This is a 'visualizer' for the 2018 paper "Relational mobility predicts social behaviors in 39 countries and is tied to historical farming and threat" by Thomson, Yuki, and the 25-person team that made the world relationships survey possible.
Poke, prod, and explore the data – it is freely available to download too.
All relational mobility scores below were measured in the WRS, over multiple waves from late 2013 till mid-2016. The survey also included the interpersonal intimacy, self-disclosure, similarity, and social support measures. See the main paper (here) for details.
What countries and regions are high and low in relational mobility?
What do you notice? East and South-east Asia are low in relational mobility. So are many Arabic-speaking countries and regions. North America and Europe tend to be high in relational mobility.
Big, dark red circles are high relational mobility. Small, dark blue circles are low in relational mobility.
Take note of the Latin American countries – they are high in relational mobility. From a cross-cultural psychology standpoint, this is interesting because South America has always been considered 'collectivistic'. But as far as relational mobility is concerned, South America is even higher than the uber-individualistic North America!
Also take note of Hungary – Hungary is very low on relational mobility, but as you'll see below, people in Hungary don't act like people in other low relational mobility societies!
Are perceptions of relational mobility accurate?
Before moving on, let's have a think about what the 'relational mobility society scores' are.
Essentially, they're the average perception of relational mobility from the people we surveyed in each country or region (using the relational mobility scale). But what if people's perceptions are wrong? What if in low relational mobility societies, for example, there are actually plenty of opportunities to change relationships, and people simply think otherwise?
To answer this question, we look at existing society-level variables that point to similar things as relational mobility: movement of relationships, values and mindsets that indicate closed or open interpersonal relationships, etc.
Apart from that interesting region of Latin America, the results speak for themselves – people's perceptions of relational mobility seem to be quite accurate!
NOTE: Hover or tap the trend line for the p-value.
How is relational mobility related to previously established cultural dimensions?
Researchers have identified many ways in which people from different regions of the world differ. Shared values, mindsets, ways of understanding the self, and concepts about society are some ways in which we differ.
We argue that in low relational mobility societies, people should have mindsets and shared values that reflect the relatively closed, long-term nature of interpersonal relationships in those societies: interdependence, collectivistic worldviews, and strong norm enforcement and hierarchies are some that come to mind.
On the other hand, reflecting relative freedom to pursue one's own relationships voluntarily, higher relational mobility should be associated with more individualistic, independent, and egalitarian values.
Indeed, results seem to suggest that this is the case.
What happens to humans' behavior and mindsets when relational mobility is high or low?
Researchers argue that as relational mobility increases, people become more attuned to 1) seeking out high quality, attractive relationships, and 2) trying hard to keep the relationships they like!
Therefore, high relational mobility is associated with more active interpersonal behaviors and mindsets that support those behaviors.
What makes some societies high and some low in relational mobility?
Overall, it seems that societies with more pressure against survival and more "collaborative" ways of farming and agriculture tend to be lower in relational mobility.
Here, we draw on two seminal theories on how distal social ecologies impact human society. First, Gelfand et al.'s (2011) widely influential work focused on ways historical and ecological threats impact the tightness of norms (see Cultural Tightness in the Cultural Variables section above). We explored many of the same ecological variables as Gelfand et al. (2011) to see how this affects relational mobility. Second, we drew on subsistence style theory–see Talhelm et al. (2014) and Uskul et al. (2008)–to see what impact this had on relational mobility.
We found more threats and more stable subsistence styles seem to make some societies more close-knit, closed to outsiders, and require people to coordinate and cooperate more closely. Societies like this seem to afford less freedom and opportunity to meet and change relationships.
The stand-out exception, once again, is Latin America. These societies display the behavior and mindsets we'd expect from high relational mobility societies. But, it seems they certainly didn't get their relational mobility from their ecological and historical background. This is a fascinating avenue for further work!
RelationalMobility.org was originally conceived as a companion website to Thomson et al.'s (2018) multi-country relational mobility paper published in PNAS.
In particular, the site allows visitors to explore the associations presented in the PNAS paper visually using interactive scatterplots.
The site now includes lists of papers related to relational mobility, as well as a behind the scenes look at how the authors collected data for the PNAS study, along with some basics regarding how to use the relational mobility scale.
When using the relational mobility scale, please cite the following paper.
Regarding relational mobility, contact the corresponding author of the Thomson et al. (2018) PNAS paper, Masaki Yuki, using the below methods. He will strive to respond in a timely manner.
Regarding this website, and data visualizations, please contact Robert Thomson at Hokusei Gakuen University at rob.thomson@hokusei.ac.jp.
RelationalMobility.org and the Thomson et al. (2018) PNAS relational mobility paper is the result of a massive collaborative effort by an awesome team of researchers from around the world.
At the core of this effort is the Social Ecology & Psychology Lab at Hokkaido University in Sapporo City, Japan. Leading this lab is Dr. Masaki Yuki.
We are always interested in the ways in which we can test, probe, and prod relational mobility as a construct and social reality. So if you'd like to work with us, or have an idea you'd like to run past us, please get in touch.
Content on relationalmobility.org is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.


text:
Pachybrachis azureus is een keversoort uit de familie bladkevers (Chrysomelidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd in 1848 gepubliceerd door Suffrian.

azureus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
ABOUT WTM PUBLISHING & COMMUNICATIONS
WTM Publishing and Communications (WTM P&C) is an Australian-based publishing house that was specifically established as an independent organisation to bring scientific and public awareness to the issue of the human condition — our species' unique capacity for both 'good' and 'evil'. This independence is necessary because the scientific establishment has failed in its responsibility to address — in fact, it has studiously avoided — the true, psychological nature of our condition. WTM P&C seeks to redress this failure by communicating deeper analysis of the human condition, through book publishing and logistics, video and documentary production, website services and public relations.
The human condition is the most difficult of issues for humans to deal with because it is the subjective dimension to life, the issue of 'self' in fact. Nevertheless, WTM P&C is of the view that the human condition is the underlying issue in all human affairs, the stalling point in human progress and the subject, therefore, that science must now address.
Indeed, with every day bringing with it more startling evidence of the turmoil of the human situation, the issue of the human condition is really the only question facing our species, because its solution has become a matter of critical urgency. Conflict between individuals, races, cultures and countries abounds; there is genocide, terrorism, mass displacement of peoples, starvation, runaway diseases, environmental devastation, gross inequality, racial and gender oppression, rampant corruption and other crimes, drug abuse, obesity, family breakdown and epidemic levels of depression, unhappiness and loneliness. In short, the situation is now so dire the human race is, in fact, entering end play, where the Earth cannot absorb any further devastation from the effects of our behaviour, nor the human body cope with any more debilitating stress — or, most particularly, our mind endure any more psychological distress, any more alienated psychosis and neurosis. The journalist Richard Neville was frighteningly accurate when, in summarising the desperate state of our species' situation, he wrote that 'The world is hurtling to catastrophe: from nuclear horrors, a wrecked ecosystem, 20 million dead each year from malnutrition, 600 million chronically hungry...All these crises are man made, their causes are psychological. The cures must come from this same source; which means the planet needs psychological maturity...fast. We are locked in a race between self destruction and self discovery' (Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald). Only 'self discovery' — reconciling, ameliorating, 'psychological[ly]' healing understanding of the human condition — could save us from 'self destruction'.
In his 2012 book The Social Conquest of Earth, the biologist E.O. Wilson claimed to provide an explanation of our species' conflicted state, when, in fact, his treatise merely trivialised the human condition as nothing more than selfless instincts at odds with selfish instincts within us. Wilson avoids what Neville has recognised above, that the human condition is a psychological issue, and as such demands a deeper, more profound treatment — and it's the pursuit of this deeper, more profound understanding that WTM P&C seeks to encourage and promote — specifically the Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith's psychosis-addressing-and-solving insight.
NOW LAUNCHED! FREEDOM: THE END OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
In 2016 WTM P&C embarked on its most ambitious project to date, to publish and launch Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith's definitive treatment of the human condition, FREEDOM: The End Of The Human Condition.
'FREEDOM' was launched worldwide and made available in bookstores on 24 May 2016, but due to the importance of its world-saving insights, it is, and will always remain, FREELY AVAILABLE to be read, printed or shared at www.humancondition.com/freedom.
'FREEDOM' is Jeremy Griffith's definitive treatise on this new paradigm and has received acclaim from the likes of Professor Harry Prosen, former president of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, who has said: "What this book of books, in fact this greatest of all books, does is take humanity from a state of bewilderment about the nature of human behavior and existence to a state of profound understanding of our lives — understanding that drains away all the pain, suffering, confusion and conflict from the world. This is it — THE BOOK THAT SAVES THE WORLD!"
In August 2016, Transform Your Life And Save The World, a short but powerful condensation of 'FREEDOM' was published. Based on Griffith's address at the launch of 'FREEDOM' at the Royal Geographical Society in London in June 2016, Transform Your Life And Save The World is a recommended entry to this new paradigm.
UPDATE: In June 2020 WTM P&C published THE Interview The Solves The Human Condition And Saves The World! THE Interview consists of the transcript of acclaimed British actor and broadcaster Craig Conway's astonishing, world-changing and world-saving interview with Jeremy about his book 'FREEDOM'. This interview is the ultimate tool for quickly understanding — and for sharing — Jeremy Griffith's work.
To read further acclaim, and view online video presentations and interviews that have been created to complement the publication of 'FREEDOM', please visit www.humancondition.com/freedom. Media are invited to click on Media Enquiries at www.humancondition.com/media for further materials and publicity contacts.
This website is operated by and the information on it is published by WTM Publishing & Communications Pty Ltd (ACN 103 136 778).
Copyright © Fedmex Pty Ltd (ACN 096 099 286) 2004-2020 | All rights reserved | Terms of Use

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
title: Relevant API Endpoints for Single Sign-On
description: Learn about Auth0 Authentication API and Management API endpoints that are relevant when implementing Single Sign-on (SSO).
topics:
    - sso
    - api
contentType: reference
useCase: sso
---
# Relevant API Endpoints for Single Sign-On

When implementing [Single Sign-on (SS0)](/sso) and configuring its settings, the following API endpoints will be helpful to you.

## Authentication API

### POST /login/callback

For SSO flows initiated by an [Identity Provider (IdP)](/identityproviders), the [POST /login/callback](/api/authentication#idp-initiated-single-sign-on-sso-flow) endpoint can accept a sign-on SAML request from the IdP.

## Management API

The Management API features several endpoints designed to help you manage SSO.

To call any of the Management API endpoints, you will need to [obtain an Access Token](/api/management/v2/tokens).

### Clients

All of your client applications/SSO integrations feature information relevant to your SSO implementation. You can retrieve or change this information by calling one of the Clients endpoints.

Of-interest parameters for each client include:

* `sso`: Flag applicable only for clients created via SSO integrations. If `true`, Auth0 handles SSO; if `false`, the IdP handles SSO.

* `sso_disabled`: Flag used to enable/disable SSO. If `true`, then SSO is disabled; if `false`, SSO is enabled. This option can only be set via the Management API.

* `app_type`: Application type. If the client was created using one of Auth0's built-in SSO integrations, the name of the SSO integration would be listed (e.g., `box` or `concur` instead of `native` or `spa`)

#### Get all clients

The [GET /api/v2/clients](/api/management/v2#!/Clients/get_clients) endpoint can be used to return information about the client applications you have configured for your tenant.

#### Create a client

The [POST /api/v2/clients](/api/management/v2#!/Clients/post_clients) endpoint can be used to create a new client application.

#### Get a client

The [GET /api/v2/clients/{id}](/api/management/v2#!/Clients/get_clients_by_id) endpoint can be used to return information about a specific client you have configured for your tenant.

#### Update a client

The [PATCH /api/v2/clients/{id}](/api/management/v2#!/Clients/patch_clients_by_id) endpoint can be used to update a specific client, including its SSO-related parameters.

### Tenants

Auth0 allows you to control the following tenant-level parameters that may affect your SSO implementation:

* `session_lifetime`: Length of time for which the user's Auth0 session will stay valid.
* `idle_session_lifetime`: Amount of time that may elapse before the user must sign in again due to inactivity.

### Get tenant settings

The [GET /api/v2/tenants/settings](/api/management/v2#!/Tenants/get_settings) endpoint retrieves the settings for your tenant.

### Update tenant settings

The [POST /api/v2/connections](/api/management/v2#!/Tenants/patch_settings) endpoint allows you to update your tenant settings.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Leta Lopez-Wilkinson is the daughter of Adriana and Mr. Lopez, and the youngest sister of Luis Fernando Lopez and Ernesto Lopez. She was abandoned by her father along with her brothers and was sexually harassed by a teacher at her school, which resulted in Luis shooting the teacher and being sent to a juvenile detention center. Leta later moved out and married a Mr. Wilkinson, and had an unknown amount of children. She works in a human resources department but tells Luis not to work in one as "people treat you like you need wipe their asses".
Leta has a healthier relationship with Luis than their brother Ernesto and does not nag Luis about his nightclub lifestyle, unlike their mother and brother, which Luis admires. She later asks Luis to look out for their mother after admitting that she and Ernesto have not been there for her after moving out.
Henrique Bardas has a crush on Leta, one that has apparently has stood since they were kids.
During one of the Club Management side missions, Dessie asks Luis to go pick up the Blue Brothers and bring them back to Maisonette 9. Luis complies, but states he's only doing so because his niece is crazy about them. Considering the fact the Ernesto and Luis hardly talk, and that his kids think their uncle Luis is dead, it can be implied that it is Leta's children he is talking about, and that Leta has a daughter.
This page was last modified on 27 October 2013, at 16:10.


Yes, this arthritic ring finger now has a dazzling ring on it. Simple yet sparkly, a lovely, beautiful classic solitaire diamond. I love it, and, even more, I love what it signifies – someone who will stand by my side through sickness and in health.
In our situation, isn't that what we all strive for more than anything? Someone to be there for us when times are hard, when we need a friend and a constant supporter through chronic illness? My boyfriend – now fiancé – has been my biggest fan, greatest friend, and number one blessing. When dealing with the up and downs of living with the trials and tribulations of a life of sickness, pain, and sometimes unexpected challenges of autoimmune diseases, disabilities, and chronic conditions, it is an absolute joy and blessing to have a partner-in-crime to be your pillar of strength through the dark times. I am so thankful to have him by my side.
As silly as it sounds (but, I'm sure that my "RA peeps" can relate) – I am also so thankful that the ring fits! I was always worried that when my special moment came, that my engagement ring would not fit over my swollen knuckles! Thank goodness that I wasn't having an RA flare on the day of my marriage proposal! He took my arthritis into account when figuring out what size ring to get, too! Luckily, it fits perfectly – and, in case of a flare, I must admit – I'd rather have it stuck ON my swollen finger, not being able to get it off, than not be able to get it on! I want to wear it always, because it means so very much to me!
One thing that bugs me, though, is this: since when is having RA a sentence to have old-lady hands? Now, I'm sure that sounds just about as silly as my always whining about having to give up stilettos, but, we all have our downfalls and mine may be vanity. I'd never quite noticed that I'd had unattractive hands until I'd started taking pictures of my engagement ring. But, alas, I'll be the first to admit that mine are pretty darn UGLY. I'm guessing that the years – 16 to be exact – of rheumatoid arthritis has not really done them any favors. The sagging skin at the knuckles is likely from the stretching when they swell. Then there's the knobbiness of the knuckles themselves, and the crookedness of my fingers, and the general puffiness of my bottom knuckles. They are NOT what I'd call modelesque hands. I'd say that my hands look about 20 years older than I do, which, makes sense, given how they physically feel on any given day. This makes me reconsider the idea of that traditional "hands" wedding photo. Yeah…we might nix that whole thing. Unless I decide to, I don't know, Botox my hands (which, they say IS good for arthritic joints – no lie, it was in Arthritis Today magazine) – I just don't think that any more ring/hand photos are happening…unless the ring is without a hand or finger…lol.
In other news, I will admit that I have not been doing a very good job – at all – with my anti-GERD diet. I'm excellent with living gluten-free for my Celiac disease but for some reason I don't do very well with my other dietary restrictions. I know that following the anti-GERD diet is very important because I already am going to have to be evaluated most likely for Barrett's esophagus and that can be dangerous. I'm also not doing well with cutting back on sugar and fructose, and I'm going to have to be tested for fructose intolerance later this month. In addition to having to avoid soy, garlic, and a few other foods as much as possible, a part of me is beyond frustrated wondering WHAT "these people" (i.e. my doctors) want me to eat if I have to be gluten-free, soy-free, fructose-free, avoid all of my 'allergen' foods, cut back on dairy, AND stick to the anti-GERD diet? It is so intimidating, that, if I were to psycho-analyze myself, I think that, aside from the gluten part (which I NEVER EVER EVER cheat on) I may be inclined to want to childishly rebel, because it is SO HARD. I've met with countless dieticians but it is just really difficult to keep track of, not to mention, expensive, and VERY intimidating! I really want to know if any of you have tips for living with THIS MANY dietary restrictions? How do you do it? Especially in social settings, and on budget? A part of me wants to see what all the tests *definitively* show before sacrificing so much more! Why do it if I don't 100% have to, right? Or, do you guys think that is the wrong attitude? Do any of you follow any of these diets? Do they help with your autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis? What about migraines, fibromyalgia, GERD, gastrointestinal problems, adrenal issues, immune dysfunction in general? Please, share your stories!
On another note….this is hard for me to share but I've been diagnosed with mild dysthymia and reactive anxiety, both in relation to my chronic health conditions. I do not want to go on medications but I have heard that some of the medications can treat both and can also manage chronic pain particularly the type that is associated with fibromyalgia and migraines. I do take 2 medications for my migraines but this week, for example, nothing at all has helped my migraines, and I've had severe headaches/migraines and brain fog every day. My fatigue has also been unbearable. I've been up and functioning – wedding planning, getting lots of other things done …but, it has been a huge challenge. I've been so unbelievably tired that it doesn't feel humanly possible to even BE that tired…and I have the circles under my eyes to show it! I really don't recall the last time that I have been this drained! My moods have been fine, but, I've been exhausted beyond belief! The fatigue is very hard to cope with. I know that everyone with RA has fatigue but it has been way worse than usual this week. Do any of you have depression or anxiety with your arthritis or autoimmune conditions? Do any of you have methods for coping with fatigue?
One thing I'm going to try to do now that my knee is slightly better is to exercise more. What is your favorite type of exercise? I am going to try to ease back in with just walking and yoga before hitting the gym full force. I'd like to get back at it with cardio and weights within a couple of months since I am having a beach wedding next July! But, we'll see! It is really hard for me to exercise like I'd wish to with my knee needing replaced, my neck, and my RA being as unpredictable as it is! I'm determined to make it work, though! After all, exercise IS the best medicine! Do you guys have any advice? I start biofeedback next week, and am looking forward to that, as well.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, stories, and feedback … so please, leave a comment!
Tags: @ArthritisAshley, Adrenal Disease, anti-GERD diet, anxiety, Arthritic, Arthritis, arthritis and depression, Arthritis Ashley, Arthritis Blog, arthritis flare, Arthritis Foundation, Arthritis Stories, Arthritis Story, arthritis wellness, Ashley Boynes, ashley boynes blog, Ashley's Journey to Wellness, August 2010, Autoimmune, autoimmune arthritis, autoimmune disorder, Autoimmune Illness, bad knee, Barrett's, Barrett's Esophagus, biofeedback, Blog, Celiac, Celiac Disease, Chronic Disease, Chronic Illness, Cymbalta, depression, diet, dysthymia, Engagement, Engagement ring, Engagement stories, esophageal dysplasia, exercise, fingers swollen, food allergy, fructose allergy, fructose intolerance, GERD, gluten allergy, gluten free, Health, health blog, Human Body, immune dysfunction, immunodeficiency, Invisible Illness, JA, JA Conference, joint replacement, joints, JRA, Juvenile Arthritis, knee replacement, Methotrexate, mid atlantic arthritis, Mid Atlantic Arthritis Foundation, Mid Atlantic Region, MidAtlanticAF, migraine, Migraines, nutrition, OA, Osteoarthritis, physical activity, physical therapy, RA, reactive anxiety, reflux, Refractory Celiac, Remicade, Rheumatoid Arthritis, soy free, Spoonie, Spoonie Blog, Spoonies, sugar allergy, sugar malabsorption, weblog, Wellness, wellness blog, Wellness with a Side of Life, Wellness with a Side of Life Please. Bookmark the permalink.
Previous post ← Ashley's Journey to Wellness – Entry #21 – Life's a Beach: Sacrifices for Health, Biofeedback, Anxiety, and Shoes!
I definitely don't have as many dietary restrictions as you! That must be so tough and frustrating, to say the least! I have lots of food allergies, as well as developed autoimmune pancreaitis in the last year which forced me on a no to low fat diet. I find it so difficult to go out to eat with friends and family. Although, thankfully more and more places are starting to provide a 'healthy' menu. yay! I completely see what you are saying…why give more up if you aren't sure you need to! Thanks for your blogs, i wouldn't wish arthritis on anyone…but, it is helpful to know I am not alone!


A panel of judges has decided that the city of Los Angeles did not violate billboard companies' constitutional rights when it enacted a ban on outdoor ads.
The ruling this week by the 9th District Court of Appeals reverses a federal judge's 2008 decision that exceptions to the ban raised free speech concerns because they gave city officials too much leeway in deciding which signs to allow.
The appeals' court judges also vacated a contempt order against the city that was issued after it issued citations against outdoor advertising company World Wide Rush, one of the companies that challenged the sign ban.
Messages left with World Wide Rush's attorney and the Los Angeles city attorney's office were not immediately returned.


text:
Tapinella är ett släkte av svampar. Tapinella ingår i familjen Tapinellaceae, ordningen Boletales, klassen Agaricomycetes, divisionen basidiesvampar och riket svampar.

Källor

Bildgalleri

Basidiesvampar
Tapinella


text:
Happy Birthday, Shithead!
A simple point for today: Fuck Tim Tebow and a pox on ESPN for taking today's 25th anniversary of the only time he touched a vagina and making it into an insufferable blow fest.
I don't watch ESPN's morning programming, mind you, so I can't pretend to claim that their coverage of this non-event ruined my day or that I am now hoarse from raging at my television over coffee and Cheerios. Even that distance from ESPN's influence, however, is not enough to keep my blood pressure in check as I learned about the Birthday Boy focus of both SportsCenter and First Take this morning. No, it's not surprising. And yes, I shouldn't get angry about it because there are certainly better things to do with my time.
Ah well. Priorities.
Value in Sport
Sidebar: In writing this slightly long-winded exploration - classic Dubs, I know - I'm super grateful to the Scizz, in particular, for hashing out some of these issues on Friday night and helping me center my thoughts. Just imagine how unwieldy this thing would be without his help.
I took Thursday off this week as I struggled with a sinus infection or something quite like it. With the spare time between doses of extra strength "oh god this better get me better I have a huge day tomorrow," I caught up on some Netflix, specifically movies I can safely assume my wife would not mind missing. Having started it Wednesday night before Mrs. Dubs got home, I finished off Dark Crystal, the epic Jim Henson/Frank Oz masterpiece that still somehow holds up today. Inspired by the theme, I sailed through Labyrinth, though the viewing was more napping than anything else.
And then, when I woke up, I watched "The Street Stops Here," a documentary about Bob Hurley, Sr., and his über-successful basketball program at St. Anthony's in Jersey City.
A former parole officer in the area, Hurley is the quintessential made-for-Hollywood archetype. Having been frustrated by the recidivist rates of his parolees and the frustration of not being able to keep every one of them out of jail, seeing men too old or too broken to help or fix, he opted to focus his work on high school students. Hurley's success rate is obvious, as he sends the overwhelming majority of his players on to play college ball every year, and currently holds the national record for state championships. But, like any great coach, his primary concern has always been making true men out of his boys. Having seen first-hand the reality for men who never really made that leap, his focus on the big picture has a certain urgency to it. And, to complete the morality play, following the maturation and growth is success.
It is no big secret why this kind of storyline appeals to us as sports fans. Somewhere in the midst of collective effort and camaraderie, real life lessons can be learned. And even if we are only spectators, the mere act of witnessing such moments of growth and learning and success and failure can have a profound effect. Not always, sure. But perhaps that's why we watch, as we wait for those lessons to take hold of our heroes and ourselves. Lessons about patience, about grit and determination, about the possibility of success against all odds.
Stick A Wrench In Me. I'm Done.
I have an hour before physical therapy on my back and I need this outlet to get some things off my chest. If the DGWU crew haven't made it clear enough to you yet, let me just reiterate that we are having difficulty getting excited for the upcoming NFL season. The reasons are countless, but I believe I have narrowed it down to three major points.
1) The media coverage in the NFL has become sickening. The Apologist covered this a few days ago, but I have to chime in with how much I despise ESPN. They only hype up the stories that have a positive effect on the network and only report what the NFL force feeds them. Do you remember Ron Mexico? In fact, when it comes to a story that they feel is "beneath them", they will flat out not even make an attempt to get the info correct. Don't get me started on how they fuck up hockey news. Whether it's reporting that Tampa Bay was playing in the Stanley Cup, pronouncing Derek Roy's name wrong in highlights (several times), or completing ignoring free agency this summer, it is apparent that they just don't give a shit. However, ESPN will still show painfully obvious signs of doing no research whatsoever in other sports if they believe the team doesn't matter. For example, twitter member twoeightnine dropped this gem a few moments ago.
ESPNews just called James Hardy a key Buffalo Bills player lost this offseason. #theteamthatdoesntmatterless than a minute ago via Tweetbot for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply Matt Johnson
twoeightnine
Are you kidding me? Even a wallflower fan could probably tell you how dumb that comment is. Anyone who plays fantasy football, Bills fan or not could have told you how wrong that statement it is. Fucking ridiculous.
2. All other sports are more exciting right now. The NBA playoffs were phenomenal. Not even including Dallas & Dirk's route of the Heat, you still had underdogs like Memphis and Indiana playing crazy good ball, the Miami - Chicago series, and everything that Kevin Durant does. You also had the NHL playoffs, which despite Buffalo bowing out early (more on them later), there was still Washington - NYR, Tamp - Boston, Vancouver - San Jose, and what turned out to be a pretty solid Cup finals (minus the rioting and the fact that I HATE everything Boston). Hell, even soccer is hitting its stride in the U.S. Between the USMNT's Gold Cup play and the USWNT in the World Cup, I even got excited about soccer. The nationally televised WNY Flash game (yeah, Mendola!) and a Portland vs. Seattle MLS games a few backs were both more entertaining than your average ESPN Monday Night Football plug fest.
Back in April I was legitimately freaked out by the possibility of no season, but as the months passed, I started to care less and less. On top of that, the new Terry Pegula Sabres have me so excited for next season, I just want football to be over so I can focus on hockey. Oh it's true. It's damn true. But, that leads me to the next reason....
3. Ralph Wilson and the Buffalo Bills have broken my spirit. The entire crew here is TIRED of the Buffalo Bills being an embarrassment. Does that make people think we are bad fans? Yeah...well...you know that's just like...uh...your opinion, man.
Trust me. I was on the other side not too long ago. Yachtsman and I have had some battles the last couple of seasons because I felt like he gave up on the team. I have realized it isn't so much about giving up, it's about getting sick of the same old crap and an awful football product being placed on the field year after year. I know the players try, I'm not calling them out so much as I'm aiming at the front office and ownership. This team is exhausting.
I actually like Chan Gailey, and I love the Whaley kid they brought in from Pittsburgh to most likely be Nix's eventual replacement, but it has become astonishingly difficult to get fired up for the up and coming Bills season. Getting let down year after year isn't about the lack of movement in free agency, it's the terrrible moves they make that never pan out. The offensive line has been a joke for 10 years after brilliant moves for players like Dockery, Walker, and the lovely Cornell Green. Ugh. It is so difficult to stomach.
I'm absolutely NOT saying I know what they can do to fix this. I would be a terrible GM. My point it is, there has been little to no positive results from the franchise carousel in the front office. This includes the draft, which you can follow up with if your new to the site, and never read my Epic Fail Draft series. I'm not going hate on Poz leaving anymore, or what I originally thought was a ridiculous signing of Brad Smith, or any other move they make until I can see how it pans out. But that is the problem. 95% of all personnel moves have been vomit-inducing. Why can't any of these professionals get it right? Yachter has touched on this before, and recently Corey at The Goose's Roost added to the fire. Until Ralph is gone, this team is a big "Fuck You" to fans. Ralph doesn't give a shit about us. When he is gone, it is either going to be the greatest thing for the franchise (a new passionate owner ala TPegs) or the worst (The L.A. Leonardo's). I know it. You know it. Assholes like Brett Ratner and Jeremy Piven are jerking off over it.
I haven't always felt like this. In 2007, I would have wanted to kick future me in the nuts and dump a beer on him. So let me get it straight: I LOVE THE BUFFALO BILLS. On opening day I will be with the rest of the DGWU crew and other fans cheering on the Bills and going absolutely nuts for every down.I wrote once before about how important Western New York and the sports franchises are to me and everyone else born there. It is one of my favorite things I have ever written and I mean every word of it. But over the last few years, my expectations and reactions to the results of the games have changed infinitely. I'll break it down for you.
In 2007, I started dating my current girlfriend and I quickly converted her to a Bills and Sabres fan (stills pull for the G-men though). Almost every week we would head out to one of several bars in NYC and watch the games with hordes of fellow Buffalo Bills fans. We would reserve tables, arrive before alcohol was even being served, and be decked out in as much Bills gear as possible. During the games the we would go through kegs worth of beers and pounds and pounds of wings. There was even rituals such as football in the street during halftime and the famed "Tim Dance" after a touchdown. It was the highlight of my week, but here's the thing; every game I was so fired up for a win and I truly believed they could pull out every game. I believed in the franchise and the outcome of the game either made my week or destroyed it. The girlfriend would often dislike this about me, because after a Bills win I was the happiest guy in the world, but after a bad loss (you know the kind) I would be miserable the rest of the night and would count down every hour until the next game so I could possibly get that "winning high" back. Sad, I know.
Over the last few seasons there has been a change. I still love the GAME of football and the Buffalo Bills, but I'm not letting them set me up for an emotional letdown anymore. Two seasons ago my girlfriend mentioned that I wasn't getting quite as upset after bad losses as I use to, and then this past season I can honestly say there was only one game where I was angry and highly disappointed afterwards. That was the Baltimore overtime loss. I still have no clue why that game got to me, but it did. The Yachtsman broke it down for me quite well on the phone after the game after I screamed for 15 minutes. "Why do you care so much when ownership couldn't give flying fuck about you?" Good question. I didn't want to believe that Ralph was a terrible owner. He ran my Bills and the stadium I worshipped was named after him, but it all started making sense.
I started thinking about Antoine Winfield, Pat Williams, and Jason Peters leaving our organizations after earning paydays they would never get from Buffalo. Then that made me remember every Cornell Green, Larry Tripplet, and Matt Bowen. Seriously go back and look at Buffalo's free agent signings over the last five seasons. One word came to mind after I reviewed each one: Pathetic. Even T.O., which was a just a desperate maneuver from Russ Brandon to sell tickets and jerseys.
Sorry if I sound like a pissed off, moody teenager who isn't getting his way, but I've had enough. I'm getting older and I'm convinced that every Bills game from 1997-2008 took at least one month off my life. I'll still be there on September 11th, ready to cheer for the Buffalo Bills and hope for the future, but I'm doing it a lot more cautiously and with much more indifference after a loss. It sucks. I kind of miss the old days when I didn't care that they were 6-10 and there was always hope for the next year, but I just don't have it in me anymore. For instance, me four years ago would be super optimistic about the way Buffalo finished the second half of last season, maybe even talking about the playoffs (cue Jim Mora). I am no where near that now. I haven't given up, but I need to see consistency and a real passion from ownership to save this franchise before I'm going to put in the same effort anymore.
I'll be a Bills fan for life. That is a fact. I will never change allegiances or totally walk away from football. Does everything else I wrote hurt my "fandom"? Maybe. I'm past the point where I care what others think about my level of fan dedication. I'll watch every game through the bitter end, but don't expect me to get too fired up if C.J. Spiller has one break out game or Marcell Dareus has a monster rookie year. The entire franchise has to do a lot more than that to get that mid-2000's love back. But dear God I sure hope they do because there is nothing like cheering on a franchise that is doing everything in it's power to win and make fans Happy. *Cough Cough* Buffalo Sabres *Cough* Terry Pegula *Cough Cough*
I was at this game with my father. I will never forget it. This is what Buffalo Bills fans need. This what they deserve.


text:
Ву́лиця Ірини Жиленко — вулиця в Оболонському районі міста Києва, селище Пуща-Водиця. Пролягає від Міської вулиці до безіменного проїзду, що сполучає вулицю Курортну та вулицю Федора Максименка (продовженням слугує одна з вулиць селища (колишня Леніногорська вулиця).

Прилучаються вулиці 1-ша лінія, 2-га лінія, 3-тя лінія, 4-та лінія.

Історія
Вулиця виникла на початку XX століття (не пізніше 1911 року), мала назву Некрасовська. З 1956 до 2022 року мала назву на честь російського письменника Олексія Новикова-Прибоя.

27 жовтня 2022 року перейменовано на честь української письменниці Ірини Жиленко

Установи та заклади
 № 11 — Школа-інтернат № 21.

Примітки

Джерела

Вулиці Оболонського району Києва
Пуща-Водиця
Вулиці Києва, названі на честь жінок


Pacitti Company is a UK based arts organisation that creates and presents experimental art internationally.
Since 2007 Pacitti Company has made the SPILL Festival of Performance.
Convened in 1990 by artist Robert Pacitti, the company has spent the past 25 years making and touring an award-winning body of radical work around the world, including live performance, film and video, and mass engagement projects.
Pacitti Company approaches performance making as investigation through research.
The Company blends formal disciplines and techniques with social sciences and personal politic. This bespoke process enables Pacitti Company to serve diverse local, regional, national and international audiences with works of vital artistic and cultural value, whilst always remaining accessible.
Pacitti Company is based in Ipswich, Suffolk, at the Think Tank, our specially renovated studios and workspace in the Victorian Wing of the Ipswich Museum and Art School Gallery. This unique facility provides an open resource for ongoing public exploration into experimental arts practice.
Pacitti Company runs a rolling programme of events across the year out of the Think Tank, many of which help determine the direction of future SPILL Festivals.
Pacitti Company is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
To create and curate meaningful interdisciplinary art, shared with audiences in new and accessible ways.
To create innovative learning offers and structured practical pathways that nurture and develop high-potential artists, students and cultural workers.


REE ADMISSION – click the ticket link for the event website!
Once again Transcona & District Pipe Band will be holding a Highland Gathering but this time it'll be more than just a pipe band competition! Come see the pipes and drums, Highland Dancers of Manitoba, Scottish Country Dancing, Broadsword Association of Manitoba and the Manitoba Association of Celtic Sports heavy games!
Food vendors will be on site too!


text:
[![github release](https://img.shields.io/github/release/openconfig/gnmic.svg?style=flat-square&color=00c9ff&labelColor=bec8d2)](https://github.com/openconfig/gnmic/releases/)
[![Github all releases](https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/openconfig/gnmic/total.svg?style=flat-square&color=00c9ff&labelColor=bec8d2)](https://github.com/openconfig/gnmic/releases/)
[![Go Report](https://img.shields.io/badge/go%20report-A%2B-blue?style=flat-square&color=00c9ff&labelColor=bec8d2)](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/openconfig/gnmic)
[![Doc](https://img.shields.io/badge/Docs-gnmic.openconfig.net-blue?style=flat-square&color=00c9ff&labelColor=bec8d2)](https://gnmic.openconfig.net)
[![build](https://img.shields.io/github/workflow/status/openconfig/gnmic/Test/main?style=flat-square&labelColor=bec8d2)](https://github.com/openconfig/gnmic/releases/)

---

`gnmic` (_pronoun.: gee·en·em·eye·see_) is a gNMI CLI client that provides full support for Capabilities, Get, Set and Subscribe RPCs with collector capabilities.

Documentation available at [https://gnmic.openconfig.net](https://gnmic.openconfig.net)

## Features

* **Full support for gNMI RPCs**
  Every gNMI RPC has a [corresponding command](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/basic_usage/) with all of the RPC options configurable by means of the local and global flags.
* **Flexible collector deployment**
  `gnmic` can be deployed as a gNMI collector that supports multiple output types ([NATS](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/outputs/nats_output/), [Kafka](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/outputs/kafka_output/), [Prometheus](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/outputs/prometheus_output/), [InfluxDB](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/outputs/influxdb_output/),...).
  The collector can be deployed either as a [single instance](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/deployments/deployments_intro/#single-instance), as part of a [cluster](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/HA/), or used to form [data pipelines](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/deployments/deployments_intro/#pipelines).
* **Support gRPC tunnel based dialout telemetry**
  `gnmic` can be deployed as a gNMI collector with an [embedded tunnel server](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/tunnel_server/).
* **gNMI data manipulation**
  `gnmic` collector has [data transformation](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/event_processors/intro/) capabilities that can be used to adapt the collected data to your specific use case.
* **Dynamic targets loading**
  `gnmic` support [target loading at runtime](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/target_discovery/discovery_intro/) based on input from external systems.
* **YANG-based path suggestions**
  Your CLI magically becomes a YANG browser when `gnmic` is executed in [prompt](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/prompt_suggestions/) mode. In this mode the flags that take XPATH values will get auto-suggestions based on the provided YANG modules. In other words - voodoo magic :exploding_head:
* **Multi-target operations**
  Commands can operate on [multiple gNMI targets](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/targets/) for bulk configuration/retrieval/subscription.
* **Multiple configuration sources**
  gnmic supports [flags](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/configuration_flags), [environment variables](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/configuration_env/) as well as [file based]((https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/configuration_file/)) configurations.
* **Inspect raw gNMI messages**
  With the `prototext` output format you can see the actual gNMI messages being sent/received. Its like having a gNMI looking glass!
* **(In)secure gRPC connection**
  gNMI client supports both TLS and [non-TLS](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/global_flags/#insecure) transports so you can start using it in a lab environment without having to care about the PKI.
* **Dial-out telemetry**
  The [dial-out telemetry server](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/cmd/listen/) is provided for Nokia SR OS.
* **Pre-built multi-platform binaries**
  Statically linked [binaries](https://github.com/openconfig/gnmic/releases) made in our release pipeline are available for major operating systems and architectures. Making [installation](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/install/) a breeze!
* **Extensive and friendly documentation**
  You won't be in need to dive into the source code to understand how `gnmic` works, our [documentation site](https://gnmic.openconfig.net) has you covered.

## Quick start guide

### Installation

```
bash -c "$(curl -sL https://get-gnmic.openconfig.net)"
```

### Capabilities request

```
gnmic -a 10.1.0.11:57400 -u admin -p admin --insecure capabilities
```

### Get request

```
gnmic -a 10.1.0.11:57400 -u admin -p admin --insecure \
      get --path /state/system/platform
```

### Set request

```
gnmic -a 10.1.0.11:57400 -u admin -p admin --insecure \
      set --update-path /configure/system/name \
          --update-value gnmic_demo
```

### Subscribe request

```
gnmic -a 10.1.0.11:57400 -u admin -p admin --insecure \
      sub --path "/state/port[port-id=1/1/c1/1]/statistics/in-packets"
```

### Prompt mode

The [prompt mode](https://gnmic.openconfig.net/user_guide/prompt_suggestions/) is an interactive mode of the gnmic CLI client for user convenience.

```bash
# clone repository with YANG models (Openconfig example)
git clone https://github.com/openconfig/public
cd public

# Start gnmic in prompt mode and read in all the modules:

gnmic --file release/models \
      --dir third_party \
      --exclude ietf-interfaces \
      prompt
```


text:
Q: search a stringlist for a value , avoid this loop, short code version Can I do this better:  search a stringlist for a certain value ???
function searchstringlist (MyStringList : TStringList; MyValue : String) : Boolean;
var   i : Integer;
begin
     result := false; // added to prevent compiler warning
     for i:= 0 to  MyStringList.Count-1 do
       begin

       if pos ( MyValue, MyStringList[i] ) > 0 then
              begin
               result := true;
               exit;
              end;
       end;
end;

A: Just check if the value is inside the TStrings.Text.
And you should use the abstract TStrings and string parameters should be const.
And you should name the function properly to let others know, what you are doing inside
function ContainsStr(const AStrings : TStrings; const ASearchStr : String) : Boolean;
var
  LIdx : Integer;
begin
  Result := Pos( ASearchStr, AStrings.Text ) > 0;
  if Result then
  begin
    for LIdx := 0 to AStrings.Count - 1 do
      if Pos( ASearchStr, AStrings[LIdx] ) > 0 then
        Exit;
    Result := False;
  end;
end;

Your (and of course my) function works like this
var
  LStrings : TStrings;
begin
  LStrings := TStringList.Create;

  LStrings.Add( 'foo' );
  LStrings.Add( 'bar' );

  ContainsStr( LStrings, 'foo' ); // True
  ContainsStr( LStrings, 'bar' ); // True
  ContainsStr( LStrings, 'foo'#13#10'bar' ); // FALSE

  // but also

  ContainsStr( LStrings, 'oo' ); // True
  ContainsStr( LStrings, 'o' ); // True
  ContainsStr( LStrings, 'ar' ); // True

If you only want to find the 'foo' and 'bar' you only have to do
function ContainsStr( const AStrings : TStrings; const ASearchStr : string ) : Boolean;
begin
  Result := AStrings.IndexOf( ASearchStr ) >= 0;
end;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
India and the soft underbelly of Asia
April 29, 2019 by Dan Peterson
India and the soft underbelly of Asia April 29, 2019 Dan Peterson
Several admitted scientists have been sighted in the vicinity of the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, where the Wikimedia Commons public domain photograph shown here was taken by Burkhard Mücke. The organisms in the background, however, are not scientists. They're sardines.
Here's a piece on junk science, from the website of the American Council on Science and Health:
"'Meat Kills' Study Is Rotten To The Bone, But NYT Swallows It Anyhow"
An article from the extremely prestigious Nature: International Journal of Science, written by an experimental psychologist at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom:
"Rein in the four horsemen of irreproducibility: Dorothy Bishop describes how threats to reproducibility, recognized but unaddressed for decades, might finally be brought under control."
As I've pointed out multiple times, science is a human enterprise, carried out by humans. But some devotees of the ideology of scientism — they're rarely actual scientists themselves — see any recognition of the human side of science as an attack on science as such, launched by religious fundamentalists like me in order to advance their supposed preference for ignorance and irrationalism. But, of course, it's nothing of the sort.
Still, while I'm at it, here's another (rather amusing) example of the all too human elements that affect science:
"Scientific journal snubs academic over Sleeping Beauty metaphor: Professor Ton van Raan told use of phrase for ignored work is culturally insensitive"
Mount Everest (Wikimedia Commons public domain photograph)
When I first read about this remarkable geological event, I was both fascinated and stunned — and stunned, partially, by the obviousness and power of the explanation that it afforded for the modern features (such as the Himalaya Mountains) of the terrain involved:
"Princeton geoscientists find new fallout from 'the collision that changed the world': When the landmass that is now the Indian subcontinent slammed into Asia about 50 million years ago, the collision changed the configuration of the continents, the landscape, global climate and more. Now a team of Princeton University scientists has identified one more effect: the oxygen in the world's oceans increased, altering the conditions for life."
Incidentally, the devastating 7.8-magnitude April 2015 Nepal earthquake appears to represent the ongoing advance of the Indian Plate, which continues to move northward and which is, thus, underthrusting the Eurasian Plate. (Plainly, "India's" collision with Asia wasn't a one-time event in the past. It's still happening.)
That earthquake killed more than 8500 people. Moreover, according to data from a Chinese satellite, it suddenly moved Mount Everest three centimeters to the southwest. (In a typical year, Everest moves about four centimeters due to crustal movements.) However, you'll be relieved to know that the height of Mount Everest was unchanged. It remains arguably taller than any mountain in either Florida or Kansas.
An interfaith panel discussion in Poway, California
April 29, 2019 "'What Thank They the Jews?'"
"Mr. Bustlefield: "What a strange sensation it is to be called an apostate "To the ..."
DanielPeterson
Slandering the Lord's anointed
""Yup. That's what I expected" What a strange sensation it is to be called an ..."
John Bustlefield
"Mr. Bustlefield: "I know of zero contemporary evidence that Joseph practiced polygamy. Do you?"Oy veh. ..."
"You are projecting your autopilot life onto meDear me, this after suggesting "You should try ..."
Select a Month January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 March 2014 August 2013 February 2012
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I've upgraded the NodeBB software this forum runs on to v1.6.0. This should include some pretty significant speed/performance gains!
So far it looks pretty snappy!
Now only if we had the high traffic to test it out.
@okaive well - if by some odd stroke of luck people come back here someday, it'll be ready for 'em!
we need to get out and promote the website. Maybe get another run of stickers and business cards to hand out on rides?
@nicegy525 Yeah, I'd be down to print up a bunch. It would be nice if someone had the original vector graphics that were used to create the logos, etc. Shirt and sticker printers will want those in lieu of raster images which don't scale well.
@sauron Mark - do you happen to know where I might find some of these old assets?
@superbee I bet you have some vector versions of the SBWS logo! Care to hook a brutha up?
@murphomatic perhaps Rothenberger has some from his vinyl decal business? Jason Merritt may also be of some help.


text:
Neuromuscular Open Access Journals
This international, multidisciplinary journal covers all aspects of neuromuscular disorders in childhood and adult life (including the muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophies, hereditary neuropathies, congenital myopathies, myasthenias, myotonic syndromes, metabolic myopathies and inflammatory myopathies).Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a multifactorial disease including a cognitive phenotype. It is caused by mutations in the X-chromosomal DMD gene from which dystrophin is synthesized. Multiple isoforms of dystrophin have been identified. The full length dystrophin isoform Dp427m is expressed predominantly in muscle. Other isoforms include: Dp427c, Dp427p, Dp260, Dp140, Dp116, Dp71 and Dp40. The majority of these isoforms are expressed in brain and several hypotheses exist on their role in subtypes of neurons and astrocytes. However, their function in relation to cognition remains unclear. Unlike progressive muscle wasting, cognitive involvement is not seen in all DMD patients and the severity varies greatly. To achieve a better understanding of brain involvement in DMD, a multidisciplinary approach is required. Here, we review the latest findings on dystrophin isoform expression in the brain; specific DMD-associated learning and behavioural difficulties; and imaging and spectroscopy findings relating to brain structure, networks, perfusion and metabolism. The main challenge lies in determining links between these different findings. If we can determine which factors play a role in the differentiation between severe and minor cognitive problems in DMD in the near future, we can both provide better advise for the patients and also develop targeted therapeutic interventions.
Multicast routing protocols for wireless sensor networks:a comparative study
Kanchan Verma
Original Article: Computer Networks and Communications: An International Journal
Automatic localization of license plate region using two dimensional filter in MATLAB
Sukhleen Bindra Narang, Manjeet Singh, Kunal Pubby
Original Article: Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition: An International Journal
Low-density parity check (LDPC) codes:Anew era in coding
Sukhleen Bindra Narang,Kunal Pubby,HashneetKaur
Original Article: Journal of Image Processing
Controlling the element excitations of the smart antenna arrays using genetic algorithms
J.R.Mohammed
Imaging systemdesign formeasuring pointing error of solar tracking
LiHui-Duan
Relevant Topics in


For decades, Israel has failed to uphold its duties as Occupying Power and has instead deepened its occupation and regime of colonialism and apartheid. Human rights violations rising to the level of international crimes, including unlawful killings, torture, forced transfer, and other forms of collective punishment have become the norm. Rather than uphold their responsibilities under international law and take measures to hold Israel accountable, third states have largely turned a blind eye.
Although world governments and international and regional bodies, like the United Nations and the European Union, still lack the political will to hold Israel accountable, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has grown to provide an important nonviolent counter-narrative and alternative for achieving the enjoyment and exercise of freedom, dignity, and justice for Palestinians.
The 2005 BDS call, issued by Palestinian civil society, and the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), which leads the global movement, both affirm that BDS is inclusive, rejects all forms of racism and discrimination, and does not target any person or entity based on their respective identity. Rather, the movement targets Israel's occupation and oppression of Palestinians. Corporations and institutions that aid, abet, or profit from Israel's denial of Palestinian rights also fall within the purview of the movement.
As the impact of BDS grows, so too do efforts by Israel, its lobby groups, and supporters to vilify, smear, and attempt to criminalize the movement. Many attempst to falsely associate the nonviolent movement with discrimination or anti-Semitism; such claims are not only baseless, but also unjustly trample on the rights to freedom of expression and protest, amongst others.
Accordingly, it has become imperative for the Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC) to reiterate the universality of these human rights. PHROC affirms the right of all individuals to participate in and advocate for boycott, divestment, and sanction actions, and calls on states and businesses to uphold their related legal responsibilities.
PHROC reminds states, including their legislatures, that many members of the international community have had experiences with boycott, divestment, and sanction measures in the development of their own political systems and have also participated in such measures via the United Nations. BDS actions against apartheid South Africa are perhaps amongst the most memorable and prominent.
PHROC stresses that repressive attacks against and attempts to criminalize the BDS movement are similar in nature to assaults against human rights defenders worldwide. Such attacks often aim to chill free speech and delegitimize the activities of human rights defenders in order to detract from genuine situations of abuse.
Following the European Commission's issuance of its "Interpretive notice on indication of origin of goods from territories occupied by Israel since June 1967" in November 2015, PHROC issued a statement welcoming the EU's labeling of settlement products while noting that labeling was insufficient. PHROC again affirms that neither labeling requirements issued by states nor the presence of boycott movements initiated by civil society relieve states of their legal obligation to ban Israeli settlement products from entering their domestic markets.
Under customary international law and as affirmed by the 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, in cases of breaches of peremptory norms of international law, all States are under an obligation not to recognize the situation as lawful, not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the illegal situation, and to actively cooperate to bring violations to an end.
If third states do not uphold these and other responsibilities under international law and ensure that Israel is held accountable for its violations of Palestinian human rights, governments should not be surprised if civil society takes peaceful, legal actions to end impunity. Accordingly, states should not prohibit or attempt to limit civil society and human rights defenders from initiating BDS measures against Israel and the corporations and institutions that are implicated in the denial of Palestinian human rights. It is also within the right of corporations and institutions to choose to disengage from activities related to the occupation and/or participate in BDS measures.
including by defending against illegitimate attacks against individuals, groups, and institutions involved in BDS, and to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law. PHROC further calls on international human rights organizations to stand with the right to engage in boycott, divestment and sanctions against any state, corporation or entity that is violating international law.
 See Article 41 of the International Law Commission's Draft Articles on Responsibility for Internationally Wrongful Acts, which reflects customary international law. See also ICJ. 2004. Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, para.159. The Court also declared that it is for all States, while respecting the United Nations Charter and international law, to see to it that any impediment, resulting from the construction of the Wall, to the exercise by the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination is brought to an end.


text:
Category: U.S. News
Hurray! Apple Just Made it Easier to use Face ID with a Face Mask
by Chloe Chan Is Face ID becoming more of a hassle rather than a convenience now that you have a face mask on? Problem solved. On Wednesday, Apple released an updated facial recognition software so that unlocking your phone will be much easier. Before iOS 13.5, your eyes, nose, and mouth needed to be detectable…
Governor Newsom's Incredibly Simple Plan To Reopen California
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text:
Iqbal Project
Cairo: a city of a thousand minarets
Iran	 May 22, 2019
Finding Imam Al-Ghazali
He is known by many names. The most famous, and perhaps the most profound is 'Hujjat al-Islam' – 'Proof of Islam'. Abu Hamid Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Al-Ghazali died at the age of 53. It is not an understatement to say he was, and still is, the most prominent Muslim philosopher, theologian, jurist and mystic of Sunni Islam that has ever lived. He lived a thousand years ago in the city of Tus under the great Seljuq Empire and spent much of his life teaching and reviving, what he believed, was a 'lost' Islam.
Al-Ghazali is a giant. I will not attempt to summarise his life, nor his works. I leave it to the curious reader to research and understand the importance this man plays in our lives – particularly if one is of the Muslim or Christian faith (Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic theologian and philosopher, was heavily influenced by al-Ghazali).
Al-Ghazali, at the peak of his career, held the "most prestigious and most challenging" professorial at that time, at the Nizamiyya Madrasa in Baghdad. Put simply, no other Muslim during his time held the authority he did when it came to matters of Islam. At the peak of his career he underwent a spiritual crisis that would see him take a decade long break during which he would travel the Muslim world. He performed the Hajj and then spent years working to resolve what he saw as an illness of his ego that had turned him into a hypocrite. He would return to his old life but only after he had undergone a major transformation. He left as a teacher and returned as a man focused on helping others avoid mistakes he himself had made. In his later life al-Ghazali was even seen and revered as a saint.
"Dear friend, your heart is a polished mirror. You must wipe it clean of the veil of dust that has gathered upon it, because it is destined to reflect the light of divine secrets." Imam al-Ghazali
In the summer months of 2018, I travelled to Iran under the pretext of studying Farsi in Isfahan, a city known as 'Half the World' (Naqsh-e Jahan), a title well-earned, given the city's size, rich history and majestic Islamic architecture. My plan was to spend two or three months in Iran, where I would study but also spend a lot of time in the mosques and madrasas. My own spiritual crisis had begun years earlier, but only now was I able to gather enough strength and will to consider where I would be at the end of it.
I spent four weeks in Isfahan and by the end was incredibly eager to travel to the corners of Iran. I visited Yazd (the city of the Zoroastrians), Shiraz (the 'city of Love and Hafez'), Tabriz and many others, including Hamedan (where Ibn Sina 'Avicenna' is buried). I was accumulating hundreds of miles but was oblivious to the benefits being bestowed upon me. They say travel makes you wise, but I had only learnt the wisdom of this everyday world – a knowledge that meant little to me. After six weeks in Iran my Farsi had improved and was fluent, but I had not learnt how to decipher the meaning of my journey in Iran. This was a spiritual journey for sure, but one without preparation or plan. I thought of myself and my comforts constantly, but only romanced with the idea of true self-sacrifice. I had one goal that now seemed almost impossible: to rid or destroy as much of my ego as possible. A concept or technique used to spiritually elevate one's self, that all the great Islamic mystics and sufis preached, including Rumi, Mohammad Iqbal and of course al-Ghazali.
I had fallen in love with Persia and while I did manage to drown my ego in a shallow pond, my love for Farsi and the people who spoke it distracted me. I would walk hours on foot in unbearable heat to find mosques, bazaars and narrow streets where I could find meaning. I was not aware, but I had begun to take on the soul and spirit of the Persian so deeply that Iranians who would meet me could not understand why a European would do what I was doing. "You came to Iran to study? Why?", "You want to explore our country? But you could be in Paris or London." I laughed on the inside, but outside I merely nodded politely, because how does one translate the agony of their soul to those who want to find a worldly meaning to our actions? For instance, how could I expect an Iranian taxi driver who works night shifts to understand that I, a comparatively rich European, was here to 'shed my ego'? It felt false. I felt ashamed. Was I merely indulging in 'spiritual' tourism?
I arrived in Tehran with four days remaining of my Iran trip. I had done it; who survives this long in Iran in the summer? News reports said this was one of the hottest summers Iran has ever experienced. Who could have travelled and integrated themselves so effortlessly? I had many stories to share, tons of photos for my Instagram page and so much 'experience' to digest that my mind and heart were full to the brim. Well done me. But this was not the end.
Al-Ghazali is buried in Tus. It was only in 1995 that excavations revealed what many experts claim are the ruins of his tomb. Tus is 30 km from the city of Mashhad. For many Sunnis, this name means little, but Mashhad is home to the shrine of Imam Reza (the eighth Shia Imam) – who is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The Imam Reza shrine is the centre of religion in Iran and this incredibly 'Shia' centric city had always been a curious fascination for me. Should I go? I made my decision on a hot and sticky evening in Tehran while eating a falafel. I booked my plane ticket and a four-star hotel (of course) and would fly the next day.
I arrived in Mashhad and opened Google Maps to see what to do and where to go (I was a truly modern sufi wanderer by this point). The blue arrow led me, and 'lost GPS signal' would confound me. I knew Ghazali was near Mashhad but so were the tombs of Ferdowsi (the greatest Persian poet) and the mathematician and poet Omar Khayyám. This city and my time here would hit me like a mountain, but I thought that I could handle it. I had sat at Ibn Sina's feet, I had read Hafez to Hafez and I had embraced Saadi already – what could possibly happen now? Who and what is this force of al-Ghazali?
I spent the first day and night in the haram of Imam Reza. I swallowed Islamic architecture like a thirsty traveller. Imam Reza's shrine is a city within a city. I am unable to describe its majestic nature, so believe me when I say that this place alone could convince you of the Persian's artistic genius, if you ever had doubts. I witnessed the madness and chaos of the pilgrims. They all possessed and displayed a zeal and love for the Imam that I could not realise for myself. I certainly was not here for this. This became clear as I stood a metre away from the blood of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and my cold heart was more interested in the mirror ceilings above me and the elbows that were hitting my ribs below. Was this madness or was this what love requires? I felt no pangs in my heart, I felt nothing. I have never been moved by tombs or mausoleums but standing amongst such strong believers, I felt exposed and ashamed. I quickly exited the chamber, the hall, the mosque and then the entire haram and made my way to my spacious and grand hotel. Anxiety and fear had overtaken me. I skipped Isha prayer without shame and slept deeply. This is how disbelief overtakes and how Iblis wins. He takes one moment of weakness and confusion brushes your hair with his fingers and comforts you with the words "Sleep, this isnt for you." I slept wonderfully.
I woke up late the following morning, stepped out of my hotel into a swarm of taxis and stretched out my arm to say "Tus, who wants to go Tus?" I would do it. I would place my finger on the tombs of both Ferdowsi and Al-Ghazali. I had delayed it enough. Within seconds I found a driver who agreed to drive me there and back for seven dollars. He was younger than me but possessed strength and confidence in his face that comes only with absolute conviction, whether in the reality of this life or the next- something I was lacking in abundance, it was clear. On the dashboard of his taxi he had a photo of Imam Hussein's or Imam Ali's shrine in Iraq (I couldn't really tell given my fake credentials) but I found an opening to gain his confidence and smile by announcing "My name is Ali." It worked. He shook my hand and immediately made me one of his own. Was I Shia? Yes! Did I visit Mashhad for pilgrimage? Yes! Lying is easy if you think you have no other choice; but there is a choice and it had become such a habit of mine that I found no shame in small and then bigger lies. He adorned large black rings on his fingers that he would kiss when talking about Imam Ali; I felt joy at this man's faith, but also a longing and fascination.
I had been in Iran for almost two months and had yet to meet a young person who identified themselves as a practising Muslim. I would often hear the same sentence repeated: "I am not a Muslim; I hate religion and what it has done to this country." This bothered me at first, but I convinced myself later that the experience of these young people with religion, with Islam, is far from ideal. It appeared, on further enquiry, that the rules and enforcement of religious law into society had pushed people away from even exploring Islam for themselves. The beauty of Islam had been hidden by the garbs and pronunciations of an outward religion that did nothing to soothe and appeal to the hungry and inquisitive young mind. Islam was a tool used by the government to keep power I figured, and those who professed Islam the loudest benefited the most- a theology that rewarded the most obedient and punished the least. To balance this situation, I sometimes attempted to explain my own experience to these curious and anti-religious Iranians. I would fail, but at least get their attention; how often does a European Muslim, with freedom and choice choose to become religious? I was clearly educated and privileged, but I chose to do what they chose to run away from. In almost all cases, I was respected for my faith. If only I could do the same; I did not expect to be in Iran trying to convince Iranians of the truth of Islam, (especially given the reputation Iran has on the international stage for being a religious theocracy) but here we were.
My new friend, the caravan driver, mocked me (in good humour I hoped) for visiting Tus to see dead poets and philosophers when instead, he declared, I should have been taking a bus to Najaf or Karbala in Iraq to visit my Imams. My name was Ali and this was enough; for him, my faith was contained in my name and I was a believer who knelt before the Almighty. I wanted to correct him, but how could I when I myself did not know what I was? I had been a Hanafi and an Ismaili; a Twelver and a sufi meddler. I was spiritual some days and on other days an orthodox habitual. The journey to Tus was long and hot. I shut my eyes and tried to rest.
I woke up minutes later to music. He had switched on the radio and was listening to nasheeds. These are highly energised melodic tunes, and like most I had heard in Iran, were about remembering the death, suffering and injustice suffered by the Imams of the Shia faith. I never enjoyed this genre of religious music growing up but here in Iran, the passion and hypnotic element to each nasheed is something else. There is a beat, a thud and a slap on the chest that is in rhythm with the lyrics. Iranians love to sing and if Arabic, as some say, was created for the Quran, then Farsi was created for poetry and music. One does not need to understand the language to experience the immense beauty of this ancient tongue. Iranians love to recite and sing and don't even need an excuse. Every café I visited in Iran had a copy of Hafez at hand (no exaggeration) and every evening that I walked by the Zayanderud river in Isfahan to the Khaju bridge, I heard singing. And why not? Iranians have beautiful voices; the nightingale is caged in the Persian's throat and to sing is to let it fly free.
I stared out of the window as the caravan sped up. A thousand years earlier, in his old age, al-Ghazali would have returned to Tus on the same road, I thought. Again, I fell asleep. No bandits had raided this caravan and we were now entering Tus.
The city of Tus today is nothing. The few that visit come to see where the poet Ferdowsi sleeps. He is credited (some say falsely) for saving the Persian language under the rule of the Arabs, and he went on to pen the famous 'Shahnameh' – a book of enormous size and influence on the modern Persian landscape. It is the longest poem ever written by a single poet and Ferdowsi is considered the most important Persian poet in history. His tomb is grand and clearly influenced by the tomb of Cyrus the Great, an honour that should indicate the place Ferdowsi now holds on the national stage.
Tus was once a significant limb in the greater Khorasan region. It blossomed with poets, mystics and several polymaths. Jabir ibn Hayyan, Asadi Tussi, Nizam al-Mulk and, of course, al-Ghazali himself, came out of the dirt here. Tus also found itself in the unfortunate position of being in the path of the invading Mongols. The forces of Genghis Khan passed through this garden of a city and cut, bled and burnt the flowers and people, and then dug their roots and crushed them with the hooves of their horses. The anger and brute force of the Mongol was so great that they would have made stones bleed if they had any signs of Persian, Arab or Islamic influence. This was the fate of Khorasan. The lamp in the east was put out with such power that it took centuries to recover, though it never returned to its former greatness. Before I left Tus, I visited a recently excavated site of a madrasa where ash is still visible from a firestorm lit 800 years ago by the Mongols. Historians say what remains today is a fraction of a fraction of Tus. I would agree. Tus is a sad and sombre place and the residents carry the sweet sadness in their eyes and noble character.
I circumambulated the tomb of Ferdowsi, took some photographs and left. Imam al-Ghazali was close by.
Tomb of Ferdowsi
"Remember your contemporaries who have passed away and were your age. Remember the honours and fame they earned, the high posts they held, and the beautiful bodies they possessed. Today all of them are turned to dust. They have left orphans and widows behind them, their wealth is being wasted, and their houses turned into ruins. No sign of them is left today, and they lie in dark holes underneath the earth. Picture their faces before your mind's eye and ponder."~ Imam al-Ghazali
I found my caravan parked and raised my hand to indicate it was time to depart. "Let us go" ('Bayreem'). "Where?" ('Koja?'); "The tomb of Imam Al-Ghazali ('Iramga Imam Al-Ghazali').
There was a problem. The caravan leader did not know where al-Ghazali was buried. While we had found Ferdowsi without trouble, it would seem that the whereabouts of al-Ghazali were a mystery. But I knew where he was; I had saved his location on my Google Maps; I had even marked it as a 'favourite'. "Here, 'inja', he is buried here!" I had no internet connection, but I could quickly calculate that it was, at most, a 15-minute walk from Ferdowsi. I pushed my phone into the hands of the caravan driver, but he refused to look. What sort of madness was unravelling? He was a man of tradition. He needed another person to give him directions and not a GPS device. I watched as he asked one person, and then another, but none knew of al-Ghazali. I started to question myself and whether I had been mistaken.
Was I wrong? Of course, I was wrong and of course I was misguided. How could al-Ghazali be buried in this place? A place so desolate and ordinary that his mere presence would have lit up the entire land if he was nearby. If these men who were of this land could not guide us to him, how could my phone? Each time we asked of al-Ghazali someone replied with "Ferdowsi? He's here – right behind you." Madness. I had taken this journey and put myself through this just to see Ferdowsi? But Ferdowsi is a giant. His tomb was worthy of a visit. I talked myself into submission and stared hopelessly at the driver. My Farsi was at its limit and I could say no more. I would return to Mashhad it appeared.
"Bayreem Bayreem", let us go. Like a true Persian the caravan leader had not given up. He found a caravanserai nearby where the owner knew of al-Ghazali and his burial place. I felt strength returning. He provided the driver with precise instructions and it was indeed nearby. I was right. Of course, I was right. We rushed to the caravan and jumped in. I sat in silent excitement and watched the landscape move, then rise and fall as if a camel had replaced this taxi. A left, a right, another left, and we approached the end of the road. What lay ahead surprised us both. The paved path had ended and to continue we would need to cross a rocky dirt road, on both sides of which mud and straw houses lined the route. Where are we? This is the path to al-Ghazali? The camel tripped and stumbled but it continued without a push.
"I will walk from here." "No you won't – stay." The camel tripped again and again but it kept on going. I looked over to the caravan leader and he was in deep focus. I looked on. This was the road to al-Ghazali. This is the moment that plays in my head when I think of my visit to the maqam ('home') of Abu Hamid Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Al-Ghazali of Tus. "I will walk from here."
I jumped from a height that was human in its reach but celestial in its gain. I have travelled to many lands with His blessings and kissed many saints, but this experience was to be its own. A few weeks earlier I was in Shiraz, where I spent days visiting shrines of saints (Sufi, Sunni and Shia), dervishes and poets. I had entered gardens and climbed small mountains, I had been scrutinised by security guards and I had stared directly into the eyes of man who looked right through me in search of some Divine light. This was very different. It was just me and him. No one cared who I was, where I came from and what I would do here at this desolate spot in Tus.
Our worries about the outer replace questions of the inner without us ever realising– for me they did so early on. I had stopped asking questions about the unseen and started to believe exclusively in the physical. The measurable, quantifiable and tangible was science – it was real and progressive, with a before and a successive. The inner, the metaphysical and spiritual? It was the unbelievable and the irrational. Think it but don't dictate it. Muhammad on a winged horse? Iblis whispering in my ear? How many prophets and how many books? No Jibreel would come to me, but I would be expected to read, to recite and to feel the love and fear with no miracle but one Book. The Book. How convenient. As a Muslim of the post enlightenment period, I was a paradox of a man like all the others around me. Goethe and Locke were put in my hands, but in my case the eyes stole glances of Muhammad Iqbal and Baba Farid (Fariduddin Ganjshakar) and my lips searched for the best English translation of the Quran to kiss. It was true I understood little, but I imagined it all balanced out. I could lock horns with an English man on his own turf about his history and culture, but I could also utilise my Islam to go further back and light a torch when the European would pause in the Dark Ages. I was a Muslim who was adopted by two great civilisations, but a believer who was never taught the intimate love for Him. I was a new European settler, but a highly fashionable sufi dabbler. Al-Ghazali was the epitome of it all – read him and you're complete.
I had spent two decades coming to terms with the delights of this and that and I never steered too far from Him. I had found Him in the walls of mosques, so I had jumped to Iran to look up at the most magnificent. I had tried but it had not been enough. I thought my feet would be my witnesses if He were to ask where I had looked for Him. They would speak for me and explain in detail that I had taken steps towards Him everyday. I walked to, into and out of His houses like an addict. None of this was normal for someone who looked like me. I had no rags, I was no 'fakir' (a man of God), I was not enrolled in any madrassa; but here I was knocking on the door each day, to find out if today, I would finally feel His embrace.
Let me jump one more time oh Allah, but this jump, this one right here, make it towards You, make it sincere in its intention and fruitful in its result, make it forward moving and not backward, make it complete and sustain it, let me land with a soft foot and give me a deep hold to survive the auspicious winds.
I looked behind and the caravan had disappeared. I was truly alone. I was here.
Tomb of Imam al-Ghazali
No, I was almost alone. I had seen a shepherd and his flock graze past al-Ghazali seconds earlier, but when my eyes searched once more, he was gone. He had disappeared into the horizon. I felt my throat tighten. I had jumped and now I had landed. I walked closer and noticed a fence guarding al-Ghazali. I will climb this, and I shall climb again if I slip, and I shall jump into this stone tomb and find al-Ghazali; and then I shall locate his feet and then we shall sit and we will talk.
There was nothingness around me and I wanted and craved more of this nothing. I had no spiritual awakening when my feet touched the dusty tomb. I was prepared for this. Al-Ghazali is no prophet (though some say if there were to be another prophet after our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) -sacrilegious, but let me finish- Ghazali would have been it). Al-Ghazali was a man of great genius and piety. What he achieved in his short life shook the entire Islamic world for a thousand years. He penned guidance that would shed light on our errors, illuminate the path to Him, help us understand the diseases of our hearts and ultimately save us from what al-Ghazali saw as our own destructive ego. Al-Ghazali's life and his contribution to Islam was just that – a contribution. I did not see him as any sort of Prophet (although he was accepted as a saint later in his life) and I certainly would not kneel and weep, but for some reason I had no choice.
In Mashhad I had stood at the feet of Imam Reza twice, a man who came from the blood of our beloved Prophet. I witnessed love and faith or something that makes men weak. Was it love for Him? Was it strong faith or a show for no sake? I was pushed back and forth like a small boat in rough waters but possessed no anchor. Those around me were lost in their own storm but enjoyed the chaos. I saw such religious fervour it scared me. I hid my surprise and kept observing. There were chants, screaming and deliberate attempts to raise emotions- but how it worked. Either these pilgrims believed, or they were all fakers I concluded. These pilgrims, young, old, strong and broken had grabbed the grill of Imam Reza's shrine and kissed so deeply as if deliverance would enter their hungry lips from just the contact. Puzzled and confused I looked around to see if anyone else saw what I was seeing, but these people were believers and they were here to reaffirm their belief.
Tomb of Imam Reza
I should love and revere Imam Reza even if he was not my Imam. I should weep out of love for a man who carried our Prophet's blood, but I am not a man who weeps. I should wrestle these men and plant my lips on the top most part of the grill. I should plant my feet deep into this ocean and exhibit my faith. I did nothing and left. I felt exposed, ashamed and entirely insufficient to even be near these pilgrims. In my head I repeated the words "They know I'm a chameleon" as I rushed to find the gates to exit. They all saw and felt my disbelief. I truly was a religious tourist who came to spectate. The gold, the glass and the mirror, the green and the spectacular shimmer – it was just a spectacle and how masterfully I spectated once more.
I wept. I sat down by al-Ghazali and wept. My feet hung down into the tomb and I wept. My hands raised to my face I shut my eyes and wept. I had spent a decade avoiding the words of al-Ghazali because he reminded me of my faithless ways, but now I had come to him to spectate and he got me. I was not a student of al-Ghazali but why would he care? Why would He care? Why does anybody care? Where I found failure and insufficiency, my heart found an opening and an opportunity.
"Never have I dealt with anything more difficult than my own soul, which sometimes helps me and sometimes opposes me." ~ Imam al-Ghazali
The state of internal chaos is difficult to control. Some of us might not experience it ever in our lives, and maybe they are the blessed ones. I had been led to this place after two months of wondering around His houses. Al-Ghazali is dead. He is long gone and the rock and the tomb that I sat across from are nothing. Historians place the blame for the destruction and further neglect of al-Ghazali's tomb on the Mongols. The Mongol wind that burnt the gardens of Khorasan also flattened and removed any signs of al-Ghazali from human memory. For the next thousand years, no Muslim would know where he lay. I associate no intrinsic value to burial places, for they serve a limited purpose, but in the case of al-Ghazali and what I knew of his life and struggles, I felt compelled to laugh about how this had all ended for a man who sought obscurity for so long. I laughed and then wept immediately. I read Surah Fatiha multiple times and sat silently again. Al-Ghazali and I were alone. All the minds that pondered him, all the eyes that searched for him, all the hearts that found truth in his heart had perished and now no Mongol, Muslim or even this lone visitor, could disturb the peace of our Imam. May He bless and reward Al-Ghazali with the highest heaven.
So why weep? Why this internal chaos? The darkness within my heart felt exposed to a light, so bright that I wanted to look away. The truth held my face by the jaw and demanded I look and let it enter. He had bought me to Khorasan, He had placed me in the holiest of places amongst the most zealous, and now He did this. In this wasteland I was exposed, and the truth of my own shortcomings was apparent. There was no sharp blade resting on my throat, but the truth had put a bag over my head and begun suffocating me.
We are made up of light. His light. We also possess darkness. For many years I had recognised this truth, but it had remained unchallenged. Iblis had made a home in my chest and I had guarded him like my own. This dirt in front of me had no light to mark the pure heart of al-Ghazali. There was no garden, no rose or nightingale, there were no pilgrims and there was no one to even guard this place. It was dirt and nothing more. There is no miracle waiting to happen here, no grill to grab and kiss, no deliverance and no wailing or any rituals to perform. There is no need for a proper tomb, no need for a marble slab, no need for a mosque, no need for a city, no need for even a sign – he is dead, and he is gone, but this is not the dirt that I came to kiss. I came for nothing, but I found the grief had started to fade and felt a slow sense hope rise inside of me. I grabbed the hand of al-Ghazali and kissed his fingers one by one. I then took his palm against my face and used it to shut my eyes, but the light kept coming in. I had jumped, I had walked, and now I just wanted to lay down. I wanted to believe this was not the end for me.
I am not done with you son of Adam. He makes the immaterial material and the material into nothingness. He sent armies of jinns and angels to protect our Beloved, He melted iron in the hands of Dawud; He made fire the home of Ibrahim and placed Idris in the fourth heaven; He placed the blade and removed it from Ismail and taught Solomon the language of beasts. What is within His limits? But nothing.
I am his 'Ghulam', I am his slave. I am nothing, but I am everything that creation witnessed. I am what Iblis rejected, but I am what will also be his end. The revival of my own Islam had begun with al-Ghazali a decade ago, and now having travelled the world I am back to the proof of Islam to say "I believe, I believe."
The journey back to Mashhad was quiet. The caravan passed an ancient fortress and then another mausoleum that some Iranian governmental sources claim is the actual resting place of al-Ghazali, but this is not true. The sources are weak, and no serious historian would support these claims. Al-Ghazali is not anywhere here. The Mongol might have started the fire, but it was us, all of us, who had wiped his name from our hearts. It didn't matter that he was in Iran, in Khorasan, in Tus, in that place alone under the desert sun.
The caravan picked up speed and we left Tus behind. I fell into a deep sleep as the caravan rocked me gently. Tus disappeared and the soft evening sun welcomed us. My world was at peace. "Ali, Ali," I heard the taxi driver say. "Let me tell you something." I woke up and looked at him with a tired smile. "I have lived in Mashhad my entire life brother, yet I knew nothing of al-Ghazali's grave being here. Be honest, you aren't a pilgrim for Imam Reza or even a photographer who likes mosques, you are a historian, or something aren't you?" – to which I laughed and agreed. What difference did it make? This lie might have helped him place me better. He had figured me out, I wasn't here for any reason I myself knew.
My journey with the caravan ended in heavy traffic, the same way it had begun earlier that morning. I was dropped off a mile from the Shrine of Imam Reza. I saw the golden dome. I smiled and tightly shook the hand of the caravan driver, who also grabbed my hand tightly and stared at my tired face. He laughed and drove off.
Al-Ghazali Imam Reza Iran Islam Mashhad Sufi Sufism
2 Thoughts on Finding Imam Al-Ghazali
Abdul Hannan says:
Tajemnica zycia lezy w poszukiwaniu piekna. – Oscar Wilde