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On the Divine Name al-Mu'min | The Solely Faithful, The Inspirer of Trust and Secured Faith
1 0 Sadiq Monday, January 17, 2011 Edit this post
Wali'Llahi al-asma ul-husna: fa odAAoo Hu bi ha.
To God belongs the most beautiful Names: so call on Hu by these..
- The Quran 7:180
Man finds his existence in a reality in which the apparent (zahir) is comprised of forms and names. And such is the reality of forms and names that they act as vehicles for human consciousness to gain access to even that which are formless and beyond names. The word "Love" can be an example to express something which is beyond words or names and can not be defined by form, yet when it comes to conscious access to that, we call it by a name, we use expression like "I love you" to transmit the reality carried with the word / name.
Similarly when it comes to accessing the realm of sacred knowledge, the knowledge of the Divinity Itself, we start from Name, Names, or Consciousness of Name to reach the One Who is Named. John, who was a profound Mystic opens his Gospel thus pointing to this: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" and Sufis speak of the reality of journey back from Name to the Named, from Word back to God, from Zahir to Batin.
In this journey the particular practice of the Path is accessed through the 99 Mystical Names of Allah. In Sacred Hebrew tradition there are also beautiful Names through which Consciousness of the Divine was invoked. From time immemorial the mystics, the seekers, the gnostics, the God-intoxicated lovers of the Divine used the Beautiful Names in every possible human language to invoke God and used it as sacred practice to call upon the Holy Essence as a child uses the name Mother to call upon its mother. In Islamic Spiritual Practice as embodied and lived in Sufi tradition, 99 Holy Names of God is revealed by the Messenger, upon him be peace. These Names are often used by Sufis, seekers and mystics to invoke certain Divine Consciousness and to invoke power from the Source of all Power.
99 Holy Names of Allah via www.namesofallah.com
I ask You by every Name belonging to You which You have Named Yourself with, or which You revealed in Your Revelation, or which You taught to any of Your creation, or which You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make the Revelation Quran the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.
- Prophet's supplication, peace be upon him
AL-MU'MIN
Among the 99 Revealed Names of Allah as transmitted by the Divine Informer Muhammad Mustafa, al-Mu'min is one (click for hear how its pronounced). The Name indicates to the truth of the Holy Essence which is the Source of Faith, Trust and Security. Al-Mu'min is the Name of God which introduces us to the Divine as the Guardian of Faith, as the Remover of Fear, the Giver of Tranquility. Allahu al-Mu'min: God is the Solely Faithful. Guardian of Faith, The One who witnessed for Itself that no one is god but the Holy Essence. And He witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that la ilaha illaHu.
Various meanings of the Name al-Mu'min are:
The One who faithfully bestows the gifts of peace, safety and security.
The One who grants freedom from fear.
The One who illuminates the heart with faith. The One who is most trustworthy.
From the root â-m-n which has the following classical Arabic connotations:
to be secure, safe, free from fear
to be quiet, tranquil
to grant protection, safeguard
to be trusted, trustworthy
to believe in
The word îmân, often simply translated simply as faith or belief, comes from this same â-m-n root.
On belief and faith
We are able to do anything if we choose to make the effort. The difficulty is that often we do not choose to do so. And why not? Because we do not believe: what is generally lacking in man is belief…. What we obtain is what our belief allows us to obtain, whether of wealth or virtue, power or rank or spirituality. What our belief does not allow us to attain to we do not attain to; we cannot attain it….
How can one get belief? This is the most difficult question anyone can ask, for it cannot be learned, it cannot be taught; it is a grace of God. Belief is essentially the same thing as faith, but only when belief has become a conviction does it turn into faith. I remember my murshid (spiritual teacher) giving me, in blessing me, this wish: "May your faith be strengthened." Being a young man, I thought, "Is that all he is saying to me, not, 'May you be inspired,' or 'illuminated,' or 'prosperous,' or something else?" But when I think of it now, I know that in that blessing there was all. When belief is strengthened, then there is everything: what we lack in life is mostly due to our lack of belief. But again, this is not something that one can learn or teach or that one can give to anybody; it comes from the grace of God.
- Hazrat Inayat Khan, Allah bless him for his service, from Spiritual Dimensions of Psychology
Ta'alluq, Takhalluq and Tahaqquq of the Name: al-Mu'min
The great Shaykh Ibn Ajiba, may Allah be pleased with him, in his large commentary on the Fatiha says: Know that Allah's beautiful Names are all suitable for ta'alluq (attachment, relationship), takhalluq (adoption, appropriation, cultivation), and tahaqquq (realization).
Ta'alluq is seeking for the Name's meaning to happen. It is deepening the relationship of the Divine Attribute through seeking, being aware.
Takhalluq is striving in actions / deeds / works that bring about the meanings encapsulated in the Name. It is cultivation of the Divine Attribute in co-participating and asking Divine Permission to partake in the Name.
Tahaqquq is its unfolding and taking firm root in the heart so much so that it finds abode in the heart and raise the state to a more permanent station, Inshallah. It is realization of the Name.
And ta'alluq to al-Mu'min, according to the first meaning: To ask Him to give you belief and certainty of faith in Him, and in His promises and threats, and His prophets and messengers, and His awliya (saints, nearer friends).
And according to the second meaning: To ask from Him safety from His dissatisfaction by the achievement of true repentance, and correct manners, by conformity to the Sunnah (pattern of the Messnger), and the abandonment of blameworthy bidah.
And takhalluq according to it: is for your truthfulness to increase, for your faith to strength so that no doubts mix with it, or false beliefs, and that no worry or comes to it, and that all of creation feel safe from you, for his saying, peace be upon him, "I swear by Allah that he does not believe…he from whom his neighbor feels no security," and to believe all those who want to give you advice and tell you that in which you will find your righteousness and right guidance.
And tahaqquq with it: that the light of certainty shines in your heart, so that the hereafter is too close to you for you to leave for it, and to see this world with the eclipse of perishing apparent on it, and that which was unseen to you becomes witnessed, and that which was to come becomes now, and that your sidq (honesty) is so great that you believe in what is normally impossible.
It has been related that the Noble Master Isa (Jesus) , upon him be peace and blessings, saw a man stealing, so he said, "you have stolen, oh so-and-so?", so he said, "No, by Allah I did not steal, oh spirit of Allah", so Isa peace be upon him said, "I believe in Allah and disbelieve in my eyes."
So if your honesty is realized, and you are firmly established in it, you are written down with Allah as one of the siddiqeen (the verifiers), the muqarrabeen (those brought near), may Allah raise us among them (on the Day of Judgment), Amen. (credit)
Further Commentary
Imam al-Ghazali, may Allah have mercy on him, said: al-Mu'min is the Absolute, so that all imagineable safety or security must come from Him.
And that [Absolute] is Allah Most High. It is clear that the blind man is scared of dying from something that he does not see, from which a seeing eye would give him safety; And the man whose arm has been cut off fears a harm that could only be protected from with an arm, and from which the arm gives safety; and so it is with all senses and limbs, and the Mu'min is the One who created them, fashioned them, and makes them work. And if we were to imagine a man alone, sought by his enemies, lying in a narrow straight, so weak that his limbs cannot move, and even if they could move, he has no weapon, and even if he had a weapon then he could not fight his enemies by himself, and even if he had soldiers he did not have the assurance (amn) that his army will not be defeated, and there is no fortress in which to seek refuge…. So then came someone who healed his weakness and gave him strength, gave him soldiers and weapons, and built around him a fortress, then he has given him amn and aman (safety and reassurance), then he should be called a mu'min (a source of amn) in his right.
And the servant [of Allah] is naturally weak, and is vulnerable to illness, hunger, and thirst from within, and to dangers that can cause drowning, burning, injury, and defeat from the outside. And only he gives him security from these fears who prepares for him medicine for his illnesses, foods that remove his hunger and drinks to quench his thirst, and bodily organs to keep away harm from his body, as well as the senses which act as spies, informing him of the mortal dangers that approach him. Then there is his greatest fear, that of doom in the Next World, from which only the statement of Tawhid shall protect him- and Allah is He who guides him to it, and makes him want to utter it, as He said [in the Hadith Qudsi], "La Ilaaha Illa Allah is My fortress, and he who enters it is safe from My punishment". And so there is no safety in the world except that it has causes, and He alone creates these causes and guides to their use.
And the Abd al-Mu'min (the Servant of al-Mu'min) is he whom Allah has given safety from punishment; and he with whom people feel safe (and may entrust to them) their selves, their money, and their honor. And the servant's share of this attribute is that all creation fear nothing from him, but instead, that all those who have fears wish to find in him refuge to protect them from any danger to their religious and worldly affairs, as he said, peace be upon him, "He who believes (yu'min) in Allah and the Last Day, let his neighbor be safe (yu'min) from him."
And the most worthy of Allah's servants of the name al-mu'min he who is a cause of the safety of creation from Allah's punishment through guidance to the path of Allah and leading toward the way of salvation, and this is the craft of the Prophets and the Scholars, and that is why he said, peace be upon him, "You throw yourselves toward the Fire as do moths but I take you by the forelock (toward safety)".
You might say that fear is in truth from Allah and that no one truly causes fear except Him, for He is the one who frightens his servants and He is the one who creates the things that cause their fears, so how can amn (safety from fear) be attributed to Him? Your answer is that fear is from Him and safety is from Him, and He is the creator of the causes of both safety and fear; and His being a frightener does not keep Him from being a mu'min, just as his being a Dishonorer (Mudhill) does not keep him from being an Honorer (Mu'izz), but He is the Honorer and the Dishonorer; and His being a Humbler/Lowerer (Khafid) does not keep him from being an Exalter/Raiser (Rafi'), but He is the Exalter and the Humbler. And so is He the Mu'min and the frightener, except that al-Mu'min has been chosen [by Allah] as a Name, but not "the frightener".
And the unique benefit of this Name is to have safety, honesty, to be believed and seen as trustworthy by others, and strength of iman (faith) in general to the one who remembers, or repeats, this name. And from this uniqueness is that he who has fear should repeat it thirty six times, for he will feel safe about himself and his possessions, and it is increased to that according to one's power or weakness.
(original text in Arabic and credit)
Secret of the Name al-Mu'min
Meaning of the Name al-Mu'min which also conceals the meaning as Believer, One Who Trusts and some find it strange that God refers its Holy Essence as Mu'Min or Believer. Bewildering Secret revealed to His elect friends is this: Allah is al-Mu'min by His sacred Trust and believe in humanity. Allah declares, "Man is my secret and I am his secret." Humanity and each individual human being are the Sacred Trust of God in whom God entrusted the trust to Truth Him. This is a tremendous responsibility that human heart carries and the Divine Name al-Mu'min is a reminder and Signpost that God is trusting us by entrusting His trust upon us to trust God alone. May Allah include us among those who trust in Him as He deserves to be trusted. Madad ya Shaykh, Madad ya Ali, Madad ya Rasul'Allah, Mada ya Allah.
Fly from the name to the Named
O thou who long to become pure, rest not at the names;
Come learn Whose names they are!
To know the Named One, that's the aim,
The only aim in attaining the names.
- Shaykh Abdul-Ahad al-Nuri, may Allah be pleased with him
# Reference Sources:
. Riyadat an-Nafs
# Resources:
. The Beautiful Names of Allah
. How to Pronounce al-Mu'min
. Advice on Reciting The 99 Names Under A Guide
. Al-Mu'min: a Du'a
99 names Allah Dhikr inspiration Zikr
Technology of the Heart: On the Divine Name al-Mu'min | The Solely Faithful, The Inspirer of Trust and Secured Faith
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IFpg2m9UrgY/TTQ__IJPOlI/AAAAAAAAGxY/A7xLc8qrjyk/s320/namesofallah.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IFpg2m9UrgY/TTQ__IJPOlI/AAAAAAAAGxY/A7xLc8qrjyk/s72-c/namesofallah.jpg
https://www.techofheart.com/2011/01/al-mumin-faithful-99-names.html


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"A Georgia man has won the right to fly the American flag outside his home after getting sued for failing to remove the 16-foot flagpole from his front lawn, MyFoxAtlanta.com reported.
Ron Tripodo of Canton, Ga., was embroiled in a costly legal dispute with the Bridgemill Homeowners Association over the flagpole, displayed prominently in his front yard for over a year.
"I got a letter saying, 'Take your flag down. You can put it in your backyard' and I just refused to do it," Tripodo, a former Army Reservist, told the TV station.
The homeowners association, which claimed the flagpole was an "obstruction," reportedly sued Tripodo for $25 each day the flag flew in his front yard -- a charge that totaled $32,000.
A Cherokee County judge, however, dismissed the lawsuit this week, freeing Tripodo from having to pay any fines."


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American Idol Hopeful Lazaro Arbos Serves Up Cool Treats for Rita's Italian Ice
Popular American Idol Contestant Lazaro Arbos Makes Finals – Voting This Week!
TREVOSE, PA, March 5, 2013, Rita's Italian Ice, the nation's largest Italian Ice concept with over 625 outlets in 19 states, announced Lazaro Arbos, a Treat Team Member from Rita's outlet in Naples, Florida, was chosen as a Top 20 finalist by American Idol 2013 (Season 12). Arbos earned a coveted spot on the popular singing competition's Top 20 following the Sudden Death rounds in Las Vegas this past week. Lazaro Arbos was chosen to move on to public voting rounds beginning tonight. The finalists will be named on Thursday, March 7th.
Arbos has touched many hearts worldwide with his ability to overcome his fears and insecurities each week on American Idol. Challenged by a speech problem, verbal communication was never easy for this 22-year-old Cuban singer. But when he sings, the world listens. Arbos, who turned heads when he first auditioned for American Idol because of his severe stutter, sang a rendition of Idol judge Keith Urban's song "Tonight I Want to Cry," earned him the chance to be one of the final ten male contestants this past week.
Before his road to Hollywood and American Idol, Arbos moved to Florida from Cuba when he was 10 and says that living with such a severe case of stuttering is "like a roller coaster." Arbos' mom and dad said that it has been a tough journey for their son since the stuttering became worse, "to the point where he couldn't speak". His love of music is the only therapy that seems to have worked.
The Treat Team Member for Rita's Italian Ice, who now resides in Naples with his parents, sang "Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," week one and left the judges in absolute shock when his stuttering completely disappeared as he sang the lovely melody. Pop diva, Mariah Carey, told Arbos, "You have a beautiful voice," she was clearly moved by his performance. Fellow pop princess Nicki Minaj agreed with Carey and praised Arbos for his courage and determination.
"Before auditioning for American Idol Lazaro scooped Ice like the rest of our Treat Team at Rita's," said Jen Gibson, franchisee of Rita's Italian Ice in Naples, Florida. "We love having a singing star on our crew. Lazaro's favorite Rita's Italian Ice is Strawberry Margarita Ice and now his favorite Cool Treat, Mango Gelati, is the top selling menu item—it's Mango Ice layered with creamy Frozen Custard, a super sweet combination, but so is Lazaro!"
Fans will now decide which singers will advance by voting via phone, text, online or through the American Idol app. "We couldn't be more proud of Lazaro and want Rita's fans to vote for him to win," said Jonathan Fornaci, chief executive of Rita's Italian Ice. "All our bets are on Lazaro and wishing him all the Ice, Custard, Happiness from Rita's!"
Rita's Franchise Company, headquartered in Trevose, PA, is the largest Italian Ice concept in the United States, currently operating in 19 states with over 625 outlets. Rita's presently has international locations opening in China, India, ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao), and Canada, and is continuing to grow nationally and internationally through franchise opportunities.
The popular chain offers a variety of frozen treats including its famous Italian Ice, made fresh daily with real fruit, available in over sixty flavors, Old Fashioned Frozen Custard, Milkshakes, Unlimited Topping Sundaes, Frozen Custard Cakes, Custard Cookie Sandwiches made with OREO®, layered Gelati as well as its signature Misto® and Blendini® creations. With its motto: "Ice, Custard, Happiness," Rita's is dedicated to serving up a big dose of happiness with their freshly made, delicious, custom treats, in a fun-filled atmosphere.
Rita's topped the Zagat Survey for the #1 Best Quick Refreshment, Ice Cream/Custard for 2012, and was named one of the Top 25 Franchise High Performers by the Wall Street Journal's "Startup Journal" and named Top 100 on Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 500 Franchise Rankings" in 2012. For more information about Rita's please call 1-800-677-7482 or visit www.ritasice.com or www.ownaritas.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It is one of the main problems that affect many computers. If you have your computer attacked by a virus or spyware, Decatur, AL computer stores offer virus removal services.
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The computer is made of two distinctive parts. First, is the physical properties that make up the computer itself, the hardware. Second is the code and programs that the machine run on, the software.
Both of them can be broken, and both of them require special know how. If either software or hardware is acting strange and you don't think you can fix it, it would be a good time to go to a computer repair store.
It is a computer repair service which helps individuals with battery issues to fix their problems. When a computer is slow to charge, there is a good chance that there is something wrong with the battery.
The technicians at Decatur, AL help to repair your device battery by installing another battery. The only thing you require to know is the specifications of your computer in order the battery that can fit it well. If the specs can't be found because the manual is missing, a technician will know what you are looking for.
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When choosing services for your computer repair, you should be picky. It is important to find a computer repairman that knows their way around the trade. It helps to avoid permanent damage to your device.


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Tencent premieres WeTV in Thailand in response to the rise in demand for the video streaming partnering with top-tier local and international original content producers
WeTV.VIP members offered many exclusive activities.
Tencent (Thailand) Company Limited, a portal platform and technology solutions provider to respond to all the needs in digital era, introduces WeTV; a video streaming platform available on desktop and application. Its aim is to provide an entertainment source with full of contents from leading original content producers to capture the Thai audience. It also brings in the world refined contents from Tencent Penguin Picture; the market leader content producer in China along with leading local partners; One31 channel, GDH and Insight Technology by introducing local contents as well as a penetration into the Chinese market. By 2019, WeTV eyes on being one of the top three most popular video streaming platforms.
Krittee Manoleehagul, Managing Director of Tencent (Thailand) co.,ltd., says, "Tencent is already well-known to be specialized in entertainment platform creation as you can observe from existing portal content, music streaming platform and games. This year, we would like expand ecosystem further by launching "WeTV" a video streaming platform which consists of quality contents for Thais to enjoy. We see that the popularity of world internet users whom 25 percent of their internet time spent on video streaming. At the same time, Thai people, on average, spend approximately 9 hours surfing on the internet on daily basis with more than 35 percent of those time allocated for video and online TV watching."
After the first launch earlier this year, WeTV viewers spend more than 84 minutes daily on average. Viewers are mostly women which account for 85 percent of all and most of whom are in the age between 18 to 34. Three most popular contents are;
Romantic comedy series
Period drama series
Action fantasy series
"In fact, Chinese series are not new to Thai people. We are used to them already. Then when people have greater accessibility, it really fuels the interest of Thai people on Chinese series even more. As you can see in previous months, there is a continuous increase of interest and viewing on WeTV from our targeted customers according to average time spent on our platform per individual per day. As a result, we continue to thrive our premium service by providing Thai subtitle to foreign language series and offering more Thai contents. In addition, we also introduced interactive feature for viewers which helps form communities of each series among the audiences as well as the platform itself," says Krittee.
WeTV platform aims to curate high quality contents for the members by planning to create original contents with local partners which will be broadcasted in WeTV Thailand as well as exporting it for Chinese audiences. It is projected that 2 titles will be created each quarter in 2020.
Apart from a great selection of high-quality contents from Tencent Penguin Picture and original local producers, WeTV also utilizes the success from high quality contents, features that bring about community formation within the audiences and even content showcases that suit preferences of Thai people to facilitate the exclusive events for WeTV.VIP members and potential brands such as fan meeting for the success of series "Put your head on my shoulder" which lead actor and actress also joined the special events with WeTV fans closely.
"With many high-quality contents for our audiences from Tencent Penguin Picture; a leading producer from China and Thai top partners complimented by special events organized for WeTV members which take place all year round, we are confident that within the end of this year, WeTV will become among one of the top three market leaders for video streaming service in Thailand." said Krittee.
For more information, please visit https://WeTV.VIP or download WeTV application available on both iOS and Android at http://bit.ly/2XHkTma


Tips for UPSC MAINS Exam by Rajanvir Singh Kapur (IAS) | IAS EXAM PORTAL - India's Largest Community for UPSC Exam Aspirants.
1) Do not panic at all. You are very close to your destination.
2) Do not start any new book/ material now. This is time to consolidate what is already read.
3) Revise & revise. Anything not revised is as good as not studied only. Just revise!
4) Please do not let any extreme emotions enter your system. Be happy & calm.
5) If it helps you, pray for 10 minutes each day. You will feel stronger.
6) Please do not, do not talk to any toxic people at this stage. Any negativity can bog you down.
7) Although 4 weeks left, it is good if you buy your stationery now only. Do not buy pens one day before your exams.
If you feel you are forgetting it all, do not worry. God will do everything. Just revise & revise.
9) Please keep yourself active in daytime as your exam is in day. You should not feel sleepy in exams.
10) Make sure your admit cards etc are in place.
11) If possible, send someone yo check your Mains exam center. You should not be lost on the way of the exam day.
12) As this time, Mains is in December, make sure you dress warmly & comfortably.
13) If you feel low, please talk to your Mom. Mothers are the best to elevate your mood, exceptions do exist!
14) If your room is dirty, please spend 2-3 hours to clean it now, today! The positive energy you get for next 4 weeks will be worth the effort. Trust me!
15) Follow your gut now, leave anything you feel is less important & focus on more important issues. Your mind will guide you.
16) Try to finish everything by 25 November. Last 1 week should be for cursory revision, glancing through material.
17) Please take care of your health. One mosquito bite can disable from writing the exam. Watch what you eat, eat well n healthy, lots of water, some yoga, at least 10 minutes walk, cleanliness & be careful. You will perform better if you are healthy.
I request those, not writing the Mains, to not to do so now. All the best friends! May God bless you.


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Barbara Lorenzen Named to Senior Position in National Exam Program
Published on Jan 28th, 2014 | Posted in Articles
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Barbara S. Lorenzen has been promoted to a senior position in the agency's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE), which conducts the national examination program.
Ms. Lorenzen has been named the national associate director for OCIE's Clearance and Settlement Program, which is responsible for examining clearing agencies and coordinating with regional offices to oversee approximately 450 transfer agents in the U.S.
Since arriving at the SEC in 2009, Ms. Lorenzen has worked in the Chicago Regional Office and coordinated the oversight of broker-dealer and transfer agent examinations in a nine-state Midwest region. She has been serving as acting director for the Clearance and Settlement Program since June 2013, overseeing a staff of 18 lawyers, accountants, and examiners.
"With the move toward central clearing of more types of securities transactions, our oversight of clearing agencies takes on greater importance," said OCIE Director Andrew Bowden. "Barb has extensive experience in auditing for regulatory compliance in the areas of customer protection and capital standards. She brings extensive experience and leadership to this important position."
Ms. Lorenzen said, "I feel privileged and enthusiastic about working with the clearance and settlement examination staff. I have worked alongside them for several years and know they are a group of dedicated professionals who are committed to protecting investors by informing policy, improving compliance, detecting fraud, and monitoring risk."
Prior to joining the SEC staff, Ms. Lorenzen worked for 28 years at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), where she held positions of increasing responsibility including vice president responsible for the financial surveillance and audit departments. Ms. Lorenzen has served multiple terms as chairperson of the Joint Audit Committee, which is an industry-wide committee made up of members of all domestic commodity exchanges. She also has served as vice chairperson of the Intermarket Financial Surveillance Group, which is comprised of the regulatory arms for all domestic securities and commodities exchanges as well as the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, and NFA. She served as a board member of the Futures Industry Association, where she was chairperson of the finance regulatory risk committee.
Ms. Lorenzen earned her bachelor's degree in accounting from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill.


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Q: What are the differences between OAuth 2.0 and 2.1? I was just looking at Spring Authorization Server and noticed that it mentions OAuth 2.1.
What are the differences between OAuth 2.0 and 2.1?

A: The OAuth 2.1 specification is currently in draft state. Because of that it currently not clear what will be the final differences.
See current draft: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-oauth-v2-1-05
Excerpt from the current draft:

This draft consolidates the functionality in OAuth 2.0 [RFC6749],
OAuth 2.0 for Native Apps ([RFC8252]), Proof Key for Code Exchange
([RFC7636]), OAuth 2.0 for Browser-Based Apps
([I-D.ietf-oauth-browser-based-apps]), OAuth Security Best Current
Practice ([I-D.ietf-oauth-security-topics]), and Bearer Token Usage
([RFC6750]).
Where a later draft updates or obsoletes functionality found in the
original [RFC6749], that functionality in this draft is updated with
the normative changes described in a later draft, or removed
entirely.
A non-normative list of changes from OAuth 2.0 is listed below:

*

*The authorization code grant is extended with the functionality
from PKCE ([RFC7636]) such that the default method of using the
authorization code grant according to this specification requires
the addition of the PKCE parameters

*Redirect URIs must be compared using exact string matching as per
Section 4.1.3 of [I-D.ietf-oauth-security-topics]

*The Implicit grant (response_type=token) is omitted from this
specification as per Section 2.1.2 of
[I-D.ietf-oauth-security-topics]

*The Resource Owner Password Credentials grant is omitted from this
specification as per Section 2.4 of
[I-D.ietf-oauth-security-topics]

*Bearer token usage omits the use of bearer tokens in the query
string of URIs as per Section 4.3.2 of
[I-D.ietf-oauth-security-topics]

*Refresh tokens for public clients must either be sender-
constrained or one-time use as per Section 4.12.2 of
[I-D.ietf-oauth-security-topics]

See: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-oauth-v2-1-05#section-10

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Natalie Walker
0.50 / 0.50 Natalie Walker
Penn Sustainability
Does the institution host a food bank, pantry, or equivalent resource focused on alleviating food insecurity, hunger and poverty among students?:
A brief description of the food bank, pantry, or equivalent resource:
The First Generation, Low Income (FGLI) fund provides free food to low income students. The food pantry is stocked with canned soups, uncooked pasta and sauce, rice, cereals and oatmeal, granola bars, and more. Low-income students can pick up goods in the GIC's kitchen on its first floor, which is also open for all students' use.
The Penn Food and Wellness Collaborative sources sustainable, fresh produce from the Penn Park Farm that is sent to the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative (AUNI), a program within the Netter Center for Community Partnerships. AUNI will then use this produce in their Good Food Bag program that provides affordable, chemical free, bags of produce to low income, first generation students at Penn through a partnership with the Greenfield Intercultural Center.
Website URL where information about the food bank is available:
https://www.cphi.upenn.edu/cphi/Penn-Food-and-Wellness-Collaborative.html
https://home.vpul.upenn.edu/fgli_books/
The University of Pennsylvania is a major research institution, with over 3,000 degrees granted annually from twelve professional and academic schools at the Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate levels. Penn is committed to reducing emissions and energy use, as stated in the 2019 "Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0." This submission documents Penn's efforts during the FY20 year and compares them to the FY09 baseline year which corresponds with the University's "Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0." The submission relies on information related to the main, academic, West Philadelphia campus, but to more fully document efforts across the Penn system, information related to the Morris Arboretum and New Bolton Center has also been referenced and noted as outside the boundary in descriptions. The information is used to enrich examples of University efforts and is not intended to be the primary justification for credits. The responses for each of the questions and sub-questions are drawn from University materials, both internal and public documents. Each section notes the website where the information can be found.


New York's AG resigns over allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic violence.
Not only was Scheiderman a proponent of #MeToo, he was also a big advocate for victims of domestic violence. In 2016 he declared, "We must recognize that our work keeping New Yorkers safe from domestic violence is far from over." His office for years published a brochure for victims of domestic violence entitled "Know Your Rights." In 2010, when he was a state senator, Scheinderman introduced a bill that made intentional choking to the point of unconsciousness a violent felony. Interestingly, one of the accusations against him is that of choking and slapping.
But what may hold the most sting for leftists is the fact that Scheiderman was a prominent leader in the #Resistance movement against President Donald Trump. The Times notes, "Mr. Schneiderman was widely seen as harboring ambitions to be governor." The AG's website biography states, "Where Washington D.C. has failed to lead on the issues that matter, Eric has made clear that New York will provide a road map for the rest of the country." The biography further notes, "Since November of 2016, Eric has led the fight to protect New Yorkers from the most harmful policies of the Trump Administration." Recall that Schneiderman sued to block Trump's travel ban, claiming it was a "Muslim ban." He also defended New City's self-proclaimed "sanctuary city" status for illegal aliens, and he led the charge against fossil fuels over climate change.
On a final note, here's an ironic prophecy from Schneiderman's biography: "Eric … believes there has to be one set of rules for everyone, no matter how rich or powerful." Exactly.


Looking to award a driven, passionate individual in order to better help them cultivate their vision in the world of gaming and technological advancement.
This scholarship was started in Hawai'i with the goal to help students who may not have the highest GPA's but have the drive to achieve their dreams. Since then, our funding has grown and we are now looking to give out scholarships to students studying in Oregon this year.
High school seniors of Asian Pacific Island heritage beginning full-time study at an accredited post-secondary educational institution in the United States.
Research awards are intended to directly support dissertation research.
The top three students with the most outstanding essays will be awarded a $10,000, $7,000 and $5,000 college scholarship.
Award is based on merit, rather than financial need. To be considered as a scholarship recipient you must have completed at least one year of study towards your chosen area by the time the scholarship is awarded in June of the current school year. Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 will be awarded.
Funding tomorrow's top technology entrepreneurs.
Dedicated to supporting top academics in a variety of fields for a wider understanding of managing conflict and effectively build sustainable peace.
Currently pursuing a graduate degree at any accredited academic institution in the United States and living in the United States in an eligible major that supports the mission of AFCEA Educational Foundation.
This scholarship is intended for incoming freshmen who have participated in their high school's ASPIRE program.
Seeking outstanding bilingual/bicultural high school and community college students interested in education careers.
This scholarship is intended for incoming students who have promoted diversity within their community.
Awards vary between $1000 – $3000. This scholarship is awarded for one year only.
Presidential Scholars receive up to $36,000 over four years of undergraduate study—$9,000 per year.
This scholarship is provided by the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation in partnership with the University of Oregon.
The Apex Scholarship can be combined with other UO scholarships, including the Presidential, Diversity Excellence, and General University Scholarships.
The Summit Scholarship can be combined with other UO scholarships, including the Presidential, Diversity Excellence, and General University Scholarships.
Awards of $5,000 will be made to up to three doctoral candidates in the final year of their doctoral programs in the upcoming academic year.
This award is designed to support outstanding masters and doctoral students pursuing a degree related to environmental conservation and preservation.
The award is designed to support up to four outstanding masters and doctoral students pursuing academic, professional development or training enrichment opportunities during summer term.
Designed for those who have demonstrated a commitment to developing their instructional skills, while at the same time excelling in their academic degree program.
This fellowship will provide the recipient with a stipend of $10,000 for the upcoming academic year.
This fellowship will provide up to two graduate student recipients with a stipend of $6,000 for the upcoming academic year.
This $1,500 award was established through an endowment from Norman Sundberg, Professor Emeritus, Psychology, and Donna Sundberg.
These fellowships are designed to support outstanding doctoral students and promote excellence in research at the University of Oregon.
Established to provide financial support to college women who are striving to lead healthy lifestyles.
This $500 grant is awarded to an individual or group working on a project or event related to Scandinavian culture that will benefit and enrich the public.
One gift totaling $1,000 will be awarded at the beginning of fall semester in each year.
A state grant that helps to cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED® test graduates.
They may allocate up to $10,000 for scholarships of up to $2,000 each for students in Oregon and Washington.
Oregon residents who are studying for a teaching degree at an Oregon public college or university.
Applicants are asked to pick five colleges or universities on their scholarship application, must be for a different NROTC unit, and one must be a state school, not necessarily in the candidate's home state.
Two scholarships will be awarded for the fall semester and two scholarships will be awarded for the spring semester each year.
Open to US undergraduate and graduate students seeking a career in the finance industry.
The largest independently sponsored merit co-op scholarship program in the United States, WACE will award up to 160 merit co-op scholarships for a total value of $4,200,000.
The Recovery Village is offering a $1,000 scholarship to students pursuing a medical-related course of study.
A $1,000 scholarship for graduating seniors is offered to recognize graduates from each of the Oregon Wheat Growers League counties or regions.
A multicultural scholarship program that is designed to recognize and reward students for their ideas to fight against childhood hunger.
Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the value of work, taking responsibility, giving back and helping others.
Promoting the automotive hobby and offering scholarships to students to help them continue in their quest of fulfilling an education.
11th and 12th grade students are eligible to submit their essays, narrative or poems of 600 words or less to qualify for the $1,000 scholarship.
If you are an eligible Oregon resident, they will cover standard tuition and mandatory fees.
The scholarship program is supported by the parent organization of NHS, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
The Trail Blazers Legends Scholarship was established to reward students who create their own success, who persevere in the face of challenges, and who generously donate their time to improve the lives of those around them.
Established in 1997 by the late Red & Gena Leonard to improve the educational opportunities of average students of good character with poor financial circumstances who have a desire to seek further educational opportunities.


Colón's international heritage and personal experience of civil war inform his compositions' calls to justice, peace, and beauty. Las Lamentaciones de Rufina Amaya, a requiem in memory of the victims of El Mozote (where the Salvadorian army massacred 800 peasants in 1981*), was premiered at Baylor University's Armstrong Browning Library in 2008. It has also been performed in Dallas by the Texas Voices; in El Salvador by the choir of the National Opera; and in Grand Rapids by the Choral Scholars.
Obertura Para Un Mártir,** a work commemorating slain Archbishop Oscar Romero, was commissioned by the President and First Lady of El Salvador and premiered there in 2010.
Colón and his family reside in Waco, TX.


text:
describe('Composable', function () {

    beforeAll(function () {
        document.body.insertAdjacentHTML('afterbegin', window.__html__['fixture.html']);
        window.testData = {test1: [1, 2, 3], test2: {a: 1, b: 2, c: 3}, test3: 11};
        window.testData2 = {stringWithComma: 'Hello, and welcome!'};
    });

    afterAll(function () {
        document.body.removeChild(document.getElementById('fixture'));
        delete window.testData;
    });

    it('should replace with empty', function () {
        var extractedData = Composable({
            a: [
                'document',
                'querySelector:#test-div1',
                'innerText',
                'replace:/./g,'
            ]
        });
        expect(extractedData.a).toEqual('');
    });

    it('should select child node and match part of inner text and parses as int', function () {
        var extractedData = Composable({
            a: [
                'document',
                'querySelector:#test-div1',
                'innerText',
                'match:/\\d/',
                'getIndex:0',
                'toInt'
            ]
        });
        expect(extractedData.a).toEqual(1);
    });

    it('should support using callable transformations', function () {
        var extractedData = Composable({
            a: [
                Composable.T.document,
                Composable.T.querySelector('#test-div1'),
                Composable.T.innerText,
                Composable.T.match(/\d/),
                Composable.T.getIndex(0),
                Composable.T.toInt
            ]
        });
        expect(extractedData.a).toEqual(1);
    });

    it('should take input data and get properties and indices', function () {
        var extractedData = Composable({
            a: [
                'window',
                'getProperties:testData.test1.1'
            ]
        });
        expect(extractedData.a).toEqual(2);
    });

    describe('getTransformation', function () {
        it('should work with sub commands which do and do not have arguments', function () {
            var extractedData = Composable({
                a: [
                    'document',
                    'querySelectorAll:.test-input-div',
                    'map:querySelector:input',
                    'map:value',
                    'map:toInt'
                ]
            });
            expect(extractedData.a).toEqual([1, 2, 3, 4]);
        });

        it('should treat arguments of standard transformations, with the same name as a transformation, as arguments', function () {
            var extractedData = Composable({
                a: [
                    'document',
                    'querySelector:.test-match',
                    'innerText',
                    'match:match',
                    'getIndex:0'
                ]
            });
            expect(extractedData.a).toEqual('match');
        });

        it('should treat arguments of array transformations as transformations', function () {
            var extractedData = Composable({
                a: [
                    'document',
                    'querySelectorAll:.test-match',
                    'map:innerText',
                    'map:match:match',
                    'map:getIndex:0'
                ]
            });
            expect(extractedData.a).toEqual(['match', 'match']);
        });
    });

    describe('array transformations', function () {
        it('should run map', function () {
            var extractedData = Composable({
                a: [
                    'document',
                    'querySelectorAll:.test-input-div',
                    'map:querySelector:input',
                    'map:value',
                    'map:toInt'
                ]
            });
            expect(extractedData.a).toEqual([1, 2, 3, 4]);
        });

        it('should run map and return null on null', function () {
            var extractedData = Composable({
                a: [
                    'document',
                    'querySelector:#not-here',
                    'querySelectorAll:.not-here-either',
                    'map:value'
                ]
            });
            expect(extractedData.a).toEqual(null);
        });
    });

    describe('getTransformation', function () {
        it('should allow an array instead of a string in transformation pipeline', function () {
            var extractedData = Composable({
                a: [
                    ['window'],
                    ['getProperties', 'testData2.stringWithComma'],
                    ['split', ','],
                    ['map', 'trim']
                ]
            });
            expect(extractedData.a).toEqual(['Hello', 'and welcome!']);
        });

        it('should allow arrays and strings in transformation pipeline', function () {
            var extractedData = Composable({
                a: [
                    'window',
                    'getProperties:testData2.stringWithComma',
                    ['split', ','],
                    'map:trim'
                ]
            });
            expect(extractedData.a).toEqual(['Hello', 'and welcome!']);
        });
    });

    describe('extractArgs', function () {
        it('should parse arguments', function () {
            expect(Composable.extractArgs('asdf,qwer,2')).toEqual(['asdf', 'qwer', '2']);
        });

        it('should parse regular expression as first argument', function () {
            expect(Composable.extractArgs('/asdf/g,qwer,2')).toEqual(['/asdf/g', 'qwer', '2']);
        });

        it('should parse regular expression as first argument where second arg ends in slash', function () {
            expect(Composable.extractArgs('/^https?:\\/\\/(www\.)?/i,http://'))
                .toEqual(['/^https?:\\/\\/(www\.)?/i', 'http://']);
        });

        it('should parse regular expressions with commas and escaped slashes', function () {
            expect(Composable.extractArgs('/Test, Span\\/ 3/g,Test Span 3'))
                .toEqual(['/Test, Span\\/ 3/g', 'Test Span 3']);
        });

        it('should parse regular expressions with two backslashes before slash', function () {
            expect(Composable.extractArgs('/a\\\\/,b/'))
                .toEqual(['/a\\\\/', 'b/']);
        });

        it('should parse regular expressions with only backslashes', function () {
            expect(Composable.extractArgs('/\\\\/,\\\\,test'))
                .toEqual(['/\\\\/', '\\\\', 'test']);
        });
    });

    describe('transformations', function () {
        it('should get window', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.window()).toEqual(window);
        });

        it('should get document', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.document()).toEqual(document);
        });

        it('should run toFloat', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.toFloat('12.34')).toEqual(12.34);
        });

        it('should run toInt', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.toInt('12.34')).toEqual(12);
            expect(Composable.T.toInt('12')).toEqual(12);
        });

        it('should run round', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.round(12.34)).toEqual(12);
            expect(Composable.T.round(12.54)).toEqual(13);
        });

        it('should run multiplyBy', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.multiplyBy(100)(12.34)).toEqual(1234);
            expect(Composable.T.multiplyBy(20)('12.54')).toEqual(null);
        });

        it('should run htmlToText', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.htmlToText('&')).toEqual('&');
        });

        it('should run htmlToText on empty value', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.htmlToText('')).toEqual('');
        });

        it('should run innerText', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.innerText(document.querySelector('.test-inner-text'))).toEqual('Root Text\nSub Text\n');
        });

        it('should run rootInnerText', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.rootInnerText(
                document.querySelector('.test-root-inner-text'))
            ).toEqual('Root Text More Text More Text');

            expect(Composable.T.rootInnerText(null)).toBe(null);
        });

        it('should run toString', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.toString(12.34)).toEqual('12.34');
        });

        it('should run trim', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.trim('  asdf  \n')).toEqual('asdf');
        });

        it('should run split', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.split('\n')('asdf\nasdf')).toEqual(['asdf', 'asdf']);
            expect(Composable.T.split('\n', 1)('asdf\nasdf')).toEqual(['asdf']);
        });

        it('should run join', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.join('\n')(['asdf', 'asdf'])).toEqual('asdf\nasdf');
        });

        it('should run replace', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.replace(/\s+/, ' ')('asdf\n\tasdf')).toEqual('asdf asdf');
            expect(Composable.T.replace('\n', ' ')('asdf\nasdf')).toEqual('asdf asdf');
        });

        it('should run match', function () {
            var result = ['asdf1234', '1234'];
            result.index = 0;
            result.input = 'asdf1234\nasdf';
            expect(Composable.T.match(/[a-z]+(\d+)/)('asdf1234\nasdf')).toEqual(result);
        });

        it('should run getIndex', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.getIndex(1)([1, 2, 3])).toEqual(2);
        });

        it('should run slice', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.slice(-1)(['a', 'b', 'c'])).toEqual(['c']);
            expect(Composable.T.slice(-1)(document.querySelectorAll('.test-span'))[0].id).toEqual('test-span3');
        });

        it('should run slice for strings', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.slice(-2, -1)('abc')).toEqual('b');
        });

        it('should run getProperty', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.getProperty('a')({a: 1, b: 2})).toEqual(1);
        });

        it('should run getProperties', function () {
            expect(Composable.T.getProperties('a.b.c')({a: {b: {c: 5}}})).toEqual(5);
        });
    });
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
require File.expand_path(File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), "..", "..", "spec_helper"))

describe Chef::Handler::JsonFile do
  before(:each) do
    @handler = Chef::Handler::JsonFile.new(:the_sun => "will rise", :path => '/tmp/foobarbazqux')
  end

  it "accepts arbitrary config options" do
    @handler.config[:the_sun].should == "will rise"
  end

  it "creates the directory where the reports will be saved" do
    FileUtils.should_receive(:mkdir_p).with('/tmp/foobarbazqux')
    File.should_receive(:chmod).with(00700, '/tmp/foobarbazqux')
    @handler.build_report_dir
  end

  describe "when reporting success" do
    before(:each) do
      @node = Chef::Node.new
      @run_status = Chef::RunStatus.new(@node)
      @expected_time = Time.now
      Time.stub(:now).and_return(@expected_time, @expected_time + 5)
      @run_status.start_clock
      @run_status.stop_clock
      @run_context = Chef::RunContext.new(@node, {})
      @run_status.run_context = @run_context
      @run_status.exception = Exception.new("Boy howdy!")
      @file_mock = StringIO.new
      File.stub!(:open).and_yield(@file_mock)
    end

    it "saves run status data to a file as JSON" do
      @handler.should_receive(:build_report_dir)
      @handler.run_report_unsafe(@run_status)
      reported_data = Chef::JSONCompat.from_json(@file_mock.string)
      reported_data['exception'].should == "Exception: Boy howdy!"
      reported_data['start_time'].should == @expected_time.to_s
      reported_data['end_time'].should == (@expected_time + 5).to_s
      reported_data['elapsed_time'].should == 5
    end

  end
end


text:
Movies Lata Mangeshkar Is Stable: Singer's Spokesperson Slams False News About Singer's Heath Condition
OnePlus 5 spotted in Radio Regulation Authority; Set to launch in Q2
oi-Shilpa
Soon the wait is going to end.
By Shilpa
| Updated: Tuesday, April 18, 2017, 14:33 [IST]
We all knew that the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is going to name its next flagship phone as OnePlus 5 instead of OnePlus 4. Now it is also confirmed by the company. But the exact date of launch is not revealed by them, though we know it is going to happen in the coming months.
Few sources do say that the launch date of OnePlus 5 is all set for Q2 of 2017, which means we will be able to own this handset before the end of June. Because of the rumors and leaks flowing online, it has been possible for us to picturise the final outlook of the device. It looks like, the upcoming device is the most premium version when compared to other OnePlus phone series.
This is not the end. We receive rumors regarding the specs of this phone on daily basis. Now, OnePlus 5 has been spotted once again which revealed some more details about it. This time, the device is spotted in China's Radio Regulation Authority database. It gave away almost all information about the device.
Five OnePlus 5 features we think should be added in the upcoming flagship
With a model number - A5000, the device will come with 8GB of RAM. The specs which we are discussing here is almost similar to the specs leaked so far. We already knew that this phone is going to be equipped with the Qualcomm's latest processor - Snapdragon 835 SoC.
The few rumors said that the body of the phone will be made up of ceramic replacing the patent aluminum material. The new spec also speaks about the same. By combining all the leaks we received so far, we can confirm that the device will sport a dual camera setup. It makes this phone stand out as the best when compared with OnePlus 3T, which was earlier known for its sharp camera.
OnePlus 5 case leaks; shows the dual-lens rear camera
It also looks like both OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 5 will offer the same camera features. Even the upcoming device will have a 23-megapixel rear camera and 16-megapixel selfie shooter like its predecessor. Storage wise, OnePlus 5 is said to come with two variants. One with 6GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage whereas, the other with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage.
It may come with storage expansion option of up to 256GB. The device will run on Android 7.0 Nougat with OnePlus OxygenOS UI on top of it. It supports Dash Charge fast with a battery of 4000mAh. Price details are not yet known, but speculations suggest that the phone will hit the market in the second quarter of this year.
OnePlus 5 Gets 3C Certification in China: To be called as OnePlus A5000
With so many good features and specs somewhat similar to other smartphones which were released this year, we cannot deny the fact that OnePlus 5 is going to be a tough competitor to them.
OnePlus Buds Z2 With Active Noise Cancellation Launched In India; Price And Specifications Confirmed
Every iPhone 14 Model To Feature 120Hz Refresh Rate Display
iQOO 9, iQOO 9 Pro Indian Variants Features Revealed; Launch Expected Soon
Vijay Sales 2022: Discount Offers On Smartphones, Laptops, Tablets, Smart TVs, And More
Read More About: smartphones oneplus oneplus 5 news


The YouTube video of a father shooting his teenage daughter's laptop in response to a rant she posted on Facebook has led critics of his parenting method to call police and child protective services to his home in Albermarle, North Carolina.
But Tommy Jordan said in a statement on his Facebook page over the weekend, "If I had it to do again … let's see … I'd do it almost the same", and he's sorry to disappoint anyone who hoped he would end up in handcuffs.
"The police by the way said 'Kudos, Sir' and most of them made their kids watch it. I actually had a 'thank you' from an entire detectives squad," Jordan said in the statement, adding that another officer is using the video in a presentation to the school system.
If anyone wants to keep calling the police, Jordan said, they are welcome to do so: 'I'm just going to leave a pot of coffee on for the next officers who come by."
What sparked Jordan shooting the laptop nine times – one shot being "from Mom" – with a .45 handgun was 15-year-old Hannah's Facebook post about her parents, which she titled "Dear Parents".
"I am not your damn slave," Hannah wrote, bemoaning life at school, unpaid household chores and nagging about getting a job. She even stated that her folks shouldn't count on her when they are elderly, as she won't be there.
Before posting her rant on Facebook, Hannah filtered her privacy settings to prevent those on her 'Family' list from seeing the post.
However, Tommy – who works in IT – found Hannah's post, anyway, on the Facebook page set up as belonging to their dog – the pooch wasn't included on Hannah's 'Family' list.
His video response last week, 'Facebook Parenting for the Troubled Teen', has drawn more than 1m views on YouTube.
The eight-minute video shows Tommy responding to Hannah's rant as he sits in a lawn chair, smoking a cigarette. At the end of the clip, he shoots her laptop, telling her that if she wants a new one, she can get a job and buy one.
Hannah's response to the demise of her laptop was to have a "crying fit". In a statement to the Toronto Star newspaper, Tommy said Hannah was initially shocked and he then talked to her for a long time, discussing her behaviour and his response.


text:
WC: 1113
By Stephen Ornes
For most people, spring time is no time to be thinking about Christmas. The temperatures climb and the bugs return and the white petals of bloodroots and star magnolias mark the change of season. The chill of winter and echoes of holiday cheer seem long past. And yet, in smokehouses with dark, charred walls, all across central Tennessee, preparations are underway.
For many people, Christmas isn't Christmas without a country ham. The intrepid producers of that regional delicacy were thinking about next December before last December had expired. They've already slaughtered last year's pigs, carved up the hams and enshrouded them in a dry blanket of salt, sugar and other seasonings. For these people, the darling buds of spring signal it's time to rinse off that salty mantle and hang the hams in the smokehouse to finish the lengthy curing process. Country ham is clearly not fast food.
"It takes about a year to cure," says Troy Smiley of Smiley's Farms in Ridgetop, TN. Troy's family has been curing country hams since the time Tennessee joined the Union initially. "We don't call it a ham until November or December."
Country hams are cured. This process means they're not baked. They are prepared without water or brine. That salt blanket seeps all the way to the bone at the center, wringing out moisture and making the whole ham inhospitable to bacteria. Artisanal country ham producers apply the salt cure in the winter when the temperatures are low enough to avoid spoilage. It's the way people in Tennessee - and Georgia, the Carolinas, the Virginias, and Kentucky - have been preserving meat for hundreds of years.
That doesn't mean every purveyor of country ham follows the same recipe. On the contrary, "even just in Tennessee, there are lots of differences," says Jaymie Perry from the Hamery in Murfreesboro. "It could be your salt and sugar mixture; it could be what you use to smoke with. Even the size of ham that you start with could make a difference." In the dark racks of the Hamery's smokehouse, about 1200 hams are being cured for Christmas.
The interaction of these variables - temperature, humidity, ingredients, wood for smoking - creates the final product. Smiley says he burns hickory sawdust in the smokehouse, because it's abundant in his area. Others might use sassafras or apple for smoking. He says his system is no secret. He's been watching how the other guys do it. He adopts the approaches he likes and ignores those he doesn't. "My method is a mix of other methods," he says. "I guess I'm a sponge of other people's ideas."
Perry and Smiley, as well as other small ham producers, do share one thing in common. It takes time to produce a quality ham. The changing temperature and humidity of spring and summer grow the flavor of the ham. Jesse Goldstein, from the Loveless Cafe in Nashville, says that large commercial operations can speed up the curing process with strict climate control, artificially inducing seasonal changes and producing a country ham in less than half the time. Although a novice might not notice a difference in the two, he says the aging process adds a depth of flavor that's missing from the factory-cured hams. "We live in a time of instant gratification and immediacy, but some things really need to be done low and slow," he says. Lon Loveless, the founder of the Loveless Cafe, used to cure their famous hams in a small building now used as an office.
Country ham, like fine wine or gourmet cheese, vary by region and gain character with age. People take pride in their regional ham. Country hams win ribbons at state fairs. Towns dedicate festivals to the food. In 2011, the National Country Ham Association held their annual meeting in Nashville.
People have been curing meat for thousands of years. As a result county hams' cousins can be found around the world. In China, ask for Yunnan ham. In Germany it's called Westphalian. In France it is known as Bayonne. Czechs will recognize their familiar Prague ham in country ham. Spanish chefs know it as Iberian. The familiar type of country ham in Tennessee probably bears the closest resemblance to the Italian prosciutto.
Chefs, producers and other connoisseurs will attest that the taste of country ham bears little resemblance to other pork products. "Country hams are distinct in their salty, smoky flavor," observes Mark F. Sohn in his cookbook Appalachian Home Cooking. "The meat is firm but velvety in texture. Before it is cooked, it is a deep amber or maroon color."
Not everyone agrees on the best way to prepare a slice. In Italy, prosciutto is usually eaten raw - though Tennesseans haven't embraced that practice. Instead, says Smiley, most people err on the side of too much heat. "Most people overcook it," says Smiley. "Tennessee country ham is basically the same thing as prosciutto, which Italians eat raw and uncooked. But what a lot of people tend to do is cook it to death. I don't like it like that."
At the Loveless, like many restaurants, you can get a slice on a biscuit. Smiley says he prefers to cook country ham just long enough to change the color of the fat to a "nice tan." Another popular way to prepare it is to douse it with soda and bake it; others may boil the ham with a can of cola. Smiley calls a boiled ham "wasted." Sohn notes in his book that country ham can be wrapped around figs, apples, melons or pecans and served as an appetizer; it might also liven up a pot of beans or soup. In Italy, prosciutto figures prominently in many sauces and dishes - easily adapted to Appalachian palates.
In Italy, much of the later curing process takes place in cooler caves. That's not the case in the sweltering summers of the South. To make it to December, a country ham has to survive the "summer sweats." These are the weeks in August and September when the temperatures soar. "If there's anything bad about the ham, it'll come out by then," says Smiley. But once those months pass, the hams head into the final weeks, the orders start coming in and the fat pigs start to get nervous as the producers start thinking ahead for the next year.
For the people who produce country hams, the long wait and the attention to detail are all worth the final product. "Some people argue politics, some argue sports," says Troy Smiley. "However the hams are something I'll argue about. For some reason or another, that's my passion."


The nucleotide precursor pool is readily susceptible to numerous sources of modification and damage, including alkylation, deamination and oxidation/nitrosylation, among others; most of which have deleterious effects on nucleic acid integrity and cellular fitness. In addition to DNA repair mechanisms, these metabolic byproducts are kept in check by so-called sanitation or "housekeeping" enzymes, chief among them the NUDIX hydrolase superfamily. Increased metabolic demand and strain in certain contexts, such as cancer, may require a greater reliance on these proteins; therefore, they are attractive drug targets.
The human NUDIX hydrolase, MTH1 (NUDT1), sanitizes the nucleotide pool of 8-oxo- guanine triphosphates, considered the most common oxidative lesion, thereby preventing mutagenesis of nucleic acids and preserving their integrity. Other NUDIX enzymes, namely NUDT15 (MTH2) and NUDT5, are proposed to perform similar functions as MTH1, and, therefore, may serve as resistance mechanisms for cells treated with MTH1 inhibitors. However, very little is known about their biological functions in human cells.
The focus of this thesis was to determine the biological roles of NUDT15 and NUDT5 and if they are desirable drug targets for treating cancer. Surprisingly, we found that neither of these proteins appeared to be important for oxidized nucleotide metabolism, but, rather, they had unexpected and diverse functions in nucleotide metabolism with cancer therapeutic implications. These findings should encourage further study of the human NUDIX family.
In Paper I, we compared NUDT15 biochemically, structurally and in a cellular context to MTH1. NUDT15 hydrolyzed 8-oxo-dGTP about 230-fold less efficiently than MTH1, and its depletion in cancer cells neither affected cell survival nor oxidized nucleotide content of DNA. The NUDT15 crystal structure explained this deviation from MTH1 and shows that 8- oxo-dGTP is poorly accommodated in the enzyme active site. We also identified 6-thio- (d)GTP, the active metabolites of thiopurine chemotherapeutics, as NUDT15 substrates.
In Paper II, we expounded upon the role of NUDT15 in thiopurine metabolism and why the R139C missense mutant causes thiopurine intolerance in patients. NUDT15 efficiently hydrolyzes 6-thio-(d)GTP, thus mediating the amount of the active thiopurine metabolites in cells. In addition, the R139C mutation does not impact catalytic ability of NUDT15, but rather causes destabilization of the protein structure and proteolytic degradation in cells, thus explaining why patients with this mutation are sensitive to thiopurine treatments.
Paper III presents further evidence that NUDT5 may not be an important contributor to sanitation of the oxidized nucleotide pool, describes the first small molecule NUDT5 inhibitors and confirms the nuclear ATP synthetic role for NUDT5 in breast cancer cells. Following an initial screening campaign and medicinal chemistry efforts, potent, cell-active NUDT5 inhibitors were identified using a CETSA-guided screening funnel. Lead compound, TH5427, abrogated progestin-dependent gene regulation and proliferation in breast cancer cells, thus, representing a bonafide probe to further study NUDT5 biology.
II. Valerie, N. C. K., Hagenkort, A., Page, B. D. G., Masuyer, G., Rehling, D., Carter, M., Bevc, L., Herr, P., Homan, E., Sheppard, N. G., Stenmark, P., Jemth, A. S., and Helleday, T. (2016). NUDT15 Hydrolyzes 6-Thio-DeoxyGTP to Mediate the Anticancer Efficacy of 6-Thioguanine. Cancer Res 76, 5501-551.


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Blu-Ray Review "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
September 21, 2017 by Adam Lawton Leave a Comment
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
Director: Michael Schultz
Shout! Factory
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars
As the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Beatles groundbreaking album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", Shout! Factory will release the film of the same name on Blu-Ray. Sit back and let the evening go with the 1978 musical spectacular featuring stunning reinterpretations of over twenty classic Beatles songs. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a magical, musical tour through some of the greatest songs ever written, and an astounding time capsule of the late 70's unlike anything you've ever seen or heard.
Classic 70's presented in stunning hi-definition audio and sound. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is brimming over with everything from the bi-gone era. Starring Peter Frampton and The Bee Gee's the film follows the story of Billy Shears (Peter Frampton) and his friends the Henderson's (The Bee Gees) as they leave their small town in hopes of stardom. Along the way the group run into a variety of unique characters and themes pulled from the iconic Beatles album that spurred hits songs like "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamond" to name just a few. Also included are some cool performances by Aerosmith, Earth, Wind and Fire and the late great George Burns. The film definitely serves as a time capsule as you don't see productions as quirky as this happing today but that's what makes this film so appealing.
Included in the Special Features section of the Blu-Ray is an audio commentary by Pop Culture Historian Russell Dyball, Picture Galleries and the film's original theatrical trailer. Though I found this portion of the release to be lacking the film provided just enough campy moments to make it enjoyable. The film looks and sounds great which for me is the most important part so if you're a fan of the Beatles album and some of the other great performers featured here you're going to be in for a treat with the latest release from Shout! Factory
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Acidic powerhouse Bill Converse makes his debut on Fit Sound. His sound is a refreshing perspective informed by the midwest warehouse parties of which he was schooled mutated into his own blend. Treading the line between melody and brutality, while never being heavy handed, Converse has proved himself once again to be a true original lurking in the underground today.
Stallone The Reducer is back. He's always late, but he's back. Stallone takes you on a one way trip that will make your head rattle, clattle and clank. Indecipherable robot voices guide you, while the busted up drums and industrial strength synths push you back and forth. This one is for the brave.
Fit Sound welcomes Moscow's OL to the label with his debut 12", Lada Passenger. Three late night dance floor stompers that pay special attention to textures of percussion, woven with expert touches of melody and bass.


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How the British EBF benefits Racing's community goals
Wed 29 Apr 2020
Racing has always been a sport with a charitable outlook, success on the track rarely confined to just those who enjoy the celebrations of the winners' circle.
In 2018, the British EBF established official partnerships with both Racing to School and Racing Welfare. Although the fund is precluded from making financial charitable donations, these unique partnerships mean the BEBF can provide support in other ways.
Racing to School hosts educational race days for local school children across the country; twice a year with the feature race on the day donated by the British EBF. This enables the charity to have a flag-ship race in their name and with it comes with the advertising and promotional opportunities associated with race sponsorship. It is also a fantastic opportunity to involve the children further in the race day, selecting the best-turned-out horse in the race and presenting the trophy to the winning connections.
Children involved in the selection of the Best Turned Out horse at York 2019
Chief Executive, John Blake, explains how the partnership with the British EBF, helps Racing to School achieve its aims:
"Racecards nationwide nearly always feature a worthy cause or two, while racecourses routinely host fundraising events, allocate space to merchandise stalls, and endorse the bucket collections that racegoers have come to expect. The British EBF has kindly gifted auction prizes that have helped the charity Racing to School fund a record growth in the participation of young people with our programmes.
"Racing to School's racecourse activity days are all about learning. The importance of weights, distances and unravelling the meaning and purpose of crucial data are all on the day's syllabus, wrapped up in the warmth of an explanation of the sport's heritage.
"The charity's 40-strong school groups are taken on a journey as the race day builds and their feedback always points to watching races as the day's highlight."
"The child sees everything as a novelty; the child is always 'drunk'. Nothing is more like what we call inspiration than the joy the child feels in drinking in shape and colour," wrote Charles Baudelaire.
"Through the generous and on-going support of the EBF, we can bring our young people – most of whom are meeting the sport for the first time – even closer to the action. Their kind donation of race sponsorships and the opportunity to star in winners' presentations puts the charity's beneficiaries at the centre of the triumph and celebrations.
"For a small charity to have the profile of a race title can often lead to new conversations and valuable connections. For our young people, the VIP feeling such support provides, and the generous welcome given to them by this exciting and colourful sport is indelible."
The British EBF is also committed to engaging with the local community and charities through participation in the Racing Together lead Community Day each year. The Jockey Club's charity, Racing Welfare, is supported through two key events in the year: Mental Health Awareness Week and Racing Staff Week with races allocated to the charity during both weeks.
In 2013 the British EBF joined the Levy Board and Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), establishing a coordinated approach to funding veterinary research via a Small Grants Scheme. Each year, a selection of research projects is put forward for consideration for the three organisations to fund either jointly or independently. This collaboration is another example of how the British EBF has been increasing its racing industry engagement and has formed part of overall contributions in excess of £1.25million to equine veterinary research since the foundation of the EBF in 1983.
For more information about each of our charitable partners, please follow the links below:
Racing to School: http://www.racingtoschool.co.uk
Racing Welfare: https://racingwelfare.co.uk
British EBF Veterinary Research Support tops £1.25 million
Recent veterinary research has been into alternative worming methods in young-stock
THE British European Breeders' Fund (BEBF) is acknowledged as one of the most important contributors to racing's prize money; with a total of £36,000,000 distributed over nearly 4 decades of existence. What may go unnoticed however, is our consistent support of veterinary research and, more recently, increased community engagement within racing. Over the next two weeks, we will be show-casing our work in both these areas.
To date, the British EBF has directly funded over £1,250,000 of equine veterinary research projects, in addition to our prize money allocations. More recently, the trustees have also lent regular support to both Racing Welfare and Racing to School (both official partners). Although the fund is precluded from making financial charitable donations, these unique partnerships mean the we can provide support in other ways.
Since 2000, the British EBF has wholly or partly funded veterinary research covering subjects as diverse as the Equine Genome Project and the identification of virulence factors associated with Rhodococcus. In recent years, the focus has been on research specifically relating to the breeding industry and has covered areas such as the effects of light and temperature on delayed ovulation and an extensive study in to potential alternatives to traditional parasite control in thoroughbred mares and young-stock.
Mindful of the challenges that modern Thoroughbred racing and breeding brings, in 2003, the trustees set up a contingency fund of £50,000 to finance research in the initial stages of an equine disease outbreak in GB. The fund is ring-fenced and organisations requiring immediate help to combat a disease outbreak in the thoroughbred population are eligible apply.
Historically, annual grants were awarded to the Animal Health Trust (AHT), helping purchase vital equipment such as an MRI scanner and funding investigations into various areas of equine viral research.
Latterly, a significant amount of BEBF funding was utilised by the Bacteriology Department of the AHT in a ground-breaking project into Strangles (Equine Distemper). Over 5 years from 2009, the department worked on a paper entitled "Breaking the Strangles Hold" with research leading to the decoding of the genome of the bacterium, Streptococcus Equi, that causes the disease. The team were able to develop an Elisa blood test to detect the presence of Strangles. Over 7,000 samples were tested in its first 6 years; vastly reducing the spread and incidence of the disease by providing a means of testing horses prior to movement between geographical sites, thereby reducing infection rates.
In 2013 the British EBF joined the Levy Board and Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), establishing a co-ordinated approach to funding veterinary research via a Small Grants Scheme. Each year, a selection of research projects is put forward for consideration for the organisations to fund either jointly or independently. This collaboration is an example of how the British EBF has been increasing its racing industry engagement.
From this combined approach, a three-year research project has been undertaken by Dr Laura Peachey at the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge. The study investigates host – parasite interactions in horses to inform potential alternative treatments of parasitic infections to reduce the current reliance on chemical treatment, for example traditional worm pastes and powders. This investigation was brought to a close in 2019 and work is underway to assess the available projects for 2020 and beyond.
Record entries for an Irish race in the new Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes
Horse Racing Ireland has today announced a record high 563 entries for the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, the inaugural running of which is scheduled for Naas Racecourse on Bank Holiday Monday August 3, 2020.
The new contest, which is aimed at the progeny of sires with a median of no more than €75,000 at last year's yearling sales, has attracted 345 Irish-based entries, 217 from Britain and one from America, a colt owned by Stonestreet Stables, now in the care of Wesley Ward. There are 289 colts and geldings, including Poetic Flare winner of the opening 2yo race of the season for Jim Bolger at Naas, and 274 fillies among those nominated.
In consultation with the race sponsors, Irish EBF and Ballyhane Stud, HRI has committed to examine increasing the €200,000 prize fund and to investigate the staging of a consolation race on the same day for those horses who do not make the final field in the feature race. This would give owners and trainers with entries an additional opportunity to avail of valuable prize money.
In the light of the ongoing Covid-19 situation the first forfeit stage will be deferred from April 22nd to an unconfirmed later date that will be announced when there is a clearer indication of the resumption of racing and dates for the breeze-up sales.
Jason Morris, HRI Director of Racing, said; "The level of initial entries for the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes has exceeded our expectations and demonstrates the popularity of this new concept. Once the picture becomes clearer over the timing and basis for a resumption of racing, we will evaluate the feasibility of increasing the prize money for the feature race and/or the creation of a consolation event. We can look forward to a very competitive and high quality contest in what will hopefully be better times."
Joe Foley, owner of Ballyhane Stud, said; "I was delighted with the response to the race and a big thank you goes to all the owners and trainers who have entered two-year-olds, especially to the 81 Ballyhane Stud sired entries, who are in with a chance to win the €50,000 bonus if they win the race. It's going to be a very exciting race at Naas and the huge prize money will be something to look forward to in these uncertain times"
John O'Connor, Chairman, Irish EBF, said; "The board are encouraged to see yet another Irish EBF initiative being so well received by the industry and look forward to this race becoming an established feature of the flat season for two-year-olds. Irish EBF are fully committed to continuing with race sponsorship when racing resumes and we will work closely with HRI when the time comes."
To view the list of entries click here – RACE ENTRIES ON HRI RAS WEBSITE
Ballyhane Stud offer €50,000 Bonus to Winner of New €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes Race
(L-R) Trainer Karl Burke, Johnny Murtagh, Dermot Cantillon, Chairman of Naas Racecourse, Joe Foley Owner Ballyhane Stud, Nessa Joyce, Manager Irish EBF and trainer Kevin Ryan pictured with Ballyhane stallion Dandy Man. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie
CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM and Median Sire List EBF Ballyhane race
Ballyhane Stud will offer a €50,000 bonus to the winning connections of the new €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, if they are by a Ballyhane sire. In addition, Ballyhane Stud will give the winning breeder a free nomination to a Ballyhane stallion in 2021.
The six furlong race will be run on Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd August 2020 at Naas Racecourse and the early entry deadline is Wednesday 26th February at 12 noon. The race will be the richest race ever run at Naas Racecourse and is open to EBF eligible two-year-olds whose sire's median price is no more than €75,000.
Joe Foley, owner of Ballyhane Stud, said "I'm delighted to support the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, a race which should be an exciting addition to the calendar. It's a huge pot for owners and trainers to target and the €50k bonus for a Ballyhane sired winner is our way of rewarding supporters of our stallions."
UK Trainer Karl Burke was present for the launch and commented: "I have some lovely 2 year olds this year and I'll definitely be targeting some of them at this new race. It's a great prize and Naas has been a lucky track for me. The team at Naas do an excellent job at looking after their UK connections. Not only do they provide top class hospitality to the owners but also provide accommodation for the stable staff."
Johnny Murtagh commented; "The Ballyhane Stakes is a great initiative for 2020 in the 2 year old racing calendar. It had a significant influence on my purchasing decisions at the yearling sales last autumn. It's a great opportunity for everyone in racing to be in with a shout of winning a hugely valuable race. It also comes at a great time of the year, before the yearling sales of 2020."
Speaking about the announcement, John O'Connor, Chairman, Irish EBF, said; "The concept behind the race is to offer connections of EBF eligible two-year-olds, where their sire's median price is no more than €75,000, a lucrative race where they are competing against other similar valued horses who are either home breds or auction bought two-year-olds. By capping the sire's median price, giving weight allowances to lower sire median prices and with the added incentive of the €50,000 Ballyhane Stud bonus, it creates more opportunities for two-year-olds and it is great to be part of something special."
To view the list of sires with a median price of €75,000 or less, that can enter the race, click here – Median Sire List EBF Ballyhane race
For the complete list of sires including those outside the EU please visit https://www.hri-ras.ie/race-planning/qualifications/.


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14th TSF&VF review: Each Film ... An Island?
Each Film ... An Island? is a compilation of shorts and documentaries by the Philippines' Kidlat Tahimik, director of the 1977 cult indie film The Perfumed Nightmare.
Kidlat offered Each Film to the 14th Thai Short Film & Video Festival when programmers went to him seeking something they could show as a tribute to the late film experts, Alexis Tioseco, the Canadian-Filipino writer, teacher and critic who programmed the festival's annual S-Express Philippines package and founded the Criticine website, and Slovenian festival programmer Nika Bohinc. They were slain last September 1 in their home in the Philippines.
As Kidlat explains in the festival catalog, Each Film is a cathartic and philosophical effort made after a 2004 house fire in which he lost the VHS masters of his films. A subsequent inquiry with the Tokyo Video Festival unsurfaced a treasure trove of digital copies of many of his and his sons' films, and memories he thought were lost in a pile of melted plastic came flooding back. The result is an "unfinished" feature that is as fun and rewarding is it is rambling and repetitive.
A heartfelt celebration of cinema, filmmaking and culture, as well as an observation on the impermanence of life, Each Film ... An Island? proved to be a fitting tribute to Alexis and Nika.
Like the The Perfumed Nightmare, which gave voice to Kidlat's fantasies of the first Filipino in space and the first Filipino to fly supersonic, one segment of Each Film, likely from around the same time as Perfumed Nightmare, deals with the first Filipino to circumnavigate the globe – Enrique, the slave of Ferdinand Magellan. Kidlat portrays Enrique. He charms a sad autistic Spanish princess into laughing for the first time and is by Magellan's side when the Portuguese-Spanish explorer is killed with a spear in the Battle of Mactan.
Another major theme is indigenous culture, which the filmmaker born Eric de Guia takes great pride in promoting. For much of the film, Kidlat is clad in the Filipino loincloth, the bahag. It's a revealing garment, but as is pointed out, members of the tribe could often tell each other apart from the shape of their buttocks.
A hilarious segment is "tales of excess baggage", which chronicles the series of cultural-exchange trips Kidlat and his sons made to Japan in 1988, 1992 and 1994, each time taking an unwieldy, large and weighty item of Pinoy culture with them. One time, they brought an entire bamboo hut, broken down into pre-fabricated sections for reassembly. Next, they brought a dug-out canoe. And finally, they brought a 100-kg church bell that had been fashioned from the business end of an unexploded World War II bomb fished out of a river.
On one of their trips, the Kidlat clan visited a rice-growing region of Japan, which led him to wax philosophically on the Unesco World Heritage Banaue Rice Terraces of the Philippines and the important role of rice farmers. His thoughts are intermingled with footage from The Seven Samurai, in which he pleads in an open letter to the director, "please Mr. Kurowsawa ..." think again about how you view the rice farmers in your film.
I teared up a bit when the elderly Japanese farmer Kidlat met revealed he had cancer, and the crop they were looking at would probably be his last.
Other footage comes from Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, and it's intermingled with the Magellan-Enrique scenes to great effect, as comment I suppose on Western colonialism.
It's also a chance for Kidlat to show off his yo-yo tricks.
To see this film is a gift and a blessing. Fleeting images that were thought to have been lost are found again. But were they ever lost to begin with? I suppose that's the idea of Kidlat's bamboo camera. Turn on the bamboo camera of your own mind and let your ideas run wild.
Kidlat talks more about his film in an interview for the Yamagita International Documentary Film Festival. (5/5)
Festival notes
For the first time since moving into its new home at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, the Thai Short Film & Video Festival has two screens – the fifth-floor auditorium and an additional space on weekends in the fourth-floor activity room. This new space is not particularly well-suited for watching films. It's more casual, and the drifting in-and-out of audiences tends to be more noticeable. The floor is flat and heads get in the way. But most of the chairs are of the wheeled, swiveling office variety, and if you're sitting in the back, you can adjust the height for what's perhaps a better view. It's free, so I can't really complain. So far, all the films I've seen have been in this space. I feel like I'm sitting at the kiddie table on Thanksgiving and have yet to get to the "adult table" back up on the fifth floor.
Indeed, the first program I watched yesterday was Shorts for Kids, and I don't recall there being any kids there. Among the selection of mostly animated, dialogue-free films was a Thai live-action film, Kerp (เกิบ) by Nattapong Pimchan (ณัฐพงศ์ พิมพ์จันทร์). It's about a little boy who wants new shoes to play soccer.
I nodded off while watching the S-Express Singapore package. Sorry! I caught the first film, Nelson Yeo's Nobody's Home, which shows that all you need to make an existential western is cowboy hats. The backdrop of Singapore's government housing blocks stands in for John Ford's Monument Valley and the setting is surprisingly quite apt.
I stayed awake for the S-Express Malaysia program. Among them was You and Me Put the 'You' and 'Me' in 'You and Me' by Chi Too. It's a three-part work, consisting of two photo montage segments and then experimental video footage taken in Bangkok of passengers boarding the Chao Phraya River Express tourist boat. There was also the hilarious 007 parody Petra Bond by Chin Yew and The Colour of Ideas by Low Weiyan, which was a stop-motion animation of colored candies. Blue and red (and sometimes yellow) candies clash. The action was commenting on violent rallies in Kuala Lumpur, but the colors had resonance to the Thai situation. Focal Point by Alireza Khatami and Ali Seiffouri is an Iranian co-production about a photographer who has a magical camera in his studio. The boys' boarding school hazing tale Kiamu! was shown twice, the second time in the Each Film ... An Island? session because on the first run-through the English subtitles hadn't been selected.
The Best of Clermont-Ferrand shorts are uniformly polished with high production values. Some have marquee names. The British animated short Lost and Found by Philip Hunt, about a boy who befriend a penguin, is narrated by Jim Broadbent. There's also the Australian live-action comedy Glenn Owen Dodds by Frazer Bailey, and starring David Wenham in a comic turn that surprised me. Previously, I'd only seen Wenham in a dramatic role in the Lord of the Rings. There's also the slick animated short Pigeon: Impossible. Today's Clermont-Ferrand program has Logorama, which won this year's Oscar for best animated short.
The Thai films in competition this weekend are the White Elephant student shorts and the documentaries up for the Duke Award. Only a handful have English subtitles. I think it's awkward and disruptive to try and enter and leave the screening sessions just to catch the ones with subtitles, and it's probably mostly pointless for me to try and watch the ones without subtitles. But more subtitles will be on offer next weekend in the films by the "general individual" filmmakers who are up for the R.D. Pestonji Award, so maybe next weekend I'll graduate to the adult table.
Labels: 5/5 reviews, Bangkok, culture, festivals, film reviews, indie, industry, Pan-Asian, short films
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