text:
Featured articles, 1147 births, 1191 deaths,
Arms dealers
Templar Order members
Levantine Templars
Tamir
This article is about the Templar black arms dealer. You may be looking for Damascene oddities merchant Tamir.
"You think me some petty death-dealer, suckling at the breast of war? A strange target, don't you think? Why me, when so many others do the same?"
―Tamir on his death.[src]
Damascus, Ayyubid Sultanate
Levantine Rite
Real-world information
Ammar Daraiseh
Tamir (c. 1147 – 1191) was an infamous black arms merchant who came to rule over the Souk Al-Silaah, the largest market of Damascus. As one of the nine leading members of the Levantine Templars during the Third Crusade, he was responsible for the production and supply of the order's weapons.
At the height of his influence, he was reputed to control the most extensive underground trading network in the Levant, with the power to procure any item requested by his clients at exorbitant prices. He rose to prominence from the status of a lowly caravan merchant, managing to win the favor of the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Saladin, himself, but his operations were rife with abuse and terror. The merchant guild of Damascus was loyal to him, but only out of fear, for he frequently resorted to threats and public executions to pressure his employees into meeting his demands.
He worked closely with his fellow Templars, particularly the Merchant King of Damascus, Abu'l Nuqoud, who provided the funds needed for his mass production. Conspiring with the Order to bring about a New World under their dominion, he was privy to their efforts to retrieve the Apple of Eden, but the Assassin leader Al Mualim betrayed their secret alliance to secure the artifact for his sole power. As a result, he was the first target assigned to the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, in his pursuit of redemption, as part of a wider purge of all the Templar leaders, and he became the first among them to perish at Altaïr's blade.
Rise to notoriety
Altaïr: "You believe yourself different then?"
Tamir: "Oh but I am, for I serve a far nobler cause than mere profit. Just like my brothers."
―Tamir speaking with Altaïr of his motivations.[src]
A notorious black market merchant, Tamir rose from obscurity as a minor supplier for the Saracen army to become the owner of the largest trading center in Damascus, the Souk Al-Silaah. At its peak, his souk dominated the commerce of the Poor District, selling everything from food, to perfumes, to spices, and weapons.[1] He was popular for his ability to procure just about any item a client desired, no matter the legality, provided that the customer could afford the hefty price.[2]
According to the propaganda of a herald, the merchant originally dealt in fruits and vegetables, making regular rounds between Damascus and Jerusalem. In the time leading up to the Battle of Hattin in 1187, however, demand for food produce had diminished in the region. Faced with a surplus of food, Tamir drove his caravan north in hopes of finding customers before his supplies rot. Much to his fortune, he chanced upon the famished army of Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, then preparing for a major confrontation against the Crusaders. Reinvigorated by Tamir's abundant supply of food, the Saracen army went on to deal a critical victory at the Battle of Hattin. Tamir entered into the favor of Saladin after the battle and was awarded generously for his fortuitous contribution.[1][3]
Regardless of the veracity of his propagandist's tale, by 1191, Tamir's business chiefly revolved around the black market trade. Specializing in the production of weapons and armor, he soon amassed a fortune selling not just to his own people, but privately to their Crusader enemies as well. Unbeknownst to Saladin, his true allegiance laid not with the Saracens but to the Templar Order.[1][3]
The Templars benefited heavily from his devotion to their cause;[3] he was a powerful man who dominated what was likely to be the largest underground trading network in the Holy Land,[2] supported by many blacksmiths and financiers.[1] From him, they could obtain a constant supply of weapons and gear. Arms shipments from Tamir were frequent and regular, but in the summer of 1191, they placed the largest order yet: enough weapons to field an army of at least a thousand men, all in a short time span. Such a tremendous order strained against Tamir's budget, and he critically required the waning support of the merchant guild and the donations of the Merchant King Abu'l Nuqoud, a fellow Templar.[1][3]
Much to his fury, his men failed to fulfill the order by the expected date, even in spite of working overtime. As a result, he summoned the merchant guild to a meeting at the Souk Al-Silaah, seeking to pressure them into contributing to his labor. By this point, many members of the guild were disgruntled by his iron fist hold. Notwithstanding that they were often expected to work without pay, Tamir was feared for his tendency to carry out public executions of merchants that defied him. His influence was such that the local guards turned a blind eye to these crimes and abuses.[3]
"You will pay for this. You and all your kind."
―Tamir, moments before passing away.[src]
Tamir's meeting with the merchant guild to reprimand them for the failed order was fated to be his last; he and the other Templar leaders had unknowingly been marked for elimination by the leader of the Assassins, Al Mualim, ironically one of their secret co-conspirators for the Apple of Eden and the New World Order. For this purge, Al Mualim relied upon his best agent Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a former Master Assassin recently demoted to the rank of novice for violations of the Creed. Under the promise of redeeming his lost honor and rank, Altaïr was tasked with Tamir as his first target.[1][3]
After having learned much about Tamir through his investigations, Altaïr arrived at the central courtyard of the Souk Al-Silaah moments before Tamir himself, deciding that this was the moment to launch his attack. Tamir strode in from one of the souk's arcades, arguing with one of his merchants, condemning him as lazy for failing to supply the large order in time. The merchant insisted in his defense that his men were already working overtime, notwithstanding that the route to their client's destination was quite perilous. This did little to placate Tamir, who dismissed them as incompetent excuses. When the merchant, firm in his conviction that Tamir's expectations were unrealistic, voiced as much, Tamir's wrath dramatically escalated. Outraged at this remark, Tamir pressed forward and spat in the merchant's face.[1][3]
Altaïr assassinating Tamir
The merchant, now recognizing the threat, pleaded that he meant no offense, but by this point, Tamir's tantrum could not be abated. He spontaneously lashed out with his dagger, slicing the merchant across the abdomen. In terror, the merchant begged him to stop, but Tamir only laughed that it was just the beginning. He proceeded to savagely slash at the merchant, too wounded to flee, again and again, as many as eight times before pausing just a moment to scream at him. As the merchant, still barely alive, crouched by the fountain whimpering in agony, Tamir resumed his merciless assault. Four times he plunged his dagger into his back, before a final stab sent the man sprawling into the fountain, his blood pooling into the water. Afterward, Tamir stopped one of his guards from removing the body, intending it to serve as a lesson for others.[3]
With that, the crowd around the courtyard, all having beheld the gory spectacle, dispersed and returned to their activities pretending that nothing had happened.[1] Tamir set off to inspect the various stands and shops in the courtyard, each belonging to traders under his authority. At each stall, he was again infuriated by his employees' merchandise, always finding them to be of mediocre quality.[1][3]
So preoccupied was he with berating more of his merchants that he failed to notice Altaïr creeping up behind him, the Assassin having witnessed his murder moments earlier with abject disgust.[1] It had been part of Altaïr's meticulous plan to wait for Tamir to engross himself with the affairs of multiple merchants before striking, and it was while threatening another one of his employees that Tamir was executed from behind with a Hidden Blade.[1][3]
During his last moments, Tamir rejected his reputation as a "petty death dealer", claiming his motives to be far nobler than that of mere profit. Cryptically, he informed his killer that he was but a small piece in the wider schemes of his "Brotherhood's" plans. At that, the black arms merchant perished, and Altaïr was left to escape from the man's guards,[3] who had only just then taken notice of their boss' demise.[1]
Tamir arguing with his merchant
"You came into MY souk! Stood before MY men! And dared to insult ME? You must learn your place!"
―Tamir murdering one of his merchants in a fit of rage, 1191[src]
A true micro-manager at heart, Tamir was frequently seen in public inspecting the workshops and stalls of fellow merchants, criticizing them mercilessly for the poor quality of their goods. He cared nothing for his workers and forced them to work day and night to fulfill his business contracts—often without pay; those who failed were harassed, abused, or in the worst-case-scenario, executed.[1][3] Even his reputation as the largest "death dealer" in the land did not move his heart.[2][3] In fact, he made no secret of his admiration for the killing effectiveness of his blades; to many, it was as though he was even proud of the murders he's committed.[2]
Tamir was a proud but cold-hearted taskmaster, who would not take "no" for an answer. He had high expectations, and was vicious in punishing those who could not meet them. Unfortunately, his standards could rarely be satisfied by his employees, for they were overambitious and unrealistic. To Tamir, if he desired it, it was a reasonable target, no matter the limitations to his and his workers' resources, the notion of which he equated with excuses for laziness. The concept of resources might as well have been a figment of imagination in his eyes, for if he willed it, it must and could be done, and to warn him otherwise was to pique his infamously violent short-temper.[3]
Indeed, he was excessively prone to bursts of savage tantrums, which he made no effort to constrain, even reveling in them as a means to mete out retribution against those he questioned his judgment. A notorious example lied in his brutal killing of the elderly merchant who could not complete the largest weapon order he was ever requested for his Templar brethren. Once the public murder was done, he had little fear of repercussions as he exploited his influence to ensure the authorities turned a blind eye to such crimes. The incident was not an isolated case, as by that point, he was already known for calling meetings with the local merchant guild for little more than public executions.[3]
Unknown to the general population of Damascus, Tamir secretly worked with the Templars, not with the Saracens, and even at death's door, he insisted his cause was noble. His cruelty was thought unmatched, and many, including the Assassins saw him as a man without morals, driven only by profit.[2][3] Nevertheless, he rejected such monikers, viewing himself as more than a "petty, death dealer", and that his work ultimately contributed to a higher calling. He understood that he was merely a pawn, holding no illusions he was any greater, and earnestly saw his fellow Templars as "brothers".[3]
Tamir wore a dark beige turban checkered with thick, auburn stripes, accompanied by loose pantaloons of a lighter shade of brown and dark golden inscriptions. His main attire consisted of a long, rust-colored embroidered tunic, which hung almost up to his knees. Additionally, he donned an orange leather belt with a darker yellow pair of shoes.[3] He was of tall stature[1] but average build.[2] He bore a prominent and recognizable moustache.[1][3] Though only in his forties at the time of his death,[2] his shriveled head and wrinkled face marked a man of seemingly greater age.[3]
Tamir, תָּמִיר, is a Hebrew name meaning "stately, wealthy", and is related to the female name Tamar, תמר, which means "date, date palm, palm tree".
Tamir had his own personal bodyguards, who were dressed in crimson red and gold lined uniforms. He was one of five out of the nine to have personal bodyguards, the others being Talal, Abu'l Nuqoud, Majd Addin, and Jubair al Hakim.
In the non-canonical mobile version of Assassin's Creed, he is named "Tamir bin Musa" and dons full battle armor. Bin (بن) is a colloquialism of ibn meaning "son of", whereas Mūsā (موس) is an Arabic variant of the name Moses. Unlike the console version, he is the fifth target of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and his assassination is set in 1190 in Masyaf. Despite canonically being the base of the Assassins, Masyaf is the location of a secret Templar base. He is killed when Altaïr acquires one of the bombs he created and throws it at him.
Concept art of Tamir
Assassin's Creed: Memories art of Tamir
Tamir arguing with his supplier
Tamir stabbing the supplier in a fit of rage
Tamir's final moments
Assassin's Creed (first appearance)
Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade
↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Assassin's Creed: Official Game Guide
↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 Assassin's Creed
Desmond Miles • Lucy Stillman | Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad • Al Mualim • Malik Al-Sayf • Kadar Al-Sayf • Abbas Sofian • Rauf • Jabal • Jamal
Warren Vidic • Alan Rikkin | Masun • Tamir • Garnier de Naplouse • Talal • Abu'l Nuqoud • William of Montferrat • Majd Addin • Jubair al Hakim • Sibrand • Maria Thorpe • Robert de Sablé
Leila Marino | Richard I of England • Saladin
Assassins (Levantine Brotherhood) • Templars (Abstergo | Levantine Rite) | Crusaders (Knights Templar • Knights Hospitalier • Knights Teutonic) • Saracens
Abstergo laboratory | Solomon's Temple • Masyaf • Damascus • Acre • Jerusalem • Arsuf • Kingdom • Assassin bureau
Third Crusade (Defense of Masyaf • Hunt for the Nine • Battle of Arsuf • Retaking of Masyaf)
Terms and gameplay
Achievements • Animus • Blending • Cryptic Messages • Eagle Vision • Eavesdropping • Emails • Feathers • Flags • Genetic memory • Glitches • Horses • Informers • Interrogation • Investigation • Leap of Faith • Memories • Pickpocketing • Pieces of Eden (Apple of Eden) • Ranks • Scholars • Save Citizen • Social Stealth • Synchronization • Thugs • Viewpoints • Vigilantes
Hidden Blade • Fists • Short blades • Swords • Throwing knives
Assassin's Creed: Memories
Third Crusade
Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad • Malik Al-Sayf • Tamir • Sibrand • Robert de Sablé • Al Mualim | William of Cassingham • Robert Fitzwalter • Adha • Niccolò Polo • Majd Addin • Jacques de Molay • Abu'l Nuqoud • Jabal
Mongol Empire
Qulan Gal • Nergüi • Darim Ibn-La'Ahad • Ögedei Khan • Hülegü Khan • Jochi Khan • Alexander Nevsky | Genghis Khan • Marco Polo • Kublai Khan • Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad • Attar of Nishapur • Maria Thorpe • Subutai
Renaissance Italy
Ezio Auditore da Firenze • Francesco Vecellio • Charles de la Motte • Emilio Barbarigo • Juan Borgia the Elder • Cesare Borgia | La Volpe • Bartolomeo d'Alviano • Lorenzo de' Medici • Lucrezia Borgia • Niccolò Machiavelli • Leonardo da Vinci • Rocco Tiepolo
Sengoku Period
Hattori Hanzō • Yamauchi Taka • Chaya Shirōjirō Kiyonobu • Ii Naomasa • Shima Sakon • Mochizuki Chiyome • Mōri Motonari • Oda Nobunaga • Liu Yan | Alessandro Valignano • Sakai Tadatsugu • Honda Tadakatsu • Sakakibara Yasumasa • Uesugi Kenshin • Date Masamune • Yamauchi Kazutoyo • Hattori Masanari • Mogami Yoshiaki
Golden Age of Piracy
Edward Kenway • Anne Bonny • Laurens Prins • El Tiburón • Benjamin Hornigold • Bartholomew Roberts • Laureano de Torres y Ayala | Charles Vane • Jack Rackham • Ah Tabai • Edward Thatch • Mary Read • Julien du Casse • Peter Chamberlaine • William Kidd • Adéwalé
Ratonhnhaké:ton • Achilles Davenport • Haytham Kenway • William Johnson • Benjamin Church • Charles Lee | Israel Putnam • George Washington • John Pitcairn • Thomas Hickey • David Walston • Aveline de Grandpré
Ashley Gaudreau
Assassins (Levantine Brotherhood • British Brotherhood • Mongolian Brotherhood • Italian Brotherhood • Japanese Brotherhood • West Indies Brotherhood • Colonial Brotherhood • Louisiana Brotherhood) • Templars (Abstergo Industries • Abstergo Entertainment | Levantine Rite • Parisian Rite • Roman Rite • Japanese Rite • West Indies Rite • Colonial Rite)
Kingdom (Acre | Arsuf | Damascus) • Italy (Rome) • Japan • Caribbean Sea • United States (New York | Boston)
Abstergo Entertainment • Animus (Memories) • Assassination targets • Guards
Retrieved from "https://assassinscreed.fandom.com/wiki/Tamir?oldid=809024"


Familiar scenario: You're invited to a wedding, and want to buy a thoughtful gift--something the couple will actually like (and maybe even use!) But after eyeing their wedding registry, you're feeling a bit wobbly about finding a great (or even decent) gift under $100.
Lucky you! Lucky everyone! It's Simon Pearce to the rescue!
The man himself, Simon Pearce, back in the day!
Here are a few of our Simon Pearce staff favorites for gifts...all $80 or less!
While it appears meant for liquid, this sleek, contemporary pitcher is something we always use at the store to put on display, loading them with nuts or candies. Clean lines make it easy to handle, and because you can just shake out your goodies (instead of plunging your hand inside), it's even better than a typical candy dish.
The squared-off shape makes it modern, casual, and an all-around great staple. Fill with milk or cream for coffee service, pile high with maraschino cherries for the bar, or--speaking of Vermont--this little guy makes a spectacular addition to the breakfast table when filled with pure, sweet maple syprup.
With its shapely curves, stable base, and sturdy handle, the Meriden has a decidely more traditional feel. When filled with small bunches of flowers or sprigs of fresh herbs, this mini-pitcher really gets to show off her country-rustic-chic side.
You can't go wrong with any of these great pieces by the amazing Simon Pearce. Any recipient of one of his gorgeous, fun, handcrafted vessels will be sure to cherish it!


Through the Canadian quilt of music weaves the Thread of Winter, the first in a series of albums that celebrate the Canadian Art Song.
Here the politely unruly dances with the proudly undiscovered, while the untamed holds hands with the serene. These are our songs, classically composed and as diversely beautiful as Canada herself.


text:
100 Schilling Austrian Gold Coin
The Austrian Schilling was the official currency of the Republic of Austria and first instituted in the aftermath of World War I and the breakup of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Among the first schillings introduced into circulation was the 100 Schilling denomination. The 100 Schilling Austrian Gold Coin is currently available to you for online purchase from JM Bullion.
Arrives inside of protective plastic flip!
Struck by the Austrian Mint between 1926 and 1938!
Contains .6806 Troy oz of actual gold content.
Issued a face value of 100 Schillings by Austria.
Obverse includes the face value and year of issue.
Reverse features the coat of arms of the Republic of Austria.
Austrian schillings were introduced as the official currency of the new nation with the passage of the Schilling Act of December 1924. The coinage replaced the former Austro-Hungarian Kronen of the empire era at a rate of exchange of 1 Schillings to 10,000 Austro-Hungarian Kronen. The currency was offered in various denominations with most coins struck in bronze, cupro-nickel, and silver.
Beginning in 1926 though, the Austrian Mint began to issue 100 Schilling Austrian Gold Coins. The coins would be struck for a little over a decade by the mint with a reported total of fewer than 390,000 coins in all during those 12 years. The coins in this denomination were rarely used in circulation, with many holding onto the coins for their higher gold content by weight.
On the obverse of the 100 Schilling Austrian Gold Coin is the face value of the coin written out with numbers in between a pair of edelweiss sprays. The year of issue was featured below and was flanked by six-pointed stars on either side.
The reverse of the 100 Schilling Austrian Gold Coins includes the official coat of arms for the Republic of Austria. Most of these coins feature the coat of arms from the First Republic (1919-1934). This includes a single-headed eagle with a crown that bears the national shield on its chest and holds a sickle in one talon and hammer in the other. The Federal State coat of arms (1934-1938) was used in the years prior to Nazi occupation during World War II and included a two-headed eagle similar to the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
All 100 Schilling Austrian Gold Coins were issued by the Austrian Mint. The official sovereign mint of the nation, the mint was founded in 1194 by Duke Leopold V.
We encourage JM Bullion customers to reach out to us with questions at 800-276-6508. You can also connect with us online using our live web chat and email address options.
Year	 Random
Manufacturer	 Austrian Mint
Denomination	 100
Condition	 Varied
Face Value	 100 Schilling
Issuing Country	 Austria
Series	 Austrian Schilling
Packaging Type	 Plastic Flip
Metal Weight	 .6807 Troy Ounce
Sell to Us Price: $1,228.41
The easiest way to sell to us is to do it online here. Note that the price listed is not a confirmed bid and buybacks are subject to $1,000 minimums as well as possible maximums depending on inventory positions.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Sprinkle (a road or path) with salt in order to melt snow or ice.
Fraudulently make (a mine) appear to be a paying one by placing rich ore into it.
(of a horse) having developed a resistance to disease by surviving it.
(of a plant) growing on the coast or in salt marshes.


Up we go to the 2nd floor of The Mind Museum, which houses The Technology Gallery. It is the largest of all the galleries. This gallery features The Story of Technology: The Showcase of Human Ingenuity. The gallery is divided into five major themes with each theme occupying a Node. The themes of the Nodes are: How We Live, Who We Are, How We Know, How Things Work, and Here to There.
Selca. Selfie. FOTD ;-D More mirrors.
Amazing! It sure is fun, isn't it?
And there's more...Science in the Park. Artful play.
We weren't able to do the film showing. Although we had All-Day passes (Thank you! ;-D), I didn't really think that a museum trip would take that long so we made plans. I didn't think that a museum trip could be this fun it's almost feels like a theme park...such a pleasant surprise! So yes, the All-Day pass truly makes sense. I promised my son another trip with a friend or two to join him in his next Science Adventures. He's so looking forward to it.


Dexia Israel to be sold "even at a loss"
The management of Franco-Belgian bank Dexia is under pressure from pro-Palestinian activists to disinvest from the Israeli branch.
Franco-Belgian banking group Dexia will sell its 65.34% stake inDexia Israel (Public Finance) Ltd. (TASE:DXIL) by the end of the summer - "even at a loss." This emerges from press reports in Belgium and Holland on the annual shareholders meeting held by Dexia in Brussels at the end of last week. The group is believed to be in negotiations with an Israeli financial institution.
At the shareholders meeting, Dexia managers were attacked by pro- Palestinian speakers, who argued against Dexia Bank's activity in Israel, which they said includes construction in "Jewish settlements in the West Bank," and reportedly accused Dexia of being a "partner in war crimes." Dexia chairman Jean-Luc Dehaene, a former Belgian prime minister, defended himself and argued in response that "the decision to grant credit for construction in the settlements is from 2001, and the current management has no connection to it." "Contribution to the Palestinian Authority"
Dehaene said that Dexia Israel would be sold this summer. To shareholders who demanded that the profit from the sale of the Israeli branch should be donated to the Palestinian Authority, Dehaene said that "I do not expect to make a profit on the sale. After we received the signal of the shareholders, we decided to sell even if we lose money."
According to Dehaene, credit provided by Dexia to the West Bank settlements amounts to only 5 million euros, representing 1% of the credit, and that from September 2008 (when the governments of Belgium and France nationalized Dexia, which was on the verge of bankruptcy - E.P.) no additional investments were made. Pro-Palestinian activists claim that Dehaene did not include credit to the Jerusalem Municipality in this figure. Dehaene said on this that Dexia did not consider Jerusalem to be part of the West Bank.
Dexia Group holds 65% of Dexia Israel, and a few weeks ago "gave a mandate" to French investment bank Rothschild to examine proposals for the sale of the bank. Today (Sunday), Dexia Israel reported that "After reviewing proposals from several interested parties, Dexia entered into negotiations with the party that offers the best outlook for Dexia Israel in terms of its activity and financially ". Mizrahi Tefahot, considered one of the candidates for an acquisition, said today that "it is not negotiating with Dexia."
The CEO of Dexia Bank of Israel is David Kapah. Dexia specializes in municipal credit, which accounts for 88% of the credit extended by the bank. It has a market share of 38%, and leads the field of credit to local authorities. Dexia is traded at a market cap of NIS 480 million. Its shareholders' equity is NIS 587 million. Profit in 2010 was NIS 58 million, and the return on equity was 9.8%.Because of the concentration of its credit, the bank is forced to maintain a high capital adequacy ratio of 21.5% compared with a 13.5% minimum stipulated by the Bank of Israel.


text:
Cameron's so-called extremist Imam campaigned for TORIES at last election
20 Wednesday Apr 2016
elections, Media, open government, Tories
UPDATE: The BBC has had to apologise for the lie:
At prime minister's questions today, David Cameron accused Labour's candidate for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of appearing with a London Imam who supports ISIS.
The accusation comes just days after Tory lacky Andrew Neil also accused Sadiq of appearing with an ISIS supporting Imam.
Only one problem. The Imam in question – Suliman Gani – does not support ISIS.
In fact he thinks they're "evil":
And even more amazingly, Gani actually supported – and even canvassed for – the Tories at the last general election:
Here he is with Tory candidate Dan Watkins:
And here he is with Tory MP Tania Mathias:
And here he is with Zac Goldsmith himself:
The Tories are so desperate – or arrogant – they think they can win elections with outright lies and smears. We cannot rely on our biased media to show the truth.
So please share. Thanks:
7 thoughts on "Cameron's so-called extremist Imam campaigned for TORIES at last election"
Pingback: Cameron's so-called extremist Imam campaigned for TORIES at last election | Pride's Purge | Jay's Journal
SurfaceKrystal (@SurfaceKrystal) said:
He may not support Isis, but he did describe jihadists in Afghanistan as "fighting for freedom against occupation". You should also mention that Goldsmith described him as an "honest and strong leader" who should be the prime minister of Pakistan. http://politicalscrapbook.net/2016/04/zac-goldsmith-endorsed-pakistani-politician-who-said-talibans-jihad-against-british-troops-was-justified/
gogwit said:
Reblogged this on Gogwit's Blog and commented:
…or how a few pictures are worth any number of words and any amount of hot air.
Paul Roper said:
Maybe someone could explain to me why fighting for freedom against occupation is wrong?
Surely, it's the invader that is in the wrong. It's always the defender that seems to be labelled the bad guy, when in fact they are the ones fighting for their own country! Simple.Don't invade someone elses country in the first place. Or is that difficult to understand?
Sussex Sue Says said:
The mainstream media have already covered this story, and mostly in a more comprehensive and interesting way. What is this blog for? If there's nothing useful to add then perhaps it's best not to bother.
[Oh, yes. You're right. Thanks for the advice. I'll stop writing the blog at once. Although, hang on, on second thoughts … nah. Go f*ck yourself.] – TOM
As Mr Pride points out, this really does show how desperate the Tories are to win the election that they are prepared to stoop so low as smears like this. This particular falsehood, I would say, is so serious as to provide reasonable grounds for a prosecution for slander/ libel.
I am not, however, particularly surprised that the Tories have made such an outrageous allegation. If you read Private Eye's coverage of some of the tactics the Tories have used against Mr Khan, it becomes painfully clear that its based very much on playing on Islamophobic suspicions of Sadiq Khan simply on account of his faith. For example, in last fortnight's Eye, they revealed how one of their Sikh readers had passed on to them a Tory campaign leaflet aimed at London's Sikh community, stressing how much support they had received from Zac Goldsmith. The Eye took the leaflet as trying to play on animosity between the Sikh and Muslim communities. If that's the case, then it's disgraceful. It's little different than the sectarian bigotry in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland, which sees Unionist politicos ranting about 'Papists' and 'Left-footers'. Obviously, they can't use that kind of prejudice against Khan, as he's a Muslim, so they'll accuse him of being a terrorist sympathiser. Goldsmith and his campaign team should be truly ashamed.
And it turns out I was confused. Ignore my last post.
Daily Mail columnist Katie Hopkins DELETES picture posing with neo-nazi Holocaust denier


text:
ABVC BioPharma Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial and Operational Results
By: NewMediaWire
FREEMONT, CA - (NewMediaWire) - August 15, 2022 - ABVC BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABVC), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic solutions in oncology/hematology, CNS, and ophthalmology, today announced its financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2022.
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
All comparisons are made on a year-over-year basis.
Revenues. The Company generated $312,860 and $31,441 in revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in revenues was mainly due to the revenue generated from the clinical development service agreement signed between BioKey and Rgene.
Operating Expenses increased by $285,043, or 14%, to $2,351,353 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 from $2,066,310 for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The increase was mainly attributable to the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses by $361,139 which relates to costs in conjunction with our recent stock issuance, and increase in research and development expenses of $173,904 to continue developing our product pipeline, while being offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation of $250,000.
Other Income (Expense) was $17,076 for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $(77,005) for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The change was principally caused by the increase in interest income and decrease in interest expense, as well as the loss on investment in equity securities which occurred in the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Net Interest income (expense) was $24,257 for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $(71,949) for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The increase of $96,206, or approximately 134%, was primarily due to the repayment of convertible notes payable during the year ended 2021.
Net Loss. As a result of the above factors, our net loss was $1,947,333 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $2,052,956 for the three months ended June 30, 2021, representing a decrease of $105,623, or 5%.
Recent Operational Highlights
Vitargus® Phase II Study
Australia: Vitargus® Phase II Clinical Study protocol documents are now under review by the Australian Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee ("HREC"). Upon approval, a Clinical Trial Notification ("CTN") will be issued, leading to a final review by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration ("TGA"). Upon TGA approval, the clinical trial will begin in Australia.
Thailand: The Ethics Committee ("EC") of Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University of Thailand approved the Vitargus® Phase II Clinical Study Protocol (ABV-1701-02). Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, expects to receive EC approval in the near future. Prior to initiating the two studies, the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand must issue an EC investigational product (IP) import license.
Vitargus Manufacturing: Vitargus will be manufactured through a new aseptic process that enhances the stability, consistency and efficacy of the final product, while significantly reducing manufacturing time. This new manufacturing process eliminates the labor-intensive and time-consuming gamma ray sterilization of the Vitargus components by using a sterile fill-lyophilization-finish (FLF).
ADHD Phase II Part 2 Clinical Update
A total of 22 subjects have been enrolled in the ADHD Phase II Part 2 Clinical study from a total of 32 subjects screened since results on the first subject was treated. One participant completed the 8-week treatment per the study design.
"A Phase II Tolerability and Efficacy Study of PDC-1421 Treatment in Adult Patients with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Part II" is expected to eventually enroll approximately 100 patients.
Five prestigious research hospitals in Taiwan and the research hospital at the University of California, San Francisco are participating in the study, which is a continuation of the Phase II Part I study of ABV-1505, accepted by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in October 2020.
BioKey, ABVC's wholly owned subsidiary based in Fremont, California, has entered into a Clinical Development Service Agreement with Rgene to guide three Rgene drug products, RGC-1501 for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), RGC-1502 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and RGC 1503 for the treatment of colorectal cancer patients, through completion of Phase II clinical studies under U.S. FDA IND regulatory requirements.
The FreeMind Group, a fundraising consulting group specializing in life sciences, will help ABVC explore and identify funding opportunities from non-dilutive sources, such as the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, Food and Drug Administration and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, as well as private foundations. FreeMind will help ABVC identify the most suitable grant opportunities and assist in preparing and submitting funding applications.
Dr. Maurizio Fava, a world leader in the field of depression, Psychiatrist-in-Chief of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), executive director of the Clinical Trials Network and Institute, Associate Dean for clinical and translational research and the Slater Family Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, along with Dr. Thomas Laughren, Director of Regulatory for the MGH Psychiatry Clinical Trials Network and Institute and retired Division Director for the Division of Psychiatry Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, have both agreed to provide consulting services in connection with clinical studies of its central nervous system medicines designed to alleviate symptoms of Major Depression Disorder (MDD) and Adult Depression Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). The Company's MDD medicine has successfully completed Phase II clinical studies which were accepted by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in October 2020. Its ADHD medicine successfully completed Phase II, part 1 and is initiating part 2 at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center as well as at five clinical study sites in Taiwan.
About ABVC BioPharma, Inc.
ABVC BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with an active pipeline of six drugs and one medical device (ABV-1701/Vitargus®) under development. For its drug products, it is focused on utilizing its licensed technology to conduct proof-of-concept trials through Phase II of the clinical development process at world-famous research institutions (such as Stanford University, University of California at San Francisco, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center). For Vitargus®, the company intends to conduct the clinical trials through Phase III at various locations throughout the globe.
Clinical trials are in early stages, and there is no guarantee that any specific outcome will be achieved. This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified, and, consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our product candidates on a commercial scale on our own, or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to proceed to the next level of the clinical trials or to market our product candidates; and (vi) impact of COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that state or jurisdiction.
ICR, LLC
Stephanie Oshchepkov
Email: Stephanie.Oshchepkov@icrinc.com
ABVC BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable - related parties, net
Due from related parties
Inventory, net
Prepayment for long-term investments
Prepaid expense and other current assets
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Goodwill, net
Long-term investments
Deferred tax assets
Prepaid expenses - noncurrent
Short-term bank loans
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Advance from customers
Operating lease liability – current portion
Due to related parties
Tenant security deposit
Operating lease liability – noncurrent portion
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 20,000,000 authorized, nil shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 authorized, 32,307,329 and 28,926,322 shares issued and outstanding
Stock subscription receivable
(1,805,920
(46,335,637
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Operating sublease income
Operating sublease income - related parties
Gain/Loss on foreign exchange changes
Gain/Loss on investment in equity securities
Other (expense) income
Government grant income
Loss before provision for income tax
Provision for income tax
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net loss attributed to ABVC and subsidiaries
Comprehensive loss
Basic and diluted
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2021
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Gain/Loss on sale of investment in equity securities
Other non-cash income and expenses
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets
Decrease (increase) in due from related parties
Decrease (increase) in inventory
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Increase (decrease) in advanced from others
Increase (decrease) in due to related parties
Prepayment for equity investment
Issuance of common stock
Repayment of convertible notes
Proceeds from long-term loan
Repayment of long-term bank loans
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest expense paid
Income taxes paid
View the original release on www.newmediawire.com


text:
Quoting Grammy
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are the Police and we are back!" -- Sting, left, who reunited with his former bandmates Stewart Copeland, center, and Andy Summers to perform "Roxanne" in the opening performance of the 49th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 11, 2007, in Los Angeles.
Credit: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
"This song means a lot to me. There was a time in my life when I couldn't love myself enough to love someone else. And now I am in love. For Mary J. Blige that is rare. Relationships are really hard to keep together, but let me explain to y'all what happened to me." -- Mary J. Blige, before her performance of "Be Without You." Earlier, she thanked a record 55 people when accepting the R&B album of the year award.
"I'm ready to make nice!" -- Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, accepting album of the year for "Taking the Long Way." After being ostracized for anti-Bush administration comments in 2003, the Texas trio exploded back onto the music scene, going five-for-five at the Grammys. Their trophies included the rare trifecta of record, album and song of the year.
"So y'all telling me, all I had to do was cut my hair to win a best rap album? Is that what y'all telling me?" -- Ludacris, accepting his award for best rap album. He also gave a "special shout-out" to Oprah Winfrey and Bill O'Reilly, saying "I love ya," tongue firmly in cheek. The rapper has criticized Winfrey and has been criticized by O'Reilly.
"I just got done playing, and I'm nervous. ... Mind is blanking. It's amazing. This is quite an honor." -- John Mayer, accepting his award for best pop vocal album moments after his performance with Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend.
"I have to tell you all, this is a sweet, bittersweet moment. I have to accept this award in memory of my mother." -- Stevie Wonder, right, accepting his award for best collaboration with Tony Bennett on "For Once in My Life." Wonder's mother, Lula Mae Hardaway, died May 31, 2006.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Kevin Winter
"You did so good, girl," -- Justin Timberlake to "My Grammy Moment" winner Robyn Troup, after they performed a medley of "Ain't No Sunshine" and "My Love." The 19-year-old from Houston was among three finalists competing for a chance to sing with Timberlake on the Grammy stage. Viewers sent text messages during the show to select the winner.
Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
"This is my first Grammy! Hopefully the first of a few more," said Carrie Underwood, the 2005 "American Idol" champ, who also singled out "Idol" creator Simon Fuller in her acceptance speech. Last year, another "Idol" champ, Kelly Clarkson, was criticized for not paying tribute to her "Idol" roots. Underwood took home three awards.
"Get out there and start a rock band! We need more rock bands!" -- Chad Smith, second from left, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, accepting best rock album for "Stadium Arcadium" from former Vice President Al Gore, left. Also shown are bandmates Flea, center, and John Frusciantea, far right. The album won four awards.
"Police incredible. James Brown tribute incredible. Shakira incredible. Mary J. Blige, we had a beautiful time." -- Nominee and performer Wyclef Jean at the Sony BMG Grammy party at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Mark Davis
"I've always entertained live and the public has always been good to me for 45 years. I have been sold out and after a while it sinks in, they like me." -- Tony Bennett, 80, celebrating his double win for Best Traditional Pop Vocal album "Duets: An American Classic" and Best Pop Collection for "Once in My Life", an award shared with Stevie Wonder.
Steven Cojocaru
"This is train wreck city. It allows for very bad fashion. It's all over the map." -- Fashion critic Steven Cojocaru, stepping out on the Grammy red carpet, on the Grammy Awards' fashion missteps.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Frazer Harrison
Damian Kulash
"The fact that we could make a video for 1/1,000th of the budget of a major label video and now to win a Grammy ... it kind of makes you feel good about the world." -- OK Go lead singer Damian Kulash, who says the upholstery fabric used for the band's suits was inspired by their couch.
Credit: HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images


text:
Yum! Brands partners with Howard University and University of Louisville to promote women and minority leadership in food industry
Yum! Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, has announced a collaboration with Howard University for a fellowship program to help increase the amount of women and minority franchise owners.
Tiasia Saunders
Photo Courtesy of yum.com
"Yum! Brands is proud to work with both University of Louisville and Howard University on this groundbreaking partnership to train and advance underrepresented people of color and women entrepreneurs who are interested in building a career in the franchise restaurant industry," Scott Catlett, chief legal and franchise officer of Yum Brands said on Feb. 3.
All ten candidates from Howard and University of Louisville will do a five-month fellowship while receiving scholarships, mentorships, extensive education on the franchise business model, restaurant training and a trip to Yum! Brands' restaurant and support system.
"So I think it is again, a great opportunity to really showcase how strong Howard University's curriculum and students are. So this is not something that is newly created, this curriculum is there and established, partnering with us, meaning we have global leaders, future global business leaders that are produced daily here at Howard University School of Business," Dr. Yuvay Meyers Ferguson, the assistant dean for impact and engagement at the Howard School of Business said.
"It's really exciting to see the marriage of our schools and provide an opportunity to really showcase and provide for students," she said.
Each student will take part in sessions where they will learn directly from Yum! Brands executives, restaurant operators and brand franchise recruiters. The students will also work with a current Yum! Brands franchise owner who will be their mentor to help them throughout the semester-long program.
"Although I've never worked in the food industry before, this program has given me the understanding that these restaurants are a combination of positions and moving parts, but the most important piece is the people. This is a concept that has been expressed by many of the guest speakers, interviewees, and lecturers that we have been afforded the opportunity to hear from. We have gained a vast amount of knowledge in the short period of time that we have been meeting already," Monique Davis, a first year online MBA student and fellowship candidate at Howard University said.
The students have a chance to compete in a pitch competition where two grand prize winners will receive additional training and mentorship, receive seed money and an opportunity to become a future Yum! franchise ambassador.
"Competition is at the heart of all business environments. The pitch competition culminates the entire program and gives us all the ability to show how well we have grasped the concepts critical to become a franchise owner. The Howard cohort has become a community and we all are in constant communication to ensure we all have our best foot forward," Charlie Coleman, a MBA student at Howard University and fellow candidate said.
The University of Louisville is located in Yum! Brands' hometown, and also houses their Center for Global Franchise Excellence. More than 200 students have engaged in this program since last summer. The center is the first business program at a public university to provide numerous levels of online education focused on the franchising model across industries. One of its many purposes is to focus on recruiting and educating underrepresented people of color and women on the vast possibilities of franchising and entrepreneurship.
"Because I believe we all have a desire to continue the work that we have witnessed, I think the number of women and minority franchisees and business owners will multiply rapidly. We look forward to using our voices, new knowledge, and connections to bring opportunities to the community that otherwise may have seemed out of reach," Davis said.
Yum! Brands has more than 53,000 restaurants globally. The International Franchise Association estimates the franchising industry increased to over 780,000 outlets, with 8.4 million new people in the United States in 2021.
"I am beyond elated that Howard University secured this partnership with Yum! Brands to design an accelerated path to launch my entrepreneurial venture in the food industry. The hurdle to obtaining the necessary capital to even be considered for a franchised Yum! Concept is exceptionally difficult even for the highest caliber candidate. Yum! And Howard is removing this obstacle with a focus on young hungry minorities to make what was once a dream, a real time reality," Jessica Tarver, a MBA student at Howard University and fellowship candidate, said.
Copy edited: N'dia Webb
In this article:howard university, university of louisville, yum
New Generation of HU Elite Models Demonstrates the Thin Line Between Vanity and Insanity
Howard University Elite Models held their first in-person fashion show in three years titled, "Vanity to Insanity" to showcase for their new eighth class...
Hunter Nicole Stevens6 days ago


LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska got what it wanted out of its game against Bethune-Cookman. The Cornhuskers won, nobody got hurt, and a lot of guys got to play.
Adrian Martinez passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns and Devine Ozigbo ran for 110 and another score — all in the first half — and Nebraska prepped for next week's road game against Ohio State with a 45-9 win Saturday.
A month ago, Nebraska was in the middle of its 0-6 start and coming off a 46-point loss at Michigan. Last week's win over Minnesota and the fast work they did against the Wildcats of the Football Championship Subdivision have lifted the Huskers' spirits heading into their trip to the "Horseshoe" to face the 11th-ranked Buckeyes, who were off Saturday after losing at Purdue last week.
"I think we're a more disciplined team, a more efficient team right now," coach Scott Frost said. "Hopefully, with the last two wins, it will make us a more confident team. We've got to go on the road to a tough place to play a really good team that's going to be ticked off and has had two weeks of practice since their last game that didn't go well for them. We know what we're in for. We're going to get their best shot."
The Cornhuskers (2-6) scheduled Bethune-Cookman (4-5) a month ago as a replacement for the Sept. 1 opener against Akron that was canceled because of severe weather. The Wildcats earned an $800,000 guarantee.
"I'm appreciative of them for coming, and I think it was great for both teams," Frost said. "It was the type of game we needed. I'm sure the amount of money we're paying for them to come up is something they needed. I think both teams came out of the game really healthy, which is what both coaches wanted. I think it was a win-win for everybody."
Nebraska's offensive starters turned the game over to the backups to start the second half. Most of the regulars on defense played the first two B-C possessions of the third quarter. A total of 74 players got on the field for the Huskers.
"We're definitely appreciative of the opportunity to have a chance to come to Nebraska and play in a historic venue such as Memorial Stadium and play a program like Nebraska," B-C coach Terry Sims said. "I don't think we played our best. But the outcome is what it is. We had some guys that left it on the field today, played their hearts out."
Bethune-Cookman: The Wildcats showed some flashes against the Huskers' top defense. Steffon Francois picked up 54 yards on a catch-and-run to set up Uriel Hernandez's 28-yard field goal, and the Wildcats drove to the 8 and 14 against Nebraska's starters on their first two series of the second half but couldn't get into the end zone until the final play against reserves.
Nebraska: Martinez was hammered by Marquis Hendrix and got up slowly on the last of his 41 plays over seven series. Quarterback Noah Vedral, who transferred to Nebraska after backing up McKenzie Milton at Central Florida last year and was declared eligible Oct. 12, played in his first game and ran for a 20-yard touchdown.
Nebraska improved to 12-0 all-time against FCS opponents; Bethune-Cookman dropped to 2-10 against the FBS. ... Spielman's punt return for a touchdown was Nebraska's first since De'Mornay Pierson-El ran one back against Iowa in 2014. ... Ozigbo went over 100 yards for the fourth time in five games. ... Martinez's 1,656 passing yards are a Nebraska freshman record. ... Peyton Newell had the Huskers' first interception by a defensive lineman since 2013.


text:
MEET PARI
Conscious Fertility
The science behind 'Pyramids'
by Pari Patri | Aug 29, 2018 | Manifestation, Meditation, pyramid, Spiritual | 0 comments
The Science Behind Pyramids
All the ancient civilizations, from the Pyramids of Giza to the towering Aztec and Mayan Pyramids of Central America have been using Pyramids for centuries.
The shape of the pyramid, which is a tetrahedron is considered as sacred geometry in the Universe. This shape is used to harness infinite source of energy as it creates a torsion field that generates high frequencies which amplify vibrational healing.
Extensive experiments have been conducted inside man-made pyramids. "Bovis" made a to-scale model of the Cheops Pyramid and placed it, like the original with the baselines aligned north-south and east-west. Inside the model, one-third of the way up, he placed a dead cat, it became mummified and thus, he concluded that the pyramid promoted rapid dehydration. Reports of this discovery attracted "Karl Drbal", a radio engineer in Prague, who repeated similar experiments.
From then on, thousands of people had enhanced experiences when meditating beneath Pyramids, as its scientific properties focus harmonious energies while deflecting distracting ones. People have reported deeper relaxation, an enhanced sense of well-being and increased levels of awareness while meditating inside a Pyramid. They also experienced strong spiritual and psychic impressions like clarity in dreams, visions and increased memory recall. Changes in the meditator's aura have been noted with Kirlian photography with auras becoming brighter and larger.
Experiments have shown copper to be the best metal for an open-frame meditation pyramid due to its natural electronic and bio-enhancing properties. However, pyramid structures of cardboard, wood or bamboo are also effective, if built to the same proportional dimensions as the "Great Pyramid" at Giza, in Egypt.
The sacred geometry behind a Pyramid is Nature's gift to mankind. Other than spiritual benefits, pyramids are known to purify water, dehydrate food and flowers (thereby preserving them), promote healing of physical body from pain and injury and restore lustre to jewellery.
It is highly recommended to sit beneath a pyramid to improve one's meditative experiences and to connect to one's own Higher Self.
Patrick, G (2017) "Pyramid Power- The Science of Cosmic Energy.


text:
The Vegan Kind Founder and CEO Scott McCulloch on Rebranding, Plant-Based Trends and More
InterviewsVeganVegan Grocery Shopping
By Sally Ho	 Published on Oct 9, 2021 Last updated Oct 7, 2021
The Vegan Kind, the UK's largest plant-based online store, has just gone through a major rebranding as it looks to position itself at the forefront of the fast-growing industry. Adopting a more modern look to appeal to not just a niche vegan market, but also the mainstream eco-conscious and flexitarian shopper, The Vegan Kind is ambitious about its growth plans ahead.
Scott McCulloch, the CEO and co-founder of The Vegan Kind, recently sat down with Green Queen Media to share more about the company's latest revamp and what's in store for the platform in the coming months. In this interview, McCulloch also shares his thoughts on the trends set to shape the plant-based industry, the brands to watch out for, and more.
GQ: Let's start with some of the most popular brands on the site. Why are they so popular, in your view?
SM: One of the most popular brands is LoveRaw, the vegan chocolate wafers. Among vegan dairy alternatives, Naturli butter block is an outstanding vegan replica of dairy butter. Super realistic THIS isn't bacon is our best-selling plant-based bacon – as soon as it hits the frying pan, your kitchen smells of bacon! Egg alternative Crack'd, which is perfect for baking, scrambling, omelets, and Yorkshire puddings!
Basically, people want excellent food that is entirely plant-based. These four brands have created high-quality products that can entirely replicate their meat/dairy/non-vegan counterparts. Our customers love having products they are used to, and they enjoyed before going plant-based but which are entirely made from sustainable plant-based ingredients.
GQ: What's the unique selling point about The Vegan Kind?
SM: We are a 100% plant-based and vegan online superstore with next-day delivery, seven days a week, and with the most extensive 100% range to be found in the UK, if not the world. Over 6,000 items in stock. No label checking for animal ingredients.
GQ: Share more about some of the product search trends on the rise over the past few months.
SM: One of the growing trends in the plant-based space is dog food. Customers have realised that a plant-based diet can also be really healthy for their dogs. So many fantastic dog food brands have launched in recent months, such as The Pack, and we have even more coming in the following weeks, and we know there are a lot more going through the start-up phase right now. At The Vegan Kind, we have the most extensive range, all in one place.
GQ: Who is your average customer?
SM: Our typical customer is a person who cares about Animals, Health, or the Planet – or these three things combined, follows a plant-based diet, or is vegan-curious. It's an ethical consumer who cares about the future of planet Earth and wants to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
As part of our new re-brand, we have tried to encapsulate our average customer, both within the design but also in our Core Pillars: Animal Kind, Human Kind, Planet Kind; as well as within our messaging: Ethical Shopping Made Simple, Making Plant-Based Living Effortless, Plant-Based for the Planet and of course our original tagline since day one is still there – Be Kind, Go Vegan.
GQ: What have been some of the biggest challenges operating an online vegan retail platform?
SM: Wondering why people aren't going plant-based faster! At TVK, we are obviously immersed in the beauty of a vegan lifestyle and all the eye-opening benefits and improvements it can have on our people and our Planet (not least, of course, the sparing of billions of animal lives). And although the message is being conveyed on a daily basis via fantastic news outlets such as Green Queen Media, and even though across the globe we have made monumental gains in the last five years – we absolutely need those gains to go tenfold over the next five years time!
GQ: If you raised 100 million dollars tomorrow, what would you spend it on?
SM: Wow. It seems a lot of money, but if I said something like 'end climate change' or 'end animal agriculture, it wouldn't be anywhere near enough. So I guess, to be pragmatic, it would be to make plant-based menus mandatory in all schools and hospitals. I.e. remove all meat and dairy from the menus and instead serve plant-based food and drink options.
If we could teach our children that harming animals is not needed to produce food and show those in hospital treatments that a plant-based diet is optimal for health, we could fundamentally make a real change within society. However, I'm not sure that feels enough to tackle the current problem. Can you give me a hypothetical billion instead?
GQ: It's hard to not talk about the pandemic. Did Covid-19 hurt or help your business?
SM: There is no denying that when the pandemic started, it actually helped our business. As a next-day delivery food provider, we couldn't keep up with demand, which was challenging in and of itself. We definitely felt a burden to serve the public. At the early stage of the pandemic, we were classed as 'key workers', able to work and deliver food to the nation. It was a crazy time, with many vulnerable people in distress turning to us for reliable service. I know that for 99.9% of our customers, we did manage to provide.
We worked night and day as a Team to keep the stock coming in and orders going back out again – the business exploded, but as aforementioned, it was an extremely challenging time. It felt less about growth and profitability and more just a real sense of responsibility to keep going full steam every day in order to keep up with the sheer amount of orders and customer requests coming at us.
However, it also led to us being in a vulnerable position after the pandemic. We were under a lot of pressure. In the meantime, we managed to find investors in the business who have been amazing and helped take TVK to the next level throughout 2021.
GQ: Why would a customer choose The Vegan Kind over other platforms like Ocado? What makes your platform different?
SM: Well – we are an independent, family-owned vegan company. 98% of our 50 staff are vegan. We are mission-led, and we believe The Vegan Kind has played a crucial role in the growth of veganism within the UK since 2013 when we set up. We make it easy to go vegan with our monthly subscription boxes and then stay vegan, offering 6,000 products on a carbon-neutral next-day delivery service, seven days a week.
When you shop at TVK, you know there is no label checking (other than for allergens, which we do indeed allow you to filter by), and you also know you are getting a fantastic 5-star platinum-rated service. We also plant one tree for every order placed and have a carbon-positive workforce. We are experts in our field. On our website, you will see that the usability, the range of products, the customer experience is on par with the bigger supermarkets.
We knew that for more people to go vegan, we were going to have to level up and provide a shopping experience that was competitive when compared to the multi-billion dollar supermarkets. So we have done just that. Also – when you shop at The Vegan Kind, you join Team TVK in our mission. You become part of a movement that is more important now than ever before. Plant-Based for the Planet!
All images courtesy of The Vegan Kind.
veganvegan grocery
Sally Ho 2711 posts
Sally Ho is Green Queen's resident writer and lead reporter. Passionate about the environment, social issues and health, she is always looking into the latest climate stories in Hong Kong and beyond. A long-time vegan, she also hopes to promote healthy and plant-based lifestyle choices in Asia. Sally has a background in Politics and International Relations from her studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
8 Startups Using Seaweed, From Algae Milk To Vegan Shrimp
This Sister Duo's Secondhand App Helps Shoppers Find Their Clothes Swap Twin
Vegan Strongman Patrik Baboumian Throws His Weight Behind UK's GREENFORCE Vegan Meat


text:
Cybersecurity & Cryptology Today
Cryptologic Conferences & Programs
NCMF Quarterly Programs
NCMF General Membership Meeting & Symposium
2019 NCMF GMM Speaker Bios
The Symposium on Cryptologic History
CCEI Fall Symposiums
Schorreck Memorial Lecture Speaker Series
NCMF Blog
Cryptologic Bytes
Cryptologic History Calendar
Cryptologic Bytes Classics
Recent Cryptologic Bytes
Cryptologic Bytes Archives
Maryland History Day Awards
Milton Zaslow Award for Cryptology
Major General John E. Morrison Award in Excellence and Innovation
Eugene J. Becker Award for Excellence in Cybersecurity and Cryptology
School Tours & Student Outreach
Female Pioneers in Cryptology & Related Fields
African Americans in Cryptology
Code & Cipher Kiosks for Kids of All Ages
Social Media Highlights of Students at the NCM
Benefactor & Patron Panel and Museum Entrance Display
In Memoriam Panel
In Memoriam Registry
Recently Departed Colleagues & Friends
Hall of Honor Nomination Tips
Join or Renew a Membership
The Eagle Alliance hosted CryptoCup Golf Tournament
Eagle Alliance CRYPTOCUP Overview
2019 Crypto Cup Recap
2019 Crypto Cup Sponsors
2019 Eagle Alliance Award Ceremony & Volunteer Apprecation Luncheon
Great Things People Are Saying
Volunteer on a Committee
Volunteer at the Foundation Office
Volunteer at the Museum
NCMF Bulletin - "The Link"
National Cryptologic Museum (NCM)
Cyber Center for Education & Innovation (CCEI)
Every little bit helps the NCMF to support the National Cryptologic Museum in its effort to preserve the legacy of cryptology.
Recently Departed Friends & Colleagues
A minimum total donation of $100 will place a departed colleague or friend in the In Memoriam Registry - a physical kiosk at the National Cryptologic Museum and an online listing on our website.
Richard "Dick" Bernard, 30 April 1929-12 June 2019
Richard "Dick" Lynn Bernard, retired National Security Agency Senior Executive, died on June 12, 2019 after valiantly battling leukemia. While at NSA, Mr. Bernard initiated the engineering co-op program, managed several large systems development projects and headed several important organizations, as well as a major operations center. During his retirement, Dick became a part time special consultant to the Center for Cryptologic History at NSA until his death. He authored several histories on some of his NSA activities and served as an advisor on NSA history matters and as an advisor to the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation. He was inducted into the Hall of Honor in 2018. Click on his name or photo to learn more.
James F. Rogan
James "Jim" F. Rogan, 85, a 24-year resident of the Heritage Harbour Community in Annapolis, MD, and previously of Bowie, MD, died on May 21, 2019. Jim graduated from the University of Scranton and the Naval War College. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1953-56. He worked for the National Security Agency, retiring as Comptroller in 1991 with 30 years of service. Click on his name or photo to learn more about Jim's life.
William "Bill" Wesley, Sr.
William "Bill" Olen Wesley Sr. passed away on 28 October 2018 at the age of 82 years old,
William served as a Naval officer and had a very successful career as a Senior Executive for the National Security Agency. William enjoyed his work where he met numerous friends and was able to serve the United States of America. Even with his career he always found time to enjoy his passions (golf and sailing) and found joy helping Elizabeth raise their children. Please click on his photo or name to learn more about his life and career.
In memory of William donations can be made to the Community United Methodist Church. Please mark your donations for the Bill and Liz Wesley Memorial fund.
George D. Kessler
George Donald Kessler passed away Monday, July 9, 2018 at the Bradford County Manor at the age of 86. During his three-year career in the military (USMC), George developed the deep-rooted patriotism, honor, and commitment that would shape his life and, ultimately, his career path. It was here that George was introduced to Arabic and excelled in his mastery of the language. George enjoyed a 36-year career at the NSA in Ft. Meade, MD as an intelligence analyst and Arabic linguist. Click on his name or photo to learn more.
Mr. Eugene Becker
Mr. Eugene (Gene) Becker passed away at the age of 90 on 9 June 2018. Gene was instrumental in guiding the Foundation, along with Bob Rich, Ann Caracristi, Bill Kvetkas, Jim Boone, and others, through its early years. He was appointed Vice President following the retirement of Bob Rich and became President in 2006. Although Gene retired in September 2014, he continued to visit the office and remain in touch with the staff, attend programs and keep abreast of new museum developments. He was a dear friend and mentor to many and always had a kind word for everyone. He will be missed. Funeral and burial services are private. In lieu of flowers, Gene's wishes and those of his family are for donations to be made to the NCMF. Donations can be mailed into the office or made online via our donation form (remember to fill in the tribute area). Please click on his name or photo for more info.
Alicia A. Newman
On the 5th day of October 2017, Alicia Newman lost her brave battle with cancer. She was recruited to work at the National Security Agency in 1962, serving for 32 years. Ms. Newman also served her community in many roles. Please click on her photo or name to learn more about her. Those who make a donation to the NCMF in Ms. Newman's name will have their name added as a sponsor to her In Memoriam Registry listing.
Richard S. Finlay
Richard S. Finlay passed away on 15 August 2017 at the age of 87. Richard was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War Era before entering government service. Please click on his name to learn more about him. **Viewing to be held Sunday, August 20, from 5-8 pm at Barranco & Sons Funeral Home in Severna Park followed by a Mass to be said at St. John's Parrish at 10 am on Monday, August 21. Interment will be at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Crownsville following. Flowers may be sent to Barranco & Sons funeral home or a Memorial Donation can be made in Richard's name to the John's Hopkins Transplant Foundation or Opportunity Builders, Inc. Donations made to the NCMF in Richard's name will help to place him in the NCMF's In Memoriam Registry.
James W. Pryde
Mr. James W. Pryde passed away on 10 August 2017 at the age of 90. A full obituary is forthcoming. Memorial services will be held on 22 August 2017 at the Spirit of Faith Christian Center, 2261 Oxon Run Drive, Temple Hills, MD 20748. A viewing will be held at 1000 hours and a memorial service at 1100 hours. Burial at Arlington Cemetery will take place at a later date.
Please click on the photo of James or his name to learn more about him. You can also CLICK HERE to watch an NBC4 series "Code Breakers: The Invisible Cryptologists" that featured James. Donations make to the NCMF in his name will help to place James in the NCMF's In Memoriam Registry.
Anyone, anywhere can be a member of the NCMF.
BECOME A FOUNDER
The Founders' Group spearheads the capital campaign to build the new Cyber Center for Education and Innovation - Home of the National Cryptologic Museum.
Donate to the CCEI-NCM
Be a part of the future - help us build the Cyber Center for Education and Innovation - Home of the National Cryptologic Museum.
Honor the memory of any friend or family by donating in their name. Use the Tribute Section of our online donation form.
9900 Colony Seven Rd, Fort Meade, MD 20755
P.O. Box 1682 Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 20755-9998
ncmf@cryptologicfoundation.org
© National Cryptologic Museum Foundation - 2020


text:
Home Latest News Anti-abortion display vandalized Jan. 21
Anti-abortion display vandalized Jan. 21
Last Sunday, on the eve of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion, students from Advocates for Life set up a display on the Sunken Garden. Later that evening, the display was removed, and the William and Mary Police Department has opened an investigation into the vandalism.
According to College of William and Mary Spokesperson Suzanne Seurattan, Advocates for Life, a group of graduate students who identify as anti-abortion, followed proper protocol to organize this demonstration, had worked with the office of Student Affairs and had received permission for its display.
"It is very unfortunate that someone decided to destroy that display," Seurattan said in an email. "Vandalism is never an acceptable form of expression. We have been in touch with the student organizer of the display to express our own disappointment and to offer our support."
The display consisted of approximately 3,000 popsicle sticks, used to represent the average number of daily abortions in the United States, and signs featuring anti-abortion messages. According to Seurattan, the students are planning to reinstall the display.
Katherine Beck J.D. '19, who serves as Advocates for Life's president and who was the organizer of the demonstration, said that the display was done to bring awareness to what she sees as the biggest civil rights issue of the modern day.
"We wanted to bring an awareness to all the lives that have been lost," Beck said. "With each life that has been lost, a mother and a father's lives have been impacted. We got 3,000 popsicle sticks that represented abortions that occur every day, 60 million abortions on average."
Beck said that she first learned that the display had been removed when an undergraduate student emailed her informing her that the display was no longer on the Sunken Garden. After seeing for herself that it was gone, she called a dean at the Marshall Wythe School of Law, who encouraged Beck and her group to go to the police.
"There were about three popsicle sticks left and the signs were ripped up in the closest trash can," Beck said. "Our response was really upset at first on a lot of different fronts. That day was intended to represent Roe v. Wade, we were really upset that we weren't allowed to bring awareness, since [WMPD] viewed the video, they saw it was taken down around 12:40 a.m., just a few hours after we finished putting it up. First and foremost, there wasn't really awareness, so we are really upset from a free speech standpoint. We were advocating for a group of oppressed people."
Beck was joined by nine other students, including one undergraduate student who is a member of Students for Life, the on-campus anti-abortion organization for undergraduates. One of these other students, Advocates for Life's Events Coordinator Hallie Hovey-Murray J.D. '19, was responsible for ordering the materials and helping plan the display.
Hovey-Murray said that while many in the anti-abortion movement are religious, some are not. Because of this, she decided to use popsicle sticks instead of crosses, which are often a feature of this type of display when other institutions host it.
"There is a stereotype of what a person who is pro-life is, it's not just about that," Hovey-Murray said. "We wanted to start a conversation on campus. I had really hoped that this isn't how the conversation would be started. I think [the vandalism] really brought us together as a group to promote the peaceful discourse on campus. I had really hoped that people would appreciate different viewpoints and take time to have peaceful discourse instead of resorting to something like this. I really don't think the actions of however many people took down the display is indicative of the whole campus. I think we will be able to fulfill the intent of the display."
While Hovey-Murray said that she knows many are anti-abortion because of their religious or family upbringings like her, another reason she personally is anti-abortion because she has a disability.
"As a young woman with autism, with a disability, it is really important to promote life because so many children who are found prenatally to have a disability are aborted," Hovey-Murray said. "That is one thing I am really passionate about, that students and children with disabilities are worthy. That is my driving force in being interested in this. Making sure that all children, instead of living in the culture today, where children who aren't seen as worthy, where doctors encourage women to pursue abortion, there is no prenatal genetic testing for autism yet. Looking at studies of how many children with Down syndrome are aborted over those tests scares me that one day when there is, that it will lower the number of students with autism."
The display was not the only work that Advocates for Life did to commemorate this week's anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Earlier in the week, Hovey-Murray and Beck joined five other anti-abortion women at the Marshall Wythe School of Law to give a lunchtime discussion on anti-abortion feminism. According to Beck, she has always found the students at the law school to be respectful of new ideas.
"My number one hope is to bring awareness to the vast impact that abortion has had and to bring awareness to all of the unborn lives," Beck said. "I hope this brings awareness to abortion and opens up a dialogue that allows us to express why we are advocating for an end to abortion and stand up for the voiceless and be able to tell people that we are not here to control women's bodies, I would hope that the display and the group in general, and advocate for why we are truly and authentically pro-life."
Hovey-Murray said that she shares similar hopes with Beck and hopes that the conversation that the vandalism started continues.
"There has been an outpouring of support, especially at the law school," Hovey-Murray said. "Even people who are vehemently against the pro-life movement have been supportive, and I think that this is indicative of the culture at William and Mary, that people are supportive of having difficult conversations. That has made my heart happy, that this is overall something that has created that conversation."
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Hovey-Murray was not religious. The article has been amended to reflect her religious background.
Advocates for Life
Katherine Beck
Suzanne Seurattan
wmpd
Previous articleCharter Day comedian announced: Roy Wood Jr. to perform at show Feb. 10
Next articleGreek organizations strike a chord amongst music-loving members
Sarah Smith '19 served as The Flat Hat's Editor-in-chief From January 2018-February 2019. Previously she served as news editor and associate news editor, and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists for her work with in-depth reporting. Smith is a government and gender, sexuality, and women's studies double major from Ashburn, Virginia.
Callie Booth - January 24, 2023
Thursday, Jan. 19, the Lemon Project at the College of William and Mary held the first of their monthly Spring 2023 Genealogical Research Roundtables....


Course Copy is a tool that allows you to copy full content sections from one course into another course.
To run a Course Copy, navigate to the course that contains the materials you would like to copy.
From there, look to your Control Panel, click on Packages and Utilities, and then select Course Copy from the options provided.
On the next page, under Select Copy Type, choose "Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course".
Afterward, click on the Browse button next to Destination Course ID. This will open a pop-up window with all of your courses on Blackboard. Select the destination course you want to copy documents into and then click Submit on the pop-up window.
Next, under Select Course Materials, check off which content areas you would like to copy into the destination course.
BEST PRACTICE: Select All of these options and include everything in your course copy. You can then modify/delete items in the new course as needed afterward.
This ensures that no files you may need are missed in the course copy. For example, If you do not choose to copy over the "Grade Center Columns and Settings", your assignments in other sections will not be included in the course copy. Therefore we highly recommend including everything in your course copies and then editing/removing outdated or unwanted content from the new course afterwards.
You will get a banner along the top of the page indicating that the course copy has successfully begun and you will receive an email when the Course Copy is complete.
When copying entire Content Areas or folders from one course to another, you might consider these details, which explain how to make the process smooth, with minimal "clean-up" effort.
If you only want to move or copy a single item rather than an entire content section click on the drop-down menu button to the right of the item in question and choose Copy from the resulting pop-up menu.
On the following page, click on the Destination Course drop-down box select the course you want to copy the item into.
After, click on the Browse button next to Destination Folder and in the pop-up window select where in the destination course you want the file being copied to appear.
You will get a banner along the top of the page indicating that the item has bee successfully copied into the destination course.


Tired of spending hours filling up a bunch of water balloons? These magic water balloons are perfect for loads of fun for all.
Each purchase comes with a set of 3 magic fillers with 37 balloons attached for a total of 111 balloons. Simply attach to a hose and turn on your water to fill the balloons and gently shake for the balloons to be tied and fall off.


text:
Q: numpy.logical_and versus multiplication Given three numpy arrays a, b, and c (EDIT: of the same shape/size), it seems that for non-complex numbers
a * b * c != 0  # test element-wise whether all are non-zero

gives the same result as:
np.logical_and(a, np.logical_and(b, c))

Is there a hidden pitfall in the first version? Is there even a simpler way to test this?

A: Some observations:
import numpy as np
import timeit

a = np.random.randint(0, 5, 100000)
b = np.random.randint(0, 5, 100000)
c = np.random.randint(0, 5, 100000)

method_one = np.logical_and(np.logical_and(a, b), c)
%timeit np.logical_and(np.logical_and(a, b), c)

method_two = a*b*c != 0
%timeit a*b*c != 0

method_three = np.logical_and(np.logical_and(a.astype('bool'), b.astype('bool')), c.astype('bool'))
%timeit np.logical_and(np.logical_and(a.astype('bool'), b.astype('bool')), c.astype('bool'))

method_four = a.astype('bool') * b.astype('bool') * c.astype('bool')  != 0
%timeit a.astype('bool') * b.astype('bool') * c.astype('bool')  != 0

# verify all methods give equivalent results
all([
    np.all(method_one == method_two),
    np.all(method_one == method_three),
    np.all(method_one == method_four)
    ]
   )

1000 loops, best of 3: 713 µs per loop
1000 loops, best of 3: 341 µs per loop
1000 loops, best of 3: 252 µs per loop
1000 loops, best of 3: 388 µs per loop

True

Some interpretations:

*

*The speed of the a*b*c != 0 method will depend on the dtype of the vectors, since multiplication is done first.  So if you've got floats or bigints or some other larger dtype, this step will take longer than for vectors of the same length that are boolean or small integers.  Coercing to a bool dtype speeds up this method.  If the vectors have different dtypes, things will be even slower.  Multiplying an integer array by a float array requires converting integers to floats, then coercing to boolean.  Not optimal.

*For reasons I don't understand, Prune's answer's statement that
However, the logical test is faster seems to be correct only when the input vectors are already boolean.  Perhaps the way in which coercion to boolean happens in the straight-up logical_and() method is slower than using .asdtype('bool').

*The fastest way to go seems to be (1) coerce inputs to boolean ahead of time and then (2) use np.logical_and().

A: Given b and c holding real numbers, np.logical_and(b, c) would esentially involve under-the-hood conversion to boolean numbers.
Can we do the conversion upfront? If so, would that help?
Now, the stated operation of checking if ALL corresponding elements are non-zeros would be equivalent to checking if the boolean-not of ANY of the corresponding elements are zeros, i.e.
~((a == 0) + (b==0) + (c==0)
OR
~((a == 0) | (b==0) | (c==0))
Also, this would involve upfront conversion to boolean after comparison with zero, so that might help with performance. Here's the runtime numbers involved -
Case #1:
In [10]: # Setup inputs
    ...: M, N = 100, 100
    ...: a = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...: b = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...: c = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...:

In [11]: %timeit np.logical_and(a, np.logical_and(b, c))
    ...: %timeit a * b * c != 0
    ...: %timeit ~((a == 0) + (b==0) + (c==0))
    ...: %timeit ~((a == 0) | (b==0) | (c==0))
    ...:
10000 loops, best of 3: 96.6 µs per loop
10000 loops, best of 3: 78.2 µs per loop
10000 loops, best of 3: 51.6 µs per loop
10000 loops, best of 3: 51.5 µs per loop

Case #2:
In [12]: # Setup inputs
    ...: M, N = 1000, 1000
    ...: a = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...: b = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...: c = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...:

In [13]: %timeit np.logical_and(a, np.logical_and(b, c))
    ...: %timeit a * b * c != 0
    ...: %timeit ~((a == 0) + (b==0) + (c==0))
    ...: %timeit ~((a == 0) | (b==0) | (c==0))
    ...:
100 loops, best of 3: 11.4 ms per loop
10 loops, best of 3: 24.1 ms per loop
100 loops, best of 3: 9.29 ms per loop
100 loops, best of 3: 9.2 ms per loop

Case #3:
In [14]: # Setup inputs
    ...: M, N = 5000, 5000
    ...: a = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...: b = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...: c = np.random.randint(0,5,(M,N))
    ...:

In [15]: %timeit np.logical_and(a, np.logical_and(b, c))
    ...: %timeit a * b * c != 0
    ...: %timeit ~((a == 0) + (b==0) + (c==0))
    ...: %timeit ~((a == 0) | (b==0) | (c==0))
    ...:
1 loops, best of 3: 294 ms per loop
1 loops, best of 3: 694 ms per loop
1 loops, best of 3: 268 ms per loop
1 loops, best of 3: 268 ms per loop

Seems like there is a good percentage of benefit with the comparison to zero approach!

A: Giving a short summary: a * b * c != 0 can lead to an overflow or underflow. The alternative ~((a == 0) | (b == 0) | (c == 0)) seems to execute faster than any other implementation of the test.

A: They are the same.  0 and None are False; any other value is True.  However, the logical test is faster.  If you have a lot of arrays in the list, consider using Python's all and any methods.

For example:
for value in [True, False, 0, 1, None, 7, 'a', [False, False, False]]:
    if value:
        print value, True
    else:
        print value, False

Output:
True True
False False
0 False
1 True
None False
7 True
a True
[False, False, False] True

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In an interview the previous day, Garcia insisted he was innocent.
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) Peru's former president Alan Garcia shot himself early on Wednesday after police arrived at his home in the capital Lima to arrest him in connection with a bribery investigation, a police source said.
Erasmo Reyna, Garcia's lawyer, told journalists that Garcia's condition was "delicate." "Right now he's being operated on.
Let's pray to God to give him strength," Reyna said in broadcast comments.


text:
Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
Libra Support
Autonomous Robot Team; Public Transportation as an Ethical Necessity
Kellas, Charles, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Furukawa, Tomonari, EN-Mech/Aero Engr Dept, University of Virginia
JACQUES, RICHARD, EN-Engineering and Society, University of Virginia
At first glance, there does not appear be an apparent connection to my technical capstone
project and the subject of my STS research. My technical project concerned the construction of a
semi-autonomous disinfection robot and my STS research explored the relationship of public
transportation and its influence on social mobility. Besides the work being done at the University
of Virginia and being done at least in part by me, Charles Andrew Kellas, there must be some
other six-degrees-of-separation-type of way to connect the two. The one that I find the most
plausible and the one explored herein will be the roll of automation. That is, how automation can
be used to provide a system of increased safety, and efficiency in its robustness.
The Technical Project
As a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, my team and I were asked to develop a
disinfection robot. This was to be used to disinfect surfaces that were exposed to the coronavirus.
How this would have worked is that ultraviolet (UV) light would be shown on surfaces that may
have been contaminated by coronavirus and after sufficient exposure to UV light, killed the
virus. There are two benefits to using a robot in this situation. The first is that this eliminates the
risk of a human worker cleaning surfaces and their potential exposure to the virus. It also
eliminates human exposure to UV light. UV light has been proven to be an effective way to kill
the coronavirus. However, exposure to UV light causes skin cancer in humans. This is why (at
least an attempt at) automation was used. It can provide safer outcomes for the human actors that
are involved.
The STS Research Project
My STS research focused on public transportation as a vehicle (pun intended) for social
mobility. In my research, I found that job opportunities were more plentiful to those that had
easy access to public transportation. In addition to this, not only did public transportation just
improve opportunities for those that needed it, it also returns several times on the dollar
investment back into the economy. But turning away from hard research and more into
speculation is where my technical project and STS research can be synthesized. Through the role
of automation, a public transportation system can become safer and more robust. With driverless
cars frequently making headlines, a decent prediction of the future of public transportation can
include these technologies. Although the general public does not believe it, driverless cars have
been shown to be a safer alternative to traditional cars with human drivers. Also, through
automation it has been shown that existing systems can be extended beyond current capacities
and much more efficiently. Automation can be used to extend current transportation to places
where it is really needed and do so in a much more efficient and safe way.
Automation is a part of our future. It has been a part of our future for the past fifty years.
It can be used to solve technical problems such as disinfecting contaminated surfaces. Given
enough research and development it can not only to this efficiently and effectively, it may also
provide a cost-effective solution. Automation can also provide a social solution to such problems
as deficiency in public transportation. It can be used to provide more fluid movement of social
actors through society. I will not say that automation can solve all problems, but it can solve
many and we will all be better off for it.
BS (Bachelor of Science)
public transportation, automation, deontology, autonomous vehicle, robotics
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Technical Advisor: Tomonari Furukawa
STS Advisor: Richard Jacques
Technical Team Members: Hannah Clark; Erin Dubas; Daniel Helmus; Charles Kellas; Cynthia Okoye; Connor Wynkoop
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
Persistent Link:
https://doi.org/10.18130/7ts3-2n87
Kellas_Charles_Prospectus.pdf.pdf
Uploaded:December 15, 2021
Kellas_Charles_Sociotechnical_Synthesis.pdf
Kellas_Charles_STS_Research_Paper.pdf
Kellas_Charles_Technical_Report.pdf
Libra Terms | Libra Feedback
Version: build-20210914165649


Communities affected by agricultural, forestry, and other resource investments urgently need increased funding for legal and technical support. Without support, communities risk losing access to critical land and resources, suffering human rights violations, or missing opportunities to benefit from investments. A lack of community support can also lead to conflict and challenges that are damaging for companies and host governments.
Donors and support providers have found ways to finance support for communities, but such efforts can only extend so far. Promising new opportunities exist for filling the financing gap, yet they will require sustained efforts by a range of actors. CCSI's first report presents an overview of different options for tapping new funding sources for community support; it is a call to action to help communities secure the support they so crucially need.
Other solutions for increasing funding or reducing costs, including crowdfunding, generating profits from social enterprises, affordable user fees or in-kind services, contingency and uplift fees, and court-ordered fee shifting.
The overview report also presents overarching considerations for developing a new financing initiative. These include: the initiative's likely cost, efficiency and financial sustainability, political complexity and obstacles, political economy implications, the importance of strong governance mechanisms, and the logistics required to link funding, communities and support providers.
CCSI will release a second report later in 2019 that provides guidance on establishing and operating basket funds for community support.
This work is part of a series of projects and activities, supported by UK aid from the Department for International Development, looking at legal support gaps in the context of land investments.


text:
/* esl_gumbel.h
 * Gumbel (type I extreme value) distributions.
 *
 * SRE, Mon Jun 27 08:44:41 2005 [St. Louis]
 * SVN $Id: esl_gumbel.h 664 2011-02-27 17:08:36Z eddys $
 * SVN $URL: https://svn.janelia.org/eddylab/eddys/easel/branches/hmmer/3.1/esl_gumbel.h $
 */
#ifndef eslGUMBEL_INCLUDED
#define eslGUMBEL_INCLUDED

#ifdef eslAUGMENT_RANDOM
#include <esl_random.h>
#endif

extern double  esl_gumbel_pdf    (double x, double mu, double lambda);
extern double  esl_gumbel_logpdf (double x, double mu, double lambda);
extern double  esl_gumbel_cdf    (double x, double mu, double lambda);
extern double  esl_gumbel_logcdf (double x, double mu, double lambda);
extern double  esl_gumbel_surv   (double x, double mu, double lambda);
extern double  esl_gumbel_logsurv(double x, double mu, double lambda);
extern double  esl_gumbel_invcdf (double p, double mu, double lambda);
extern double  esl_gumbel_invsurv(double p, double mu, double lambda);

extern double  esl_gumbel_generic_pdf   (double x, void *params);
extern double  esl_gumbel_generic_cdf   (double x, void *params);
extern double  esl_gumbel_generic_surv  (double x, void *params);
extern double  esl_gumbel_generic_invcdf(double p, void *params);

extern int esl_gumbel_Plot(FILE *fp, double mu, double lambda,
			   double (*func)(double x, double mu, double lambda),
			   double xmin, double xmax, double xstep);

#ifdef eslAUGMENT_RANDOM
extern double esl_gumbel_Sample(ESL_RANDOMNESS *r, double mu, double lambda);
#endif

extern int esl_gumbel_FitComplete(double *x, int n,
				  double *ret_mu, double *ret_lambda);
extern int esl_gumbel_FitCompleteLoc(double *x, int n, double lambda,
				     double *ret_mu);
extern int esl_gumbel_FitCensored(double *x, int n, int z, double phi,
				  double *ret_mu, double *ret_lambda);
extern int esl_gumbel_FitCensoredLoc(double *x, int n, int z, double phi,
				     double lambda, double *ret_mu);
#ifdef eslAUGMENT_MINIMIZER
extern int esl_gumbel_FitTruncated(double *x, int n, double phi,
				double *ret_mu, double *ret_lambda);
#endif

#endif /*eslGUMBEL_INCLUDED*/
/*****************************************************************
 * Easel - a library of C functions for biological sequence analysis
 * Version h3.1b2; February 2015
 * Copyright (C) 2015 Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
 * Other copyrights also apply. See the COPYRIGHT file for a full list.
 *
 * Easel is distributed under the Janelia Farm Software License, a BSD
 * license. See the LICENSE file for more details.
 *****************************************************************/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub