Countering the Joint Opposition's dashing of coconuts at Seenigama Devol Maha Devala in Hikkaduwa, a group of non governmental organisations held religious observances to seek divine support to protect the good governance government and the FCID.
The event was held at Shanthi Devala at Amabalangoda on the same day, concurrent to the former.
A group of Non-Government Organizations led by Lanka Deshabhimani Peramuna organised the pro-government demonstration in protest of the Joint Opposition's campaign at Seenigama and the organisers had planned to reach the same venue to hold their religious activity. However, the Police who foresaw a potential clash between the two groups, coerced them to stop the march towards Seenigama Devol Maha Devalaya to maintain law and order of the area.
Initially the Ambalangoda demonstrators were not willing to obey the police instruction creating a tense situation. However, subsequent to repeated police intervention they stopped their initial plan and reached Amabalangoda Shanthi Devala in a procession and held religious performances where they pleaded to deities to safeguard the good governance rule and the FCID which enable to crack down on all sorts of irregular money transactions of the previous government and corrupt officials and politicians.
"The FCID was established to investigate illegal monetary transactions of corrupt politicians and officials and bring the culprits to book.
Those who were engaged in various money laundering acts in the past are against the new institution formed to investigate such monetary crimes.
We are ready to go to Seenigama and face those protestors. But the police did not allow us to do so.
We obeyed the police orders and administered a special ritual at Shanthi Devalaya protect the government of good governance and the FCID," the convener of Lanka Deshabhimani Peramuna former Southern Provincial Councilor, Puspakumara de Soyza told the media.


I keep some old PC hardware around as a filesystem and test machine running (Archlinux)[https://www.archlinux.org/]. I only occasionally bring it up (since the cloud does everything now, right?) but yesterday it failed to boot. Last time I had it on I updated Arch over the filesystem change but having done as instructed, I turned it off and thought nothing of it. On bringing the system up again I got dropped to the linux rootfs# shell. Better still my keyboard did nothing (in retrospect it looks like a ps2 keyboard might have functioned). Rebooting and selecting the fallback kernel didn't change things and I couldn't find anything online of much help. I reasoned something was wrong with the kernel as the bootloader - grub2 - was running fine from the disk and I hadn't made any hardware changes.
Grub has a command line accessible by pressing c before it loads a kernel. From there you have a small set of commands to use. You can ls to find all the drives grub can see; my hard drive and was listed as hd0 and fd0 is a legacy name for floppy drives thats been repurposed for usb drives. The first set of commands above set grub to use the usb drive, load linux from the kernel image (UNetBootIn puts kernel images in a directory named casper), and load the inital ramdisk to go with it. On booting I got a basic shell with just busybox for commands.
The second block above mounts the filesystem on the sda2 partition (trial and error deduced sda1 was a swap partition). We can fake the environment of the operating system on disk by starting up all the temporary filesytems then changing the filesystem root. We drop into the on-disk bash shell with the new root. Now we can fix up the kernel, mkinitcpio takes care of generating the kernel image and initrd. With that working, we can exit bash back to the shell from usb and reboot to close down the filesystem properly.
Success; my machine is alive again without reinstalling anything. A quick package update and reboot verified everything was running fine. Hopefully this isn't a common situation, but if it happens to you; you can rebuild linux.


text:
Fintan Magee Biography & Works
Name Fintan Magee
Fintan Magee is an Australian street artist known for his murals throughout Australia and the world. Born in Lismore New South Wales he grew up in Brisbane, gaining a reputation as a graffiti writer before obtaining a fine arts degree and relocating to Sydney.
He has been described as 'Australia's Banksy' by a number of media outlets although Magee has stated in various interviews that he hates this and that such comparisons are the result of 'lazy journalism'.
His work often deals with environmental issues, in 2015 his solo show at Backwoods Gallery in Melbourne was themed around his own personal experiences in the 2011 Brisbane floods. [4]He often uses personal stories to talk about broader issues like climate change and the migrant crisis.
He received national acclaim for his mural depicting Felix Baumgartner in Brisbane, and has participated in various public art festivals in Australia and abroad. Along with other recognized street artists from around Australia, Magee contributed to Toowoomba's "First Coat" program.
Current and Previous Works by Fintan Magee
Oil on white picket fence
'The New Vanguard II' at the Lancaster MOAH
The Big Dry (Main Room)
"Domestic Bliss"
81	× 132	cm
Professionally Framed(dimensions are of artwork only)
Group Exhibition in tandem with the POW! WOW! Long Beach mural festival
Mixed media on wood panel
Paint Guide (Main Room)
Moniker Art Fair (London, England)
Moniker Art Fair (London, UK) – STAND 34
THERE ARE NO LIMITS – (Taking Place in Borås, Sweden)
POW! WOW! Hawai'i – Honolulu Museum Art School
"Exit Strategy Study I"
Acrylic and oil on custom wood panel
15 Years of Thinkspace
"The Late Afternoon"
"The Firestarter 1"
Fire starter 1 and 2 available for $8000 for pair
Soloist 1 and 2 available for $7200 for pair
"Day Labourers"
"Haitian Workers"
"The Impossible Jump"
"Head In The Sand"
"The Lunchbreak"
Nexus – taking place at The Brand Library & Art Center
SCOPE Basel (Basel, Switzerland) – Booth B03
LAX / DTW : Detroit Hustle II

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Creative. Doer. Accomplished. The scent of freedom to dream, dare and live to be accomplished.
Y For Men from Yves Saint Laurent is the embodiment of these words. Y is not the story of an individual man, but of a generation of men: creative and doers - they dare to follow their passions and intuitions; to ask themselves the right questions and create their own path to self-accomplishment.
The eau de toilette represents the dual personality of those men: clear and bright on the top notes while strong and sensual on the heart and base notes.
A white and dark masculine fougere, Y is the scent of freedom to dream, dare and live to be accomplished.
The bottle is sharp and minimalist in its construction but keeps a strong creative signature with the surprising Y notch on the back.
A signature smell of the duality of a white and dark fougere. The addictive freshness of white aldehydes and geranium absolute contrasted with the intensity of incense and the sensuality of the ambergris.


Noun(1) a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.
Meaning and definitions of petrol, translation in Samoan language for petrol with similar and opposite words. Also find spoken pronunciation of petrol in Samoan and in English language.
Tags for the entry "petrol"
What petrol means in Samoan, petrol meaning in Samoan, petrol definition, examples and pronunciation of petrol in Samoan language.


Abridged accounts are general purpose financial statements intended for both company members and publication.
What is the dictionary definition of Abridged Accounts?
Under the EU Accounting Directive (2014), Abridged Accounts are a simplified form of annual accounts that in certain circumstances may be filed by an entity qualifying as a small company. The new rules allows certain, detailed types of financial information to be excluded from both a company's balance sheet (statement of financial position) and the profit and loss account (income statement), but only in the event that's been unanimously agreed upon by shareholders.
In the UK the new regime applies to financial period beginning on or after the 1st January 2016.


If your C/C++ source files appear grayed out in the Project Navigator, this means that you haven't yet set up a working set to analyze either your whole project or groups of files that interest you.
Although the files appear grayed out, you can still view your source files by double-clicking the desired file(s). Opening a source file triggers continuous analysis (if you're not using Klocwork Desktop in remote mode, that is). Instructions for creating working sets are provided here.
You might want to analyze the whole project to get a complete list of system issues, so that you can see your backlog in Klocwork Desktop.
For more information, see Getting started with Klocwork Desktop for C/C++.
Next topic: Why can't I analyze my files or project in Klocwork Desktop?


text:
Saskatchewan Skies
James Edgar, Saskatchewan Skies
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and is now editor's assistant and a contributor to Observer's Handbook, production manager of the bi-monthly RASC
Best view of lunar eclipse is in India
The moon begins this month a few days before first quarter and at an apogee distance of 40,4580 kilometres Jan. 9, the moon skirts by the cluster M35, just before full moon Jan. 10. As expected, . . .
James EdgarDecember 30, 2019
Mercury is a morning object for most of December
The moon begins this month nearing first quarter, meaning slightly more than seven days past new. Dec. 8, Uranus is five degrees north of the moon; by Dec. 11, the moon is full. The next day, Dec. . . .
James EdgarDecember 9, 2019
September Skies - Mercury is visible in the west
The Moon begins October as a thin sliver in the western horizon. On the 3rd, Jupiter gets a visit from Luna, only 1.9 degrees away. On the 5th, Saturn is involved in a conjunction in the Southern . . .
James EdgarSeptember 20, 2019
Equinox is on the very early morning of Sept. 23
The Moon begins this month just two days past new, so will present a tiny sliver in the western evening twilight. On the evening of the 5th, Jupiter will be 2 degrees south of the Moon. Then Saturn. . .
James EdgarAugust 20, 2019
August Skies - Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 12
August Skies - Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 12 The Moon is in new phase on the 1st, so won't be visible until a day or two later. On the 9th, Jupiter is a couple of degrees away to the south,. . .
James EdgarJuly 22, 2019
Jupiter dominates the southern sky
The Moon begins this month one day from new phase, which also happens to be the only total solar eclipse of 2019, beginning in the western South Pacific, cutting across Chile, and ending at Buenos . . .
James EdgarJuly 1, 2019
June Skies - Mercury graces the western evening sky
The moon and Venus pair up June 1 in the early morning eastern sky with a 3-degree separation. By the 4th, Mercury comes on the scene, 4 degrees north, but just after new moon, so a tough sighting.. . .
James EdgarMay 28, 2019
May moon will not interfere with meteor shower
The moon begins this month poised for three rapid-fire events: in the early morning of the 2nd, Venus is 4 degrees north, and the minor planet Vesta is 0.2 degrees south (an occultation in the . . .
James EdgarApril 22, 2019
April Skies: Copernicus and Galileo responsible for setting the record straight
The moon is waning to a very thin crescent as April begins, snuggling up to Venus in the early morning eastern sky on the 2nd. Much later that same day, the moon and Mercury have a close encounter,. . .
James EdgarMarch 25, 2019
March skies – full moon will be on the 20th
The moon begins this month with Saturn in a very close conjunction or occulted for some viewers, particularly in the Pacific, Central America, and southern North America. A day later, on the 2nd, . . .
James EdgarFebruary 21, 2019
Month begins with a sliver moon
The moon begins February as a thin sliver, waxing toward new phase. On the 2nd, Saturn and Pluto both are occulted – the ringed planet at 7 a.m. (the first in a monthly occurrence until November) . . .
James EdgarJanuary 29, 2019
January Skies – Beginning sees a "humpbacked" moon
The moon begins this month at the waning gibbous phase, getting the name from "humpbacked," like a camel. Of note, the moon occults Saturn somewhere in the world (primarily tropical and Southern . . .
James EdgarJanuary 1, 2019
December Skies
James EdgarNovember 20, 2018
The moon is full Oct. 24
The moon is at last quarter Oct. 2, a little bit west of M44, the Beehive Cluster. The two share the same space Oct. 4, and Regulus, the bright star in Leo, joins up Oct. 5. Jupiter is four degrees. . .
Zodiacal light visible in the east
The zodiacal light is visible in the east before morning twilight for the first two weeks of the month. The moon begins September only three days away from last quarter, and an occultation of . . .
Mercury too near the sun to be viewed
The moon approaches third-quarter phase as the month begins, meaning it's a third of the way through the lunar month, or a little over 22 days since new moon. The minor planet Juno is occulted . . .
It is solar and lunar eclipse season
July begins with the moon just past full phase and five degrees south of Mars. July10, Aldebaran is occulted as the moon passes in front of the bright star. This event is favourable in central and . . .
James EdgarJune 29, 2018
The moon is full May 29
The moon was full May 29, so is still nearly full as June begins. Watch for Saturn 1.6 degrees south June 1. Mars is three degrees south June 3. By June 16, Venus meets up with Luna, only a couple . . .
Mars emerges in the morning sky mid-month
The moon begins the month in gibbous phase, nearing full. Even though the planet is a tough one to image, viewers might like to try seeing Neptune only half a degree away from the full moon on Sept. . .
August Skies: Mercury is in a good position for viewing
The moon begins the month just past first quarter and approaching apogee, the furthest distance in its orbit away from Earth. On the 3rd, Saturn is a scant 3 degrees south of the moon. Full . . .
Jupiter dominates the southern sky at sunset
July Skies The moon begins the month at first quarter, meaning it is one-quarter of the way through its phases. And, Jupiter is a scant three degrees south of the moon on the 1st. On Thursday, . . .
'Morning Star' meets up with the moon April 23
April starts off with the moon in an occultation of Aldebaran, one of many throughout the year. This one is visible for most of Asia, but for us it's a close conjunction. April 6, late in the . . .
Venus visible morning and evening
The moon begins the month as a very thin sliver, just past new phase. There are several close encounters this month. A "conjunction" means the two bodies are on the same right ascension (RA), . . .
James EdgarMarch 3, 2017
Venus a bright spotlight in the southern sky
The moon is midway between new and first quarter as February begins, with Mars just two degrees above it Feb. 1. The dwarf planet Ceres is occulted on the evening Feb. 2 for viewers in northern . . .
Quadrantid meteors peak Jan. 3, 120 sightings per hour
The moon is just past new phase as the month begins, and already the events are lined up in the first few days. Jan. 2, Venus is just under two degrees below the slender moon, and the following . . .
Mercury, Venus, moon a trio as sun goes down
The moon begins the month just past new phase, so is visible low in the west, but challenging. Saturn will likely be lost in the sun's glare, but Mercury and Venus will be in the same part of the . . .
October begins with a new moon
The moon is new as October begins, aligning Oct. 3 with Venus in the western evening sky. Venus, as the evening star, will be quite obvious, but the sliver of the moon may be a difficult . . .
Month begins with solar eclipse
The moon is new as September begins, marking the event with an annular solar eclipse, the track of which crosses the southern part of the African continent. On the following two days, both . . .
Evening Star beams like a spotlight all summer
The moon is less than a half degree away from Aldebaran, the bright star in Taurus, the bull, as July opens, beginning a series of close approaches. By July 7, Regulus in Leo is about two degrees . . .
Jupiter's close encounters continue in June
The moon is nearly at its new phase as June begins, and by June 3 it occults Mercury in the morning sky, visible from the southern part of Africa and parts of Antarctica. June 10, the moon brushes . . .
The moon is at last quarter as April begins. A few days later, on the 6th, Venus is less than a degree away, an occultation in the eastern hemisphere. The moon is new on the 7th, as well as being . . .
James EdgarApril 1, 2016
Watch for zodiacal light in the last week of February
The moon is at last quarter as the month begins. The early morning of Feb. 6 sees Venus and Mercury both within four degrees of the moon. Feb. 16, Aldebaran is occulted for viewers around the . . .
Watch the western sky for Mercury's show
The moon is at last quarter Jan. 1, meaning that it is all the way through its earthly orbit. Thus 12.2 degrees of eastward motion per day times 22 days equals about 268 degrees. That's a rough . . .
Jupiter, Mars, and Venus visible in eastern dawn sky
The moon begins December entering last-quarter phase Dec. 3, a little less than two degrees away from Jupiter in the early morning sky. Dec. 5, Mars is within 0.1 of a degree, an occultation in the. . .
Moon joins in planetary foursome
The moon begins the month in the waning gibbous phase, meaning it appears humped, like a camel's back, waning meaning it's showing less and less of the sunlit side as time passes. On the night of . . .
James EdgarOctober 28, 2015
2015 October Skies
The moon is a couple days past full at the beginning of the month, and occulting Aldebaran, the bright star in Taurus on the 2nd. On the 8th, Venus is occulted for viewers in the South Pacific. For. . .
Mercury and Jupiter put on a show
The moon was full on the last day in July, so opens the month one day past full. Uranus is within a degree of the moon Aug. 5, an occultation in the Southern Hemisphere. By Aug. 8, Aldebaran, the. . .
Venus is at maximum brightness
As July begins, the moon starts out at full phase and appearing quite large, as it is at perigee (closest to Earth in its orbit). On the evening of July 8, Uranus is occulted for parts of the . . .
June begins with an almost full moon
he moon is nearly full June 1, with Saturn less than two degrees south. Full phase is a day later. June 11, Uranus is a half a degree away, which is an occultation of the greenish planet to South . . .
Mercury and the moon provide photography challenge
The moon becomes full May 4, and that evening it is within two degrees of Saturn just before midnight as the ringed planet rises. By May 15, in the early eastern sky, Uranus is only 0.2 degrees . . .
Mercury not visible for the first half of the month
The moon begins the month nearly full, at the end of the first eclipse season of the year. Recall last month there was a total solar eclipse March 20. Two weeks later, on April 4, a lunar eclipse . . .
Venus in the middle of a three-planet lineup
The moon begins March in the waxing gibbous phase, meaning the lit portion is getting larger each passing day, "gibbous" meaning humped, like a camel's back. March 3, Jupiter shares the night sky . . .
Mercury shines in the eastern morning sky
The moon begins the year only two days away from full phase. Jupiter is a mere five degrees away Feb. 4, making a delightful photographic pairing among the stars of the eastern sky. Feb. 12, Saturn. . .
Planets line up for a photo opp Jan. 22
The moon starts off the year in the waxing gibbous phase, meaning it is gradually getting closer and closer to full phase. Gibbous means "humped" like a camel's back. Jan. 1, the bright star . . .
Saturn and the moon provide photo opp
The month begins with the moon at waxing gibbous phase, and Uranus is just 1.2 degrees south, just like the month previous during the lunar eclipse of Oct. 8. Four days later, Dec. 5, Aldebaran, the bright star in Taurus, is just over a degree away. And,
By James EdgarNovember 25, 2014
South Taurid meteor shower peaks Nov. 5
The moon begins the month just past first quarter, only a few days away from full phase Nov. 6. But, before that, Luna has an encounter with Uranus Nov. 4, an occultation in the North Atlantic. Then, Nov. 8, the moon brushes by the bright star Aldebaran
By James EdgarOctober 24, 2014
Watch for lunar eclipse Oct. 8
The moon is at first quarter as the month begins ("first quarter" meaning half of the way through the lunar month, a little over seven days from "new"). And, a little over seven days later, the moon is full, also a lunar eclipse that day, Oct. 8. For
By James EdgarSeptember 24, 2014
Four planets line up towards month's end
The moon begins in its first-quarter phase right by Mars and Saturn, as the month opens. Full moon is Sept. 8. Uranus is occulted Sept. 10 in Eastern Canada; a close approach for westerners. Sept. 15, the moon is within 1.4 degrees of Aldebaran, the
By James EdgarAugust 26, 2014
Perseids meteor shower Aug. 12
The moon is nearly at first quarter as the month begins. Mars and Saturn hover close by, all three bodies almost directly south at sundown. This is an occultation for Saturn, but only visible as such in the South Pacific and Far East. The moon is full
By James EdgarJuly 30, 2014
Venus, Mercury and the moon form a nice trio July 24
July's moon begins a few days past new phase, so presents a thin curve in the western evening sky at sundown. July 5, just past first quarter, Mars is less than one degree away, an occultation in the Southern Hemisphere. A couple of days later, Saturn is
Viewing Saturn stirs the imagination
The moon begins the month as a slight sliver in the west at sundown. Jupiter is just a few degrees to the right. By June 7, Mars and Spica bracket the moon - one above and the other below left. Toward month end, Venus shares the eastern morning sky with
Do something out of this world May 10
International Astronomy Day is May 10. Are you planning an "out-of-this-world" event? Take your kids (or grandkids) to an observatory or planetarium - they're outta sight! New moon was only two days ago, so we see a thin crescent in the western evening
Lunar and solar eclipses in April
The moon is new March 30, so, as April opens, we see only a thin crescent in the west at sundown. By April 6, Jupiter is in the same part of the sky, just five degrees north. April 14, Mars is within three degrees, and the next night the moon is full,
Two full moons in March
The moon is new March 1 and again March 30. Jupiter is five degrees away March 10. Full moon occurs March 16, and, in a repeat of last month, Spica, Mars and Saturn join in March 18, 19 and 20. Again, Saturn's encounter is an occultation south of the
Venus is the Morning Star in February
The New moon was Jan. 30, so we see only a thin slice of lunar crescent in the west at sundown Feb. 1. Mercury shines just a few degrees below it, but you need a clear western horizon to see the fleet-footed innermost planet. By Feb. 11, the moon is
Spot the gas giant in the daytime
The year begins with the moon right beside the sun - new moon. Saturn and Mars are to the west, just before sunrise. A couple of days later, Venus hangs within two degrees in the western evening sky. The moon is full Jan. 15, the smallest appearance of
The moon hovers just above Saturn
The month begins with the moon just below Saturn (an occultation in the extreme south of Antarctica) and to the west of Mercury in the early morning eastern sky. New moon is Dec. 3, so observation of the slender crescent Dec. 1 will be a serious
Crescent moon hugs horizon with Venus
November opens with the moon only a couple of days away from its new phase, and therefore an early morning object. The phase also means an eclipse may happen, and this being eclipse season, a hybrid solar eclipse will be visible for viewers in central
Mercury hugs horizon at sundown
The month begins with the thin crescent waning moon in the early morning sky next to Mars. New moon is Oct, 4, and the moon is full Oct. 18. In rapid succession, Mercury and Saturn Oct. 6, and Venus Oct. 8 are in close proximity to the waxing crescent of
Mars six degrees north of the moon
September opens with Mars only six degrees north of the moon in the eastern dawn, quickly followed by new moon Sept. 5. Sept. 8, Spica is less than a degree away, and is occulted in eastern Canada and Europe. Venus, in the west, is less than half a
Jupiter, Mars and Saturn line up Aug. 5
The moon and Jupiter will share the morning sky in Aug. 3, followed quickly by close encounters with Mars Aug. 4 and Mercury Aug. 5. For this to happen, all three planets must be lined up at equal spacing on the ecliptic, making for another of those
Lunar cycle a repeat from last month
July begins with the moon just past third quarter, and new moon is July 8. This is an exact repeat of last month, which should come as no surprise, since the original word was "moonth." The moon orbits the Earth in about 29 days (29.5 days),
By James EdgarJune 25, 2013
Close encounter for Venus and Mercury
The moon is at third-quarter phase, one week ahead of new moon June 8. Venus and Mercury are both within a hand width June 10. June 18, Virgo's bright star Spica is an amazing 0.1 degree away from the moon, an occultation in the southern part of our
By James EdgarMay 28, 2013
Shallow eclipse of academic interest
The month opens with the moon at last quarter, meaning it is three-quarters of the way through its month. New moon is May 9, plus this is an annular solar eclipse in the South Pacific. Remember that lunar and solar eclipses come in pairs (or triples)
By James EdgarMay 2, 2013
Lyrid meteors peak April 22
As April begins, the moon is in its waxing gibbous phase, seen in the south before sunrise. Saturn is just off to the southwest. Mercury, visible in the dawn sky all month, is seven degrees south of the slender crescent moon April 7 and 8. These could be
By James EdgarMarch 26, 2013
Comet visible this month
In June last year, an automated telescope located in Hawaii, dubbed Pan-STARRS, discovered a faint comet that is expected to reach naked-eye brightness when it nears perihelion in March. That's right now, and the comet is indeed bright enough to be seen
The Ringed Planet hovers close by
March opens with the moon just a 10th of a degree away from the bright star, Spica. Which means that Saturn will be close by, also, since the Ringed Planet has been hovering around that area for months. Spica is a blue-giant variable, in fact, it's a
By James EdgarFebruary 27, 2013
Saturn lights up Eastern morning sky
February begins with the third-quarter moon, Saturn, and Spica lighting up the eastern morning sky. Spica is just east of the moon Feb. 1, with Saturn a bit further east. Feb. 2, the moon is between the two bright objects, directly south just before dawn.
By James EdgarJanuary 30, 2013
Moon almost touches Venus Jan. 10
The moon begins the year having just passed through full phase in late December. Lunar phases after full are seldom seen, since you have to wait up until well after sunset to see them. Considering that the moon moves eastward 12.2 degrees per day,
By James EdgarDecember 26, 2012
Good opportunity to view Mercury
December begins with the moon just past full phase. We get a few rapid close calls Dec. 9 to 12 - the star Spica is within a degree (an occultation in the Southern Hemisphere) Dec. 9; Saturn and the moon are four degrees apart the following night; Venus
Venus and Spica brack crescent moon
The moon starts out the month just past full phase, with Jupiter less than a degree above in the eastern evening sky - an occultation in southern Africa. Nov. 11, Venus and Spica bracket the thin crescent moon in the early morning. Spica is occulted for
Two full moons in August
The moon is full as the month begins, ending in full phase again - two full moons in one month. Aug.11, the moon occults (passes in front of) Jupiter for viewers in the western Pacific; it's a close conjunction for others. Two days later, Venus is
By James EdgarAugust 1, 2012
Month begins with large full moon July 3
The month opens with the moon just about at full phase, which occurs July 3. The moon is also at perigee July 1, making this a rather large full moon. July 15, in the morning dawn, Venus is 4 degrees below the thin crescent moon, while Jupiter is an
Rare Venus transit to occur June 5
The month opens with the moon four days away from full phase. It cuddles up to the bright star Spica and Saturn, the ringed planet, June 1. A full moon is an opportunity for an eclipse, as is a new moon. If the orbits line up just right, as happened at
Moon close to planets, stars, asteroids this month
The moon begins the month with some close pairings: Mars on the first; Spica and Saturn on the third; then full phase on the fifth. That full moon is the largest of the year, the time when our satellite reaches perigee (closest approach) with Earth. On
Venus at its brightest April 30
The moon is full on the evening of April 6, hovering near Saturn and the bright star, Spica in the eastern sky. Later in the month, April 19, Mercury shares the sky, but this will be a tough observation, as the moon is a mere sliver in the early eastern
Moon is prominent near its full phase
March begins with the moon in almost the same circumstances as in February, except shifted by one day as a result of that extra "leap day." Full moon is March 8, with a close pairing of Mars on the same day. A couple of days later, the moon, Spica, and
Celestial objects form a row Feb. 27
Last month ended with the moon at first quarter, so the next full moon is seven days later - Feb. 7. Feb.10 Mars is within 10 degrees - an early morning apparition. Just after midnight Feb.12, Spica and Saturn make a nice triplet with the moon in the
By James EdgarFebruary 2, 2012
Moon hangs with Jupiter
The New Year opens with the moon at first quarter, and, a day later, it hangs right by Jupiter in the southern evening sky. The moon is full Jan. 9; hard by Mars in the early morning sky Jan. 14; two degrees away from the bright star, Spica, Jan. 16;
Moon and Jupiter set for close encounter
The moon is full Nov. 10, and watch for a close meeting in the east with Jupiter Nov. 9. About five degrees separates them. Nov. 19, Mars and the moon share the early morning sky. Three days later, Saturn is within seven degrees, joined by the bright
June brings in a new moon
June begins with a new moon, also resulting in a partial solar eclipse in high northern latitudes; mostly visible in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Quebec. This is the second solar eclipse of the year, followed two weeks later by a lunar
By James EdgarJune 1, 2011
Early bird gets the sky photo
As May begins, the very thin moon joins bright Venus and Mercury in the early morning sky, with Mars and Jupiter hugging the horizon. This could make a very picturesque setting for astrophotographers. You must be early, though, because the sun rises
The moon is in a new phase
April begins with the moon at its new phase - almost in front of the sun. Because the moon's orbit is slightly tilted with respect to the plane of the Solar System, we don't see eclipses at each new moon, only at the times when the orbit crosses the
By James EdgarApril 1, 2011
Mercury difficult to observe
The moon begins the month as a thin sliver visible in the early morning, alongside Mercury. The latter will be a tough observation, as the sun brightens the sky just as Mercury clears the horizon. By Feb. 6, the moon will be in its new phase, sharing
Watch for lunar eclipse Dec. 10
December opens with the moon at first quarter Dec. 2, meaning it is seven days (and a little bit) from new. Seven days (and a little bit) later will be full moon, and this particular full moon Dec. 10 lines up with the Earth's shadow - a lunar eclipse,
Luna's close encounters begin Sept. 1
The month begins with the moon at last quarter, meaning 21 days have passed since new moon. It will be full Sept. 23, which, coincidentally, is the day after the Autumn Equinox. Luna's close encounters for the month begin Sept. 1, when it is less than a
Solar eclipse visible in the eastern hemisphere
January begins with the moon as a daytime object, rising just before the sun at about 7:30 a.m. and crossing the sky before it sets at 1:30 p.m. It's just a thin crescent and difficult to see. New moon occurs Jan. 4, and full moon is Jan. 19. New moon
Full lunar eclipse Dec. 21
December begins with the moon just ending her final phases - four days from new moon Dec. 5. Then, Dec. 6 and 7, our satellite brushes past first Mars and then Mercury, both planets dimly seen in the west right after sunset, accompanied by a very thin
By James EdgarDecember 1, 2010
Moon begins month on the wane
This month opens with the moon in its waning gibbous state, meaning it is reducing in illuminated size and the lit portion has a "humped" or "bulging outward" shape. The moon is also at apogee, 405,036 kilometres. Compare this to the perigee distance


text:
by Jonathan Swift
Annotated Text
What is the major difference between the 2 societies, the Lilliputians and the Brobdingnagian in Gulliver's Travels?
Tim Mbiti
Top subjects are Literature, History, and Business
The major difference between the Lilliputians and Brobdingnagians is that of character. The Lilliputians though small in size were cruel, disrespectful and ungrateful towards Gulliver. First and foremost, their cruelty manifests in the manner in which they hand Gulliver upon his captivation. They tie him up and shoot him with arrows, a painful experience for Gulliver who had not harmed anyone. They exploited him and used him to win the battle against the Blefuscu with whom they had differed with over the correct method of eating eggs. In addition to that, their ungrateful nature clearly comes to life when they condemn Gulliver to blindness and starvation after he put out a raging inferno at the palace.
On the other hand, the Brobdingnagians though giant-like, were good-willed, virtuous and respectful towards Gulliver. They handle him with care from the onset and constructed a dwelling place for him. Also, the queen hired a caretaker to look after Gulliver as well as teach him. The Brobdingnagians did not use Gulliver for their own gain as the Lilliputians did and respected the tales Gulliver narrated to them about his land.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/jonathan-swifts-gulliver...
M.P. Ossa, M.A.
College Lecturer, ESL/TEFL Instructor
M.A. from Chapman University
Top subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and Business
The Brobdingnagians are a race of huge males and females. They are literally giants, over 50 feet tall. As a result everything around them is also gigantic and Gulliver is in complete danger being that he is tiny in comparison.
This race is essentially human, going through the same feeding, breeding, and living processes as typical people. They have a peacekeeping army, engage in conflict, and understand the difference between political factions and parties. If they were normal-sized, they would not be any different than us. However, their massive size makes the mundane aspects of human physiology even more shocking as they are fully displayed at a much larger scale.
These people disgust Gulliver because he inevitably has to witness the graphic changes in their bodies, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Yet, as people the Brobdingnagians are relatively civil, even more than us in comparison, because their laws are clear, and they seek for peace as their common goal.
The tiny Lilliputians are dramatically different in size compared to the Brobdingnagians. They are less than half a foot tall, and their world is also tiny. The system of government in the island where they inhabit is comical and ridiculous. It consists on an Emperor and the officials appointed for council, whom are elected based on ridiculous abilities.
When a great office is vacant, either by death or disgrace (which often happens,) five or six of those candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court with a dance on the rope; and whoever jumps the highest, without falling, succeeds in the office
Lilliputians are mean and fight amongst themselves all the time. They build their own weapons and are awesome in mechanics. The politics of the Lilliputians are similar to those in England, and Swift makes sure to highlight the differences of the two main parties the way in a way that they mirror those of the Tories and the Whigs. In all the Lilliputians are tiny but their size is nothing to feel safe about. They have machinations in terms of everything, from their everyday life, to the making of war machinery, to the way that people backstab each other at court and out of court. They are little people with massive personalities.
In all, there is not just one major difference since they are two completely different races. However, for the sake of argument, we may contend that, in both races of individuals, the size of the citizens seems to contrast with their personalities. The Liliputians are small but able to cause big problems. The Brobdingnagians are large, but want to avoid those "big problems" by minimizing conflict.
What is the main idea of Gulliver's Travels?
What lands does Gulliver visit in Gulliver's Travels?
How did Gulliver reach Lilliput, and how was he treated by the Lilliputians?
How did the war between Lilliput and Blefuscu begin in Gulliver's Travels?
How does Swift use irony in Gulliver's Travels?
What is the major similarity between the 2 societies, the Lilliputians and the Brobdingnagian in Gulliver's Travels?
Latest answer posted February 01, 2010 at 6:52:19 AM
In Swift's Gulliver's Travels, how do the Lilliputians and Brobdingnagians treat Gulliver? What does Gulliver learn from each?
Latest answer posted January 03, 2018 at 12:38:19 AM
Compare between the Lilliputians and Brobdingnagians.
Latest answer posted January 07, 2018 at 8:28:57 PM
In Gulliver's Travels, what are the reasons behind the dispute between the Lilliputians and Blefuscudians?
Latest answer posted 17 days ago
In Gulliver's Travels, what are some of the problems Gulliver poses to the Lilliputians?


To achieve the goal of an information literate individual, the Information Literacy Program at D'Amour Library offers a modular workshop approach. The individual modules of the Program respond to the information literacy requirement of the General University Requirements and the Information Literacy Framework endorsed by the Association of College and Research Libraries. These modules also address the students' developmental progression from first year student through graduate student, where they have repeat opportunities to seek, evaluate and manage information at various academic levels and with various discipline based sources.
This series of tutorials includes modules on research basics, locating and evaluating sources, and preventing plagiarism.
View video tutorials on accessing library resources, creating search strategies, using productivity tools, and doing discipline-specific research.
Check the Library Instruction schedule, and complete an Information Literacy Instruction Request form.
An overview of the Information Literacy program at Western New England University.
About the Information Literacy program for First Year students.
A helpful guide to the Information Literacy program.
Suggestions for alternative assignments that provide meaningful research practice.
Additional resources related to information literacy.
A comparison of research process models.


We can assist you using our vast knowledge and expertise in permaculture to transform your garden into a sustainable garden oasis of fresh vegetable and fruits for your use.
Always begin with a compost bin. Preferably 2. This so that while one is composting you can be filling the second with all the kitchen scraps.
Anything that was once living can be put into a compost bin.e.g. egg shells, apple cores, hair, tea bags, vegetables. However don't put in meat or citrus. Orange and lemon peels can be buried in the garden.
Worm farms are a good way of composting and can be placed in the shade. Ideal for balconies or shady spots.
Growing herbs and vegetables in a small or large space close to the kitchen is so convenient. Everyday herbs like basil, chives, mint, rocket can be picked daily and simply added to meals. Add some oregano, basil and my favorite coriander for a little lift to those great dinner meals.
This herb or vegetable garden could be as simple as a patch of dirt with compost and organics added to it. Or it could take the form of a no dig garden with the top made up of lucence hay.
Cost of a small herb spiral or vegetable garden is very reasonable.
Contact us for a quote to set your gardens up with compost bins, worm farm and a no dig garden to grow your herbs and vegetables.
Creating a natural environment using natural resources with multi functional plants, tree and or animals in the home garden.
Turning areas of your lawn and garden into food gardens.
Fagan Parks - Eco Garden is the crown jewel of Hornsby Shire's parks, covering 55 hectares.
the journey from a normal suburban backyard in Wollongong - just see what the possibilites are!


text:
The haps at MATS: Rounding up driver-led efforts
Todd Dills
I'll make an attempt, at least. So much is going on at next week's trucking show in Louisville it will be next to impossible to catch it all in this space today, but here are a few of the highlights folks have reached out to me about these last few months:
Health walk-and-talk, blood drive
As at the last two year's events, the owner-operators behind the Trucking Solutions Group have organized the third annual MATS Health Awareness Walk, set for Friday morning, March 23, 2012, at 9 a.m. this year, organizers say, emphasizing the "walk and talk" nature of the fitness and networking opportunity — expect discussion of driver issues along the way. There is no cost, but registration is required via the TSG website. Walkers will meet in room number WH2, West Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center at 8:00 a.m. for refreshments and the walk will begin at 9:00 a.m.
The TSG's blood drive enters its second year at Louisville this year, too, in conjunction with the American Red Cross. It will take place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m on Friday, March 23, and again on Saturday, March 24, during the show. No appointment is needed to give blood.
"Whenever there is a crisis or a need within a community, truck drivers and others within the trucking industry are some of the first to step up and respond," says Linda Caffee, chair of the Trucking Solutions Group Driver Health Council and expediting partner with her husband, Bob. "We're all in this together! This blood drive provides the needed supplies to ensure that the American Red Cross can respond when they are needed."
(FUEL UPDATE: You'll recall my post a couple weeks back about the Caffees and TSG member Henry Albert's friendly speed/fuel-mileage challenge of sorts. Results have been forthcoming since; check out not-quite-but-close-to-final words on the Caffees' blog here and Albert's blog here. And thanks to Albert for the photo from the health walk last year.)
Truth About Trucking broadcasting on location
Fuel hauler Allen Smith and his cohost wife, Donna, will for the first time take their online radio show Truth About Trucking Live on the road to broadcast on-site at the show from the Dynasys APU booth No. 16052. Two shows on Thursday (on the profusion of anti-idling laws and devices) and Friday (on social media as a tool in trucking advocacy, business) will both be broadcast between 2 and 4:30 p.m. EDT. Stop in and say hi! Or listen live via https://www.blogtalkradio.com/truthabouttrucking.
Other driver/owner-operator radio
The people behind the VideoDashCam dash-mount cameras have been at work hosting a live call-in program for drivers every Wednesday for a good while now. This past Wednesday, they discussed their own efforts upcoming at MATS. Give a listen to that program via the page for the Center Lane show here — Keys Trucker Jan McCarter says they're partnering with Truckers Against Trafficking for some unique outreach efforts.
Entertainment, outreach In the Papa John's parking lot
The goings-on in the parking lot are just too numerous to name, so I'll use the graphic below to catch most of them.
In addition, some notable happenings, says Susan Durstine of the Jacob Russell Boulanger Memorial Fund and All Drivers Together series of conference calls, include the fact that "Operation Roger will be holding their annual auction and pet games and has graciously opened an invitation to all the charities to participate." She also mentions the TSG blood drive and health walk and that "Truckers United for Charity will be having some pretty neat events."
Cornhole tournaments, hot dog eating contests, karaoke and live music are among the broad list of festivities (see below).
The Ohio-based JRB Memorial Fund charity, says Durstine, is a memorial tribute to radio personality Bubba Bo's son, who passed unexpectedly of a heart condition at the age of 22. It's dedicated broadly toward helping truckers in need. Download and print a copy of the following flyer (click through the image to download) if you're eating at any of the listed area Applebee's locations May 21 or 22 in and around Louisville. A portion of your meal's proceeds, says Durstine, will go toward the JRB fund.
Lineup of parking lot events:
Layout of the lot and shuttles sponsored by Detroit (essentially it's the parking lot for the old football stadium)
Overdrive trucks to NYC today
'Outcast Kustoms' TV show to debut March 26
Former operator's novel immortalizes trail-blazing independents
Evel Knievel's driver and the 1973 Overdrive interview
Engineered for superior calls in high-noise environments.
The Business Manual for Owner-Operators
Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry's best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You'll find exceptional depth on many issues in the 2022 edition of Partners in Business.


Walk into a Pilates class and you'll soon be doing some variation of the Teaser. The problem? Harder versions are often taught first, leading to pain, injury, and lots of frustration, says Olson. Her revised series progressively maximizes core activity while minimizing hip flexor involvement. Master the first before advancing on.
Aim to do 3 sets of 10 reps 3 times a week.
Lie on back with knees slightly bent and heels on mat, hands on backs of thighs. Inhale and lift shoulders off floor, slowly rolling up to seated position. Exhaling, curl torso forward to create C-curve in spine. Inhale. Exhaling, reverse back to starting position.
Get the help you need to blast belly fat by joining Flat Belly Diet online TODAY!
Sit with knees bent and feet on mat, hands cupping thighs. Inhale and slowly roll torso back so spine contacts mat. Exhale and roll up to seated position, balancing on sit bones as shown. Inhale, then exhale and rock back so spine contacts mat.
Lie on mat as shown. Inhale, tuck chin, and engage abs. Exhaling, roll upper body off mat, simultaneously lifting legs and arms as shown, balancing on sit bones. Inhale, then exhale and slowly reverse move back to starting position.
Lie on mat as shown (knees together, left knee bent, and right leg suspended). Inhale, engage abs, and lift shoulder blades. Exhaling, roll through spine to seated position as shown. Inhale. Exhaling, reverse move back to starting position. Complete reps on both sides.
Lie on mat as shown. Inhale, tuck chin, and engage abs. Exhaling, roll upper body off mat, balancing on sit bones as shown. Inhale, then exhale and slowly reverse move back to starting position.


text:
Q: How to append .html() on Bootstrap Modal I have a problem when I selected [product] in select box, it should append html in the [quality] column.
I have tried to alert the data in JQUERY, it alert the result what I wanted. But it cannot append the html in the [quality] column on the Bootstrap Modal.
View

Pledge Item

                            <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal">×</button>

                                        <?php
                                        $options = array(
                                                         '' => '~Select Product~'
                                                         );
                                        foreach ($prod as $product){
                                            $options[$product->product_id] = $product->product_type;
                                        }

                                        $select = array(
                                                        'name' => 'child_product_type[]',
                                                        'id'    => 'child_product_type',
                                                        'class' => 'form-control',
                                                        'required' => 'required'
                                                        );
                                        echo form_dropdown('child_product_type[]', $options,set_value('product_type'),$select);
                                    ?>

                                        <input type="number" id="quality_name[]" name="quality_name[]" class="quality_id form-control" step="any" value="" placeholder="Quality" readonly/>
                                        <input type="hidden" id="quality_id[]" name="quality_id[]" class="quality_id form-control" step="any" value="" readonly/>

Jquery & AJAX
                $(':input[name="child_product_type[]"]').change(function(){

                    var product_id = $(':input[name="child_product_type[]"]').val();

                    if(product_id != ''){
                        $.ajax({
                            url:"<?php echo base_url();?>index.php/Pledge/GetQuality",
                            method: "POST",
                            data:{product_id:product_id},
                            success:function(data){
                                $('#qual').html(data);
                                $('#add_data_Modal').modal('show');
                                //alert(data);
                            }
                        });
                    }else{
                        $('#qual').html('<input type="number" id="quality_name[]" name="quality_name[]" class="quality_id form-control" step="any" value="" placeholder="Quality" readonly/><input type="hidden" id="quality_id[]" name="quality_id[]" class="quality_id form-control" step="any" value="" readonly/>');

                    }
                });

A: replace modal body with this code .
Need to wrap tr tag within table tag

                        <?php
                        $options = array(
                                         '' => '~Select Product~'
                                         );
                        foreach ($prod as $product){
                            $options[$product->product_id] = $product->product_type;
                        }

                        $select = array(
                                        'name' => 'child_product_type[]',
                                        'id'    => 'child_product_type',
                                        'class' => 'form-control',
                                        'required' => 'required'
                                        );
                        echo form_dropdown('child_product_type[]', $options,set_value('product_type'),$select);
                    ?>

                        <input type="number" id="quality_name[]" name="quality_name[]" class="quality_id form-control" step="any" value="" placeholder="Quality" readonly/>
                        <input type="hidden" id="quality_id[]" name="quality_id[]" class="quality_id form-control" step="any" value="" readonly/>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
STOrder.org
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Admin Calendar
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Donate to STO
More on Zen's Nesting Spheres - External
01JAN2020DB
MORE ON ZEN'S NESTING SPHERES — EXTERNAL
Please examine my conceptual model illustrating four concentric spheres framing the comprehensive context of our Zen practice. We approach them from the inside out, so to speak — beginning with the Personal, then its interface with the Social, the Natural, and the Universal, outer spheres of our surrounding reality (note the outward pointing arrow in the External illustration below).
Whether we are looking at it from the outside or from the inside, our basic approach to the method of zazen does not change. But the implications of Zen practice take on a different light. Going from inward to the outward dimensions, we encounter the interface boundaries on an increasingly global scale, from social relationships with family and friends to the larger community of the nation and the world. Inevitably we encounter unpleasant aspects of living in the world, including conflicts in family, livelihood, and the political arena. These also have a halo effect on our relationship to the natural world, including difficult issues with balancing our material consumption with genuine compassion, particularly as regards human management or mismanagement of the resources of the three kingdoms — animal, vegetable, and mineral. These, in turn, engender problems in the realm of social justice and world peace.
HOW IT IS; HOW IT CAME TO BE; WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT; CONSEQUENCES
Buddha's teachings include descriptions of reality — how it is, like it or not — including the first Noble Truth of existence of suffering, and the Five Aggregates. Others, such as the origin of suffering, craving or thirst, clarify how things come to be the way they are, culminating in the Twelvefold Chain of Interdependent Origination (my model features thirteen links rather than twelve. I have included "perception" to complete the Skandhas, not called out separately in the original).
The cessation of suffering, the Eightfold Path and the Paramitas, amount to prescriptions for what to do about it, how to practice right conduct and discipline, generosity, patience, and all the rest. This includes the admonitions to "fully understand" the existence of suffering, to "abandon" craving, to "realize" cessation, and to "follow" the Path.
The results of following the buddha way, the development of right wisdom and compassion, amount to implicit and explicit promises of the positive benefits of living a Zen life. On the other hand, the downside of not practicing — negative karmic consequences — may ensue. The original, self-inflicted carrot and stick.
DEPENDENT, INDEPENDENT & INTERDEPENDENT ARISING
Our interactions with the contextual spheres of practice illustrate the principle of the interdependency of all things, emphasizing proximate causes and conditions over spooky-action-at-a-distance, magical thinking, or so-called butterfly effect.
For example, we are dependent upon our social connections to parents, family and friends for our development into fully functioning, independent adults. But if we become overly dependent, or co-dependent, it can have deleterious effects, examples being "smother love" and neurotic, destructive relationships. If on the other hand we try to be too independent, or conceive ourselves of such, it can lead to the mythos of the "self-made man" and other such conceits. When we come to see our existence as inextricably and intimately interwoven with that of others, we can hope to maintain a proper balance in all such relationships. This cuts both ways, in that others may develop an imbalance in their relationship to ourselves, regardless of how we see it or feel about it. Misunderstandings abound in the social dimension. Each of the contextual spheres has this aspect.
In confronting the natural world, if we are not in harmony with how it functions, we may do irreparable harm to the ecological system on which we depend for out sustenance. On the other hand, we may find ourselves in danger of personal injury, e.g. by underestimating gravity; or our body's ability to withstand exposure to the elements; or risk poisoning from tainted liquids or foods, e.g. mushrooms.
In the context of the universal sphere, we find that we have even less discretion than we do in the context of nature. Earthquake, flooding and climatological forces we would have to place at the boundary of the natural and universal. These geological events, such as the eruption of volcanoes, which recently killed several people who were exploring an active one while on vacation, are examples of catastrophic collision of the personal-social and the natural-universal. It is clear that the so-called natural world, especially at the edge of the universal, is no respecter of persons. We are of it, but it does not depend upon us or our survival.
All four spheres are interdependently evolving, with emphasis on ever greater independence as we move from the personal to the universal. That is, the effects of personal dependency are increasingly lopsided: the volcano can destroy us but we cannot harm it. If we kill off living species, the effect boomerangs on us.
RATS IN A MAZE
Even the realm of the social cannot be considered a respecter of persons. This unfortunate truth is what we witness in the majority of news reporting. In the fields of physics and mathematics it is said that the simplest, most elegant solution is most likely to be the correct one. In the messier realm of social and political relations, the same principle may apply. It has been demonstrated that if you continue to pack more and more rats into the same maze, at a turning point of extreme overcrowding, they begin to turn on each other, violently. They blame each other, as they are oblivious to the true source of their discomfort.
It may be that overpopulation of the human race on the planet, now at some seven and a half billion and counting, may be the simplest explanation for why people continue to turn on each other in the post-Enlightenment age. Like rats in a finite maze, there may simply be too many people competing for the same resources. Resources that are increasingly threatened by predations of unpredictable weather patterns resulting from climate change, with resultant drought and forest fires, alternating with storms and flooding, all also at least partly a result of accelerating growth in population.
If this is an accurate assessment of the situation, it is understandable that in one sense no one person or group can be held totally accountable for the crisis, and it follows that each would tend to blame the other, like rats. Divisiveness and tribalism afflicting today's public discourse can be seen as a natural reaction to increasing pressure just to survive, or to sustain our preferred and accustomed lifestyle. Even the wealthy should recognize that they cannot buy their way out of the current dilemmas facing society. It is the Tragedy of the Commons writ large.
In Zen, we recognize that any solution to such social problems begins at home. We confront these issues from the personal standpoint, beginning with meditation. This is the personal sphere in which we work out our own resolution of our own unique, individual case. From there, we can then work our way out, to the outer spheres in the model. Zen suggests a bottom-up, not a top-down, solution.
Our personal practice of Zen meditation is influenced by, and conversely influences, our social, natural and universal spheres of experience. How that works, and how thoroughly you grasp its impact and implications is up to you.
Next month we will continue with a closer look at the inner sphere of the Personal, where we will find that the Social, Natural, and Universal are reflected on a smaller scale.
Zen ≠ Zazen ≠ Meditation
December is the month that we focus on the life and teachings of that original Monster of Zen, Shakyamuni the historical Buddha. In what follows I will attempt to demonstrate the absolute relevance and modernity of his teachings, as preserved in the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism. As some of these connections are not obvious in verbal presentation, I have included some charts as illustrations of the intersections and interfaces of what are usually presented as separate teachings.
INTERFACE OF ZEN & ZAZEN
Zen is not the same as zazen, and zazen is not the same as other meditations. It may seem heretical to propose that Zen is not equal to zazen, and that zazen is not equal to meditation. But bear with me. There are so many alternative offerings of meditation today that it is time to differentiate Zen's method from the rest.
Zen is not equivalent to its meditation method, zazen, simply because there is so much more to Zen as a philosophy, and as a formative force throughout history. This has primarily been true of the history of the East, but following its introduction to America in the late 1890s, and especially after WWII, westerners in general, and Americans in particular, have become more and more interested in Zen, along with a parallel engagement with other meditative traditions and styles, such as Yoga, as well as other Buddhist and non-Buddhist variations.
Zen is known as the meditation sect of Buddhism, but zazen is not its sole method of teaching. Zen boasts an extensive literature on buddha-dharma as experienced and expounded by its adherents, beginning with Bodhidharma's journey out of India, and tracing its evolution through China, Korea and Japan, to the Far East. However, distribution of the Buddhist canon, in the form of written sutras and commentaries, had preceded The 28th Patriarch by centuries, and his bringing Zen from the West to the East was definitely focused on the direct practice of upright sitting, or what we now refer to as zazen, or more precisely, shikantaza.
ZAZEN & MEDITATION
The great sage's meditation practice did not conform to the traditional style known as dhyana, or contemplation, though this is how the local punditry interpreted his "wall-gazing Zen." He was demonstrating shikantaza, or "objectless meditation," which amounts to an oxymoron. Meditation is defined as the focus of attention on something, and so inherently implies a division of subject and object. If our direct experience in sitting becomes objectless, then by definition it must also become subject-less (which, revealingly, is not a recognized construction in English; thus the hyphen). In the most salient sense, then, zazen transcends normal meditation.
"Zen" is phonetic Japanese for "Ch'an," which is phonetic Chinese for the Sanskrit "dhyana," one of the traditional Six Paramitas of Buddhism. Thus, Zen is actually a misnomer. Which is a good thing, because what Zen is pointing to cannot be named. In Taoism there is a similar idea, paraphrasing: "Naming is the source of all (particular) things; but that which is eternally real is nameless."
ZEN & FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
To elicit a bigger picture of the place of Zen and zazen in our world of practice, I would like to refer you to a couple of semantic models illustrating my ideas of the interrelationships, or operative interfaces, of the various dimensions thereof that we encounter both on the cushion and in daily life. Turning to Buddhism's Four Noble Truths, we see that they can be modeled as a system, the simplest geometry for which is the tetrahedron ("system" defined as having an inside and an outside):
These are usually presented in text in a linear layout, beginning with the First Noble Truth, that of the Existence of Suffering, followed by the Origin and Cessation of Suffering, and finally the Noble Eightfold Path, leading to the cessation of suffering.
First, we must examine and challenge the use and meaning of the word "suffering" to translate the Sanskrit "dukkha." Unfortunately, suffering is fraught with narrow connotations of human pain — not only physical, but emotional, mental, and even existential in nature — but I do not believe that that is the intended meaning of the original term. I think Buddha was teaching a universal principle, that of unrelenting and inexorable change, which we interpret from the perspective of personal angst.
Read more: Zen ≠ Zazen ≠ Meditation
At the Intersection of God and Buddha
11NOV2019DB
AT THE INTERSECTION OF GOD & BUDDHA
In two of my prior Dharma Bytes, I explored the intersection of Science and Zen, illustrating my thesis that Zen occupies the middle ground between the extremes of Theism and Rationalism, but definitely closer to the latter end of the spectrum. This is because we do not see Zen as a belief-based system of dealing with the world in which we find ourselves, but as an experience-based method, which is closer to the evidence-based truths of Science.
In an interim piece, I explored the ramifications of climate change, an issue that science promises to address, but politics seems to trump - no pun intended - that possibility. And, typically, politics that is based on a theistic view of reality, in which Armageddon is prophesied, and apparently even considered a desirable outcome.
In this month's essay I would like to take a closer look at one of the central questions that often comes up when discussing Zen with people of other faiths. It will often take the form of "Do you worship Buddha?" or "What do you believe in?"
RELIGION & ZEN
While it is easy to dismiss such a query as basically ignorant, or even unseemly and aggressive in proselytizing mode, I think it probably indicates something deeper. If we consider why people have beliefs in something they cannot prove, and for which the evidence is scanty, on a psychological level at least I think we can come to some common ground. Something like 25% of the American populace currently poll as not adhering to any particular faith, not identified with any one of the world's major or minor religions. It is not lost on religious leaders that it is primarily the young, the millennials, who are looking for something else; and that many of them are gravitating toward meditation.
Freedom of religion in this culture is increasingly interpreted as including freedom from religion. Which causes the evangelicals amongst us no end of anxiety and handwringing. They may be genuinely concerned for the salvation of the souls of others, or simply needing to have the assurance of safety in numbers that their belief, or faith, is well-founded.
My basic thesis here is that we should not be too cavalier about or dismissive of the way others express their faith. There are teachings or at least implications of teachings in Buddhism that smack of similar concepts. Because I am not a scholar, I will not attempt to justify my comments with research and validation from respected sources. I only mean to suggest a more open-minded approach to the interfaith dialog, one that does not aim to convince others, but only to reconsider our own biases and prejudices, which may not be readily apparent. After all, as Master Dogen reminds us:
Do not suppose that what you realize becomes your knowledge
and is grasped by your consciousness
Although actualized immediately the inconceivable may not be apparent
Its appearance is beyond your knowledge
If even the most profound insight available in Zen is inaccessible to ordinary awareness, how much more so the subliminal views we may be harboring.
Read more: At the Intersection of God and Buddha
Returning to Nature in Zen
Too Little Too Late
@ THE INTERSECTION OF ZEN & SCIENCE #2
@ THE INTERSECTION OF ZEN & SCIENCE
Hanamatsuri (Festival of Flowers)
The Other Shore
2019 Supporting Membership Campaign
STO Retreat Dates 2019


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WENZHOU MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
About WMU
International Talents
Developing veterinary medicine, contributing to active health: The Laboratory Animal Science and Technology Innovation and Human Health Summit Forum was successfully held
Author:laboratory Animal Resources Center Date:November 25, 2022
From November 10 to 11, the Laboratory Animal Science and Technology Innovation and Human Health Summit Forum was held online and offline in the lecture hall of the Biomedical Research Building at Wenzhou Medical University. Lyu Yijun, secretary of the Party Committee of WMU, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Academician and President Li Xiaokun delivered a keynote speech. Vice President Jin Shengwei presided over the opening ceremony. Li and Professor Qin Chuan, chair of the Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences, were the chairpersons of the forum and Researcher Lin Zhuofeng, director of WMU's Laboratory Animal Center, served as the executive chairman.
Lyu Yijun said that the occurrence and development of human diseases are very complex, and there is an urgent need for experts and scholars at home and abroad to work together, use animal models to carry out medical research and new drug development, and provide new ideas and paths for practicing the philosophy of "comprehensive healthcare" and safeguarding people's lives and health. This forum focused on both the country and the world at large, gathered many well-known domestic experts in laboratory animal sciences, life sciences, medical sciences, and other fields, and provided an international and high-level academic exchange platform for promoting the development of veterinary medicine.
Wu Liren, director of Zhejiang Administration Office of Laboratory Animals, said that the laboratory animal sciences is an interdisciplinary subject with abundant theoretical knowledge, which requires integrated wisdom from the academic, industrial, and practical circles. This forum brought together well-known domestic scholars and experts in laboratory animal sciences, life sciences, and medical sciences, contributing to the development of laboratory animal sciences in Zhejiang.
Qin Chuan noted that the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to advance the Healthy China Initiative and give priority to the people's health, which greatly encouraged people working on laboratory animal sciences. To implement the Healthy China Initiative, we need to vigorously develop laboratory animal sciences that will contribute to active health.
In the keynote speech session, Qin Chuan gave a lecture on "Building Precision Animal Models Using Comparative Medical Technology Systems". Academician Li Xiaokun reported on the Clinical Transformation of Growth Factor Drugs. Professor Xu Aimin at the University of Hong Kong, director of the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, delivered a report on "Adipose tissue and metabolic health: lessons learned from rodent models". Professor Huang Yu at the City University of Hong Kong delivered a keynote speech on "Vascular reactivity study on myograph in animal models of human diseases".
With the theme of "Developing veterinary medicine, contributing to active health", this forum was divided into special sessions such as the cutting-edge forum, animal research on cardiovascular metabolic diseases, and new technology of laboratory animal research. The participating experts shared a variety of topics including gene editing pigs, genetically modified mouse models, molecular mechanisms of heart failure, vascular changes in fatty hepatitis, inflammation and heart failure, metabolic cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis plaques, pulmonary artery hypertension, ischemia/reperfusion injury, LncRNA Gpr137b-ps, conditional gene editing mouse models, animal model selection, hypertensive mouse models, and single-cell sequencing. They discussed the latest technologies for animal models and animal research on cardiovascular metabolic diseases, providing new perspectives and theories for scientific and technological innovation of laboratory animal sciences.
The forum also provided training on laboratory animal regulations and practical skills, and shared expertise in laws and regulations of laboratory animals, laboratory animal IVC system, breeding of special strain animals, animal model production process, and animal metabolism monitoring platform, which was highly relevant to the work and research.
More than 40 experts in the fields of laboratory animal sciences, life sciences, and medical sciences from the mainland and Hong Kong participated in the academic events, including academicians, distinguished young scholars, and Chang Jiang Scholars. The forum attracted more than 200 teachers and students offline and received more than 45,600 views online.
Copyright Wenzhou Medical University
Address: Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Chashan, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R China
Access statistics: Zhejiang ICP prepared 12004924 zip code: 325035
planning production: Wheat extension technology


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Posted in New Single Release
NEW SINGLE : SOFT CELL's "Tainted Love" turns 40 – brand new Dave Ball extended version to be released on 10″ pink vinyl
19th July 2021 Leave a comment
A brand new, extended version produced by Dave Ball to be released on limited edition 10" pink vinyl
Listen on streaming services now
July 2021 is the 40th anniversary of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' and, to celebrate, a brand new, five-minute version by Soft Cell's Dave Ball using the original studio parts is set for release. Originally 2min 36seconds, the new version will be available to listen to from 17th July after an exclusive first play on BBC Radio 2 with Holly Johnson.
As well as the new extended version, the three-track release will feature 2021 remastered versions of the original 7", coupled with its original B-side 'Where Did Our Love Go'.
These tracks will all feature on a limited-edition pink 10" vinyl with a rare version of its original sleeve design and comes with four postcards of classic Soft Cell images. It's available to pre-order from www.softcell.co.uk/tainted-love/
In addition, arriving shortly will be a brand-new Jamie Jones remix, which will be released to celebrate the re-opening of UK clubs after nearly 18 months of closure.
Written by Ed Cobb, 'Tainted Love' is a cover of the northern soul classic and was originally performed by Gloria Jones in 1964, then by Ruth Swann in 1975. Soft Cell's definitive version (originally released on 17th July 1981) went on to be best-selling single of the year in the UK, was the 11th best-selling single of the 80s, and is now certified as platinum. It spent a then record breaking 43 weeks in the US chart, was No.1 in 17 countries and is regarded as one of the most important and influential electronic tracks of all time.
In its glorious 40-year history, Soft Cell's version of 'Tainted Love' has been voted 5th in VH1's 100 Greatest Number 1s Of The 1980s and has been streamed over 849 million times to date (with 214 million streams in 2020 alone!). It has been sampled on worldwide hits such as Rihanna's 'SOS' (108 million Spotify streams), and covered numerously by artists of many genres, including Marilyn Manson. Soft Cell's version has featured in feature films including La La Land, Pride, Mr And Mrs Smith, Bruno, 13 Going On 30, Sleepers and hit TV shows including Friends, The Office (UK), This Is England, Ashes to Ashes, Eastenders and Coronation Street.
'Tainted Love' is taken from Soft Cell's seminal 1981 debut album 'Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret', which will be reissued in an expanded edition in 2022.
Soft Cell – Marc Almond & Dave Ball – reunited in 2018 and will release brand new material later in 2021.
www.softcell.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/softcellband
Tagged 10", Dave Ball, pink vinyl, Soft Cell, Tainted Love
John Carroll Kirby announces debut album for Stones Throw: "My Garden" out April 24th
DMA'S release title track from new album 'The Glow' today
NEW SINGLE : THE JOY FORMIDABLE begin teasing new music | Hear new single "Into The Blue" | Debuted on BBC 6 Music
"Sail Away" with Emma Miller
NEW SINGLE : NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS release new single 'FLYING ON THE GROUND'
FESTIVAL NEWS : 50 DAYS TO GO…THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR SCOTLAND'S BIGGEST MUSIC FESTIVAL


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MARCI BLACKMAN
FIFTEEN MILES PER HOUR
The Prince
There is nothing you can do...
Riding While Black
#cycling #cyclingwhileblack #fifteenmilesperhour #marciblackman
#cycling #cyclingwhileblack #fifteenmilesperhour #marciblackman #mikebrown #ferguson #blacklivesmatter #racism #systemicracism #iammikebrown
#cyclingwhileblack
#fifteenmilesperhour
#marciblackman
#princealwaleedbintalal
I got the call ten days out. A text, actually, somewhat cryptic, from the manager of the bike shop out of which I lead tours.
"I left you a voice mail," it said. "When you have time could you please call me? It's for a 4 hour tour for the prince of South Arabia."
Did she mean "Saudi Arabia?" I typed.
"No," she wrote back. "South Arabia."
South Arabia? Where the hell was South Arabia? Embarrassed by my American-born, raised and educated ignorance, before responding, I decided to run a quick Google search to find out; within .40 seconds, my high school World History and Geography courses came streaming back to me, sort of. In earlier times, South Arabia was home to the Ottoman Empire. Of course! How could I forget the Ottoman Empire? Until 1962, the year Yemen declared its independence, geographically, the name referred to the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula, which, in addition to Yemen, included parts of what we know today as western Oman and southern Saudi Arabia. You know, the sole of the Mid-East boot, kissing the shores of the Red and Arabian seas, a stone's throw from war-ravaged Eritrea, and the semi-presidential republic of Djibouti, aka the Land of Punt—God's Land.
In the ensuing phone conversation, after confirming that my manager was as versed in the geography of the rest of the world as I was and had indeed meant Saudi Arabia as opposed to South, I learned that sometime in the next ten days I would lead Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal —the wealthiest Arab in the world—and twenty-five of his personal body guards on a bike tour through Manhattan.
Though not a crown prince, with a net worth estimated at 27 billion dollars, including real estate interests in two hotels: the Hotel George V in Paris and The Plaza here in New York, and a 3.6% stake in Twitter, who cares? Al-Waleed bin Talal is #31 on Forbes Magazine's Wealthiest Billionaires list.
Holy shit! I'm taking this guy on a tour?
And twenty-five of his personal bodyguards, my manager's voice repeated in my head.
Who walks around with twenty-five Personal bodyguards? How many bodyguards does Obama have? I performed a quick search, but for security reasons it came back top secret. One anonymous person wrote back asking What's your interest? Great, now I was probably on some watch list.
Still, nothing could douse my high. I felt like a modern day, gender-making-it-up-as-I-go-along, black Cinderella. My prince had finally come, or at least he was on his way. I planned my outfit, cut my hair, and was already imagining the size of my tip.
"Maybe he'll give you a gold bar," my brother said, when I called him. "I'm serious, Marci, If he asks what's usual and customary, tell him five gold bars: two for you, one each for mom and dad, and one for yours truly. What's a gold bar worth these days, anyway?"
I looked it up. "Depends on the size," I answered. "$1400 for an ounce, $44,000 a kilo."
"That's it? Maybe you should ask for 10."
My girlfriend, a fierce femme's femme, who's family hails from South Asia by way of the Canadian prairies, was all about his wife, Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel.
"She's a badass," she said. "You know she's the one behind his coming out against the veil. And, hello! She's F***ing beautiful! She's also half his age," she added with a shrug. "He's almost 60. Handsome though."
I chose two guides to come along as sweepers (one to ride in the rear and one in the middle to ensure no bodyguard was left behind): my best buddy, Sez Me co-creator and drummer extraordinaire, Lee Free,
and another guide from the shop named José. After a week of back and forths between the Prince's people and mine, they finally wrangled out the details: I was to lead the Prince on a two hour bike ride through Central Park and lower Manhattan. We would leave at four, and return by six.
Right away, I started to worry. It was the middle of November. The leaves had turned and were nearly gone from the trees, yet the air was muggy and humid, threatening rain. My main concern was the time. Sunset was just a little after 4:30. A four o'clock start meant we would ride the last hour after dark. To cover Central Park and downtown in 2 hours was a tall order.
"Do we have lights," I asked my manager.
She had no idea. They were furnishing their own bikes. All she knew was that I was to arrive at The Plaza hotel at 2:30 pm and ask for a concierge named James. Lee and Jose would meet me there an hour later. Just in case, on my way to The Plaza, I stopped by the shop to pick up some ponchos.
"So you're the lucky one," James said, when I arrived. "I had the pleasure of picking them up from the airport." Sarcasm dripped from his tongue like melted candle wax. If James wasn't family, somebody needed to break it to him, because he rolled his eyes with annoyance in the way only a true queen can. "I got to drive right onto the tarmac," he added, smiling.
"Bet that was fun."
"Oh yes, honey. Joy, joy, joy, joy."
After storing my bike in the concierge room (which like most Manhattan apartments was the size of a closet), James led me to the Palm Court tearoom, where members of the royal party (all but the Prince) were having lunch. In the tearoom, he introduced me to a tall, chiseled brown man dressed in slacks, a button down shirt and leather jacket. Mohammed interrupted his lunch to brief me. As we walked, out of habit, I recited The Plaza's history in my head.
Completed in 1907, this French Chateau homage was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. Hardenbergh designed another building we will see on our tour, the Dakota Apartments, where John Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman.
Above all else," Mohammed told me as he pulled me aside. "First, my boss must know exactly where he is going. So we will need to see the route in advance." We stopped at a credenza near the entrance to the tearoom. "You can show us here," he said, producing a pen and a map of the city. "Second," he said, "he has a six o'clock dinner reservation at the Mandarin Oriental. So you will not return here, but to the Mandarin instead."
When I asked if we should plan to return a little early then, Mohammed said no. Six O'clock would be fine, but no later. Now anyone who knows me also knows that I am punctuality-challenged. No matter how hard I try, how herculean my efforts, more often than not, I arrive 10-15 minutes late, sometimes more.
"What about the bikes?" I asked, beginning to wonder what I had gotten myself into.
Mohammed said he would handle it.
The Prince had some other requirements: The ride must be 36 kilometers (appx. 22 miles)—18 out, 18 back. There could be no hills, and no traffic lights. No traffic lights? In New York City? I could accommodate the hill request (for the record, it is a myth that New York is flat), but the traffic light thing was impossible.
"Ok," Mohammed said, when I explained. "Exactly how many will we encounter?"
I counted in my head. "Twenty," I answered. "Ten out and ten back."
Mohammed pointed to the map. "Show me," he said.
After marking off the route, making special note of the traffic lights, Mohammed took a picture of the map with his phone then emailed it to an undisclosed number of recipients. "Any questions?" he asked me.
"What do I call him?" I asked.
For the first time, Mohammed looked at me. Held my gaze for an uncomfortably long moment. "His Highness," he said, finally. "His Highness, or Your Highness. Now," he added. "We have some bikes that need to be repaired. Which of you is the mechanic?"
Come again? "We didn't bring a mechanic," I said. "We're just the guides." By the look on Mohammed's face, I could tell this was not the right answer, so I amended it. "I mean, we could probably manage some light repairs, you know break adjustments and such, patch up a flat."
We weaved our way through the hustle and bustle of tourists and important people arriving and departing the historic hotel outside to the bikes. Jose was already waiting for me, speaking with some of the bodyguards. I introduced him to Mohammed as he indicated the bikes to be serviced. Hands down, these were the worst bikes I had ever seen. Walmart wouldn't sell these bikes. "Where did you rent these?" I asked.
"We travel with them from Riyadh. My boss takes a ride in every city he visits."
They travel with them? The 31st wealthiest person in the world couldn't invest in some decent bicycles?
Where was Lee? We were fifteen minutes from departure and he still hadn't arrived.
The repairs turned out to be fairly simple: a couple of flat tires, reversing the breaks so the professional videographer they hired, who was left handed, could ride and film at the same time, and most important—and perhaps most complicated—we had to attach an umbrella holder to His Highness's bike, which was outfitted with sissy bars, a banana seat, and fat bald tires, the kind of bike we used to ride as kids. His Highness wouldn't prefer a poncho? I asked. No, answered Mohammed.
More and more bodyguards in leather jackets began to appear and test out the bikes. Still, no Lee. As we assembled, several concierges diverted traffic away from our position. Valet service was temporarily suspended. The only thing missing was a police escort, and Lee.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, when he finally arrived. He had taken the train up from Brooklyn; as soon as he stepped out of the subway, he dropped his helmet in a pile of horseshit and couldn't find anyplace to wash it off. Don't worry, I told him New York always smelled like horseshit, especially near Central Park. He would blend right in.
At exactly 4 pm, ginormous umbrella in hand, His Highness descended the steps of The Plaza, inserted the closed umbrella into the umbrella stand so that it shot up in the air like a phallus, and we were off—me in the front with His Highness, surrounded by five of his most trusted henchmen, Lee in the middle, smelling like horseshit, with José bringing up the rear.
As soon as we started riding, I knew we were in trouble. There was no way the Prince, who rode with his feet flatfooted on the pedals, sticking out to the sides like a circus clown, could ride 18 kilometers per hour. Immediately, I began editing the route in my head, hoping to get us back to the Mandarin as close to 6pm as possible. What would happen, I wondered, if we were late?
As we rode, I looked back to make sure everyone was keeping up and observed a beautiful sea of black and brown male bodies flowing behind us. To say we turned heads would be like saying Death Valley is hot. At every red light, four of the bodyguards broke away from the pack to take up positions at each corner of the intersection. When the light changed to green, in an eerily well-rehearsed dance they fell back in line.
"Do you think they were packing?" my girlfriend asked later. "I don't know," I answered. "Maybe, probably." Damn, white supremacist, imperialist, capitalist patriarchy is a bitch, I thought. There is no escaping it; it's everywhere, slithering around inside our psyches like a four-headed snake. Even as people of color, we just can't help ourselves. Whenever a large group of black and brown men gather, we assume they are carrying guns.
By the time we reached the Hudson River Greenway, we were riding at a pretty decent clip. The prince seemed to be enjoying himself, thrusting his phallic umbrella at some of his bodyguards as a joke. I even bonded a bit with his CEO, who kept calling everybody "Habibi," the Arabic word for "my beloved."
"I know Habibi," I said.
"You know Habibi?"
"It's a term of endearment, right?"
"Yes, but how do you know Habibi?"
"My… uh, my friend," I said, catching myself before blurting out the word girlfriend. "She calls all her friends Habibi."
"But, surely, she does not call you Habibi."
Shit! I forgot, nearly every language but English relegates meanings and spellings of words to masculine and feminine. What was the feminine form of habibi again?
Everyone around me quieted and waited for my response, including the Prince. If we weren't in the middle of New York City you could hear a pin drop.
"No," I yelled out, suddenly, as it came to me. "Habipti! She calls me Habipti!"
Everyone applauded. "She knows Habibi and Habipti," they passed down through the ranks.
In no aspect of my life am I closeted, mind you, never have been. But discussing the intricacies and nuances of my genderqueer identity with the Prince and all of his bodyguards while attempting to lead them safely through the city on bicycles wasn't a conversation I wanted to have just then. Instead, I informed Mohammed that in order to make it back by six, we would have to cut the ride a little short. He wasn't happy, but seemed to be ok with it. Just when I thought we might actually pull this thing off, His Highness got a flat.
I turned around and rode back to consult with Lee. Since we didn't have any tubes to fit His Highness's tires, we would have to repair it—so much for finishing on time. But before we could get our tools out, a black SUV careened across the West Side Highway out of nowhere, cutting off four lanes of traffic before screeching to halt in front of us, the Empire State building looming in the background. Two brown men in black leather jackets exited the vehicle and from the back unloaded another bicycle identical the one the Prince had been riding, complete with banana seat, sissy bars two beautifully full bald fat tires. "How many of those do you think they have?" Lee asked as he swapped out the umbrella stand.
After a couple more mishaps, chain derailments from improper shifting on shitty bikes, another SUV met us in Battery Park City at the entrance to Robert Wagoner Park, bearing refreshments and snacks for His Highness. It was 5:40 and dark. Even at 18 kilometers per hour, it would take us forty minutes to reach the Mandarin. Did I inform Mohammed now that we weren't going to make it, or did I wait until we got closer, hoping for some kind of miracle? I chose the miracle.
Fog was rolling in. The mood was tense. The construction lights on the new Freedom Tower—now the tallest building in North America—flickered, muted, above our heads. Nobody spoke as we started the journey back. On the way downtown I'd noticed that His Highness kept no more or less than a five-foot distance between us. Every time I slowed, or sped up he remained exactly five feet behind me. I decided to use this tendency to trick him into riding faster. Every half-mile or so I increased my speed. As soon as His Highness began to close the gap back to five feet, I increased it again. In this manner, we made it to West 57th street by 5:59 pm, but the Mandarin was still three blocks and a traffic circle away.
Ok, time to fess up. I looked over at the Prince, who was stopped at the light beside me, hunched over his handlebars. Sweat poured down his face like he was standing under a shower. His breath came heavy. He's almost 60, my girlfriend's words rang in my ears. Which was worse, I wondered, being a little late for a dinner reservation, or giving the Prince of Saudi Arabia a heart attack? I opened my mouth to speak, but His Highness beat me to it.
"Where is the restaurant?" he asked, visibly winded. They were the first words he had spoken to me the entire ride. I pointed to Columbus Circle and said, "It's just around that circle there, Your Highness, but I fear we might be five minutes late."
His Highness looked toward the Christopher Columbus monument in the middle of the circle, but didn't answer. Neither did Mohammed.
As soon as the light turned green, I kicked my foot into my toe clip and sprinted for Columbus Circle. The Prince was right behind me. So was Mohammed. Either I was going to get him to Mandarin on time, or I was going to die trying. Cars honked and slammed on their breaks as we ran every light around the circle, swooping right onto Broadway, then left onto 60th Street, running that red light as well. I don't know if time stopped for a few minutes, or if Allah was simply smiling on me, but when we pulled in front of the Mandarin, the clock on my iPhone read 6:00 o'clock on the dot, and no one had had a heart attack or gotten into an accident.
The valets at the Mandarin took one look at the entourage of 30 or so brothers on bicycles and immediately began shooing us away like unwanted vermin.
For the first time in my life, I experienced what it was like to wield real power. I swung my leg over my bike, walked up to the lead valet and said in as authoritative voice as I could muster, "I have the Prince of Saudi Arabia here for a six o'clock dinner reservation."
Roaches couldn't have moved faster. The Valets swarmed around His Highness as if he were a succulent morsel suddenly dropped to the ground. Calmly, the Prince parked his bike on the sidewalk, ran his fingers through his hair, straightened his jacket and walked into the Mandarin without saying a word. Not thanks, not have a good night, not anything. So much for the gold bars.
His Highness's physical therapist, the only American on the ride other than the guides, shook my hand and told me my timing was impeccable. Lee and José rode up and patted me on the back.
"How the fuck did you do that?" Lee asked.
"I have no Idea," I answered.
"What do we do now?" asked José.
I looked around. The entire entourage had vanished. We stood outside the doors as if in front of a solid stone wall, looking for the secret button or lever that would grant us entrance. In the fog, the wet street glistened almost desolate. The horn honking and sirens, sonic ghosts of a city veiled. Only the bikes remained, parked helter-skelter all over the sidewalk, blocking the entrance to the hotel. We were tired and hungry, filthy from the various breakdowns and repairs. I shrugged my shoulders. "Go home, I guess," I said.
"Did they tip us?" José asked.
As we started to leave, Mohammed emerged through the revolving door of Mandarin and called to us. "My boss wanted me to thank you," he said. "He really enjoyed that.
I held my breath, wondering what was coming next.
If you are not busy, he would like you to join us for dinner."
"Now?" I said. "Dressed like this?"
Mohammed looked down at my bare legs and bike pants. Grease streaked our faces, hands and clothes, and Lee's helmet still smelled like horseshit.
"Well," he said. "I wish you at least had on a pair of Jeans, but the Prince wants you to join him, so I think it doesn't matter. He's never done this before, so I think you should come."
We followed Mohammed through the magic revolving doors and rode the elevator to the 35th floor, where, backpacks and helmets in hand, much to the curiosity of the white patrons dining in formal attire, we strolled into Asiate, the Mandarin's five-star restaurant, with wraparound views of Central Park and the City, and joined the royal party.
The meal was buffet style. After gorging ourselves on twenty different types of antipasti, entrees of prime rib, roasted chicken, two kinds of fish, Salmon and halibut, lamb, potatoes, every kind of salad and green vegetable one can imagine, and a dessert tree that made even my mouth water in spite of the fact I don't eat sugar, Mohammed approached our table.
"Are you enjoying your meal?" he asked. We nodded and thanked him. "You see?" he said. "We don't do alcohol, but in every other respect, we are just like you."
Not quite, I thought as I stared at the blurred lights of the fog-dampened city below, but point taken.
Author's Note: On November 17th, 2013, I led the Prince of Saudi Arabia on a bike tour through Manhattan. The above is a recounting of my memory of that event — mb


The price of oil is up and down as commodity markets are averagely active. Brent is going for $49.79 per barrel (+0.3%). WTI with delivery next month is trading around $49.05 (-0.15%). Yesterday's Brent minimum was set at $49.02 per barrel and this is a 7 month minimum.
API data for last week came out down. According to the report, commercial reserves of oil in the week ending 31st July are down by 4.4 million barrels and stood at 455.3 million barrels. The forecasts had indicated a much smaller fall.
It's worth casting your attention on extraction values for which last week saw a rise by 0.55% (+52,000 barrels per day) to 9.465 million. It seems that it was this indicator that prevented a continuation of the rebound of oil prices. The market is very sensitive to potential growth in supply and this is preventing any rise in price.
The technical picture for Brent is indicating a resistance at $49 and if this is broken the road to $45 will open up. Today's trading is likely to see Brent trading $49.30-49.90 per barrel. The Bank of England is unlikely to surprise investors later today. Tomorrow's July labor market data from the US is more likely to have an effect.


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Q: How can I draw text on , that follows a Quadratic Curve drawn using the quadraticCurveTo method Is there any function anywhere that will allow me to draw text on , that follows a Quadratic Curve (drawn using the quadraticCurveTo method)?
I have only found a function that allows me to draw text on an Arc, but this is not what I want.
Here you can all see an example of my situation:
http://jsbin.com/ixozok

A: There's certainly no built in way, but its worth noting that this is very easy to do in SVG as SVG natively supports drawing text on paths.
To do this in canvas you will need to break up your quadratic curve into a series of points that represent the curve (by, say, implementing something close to this). What you want is a list of points that is an approximation of the quadratic curve. Then you pick the points along this approximation that you want to draw on and draw each letter of the text individually. To find the angle for any specific letter, you'd take the point you are drawing that letter on and an adjacent point and use those two points to calculate a slope (and thus angle).
The theory behind it isn't too hard, but its too hefty for me to make a working code example right now.