text:
Big Brown's new beginning - and he's absolutely thriving on it
Michele MacDonald | October 31, 2016 |
Big Brown at Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains, New York: he's just as adept at his current job as he was in racing. Photo: Michele MacDonald
Just as a bird takes to wing, he is suddenly in the air, all rippling muscles and streaming black mane against blue sky. Neck arched, ears upright, front legs extended toward the heavens, he is a breathtaking vision of power and grace, his bay body bronzed by gentle morning light.
And then, with the same quick yet effortless movement, he returns to ground, eyes afire with a mischievous kind of delight.
Now 11, Big Brown clearly has lost none of the energy that propelled him through a magical yet ultimately star-crossed Triple Crown campaign in 2008. From the time he emerges from his stall at Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains, New York, he radiates vitality and that electric, yet indefinable quality that stokes the hearts of champions.
"He likes getting up on his hind legs. We know this, so we try not to give him the opportunity," said soft-spoken Michael Lischin, who owns and manages Dutchess Views with his wife, Anya Sheckley. Lischin, an attorney with more than 30 years of experience in the Thoroughbred business, chuckles with a sense of appreciation of this force of nature that arrived at his farm on Christmas Eve in 2014.
Soon thereafter, a columnist and photographer for the Wall Street Journal came to report on this major event. Making his trademark statement, Big Brown reared almost vertically as he was paraded, giving visual emphasis in a resulting photo to the significance of a Kentucky and Preakness Stakes winner standing in the Empire State.
Remarkable individual
"For the most part, he'll stand and pose and he's pretty easy to handle," Lischin observed. "But he's very athletic, so most people who come and see him are very impressed."
Getting close to Big Brown is essential to comprehending what a remarkable individual he always has been. His racing career soared past so rapidly and in such a torrent of headlines and emotional backlashes to his controversial trainer, Rick Dutrow Jr., and some of his owners that the horse himself was almost obscured.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who conditions Big Brown's multiple Grade 1-winning son Dortmund, is among those who have pointed out what others may have forgotten.
"Big Brown was one of the most impressive racehorses I have seen in the last 10 years," Baffert declared as he was conditioning American Pharoah for the Triple Crown.
For Andrew Cohen, whose own life story could fill a book, Big Brown is even more than a superstar runner. Cohen left college as a teenager to do "grunt work", including making boxes, for a Wall Street firm and worked his way up until he eventually founded his own New York investment company. But Cohen sold his business in 2011 to focus on his racing and breeding interests, particularly Big Brown and another Grade 1-winning stallion, Frost Giant.
Kind nature
Cohen was relatively new to the sport when he was invited to buy an interest in Big Brown before his Triple Crown campaign. Everything Cohen experienced with the colt, who did what no other horse in history has been able to accomplish when he handily won the Kentucky Derby from post 20 in the starting gate, bonded him to Big Brown, whose kind nature charmed him as much as his speed.
"He was like a puppy dog," Cohen recalled, remembering how young children could safely go into Big Brown's stall and pet him. "During the Triple Crown, I would go and visit him in the middle of the night and take him candy. You felt like you could bring him into your living room and cuddle up with him."
But, when he was running, Big Brown was nothing less than what racetrackers admiringly refer to as "a monster".
Bred by Gary Knapp's Monticule in Kentucky in a mating of the winning Nureyev mare Mien to Claiborne Farm's Boundary, Big Brown is a genetic work of classic art, with his pedigree combining double lines of three phenomenal racehorses, all of whom won major races over 1 ¼ miles. He is 3x3 to champion and leading international sire Northern Dancer, 3x4 to Horse of the Year and influential sire Damascus and 4x5 to Horse of the Year and leading sire Round Table. His female family already had produced a champion in Hidden Lake.
Sold by Monticule for $60,000 to Eddie Woods, agent, at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale, the handsome bay with a distinctive white spot near his left shoulder was resold as a juvenile at Keeneland for $190,000 to Paul Pompa Jr. A trucking executive who held a contract with United Parcel Service, Pompa named the colt Big Brown, the nickname for the delivery company.
Stunning debut
Trained initially by Patrick Reynolds, Big Brown was unveiled on September 3, 2007, in a 1 1/6-mile maiden special weight event on turf at Saratoga Race Course.
Sprinting out of the gate, Big Brown "opened a clear advantage in the early stages … shook loose on the turn, opened a wide gap in upper stretch and was never threatened," according to the official chart. In the comments section was the simple statement: "Ran away when roused."
Big Brown hit the finish line 11 ¼ lengths in front, boldly announcing himself as a runner who could be very special.
Besieged with interest in the colt, Pompa sold 75 percent for about $3 million, as reported at the time, to International Equine Acquisitions Holdings. A large group of owners, including Cohen and his longtime friend, Gary Tolchin, took shape, and the colt was transferred to Dutrow at the direction of IEAH's Michael Iavarone.
Problems with quarter cracks in his front feet kept Big Brown from racing again until the following March at Gulfstream Park, when he was supposed to run in a one-mile allowance. The race was taken off the grass, however, and Dutrow considered scratching, Cohen recalled.
But Big Brown went forward with Kent Desormeaux aboard, and what happened next was even more impressive than his debut. Racing just off a quick early pace, Big Brown bounded to the lead going into the stretch and left rivals gasping, hitting the finish line 12 ¾ lengths in front in 1:35.66.
Raucous celebration
"I remember Kent getting off and saying this is the best horse I've ever ridden in my life," said Cohen. That was a big statement, considering the Hall of Fame jockey had steered home Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000 after just missing completing a Triple Crown in 1998, when his Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet was nipped by a nose at the Belmont Stakes finish line.
The months that followed Big Brown's allowance win still are vivid in Cohen's memory. As a co-owner of eventual 2008 U.S. sprint champion Benny The Bull, he traveled to Dubai and hoisted the trophy for the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen at Nad al Sheba in a raucous victory celebration.
Unable to see Big Brown run in the Florida Derby that same day due to a lack of television coverage in the United Arab Emirates, Cohen had to listen to the race call over a telephone. Big Brown started as the favorite, bounced out of the gate, set a quick pace of :22.76 and :45.83 and romped home by five lengths in 1:48.16, fastest time for the 1 1/8 miles in over a decade.
"That was so exciting because knew we were going to the Kentucky Derby," Cohen said, describing subsequent celebrations that went on for about a week.
Big Brown was undefeated and unchallenged, winning his first three races by a combined 29 lengths, typically galloping out with his ears pricked. Cohen was undaunted when the colt drew post 20 for the Kentucky Derby, despite the fact that no horse had ever won the Roses from the far outside since the advent of starting gates.
Even more impressive
"We knew he could get out of the gate and get position, and he didn't disappoint us," Cohen recalled. "We had all the confidence in the world in Big Brown."
After surging to the lead with a rolling rally from sixth, going five-wide around the far turn, Big Brown won by 4 ¾ lengths. "And he did it so within himself. He truly was in a gallop to the quarter pole," Desormeaux said.
The Preakness was perhaps even more impressive.
Announcer Tom Durkin, watching the colt again move five-wide and soar down the stretch, called out that "Big Brown's doing it again — he's disappearing from the field!"
History shows that Big Brown is only the fourth horse ever to run unbeaten through the Derby and Preakness.
After the race, it was announced that Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky would stand Big Brown on his retirement in a deal that reportedly valued the horse at $50 million, although no details were released and that kind of money did not change hands. Some of the owners, including Cohen, retained interests in the colt.
Negative publicity
"At the time, I was just in it for the ride. I didn't know enough to get it all reviewed," Cohen said of the stud deal. "Everyone's expectations were, with the way Big Brown was towering over the others, that he could swing through the Triple Crown."
Despite the euphoria, all was not sublime.
Before the Derby, Dutrow had casually revealed that he gave all his horses a monthly dose of Winstrol, an anabolic steroid product. While the substance was perfectly legal in most American racing jurisdictions at the time and widely used, his candor set off a firestorm of negative publicity, further enflamed by the tragic breakdown of the Derby runner-up Eight Belles.
After the Preakness, Big Brown developed an abscess and then another quarter crack in his left front foot, which sidelined him from training for three days. His connections said they were not worried, but, on the day of the Belmont Stakes, the weather turned up the heat on all of them. It was 95 degrees and, under the policy of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) at the time, Big Brown and the other Belmont starters had to spend much of the day in a detention barn, away from the comfort of familiar surroundings.
A camera focused on Big Brown showed him kicking the wall of the detention barn stall and jumping around, uncharacteristically agitated. By the time he reached the paddock hours later, he displayed little of his usual eagerness and walked with his head down and his eyes dull.
'No gas left in the tank'
There was never really any explanation of what happened in the Belmont.
Big Brown broke in a tangle, was wrestled off the pace by Desormeaux, bumped another horse, and eventually was pulled up in the stretch, with the jockey saying there was "no gas left in the tank". Photos showed Big Brown's right hind shoe was hanging loose only 200 yards or so into the race.
The result left the crowd of 94,476 — already drained by the heat and frustrated by broken plumbing throughout the Belmont Park grandstand — totally deflated. Pace-setting winner Da' Tara had only previously won a maiden event and never won another race in his career.
"I guess we'll always wonder what really happened," Cohen said. "I heard he was kicking the wall in the (detention barn) stall, and that wasn't Big Brown — I never saw him act up. And it was about 100 degrees. I guess he just wasn't himself that day."
A few years later, after a number of trainers complained about their horses' routines being upset after the required move to a different barn prior to the Belmont Stakes, NYRA revised its policy and allowed horses to stay in their own quarters. The detention barn may have been the key factor in Big Brown not sweeping the Triple Crown.
Mutterings over the stud fee
Big Brown went on to win the Haskell Invitational Stakes and the Monmouth Stakes on grass.
In October, while working on turf at Aqueduct with his stablemate, 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Kip Deville, who also was co-owned by Cohen, Big Brown tore off a chunk off the back of his right front foot. In that one fateful stride in which he overreached, causing the injury, hopes were dashed that he would take on reigning Horse of the Year Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Time was called on Big Brown's brilliant but brief career, with his record showing eight starts, seven wins and $3,614,500 in earnings. He later was crowned champion 3-year-old male.
Under the deal negotiated by IEAH and signed as the group was rushing to the Preakness, Big Brown went to stud at Three Chimneys in 2009, a year after the full impact of the global economic crash that deflated North America's racing and breeding business, along with most other investment assets. His initial stud fee was set at $65,000, which breeders muttered was just too high in the fractured economy.
The dark clouds of the crash that hovered over the beginning of Big Brown's stud career were accompanied by swirling shadows of questions about financial management that dogged Iavarone and some of his IEAH associates. Dutrow also sparked increasing criticism, and in 2011 was suspended by New York authorities for 10 years for a number of racing rule infractions.
Caught in the wake
With all those dynamics in play, Big Brown did not gain enthusiastic support from breeders. It was a perfect storm of darkness, amplified by the fact that Big Brown's sire, the Danzig stallion Boundary, was not viewed as commercially appealing.
In 2011, the New York Times ran a story headlined 'Out to Stud, Big Brown Carries the Burden of his Human Connections', focusing on questions about IEAH's finances and Dutrow's suspension. Big Brown was caught in that wake, "perhaps an overlooked (stallion), through no fault of his own," the story stated.
Cohen — co-breeder of one of Big Brown's best runners from his first crop, Apollo Sonic, who finished a rousing third in the $5.2 million, G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at 1 ½ miles in Tokyo — decided he wanted to give Big Brown a new beginning at stud.
"After the first few years, it became obvious that Kentucky didn't really embrace Big Brown and he wasn't appreciated the way he should be," said Cohen, who joined with Tolchin in devising a plan to buy out other investors and move the horse to New York.
"I missed him. I didn't get to see him as often when he was in Kentucky," added Cohen, who has homes in New Jersey and Florida. "And I had all the confidence in the world he would do well."
The Dortmund factor
After Cohen and Tolchin reached an agreement to acquire majority ownership and move Big Brown, Dortmund won his debut and quickly added the G1 Los Alamitos Futurity prior to a victory the following spring in the Santa Anita Derby and a gallant third-place effort behind American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby.
"It's a shame Dortmund wasn't in his first crop. That would have probably changed everything," Cohen observed.
When Big Brown arrived at Dutchess Views, about 1 ½ hours south of Saratoga Springs, Lischin found him a bit lean and excitable after traveling from Australian shuttle duty at Vinery Stud. After about two weeks on the 200 tranquil acres, Big Brown relaxed — and breeders and fans started calling.
"It was kind of lucky timing as Dortmund was just starting to get good, and Big Brown just kind of sold himself with the way he looks," Lischin said. "So, there was no pressure on us other than handling all the mares and fitting everyone in."
Big Brown covered 138 mares in his first New York season in 2015, and he is just as adept at his current job as he was in racing.
"He's perfect, from a stallion manager's point of view," Lischin said. "He's easy to handle, cooperative and fairly efficient, and he's got very good fertility."
Devoted fans
Not only have New York breeders supported him, but some from Kentucky, including Eclipse Award winners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Lane's End, have sent mares to Big Brown at Dutchess Views.
And, despite all the controversy during his racing career, he has a legion of devoted fans.
"We get lots of people calling and asking how he's doing. We have people coming to see him at least three times a month and they come from all over the place," Lischin said. "And he gets letters from people and Christmas and Easter cards, and they send peppermints and other treats. He gets an unbelievable number of cards around the Kentucky Derby, and people say they love him and are thankful that we are taking care of him.
"We've been here for over 20 years and we've never gotten anything like (the response to Big Brown) before," he added. "He was just so popular as a racehorse."
Among his visitors is Cohen, and, on one visit this year, Big Brown quickly acknowledged his longtime friend with a soft nuzzle. It is due to Cohen's faith in the horse that Big Brown is in New York, where in 2015 he led all stallions based in the state with progeny earnings of $5,339,210.
He has climbed to the 35th ranked sire in the U.S. under the TRC Global Rankings and looks sure to rise much higher.
More special times ahead
"I just felt so strongly about Big Brown and that's why I wanted to bring him to New York. He'll always be close by and I can see him," said Cohen, who also oversees the stud careers of his Giant's Causeway-sired full brothers Frost Giant, who stands at Keane Stud in Amenia, New York, and Heavy Breathing, who romps in a paddock next to Big Brown's at Dutchess Views.
Cohen conceded that his experiences in the turbulent life of Big Brown have included some roller-coaster downs, as well as ups. But the ride has been the experience of his lifetime.
"You could never even imagine it. I knew very little about the game at the time of the Triple Crown, but now I know how really special it all was," he said.
Both Cohen and Lischin believe there will be more special times ahead for Big Brown through the foals he is siring in New York. "You haven't heard the last of Big Brown," Cohen declared.
Balance and athleticism
"It's almost certain that his progeny record will improve significantly," Lischin said, pointing out that Big Brown's New York-bred foals will race for the enhanced purses offered under the New York breeding program. His first group of those foals were born this year, and Big Brown consistently passes along his balance and athleticism, he said.
A medium-sized, fluid moving horse standing about 16.1, Big Brown has thrived in his daily routine in the picturesque Hudson River Valley.
During breeding season, he covers mares up to four times a day, and year-round he is turned out after breakfast each morning. Big Brown tends to be so energized about getting to his tree-lined hilltop paddock that, on many days, he exuberantly rears during the short journey from the stallion barn.
Once released, he stretches his legs and skims the ground, tail streaming in the breeze and nostrils flared — a magnificent creature, unshackled from any stain of association with some of those around him in the past.
"If you see Big Brown, you love him. He stands out, as he always has. If you put him out with 100 other horses, he would stand out," Cohen said. "He seems to really be enjoying his life at Dutchess Views, and that's the way it should be. He earned it."
Big Brown
Bob Baffert
Kent Desormeaux
Preakness Stakes
Rick Dutrow Jr.
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On Thursday evening, Z-cakes and I drove to Burley. When we walked in the door my dad said, "Don't take your shoes off, we're going to the fair for dinner," which was pretty much exactly what I wanted to hear.
The next morning we went to the fair for breakfast, and proceeded to eat constantly for the duration of our stay.
We stayed at the 4-H arena most of the day watching our cousins show their steers.
And Z-cakes climbed and jumped off the bleachers for four straight hours.
On Friday evening N8tr0n joined us.
And we celebrated our 7th anniversary by going to the rodeo.
When we finally drug ourselves home on Saturday afternoon, after yet another breakfast at the fair, and more food than anyone should really try to shove into their stomachs, I declared the weekend a success.
How was your weekend, friends? Did you get to go to a fair? Did you eat a corndog? Or three?
N8 celebrated your anniversary scruffy. I swear he didn't look like that Saturday when I saw him. Did he? Anyway, happy anniversary to you two lovebirds.
I think this is the first time we didn't go to the Burley fair in...8ish years. I hated missing it. It's my fav.
Oh, the show ring. Tameka put family home videos on DVD for Christmas. There was some footage of the steer days. I do believe the Blacks made it in some shots. Early morning steer washing and pampering, with some Dr. Melling provided maple bars are some of my favorite fair memories.
We didn't go to the fair this year either...I am really feeling funnel cake deprived right now!
Happy Anniversary to you and your man!
Happy Anniversary for the weekend! I must say all that bunting makes my heart happy in your first wonderful shot.
Didn't make it up to Burley fair because there's another big fete coming up this weekend... Looking forward to all the festivities! Last weekend I made habanero jelly while in St. George with my BFF, April. I'll be sure to bring a jar or 2 along.
No fair-going for this household this year. Harumph. I love your images.
THIS weekend is my fair weekend! Can't wait!!!


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Q: Size of a hex in GDB's x memory-dump command I'm trying to try all the variants of the x command in assembly. I typed
(gdb) x /x $rsp
0x7fffffffdf90: 0x01

According to my book the x/x command select the first 8 bytes from rsp and write them as an hex. However, looking for the assembly documentation (gdb help) i have not found anywhere that the size of /x is explicitly 8 byte. So how do I know if it is really 8 bytes ?

A:
So how do I know if it is really 8 bytes ?

It's not. It's "whatever size you used last". Documentation.
For example:
(gdb) x/bx $rsp
0x7fffffffcbc8: 0x1c

Subsequent x/x commands will use size 1 (a single char):
(gdb) x/x $rsp
0x7fffffffcbc8: 0x1c

You can override the size explicitly:
(gdb) x/gx $rsp
0x7fffffffcbc8: 0x00007ffff7ddc61c

Subsequent x/x commands now default to size 8:
(gdb) x/x $rsp
0x7fffffffcbc8: 0x00007ffff7ddc61c

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Milford Veterans Day parade was held in downtown Milford on November 11, 2018. Prior to the parade, the city's Veteran's Day Wreath Laying Ceremony took place in front of City Hall. Were you SEEN?
Third grade teacher Nickie Mann, center, sings "Proud to Be An American" with other members of the women's chorus at the Veterans Day ceremony at Riverside School Friday. The ceremony featured a slideshow and musical performances to honor veterans, including the late Nick Mecca, a longtime Riverside resident and school crossing guard.
Ridgefield's Jackson Mitchell is defended by Fairfield Warde's Chris Idieu on Friday.
Fairfield Warde's Joe Gjinaj (1) is tackled by Ridgefield's James Isaacson (14) and Ben Seward (5) during football action in Fairfield, Conn., on Friday Nov. 9, 2018.
Ridgefield QB Owen Matthews prepares to throw a pass against Fairfield Warde on Friday.
The Fairfield Theatre Company held its annual gala, Encore on November 10, 2018. Guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner, auctions and live music from Pimps of Joytime. Proceeds benefit the FTC, a nonprofit organization. Were you SEEN?
During the Kristallnacht commemoration at Temple Sholom on Friday evening, Jay Adler lights a memorial candle.
Susi Leiter (here with Rabbi Ari Rosenberg), a holocaust survivor who lives in Sherman, shared her childhood memories from Berlin during a Kristallnacht memorial service at Temple Sholom Friday evening. This November marks the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
The annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade in Milford, Conn. on Sunday, November 11, 2018.
Fifth-graders Frank Kingsley, left, and Jayden Zych perform Taps at the Veterans Day ceremony at Riverside School in the Riverside section of Greenwich, Conn. Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. The ceremony featured a slideshow and musical performances to honor veterans, including the late Nick Mecca, a longtime Riverside resident and school crossing guard.
Navy veteran Carl Peck, left, and Army veteran Peter LeBeau carry the colors down the aisle at the Veterans Day ceremony at Riverside School in the Riverside section of Greenwich, Conn. Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. The ceremony featured a slideshow and musical performances to honor veterans, including the late Nick Mecca, a longtime Riverside resident and school crossing guard.
Navy veteran Carl Peck, left, and Army veteran Peter LeBeau carry the colors down the aisle at the Veterans Day ceremony at Riverside School in the Riverside section of Greenwich, Conn. Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photos from the Veterans Day ceremony at Riverside School in the Riverside section of Greenwich, Conn. Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. The ceremony featured a slideshow and musical performances to honor veterans, including the late Nick Mecca, a longtime Riverside resident and school crossing guard.
Fairfield Warde's Joe Gjinaj (1) carries the ball during football action against Ridgefield in Fairfield, Conn., on Friday Nov. 9, 2018.
During the Kristallnacht memorial service at Temple Sholom Friday evening Debbie Heckmann lights a candle blessings. This November marks the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
Susi Leiter, a holocaust survivor who lives in Sherman, shared her childhood memories from Berlin during a Kristallnacht memorial service at Temple Sholom Friday evening. This November marks the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht.


02 – What is S.P.E.R.?
(Scroll down the list – check out all the Private Company Business Houses registered there – these are private companies – little more than "Mafia style" bagmen – any legal authority they may claim (under their various Acts, etc) is not lawful.
1. It cannot contract in it's own right.
3. Any contract made in the name of a company is completely void.
John Smith can do business while acting as XYZ (Company) but a business name does not have a separate legal entity of it's own. thus 1, 2 and 3 above.
5. ABC company cannot sue John Smith.
6. Make all your correspondence to the individual employee – not the Company – no Company can accuse – speak or write nor make phone calls !!
Confirm this with the Australian Government Business Section, and also with a lawyer (if you can find one who knows and who is willing to tell it as it is).
S.P.E.R. continually changes its address but only give out a PO Box, never a Street address … I wonder why ??


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Category: Endorsement
Socialist Slate Complete with Milwaukee DSA's Endorsement of Darrin Madison Jr.
Endorsement, Press Release / By Milwaukee DSA / February 5, 2021
Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America endorses Darrin Madison Jr. DSA slate of candidates now includes three candidates on two boards MILWAUKEE, WI – Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America (Milwaukee DSA) has endorsed Darrin Madison Jr. in his candidacy for the 10th district seat on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. His endorsement completes the slate […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: milwaukeedsa@gmail.com MILWAUKEE, WI – January 11, 2018 – Congratulations to Derek Beyer, who has received the endorsement of the Milwaukee chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Board of School Directors, District 8. Derek is well-suited for the MPS School Board not only as
Milwaukee DSA Supports Derek Beyer for MPS Board of School Directors, District 8Read More »
Endorsement / By Milwaukee DSA / December 21, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: milwaukeedsa@gmail.com MILWAUKEE, WI – December 21, 2018 – The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) system is under attack by neoliberal austerity imperatives and lingering racial injustice. Working-class families, students, and staff deserve an advocate on the MPS Board of School Directors who understands deeply the structural obstacles holding back transformative change in
Milwaukee DSA Supports Bob Peterson for MPS Board of School Directors, At LargeRead More »
Milwaukee DSA Supports Rick Banks for State Assembly, District 16
Endorsement / By Milwaukee DSA / July 30, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: milwaukeedsa@gmail.com MILWAUKEE, WI – July 30, 2018 – Capitalism isn't working for Milwaukee. Working-class people throughout this city have difficulty making monthly rent, buying groceries, and paying for their prescriptions. At the same time, for unscrupulous landlords, voucher-school profiteers, low-wage employers, and the prison-industrial complex, Milwaukee remains "open for business." Milwaukeeans
Milwaukee DSA Supports Rick Banks for State Assembly, District 16Read More »

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


According to the dictionary, to be steadfast means to be firm, not shakable, fixed, unchanging, firmly loyal, and unswerving.
In the book of Acts 10:1-4 (by the way, I implore you to read the whole chapter), we read the story of a man known as Cornelius, the bible records that he gave much alms to the poor and prayed to God ALWAYS (verse 2). If you go on to read verse 3-4, it talks about how his alms and prayers were remembered by God, and subsequently, many people, including Cornelius were filled with the Holyspirit (verse 44, 46).
As a result of one man's CONTINUOUS prayers and charity works, many people became filled with the Holyspirit. That was a new beginning for all those people that day. I'm pretty certain that all those people must have gone on to impact their world and make a difference. But all this was possible because of one man (Cornelius) who was steadfast in his walk with God, his prayers and charity works. Note that, Cornelius continued to do this good works, but it wasn't until that certain day that the angel of the Lord visited him.
Are you getting weary of praying, giving generously, evangelizing, helping and serving others, or whatever good it may be that you are doing? DON'T give up now! Keep at it. Hebrews 6:10 says 'For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of[a] love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister'. Again' always remember that you are serving God and he's the one to reward you, not man, though, He could do it through man.
Recently, I got weary about this blogging, I was tired. I wasn't even sure if it was blessing anyone or making any impact, but thank God for good friends He's given me. Now, I've made up my mind to press on and move on. I'm not going to give up; not now, not ever! As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, there's a season to everything. Galatians 6:9 'And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. It says in DUE season, we shall reap, but if and only if we do not lose heart. In other words, if we do not quit or give up. Don't get tired, if you need strength to carry on, draw up from the Word. Confess Zechariah 4:6, Philippians 4:13 and many others into your life and the situation.
Thanks Tomi, this really ministered to me.
Thank God for giving me you as a friend.
Tomi, thank u so much! your blog impacts me dear! I remember the one u wrote about the story of the guy that went to save his sis in south Africa and hw u tied it back to our salvation.
Its the devil, that put thoughts in our mind that we are not impacting when we ACTUALLY are. He knows u have started something great and isn't pleased about it, so he tries to decieve u! Speak the word of God!
awww FeyVored..I'm delighted u were blessed by this n I'm very glad 2 av u as a friend too.
@student1- thnx so much 4 ur encouragement. it means a lot. God bless u! Pls feel free 2 share with all ur friends.


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4 Most Popular Gacha Games on Mobile
Beoordeel dit Artikel The mobile platform is home to many incredible gacha games and, in this article, we'll be talking about some of the most popular options available.
Gacha games have risen quite a bit in popularity over the last few years and, in recent times, we've seen some absolutely incredible gacha games that have managed to impress us quite a bit with their exceptional gameplay, captivating setting and top tier visuals. There are quite a few incredibly well designed gacha games currently available but the ones listed below are those that stand head and shoulders above the rest due to how popular they are.
The following are the four gacha games that are currently the most popular:
King's Raid
King's Raid is a highly addicting game that takes place in a detailed game world that's filled to the brim with incredible sights to see and beasts to annihilate. As you progress through the game, you'll be able to build your deck of powerful heroes and take down anyone who stands in your path by strategically utilizing the abilities at the disposal of your heroes.
Fire Emblem Heroes is a game that can get players hooked from the moment they start playing because it's a part of one of the most iconic turn based strategy game franchises currently out there and, as far as mobile based gacha games go, it's among the most feature filled options available. On top of all this, the game is a treat to look at as well so you definitely can't go wrong with it if you're looking for a top tier gacha game to enjoy.
Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius is a mobile based spinoff that's been inspired by what is perhaps one of the most popular RPG franchises currently in existence. Much like all the other Final Fantasy games available, Brave Excvius is a game that players can get lost in from the moment they start playing because it takes place in an intricately crafted game world and it's filled to the brim with a seemingly endless amount of content for players to enjoy as they progress through it.
Fate/Grand Order is a game that, as the name suggests, takes place in the Fate universe and, all things considered, it's perhaps one of the most innovative games on this list because it implements a variety of new gameplay mechanics on top of the core gameplay fundamentals that gacha games are always renowned for and this makes for a refreshing experience that's received countless amounts of praise from players around the world. The game also puts a fairly heavy emphasis on story so, if you're looking for a truly immersive gacha game, this is a great choice.
All said and done, the aforementioned four games are without a doubt the most popular gacha games currently available on the mobile platform and players are definitely urged to give them a shot if they ever get the chance to do so.
What is Gamehag and How Does It Work? Love getting free games? What if we tell you can get a huge variety of games, including triple-A ones, by playing other games? ...mind blown! Lees 4 Games Like Era of Celestials Check out these four games, and see if any, if not all, of them are to your liking. Lees 4 Most Popular Gacha Games on Mobile The mobile platform is home to many incredible gacha games and, in this article, we'll be talking about some of the most popular options available. Lees The Best Heroes in Hero Wars Team composition plays a big factor in victory but some heroes are just easier to level up and naturally has bigger potential. Lees Free Premium Games on Google Play - July 2018 These games are available for free for a very limited time only - be sure to hustle on over to the app and start downloading! Lees What Makes Augmented Reality Based Games so Enjoyable Augmented reality games have turned quite a few heads ever since they first surfaced and, in this article, we'll be talking about the things that make these games so great. Lees Clash Royale vs Castle Creeps Battle: Which is Better? Clash Royale and Castle Creeps Battle both bring real-time strategy to your mobile device. Let us compare the two and see who gets the top spot. Lees
How Can Sandbox Games Inspire Creativity Turning on your "creative mode" is not as easy as simply flipping a switch, but somehow, there's a particular type of game genre that has a very good success rate at inspiring creativity in its players. These games are called "Sandbox games". Lees How to Quickly Get Past the Early Levels in MMORPGs No matter what the game is, no player wants to be low level in an MMORPG because low level characters don't really have that much power at their disposal. In this article we'll be giving you tips that you can utilize to breeze through these early stages as quickly as possible. Lees Features We Want to See in Casino Games Casino games have seen a lot of improvements over the years but they still lack some features that would truly elevate them to the next level and, in this article, we'll be talking about these features. Lees Maximizing Your Survival in Bubble Shooter Games The premise of most bubble shooter games is simple — but it is not that simple and is quite very tricky as it goes. Let's Tackle a few tricks in maximizing your survival in bubble shooter games. Lees


text:
Prophet Looks Back on a Month of Pride Celebrations
Prophet Culture,
Back to Prophet Thinking
During the past month, there was no shortage of memes and think pieces discussing the temporary nature of the celebration of pride, especially for corporate entities. When July 1 hit, the rainbows came down and most were none the wiser. Like all celebratory months or days that acknowledge otherwise underrepresented groups, there's always a question around why we only do this for a part of the year. Why not celebrate year-round? We're gay or lesbian or bi or transgender or an ally 365 days a year. The tokenization of minorities of all kinds has come to be an unfortunate hallmark of today's corporate culture even as businesses invest in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and education.
Pride at Prophet has been in existence for a few years. Prior to the formation of any ERGs (employee resource groups) at Prophet, there was a general shared sense of wellbeing for LGBTQIA+ employees because of the composition of our leadership team, the firm's clear investment in pro-bono work for relevant causes and the visible sense of recognition that comes with seeing others like you. As the firm grew, a clear need to better acknowledge different, diverse cohorts within the organization became clear, and over the last three years several different affinity groups have naturally— and intentionally —formed to make an impact at Prophet.
We've celebrated pride as an organization in different ways for many years, but given remote work life, Prophet decided to take a broader approach to Pride Month celebrations this year. With local office teams unable to come together physically, we curated a program of blog posts, panel discussions, virtual events and playlists that put a spotlight on a community that is as diverse as it is unique. But what the program mainly did was show that every part of our business, every region, every role, includes members of the "community." More than 10% of our firm's employees directly contributed to this month's content, highlighting the broad depth of experiences embedded within our company and presenting opportunities for allies to engage, learn, support and uplift LGBTQIA+ community members in various forums.
Panel Discussion: 'Queer in Consulting'
One of the most impactful events was a panel discussion that featured firm leaders and hit on topics including what it's like to be "queer" in consulting. It featured U.S. and European managers and partners and spanned across our corporate, strategy, design, digital and delivery teams. The conversation reflected on the unique but shared experiences of panelists, while highlighting the diversity of their experiences. Overall, the sentiment conveyed by our panelists was the idea of being extremely lucky — lucky for having professionally grown up in industries in which it wasn't necessarily hard or at least a not big deal to be gay, and lucky for having found a workplace that always encourages its employees to bring their full, true and complete selves to their job.
Many of our attendees found it eye-opening to hear panelists discuss experiences like having to come out again and again to new teams and clients. One of our panelists spoke about being "in and out" as he transitioned through different companies and roles until he got to the point in his professional and personal development where code-switching was no longer an option. From day one of joining Prophet, he belonged in a culture where he felt truly embraced, if not celebrated. Another panelist talked about the "boys club" environment of the ad world that had surrounded him for most of his career. This made him prioritize finding a workplace that fostered a more diverse environment and eventually led him becoming a Propheteer.
A third panelist recalled a statement he had to make during his interview process. In the interview the panelist explained that he wouldn't be successful if the firm expected him to change who he fundamentally is and how he expresses himself. For many of us, it's taken a lifetime to build up the strength and confidence to be our best selves at work. Uncomfortable questions are asked by clients, colleagues make assumptions, we sometimes find ourselves in situations where we feel we don't belong. Creating a comfortable environment for everyone no matter how they identify is something we are committed to as a firm.
Our programming this year was focused on raising the profile of the impact and broad-ranging reality of the "gay" experience in the workplace and beyond to help celebrate the fact that the diversity of our perspectives makes our business and community stronger.
Ryan Detwiler
Our people are everything to our business.
Life at Prophet
In the Spotlight: KEYLENS, the Latest Addition to the Prophet Family
A Consultant's Guide to Summer Reading 2021
Prophet Culture
Podcast: Michael Dunn – The Amazing Story of Prophet


text:
El cuaespinós pit-ratllat (Synallaxis hypochondriaca) és una espècie d'ocell de la família dels furnàrids (Furnariidae).

Hàbitat i distribució
Habita els boscos àrids i matolls dels Andes del nord-oest de Perú.

Taxonomia
Antany ubicat al monotípic gènere Siptornopsis Cory, 1919, actualment i arran estudis recents s'ha inclòs a Synallaxis.

Referències

pit-ratllat

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on musculoskeletal pain, physical activity, and work environment in Estonian office workers transitioning to working from home
Authors: Argus, Martin; * | Pääsuke, Mati
Affiliations: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Estonia
Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Martin Argus, MSc; E-mail: [email protected].
Keywords: COVID-19, musculoskeletal pain, office workers, physical activity, work environment
Journal: Work, vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 741-749, 2021
Received 12 January 2021
Accepted 5 April 2021
COVID-19 lockdown caused a sudden change in the work culture and environment.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown caused changes in musculoskeletal pain (MSP), physical activity (PA), workplace properties, and their in-between relationships among office workers.
A total of 161 office workers (64.6%female) with a mean age of 38.2±9.5 years participated. The study was conducted as an online form. Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire, NORDIC Questionnaire, and questions about the work environment were used. The participants were asked to describe the current situation and retrospectively the situation 3 months before.
We found no significant differences in the prevalence of MSP or between the mean number of body regions suffering from MSP before and during the lockdown. During the lockdown, a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in total PA and sport-related PA and a significant (p < 0.001) increase in work-related PA was noted. A significant drop in both workplace comfort rating (p < 0.05) and workplace ergonomics rating (p < 0.001) was suggested during the lockdown. Our data also suggested several individual factors influencing the MSP among office workers during the lockdown.
Maintaining habitual physical activity level and preparing a more comfortable and ergonomic workspace can play a role in a healthier transition to working from home.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was first announced in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic [1]. The first case of coronavirus in Estonia was discovered on February 26, 2020, and on March 12, 2020, the government of Estonia declared an emergency situation. The main methods for reducing the spread of the virus were implementing social distancing rules, restricting travel, indoor and outdoor gatherings, and services including physical contact. The emergency situation ended on May 17, 2020, lasting a total of 66 days [2]. The emergency situation changed a lot about how people worked and moved. During the emergency situation in Estonia, the sport and fitness centers were closed, but people were allowed to exercise and move outdoors when social distancing rules were followed. Due to social distancing rules, office spaces were closed and workers had to work from home. Until the virus persists, many companies in Estonia continue to implement teleworking. It is predicted, that this changes how we work in the future, as in addition to reducing the chance of spreading viruses, remote work is proving to have benefits both on an organizational and individual level [3, 4].
Teleworking, also known as remote work, has been gaining popularity due to rapid advances in information technology and electronic equipment. There have been reported several individual benefits of telework, such as lower stress due to less time spent on commuting, better work output as a result of fewer interruptions, fewer sick days and depending on the organization, flexible schedule, and better work-family balance. Despite the benefits, there are several problems regarding teleworking and occupational health. The main concerns include excess working hours, workers might continue working when ill, ignore health-related problems, and not have adequate equipment [5, 6]. Several psychosocial factors have also been reported, such as the feeling of isolation and possible conflict between work and family life [6]. In the context of COVID-19, the sudden shift to teleworking for an unknown time might have caused less attention to workplace safety and ergonomics [7]. Therefore this sudden change to teleworking might have an impact on musculoskeletal health.
The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is high among office workers [9, 10]. MSP can have a significant negative impact on the quality of life, work efficiency, and work ability [10, 11]. During the 3-month coronavirus lockdown in Turkey, increases in the prevalence of low-back pain in people who stayed home compared to those who kept going to the office were reported [12]. In Italy, Moretti and colleagues described a worsening of low-back pain and neck pain in the remote workers questioned [13], however, it is not known how teleworking affected the prevalence of MSP.
There have been documented several risk factors for developing MSP including individual factors and inadequate workplace equipment and ergonomics [8]. One of the individual factors, that could be influenced by the lockdown restrictions, is low physical activity (PA) [14, 15]. PA and sedentary lifestyle is a known risk factor for poor overall health, premature mortality, and several types of disease, including musculoskeletal disorders [14, 16–18]. Increasing PA has proven several benefits for office workers, such as reducing work-related and general MSP [19, 20] better work ability [21], and better mental health [22]. Since it is reported, that quality of life, well-being, and mental health problems have worsened during COVID-19 [23], PA might play an important role in how we prevent both physical and mental health issues and complex biopsychosocial issues like MSP in the future. It is known, that the restrictions during the lockdown period had a negative effect on the overall PA of adults in Greece [24], but we are uncertain how exactly people with physically inactive work, such as office workers, were affected. It is also unknown how such sudden changes in PA on an individual level affect MSP.
Another factor associated with MSP is workplace ergonomics. There are several theories about the mechanisms of pain pathogenesis in the case of cognitive work with low physical demands, but the exact mechanism is still unclear [25–27]. Still, an association between workplace ergonomics and the prevalence of MSP has been noticed widely [8, 28]. Since there is some evidence on the effect of comfortable work equipment on MSP [29, 30], the sudden change to working from home might influence work-related MSP, as we hypothesize that most homes do not have ergonomic workstations.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the COVID-19 lockdown caused changes in MSP, PA, workplace properties, and their in-between relationships among office workers. Considering the recent research about MSP during COVID-19 [12, 13, 31], we hypothesize an increase in the prevalence of MSP among office workers during the lockdown in Estonia. We also hypothesize, that because of the shift to remote work and closure of sports facilities, office workers report higher work-time PA, lower sport-related PA compensating with higher leisure-time PA during the lockdown period. Due to the sudden transition to working from home, we hypothesize lower workplace comfort and ergonomics scores during the lockdown period.
2Materials and methods
2.1Subjects
A total of 161 office workers (64.6%females) with an age range of 20–59 years (mean 38.17±9.52 years) participated in this study. The mean work experience as an office worker was 13.07±8.59 years. The inclusion criteria were job described as office work, working with a computer at least 6 hours per day, age 18–60 years. The exclusion criteria were chronic neurological, orthopedic, metabolic, or inflammatory conditions, and legally-designated disability. The participants were recruited by contacting their organization's occupational health and safety officers. A total of ten organizations participated. Our participants worked in the sectors of telecommunication, banking, and information technology. Participation in this study was anonymous and voluntary. Consent was asked before directed to the questionnaire. The study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee on Human Research, University of Tartu. (Report nr 287/T-26)
2.2Study design
The study was conducted as an online questionnaire. The form consisted of 5 parts: informed consent, gender and age, MSP, self-reported PA, and work environment. The study took place between May and June 2020.
Musculoskeletal complaints were recorded using a modified NORDIC Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The NORDIC Musculoskeletal Questionnaire records MSP in different body regions with prevalence in the previous 7 days or 6 months. However, in this study, for assessing the impact of lockdown, more detailed options were needed to better identify the onset of MSP. Therefore the answering options for the duration or period of musculoskeletal complaints were modified to (1) no pain, (2) onset 3 months before lockdown, with the pain disappearing during the lockdown, (3) onset during the lockdown, and (4) onset before the lockdown, but the pain is still persistent. When calculating the prevalence of MSP before and during the lockdown, options 2 and 4 sum up as pain before the lockdown and options 3 and 4 as pain during the lockdown.
Self-reported PA was measured using the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ). BPAQ has a total of 16 questions and consists of three parts: work-related PA, sport-related PA, and leisure-time PA. The work-related PA section includes questions about the physical demands of work, the sport-related section includes questions about the frequency and intensity of participating in sports, and the leisure-time section about everyday PA outside of work and sports. The answers are used to calculate an index for each section, which sum up as Baecke Physical Activity Index (BPAI). In this study, the questions of BPAQ were duplicated, as first asking retrospectively about 3 months pre-coronavirus period and second during the lockdown. BPAQ has been confirmed as a reliable and valid tool to measure self-reported PA among adults [32].
The work-environment form consisted of questions about work-experience, working with a desktop computer or laptop, frequency of work-at-home days before the lockdown, type of workspace before the lockdown, duration of continuous work without taking a break, and self-reported comfort and ergonomics rating for the workplace. Comfort and ergonomics ratings were collected using a 5-point Likert scale with answering options as (1) strongly disagree, (2) disagree, (3) neither agree or disagree, (4) agree, (5) strongly agree. Comfort rating was asked as "Do you agree, that your work environment and work equipment are comfortable?". Ergonomics rating was inquired as "Do you agree, that your work environment and equipment is ergonomic and adjusted to your personal characteristics to prevent work-related pain?".
2.3Statistical analysis
The data of work environment ratings and self-reported PA indexes are presented as mean±SD, with a 95%confidence interval (CI). A paired t-test was used to compare the data of self-reported PA, workplace comfort and ergonomics ratings, and the number of body areas suffering from MSP before and during the lockdown. The effect size was determined using Cohen's d, and the magnitude of the effect is classified as small (from 0.2), medium (from 0.5), and large (from 0.8). A Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of MSP in different body areas before and during the lockdown. Pearson correlation analysis was used to find relations between self-reported PA, workplace comfort and ergonomics scores, and MSP. The interpretation of significance in the correlation analysis was calculated as p < 0.05 on r > 0.155, p < 0.01 on r > 0.203, and p < 0.001 on r > 0.257. The minimal statistical significance level was set to p < 0.05.
The prevalence of MSP in different body areas and in total are presented in Fig. 1 There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of MSP before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in different body areas and in total.
The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in office workers (n = 161) before and during COVID-19 lockdown in different body regions. Legend: LB –low back, UB –upper back, LSH –left shoulder, RSH –right shoulder, LEF –left elbow & forearm, REF –right elbow & forearm, LWH –left wrist & hand, RWH –right wrist & hand, LHT –left hip & thigh, RHT –right hip & thigh, LKC –left knee & calf, RKC –right knee & calf, LFA –left foot & ankle, RFA –right foot & ankle, MSP –musculoskeletal pain.
Figure 2 presents the means of body areas with MSP and their chronological features. The mean number of body areas suffering from MSP before and during lockdown was not statistically significant.
The mean number of body areas with musculoskeletal pain with different chronological features in office workers. (n = 161). Legend: MSP- musculoskeletal pain.
During the lockdown, the total self-reported PA was statistically significantly lower (p < 0.001) than before the lockdown. (Table 1) The main contributor to lower total self-reported PA was statistically significantly lower (p < 0.001) BPAI sports score, however, BPAI work score had statistically significantly increased (p < 0.001) during the lockdown. (Table 1) There was no statistically significant change in the BPAI leisure score. (Table 1)
Self-reported physical activity of office workers (n = 161) before and during COVID-19 lockdown. (mean±SD)
Self -reported physical activity Before COVID-19 During lockdown Change (95%CI) p Cohen's d
BPAI work 2.27±0.32 2.45±0.40 +0.18±0.54 (0.10 to 0.26) < 0.001 0.50††
BPAI sport 2.94±1.31 2.42±1.18 –0.52±0.98 (–0.67 to –0.37) < 0.001 0.42†
BPAI leisure 2.74±0.62 2.67±0.63 –0.07±0.59 (–0.16 to 0.02) 0.15 0.11
BPAI total 7.95±1.60 7.54±1.55 –0.41±1.37 (–0.62 to –0.19) < 0.001 0.26†
BPAI –Baecke Physical Activity Index; †small effect; ††medium effect.
During the lockdown, we noticed an increase (+ 25.47%) in laptop usage for work. Table 2 presents the work environment features before and during COVID-19 lockdown. There was a statistically significant decrease in workplace comfort (p < 0.05) and workplace ergonomics rating. (p < 0.001) The hours of continuous work did not increase statistically significantly (p = 0.06).
Features of work environment among office workers before and during COVID-19 lockdown (n = 161)
Feature Before COVID-19 During lockdown Change (95%CI) p Cohen's d
WCR (mean±SD) 3.72±1 3.44±1.05 –0.28 (–0.51 to –0.05) p < 0.05 0.27†
WER (mean±SD) 4.05±0.86 3.05±1.12 –1.00 (–1.21 to –0.79) p < 0.001 1.00†††
HCW (mean±SD) 2.04±1.05 2.22±1.30 0.18 (–0.01 to 0.36) p = 0.06 0.15
WCR –workplace comfort rating; WER –workplace ergonomics rating; HCW –hours of continuous work; †small effect; †††large effect.
There was a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between the change in self-reported sports PA and the change in the numbers of body regions with MSP during the lockdown. (Fig. 3a) A significant negative correlation (p < 0.001) was present between the change in workplace comfort score and the number of body regions with MSP onset during the lockdown. (Fig. 3b) We also found a negative significant correlation (p < 0.01) between the change in workplace ergonomics score and the number of body regions with MSP onset during the lockdown. (Fig. 3c)
Correlations between the change in self-reported sport-related physical activity and the change in the number of body regions with musculoskeletal pain, between the change in workplace comfort and ergonomics scores and musculoskeletal pain onset during the lockdown. (n = 161). Legend: MSP –musculoskeletal pain. BPAQ –Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire.
This study indicated no significant differences in the prevalence of overall MSP and MSP in specific body regions before and during the lockdown. In light of recent findings of the lockdown's negative impact on mental well-being, such as worsening of anxiety, depression, and stress [33], our result was surprising. Since MSP is a biopsychosocial phenomenon [34, 35] and previous evidence, that the home-office population might experience an increase in mental health issues and pain affecting the spine [13], we expected an increase in the prevalence of MSP during the lockdown. Both not measuring the intensity of pain and investigating mental health issues we consider a limitation of our study and we are not certain how the lockdown affected pain intensity among our subjects. However, we consider the 66 days of exposure to the lockdown as not enough to cause changes in the prevalence of MSP.
Since PA has an important effect on the prevention and treatment of MSP [19, 20, 36, 37], sudden changes can have an impact on MSP. In this study, we hypothesized, that due to the closing of sports facilities, people compensate for their indoor workouts by engaging in more leisure-time PA. We also hypothesized an increase in work-related PA due to a more flexible schedule and a smaller boundary between work, family, and home-related tasks. The results indicate that our hypothesis became partly true, however, the effect size was small. Our result of an overall decrease in self-reported PA among office workers is similar to other populations studied during the COVID-19 lockdown period [24, 31]. However previous studies haven't investigated the subclasses of PA. When looking at the overall participation in sports, it remained similar (78%before and 81%during the lockdown). However, our secondary analysis of independent questions from the BPAQ sports section showed several reasons behind the lower BPAI sports score. First appeared to be lower participation in more than one sport activity. 96%of participants who engaged in exercising regularly used to have more than one sport activity before the lockdown. During the lockdown having more than one sport activity decreased to 62%of participants. The second reason appeared to be significantly (p < 0.001) lower sport intensity and frequency, which means a lot of participants switched their activity for another, with fewer training sessions per week and less intensity in nature.
The reason behind significantly higher work-related PA appeared to be a significantly lower sedentary time and more time spent standing during work, while other physical activities during work, such as walking or lifting heavy objects appeared to be lower when working from home during the lockdown. Less sedentary time and less walking might be controversial, but when answering the questionnaire, the participants might not have reasoned taking a few steps while participating in home and family-related tasks as walking. On the other hand, walking to a colleague in the office or going for lunch might be described as walking since it has a longer duration when compared with taking a few steps at home. Since we found no significant difference in the duration of continuous work, and there was less sedentary and more standing time, the participants could have worked more in other positions than sitting. Also, our participants might not have counted interruptions at home as taking a break, since no difference in continuous work duration. We did not include questions about family in this study, such as the number and age of children. Since the mean age of our sample was 38.2 years, we can assume many of them have school-aged children who also had to study from home. Therefore, parents might have overlapped responsibilities of working from home and minding their children at the same time [7]. Mixing work with such responsibilities might lead to less continuous computer use and slightly more PA during the working hours, but at the same time to more psychosocial strain.
The correlation analysis suggested that a greater decrease in sport-related PA score is related to an increase in the number of body regions suffering from MSP. Therefore, such sudden negative changes in sport-related PA might increase the sensibility to MSP. Since we did not include the measurement of pain intensity in our study, we are not certain how this kind of sudden decrease in habitual PA can influence already existing MSP. There are physical and psychosocial factors that could contribute to this finding. One of the reasons exercising or exercise therapy is considered an effective prevention and treatment method of MSP is due to its hypoalgesic properties [38, 39]. The decrease in the intensity and frequency of exercise could contribute to increased sensitization to noxious stimuli, as less exercise might cause less exercise-induced hypoalgesia, therefore more sensitivity. Since engaging in sports activities is often also a social occasion, the loss of exercising with friends could contribute to psychosocial issues related to social isolation such as loneliness, stress, or depression, which are associated with MSP [40, 41]. There have been similar findings in people suffering from chronic pain during the lockdown period, as decreases in PA lead to increased perception of pain [31]. Considering our findings and previous evidence, exercise can be an important method in MSP prevention.
Because to the switch to working from home every day had been sudden, the decreases in workplace comfort and ergonomics scores were expected. This finding suggests that for most participants, comfort and ergonomics are interchangeable terms. One of the reasons for this decrease could be the switch from working with a desktop computer to a less comfortable laptop computer. In this study, the number of laptop users increased by 25.5%during the lockdown. Using a laptop instead of a desktop computer can lead to working in more awkward positions and in places not designed for everyday working. There has also been found a link between laptop usage and the worsening of neck pain during the lockdown [13]. We found significant negative correlations, as participants with a greater decrease in workplace comfort and ergonomics score had more MSP with an onset during the lockdown. This correlation indicates that improving the comfort and ergonomics of the workplace might help to prevent MSP. Therefore, the employees who continue to work from home need better working conditions and more support, since Montreuil and Lippel's trial concluded that adequate equipment and ergonomic support might contribute to even higher-rated working conditions at home when compared with office workspace [5]. Considering the results, more attention to workplace comfort and ergonomics is needed at home to prevent MSP.
The main limitations of this study were the questionnaire-based design, retrospective questions, and the absence of data about psychosocial factors and pain intensity. Although BPAQ is considered a valid and reliable questionnaire for measuring self-reported PA [32], it has several limitations. The main limitation is the questionnaire not considering the energy-expenditure or nature of activities in the separate sections. This makes work score, sports score, and leisure score not comparable with each other, and therefore the validity of the total score questionable, which is the reason we decided to analyze the scores separately. Since we asked the questions twice, first retrospectively about 3 months before the lockdown and secondly at the moment of answering, during the lockdown, the participants might have had a bias towards more negative answers about the lockdown period. Because the questions about the period before the lockdown were retrospective with several months in between, recall bias should also be considered. Since data about the health factors and ergonomics of the home-office population is still scarce, further research should investigate the home-office population with more detailed measurements, such as pedometry and position sensors. Future research could also incorporate interviews about the work environment at home, occupational health, and health beliefs for a better understanding of the risks and benefits of teleworking. For further conclusions, replication studies in non-lockdown settings are needed to better distinguish between lockdown-related and non-lockdown-related factors contributing to the musculoskeletal health of the home-office population.
In summary, the lockdown period of 66 days in Estonia, which caused office workers to work from home, did not change the prevalence or the mean amount of body regions with MSP among office workers in this study. There was a decrease in overall BPAI and sport-related PA scores and an increase in work-related PA scores during the lockdown when compared with a period of up to 3 months before. The main reason for lower PA and sport-related PA was a change to less intense and less frequent exercise, while the overall participation in sports remained similar. The increase in work-related PA score occurred mostly from less sedentary time and more time spent standing. The sudden change to working from home caused a decrease in workplace comfort and ergonomics scores. Our analysis suggests, that on an individual level, a larger decrease in sport-related PA can be associated with MSP in more body regions. Also, lower comfort and ergonomics scores were associated with a higher chance of developing MSP during the lockdown period. In addition to physical and workplace factors, future studies about teleworkers' health should also investigate the MSP-related psychosocial factors. Maintaining the habitual PA level and preparing the home environment for more comfortable and ergonomic working can play an important role in a healthier transition to working from home.
We would like to thank all the participants for taking the time and contributing their data. This research received no specific funding from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
MA conceived the idea, designed the study, collected and analyzed the data, drafted the manuscript. MP advised on the methods and structuring the draft, revised the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest to report.
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Montreuil S , Lippel K . Telework and occupational health: a Quebec empirical study and regulatory implications. Safety Science. 2003;41:339–58.
de Macêdo TAM , et al. Ergonomics and Telework: A Systematic Review. WORK. 2020;66(4):777–88. Doi: 10.3233/WOR-203224.
Bouziri H , Smith DRM , Descatha A , Dab W , Jean K . Working from home in the time of covid- how to best preserve occupational health? Occup Environ Med. 2020;77(7):509–10. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106599
Kaliniene G , Ustinaviciene R , Skemiene L , Vaiciulis V , Vasilavicius P . Associations between musculoskeletal pain and work-related factors among public service sector computer workers in Kaunas County, Lithuania. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):420. doi: 10.1186/s12891-016-1281-7
Shariat A , Bahri S , Tamrin SBM , Arumugam M . Musculoskeletal disorders and their relationship with physical activities among office workers: a review. Malaysian J Public Health Med. 2016;16:62–74.
Wu S , He L , Li J , Wang J , Wang S . Visual display terminal use increases the prevalence and risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese office workers: a cross-sectional study. J Occup Health. 2012;54:34–43.
da Costa BR , Vieira ER . Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of recent longitudinal studies. Am J Ind Med. 2010;53:285–323.
Celenay ST , Karaaslan Y , Mete O , Kaya DO . Coronaphobia, musculoskeletal pain, and sleep quality in stay-at-home and continued-working persons during the 3-month Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in Turkey. Chronobiology International. 2020. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2020.1815759
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Pieh C , Budimir S , Delgadillo J , Barkham M , Fontaine JR , Probst T . Mental health during COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2020 - Volume Publish Ahead of Print. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000871
Bourdas DI , Zacharakis ED . Evolution of changes in physical activity over lockdown time: Physical activity datasets of four independent adult sample groups corresponding to each of the last four of the six COVID-19 lockdown weeks in Greece. Data in Brief. 1063;32:106310. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.106301
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van Niekerk S , Louw QA , Hillier S . The effectiveness of a chair intervention in the workplace to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms. A systematic review. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2012;13(1):145. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-145
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Torales J , O'Higgins M , Castaldelli-Maia JM , Ventriglio A . The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020;66(4):317–20. doi: 10.1177/0020764020915212
Vargas-Prada S , Coggon D . Psychological and psychosocial determinants of musculoskeletal pain and associated disability. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015;29(3):374–90. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2015.03.003.
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text:
Q: Get last result in interactive Python shell In many symbolic math systems, such as Matlab or Mathematica, you can use a variable like Ans or % to retrieve the last computed value. Is there a similar facility in the Python shell?

A: Underscore.
>>> 5+5
10
>>> _
10
>>> _ + 5
15
>>> _
15

A: IPython allows you to go beyond the single underscore _ with double (__) and triple underscore (___), returning results of the second- and third-to-last commands.
Alternatively, you can also use Out[n], where n is the number of the input that generated the output:
In [64]: 1+1
Out[64]: 2

...

In [155]: Out[64] + 3
Out[155]: 5

For more info, see https://jakevdp.github.io/PythonDataScienceHandbook/01.04-input-output-history.html .

A: Just for the record, ipython takes this one step further and you can access every result with _ and its numeric value
In [1]: 10
Out[1]: 10

In [2]: 32
Out[2]: 32

In [3]: _
Out[3]: 32

In [4]: _1
Out[4]: 10

In [5]: _2
Out[5]: 32

In [6]: _1 + _2
Out[6]: 42

In [7]: _6
Out[7]: 42

And it is possible to edit ranges of lines with the %ed macro too:
In [1]: def foo():
   ...:     print "bar"
   ...:
   ...:

In [2]: foo()
bar

In [3]: %ed 1-2


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Egon von Greyerz
Egon von Greyerz – Founder and Managing Partner of Matterhorn Asset Management (MAM) and GoldSwitzerland based in Zurich. Egon forecasted the present problems in the world economy already in 2002 when he recommended to investors to allocate 50% of assets into physical gold (at $300) stored outside the banking system. Egon began as a banker in Geneva and was thereafter Finance Director and Vice-Chairman of a FTSE 100 company in the UK. He makes regular media appearances on CNBC, BBC and King World News and speaks at investment conferences around the world. MAM (founded in 1999), specialises in wealth preservation. GoldSwitzerland buys, sells, transfers and stores physical precious metals for private investors and institutions outside the banking system. His website is www.goldswitzerland.com.
By Egon von Greyerz - December 04, 2019
In the long history of governments and central banks deceiving the people, August 15 1971 was just another date in the calendar. Throughout history, the ruling elite has always cheated the people. But the leaders' irresponsible actions are always revealed as in the end
Viktor Turns $10K Into $1 Billion
By Egon von Greyerz - November 29, 2019
Viktor set out his investment strategy early in life. He started with $10,000 in 1970 and his assets are today worth $121 million. But Viktor believes that this is just the beginning. He expects to reach $1 billion within the next 5-10 years. Viktor had learnt that p
Gold Price Is Not The Price Of Gold
The gold price is determined in a Casino with massive leverage…and has nothing to do with the real value of physical gold. More about that later in the article. At what point will gold turn from a minority interest attracting less than 0.5% of world financial assets
Buy Gold Before Marxism Destroys Your Money
Is a Marxist government soon going to rule the UK. The UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has launched his election campaign and set out his Marxist policies. The UK has been ungovernable since 2017, with a hung parliament and there will now be an election on December 1
In An Illusory World…Gold Is The Truth-Teller
By Egon von Greyerz - October 11, 2019
There will in the next couple of years be a real Eureka moment in markets. But it is unlikely to be of the same satisfactory nature as in the case of Archimedes. The Greek mathematician and scientist reportedly said "Eureka, Eureka" (I found it) when he discovered t
Follow Midas And Croesus – Stay Away From Gold ETFs Or Cryptos
There is something vaguely troubling when the unthinkable becomes routine" This is what Claudio Borio of the BIS (Bank for International Settlement) commented on the $17 trillion of debt with negative interest. He went on to say: "Even at the height of the Great Fina
Central Banks Have Not Lost Control – As They Never Had It
By Egon von Greyerz - September 28, 2019
The next explosive phase in the precious metals market has just started. As always is the case, the beginning is so slow that only the wealth preservationists and the gold bugs are seeing it. But since these are less than 1/2% of world financial assets, it means that vi
King Solomom And 666 Gold
What is history's greatest illusion? Is it the Indian Rope Trick or is it performed by Houdini or maybe David Copperfield. No, this is an illusion which is so big that the whole world has fallen for it. Virtually every individual in the Western world and also many i
Silver – Golden Opportunity
There is one spectacular investment opportunity today that virtually no one talks about. It represents less than 0.1% of global financial assets. This investment has a potential upside of 36x or 3,500%. The downside is extremely limited since supply is finite and demand
99% Of Investors Will See Their Wealth Wiped Out
By Egon von Greyerz - August 29, 2019
The world is now standing before a seminal moment and virtually nobody can see it. There has not been a more critical moment in the last 50 years than what we are now facing. In 1971, the world faced a similar situation. At that time, only the Chinese understood the


Let your freak…errr…British flag fly with flag and patch detailed bags, unusual nose and lip jewelry, lace-up knee-high peep-toe boots, fedoras and caps, classic cut outerwear and shirting, cropped denim cargo vests, and bleached destroyed denim, the DSquared2 Resort Spring/Summer 2017 womenswear collection mixed the 70's with a bit of a punk influence. The long moto jacket with utilitarian pockets and contrast sleeves is so striking- it's touching on three motifs we're seeing on the runways for both menswear and womenswear- contrast sleeves, cargo pockets, and lengthy layers- it gives off the appearance of being a vest over a shirt and coat.
Sequin camo and zebra, cute character graphic t-shirts, racer check print, stripes, metallic leather jackets and dresses, and a Bowie influence in the fit of the red suit and also thunderbolt metal collar- the nods to the 70's are evident in the fit, tailoring- peaked lapels, semi-flared legs- prints such as the stripes and classic suiting and shirting. The DSquared Resort SS17 womenswear collection was seemingly made for Gwen Stefani- it was trendy, in your face, wearable, and juxtaposed nouveau and classical.


text:
Yuval Ron Ensemble
Yuval Ron Ensemble: Yuval Ron is an internationally renowned World Music artist, composer, educator, peace activist and record producer. Graduating Cum Laude as a Film Scoring Major at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he has continuously researched various ethnic musical traditions and spiritual paths worldwide. Among his many honors, he composed the songs and score for the Oscar winning film West Bank Story in 2007, was the featured artist in the Gala Concert for the Dalai Lama's initiative Seeds of Compassion in the Seattle Opera Hall in 2008, and has collaborated with the Sufi leader Pir Zia Inayat Khan since 2006. Under his leadership, the internationally renowned music and dance group, The Yuval Ron Ensemble, has been actively involved in creating musical bridges between people of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths and has been featured on CNN, National Geographic, and in the international press and media.


Get down to the bottom of the dirty situation with the Papagio Mechanical Cleaner designed by Hakan Gürsu for Designnobis. It can be difficult to reach the bottom of bottles and tall or narrow glasses and cups; thankfully the Papagio reaches all the way to the bottom and scrubs the surface clean.
Gentle enough to be used on glassware, the sweeper still provides a good thorough cleaning that is hard to do by hand. Very easy to use, this mechanical device does most of the work for you as you hold its handle and let it do the cleaning.
Prevent scum and buildup from ruining your glasses and bottles by eliminating them with the Papagio Mechanical Cleaner by Hakan Gürsu.


text:
America's system of tipping at restaurants defies all economic logic
Let's be smart about this.
Image: AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa
Allison Schrager
Tipping is terrible. It's bad for all but the highest-paid servers. The American public seem to be increasingly disillusioned with it, too: According to a 2017 YouGov poll, 44% of Americans are in favor of doing away with tipping altogether and paying waiters higher wages instead, while 36% want the system to stay the same.
Now residents of Washington, DC, have a chance to change the way restaurants work. On Tuesday (June 19) residents vote on Initiative 77, which would eliminate tipping in restaurants and replace it with a $15 minimum wage for servers. Currently, servers in DC get $3.33 an hour, plus tips. If the tips fall short of $12.50 an hour, restaurants make up the difference.
From an economic standpoint, it's safe to say that eliminating tipping is definitely the right move. The much harder question is how to calculate the right minimum wage to replace tips.
The strange, terrible economics of tipping
Most Americans think of tipping as an economic transaction between the customer and the server, in which the server is held responsible for the quality of the dining experience and rewarded or punished accordingly. This is incorrect. The service a diner receives is the product of the entire restaurant staff; a particularly efficient prep cook or bumbling dishwasher can make a big difference.
Yet tips mostly compensate the server. This distinguishes restaurants from most other businesses. In any other industry, company owners ration revenue based on the skills, scarcity, and value added of each staff member. But in American restaurants, convention and regulation, rather than economics, dictates how revenue is divided. As a result, chefs—who have specialized training and skills—earn a fraction of what servers are paid in many fine dining restaurants. Research estimates front-of-the-house staff makes 80% more than kitchen staff in fine-dining restaurants.
The tipping system works out great for servers in fine-dining restaurants, who can make more than $100,000 a year. But in most restaurants, servers barely get by. They also bear the risk of a slow night or a table that lingers for hours and barely orders any food. If they simply got paid a normal salary, they'd have more predictability, and be better equipped to figure out how to manage their budgets. (Under current DC law, servers have a bit more stability, since restaurant owners top up slow tip days to $12.50 an hour. But some DC employers violate that rule, and plenty of other places in the US don't have such high minimums.)
Does getting rid of tips hurt restaurants?
Most restaurants in DC oppose the proposal to end tipping. That's because restaurants typically operate on thin margins. To pay the staff higher wages, they'll need to raise menu prices, which they worry will be bad for business.
It is probably true that restaurants will be forced to raise prices—but that does not necessarily mean that all customers will actually wind up paying more for their meals. It depends on what kind of tippers they are, and the type of restaurant they frequent.
About 66% of restaurant customers tip 20% or more, according to Michael Lynn, a marketing professor at Cornell University who researches tipping. If a restaurant needs to increase prices by 20% in order to pay servers at least $15 per hour, that suggests 66% of customers would be fine with the change, while the other 34% of customers could be less inclined to eat out, according to Lynn. If restaurants need to increase prices even more to pay at least $15 an hour, they stand to lose even more business.
The cheaper restaurants will probably have to hike up menu prices more, since smaller bills mean smaller service charges. They also have more price-sensitive customers. So it's the lower-priced restaurants that face the most potential risk.
The right minimum wage
And so how much damage eliminating tipping does to restaurants depends mostly on the minimum wage that replaces the tips. In the case of DC, most restaurants and servers wouldn't see an immediate effect. The minimum wage would start at $12.50—what servers are paid now, including tips—and be phased in over the next seven years.
But as the wages increased, the effects on restaurants and workers would be less certain. Profitable restaurants would probably be able to absorb higher costs; restaurants with lower margins (that is, most businesses) would need to increase prices. Whether this would mean fewer jobs is unclear. Evidence suggests higher minimum wages may reduce some teen employment. Generally, small wage increases don't have much impact; less is known about large increases.
Whether a $2.50 increase, over a seven year period, is large or small depends on what happens to the DC economy in the next seven years. A recession, which makes customers more price-sensitive, coupled with higher server wages could be catastrophic for restaurants. A strong economy would probably mean bigger restaurant profits, and perhaps even wage increases that go beyond the minimum.
There are alternative options that could expose restaurants to less risk, like making wage increases contingent on economic conditions. But the DC proposal is a step in the right direction: It would give equity to kitchen staff, and strike a blow against tipping tyranny.


There were definitely not enough hours this past week, but I'm wiped so hopefully I can find the time to catch up. I was busy last week...worked at the Tennis show on Wednesday then went to the Office for Iron Maiden Under Cover. Thursday I worked at the Irenic again for Radical Face and Jenny O, and Friday I caught the sold out show with The Staves at the Casbah before closing the night at the Ken. On Saturday, my cousin was in town and scored a room on Hotel Tonight so the kids swam until I worked at the Pinback show at Irenic, and on Sunday, Nova had a derby bout at SkateWorld before we spent the afternoon at my parents' house. I really wanted to catch Hideout but just didn't get my work done in time. This week should be mellow and allow me to get caught up. Today is Darren's birthday, and while he's not really the kind to celebrate, I will hopefully convey to him how glad I am to have him in my life. He's the best friend, partner, and love, beyond anything I could've hoped for, and hope we've got decades more to come. It's the end of the month, so I'll update with Bar Pink, Black Cat, El Dorado, Whistle Stop and others when they come through. Monday through Sunday archives are after the jump.


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Book Dissection On: "Iqbal, Manifestation of the Islamic Spirit" by Ali Shariati
Date: Sunday, 27th November 2016
Time: 10AM -12Noon
Venue: Graha Pemuda, Sri Hartamas
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-dissection-on-iqbal-manifestation-of-the-islamic-spirit-by-ali-shariati-tickets-29637234767
Presenter: Ehsan Shahwahid
"If one were to reconstruct the form of Islam which has been made to degenerate in the course of history, re-assemble it in such a way that the spirit could return to a total body, transform the present dazed elements into that spirit as if the trumpet of Israfīl were to blow in the 20th century over a dead society and awaken its movement, power, spirit and meaning, it is, then that exemplary Muslim personalities will be reconstructed and reborn like Muhammad Iqbal" – Ali Shariati
Step ourselves on the ground, and look around; those majestic mosques, with shining domes that usually appear more as palaces for Kings, than the houses of worshippers. Listen to those weekly sermons that always start with the call, "Ittaqullah!", while the Jama'ah at most times look sleepy and bored as if there's nothing really to be heard. Read what our scholars write. Follow the march of our leaders. Think of who we are now, and what we were taught to know about our religion.
Thus, when we look around, listen, read, follow and think of all these matters of religion, which are just part of our current reality of Islam, could we really feel the presence, greatness, and beauty of Oneness of God? Or what we could actually realize are just the sense of emptiness and superficiality of the so-called great religion that is supposed to be Rahmatan Lil-Alamin. Can we really say that the spirit and glory of God still flows and lives in our current lives? No? Where could have things gone wrong?
Muhammad Iqbal, a 20th Century Islamic reformer, poet and philosopher had an answer to these questions through his works, philosophical ideas, mystical poetry, and political activism. He came at a time when most of the Muslim world was under political colonization, economic stagnation, and spiritual depression. He provided the philosophical dimension for a revival and reform to bring back the glory of Islam that suits the context of the modern times, through a reconstruction, not just in terms of what we believe, but also on how we are living our religious life.
In this book "Iqbal: Manifestation of the Islamic Spirit", the renowned Iranian scholar and revolutionary figure, the late Ali Shariati summarized the works of Iqbal; on Self-reconstruction, views on the East and the West, the ideology, and the world-view of Muhammad Iqbal. In this book dissection session, we will discuss on his ideas and touch on the important themes explored by Iqbal, including on life in this world, destiny, humanity, and God. These are all important themes for reflection in living out our own religious life, not just in being but also in becoming a true Muslim.
1000- 1010AM: Speech by Moderator, Dr Maryam Zakyah
1010- 1100AM: Presentation by Ehsan Shahwahid
1100- 1200PM: Discussion
1200PM: Lunch
Organized by: Islamic Renaissance Front