text:
Russia, Turkey Compete to Entice Azerbaijan into their Geopolitical Plays
leejayuk / July 19, 2021
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor
Rahim Rahimov
The Jamestown Foundation
During the latest session of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), on July 1, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the participants effectively introduced the category of a CSTO "partner state" by setting the criteria and provisions for granting such a status to a third country (Paodkb.org, Duma.gov.ru, July 1). The speaker of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, declared that a number of states have already expressed interest in becoming a "partner" of the alliance. And the head of the Duma Committee on Eurasian Integration, Leonid Kalashnikov, specified inter alia Azerbaijan as a potential partner state, before backtracking slightly: "It is not customary to talk about that, though" (RIA Novosti, July 1). In May, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said that the "doors of the CSTO are open" to Azerbaijan, with the major obstacle being the absence of diplomatic relations with Armenia, a member of the organization (Izvestia, May 24).
At present, Moscow and Yerevan are discussing the deployment of Russian border guards to protect Armenia's border with Azerbaijan. Moreover, Yerevan has again appealed to the CSTO to evoke the article on collective defense against Baku. However, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas has responded that the alliance will only assist in case of aggression, not in a "per se border incident" between Armenia and Azerbaijan (TASS, July 3). Although Yerevan was dissatisfied with that response (Kavkazsky Uzel, July 7), the incident served as a hint to Baku: joining the organization would shield Azerbaijan from potential CSTO involvement against the country in the future, and it might become an implicit condition for the Kremlin to facilitate the "grand peace treaty" that Azerbaijan wants to reach with Armenia.
Such statements and gestures from Moscow effectively shape a discursive reality, in which Azerbaijan is purportedly ready or willing to join the CSTO but Armenia stands in the way. The next step, thus, would be to transform this discursive reality into material one through, for example, granting Azerbaijan the status of partner or observer despite Armenia's objections. Indeed, Russian expert Alexandr Perendjiyev predicts that the Armenian obstacle will be settled in order to allow Azerbaijan to become a CSTO partner (Vzglyad, July 8). Similar gestures and calls to entice Azerbaijan into the Moscow-led alliance were repeatedly made in the recent past (see EDM, July 22, 2020).
But presently, the context is sharpened by the outcomes of the Second Karabakh War (September 27–November 9, 2020), including the fact that Turkey has formally asserted its presence in Azerbaijan by signing the Shusha declaration on allied relations on June 15 (see EDM, June 23). Furthermore, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he has discussed with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, the creation of a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan and that Aliyev would discuss the matter with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Erdoğan also said that Turkey wants to involve Azerbaijan and its state-owned energy company SOCAR in hydrocarbon extraction projects in Libya (Tccb.gov.tr, June 15; Sozcu.com.tr, June 17). And reportedly, the Azerbaijani military may join Turkey's continued peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan following the United States' and most of its Western allies' withdrawal from Afghanistan. These three issues indicate that Ankara seeks to use Baku in a supportive role in Turkey's geopolitical plays. However, there is a question mark regarding whether Ankara's intentions are actually compatible with Baku's interests. One Azerbaijani member of parliament recently warned the government against the risk of becoming embroiled in Afghanistan, where superpowers like the former Soviet Union and the United States "have ended up in a disgraceful defeat" (Azpolitika.az, July 1). But the problem is whether Azerbaijan can afford to refuse Turkey since it is Baku's turn, at least in Ankara's view, to reciprocate what are described as brotherly gestures (Qaynarinfo.az, July 9).
Turkey's presence in the South Caucasus and potential march into Central Asia via Afghanistan following the US withdrawal resonate, in Russia's perception, with the so-called "Anaconda ring" conspiracy theory, which is deeply embedded in the Russian psyche. Accordingly, the US-led Western world aims to encircle Russia with hostile states and conflicts in order to eventually partition it (Posredi.ru, June 21; Euvsdisinfo.eu, accessed July 15). A recent article in the Armenian service of Sputnik News pointedly referred to Turkey's activities near Russia as evidence of the West's "Anaconda ring of Turkish bottling" (Armeniasputnik.am, June 30).
Therefore, Moscow feels pressed to counter increasing Turkish presence in Azerbaijan. Indeed, earlier this year, Moscow expressed its desire to join the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (informally, Turkic Council). Although membership requires having a majority Turkic population, the Russian Federation actually exceeds most Turkic countries (except for Turkey and Uzbekistan) in terms of the absolute combined size of its many ethnically Turkic populations. Moscow's drive to penetrate the Turkic Council appears to be driven by its interest in balancing Ankara's hegemony over the organization as well as the latter's rising popularity among Russia's own multi-million-strong Turkic-speaking minorities (see EDM, October 30, 2019 and June 28, 2021; Politicstoday.org, May 20, 2021; News.ru, May 21, 2021; Bizimyolinfo.az, May 23, 2021).
Paradoxically, the Russian attempts to join the Turkic Council or engage other Turkic nations through the CSTO or EEU in order to provide a counterweight to Turkey is frequently interpreted as evidence of a budding Russo-Turkish regional alliance. In this perspective, Turkey and Russia are purportedly the core nations of a union between the Turkic and (Eastern) Slavic civilizations under the Eurasianist idea. Incidentally, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are simultaneously members of the Turkic Council, the CSTO and EEU. Well before the outbreak of the Second Karabakh War but in the wake of the "Velvet Revolution" in Armenia, Alexander Dugin—a leading Russian proponent of Eurasianism, oftentimes (though not universally—Providence, July 8, 2019) dubbed "Putin's Rasputin" or the Kremlin's ideologue—visited, in July 2018, the village of Jojug Merjanli, one of the sites of Azerbaijan's victory in the 2016 clashes with Armenia. There, Dugin stated that Armenia "must return the five occupied districts" and that "the Russian Federation recognizes Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan." Assuming Dugin's presumed links to the Kremlin have not been overstated, his remarks may have been intended to signal to Baku Moscow's relative neutrality and red lines in the lead-up to the Second Karabakh War. Perhaps even more importantly, Dugin specifically noted, "The Eurasian idea is impossible without the alliance of Turkic and Slavic nations" (Avciya.az, July 1, 2018; Geopolitica.ru, July 1, 8, 2018). As such, Russia's maneuvers in relation to Azerbaijan and its push-and-pull approach toward Turkey seem to be dictated by the dichotomous character of the "Anaconda plan" conspiracy and Eurasianist ideology.
https://jamestown.org/program/russia-turkey-compete-to-entice-azerbaijan-into-their-geopolitical-plays/
The Jamestown Foundation kindly allows Modern Tokyo Times to publish their highly esteemed articles. Please follow and check The Jamestown Foundation website at http://www.jamestown.org
https://twitter.com/JamestownTweets The Jamestown Foundation
Photo source: The photo in this article is the original image uploaded by The Jamestown Foundation (source: President of Russia)
July 19, 2021 in Asia, Europe, Geopolitics, Russian Federation. Tags: Azerbaijan geopolitics, Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), CSTO and Azerbaijan, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas, Geopolitics of Russian Federation, Geopolitics of Turkey, Leonid Kalashnikov, Rahim Rahimov, Russia and Turkey relations, The Jamestown Foundation and Azerbaijan, Turkey's presence in the South Caucasus, Vyacheslav Volodin
CSTO 'Combat Brotherhood 2021' Exercises Send Strong Message to Afghanistan
Kazakhstan witnesses quick pull out of CSTO forces: Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
Moscow Pushes Own Approaches to Cyber Security on Rest of CSTO
← Japan and South Korea: Possible meeting between Suga and Moon in Tokyo
President Moon of South Korea cancels planned visit to Tokyo Olympics because of undiplomatic language →


text:
Data Blog: The figures behind Russia's food ban
Russian sanctions could cost EU industry more than €5 billion in exports
By Nathan Gray contact
10-Aug-2014 - Last updated on 12-Aug-2014 at 14:17 GMT
Before the sanctions came in to place, EU industry had seen strong growth in exports to Russia in recent years.
Related tags: European union, International trade
In this data blog FoodNavigator takes a look at the trade figures behind the recent Russian trade sanctions - to reveal which countries and categories will be worst hit, and who may stand to gain.
The recent ban on exports of food products from EU member states could have dire consequences for European exporters and producers of foods in the categories that are now facing a one year ban on exports to the Russia.
While government's and industry bodies have attempted to play down the importance of the Russian market in some key segments, it is clear from recent trade data analysed by FoodNavigator that the sanctions will have an impact - with some EU countries facing the prospect of losing hundreds of millions of euro's worth of export trade.
It is worth noting that Russia is the EU's second biggest export market, with total food exports amounting to €12.2bn in 2013. However, the new export sanctions will only affect certain food categories, which according to our analysis of UN trade data totalled just over €5.3bn in 2013.
Export growth on hold?
Before the ban came in to place, EU industry had seen strong growth in exports to Russia in recent years. In fact, exports to Russia increased by more than €1bn (23.75%) in the banned categories between 2010 and 2013.
The ban affects nine main food areas, with imports restricted on some or all the categories in each area. A full breakdown of what food categories are affected, including international trade HS codes can be found in our initial coverage of the Russian sanctions.
Of the nine sanctioned categories, the three largest in terms of value are 'Meat and Animal Products', 'Milk and Dairy' and 'Fruit and Nuts' – which were worth a combined €3.75bn to the EU in 2013 and accounted for just over 70% of all exports to Russia in the now forbidden export categories.
The largest growth areas between 2010 and 2013 in terms of relative growth were sausage products (220% growth) and finished products including cheeses and vegetable oils (228% growth). However these categories are much smaller in terms of total value than others, and as such only represented just over 11% (€116m) of the total growth in food exports to Russia.
The largest growth in real terms was seen in the export of 'Fruit and Nuts', with a €291m rise in exports between 2010 and 2013 (accounting for 28.6% of all export growth in the period) - suggesting that producers and exporters of such products may be some of the worst hit by the current sanctions.
Meanwhile, the export of fish and seafood to Russia fell by more than 27% in recent years, having accounted for just under 5% of total exports in banned categories in 2010 but just 3.8% in 2013.
More category specific details can be found in our infographic below.
Which countries will be hit hardest?
Analysis of trade data by countries supplying Russia with products from the three main groups that are worth most to EU producers (Meat and Animal, Milk and Dairy, Fruit and Nuts) suggests Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Denmark could be the worst hit by the trade sanctions. In fact, Poland is facing the prospect of losing out on well over half a billion euros (€604m) worth of exports to the Russian market in just these three major categories, while Lithuania is the second biggest exporter to Russia in these product groups - with exports worth more than €460m to its economy.
Breaking this down by category, trade data shows that for Meat and Animal Products, the top EU exporters to Russia are Germany (€253m), Denmark (€204m) and Poland (€131m). However, global exports to Russia in this product group are dominated by Brazil (worth €1.2bn) - with Paraguay (€392m) and Belarus (€380m) completing the top three exporters worldwide. These three countries, all of which are unaffected by the trade sanctions, supply almost 50% of Russia's imported meat and animal products - with Brazil alone supplying more than 40%.
For Milk and Dairy the top EU exporters to Russia in 2013 were the Netherlands (€256), Finland (€237m) and Germany (€157m). As with the previous category, however, global exports to Russia are dominated by a non-affected country - with Belarus supplying €1.4bn worth of Milk and Dairy products to Russia in 2013.
In Fruit and Nuts, the top EU countries to export to Russia are Poland (€337m), Lithuania (€307m) and Belgium (€169m). On a global basis, the top exporters of these products to Russia are Turkey (€460m) and Ecuador (€407m), which along with Poland, Lithuania, and China (€235m) make up the top five global exporters of the banned Fruits and Nut categories to Russia.
Based on this 2013 data FoodNavigator has also estimated that other countries affected by the Russian sanctions could stand to lose a combined €750m worth of exports in just the main three categories analysed. According to the UN trade data, of those non-EU countries affected, the US stands to lose at least €412m in exports - mainly from the Meat and Fruit & Nut categories, while over the three product groups Canada stands to lose €187m worth of exports and Australia could be hit by €157m in lost exports.
Infographic
Related topics: Commodities
Russia to extend ban on EU food imports until Jan 2016
Lithuanian dairy Rokiškio lends brand name to Russian firm to 'maintain recognition'
Russian food import ban: European farming group urges stronger action
Commission ups CAP budget by €30m to alleviate Russian ban on EU agri products

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Łuków Śląski(niem. Lukow) – wieś w Polsce położona w województwie śląskim, w powiecie rybnickim, w gminie Gaszowice.

W latach 1975–1998 miejscowość administracyjnie należała do województwa katowickiego.

Zobacz też
 Łuków, Łukówek, Łukówiec

Przypisy

Łuków Śląski

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Tsuen Wan was the first new town to be developed in Hong Kong. Although many private housing estates and commercial building have been built here in recent years, there remains much about Tsuen Wan which recalls its rural past.
The name of Tsuen Wan comes from the much earlier name "Chien Wan", which means "Shallow Bay". In 1898, Tsuen Wan village only had a population of about 3,000. Substantial development took place only in the early 1950s with the establishment of a number of industries in the Chai Wan Kok area.
Tsuen Wan is situated in the western part of the New Territories. The district is bounded by Wo Yi Hop Road and Texaco Road to the east. Its western end extends to Tsing Lung Tau, while the northern part covers the hilly areas of Tai Mo Shan. Its coastline provides a natural boundary to the south, but Ma Wan Island and northeast Lantau are also part of the Tsuen Wan district.
Tsuen Wan has unique characteristics which differ substantially from those of other 'new towns'. Visitors will see lots of modern skyscrapers set against Hong Kong's usual backdrop of mountains and seas, and also many traditional and older features. In Tsuen Wan, among the newer infrastructure, there are numerous areas retaining older, smaller and more congested developments with the appearance of traditional villages. Today, Tsuen Wan has its own town hall, organizes its own arts and sports festivals, and provides a host of interesting annual functions and activities such as the festival lighting programme for the residents and visitors. Tsuen Wan is definitely a place well worth visiting!


text:
Home > News > Data and Research > Female Gen Xers Face Greater Retirement Savings Shortfall Than Males
Data and Research January 23, 2019
Female Gen Xers Face Greater Retirement Savings Shortfall Than Males
Defined contribution (DC) retirement plan eligibility and auto portability can have a large impact on reducing retirement savings shortfalls, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) found.
A cut of data about Generation X from the Employee Benefit Research Institute's (EBRI)'s Retirement Security Projection Model (RSPM), which can assess the size of households' retirement deficit by modeling Retirement Savings Shortfalls (RSS), found the retirement deficit—or additional savings required to meet basic needs in retirement—is higher for both widows and single females than for widowers and single males.
The average RSS is $18,476 per individual for married households where the female dies first (widowers), the average RSS is $22,783 for married households where the male dies first (widows), the average RSS is $37,690 for single males, and the average RSS is $72,883 for single females.
According to the analysis, single Gen X females are the only cohort with at least 50% of households having a deficit. The median RSS for this group is $19,900, and 10% of single females have an RSS of at least $222,592.
Nearly half (48%) of single females at the lowest income quartile have at least a $100,000 RSS (connoting serious potential financial complications in retirement). This compares to one-third of single males and 42% of widows. Even in the highest income quartile 13% of single females have an RSS of at least $100,000 versus 7% for single males, 4% for widows and 3% for widowers.
Defined contribution (DC) retirement plan eligibility helps with the shortfalls. Single females with no future eligibility in a DC plan have an average RSS of $97,325 versus the $24,486 average RSS of those with at least 21 to 30 years of future eligibility. The average RSS is $39,016 worse for single females than for single males with no future DC plan eligibility. The discrepancy in the average RSS between widows and widowers with no future DC plan eligibility is $6,529.
Auto portability—where a participant's account from a former employer's retirement plan would be automatically combined with their active account in a new employer's plan—can also have a large impact, EBRI found. For those with 21 to 30 years of future DC eligibility, auto portability reduces the average RSS by 21% for single females to as much as 38% for widowers.
The full Issue Brief may be downloaded by registered members from here.
Tagged: EBRI, Employee Benefit Research Institute, Generation X, Retirement Readiness
« Lack of Education Could Result in Greater Long-Term Health Costs


We got two packers of Heinz Squeeze and Stir Soup and a mug sent to us.
When I was at University, I lived on soup. I had a kettle in my room and about a million powdered soup packets on the top shelf of my wardrobe. I liked them because they were quick and easy, didn't need a fridge (and therefore didn't require me to walk upstairs to the spooky, cold and normally dirty kitchen) and were tasty. The problem now is that I am a little older (and possibly a little wiser, but that is debatable) and have a more refined palette and most of the powdered soups taste just like that. Powdered soup. When the new Heinz range of Squeeze and Stir soups landed on my doorstep I was hoping that a shot of concentrated soup like this might change the future of instant soup!
I made the Minestrone soup for me because the Vegetable soup was gluten free and so Daddy could try the soup too. I found it to be thicker than other types of instant soup and as it was just a case of squeeze tube into mug and add hot water I found it easier than powdered instant soup as I didn't have to worry about making sure there were any pockets of unstirred powder.
The soup was normal tasting, as in it tasted like soup. It was certainly richer than powdered soup and it would be nice to keep in a work drawer or University wardrobe but it wasn't as good as either tinned soup or home made soup.
Daddy too thought it was nice, but was more interested in the conversation with one of his colleagues about what eating the concentrated soup would be like (I managed to persuade them both that this wasn't a good idea). Seeing as the packs are only 59p each though I don't think it will be long before they are trying out some form of concentrated Soup shots dare game!


TCSHRM is pleased to invite HR students to the TCSHRM 2018 Student Conference. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, enhance your professional reputation and network with local HR professionals and students!
Teri Calderon is the EVP of People Operations at Field Nation, a Minneapolis-based company that is changing the way to source, engage and manage the on-site contingent workforce.
An executive with more than 20 years of experience in human resources, Calderon enjoys pushing the boundaries of her craft in order to come up with innovative but simple strategies to tackle today's complex talent management problems. As an ambassador for an award-winning company culture, Calderon is dedicated to aligning talent management programs with organizational goals in order to increase engagement, decrease turnover, improve productivity and achieve growth goals.
Before Field Nation, Calderon was the SVP of Human Resources at Atterro Human Capital Group where she created innovative talent management programs which resulted in higher employee engagement and reduced total company turnover by 30 percent.
On a personal note, Calderon is a working mother of two and cherishes time spent with her husband, two sons and two pet dogs. Passionate about education, Calderon serves as a Trustee for the Foundation at Metropolitan State University.
Through this interactive case study, students get an insider's perspective on the hiring process. Students are taken through 6 steps in the hiring process while learning important lessons for their job search along the way. They learn resume tips, how to customize their resume, how to make their application stand out, the importance of networking, navigating assessments & background checks, salary negotiations, and how to navigate the offer process.
Audra Emerson is a passionate advocate for early career development. With over 20 years of Recruiting and Human Resources experience she has helped thousands of people establish and advance their careers at top start-ups and Fortune elite companies. Her breadth of experience crosses financial services, retail, technology and manufacturing industries with clients such as Target, Russell Investments, US Bank, Ameriprise, Allianz and more.
As co-founder of CareerPrep, Audra's recruiting expertise is used to help young professionals build their brand, network, and excel at every stage of the hiring process. Audra is a first generation college student and has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is a frequent speaker on topics including LinkedIn, Inside Scoop on the Hiring Process, Finding Your Fit, Relationship Building, and Salary Negotiations. Audra brings her passion for sports and developing women leaders to her board position with the EGAA (Edina Girls Athletic Association).
As co-founder of CareerPrep, Sara Wegmann is a powerful guide for emerging careers. She's passionate about coaching, guiding, and teaching young professionals as they navigate their early careers. Sara brings extensive experience in talent development from top companies such as Deloitte, Target, and Merrill Lynch to help coach and train young professionals as they launch and build their careers.
As an HR leader Sara has interviewed countless candidates, coached employees on job changes and career transitions, and helped leaders and managers assess talent and make hiring decisions. She has also led the development of mentoring, training, and leadership development programs for leaders and new hires at Fortune 500 companies. Sara has been passionate about career coaching since working at the Career Center at Lawrence University. Her specialties include helping young professionals effectively build their brand and networks, student athlete career development, and developing young women leaders. Sara has a B.A. in Psychology from Lawrence University and an MBA in HR and Management and Organizations from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.
TCSHRM is looking for HR professionals to volunteer one hour of their time (1-2 pm) to network with students. Why network?
The conference attracts the best and the brightest—you may find your next HR intern or full-time college hire!
Join TCSHRM today and SAVE on membership & registration!
TCSHRM membership is FREE if you are already a national SHRM member!
The University of Minnesota is not endorsing or sponsoring activities conducted by TCSHRM on the University of Minnesota campus. The relationship between the University of Minnesota and TCSHRM is solely that of licensor and licensee.


text:
using System;
using System.Reactive;
using System.Reactive.Linq;
using Toggl.Shared;

namespace Toggl.Core.Interactors.Changes
{
    public class ObserveWorkspaceOrTimeEntriesChangesInteractor : IInteractor<IObservable<Unit>>
    {
        private readonly IInteractorFactory interactorFactory;

        public ObserveWorkspaceOrTimeEntriesChangesInteractor(IInteractorFactory interactorFactory)
        {
            Ensure.Argument.IsNotNull(interactorFactory, nameof(interactorFactory));

            this.interactorFactory = interactorFactory;
        }

        public IObservable<Unit> Execute()
            => Observable.Merge(
                interactorFactory.ObserveWorkspacesChanges().Execute(),
                interactorFactory.ObserveTimeEntriesChanges().Execute());
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Winter Fugue: Diary of a Novel
Listening to the Murmur
Among the gifts I received for Christmas was a book voucher to the value of £100. I used it to pick up a dozen new paperbacks that ended up making me nauseous. To be fair, I had anticipated the feeling. It's a familiar one in the process of writing a novel. I can barely write a word without first looking around at the superabundance of novels already in existence and asking myself if the world is really in need of a new one like Winter Fugue. More than that, I can barely write a word without first looking over the handful of novels that I consider flawless, the novels that I'd say have changed my life, and wondering why a new novel should be written when whatever faint power it possesses will almost certainly fall short of theirs.
It's a truism of writing workshops that it's impossible to become a writer if you're not first and foremost a reader. I don't disagree with that, but I also recognise the double-bind it involves. For me, being the reader I am, it's impossible to write the novel I'm writing without bearing in mind the force of the competition it faces. I'm constantly aware of the inadequacies it harbours, relative to the best of its kind, and I'm aware, too, of the obscurity that likely awaits it if it makes its way into print. To write it at all, in fact, is to labour away in conscious defiance of this dual awareness, with a wilful dismissal of everything that the reader in me is trying to warn the writer about.
Nevertheless, I don't stop writing. I'm still writing this novel. I'm writing it because I can't not write it, because I can't choose not to write it. I can't not write it for the same reason that, too often, I can't write most of the things I know I have to write to get by in everyday life. The reason I have to write Winter Fugue is because I hear the murmur, and the reason I can't write so many quotidian things is because, in those cases, I can't hear it. The murmur, when it comes, always compels a response, but forcing out words when it's not there is an agonising test of my will — a test I tend to fail.
The murmur is the beginning of the imperative to write. It's almost like a sound, like a resonance in the skull, like a muffled voice coming from the other side of a wall. It fluctuates, it has rhythms and cadences, it rushes loudly and softens to a whisper the way a river flows, pools, eddies quietly, trickles on, cascades over rocks. It doesn't come to me in words so much as in atmospheric noise, a backing track to my interaction with the world. I recognise it as the herald of the start of something new, something for which I am a sort of medium or transmission device, and it doesn't stop, it won't abate, until I move to bring that something into being. In fact, I know, it will persist, and it will only grow louder until I cave in and answer its demands.
My hunch is that the murmur, too, springs from my habits as a reader. In an average year, I read between fifty and sixty works of fiction, as well as mountains of essays on works I haven't yet read. The murmur, I think, is the voice or, better, the audible pulse, the stylistic sound signature, the prosodic tempo of a work of fiction that I'm searching for out there in the world, that I want to find already in existence, but that does not yet actually exist. For that reason, it comes to me as a voice that I genuinely have not heard before in all my experience as a reader of fiction — and as a reader of writing by other readers of fiction — and after a time the fact that I am alone in hearing it becomes something I am no longer able to abide.
I mean that in a moral sense. In an essay I wrote long ago — I forget exactly where — I tried to describe the sort of writing that exists because an author seems to have reached a point at which its absence from the world becomes intolerable. It becomes intolerable in the way that any event of ethical immediacy becomes intolerable. Inaction amounts to a passive consent to the continuation of a state of affairs that must be brought to an end. In this case, I said, the imperative to write comes from an "irritation of the conscience." Intellectually, of course, it's clear that there's no moral weight or urgency to this imperative to write — the world will survive just fine without the work that feels as if it must be written — but the imperative does exert an emotional pull equivalent to that of a moral one. When the murmur builds and builds, eventually it saddles me with a conviction that a world that lacks this thing, this thing that wants to exist, is a world that can't be allowed to go on as it is.
That said, exactly what it is that wants to exist — what it might say, what it might contain — takes longer to discover. There's no scenario, for me, in which ideas or views or events arrive first and cry out for expression. Writing always starts with the murmur, which is always unintelligible, and only over time does it congeal into something more substantive than pure sound.
Winter Fugue
← Distractions
The Reverberation of Their Will →


Traditionally crafted, premium quality soya sauce. Cedarwood aged.
A few drops of this rich, savoury seasoning bring out the subtle flavours in soups, sauces, salads, grains and vegetables. Use during the last few minutes of cooking to preserve the delicate flavour.
https://www.planetorganic.com/clearspring-shoyu-500ml-500ml/3330/ 3330 Clearspring Organic Shoyu (500ml) https://www.planetorganic.com/images/products/medium/3330.jpg 5.69 5.69 GBP Clearspring InStock /soy-sauce-and-tamari/ Made with whole soya beans and aged in cedarwood kegs.


text:
Blackmores chief executive Henfrey resigns
Lex Hall | 26 Feb 2019Text size |
Health supplement company Blackmores has given no reason for the sudden departure of its chief executive Richard Henfrey, who has resigned after 18 months in the job.
Henfrey, who has been with the company in a variety of executive roles since April 2009, will remain in the position while the board searches for a new CEO.
He has been in the role since August 2017, when he took over from Christine Holgate.
The company did not state a reason for his resignation.
Blackmores shares hit an 18-month low last week after the vitamin maker told investors not to expect an increase in sales to China.
Blackmore shares were down 3.1 per cent, or $3.01, to $92.18 at 11.20am Sydney time.
Morningstar downgraded its fair value estimate for Blackmores in the wake of the company's first-half result.
Previously at $135, the narrow-moat stock now carries a fair value estimate of $105, a fall of 22 per cent. The stock now screens as marginally undervalued.
The company posted a record first-half revenue of $319 million – a rise of 11 per cent on the previous corresponding period.
Listen to Morningstar Australia's Investing Compass podcast
Take a deep dive into investing concepts, with practical explanations to help you invest confidently.
Revenue in Australia and New Zealand grew 19 per cent on the prior corresponding period.
The company also reported strong sales in Asian markets. Korea rose 67 per cent, Taiwan 150 per cent and Hong Kong 39 per cent.
However, Henfrey said that despite continued investment in advertising and promotion, the dent in China sales had taken a toll.
"Due to this planned investment in the period and a softening in China growth, there has been a short-term impact on profit growth."
The company said it was conducting a review of its investment approach in China and the impact of "channel shifts", or more Australian retailers directly directing the China export trade.
Blackmores plunges amid poor China sales, weak outlook
China sales boost Blackmores full-year profit
Stagnant wages, slide in house prices add to RBA anxiety
What to do (and not do) in a volatile market
Bare shelves only a short-term hit to Coles and Woolies
Morningstar's outlook for 2022
Lex Hall is senior editor for Morningstar Australia
© 2022 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither Morningstar, its affiliates, nor the content providers guarantee the data or content contained herein to be accurate, complete or timely nor will they have any liability for its use or distribution. This information is to be used for personal, non-commercial purposes only. No reproduction is permitted without the prior written consent of Morningstar. Any general advice or 'regulated financial advice' under New Zealand law has been prepared by Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), or its Authorised Representatives, and/or Morningstar Research Ltd, subsidiaries of Morningstar, Inc, without reference to your objectives, financial situation or needs. For more information, refer to our Financial Services Guide (AU) and Financial Advice Provider Disclosure Statement (NZ). Our publications, ratings and products should be viewed as an additional investment resource, not as your sole source of information. Morningstar's full research reports are the source of any Morningstar Ratings and are available from Morningstar or your adviser. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product's future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a licensed financial adviser. Some material is copyright and published under licence from ASX Operations Pty Ltd ACN 004 523 782. The article is current as at date of publication.


Karndean Flooring plays host as issues surrounding unwanted acoustics in the office are up for discussion.
Whether it's offices where you can't concentrate, restaurants where you can't hear what your dining companion is saying or domestic environments where you can hear your neighbours, noise is a major issue in interior design today. It's no surprise to learn that 80 million EU citizens live in unacceptably noisy areas according to the Institute of Acoustics.
A panel of design industry insiders gathered at London's Material Lab for a fascinating discussion on the challenges of acoustics in interior design, chaired by Paul Barratt, managing director of Karndean Flooring. The panel's experience ran the gamut of various sectors in interior design, from hospitality to workplace to residential.
Offices are another place where getting acoustics right is crucial, as Nathan Watson, designer at Morgan Lovell described. 'Spaces are going more open-plan, which is good for collaboration but it's not good for concentration. If you look around the average office, about half the people are wearing headphones to block out noise. Somewhere like a call centre might also have to be partitioned off from the rest of the office,' he commented. This need to control the noise, he says, goes a long way to explain the resurgence in quiet areas and bookable meeting rooms, 'just somewhere to make a phone call or crunch some numbers. Sometimes we'll get a teleconferencing room that has to have a certain reverberation level as well'. Paul Barratt said it was interesting to note the productivity rate and how that undoubtedly increases when people have a place where they can concentrate in the office.
Watson talked about a range of acoustic solutions: 'You can use feature lighting or ceiling panels that simply drop down in a grid. These look fantastic and you're adding to the acoustic quality to the space.' Celella referred to the success of high-back chairs in the workplace, which enable confidential conversations to take place. The advantage of furniture with sound-muffling properties is economic too: clients can move them to their next premises, whereas the same can't always be said of partitions. Victoria Evans, interior designer The Drawing Room Interiors, brought up the issue of noise travelling between rooms. 'You don't want to hear what's in the next room because it might be a completely different situation.
Celella has been working on a residential project where the client's relative, who has dementia, will live. 'They have brought in an acoustic expert to work alongside me. It's very unusual for pay extra for someone like that to come in. Although it's a normal domestic space, we've been looking at where the glass is, what we need to reflect. It's been interesting because there are lots of hard surfaces and it's about how we can deal with that through artwork and furnishings.' Indeed, Celella adds that she finds artwork to be a highly effective acoustic solution, either by using quilted sections or by incorporating whole acoustic panels within the piece.
All the panel participants agreed that managing clients' expectations was essential. Watson said: 'Clients think that if they put a wall up, it's going to stop the sound. It's not. If you have suspended ceilings for example, you've got noise travelling below and above.' Another factor was keeping a close check on ensuring the materials with acoustic properties originally specified for a project actually appear in the finished result and haven't been superseded by a cheaper, often acoustically inferior product, along the line.


If you're a personal trainer or an owner of a fitness center this time of year can be the most lucrative as thousands if not millions of people resolve to work out, eat healthier and drink more water. While your current clients may know all about your services, the newbies need a little nudging.
Branded apparel is a great marketing tool to promote your gym/services as well as a fun incentive to motivate your clients to reach their goals or sign up for more sessions.
Consider running a special where each new membership or annual renewal includes a free headband or towel. Signing up a referral (friend, family member, coworker) could earn them a filtered water bottle. As a personal trainer, any client that signs up for 10 or more sessions receives a free performance tee. Better still, lose __% body fat and receive a compression shirt or workout mat. And don't forget you can always have retail items that your clients can purchase on and offline.
Whatever you choose make sure all of these items have at least one thing in common. Your logo of course! Promotional items, when used strategically, are a great way to reach a larger audience. When thinking about a promotional program, be sure to understand what you hope to accomplish, budget constraints and above all your market. Your selections should reinforce your services and products and appeal to your target market. Also consider co-op marketing and bartering as a strategy. A gift certificate to a local greasy spoon may not be the ideal partner but speaking at the local health food store could garner more awareness new clients.
Building a promotional program within your marketing plan can be exciting, overwhelming at times and rewarding. Be creative, be realistic and (in every medium and message) be consistent.
Thanks to our friends at CORE Fitness for the use of their logo.
Don't go another day as an #unnoticedBiz.


text:
The Fate of the Art of History in Contemporary Eastern Europe: New National Narratives or Search for New Methodology? ›
The Fate of the Art of History in Contemporary Eastern Europe: New National Narratives or Search for New Methodology?
Monday, December 10, 2007 - 10:00am to Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 3:15pm
The goal of the workshop was two-folded. First, to distinguish between the rising "new national narratives" throughout Central and Eastern Europe (Russia included) that penetrate school textbooks and politicians' vocabulary on the one hand, and new Comparative and trans-national history that finds its way to academia and university classrooms in the region, on the other. The second goal of the workshop was to provide a common explanatory framework for introducing a series of concepts grounded in the academic discourse on international relations into the teaching of trans-national history.
The organizers of the workshop worried about the growing use of history in Russia and some other Eastern European countries as a tool for setting political demands and for promotion of identity policies aimed at construction of "the Other". New school texts and officially "recommended" narratives create preconditions for possible cultural and even political conflicts in the region. On the other hand, contemporary art of History has already outlived the period of creation of national narratives. However, many university teachers are unfamiliar with the modern theoretical approaches to historical research. Moreover, some concepts recently migrated to art of History from the other disciplines and need to be adapted and adopted.
The project is focused on a set of theoretical approaches pertaining to different disciplines of historical background (History of International Relations, Diplomatic History, History of Civilizations, History of Political Thought, Modern and Current History, Russian History, and the like). The workshop was interested in those approaches that are, in a way, "moving targets", which means that they "migrate" from one teaching discipline to another (for example, from History of Political Thought to History of IR). In educational terms, these are "multiple use concepts" that require special attention due to the fact that each of them conceptually frames more than one teaching discipline. For instance, such concepts as identity, hegemony, discourse, policy / politics, representation, norm / rule, gender and others are parts of a number of teaching disciplines. The problem looming large here is that educators in each of them tend to come up with their own explanations of the meaning of this or that concept, its cognitive force and conceptual limitations. Each discipline has its own vocabulary and a set of educational approaches, which actualizes the search for common backgrounds that would bridge the gaps between the disciplines.
A unified approach to a variety of theoretical departures is neither possible nor desirable, but what is in demand is a menu of teaching techniques to provide a common interpretative framework and terminological background for each of the theoretical departures in question. To a certain extent, this is a communicative issue: it is quite challenging to form a shared vocabulary that would suite not only historians but also International Relations specialists of different epistemic pedigrees.
The approach to a significant extent consists in identifying the key concepts (nodal/quilting points) within the academic disciplines listed above and tracing their transformations. It was the intention of this workshop to define the conditions under which the key concepts belonging to one discipline might be used (both in educational and research purposes) within another discipline, and whether this operation of displacement might be conducive to appearance of new articulations.
The workshop was especially important for Volgograd State University: Volgograd (former Stalingrad) was the battleground of the major battle of the Second World War, and it became the major symbol for Russian national historical narrative. Without deconstructing the narrative, the workshop will deepen the understanding of key concepts involved into its construction and assist historians to acquire skills of contemporary Historical profession.
Program and list of participants:
List of participants:
Dr. Ivan Kurilla (Volgograd State University)
Dr. Alexander Kubyshkin (Volgograd State University)
Dr. Sergey Golunov (Volgograd State University)
Dr. Nikolay Stankov (Volgograd State University)
Russian participants from other cities
Dr. Andrey Makarychev (Nizhny Novgorod Linguistic University)
Dr. Andrey Dakhin (Volga & Viatka Academy for Public Service)
Dr. Alexander Sergounin (Nizhny Novgorod State University)
Dr. Maxim Bulakhtin (Perm' University)
Dr. Olga Malinova (Russian Association of Political Science)
Dr. Victoria Zhuravleva (Russian State University for the Humanities)
Dr. Dmitrii Polyvyannyi (Ivanovo State University)
Non-Russian Participants
Dr. Georgii Sanikidze (Institute for Oriental Studies, Tbilisi, Georgia)
Dr. Arif Yusufov (Institute of peace and Democracy, Baku, Azerbaijan)
Dr. Volodymir Dubovyk (Odessa National University, Ukraine)


The hormone progesterone is often associated with pregnancy, but did you know that it has many other amazing benefits for your body? A woman's progesterone levels gradually decline with age, which allows estrogen to dominate, causing many unwanted negative health symptoms. By restoring your progesterone levels back to normal, you can alleviate your symptoms.
1. PMS – Progesterone regulates the menstrual cycle and relieves the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
2. Anxiety, Depression and Low Moods – Progesterone acts as a natural antidepressant, relieves anxiety and improves moods. It also relieves postpartum depression which is caused by the drastic drop in progesterone after childbirth.
3. Migraines and Headaches – Progesterone is helpful in relieving migraines and headaches.
4. Fertility and Pregnancy – Progesterone promotes the survival of the embryo and fetus throughout a pregnancy.
5. Fluid Retention and Weight Gain – Progesterone relieves fluid retention and weight gain caused by estrogen dominance.
6. Sleep – Progesterone has a calming effect that helps promote sound sleep.
7. Bone Health – Progesterone promotes bone building and helps reverse osteoporosis.
8. Thyroid Function – Progesterone helps the thyroid hormones be used by the cells of your body which allows for optimal thyroid function and energy.
9. Cancer Prevention – Progesterone protects you against endometrial and breast cancer.
10. Brain Healing – Progesterone reduces swelling and improves mental clarity after a traumatic brain injury.
By replenishing your progesterone with bioidentical progesterone, you can relieve your symptoms. Bioidentical progesterone is identical to the progesterone made by your body. Progesterone is the natural female hormone that promotes pregnancy by preparing the body for conception, regulating the menstrual cycle and maintaining the pregnancy. It also balances the estrogen in your body and plays an important role in your overall well-being.
It's important to make the distinction between progestin and progesterone, because they are not the same. Progestins (such as Provera) are synthetic chemicals with a different molecular structure than progesterone, which makes them patentable by the pharmaceutical companies, but they do not have the same beneficial effects as your body's naturally occurring progesterone. In fact, progestins are used in hormonal contraceptives and in the "morning after pills" to prevent pregnancy. The Women's Health Initiative showed that progestins cause bleeding problems, blood clots, and even cancer.
Mainstream medicine still erroneously uses these two terms interchangeably today. If you're still in doubt, just ask your doctor if you can take progestin while you're pregnant. You'll hear a resounding "no"!
Take our symptom checker quiz today to find out if your symptoms could be caused by a progesterone deficiency.
Thank you for your question. You can take progesterone in capsules or creams. It is best to work with your doctor on the appropriate dose. Capsules are able to deliver the exact dose that is prescribed by your doctor. You don't have to rely on a "one size fits all" pill – you can take the dose that is needed for your particular health needs and symptoms. Capsules allow your doctor to individualize your dose and also make it easy to adjust your dose as you work with your doctor to find the right dose to alleviate your symptoms. With capsules, you can administer a higher dose than with creams.
Check the website and the amazing testimonials.
I am going to order some this week to enjoy the benefits.
I am on a blood thinner now due a clotting disorder and I want to know if taking progesterone will help me to get back to myself. I have not taken any type of hormone replacement since 1998 and I am getting older and wanted to know if progesterone is good for me. I am 59 year old African American and I just don't feel the same anymore.
Assuming you are in menopause, it's common for women to not feel well because their ovaries are no longer making the estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone that you normally had prior to menopause. Our doctors restore women's hormones with bioidentical hormones that are identical to the hormones made by your body. Then you can feel healthy and well again.
If we may be of service to you, please call our Wellness Consultants for a complimentary wellness consultation at 281-698-8698. It would be our privilege to serve you.
Thank you for your question. You would need to check with your aesthetician regarding this question. We do not do permanent make-up procedures at our wellness center.
Dr. I am 67 post menopausal and my doctor started me on bioidentical hormones estriol, testosterone, progesterone 50mg. Problem is progesterone not helping with my sleep at all. It doesn't even make me drowsy. I stay up all nite alm I st and never feel sleepy. I am so miserable. Been taking hormones about 2 weeks. Had blood work done and tests showed I have no hormones. Body depleted running on empty tank so to speak. What advice or info can you share with me about my situation. I also had skeep study done and nothing wrong with me neurologically. No apnea. Please help!!!!!!
We will be happy to help you. Our doctors are experts in diagnosing and treating hormone imbalances. Please call our wellness consultants at 281-698-8698 for a complimentary wellness consultation. We see patients from all over the world – you only need to come here to Houston in person for your first comprehensive visit with the doctor, then after that, your follow-ups may be done over the phone. It would be our privilege to serve you.
Hi, I'm perimenopausal with really irregular cycles. I was on progesterone capsules 100mg days 8 through 26. I was just bumped up to taking it daily. That seems like a lot for not being in menopause, does this sound right? Also can low progesterone cause hair thinning?
I've had an ablation should I take progesterone and if so what dose?
Thank you for reaching out. First, what symptoms are you having after the ablation? You would need to check with your doctor who performed your surgery. We cannot diagnose nor give medical advice over the internet, our doctors would need to evaluate you in person, however please take our symptom checker to help identify all of the symptoms you are having and what could possibly be the underlying cause: https://www.hotzehwc.com/symptom-checker/ Symptoms are key in helping to diagnose what could be the underlying cause.
Our doctors are experts in diagnosing and treating hormone imbalances. Please call our wellness consultants at 281-698-8698 for a complimentary wellness consultation. We see patients from all over the world – you only need to come here to Houston in person for your first comprehensive visit with the doctor, then after that, your follow-ups may be done over the phone. It would be our privilege to serve you.


text:
Christmas with Ignatius of Loyola
A meditation on the mystery of Christmas
By Enrico Cattaneo, SJ | Vatican City
Ignatius was convalescing in his castle in Loyola.
A few months earlier, defending the walls of Pamplona during a French siege, a cannonball had broken his leg, and now he was slowly recovering.
On long winter evenings he would normally read books on chivalry that excited his imagination. However, the only books in the castle were a Lives of the Saints and the Vita Christi (VC) by Ludolphus of Saxony.
This esteemed ascetic writer (born around 1295, he died in Strasbourg in 1377) was first a Dominican, then a Carthusian, the prior of the Carthusian monastery of Koblenz, and author of the Vita Jesu Christi ex quatuor Evangeliis, a powerful theological-spiritual commentary on all four Gospels, enriched by many quotations from the Fathers and spiritual authors of the Middle Ages.
A crucial reading
The year was 1521. Ignatius read those substantial volumes in a Castilian translation and was attracted. He would say that this reading was crucial for his conversion.
Today, better than in the past, we realize the importance of the Vita Christi in Ignatius' spirituality, to the point that we can find many traces of it in his Spiritual Exercises (ES), especially in the contemplation of the Nativity (ES 111-117).
For this reason, on the eve of the Ignatian Year 2021-2022, which the Jesuits intend to celebrate during the fifth centenary year of his being wounded at Pamplona.
We also want to reread with Ignatius the commentary Ludolphus made on Luke's Gospel, chapter 2, which tells of the nativity of Christ.
The learned Carthusian scholar follows the Gospel text to the letter, gradually introducing his comments. We will follow those that best serve our meditation on the mystery of Christmas.
The census
Luke 2:1: "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered."
Ludolphus emphasizes that at the time of Christ's birth, "the world, previously perturbed, was quiet under the reign of Caesar Augustus.
Christ wanted to be born at that time, because it was appropriate that, being born the peaceful king and the prince of peace, his birth was foretold by peace. Christ always sought peace.
He loved lovers of peace and charity, and taught peace in his life and gave it as an inheritance to his disciples on his departure" (VC I, 9:1).
According to Ludolphus, the census was not only a means of counting the inhabitants, but also a way of levying tribute.
Thus, with three acts – self-certification, inscription and tribute – the Jews had to profess themselves subjects of the Roman Empire: "Here for the first time Judea became tributary of the Romans, forced to pay for its troops" (VC I, 9:2).
Luke 2:4-5: "Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child."
Ludolphus comments: "For your sake the Lord chose to be enrolled in an earthly census, so that your name would be inscribed in heaven. Thus he gave you an example of perfect humility. The Savior began with it in his birth, and with it he continued until death, in which he 'humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even death on a cross'" (Phil 2:8).
Ludolphus is also attentive to the condition of Mary, who was pregnant: "For from Nazareth to Jerusalem it is about thirty-five miles, and then, heading south from Jerusalem, after about five miles is Bethlehem. And the Virgin, although she was close to giving birth, was not weighed down by the journey, but touched the earth lightly: the light she carried in her could not weigh her down" (VC I, 9:4).
Poor among the poor
Luke 2:6-7: "While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."
Ludolphus remarks: "Because they were poor, they could find no housing, due to the great confluence of people there for the same reason. Put yourself in Our Lady's shoes. See that delicate fifteen-year-old girl, tired from the long journey, who moves among people with modesty, looking for a place to rest and not finding one" (VC I, 9:6).
In the end, Mary and Joseph find shelter in a temporary shelter, "inside the city, near one of the gates, under a concave rock that had no roof. The men who came to the city for a few stores used to bring their animals there" (ibid.).
Here Joseph begins to work: "He who was a carpenter made a manger for the ox and donkey they had brought with them: a donkey to put the pregnant Virgin on, and an ox, perhaps to sell and with the proceeds pay the tribute for himself and the Virgin, and have something to live on" (ibid.).
The firstborn son
Ludolphus then explains in what sense it should be understood that Mary gave birth to "her firstborn son": "Here firstborn does not say relationship to one who follows, but deprivation with respect to one who precedes him, because there was no one before him.
"Every only-begotten child, Bede says, is firstborn; and every firstborn, as such is only-begotten. And since the Son of God wanted to be born in time from a mother according to the flesh, in order to be able to acquire many brethren for the new birth in the Spirit, that is why it is better said firstborn than only-begotten" (VC I, 9, 7).
The birth took place "at midnight on the Lord's day, when 'night in its swift course was now half gone' (Wis 18:14), because on the same day when he said: 'Let there be light, and there was light' (Gen 1:3), the Lord visited us, the 'rising Sun coming from above' (Luke 1:78)" (VC I, 9:7).
"He was born at night, because he came in a hidden fashion, to bring back to the light of truth those who were in the night of error" (VC I, 9:8).
As soon as he was born, "his mother immediately worshipped him as God, and by herself wrapped him in clothes, that is, in simple and used clothing, and placed him not in a cradle of gold, but in a manger, among the animals mentioned above, that is, the ox and the donkey" (VC I, 9:7).
Ludolphus comments: "You see the great poverty and destitution of Christ: not only did he not have a home of his own where to be born, but not even a place that could be considered convenient and adequate. It was necessary to put him in a manger for lack of space.
"Thus the saying was true: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" (Luke 9:58). Thus the Lord rested: first, in the Virgin's womb; second, in a foul manger; third, on the gallows of the cross; fourth, in a tomb that was not his own. This was the extent of his poverty and his places of rest!" (VC I, 9:7).
Luke 2:8-9: "In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them."
Why did the angel appear to the shepherds and not to others? Ludolphus responds: "First, because they were poor, and Christ came for the poor, as the psalm says: 'For the misery of the poor and the groaning of the poor' (Psalm 11:6).
"Second, because they were simple, as we read in Proverbs: 'The simple are in his confidence' (Prov 3:32).
"Third, because they were vigilant, as Proverbs says: 'Those who seek me diligently, find me' (Prov 8:17)" (VC I, 9:12).
Luke 2:10-11: "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
Bethlehem, although a small village, was still the City of David, and significant events had taken place there.
Ludolphus is pleased to enumerate them: "Bethlehem, a small town, minimal, opened the way to the homeland of paradise. Before, it was called Ephrath (cf. Gen 48:7).
"There was a famine there (cf. Ruth 1:1), after which there was a great abundance, and then it was called Bet-lehem, that is, 'the house of bread.' "It is by no means least among the cities of Judah" (Matt 2:6), being excellent in dignity, having known many significant events before the coming of Christ.
"David was anointed there (1 Sam 16:13), a solemn sacrifice was celebrated there (1 Sam 16:2), the marriage between Ruth and Boaz was celebrated there (Ruth 4). These three things foreshadowed the union of the divinity with humanity, the true sacrifice and the immutable kingdom.
"Then Bethlehem knew the joy of awaiting the coming of Christ. Who could worthily evaluate the joy of the angels who praised God, the shepherds who saw the Lord, the Magi who adored him and all the people who believed in him? But Bethlehem after the birth of Christ also knew the martyrs, when Herod had the children killed" (VC I, 9:22).
Ludolphus then explains the meaning of the term "Christ": "Christòs in Greek is equivalent to unctus in Latin: in the Old Testament only kings and priests were 'anointed' [i.e. consecrated by sacred anointing]; now Christ is King and Priest, and therefore he is rightly called Christ, i.e. anointed, not by human anointing, but divine anointing, because in the humanity assumed for us he was anointed [i.e. consecrated] by God the Father, indeed by all the Trinity, with fullness of grace" (VC I, 9:12).
The sign of the Child
Luke 2:12: "This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."
Ludolphus comments: "You will find, like one who is hidden, a child, like one who does not speak, and yet it is the Word of God; wrapped in swaddling clothes, not in silk garments, a sign of his poverty; lying in a manger, not in a cradle of gold, a sign of his humility, because even though he is the Lord of Lords he has lowered himself to be in a manger of animals.
"It should be noted that the shepherds were simple, poor and humble, i.e. people who can be despised; and in order for them not to be afraid to approach, they were given the signs of childhood, of poverty and humility in Christ. These are the signs of Christ's first coming; others will be the signs of his second coming" (VC I, 9:12).
Luke 2:13-14: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!'"
Ludolphus read in the Latin text: "Peace on earth to people of good will," that is, "to those who welcome the new born Christ, with good will, without persecuting him. For 'there is no peace for fools?' (Isa 2:22), while there is 'much peace for those who love your law, Lord' (Psalm 118:165).
"In fact, according to Pope Leo, the true peace of the Christian consists in not separating himself from the will of God and in feeling joy only in the things of God. To be at peace with God is to want what he commands and not to want what he forbids. Peace is therefore proclaimed to people of good will, that is, to good people" (VC I, 9:14).
"It is well said: Glory to God and peace to all people. For through Christ, the Father is glorified and peace is made between God and humans, between the angel and us, between the Jews and the other peoples" (ibid.).
Luke 2:15-16: "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger."
'Go yourself and see the Child'
Here Ludolphus invites each one of us to become one of the shepherds: "Go yourself now and see the Word made flesh for you and, kneeling, adore the Lord your God, greet his Mother and Saint Joseph with respect. Then kiss the feet of the child Jesus, lying in the manger, and pray to Our Lady to hand him to you or allow you to take the child.
"Then take him with you and hold him in your arms. Look carefully at his face, kiss him with respect and delight in the depths of your heart. You can do it, be sure, because he came precisely for sinners, to save them; he treated them with humility and in the end gave himself to them as food.
"The Lord, who is good, will patiently allow you to touch him, and will not consider it presumptuous, but an act of love. But always do it with reverence and fear, for he is the holy of holies. Then return him to his mother, and observe carefully how diligently and wisely she nurses him and treats him, and carries out the other tasks. Be ready to serve him and help her if you can" (VC I, 9:20).
Here we cannot fail to mention Ignatius of Loyola, who in his Spiritual Exercises wrote: "See Our Lady and Joseph and the handmaiden and child Jesus, after he is born, making myself the poor unworthy servant boy who looks at them, contemplates them and serves them in their needs as if I were present, with every possible respect and reverence" (ES 114).
In conclusion, Ludolphus takes up the accents of the Christmas liturgy: "You must therefore meditate with joy on how great the solemnity of this day is. For today Christ is born, and this is truly the Christmas day of the eternal King and the Son of the living God. Today 'for us a child was born, the Son was given to us' (Isaiah 9:6).
"Today the 'sun of righteousness' (Mal 4:2), previously hidden by clouds, has risen and shone with clarity. Today the 'bridegroom' of the Church, head of the elect, 'has come out of his bridal chamber' (Psalm 18:5). Today 'the most beautiful among the sons of men' (Psalm 44:3) has shown his desired face.
"Today the day of our redemption, of ancient reparation, of eternal happiness, has shone for us. Today peace is announced to us, as we sing in the angelic hymn. Today, as the Church sings, the heavens are dripping honey all over the world. Today 'the kindness and humanity of our Savior our God has appeared' (Tit 3:4)" (VC I, 9:26).
A characteristic of Ludolphus' commentary is that each chapter ends with a prayer, in conversational style, whose content is suggested by the same Gospel text.
Here is the one at the end of the chapter on the Nativity: "Sweet Jesus, you who were born humble from a humble handmaiden, you who wished to be wrapped in humble clothes and laid in a manger, grant me, through your ineffable nativity, most merciful Lord, that the holiness of a new life may be reborn in me.
"Let me humbly wear the religious habit, so that, taking my rule of life seriously, as if I were lying in a manger, I may reach the summit of true humility. And as you, have deigned to participate in our humanity and mortality, let me be part of your divinity and eternity. Amen" (VC I, 9, oratio).
This article first appeared in La Civiltà Cattolica.
If God were not love, whom could I relate to?
A Merry Christmas in 2020?
Countdown to Christmas: Jesus is "our God with us"
Surprise Us, Lord
Sowing seeds of fraternity between believers


text:
Q: Magento 2: add specific option for widget I want to add specific widgets in admin panel , but I'd like to duplicate it.
for instance:

app/code/my/module-links/etc/adminhtml/system.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
    <config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:module:Magento_Config:etc/system_file.xsd">
        <system>

                Menus/Links Settings
                <tab>my</tab>
                <resource>My_Links::config</resource>

                <group id="widget" translate="label" sortOrder="300" showInDefault="1" showInWebsite="1" showInStore="1">
                    Clone Model 2

                    <clone_model>My\Links\Model\Widget</clone_model>
                    <field id="status_4" translate="label" type="select" sortOrder="100" showInDefault="1" showInWebsite="1" showInStore="1">
                        Fourth Block Status
                        <source_model>Magento\Config\Model\Config\Source\Enabledisable</source_model>
                    </field>
                    <field id="title_4" translate="lable" type="text" sortOrder="110" showInDefault="1" showInWebsite="1" showInStore="1">
                        Title
                    </field>
                    <field id="links_4" translate="label comment" sortOrder="120" showInDefault="1" showInWebsite="1" showInStore="1">
                        Links
                        <frontend_model>My\Links\Block\Adminhtml\Form\Field\Footer</frontend_model>
                        <backend_model>Magento\Config\Model\Config\Backend\Serialized\ArraySerialized</backend_model>
                        <comment><![CDATA[
                        For using Internal Url (Link/url within website) just put keyword after url.

                        For ex.: for putting this url "http://example.com/contacts/" just insert "contacts" keyword

                        For external Link, Paste the whole link for ex. "https://www.troll.no"]]></comment>
                    </field>
                </group>

        </system>
    </config>

as we see I am using clone_model to duplicate the same widget. But in admin panel I see only one widget, but I need to see "Add widget" button after adding new widget(for clone).

Attaching screenshot.
Thanks for any advise and help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Wilkes University launched more than $3.3 million in campus enhancements during a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, May 21. The projects, primarily focused on the Fenner Quadrangle and the area around the Henry Student Center, will transform Wilkes into a park-like campus in the heart of the City of Wilkes-Barre.
The project combines University resources with Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development funds to beautify the campus and surrounding neighborhood, while improving pedestrian safety and alleviating traffic congestion. Completion is expected in August.
Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy was joined by Wilkes board of trustees chairman, Dan Cardell '79, for remarks. Senator John Yudichak, Representative Eddie Day Pashinski '67, and Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George also spoke during the short program.Sarah O'Hara '18, who graduated on Saturday, addressed the impact of enhancements that occurred during her time at Wilkes, while reflecting on the importance of those to come.
A $2 million project that will create new entrances to the Henry Student Center parking lot from South River Street and South Franklin Street. The project also includes an expanded south entrance plaza to the student center with landscaping and outdoor seating. The parking area will be expanded to South Franklin Street with a pedestrian walkway connecting to the Henry Student Center. The project is partially funded by the Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) program, which provides grants for transportation-related projects. Wilkes received a $650,000 grant in 2016. The MTF grants are provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
A $1.3 million expansion of the Karambelas East Campus Gateway into the heart of campus. The gateway, constructed in 2015, connects South Main Street to South Franklin Street. The expansion of the gateway into the Fenner Quadrangle ensures a cross section of walkways defining and connecting the Wilkes campus for students, faculty and staff as well as visitors. Additionally, this project will create the new South Campus Gateway, which will connect the Henry Student Center to Stark Learning Center. These two Gateways will beautify the campus and support recent renovations to the engineering labs in Stark Learning Center.
Leahy said these enhancements will make the campus safer and more attractive, increasing Wilkes' unique appeal as an American private university like no other, offering the opportunities of a large research institution in the mentoring environment of a small private college.
"The public-private partnership between Wilkes University, the City of Wilkes-Barre, and the Commonwealth on projects like the Campus Gateway project drive the city to new heights while paving the path for Wilkes University to become one of the top small research universities in the country. When these enhancements are completed, students, visitors, and residents alike will be able to traverse the campus in a safer manner while enjoying the beauty of the campus and the city simultaneously," said Senator John Yudichak.


Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, MeteorEYES has returned to bring you a magical experience full of light, awe, energy, and wonder. Their lush synth landscapes and driving postpunk energy will draw you into a world transformed, where love, acceptance, and equality transcend the bounds of our current reality and usher in a beautiful moment of sublime tranquility. You will get lost in the smooth, silky vocal melodies as your heart pounds to the primal beating of the drums and the sometimes twinkling, sometimes screaming cry of guitars. It is an explosion of the untapped potential within us all playing out in real time on a dancefloor of our dreams.
you are reborn. Veiled in mystery, MeteorEYES forces us to question the masks we all wear in society, and boldly dares to create a fellowship of solidarity towards basic human equality—and all while sharing a few drinks with friends.


An annual basketball tournament has immortalized the lives of four family members who were killed in a car crash, and a surviving family member has rededicated the event to other families who have suffered through similar tragedies.
The 4th Annual Gardiner Memorial Basketball Classic Tournament was held on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, at St. James Park on Jerome Avenue and was first organized by members of the basketball-loving Gardiner family of Fordham.
Sadly, Asia, 8; Derrick, 40; Jamel, 14, and Keywann, 23, along with family friend Brandon Daye, 18, were killed in a horrific crash on the Bronx River Parkway as they traveled to a game on July 9, 2006. That game, ironically, was dedicated to other family members who had recently passed away.
Surviving family member Dexter Gardiner, a longtime Fordham resident who now resides on Burke Avenue, has continued to run the tournament, which this year featured 96 players from eight teams from as far away as Bermuda and Mississippi. Free food and drink were available. There was also a DJ and live entertainment.
"We're bringing the families out," Dexter Gardiner explained, "families that have been through tragedies from all over the city." The family of Sean Bell, the unarmed man shot dead by police in Queens has attended in the past.
Some good came from his family tragedy, Gardiner says. "I know I went on TV and spoke about getting the highway fixed, it was a very bad highway, and they fixed it, so I'm happy." Gardiner claimed it was a defect in the roadway at E.177 Street, that sent the vehicle over the highway divider.
"I'm doing this because a lot of families are going through this," Gardiner continued, "There's so many tragedies out here now, because people don't die one by one now, they're dying in bunches."
"I just want to give back to the people," Gardiner adds, "and to let them know that people from the community do care for them."
The winner of this year's tournament was, "Jadakiss," of Yonkers, a team that included Bronxite Kareem Reid, a former player with the University of Arkansas. Team Jadakiss defeated members of, "Never Be Forgotten," a team based on City Island.
Jeff S. Korek, of the law firm Gersowitz, Libo and Korek P.C., who along with Lawyertime.com, sponsored the event by providing team uniforms and the food, said, "I met Dexter in a basketball league up in Westchester and over time he told me about the tournament and the incredible work his foundation does."
This year the law firm even participated with their own team and despite being eliminated in the first round, Korek added, "We had a great time this weekend and are so happy to be a part of the tournament and to help the Gardiner Foundation with its phenomenal work in the community."
The law firm also awarded $1,500 scholarships to three college-bound participants.
The Gardiner Foundation continues to reach out and offer assistance to families going through similar tragedies. For more information on the foundation, click here.


text:
Boston 6, Carolina 2
When: 3:00 PM ET, Sunday, May 12, 2019
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Chris Rooney
Linesmen: Devin Berg, Greg Devorski
Every contest at TD Garden is more than a home game for Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk.
It's a family reunion.
Grzelcyk, who grew up in Charlestown, Mass., and whose father and brother each work at the Bruins' home arena, scored twice Sunday afternoon as Boston beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Grzelcyk's mom was also in attendance Sunday for Mother's Day.
"She's someone I talk to every day and means the world to me," Grzelcyk said in a postgame interview on NBC. "It's a pretty special day for sure."
After surrendering four unanswered goals in the third period of a 5-2 loss in Game 1, the Hurricanes came out with a physical game Sunday with several big hits in the opening minutes. That included Carolina's Micheal Ferland nearly checking Grzelcyk into his own bench.
"That's a game we don't mind playing," Grzelcyk said. "It kind of wakes us up a little bit."
Jake DeBrusk, Connor Clifton, David Backes and Danton Heinen also scored for the Bruins, who carried over the momentum they gained in the third period on Thursday.
They scored twice in each period Sunday, building a 6-0 lead and running their streak to 10 unanswered goals in the series before Carolina's Justin Williams scored at 11:17 of the third.
Teuvo Teravainen also scored for the Hurricanes, stealing an outlet pass from Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask and putting the puck into an empty net at 17:32 of the third.
Rask made 21 saves, while Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek stopped 19 of 25 shots.
The Bruins won the first two games at home for the first time in three playoff series this postseason. They lost the opener to Toronto in the first round and dropped Game 2 against Columbus in the second round.
The Bruins showed off their depth and youth Sunday, as Grzelcyk, DeBrusk and Heinen are all in their second full NHL seasons, and Clifton is a rookie.
Grzelcyk opened the scoring at 15:22 of the first, taking a pass from Marcus Johansson and sneaking a shot under Mrazek's right arm that trickled just over the goal line.
DeBrusk made it 2-0 at 18:32 of the period with a power-play goal. DeBrusk was stationed at the top of the crease and got three swipes at the puck before putting it into the net.
"The first one was no good, (Mrazek) knows that," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "There was nothing going on for either team, which is what we want to start the game there, then that (goal) is a tough one.
"A penalty leads to a second one and then we get away from what we're trying to do. We have zero success that way."
Brind'Amour was asked in a postgame news conference whether he considered pulling Mrazek.
"A lot of other guys deserved to come out if that's how we do it," he said. "We're not letting anybody off the hook."
Clifton scored his first career NHL goal at 3:46 of the second, taking a pass from Johansson and burying it into a nearly empty net.
Grzelcyk scored a power-play goal at 17:56 of the second to give the Bruins a 4-0 lead.
Boston continued to pile on in the third, with Backes and Heinen both scoring in the opening 4:32 of the period.
Charlie Coyle and Torey Krug each had three assists for the Bruins.
The Bruins were 2 for 2 on the power play while the Hurricanes were 0 for 4.
Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Carolina. The Hurricanes are 5-0 at home this postseason, outscoring opponents 22-7.
"The playoffs are a chess match. You make adjustments," Boston forward Brad Marchand told reporters. "They'll do that for the next game and we'll do the same."
Carolina Boston
Teuvo Teravainen 1 Points Charlie Coyle 3
Teuvo Teravainen 1 Goals Matt Grzelcyk 2
Sebastian Aho 1 Assists Charlie Coyle 3
N/A Power Play Goals Matt Grzelcyk 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Petr Mrazek .760 Save Percentage Tuukka Rask .913
Petr Mrazek 19 Saves Tuukka Rask 21
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Carolina 23 2 0-4 0-2 4 22
Boston 25 6 2-2 4-4 8 31
Boston will play their next game on the road against Carolina. The Bruins have a W/L % of .612 after a win and .576 after a loss.
Carolina will play their next game at home against Boston. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .556 after a win and .568 after a loss.


Kennedy. i am educated to a high standard and know how to dress for any occasion. i am very descreet and know how to show you the perfect gfe.
Lucia. hi, i am amelie, your personal city guide or social companion available in bucharest, romania and europe.
Cecelia. i love to dress in lingerie and stockings, so be sure to let me know if you have a preference.


Nature Made® Magnesium Citrate is guaranteed to meet our high quality standards – it is made from carefully selected ingredients under strict manufacturing processes.
1. Lindberg JS et al.Magnesium bioavailability from magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide. J Am Coll Nutr 1990;9:48-55. - Walker AF, Marakis G, Christie S, Byng M. Mg citrate found more bioavailable than other Mg preparations in a randomised, double-blind study. Magnes Res 2003;16:183-191.
Suggested Use: Take 2 softgels daily with a meal. For easier swallowing, take with water before and during ingestion.
Current research indicates that this supplement should be used with caution when taking certain prescription drugs including antibiotics and osteoporosis medications (Bisphosphonates).
How does magnesium benefit the body?
What are some food sources of magnesium?
Magnesium food sources include: 100% bran cereals, oat bran, green leafy vegetables (like spinach, kale, swiss chard), brown rice, nuts and milk.


text:
J. Scott Rupp - June 10, 2011
It was Dave Spaulding who gave me the idea, and in fact I bought a gun entirely due to a piece he wrote for our Handguns annual a few years back. The premise was, essentially, if things go to hell and you have time/room to grab only one handgun, what will it be? Dave's advice made a lot of sense (as always), and when my gun fund hit the level that whispered, "Yes, you can buy something," there was no doubt what my purchase would be: a Smith & Wesson Model 629 .44 Magnum with a five-inch barrel.
To loosely recap Dave's advice and add my own two cents, the base gun—-a revolver-—is the logical choice for a couple of reasons. One, they're damn near failsafe guns. You don't have to worry about ammo compatibility with regard to function. If it's the right ammo for the gun, and it's not defective, it'll fire. And if it doesn't fire due to some defect, you just pull the trigger again to have a go at a new round.
Revolvers don't get finicky due to dirt, dust, lint, whatever. They just keep on trucking. Maintenance? There's no field-stripping (read, no springs or other parts that can get lost), and a drop of lube in the right places is all that's required. And if push comes to shove, you don't even need that—at least for a while.
Two, the DA/SA revolver gives you the best of both worlds. In a firefight with a bunch of Mad Max-type characters and need to crank out the rounds? The double-action pull will get the job done. Need more precision for a longer shot at foe or food? Draw back that hammer and use the short, lighter single-action pull.
Why did I select the five-inch barrel? I'm a man who believes that compromising is not always a compromise. The four-inch gun is great for carry and even in an N frame can pass muster (albeit barely) as a concealed-carry gun. The six-inch barrel is awesome for its longer sight radius, and the extra weight out front makes the gun more controllable.
The five? Best of both worlds. I've got two holsters for this gun, both from Galco. One's a typical belt holster, the other the Kodiak that carries the gun across my front. (And this is the only strike against my barrel-length choice: Both of those holsters had to be ordered as custom because the five-inch isn't a stock item.) In both carry styles the gun is totally comfortable—something I don't always find with six-inch guns. On the range, I don't feel handicapped taking long shots because I can see the sights better than I can on a four-inch gun.
Now for the fun part. Why the .44 Magnum? If there is one gun that can handle any task, it's Elmer Keith's finest creation. Clint Eastwood (well, Dirty Harry anyway) would squint and scowl when I say this, but the real allure isn't that it's "the most powerful handgun in the world"—-which of course it's not. What appeals to me is its older, smaller brother: the .44 Special.
You put a cylinder full of .44 Specials in a gun like the 629, and it'll handle defensive tasks like it has since the days of the Wild West. In fact it's so much better now because we have excellent loads such as Hornady's 180-grain XTP round, which is what's currently residing in my 629's cylinder. Eminently controllable and accurate as hell, there's not a two-legged predator that can't be put down with authority with a properly placed shot from a .44 Special.
And if you're truly heading for the hills, and the crap has really hit the fan, at some point you're going to run out of the emergency food you've stashed for the occasion. At that point, survival isn't just about avoiding roving bands of thugs but also feeding you and your family. Enter full-power .44 Magnum loads, capable of taking down any game in North America. And it's not just the power but the velocity, which translates to a flatter trajectory and allows you to make shots on spooky food animals at longer ranges than almost any other handgun round.
I realize that the whole "head for the hills" thing is mostly just a mental exercise, and I'm not really going to limit myself to one gun (my Springfield XD 9mm is coming with, as are a couple of long guns), but thinking about these things—and acting on them by preparing—makes me sleep better at night.
CTS 2x4 X Base Pro Kit with AR500 Steel Target
The CTS Targets 2x4 X Base Pro comes with four X-base segments, the base itself, a target...
10 Cheap Guns Under $250
Evan Brune - September 24, 2015
Guns are fun, and cheap guns are even more fun. Spend less on the firearm and more on ammo...
To Cast a Good Bullet
Bart Skelton - June 28, 2012
I don't have a distinct recollection of the first time I reloaded a cartridge – it's been a...
8 Popular Drop-In Glock Mods
Dusty Gibson - July 17, 2013
While some modifications require an experienced gunsmith, the average shooter can install most...
ATI FX45 Fatboy LW Review
Paul Scarlata - September 18, 2013
With the liberalization of concealed carry laws in many states, the demand for small,...
Sig Sauer P226 USPSA
The SIG Sauer P226 is one of the company's most popular pistols. In this country it has been
Review: Thompson/Center Encore Pro Hunter
By J. Scott Rupp On three recent hunts for Handguns TV I've been shooting a Thompson/Center
See More Other


Can You Put Sunblock On A New Tattoo?
Most people know that the sun can be extremely harmful to all tattoos no matter how new or old they are. However, many people are unsure about the effects that sunscreen may also have on a new tattoo, and what problems it could potentially cause during the tattoo healing process.
Should You Put Sun Lotion On A New Tattoo?
No you shouldn't. When a tattoo is created, it is basically just a large open wound until the skin around it begins to repair and regenerate itself.
While a tattoo is healing, the area usually becomes extremely sensitive to many things that regular undamaged skin can usually handle perfectly fine.
Applying sunscreen to a new tattoo can cause several issues that could possibly prolong healing times, and can even cause visual long-term damage to the appearance of your ink.
Many commercial sunscreens often contain chemicals in them which can be very harsh to sensitive areas of skin (such as new tattoos).
These chemicals can cause redness, irritation, rashes, itching, and if applied too often on a new tattoo, they can also cause areas of ink to fade/lose color.
Lots of over the counter sun protection products contain artificial colors and scents to create a more visual and sensual appeal.
However, many new tattoos can be extremely sensitive to these artificial additives, and even artificial ingredients in soaps and lotions have the ability to cause irritation to a new tattoo.
When a new tattoo is healing, it requires as much fresh air (oxygen) as possible in order to regenerate efficiently.
The problem with putting sunscreen on a new tattoo is that the lotion is generally thick and non-absorbent. This means that it usually ends up sitting on top of the skin, thus creating a barrier which blocks out the required oxygen.
Another issue is that if the sunblock is smothered on extremely generously and creates very thick layer over the skin, this layer creates a warm and humid environment between itself and the skin, and this is the perfect environment for bacteria and germs to thrive and multiply, increasing the risk of infection.
Suncream tends to be quite sticky - it seems to have a good ability at picking up and holding onto grit and dirt for hours after initially applying it.
Because of the greater chance of getting bits of grit and sand etc stuck against your new tattoo, you are increasing the risk of these little objects getting lodged into the wound, causing potential cuts & grazes, and even infections.
So What Should I Do To Protect My New Tattoo In The Sun?
As mentioned - new tattoos are very sensitive to most things, with the sun obviously being one of them.
New tattoos are so sensitive to the sun in-fact, that it's best to just keep them completely out of strong, direct sunlight until the area has completely healed.
Although this may be a big hindrance, especially if you're going on holiday or you have a day at the beach planned - you must think about the ink on your body that you've just paid lots of money for, and which you was most-likely waiting a long time for.
Our advice would be to keep the tattoo out of direct sunlight for at least 2-3 weeks, or until it looks completely visually healed.
If you must go out, then try to keep within shaded areas or keep the tattoo covered up by dark clothing (lighter clothing is generally less capable of keeping out harmful UV rays from the sun).
Can I Put Sunscreen On My Tattoo After It Has Healed?
Certainly - and it is completely recommended. The sun is your tattoo's worst enemy, and prolonged sun exposure can massively increase the rate in which your tattoo begins to discolor and fade.
You should always aim to apply a layer of sun cream to your tattoo each and every time you plan to go out into strong daylight.
You should preferably choose a cream/lotion that is at least SPF 30 (there are higher SPF products available but the further benefits are negligible).
You should also try to ensure that the product is water resistant, moisturizing, and kind to sensitive skin to ensure that your tattoo remains in the best condition as possible for the longest amount of time.
My favorite and most recommended sunscreen for using on tattoos is Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch.
This lotion has all of the attributes required for not only protecting your tattoo amazingly well, but also for helping to keep it bright and vibrant.
This sun cream is suitably strong at SPF 30, it's water resistant, and it has great hydrating properties.
Read more about Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch here and have a quick look at some of the customer reviews and you'll see why it's one of the most popular sun tanning lotions on the market.
Whilst a strong and good quality sun tanning lotion is definitely helpful at keeping a tattoo protected against the extremely harmful UV rays of the sun, it is not advisable to use any until the tattoo is completely healed. Therefore, you should try to keep your new tattoo away from direct sunlight for at least 2-3 weeks.
However, you can (and should) definitely put sunscreen on a tattoo that has already fully healed, and you should do this whenever you predict that you'll be going out in strong, direct sunlight for extended periods of time.


text:
Geneva Limousine
Transfer with private driver Geneva – Divonne-les-Bains
Use Crystal Services to book a limousine ride Geneva – Divonne-les-Bains one-way or round trip, to and from the Geneva train station or airport or the place of your choice.
More about your Divonne-les-Bains destination
Renowned for the quality of its thermal treatments and the purity of its water, Divonne-les-bains welcomes you to the foot of the Jura and Lake Geneva in the Ain. Whether it is for a simple fitness or for psychosomatic disorders, you will necessarily find the cure adapted to your needs. Near the Divonne lake, various walks are possible and provide access to superb panoramic views of the Alps and the Lake Geneva basin. If you wish to go skiing, we can take you to a ski resort, the nearest ones being about twenty kilometres away. The medieval village of Yvoire is only 14.7 km away or the Cascades du Hérisson, a splendour of nature, is 36 km away. In the heart of a forest, a 3.7 km long trail will allow you to admire its 31 waterfalls. The "Les Vaches Folks" music festival takes place in July in Divonne-les-Bains.
Book your Transfer
How is your transfer from Geneva to Divonne-les-Bains or Divonne-les-Bains to Geneva organized?
Transfers with private chauffeur carried out by Crystal Services from Geneva to Divonne-les-Bains or Divonne-les-Bains to Geneva are always carried out with rigor. At the agreed time your driver will pick you up at the scheduled location, you will arrive relaxed and serene at your destination. To book your transfer, we invite you to contact us at least 3 hours in advance using our pre-booking form available here. You will receive by email or phone the confirmation of your reservation.
Time and distance of the route between Divonne-les-Bains and Geneva airport
Time : 0 h 16
Time and distance of the route between Divonne-les-Bains and Geneva station
Shuttle transfer from Geneva airport to Divonne-les-Bains
Shuttle bus from Divonne-les-Bains to Geneva airport
Transport from Geneva to Divonne-les-Bains
Vehicles Available and prices for this course
Mercedes Class S
From : 440 CHF
Mercedes Class E
Mercedes Class V
Nearby destinations of Divonne-les-Bains
List of most popular destinations
Crystal Services © 2017 - Informations : +(41) 79 489 11 40 - [email protected] - All Destinations served - Legales Notices - Terms of sale - Recruitment