text:
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Marta () is a diocese located in the city of Santa Marta in the Ecclesiastical province of Barranquilla in Colombia.

History
 January 10, 1534: Established as Diocese of Santa Marta from the Diocese of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic

Bishops

Ordinaries
 Alfonso de Tobes (Appointed 1534 - Did Not Take Effect)
 Juan Fernando Angulo (1536–1542 Died)
 Martín de Calatayud (1543–1548 Died)
 Juan de los Barrios (1552–1564 Appointed Archbishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada)
 Juan Méndez de Villafranca (1577–1577 Died)
 Sebastián Ocando (1579–1619 Died)
 Leonel de Cervantes y Caravajal (1621–1625 Appointed Bishop of Santiago de Cuba)
 Lucas García Miranda (1625–1629 Died)
 Antonio Corderiña Vega (1630–1640 Resigned)
 Juan de Espinoza y Orozco (1642–1651 Died)
 Francisco de la Cruz (1658–1660 Died)
 Francisco de la Trinidad Arrieta (1661–1663 Died)
 Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros (1664–1668 Appointed Bishop of Popayán)
 Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita (1668–1676 Appointed Bishop of Panamá)
 Diego de Baños y Sotomayor (1677–1683 Appointed Bishop of Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela)
 Gregorius Jacobus Pastrana (1684–1690 Died)
 Juan Víctores de Velasco (1694–1707 Appointed Bishop of Trujillo)
 Ludovicus de Gayoso (1713–1713 Died)
 Antonio Monroy y Meneses (1715–1738 Resigned)
 José Ignacio Mijares Solórzano y Tobar (1740–1742 Died)
 Juan Nieto Polo del Aguila (1743–1746 Confirmed Bishop of Quito)
 José Javier de Arauz y Rojas (1746–1753 Confirmed Archbishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada)
 Nicolás Gil Martínez y Malo (1755–1763 Died)
 Agustín Manuel Camacho y Rojas (1764–1771 Appointed Archbishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada)
 Francisco Javier Calvo (1771–1773 Died)
 Francisco Navarro (1775–1788 Died)
 Anselmo José de Fraga y Márquez (1790–1792 Died)
 José Alejandro de Egües y Villamar (1792–1796 Died)
 Diego Santamaría Cevallos (1798–1801 Died)
 Eugenio Sesé, C.R.S.A. (1801–1803 Died)
 Miguel Sánchez Cerrudo (1804–1810 Died)
 Manuel Redondo y Gómez (1811–1813 Died)
 Antonio Gómez Polanco (1817–1820 Died)
 José María Estévez (1827–1834 Died)
 José Luis Serrano (1836 Appointed – 12 May 1852 Died)
 Bernabé Rojas (1854–1858 Died)
 Vicente Arbeláez Gómez (1859–1864 Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada)
 José Romero (1864–1891 Died)
 Rafael Celedón (1891–1902 Died)
 Francisco Simón y Ródenas (1904–1912 Resigned)
 Francisco Cristóbal Toro (1913–1917 Appointed Bishop of Antioquía-Jericó)
 Joaquín Garcia Benitez (1917–1942 Appointed Archbishop of Medellín)
 Bernardo Botero Álvarez (1944–1956 Appointed Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona)
 Norberto Forero y García (1956–1971 Retired)
 Javier Naranjo Villegas (1971–1980 Resigned)
 Félix María Torres Parra (1980–1987 Appointed  Archbishop of Barranquilla)
 Hugo Eugenio Puccini Banfi (1987–2014 Retired)
 Luis Adriano Piedrahíta Sandoval (2014–2021 Died)
 José Mario Bacci Trespalacios, C.I.M. (since 2021)

Auxiliary bishops
Pedro José Rivera Mejía (1951-1953), appointed Bishop of Socorro y San Gil
Alfredo Rubio Diaz (1953-1956), appointed Bishop of Girardot

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops
Salvador Bermúdez y Becerra, appointed Bishop of Concepción in 1731
Luis Gabriel Ramírez Díaz (priest here, 1993-2006), appointed Bishop of El Banco in 2014
Miguel Fernando González Mariño, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Ibagué in 2016

See also
 Roman Catholicism in Colombia

References

External links
 Catholic Hierarchy
 GCatholic.org

Santa Marta
1534 establishments in the Spanish Empire
Roman Catholic dioceses in Colombia
Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Barranquilla
Religious organizations established in the 1530s
Roman Catholic dioceses established in the 16th century

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Question: Does an employee have a right to an annual bonus?
hi I would just like to find out if it is a must to pay an domestic worker a bonus if he/she has only been employed for 4 months and how do I calculate the amount or percentage of the bonus,or even a pro-rata bonus and how it works.
Reply to Marcus: There is no legal obligation to pay a bonus. Most employers do, though. The amount, if anything, is discretionary. Bear in mind that, if you do pay a bonus, there will be an expectation of a bonus in future.
I need to know if a company can despite a high rating being given, reduce the payout of a performance bonus because a person has been off sick too often.
Reply to Karen: The rights surrounding a performance bonus (when an employee is entitled to the bonusand when not) is determined by contract. You would therefore have to look at the wording of the bonus provision to see whether the company has reserved the right to reduce the amount in any circumstances.
Why does the m.e.i.b.c. force employers to pay pro-rata bonusses, even when the company had a very bad year? What does pro-rata means? I f a company cannot afford this bonus, could the company still be forced to pay it? Even if the company has to actually close it`s doors to pay this bonusses?
Response to Christo: The provisions of the MEIBC collective agreement are normally extended to non-parties, which means that all employers in the industry have to comply. If you are unable to pay bonus due to financial constraints, you can apply for an exemption. Another development is that the employers' association NEASA has challenged the Minister in court regarding the extension of 2011 collective agreement and the outcome is imminent.


From nautical-themed bars with knockout views to hidden local haunts boasting quirky cocktails and drag queen bingo, happy hour on the Sunshine Coast is an affair to remember.
Australian singer and songwriter Katie Noonan loves Queensland's Sunshine Coast. She reveals her favourite places to visit.
Cut the technology ties and get back to nature for a Sunshine Coast holiday big on health benefits and low on cost.


text:
Latest Steelers Buzz
Steelers sign Flozell Adams to a 2 year deal
Thursday, July 29, 2010 / by William DePaoli / / Inside Access, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers / 0 comments
Steelers strike deal on eve of training camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers today came to terms with former pro bowl tackle Flozell Adams. The deal is a two year contract and the team will make an offical announcement this evening.
The signing was first reported by Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com.
Adams, 35, has been named to the probowl five times and will replace the injured Willie Colon at right tackle or possibly move over to left tackle, a position he played with the Dallas Cowboys.
As the team reports to training camp on Friday, the coaching staff has not ruled out moving Max Starks to right tackle and entrenching Adams as the starter at left tackle.
In February 2008, the 6-foot-7, 340-pound tackle signed a new six-year contract worth $42 million with the Dallas Cowboys. The deal included $15 million in guaranteed money and a signing bonus in the range of $13 million.
Adams was released by the Cowboys in March 2010 as he was due a $6.5 million bonus. Adams worked out for the Steelers last month.
The signing of Adams is a significant move for the Steelers who had a major hole at the tackle position after the loss of Willie Colon.
The Steelers have been active in the past couple weeks looking to bolster their O-line. The team signed veteran offensive lineman Adrian Jones last week and brought offensive guard Chester Pitts in for a visit on Tuesday. Pitts signed with Seattle today. The Steelers did not make him an offer.
The Steelers will enter camp now with only one position battle on their offensive line. 2010 1st round pick Maurkice Pouncey, Trai Essex and Ramon Foster will battle for the starting right guard job.
Although the Steelers are normally patient with their 1st round picks, some say "too patient", Pouncey projects to win the starting spot out of camp.
The team is very high on 2nd year pro Ramon Foster who provides depth to the tackle and guard positions.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


"The floor corker is still available. It includes 100 corks, 100 wire cages and 4 cas…"
"Unfortunately, no. How about Monday evening the 30th?"
"Bill, I'm away this weekend. Any chance we could meet tomorrow around 6?"
"Thanks, Rich. It was nice meeting you. Good luck with the brewing!"
"Depends on where you are, but probably. I have a propane tank to go with the burner…"
"No problem. Does Sunday evening work for you?"
"Sorry, Jack. They are gone."
"Bill, Could you come to Newtown Saturday morning around 10 am? I have several cases…"
"It is so. I'm selling the house too if anyone is interested."
MEMBER Jeff Louella created this Ning Network.


Dr. Levine received both his bachelor of arts degree and medical degree from the University of Michigan. After graduating, Dr. Levine interned at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center in New York. He completed his residency training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the division of dermatology, during which time Dr. Levine was also a Research Fellow in dermatology at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center.
When a professor at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he was an Editorial Consultant for Dermatology Times. After relocating to Arizona, Dr. Levine accepted a position as an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona before becoming the Chief of Dermatology at the UA Health Sciences Center. Dr. Levine was the Chief of Dermatology for 15 years.
In 2006, Dr. Levine left the University of Arizona to work in private practice. He remains an active consultant for Dermatology Times.


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Deadly Cults Season 3 Release Date
It's been 2 years since Oxygen released the last season of Deadly Cults, and fans of the documentary series are asking when is Deadly Cults Season 3 coming out?
As of January 2023, Oxygen has not officially announced the release date of Deadly Cults season 3. The show has yet to be renewed for a third season.
As we continue to monitor the news, in this article, we have compiled everything you need to know about the possible new season, including cast, rumors, and news.
Deadly Cults is a documentary TV show. The television show stars Barry Peavy and Jimmy Dempster.
There's two season(s) of Deadly Cults available to watch on Oxygen. On February 10, 2019, Oxygen premiered the very first episode. The television series has around 12 episodes spread across two season(s). New episodes typically come out on Sundays. The show received an 7 rating amongst the audience.
Deadly Cults is rated TV-PG, which means the content may be inappropriate for children under 13. The show may include one or more of the following: some provocative conversation, infrequent crude language, some sexual scenes, or moderate violence, depending on the topic.
Deadly Cults has yet to be officially renewed for a third season by Oxygen, according to Shows Streaming.
→ Was Deadly Cults cancelled? No. This doesn't necessarily imply that the show has been canceled. The show may be on hiatus, and the premiere date for the next season has yet to be disclosed. Oxygen did not officially cancel the show.
→ Will there be a season 3 of Deadly Cults? There is no word on the next season yet. This page will be updated as soon as more information becomes available. Sign up for updates below if you want to be alerted when a new season is announced.
Deadly Cults Season 3 Cast
Here are the main characters and stars of Deadly Cults:
The full cast details are not available.
The current status of Deadly Cults season 3 is listed below as we continue to watch the news to keep you informed. For additional information, go to the Deadly Cults website and IMDb page.
Show Name Deadly Cults
Network Oxygen
Genre Documentary
→ Watch Deadly Cults video trailers
→ Where to buy Deadly Cults on DVD?
→ View popularity of Deadly Cults in the US
Previous articleThe Upshaws Season 2
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Tag Archives: rock
album review: going to hell, the pretty reckless
Tessa Ryan
If you know Taylor Momsen from Gossip Girl but aren't familiar with The Pretty Reckless, you might be surprised to know that it's her voice you're hearing when you press play. She is often compared to Courtney Love, perhaps because she's a blonde with feisty vocals and killer stage presence. The Pretty Reckless made a…
Arts Featured Music
interview: gareth liddiard, the drones
Marissa Paine
'Dreams are like stars. They're there during the day, but you just can't see them'. That's the Carl Sagan quote that Gareth Liddiard of The Drones paraphrases to explain the music on the band's sixth studio album, I Sea Seaweed. If I'd been hoping to get a solid answer about the album's concept, I would…
album review: huntronik, huntronik
Christine Campbell
I've got to be honest with you: when I get album review requests, I end up ignoring most of them. It's not because I don't think there's good music out there begging to be reviewed (there's a lot of good music out there, period), it's really just more of a timing thing. PR companies typically…
interview: Oh Pep!
When I first got the email about interviewing Oh Pep!, the adorably catchy folk-rock-indie quintet based out of Melbourne, I couldn't help but think how clever it was that leading ladies Olivia Hally (guitar/vocals) and Pepita Emmerichs (violin/mandolin) creatively married their names to come up with something that perfectly describes their style of music. The more I…
interview : the darkness
Zoya J. Patel
You would be forgiven for having to jog your memory to recall who exactly The Darkness are. No doubt you'll have a niggling feeling that you've heard the name before, maybe you'll hear a wailing falsetto in the recesses of your mind, but the image may seem a little blurry. Be prepared for the memories…
interview: abbe may
Dunja Kay
Read Dunja Nedic's interview with Australian blues rocker, Abbe May, ahead of her appearance at the Pyramid Rock Festival! Check Lip Magazine every day for new music content!
album review: blackbells, IxI
It's been a while since I've heard a really good, musically sound rock album. In the past five years, it has become rare to see a rock band that is just a tried-and-true rock band with no other gimmicks. As production technology advances and computerization becomes increasingly standardized, it becomes a little difficult to find…
album review: joan of arc, life like
Emma Schenk
I must admit that Joan of Arc's new album Life Like isn't something I would usually listen to. Its guitar heavy riffs mixed with forced lyrics is hard to listen to at first for an Indie fanatic. But I'm certainly not against experimenting with new tastes and after a few songs, I could certainly appreciate…


Samsung Well being supplies core features to keep up your physique match and healthy. It will file and analyze your day by day actions and habits to help keep profitable weight loss plan and lead wholesome life-style. Many of the expense and problem in our healthcare system entails remedy of continual situations or (what seems to be) end-of-life care, and contain many troublesome choices involving course of remedy, extent of therapy, method of supply, and so on. These individuals can shop. Our healthcare system truly does a reasonably respectable job with heart attacks.
Join e-mail and text updates to get deadline reminders and other necessary information. In the event you get sick or injured, the chances are fairly good you aren't going to work for some time. Since us as People go to work to receives a commission, not getting paid is what ultimately causes the chapter. We still need to pay our mortgage, automobile funds etc. The work of the National Patient Safety Workplace (NPSO), which shall be situated within the Department of Health, will give attention to main key affected person safety policy initiatives.


Is city about to lose more tax money in UMass deal?
Mayor Joe Petty says he is concerned about a deal that reportedly has UMass Medical School buying the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park (Biotech) off Plantation Street. "I am concerned if the plan is to take it off the tax rolls," the mayor tells Worcester Mag.
WTAG radio personality Jordan Levy first reported the blockbuster deal on his show Friday afternoon, attributing it to sources. He raised the possibility that the city stands to lose almost $2 million in property taxes if the nonprofit UMass Medical School takes over Biotech. Later in his show, however, he cited a source saying UMass will pay taxes on the property, but did not say how much.
They will at lest through the end of this fiscal year. In a email statement to Worcester Mag on Saturday, Mark Shelton, associate vice chancellor of communications for UMass Medical School, says all taxes on the property, which includes three buildings - Biotech 3, 4 and 5 - are paid through June 30. "There's no tax impact at the moment. taxes are paid through the fiscal year," Shelton says.
The properties are owned by companies under Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc., according to records. They include 1 Innovation Drive, with a current assessed value of $18 million, according to information on the city assessor's web site; 375 Plantation St., assessed at $15.3 million; and 381 Plantation St., assessed at $16.3 million.
Even with a confidentiality agreement, Levy wondered aloud on his show how city and state officials could have been kept in the dark Petty says he "heard something a couple days ago," but did not know anything more until he received a voice mail from a UMass official on Friday. He says he plans to speak to the official.
 Be sure to return to worcestermag.com for more on this developing story.


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New First Nations Led Campaign Calls for Improved Mining Practices and Better Regulation in British Columbia
Province's contribution to a clean energy future at risk unless changes are made
May 17, 2018 10:00 ET | Source: Stand For Water
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Without significant improvements to mining practices in British Columbia and better regulation of mining activities, the province has little hope of its natural resources playing a key role in the global transition to a low-carbon future. Instead, communities and the environment throughout B.C. face the prospect of another disaster like Imperial Metals' Mount Polley Mine tailings dam collapse in 2014.
"We are told by the mining industry that B.C.'s natural resources like copper, steel making coal and molybdenum for clean energy cars and wind turbines, and silver and selenium for solar cells mean the province has the potential to be a clean-energy mining leader," says Jacinda Mack, co-founder of Stand for Water, a new movement advocating improved mining practices and better regulation of mining in B.C.
"But supplying the essential ingredients for a greener future is at risk unless mine owners can consistently and reliably match mining practices with respect for First Nations rights and the environment. Sadly, that's not the case and, hasn't been since the first gold rush nearly 170 years ago," she adds.
Ms. Mack says the Mount Polley disaster was simply the latest in a history of destruction and misery caused by decades of badly regulated mining operations and the province's failure to live up to its commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
"Damaged rivers will devastate wild salmon runs and threaten the livelihood of dozens of First Nations communities that depend on them. Urgent action is needed to avoid this catastrophe," she adds.
A project of First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining (FNWARM), Stand for Water aims to raise awareness of the threats irresponsible mining operations pose to waterways throughout B.C., build on the collaboration struck in the Tulalip Water Protection Declaration (2018) and work with other Indigenous leaders to incorporate free, prior, and informed consent principles under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Stand for Water launches today at a community event in Williams Lake, British Columbia.
"Communities have a critical role to play in advocating for change," says Ms. Mack, who comes from the Secwepemc community of Xat'sull. "Organizations like FNWARM are making a difference, but we need more communities to stand together and demand a new approach to mining in line with UNDRIP. Our voices must be heard."
She says while mining is a fact of life in B.C., current practices are threatening clean water necessary for sustaining life and points out that both the province and the federal government have signed on to UNDRIP but are not living up to their commitment to incorporate the declaration into all legislation.
"Destroyed lakes, polluted lands and rivers, and the destruction of important fish and wildlife ecosystems are too high a price to pay for the short-term economic gains that may come from mining. We can and must do better".
Ms. Mack says Canada has more mine tailings spills than any other country in the world except China. According to the BC government's own projections, without significant changes to the current mining practices, B.C. alone can expect two tailings dam failures every 10 years.
"We also need to remind the industry that bad practices are a threat to its own interests. An increasing number of organizations are signing on to the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance's Standard for Responsible Mining which seeks to emulate for industrial-scale mine sites what has been done with certification programs in organic agriculture, responsible forestry and sustainable fisheries," she says.
Owners of mines that fail to meet the standard, which includes social and environmental responsibility, risk being bypassed as suppliers in much the same way that B.C. forestry companies were shunned until they improved their logging practices.
Supported by First Nations communities, NGOs, environmental justice organizations, civil society groups and a range of community and foundation funders in Canada and the United States, the Stand for Water campaign includes a speaking tour of communities in B.C. where the new documentary film, Uprivers, will be screened. It is a story about two B.C. watersheds, and the communities that depend on them. One of the communities, Xat'sull First Nation near Williams Lake in B.C., has already been badly hurt by the Mount Polley tailings dam disaster. The other, Ketchikan in Alaska, fears that the development of two massive mines near the headwaters of the Unuk River, that flows from B.C. into the community's fishing grounds, is another Mount Polley in the making.
In March this year representatives from 20 indigenous communities and organizations from Canada and the U.S. signed the Tulalip Water Protection Declaration following a meeting in Tulalip, Washington. The Declaration encourages the signatories to work together on issues of common interests incorporating free, prior, and informed consent principles of UNDRIP and to develop environmental plans and programs that promote stewardship and protect lands and waters that sustain life.
About Stand for Water
Stand for Water, a project of First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining (FNWARM), is a cross-border movement to raise awareness of the threats mining operations pose to waterways throughout north-western British Columbia and across the boundary in Alaska. For more information visit www.standforwater.org
About FNWARM
FNWARM seeks to promote environmentally sound development processes that respect First Nations rights and their full participation in the process. In December 2010, FNWARM received the Canadian Boreal Award for its work in promoting responsible mining and was cited for its leading role in ensuring that the federal government rejected the proposed Prosperity Mine Project that would have destroyed Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) and its environs. For more information visit http://fnwarm.com/
Jenn Wesanko
jenn@jennwesanko.com
More articles issued by Stand For Water
Stand For Water
UNDRIP Mount Polley FNWARM BC Mining British Columbia First Nations Non Profit Mining Government of British Columbia


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SILShack Spring 2014

                    syllabus

                    schedule

                    exercises

                    how-to

                    people

                    feedback

                    music

                    console

Adrian's Strings and Lists Exercises

by

        	Adrian Ogletree

31 Jan 2014

Strings

6. Write a function that reverses its string argument.

def reverse(astring):
     bstring = astring[None:None:-1]
     return bstring

print reverse("Adrian")
print reverse("silshack")

Output

nairdA
kcahslis

7. Write a function that mirrors its argument.

def mirror(mystr):
    newstr = mystr[:len(mystr)][::-1]
    return mystr+newstr

print mirror("Adrian")
print mirror("Ogletree")

Output

AdriannairdA
OgletreeeertelgO

11. Write a function that removes the first occurrence of a string from another string.

Output

12. Write a function that removes all occurrences of a string from another string.

Output

Lists

7. Write a function to count how many odd numbers are in a list.

def count_odd(list):
    #Make a counting variable
    odd_count = 0
    for number in list:
        #Is it odd?
        if number % 2 == 1:
            odd_count += 1
    return odd_count

print (count_odd([1, 3, 5, 4]))

Output

3

8. Sum up all the even numbers in a list.

def sum_even(list):
    sum = 0
    for i in list:
        if i % 2 == 0:
            sum = sum + i
    return sum

print (sum_even([2, 8, 7, 1000]))

Output

1010

9. Sum up all the negative numbers in a list.

Once I figured out #8, this was pretty simple.
```
def sum_negative(list):
    sum = 0
    for i in list:
        if i < 0:
            sum = sum + i
    return sum</p>

<p>print (sum_negative([-1, 0, 10, -5, -11, 8]))
```

Output

-17

14. Write a function replace(s, old, new) that replaces all occurences of old with new in a string s.

Output

	Adrian is a second year MSIS student. She is from Austin, Texas. Find Adrian Ogletree on Twitter, Github, and on the web.

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                        INLS 560 - "Programming for Information Professionals"

                        Another silshack by @hauspoor & friends

                        This page was generated on

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
package au.com.centrumsystems.hudson.plugin.buildpipeline;

import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;

/**
 * {@link BuildGrid} implementation backed by a sparse array.
 *
 * @author Kohsuke Kawaguchi
 */
public class DefaultBuildGridImpl extends BuildGrid {
    /**
     * Actual data.
     */
    private final Map<Integer/*row*/, Map<Integer/*height*/, BuildForm>> data = new HashMap<Integer, Map<Integer, BuildForm>>();

    /**
     * Dimension of the {@link #data}
     */
    private int rows, cols;

    /**
     * Mutable, but only for the code that instantiates {@link DefaultBuildGridImpl}.
     *
     * @param row
     *      position of the form
     * @param col
     *      position of the form
     * @param p
     *      The build to add. null to remove the value.
     */
    public void set(int row, int col, BuildForm p) {
        Map<Integer, BuildForm> c = data.get(row);
        if (c == null) {
            c = new HashMap<Integer, BuildForm>();
            data.put(row, c);
        }
        c.put(col, p);

        rows = Math.max(rows, row + 1);
        cols = Math.max(cols, col + 1);
    }

    @Override
    public BuildForm get(int row, int col) {
        final Map<Integer, BuildForm> cols = data.get(row);
        if (cols == null) {
            return null;
        }
        return cols.get(col);
    }

    @Override
    public int getColumns() {
        return cols;
    }

    @Override
    public int getRows() {
        return rows;
    }
}


text:
'really, really lucky'
Australian Open 2018: Tennis star Laura Robson relives Las Vegas horror shooting which saw 58 killed for first time
Robson and friends escaped uninjured from music festival shooting in which 58 people died
by Dan King
17 Jan 2018, 5:21
Updated: 17 Jan 2018, 8:52
LAURA ROBSON relived her Las Vegas horror and admitted: "I got really lucky."
Tennis star Robson and some friends were among the 22,000 crowd at a music festival in October when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire from a nearby hotel, killing 58 and injuring hundreds more.
Laura Robson has spoken for the first time about her Las Vegas ordealCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
It was America's worst shooting by a single attacker and former British No 1 Robson said: "It was a crazy, crazy thing to happen and I got really, really lucky.
"My friends got really really lucky. That's really all I can say. I don't really like to think about it.
"I didn't know what was happening. I thought it was something on the stage.
"My friend, one of the girls I was with, she is from North Carolina so she was the first one to be like, 'hang on here, that is definitely bullets' and at which point a guy who used to work for IMG, he was running the event, he was the hero that day…
"We were really really lucky in that we were off to the side so you hear everything and stuff like that but we were on the way out anyway. So many people weren't lucky."
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Robson had always been due to return home to England the following day and she shut herself away to recover from her ordeal.
She said: "I just got a big hug from my mum when she picked me from the airport the next day.
"From there I was meant to go home for a while anyway which was probably really a good thing because I just spent five days in the house without really leaving.
"It was sweet really because when I got home my dogs could sense that I was a bit off so they just sat on me for five days.
"After that you have to get back to real life and back on the court.
"I'm definitely a bit more thankful [about life]."
Former junior Wimbledon champion Robson is looking to the future after the Vegas horror and her injury nightmareCredit: Reuters
Robson was speaking after losing her first-round doubles match with CoCo Vandeweghe at the Australian Open, where she had controversially missed the cut for qualifying in the singles event.
But the former junior Wimbledon champion is approaching 2018 in a happier frame of mind than at any time since a wrist injury threw her whole career into jeopardy four years ago.
She is working again with Dutchman Martijn Bok, who was her coach when she won junior Wimbledon in 2008, and is aiming to return to the world's top 100 by the end of the year.
Robson said: "I feel very happy on court for the first time in a long time.
"I'm happy to be back with Martijn. I feel very happy and super-motivated.
"I felt like I was stuck in this spot where I wasn't getting any better. I couldn't pinpoint what I was doing wrong and why I felt so bad on court, why I was so unhappy in practice and in matches.
"It was getting a bit overwhelming. To change my whole scenery and get Martijn back and spend a bit more time with my family at the end of the year, it just made a difference.
"From whenever I got here, Boxing Day or something, I've felt a lot lighter on court and a lot happier."


When in dilemma, go white. This milky white vase with its smooth finish in contemporary shape is a juxtaposition of simple forms. A modern style top and clear glass base makes Naples Floor vase a unique statement.
Care Instruction: Clean with a soft damp cloth.


text:
Weeks 29 to 35 of pregnancy
Your stomach is getting bigger, and it is common for you to feel breathless, even during minimal exertion. Your body gradually starts to prepare for labour through more and more Braxton Hicks contractions.
Illustration: Mostphotos
What's happening to the mother?
Development of the fetus
Your lung capacity now starts to increase to ensure that both you and your baby receive enough oxygen. Your heart beats faster to compensate for the increase in your body's needs.
The womb takes up a lot of space, leaving less space to fill up the lungs with air. It is common to feel breathless, even during minimal exertion. Extra water in your body is not uncommon, and you may notice it most through swollen legs.
Many women find they become constipated more easily. The reason for this may be less physical activity or hormones that affect digestion. It can also be due to a lack of dietary fibre or insufficient fluid intake.
Your body will gradually begin to prepare for childbirth at the end of this period through more frequent and clearer contractions in the uterus. These start at the top of the abdomen and spread throughout the uterus before subsiding. They normally last about 30 seconds.
These are known as Braxton Hicks contractions. At first, Braxton Hicks contractions may feel like weak menstrual pain, but they can gradually become increasingly uncomfortable. They should not be painful.
If you have given birth before, you may feel Braxton Hicks contractions earlier in your pregnancy and often perceive them as being stronger and more intense.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell Braxton Hicks contractions from proper contractions. Braxton Hicks contractions normally pass quickly and can change if you lie down, change position or move. They are not regular and rarely increase in intensity.
Weeks 29, 30, 31 and 32
The fetus now resembles a newborn baby and may have settled head first in the pelvis. Many women feel pressure downwards towards the pelvic floor.
The baby will be around 40 centimetres long and weigh between 1,600 and 2,000 grams.
Weeks 33, 34 and 35
The baby's internal organs are now fully developed, with the exception of the lungs, which take a little longer to mature. The baby therefore does regular breathing exercises.
For tidlig fødsel
Et svangerskap varer vanligvis mellom 37 og 42 uker. Hvis fødselen skjer før uke 37 er fullendt, regnes det som en for tidlig fødsel.
Illustration: Colourbox
Pregnancy weeks 36, 37 and 38
Your womb will gradually drop and you will find it a little easier to breathe. Some women find it difficult to sleep because they cannot get comfortable when lying down.
Illustration: Igor Stevanovic / Mostphotos
Feel life
Tips for pregnant women on how to monitor your baby's movements. Information in Arabic, English, Norwegian, Polish, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya and Urdu.
kjennliv.no (kjennliv.no)
Zanzu
Information about pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period in Arabic, English, Farsi, French, Norwegian, Polish, Somali, Tigrinya and Turkish aimed at immigrants and others with a short period of residence.
zanzu.no (zanzu.no)
Nasjonal faglig retningslinje for svangerskapsomsorgen, Helsedirektoratet 26.01.2022
Content provided by The Norwegian Directorate of Health
Last updated Monday, March 7, 2022


Born in Rome (New York) on 18 September 1955. He currently lives near Paris, France.
Education: Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Texas A&M University, 1976) and Ingénieur Télécom Paris Tech (1976).
Louis began his career conducting advanced research in signal processing and multimedia, before evolving towards management and consulting. From 2004 to 2006 he was the Project Manager of the Ground Segment of the ESA Planck mission that recently delivered valuable information about the universe. During his career, he has also been involved with the world of music, notably as a member of the Scientific Committee of the IRCAM and more recently as a consultant for the Paris Opera.
Louis enjoys playing the piano, alone or with other musicians. He sang as a tenor with the Pasdeloup and Colonne orchestras, performing in Salle Pleyel, Bercy, Chartres Cathedral and for the French television. In 2012, he resumed composing music – and has now written a number of pieces for piano, voice, chamber ensembles and orchestra. Several of his recent compositions have been performed in public, including a suite for symphonic orchestra that was performed in Greece in 2013. He also enjoys bird watching, making videos and reading.
Member of Mensa, Chorium, the Infinity International Society, the Grand IQ Society, the ISI-Society and the CIVIQ High IQ Society.


JetVent fans are mainly used in fully or partially enclosed car parks, but have also been installed in a number of unique applications such as indoor go-kart tracks. The fans operate on well proven longitudinal tunnel ventilation principles and effectively direct air flow throughout the car park to the exhaust fan. Fitted with an efficient EC (electronic commutated) motor with integrated speed control, the JetVent EC series does away with VSDs, current overloads and motor phase protection.
Due to the proportional control capabilities, the fans all have a soft start and quiet operation under normal conditions. Each JetVent fan can have up to two pollutant sensors and an integrated smoke detection kit that is powered by the actual fan. ComLink, JetVent's digital communication system, allows real time information to be digitally transmitted between the fan units and the EcoVent Controller.
The capability of the EcoVent controller has been expanded to accommodate up to 24 JetVent EC fans, 48 pollutant sensors and 24 integrated smoke detectors. The new and improved firmware has also simplified the implementation of automatic, off and override functions. In automatic mode, the controller responds to signals from the pollutant and smoke detection sensors. It adjusts the speed of the fan to match the level of carbon monoxide or nitrous oxide in the car park.
This demand control system improves air quality while minimising energy use as the fans only operate when required. If any fan in the car park detects smoke, a signal is sent to the Ecovent controller which turns off all fans before sprinkler activation to maximise occupant safety.
The fans can be switched on again to clear smoke using the manual override function. The Victorian Building Appeals Board has given approval for the installation of impulse ventilation systems utilising Fantech JetVent impulse fans in sprinkler protected car park environments. The Board found that the JetVent system with the integrated smoke detector complied with Performance Requirements EP1.4, EP2.2 and FP4.4 of Volume One of the Building Code of Australia (BCA).


text:
MIAC events to continue on Zoom
Eva Philips, Staff writer
The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused many changes around campus, but they will not stop the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture from bringing new and exciting programming to the Erie region throughout the spring season.
MIAC has adapted to public health guidelines by shifting programming to a virtual experience. Though this will be different from previous seasons, the virtual programming will be accessible from anywhere, making it possible to witness and celebrate artistic talent from near and far.
The spring season will kick off with a performance by the British vocal a capella ensemble VOCES8, which consists of two soprano singers, two altos, two tenors, a baritone and a bass.
In addition to performing onstage, VOCES8 has a music education charity, the VOCES8 Foundation, to spread the love of music even further.
The eight-person group has performed in venues worldwide and has had many high-profile collaborations, including performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Academy of Ancient Music.
VOCES8 prides itself on its extensive repertoire of a capella and accompanied music and promises to inspire the audience through the art of singing.
VOCES8 will perform via a virtual Zoom event on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
The month of March will bring a presentation from Sean Astin.
Astin is an actor, director and producer whom many will recognize from his critically-acclaimed performances in iconic films like the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, in which he played the steadfast Samwise Gamgee, as well as his role as Bob Newby in the popular television show "Stranger Things."
Astin, who is the published author of his memoir "There and Back Again," advocates for important causes like volunteerism and mental health support, and his presentation is sure to inspire listeners.
Astin's presentation will take place on Mar. 11 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
The third and final event of the spring 2021 season is certain to be a night of pleasant music and captivating talent.
Acclaimed musician Chris Thile, a mandolin virtuoso, composer and vocalist, will share his talents with the Erie community in a livestream performance.
Thile has won multiple Grammy Awards and gained fame from his time as a member of musical trio Nickel Creek. He is also a member of Punch Brothers and a MacArthur Fellow, and hosts the "Live From Here" radio program.
Thile's performance is set for Apr. 7 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
These three performances, spread throughout the spring, are certain to bring inspiration and cheer to viewers. Admission for all three events is free, and the virtual format of the events make them especially accessible even during the busy spring semester.
Each performance is limited to five hundred viewers, though, so it is important to act quickly to secure a spot.
More information on each performance, as well as registration, is available through the MIAC website.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world of the importance of arts and culture, and with that in mind, Mercyhurst is looking forward to welcoming VOCES8, Sean Astin and Chris Thile to share their talents with us this semester.
Eva Philips
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Great Lakes Restoration Projects Face an Uncertain Future
Brad Mudrzynski wades through cattails in Buck Pond (photo: Veronica Volk)
Tags Environment Great Lakes Today Politics
By Veronica Volk
A cove on the South Shore of Lake Ontario near Rochester, N.Y., called Buck Pond is undergoing a transformation.
Brad Mudrzynski, a graduate student working in the cove, says, "One of the focus points of this project is to create northern pike spawning habitat."
His team and their other partners on the project are digging channels through the thick marsh to help pike get closer to shore and lay their eggs. Right now, they are inhibited by and invasive species of cattail.
Mudrzynski and the team are cutting the cattails and targeting them with a special weed killer. Their plan is to keep the cattails at bay.
"That's the hope," he says. "This is the first big scale-up of the cattail killing design and it looks promising in this area after just one year."
This project is funded by the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative -- a program that has an uncertain future.
It was put in place in 2010 and every year allocates $300 million to projects in the watershed. Some project focus on habitat restoration and invasive species mitigation, like the one at Buck Pond, but others address toxic substances and sources of pollution near the shore.
Mudrzynski says almost all the habitat restoration projects they are currently working on are possible because of the GLRI.
"It has been such a boom for the conservation programs in the local area," he says. "It's paid my entire salary for six years."
Further west, Jill Jedlicka with the Buffalo River Keeper says they regularly apply to access resources available through the GLRI for a variety of projects along the Buffalo River.
"They can range everywhere from the small scale, localized habitat restoration or shoreline improvement programs, to the large-scale full river restoration that was the Buffalo River Restoration," she says.
However, there is some question about whether this funding will be available in the future.
Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump has vowed to defund the federal Environmental Protection Agency, through which all GLRI funds are allocated.
The GLRI is just one program run through the EPA that funds restoration projects in the watershed, but as of June 2016, the agency has doled out over $1.6 billion to universities, nonprofits, and other organizations across the region, specifically for the Great Lakes.
Those who work on the ground, like Jedlicka, say continuity is very important to the success of these long-term projects and protecting that investment.
"If the GLRI funding went away or was tremendously scaled back that would definitely put at risk all of the gains that we've made in recent years," she says. "When you commit to ecosystem restoration it has to be for the long haul."
A spokesperson for the EPA says it is hard to speculate on whether the initiative would stop altogether, or continue through a different federal agency.
Note: An earlier version of this story misstated funding totals for the EPA and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.


Some of Jeddah's personal trainers and fitness experts.
Looking to hike up your fitness a few notches and invest in your exercise regimen? Hiring a personal trainer or having one-on-one classes with a fitness expert can give you customized support, whether you're just starting out or looking to level up. Here are some male and female personal trainers and fitness experts who can help you out.
A certified IFPA and Les Mills trainer, she gives up-to-date and energetic Les Mills classes ranging from RPM (Cycling), Body Combat, and Body Pump (Weights). She started her own studio, gives classes and provides other trainers space to give their own classes.
Nada's Pick: I love the food at Wakami Lounge (on Zahra Dist. and Rawdah Dist.) and Roots Salad (rootsksa.com). Their ingredients are of good quality, and I have healthy, delicious choices!
Nada's Pro-Tip: Figure out what you love – if you love it, you'll likely be consistent.
Location: N17 Studio, Rawdah Dist.
One of the best NASM-certified trainers in Jeddah with certifications in multiple fitness areas, from boxing to kettlebell to TRX, and also a variety of Les Mills programs, she is also a GEL master trainer, a 3-day course for ladies who want to become group exercise leaders in Jeddah.
Reem's Pick: I love Olympia Gym (6th Floor, The Headquarters Business Park, Corniche Rd.), it has a breathtaking view! I also love the food at SINLESS (Prince Saud Al Faisal Rd. Rawdah Dist.).
A martial art specialist (Kyokushin Karate, Muay Thai, and Aikido) who's participated in a number of events in Australia and Saudi Arabia, including National and International Karate Championships, she's a winner of 6 trophies and 2 medals. She also founded Sarate, a martial arts school for kids and ladies.
Sara's Pick: My favorite shop for sportswear and accessories is DT Sports KSA (Jawad Center, King Fahad Rd.).
One of the most inspirational yogis we have in town, she has been in this journey for more than 3 years, giving classes in her own studio "Hoakelei." She has multiple packages customized for your needs – whether you're a busy person, or just curious about yoga.
Hanan's Pick: Hanan's Pro-Tip: Get a minimum of 3 recommendations from different people who have tried a trainer or gym. Don't just follow a workout trend because it's cool. Understand the workout you're getting yourself into – do your research.
A fitness specialist who has ISSA certifications in personal training, fitness nutrition, and exercise therapy, he is also CrossFit and Zumba certified. He has a personal training center where you can choose your goals and packages accordingly, whether it be training for weight loss, body building, and rehabilitation.
A former professional athlete whose goal is to have a positive impact and empower people through health and fitness, he has multiple certifications, from Strength & Conditioning Specialist, to Boot Camps, to kettlebell training, and the list goes on.
Marcus' Pro-Tip: Attaining that mental edge in life starts with having a positive attitude. The primary goal is to keep moving. Our bodies are made to be mobile and functional in all facets of life.
A CrossFit specialist with a Sport Management Diploma, and CrossFit Level 2 and CrossFit Kids certifications, he gives classes in Arena MMA and Fitness.
Brendon's Pick: I like the healthy options on offer at Boga (on Sultan Rd., Malik Rd., and Tahlia St.).
Brendon's Pro-Tip: Start in the kitchen – we tend to treat ourselves a bit much here in Jeddah as it's one of the main entertainment activities, so diet is key. Also, start your kids early – get them into training activities.
Also known as Alain the Caveman, he is a weight loss and boot camp specialist who is certified in PICP level 4, Bio signature 2, and is also a nutritional medicine profiler.
Alain's Pro-Tip: The key is to move! Don't over-complicate things, there isn't a perfect workout. Walk, run, join a boot camp or a gym, do CrossFit, hire a trainer – as long as you move, you're headed to the right direction.


What Are The Average Garage Doors Costs?
Dome officials had offered to put a retractable roof on the 19-year-old Dome and renovate it, which would have cost $550 million. The Falcons balked at the proposal.
I greatly enjoy the weather in Louisville; it is a very pleasant city. When you explore the surrounding woods and public parks you really feel like this is a world with no crime or violence. There are horses everywhere once you leave the city. It is a very enjoyable experience to live in small city so close to mountains and rolling hills on the Ohio River valley. There is a lot of humidity, which some people do not enjoy. But, it keeps your skin feeing soft.
The new stadium will include two outdoor plazas, pedestrian bridges over the railroad tracks from Marietta Street and across Ivan Allen, Jr. Boulevard, a team Hall of Fame and an 8,000 square foot team store. The Falcons will have a 12,750 square foot locker room facility with 70 Interior Doors lockers. The visiting team? They'll have to get by with just 5,300 square feet.
Louver shutters- These are more contemporary choices for window treatments. These serve the same level of ease in use and privacy as other shutters but are more current in terms of design and structure.
That does not include a possible renovation plan for the Dome, which would include additional club dining areas. That would cost an additional $35-70 million dollars.


"You are enough," she said.
What followed was paradigm shattering, ugly crying in front of near strangers.
What's crazy is… I know this. Cognitively I get it.
But standing in front of this group – and being called out on my way of being for as long as I can remember – my mind and heart blew wide open and I saw the little five year old me begging for love and acceptance. I saw myself in a whole new light with such compassion.
Because yes I am. And yes you are.
But we rarely have an accurate concept of just how 'enough' we are. We don't need to do, be, give or say anything in order to earn the love and respect of others.
Just you — right there, reading this, doing nothing — are enough.
This is something difficult for many of us to fathom, let alone believe, because we're taught that we must do or be something in order to be worthy, loved and loveable.
But sometimes the subtle and simple is more powerful than the big and boisterous.
And this goes so much deeper than any of us really realize.
Have you ever just sat in your energy and felt how powerful you are? Have you felt your heart beat, and listened to the hum of life that courses through your veins?
That is life force. That is source energy. That is your divinity.
And it's enough to give you life.
I'm seeing now that there is a connection between not seeing oneself as enough without doing something to earn it, and also not being able to sit still in our own energy.
Both are ways to deflect out of our own personal power.
What a disservice we are being to the world by trying to be anything other than just who we are.
Rather than running from it, deflecting it or trying to get rid of it, imagine the strength it requires to just stand in all that energy and hold that space: To embody all of who we are.
Without excuses. Without apology. Without extras, bonuses, offerings, or a reward program.
To sit in that space that is your heart, and just be you. And know that you are truly enough. In fact, you are more than enough. There is a whole universe within you.
And how can there be anything less than or broken about that?
Are you able to sit in your own power? Can you hold the space and just be? Your heart and soul so wide open in all its glory that you allow yourself to be seen fully?
Don't deflect from you. Don't give that power away. Bring that energy back into your body. Sit with it. And rejoice in it.
In the stillness, you know the truth of who you are. That spark that powers your heart is full of your unique magic.
That is your divinity. It's who you are. It's who we all are.
And that light never goes out.
I see it now…. And I couldn't agree more.


A study from the National Council of Nonprofits found that there are over 1.5 million registered not-for-profit organizations in the U.S., and that number is growing steadily each year. Its findings also indicated not-for-profits contribute significantly to the economy, with almost 10 percent of all U.S. wages and salaries coming from these organizations. Each one of these organization has an important mission and, as this industry grows, there is more and more competition for donor dollars.
It is becoming increasingly important for not-for-profits to be creative in order to compete for funds and recognition. Luckily, with the rapid growth of online networks and social media, not-for-profits have more tools than ever before to create awareness and attract donors.
Unfortunately, as not-for-profits try to attract donor dollars, they are also grappling with some of the same issues as their for-profit counterparts: attracting, developing, and paying the necessary talent to carry out their mission. Rising employment costs are burdensome to small business, especially not-for-profits.
On the bright side, corporate volunteerism is on the rise and is considerably helping these vital organizations carry out their missions. What's more, these corporate volunteer programs are also serving as a retention tool for the businesses offering them.
Baby boomers may be growing tired of talking about how to better embrace millennials in the workplace, but millennials currently make up 35 percent of the working population, and are the future of our organizations, so it is an important topic of discussion.
Studies show that when millennials are considering taking a job, they look beyond compensation and benefits and tend to focus on a company's work culture, which often include opportunities for involvement in community service and charitable causes.
Millennials are not content with simply making payroll deductions on behalf of charities. They take part in company-wide volunteer days to be able to band together with their coworkers and volunteer as a team, to support organizations they truly care about.
For a business, this kind of activity is great leverage for creating a team-based company culture, and can be less expensive than other types of company outings. If staff retention is an issue, corporate volunteerism should be carefully addressed as part of the overall strategy to keep employees happy and engaged. Not only is it a great way for coworkers to engage, team build, and get to know each other, it is a great way to provide the much-needed support for not-for-profit organizations to achieve their missions.


text:
Q: my project with python thread, raspberrypi HC-SR04 and Flask def det_rec(self):
    try :
        while True:
            gpio.output(trig, False)
            time.sleep(0.5)

            gpio.output(trig, True)
            time.sleep(0.00001)

            gpio.output(trig, False)

            while gpio.input(echo) == 0 :
                pulse_start = time.time()
            while gpio.input(echo) == 1 :
                pulse_end = time.time()

            pulse_duration = pulse_end - pulse_start
            self.distance = pulse_duration * 17000
            self.distance = round(distance, 2)
            return self.distance
    except :
        gpio.cleanup()

this function not return distance.
The result is None, I don't know what to do.
How can I fix this code ?.

A: Try to remove the try / except statement, if an exception occurs your method does not run any 'return' statement and in python that makes it return None.
A little extra hint: You should avoid to store distance as a member variable (self.distance) and return it, it might be confusing to do both.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Taiwan - Reunification
Propaganda workers on the frontline of coastal defense, 1964
Despite the belligerence of the threats to liberate Taiwan and China's insistence on sovereignty of Taiwan, the more conciliatory approach of a process of peaceful reunification has been tabled on and off since the mid 1950s. Various CCP leaders have extended proposals for reunification over the years. Such peaceful initiatives were accompanied by the production of posters that stressed that the Chinese and Taiwanese peoples were one, usually by indicating that the two basically were united by blood ties. Those Chinese outside of China that were supportive of the idea of the unity of the Chinese nation were considered as patriots and seen as part of a patriotic United Front.
Taiwanese compatriots are our brothers, 1976
After the adoption of Deng Xiaoping's modernization program, China embarked on a new course that resulted in the so-called 'nine principles for peaceful reunification' proposed by Ye Jianying in 1981. The principles, which would turn Taiwan into a 'special administrative region' of China, were upheld for more than a decade and continue to be upheld until the present, although later some modifications were made. The late 1980s witnessed the historic moment when delegations from both sides started official negotiations about possible reunification.
The Taiwanese compatriots are our blood brothers, 1976
Deng Xiaoping's formulation of the 'One Country, Two Systems'-paradigm in 1983, considered an encapsulation of the 'nine principles', has laid the theoretical foundation for China's resumption of sovereignty over a number of territories that had been under foreign rule. According to Deng's paradigm, there is one country (China), but within this country, multiple social and/or economic systems can and will exist for a given period of time in certain areas - special administrative regions, next to and in harmony with the social and economic systems that prevail in China. The principle was first put into practice in Hong Kong, and subsequently in Macao. In the eyes of the Chinese leadership, these two cases already have proven that Deng's paradigm can be an excellent vehicle to bring about the future reunification with Taiwan. The Chinese even expressed their willingness to expand the conditions of the principle to accommodate the Taiwanese: no time limit on the period of autonomy; no disbanding of Taiwan's military, etc. Jiang Zemin in particular was seen as a proponent of a quick Taiwanese adoption of Deng's principle. Such a reunification could serve as an eminent opportunity to guarantee him a lasting place in history. The Taiwanese leaders, however, continue to have a different opinion on this matter.
Taiwan compatriots are our blood brothers, 1978
Despite the fact that the 'One Country, Two Systems'-principle contained many opportunities for a solution of the Taiwan conundrum, the Taiwanese leadership continues to see as problematic the definition proposed by China that there is one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of it. Although the Taiwanese do not deny the fact that ethnically they are Chinese and are part of the cultural complex that is named Chinese civilization, they do object to the possibility that they will simply be swallowed up and incorporated into a political system they reject. That same Chinese culture has been rediscovered by the CCP elite itself, and is now being hailed by Beijing as an important basis for reunification.
Thinking about relatives at every happy festival time, 1980
At the same time, the negotiations about eventual reunification should not take an eternity and are backed up by regular threats of force. A period of fifty years was deemed adequate. In February 2000, the PRC warned in a White Paper on Taiwan that indefinite refusal to start negotiations would constitute grounds for a military solution.
The feeling of the sisters of the two coasts, 1990
Sending off the People's Liberation Army to o… (ca. 1950)
Liberate Taiwan, annihilate the remnants of the ba… (1954)
Save our Taiwanese compatriots! (1954, November)
Smash the pact between the United States and Jiang… (1955)
We will certainly liberate Taiwan (1955, January)
Resolutely liberate Taiwan, save the Taiwanese peo… (1955, January)
We support the liberation of Taiwan with all our m… (1955, February)
Looking for the road to death - let's break t… (1955, March)
Uncles from the People's Liberation Army! Qui… (1955, September)
Zheng Chenggong (1955, October)
No American war provocation whatsoever can intimid… (1958, September)
We must liberate Taiwan (1958, September )
Drowning the enemy in a torrent of steel! (1958, December)
We must liberate Taiwan! (1958, December )
Propaganda workers on the frontline of coastal def… (1964, September)
We will definitly free Taiwan! (1971, January)
We are determined to liberate Taiwan! (ca. 1971)
Several types of fighters and bombers used by Amer… (ca. 1971)
The Taiwanese compatriots are our blood brothers (1976, March)
Taiwanese compatriots are our brothers (1976, July)
The loving care of the mother country (1976, July)
We must liberate Taiwan (1977, April)
We must certainly complete the great task of unify… (1978, March)
Taiwan compatriots are our blood brothers (1978, July)
Thinking about relatives at every happy festival t… (1980, September)
The feeling of the sisters of the two coasts (1990, June)
Hong Kong Handover
Reunifications
Taiwan - Liberation


Something to hide? Remember June's "big mess" in newly-merged Sime Darby, where five top execs had to go? Well, The Star seems to have out-FOXed the other dailies with a report of the Companies Commisison of Malaysia charging Sime Darby's Human Resources top honcho for faling to show it the papers with regards to the sacking. The Commission also charged KPMG Corporate Services Tan Kim Chuan for failing to cooperate with the Commission's investigators.
Something's foxy, but I told you that already back then. I wonder if Brenden Pereira, who appeared briefly as Sime Darby's spokesman in June, will make do another one .. More at SimeDarbyWatch h e r e.
Ishak Hamid is the Head of Human Resource,and yet he is not showing good corporate governance by purposely refusing to comply with the Authorities request.Sime Darby should issue him a Show-Cause Letter.
If the Board allows him to thumb his nose to the authorities,then in future,other more junior executives will do the same without any repurcussion from management.
Tun Musa is known to be a no-nonsense Chairman,so I think early intervention is required here to safeguard Sime Darby's credibility.
Wonder what is happening to Sime Darby. They have left several of their properties deserted since several months ago. There used to be security guards but now there is none. Those properties seems to have been abandoned.
Let the Industrial court decide on the reason for sackings,why must the CCM get involved? Please dont play politics here my advise to CEO CCM.
What happen to ECM Libra investigation,scared of Pak Lah ka?
Look here Sime has given their employees a good bonus,thanks to EVP Haji Ishak.Those 5 desrve it when times are good they never respect their responsibility and let the rogue traders gamble PNB money.
Go and entertain other complaints lah CCM...Sime Darby name shouldnt be tarnish just because of the sackings and political gimmicks that is ongoing.
This guy is so racist, i'm ashamed to be malaysian!!!
"The Commission also charged KPMG Corporate Services Tan Kim Chuan for failing to cooperate with the Commission's investigators."
Going back to the Tun Salleh-Bar Council episode, why no help from Zaid Ibrahim ?
And Tun M must be having a good laugh.
When Tun Ismail Ali was chairperson, political interest never encroach into day to day business in SDarby. I'm sure DrM tried to muscle into the company's vast reserve - in name of national service but brother-in-law never yielded an inch.
Today, the once bluest of blue should be tagged SBarmy. The working culture, its staff has taken on a more pronounce 'Ketuanan' culture.
Almost two months ago, I suggested shareholders and staff sell off/take profit when counter was at RM$9 or so. Had anyone listened, they wouldn't be stuck looking at it today at RM$6.40 and still under selling pressure.
This once bluest of blue has a a rich heritage that tracks the nations growth in industry. This fall from grace is just another sad instance of UMNO's rotten hand turning gold to dust.
Go on, try dispute that Rocky when the writing is on the wall pasted in caps. Sad, sad, sad concerning the company's pedigree all coming to naught.
Year of charging companies "local and foreign"
Like this all foreign companies cabut.....CCM are going against their vision and mission statement getting involve on unnecessaries running of a global company like Sime Darby,lain kerja tak ada?
Just bought Sime shares 50 Lots,hope to gain from future appreciation.IOI even better at RM 3 its a good buy.In Sime we trust to lead the way to rationalise their performance.The company should buy back their shares or just give their emplyees the ESOS.Its the right timing.
I wont be surprise Shearn & Delamore to back up Sime to fight the case on.Sue back SSM if they fail their duty.They cannot intefere Human Resource matter which are pending in Industrial court.
Well, maybe one day, we'll have one... Until then, let's hope Stoke City will repeat what they did to Spurs a few days ago and get those points to stay up there in the Premier League.
that why malaysian companies are not properly manage! But the way, who is sime darby chairman??
Apa crita? Ini tak boleh dibiarkan ni.
Lu kan Champion Keikhlasan & Kejujuran.
Tak kan diorang menipu bawah hidung you kot?
Ke YOU PUN TIDO SECARA ELEGENT SILENCE macam Badawi?
When the government gave the green light to merge the three giant plantation companies, the rationale then were to enhance synergistic effect. Have they not thought about may be the merged entity is too large to manage? Now after merging so many things crop up one after another, so what's next, de-merge????????
i m sorry to out of topic a bit.
but try to get some attention here.When can people in Sg Buaya getting the promised Interchange some 13 years ago,until now they didnt see it yet?
i am sorry, but land and general was the developer then,but what happen now?YB come and go,but yet nothing happen.
PLease if you can highlight this to people concern, we thank you.But if you want to delete this,i concur.


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Visit us and improve your French with us in La Rochelle!
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Je suis une étudiante italienne de 24 ans et j'ai fréquenté l'institut Inlingua de La Rochelle pour trois mois pour apprendre le français pendent que je travaillais comme fille au pair dans une famille sur l'Île de Ré. J'ai commencé d'un niveau basic mais, avec un travaille constant et graduel, je suis arrivée à parler couramment, lire sans aucun problème et écrire des textes articulés. J'ai terminé mon parcours complètement satisfaite avec un niveau C1/C2. J'ai eu la chance d'être suivie par deux professeurs fantastiques, très patientes et incroyablement compétentes. Le programme que nous avons suivi a été dessiné spécifiquement pour s'adapter à mes exigences et a été toujours diversifié et intéressant. Chez Inlingua j'ai trouvé non seulement le sérieux et le professionnalisme que je cherchais, mais aussi beaucoup de sympathie et curiosité. En étant des personnes sincèrement dédiée à leur travail et à leurs étudiants, mes professeurs ont rendu mon expérience unique et inoubliable, ainsi que très productive au niveau de l'apprentissage. Je recommande chaudement Inlingua à tous ceux que veulent apprendre ou améliorer ses compétences linguistiques dans une atmosphère amicale et professionnelle au même temps. Sans oublier que l'école est située dans la pittoresque petit ville de La Rochelle; élément que permette de bien profiter d'une partie de la France qui (surtout pour nous italiens) n'est pas très connue, mais qui a vraiment beaucoup à offrir!
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Herzlicher Empfang, Familiäre und professionelle Einrichtung. Besten Dank an Geraldine und Amandine für die sehr gut geführten Lektionen - und die interessanten "ateliers" am Nachmittag. inlingua La Rochelle kann bestens empfohlen werden.
Ciao a tutti! Sono Francesco e sono qui a La Rochelle per uno stage postlaurea. Ho seguito alcune lezioni alla scuola inLingua per preparare l'esame DELF B2 di lingua francese. Che dire professionalità, serietà ed un gruppo davvero competente! Grazie a tutti!!!
I wanted to speak French, now I can.
I approached Inlingua to help me deliver business presentations in French, something I had never done, and to improve my communication skills in gerneral. I was very impressed with their professional and pragmatic approach and their ability to tailor their lessons closely, which has significantly increased my confidence in speaking to an audience in a foreign language.
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Having always loved France, I finally took the time to really study the language. I spent 2 wonderful weeks in La Rochelle during the summer, studying at Inlingua each morning and discovering the beautiful surrounding areas in the afternoon. My language progressed so quickly, thanks to the excellent methods which were all oral based, so much more applicable. I was then able to practice what I had learnt in the morning. I cannot recommend Inlingua enough, friendly, professional and very welcoming, whatever your level.


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Kurukulla: the "Diva" Dakini of enlightened magic; the enchantress transforms seduction into 'the cause of wisdom'
Buddha | Dakini | Deities | Divine Feminine in Buddhism | Vajrayana
"Magical" aspect of Tara
The cult of beauty: Kurukulla
Magic is, well, magical
Enlightened magic: Bodhichitta required
Kurukulla's mesmerizing appearance
Self-generating Kurukulla — it is magical
Details of Form: Symbolism
Lotus Family: all the compassionate virtues of Amitabha
Kurukulla Mantra
Kurukulla could be thought of as the "Diva" pop star of the Dakinis. She is like a beautiful, modern celebrity endorsing a worthy cause; she projects this divine and Enlightened beauty to attract us to the Dharma. She uses her enchanting "magic" to remove our obstacles to practice. We all need a little enchantment in our lives, don't we?
Kurukulla is the "enchantment" aspect of Tara.
She is as popular today, as she was hundreds of years ago. As a Dakini, a Higher Tantric practice, she is the "very cause of wisdom" — her Tibetan name Rigiyedmna (རིག་བྱེད་མ) literally translates as "she who is the cause of knowledge". Although she has her own tantras and practices, she is considered an emanation of Tara: Tarobhava Kurukulla, "the Kurukulla who arises from Tara" (Red Tara: sgrol-ma dmar-po.)
"Culmination of the pristine awareness and compassion of all conquerors,
Well arising as the bliss-emptiness – Goddess of Power,
Controlling all beings of the three realms with a charming form;
Homage to the Dakini."
—Nyingma liturgical verse [1]
Everyone loves a little magic. Kurukulla is all about the enchantment. Like other emanations of Tara, who might use their divine beauty to attract and influence, Kurukulla embraces this concept, but to an erotic extreme. It is the exotic "magical" and miraculous aspects that have kept Kurukulla, the Passionate Lotus Dakini, popular both today and in past centuries. Although she is often associated with "attraction" and "magnetizing" — an overall aspect of the red Lotus family of Amitabha, Chenrezig, and Hayagriva — she is not a mundane deity. Despite depictions of her magnetizing powers as "magical," they are not for the corrupted purpose of attracting a mate, or money, or luxuries.
Like other emanations of Tara, she is about the "activities" of compassion, in this case attracting and enchanting. And, like all Taras, this is a skillful means to help us remove obstacles in our own practice, by attracting good fortune to the Sangha, or to the practitioner. With a virtuous, Bodhichitta goal, her practice can have the virtuous aspect of creating auspicious conditions for practice. [For a feature about Tara, please see>>]
Kurukulla is the most beautiful of the Dakinis. As a Dakini of the Padma family, she represents Dharma and Speech. One way to understand her seductive appearance is as a symbol of the "attractiveness" of the Dharma. Her name literally translates as "she who is the cause of knowledge." Her bow and implements are made up of red Uptala flowers, sacred to Tara and the Lotus Family of Amitabha, symbolizing compassion.
The cult of beauty is well established — with beautiful people, actors and models drawing us in immediately with their presence. Using this beauty and magnetism for the Dharma cause, Bodhichitta, Metta and Compassion, is the very definition of the "diva" Dakini Kurukulla.
Colour is the clue in deity visualizations. Generally, there are five colours corresponding to a different characteristic or aspect. For example, with Tara emanations we have:
Red: Kurukulla and/or Red Tara (some traditions separate them) — attracting and magnetizing (in older language "enchanting); in other words creating auspicious practice by attracting helpful conditions.
Green: Green Tara! Tara's most popular emanation is green is the colour of "wind" and "activity." We rely on Green Tara for speedy response, safety, protection, help in time of need. [For a story on Green Tara, see>>]
White: White Tara — calming and pacifying and healing (in older language "long life practices"); in other words creating auspicious practice by attracting helpful conditions for a long life. [For a story on White Tara, please see our full feature>>]
Yellow: Golden Tara (Yellow Tara) — creating the karma for auspicious wealth, knowledge, merit and support to streamline our practice.
Black: Black Tara (yes, there are black Taras!) and many Dakini manifestations. Black is about removing obstacles, obliterating issues (in older language "subduing evil or demons") and creating the conditions for good practice by removing our stresses, doubts, obsessions and other obstacles.
The reason for Kurukulla's popularity is clear. Attracting auspicious conditions is always enticing. But, how does the "magic" work?
One of Kurukulla's mandalas with five colours of Dakini.
In a recent feature in Buddha Weekly "Is here room for the supernatural in Western Buddhism," the author begins:
Kurukulla is the "enchantment" aspect of Tara. EVENT Notice: Kurukulla initiation with H.E. Zasep Rinpoche in Toronto>>
"Does removing the magic from Buddhist practice seem less — magical? Sometimes, with a secular approach to Buddhism, we strip away some of the flair, the near euphoric joy of the Buddha's Dharma. That "bliss" can be an important part of practice, especially in Vajrayana. Even Tantric Buddhism, with all its supernatural wonder and magical "taste," is reduced — by many modern practitioners — to "symbolic archetypes" and mind-states. In the West, many — perhaps most — Buddhists like to turn their backs on a term like "metaphysical" or "religion" and refer to the Dharma instead as philosophy and method."
The feature goes on to describe the four views of "magic" in Buddhism. The four views could be described this way:
• View 1: The supernatural or metaphysical is unimportant: In Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta, Buddha refused to answer questions of a Metaphysical nature. Why? Because they are "not important" to the path to Enlightenment.
• View 2: The complete opposite, that deities, magic and the metaphysical are subjectively real: For those who embrace the wonder of the labelled, including supernatural labels, this is just another relative aspect of what we perceive to be a reality.
• View 3: They are symbolic or metaphorical: Buddha would have spoken in terms commonly used in his day. It's easier to say "Brahma" — as he did explicitly in Brahmajala Sutta — than to say "creative force."
• View 4: That all phenomena are ultimately non-dual — or as is often said, "not two" — perceptual, rather than tangibly "real," and from this view, all are "aspects" of a One-ness.
Whatever, our view of "magic" and the "enchantment" there is no doubt it works from the view we accept. Whether it's intention working on our minds to change our conditions, or some metaphysical force — ultimately, they are "not two" as the Zen Buddhists say.
Kurukulle's enchantment works at one level, or the other.
Her power to attract, magnetize and mesmerize is an Enlightened mission: if money, a suitable mate or knowledge and power will contribute to the "cause for Enlightenment for all beings" it is worthy of her blessing. Kurukulla is not — as has been suggested by some early scholars — a "love goddess" ready to bring you love and sex.
Yes, she is voluptuous, seductive and beautiful; and yes, she carries a flower-decorated bow — very similar to the western Cupid — and certainly, she is associated with love and attraction. But this is not a "magic spell" carnal lust type of attraction. She uses her powers of magnetizing to bring conditions favourable to the path to Enlightenment. Without a bodhichitta aim, there is no enchantment.
What is this magical power?
Kurukulla is the Highest-Yoga Tantra aspect of Red Tara.
Kurukulla, the Enchantress, transforms seduction into Enlightened wisdom.
Similar to Vajrayogini, Kurukulla's appearance is voluptuous, vibrant, youthful, energetic, sexual. To represent her magnetizing aspect, and the Lotus family, she is visualized as a body of glowing red light. She dances, as most Dakini's do, to represent her activity as a Wisdom Goddess, and under her feet is the asura Rahu (the one who devours the sun.) [For a feature story on Vajrayogini, please see>>]
She has, typically, four arms, although in other aspects eight. She usually holds a bow and arrow made of beautiful flowers in one of her pairs of hands. Her other hands hold a hook and a noose of flowers. As with all Tantric visualizations, an explanation of a teacher is required. The depth of symbolism is profound. She is both an emanation of Amitabha, and also a form of Tara.
Her root tantra is the Arya-Tara-Kurukulle-Kalpa (Practices of the Noble Tara Kurukullā), which was translated by Ts'utr'im jeya, a close disciple of great Atisha.
According to the Himilayan Art Resources, who collect and archive museum-quality Dharma art, she is described this way:
Kurukulle (Tibetan: rig che ma. English: The One of the Action Family): Goddess of Power.
"Slightly peaceful and slightly wrathful in a dark red appearance, she has one face, three eyes, dark yellow hair flowing upward and four hands. In the first pair of hands held upraised is a bow and arrow constructed of red utpala flowers and aimed to the left. The second pair hold in the right a hook and left a lasso. Adorned with a tiara of five white skulls, earrings, and a necklace of fifty heads, she wears a green scarf and a tiger skin skirt. Standing with the right leg drawn up in a dancing posture and the left leg pressing on a corpse above a sun disc and red lotus seat she is completely surrounded by a circle of flames of pristine awareness.
At the top center is Amitabha, the buddha of boundless light, red in colour, seated with the two hands in the mudra (gesture) of meditative equipoise placed in the lap supporting a black begging bowl. At the bottom center are precious offerings of wishing jewels, red coral, and the like, with flower vases standing at each side." [1]
Although some might see a Venerable Kurukulla, suitable for offerings, the real practice with this magnificent deity is Tantra — only, of course, for those with initiation. In Tantra we self-generating as the deity. [For those unaware of this practice, please see our many features on deity practices and seek the advice of your teacher. Self generating any Yidam requires empowerment, permission and teachings.]
Essentially, by visualizing ourselves as Kurukulle, then generating deity pride, we gradually, with each meditation, take on the characteristics and methods of the goddess. Since "magic" is about transformation, and this visualization works at the level of your mind — it literally is magic. The changes occur within our mindstreams. We find people listen to us more (magnetizing.) People find us more interesting (Kurukulle's sensual nature). We exude compassion, taking on the characteristics of the Padma family over time.
It's not about controlling others; it's about controlling our minds. Most importantly, our minds tap into Kurukulle's guided practice to develop insight into the true nature of reality. After all, Kurukulle, a Dakini, expresses Wisdom.
Self Generation only works under the guidance of a qualified teacher of lineage, who can transmit the full teachings. For those without the empowerment and commentary from a teacher, practitioners should not self-generate. Kurukulle is a wonderful deity to venerate — as with all fully Enlightened deities.
A very old Thangka of Kurukulla.
Whether self-generating, or visualizing in front of us as an object of veneration, she is imagined the same way (although there are different forms.)
"…the Goddess Kurukulla, with a body red in colour, one face and four arms. The first two hands hold an utpala bow and arrow drawn to the ear. The lower right holds a hook that subdues the Three Worlds, the lower left an utpala noose; with short fangs, the face is slightly smiling and slightly angry, with three eyes and adorned with two beautiful breasts, having the youthful form of sixteen years, with brown hair flowing upwards, adorned with five skulls having the nature of the Five Families as a crown, a necklace of fifty fresh heads and five ornaments of bone, wearing a tiger skin as a lower garment, standing on a human corpse with the head turned to the left, with the left leg extended. The toes of the right are placed on the thigh, as in a half vajra [posture] dancing manner, dwelling in the midst of a beautiful circle of sun rays, visible, but not solid, like the form of illusion." — Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub (1497-1557). sGrub Thabs Kun bTus, vol.8, folios 528-555.
Lovely Kurukulla, embodies attraction: symbolizing the attractive pull of the Dharma.
As with all Tantric Buddhist deities, every pose, arm, leg, implement and adornment is a symbol representing profound truth. In the case of four-armed Kurukulla, the most common form:
Red colour: symbolizes the west, fire, Padma Family, Lotus and notably the "family of Speech" or Dharma.
Seductive and beutiful: a sixteen-year old youth (in Tibetan Buddhism, sixteen-year-old normally symbolizes youthful vitality), which indicates her power to attract, to mesmerize, to draw-in and enchant followers to her inner Wisdom and the Dharma.
Red streams of light: emanate from her beautiful form, symbolizing her compassion reaches out to all beings.
The bow and arrow of red Uptala flowers: red is the Padma (Lotus family) and Uptala flowers are sacred to Tara: like cupid, her power to pierce us with her seductive wisdom.
Vajra hook (also red Uptala flowers): in her second pair of hands, her right hand holds a Vajra hook (in India, an Elephant Goad) to "hook back" all sentient beings into her compassionate arms
Lasso: also made of red Uptala flowers in her left hand.
Dancing: Dakinis almost always appear in "dancing" form. In part, this symbolizes the elusive, playful nature of Emptiness (Shunyata) and the pure joy of Clear Light.
Left leg stands on top of a prone male — usually indicating subduing our egos. The left leg is always the lead leg in female Dakinis (in Wrathful male deities it is the right.)
Wrathful adornments: skull crown, garland of freshly severed heads, tiger skin skirt, beautiful silks and necklaces.
Other forms: Kurukulla, depending on lineage and tradition, can also appear in other colours: blue, white, pink, seated, two-armed, six-armed or in a full mandla of 23 deities.
Kurukulla, a Highest Yoga Dakini of the Lotus Family, embodies all of the virtues of Amitabha, Chenrezig and Hayagriva. She shares the same seed syllable HRI, the seed syllable of Amitabha and Hayagriva because she is of the same essence at the ultimate level.
As with all Lotus family, her mission is compassion. As a Dakini, she embodies "wisdom." The two together, as Kurukulla, represent the Enlightened union of Wisdom and Compassion. On a more "mundane" level, she represents the power of love, attraction, youth and magic, subjugation, but, again, for a virtuous purpose. In principle, the same concept (although less mundane) as a celebrity using their beautiful persona to raise awareness of the charity and to attract money and goodwill to the cause — except, more magical, and directed at only Enlightened causes. In the same way that Audrey Hepburn used her presence as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF or Angelina Jolie who became United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (whatever you think of her, a legend in charity work), or other big names in charity, such as Oprah, Elizabeth Taylor, and J.Lo (Lopez Family Foundation) — Kurukulla uses her exotic beauty and enchanting magic to attract.
The main mantra of Kurukulla in Sanskrit and Tibetan scripts. From the wonderful site: visiblemantra.org.
Although it is recommended that a student has empowerment and "lung" permission to use her mantra, it is a well-known and well-published mantra. For this reason, we reproduce it here, with the caution that her mantra should be used by actual practitioners who have initiation or permission of a qualified teacher.
The essential mantra of Kurukullā is
Oṁ Kurukulle Hrīḥ Svāhā
(Tibetan: ༀ་ཀུ་རུ་ཀུ་ལླེ་ཧྲཱིཿསྭཱ་ཧཱ).
[1] Himilayan Art Resources — Kurukulla >>
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The month of merit: Saga Dawa, celebrating Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Paranirvana — be generous, moral and practice often


text:
Ray's Garden Rows: New Year's resolution to retrace tracks
With the start of a new year, there's a tradition — not always carried out — of making resolutions.
Ray's Garden Rows: New Year's resolution to retrace tracks With the start of a new year, there's a tradition — not always carried out — of making resolutions. Check out this story on wisfarmer.com: https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/12/29/rays-garden-rows-new-years-resolution-retrace-tracks/95984448/
Ray Mueller, Correspondent Published 8:57 p.m. CT Dec. 29, 2016
Black raspberries rarely are found in the fresh or frozen fruit department of a supermarket. When you plant your own, they begin to produce fresh fruit the second year after planting.(Photo: Richard Poffenbaugh)
With the start of a new year, there's a tradition — not always carried out — of making resolutions on what one hopes to do or change in his or her life.
For this year, I'm resolving to spend some time during the summer checking on the fate of wild raspberries at locations where my dad and some of my brothers picked the berries decades ago. I fear that no plants have survived during those many years but at least I'd like to find out.
Along the railroad
The main setting I intend to explore again is along the right of way of the railroad that bisected land on our family's farm. There were black raspberry patches at a couple of spots along the fences of the adjacent fields. A few wild grapes and chokecherries also grew there.
Black raspberries were ripe in late June and July — an ideal time because it was after the planting of crops and the harvesting of the first cutting of hay and before the grain harvest began. The picking trips about twice a week served as a small scale family outing.
At the far end of the railroad right of way along our land were blackberries, which ripened in August. Dad loved to pick them but he was very upset when, by late July or early August, a railroad crew sprayed herbicide to control the growth of thistles, burdock and other weeds. This also killed the blackberries which were due to ripen soon.
Crossing the river
In addition to the trek along the railroad, another raspberry picking destination required a walk across the Manitowoc River at a spot where, long ago, someone had placed stones that enabled a crossing when the water flow was low, as was typically the case in early summer. Technically, this was trespassing but it was done at time when people tended to be less sensitive about that.
On the opposite side of the river was a woodlot in which a corridor was created a few years earlier for an electric power line — the same one that placed a few poles on our farmland. Removing the large trees from that portion of the woods apparently paved the way for the growth of the raspberries, which included a few yellow and purple berry plants.
Adjacent to the power line corridor was a large meadow which had raspberries along its fences. I know there aren't any raspberries there today because the space has been turned into a residential subdivision.
Black cap berries
It's been only in the past year that I've heard of "black cap" raspberries. This might be only a matter of terminology.
A friend indicates that he has, or at least had, black cap berries in the back woods on his farm. At about the same time, an elderly farm woman told me she was also familiar with the term.
Since I haven't seen the berries they're referring to, I hope to learn more this year by taking a walk with my friend to show me what he's referring to – if there are still any plants.
Braving brambles
The online entries about raspberries acknowledge that there are overlaps in the terminology along with an indication that the black cap canes are "brambles," which is certainly what the familiar black raspberry canes are. Along with the photos which suggest that the traditional blackberries resemble the shape of a cap, I think I haven't missed anything.
What's still a bit puzzling, however, is that two people I've discussed black caps with describe that berries as being lengthy rather than round.
Maybe that alone will be reason enough for me to resolve to complete a walk down memory lane and search for something new besides.
Read or Share this story: https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/12/29/rays-garden-rows-new-years-resolution-retrace-tracks/95984448/
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