text:
My Education Rant
Free at 50
Punk Politics
Obama's Blind Spot
The Final Showdown
Why Trump must be Prosecuted
Have We Learned our Lesson?
It's Time to Burst the Poverty Bubble
A Clear and Present Danger
A Menace to Society
The Blasphemer-in-Chief
Can We Keep It Real?
The Lying Truth
About that Crime Bill…
America's Suspect Class
By Walter Fields, Executive Editor
POSTED: July 08, 2013, 11:00 am
The trial of George Zimmerman, the killer of Trayvon Martin who is on trial for the Black teenager's murder, reaffirms that young Black men, and Black males in general, are the nation's permanent suspect class. In a trial where the truth is fairly evident, and has always been, prosecutors are being tepid in their pursuit of justice as a tacit acknowledgment that Martin, is in fact, on trial and not the man who took his life. However, that is the norm in America; Black men must always prove their innocence to counter the cultural bias against them.
Recently, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire with the Napoleonic complex, had the gall to suggest his city's police department was stopping too many whites and not early enough Blacks; and then tried to make all Blacks suspects for the city's murder rate. By Mayor Bloomberg's logic every white male business executive in America should be a suspect given the preponderance of white males committing white collar crime. For that matter, every white male should be under a cloud of suspicion given the overwhelming numbers of white males involved in mass killings and campus violence. This is the same mayor whose disastrous "stop and frisk" policy has trampled on the civil liberties of young Black men in New York City and who refuses to do right by the wrongly accused "Central Park Five." But this is par for the course in America. Black males have been demonized and young Black boys are categorized as social deviants at an early age.
It was not too long ago when a white man, Charles Stuart, a white murderer, attempted to pin his killing of his pregnant wife on a Black man. He is not alone in attempting to capitalize on society's loathing of Black men. Susan Smith, a white murderer, drowned her children in South Carolina and saw the scapegoating of Black men as a viable alibi. Then there is the case of the Camden County, New Jersey prosecutor, Sam Asbell, a self-interested white law enforcement officer, who tried to advance his career by fabricating an attack in which he claimed Black men were in pursuit of his vehicle. The thread through all of these cases is the demonization of Black men, with its roots in slavery and our nation's enabling such abuse by custom and law. America has been fed such a steady diet of hate toward Black men that our sons like Trayvon don't stand a chance.
The dehumanization of Black males is systemic and relentless. Some will counter that the pervasive violence among young Black men attests to the legitimacy of society's fear of them. What that analysis fails to acknowledge, and purposely evades, is the truth that every effort is made to suffocate the life chances of young Black men from the outset of their lives. Already mostly the byproducts of adults who were denied opportunity and consigned to society's scrap heat, Black boys start the race in last place and must run against peers who enjoy the advantages of white privilege, no matter their class status. In school Black boys who exhibit independence, assertiveness and are energetic, all positive attributes for white children, are labeled as disciplinary problems and face disproportionate suspensions and expulsions. Black boys are not dropping out of school, they are being pushed out. Once out they are left to the devices of unforgiving streets, that initially show them more love than they ever received in homes and schools, but eventually turn on these boys too. Then unjust laws feed the mass incarceration of young Black men that feeds the destruction of the Black family and removes Black men as civic participants by stealing their right to vote.
"Black males sheer survival, let alone their matriculation in college, employment or marriage, is an act of divine grace."
Many Black men will never be gainfully unemployed and those that do find work will be subjected to the most menial low-wage jobs and most dangerous conditions. And by effect, their families will face permanent poverty and their offspring significantly high odds against success. Even the most conscious Black men in white collar positions, those that do not leave their Africanness at home and refuse to submerge their racial identity, do not escape the weight of their blackness and the burden of history. Black males sheer survival, let alone their matriculation in college, employment or marriage, is an act of divine grace.
Trayvon Martin never stood a chance. He was dead the minute George Zimmerman, a vigilante, set eyes upon him and knew a state statute used with racist intent would provide him cover. This trial is a travesty for the very reason that so many trials of white killers of Black people was during Jim Crow. There is no justice that can be had in that court room no matter if this jury comes back with a guilty verdict. There aren't enough years George Zimmerman could serve or form of death penalty that he could receive for his coldly calculated killing of this young man. And while I do hold out hope for some symbolic form of justice for Trayvon's parents what angers me is that the next Trayvon is right around the corner. Until we act en masse and interrupt the status quo, either through concerted political action, our consumer dollars, litigation or civil disobedience, or all of the above, these types of executions will persist and institutional bias against Black men will continue. It will stop when we stop allowing it to happen.
Walter Fields is the Executive Editor of NorthStarNews.com.
NorthStarNews.com on Facebook


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
Srinagar-Leh highway, Mughal road still closed
Rising night temperatures bring relief in Ladakh, J&K
Srinagar, Dec 4: The national highway, the only road connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir valley remained closed due to accumulation of several feet of snow and slippery road conditions.
Meanwhile, the historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region remained closed since November 6 due to snow.
A traffic police official said Wednesday morning that Srinagar-Jammu national highway was through for traffic. Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will ply from both sides while Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) only one-side, he said.
The national highway, connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir remained suspended on Wednesday because of accumulation of several feet of snow which has frozen due to below freezing temperature.
He said a massive snow clearance operation continued on the highway between Sonamarg, Zojila, Captain Mode, Meenmarg and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia. However, due to minus 15 to 20 temperature, particularly during the night, the road has become slippery, making snow clearance operation a little difficult.
The snow clearance operation is likely to complete by this evening.
The highway, the only road connecting UT Ladakh with Kashmir, remained closed for six months during winter due to below freezing temperature and accumulation of snow since November 1 every year in the past. However, for the past few years due to efforts of the local administration and different agencies of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), highway now remains open in the month of December till there is heavy snowfall.
Decision to close traffic for winter months will have to be taken by the administration of UT Ladakh and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. Earlier, before the division of the state into two UTs the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, was taking decision to close the highway for winter months.
The Mughal road remained closed though massive snow clearance operation was going on from both sides of Pir-ki-Gali.
Meanwhile the mercury climbed across most parts of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday, bringing some relief to the region a day after it witnessed the coldest night of the season.
The minimum in Leh town of Ladakh region increased by 2.8 degrees to settle at minus 12.8 degrees Celsius, while Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, against the previous night's minus 3 degrees Celsius, a Meteorological Department (Met) official said.
He said winter capital Jammu also marked a slight improvement in the night temperature which settled at 7.5 degrees Celsius, 2.3 notches below the normal during this time of the year.
The night temperature started falling across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after a snowfall in the higher reaches and rains in the plains last week. Day temperatures are near normal and the Met office has forecast dry weather till December 10.
The Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir was the coldest recorded place in the Valley with a low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius despite registering an increase of 0.8 notches, the official said.
The minimum temperature also appreciated by 2.6 degrees in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, presently covered by several feet of snow, to settle at minus 6 degrees Celsius, he said.
The official said Kupwara town of north Kashmir was reeling under a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, highway town of Qazigund at minus 2.5 degrees Celsius and Kokernag resort at minus 2.1 degrees Celsius.
Katra, which serves as the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district of Jammu region, recorded a low of 7.7 degrees Celsius, the official said, adding that Bhadarwah township of Doda district was, however, the coldest recorded place in the region with a minimum of 0.8 degrees Celsius.

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A Site of Beautiful Resistance
GODS & RADICALS
Write With Us!
Donald Trump & The Babbler in the Void
January 20, 2017 February 6, 2017 by Gods and Radicals, posted in Liberation Magic, Politics, Theory, Witchcraft
How An Occult Metaphor Can Help Us Understand this Decaying Landscape
DURING THIS STRANGE and difficult time, I have, as a spirit worker, attempted to draw connections between the past, present, and future, connections which could shed light on how things got this way. In the process I came across the following reflections. I would like to share with you my thoughts on how occult forces can emerge in the human psyche , and how that can have political implications.
There is something eerily familiar about Donald Trump. When I watch him I feel a lot of things…fear, rage, sadness, anger….and something like déja vu.
How could he seem familiar?
I have never met him, and though I have known countless assholes in my life, there is something unique about Trump when it comes to vileness. But what is this elusive quality? There are countless blogs and rants about this vileness, and all are justified, but I feel we need to look deeper, and ask hard questions about where this vileness comes from.
The problem is that everyone already seems to know how vile Donald Trump is, even his supporters, and yet none of that stops him. He has made every error, every mistake. He has had every embarrassment, every misstep. He has every flaw a politician could have. Huge parts of the Republican Party hate him. With all this, how does this man keep going forward like an armored car?
That brings me back to why he is so familiar.
I am a 30 year old transgender Occultist who was initiated by spirits 9 years ago. My path involves Scandinavian magick, Spirit Work, Ordeal, and my devotion to the Thelemic goddess Babalon. As a result of how these currents have shaped me, apocalypse–and the behaviors its various babbling illusionists–has become a lifelong study. And throughout that journey I have encountered another being like Trump.
A creature that is fragile yet indestructible: harmless yet containing the worst venom that exists, narcissistic and yet containing no singular self. A creature that says the most offensive things, and yet makes himself seem authentic. Who makes every mistake and yet seems perfect, who disregards all wisdom and knowledge and yet seems to have some strange elusive genius. A brutal method to the madness, a terrifying mesmerizing dance of order and chaos….but with the positive parts of order and chaos neutralized, leaving only a colorless entropy that atrophies and decays everything it touches. A being that you could argue with for hours using flawless debate skills only to find you have accomplished nothing because the whole debate was a distraction.
The dweller in the abyss, Choronzon.
BUT PLEASE LET me be clear, this is not a conspiracy theory rant. This is not about the illuminati or how Trump deliberately invokes this being in secret. I do not think he is part of some vast plot involving the antichrist, or that he is a distant relative of (name of random Occultist), blah blah. Such thinking is problematic and is often based on seeing connections where none actually exist. (Douglas Rushkoff called this "fractalnoia" )
I instead prefer adopting Terrance Mckenna's attitude: no one is in control. But if we stop there, we may be missing the point.
The biggest missing piece in this dizzying hailstorm of false flags, fake news, and misleading theories is an actual understanding of chaos itself. Chaos is not an unfortunate accident caused by bad apples of Eris thrown into congress, it is a force of nature, like any element. It is the margin of error lying slyly in the periphery of every well-made plan. Chaos is the mad tumbling out of every factor we can't calculate. Nevertheless, there are steps a magician, or an activist, could take to revere, respect, and dance with this force. Unfortunately, many activists and magicians do not revere, respect, or dance with this force, and instead take it for granted, underestimate its power, and pretend to have mastered it.
It is exactly this kind of hubris that makes one vulnerable to infection by creatures like Choronzon.
I hope you will forgive me a personal gnosis or two, and trust that I speak from real experience, when I say the following: Choronzon is not a being that needs to be summoned in order to manifest. If we look for him only in ritual actions and ancient tomes, we will completely miss the dark carnival of his other manifestations.
He can be seen in mania, crystal meth comedowns, schizophrenic states, hallucinogenic panics, and, yes, he can very much be seen in the empty-headed blathering which fills CNN day in and day out. You can see him in monkey dust and emergency rooms, in television commercials and hear him in stupid radio jingles. To borrow some phrasing from a chaos magician I have always deeply admired…Choronzon is the ego eating out its own brains, interrogating itself endlessly in an internal monologue with no end.
Choronzon is a self-obsessed entropy which seeks to form a perfect circuit, and a perfect prison. Choronzon is a demon, yes, but dealing with him forces one to throw out the entire playbook of classic demonology, because he's not about seals, or summoning, or glyphs, or rituals, or reductionist psychology. You may, after an entire day of preparatory rituals, finally decide to confront him, only to realize he has been watching you the entire time. It is my deep conviction that our very culture is infected with this force, and that that is what makes it monoculture.
So the question of the hour is, what makes my personal gnosis so special? What proves that I am not just another 'guru' cluttering up the already troubled landscape of occultism with unproved theories? Well, true to my form as a spirit worker, I can only answer this challenge with a story.
I had a psychotic break in my early 20s, due to a number of issues. Some of these were ritual cult abuse, hormone problems, initiators with hidden agendas, a recently discovered patrilineal demon, extreme stress, and high priestess disease.
In other words, I was unstable to begin with, thought I would explore occultism, and fell down a rabbit hole. But rather than my breakdown being the logical sum of a series of quantitative 'bad things', it was more like a discordant orchestra under a hailstorm. The worst thing was not the discordant noise, but the fact that something was conducting it, and how relentless and persistent the conductor was. One way of framing this is that it was the beginning of my walk onto the madness road of northern tradition shamanism. That is very true, though putting it that way, ironically, makes it sound like a heroic epic quest that made some sort of linear sense…. A sort of Oddessey.
Where the conductor took me, a story would have been a luxury. Emotions, actions, meaning, boundaries, form, dreams, icons, symbols, all these things became distant luxuries in the conductor's meaningless discordant world. During much of the 8 year ordeal that followed, politics was little more than an ambient noise. My endless desire for healing, for answers, consumed me utterly. It was only through my experiences with Madre Ayahuasca in 2011, and through the enormous generosity and wisdom of her healers, that I exist at all.
Throughout the integration of this story, I have had no choice but to build an intricate map of the Dweller in the Abyss, written in the scar tissue of my stitched-together psychic body. Written in diaries of runes, collages of mental hospital paperwork, and countless cathartic therapy sessions. Through this, I have concluded that, though Choronzon is real in every possible sense, he is also an essential component of the human psyche, and an unavoidable challenger to anyone who seeks enlightenment. I will not insult this beautiful monster with reductionist western psychology and its "archetypes," nor will I treat him as something which sits neatly contained in some Occult ritual instructions. He is in us all, and he is out there too.
CHORONZON is a temporary personification of the raving forces that occupy the abyss. They are impossible to define because their behaviors almost completely depend on the content of the magicians mind. And we cannot remove Da'ath from ourselves anymore than we can live without throats. If a zen master encounters Choronzon, he will see Maya, the lord of illusion, but is likely to remain calm. If a meth addict sees Choronzon, he will see the most horrifying devil imagineable.
In this regard it's important to not see Choronzon as essentially evil, because such a label would imply attachment to a static identity and thus a kind of predictable order. That being said, the vast number of experiences with him, in spite of their variation, have one common thread: he challenges. He tests. He demands payment for entrance to his realm and he demands tolls for the crossing of his bridges. And by challenging, he initiates and offers a path to enlightenment. But keep in mind, this path is the most brutal, painful and difficult way to become enlightened.
Mocking this being would not harm it, as it had no ego to defend. But as long as I had an ego it could mock me. It was not egoless, because all its poisons pushed me away from enlightenment. I could easily prove it wrong, in fact proving it wrong was the easiest thing to do, and yet every time I proved it wrong it changed the subject, snuck around and mixed up the whole paradigm. This always gave me a sense that no matter how good my argument was, I would realize halfway through that it didn't matter. Then I realized that following its train of thought was missing the point: it wasn't about whether it was right or wrong, it was about how I chose to interact with its babbling. Eventually I realized that all its babbling was a distraction and a device to exploit my attachments, anxieties, and fears.
Above all, this being's strongest tendency was towards extreme, polarizing chaos. But all that chaos concealed a group of core tendencies which remained constant and strangely orderly. Those core tendencies served the purpose of driving my psyche to extremes: I would either be utterly destroyed or I would gain a power greater than I ever imagined. In Choronzon's realm they could make anything possible, except enlightenment, healing, or freedom, because Choronzon is incapable of imagining anything outside of themselves. This is why detachment, unconditional love, and surrender always defeat them. They are not just chaos, they are entropy and negative disorder, as opposed to positive disorder which I define as healthy rebellion and creative inspiration. None of the chaos of Choronzon nourishes the creative impulse, it destroys it ( unless you win the jackpot of passing through the abyss.)
When I went from mental health peer support to Thelemic study, I found writings on Choronzon and felt chilled to the bone. Words like decay, entropy, babbling, madness, jumped out at me. I devoured every bit of info I could find and everything resonated. Its modus operandi in literature was an exact match to what I thought had been my personal schizoid tormentor.
The crucial point was that the only way to beat this thing was to focus on what was real, true, sacred, and good in yourself while knowing that whatever Ch said was just a distraction . Ch would say vile things, hoping the mage would take them personally, or engage in passionate argument, or otherwise stray from the path. eventually Ch would, like a virus, run its course, run out of energy, and disappear.
It has been said that when there is no way out, there is often a way through. Surrender was my way through. I took the approach that when choronzon started saying vile things, I would focus on what was sacred and good about myself while holding space for the vileness to just Be. I loved Choronzon unconditionally as my sacred inner monster. This healed me.
HOW THIS RELATES to Trump is tricky. I dont want to take the most painful divisive issue of the decade and apply some generic new age wisdom to it. Admittedly, there are huge ways these beings are different. The only way to overcome Choronzon is to hold space for his vileness to run its course while holding on to everything true and sacred within oneself. This is a kind of surrender. In the case of Trump, such a strategy would seem irrelevant and pointlessly sentimental. However, I dont think this is because of a lack of connection between the two. I think it's because the Occult world and Matter based world have very different rules.
If Choronzon somehow incarnated in a physical body, the practice of surrender would have to be re-evaluated and physical self defense would be a vital concern. That being said…there are many martial arts which take spiritual disciplines such as surrender and give them kinetic form. Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, for example, often counsels yielding to the opponent's momentum in order to throw them off balance, almost as if they are harming themselves. The form taught to me focused on conflict resolution, de-escalation, and using an opponent's aggression against them. Japanese jiu-jitsu uses leverage, physics, and a strong understanding of human anatomy to neutralize an opponent's rage. All of this is done without sacrificing any component of effective self defense.
It is a complex issue. We should be angry, should engage in argument, should fight Trump with everything we have. On the other hand, Trump rallies are like an abyss…and like Choronzon, he stands as a temporary personification of its raving forces. It is thus important to keep in mind that defeating Trump would not slay the monster, as it is much larger than him. In order to kill the hydra we must go for its heart. We must understand on a deep level who and what he is and where his power is coming from. When he speaks he is legion, and that legion is an ocean of ignorance, desperation, reaction, and fear. It has all of the markers of a cult…but its not a conspiracy. its far more simple, and far more awful.
Choronzon gives shape and form to the ugliest, most poisonous side of the human psyche. Choronzon babbles endlessly but never says anything, values nothing but is always wealthy, commits atrocities and perversions but makes himself appear traditional and honest. The ultimate shapeshifter, a paradox. Those infected by him rapidly lose sight of what is real, truth begins to seem relative and all that is left is helplessness, desperation, and empty reaction.
This is not an argument for pacifism. Trump is racist scum and if he died tomorrow the world would be a better place. That being said…the body of humanity is poisoned and Trump is just the most obvious symbol of that sickness…just as Choronzon is just a name in a book describing an ocean of monsters whispering in the dark.
I theorize that Trump and Choronzon are similar and different because they both are central characters in two different abysses. Terrance Mckenna believed that there were four abysses within a fifth. The four are:
the biological abyss, represented by death
The historical abyss, represented by the apocalypse and 'end of history'
the psychological abyss, represented by visionary experience
the physical abyss of outer space.
The above four are within a fifth abyss, which Mckenna described as "unspeakable."
In other words, Trump is a kind of Choronzon of the historical abyss, and whereas surrender is an extraordinarily effective technique in dealing with the psychological abyss, the historical abyss requires a different approach. At this stage though, it is very hard to be sure what that approach would be. Every act of violence against racism is always necessary and always sacred.
But I would also say that that sacred battle could be made stronger by way of a deeper understanding of what this monster is and how it can be destroyed on a deeper level.
Choronzon and Trump, these "conductors of discord" …rule over realms with very different rules, thus a weapon used against one may not work against the other. But there is a link between them and understanding that link may, perhaps, shed some light on how we are to defeat Trump.
Just as a individual soul is in crisis when crossing the psychological abyss while being tortured by Choronzon, this country's soul is in crisis trying to come to terms with what has been done and what must be done. Trump appears as a Choronzonic figure because in a perverse way he has mastered the divisive, polarizing language of the historical abyss. (Thus it is no accident that he is often seen as a despotic figure). I theorize that this is why those politicians who debate him based on an outdated playbook end up frustrated and confused.
We must recognize that we are not dealing with a politician. We are dealing with a warlord, and we are at war. The historical abyss is also a very hard thing to accept, and scapegoating and denial are much easier routes for the morally irresponsible. Those who are in denial want to stay in denial and like Choronzon block the country's (in this case, metaphorically, the magician or fool's) journey toward healing, accountability and reconciliation. America's institutions and privileged groups have committed horrible crimes and are slowly collectively realizing they must show accountability in order to heal.
Like death, the first stage is denial, and many want to stay there. My suspicion, however, is that most of that group are of the older generation who are deeply set in their ways. Choronzon's job is always that of blocking enlightenment and healing…so that the soul can be driven back in terror. As a Lord in the historical abyss, Trump seems to be taking the same role.
Thus it becomes clear where America's soul finds itself: on a perilous rickety bridge over a vast abyss. An abyss filled with fracked gas, racist murdering cops, ecological collapse, and economic devastation. Can this country find its way to the other side, or are we doomed to fall into the void where Choronzon, or Trump, will rule?
I have never had much of a sense of where I belong in this landscape, but I know that I cannot allow that to happen anymore than Icould allow the abyss to destroy me for good so many years ago. Something had to change, and it did.
GG Irkalla
GG Irkalla is a 30 year old transgender spirit worker who is devoted to the goddess Babalon. She founded the collective "oly witch crew" and manages the zine "Up the Witchpunx." She lives with her girlfriend in Olympia Washington. She can be reached at gg_irkalla@riseup.net & through www.upthewitchpunx.com
Like this piece? You will probably love our print and digital publications, including our journal A Beautiful Resistance and Christopher Scott Thompson's new book, Pagan Anarchism! Find out more here.
Tagged Abyss, Choronzon, GG Irkalla, Mental Illness, resistance, terrence McKenna, Thelema, Trump
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6 thoughts on "Donald Trump & The Babbler in the Void"
Tony Rella says:
lornasmithers says:
Just watched the horrors of Trump's inauguration speech… thanks for sharing this alternative perspective. I think we all need to find our own ways of understanding the political forces governing the world outside of their own narratives and on a deeper level and this is an interesting example.
Hi Irkalla!
Great article! The 'Choronzon' has much in common with whom other ancient wisdom traditions refer to as 'Wetiko' and that makes the content of this article digestible to me, as far as I am aware ofcourse.
One 'small detail' in it remains unclear to me however;
You state that "Every act of violence against racism is always necessary and always sacred." Is this your personal opinion, is it coming from the perspective of 'The Historical Abyss', or maybe anything else?
I'm asking this because to me (and possibly to others as well) 'violence' and 'racism', without further specification towards the context, are mere agreed upon consensus values free to any subjective interpretation..
To me personally, if I may be so 'generous', the rest of the article is as solid as it can get! Really cool stuff!
Greetz,
Fabian,
BART Station Bard says:
Reblogged this on BART Station Bard and commented:
This is important stuff. Hard to hear, harder to understand and apply, but absolutely vital to our collective survival.
GREG MOODY says:
Reblogged this on Dances with Tricksters and commented:
This is brilliant! Choronzon is just one of the many names for Samael, which is one of the many names for the Dweller in the Abyss. I have made peace with my inner monster, but the struggle is always there, from psychotic breaks to mental wards to nightmares and shadow work. But in the end, light prevails, the void is illuminated, and fascist babblers like Samael and Trump are defeated by the long but moral arc of justice.
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Peace forum to set up 'alliance of virtues' on Islam
Going Out Society
The forum will bring together more than 800 of the world's most influential Islamic scholars and thinkers from 120 countries
Published: October 24, 2018 18:49 Samir Salama, Associate Editor
Dr Mohammad Mattar Al Kaabi at the press conference to announce the 5th edition of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: The 5th edition of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, to be held in Abu Dhabi on December 5, will establish that Islam is a religion of peace and justice, said Dr Mohammad Mattar Al Kaabi, secretary general of the forum, an Abu Dhabi-based international organisation.
The forum will bring together more than 800 of the world's most influential Islamic scholars and thinkers from 120 countries, including ministers of religious affairs, muftis, representatives of the Muslim communities and delegates from the United Nations and rights organisations across the world.
scholars and intellectuals will discuss the methodology of setting up an alliance of virtues to achieve a worldwide discourse of mutual friendship and cooperation based upon common values and virtues, Dr Al Kaabi said.
"The idea came following the resounding success of the peace caravan, where an intimate and diverse group of US Muslim, Christian and Jewish clerics convened in Abu Dhabi last year to understand and appreciate theological differences while focusing on the synergism of religious commonalities essential to building healthy ad peaceful communities," Dr Al Kaabi said.
"These endeavours culminated in an international conference in Washington D.C. in February this year under the theme 'An Alliance of Virtues for the Common Good'. The event drew participation from hundreds of Christian pastors, Jewish rabbis and Muslim imams, alongside academics and researchers concerned with the culture of peace, as well as representatives of major international organisations and the US civil society. This landmark event was the first time the Abrahamic family of religions convened in all its diversity, to agree on new foundations for a religious dialogue, one that transcends disputation and proselytisation to achieve a discourse of mutual acquaintance and cooperation based upon common values."
The forum will discuss the nature of the alliance of virtues, its core objectives, the responsibilities of its stakeholders, strategies, and challenges that confront it.
The forum will tackle five main topics: a contemporary outlook of early Islam's Alliance of Virtues, treaties and covenants in Islam, contemporary crises of religions and mankind, religion and the ethics of universal solidarity, and a new alliance of virtues — an opportunity for global peace.
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text:
Awesome 92.3Awesome 92.3
Here's the Artists Playing State Fairs This Summer
I was surprised to see a Facebook note from a radio friend talking about Blake Shelton playing the Iowa State Fair this summer. And even more shocked when I went to their website to see the entire lineup. So I decided to do some snooping and see what states have already announced some of their acts for Fairs scheduled for this summer.
The Iowa State Fair lineup is impressive. And their fair takes place the same dates ours does. Is it too much to ask some of these artists to play Missouri too? Artists appearing at the Iowa State Fair from August 12 -August 22 include: Blake Shelton and Matt Stell, Sam Hunt and Kip Moore, The Beach Boys and Hanson, Styx and Tesla, Chris Stapleton, and Keith Urban and Russell Dickerson. Is that a line up or what?
The Kansas State Fair lineup isn't as impressive, and I believe their running out the line-up they planned for last year. Artists appearing at the Kansas State Fair from September 10 - September 19 include: Logan Mize and Tracy Lawrence, Chris Janson, Newsboys, Nelly and .38 Special.
Illinois also is running their fair the same dates as Missouri and Iowa, August 12-22, has also released their line-up. Playing the Illinois State Fair: Staind, Gabriel Iglesias, Toby Keith, The Traveling Salvation Show (a tribute to Neil Diamond), Chris Young with Ingrid Andress, I Love the 90-s Tour featuring Vanilla Ice, Naughty By Nature, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, All 4 One, Tone Loc, Young MC and Rob Base, Kelsea Ballerini, and George Thorogood with .39 Special.
The Wisconsin State Fair is running from August 5 -15 and has announced five headliners scheduled to perform last year that have been rescheduled this year. They include: Skillet, Chris Young with Sarah Evans, Brothers Osbourne, Boyz II Men with Ginuwine and The Beach Boys. They'll be adding more acts too.
Although Wisconsin's big music fest isn't so much the State Fair, it's Summerfest on Milwaukee's lakefront the last week of June and first two weeks of July. They've booked or re-scheduled Khalid, Luke Bryan, Justin Bieber, Dave Matthews Band, Blink 182, Halsey, Chris Stapleton and Guns 'N' Roses for their big amphitheater shows. And will have over a 1,000 performances on 12 stages during the festival.
Of course, at this point The Missouri State Fair isn't the only fair that has been mum about concerts. The granddaddy of all the state fairs, the State Fair of Texas hasn't announced any shows. And I couldn't tell if the Oklahoma State Fair actually has big name concerts from their website. So obviously they're not talking about anything yet.
Last summer the Missouri State Fair didn't get very far in announcing acts before tours ground to a halt. They had only announced the interesting pairing of the Steve Miller Band with Marty Stuart and Trace Adkins before things ground to a halt.
So what does all this tell us? I'm not sure it tells us very much. It gives us an indication of whose planning to be out and touring this summer. And in many cases who might be available that the Missouri State Fair could book.
Blake Shelton would be a huge get for the Missouri State Fair. So would Chris Stapleton. Styx and Tesla, while not as huge a get for the fair as Shelton and Stapleton, would still be one hell of a rock show. I think it would do as well as Foreigner. A lot of the rest of the artists, they're the artists I would expect to see play our fair.
I'd be pleasantly surprised if either the I Love the 90's Tour or Boyz II Men with Ginuwine got booked at the Missouri State Fair. But both of those shows would be fun to see and might broaden the fair's entertainment appeal.
As I've said before, it's easy to play arm chair concert promoter. It's a lot harder to be over in the fair's administration building trying to build a concert line-up. The people involved in that probably have budget limitations, competition from other fairs and festivals that want to book the same acts, competition from venues in Kansas City and Columbia that want to book acts. And this year, a sort of sense of the unknown.
We'll know soon enough who'll be playing the fair. Right now it's time to dream about who you might get to see at the Missouri State Fair.
See Inside Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's Malibu Beach House:
Source: Here's the Artists Playing State Fairs This Summer
Filed Under: Artists, Concerts, Missouri State Fair, State Fair
Categories: Concerts, Daily Distraction, Missouri News


text:
import sys
import os
import glob

def main():
    if len(sys.argv) < 3:
        return

    depth = int(sys.argv[1])
    keyword = sys.argv[2]

    dirnames = getdir('.', keyword, depth)
    print ' '.join([d[2:] for d in dirnames])

def getdir(root, keyword, depth):
    if depth <= 0:
        return []

    result = []
    if depth > 1:
        try:
            dirs = os.listdir(root)
        except OSError:
            return []

        for dir in filter(os.path.isdir, [os.path.join(root, d) for d in dirs]):
            result += getdir(dir, keyword, depth - 1)

    result += filter(os.path.isdir, glob.glob(os.path.join(root, keyword)+'*'))
    return result

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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News release: Where should renters live if they want to save for a deposit? It might not be where you think!
Anna Bibby, 08 July 2019
Buying a home of their own has become an unrealistic goal for many renters, with saving for a deposit being the biggest burden for the majority.
A survey of 2,000 renters carried out by Intus Lettings, a nationwide lettings agency based in Manchester, reveals the best places for renters to live if they want to save for a deposit – and it might not be where you think.
The region where people are most active in saving up for a deposit is London, where over 70 per cent of respondents were doing so despite the high property prices. Surprisingly, fewer tenants were saving for a deposit in more affordable regions such as the East Midlands (49.21 per cent), the North East (50 per cent) and the South East (51.48 per cent).
More than a third of tenants surveyed (38.83%) said that they are putting no money aside, and 15.41 per cent said they put aside less than £50 a month.
Finally, when tenants were asked whether they felt confident about their prospects of owning a home, four in 10 believe that they will own a property in the future (40.9 per cent), with almost as many (36.47%) feeling less confident.
Renters in Yorkshire and the Humber (49.67 per cent) and London (46.12 per cent) were the most confident overall.
Hope McKendrick, Head of Lettings at Intus Lettings, said: "The results confirmed some things we already knew, such as the number of tenants renting because they cannot afford to buy a property. However, the fact that tenants in London are the most proactive in saving up for a deposit was surprising to us as the capital is usually regarded as the least affordable region in the country."
She added: "From a landlord's perspective, it demonstrates that there is still a strong demand for rental accommodation and that many tenants are looking for long-term homes rather than something more temporary – and they should keep this in mind when they advertise their property on the market."
Register for updates, offers, events and more
© 2020 Intus Lettings / Privacy Policy Intus Lettings Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 09438688.
Intus Lettings is a member of the Deposit Protection Scheme.


text:
Police searching for man accused of dismembering infant daughter
Naugatuck are searching for a man wanted in connection with the homicide of a 1-year-old child. (Source: WFSB)
By Audrey Russo, Rob Polansky and Debra Worley
Published: Nov. 21, 2022 at 3:26 PM EST
NAUGATUCK, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) – Officers with the Naugatuck Police Department are searching for a man accused of killing his daughter who was just shy of turning 1.
Police said Monday the girl died of neck compressions and stab wounds, according to WFSB. Officials said the young child had been dismembered as well.
Christopher Francisquini, 31, is wanted in connection to the Friday death of the 11-month-old and is considered "armed and dangerous."
The baby was identified as Camilla Francisquini, the suspect's daughter.
Officials said Francisquini has prior arrests and was out on bond for a combination of five pending cases.
Authorities said they found a GPS monitor they claimed was removed before 911 was called at the time of the stabbing.
"Francisquini as well as the child's biological mother were involved in a dispute in Waterbury," police said during news conference Monday. "It was during that incident that the GPS monitor was removed."
According to authorities, Francisquini ran away from the scene and ditched his car. Officers searched for him throughout the weekend and the FBI was called to assist.
Police have obtained a warrant to arrest and charge Francisquini with murder. They have not yet identified a motive for the killing.
Officers said Monday this case is one of the most trying they've ever investigated.
Copyright 2022 WFSB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
FHSU Collegiate Farm Bureau members attend leadership conference
Fort Hays State University Collegiate Farm Bureau members recently attended the annual Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Rancher's leadership conference in Manhattan.
The event provides tools, resources, information and encouragement for those building a foundation for their operation and the many who are considering a career in agriculture.
"Ad astra per aspera, meaning to the stars through difficulty, is not only the Kansas motto but the way of life for our state's farmers and ranchers and the theme of this year's conference," said Amy France, Kansas YF & R committee chair.
"Through uncertainty, disaster and difficult years, farmers and ranchers adapt and find a way to survive," she said.
Participants attended workshops in agricultural economics, agricultural mechanics, agricultural safety, animal science, current agricultural events, farm bureau, natural resources, plant science, rural community development, leadership and communication.
FHSU students who attended are listed alphabetically by hometown.
BIRD CITY: Jacob Brubaker, a senior majoring in political science, is a 2015 Cheylin High School graduate.
BUCKLIN: Allyson Rudd, a senior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2015 Bucklin High School graduate.
CHEYENNE WELLS, Colo.: Shaelyn Akers, a senior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2014 Cheyenne Wells High School graduate.
Katie Pelton, a senior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2014 Cheyenne Wells High School graduate.
DODGE CITY: Noah Day, a sophomore majoring in agricultural business, is a 2013 South Gray High School graduate.
DOWNS: Kendra Brummer, a senior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2015 Osborne High School graduate.
Jeremy Simmelink, a sophomore majoring in agricultural business, is a 2016 Rock Hills High School graduate.
HERNDON: Neil Portschy, a junior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2015 Rawlins County High School graduate.
LONGMONT, Colo.: Alexis Nehls, a junior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2015 Skyline High School graduate.
MANKATO: Allison Railsback, a junior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2016 Rock Hills High School graduate.
MINNEOLA: Brianna Stefan, a junior majoring in agriculture, is a 2016 Minneola High School graduate.
NORTON: Travis Cressler, a senior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2014 Norton High School graduate.
SHARON SPRINGS: Nick Smith, a senior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2013 Weskan High School graduate.
STOCKTON: Alison Miller, a senior majoring in agriculture, is a 2015 Stockton High School graduate.
PAUL, Neb.: Sathena Scarborough, a freshman majoring in agriculture, is a 2017 St. Paul High School graduate.
STRATTON, Colo.: Celine Hornung, a senior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2014 Stratton High School graduate.
TURON: Garrett Geesling, a senior majoring in agriculture, is a 2015 Fairfield High School graduate.
VICTORIA: Anna Schmidtberger, a senior majoring in agricultural business, is a 2015 Victoria High School graduate.
WINFIELD: Audrie Bailey, a freshman majoring in agricultural business, is a 2017 Winfield High School graduate.
Collegiate members also had the opportunity to compete in the collegiate discussion meet, an event that challenges Collegiate Farm Bureau members to analyze agricultural issues and decide on solutions that best meet the needs of the industry.
"The competition is designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant," said Kelsey Stremel, digital marketing assistant director in FHSU's University Relations and Marketing.
"Contestants build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems through discussion of pre-selected topics," she said.
FHSU Collegiate Farm Bureau sponsors were Stremel, Dr. Craig Smith, associate professor of agriculture, and Stephanie Eckroat, Ellis County Farm Bureau County Coordinator.
Members also had the opportunity to participate in the collegiate ag quiz bowl, which is open to teams from the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters in Kansas. Contestants demonstrate their knowledge of topics relating to Kansas agriculture.
Brubaker took first place, winning $500 and an expense-paid trip to compete in the national contest at the 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference in New Orleans. Schmidtberger and Bailey also competed in the final round of the discussion meet.


text:
Gremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature called a mogwai as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. This story was continued with a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, released in 1990. Unlike the lighter sequel, the original Gremlins opts for more black comedy, which is balanced against a Christmas-time setting. Both films were the center of large merchandising campaigns. Steven Spielberg was the film's executive producer and the screenplay was written by Chris Columbus. The film stars Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates, ... more on Wikipedia
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Compact size: 1.49" x 1.46" x 0.5"
● Compact size: 1.46" x 2.36" x 0.52"
Compact size: 1.56" x 2.36" x 0.51"
Evolving Sirius-Bishop series converter is composed of Isolated, board-mountable, fixed switching frequency dc-dc converters that use synchronous rectification to achieve extremely high power conversion efficiency.
Evolving Sirius-Bishop series – New generation converter series is composed of Isolated, board-mountable, fixed switching frequency dc-dc converters that use synchronous rectification to achieve extremely high power conversion efficiency.
PowerGood DC DC CONVERTER - ESCN series is a range up to 40W and with high performance. Further standard features include out current limit and short circuit protection / output over-voltage protection / out voltage trim range of -10%, +10%, input under-voltage lockout and light weight with 5 sided metal case shielding. Each module is supplied completely encased to provide protection from the harsh environments seen in many industrial and transportation applications.
Compact size: 2.4" x 2.4" x 0.52"
converters that use synchronous rectification to achieve extremely high power conversion efficiency.


text:
Daniel Leiner (May 13, 1961 – October 18, 2018) was an American film and former television director. He was best known for directing the stoner comedy films Dude, Where's My Car? and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

He was born in Manhattan, New York, in 1961. Leiner also directed a wide range of television shows, including Arrested Development, Everwood, Gilmore Girls, Freaks and Geeks, Sports Night, Felicity, Action, The Tick, Austin Stories, The Mind of the Married Man, The Sopranos, and How to Make It in America. He also directed The Office episode "WUPHF.com".

Leiner died from lung cancer on October 18, 2018, at the age of 57.

References

External links

1961 births
2018 deaths
People from Manhattan
Film directors from New York City
American television directors
Comedy film directors
Deaths from lung cancer in California
State University of New York at Purchase alumni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Division sieve operations in Mathematica I am just wondering how to easily compute this problem using Mathematica.
What Percent of Even Integers are Divisible by either 6, 20, 28 or 70?
My purpose is to extend this to a finite number of factors greater than 4.
Thanks in advance for your help. I know a few Mathematica functions but I don't know what to use in this type of problem.

A: Here is some Mathematica code to add up the appropriate LCMs:
list = {6, 20, 28, 70};
Total[Flatten[Table[(-1)^(i - 1)/LCM @@@ Subsets[list, {i}], {i, Length[list]}]]]
47/210

If you believe the comments at the linked Mathematics site, this will need to be multiplied by 2.

A: list = {6, 20, 28, 70};
S = Drop[Subsets[list], 1];
R = -2*Sum[(-1)^Length[S[[k]]]/LCM @@ S[[k]], {k, 1, Length@S}];
Print[R*100 // N, "%"]


text:
November 2, 2020 Rose Blue
Review – My Kind of Earl by Vivienne Lorret
USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret continues her charming new trilogy with a bluestocking whose search for information on the mating habits of scoundrels has her stumbling upon the missing heir to an earldom… in the London underworld.
Jane Pickerington never intended to start a brawl in a brothel. She only wanted to research her book. Yet when her simple study of scoundrels goes awry, she finds herself coming to the rescue of a dark, enigmatic stranger… who turns out to be far more than an average rake out for a night of pleasure. He's positively wild!
Only the most feral and cunning could have survived foundling homes and work houses. Orphaned as an infant, Raven never had another name. At least… not until he meets her. Now he's face-to-face with the one person who recognizes the strange birthmark on his arm and can reinstate him to his blue-blooded birthright.
All at once, Raven's life takes a turn. His knowledge of dark alleys and gaming hells never prepared him for gilded ballrooms. So Jane becomes his tutor. Yet, the more lessons in decorum she offers, the more this untamed scoundrel wants to teach her all the ways to be wicked.
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECT AMAZON BUY LINK: My Kind of Earl
Jane Pickering, the daughter of Viscount Hollybrook, is not your typical society miss. Thanks to her parents' lack of interest in their own children, and their absorption with each other and the ton, Jane has fallen into being the main caretaker for her ten younger siblings. While Jane loves them and her time spent with them, she also possesses a keen intellect and a desire for knowledge. This has led to some interesting experiments and scenarios, the latest involves Jane sneaking into a brothel for the purpose of observing the behavior there for a book she's writing. Little does she know that she's being observed.
Raven is an orphan with a rough upbringing, and a very seedy young adulthood. He's finally found a decent position at a gaming club, one that has helped him to gain some self respect. When he observes a young woman sneaking into a brothel through a window, his curiosity gets the better of him. Though the young lady attempts to stay hidden, she's soon accosted and propositioned. When Raven comes to the rescue, he soon learns that Jane had a plan to take care of herself. She looses one of her experiments, which results in Raven being turned pink. Yes. Pink.
Raven soon learns Jane's identity, as he's acquainted with her cousin, Duncan, who was waiting for her as she left the brothel. Duncan insists on dropping Raven off at his home, and Jane attempts to de-pink him and attend to the injuries he received at the brothel during the chaos. Jane notices what appears to be a birthmark on Raven's arm, one that looks like its namesake, and is the reason for Raven's name. Only, Jane, with her photographic memory, realizes that she's seen that exact image before. She just has to remember where. When Jane remembers that the raven image was from a family crest, and that Raven's birthmark may actually be a scar, she's determined to find the answer. Raven, himself, has always longed to know his origin, and so he and Jane continue to have contact with each other as she researches.
Raven is more than a little intrigued with Jane, as she is with him. He likes her quirkiness, her oddness, and her love for her siblings. He gets to meet them, as he regularly visits, with her parents being too uninvolved to even notice. When the investigation finally appears to show that Raven may indeed be linked to a prominent family, Jane begins to tutor Raven on the fine art of being a gentleman. Raven is torn between wanting to have a family, and wanting to stay safe in the life he's created for himself. This also sheds light on several mysterious attacks which have happened to Raven. Can it be that someone is determined that he never claim his birthright?
MY KIND OF EARL is a light and engaging read, with plenty of amusing moments to go along with the emotional ones. Jane's character is odd, but not so much so that she doesn't desire love and a family of her own. She's truly selfless with her siblings, and not a bit snobbish. I love her interactions with Raven, how she encourages him, and eventually loves him. Raven, for all his strength and toughness, has a vulnerability that is genuinely touching. He never desired wealth or a title, just a family, and finding out why he was abandoned as an infant. Together Raven and Jane are perfect, as they understand and accept each other, as well as having a steamy chemistry. I loved reading this book, which I just seemed to speed through in no time, and I recommend it for readers who prefer a lighter read, but still one with plenty of heart. ~Rose
Vivienne Lorret
Previous Review – The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray by Anna Bradley
Next Review – Noble Scoundrel by Amy Sandas


LAS VEGAS — The erroneous emergency alert announcement that shook the state of Hawaii in January sparked panic and fear when it warned a ballistic missile will strike soon.
This incident shined a light on the Federal Communication Commission and how the government should handle such alerts.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto addressed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, discussing the need to tackle language barriers in Nevada's emergency alert systems, by using Tagalog and Spanish.
"Not just Spanish language alone. In Nevada, particularly in southern Nevada, we have a huge Filipino population and Tagalog is an important language obviously, and that's a barrier for those who don't speak Spanish," said Masto.
The initiative would benefit many elderly Filipinos like Sofia Tabangcura.
At 82, Tabangcura takes public transportation. But most of the time, she is alone and just watches TV.
"Mas maigi sa akin kung may translation nung English. Kung minsan, hindi ako makapag-salita ng English, hindi ko masyadong maintindihan, hindi rin nila ako maintindihan," said Tabangcura.
Ron Solis, who manages buses, said the mandate of an emergency alert system in the buses in Tagalog would be a big help for disabled Pinoy passengers.
"With this new system na Tagalog, this will tremendously help us kasi, what's been happening is, when we have this emergency and it goes to different entity or providers, they would not know na talagang emergency yun. But if it boils down to talagang Filipino emergency, it's in our language. They would really respond to it, 'di lang nila babalewalain," said Solis.
Solis added that the transportation's emergency response protocol in Tagalog will help the Filipino community with disaster preparedness, fire suppression, and basic disaster medical operations as well as light search and rescue operations.
For now, Senator Cortez Masto vows to continue and support the importance of the Filipino language in the emergency alert systems.


Not to be confused with CEng (the post-nominal for Chartered Engineer) or the company CENG (Constellation Energy Nuclear Group).
The çeng is a Turkish harp. It was a popular Ottoman instrument until the last quarter of the 17th century.
Oud, çeng, and def in the palace garden. Early 16th century. From I. Ahmed's collection.
The second çeng in Turkey was recently made by Mehmet Soylemez, an instrument maker and master's degree graduate student at Istanbul Technical University, for Şirin Pancaroğlu, the primary harpist of Turkey. She has started to explore this ancient instrument and will soon record with it.
In the United States, New England Conservatory of Music ethnomusicology professor Robert Labaree plays and records with the instrument.
The çeng belongs to the family of instruments known in organology as "open harps," which are further divided into the "bow harps" and the "square harps." The çeng is in the latter groups.
Of the square harps used for 2,500 years in not only the Middle East but in Central Asia and the Far East as well, the Ottoman çeng was the last to fall into disuse.
1. The çeng was played by both men and women. 2. Miniatures depicting the çeng show it accompanying talks by poets and learned men than on the stage. 3. Though it is difficult to speak of a standard size of çeng, it becomes clear that there were two sizes of the instrument. The first, the "kucak çengi" (lap çeng) was small and played indoors, seated. The second was the "açık hava çengi", which was quite large and played standing up. The kucak çengi was played with the pegboard on the player's left knee; the açık hava çengi rested on a long foot that went between the player's legs, and tied around the waist by a belt attached to the lower part of its body (that is, the resonator). 4. The çeng's resonator was constructed in two ways, either curved or straight. While the curved resonator is encountered in Iranian, Arab, Uygur, Chinese and even Japanese miniatures, the straight resonator appears only in Ottoman miniatures.
Possibly, when the Ottomans adopted the çeng that came from Iran, another closed harp descended from the Phoenician harp was in use in the Byzantine period. After the Iranian-derived Ottoman çeng was abandoned, the above-mentioned triangular harp was in use in Istanbul, especially in some homes in the Pera district. The fact that in miniatures this instrument, which we can claim was never played in the palace, is shown in the hands of women in palace attire, is not difficult to explain. The market painters were not like the palace artists, who were closely familiar with palace life. For this reason, elements of palace life were mixed with those of outside life.
(Georgian: ჩანგი) (čangi) A Georgian traditional instrument called the changi is preserved only in one region of Georgia: the Svaneti (western Svanetian Changi mountainous part). The changi consists of two main parts: body and supplementary elements, which are represented by keys and tuners. The body consists of horizontal and vertical parts. The horizontal part the resonator is made out of a long hollowed tree and has the shape of a semi-cylinder. Plate of about 4 mm with a small curvature in the middle is nailed onto it. The plate has six notches for buttons to fasten the strings, they are fastened at the same distance from the sides of the resonator. The vertical part is straight and flat. It has holes for the tuners. The tip of the vertical part is inserted into the horizontal part forming a right angle. On both parts small wooden sticks are nailed parallel to the strings. The changi is mainly made of softwood; the most popular material is fir, but sometimes pine is used. The changi has 6 or 7 strings. The tuning of a six-string Changi is "fa", "sol", "la", "si", "do", "re". The seven-string changi has the same tuning but its scale begins with "mi". Special proportions are kept by changi "Deer" the instrument makers when designing changi. It is mostly played by women and is generally used for accompaniment. Solo songs are often accompanied with it. But melodies performed on this instrument represent the transcription of Svanetian national "Saperkhulo" (a dance) melodies not the original instrumental music. Only one changi is used while accompanying solo melodies. Nevertheless, combining chuniri and changi into ensembles was quite frequent. The changi is quite popular in Svaneti. It was considered to be the instrument of "sorrow". According to the sayings, it was often played to comfort a person in his grief. There is a legend connected with Changi that tells us the story of an old man whose son was killed in a war and who found an expression of his grief in a sad melody of his changi. The changi, in the Svanetian language, is also called in Svanetian changi "Shimekvshe," which means a broken arm. The Svanetian changi is recognized to be one of the most ancient string instruments. It has existed since the 4th century B.C. It is worthy of note that one of the most ancient nations, the Sumerians, who lived in western Asia and are thought to have been closely connected with the ancestors of the Georgians, with ties of kinship, had a similar instrument that looked like the Svanetian harp. There is a supposition about the origin of the changi, according which it must have been originated from a bow. This weapon is not a particular nation's invention. Thus, the changi could have been invented independently in different nations. The instruments similar to Changi were widespread in many ancient Eastern counties: in Egypt, Shumereti, Babylon, Iran, China, Greece, etc.
Tuning of the six-stringed changi: f – g – a – h – c1 – d1.
Tuning of the seven-stringed changi: e - f – g – a – h – c1 – d1.
The traditional technique of making a Svanetian changi was inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia list in 2015.
Triangular harp of Abkhazia similar to the Georgian changi, with 14 horsehair strings. Formerly it was widespread as an instrument on which singers played their own accompaniments.
Triangular harp of Ossetia with a hollowed body and arc-shaped neck usually terminating in a curved horse's head (or an aurochs's head). The instrument has 12 diatonically tuned horsehair strings of which eight (treble) are white and four (bass) black. The duadastanon was regarded as the instrument of heroes and only men were allowed to play it, accompanying the recitation of the Nart epic tales, as weIl as lyrical, love and children's songs.
A horizontal angular harp belonging to the Mansi people. The body is hollowed out of a piece of wood, one end of it is bent upwards forming a neck, sometimes adorned with a carved bird's head. It has from five to nine (usually eight) strings producing a diatonic scale, played by plucking.
Musical Instruments of the Peoples Inhabiting the USSR. State Publishers Music. Moscow, 1975.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2018, at 10:16 (UTC).


text:
On Modularity
Lego has a basic attraction to small children. The tiny modules can be arranged and rearranged in unlimited possibilities. Modularity is the system that allows these combinations. (1)
Modernist designers were intrigued with modular systems,
suggesting that even individual feelings and emotional comforts could be sacrificed to a new architecture based on rational principles. Messy everyday life could adapt to a rigid framework, determined by a system based on modular repetition and geometric constraints.
Today though, reflecting back on architectural and urban failures of the twentieth century, modularity is one candidate for critical scrutiny. And for the obvious reason that it neglects humanity in favour of an overly rational sense of order. (2) Yet, there is still great value in this kind of work, which, as a contemporary design approach, could be framed around questions emerging from previous mistakes. For example, if modular design systems were to follow more closely certain processes found in the natural world?, could they then achieve better human living conditions and forms of communication?
Modularity has applications in science and art. Gregor Mendel, the Augustinian Monk, first traced characteristics of successive generations of a living being. Genes as modules are transmitted from one generation to another without an exact determination of the following visual appearance. (3)
With the first cinematic experimentation, it was possible to capture the transmissions of elements in much shorter time intervals. In 1880, Etienne-Jules Marey constructed machines with a kind of graphic notation of motion. The result shows slightly altered positions of repeated elements related to time and motion. Both, Mendel and Marey made these explorations under the guise of scientific research. But artists were also attracted to the visual potential of these patterns. (4)
Years later, Marcel Duchamp tried to capture movement in his cubist explorations. In »Sad Young Man on a Train« fragments as modules are arranged in a composition based on the artist's personal interpretation of motion. (5)
Sol leWitt a minimal artist began combining modules in serial form. In 1966 he reconciled two opposing modes of structure: the rigorous order of a simple repetitive system and the abdication of this elemental order in favour of randomness. (6)
But instead of producing these repeating patterns by hand, artist discovered printing machines as a program that creates these variations mechanically. Andy Warhol used the silk-screen printing machine as a tool for his artwork. But the machine took over the process how colour was transferred to the paper. Warhol was more interested in making the decisions rather than the engagement in production. For »Marilyn« in 1967 the artist was not present during the printing process.
In contrast, Dieter Roth was fully involved in the whole printing process. He interfered with the printing process by drawing on the screens and rotating them. The variations resulted in more organic forms than Warhol's output. (7)
The possibilities of repetition in modularity were not only explored by artists, but designers who wanted to expand the visual possibilities. Karl Gerstner, a Swiss artist and designer, used an algorithm to develop his variations. He emphasises that the serial is only a method and the process of developing a program. Therefore he didn't paint variations but created as many pictures as the principle of the algorithm allows.
The recombination of modules was explored by Müller & Hess with three posters that anounced an exhibition of Richard P. Lohse. The posters still refer to the International Style by the strict rectangles, but also combine a fresh component by the accidental new forms that are created through the process of overprinting. Its a combination of both - grid and organism.
The complexity of variations are increasing to modularity in the three-dimensional space, which is best described by the magic cube that was invented by Erno Rubik in Budapest. As a a lecturer of interior design he had a passionate interest in geometry, in the study of 3D forms, in construction and in exploring the hidden possibilities of combinations of forms and material in theory and in practice. The process of change attracts the users. Cause and effect keeps them playing on. (8)
The recent work of the architect Eduardo Arroyos reminded me of the magic cube's pattern with its chaotic attraction. When the new soccer stadium in Bilbao was introduced, the architect surprised spectators with a new colour system for ordering the chairs. The system of the chair positions was calculated from a secret algorithm - with the result that no chair shares the same colour as the next. (9)
The soccer players on the green, as well as the audience, have the impression that the stadium, even if it is empty, is occupied by colourful fans. The usual use of monotonous sector thinking is dissolved and suggests that chaotic order is also linked with the human conditions.
Modules can therefore be employed to follow a more chaotic and random order, much closer to nature's structure of growth as explored in Michael Jantzens »Gathering Place«. They could function not only for visual attraction, but interact with the living conditions of human beings in a perceptive way. (10)


text:
Former contractor for Florida Prepaid College Program indicted on fraud, identify theft charges
MGN Online
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Tallahassee woman and former Florida Prepaid College Program contractor has been indicted by a grand jury after being accused of using account owners information to steal their refund checks.
According to court documents, a federal grand jury in Tallahassee returned an indictment Thursday charging 30-year-old Jamilla Hall with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, five counts of mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
The indictment alleges that the Florida Prepaid College Board, which administers the Florida Prepaid College Program, contracted with Intuition College Savings Solutions to provide customer service and records administration services for Florida Prepaid College Program.
The indictment further states that Hall, who was an employee of ICSS committed mail fraud and identity theft on or about July 1, 2018, and on or about December 31, 2018.
Authorities say Hall accessed and viewed the personal identification information of Florida Prepaid account owners and beneficiaries, and then fraudulently changed mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses associated with existing Florida Prepaid plans.
The indictment also states that Hall completed cancellation forms using the personal identification information of Florida Prepaid account owners and beneficiaries.
In doing so, Hall fraudulently caused Florida Prepaid refund checks to be mailed and delivered by the United States Postal Service, which she personally cashed or which she gave to others to fraudulently cash.
In total, documents say she fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain approximately $42,000 in funds to which she was not entitled.
Now, Hall faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, and a 2-year mandatory minimum prison sentence consecutive to any other sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.
The jury trial for Hall is scheduled for July 29, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.


Last week, the Academy of Motion Pictures announced that for the first time in decades that the Oscars would abandon its traditional format of having a celebrity host. The decision was made after comedian Kevin Hart reaffirmed his decision to withdrawal from the nomination while on Ellen DeGeneres' daily talk show. Which brings us to the topic of this column. Ellen DeGeneres.
Historically, the annual Academy Awards has endured periods of both fallow and flourishment, subject to, among other things, the eminence of movies in a given year. But for the past half-decade, the Oscars' ratings have withered dramatically. Last year, the overall audience dipped below 30 million for the first time.
It's imprudent to attribute the annual ceremony's decline to any one singular impetus; there are several. However, if the Oscars are ever to recover, it is important to address one specific foible. At each Academy Awards ceremony over the past few years, there's been a giant elephant in the room. Its bottom half is always red, and the top half blue, donning three white stars. It's the Republican Elephant.
No matter the host, or the subject of films nominated, every Oscars ceremony in recent history has had one common theme: browbeating and haranguing Republicans from an ostensible moral high ground — and you don't need to look hard for examples.
Just minutes into his opening monologue at last year's Oscars, host Jimmy Kimmel called President Trump a racist, claiming the first three-fourths of "Get Out" — a thriller about psychopathic white people hypnotizing and enslaving black people — was Trump's favorite movie.
Movie award ceremonies shouldn't be subject to the insipid political musings of Jimmy Kimmel or Meryl Streep. If people want to hear left-of-center political ramblings, they can do that any time by changing the channel to CNN. Conversely, there's "The Daily Show" (hosted by Trevor Noah); "The Late Show" (hosted by Stephen Colbert); or "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," just to name a few.
This brings us back to Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres' show is enjoyed across America, by both liberals and conservatives. A 2013 poll revealedthat Ellen DeGeneres was on par with former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly as the most popular TV personality amongst Republicans. This is why Ellen DeGeneres should host the Oscars this year. The ratings speak for themselves: Since the start of the millennium, ratings have peaked exactly three times for the lux gala, two of which were times hosted by DeGeneres.
DeGeneres' success as a host largely derives from her innate ability to lighten the atmosphere in any setting or situation. Despite her tremendously fruitful career — earning a whopping 77-million-dollar salary — she's never met an audience she couldn't connect with. She's one of the few Hollywood successes who, despite receiving reams of accolades, doesn't consider herself a holier-than-thou arbiter of morality.
There's no evidence that DeGeneres harbors any hostility to Republicans or political conservatives. On the contrary, DeGeneres staffs an (openly!) conservative, Republican-voting (again, openly!) writer on her show: Adam Yenser. Last December, Yenser wrote a comedy skit directed by The Daily Wire's own Paul Bois lampooning a societal sacred cow: the fringes of the #MeToo movement.
As tempting as that sounds — flipping the Oscars on its head, handing the ceremonial reigns to a Trump-loving Republican — it's as likely to happen as Hillary Clinton headlining the next Republican National Convention. The issue isn't that the annual ceremony has been plagued by the wrong flavor of politics. The issue is that divisive, partisan politics have slithered into a cultural celebration of cinema in the first place.
The Oscars don't need to become a conservative convention. It's not preferable to have right-leaning actors like Vince Vaughn or Clint Eastwood take to the stage and flaunt their political views any more than to have Jimmy Kimmel deliver an opening monologue deriding the President as a racist.
The Oscars are a seminal celebration of culture in America. They should acknowledge and award creativity, talent, and art — all things that transcend petty political differences. And in an era where those political differences have become potently polarized, the Oscar's ought to be an event of unity. Ellen DeGeneres' down-to-earth, good-natured and witty humor livened and lightened the Oscars twice before; they should do it again.


The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and Millennium Health present If Only, a short film intended for teens, parents and adults to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and abuse. The film was created to start a conversation that encourages the safe use, storage and disposal of prescription drugs; to keep them out of the hands of kids.
In a town full of generous philanthropists and leading social innovators, where organizations like the Aspen Institute and Aspen Philanthropy Group thrive, it's not particularly easy to stand out. Warren Lichtenstein does.
This is the first step of many to bring awareness to the issue of childhood ADHD and depression. The must-see movie for parents dealing with ADHD!