text:
Q: Select rows in data frame based all column values? I am trying to write a python script that can take a dataframe of an arbitrary size and filter it for rows where any column matches some criteria, specifically looking for a text match. I show a 2x4 table to represent an example, but my data could have several thousand rows and anywhere from 1-15 columns.

A header
Another header

Event1
Event2

Event2
OPER-8

OPER-1
Event2

Event3
Event4

I want to basically filter the dataframe to give me the rows where any entry matches the phrase "OPER*" or maybe where "Event2" is present. Most of the ways I've found searching online require you to specify a column name/number, but I want to search the entire thing. I know I can do a for loop, but are there any ways to do this more efficiently with pandas?

A: You can apply a function on row axis of the dataframe to create True/False value for the provided condition, then take out the values based on this True/False value maksing
>>> df[df.apply(lambda x: x.str.match('^OPER-\d+|Event2$').any(), axis=1)]
  A header Another header
0   Event1         Event2
1   Event2         OPER-8
2   OPER-1         Event2

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Able to hold up to 4.0ml of liquid, the TOPTANK MINI has an airflow control valve and is conveniently filled using the top-fill design. The Kanger SUBVOD Mega TC battery is a 2300mah battery with an integrated Micro USB for charging.


text:
Trudeau tells Calgary he misspoke when he said oilsands need to be phased out
By Lauren Krugel | News, Energy, Politics | January 24th 2017
December 14, 2016 file photo of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by Alex Tétreault
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he should have chosen different words when he talked about phasing out the oilsands earlier this month and unleashed anger in economically ailing Alberta.
"I misspoke," he said Tuesday at the end of a two-day cabinet retreat in downtown Calgary, where the prolonged downturn in oil prices has emptied out floors and floors of office space.
"I said something the way I shouldn't have said it."
Trudeau enraged many in Alberta when he said of the oilsands: "We need to phase them out."
"We need to manage the transition off of our dependence on fossil fuels," he told a town-hall meeting in Peterborough, Ont. "That is going to take time. And, in the meantime, we have to manage that transition."
Trudeau's position is similar to a policy adopted by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper when he joined a 2015 commitment by the world's seven largest economies to "phase out" fossil fuels before the end of the century.
The unemployment rate in Alberta, where the economy largely centres on the oil and gas sector, was at 8.5 per cent in December, higher than the national rate of 6.9 per cent. Tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs over the last few years.
Trudeau said he knows Alberta is going through tough times.
"I have said many, many times that I will not run against Alberta, that I understand the jobs here are essential to the families who live here but also essential to our Canadian economy," he said.
"People are happy to jump on words and try to make political hay out of it. I understand that and I certainly have accepted that this is the way this political world works."
He said petrochemicals from the oilsands will always be valuable — even though the world is moving away from fossil fuels. And he touted energy companies' emissions-curbing technological innovations.
Trudeau noted that he recently approved two major oil export pipelines: Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain line to the Vancouver area and Enbridge's (TSX:ENB) expanded Line 3 pipeline to the U.S. Midwest.
The Liberal government is also hopeful the cross-border Keystone XL pipeline, killed by former U.S. president Barack Obama in 2015, will soon be revived under the newly installed Trump administration. Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to push Keystone forward, although it was short of details.
Greenpeace campaigner Keith Stewart said Trudeau should admit the oilsands do need to be phased out — sooner rather than later.
"I understand that the prime minister is under enormous pressure to pretend that the oil boom will last forever, but a leader should be honest about what it will take to avoid dangerous levels of global warming," he said.
"That means starting to phase out fossil fuels now and getting it done by the time my kids are my age. If we don't manage that change, the world market will force it on us and the oil-price drop gave us a preview of what that looks like."
The prime minister had a town-hall meeting planned in Calgary on Tuesday night.
with files from National Observer
Lauren Krugel
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says oilsands 'not going anywhere any time soon'
By Chinta Puxley | News | January 13th 2017
Pipelines will fund Canada's low-carbon future, says Trudeau
By Elizabeth McSheffrey | News, Energy | March 2nd 2016
Canada's Oilsands
Inside Canada's publicly funded $24 mil oilsands ad campaign
By The Canadian Press | News | March 23rd 2015
How Harper's disastrous diplomacy crushed Keystone XL
By Sandy Garossino | Opinion | February 25th 2015

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
function [grad_nat, stepsize] = eNAC(policy, data, gamma, epsilon)
% Episodic Natural Actor Critic.
% GRAD_NAT is a [D x R] matrix, where D is the length of the gradient and R
% is the number of immediate rewards received at each time step.
%
% =========================================================================
% REFERENCE
% J Peters, S Vijayakumar, S Schaal
% Natural Actor-Critic (2008)

dlogpi = policy.dlogPidtheta([data.s],[data.a]);
totepisodes = numel(data);

idx = cumsum([data.length]);

allgamma = gamma.^([data.t]-1);

sumdlog = cumsumidx(bsxfun(@times,dlogpi,allgamma),idx);
sumdlog = [sumdlog; ones(1,totepisodes)];
F = sumdlog * sumdlog';
gammar = bsxfun(@times, [data.r], gamma.^([data.t]-1));
sumrew = cumsumidx(gammar,idx);
g = sumdlog * sumrew';

F = F / totepisodes;
g = g / totepisodes;

rankF = rank(F);
if rankF == size(F,1) + 1
	grad_nat = F \ g;
else
% 	warning('Fisher matrix is lower rank (%d instead of %d).', rankF, size(F,1) + 1);
	grad_nat = pinv(F) * g;
end

if nargin == 4
    lambda = sqrt(diag(g' * grad_nat) / (8 * epsilon));
    lambda = max(lambda,1e-8);
    stepsize = 1 ./ (2 * lambda)';
end

grad_nat = grad_nat(1:end-1,:);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Gretchen W. Mayo
Birth date: Death date:
Birth location: Death location:
Media: Drawing , Graphic Art , Illustration , Mixed Media Web site:
Fair (file rating) - MWA artist file may include basic data, and additional newspaper articles, book references, exhibition information, and images that can be researched on site at MWA.
Illustrator and writer of books for young people.
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin married and mother of three daughters.
Media of choice:
Stone Lithography (stone colored and hand colored)
Mixed media drawings
B.S., Journalism, Marquette University, Milwaukee, wI
Studied, MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design), Milwaukee, WI
Post Graduate Studies, University of Dayton, Ohio and Cardinal Stritch College, Milwaukee, WI
Affiliations & Art Organizations:
Illustrators and Designers of Milwaukee
Society of children's Book Writers
1975, Silverpoint Drawings of Gretchen Mayo, Stone House Gallery, Cedarburg, WI
1979, Milwaukee Art Center, Cudahy Gallery of WI Art, WI
1979, Bergstrom Art Museum, Neenah, WI
Wustum Museum of fine Arts, Racine, WI
John Michael Kohler Museum, Sheboygan, WI
Galleri Seven, Richfield and Danbury, Conn.
Seufer-Chosey Gallery, Madison, WI
International Print Show, New York and Washington DC
Teacher, Elementary and Junior High
Illustrator of magazines and books for children
Writer and illustrator of books for young people
1979, Kangaroo, (named Outstanding Children's Book for 1979, Chicago book Clinic, The National Association of Science Teachers and the Children's Book Council)
1980, Change and Help, Human Science Press
1980, I Hate My Name, Raintree Publishing
Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Bergstrom -Mahler Art Museum, Neenah, WI
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
1985, 1986, Milwaukee Art Commission
Wausau Public Library. Wausau, WI
Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsin Telephone Company
Quad Graphics, Lomira, Wisconsin
Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend ,WI (2007- ) Exhibitor
Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors - Wisconsin Artists in all Media (WP&S)
Wisconsin Women in the Arts, Inc


Visit the Wyoming Department of Education website. Find out what the requirements for graduation with a regular diploma are. In Wyoming, students are not required to take an exit exam.
Ask the school's Transition Services Coordinator or your chlid's IEP team leader to contact the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services and request that a representative attend the next IEP meeting. Alternatively, contact them yourself to make the request. This agency provides supports for high school students with disabilities. Contact the Wyoming Department of Health Behavioral Health Division, Developmental Disabilities Programs to find out what supports may be available for your child, at what age your child may apply for services, and how long the waiting list is for those services.
Contact the Wyoming Department of Health Medicaid Office to find out if your child will qualify for Medicaid upon turning 18 and if so, begin application process.
Step up working with the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.
Step up working with the Wyoming Department of Health Behavioral Health Division, Developmental Disabilities Programs.
Visit the Autism Speaks Wyoming Resource Guide.


text:
What Are the Benefits of Working for a Boutique Law Firm?
Setting goals is an important part of building a long and successful legal career. For many, the ultimate goal as a Legal Professional is to secure a position with one of the biggest legal firms in the City, working on high-profile clients and gaining seniority in a competitive field.
However, increasingly, many people in the legal sector are seeking a good work-life balance as one of their key goals, and may be looking for more control. Joining a boutique firm can offer these benefits, as well as many of the same advantages as working for a City firm, and can be considered as a viable alternative.
The rise of boutique law firms
Read more about What Are the Benefits of Working for a Boutique Law Firm?
Executive Support GLOBAL – 22 & 23 June 2022
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Read more about Executive Support GLOBAL – 22 & 23 June 2022
No-Fault Divorce Arrives at Last
The long-anticipated era of "no-fault" divorce came into force on 6 April 2022, nearly two years after the passing of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act.
Under the new system, couples will no longer need to make allegations about the conduct of a spouse. Instead, either one or both spouses will be able to make a statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. This statement will be enough to prove that the marriage has come to an end and will allow the Court to make a Divorce Order.
Read more about No-Fault Divorce Arrives at Last
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Update
Some civil disputes could be characterised as emotionally charged, but few are as contentious and hard fought as matters involving the home. This month we have two examples of highly contested cases and a call from the court for compulsory ADR.
First, we will consider a boundary dispute over 17 inches of land where the legal costs ran to over £200,000. These figures speak for themselves, but if you had any doubt, the circuit judge who heard the case confirmed that the cost was "beyond my comprehension." He was also critical of the fact that both parties wanted the claim to be heard in the multi-track (reserved for claims worth more than £25,000) when it was a small claim (i.e. valued at less than £10,000, where costs would have been limited).
Read more about Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Update
Last month, over 9 million people across the world came together to show their care for our planet's future. By switching off their lights for an hour at 8.30 p.m., they demonstrated that small actions can make a big difference. During the darkened hour, people sat by candlelight and had the opportunity to reflect on how they could reduce their impact further.
Read more about Earth Hour 2022
How to Improve Online Security in Your Remote Office Space
Those lucky enough to work remotely at the start of the COVID-19 era were able to keep themselves and their companies going, despite the intense pressures of that challenging time.
This shift to remote work fundamentally changed how we use IT. Use of Zoom increased by 30x in April 2020 as meetings moved online. Slack workspaces proliferated. And corporate spending on cloud services grew by nearly 40%.
It increasingly seems that many of these changes will remain in place, as the pandemic continues and organisations appreciate the benefits of keeping at least a partial remote footing.
Read more about How to Improve Online Security in Your Remote Office Space
Simplify Your Filing System and Retire Your To-File Pile
When was the last time you made an effort to catch up on your filing? Last month? Last summer?
Many times, we struggle with filing because it feels overwhelming, we're not sure where to begin or we don't have an efficient system in place.
Filing can be inconvenient and time-consuming. However, this is often because you don't have the right tools or supplies to quickly grab a folder and create a label.
Filing usually means getting up from your desk, walking to a supply cabinet, locating the file folders, walking back to your desk, typing a label, feeding the label sheet into the printer, retrieving the label from the printer and finally assembling the file. It's no wonder we resist it!
But there are ways to simplify your filing system. Here are two quick tips.
Read more about Simplify Your Filing System and Retire Your To-File Pile
How to Stand Out When Seeking Paralegal Roles
One of the many exciting aspects of working as a Legal Secretary is the fact that there is so much possibility for career progression. Experienced Legal Secretaries can become executives in their own right, but many also choose to move on to roles such as that of a Paralegal. Making the decision to move forward into a new role such as this is both exciting and rewarding, but you would be forgiven for feeling slightly daunted about beginning. You have made a successful career as a Legal Secretary, so how can you take that next step up to become a Paralegal? And how can you make sure that you stand out in a sea of other legal professionals and law graduates?
Read more about How to Stand Out When Seeking Paralegal Roles
The 5 Best Ways to Get Started in Law
The law is not something we have to actively go looking for – it governs our daily lives. Thus, those interested in the subject can use a variety of tactics to become more familiar with it.
In partnership with Lawyer Monthly, ILSPA partner Simply Law hears from John Watkins, Director of Employability at The University of Law, on the five best ways to get started in law.
Attend court
Courts are publicly accessible, and there is a gallery from which to observe proceedings. This will open your eyes to the culture of a courtroom and perhaps develop an awareness that television dramas don't quite convey the full picture.
Read more about The 5 Best Ways to Get Started in Law
Legal Secretary Vacancies April 2022
Wills & Probate Legal Secretary – Green Wright Chalton Annis
Location: Rustington
Green Wright Chalton Annis is looking to recruit a Legal Secretary/PA to join their friendly, busy and growing Wills and Probate team at the Rustington office. Experience of working in a law firm is essential and knowledge/experience of Wills and Probate would be very useful.
Conveyancing Legal Secretary – Adams Harrison
Read more about Legal Secretary Vacancies April 2022


There is no doubt that Recycled Plastic building materials have come of age.
New building regulations require the use of materials with a reduced carbon footprint such as recycled plastic lumber.
In addition, recycled plastic lumber does not rot, crack or splinter, is impervious to moisture, frost proof and UV resistant.
It lowers the maintenance costs of housing stock to the point where initial outlay is recouped in 2-5 years. Buy yours here.
Used for marking out borders and/or building projects. These recycled plastic Edging Board Pegs will not rot once installed into the ground, so you can leave them in for as long as you wish.
Recycled Mixed Plastic 75 x 50mm can used for many building and construction applications instead of wood such as studding in damp or wet conditions or as a DPC. Will never rot. Technical spec available. Install once only and never treat or replace it again. Maintenance-free bliss. Also suitable for dunnage and stillage applications.
Used for battens, lawn edging and general building applications. Handles like wood, performs like plastic. No rot, no splinters, maintenance free and lasts a lifetime.
Available in lengths 800mm - 2800m. Ideal Fencing Material.
This Recycled Plastic Plank 150 x 50mm is used often for the seats and tops of benches and picnic tables, general building use and landscaping. Will not rot, warp, crack or splinter and will last a lifetime with no maintenance required.
Avaialble in Brown and Grey and a variety of lengths. An tough, robust, sturdy profile that is guaranteed to last 25+ years.
Available in Brown and Grey and 1m - 2.8m Length. Tough, Long Lasting and Cost saving - what more could you want? Recycled Plastic Square posts are designed to maintain themselves so you don't have to.
Available in Brown and Grey and lengths 800mm - 2800mm. Suitable for many construction applications such as joists and bench slats. Will not rot or deteriorate. Highly robust.
100% Recycled and recyclable. Our Boards/Container Levellers will out-perform and out-last any treated timber alternative. Available in 3 different lengths.
Great Slip-Resistant, Water Proof Decking. Available in Brown and Grey, and in various sizes. Ideal for Heavy Outdoor Use.
Available in Brown and Grey, and Lengths 3.5m - 6m. Waterproof and Extremely Robust.
Available in Brown and Grey, and Lengths 3.5m-6m. Very large, heavy-duty recycled plastic piles.
Available in Brown and Grey and Length 2000mm - 2900mm. Extremely rigid and maintenance-free. Ideal for paddock rails.


How big is the delivery truck?
How long do we hold the price if a deposit has been paid?
How much water is falling on my roof? How big a tank do I need?
What is the best design of water tank to buy?
What size rain water tank should I buy?
What accessories are available for WaterStore Poly rainwater tanks?
What colours do water tanks come in?
Where can I find more information on Greywater requirements?
Why should I chose a poly tank?
Do Poly tanks have a "plastic" taste?
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Do these tanks meet Australian Standards?
Do your tanks contain any BPA's?
Do you have a discount for Senior Citizens Cards?


Cisco Training Classes NYC | W. O'Donnell Consulting, Inc.
We offer numerous training and certification classes from Cisco and proudly serve the NYC market. We offer IT and computer training to organizations of all sizes. We can help your staff get trained and certified on the most popular hardware and software platforms.
Cisco offers a range of IT certification, training, and testing programs to meet the needs of IT professionals, partners, employees, and students. Below is an overview of the five levels of certifications, please contact us directly for information and pricing for scheduling the courses you need to achieve certification.
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We want you to use us for all of your technical training and certification needs. Ask us how you can save $75 - $300 on your very first training purchase.


text:
Sick: A Memoir by Porochista Khakpour
"Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick," begins Susan Sontag's 1977 essay Illness as Metaphor. Sontag, who challenged the shaming language used for sufferers with severe diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis, continues with warning : "Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place." Porochista Khakpour, channels this idea throughout her memoir, Sick, exploring what it means to be "sick", while she tries to reconcile her dual nationality of Iran and America, and her eternal antagonism of psychological and physical pain.
"Hospitals, anonymity, and disease had become Khakpour's homeland. "
Khakpour was first diagnosed with late-stage Lyme disease in 2011. The diagnosis itself caused "very little alarm" to the Tehran-born writer. Jacob, her boyfriend at the time, was convinced that she had caught Lyme as a child in California, and that she had to be "grateful" and "just get on with [your] life" and "write those books you write!" Khakpour did, in fact, write two acclaimed novels: Sons and Other Inflammable Objects (2007) and The Last Illusion (2014). Lyme, a multi systemic illness that affects the nervous system is known to cause a range of psychiatric symptoms such as major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa and paranoia. Therefore, a childhood infection of Lyme, rather than the war-torn trauma of her Iranian upbringing, and body dysmorphia, could explain the psychological instability of Khakpour's adolescence and college years. However, the omission of Lyme's psychiatric impact in her introductory Author's Note, suggests that she may want the reader to believe that a romantic kind of madness is intrinsic to her nature.
The book's chapters are interspersed with personal reflections and Odyssean rites of passage: Khakpour's lonely, disenchanted childhood in Los Angeles which ignited her literary compulsion; then her addiction-ridden twenties in New York and Baltimore; wandering throughout the USA and the world in the pursuit of a writing and academic career, healing and encountering many friends and lovers along the way; returning to her spiritual home of New York. Her lifelong lack of consistency in relationships and identity is revealed after she is hospitalized after relapse in 2016: "The beeps and the buzzing, the rapid sound of heels, the screams and the cries, the occasional expressions of joy—this was a home of sorts, I had to and hated to admit." Hospitals, anonymity, and disease had become Khakpour's homeland.
Sickness as structure permeates throughout the narrative too. Lyme being a neuropsychiatric illness, affects the body, blood, and brain similarly to how the chaotic and diffused narration of Sick makes the reader uncomfortable and troubled. "How could my body erupt in a chaos of spirochetes each time my mind and body suffers? How does that work? And yet we continue to find evidence of the mind and body connection", she says of her fluctuations with illness, reactions to world politics, and a quest for exile.
Observations on her forced and conscious solitudes creates pathos: "I carried out none of my plans to see friends and instead stayed in a lot." she writes about going back to her "beloved" New York after a suicide attempt in Leipzig, Germany. She was prone to spend Christmas, New Year's Eve and Thanksgiving alone when she was in an "off-period", yet her ultimate fear was to be "the woman artist alone in New York, who lives a wild and unconventional life only to succumb to the most standard and conventional institution of all: death."
She does not, however, succumb to turning her story into a hackneyed tortured artist portrayal. She put her "fancy writer ego" aside to entangle the toil of writer and diseased life, so that it became less romantic and more heroic. When she reflects on the disappearance of her aunt Simin, a New York artist whom she admired, she realizes that her aunt's worst fate was not completing her life's work. For Khakpour, Sick is her life's work, which she completed while on a roller coaster of dependency, crippling emotional and bodily pain and uncertainty: The Book I Sold was a story of triumph' to use her words, it is also a testament of perseverance for the marginalized and the sick.
After traveling the world in 2014, insomnia again catches up with her in Indonesia for which she attributes to the Paris attacks and academic pressures, she writes: "The world felt unconquerably unstable. But something also felt wrong within me, and I could not figure it out." Khakpour's extraordinary personal odyssey is as mercurial as the world she lives in: "There was never a home for me as a human in the world—which is why moving around was almost easy."
Sick: A Memoir is available now.
Words: Nikki Hall
Photos: Sylvie Rosokoff
Latest, One of UsBy Nikki Hall 5 June 2018 Authors, Writer, Autobiography, Biography, Memoir, Sick: A Memoir, Porochista Khakpour, Susan Sontag, Illness, Sickness, Lyme disease, Iran, America, review, Los Angeles, New York, Death, Human condition
Director X takes on cult '70s film, SuperFly
Latest, Through the LensBy Emily Freedman 12 June 2018 Superfly, Super Fly, Director X, 1970s, Blaxploitation films, Hip Hop, Atlanta, Harlem, NYC, Film, Movies, Snoop Dogg
Justin Tranter: Queen of the Airwaves
One of UsBy Justin Moran 1 June 2018 LGBTQ, Justin Tranter, Pride Month, Pride, Singer/Songwriter, Songwriter, Queer, Queen of the Airwaves, Flying the Flag, Semi Precious Weapons, Music, Punk, Hyper-Femme Punk, Heteronormativity, Mainstream, Band, New York, LA, Los Angeles, Justin Beiber, Selena Gomez, Britney Spears, GLAAD, Activist, Gwen Stefani, Kesha, Pop culture, Pop stars, Fergie, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons, Linkin Park, Music industry, Music interview, Radio


Any data you provide us with will be use solely for the purposes of marketing by LEMKEN GmbH & Co. KG to arouse and assess interest and provide interested parties with relevant information. You data will not be passed on to third parties. Further information on data protection can be found on the Data Protection section of our website.


Often grandparents or other family members or friends would like to make additional gifts but have already bumped up against their annual gift tax limits. They still have options: they can make tax-free transfers for qualifying educational or medical expenses. But these transfers are subject to their own set of rules. Tom Abendroth, head of Schiff Hardin's Private Clients practice, answers some frequently asked questions below.
What is the gift tax exclusion for payment of medical and tuition expenses?
Under Section 2503(e) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), tuition payments made directly to an educational organization on behalf of a person, and payments for a person's medical care made directly to the provider are not treated as taxable gifts. This can be an important exclusion for planning purposes. For example, grandparents who already take full advantage of the annual exclusion for gifts to grandchildren can make additional tax-free transfers by paying their grandchildren's tuition for private school or college.
What education expenses besides tuition fall under the exclusion?
The education expense exclusion is limited to tuition. Tuition means the amount of money required for enrollment. It includes tuition for part-time students. It does not cover books, supplies, room and board or similar expenses. See Treas. Reg. §25.2503- 6(b)(2)(3). One issue, on which there appears to be no guidance, concerns institutions such as boarding schools which do not break out their fees between teaching expenses and room and board and instead charge one tuition fee. The commonly accepted practice is to claim the full fee charged by such an institution as qualifying for the Section 2503(e) exclusion. The IRS, at some point in the future, could challenge this.
Are there limits on the types of schools or educational organizations that qualify?
To qualifying for the exclusion, the payment of tuition must be to an educational organization of the type described in Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii). See IRC § 2503(e)(2)(A). Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) defines an educational organization as one that normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where the educational activities are being carried on. Treas. Reg. § 1.170A-9(b)(1). The presentation of formal instruction must be the primary function of the organization.
Do private primary and secondary schools qualify? What about pre-schools?
The regulations under Section 170 specify that primary, secondary, preparatory schools, high schools and colleges and universities all are considered "educational organizations". The gray area, addressed in IRS rulings, concerns nursery or pre-schools, and schools in other instructional areas. The inquiry is a fact-specific one. There is guidance in the form of public and private rulings. The public rulings address qualification as an educational organization for purposes of qualifying for exemptions from other federal taxes, such as fuels or communications taxes, and not the application of Section 2503(e). Nevertheless, they are instructive since the definition of educational organization is the same.
In Revenue Ruling 78-446, 1978-2 C.B. 257, the IRS ruled that a children's day care center satisfied the definition of educational organization for purposes of exemption from certain taxes because it had a regular enrollment, planned educational activities, and instruction from a staff of teachers and assistants. Another day care program was found not to have educational activities as its primary purpose, where its function was more custodial in nature. Revenue Ruling 78-446.
Other providers of educational activities that have been found to qualify as educational organizations include a martial arts school, an instruction academy for yoga and a wilderness camping and survival program. The IRS concluded that the martial arts school's primary function was the presentation of formal instruction, its courses were interrelated and given in a regular and continuous manner, thereby constituting a curriculum, it maintained a regular faculty, and had a regularly enrolled body of students. Rev. Rul. 78-309, 1978-2 C.B. 123.
For the organization providing yoga instruction and promoting the practice of yoga, the IRS was careful to distinguish its program of eight week yoga courses, which did qualify, and its other activities, which did not. Rev. Rul. 79-130, 1979-1 C. B. 332. Payment for the eight-week course presumably would qualify as a direct payment of tuition.
Payment for individual classes or other activities would not. In Revenue Ruling 83-140, 1983-2 C. B. 185, the IRS approved a wilderness company program for adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. While this program lacked a traditional classroom setting, it had qualified instructors and an organized plan of instruction, which was taught during 26-day hiking and camping trips, repeated 10 months of the year. Based on this ruling, payments for certain types of summer camps, such as music, art or computer camps, also might qualify.
Does the exclusion apply to tuition payments to a religious school or to a school in a foreign country?
Yes, if the school otherwise qualifies as an educational organization.
Do you lose the exclusion if the school is watch- listed under the no child left behind legislation?
No. And do not even whisper the thought anywhere near Washington D.C.
What medical expenses qualify for the exclusion?
Qualifying medical expenses are defined by reference to Code Section 213(d). See IRC § 2503(e)(2)(B). The exclusion applies to payments for (i) the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease, (ii) the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body, or (iii) transportation primary for and essential to medical care. Treas. Reg. § 25.2503-6(b)(3). Payments for medical insurance are covered. The Section 213(d) definition of medical care is extremely broad. It also covers long-term care services, such as the costs of nursing homes or assisted living facilities, if provided by a licensed health care provider. The most notable area it does not cover is cosmetic surgery, unless to correct a birth defect or disfigurement from injury or disease. See IRC § 213(d)(9)(A).
What if the expenses subsequently are paid by health insurance?
If a donee's medical expenses are subsequently reimbursed by insurance, the donor's payment does not qualify for the exclusion. Treas. Reg. § 25.2503- 6(b)(3). The donee must reimburse the donor. If he or she does not, the donor's payment will be treated as a taxable gift. The annual exclusion would apply to it if otherwise available.
Can I pay tuition or a doctor's bill for a child or other relative by giving that person the money?
In the case of both educational and medical expenses, the payment must be made directly to the provider. This is a key element of the exclusion. If an individual gives her grandchild $5,000 to pay medical expenses, the gift does not qualify under Section 2503(e), even if the grandchild in fact uses the $5,000 for that purpose.
Can I give a check to my child and let him or her use it to pay the expense?
Yes you can, if the check is made payable to the educational organization or medical service provider. You cannot make the check payable to the child and let him or her endorse it over.
How can I reduce the hassle of making payments directly?
For a taxpayer who wishes to take full advantage of this exclusion, the direct payment requirement does create administrative challenges. One solution is for the taxpayer to create an account, in the taxpayer's own name, for each child, and give the child check- writing authority as agent. It also may be possible to provide a credit card to the child tied to the account. The child then can directly pay medical or educational expenses for the child and his or her descendants from the account. Since the account is in the donor's name, and the child is acting only as agent, the direct payment requirement is satisfied.
Can I prepay several years of tuition?
It is possible to prepay tuition expenses under the Section 2503(e) exclusion. The IRS approved this in Technical Advice Memorandum 199941013 (July 9, 1999). For several years, the taxpayer in this ruling had paid private school tuition for two grandchildren, both for the current year and for several future years. Over a three year period, she paid a total of $181,410 to the school, covering the grandchildren's tuition for the following five years. The IRS ruled that the payments qualified for the exclusion under §2503(e) as long as they were not subject to refund. In the situation that was the subject of the ruling, the payments to the school would be forfeited if the grandchildren ceased to attend the school.
Letter Ruling 200602002 (January 13, 2006), provides another, more recent, example of prepayment. The donor proposed to prepay tuition for six of his grandchildren. Under the agreement the donor entered into with the school, he acknowledged that there may be future tuition increases, which he or the children's parents would pay, and that the pre- paid tuition was not refundable and did not guarantee enrollment for the grandchildren. The IRS ruled that the prepayment qualified as a Section 2503(e) transfer.
It would be permissible to negotiate with a school or college to apply unused tuition to another child or grandchild, or toward tuition at another school, should the child or grandchild to whom the tuition was applied drop out or transfer. However, the tuition cannot be refunded.
Are gifts using the exclusion subject to generation-skipping tax?
Transfers directly to the provider to pay tuition or medical expenses of a person, exempt from gift tax under Section 2503(e), are also exempt from GST tax. IRC § 2642(c)(3)(B). The exclusion from GST tax applies to payments from trusts as well as payments made by an individual. Therefore, if there is a trust not exempt from GST tax that has grandchildren or more remote descendants as beneficiaries, the trustee can make tuition or medical payments on behalf of those beneficiaries without incurring GST tax. A trust can be designed with the intent that it be used for this purpose.
The availability of this exclusion has also led to development of the Health and Education Exclusion Trust or "HEET." The HEET is an irrevocable trust funded for the purpose of providing for the direct payment of tuition and medical expenses for grandchildren and more remote descendants. It is designed primarily for ultra high net worth individuals who wish to avoid using GST exemptions and also minimize the amount that ultimately may pass to children and be subject to estate tax in their estates. If the only beneficiaries of the trust from the beginning are grandchildren and more remote descendants, the transfer into the trust will be a direct skip and be subject to GST tax immediately.
The HEET trust attempts to avoid this result by including a named charity as a beneficiary.
There have been occasional proposals to legislate the HEET trust out of existence by making any gifts to the trust generation-skipping transfers. This is an indication that the trust probably is proper under current law, but also that it is not viewed favorably by the tax-writing authorities. With the significantly higher estate tax exclusion and GST exemption, most individuals can address the funding of education or medical expenses through a trust without having to use the more complex HEET trust.
All these tax-free transfers are really available in addition to the annual exclusion?
Yes. For wealthy individuals, the Section 2503(e) exclusion is an often under-utilized opportunity for making tax-free transfers.


604307 – dependency problem with latest update?
Bug 604307 - dependency problem with latest update?
Summary: dependency problem with latest update?
Done.  Thanks for the quick response.
Somewhat urgent since it's blocking an openssl security update.
libguestfs-1.2.7-1.fc12.1 has been submitted as an update for Fedora 12.
> libguestfs-1.2.7-1.fc12.1 has been submitted as an update for Fedora 12.
Please upvote this if it works for you.
libguestfs-1.2.7-1.fc12.1 has been pushed to the Fedora 12 testing repository.  If problems still persist, please make note of it in this bug report.
> Somewhat urgent since it's blocking an openssl security update.
I can reproduce with the two problem packages described either on f12 or f13.
I have verified these two packages separately on f12 and f13. Both seems to solve this issue.
libguestfs-1.2.7-1.fc12.1 has been pushed to the Fedora 12 stable repository.  If problems still persist, please make note of it in this bug report.


Body camera footage of a Baltimore police operation released by the public defender's office appears to show an officer hiding drugs and later discovering them while two other officers watched.
"I would say there are hundreds and hundreds of cases directly affected between the two cases," Debbie Katz Levi, director of special litigation for Baltimore's Office of the Public Defender tells NPR. "I think it's safe to say if you included all of the officers, you're probably at around 500 cases."
The Baltimore police internal affairs office is investigating. The Baltimore City State's Attorney's office says "we are currently reviewing numbers."
"These officers are employed by the Baltimore Police Department. Therefore, it is a problem that BPD must solve," says Caron A. Brace, chief of staff for Marilyn Mosby, the State's Attorney for Baltimore City.
"The Office of the State's Attorney believes that this represents a small percentage of officers, and will support the Baltimore Police Department as it works to rectify the issue," Brace says. Baltimore is already under federal scrutiny after seven officers were arrested earlier this year for racketeering offenses, including robbery, extortion, and overtime fraud.
When a Baltimore police officer hits record on his body camera the device saves the preceding thirty seconds but without audio.
So it's possible the officer in the first video didn't realize he was being recorded when he appears to place a small baggie filled white capsules in a narrow alley's trash-strewn lot.
The officer then appears to turn the already recording device "on" and returns to get the drugs allegedly linked to a suspect already in police custody.
The audio then kicks in. "I'm gonna go check here," the officer says while one of this two police colleagues appears to laugh. He then easily finds a baggie of drugs in an old soda can.
The police department's Media Relations Chief T.J. Smith says the officer whose body camera was recording in the alleyway, Officer Richard Pinheiro, has been "suspended on admin duties," while the two others present in the video are now on "non-contact with the public" administrative duties pending the department's probe.
A second video from a traffic stop appears to show Baltimore officers searching a car a second time and finding baggies of drugs that didn't seem to be there during the first search.
But public defenders discovered the videos, not the State's Attorney's unit devoted solely to reviewing and disseminating body camera footage.
And the police unit charged with reviewing hours and hours of body cam footage also apparently missed the videos.
"Who's policing the police and how are these incidents getting past the review unit and the State's Attorney for this many months, only to be brought to light by the Office of the Public Defender?" asks Katz Levi, of the Public Defender's Office. "There's no excuse for it."
She says these cases raise deeply troubling questions about what state prosecutors are doing with police body camera evidence before they bring a case to a grand jury.
"Are they leaving this out when they go to the grand jury? Those proceedings are secret; we don't know. These two camera footage incidents show us with certainty that incidents of misconduct or alleged misconduct are being missed, so what is the State's Attorney's Office going to do to fix it? What is the police department going to do to fix it?"
Mosby's office has also come under criticism because Officer Pinheiro was allowed to testify in a separate case after the video surfaced, which her office chalked up to a timing mishap. "At the end of the day we were in the process of pulling these cases at the same time this case came in," Mosby told a press conference in July.
A central issue nationally is when officers turn on and off their cameras. Most departments have clear rules — as Baltimore does — that say body cameras should stay on while they're still at the scene of an incident and only turned off if a member of the public requests it.
"We believe that body cameras are a net positive because they show things that we otherwise would not see," says Andrew Northrup chief of the felony trial division in Baltimore's Public Defenders Office. "But at the same time they can't be manipulated. You will need to leave the tape on at all times so that there's no question about what's going on."
Nationally, there's a troubling lack of accountability when officers don't follow department body cam guidelines, says Jay Stanley, a Senior Policy Analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union.
"Around the country we're seeing big issues in body cameras around access to footage and we're seeing widespread cases of officers not complying with policies," Stanley says. "Not turning their cameras on when they're supposed to be, turning them off too soon, or turning them off in the middle of encounters and not facing any consequences from police management."
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers agrees it's a growing issue. "We've seen many moments where at the critical moments that body cameras were rolled out to address and to capture are not ending up on the video," says Jumana Musa, a senior attorney with the NACDL.
The group's research, she says, shows that in police departments that have had a troubled history and may be under a consent decree, body cameras have done little to foster reform.
"Oftentimes those cameras are only used when they're supposed to be used about one to three times, so 30 percent of the time. So just putting a camera on an officer by itself is not going to be a measure of accountability and is not gonna cure the problems that run deep in the department," she says.
"The question of police accountability still is and always will come down to the leadership, the training, the types of people hired, and then the way they're addressed when they're found to be acting outside the bounds of what are their rules, what are the laws, and what are the policies of the department," attorney Musa says.
But Baltimore's Police Commissioner Kevin Davis says it's wrong to assume the worst before his investigators are done.
Davis says it's all part of the "growing pains" of introducing a new technology just over one year ago.
"When those gaps in video footage exists, it's ugly," Davis says. "What was there? I don't know I didn't see it. The camera was on, now it's off. Does that mean when the camera was off there was some kind of criminal misconduct was taking place by police officers? I think that's a conclusion we just can't jump to," he told reporters recently.
But the problem has cropped up in cities across the country in police arrests, drug cases and fatal shootings.
In Minneapolis this summer, for example, an Australian woman was shot and killed by an officer as she approached a squad car after calling 911 to report a possible sexual assault near her home.
The officer's body camera in that case was not turned on, as required by the department.
Then there's the critical issue of who gets access to the video and when.
Hundreds of criminal cases in Baltimore are in jeopardy after two incidents picked up by police body cameras show officers allegedly planting drug evidence. So far more than 40 criminal cases have been dropped because of the videos. The cases mostly involved drug- and weapons-related felonies. Public defenders say hundreds more could end up being dismissed. Police and the state's attorney's office in Baltimore are investigating. The cases also bring up larger questions about the use of police body cam video. NPR's Eric Westervelt has our report.
ERIC WESTERVELT, BYLINE: When a Baltimore police officer hits record on his body camera, the device saves the preceding 30 seconds but without audio. So it's possible the officer in the first video didn't realize he was being recorded when he appears to place a small baggie filled with white capsules in a trash-strewn lot between homes. He then turns the already recording device on and returns to get the drugs allegedly linked to a suspect already in custody. The audio kicks in as his two police colleagues appear to laugh.
RICHARD PINHEIRO: I'm going to go check here. Hold on.
WESTERVELT: And a second video from a traffic stop appears to show Baltimore officers searching a car a second time and finding baggies of drugs that didn't seem to be there during the first search.
UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER #2: Oh, yeah, oh, yeah - oh, my God, I knew it.
WESTERVELT: But public defenders discovered the videos, not lawyers in the state's attorney's unit devoted solely to reviewing and disseminating body camera footage. They apparently missed the videos, as did the police unit charged with reviewing hours and hours of body cam footage.
DEBBIE KATZ LEVI: Who's policing the police? And how are these incidents getting past the review unit? There's no excuse for it.
WESTERVELT: That's Debbie Katz Levi, the director of special litigation for Baltimore's Office of the Public Defender. Katz Levi says these cases raise deeply troubling questions about what state prosecutors are doing with police body cam evidence before they bring a case to a grand jury.
KATZ LEVI: Are they leaving this out when they go to the grand jury? Those proceedings are secret. We don't know. These two camera footage incidents show us with certainty that incidents of misconduct or alleged misconduct are being missed. So what is the state's attorney's office going to do to fix it? What is the police department going to do to fix it?
WESTERVELT: The police say the internal affairs division is investigating. The Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office says the three officers in the first video are involved in at least 123 criminal arrests. Several dozen of those so far have been dismissed. The public defender's office says it thinks hundreds of other criminal cases may be tossed as well.
A central issue nationally is when officers turn on and off their cameras. Most departments have clear rules, as Baltimore does, that say body cams need to stay on while they're still at the scene of an incident and only turned off if a member of the public requests it. But there's a troubling lack of accountability when officers don't follow those guidelines, says Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union.
JAY STANLEY: Around the country, we're seeing big issues in body cameras around access to footage. And also, we're seeing widespread cases of officers not complying with policies, not turning their cameras on when they're supposed to be, turning them off too soon or turning them off in the middle of encounters and not facing any consequences from police management.
WESTERVELT: But Baltimore's police commissioner, Kevin Davis, says it's wrong to assume the worst before investigators are done. Davis chalks it up to growing pains of introducing a new technology just 14 months ago.
COMMISSIONER KEVIN DAVIS: When those gaps in video footage exist, it's ugly. What was there? I don't know. I didn't see it. The camera was on. Now it's off. So does that mean that when the camera was off, some type of criminal misconduct was taking place by police officers? I think that's a conclusion that we just can't jump to.
WESTERVELT: But the problem has cropped up in cities across the country in police arrests, drug cases and fatal shootings. In Minneapolis this summer, an Australian woman was shot and killed by an officer as she approached a squad car after calling 911 to report a possible sexual assault near her home. The officer's body camera was not turned on as required by the department. Eric Westervelt, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


As a Senior Support Worker at St Helens Down, you will work with people who have learning disabilities to promote independence and support them to lead as fulfilling life as possible.
Overseeing Support Workers, our Senior Support Workers implement care plans for individuals with learning disabilities and other complex needs. You'll operate within the home and local community settings providing hands-on-care to the people we support, so you can expect total involvement in everything we do.


text:
program netcdftolittler

!     ... pressure is in Pa, height in m, temperature and dew point are in
!         K, speed is in m/s, and direction is in degrees

!     ... sea level pressure is in Pa, terrain elevation is in m, latitude
!         is in degrees N, longitude is in degrees E

!     ... to put in a surface observation, make only a single level "sounding"
!         and make the value of the height equal the terrain elevation -- PRESTO!

!     ... the first 40 character string may be used for the description of
!         the station (i.e. name city country, etc)

!     ... the second character string we use for our source

!     ... the third string should be left alone, it uses the phrase "FM-35 TEMP"
!         for an upper air station, and should use "FM-12 SYNOP" for surface data

!     ... the fourth string is unused, feel free to experiment with labels!

!     ... bogus data are not subject to quality control

! TODO: for surface data we need to write height to LITTLE_R file
! otherwise, we need to write pressure to LITTLE_R file

use readncdf
use write_littler
use logging

implicit none

integer, parameter :: kx=1

logical bogus
real :: slp, ter
integer :: idx
data bogus /.false./
integer:: iseq_num = 1

real,dimension(kx) :: p,z,t,td,spd,dir,u,v,rh,thick
integer,dimension(kx) :: p_qc,z_qc,t_qc,td_qc,spd_qc
integer, dimension(kx) :: dir_qc,u_qc,v_qc,rh_qc,thick_qc
! iseq_num: sequential number -> domain number
real, dimension(kx) :: dpressure, dheight, dtemperature, ddew_point
real, dimension(kx) ::  dspeed, ddirection, du, dv, drh, dthickness
integer, dimension(kx) :: dpressure_qc, dheight_qc, dtemperature_qc
integer, dimension(kx) ::  ddew_point_qc, dspeed_qc, ddirection_qc, du_qc
integer, dimension(kx) :: dv_qc, drh_qc, dthickness_qc
character(len=14) :: timechar
character *20 date_char
character *40 string1, string2 , string3 , string4
INTEGER :: timeLength, device
REAL,DIMENSION(:), ALLOCATABLE :: humidity, height, speed
REAL,DIMENSION(:), ALLOCATABLE :: temperature, dew_point
REAL,DIMENSION(:), ALLOCATABLE :: pressure, direction, thickness
REAL,DIMENSION(:), ALLOCATABLE :: uwind, vwind
character(len=14), dimension(:), allocatable :: time_littler
real,dimension(:), allocatable    :: time
character(len=100) :: timeunits
REAL :: lon, lat
character(len=30), dimension(99):: variable_name = 'not defined'
character(len=30), dimension(99):: variable_mapping = 'not defined'
character(len=30):: filename, outfile
integer :: devices, dimensions
real :: fill_value
integer :: logunit
character(19) :: datetime
integer :: i, number_of_variables = 0

! get filename, variable_names and variable_mappings from namelist
namelist /group_name/ filename, variable_name, variable_mapping, devices, &
    outfile, dimensions
  open(10,file='./wageningen.namelist')
  read(10,group_name)
  close(10)

! define logging file
logunit=99
open(unit=logunit,file='convert_littler.log',form='formatted')
call log_message('INFO', 'Parsing namelist finished.')

! find number of variables in namelist
do i=1,99
  if (variable_name(i) /= 'not defined') then
    number_of_variables = number_of_variables + 1
  end if
end do
call log_message('INFO', concat_str_int('Number of variables found: ', &
                 number_of_variables))

! check if dimensions and namelist are correct in namelist
if (.not. ((dimensions==1 .AND. devices==1) .or. &
  (dimensions==2 .AND. devices>=1))) then
  call log_message('ERROR', 'Error in namelist specification of &
    & dimensions and devices.')
  STOP 'Error in namelist specification of dimensions and devices'
end if

call current_datetime(datetime)
! get time and time units
call log_message('INFO', 'Extracting time and &
  & time units from netcdf file.')
call readtimedim(filename, time, timeunits)
timeLength = size(time)
allocate(time_littler(timeLength))
call log_message('INFO', 'Converting time to little_R date format')
call time_to_littler_date(time, timeunits, time_littler)

! loop over all devices
do device=1,devices
  call log_message('INFO', concat_str_int('Processing devices, device: ', &
    device))
  ! read variable
  if (allocated(temperature)) deallocate(temperature)
  allocate(temperature(timeLength))
  if (allocated(humidity)) deallocate(humidity)
  allocate(humidity(timeLength))
  if (allocated(height)) deallocate(height)
  allocate(height(timeLength))
  if (allocated(speed)) deallocate(speed)
  allocate(speed(timeLength))
  if (allocated(dew_point)) deallocate(dew_point)
  allocate(dew_point(timeLength))
  if (allocated(pressure)) deallocate(pressure)
  allocate(pressure(timeLength))
  if (allocated(direction)) deallocate(direction)
  allocate(direction(timeLength))
  if (allocated(thickness)) deallocate(thickness)
  allocate(thickness(timeLength))
  if (allocated(uwind)) deallocate(uwind)
  allocate(uwind(timeLength))
  if (allocated(vwind)) deallocate(vwind)
  allocate(vwind(timeLength))

  do idx=1,number_of_variables
    ! read specified variables from netCDF file
    call read_variables(lat, lon, humidity, height, speed, temperature, dew_point, &
      pressure, direction, thickness, uwind, vwind, variable_name, &
      variable_mapping, filename, fill_value, idx, device, dimensions)
  end do
  ! write obs to file in LITTLE_R format
  call write_obs_littler(pressure,height,temperature,dew_point,speed, &
  direction,uwind,vwind,humidity,thickness,p_qc,z_qc,t_qc,td_qc,spd_qc, &
  dir_qc,u_qc,v_qc,rh_qc,thick_qc,slp,ter,lat,lon,variable_mapping, &
  kx, bogus, iseq_num, time_littler, fill_value, outfile )
end do
stop 99999
end


text:
Паоло Веццози (, род. 14 декабря 1960) — итальянский шахматист, международный мастер (2000).

Серебряный призёр чемпионатов Италии 1988, 1991 и 2004 гг. (в 1988 г. разделил 1—2 места с Ф. Брагой и проиграл дополнительный матч).

В составе команды «Circolo scacchistico Ippogrifo» (Реджо-Эмилия) победитель командного чемпионата Италии 2000 г.

Участник ряда сильных по составу международных турниров, в том числе традиционных новогодних турниров в Реджо-Эмилии. Дважды участвовал в дележе 1-го места на турнирах в Монтекатини-Терме (1999 и 2004 гг.).

Основные спортивные результаты

Изменения рейтинга

Примечания

Ссылки
 Выступления Паоло Веццози в Кубках европейских клубов

Шахматисты Италии
Шахматисты XX века
Шахматисты XXI века
Международные мастера по шахматам

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Moringa Acquisition Corp (MACAU)
NasdaqCM - NasdaqCM Delayed Price. Currency in USD
Bullishpattern detected
Ask 16.30 x 2900
Subscribe to Yahoo Finance Plus to view Fair Value for MACAU
MORINGA ACQUISITION CORP ANNOUNCES CONTRIBUTION TO TRUST ACCOUNT IN CONNECTION WITH PROPOSED EXTENSION
New York, NY, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Moringa Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: MACA) ("Moringa" or the "Company") announced today that, in connection with its previously announced extraordinary general meeting in lieu of the 2022 annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time/4:00 p.m. local (Israel) time on February 7, 2023 (the "Extraordinary Meeting") for the purpose of considering and voting on, among other proposals, a proposal to extend the da
Holisto, a Technology-Based Online Travel Booking Platform, to Become Publicly Traded Via Business Combination with Moringa Acquisition Corp
Holisto's advanced AI technology addresses the fragmented and complex travel booking market, providing consumers with a more affordable and personalized offeringSince commercial product launch in Q2 2020, Holisto's online booking platform has gained significant market acceptanceTransaction enables Holisto to scale its customer acquisition and brand awareness strategy Rishon Le'Zion, Israel and New York, New York, June 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holisto Ltd, a technology based online travel boo
Moringa Acquisition Corp Files its Annual Report for the 2021 Year
NEW YORK, NY, April 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Moringa Acquisition Corp (NasdaqCM: MACA, MACAU and MACAW) (the "Company") announced that it filed its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2022. Copies of the annual report and other filings are available online through the Company's website, https://www.moringaac.com/, or by accessing the Securities and Exchange Commission's website, www.sec.gov. Copies may also


As part of its corporate social responsibility programme, RGF Executive Search Vietnam (RGF) visited the Christina Noble Children's Foundation Sunshine Social and Medical Centre in Ho Chi Minh's District 3 on June 1st, International Children's Day. RGF has a long involvement with the Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF).
CNCF's work in Vietnam is legendary, Christina first arrived in Vietnam just after the end of the war and was moved by the plight of many thousands of children. She built her foundation, which works in all areas of children's development. Healthcare, education, and community development have all seen huge improvements because of the great work they do. RGF is proud to be involved with such a good cause through its corporate social responsibility programme.
The District 3 medical centre is the beating heart of CNCF's Vietnam operations. It is not an exaggeration to state that many thousands of lives have been saved or improved at this wonderful facility. It provides International standards of healthcare to children, who are either orphaned, abandoned or from poverty-stricken families. The three storey centre, houses an Intensive Monitoring Unit, a Residential Care Unit, a Kindergarten and an Outpatient Clinic and Outreach Clinic.
Working closely with CNCF to fully understand the needs of the children, RGF donated 25 walking chairs to the centre. It is incumbent upon large companies in Vietnam to get involved in corporate social responsibility programmes and RGF takes this very seriously. In addition to donating equipment, staff members enjoyed interacting with the children and they found the visit extremely rewarding.
It is worth remembering that as well as a treatment centre for children, for many of them it is their home. Obviously, this means that there are house rules for visitors and CNCF apply these vigorously, the most important things are the safety, happiness and well being of the children.
For the visit RGF staff members were divided into two separate groups and guides Ms. Ngoc Anh Nguyen and Mr. Piers Birtwistle showed each group around the facility. Corporate social responsibility is both a serious business and tremendously rewarding experience for RGF staff members who were honoured and happy to be involved. The two groups visited all units in the medical centre, played games, chatted to the children and just generally hang out with them.


text:
Moon bathes festival in its glow
2020-10-02 China Daily Editor:Feng Shuang
Children learn to make mooncakes, a mainstay of Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, in Cangzhou, Hebei province, on Sept 21. WANG MIN/XINHUA
Traditions have changed over time, but one aspect remains constant
Each year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, residents from Dawulei village in Wuxue, Hubei province, gather in front of the main ancestral hall to make offerings to the moon.
When the moon rises in the night sky, the ceremony, which has 21 steps divided into five stages, begins in earnest.
More than 60 male villagers, most of them from the Lei clan, parade in colorful masks and white silk pants and robes while carrying staffs topped with white lanterns.
They circle a small lake in front of the ancestral hall, with the lamps held aloft and the white orbs reflected in the water.
A key part of the ceremony involves a village leader daubing a red flag and a black flag with blood drawn from a live chicken and making an offering to the ancestors.
Onlookers bow their heads and pray silently. As the ceremony reaches its finale, female villagers dressed in gold and red join hands and dance joyfully in a circle. At the end of the dance, spectators run to collect mooncakes and fruit that have been tossed in the air by village leaders.
The elaborate ceremony is how Dawulei celebrates the festival and gives thanks for its harvest.
The village's Mid-Autumn Festival rituals date to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The ceremony is held each year, and a large-scale version is staged every five years or whenever there has been a bumper harvest.
The village ceremony was scaled back after 1945 but was resumed in full in 2009.
Xiao Fang, a professor of folklore at Beijing Normal University's School of Sociology, said the ceremony showcases many aspects of Chinese culture, such as honoring ancestors and showing respect for seniority.
"It's an opportunity for the Lei clan to enhance cohesion in the village," Xiao said.
From elaborate rituals to eating mooncakes, Mid-Autumn Festival customs have gradually changed over recent centuries. However, the modern version of the holiday still includes traditions and rituals that date back thousands of years, according to Xiao.
The holiday is also known by other names that reflect its agrarian origins and the celebration of harvest time, such as the fruit, pumpkin, moon and reunion festivals.
"Traditional Chinese culture has a unique relationship with the moon, and the moon is always a symbol of gentleness and light," Xiao said.
In the Qin (221-206 BC) and Han (206 BC-AD 220) dynasties, making offerings to the sun and the moon were restricted to imperial rituals, Xiao said.
In the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, it became fashionable for writers to expound on the qualities of the moon, and royal households' exclusive hold over paying homage to the celestial body faded.
During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), both rich and poor worshipped the moon, and children were allowed to dress as adults and burn incense as an offering. Male scholars prayed for good results in the imperial examinations, while young women asked to be blessed with beauty.
"In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties, worship of the moon changed significantly and the god of the moon gradually became an icon, especially for females," Xiao said, adding the god took various names and forms.
According to Xiao, Chinese ethnic groups also have their own moon-worshipping customs and rituals.
The Oroqen ethnic people from Northeast China put a basin of water on the ground and set tributes around it, while people from the Tu ethnic group in Qinghai province use a tub of water to "collect" the reflection of the moon.
Lanterns is popular with children during Mid-Autumn Festival. ZHANG HAIBIN AND DING GENHOU/FOR CHINA DAILY
Origin debate
Zhang Bo, a folklore researcher at Beijing Union University, believes Mid-Autumn Festival originated in the Tang Dynasty, while other scholars, including Xiao, argue it became a folk festival during the Song Dynasty.
Both sides agree that the custom of paying tribute to the moon on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar year started in the Tang Dynasty.
However, they are split on when and how it officially became a public festival.
Zhang said in the Quan Tangshi (Complete Tang Poems), which was commissioned in 1705, scholars have counted 111 poems with references to Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Besides descriptions of the beauty of the moon and moonlit nights, many of the poets express emotions through the notion of the moon," Zhang said.
She said the poets were anxious and sad about life being short, and used the fleeting time of a full moon as a metaphor.
"They thought about life and death, and as a result they turned to the skies to encourage us to cherish the present," she said.
Zhang said during the Tang Dynasty there was an expression "to play with the moon" which implies pure entertainment, however, writers and thinkers used it as a metaphor to express deeper ideas.
Xiao believes Mid-Autumn Festival became an official folk festival during the Song Dynasty. Song Emperor Zhao Jiong (939-997) officially set the 15th day of the eighth lunar month as Mid-Autumn Festival.
Xiao said in the Song Dynasty it was common for people to compare phases of the moon to changes in human relationships. The importance of family reunions at this time of year also spread during the Song Dynasty.
A young woman clad in traditional dress takes part in a festival celebration in Shanghai. YANG YI/ZENG LINGHUA/LIN KEGENG/FOR CHINA DAILY
Not just here
While Chinese people's celebrations might be the most famous, rituals to mark mid-autumn are held in many other countries.
According to Xiao, the native people of Canada burn incense when the moon is full. On Zanzibar Island off Africa's east coast, they have an annual full moon festival during which villagers sit around watching the orb and dance throughout the night.
Mid-autumn is also celebrated in South Korea and Japan, as well as in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The festival is called Chuseok in South Korea, and is one of the country's biggest holidays. On Chuseok Day, a family's eldest son honors deceased ancestors, while young girls wear colorful traditional clothes and play games.
To celebrate a good harvest, they visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast and rice wine. Muffins in the shape of half moons made from rice flour with jujube paste filling are the traditional holiday food.
In Japan, the festival is called Tsukimi or Otsukimi, which literally means "moon-viewing". The Tsukimi custom originated from China after Mid-Autumn Festival was introduced to Japan 1,000 years ago.
In Vietnam, the festival is for children. Adults tell children stories and the youngsters carry lanterns and wander and play under the moon.
Figurines of Tu'er Ye (the rabbit god) is popular with children during Mid-Autumn Festival. ZHANG HAIBIN AND DING GENHOU/FOR CHINA DAILY
Quirky traditions
In China, family reunions and celebrating the harvest aren't the only popular traditions during Mid-Autumn Festival.
Praying for marriage and children is not uncommon. But on the first night of the festival, people in Hubei and Hunan provinces "steal" melons from fields and give them to married couples as a blessing to have children.
Dong ethnic people who live in Hunan and Guizhou provinces steal vegetables under the bright glow of moonlight, which is meant to bring them happiness for the year.
Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time to settle debts and pay wages. "It's an important time for accounting, and it's also the day when some bosses decide to renew or stop employees' contracts," Zhang said.
Colorful games and competitions for children are also part of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, she said.
Lanterns are popular with children. In Guangdong province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the lanterns are made from grapefruits. In Weifang, Shandong province, children play by the light of incense sticks tied with sweet wormwood.
Zhang said where the full moon is observed from is also very important. "Places that have a clear view are considered ideal, such as on a mountain, in a boat and next to the river," she said.
"The full moon not only guides people on when to reunite and celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, it also provides spiritual consolation for people who are separated."
Just as the moon waxes and wanes and people meet and say goodbye, optimism can be drawn from seeing the same full moon no matter where you are, Zhang said.
Women of the Zhuang ethnic group push miniature rafts into the river as part of traditional customs in Qingyuan, Guangdong province. YANG YI/ZENG LINGHUA/LIN KEGENG/FOR CHINA DAILY
The custom of giving mooncakes during the festival became popular in the Ming and Qing dynasties and persists today. Mooncake Festival is a more popular name for the holiday in some places in China.
Wang Xifu, 84, a master pastry maker, said in the Qing Dynasty, there was no distinction between what wealthy and ordinary people ate during Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Both the imperial and ordinary families ate mooncakes," he said. "For ordinary people, it was a festival to express their wishes, not to the moon but to Tu'er Ye (the rabbit god) or Chang'e whose legends are related to the moon."
Wang said eating mooncakes was a way to express yearning for absent loved ones and the hope for a better life.
Wang comes from a long line of cooks. His grandfather was a chef for the emperor in the Qing Dynasty, and his father, uncles and brothers have all worked at the most popular restaurants in Beijing.
Wang's father was a well-known chef at Zhimeizhai restaurant, which is famous for its pastries. Before each Mid-Autumn Festival, his father was so busy making Beijing-style mooncakes that Wang's brothers all went to the restaurant to help him.
According to Wang, there are two main types of Beijing mooncakes-zilaihong, brown skin, and zilaibai, white skin.
Made with sesame oil, brown-skin mooncakes have a hard crust made of rock sugar, walnut kernels, pumpkin seeds and candied tangerine peel slices. They are covered in syrup and baked to get a brown exterior.
They are used for worship and in religious ceremonies and can be given as gifts to friends and family, Wang said.
Zilaibai uses lard and white sugar in the dough which makes it soft and sweet and easy for young and old people to eat.
With its flaky exterior, and filled with pine nuts, chopped walnuts and pumpkin seeds, fanmao, or "furry", mooncake is another famous Beijing version of the treat. It was favored by the Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) who gave it its name.
Wang said an authentic furry mooncake weighs 250 grams, and the crust should be so soft that it melts in the mouth without leaving any crumbs.
Mooncakes used in ceremonies and rituals were abundant on special occasions in the past.
"A rich family would have a pastry table piled almost to the ceiling with different kinds of desserts, including different varieties of mooncake," Wang said.
"On the second day of a ceremony, the remaining pastry would be distributed to the children. But you could't sneak up and grab a piece as they were packed so tightly the pile would collapse."
Residents prepare offerings for a ritual ceremony in Fuzhou, Fujian province. YANG YI/ZENG LINGHUA/LIN KEGENG/FOR CHINA DAILY
Modern twists
Over the years, mooncakes have gradually become a daily staple, Wang said, adding they have gone from a homemade specialty to being produced in factories and by professional chefs.
Modern twists are also being applied. From the patterns on the crust, to the fillings and packaging, every aspect of the mooncake has undergone a creative transformation.
Fast-food company KFC, in collaboration with the Palace Museum in Beijing, has launched a box of mooncakes celebrating paintings by Wang Ximeng from the Song Dynasty.
Belgian chocolate maker Godiva is combining Western and traditional flavors, producing a mooncake filled with osmanthus, red bean paste and milk chocolate and another with a green tea, kumquat and white chocolate filling.
Snack brand Wei Back has launched a 500-gram mooncake that has eight layers of fillings.
Crab meat, spicy beef, duck, crayfish and even black truffle are nontraditional fillings that have made their way into mooncakes.
Apart from mooncakes, there is a tradition of eating fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables during the festival. In Zhucheng, Shandong province, people eat taro, sweet potato, peanuts and carrot at the start of the holiday.
Xiao believes the festival needs to keep its traditions while coming up with new ideas to interest younger people and maintain its relevancy to contemporary society. "Mid-Autumn Festival can represent an ideal life for Chinese people," Xiao said.


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Evander Kane tells Buffalo media "I had asked for a trade in the past"
Kane confirms that he had requested a trade from Winnipeg in the past.
David Minuk
While there had been plenty of speculation about whether Evander Kane had ever requested a trade request out of Winnipeg it had never been officially confirmed. In fact these trade request rumours dated back all the way to 2012.
Today in his first presser with the Buffalo media Evander Kane confirmed that "I had asked for a trade in the past". Official confirmation of something that many had speculated about for years. The closest we had previously come to official confirmation was Kane's agent Craig Oster telling Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press on February 6th, 2015 that "It's something that Kevin (Cheveldayoff) and Evander have addressed multiple times in the past several years, and I'll leave it at that".
Of course we don't know the time frame on the request so he could have been referring to something that occurred following the game when he was scratched against his hometown Vancouver Canucks on February 3rd, 2015. Or it could have been years ago. We will likely never know.
You can listen to his entire presser with the Buffalo media here.
Tweets by @@illegalcurve
Zach Bogosian thanks the city of Winnipeg for warm goodbye
Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian's return to Winnipeg


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THIS DAY IN HISTORY COVID-19 shuts down the world
By Editor | March 10, 2021 | 0
BY MOLLIE S. WATERS
Although the actual date of COVID-19 shutdowns vary by location, most Alabamians will acknowledge mid-March 2020 as when the shutdowns began in this area.
According to The Office of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey website at governor.alabama.gov, on Mar. 6, 2020, Governor Ivey formally established the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force.
Then, on March 17, she issued a press release expressing her confidence in Alabama's financial institutions precautionary measures in regards to COVID-19.
Several other press releases, a few connected to ways small businesses could find assistance during the pandemic, were released in the weeks that followed, but on April 4, she issued the Stay at Home Order.
Since its issuance, the order has been altered to Safer at Home, but it continues to be in effect even now.
In fact, Governor Ivey just confirmed the extenuation of Safer at Home on Mar. 4.
Now, a year later, COVID-19 is still here, and it is still causing problems.
One of the biggest problems for the State of Alabama has been in a loss of tourism dollars, but that problem pales in comparison to the greatest problem of all: Alabama's K-12 students who selected to go virtual have not been showing up.
State Superintendent Eric Mackey said in November 2020 that at least 5,000 K-12 students in Alabama's schools have not shown up for any type of class.
What this loss will mean in the future will only be known in time.
Yet, hope is on the horizon regarding COVID-19.
Currently, three different vaccines are on the market, and many people in Butler County have already started the vaccination process.
One can only hope this pandemic will be over by this time next year, so that next year's "This Day in History" article will not be an update on the ongoing situation.
McKenzie man guilty of murder
Phoenix holds job fair
RMCCA opens doors
Jo Bonner visits FDA
Bond and Tesmer sworn in


Step one: Start with what you know. Look at all the little tidbits and details you've set aside and grow them, branch them out. If you introduced a guild or faction then consider where they are, how they are, and how can you invert the idea behind them to make rebels, former members and the worst of the organization. If you know two countries are at war figure out how they do battle, why and where. You want to give yourself a bunch of information and then separate out the sensational bits. Figure out what you want to tell players, and what you want to show them. If you can sum up an organisation with a few quick words that's great, but if you can captured the detailed essence of them with an adventure, thats better.
Step two: Connect the dots. Once you have an idea of where the juiciest bits of your setting are you need to figure out how to get the players there and how to make the most of those areas. Look at their motivations, their classes, their purpose, and the world around them and build a framework for creating a smooth path that leads across the best of your setting. Make sure that everyone has something to do at these major areas. If one player is an industrious merchant than definitely have a market and guilds to barter with, but don't leave the fighter and the wizard hanging with nothing to do.
Step three: Create speedbumps. The campaign will need some opposition in order to keep interesting, but don't mistake opposition for obstacles. I use the term speedbumps because when you're traveling down the road the speedbump makes you slowdown and change up a little bit, but it doesn't stop you from going where you want to. A group of rival adventurers isn't likely to stop players from completing their quest, but it will certainly make them slow down and deal with the problem. Conversely something like the port town having no boats to take them across the sea, or the next mcguffin being kept in another dimension are more likely to be real roadblocks, at least for a while. When the party isn't sure how to proceed it can create confusion. It's important to make it clear that they can proceed and give them at least one way to do so. These speedbumps can be small adventurers or planned encounters and each one should have some purpose or convey some message besides just "kill everything bad".
Step four: Read yourself the plot. Does it make sense? If you were reading or watching it would youenjoy it? And then go through every way your plot can be circumvented and have at least some idea of what to do about it. It's going to happen and that's alright. Nobody can keep a group of empowered excited players in line and you don't need to all the time. Sooner or later they'll probably return to the main story, and if they don't then it's because they're having too much fun doing something else.
Step five: Editing. Look through the plot you have planned, does it fit your theme? Does it include the whole party in multiple places and tie all of them togather? Can you introduce new players part way through if need be? Can the plot survive loosing any of the players? Run through these basic questions and make changes as follows.
Follow these five steps in as much or little detail as you like and you have the structure of a campaign plot laid out in front of you. As far as the actual writing, I'll leave that to you.


Translate Spanish for a Career.
Translate any word using the Free online Spanish Translator.
Translate Spanish as a way to improve learning Spanish.
Get your documents translated by a Professional Translator.
Find out all about Careers as a Spanish Translator.
free 7 part e-Courses emailed to you every few days. Courses on Spanish verbs, prefixes, suffixes and others.
If you are interested in a career in translating you are entering a growing industry.
If you are fluent in another language – such as Spanish, you can earn a living as a translator, and there is a growing 'work-at-home' element in this industry made available with the prevalence of e-mail.
You may or may not need formal qualifications, but you do need to have learnt Spanish to a high level to be able to translate Spanish.
Difference between translating & interpreting?
Translating is usually where you say take a document in Spanish translate it into English (or whatever other language you are working in).
Interpreting is translating spoken words 'on-the-fly' as they are spoken. It is often a very interesting way of meeting diverse and interesting people.
Translators translate any of a number of documents and publications.
These can be technical manuals, articles, letters, sales brochures, fiction, screenplays, films, books, novels, training manuals, computer software instruction books, instruction leaflets on how to install a gadget, business reports, and more and more commonly websites, webpages and web sales scripts.
There is also a constant demand for specialist translation – medical, legal, insurance, international trade, engineering etc etc, and a specialist knowledge in such a niche can mean that you can earn or charge an extra premium for your skills.
The key to good translation is to convey the feel and meaning of what the document's author is trying to convey.
Ideally the writer should have a very good feel for both cultures, and should have lived in the countries which are being targetted.
The industry of translation is now a $20 billion business, and is exploding due to th explosion of the internet and internet business.
If you want to make a living where you translate Spanish to English and English to Spanish there is no better time.
(…or any other language in which you may be fluent).
If you are not a fully bi-lingual native speaker you should have a degree in the language and have spent at least a year in total immersion in a country that speaks that language.
Ideally this should be in the target country of your translations.
You can now specialise in translation at univeristy or college.
Here is a useful website of the American Translators Association which tells you all about it, and their accreditation programmes.There are numerous websites now where freelancers can get work translating.
The main advantage with this skill is that you can work your own hours, because you will normally work as a freelancer.
You can also work from anywhere in the world with reasonable electronic communication means…. which is pretty much any main city or town in the world.
So you can be parked at the beach in Mexico, Chile, Spain and get paid to translate Spanish documents.
And you can work your own hours if you are at home.
You will need a computer and internet access. A laptop is all you need, so the set-up costs are minimal and there is little need for formal office facilities and the ensuing rent etc.
You will need a good set of dictionaries and Thesaurus equivalents – dictionaries of antonyms and synonyms etc.
The biggest disadvantage of freelancing is that you are in essence a solo business person, or entrepreneur.
You therefore need to go out and bring business in to you. This means listing with translating companies.
You will need learning how to charge properly so that you do not end up undercharging and working for a pittance, and at below your cost.
Here are a few places to start. There are many dozens of others.
200 Words a Day learning techniques .


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Indian philosophy is vast and profound. Many Sages have devoted their lifetime to make the concepts of this philosophy clear to others. Without their valuable contribution we would not be able to understand the reality. Many Sages have devoted their lifetime in systematizing this profound philosophy according to the mentality of the people. Vedas are the scriptures of the Hindu's and they do not owe their authority to any one individual. Sage Vyasa codified and arranged the Vedas into four groups as Rik, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda. He arranged the Vedas as two sections and called the section with rituals and mantras as Karma Kanda, and the second section (end part) as Jnana Kanda. The end part is also called Vedanta. It is the philosophical part. Vedanta is not an imagination or speculation. It is the spiritual experience of the race for centuries. It is the actual realization or the super conscious perception. The thought of the profound Indian philosophy is explained in the Upanisads. The Indo-Aryans were bold thinkers and they initiated the search for Truth.
At various periods of time, different groups had opposed the ritualistic system of the Indian philosophy. One among them was Carvakas. Carvakas were extremely materialistic and anti-religious. During the lifetime of Buddha and the time after that, there was a religious and philosophical upheaval in India. During the period of Buddha, sixty two different schools were prevalent in India. Many schools criticized the Vedic culture. This led to the foundation of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy. These six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy accepted the authority of the Vedas, but they varied widely. The six orthodox school of philosophy were Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva mimamsa and Uttra mimamsa or Vedanta. The last two were intimately connected with the Vedas. The six systems of thought were developed at different intellectual centers all over India. The six schools are the six ways of looking at the Truth. The ways of approach to Truth matched the people with different temperament, capacities and mental caliber. The founders of this system were Sages of the highest order and they had devoted their lives for the study and propagation of philosophy. Each system of Indian philosophy is called a Darshana. The sutra literature further systematized these schools of thoughts. Each system formed their own sutra like Nyaya sutra, Kapila sutra, yoga sutra, Brahma sutra and so on. A sutra is a concise and unambiguous essence of the arguments on a topic. It explains all the essential aspects of that topic and free from repetition and faultiness. It is just like a formula. All the great thinkers are bold and had clear vision, and they interpreted the eternal Vedas in the manner they thought and interpreted. They developed the thought and passed on to the next generation. All the great thinkers belonged to any one of these six systems. The interpretation of the sutras gave rise to various literary writings and vakyas, vrittis, karikas and bashyas. Each interpretation differs from the other and more elaborate than the previous ones.
It is also called Tarka sastra. Sage Gautama is the founder of this school. It is based on the Nyaya Sastra written by Sage Gautama, probably in the sixth century BCE. The most important contribution made by this school is its methodology. This methodology is based on a system of logic that has subsequently been adopted by the majority of the Indian schools. They believed that obtaining valid knowledge was the only way to gain release from suffering. They identified four sources of knowledge. They are perception, inference, comparison and testimony. It is equivalent to analytic philosophy. It involves sixteen topics namely pramana (epistemology), pramaya (ontology), samsaya (doubt), prayojana (axiology or purpose), drstanta (paradigm cases that establish a rule), siddhanta (established doctrine), avayana (premise of a syllogism), tarka (arguments), nirnaya (certain beliefs), vada (appropriately conducted discussions), jalpa (debates), vitanda (refuting the opponents views), hetvabhasa (fallacious arguments), chala (unfair attempt to contradict a statement by equivocating its meaning), jat: (an argument based on a false analogy), and nigrahasthana (ground for defeat in a debate).
It was founded by Sage Kanada around second century BCE. It is concerned with metaphysics. According to the Vaiseshika School of philosophy, the will of God is the cause of creation. Brahman is regarded as the fundamental force that causes consciousness in the atoms. It is concerned of seven categories, substance (dravya), attribute (guna), action (karma), generality (samanya), particularity (visesa), and the relationship of inherence between attributes and their substances (samavaya) and non-existence. In this system there are seven classes of realities: four classes of atoms (earth, water, light and air), space (akasa), time (kala), direction (dik), infinity of souls (atman), mind (manas). This school believes that the individual souls are eternal and they pervade the material body for a period of time. According to them, a soul is born according to its merits and demerits. God causes the combination of the moving atoms and thus is instrumental in the creation of the world.
Sage Kapila is the founder of this Philosophy. It is the oldest of the systematic schools of Indian Philosophy. It suggests a methodology of philosophical analysis. It is a strong dualist theoretical exposition of consciousness and matter. Samkhya system laid a firm foundation for the Advaita Vedanta. According to Samkhya, something can never be produced out of nothing. This universe is the result of the mutual contact of prakriti (nature) and purusha (person). Prakriti is composed of three gunas or qualities – sattva, rajas, and tamas. Sattva is illuminating, source of pleasure. Rajas is activation, propelling and a source of pain. Tamas is inertia and a source of indifference. Purusha is Consciousness. Mind and intellect are the combination of the gunas and not a part of purusha. Purusha is the pure witness. It is not an agent. The active part, Prakriti, makes the decision. Purusha does nothing, but lends consciousness to the situation. The three gunas were in a state of perfect balance in prakriti. When the equilibrium is disturbed, the Universe evolved in consecutive steps. Purusha is all pervading and eternal. Evolution is the result of the union of purusha and prakriti. The first evolute of this combination is Mahat or the cosmic intellect. Cosmic ego (ahamkara), is born out of the cosmic intellect. Various evolutes came from cosmic ego, characterized by the gunas. The mind, five organs of knowledge, the five organs of action, the five subtle elements, all these came from the cosmic ego. From the five subtle elements are born the five gross elements or pancha maha bhutas. The panca maha bhutas are earth, water, air, fire and ether. Thus twenty four evolutes came from prakriti.
Yama – abstention from doing evil, harming others, falsehood and so on.
Niyama – various observances like purity, contentment, austerity and so on.
Asana – practice of a posture.
Pranayama – practice of control of breath.
Pratyahara – withdrawal of the mind from sense objects.
Samadhi – absorption in the Self.
Steadfast practice of Astanga Yoga relieves one from the past sins and paves way to liberation.
Purva mimamsa is based on the karma kanda of the Vedas. Sage Jaimini is the founder of this school. It is one of the most orthodox of the Hindu Philosophical schools. It has its roots in the mimamsa sutra written by Sage Jaimini. The main objective of this school is to establish the authority of the Vedas. They formed the rules for Vedic interpretations. They believed in the power of the mantras and yajnas and they believed that this power sustained the activity of the Universe. Their dharma is to perform Vedic rituals. The present practicing Hindu rituals, ceremonies and law are influenced by this school. They believe that the world is real. It accepts the plurality of Souls. Liberation is attained by performing Nitya karmas. The soul undergo transmigration according to the actions performed during their lifetime.
Advaita – it is the oldest and most widely acknowledged Vedantic school. Sri Adi Sankaracharya (788CE – 820CE) is the exponent of this philosophy. He continued on the line of thought of the Upanisad teachers. Brahman is the only reality, and there exists nothing whatsoever which is not Brahman. The appearance of dualities and differences in this world is a superimposition on Brahman called Maya. Maya is the illusory and creative aspect of Brahman. Maya is neither existent nor non-existent, but appears to exist temporarily, like illusion. When a person tries to know Brahman through his mind, due to influence of Maya, Brahman appears as God (Ishvara) separate from the world and from the individual. In reality, there is no difference between the individual soul (Jivatma) and Brahman. One whose vision is obscured by ignorance does not see the non-dual nature of Reality. Self-knowledge removes ignorance. After realization, one sees one's own Self and the Universe as the same non-dual Brahman.
Visistadvaita – The principle exponent of this Vedanta school is Sage Ramanuja (12th century CE). Their philosophy is Brahman is Vishnu. All the objects and things of the Universe constitute the body of Brahman. Atma is the mental component of Brahman.
Bhedabheda – Their philosophy believes that Brahman converts itself into creation, but yet maintains a distinct identity. Thus, this school holds that Brahman is both different (bheda) and not different (abheda) from creation and the individual jiva.
The six systems or schools are divided in to three groups.
The Nyaya and the Vaiseshika – The Vaiseshika darshana is the supplement of the Nyaya darshana. Nyaya is considered as a pre requisite for all philosophical enquiries. Nyaya and Vaiseshika analyses the world of experiences. They arrange the things of the world in to certain kinds of categories (padarthas). They explain how the world is made out of atoms and molecules. Nyaya darshana sharpens the intellect and enables the aspirants to grasp the profound Vedanta philosophy.
The Samkhya and the Yoga – Yoga is the supplement of the Samkhya darshana. They both have traces of their philosophy in the Upanisads. Samkhya gives a deep knowledge of Hindu philosophy. Yoga deals with control of vrittis (thoughts) by meditation.
The Purva mimamsa and the Vedanta – Vedanta and Purva mimamasa are both based on the Vedas. Vedanta is a sabda pramana (means of knowledge by words) to know the Self. Study of Vyakarana (grammer), Mimamsa, Nyaya and Samkhya are necessary to understand Vedanta.
Nyaya and Vaiseshika make one to utilize his intellect to find out fallacies and to know the material constitution of the world. Samkhya makes one understand the course of evolution. By Yoga gains mastery over the mind and senses. Purva mimamsa prepares one for the final step of spirituality. By Vedanta one reaches the highest step of spirituality, oneness with the Supreme Being, by the destruction of ignorance.
Very good write up explaining six schools of Hindu Phylosophy, their evolution over time and their interrelationships.