First United Methodist Church is one of eight downtown churches that established Ecumenical Social Ministries as a non-profit organization in 1982. At the time, each of these churches was involved in a social ministry to those in need in small ways. By collaborating, they have been able to provide financial, in-kind and volunteer resources to serve the most vulnerable.
Considered and outreach extension for the community, ESM responds to the emergency social service needs of low-income, homeless and unemployed individuals and families in Colorado Springs. In addition to our overall financial and volunteer support to ESM, our congregation also collects food items the first Sunday of each month for the Food Pantry program, and oversees First Fund. With the generosity of our members, First Funds collects ten of thousands of dollars yearly that are distribute by ESM, specifically for medical needs.
To find out more information about all the services provided by ESM, follow this link: http://www.ecusocmin.org.
If you would like to volunteer for ESM, please fill out the Volunteer Sign-Up Form.


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Home The Savior Death and devastation leave Hurricane Eta in Central America
The Savior
Death and devastation leave Hurricane Eta in Central America
Storm Eta leaves significant material losses. Photo: Courtesy.
By Iván Castro and Alberto Barrera
MANAGUA / SAN SALVADOR – Dozens of deceased, thousands of evacuees, destroyed homes, Floods and landslides left the passage through Central America of the storm Eta until Friday, that on Tuesday broke on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua as a category cyclone 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale of 5 points.
At least 60 people died mainly in Guatemala and Honduras, according to official reports in both Central American countries.
The Central American Integration System (SICA) reported on Friday that some 3,0 millions of Central Americans were affected by the gale degraded to tropical depression Eta, with which "the Atlantic hurricane season of 2020 one by one 2005 as the most intense ever recorded with 28 storms in both seasons. "
Families evacuated by the constant storm. Photo: Courtesy of the Salvamentos Commandos of El Salvador.
The mighty cyclone, that after making landfall in Nicaraguan territory and razing homes, crops and forests, degraded to a storm and then a tropical depression en route to Honduras and Guatemala, that received huge amounts of rain that caused flooding and landslides.
El Salvador reached a tail of the phenomenon that this time was not cruel to the country, Although a few days before a landslide from the San Salvador volcano caused nine deaths and destroyed some 60 homes in communities near a small stream on the outskirts of Nejapa and near residential and industrial areas north of the capital..
Guatemala had the highest number of victims when a landslide occurred that left at least 50 deceased and the government of Alejandro Giammatei announced together with its Council of Ministers "the state of calamity for nine departments to guarantee aid to the affected population: Izabal, Petén, Alta Verapaz, Chiquimula, Quiche, Zacapa, Jutiapa, El Progreso and Santa Rosa ".
Guatemala, Alta Verapaz one of the most affected areas.
Photo: Courtesy.
"According to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) from Guatemala, with data to 6 November are reported 2,757 evacuated, more of 55,048 affected people, 119 shelters installed, 577 victims and an average of 50 Dead people", said the SICA report.
The regional body added that in Honduras a red alert was decreed throughout the territory from the 12 noon on 4 November and the Permanent Commission of Contingencies Honduras (COPECO) reported seven deaths and two missing persons, as well as more than 350,000 affected and 51 enabled shelters.
In El Salvador, said the SICA, Civil Protection authorities carried out preventive evacuations and have located more than 2,000 people in 48 hostels.
Photo: Courtesy of Cruz Verde de Honduras.
In Nicaragua the National Prevention Prevention System, Disaster Relief and Mitigation (Sinapred) reported no fatalities from Hurricane Eta, although some local media indicated that two artisanal miners died indirectly as a result of the phenomenon.
Before the impact of the hurricane, Sinapred sheltered in schools, churches and other buildings enabled as temporary shelters to some 30.000 people who were removed from their living areas due to the risk of the phenomenon.
SICA said that the United States National Hurricane Center reported that Eta produced heavy rains and floods in several regions of the area., which generated evacuations and rescues in some populations, as well as the provision of shelters for thousands of refugees.
Schools become hostels in El Salvador. Photo: Courtesy.
Currently Eta has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and is located at 130 kilometers southwest of La Ceiba, Honduras and reports indicate that it is heading towards Cuba in the Caribbean Sea.
The hurricane entered Nicaragua near the town of Bilwi, Miskito name of Puerto Cabezas, in the northern region of the caribbean, where it caused the destruction of homes, as well as roofs in houses and buildings, falling trees and power lines, as well as the flooding of rivers and floods due to the heavy rain.
Four days after Eta's admission, the authorities still did not give an official account of the damage and were working on the fitting out of roofs in damaged homes in the area.
Families cross rivers to be evacuated. Photo: Courtesy.
The Nicaraguan health authorities indicated that during the emergency caused by Hurricane Eta, 10 baby births at the Bilwi health center. The first birth was registered during the passage of the hurricane near Bilwi and it was a girl, who was christened Eta Wilson.
The National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Attention (CNE), from Costa Rica, reported that they evacuated 1,361 people who stayed in 38 temporary shelters, in order to protect their lives and the Municipal Emergency Committees attended more than 600 flood reports and 304 landslides or landslides on roads.
Despite the decrease and intensity of the winds, the authorities fear the possible effects of the constant rains on the risk of new floods and landslides, so they stay on red alert.
evacuations
previous articleControversy and rejection of Trump in media and social networks
next articleThe rains continue in Salvadoran territory
Social Organizations, Civilians and opposition political parties demonstrate against President Nayib Bukele's measures
A 30 years of the peace accords, Salvadorans celebrate...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Facebook Says It Will Remove 'Deepfakes'
By Kevin Hogan	January 11, 2020
NEW YORK—Facebook said it will begin removing digitally manipulated, but highly convincing videos from its website in order to protect viewers from being misled. An expert warns viewers not to believe what they see in videos without verifying that information from other sources.
"We have to be skeptical of everything we see," Fordham University professor of communications Paul Levinson said. "That should be our default reaction to anything that we see. You see someone saying something, you see something going on, you should say, 'I don't believe it,' until a lot more evidence comes in."
The warning comes following a recent trend of "deepfakes" circulating on the internet. Deepfakes are videos that have been digitally manipulated to change the content of the video, making it appear as though the subject of the video is saying or doing something that never actually happened. They are created using artificial intelligence and can appear to be authentic, according to Facebook.
Levinson says deepfakes are "so potent and so dangerous" because they can do more than just put words in a person's mouth—they "can actually create an image and words from scratch."
To combat deepfakes, Facebook announced on Jan. 6 that it will begin removing videos that are edited or digitally modified if they meet both of the following criteria:
It has been edited or synthesized—beyond adjustments for clarity or quality—in ways that aren't apparent to an average person and would likely mislead someone into thinking that a subject of the video said words that they did not actually say.
It is the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that merges, replaces or superimposes content onto a video, making it appear to be authentic.
The company said the policy won't apply to content that is parody or satire, or videos that have been edited to omit or change the order of words.
But Levinson says despite the policy, people may still be able to spread the videos on the social media website."If the people who are making the deepfakes are clever enough, they almost always are able to figure out a way to get around Facebook's algorithms," he said.
He also advised viewers to rely on their instincts and said that if something doesn't seem right, it may be false information. Levinson said viewers should use the internet to check different sources to see if what they said is consistent with the video in question.
"Usually, if something is wrong or untrue, you'll notice that other media [are] either silent about it, or maybe they have even already come out and flagged that as deceptive," he said.
Levinson said deepfakes could be used to disrupt an election—by releasing a video of a candidate saying something he or she never said—the night before voters head to the polls. This would be "the worst possible time" because voters wouldn't have time to fact-check and may think a candidate has a position that he or she actually doesn't have when they cast their ballot.
In early 2019, the U.S. Intelligence Community warned that foreign groups may use deepfakes to influence campaigns and shape policies in the United States.
That warning, published in the Worldwide Threat Assessment, stated that adversaries and strategic competitors of the United States may use the 2020 election to advance their interests by making "convincing—but false—image, audio, and video files."
In response to this potential threat, the Senate passed the Deepfake Report Act in October 2019. This legislation would require an annual report on the state of digital content forgery technology. The bill is now in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KRHogan_NTD


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Q: How can I determine the source of excessive garbage collection in my HTML5 javascript game? How can I determine the source of excessive garbage collection in my HTML5 game?
Here's the result of a heap snapshot I took in chrome:

A: Chrome developer tools support the heap profiling. You may refer to https://developers.google.com/chrome-developer-tools/docs/heap-profiling

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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All WNY News Features News Sports
Gillibrand to speak at Daemen College 'Women in Sports' celebration
Apr 3, 2016 All WNY News
AMHERST — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will speak to a gathering of female student athletes at Daemen College's Women in Sports Celebration on at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The gathering, held at…
All WNY News News
State budget accord reached
ALBANY — An agreement has been reached on the 2016-2017 New York State budget between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders. The $96.2 billion budget holds the growth in state…
Niagara Gorge stairway to be closed
Mar 28, 2016 All WNY News
NIAGARA FALLS – The stairs into the Niagara Gorge at Whirlpool State Park will be closed as work to replace them begins on Tuesday. They are expected to be closed…
ALERT: Buffalo PD asks public's help in finding missing man
BUFFALO – The Buffalo Police Department is seeking the public's help in finding a missing 81-year-old male. According to police, Granville Waithe is a vulnerable adult with dementia and may…
Conservation group says Lake Ontario wind farm is bad for birds
The proposed Lighthouse Wind Project in Somerset and Yates has a new opponent: The American Bird Conservancy. The conservation group has listed Lighthouse as one of the 10 worst proposed…
All WNY News Features News
Red Cross has significant need for type O negative blood
BUFFALO — The American Red Cross has a significant need for type O negative blood donors to donate blood for patients, the organization announced. Type O negative blood can be…
Niagara County Republicans back Trump
NORTH TONAWANDA — The Niagara County Republican Party is officially behind Donald Trump in the upcoming GOP New York primary election April 19. Niagara County GOP Chairman Scott Kiedrowski said…
100,000 New Yorkers trained through Citizen Preparedness Corps
More than 100,000 New Yorkers have taken the Citizen Preparedness Corps training since its inception in 2014. The program seeks to provide citizens with the tools and resources to prepare…
Horton's to close during St. Pat's Parade
BUFFALO — Buffalo parade-goers at Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Parade will have to forego their planned trips to Tim Horton's on Delaware Avenue during the festivities. The Tim Horton's/Coldstone at…
All WNY News Crime News
Niagara County Sheriff's Office reminds drivers of DWI crackdown today
The Niagara County Sheriff's Office is reminding drivers that local law enforcement is in the midst of a DWI crackdown for St. Patrick's Day. The law enforcement agency posted a…
1 … 304 305 306


New Cosmos label, what does it change for Avril?
> Blog > > New Cosmos label, what does it change for Avril?
The objective of this new label is to standardize the specifications of organic cosmetics and thus offer the same guarantees to all European consumers.
What does the new Cosmos label bring?
-Non-biodegradable ingredients are no longer accepted.
-More than 95% organic ingredients on vegetable ingredients.
-Parabens, phenoxyethanol, nanoparticles, silicone, PEG, perfumes and synthetic colouring, ingredients from animals (except products naturally produced by them: milk, honey, etc.) are forbidden.
Will all Avril products become Cosmos?
No, because cosmetics launched on the market before that date keep their previous certification. Avril certified organic products that you like will therefore keep the same formula and ingredients.
Qualité France logo (for eye and lip pencils) The specifications are similar to Ecocert's, except that it allows cochineal, an ingredient that permits to obtain very intense red pigments for lipsticks, for example .
Cosmos Organic logo (for new products launched after January 2017). Be careful, 2 certifications exist: "Organic" and "Natural", the latter being less demanding.
Note: some of our products do not have a label because they are not certified organic: this is the case of nail polishes and nail polish removers, these products do not exist in organic version yet.
What are the other Avril quality guarantees?
-Our products are all made in Europe, mainly in France (if not, in Italy and Spain). Accessories manufactured in Asia are also controlled to offer the same quality guarantees as our products made in France.
-We pay particular attention to the choice of ingredients, the formulas contain the maximum of organic and natural ingredients and we make sure that the products are pleasant to use and efficient.
So, you now know what the arrival of the new label Cosmos for Avril cosmetics and for your favorite products! Find below our products featuring the Cosmos label. Do not hesitate to ask us questions!


What do stylish golfers want to wear this spring?
For many, it is a uniform or stylish 'Armour' that will help them battle both the elements of the golf course and the ever changing seasons. Giving them confidence and comfort no matter what their day has in store.
In their wardrobe you will find, the perfect pair of capris, the crisp white polo shirt, the go with everything Gilet, and the corresponding visor. We are really excited to be launching this spring, exclusively our Swing Out Sister collection, our answer to those simple basics.
With a range of clean cut polo shirts, capris, city shorts and skorts, visors that don't give you a headache and socks that don't slip, not forgetting the ever ready lightweight warm layer. It will feel at home in anyone's wardrobe.
Quality and an eye for detail are two of the label's design signatures. So to is the concept of clothes which don't take themselves too seriously and a price tag which is inviting. It's a concept we believe will have you coming back for more!


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Friday TV: Hart of Dixie S.4 Finale, 12 Monkeys, Helix & More
by Jason the TVaholic on March 27, 2015
Tonight, The CW has the fourth season finale, likely series finale, of Hart of Dixie.
Over on cable, Disney Channel has the first season finale of Girl Meets World, OWN has the fourth season premiere of Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse, Showtime has the documentary premiere of Dreamcatcher, and Travel Channel has the second season finale of Mysteries at the Caslte.
Hart of Dixie (The CW): Season Finale. Zoe makes a big decision. Lavon tries to tell Lemon that he does want to get married, but that wasn't his proposal. George and Annabeth have some decisions to make.
12 Monkeys (Syfy): New. Cole is headed to Tokyo in 1987 to try once again to stop the Army of the 12 Monkeys. Plays again later.
Helix (Syfy): New. The Navy launches a backup plan to keep the virus from getting off the island. Plays again later.
Grimm (NBC): New. Nick and Hank catch a new case. Capt. Renard goes to Monroe and Rosalee regarding his phantom bleeding problem. Juliette makes a big decision.
iZombie (The CW): Repeat. This past Tuesday's episode, "Brother, Can You Spare a Brain?," episode replays. Check out some video interview with the cast and co-creators of iZombie.
Fortitude (Pivot): Repeat. Last night's episode, "Episode Ten," replays. Plays again later.
Cristela (ABC): New. Two episodes play tonight. In the first, Trent's plan backfires in a case regarding a client that is accused of not renting to minorities. In the second, Cristela is asked to try and get Maddie to be more motivated at work.
Sports Notes
CBS has doubleheader college basketball action tonight with NCAA Tournament games.
ESPN has doubleheader college basketball action tonight with NCAA Women's Tournament games.
ESPN2 has doubleheader college basketball action tonight with NCAA Women's Tournament games.
NBA TV has a game tonight.
TBS has doubleheader college basketball action tonight with NCAA Tournament games.
Friday TV Marathons
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (USA Network): Nine episodes early.
Ghost Whisperer (ION): Nine episodes today.
Law & Order (Sundance): Eight episodes tonight.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (ION): Nine episodes tonight into late night.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (USA Network): Five episodes today.
The Simpsons (FXX): Has 12 episodes tonight.
Tagged as: 12 Monkeys, hart of dixie, Helix
Previous post: Thursday TV: Bones, The Blacklist, Fortitude & More
Next post: Saturday TV: NCAA Basketball Tournament Games, Black Sails S.2 Finale, Saturday Night Live & More
My Take on TV


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In an update to what I wrote about in one of my posts from last week, a bill that would freeze government agencies' ability to pursue new regulations has passed out of the House.
The Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act (H.R. 4078) – previously known as the Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act – passed out of the House July 26 in a largely partisan 245-172 vote.
The bill, now in the Senate, would stop federal agencies from promulgating regulations costing the economy more than $50 million* a year until the unemployment rate falls to or below 6 percent.
As Republicans pointed out in the debate, waivers could be granted for rules needed to protect against an "imminent threat" to health and safety. But the bill would require those waivers to be approved by Congress, further politicizing the regulatory process.
Due to strong Democrat opposition, the bill has little chance of moving forward in the Senate or being signed by the president.
*The original bill's threshold was $100 million, but an amendment, which was later approved, lowered the amount.


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Do you have any information regarding this person? Contact us. Full discretion guaranteed.
Are you a missing person? Contact us. Full discretion guaranteed.
Missing people database and NN was submitted to registration for the Generalny Inspektor Ochrony Danych Osobowych. Using the data for matters different then searching for missing people is forbidden. The owner of this database is ITAKA – Center for Missing People. Copying the data to any data storage media without ITAKA's board of directors' agreement is forbidden.
The 116 000 helpline for missing children and youth is co-financed from the EU Funds as a part of European Union's Daphne Programme.


Laura Edgar is our guest today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. Laura shares her life as a textile artist and tutor who is inspired by her native beautiful & dramatic Northumberland coastline. She loves to create her seascapes using recycled clothing and vintage textiles and trimmings, as well as applying paint, heat and stitch.
Oh, the delights of Jumble Sales & astrakhan coats!


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Recommended Read: YANTRA by Madhu Khanna
Yantra - A Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity by Madhu Khanna
Thames and Hudson
978-0-50027-234-3
'Yantra' by Madhu Khanna is a brilliant book about the science, meaning and purpose of the ancient sacred geometry of yantras and their mantras.
A must for anyone who is serious about understanding sacred geometry as these amazing 'thought forms' have ancient origins.
Madhu Khanna is a noted Indian people historian of religion and noted and tantra science based in Delhi, India. Her first degree was from Oxford and she has several other academic accolades and awards. She has written several books, 'Yantra' being the most popular, and has contributed to three national projects, as well as several research projects for the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
Mahu Khanna - Google Scholar
Sri Yantra Puja Vidhi - to remove all negative things from your life
The Sri Yantra Puja
The Sri Yantra is an ancient scared geometry model (or yantra) that is used in the Sri Vidya school of Hindu tantra. Graphically it is a 2-dimensional representation of the Sacred Mount Meru, the centre of the Universe in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cosmology. Within the model are 9 interlocking triangles, the 'fire temple', representing the Cosmos and human body. 4 upward triangles are the masculine Shiva and the 5 downward are the female Shakti. These triangles in turn makes 43 smaller triangles, arranged in 5 levels (which is best seen in the 3D version of the Sri Yantra). These surround the central bindu, point of origin and non-duality. 2 concentric circles made up of 8 and 16 lotus petals respectively symbolise creation and reproductive force.
Arms of a Cross mark doorway into the square setting out stable foundations on the earth. Each door also is a doorway out into the regions of the cosmos. Through these you enter the model gradually moving into the central bindu via the 9 layers, or chakra. Each of these 9 levels have a distinct shape, name and are associated with a number of aspects of the Great, or Supreme, Mother.
In essence, you enter the constructs of the physical world and our bodies, bound within it, to ultimately experience the union of Shiva and Shakti in the Point of unity at the centre, the highest peak of the mountain.
Puja is 'the act of worship'. For Sri Yantra puja a 3-dimensional model is used, which is also used as the template for many Indian temples. During puja various items are poured over to bathe the Sri Yantra - milk, curd, honey, gangajal and ghee. Red cloth, red sandalwood, red thread, red rice are offered. Towards the end numerous flower petals shower the model.
It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides in the Yantra and She is invoked with full Vedic rituals, ideally on an auspicious day, during Yantra Prana Pratishtha (ceremony to consecrate the Sri Yantra and energise it with cosmic powers).
Every yantra has a mantra(s), tones in ancient Sanskrit that activate and invoke the power of the geometric model. During Sri Yantra puja about an hour of these are chanted by the swami. The presiding deity of the Sri Yantra is Maha Tripura Sundari, the Great Mother. Each layer radiating out from the bindu has mudras, or deities, residing within them. This is describe in the Sri Devi Khadgamala Stotram, a hymn to the Divine Mother, which 'bestows a garland of swords upon those who recite it, symbol of the energy that enables us to transcend attachment and rise on the spiritual level'. This Sanskrit stotra is a progressional worship of the many Goddess forms within the Sri Yantra and is considered as the highest form of worship to the Devi (Godess).
This is a simplified description of a multi-step, sacred ceremony that is many centuries old, with layers of rich symbolism. Doing a full worship is extremely difficult to do properly and few can do it!
The Sri Yantra puja is said to remove all negative things from your life.
Experiencing the Sri Yantra Puja
This summer Jaswinder Chali kindly invited me to join her and participate in a Sri Yantra Puja held in the Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple in Uxbridge, UK, a great honour. It was the first time Acharya Umesh Tiwariji (Instagram: Acharya Shri Umesh Tiwari) had visited the UK. He is a noted master trainer in the Sri Yantra Sadhana from Shrishri Vidhyadham.
You can experience the mantras of the Sri Yantra Puja by Acharya Umesh Tiwariji in the youtube video below.
The Gateway to the Heavens geometric model is central to the theme of the my books in The Gateway Series. When I first put this model together I was not aware of the Sri Yantra, which has many similarities. Sri Yantra loosely translates as Gateway to the Heavens and it seemed an appropriate name.
Crystal Grids and Alchemical Art - fusing sacred geometry, light and the Elements
Alchemical Art is transformative, changing anyone who works with them. This can happen merely by looking at the artwork or being in its proximity. Each piece is contained within the sacred space of its boundaries and is a fusion of the dynamics of geometric forms, emotive colours and one or more of the Classical Elements. The latter may be symbolically represented in the image or made out of specific materials due to their symbolism or vibration. In this instance crystals were placed on four paintings of my alchemical art paintings to incorporate their qualities. The results were stunning to look at and to work with. It would have been interesting to add further Elements, such as bowls of water and burning essence for air and fire, and also to use sound to activate them.
Each of the alchemical art crystal grids were made by some participants of a crystal group run by Karin Bain. Karin has written an e-book called Networking With Crystals that will soon be available in paper form as well.
Crystal grids take many forms, they can be simple, intricate or complete. Invariably there is sacred geometry in their layout and so they are actually a yantra, or "thought form", the principle of all man-made sacred geometry artworks and structures. By adding the vibrations of specific crystals the crystal grid yantra becomes a pulsating vehicle for connecting your Mind to the underlying basis of reality. The effects are very personal.
Yantras are covered in detail in The Gateway Series books and I also recommend the book Yantra by Madhu Khanna.
Any sacred site using sacred geometry and specific earth materials brings additional vibrational qualities to their function and use. For example, Stonehenge and its bluestone rocks that were deliberately brought a great distance for their vibrational purposes. In the aerial image below notice how the central stone grid is enclosed within a larger Circle. It is part of a larger site that has several smaller yantra that all work together. This sacred structure is a huge crystal yantra that still has the capacity to draw thousands of people to it.
Aerial view of Stonehenge (Google Earth)
Art as an Embodiment of the Universe - the Circle, Square and Triangle
Archetypal symbolism using a variety of geometric shapes is ancient, stretching back to the dawn of man's earliest artworks as seen in petroglyphs around the world. Our ancestors' simple drawings on rocks and artefacts gave tangible form to the harmonious patterns of life and the intangible order uniting the Universe. They give 'form to the formless' and are abstract expressions of the science manifesting reality.
Zen calligraphy is viewed as depicting 'pictures of the Mind' and your degree of enlightenment is seen expressed in the flow of the ink. The renowned calligrapher Sengai (1750–1837) produced a vast number of works. Perhaps the most famous Zen painting in the world, comprising only a square, triangle and circle, he saw as the embodiment of the Universe. The 3 forms overlap a little, suggesting their interconnectivity.
Ueshiba Morihei (founder of aikido):
"The body should be triangular, the mind circular. The triangle represents the generation of energy and is the most stable physical posture. The circle symbolizes serenity and perfection, the source of unlimited techniques. The square stands for solidity, the basis of applied control."
Down the generations all cultures have used simple shapes such as these and they, like Zen artists, had the same profound understanding that the simple patterns shaping the Universe were themselves sacred and empowered. Other examples, used extensively in my books, are yantras and mandalas. Tantra Yoga is the path of union with the Absolute through geometric visualization in Tantric Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Central to Tantrism are elaborate and precise geometric patterns, known as mandalas or yantras, some of which are thousands of years old. In this tradition the triangle, circle and square were significant Vedic forms which symbolised spirituality, evolution and the Earth respectively. Additionally in both Indian and Japanese esoteric teachings, such as Mikkyo, these shapes represent earth (square), water (circle) and fire (triangle).
Simple shapes embodying intricate complexity, the circle, square and triangle structure and bind the 3 profound concepts of time (evolution: Mind, serenity and perfection:water), space (Earth:Body:earth) and being (spirituality:solidity and applied control:fire). The empty circle, the vessel for all geometry shapes, when totally empty is the essence of enlightenment.
Here is my version of these timeless concepts:
'Circle, Square, Triangle' by Karen L French
Sacred geometry in India - it is everywhere!
For fun I am sharing a small selection of photographs taken on a fantastic trip to India Nov 2013, organised by Jazaro-Nur. In every image there is an example of sacred geometry, which is a vital feature of the Indian culture and everyday life that goes back many centuries.
Wilma af Klint - mystic artist of the 19th C
Today I discovered the Swedish artist Wilma af Klint (1862 - 1944) and was thrilled by her beautiful abstract art of sacred geometry. She produced nearly 1200 pieces and insisted they were not put on public view until at least 20 years after her passing. Interestingly, many of her abstract compositions pre-date Kandinsky.
Throughout her abstract work is a genuine desire to understand and reveal the spiritual through her painting.
Many of her paintings were like 'diagrams' and represent complex spiritual ideas. Essentially they are like Yantras, or 'thought-forms', and are representations of abstract concepts.
I went to see her exhibition on the 27th April and it was outstanding! It has inspired me to do LARGE pieces. Not sure how or where yet...
The Serpentine Galleries in London is holding an exhibition of her art right now from 3rd March - 15th May 2016.


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Xylaria duranii är en svampart som beskrevs av F. San Martín & Vanoye 2001. Xylaria duranii ingår i släktet Xylaria och familjen kolkärnsvampar.   Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Kolkärnsvampar
duranii

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: Uncaught TypeError: Cannot set property 'innnerHTML' of null on a var data This is the sample HTML I am trying to run but it fails.  Can someone tell me what is wrong?  Thanks

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A: Turns out I didn't need this line: document.getElementById("data").innerHTML = data;


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9-11-01 – 9-11-11 TEN YEARS IN A DAY
The criminals Bush and Cheney hastily wrote out their cover stories and received their advances. They were paid to re-write history and bend the truth to conform to their narrative. They are trying to stay out of prison because they are War Criminals and they know it.
The disparities in the Bush and Cheney books 'Decision Points' and 'In My Time' respectively, show that neither can keep their stories straight when it comes to their actions on September 11th, 2001. It makes sense as to why they testified together and not under oath at the 9-11 Commission in 2004. The truth is something that obviously neither can deal with. Criminal is as criminal does.
9-11-01, ten years on. The America is Kool-Aid stained and punch drunk. The America is now the red white & war.
The America can't seem to be at peace in the world—ever. It seems the America is always drawing down on someone somewhere. The death toll of American soldiers in Afghanistan last August is proof that the America is still out there, kickin' real world ass to keep the America safe and free. Free to lay off teachers and firefighters.
Recently, I got a letter from a woman currently deployed in Afghanistan, "A-Stan" as she called it. Her husband is deployed there as well. She has ten months left on this rotation. She wrote that the largest challenge she faces is keeping the morale of her troops up. She added that occasionally they get to kill "bad guys". It's cops and robbers. It's kid's games with a lot of death and mutilation. This is the legacy of 9-11-01.
9-11-01 is a story of incompetence, either intentioned or not. Cheney is a War Criminal, that's no longer even a debatable point. His book, In My Time, is a crime novel. He is a liar and a fraud. Cheney is a true sociopath. But mostly, Dick Cheney is a coward. He is a coward who cannot leave the America without fear of arrest. The only reason he got as far as he did is because of his five deferments that allowed him to avoid service in Vietnam. Had he gone, no doubt, he would have been fragged.
9-11-01 is what the America gets for global hegemony. The CIA calls it "blowback". The ten resulting years of fear, death, waste and debt is what the America gets for not standing up to the steady lies. Lies so naked, so brazen and crass, their issuers; Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Wolfowitz should perhaps be given a pass for being so upfront with it all. No one in the mainstream media or the halls of government had the patriotism to stand up to them in any meaningful way. The citizens who did oppose this blood-splattered crime sprees were marginalized and called un-American.
Perhaps that criticism is absurdly accurate. Perhaps wanting peace is to be at odds with the American War Machine. This sentiment brings to mind a Phil Lynott penned lyric from the song Warrior found on the Thin Lizzy album Jailbreak.
I am the warrior / I serve the death machine
Losers or conquerors / All flash past on my silver screen
No doubt, the lyric was more swagger and bravado than anything else but it is a fair assessment of the America's foreign policy posture and perceived mindset abroad. The Americans are known all over the world as the toughest gang in town. The America drops atomic bombs, cluster bombs, defoliants that keep on killing well after the conflict has ended. Not only is the America really good at all this, it is also very proud of it.
9-11-01 gave the America the invasion and occupation of Iraq. How long all that was in the works is up for speculation. Ten years later, the America is still in Iraq, still in Afghanistan, still in Cuba. Money continues to hemorrhage from the America into these countries by the truckload. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are out of work. At least they can feel relatively safe as they starve out.
The Bush Administration went to war against the America and won.
9-11-01 is now the convenient excuse to denigrate Muslims, spread ignorance and hatred toward Islam and people who "look Muslim".
9-11-01 justifies every demand from the Pentagon for expenditures no matter how pointless, illogical or outrageous. To even question their requests inspires anger.
9-11-01 allows cowardly politicians to avoid the hard work of a foreign policy that inspires peaceful and positive relationships with other countries.
9-11-01 provides cover for the America's blatant power grabs all over the Middle East and Central Asia.
9-11-01 Permits the intelligence agencies of the America to work without any oversight, thus allowing them to do who knows what to whom, who knows where.
9-11-01 has turned millions of Americans into terrified idiots claiming victim status. They bask in their cowardice and ignorance. They wear their stupidity like a badge on their overfed chests. They wonder "why people hate our freedom" and rarely have the backbone to look into the history of their country's foreign affairs. Rarely do they have the fortitude to put the shoe on the other foot and ask themselves what they would do in the same situation that another country's population has found themselves in when dealing with the America.
9-11-01 showed anyone who had a few seconds to notice that the America's media was complicit with the criminal activity of the Bush administration. They are all as guilty of withholding and manipulating information as any member of the Bush cabinet.
9-11-01 has created a new holiday for the Americans. They can talk about the bravery of the people who died, the first responders, the families and others, as if the bravery of these people was their own. Ten years later, that misfortune, sacrifice and heroism has passed into the collective consciousness of the American identity. These people have in fact, done nothing to deserve this self-congratulatory comforting of their stupidity.
9-11-01 has created a American populace that is gullible to the point of comedy. The word "billion" has never been used in the America as much as it has been in the ten years since 9-11-01. Now it's just another denomination of the America's treasury that gets routinely hurled into the furnace of "The war on terror". This is money squandered that does absolutely nothing to keep the America safe. Nothing. In fact it insures conflicts in the years ahead. It is the investment in the America's future. Not educating its young people, but bankrolling the higher tech, higher stakes conflicts that are to come. This is money that will never return to the America. This money went to the corporations of the Bush administration's choosing. This was obviously fine with a large slice of the American population. The broken roads, under funded educational systems and other ruination are the result. By not standing up against these crimes, the American people got what they voted for.
9-11-01 made heroes out of war deferring frauds and corporate scum.
9-11-01 was perhaps the clearest and last wake-up call for the America. For the most part, it went unheard, misread and unreported. The America has instead, doubled down on xenophobia, religious extremism, ignorance, military global hegemony and a last ditch, pathetic, bellicose posture as it bares its teeth at a world that is no longer afraid and moving on quickly with new technology, new ideas and new conversations. Meanwhile, the America hoarsely issues threats and ultimatums as its economy goes over the cliff and into the great darkness. An empire falling over like a winded, senile beast.
9-11-01 should be remembered as ten years on as the great accumulation of the America's foreign policy and intelligence failures.
9-11-01 was not deserved but arguably inevitable.
9-11-01 cannot surprise anyone who has an understanding of world history over the last one hundred years or who travels internationally.
9-11-01 showed the world how monumentally flawed and unprepared the America was for a domestic attack. To see the president, standing on a pile of rubble, barking hollow promises at a yet unknown enemy was as pitiful as it was moronic.
9-11-01 could have been the start of new America; an America more connected with the rest of the world. It has in fact, only hastened the America's demise.
9-11-01 is now just another day to celebrate American exceptionalism.


text:
12 Jun, 2016 21:14
'Horrible irony': Gay men turned away from donating blood after Orlando shooting
Hundreds of community members line up outside a clinic to donate blood after an early morning shooting attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, U.S June 12, 2016. © Steve Nesius © Reuters
Sunday's shooting at an Orlando gay club – and subsequent calls from blood donors - has put the spotlight on restrictive US laws that ban most gay people from giving blood, with thousands of social media users expressing outrage at the 'cruel irony.'
Donors fill the interior of OneBlood Blood Donation Center after mass shooting #pulsepic.twitter.com/1SvJbtpOyw
— Loren Elliott (@Lelliottphoto) June 12, 2016
"Urgent need for O Neg, O Pos and AB Plasma donors following a mass shooting in Orlando," OneBlood, a donor clinic located in the city, tweeted repeatedly. "Dozens of people have been injured and taken to area hospitals. The need for blood continues."
A wrap-around-the-block line of blood donors rebukes the intent of one deranged individual. #Orlandopic.twitter.com/D1NluaId6Z
— Michael Barron (@_michaelbarron) June 12, 2016
Within hours lines numbering hundreds snaked around the clinic, and by late afternoon it declared that it was at full capacity, asking donors to return within the next few days.
Thank you so much for the incredible outpouring of support! Right now our donor centers and Big Red Bus locations are at full capacity.
— OneBlood (@my1blood) June 12, 2016
But that was not enough to stave off a long-brewing debate on the discrimination of homosexuals, who wish to give blood.
The fact I as a gay man can't donate blood to help the LGBT community is both ironic and horrible.
— MeMaw (@danieleasharpe1) June 12, 2016
The FDA should overturn this legislation based solely on homophobic rhetoric. Gay men should be allowed to donate blood. #Orlando
— Josh Kolberg (@JoshKolberg) June 12, 2016
Listen up @US_FDA there is no such thing as gay blood, black, white, Muslim, Jewish, straight blood-- it all bleeds red and can save live
— (((Jared Polis))) (@jaredpolis) June 12, 2016
Men who have sex with men (MSM) were banned from donating in 1983, in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, when they were widely perceived to be one of the greatest risk groups, and no screening tests existed for contaminated blood.
FDA relaxes 32-year ban on blood donations from gay men
But current nucleic acid amplification tests (NAT) used on donors' blood can accurately sense antibodies that develop within two weeks of someone being infected. This has reduced the risk of receiving HIV to about 1 in 2 million.
Taking this into account, late last year the FDA softened its rules.
Now, any man that has refrained from gay sex for 12 months is allowed to give blood. This stops equating MSM with intravenous drug users and sex workers – who are still banned – and puts them on a level with those who have received transfusions, had a tattoo, or had sex with someone who had definitively been tested for HIV.
In practice, this restriction is likely to cut off most sexually-active gay men, and in fact OneBlood, and other Orlando clinics said they still hadn't adopted their protocols to comply with the new FDA stance.
The 1-year deferral period puts the US on a par with the UK, which adopted a similar protocol five years ago, Japan and Australia. There is no deferral period in other countries, such as Russia, Spain, Italy and much of South America.
LIVE UPDATES: Mass shooting at Orlando gay nightclub
In turn, Germany still has a ban on MSM blood donors, and Canada asks them to wait 5 years from their last time of intercourse before contributing to a blood bank.
Aliide
Orlando nightclub massacre


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The End-of-Life University has an online interview series that provides valuable resources and inspiration for the end of life.
Phyllis will discuss the story of her husband Alan who made the choice to stop eating and drinking rather than progress into the later stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Phyllis Shacter is an advocate for broadening the perspective about the choices available to people leading up to and during the dying process. Phyllis grew into this role through years of a long journey with her beloved husband Alan whose health declined slowly but steadily in the last six years of his life.
Alan died in April 2013 when he decided to voluntarily stop eating and drinking (VSED) so he did not have to live into the late stages of Alzheimer's. Phyllis draws on her experience as a consultant and public speaker as a means to spread this very important, but not widely known, message.
For more insight into what led up to Alan's decision to VSED, you can also watch Phyllis' TEDxBellingham talk which she gave in November 2013.


1970s mid century, art nouveau style ceramic table lamps. Set of 2. Lotus blossom stems wrap up the lamp to form handles along the sides. Made by Chapman. Both in good condition. Only one tiny flea bite chip in the ceramic. Soft lining at the base. The harp and knobs do not match. Pink knob has a chip. Both work nicely.


Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Virgin America Elevate are merging as part of the merger between the two West Coast airlines. Alaska Airlines has announced that the last day of Virgin America Elevate will be 12/31/2017. Partnership will terminate between 9/30 and 10/30 with most partners. Virgin America will continue to fly through sometime in 2019, but Alaska Airline's frequent flyer program will be the only program for the two airlines going forward. Alaska Airlines wants people to transfer points to Alaska Airlines now, but I'm tell you not to! Do not transfer your points unless you absolutely need to!
Virgin American Elevate Point Transfer Schedule.
Transfers between Virgin America and Alaska Airlines are a one way street. Miles can be transferred from Virgin America to Alaska Airlines, but not from Alaska to Virgin. Virgin America Elevate points earn a 30% bonus when transferring to Alaska Airlines. Elevate points transfer at a ratio of 1.3 miles per Elevate point. The transfer bonus is a fantastic perk. Do note that once the miles are moved to Alaska, they are frozen there.
Virgin Elevate points are very different than Alaska miles. Each Virgin point has a value of approximately 2.2 cents and Virgin America has partnerships and awards that Alaska does not. Before restricting your miles to Alaska's partners, consider their value at Virgin America.
Each Virgin Elevate point has a value of 2.2-2.6 cents. The fixed value can be extremely beneficial when purchasing tickets. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan award costs are different dependent on distance and region. Alaska did introduce cheaper awards since the merger with Virgin America, but sometimes using Virgin points make more sense than Alaska miles.
Here is an example of a flight between San Francisco and Los Angeles on April 25. The flight cost is only $69, however someone might want to use points to save money. Virgin America is offering the flight for 2,149 Elevate points.
The same flights with Alaska Airlines miles is 7,500 miles! Even if Virgin America points are transferred to Alaska Airlines at 1.3 miles, 2,149 elevate points is only 2,794 Alaska miles! The same flight costs nearly 2.25 times more with Alaska miles than with Virgin America Elevate points! The same holds true when splurging for a first class ticket! Elevate awards depend on the cost of the ticket.
Here is a another example of a cross country flight to New York. Alaska is charging 12,500 miles for a saver economy ticket. That is the equivalent of 9,615 Virgin America Elevate points.
Virgin is charging 7,033 elevate points or really 9,142 Alaska miles. Once again, by NOT transferring your points to Alaska Airlines, Virgin America Elevate members are saving miles!
There is a large difference in the cost for a premium cabin award between the two. Alaska will save you thousands of miles in First class. The same flight above is only 25,000 Alaska Miles compared to 48,000 Elevate points. Therefore, if a premium experience is what you're after, transfer 19,230 Elevate points to Alaska in order to save thousands.
Virgin America Elevate points are restrictive, even more restrictive then Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan partners. Yet despite being restrictive, Virgin has partners that Alaska does not have. This can open up different awards that are unique to Virgin America. Even with shared partner Emirates, Virgin has different award options.
Virgin America Elevate is partners with Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin Australia, and Singapore Airlines, Alaska Airline is not. Hawaiian Airlines serves several West Coast gateways and New York to Honolulu and/or Maui. If a Hawaiian vacation is on the radar, Virgin America Elevate members have an option that Mileage Plans members do not. The same is true for Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia. Have you ever tried to use Alaska miles to fly from Asia to Australia or Europe to Asia? The only partner award option is with Cathay Pacific. Virgin America Elevate opens up new options such as on Emirates, Singapore, or Virgin Australia.
Mileage Plan awards are very restrictive. Similarly, Virgin America partner awards are all published, if the award is not published, then the routing or award is not possible. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan has several award charts, but does not allow for several basic awards. Want to fly between Europe and Asia, the only option is Cathay Pacific. Alaska Airlines partners with Air France, KLM, Emirates, British Airways, JAL, Hainan, Korean, and Qantas. ALL airlines fly between Europe and Asia or the Middle East. Alaska MileagePlan members can earn miles on all routes, but cannot redeem miles for flights between Europe and the Middle East and Asia, except for on Cathay Pacific.
Virgin America Elevate points can be more valuable and the value only increases because more routes are available with Virgin partners than Alaska! Even Virgin America's partnership with Emirates allows for routing such as between Europe and Asia or the Middle East and Australia. Emirates has several fifth freedom routes which Virgin America Elevate points can be redeemed for. Meanwhile, Alaska miles cannot. Try using Alaska miles to fly from Colombo to Singapore, Bangkok to Hong Kong, or Auckland to Sydney. It's impossible. Alaska Miles are not for Global Awards. Virgin America Elevate points have more flexibility in this sense.
Alaska Airlines and Virgin America want you to transfer your miles now instead of waiting until the end of the year. Don't do it! Unless you need the miles for an Alaska Airlines award, your miles are safe where they are. When it's time to plan a vacation look at both Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Virgin America Elevate. Then and only then transfer your points if it makes sense.
Alaska Airlines will transfer all miles from Virgin on 1/1/2018. All Virgin America Elevate points will still earn the 30% bonus and transfer at a rate of 1.3. The airlines will push you to transfer your points sooner, but later is better.
Don't get me wrong, I love my Alaska Airlines miles and find them extremely valuable. I am excited for the new Alaska Airlines as well, but I am not transferring my Virgin America Elevate points until I absolutely must. Virgin America offers unique awards and opportunities not available with Alaska Airlines. Keeping your points with Virgin is a win-win for Elevate members because you truly have the power of two airlines programs and partners at your disposal.