therefore not necessarily prepared to invest in a Rolex? Of course, there are alternatives. Especially given that Rolex is the most copied watch brand on the planet.
A great alternative to the Rolex Day-Date is the Orient "President" Classic. This homage to the Rolex Day-Date features a 36mm case, full day of the week at 12, date magnifier, sapphire crystal and indices. Controlled by a very reliable in house automatic movement with two way winding clutch.
Don't be fooled, this is not a cheap Rolex knock-off, but a quality AND affordable watch in its own right.
Conor's other watches
Conor simply has too many other watches to mention without this turning into a massive article. So, I've just included some of his own images and videos from Insta below.
No more work baby
A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Jan 27, 2018 at 8:08pm PST
My latest time piece. The pink gold skeleton.
the big face
A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Jun 27, 2017 at 12:13pm PDT
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In linear algebra and statistics, the partial inverse of a matrix is an operation related to Gaussian elimination which has applications in numerical analysis and statistics. It is also known by various authors as the principal pivot transform, or as the sweep, gyration, or exchange operator.

Given an  matrix  over a vector space  partitioned into blocks:

If  is invertible, then the partial inverse of  around the pivot block  is created by inverting , putting the Schur complement  in place of , and adjusting the off-diagonal elements accordingly:

Conceptually, partial inversion corresponds to a rotation of the graph of the matrix , such that, for conformally-partitioned column matrices  and :

As defined this way, this operator is its own inverse: , and if the pivot block  is chosen to be the entire matrix, then the transform simply gives the matrix inverse . Note that some authors define a related operation (under one of the other names) which is not an inverse per se; particularly, one common definition instead has .

The transform is often presented as a pivot around a single non-zero element , in which case one has

Partial inverses obey a number of nice properties:
 inversions around different blocks commute, so larger pivots may be built up from sequences of smaller ones
 partial inversion preserves the space of symmetric matrices

Use of the partial inverse in numerical analysis is due to the fact that there is some flexibility in the choices of pivots, allowing for non-invertible elements to be avoided, and because the operation of rotation (of the graph of the pivoted matrix) has better numerical stability than the shearing operation which is implicitly performed by Gaussian elimination. Use in statistics is due to the fact that the resulting matrix nicely decomposes into blocks which have useful meanings in the context of linear regression.

References

Matrix theory

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Scripps National Spelling Bee goes high-tech with student prep
By: The E.W. Scripps Co.

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - MAY 26: Spellers Nihar Saireddy Janga (L) of Austin, Texas and Jairam Jagadeesh Hathwar (R) of Painted Post, New York hold a trophy after the finals of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee May 26, 2016 in National Harbor, Maryland. Both spellers were declared co-champions at the end of the annual spelling competition. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The thousands of schools that enroll in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this year will unlock a new level of learning, giving teachers and students clear paths to make connections between spelling, vocabulary and reading. For the 2016-2017 program, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is fully integrating book titles and technology from its presenting sponsor, Kindle, into the creation of the school-level study lists to be distributed to the nearly 11 million participating students. Study materials include hundreds of words selected exclusively from books available on Kindle e-readers.
These study materials equip teachers to easily combine lessons in spelling, vocabulary and reading. Students can build their vocabulary and reading skills while gaining helpful context about the spelling words as they appear in the books. Reading the books that include study list words is not a requirement of the Bee program, but it certainly can be an added benefit.
"The Scripps National Spelling Bee and Kindle both recognize the synergy of reading and spelling," said Paige Kimble, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. "Now, our study materials guide students to fiction and nonfiction titles that include the words they need to know to advance in their local spelling bee program. Students can see the words come to life and have a more meaningful learning experience through the power of great books. This is an unprecedented development by the Scripps National Spelling Bee and it reflects the cohesive relationship we share with Kindle."
The study list includes both spelling words and book titles for grade levels 1–8 including popular books like "Nate the Great" by Marjorie Weinman Sharma for first grade, "Matilda" by Roald Dahl for fifth grade and "The Terrifying Tales" by Edgar Allan Poe for eighth grade. The complete list of books is available to schools that enroll in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program.
"Our mission is to enable and inspire a passion for reading at any age and we believe that great spellers come from great readers," said Arthur van Rest, director, Kindle E-Readers. "With these reading lists, students will be able to see study list words in context, leading to better comprehension. With features like Word Wise, Vocabulary Builder and Dictionary Lookups, Kindle e-readers give students the confidence and tools to take on more challenging books."
All Kindle e-readers are purpose-built for reading and feature displays that are easy to read with no glare, even in bright sunlight, have battery life that is measured in weeks rather than hours, and are lightweight and easy to hold and read on for hours. All Kindle e-readers come equipped with the following tools to provide an improved reading experience that leads to greater comprehension, a stronger vocabulary and a better, uninterrupted reading experience:
Vocabulary Builder — Compiles words readers look up in the dictionary into an easy-to-access list from words readers explore through the dictionary option. Readers can use these lists to quiz themselves with flashcards and instantly see words in context until they have mastered them.
Word Wise — Short and simple definitions automatically appear above difficult words to help readers take on more challenging books. The reader can adjust the level of help needed. Every source book used to create the Scripps National Spelling Bee school spelling bee study list is enabled with Word Wise.
Kindle FreeTime — With Kindle FreeTime, kids can read books in a simple, fun and safe environment designed specifically for them. Kids are rewarded with achievement badges when they reach their reading milestones, and a progress report keeps parents updated on total time spent reading, number of words looked up, badges earned and books read.
Enrollment is now open for the 2016-2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee program. School enrollment takes place exclusively at spellingbee.com. Interested students, parents and schools can use the search function to see if a school is enrolled and can get additional information about the program.
Once enrolled, teachers and administrators have access to everything they need to run a classroom or school spelling bee, such as:
Online access to the teachers-only section of spellingbee.com
Official study lists for students, organized by grade level
Official list of book titles used to select study list words (all titles are available to download on Kindle e-readers)
Study materials for each school spelling champion
The 2017 Classroom Pronouncer Guide
The 2017 School Pronouncer Guide
The early bird school enrollment fee is $145 until Oct. 14. The cost goes up to $220 per school between Oct. 15-Dec. 12. For home school students, the family enrollment fee is $102 during the early bird window and the cost is $177 from Oct. 15-Dec. 12. Each school's coordinator receives immediate access to study and program materials upon payment.
For any businesses, community organizations, or colleges and universities considering sponsorship, the local spelling bee program costs about $5,000 annually. That cost includes the local sponsor coordinating and paying for the local spelling bee program for all schools within a set area. The sponsor manages the regional bee event for the area and coordinates travel arrangements for the local bee champion to compete at the National Finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland, May 29-June 2, 2017.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee currently is looking for sponsors in Minneapolis, South Bend, Indiana and Dayton, Ohio.


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Q: Is it possible to install SQL Server Express edition side by side with SQL Server Developer edition? I have looked at Microsoft Documentation but didn't find an answer, I already have SQL Server 2016 Express edition on my machine and wonder if it's possible to install SQL Server 2016 Developer edition side by side with the Express edition?

A: Yes you can, my machine has SQL Server 2008R2 Express, SQL Server 2012 Express, and SQL Server 2016 Developer Edition

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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PHOTO: Moritz Mentges on Unsplash
COVID-19: The Scythe and the Hammer
A win-win for both health and the economy?
Quentin Grafton, Tom Kompas
Economics and finance, Government and governance, Health | Australia, Asia, Southeast Asia
Quentin Grafton and Tom Kompas explain why a 'Hammer' response, that seeks to eliminate COVID-19 infection, potentially offers the best strategy from both a public health and economic perspective.
Harold Wilson, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, once said that a week is a long time in politics. The same can be said of COVID-19. Although it is too early to be certain, from the available data, it very much looks as if physical distancing and the better control of the borders is working in Australia.
The daily reported growth rate in infections has been falling dramatically recently and, as of Sunday 5 April, it's now less than three per cent. There were periods during much of March, with arrivals from overseas, and other factors, where the daily growth rate was 24 per cent or more. This is something to be cautiously pleased about, even while the total number of infections are still increasing.
As Australia has moved towards, but not yet implemented a national lockdown, an increasing number of people are speaking out about the high costs of government-imposed physical distancing. Their point is valid. Having the economy shut down for weeks or even months certainly imposes high costs. But is it worth it?
The answer to this question can be found by comparing three possible strategies. One of these, called 'the Hammer', according to preliminary analyses, is the preferred strategy to fight COVID-19 in most cases. And yes, it does involve physical distancing, along with comprehensive testing, tracking, and quarantine of the sick.
An alternative strategy to physical distancing is what we call the 'Scythe' strategy. The Scythe response to COVID-19 does not impose sufficient mandated physical distancing with the intent to keep the economy running as smoothly as possible and getting people back to work.
More on this: Public messaging, trust and COVID-19: some pointers for policymakers
According to proponents of this strategy this is achieved by letting the virus 'take its natural course'. This means COVID-19 ends up infecting a large proportion of the population. According to its proponents, the Scythe would eventually result in 'herd immunity' and supposedly impose the lowest cost on the economy, since many people not affected by the virus could still work.
Putting aside the fact the Scythe could be described as involuntary euthanasia of potentially tens of thousands of mainly elderly people, it is premised on at least three false assumptions.
First, that the mortality rate is only a 'bit worse' than an influenza epidemic. In fact, the mortality rate in a country with substantial COVID-19 testing, like South Korea, is about one per cent, or about 10 times greater than the common flu. COVID-19 also results in a much higher hospitalisation rate than the influenza we commonly have, with about 20 per cent of confirmed cases requiring hospital treatment. By comparison, the hospitalisation rate for the flu is about one per cent.
Hospitalisation rates really matter when it comes to saving lives. When Intensive Care Units are full, the mortality rate for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients soars. To get an idea of what the Scythe might look like, check out what is happening right now in New York City and also consider what it means about who gets treated and who does not.
Second, it assumes that removal of mandated physical distancing measures means we can get back to normal more quickly, because the virus ends up infecting most of the population and those who recover cannot infect anyone else. In fact, the virus is mutating so it is possible – but, as far as we know, unlikely – that someone who recovers from one variant of COVID-19 may not be immune to another variant of the virus.
More on this: Sums, germs, and fear
Some of those who recover but who needed to be on ventilators for an extended may period also face long-term health challenges.
Australia would also not be back to normal after the Scythe, because of lower labour force participation and reduced productivity, and key sectors of the economy would continue to suffer.
Third, the Scythe assumes that there are only two alternatives; mandated physical distancing that involves many months of physical distancing, what we call a 'Slow Burn', and the Scythe.
In fact, there is a much preferred alternative called the Hammer, that is a 'go hard and go early' strategy that suppresses, and ultimately stops, the growth in the rate of infections such that the number of new infections is far less than the number who are recovering.
The Hammer requires sufficient physical distancing for at least three cycles of infections, say for an initial six weeks, and then the gradual relaxation of mandated controls coupled with effective testing and tracing of people with COVID-19. With very low infection rates, after six weeks of sufficient physical distancing, and comprehensive testing, the economy would hopefully recover more quickly as people would be confident to both work and play.
The Hammer is not just about 'flattening the curve' it also means potentially shortening the curve. In other words, not only is the total number and peak number of infections dramatically reduced, but so is the time period in which the infection rate is unacceptably high. This saves a lot of lives. It also supports the economy.
There is no pretending that the economic costs of the Hammer strategy are low. COVID-19 has, and will, impose very large economic costs regardless of strategy. But if the Hammer is implemented early enough when the infection rate is still low, the costs will be much lower than the Scythe.
S o what is the cost of the Hammer? With the Hammer, economic activity that is severely and negatively affected by mandated physically distancing would occur for roughly 12 per cent of 2020. During that time, even in the most extreme case we can conceive, economic activity would be halved. Thus, the temporary reduction in economic activity is roughly six per cent on an annual basis. Of course, Australia still incurs losses in income and economic activity after this period but can recover faster.
The Slow Burn, in contrast, is a strategy that involves early mandated physical distancing to prevent a high infection rate, but this is not enough to fully control the virus in the population. As a result of the suppression the number of premature deaths is greatly reduced but this is at the expense of an extended period of mandated physical distancing, possibly over several months. This may be a higher risk strategy from a public health perspective and certainly is more costly to the economy than the Hammer.
As of 7 April, it appears Singapore will change its strategy from what was akin to a Slow Burn to what it hopes will be a Hammer. This revised strategy involves an initial four weeks lockdown that includes, for the first time, the closure of all schools and universities, and most workplaces.
Australia, and some other countries, such as New Zealand, are in the best possible position to deliver the Hammer to COVID-19. From admittedly preliminary analyses, this makes sense in terms of both lives saved and the economy.
We do not know yet whether Australia's current physical distancing will amount to either a Slow Burn or the Hammer. Thankfully, the Australian strategy is certainly not the Scythe. The New Zealand strategy of an early lockdown, now adopted by Singapore, is intended to be the Hammer. Let's hope it delivers.
If Australia were to successfully arrive at the other side of a flattened and shortened curve with the Hammer then it will need to undertake a lot of testing, tracing of those who are positive and their physical contacts, isolating the affected, and quarantining all new arrivals into the country. It would also need to maintain some less costly mandated physical distancing measures to ensure COVID-19 does not bounce back.
The question is: If Australia has a Hammer, and COVID-19 is a nail, why not use it?
Quentin Grafton
R. Quentin Grafton FASSA is Professor of Economics, ANU Public Policy Fellow, Editor-in-Chief of Policy Forum, Convenor of the Global Actions on Human Water Security, Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy (CWEEP) at Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University and Director of the Food, Energy, Environment and Water (FE2W) Network.
Policy Forum's top 10 of 2020 Quentin Grafton
Moving on, stepping forward Quentin Grafton
Tom Kompas
Tom Kompas is a Professor of Environmental Economics and Biosecurity in the School of Biosciences and the School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences at the University of Melbourne. He is a recipient of the Eureka Prize in Science and a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
Policy Forum's top 10 of 2020 Tom Kompas
Just how many people really have (and have... Tom Kompas
The Reserve Bank of Australia is stabilising... WARWICK MCKIBBIN
Podcast: The future of work in the wake of... ANDREW LEIGH
The US votes: Deplorables, Expendables and... QUENTIN GRAFTON
Demonetisation: disruptive economics,... RAMESH THAKUR
China capitulationism CLIVE HAMILTON
Future proofing JAMES GIGGACHER


For use in dogs. Recommended to help support healthy hip and joint function. Helps to maintain joint flexibility and alleviate aches and discomfort associated with daily exercise.
Inactive Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate' Magnesium Stearate' Maltodextrins' Microcrystalline Cellulose' Natural Flavoring' Silica Aerogel' Stearic Acid and Vegetable Oil.
For animal use only. Keep out of the reach of children and animals. In case of accidental overdose' contact a health professional immediately. Safe use in pregnant animals or animals intended for breeding has not been proven. If lameness worsens' discontinue use and contact your veterinarian. Administer during or after the animal has eaten to reduce incidence of gastrointestinal upset.


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Angelo Domenico; "L'Ecole des Armes"; A Superb Group of 16 Framed 18thC Engravings of Fencing Duels c.1763
Origin: English
Period: George III
The Wholes: 19.25"wide x 13.25" high (each)
From Angelo Domenico's (1717?-1802) renowned fencing manual "L'Ecole des Armes" the group of sixteen engravings, each marked with a plate number and now professionally mounted and presented glazed in contemporary black frames, all plates marked with a number and "publish'd according to act of parliament Feb. 1763" by Delin, J. Gwyn, in 1763.
The engravings are in very decorative and unrestored condition with none of them being in perfect order, some are lighter than others with some being much more discoloured and as such there is a beautiful monochrome contrast when they are placed on the wall. There is soiling and foxing and losses to many of the engravings but we love the overall feel, please see the photographs for full visual reference. The simple good quality frames are all contemporary and each is glazed.
The plate numbers included in numerical order are follows: 5, 6, 9, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, 32, 34, 39, 41 and 47 respectively.
During the eighteenth-century, fencing was a popular sport among the English royalty and aristocracy, primarily learned on the Continent until the Italian fencing master Domenico Angelo Malevolti Tremamondo established his fencing school in London. A riding instructor by trade, Angelo was born in Leghorn, Italy in 1716 and briefly trained with the celebrated fencer Monsieur Teillagory in Paris. After arriving in England in 1755, he participated in and won several public fencing matches, quickly earning a reputation that helped him secure high-ranking clients such as the Duke of Devonshire and the Earl of Pembroke. He soon capitalized on his popularity by establishing Angelo's School of Arms, where he taught horsemanship as well as fencing to an affluent and fashionable clientele. Angelo also continued to teach privately and in 1758, instructed the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. Over the years, his school became a venerable British institution, which was run by successive generations of the Angelo family until the early twentieth-century.
In 1763, Angelo published L'Ecole d'Armes, a respected fencing handbook comprised of beautifully illustrated plates by renowned English artists like Chamber, Gwyn (As we see here) and Ryland depicting principal fencing positions, and esteemed by many as the ultimate authority on fencing.
Simply stunning as a group as a wall of clinking steel; En Garde!
Archive • Antiques


Avraham Ben Moshe the leader and founder of the Common Sense Family has express worry about why the state is not able to give Apostle Dr. Eng. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka the required and necessary state support since the beginning of his technology inventions.
Speaking on Kantanka TV's popular show "Kantanka Exclusive", the CSF leader stated that it makes no sense when government hasn't officially welcome Apostle Safo Kantanka's Cars but preaches about the establishment of other foreign car manufacturing companies like VW, Nissan and Sinotruck.
According to him, Apostle is gifted for Ghana and its about time the state make good use of his knowledgeable resources.
He identified that, most of our leaders have witnessed and keep witnessing the annual Kantanka exhibitions but on no grounds have they provided support in their own little ways to make his vision easy to establish in the country.
According to Avraham a carefully thought-out action plan is needed to ensure Ghana support the innovations of Apostle Safo to actively participate in the national development so as to deliberately prepare, groom and mentor the next leadership pipeline. This is among many guarantee to a secured prosperous future for Ghana.
In his speech he stated that there will be a vibrant youth movement to strike out with action, leader's intention to give the Star of Africa a state burial someday if the required help and support aren't given to his facilities whiles alive.
So What Happened To Mahama' Security Detail Who Slapped Joy News Journo?


Sebastian Farrugia was born in 1976 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. However, at the age of three his family moved to Mexico, settling in the border city of Tijuana.
Coming from a family of musicians, he developed an interest in drums at an early age by watching his father, legendary Uruguayan drummer Gonzalo Farrugia (Psiglo, Nickel, Porsuigieco and Cross).
At the age of 15 he began his career as a professional drummer in the city of Tijuana, where he is hired by various groups in the area where he afforded an opportunity to explore many genres such as rock, punk, pop, funk and jazz.
Sebastian has toured in Mexico, United States, Colombia and Uruguay, and played with artists like Jorge Villamizar (Bacilos), Janette Chao, Environment, Panóptica Orchestra, Violent Chikita, The Daniels, Motel and Glasmus among others.
He has also performed at high-profile music festivals such as Vive Latino, South by Southwest, Rockampeonato Telcel, Crown Equity and Top 40.
Sebastian is currently a member of Rey Pila, a Mexican rock band formed in Mexico City in 2010 and signed to Cult Records (Julian Casablancas – The Strokes). Sebastian has toured the United States and opened for artists such as Interpol, Brandon Flowers (The Killers) and The Rentals. He has toured in Europe as well and opened for Albert Hommond, Jr. (The Strokes) and has performed at major festivals such as Austin City Limits, Noise Fest (Chicago), SXSW, Vive Latino (in Mexico, DF) among many others.


Some time ago a friend gave me a guide for praying for other believers. She created it by lifting phrases from the Apostle Paul's prayer for the Colossians in Chapter 1. I find it an effective tool for praying for believers, myself included. It has been especially helpful when I struggled to phrase a prayer for a deeply troubling situation. Here's the guide.
V.3 Be thankful for their faith and for their changed lives.
v.9 Ask God to help them know what He wants them to do.
v.9 Ask God to give them deep spiritual understanding.
v.10 Ask God to help them live for Him.
v.10 Ask God to give them more knowledge of Himself.
v.11 Ask God to give them strength for endurance.
v.11 Ask God to fill them with joy, strength, and thankfulness.
The prayers and thanksgivings in the Book of Common Prayer are filled with Scripture-infused petitions. With these written prayers as guides, I have learned to pray for friends' circumstances with wisdom beyond myself.
These experiences with guided prayers have inspired me to search the Scriptures for more prayers. I have come to appreciate the Apostle Paul as a man of prayer. From his first meeting with Christ to the end of his life, Paul prayed for himself, for the lost, for believing friends, and for believers he had not met.
The prayers posted here are shaped from Paul's own words. May you be blessed as you pray them.


Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) inhibitory to individual cytochromes P450 (P450s) are of tremendous utility in identification of P450s responsible for the metabolism of a given drug or drug candidate in pharmaceuticals. In the present study, two inhibitory MAbs against CYP2D6 (MAb2D6–50, IgG2b and MAb2D6–184, IgG2a) were developed by hybridoma technology to exhibit their high specificity and potency. The MAbs were further employed to assess the quantitative role (47–93%) of CYP2D6 to the metabolism of bufuralol in human liver microsomes from seven donors. Together with the MAb inhibitory to CYP3A4 as previously reported (Mei et al., 1999), the MAbs were used to study the inhibition kinetics of dextromethorphan O-demethylation (CYP2D6), testosterone 6β-hydroxylation (CYP3A4) and aflatoxin B1 3-hydroxylation (CYP3A4), respectively, with an adequate size of sample measurement. A kinetic model was proposed to fit the experimental observations with three-dimensional nonlinear regression, thereby resulting in a solution of kinetic parameters, i.e.,KI , KS ,Vmax, α, and β (changes inKI or KS andVmax in the presence of the MAb). As a result, dissociation constants (KI ) of the MAbs for the enzymes and the maximal inhibition (β) values for the P450-catalyzed reactions were predicted to have 0.04 to 0.25 μM and ≥94%, respectively. The results have demonstrated that the model can accurately predict the kinetic parameters and provide some insights into the understanding of the mechanism of MAb interaction with P450 enzyme in nature and the applications of the MAbs in qualitative and quantitative identification of P450s involved in drug metabolism.


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Children Issues & Support
Financial Provision
Nuptial Agreements & Asset Protection
Injunctions & Emergency Relief
Cost of divorce and applications
How to fund divorce or family legal case
Fixed fee initial appointments
Newcastle Office: 0191 500 0777
North Yorkshire Office: 01748 900 888
Leeds Office: 0113 819 7370
Our team are always happy to help, so if you are looking for advise for you, a member of your family or a friend, please contact us.
info@silkfamilylaw.co.uk
The rights of grandparents on relationship breakdown
Is my pre-nuptial agreement still valid if my wedding is delayed due to the pandemic?
Reflections on 2020 – the year that everything changed
Cohabitation rights: the "common law marriage" myth and its wider family impacts
We can't agree over where our child will spend Christmas
How to agree Christmas contact arrangements
Multiple stressors increasing conflict in rural families
"Conscious Uncoupling" – did Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have it right all along?
Resolving child education disputes between separated families
The "generational divide" on divorce
Negotiating divorce in uncertain times – Managing emotions and conflict
- By Silk Family Law
Christmas shines a spotlight on family connections, bringing some closer together while putting strain on others. Relationship breakdown is unfortunately more common at this time of year. When marriages or cohabiting relationships end, it isn't only the practical and financial issues that need to be addressed. The impact on children of the family can be considerable.
Grandparents play a significant role in family life. Frequently, they undertake a child caring role and are an invaluable source of support for working parents. They can provide stability to the child and there is often a special bond between them.
Following parental relationship breakdown, grandparents often find themselves marginalised or even cut off from grandchildren. A scorned daughter or son in law may seek to punish their former partner by restricting access (see our previous blog on parental alienation). Both parents and grandparents can fear that their relationship with their children will never be the same again or that they may be alienated from them.
Under the Children Act, grandparents currently need the court's permission to apply for contact if it is being denied. The court must then consider the nature of the application, the grandparents' connection with the child and any risks it poses to the child.
Such applications to the court are often complex. Family breakdown happens for a huge variety of reasons. People take sides. Hostility sets in and judgements are made. Parents and grandparents alike can lose sight of the child's welfare right to have a relationship not only with their parents but with grandparents and wider family members too.
Applications to the court for contact by grandparents are often bitterly fought. It is difficult for parties to put to one side their feelings of upset, disappointment or anger but it is vital they do so and do not lose sight of the child's needs.
The court arena is rarely the best way of dealing with these issues. Before any application to the court is made all other avenues should be explored including the mediation process.
Margaret Simpson is a partner in specialist family law firm, Silk Family Law, with offices in North Yorkshire, Leeds and Newcastle. Margaret has significant expertise in dealing with all aspects of family law. She is regional chair of Resolution, which promotes a collaborative approach to resolving family disputes rather than the more costly option of going to court.
Contact Margaret online or call 01748 900 888.
This article was first published in The Yorkshire Post, 23rd November 2019.
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KZN Man Gets Life Jail Term For Repeatedly Raping Niece
South Africa, Durban – A 43-year-old KZN man has been jailed for life, he is being remanded for life because he raped his minor niece repeatedly. His name has been added to the national register for sex offenders.
The suspect, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his 15-year-old niece, was convicted and sentenced this week in the Port Shepstone Regional Court.
According to police, he brutally raped his niece while she was asleep on December 21.
Police said the accused locked all the doors and assaulted and repeatedly raped the victim until he fell asleep.
"The victim managed to escape and seek assistance. A case of rape was opened at Port Shepstone SAPS. The docket was transferred to Port Shepstone Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, and the accused was placed under arrest."
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Speaking about the sentence, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula, said it would send a strong message to other rapists who victimise defenceless women and children and think that they will get away.
STAY UPDATED! READ: EC Mother & Her 5 Kids Found Dead In Dabekweni Home
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Nathaniel Julies Murder: Cop Receives Bail At 2nd Attempt


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WATCH: Fans Save Falling Cat With American Flag at College Football Game…on September 11
Nick Perkins Published: September 12, 2021
Universal Images Group via Getty
Okay, football is great and all, but have you ever seen a group of fans save a plummeting cat with nothing but an American flag? On the twentieth anniversary of September 11, 2001?
Well, now you can because that's exactly what happened during a Miami Hurricanes football came, inside of the Hard Rock stadium.
As the 'Canes took on the visiting Appalachian State, an even more miraculous story was being told within the stands of the stadium.
Multiple Twitter users captured video of a cat dangling from the upper deck of the stadium. Nobody knows how or why it ended up in the precarious situation in which it found itself. Cats, man. But the feline soon took the focus from the 'Canes game as onlookers watched in horror as it lost its grip on a wire and fell.
Luckily, fans had devised a plan to make sure Mr. Fluffles (which we have named him/her for the purposes of this story) did not lose one of its 9 lives. They used an American flag, which they bring to every game, to act as a sort of trampoline for the cat to land on. As fate would have it, they caught the kitty and then pulled a total Lion King move by raising it to the rest of the crowd, Rafiki-style.
The crowd erupted in cheers and the stadium later confirmed the cat was okay, probably just startled. It will ascend to royalty in a few years and we heard that it just can't wait to be king.
Craig Cromer, the man who brought the flag to the game and utilized in the most heroic way possible, told the Miami Herald that he brings the flag to every game he attends and drapes it over his section. Though Craig and his wife are season ticket holders, he said that this was "[his] first catch." The crowd erupted in cheers and the stadium later confirmed the cat was okay, probably just startled. It will ascend to royalty in a few years and we heard that it just can't wait to be king.
Apparently TikTok Hates Wyoming, Check Out These Comments
A TikTok account called @One_Million_Dollars where they share a quick video of what a million-dollar home in each state would look like. In their video about Wyoming, I couldn't believe all the means things people said about our amazing state.
Filed Under: American Flag, cat, College Football, falling cat, florida, funny videos, hard rock stadium, Miami, miami hurricanes


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SB Mid-Year Review, 2017: Debuts
Seoulbeats
Each year, more and more rookie groups and artists join the Korean music scene. With so many new faces in the first half of 2017, our panel found it tough to pick their favourites for the Mid-Year Review of 2017's debuts. Even with the exclusion of sub-unit and solo debuts of already-active idols, there was quite the array artists to choose from, including debuting rappers, big company girl groups, and smaller agency debuts that managed to capture our attention. Check out Camiele, Janine and Lo's discussion of the first half of the year's new faces, and don't forget to leave your top picks in the comment section!
Camiele Janine Lauren
1 DPR Live DPR Live Top Secret
2 Duetto Pristin Pristin
3 SAAY Black6ix Dreamcatcher
4 XXX Dreamcatcher Blanc7
5 Blanc7 Blanc7 DPR Live
Cy: Slim ass pickins for debuts this time around. But let's be honest, as K-pop continues to expand and gets older, newer groups start to lose their appeal, particularly for those who've been into the music for more than a couple years. As the genre gets older, so do the fans who listen to it. There will always be young fans coming to the genre. I think that's mostly why the debuts that are noticeable don't exactly impress because, quite frankly, we're not the intended audience. "Pop" music will never change. What is considered "popular" or "on-trend" always fluctuates, but honestly kids are going to like kid music, and companies are going to mostly bank on what kids are interested in.
That being said, all three of us have a couple commonalities, one of which certainly falls closer into the "pop" side of K-pop. Firstly, what drew you all to Blanc7?
Anyone who knows me knows that when it comes to groups and artists, I'm all about the vocals. And this group has it in spades, which is less surprising once you realize four of the seven members had already debuted in different groups (Jean Paul was in BTL, and Teno, Sinwoo, and Taichi were in Mcrown) and collectively they have a lot more entertainment and worldly experiences than "straight from the trainee room" debuts (Spax's list of accomplishments as a dancer and choreographer are RIDICULOUS, and he's already served his mandatory military service, not to mention Jean Paul, Teno, Sinwoo, D.L, K-KID, and Taichi have all graduated with college with at least one degree).
The level of maturity in this group is apparent not only in the choice of music, which includes light classical elements, but also in how their entire image is set up: French name, leader of the group also has a ridiculously unnecessary French name, their overall visual appeal is of the elder statesman–gentlemanly garb, suits tailored within an inch of their lives. Their overall aesthetic is that of a group that sits in a Victorian gentlemen's club, smoking pipes and sipping brandy from snifters. And still, with all of that, they have an incredible vocal awareness. Their harmonies are tightly controlled, and their individual voices are comparable to a lot of second- and third-generation idol groups.
Janine: A few boy groups came out this year that were aiming to make a strong impression (I'm thinking of A.C.E. and MVP) but the styling and concept were not as slick as Blanc7. Their video for "Yeah" is stylish. I think I responded to how confident they seemed. There wasn't any ambiguity about what they were doing and they were very assured in the way they presented themselves. I liked the production elements in "Yeah"; there were a lot of different sounds happening but it wasn't disorganised. That little rising synth beat drop moment was tastefully executed. It reminded me of a party but a fancy party where nobody vomits.
The assumption of French names as a way to seem sophisticated is a thing that irks every decolonial bone in my philosophical body but I will let it ride because their fashion game slays.
Lo: You're both dead on the money, of course. They're crisp, confident, stylish. The song is well-produced; sleek and mature in a scene where that's not the game at all. What really spoke to me, though, was the MV. I am all over their aesthetic: the soft lights, the soft camera filter. and the crazy-ass light show. Seriously, the lighting director could not have gotten paid enough. It felt very heady and otherworldly; like a portal into some strange,classy universe. The thing that really held me back from loving Blanc7 as opposed to liking them is that they give off a serious "too cool for school" vibe. Janine, you mentioned the pretentious french names, but everything I like about them– the vocals, the slickness, the aesthetics, the suits– feels like if they go much harder into them; they'll alienate their audience by being too cool to be seen with us average joes.
Cy: You know what? I think that's sort of what I like about them. Like they're already above the pettiness. I mean, everybody already calls their bias groups royalty, when they've just come fresh out of the trainee practice room. These sirs have already done the job of training, for the group and really in their personal lives. Exuding that confidence and maturity rather appeals to me… HaHa.
Meanwhile, we also all had DPR Live: Janine and I had him number one, while you seemed to reluctantly add him in at number five, Lo. I know why I love him so much, but I'll let one of you speak first. What about DPR Live had us all putting him on our lists?
Lo: Honestly, the reason I put DPR Live on last, both on my list and chronologically, is because I am so over this. I am a pop nerd. I love pop music, I love melodies and harmonies and horns, but what I love most is energy. As much as I like his wordplay, the instant I hit play on "Know Me", the production just turned me off. I am so over sludgy, thudding production that sounds monochromatic, never really rising or falling. I am done with zoned-out delivery given with the intensity of buying insurance. DPR Live is good, and good in this vein, but I have to focus so hard to absorb the music, and I prefer acts that make me listen.
Cy: And see, I don't get that from him at all. I suppose if you have a particular sound you stick to or focus on, something like this isn't your finger of brandy. Which is fair. The production for DPR Live's music is a huge part of what turned me on about him. Never mind his style, lyricism, and use of metaphor on this album were top-notch, the composition throughout provided a push-and-pull effect: rapping that's aggressive with music that's dreamier, that doesn't have a central focus, that washes over you. As for music that "makes you listen," obviously that's subjective.
The type of sound that entices you and makes you want to listen is going to differ from somebody else. I was hungry for more of this album, wanted to learn about the how and why of its creation. While you were turned off by it, I couldn't turn away from it. I was invested in every intricacy of the music, including DPR Live's style.
If you've decided already that this isn't your taste simply because of what you perceive as overdone, no matter where the music goes, you're not inclined to follow. Same could be said about the oversaturation of pop music that makes liberal use of the whiny synthesizer and same dry thumpa-thumpa or saccharine-sweet composition, the decent but in the end typical/unimaginative vocals, etc. That's what I hear in most pop music, why most of it bores the hell out of me. DPR Live tops my list because I heard and understood the depth in the music and the lyricism and because of the debuts this year, his didn't sound exactly the same as every other pop group and debut from the last five years.
Janine: I think I straddle these two extremes. I can appreciate the commercial appeal and escapism of more traditional pop and I love hearing different production techniques that are being used in hip-hop. I chose DPR Live as my top debut because I enjoyed the variety of sounds that he pulled from for his beats; I thought he showed a range of moods while maintaining consistency across the album, and every track was, colloquially speaking, a bop.
The crossover appeal of the album was also a huge plus for me: I can comfortably play these songs around friends that aren't initiate into the world of K-pop and it holds up. The production style is very current and I can understand how some of the contemporary adlib trends may be annoying. Hearing background whoops and that shouty flow can grate on the nerves if it's not your taste but I think he stays away from it for the most part.
Overall I think it was a successful record; showing his artistic trajectory and placing him within the musical landscape. I thought he tried his hand at different moods and showed up well. He wasn't overwhelmed by the big name features on some of the tracks. I could still feel his presence on songs with DEAN, Loco, and Jay Park. That's not a small thing for a debut artist to achieve. I was impressed. I thought it was strong.
Lo, tell me what you liked about Pristin…
Lo: Hey, it's not just me. "Wee Woo" is a fun, energetic pop song that will lodge in the brain all day. It's far better constructed then it appears on first listen; the rap, the " you're my superhero" section, the chorus, and the verses are all very distinct, and if you listen out of order, they don't sound like they all came from the same song. However, the thicker bass line provides a solid foundation that keeps "Wee Woo" cohesive, and the groove on it is incredible. Plus, "Wee Woo" is the very rare song that delves deep into the alto ranges, instead of clinging to Pristin's upper registers like every other cute girl group. As an alto myself, I love having a K-pop song I can actually sing along too.
The other big factor in my ranking Pristin so high is their potential to change K-pop. There is a very real glass ceiling in music, and Pristin could make some serious cracks. Hi! Pristin was almost completely self-composed, and while it wasn't a musical revelation, I've heard much worse from professional songwriters. Give them some time and experience, and they could be revolutionary.
Janine: One of the factors to deciding my list was definitely who was achieving mainstream success. Pristin did really well with "Wee Woo" and showed a lot of promise for their debut. The song is quality — I cannot get enough of hearing alto voices in upbeat tracks; I think it lends depth and dimension to songs. It's catchy in a way that isn't irritating which is a feat considering there are periodic ambulance noises in the background.
I thought the album was a fine effort and knowing that the members had a hand in composing the songs gives them admirable creative credits. All in all I thought they came out swinging and showed a lot of promise for the future.
Cy: Janine and Lo, both of your lists are pretty similar, but you differ in terms of Black6ix and Top Secret. Meanwhile, my list mostly doesn't sync up with either one of yours… haha. Care to talk about the acts where you guys differ?
Janine: I really liked "Please" — Black6ix's first single. The arrangement was pretty standard for a piano led, mid tempo song but executed well. The EDM influences are present but not overwhelming or too noisy. The stand out element on the track is the vocals; there are strong harmonies and solo moments.
I liked the feel of the video despite the styling which I thought was at odds with the romantic message of the song. The choreography was tight for both "Please" and "Universe", the B-side to the single. They dropped off the social media radar after promotions for "Please" ended but I thought the members did a relatively good job of posting spontaneous content. I like all their stage names; it takes a lot of confidence to call yourself The King and I'm here for it.
Lo: For me, Top Secret has everything I want in a group: they have energy, tight choreo, and a disco influenced track with killer groove. "She" is magnetic, it just draws me in and makes me dance every time I hear it. The MV was just as fun; really luxuriating in the 70s neon and pastel suits. Those things should be hideous — and they are– but when paired with such a catchy song and precise, well-executed choreography, it comes together to make something magical.
Cy: Then I suppose that leaves my three. Firstly, Duetto. I know it may seem odd, but I was actually not prepared to hear a classically trained duo singing in both Korean and Italian this year. Maybe it's just me, but that's a little left of center. And it's not just that they're an opera duo. It's how technically outstanding they are. Coming from a company like Starship, it's not something I'd expect, and they blew me away. I've always loved operas, and adore tenor voices like nobody's business. So this ranked so high because what company even has the balls to release straight operatic perfection? A member of BtoB (Sungjae, I believe) is a trained opera tenor; however, he sings in an idol group. You won't hear them belting out "Il Mondo".
Next, SAAY. Okay… so basically anything Clubeskimo promotes I'm going to listen to, and every member of Clubeskimo blew this girl up on their Insta. So I obviously had to find out who she is. Now, we all know there are tons of R&B singers coming out of the wood works in SK nowadays. All of them trying to be the next R&B queen. However, HOW-FREAKING-EVER! NONE of them has the sheer soul that SAAY has: perfect improvisation, perfect control, perfect pitch. And her TONE! I mean, to put it in real-world terms, she's got them hallelujah, Sister Michelle in the Jubilee Choir at New Mt. Zion Baptist Church vocals! She's only started releasing stuff on her Soundcloud this year, so I can't wait to see what she releases further down the road.
I mentioned that XXX and Blanc7 were interchangeable. Ultimately what put this duo ahead of Blanc7 was the fact that I actually got to talk to Ximya (the rapper and lyricist) and FRNK (the DJ and producer). These men have such an alarming understanding and knowledge of hip-hop and music that it blew me away. I wasn't completely sold on their music at first. ADORED their MVs, but their music… I was on the fence. But dissecting their process, getting insight into their mindset, their philosophies and inspirations, I could understand the depths of what they were doing. FRNK is such an out-of-control musician and student of music. Ximya is a damn scholar on hip-hop history. Though his tastes and mine may not gel completely in terms of what he likes, we both have a kindred love of the genre. And they both have a desire to learn more, do more, and expand their craft. Side note: They did technically debut a couple years ago, but they were a trio back then. This is their first year promoting music as a duo (with a slightly different name).
Any final thoughts?
Janine: I thought that the beginning half of the year did not have a debut that swept us all away in terms of commercial appeal. I thought there were some solid efforts made creatively speaking but you had to do some digging to find new people about whom to be excited. It took a lot of effort not to end that sentence with a dangling preposition.
I think the people who debuted did a decent job but I wasn't on tender hooks about anybody. I enjoyed a lot of the music and am definitely relistening to some of them but also I haven't made an intense emotional connection with any of the groups or solo artists so far. I'm looking forward to the rest of the year to see whether any of the upcoming debuts will stir my soul to stan but so far the acts have been good, not that great.
Cy: For me, I'm never truly interested in "commercial appeal." I gravitate toward whatever I think sounds good. That's it. The acts I chose in one way or another impressed me: whether it be vocally, musically, stylistically, or just the way they interpret their craft using the knowledge they have. While I wasn't 100 percent sold on my 4 and 5 picks, something about them stuck out among a lot of ho-hum. I'm in it for the long haul with DPR Live and SAAY, for sure. Duetto… I adore the fact that among all the typical releases we had an operatic duo with voices larger than life. I'm not sure how long they'll last, but I support them. That being said, I am hoping that someone really does come to sweep me off my feet the way at least DPR Live and SAAY have. The first half of the year wasn't the most impressive, but there's enough potential from what I'm hearing outside the box to keep me hopeful and optimistic that there's so much more to come in 2017.
(Youtube [1],[2],[3],[4],[5] Images via Jackpot Entertainment, Dream Perfect Regime.)
Tags: Best Debuts (MYR/EYR), Black6ix, Blanc7, DPR Live, Dreamcatcher, Duetto, Pristin, SAAY, SB Mid-Year Review, TST (Top Secret), XXX
Blackface Is Still Racist and Wrong. Yes, Even In Korea
One Looks Good in "Gettin' By" and "Heyahe"


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Une goutte dans l'océan
Directed by Lise Éthier
Canada, 2001 (documentary, 49 minutes, colour, French)
Also known as "A Drop in the Ocean"
Photo © National Film Board of Canada
Video (National Film Board of Canada) [French]
Film Description:
"When Doctors without Borders, the humanitarian medical aid agency, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, Dr. Claudette Picard was in Liberia. Her first mission with the agency had begun in this small country of West Africa six years before. In the meantime, she had practised medicine in other wartorn countries such as Zaire and Afghanistan, always in extremely hazardous conditions. What impels women and men like Dr. Picard to leave their easy lives behind and go off to do what little they can to alleviate human suffering? Whatever the motivation, the doctors are in the field, providing medical care and helping to draw attention to distant places often forgotten by the world's media. Places like Harper, a small town in Liberia devastated by a decade of civil war. This is where we follow Dr. Picard on her rounds. With her halting English, her comforting presence and a few scarce drugs, she sometimes manages to do the impossible. But not always..."
-- National Film Board of Canada (source)
Film Credits (partial):
Written by: Lise Éthier
Produced by: Yves Bisaillon
Participants: Claudette Picard
Cinematography: Jorge Martinho, François Vincelette
Film Editing: Hélène Girard
Music: Yves Chamberland
Production Company: Office national du film du Canada / National Film Board of Canada
(sources)
Web Sites about Une goutte dans l'océan
National Film Board of Canada. "NFB -- A Drop in the Ocean." National Film Board of Canada. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=50972.
Office national du film du Canada. "ONF -- Une goutte dans l'océan." Office national du film du Canada. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/fr/notre-collection/?idfilm=50608. [in French]


The compact Whiteside 3.2m x 2.8m log cabin would suit a variety of purposes from a home office to a gymnasium. Its layout and access also mean it would be good for housing leisure equipment such as a hot tub. With a single entrance door flanked by 2 large tilt and turn windows this cabin is not short of light or an airy feel. It is the ideal garden retreat to sit with your feet up whilst admiring the great outdoors.