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ACLU FOIA Seeks Information About How Government Launders Evidence
Fiona Tang,
Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project
Today the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking records related to "parallel construction," the government's practice of falsifying a trail of evidence in order to conceal controversial investigative techniques from the courts and the public.
Under parallel construction, instead of disclosing how its investigation actually took place, the government presents a sanitized version of events. The practice allows the government to evade legal challenges to the use of such techniques, and also to keep the very existence of such techniques a secret. Recent news reports have shown that parallel construction might be far more common than we'd like to think, so we've asked the government to provide any records it has documenting the practice.
Because evidence derived from an unconstitutional search is generally inadmissible in court, law enforcement agencies—in order to build a case against a defendant—may make their investigation appear legal on the surface, by reverse-engineering a trail of evidence that passes Fourth Amendment muster. Here's how it would work:
Suppose the government acquires incriminating information about a suspect using method "A," a novel and potentially unlawful technique. In order to keep method "A" secret, and to avoid having to defend the legality of method "A" in court, the government circles back to method "B," a lawful technique, and re-acquires the same incriminating information uncovered by method "A." In this way, the government fakes the investigative path that led it to the information, masking the fact that it ever used illegal method "A" at all. As far as anyone knows, it only used "B."
As the ACLU has made clear, parallel construction violates the constitutional rights of the accused and insulates intelligence programs from judicial review. It allows the government to illegally collect evidence while evading its obligation to disclose, and then justify, how the evidence was obtained. Even when law enforcement gathers evidence pursuant to statute, it is the responsibility of the courts—not the government—to determine whether the government actually followed the statute and whether the search method is in fact constitutional. The government doesn't get to decide this for itself while keeping its use of the surveillance secret.
If all this sounds shocking, that's because it is. Unfortunately, we only know bits and pieces about parallel construction—but, based in large part on government documents procured through FOIA, we do know it's real.
For example, parallel construction has been used to cover up some of the most notorious surveillance techniques in the past decade. It initially captured the public's attention in August 2013, when Reuters published an article scrutinizing the elusive Drug Enforcement Administration Special Operations Division's use of the practice. Parallel construction received renewed attention this past May, when a non-disclosure agreement between the FBI and the Oklahoma City Police Department was released through a state records request. The non-disclosure agreement governs the use of cell site simulators—colloquially known as "stingrays"—and requires that the Oklahoma City Police Department use the technology for "lead purposes only," further explaining that the agency must "use additional and independent investigative means and methods . . . that would be admissible at trial" in lieu of disclosing to the defendant the fact that a stingray device was used.
Why would the Oklahoma City Police Department agree to limit the use of stingrays to "lead purposes only"? Beyond simply keeping the technology secret from the public or criminal defendants, it allowed the government to avoid legal challenges to the use of stingrays. Where the government is using novel and controversial surveillance techniques, that's no small thing. Two courts—one state appellate court in Maryland, and a federal district court in New York—recently determined that the use of a stingray device without a warrant violates the Fourth Amendment, and both courts barred the government from using evidence obtained via stingray in criminal prosecutions.
Similar instructions were given to FBI agents who were fed tips from the government's warrantless-wiretapping program, Stellarwind. Agents were instructed that information obtained through the program was:
for lead purposes only and is intended solely for the background information of recipients in developing their own collateral leads. It cannot be used in affidavits, court proceedings, subpoenas, or for other legal or judicial purposes.
These examples show that parallel construction is real, and that it is dangerous—but there is much more to learn. We are filing this FOIA request to clarify how widespread the practice actually is, and how the government uses it.
Parallel construction allows law enforcement to conceal intrusive surveillance programs, evade statutory disclosure obligations, and use unconstitutionally obtained evidence in court—without any form of check or oversight. It provides an extraordinarily convenient solution to law enforcement, while jeopardizing privacy rights in the process. For these reasons, it is imperative that the government make its practice of parallel construction openly accessible to the public for review and debate.
More in Privacy & Technology
2022 in Review: How We Showed Up to Protect Abortion Access
10 Ways the ACLU and Our Supporters Showed Up in 2022


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Intervertebral disc disease
IDD; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Degenerative disc disease
Intervertebral disc disease (IDD) is a common musculoskeletal condition that primarily affects the back. It is characterized by intervertebral disc herniation and/or sciatic pain (sciatica) and is a primary cause of low back pain, affecting about 5% of individuals.[1][2][3] Both environmental and genetic factors are thought to predispose an individual to developing the condition.[3] Treatment for IDD may include physical therapy, pain medications, and sometimes surgical intervention such as discectomy or spinal fusion.[2]
Intervertebral disc disease (IDD) is a multifactorial disorder, which means that both genetic and environmental factors probably interact to predispose an individual to the condition. It is likely that several factors are needed for development of IDD. Factors such as occupational stress, trauma, or obesity, together with genetic alterations, may result in the structural weakness of a disc, cause a herniation, and possibly initiate a cascade of events leading to sciatica and pathological disc changes.[3] One of the best-known environmental risk factors for IDD is vibration in occupational driving.[1] Inflammation is also likely to play an important role in the progression of this process.[3]
In the absence of red flags, the initial approach to treatment is typically conservative and includes physical therapy and pain medications. In 90% of affected individuals, acute attacks of sciatica usually improve within 4 to 6 weeks without surgical intervention.[4] In cases where surgical intervention is necessary, surgical procedures may include discectomy or spinal fusion.[2]
Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Intervertebral disc disease. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Intervertebral disc disease. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
Virtanen IM et al. Occupational and genetic risk factors associated with intervertebral disc disease. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). May 1, 2007; 32(10):1129-1134.
Sakai D. Future perspectives of cell-based therapy for intervertebral disc disease. Eur Spine J. December 2008; 17 Suppl 4:452-458.
Noponen-Hietala N. et al. Genetic variations in IL6 associate with intervertebral disc disease characterized by sciatica. Pain. March 2005; 114(1-2):186-194.
Young K, Brown R, Kaufmann L. Clinical inquiries. When is discectomy indicated for lumbar disc disease?. J Fam Pract. August 2011; 60(8):490-491.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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KJHB-LP (104.3 FM, "The Bronc") is a low-power FM radio station broadcasting an album-oriented rock music format. Licensed to Jackson, Wyoming, United States, the station is currently owned by Teton County School District #1.

References

External links

JHB-LP
JHB-LP
Teton County, Wyoming
Radio stations established in 2002
2002 establishments in Wyoming
Album-oriented rock radio stations in the United States
High school radio stations in the United States

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Posted by: Barry Philips Discos In: Other 16 May 2019 Comments: 0
Published by Barry Philips · Yesterday at 1:00 PM ·
315-Dinah Washington-What A Diff'rence a Day Makes.
1959-Has never charted in the UK.
Best Bit-At 0.15.I love connecting the musical timelines,for many she follows Bessie Smith(see best songs 345) and Billie Holiday(see best songs 624) and forms the bridge between them and Aretha Franklin(see best songs 644 and 366.)
This song was originally written in 1934 in Spanish by the Mexican songwriter Maria Grever(1885-1951.) she wrote over 800 songs and her popularity reached Latin America,Europe and The United States. In the same year English lyrics were written by Stanley Adams(1907-1994) and the most successful early recording was by the Dorsey Brothers.
Dinah Washington(1924-1963) was born Ruth Jones in Tuscaloosa,Alabama,she was primarily a Jazz vocalist but her talents allowed her to perform to the highest standards in many other genres including 'Blues' and Traditional Pop Music.'
Her life ended prematurely at the age of 39.She killed herself by accident mixing drugs and alcohol,which was confirmed by the mortician.
'What a difference a day made 24 little hours.'
Dinah Washington: What Difference A Day Makes
Dinah Washington What Difference A Day Makes from Give Me Back…
Published by Barry Philips · May 14 at 1:00 PM ·
316-Roxy Music-Street Life.
1973-Number 9 single.
Best Bit-At 0.25.The groups name was partly an homage to the titles of old cinemas and dance halls and partly a pun on the word rock.
Bryan Ferry had named the band Roxy originally,but after learning of an American band with the same name he changed the name to Roxy Music.
Bryan Ferry CBE was born in 1945 in Washington,County Durham,England,he formed Roxy Music in 1970.
Ferry,like his contemporary David Bowie influenced a generation with both his music and appearance.Alongside writing for and fronting Roxy Music he also had a very successful solo career(see also best songs 721.)
Street Life is the opening track from Roxy Music's third Album 'Stranded,'it was the first song that fellow co-founder of the band Brian Eno had not been a part of because of his recent departure.
'Education is an important key,but the good life's never won by degrees.'
Roxy Music – Street Life (Lyrics) (HQ)
From their 1973 album Stranded. LYRICS: Wish everybody would leave me alone -yeah They're always calling on my telephone When I pick it up…
317-Justin Timberlake-Can't Stop The Feeling.
Best Bit-At 0.59.You may not have heard about this songs writer Max Martin,but after Lennon and McCartney he has the most Number 1 singles successes on Billboard,currently standing at 22.
Max Martin(see also best songs 870 and 824) was born Martin Sandberg in Stockholm,Sweden in 1971,he has written and produced dozens of hit singles for many of the 21st Centuries biggest artists, he cites Abba as a major influence.
'Can't Stop The Feeling' was also co-written by Johan Schuster better known by his working name of Shellback(see also best songs 373) and the songs vocalist Justin Timberlake.
The song was written for the soundtrack of the 2016 American computer animated musical film 'Trolls' and has to date sold over 6 million copies worldwide.
'I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good song in my feet.'
CAN'T STOP THE FEELING! (From DreamWorks Animation's "Trolls") (Official Video)
CAN'T STOP THE FEELING!" from the Original Motion Picture Trolls" Official Music Video directed by Mark Romanek. Get it on iTunes:…
Published by Barry Philips · 1 hr ·
318-Bronski Beat-Smalltown Boy.
Best Bit-At 0.30.In these slightly more enlightened times of 2019 and hopefully beyond this songs message does not quite resonate the way it did back in 1984 when it was ground breaking and very brave.
The song addresses key issues in 1980's 'LGBT' culture.It also addresses family rejection for being homosexual and homophobia in British society.
The Bronski Beat were formed in 1983 by Jimmy Somerville,Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek who died in 2017,all three band members were gay.
The trio were unhappy with the way the gay community were portrayed and sought to be more outspoken and political.They went some way to achieving their goal with the release of their debut Album 'The Age Of Reason' in 1984.
'You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case.'
Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy (Official Music Video)
The Age Of Consent is being reissued via London Records on 26th October 2018 http://smarturl.it/theageofconsent2018…
319-The Beatles-Yesterday.
1965-The song was not released as a single in the UK until 1976 when it reached Number 8.
Best Bit-At 0.57.It's the most covered Pop song in the world ever with over 3000 different versions.
By 1965 McCartney and Lennon were predominantly writing their own songs, although they continued to credit all The Beatles output to Lennon/McCartney(see also best songs 599.)
This song was Paul's,who claimed that one morning he tumbled out of bed and this tune was in his head,the working title was 'Scrambled Eggs' until he wrote the lyrics months later.
Paul McCartney always had a problem with the writing credits on The Beatles songs as they stated Lennon/McCartney,he felt his name should appear first,especially on the songs that he wrote.
'Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.'
Yesterday • The Beatles • Original • 1965
320-U2-One.
Best Bit-At 2.43.Just a couple of accolades,the Irish radio station 'Today FM' voted this song the best Irish song ever and the line 'One life,with each other,sisters,brothers' was voted the UK's favourite song lyric in a poll by music channel VH1.
'One' was written in 1991 for U2's Achtung Baby Album with lyrics by Bono(see also best songs 766.)The song has been the subject of many different interpretations,but in 2005 Bono explained to Rolling Stone magazine,'It's a father and son story.I tried to write about someone who was coming out and was afraid to tell his father.It's a religious father and son,I have a lot of gay friends and I've seen them screwed up from unloving family situations.'
'We're one but we're not the same,well we hurt each other then we do it again.'
U2's new album, "Songs of Experience" out now. Listen to the album: https://lnk.to/ZaQRe Explore more music from U2: https://lnk.to/oVysR…
Published by Barry Philips · May 9 at 4:00 PM ·
COMING NEXT THE BEST 320.
You're everywhere and nowhere baby
That's where you're at
Going down a bumpy hillside in your hippy hat
Flying across the country and getting fat
Saying everything is groovy
When your tyres are flat.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm
T V
Discos Leeds Rock Welcome


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COMPADRE and COMADRE Matrix Databases
Publications from COMPADRE and COMADRE
Accounting for clonality in plant demography – a story of an unintended article
Beyond white noise: the colors of noise in long-term COM(P)ADRE data
Can demographic data be borrowed across species? Probably not for plants
Embracing sampling uncertainty in analyses with COM(P)ADRE
Demography beyond a dissertation: profiting from well replicated and long term data
Attacking the question of vegetative dormancy with COMPADRE
Follow COMPADRE on Twitter
Biological invasions, life histories, and COMPADRE
December 7, 2015 robcito	Leave a comment
The diversity of life on Earth is amazing, and just as species have evolved all sorts of interesting physical adaptations to cope with their surroundings, so have they evolved a dazzling array of life histories (patterns of birth, growth, reproduction and survival rates) that allow individuals to pass on their genes to future generations. And as it turns out, a subset of these life histories may confer an additional benefit: an inherent ability to establish new populations.
In a paper recently accepted in Journal of Ecology, we harnessed the power of the COMPADRE Plant Matrix Database to ask the question: "which plant life histories should be the best invaders?" The process of biological invasion is devilishly complicated, involving many phases occurring at different scales. We focused our attention on the early part of the establishment phase, when a new population has just taken root with only a few colonizers and is easily wiped out. Early on, small invading populations are strongly affected by the vagaries of chance events known as "demographic stochasticity". We used computer simulations of plant population models for 105 species to see which populations, starting as seeds, were best able to persist while dealing with these chance events.
We found that life histories that 1) avoid short-term declines in abundance (e.g., by maintaining high seed and seedling survival, and rapidly reaching maturity) and 2) grow rapidly over the long-term were best able to cope with demographic stochasticity. Our most interesting finding, however, was that species capable of producing many seeds are especially good invaders because they have disproportionately favorable short-term and long-term population growth rates. This may help explain why species that escape their native ranges and become truly "invasive" generally have high fecundity: they are especially good at coping with chance events and avoiding extinction.
Dave Iles in the field. He is a PhD candidate at Utah State University, and lead author of a recent publication in Journal of Ecology using COMPADRE to explore life history traits that pose plant species more likely to establish successful invasions
Of course, there remains much more to be learned about the demography of invasive species and of the invasion process in general – for example, our predictions need to be tested by directly comparing invasive and non-invasive species, both in their native and invasive ranges. Open access data, like that in the COMPADRE and COMADRE databases, will almost certainly play an important role in future discoveries. Free and instant access to massive online data repositories will greatly speed up the rate at which exciting questions can be addressed. Open access also guarantees that many other researchers will be familiar with the ins and outs of the data used in analyses, improving the overall quality of research and peer review. I will certainly use open access data again (and likely the COMPADRE/COMADRE databases themselves), and am excited to see what other insights will be gained from these incredible sources of information.
David Iles
Iles, D. T., Salguero‐Gómez, R., Adler, P. B., & Koons, D. N. (2015). Linking transient dynamics and life history to biological invasion success. Journal of Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12516
Salguero-Gómez, R. et al. (2015). The COMPADRE Plant Matrix Database: an open online repository of plant demography. Journal of Ecology 103, 202-218


Buva Sea Cambodia's fleet deliver passengers between Sihanoukville, Koh Rong, and Koh Rong Samloem. The maximum capacity of 50 passengers on each of the 30 minute journeys. All of the highspeed ships are equipped with modern GPS systems, life jackets and are operated by skilled and experienced crew.
Please Note: Whilst we have taken great care in making our Buva Sea Cambodia guide as accurate as possible, onboard facilities, services and entertainment may vary depending on the date and time of year that you travel, facilities mentioned may change without notification and ferry companies reserve the right to operate vessels other than those mentioned at time of booking without prior notification.


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Q: What is the radius of convergence R of the Taylor series? The following is a taylor series of a function centered at 8.
$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^n(x-8)^n}{7^n(n+8)}$$
I am trying to ind the radius of convergence of R of this series.
My guess is that the radius of convergence is $\infty$ because we have $(\frac{-1}{7})^n$, which approaches to 0 as n approaches $\infty$. Since we have a case of convergence, I suppose that the whole function should be convergent for whatever value of x. This is my attempt at answering the question, however, the answer seems to be incorrect.

A: Let $x_{n}$ be the sequence inside the sum. $\vert \frac{x_{n+1}}{x_{n}}|=\vert \frac{(x-8)(n+8)}{7(n+9)} \vert$. Hence, as n goes to infinity $\vert \frac{x_{n+1}}{x_{n}}|$ goes to $\vert \frac{(x-8)}{7} \vert$. The radius of convergence is 7.

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Иллеркирхберг () — коммуна в Германии, в земле Баден-Вюртемберг.

Подчиняется административному округу Тюбинген. Входит в состав района Альб-Дунай.  Население составляет 4778 человек (на 31 декабря 2010 года). Занимает площадь 11,45 км².

Примечания

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Города Баден-Вюртемберга


All skins need hydration regardless of skin type. Oily skins can be prone to dehydration due to over cleansing or medicated skincare so it is essential to replace lost water with an oil-free moisturiser to hydrate the skin.
Hydrators add water to the skin, not oil, and are essential to repair the barrier function of your skin, making it stronger and more resilient.


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> font is not registered in the fonts.sml file.
per each combination of font-family+font-weight+font-style.
In XEP 3.7, the same warning was repeated multiple times.
have a sample of your test FO and fonts.xml off list.
> event is fired through the logger interface.
too; so I presume it is not the cause of the problem).


Loblaw Companies Limited has followed several other prominent retailers into the advertising sales business.
The country's largest grocer this week introduced an advertising program that uses customer data, collected via its PC Optimum program, to deliver more targeted advertising from some of the country's largest CPG brands.
The company says it will offer targeted ads to a "select group" of its approximately 18 million PC Optimum members, who will be compensated with additional points for each ad they view. The country's largest loyalty program, PC Optimum gives out more than $1 billion a year in rewards.
Uwe Stueckmann, senior vice-president of marketing for Loblaw, won't disclose how many points customers will receive, but says the company has developed a tiered system, with different totals based on the type of ad customers view (such as a display ad or pre-roll video).
The program follows similar efforts by U.S. grocery retailers including Kroger and Walmart, both of which have built advertising businesses around first-party customer data. Kroger has publicly stated it expects advertising sales to account for a portion of the additional US$400 million in profit it hopes to generate by 2020.
Online retail giant Amazon, meanwhile, has been using the vast amount of consumer data at its disposal to build a robust digital ad business that research company eMarketer recently valued at US$14 billion. "They've built similar businesses that would suggest there's a model here that works," says Stueckmann.
Loblaw will deliver advertising based on what it calls "transaction-based insights," gathered through swipe data from PC Optimum cards. Stueckmann says the data is invaluable in helping the company deliver ads based on actual customer purchases, rather than simply "liking" a product or looking it up on a website.
The initiative is launching amid growing consumer concerns over data privacy and increased annoyance over targeting advertising on the internet. According to the most recent study by the internet advertising body IAB Canada, nearly one-fifth of Canadians (18%) use an ad blocker.
In a March 13 notice to customers, Loblaw vowed it would not share customers' personal information with its advertising partners. "[T]hey only need to know that they are reaching the right customers at the right time and place to make their advertising relevant and whether their advertising campaign was effective," the notice states.
The company says it plans to add a "visible identifying mark or logo" to ads delivered via the program.


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Enduring Hotter, Longer Days, Local Muslims Celebrate Ramadan
Ramadan rotates throughout the year based on the Islamic lunar calendar. In the dead heat of the summer, the fast lasts a grueling 16 hours.
Article and Photography by RACHEL YOUNG
Published : Friday, July 12, 2013 | 5:56 AM
Sixteen-year-old Mona Ghannoum, soon to be a senior at Arcadia High School, is fasting again.
No, this is not some teenager's dieting fad. Mona is practicing the disciplines of Ramadan, Islam's holy month.
Mona is part of a larger community of Muslims in the Pasadena and Altadena area who gather together at the prayer center Masjid Al-Taqwa on North Lake Ave. to break the fast"called Iftar"each evening of Ramadan.
Until August 7, Islamic Muslims around the world will abstain from food, drink, and sex from sun up to sun down. During this holiest month of the year is the time they believe God revealed the Quran, the Islamic holy book, to the Prophet Muhammad. The second book of the Quran explains the obligation to fast.
"At first it was hard to explain why I wasn't eating, but now my friends are used to it and come to me with their questions. They don't ask anymore if it is it ok to eat around you". Now I've actually had a lot of friends join me in fasting even if they aren't Muslim," Mona said, who is the Vice President of the youth group at the Islamic Center of Southern California.
Last year during the month-long fast Mona chose to play in a soccer game in the middle of a heat wave. She fainted on the field and had to be carried off. She said she learned her lesson and will not play sports again when Ramadan falls during the hottest part of the year.
"The fact that I can't drink water is the really hard part. Today I found gum in my backpack and I'm a serial gum chewer and it was so hard that I couldn"t chew my gum. You just have take a breath and think you can get through this, you've been doing this for years," Mona shared.
The most difficult challenges for the local Muslim community this year are the heat and the longer days. Ramadan rotates throughout the year based on the Islamic lunar calendar, allowing for the fasting to take place during every season of life. In winter fasting breaks much earlier when the sun goes down, but in the dead heat of the summer, the fast lasts a grueling 16 hours, with only an 8-hour break to eat.
"It's a challenge when it's longer, you have to prepare mentally and you have to get everything in order. You only have 8 hours of night time, so you have do any eating and drinking during that short amount of time," Saleemah Muhammad said.
Aaron Abdus-Shakoor, the Chairman of the Mosque, tries to keep himself busy so the time passes quickly, but admitted he does have several difficult days where he has to ask God to help him.
"Sometimes I would just take a catnap or 15 minutes to close my eyes, sit still and just relax and try to rejuvenate myself. It's something you expect, its part of it and you know it will pass. The first couple of days don't seem to be as difficult as the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th, but then it starts becoming your routine," Shakoor said.
Most of those gathered at Masjid Al-Taqwa agreed with Aaron that fasting during the 30 days of Ramadan becomes like a rhythm of daily life that they become accustomed to and even look forward to and enjoy the whole month.
"It's a joy and a blessing, its not so much a struggle because most of us have been fasting for over 30 years, so when it comes you're ready for it. It' not hard until we get to about the 25th day," Rasheedah Osakwe said, one of the original charter members who played an important role in obtaining the mosque.
Sumaku H. Ali considers it a blessing to even be alive and well today. When she was eight months old the hospital gave her up to die, telling her adopted mom who had her from when she was 10 days old to take her home because she would not live with tuberculosis, the disease her birth mother died from.
"I had said last year that if the first day of fasting would be on my birthday it would be a double blessing for me, which it is a double blessing. I thank the Lord almighty for holding me up through all I've been through," Ali said
Ali brought chocolate cake for everyone to enjoy on the double celebration, the first night of breaking fast and her 62nd birthday.
"Ramadan is something I look forward to every year because it brightens up my life, it makes me remember more so what I'm supposed to do. We're supposed to be this type of person every day of our life, but some of us just do it 29 or 30 days of the year," Ali said.
Every hour put into fasting will receive blessings; yet fasting is only a small portion of Ramadan. Observers also commit to taking on a whole attitude toward people where they cannot argue or think ill of anyone. During the month Muslims must be kind, do good works, do charity, and think only good thoughts about the people around.
"Ramadan is a life source. It's an opportunity to evaluate what you did last year and see what the possibilities are for you to correct and build on your life for this next year," visiting Imam Karim Salah said.
New to the Muslim community three years ago, Latif El-Amon knows the truth of that statement.
"I shouldn't even be here. I was a knucklehead. I've been shot three times. All my friends are dead or in the penitentiary. But that's what Islam and Ramadan did for me. It cleansed me. It all connected like a jigsaw puzzle when you find the last piece," El-Amon said.
Even beyond behavioral issues, Ramadan pushes observers to be more productive and more beneficial to the society and to others.
"Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness, tolerance, patience, observing someone's character and refraining from arguments or fighting. It's a one month period of time when someone should be extremely, extremely nice and helpful to others and helpful to connect with poor people, connect with the needy, worship God, and a chance to spend more time in the Quran," Dr. Saleh Kholaki said.
Dr. Kholaki is a local dentist and also serves as the chair of the board for the Islamic Center of Southern California. He explained how an important part of Ramadan is giving 2.5 percent charity to the poor. During Ramadan they focus especially on giving to the poor because they are experiencing what it is like to go hungry and sympathizing with those who cannot afford to purchase food.
For that reason, many of the mosques will have a community meal each night of Ramadan to break the fast together and practice charity at the same time by inviting the homeless to partake.
The breaking of fast at the Masjid was like a big family gathering where everyone contributed and praised one another for their efforts. They come together for this meal every evening of Ramadan, building a strong sense of community that is more difficult to find in the U.S because there are fewer Muslims.
"It's so joyful to share with everyone, we come with different ethnic groups, we come to have one meal together and socialize and at the same time we do prayers," Mohamed Ghannoum said.
For most it was a wonderful reward, but for one woman her stomach had already gotten small so she had to save most of her plate for later to eat in the early morning before the dawn prayers at 3:30 am.
Several said they needed to pace themselves once they got to the evening meal because if they ate to much that night they might be sleepy the next morning. They also do not want to reverse the health benefits that come with purifying the body with fasting.
"Believe me it's a wonderful opportunity to relax and take a breather from the abuse, the greasy food we eat and all the hormones. The body says, O thank God you're fasting, it improves metabolism," Dr. Kholaki said.
Even though he appreciates the health benefits, Dr. Kholaki's biggest struggle is with caffeine withdrawal. He knows he has to pace himself before Ramadan begins because it would be too much of a shock to stop abruptly.
"I'm a coffee-drinker so if I don't take caffeine I get headache. But what I would do is like the weeks before Ramadan, I lower my intake of caffeine," Dr. Kholaki said.
Not everyone is mandated to fast. Children are exempt until they reach puberty, and also women who are menstruating are exempt, but will make up the missed days at the beginning or end of the month. Other exemptions include anyone who is sick, physically unable, traveling, or if fasting would be detrimental or dangerous to his or her health. Preserving life is the number one priority.
Mahasin Shaheed is not well so she is exempt from fasting, however she looks forward to Ramadan all year and is trying her best to only miss a few days.
"Fasting during Ramadan is so exhilarating. It feels like you're in heaven already," Shaheed said. "This month is training for the rest of the year when we should always be kind and generous to others."
Shaheed told about an 8-year-old she had encountered that day who tried so hard to fast the whole day, but could not make it. He said, "I want to keep trying until I get it."


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French Mathematician Wins Abel Prize
The French mathematician Jacques Tits will share the Abel Prize with an American. Tits is being honored for his work in algebra. He is the inventor of the concept of a "Tits building," an algebraic structure made up of simpler structures called, appropriately enough, "apartments." Although I have a Ph.D. in mathematics from long ago, I'm afraid my expertise is out of date. I am not familiar with the theory of buildings. But it is good to see French mathematics honored. In my day the French were among the world leaders in several branches of mathematics, and their work was distinguished by profound insight coupled with the utmost elegance in form and expression. These qualities were among the things that first attracted my attention to France.
Labels: culture, intellectuals
EU Military Operations in Africa
Judah Grunstein has an interesting piece on EU military operations in Chad. It seems that the scarce resource is not boots on the ground but logistical support. European troop movement capabilities are limited. Transportation had to be leased from a Ukrainian contractor, although Russia did supply eight helicopters. Troop transport is a prosaic business. It doesn't have the glamor of nuclear submarines or nuclear weapons and doesn't get the headlines. But without it Europe (and France, to the extent that it uses Europe for projecting its own force) remains impotent while consoling itself with the hypothetical ability to destroy any city anywhere on earth at any time. Of course impotence is a good way to stay out of trouble, but sometimes it's best not to avoid trouble, and when the time comes it's best to be prepared, as the Boy Scouts like to say.
Labels: defense, foreign policy
Patrick Weil on University Reform
Noted scholar (historian of immigration) Patrick Weil offers a pertinent critique of the Pécresse Law on university reform in Marianne. In particular he observes that the partial autonomy granted under the Pécresse law has reinforced "localism and clientelism in the recruitment of professors," because it has increased the powers of locally elected university presidents. Instead of "free and open competition, which is a good thing," he says, students are still funneled into local universities, which therefore do not need to search for the best professors in order to compete for top students.
Labels: intellectuals, universities
Local Color
Had Elaine Sciolino wanted to give the real flavor of quotidian France, she might have written about the developing scandal in the Hauts-de-Seine instead of about her butcher in the 7th Arrondissement. The affair involves any number of important names: Rachida Dati, the minister of justice, André Santini, the civil service secretary, and one Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the Republic but previously president of the conseil général of Hauts-de-Seine. And only in France would alleged corruption in a public works project revolve around the donation of a major art collection. Now, that is local color, Ms. Sciolino. With a little reportorial shoe-leather, you might have come up with something worth writing about.
Labels: corruption, UMP
Bertrand's the Winner
Yesterday I described a putsch in the making at the UMP. I predicted that Christian Estrosi would replace Patrick Devedjian. I was wrong. That honor goes to Xavier Bertrand, and Devedjian will remain in place alongside him (though he can no doubt read the handwriting on the wall). Estrosi figures in the putsch but will get only a special "functional" post created expressly for him. The whole maneuver was orchestrated by Sarkozy, according to Le Figaro.
Incidentally, a glimpse of Bertrand in action can be found here. He appears on a France Culture program with French Politics contributor Éloi Laurent. Bertrand is a smooth talker (as befits a former insurance agent), intelligent, quick on his feet, and entirely unflappable, a politician in the buttoned-down, well-groomed mold of François Fillon, whom he might well replace should Sarkozy ever decide that he needs a new prime minister. His promotion to the post of party leader is evidence that his star is rising rapidly.
Le Monde adds that Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet will also become a deputy secretary general of the UMP and says that Sarko chose her as a "counterweight" to Bertrand's "appetite for media exposure"--an appetite that the president is well-placed to judge as a connoisseur. Fillon is also said to be "wary" of Bertrand, no doubt for the reason adumbrated above, and to have insisted on denying him an expansion of his ministry's powers to include responsibility for labor. Instead, Fillon's former spokesman Laurent Wauquiez was assigned to Christine Lagarde as a deputy for labor issues.
Labels: UMP


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Home / History / Diversity & Inclusion / Cultural Diversity and the City / Labelling multicultural heritage in George Town, Malaysia
Labelling multicultural heritage in George Town, Malaysia
George Town on the Island of Penang in Malaysia was recognized as a World Heritage site in 2008 for its "multicultural heritage."
Hello, everybody. Today we will look into an interesting case for UNESCO World Heritage. Georgetown is located on the island of Penang in Malaysia– a country that is home to a number of ethnic and religious communities. Georgetown strives to portray itself as a successful multicultural model where these communities can coexist and retain their cultural specificities. The city was recognised as a World Heritage site in 2008 along with the city of Malacca, located on the mainland. Georgetown was founded in 1786 as part of the British Colonial Empire.
Because of its role as a trading port, it attracted numerous traders and labour workers from Asia and the Middle East, including Malays, Armenians, Arabs, Javanese, Chinese, Indians, but also from Europe, such as Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Although the different ethnic communities usually settled in distinct neighbourhoods, the city retained a highly diverse heritage. From the 1970s, the rapid urbanisation started representing a threat to the city heritage. Conservation efforts emerged during the 1990s and early 2000s. This is when the Penang Heritage Trust and other heritage activists lobbied the Penang state government to apply for the UNESCO World Heritage label. What drove UNESCO to recognise Georgetown as a World Heritage site was the city's multicultural heritage.
UNESCO stressed that along five centuries trade and exchanges between regional cultures, as well as colonial powers, had marked the city's cultural landscape. The label celebrates the historic coexistence of numerous ethnicities and faiths attested by the presence of a wide variety of religious buildings, as well as the living heritage that different ethnic groups bring to this city– such as local festivals, music styles, costumes, or food. The UNESCO label acknowledged the originality of Georgetown's cultural landscape. Not only did it bring cultures from elsewhere, but it also nurtured a local style. Countless examples illustrate this intermixing of culture in the urban landscape.
Beach street, which was the financial hub during the colonial era, contains hybrid styles of architectures inspired by the art deco movement. The Kampung Kling Mosque, built by the Indian traders in 1872, displays a mix of Sumatran, Chinese, Hindu, and Malay influences. Its minaret looks like a pagoda. Inside the mosque one can find English and Portuguese glazed tiles, as well as Hindu and Chinese style woodcarving. Intangible heritage is also part of the city's multicultural heritage, like the Malay opera which combines influences from India, China, and Indonesia. For Georgetown, the UNESCO the World Heritage label was only a starting point for heritage conservation.
One year after the attribution by UNESCO, UNESCO, local actors launched a festival that started as a three-day event and evolved into a one month-long celebration. This festival has the support of the Penang state government. As a multidisciplinary event, it features dance, film, and exhibitions. It promotes local talents and brings foreign artists to this city, representing a key cultural moment for citizens and visitors. Georgetown not only constitutes an example of multicultural heritage, it also shows how local actors can take advantage of the World Heritage label to foster contemporary creativity.
Watch this video to understand how George Town, Malaysia became a World Heritage site.
UNESCO recognized the value of the city's multicultural heritage.
The following criteria justify the listing of George Town along with Melaka:
Melaka and George Town represent exceptional examples of multi-cultural trading towns in East and Southeast Asia, forged from the mercantile and exchanges of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures and three successive European colonial powers for almost 500 years, each with its imprints on the architecture and urban form, technology and monumental art. Both towns show different stages of development and successive changes over a long period of time and are thus complementary.
Melaka and George Town are living testimony to the multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia and European colonial influences. This multi-cultural tangible and intangible heritage is expressed in the great variety of religious buildings of different faiths, ethnic quarters, the many languages, worship and religious festivals, dances, costumes, art and music, food, and daily life.
Melaka and George Town reflect a mixture of influences, which have created a unique architecture, culture, and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and South Asia. In particular, they demonstrate an exceptional range of shophouses and townhouses. These buildings show many different types and stages of development of the building type, some originating in the Dutch or Portuguese periods.
European University Institute (EUI) online course,
Cultural Diversity and the City
In George Town, public authorities have used the World Heritage label to portray an image of inter-ethnic harmony. But this discourse may not reflect the reality that populations face in their daily life.
Are labels supposed to portray an idealised vision of cultural diversity? Do you think they can also raise awareness of the difficulties that some minorities are facing?
This content is taken from European University Institute (EUI) online course


Don't be scared......it's for a good cause!!
The 2018 Optimal Cares Halloween Car Show presented by Greenlawn Funeral Homes on Saturday, October 27th at the Bakersfield RV Resort was a huge success. The event had 85 entrants, vendors, numerous attendees and lots of Trunk or Treaters. The Foundation would like thank everyone who helped make the event a success and helped raise over $8,500 to support our Mission. Special Thank you the Bakersfield RV Resort/Crest Bar & Grill for hosting our event.
The Annual Optimal Hospice Foundation Golf in the Sun and Under the Stars golf tournament take place each Fall. This fun event begins with nine holes of golf in the late afternoon, followed by dinner and then culminating with the final nine holes played in the dark with glow-in-the-dark golf balls. The tournament raises money for the Foundation in a very unique and festive atmosphere. So start planning your foursome now and join us!
The 27th Annual Golf In the Sun & Under the Stars Tournament presented by Horizon Oxygen and Medical Equipment, Inc. was held Friday, September 14, 2018 at Stockdale Country Club. The tournament teed off at 3:30pm with 100 golfers who played the first nine holes In the Sun. Following the first nine the players and sponsors enjoyed a wonderful buffet dinner at the Country Club. During dinner a prize drawing will be held that include the popular "Cooler of Cocktails". After dinner players head back to the course and play the final 9 holes Under the Stars.
A special THANK YOU to all of our 2018 sponsors, donors, players and volunteers who helped us raise over $25,000 to further our Mission.
Horizon Oxygen & Medical Equipment, Inc.


text:
//
//  CNError.h
//  Contacts
//
//  Copyright (c) 2015 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
//

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <Contacts/ContactsDefines.h>

CONTACTS_EXTERN NSString * const CNErrorDomain NS_AVAILABLE(10_11, 9_0);

typedef NS_ENUM(NSInteger, CNErrorCode)
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    CNErrorCodeCommunicationError = 1,
    CNErrorCodeDataAccessError = 2,

    CNErrorCodeAuthorizationDenied = 100,

    CNErrorCodeRecordDoesNotExist = 200,
    CNErrorCodeInsertedRecordAlreadyExists = 201,
    CNErrorCodeContainmentCycle = 202,
    CNErrorCodeContainmentScope = 203,
    CNErrorCodeParentRecordDoesNotExist = 204,

    CNErrorCodeValidationMultipleErrors = 300,
    CNErrorCodeValidationTypeMismatch = 301,
    CNErrorCodeValidationConfigurationError = 302,

    CNErrorCodePredicateInvalid = 400,

    CNErrorCodePolicyViolation = 500,
}  NS_ENUM_AVAILABLE(10_11, 9_0);

/*! When available an array of one or more CNContact, CNGroup or CNContainer objects for which the error code applies. */
CONTACTS_EXTERN NSString * const CNErrorUserInfoAffectedRecordsKey NS_AVAILABLE(10_11, 9_0);

/*! When available an array of one or more NSString objects for which the error code applies. */
CONTACTS_EXTERN NSString * const CNErrorUserInfoAffectedRecordIdentifiersKey NS_AVAILABLE(10_11, 9_0);

/*! An array of NSErrors for CNErrorCodeValidationMultipleErrors. */
CONTACTS_EXTERN NSString * const CNErrorUserInfoValidationErrorsKey NS_AVAILABLE(10_11, 9_0);

/*! An array of key paths associated with a given error. For validation errors this will contain key paths to specific object properties. */
CONTACTS_EXTERN NSString * const CNErrorUserInfoKeyPathsKey NS_AVAILABLE(10_11, 9_0);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


A practical vehicle that doesn't sacrifice style! Chrysler prioritized comfort and style by including: front bucket seats, tilt steering wheel, and 1-touch window functionality. It features an automatic transmission, front-wheel drive, and a refined 6 cylinder engine.


All articles published in Economic Alternatives have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial screening by the editors and refereeing by anonymous expert referees.
Economic theories, approaches and methods, with a special focus on Bulgaria and the Balkan peninsula; interdisciplinary problems in economics and management, law and economics, sociology and economics, economic history, history of economic thought, political economy, economic policy, entrepreneurship, computer science and information technology.
This paper analyzes the need for harmonizing the standards for accounting reporting by fully applying the principle of Accrual Based Accounting in the public sector in the EU member states. It also examines the discrepancy between the accountancy in the public sector, based on the cash flow principle (cash basis) and the Accrual Based principle applied in the process of budgetary surveillance in the EU (ESA 95, 2011). The emphasis is laid on the strong dependency of the statistical information at the European level on the quality of the accounting and information basis of public finances and on Eurostat's willingness to create a system of harmonized accounting standards, based on the Accrual Based accounting, which are in compliance with ЕSA and applicable to all agents in the State Management sector. This paper further analyzes the standardization of the accounting in the public sector of the EU member states and globally and presents some trends of its development. The conclusion is reached that IPSAS are an indisputable staring point to develop harmonized reports in the EU public sector. IPSAS provide the best basic framework for the development of a set of European Public Sector Accounting Standards.


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Hacking Servers. Online Blocking. Police Raids. Information Attacks. What Won't The Kremlin Do To Stop 'Smart Voting'?
By admin On Sep 5, 2021 80 0
Russian police detain an opposition activist who is holding a poster reading "Smart Voting" in Moscow on August 14.
Here's the main reason why Aleksei Navalny has become such a potent political force and a threat to the Kremlin: his splashy exposés documenting corruption and ostentatious spending by government officials, usually accompanied by his acerbic wit.
But there's another, equally potent reason: his Smart Voting campaign, an effort that aims to loosen the chokehold the Kremlin-allied United Russia political party has on elected legislatures nationwide.
And that's why, with just weeks to go before nationwide elections to choose a new lower house of parliament, authorities have stepped up a crackdown on anything connected to Smart Voting.
"They are definitely fighting against Smart Voting," Abbas Gallyamov, a Moscow-based political analyst, told Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.
"We can't forget that Smart Voting is the most dangerous of all of Navalny's projects, at least at the present moment," he said.
Smart Voting Goes High-Tech
The September 17-19 elections are crucial not only for cementing United Russia's grip on the country's political life. They're also key to any constitutional maneuvering that the Kremlin might undertake in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, when President Vladimir Putin may seek a fifth term.
The problem for the Kremlin is that, at least since last year, polling for United Russia has been at historic lows.
Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny stands in a cage in a Moscow court in February, before being sent to a notorious prison east of Moscow.
The opposition, headed by Navalny, has shown unprecedented effectiveness — using the Smart Voting tactic to secure victories for hundreds of opposition candidates in local elections across the country in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
In past years, the effort was more of a traditional word-of-mouth and public-relations campaign promoted by Navalny and his allies through their networks.
This year, with the national Duma elections looming, Smart Voting has gone high-tech, with a downloadable app launched on August 24 that identifies in every single race the candidate most likely to defeat their ruling party rival, regardless of party affiliation or ideology, and urges voters to cast their votes for that candidate.
Among other things, the system all but ended decades of opposition infighting about whether to participate in elections — seen by many as Kremlin-manipulated — and also enabled those opposed to United Russia's stranglehold to vote as a relatively powerful bloc.
Opposition activist Ilya Yashin
"The main conclusion of the recent campaign is simple: Voters need to register on the Smart Voting website and cast their votes in accordance with its recommendations," Ilya Yashin, an activist who is among the many prominent opposition figures whom the government barred from seeking a Duma seat, wrote on Facebook after local elections last September.
"If we do everything in a smart way, then next year United Russia will lose its majority in the federal parliament," Yashin wrote.
Smart Voting threatens to be a particularly powerful weapon in the competition for the half of Duma seats that are awarded in single-mandate districts.
In the 2016 Duma elections, United Russia was awarded more than 90 percent of such seats because of the first-past-the-post voting system. That's despite polling just over 40 percent of the vote, according to disputed official figures.
Political consultants within the Putin administration seem to have reached the same conclusion as Yashin.
Stanislav Andreichuk, co-chairman of Golos, an election-monitoring NGO: "We are seeing the authorities trying to break the [Smart Voting] infrastructure."
"We are seeing the authorities trying to break the [Smart Voting] infrastructure or make it as difficult as possible to access it," said Stanislav Andreichuk, co-chairman of Golos, an election-monitoring NGO that was declared a "foreign agent" by the Justice Ministry in August.
Through Navalny has been jailed in a notorious prison east of Moscow since February, his team in August released that downloadable app to help people figure out how to Smart Vote.
The app is called, simply, Navalny.
The government's Internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, has ordered Apple and Google to delete the Navalny app from their stores. So far, the two U.S.-based tech giants have refused, and face potentially huge fines.
Navalny's supporters have said Roskomnadzor has also been trying to block Russian users from downloading the app.
Globalcheck, an NGO that monitors the accessibility of Internet resources in the former Soviet Union, says that accessibility — the real-time availability of the app from various Internet providers — plummeted to 50 percent after the app was launched, and since then has ranged largely between 50 and 70 percent.
Some users have reportedly claimed that they were unable to use the app even when using a virtual private network, or VPN.
"There has been an order to do everything to prevent voters from finding out about the Smart Voting recommendations, to prevent them from consolidating their votes," Navalny project manager Leonid Volkov said in a post to Facebook on August 25.
'Strongly Encouraged'
This spring, Navalny's organization, known as the Anti-Corruption Foundation, revealed that its computer servers had been hacked and that data on hundreds of thousands of people supportive of the foundation had been stolen.
According to an investigation carried out by Current Time in May, digital footprints showed that the hack, which resulted in the leak of data about some 529,000 of Navalny's supporters, seemed to have been carried out by people connected to the presidential administration.
Over the summer, police stepped up raids and the questioning of people across Russia; many of those targeted were asked specifically about Navalny.
By the end of August, according to OVD-Info, a rights group that monitors law enforcement agencies, police had visited more than 1,400 people in at least 11 regions who had shown support for Navalny.
At first, we thought it was some sort of joke. All of the reports came in as if they had been copied and pasted. They weren't merely similar, but identical." — Yelena Makarova, OVD-Info lawyer
According to Yelena Makarova, a lawyer with the group, those targeted were asked to explain why they had donated to Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, which has been banned as an "extremist" organization.
They were also asked why they had downloaded Navalny's Smart Voting application or why they had signed a petition pledging to protest Navalny's imprisonment.
"At first, we thought it was some sort of joke," she said. "All of the reports came in as if they had been copied and pasted. They weren't merely similar, but identical."
Russians targeted by police were "strongly encouraged" to file a legal complaint against Navalny and his staff for purportedly failing to protect databases with their personal information, OVD-Info said.
At least one person was told directly that if he refused to write a complaint against Navalny, he would be taken to a police detention center and held there until he changed his mind, Makarova said.
The BBC, citing an unnamed source "close to the Federal Security Service (FSB)," reported on September 1 that the order for the police visits had come from Putin's presidential administration and was being carried out by Interior Ministry units controlled by the FSB.
Real Smart Vote, Fake Smart Vote
In addition to efforts to block the Smart Voting website and the app, and police intimidation, Volkov said "innumerable fake Smart Voting sites" and apps have flooded the Internet.
"A huge, expensive advertising campaign by fakes has been launched on social media so that people would be confused by the various recommendations and unable to distinguish the real from the fake," Volkov said.
"There has been an order to do everything to prevent voters from finding out about the Smart Voting recommendations, to prevent them from consolidating their votes," says Navalny project manager Leonid Volkov.
In addition, multiple media outlets allied with, or backed by, the government have been attacking the campaign.
"Smart voting is a manipulative and destructive tactic, the main goal of which is to destroy the Russian system of governance," one article published by the Siberia-based Federal Press website on August 30, said. "The project is not based on creation, but on destruction, which is the very essence of extremism."
A month before the Navalny Smart Voting app was launched, an unknown wool-trading firm with three employees based in the southern Stavropol region registered "Smart Voting" as its trademark.
On September 1, the company filed a lawsuit against Google, insisting that the search-engine giant block all "illegal" uses of the phrase.
Gallyamov, the Moscow analyst, said that the flurry of activity targeting Smart Voting indicates the level of Kremlin concern.
"The only thing that can be done in such a situation to save its election prospects is to refocus the voting of its opponents," he said.
In each election district across the country, there are probably two or three candidates whom opposition voters might support, he said.
"If each of them picks up a reasonable percentage, then none of them will get more than the United Russia candidate, who will be backed up by administrative resources," Gallyamov said.
"This kind of refocusing is the main hope of the authorities" he said. "That is why Smart Voting is their main enemy."
Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting from Russia by RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time
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Abstract: We present an adaptive and non-interactive protocol for verifying arbitrary efficient computations in fixed polynomial time. Our protocol is computationally sound and can be based on any computational PIR scheme, which in turn can be based on standard polynomial-time cryptographic assumptions (e.g. the worst case hardness of polynomial-factor approximation of short-vector lattice problems). In our protocol, the prover and the verifier do not need to interact at all: The verifier sets up a public key ahead of time, and this key can be used by any prover to prove arbitrary statements in a completely adaptive manner. Verification is done using a secret verification key, and soundness relies on this key not being known to the prover. Our protocol further allows to prove statements about computations of arbitrary RAM machines. Previous works either relied on knowledge assumptions, or could only offer non-adaptive two-message protocols (where the first message could not be re-used), and required either obfuscation-based assumptions or super-polynomial hardness assumptions.
We show that our techniques can also be applied to construct a new type of (non-adaptive) 2-message delegation protocols for batch NP statements. Specifically, we can simultaneously prove the membership of multiple instances in a given NP language, with communication complexity proportional to the length of a single witness.


text:
The quirkiest celebrity baby names: Boo, Bear, River Rocket and more
21/09/2018 - 11:14:11Back to Heathrow Showbiz Home
Chris Evans and his wife Natasha Shishmanian have named their new-born twins Boo and Walt, after he had previously referred to them as "Ping and Pong".
According to leading baby name website babycenter.com, Boo could mean beautiful and is of French origin, but is not currently a common name in the UK.
Walt – meaning army ruler – is a more traditional name, a derivative of the German-based Walter. According to babynames.co.uk, it is ranked as the 429th most popular name at the moment.
According to the annual list of the most popular baby names – for boys and girls in 2017 – released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in England and Wales, only four boys were named Walt last year, and no boys were named Boo. The name Walter was more popular, with 129 boys given the moniker.
Here are some of the more unusual names famous types have chosen for their offspring:
– Sir Rumi and Carter – Beyonce and Jay Z
Beyonce and Jay Z revealed the names of their twins in July 2017.
The rapper later explained that Rumi is the name of their favourite poet, a 13th Century Persian wordsmith, and that Sir was named so because of his overall attitude.
He said: "Sir was like, man, come out the gate. He carries himself like that. He just came out, like, Sir."
The 2017 ONS figures show six boys and six girls were named Rumi. The name Carter was popular for boys, with the ONS list showing 1,025 boys named Carter last yer, while only five girls were were also given the name.
Sir Carter and Rumi 1 month today. 🙏🏽❤👨🏽👩🏽👧🏽👶🏾👶🏾
A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Jul 13, 2017 at 10:10pm PDT
– Bear – Take That's Howard Donald, as well as Cheryl and Liam Payne
When I get home I will be doing this. pic.twitter.com/NOhn3L3iIn
— Howard Donald (@HowardDonald) June 19, 2017
Singer Donald named his second child Dougie Bear and a few months later Cheryl and Liam Payne appeared to follow in the same footsteps by picking Bear as the name for their baby boy.
Payne later explained that the name for his child was down to the noises he made as a new-born.
He told James Corden on The Late Late Show: "When he was born, one of the midwives said it, he had this thing where if they don't have a good cry they get fluid in the lungs which is quite serious.
"He was going like, 'Grrr, grrr,' when he was sleeping. So I had specialists running in and out of hospital all day, my missus was asleep, I had like 10 doctors come into the room. And in the end, the guy was just like, 'I'm not being funny, there's nothing wrong with him, he just likes to make a lot of noise.'
"And that's carried on ever since, so it just became Bear."
In 2017 the name was still being used outside of celebrity circles, with the ONS list showing 85 boys were called Bear.
– River Rocket, Buddy Bear Maurice, Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela and Petal Blossom Rainbow – Jamie and Jools Oliver
The Munchkin
A post shared by Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) on Jun 13, 2017 at 12:43am PDT
The Olivers have always opted for whimsical names for their children and the celebrity chef has said he leaves the choices all down to his wife, who has shown an affinity for florals.
The annual list from the ONS shows that 2,527 girls were named Poppy last year, while 2,040 were named Daisy. Only six girls were given the name Petal in 2017.
A total of 164 girls were named River, while 205 boys were also named as such. A total of 169 boys were named Buddy last year.
– Moxie CrimeFighter – Penn Jillette and Emily Zolten
Magician Jillette said he chose the name Moxie for his daughter because it represents "old fashioned spunk and energy".
He said the choice of CrimeFighter as a second name was more of a joke, telling People: "When she gets pulled over by the police she can show her licence and say, 'We're on the same side, officer. My middle name is CrimeFighter.'"
– Pilot Inspektor – Jason Lee and Beth Riesgraf
This baffling name is not even a real job, but the My Name Is Earl actor and his ex-fiance named their son after the Grandaddy song He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot.
– Audio Science – Shannyn Sossamon and Dallas Clayton
The 40 Days and 40 Nights actress said she did not consult a name book when she was looking for ideas for her son. Instead, she said her boyfriend read through the dictionary.
– North – Kim Kardashian and Kayne West
Happy Fathers Day! Thank you for being such a good dad to our babies!
A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Jun 18, 2017 at 12:01pm PDT
The reality star and the rapper named their first child together after a point on the compass because they reportedly saw North as "the highest power" and regarded their daughter as their highest point together.
– True – Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson
Reality TV star Khloe revealed True's name shortly after her birth in April. She posted on Instagram saying simply: "Baby True."
She later explained that she wanted her child to have the first name T, after her partner, and also that it was her great-grandfather's first name and her grandfather's middle name.
💕Baby True 💕
A post shared by Khloé (@khloekardashian) on Jun 13, 2018 at 6:29am PDT
– Kal-El – Nicolas Cage and Alice Kim
Cage showed off just how much of a Superman fan he was when he chose the superhero's Kryptonian name for his son.
He told People: "I wanted a name that stood for something good, was unique and American and that's all three. I just thought it was a beautiful name and it had kind of a magical ring to it."
According to the ONS list, 19 boys were named Kal-El across the UK and Wales last year.
– Apple – Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
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Home Herbs Kamal (Sacred Lotus) Information and Medicinal Uses
Kamal (Sacred Lotus) Information and Medicinal Uses
Know about Kamal (Lotus) botanical description, medicinal properties, medicinal uses in Ayurveda, It's health benefits, dosage, contraindications and side-effect of different parts of this plant.
Anupama March 16, 2016 August 12, 2018
1 Health Benefits of Lotus
2.1 Scientific Classification
2.2 Description of Plant
3 Vernacular names/Synonyms
3.1 Constituents
4 Important formulations containing Kamala
5 The Dosage of Various parts of Lotus / Kamal
6 Medicinal Uses of Kamal / Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Kamal, Padma, or Indian Lotus is the national flower of India. It is the most sacred plant in Hinduism. It is sacred to the goddess of prosperity, Devi Lakshmi. Lord Brahma, who is God of creation, sits on a lotus flower emerging from the navel of Lord Vishnu. He is manifested from Lord Vishnu to assist in secondary process of Universe creation.
The lotus root, and seeds have been used for devotional practices, as the plant are believed to improve the mind's ability to focus, and encourage the development of a person's spirituality. The lotus is considered a metaphor for the soul, rooted in the mud of the material world but transcending limitations to rise towards the top of the pond.
The pink lotus is called Brahma Kamal, and it appears in all Hindu temples. It symbolizes purity, beauty, water, source of divine immaculate birth, fertility, and growth. Blue lotus flower is known as Indivar, Neelkamal, Pushkar, Rajwa, and Vanaja. Padma, and Kamal, Koknad is name given for red lotus flowers, and Pundarika is name for white flowers.
Abhi, Arvind, Kanwal, Niraj, Nalin, Pankaj, Padma, Pushkar, Rajiv, Saroj, Utpal, all these names are synonym of Kamal or Lotus in Hindi.
Kamal is an aquatic medicinal herb too. It can be seen growing in lakes, and pounds. All parts of the plant such as Seed, Leaf, Root, Flower, Filament, Anther, and Stalk, are edible, and used for therapeutic use. In Ayurveda, for medicinal purpose generally, white lotus flower is used.
Health Benefits of Lotus
Various Lotus parts offers several health benefits. Lotus is a cooling, promoting complexion, sweet, and cure diseases of kapha, and pitta, such as burning sensation, and inflammatory skin conditions.
The stamens are used in flavoring the tea.
The seeds can be popped like popcorn, ground into powder, and eaten dry or used in bread making. The roasted seeds can be used as coffee substitute.
Tender rhizomes, stems, and leaves of lotus are edible, and its seeds are rich in protein as well as minerals. Lotus stem consists of 6, 2.4, 0.2 mg/100 g calcium, iron, and zinc respectively. Root is also a source of starch or arrowroot.
Lotus plants provide several bioactive ingredients like alkaloids, flavonoids, antioxidants, antisteroids, antipyretic, anticancerous, antiviral, and anti-obesity properties. They have antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, psychopharmacological, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, lipolytic, antiviral, anticancer, and hepatoprotective activities.
Kamal is a large, aquatic herb with creeping stem, occurring throughout warmer parts of the country up to an altitude of 1000 meter.
The botanical name of Kamal is Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. It belongs to plant family Nymphaeaceae. Below is given taxonomical classification of the plant.
Kingdom : Plantae – plantes, Planta, Vegetal, plants
Subkingdom : Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom : Streptophyta – land plants
Superdivision : Embryophyta
Division : Tracheophyta – vascular plants, tracheophytes
Subdivision : Spermatophytina – spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames
Class : Magnoliopsida
Superorder : Proteanae
Order : Proteales
Family : Nelumbonaceae – Indian lotus
Genus : Nelumbo Adans. – lotus
Species : Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. – Sacred lotus
Synonym:
Nelumbium nelumbo Druce
Nelumbium speciosum Willd
Nelumbo speciosa Willd.
Description of Plant
The lotus is an erect, large, attractive aquatic herb with large circular, leathery leaves measuring about 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter. The overall height of the plant are 3 – 6 ft. (1 – 2 m) high. The leaves, and large, fragrant, white or pink flowers with a yellow Centre float on the water. Slender, elongated roots reach down into, and fan out through, the mud of the pond. The flowers are solitary, and the plant has many-seeded ovoid fruits. The lotus grows in shallow ponds, and marshland throughout India up to an altitude of 5,400 ft. (1,800 m).
Part(s) used for medicinal purpose: Plant, Seed, Leaf, Root, Flower, Filament, Anther, Stalks leaves.
Plant type: aquatic herb
Flowering & Fruiting: March – December (January).
Distribution: It is native to Asia, and distributed from South, and East Asia (Bhutan, China, Indonesia (Java), Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia (Far East), Sri Lanka, and Thailand) to far eastern Russia, and to N. Australia, and America.
Habitat: A range of shallow wetland habitats, including fresh water ponds, lakes, marshes, swamps, and the backwaters of reservoirs.
Propagated by: division of the rhizomes, and by seeds.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral, and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It grows in water.
Etymology: The genus name is derived from the Tamil word Nelum, which means blue, and the specific epithet 'nucifera' derived from the Latin words, nux (= nut), and fera (= bearing), for nut-bearing.
Economic Importance: Leaves are used for wrapping food, and as plate. Flower is used as the source of lotus perfume. Dried flowers are used in preparation of fragrant herbal tea. Young leaves, petioles, and flowers are eaten as vegetables. Tender seeds are edible.
Ceremonial Uses: Flowers are used as offerings in temples. Fiber obtained from lotus plant is used for weaving special robes for Buddha images, and the flower is considered a symbol of fortune in Buddhism. Lotus flowers are essential part of Durga Puja in West Bengal.
Vernacular names/Synonyms
Latin name: Nelumbo nucifera
Sanskrit: Padnakanda, Saluka, Ambhoruha (Rhizome) Abja, Aravind, Padma, Kalhara, Shatapatra, Pundrahva, Pundarika, Prapaundarika (white), Sitopala, Pankaja, kokanada (red), Indivara (Bluish), Padma kesar (Adr.)
Assamese: Kamal Kakdi (Rhizome) Podum (Flower)
Bengali: Padma Phool, Salaphool (Flower)
English: Sacred Lotus
Gujarati: Loda (Rhizome), Kamal (Flower)
Hindi: Kamal Kand, Kamal Kakdi (Rhizome), Kamal, Kanwal (Flower)
Kannada: Tavare Kande (Rhizome) Kamal, Tavare, Naidile, Tavaregedd (Flower)
Kashmir: Nadru (stem)
Malayalam: Tamara Kizangu (Rhizome) Tamara, Venthamara, Chenthamara, Senthamara (Flower)
Marathi: Kamal Kand (Rhizome) Komala (Flower)
Oriya: Padma (Rhizome)
Punjabi: Kaul, Bhein (Rhizome) Kanwal, Pamposh (Flower)
Tamil: Tamardi Kizangu (Rhizome) Tamarai, Thamaraipoo, Aravindan, Paduman, Kamalam, Sarojam (Flower)
Telugu: Tamara Gadda (Rhizome) Kaluva, Tamarapuvow (Flower)
Urdu: Kanwal Kakdi (Rhizome) Kamal (Flower)
Siddha: Tamarai malar
Myanmar name: Badonmakyar
Other Common Names: Lian ou, Lin ngau, Hasu, Renkon, Yun gun
Kamal is known as Neelofer / Nilufer in Unani-tibb. Its Mizaj (Temperament) is considered Cold, and Dry.
Rhizome: Rhizome has distinct nodes, and internodes, cylindrical, 0.5-2.5 cm in dia., longitudinally marked with brown patches, smooth, yellowish white to yellowish-brown; root adventitious, less developed, 0.5-1 mm thick, attached to node of the rhizome; dark brown.
Flower: Entire or pieces of flowers, comprising of calyx, corolla, and roecium, gynoecium, and thalamus; entire flower 10-15 cm in dia., yellowish-brown; sepals leaf-like, crimpled, 3-5 cm long, 1.3-2 cm wide, dark brown, broken pieces also occur; petals numerous, crimp led, elliptic, obtuse, membranous, finely veined, 2-4 cm long, 1.2-2 cm wide yellowish-brown; anther, erect, linear 1.4-2 cm long, extended into clavate appendages; gynoceium apocarpous; carpels many, free, embedded in a creamy, top shaped fleshy thalamus (torus) 3-5 cm long, and 2.5-3 cm wide; fruit an etaerio of achenes, becoming loose in their sockets when ripe; seed hard, black, starchy, and large.
Flowers yielded quercetin, luteolin, and their glycosides, and kaempferol glycosides. Leaves gave quercetin, isoquercitrin, and leucoanthocyanidin. Leaves contain alkaloids, nelumbin, and roemerin.
Ayurvedic Properties, and Action of Rhizome, and flower
Rhizome:
Rasa (taste on the tongue): Kasaya (Astringent), Madhura (Sweet), Katu (Pungent), Lavan (Saline), Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Pharmacological Action): Guru (Heavy), Ruksha (Dry)
Virya: Sita (Cooling)
Vipaka (transformed state after digestion): Madhura (Sweet)
Karma: Chakshushya, Krimighna, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Ruchya, Vrishya, Varnya, Vishaghna, Vishambhakara, Dahashamaka, Raktadushtihara, Durjara, Stanyajanana, Sangrahi, Mutravirechaniya, Vatakara.
Therapeutich uses: Trishna, chardi, Raktapitta, Murchha, Kasa, Vatagulma, Visarpa, Visphota, Mutrakrichhra, Dansodbhava, Jvara, Bhrama, Shosha, Hridroga
Rasa: Madhura, Tikta, Kashaya
Guna: Shita, Laghu
Virya: Shita
Vipaka: Madhura
Karma: Kaphahara, Mutra Virajaniya, Pittahara, Santapahara, Varnya
Therapeutic uses – Raktapitta, Visarpa, Trishna Daha, Vishavikara.
Important formulations containing Kamala
Anu Taila
Arimedadi Taila
Bhringraja Taila
Balaswagandhadi Tailam
Drakshadi Kashayam
Pushyanuga Churna
Kanaka Taila
Ushirasava
Varunasava
Triphala Ghrita
The Dosage of Various parts of Lotus / Kamal
Various parts of lotus can be given in following dose to adults. Children of age 5-16 years should be given half of the adult dosage.
Flower (Kamala) as powder: 3-6 gram
Rhizome (Bisa / Bhen): 30-50 gram
Stalk (Mrinal / Murar) as powder: 30-50 gram
Seed Powder (Padmabija / Kamalgatta): 3-6 gram
Pollen: 1-2 gram
Medicinal Uses of Kamal / Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Lotus has been used as a medicinal herb in India from ancient times. The leaves, seeds, flower, and rhizome, filaments, all are edible, and used for medicinal purpose. The lotus seeds are known as Kamal- gatta, and rhizome is called as kamal kakri in India. Flowers are known as Kamala. Rhizome paste is applied in ringworm, and other cutaneous affections. Stem helps in the healthy growth of the fetus. Roots help in removal of toxic wastes from the body, and also helpful in reducing body heat. Leaves, and flowers are useful in many bleeding disorders. Flowers are prescribed to promote conception.
Lotus leaves have lipolytic, anti-obesity, cardiovascular, and hypocholesterolaemic activity.
They also possess diuretic, and astringent properties, and help to treat fever, sweating, and strangury, and as styptic.
The paste of leaf can be applied to the body during fever, and inflammatory skin conditions.
Leaves are used as effective drug for hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria, and metrorrhagia.
The flower is a cooling, sedative, astringent, cholagogue, cardiac Tonic, diuretic, bitter, expectorant, and refrigerant.
The decoction of lotus flower is given in cholera, fever, disease of the liver, strangury, and palpitation of the heart.
Lotus flowers are considered a tonic for the heart, the liver, and skin, particularly when aggravated Pitta is involved.
Flowers, with their parts or extracts have shown to possess antimicrobial, vasodilating, antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, aphrodisiac, and antioxidant properties.
Flowers are recommended to promote conception.
The decoction of the flowers is used in the treatment of premature ejaculation.
The seeds (Kamal beej/Kamal Gatta) are given for vomiting, leprosy, chronic diarrhea, in the high blood pressure, fevers, and as antidote to poisons.
They are used as spleen tonic.
Nutritionally, lotus seeds consist of 10.5% moisture, 10.6-15.9% protein, 1.93-2.8% crude fat, 70-72.17% carbohydrate, 2.7% crude fibre, and energy 348.45 cal/100 g.
Minerals present in lotus seeds include chromium (0.0042%), sodium (1%), potassium (28.5%), calcium (22.1%), magnesium (9.2%), copper (0.0463%), zinc (0.084%), manganese (0.356%), and iron (0.199%).
The seeds are Tonic, and eaten raw or roasted.
They are demulcent, and nutritive.
The seeds are high in protein, and encourage hormonal function. They are used as an aphrodisiac.
The seeds or their extracts have been reported to possess anti-proliferative, anti-fibrosis, antidepressant, anti-inflammation, astringent, hepatoprotective, and free radical scavenging, anti-obesity, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antiviral activities.
Seed powder is used against cough. For Kasa / cough, powder of seeds 3 gram, is given with honey two times a day.
The rhizomes, or underground stems (often called roots) grow in the mud at the bottom of shallow ponds, lakes, lagoons, marshes, and flooded fields. They contain large spaces that allow for air storage for the submerged plant structures.
The starchy rhizomes are very nutritious, and can be eaten either raw or cooked. They are edible, and has mild flavor. They consist of 1.7% protein, 0.1% fat, and 9.7% carbohydrate.
Lotus Rhizome has diuretic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, hypoglycemic, antipyretic, and antioxidant activities.
They are used in piles, dysentery, chronic dyspepsia, and dysentery. It is applied externally in skin affections, eruptions, scabies, and ringworm. The rhizome extract has anti-diabetic.
The rhizome is demulcent, and increase sperm production. It arrests bleeding, and assist respiratory conditions such as pharyngitis.
For infertility in women, lotus root powder (1 teaspoon) + Shatavari powder (1 teaspoon) + 1/4 cup of Aloe Vera juice + 1/2 cup of warm water is mixed. This mix is taken twice a day on an empty stomach.
Lotus rhizome are rich in highly digestible starch, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and used as food.
As a reproductive Tonic, to boost sperm count, and libido, the seed, and root powder (each 3 grams) is mixed in one cup of warm almond milk, and taken one hour before bed.
The filaments / Padma Kesara is astringent, and hemostatic, and prescribed for bleeding piles, and menorrhagia.
In piles Padma Kesara, five gram is given with five gram butter.
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects
Seed should not be taken in constipation, and stomach distention.
Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages.
Anonymous. (1992). The Wealth of India. Volume 3, Council of Scientific Industrial Research, New Delhi, India.
Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L., and Chopra, I.C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific Industrial Research, New Delhi, India.
Duke JA et al. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2nd edn. CRC Press.
Hedrick, U.P. (1972). Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. (ed Hedrick. U.P.). Dover Publications, New York.
Khare CP. Indian Herbal Remedies: Rational Western Therapy, Ayurvedic, and Other Traditional Usage, Botany, Springer.
Nadkarni, A.K. (1982). The Indian Materia Medica. Volume 1, Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd., Bombay, India.
Mukherjee PK, Das J, Saha K, Pal M, Saha BP. Diuretic activity of the rhizomes of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn (Fam. Nymphaeaceae). Phytother Res.
Mukherjee PK, Saha K, Balasubramanian R, Pal M, Saha BP. Studies on psychopharmacological effects of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Rhizome extract J Ethnopharmacol.
Ogle, B.M., Dao, H.T.A., Mulokozi, G., and Hambraeus, L. (2001). Micronutrient composition, and nutritional importance of gathered vegetables in Vietnam. International Journal of Food Science, and Nutrition.
Gajapippali (Scindapsus officinalis) Medicinal Uses Details
Prapaundarikadi Tailam For Greying of hair


No. I've got one-and-a-half bad knees. A rugby injury in the late Fifties damaged the cartilage in one knee; then the cartilage went in the other one about 20 years ago. Now the ends of the bones rub on each other. I've been threatening to have my knees replaced for years, not only on the advice of my orthopaedic doctor but my wife Helen and my children. It's about time I had them done.
A fish oil pill for my knees. My GP says it does me good, but I don't feel particularly different because of it. I also take a probiotic drink every morning to keep the old colon clean.
Like my father, I have a touch of tuberous sclerosis - a rare genetic condition where non-cancerous tumours develop in different parts of the body. It's caused by yeast, I think, leading to skin reproducing itself too quickly.
Yes - but I've come to the conclusion that it's a waste of time. You put yourself through purgatory and, if you're very lucky, lose half a stone. Your body then adjusts to the fact that you're eating less, so you lose less weight progressively. And then, of course, you stop and put the weight back on again. Now I try to swim and walk wherever I can for about 20 minutes every day. Exercise is the most boring thing in the world - but the alternative, to stop drinking and eat less, takes all the fun out of life.
Yes. Who wouldn't like to be like the Highlander? But you'd have to go around chopping people's heads off in the best tradition of the movie.
I'm impatient. I also eat too much. I'm like everybody who is overweight - I kid myself into thinking I have nothing other than fruit and a cup of coffee all day, and I should be 12st of bone and muscle. But I'm not: I'm 6ft and around 16st. I barbecued a duck last night and my wife Helen and I had half each.
In 1966, when Helen and I were first married and living in Dublin, I had a repeated nagging pain in my stomach - something the doctors failed to diagnose as appendicitis. This led to my appendix bursting and me developing peritonitis. It was the day of a rugby international at Lansdowne Road and the surgeon left the match early to save my life. As a result, I have an extremely large scar down the middle of my chest.
I see it a bit like people going to Lourdes. If it makes you feel better, then it is doing you good and can sometimes have miraculous effects. Personally, though, I have no patience with it.
As a hardened drinker, I don't need cures.
• WHERE was I? The World According To Terry Wogan (Orion, £17).


Wanted to send a big thank you to Chris, Jackie and Kelly for a wonderful experience purchasing our boat. Highly recommend them for anybody looking to purchase a boat! They truly are a first class operation.
Jackie and Chris were the two most respectful and professional people I've dealt with in regards to business transactions. I highly recommend their services.
I first met Chris when he was just getting started in the business and I bought my 42 Fairline. I was quickly impressed with his knowledge, can-do attitude and customer service. I watched him grow into the business and ultimately start Intrinsic in 2001. Since that first boat, I have purchased and sold and customized many other boats with Chris's assistance, including a 64 Queenship, 31 Cabo, 83 Northern Marine, 36 Hinckley and 65 Viking.
We just purchased a bay boat from Intrinsic and it was a first class experience. I would highly recommend them if in the market for a boat.
Jackie, you and Ian have been great – I really appreciated Ian's honesty throughout the process of buying my new boat. Thanks!
Many thanks. Saturday's overnight trip to Baltimore was a timely shakedown cruise for the electronics and all performed perfectly. Your attention to detail and customer service has been outstanding and is much appreciated.
I'm sending you a note of thanks because Lunacy performed flawlessly. We ran out to 72 about 35 miles and trolled for 6 hours, boating three rockfish and ran home about 40 miles… A big "thank you" to you and Tom. Much appreciated!
John F., Client pleased with upgrades to his Ocean Yacht completed by Intrinsic.
Thank so very much for my beautiful boat. The ride to O.C. was awesome. What power! The ride was quite an experience I won't soon forget. Thanks for everything.
Jackie, Thanks to both you and Larry. Your service and handling of the sale of the boat were outstanding as usual. You make it easy by handling everything from A to Z. I will surely use you in the future if anything comes our way.
Thanks again for all your great help. It was wonderful dealing with the Intrinsic crew! You were professional, courteous and very helpful!
While I did not expect to buy a whole new electronics package and have it installed, it was so nice to have Larry, Tom and Robert help me out — AND on the Friday of July 4th weekend!! The bonus for me is a lower charge than expected, so all in all I am thrilled and thank you and them very, very much!!!!


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Home KomradZ Mopreme (Maurice Harding)
Mopreme
Pac's Homiez
Mopreme (Maurice Harding)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Rapper/Actor Mopreme Shakur attends a toast by Estrella de Moet to Janna Velasquez at Pour Vous on April 29, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** Mopreme Shakur
Maurice Harding's mother and father is Sharan Harding and Mutulu Shakur. Four or five years after Harding's birth his father married Afeni Shakur. She had a son and daughter, Tupac and Sekyiwa Shakur. At the time their parents got married Harding was four or five-year-old and Tupac was two or three and they lived in Harlem, New York. Harding thought that Tupac was old for his age, he always used to hang out with Harding and his older cousins. When they later moved to Oakland, California Tupac used to have a lot of problems with his mother, sometimes he'd come over to Harding's house and sleep over. Harding used to cut his hair, get him straight and let him rest.
Both Harding and Tupac became good rappers when they got older. Harding made his debut on Tony! Toni! Ton?!'s "Feels Good" which was released on a single on June 15, 1990 and two months later on their LP, The Revival. Harding went under the alias Mocedes The Mellow. He and three others formed a group, W.A.T.M. The W stood for Wycked which was his new alias. He guest appeared on "Papa'z Song," the fourth single and video of Tupac's LP, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z… He later changed his alias to Mopreme and joined Thug Life, a group which also consisted of Macadoshis, The Rated R, Tupac and Tyruss "Big Syke" Himes.
On September 26, 1994, their debut album, Thug Life Volume 1, was released. It sold gold, which was good, but not as good as they expected. A lot of people blamed Interscope Records who edited and removed a lot of songs from the LP due to that it was too hardcore and underground. The first single and video was "Pour Out A Little Liquor." It was a Tupac solo song and didn't feature Mopreme nor any other members of Thug Life. Mopreme was on the three other singles and videos, "Cradle To The Grave," "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" and "It Don't Stop," though.
In 1995, Bruce "Fatal" Washington, Katari "Kastro" Cox, Malcolm "E.D.I." Greenidge, Mutah "Napoleon" Beale, Tupac and Yafeu "Kadafi" Fula founded a group, the Outlaw Immortalz which was later re-named to the Outlawz. Mopreme was recruited to the group. Tupac had given the members of the group aliases taken from political men hated in America, Tupac gave Mopreme the alias Komani, after Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini. The Outlawz made their debut on "When We Ride" on Tupac's double LP, All Eyez On Me, which was released on February 16, 1996. Shortly after the release Komani left the Outlawz. Since then Komani has been very quiet. He has mostly guest appeared on other artists' albums and compilations and soundtracks.
Komani later changed his name from Maurice Harding to Mopreme Shakur. Today, he's signed with Status Records who's scheduled to release his solo album, Mopreme Shakur: Life And Law, this year.
02. Thug Life – Don't Get It Twisted – Thug Life Vol.1
2Pac – M.O.B. (OG) feat. Outlaw Immortalz
2Pac – Play Ya Cardz Right (Version I – Male Version) feat. Outlawz Immortalz & Tyrone Wrice
Mopreme Shakur & Dj King Assassin (Live Performance)
Rated R – Thug Life Member
22 Facts You (Probably) Didn't Know About Tupac Shakur
Komani
Pre-order: "Spirit Of An Outlaw": The Untold Story Of Tupac Shakur And Yaki "Kadafi" Fula, Book By Yaasmyn Fula
Rare Photo of Tupac At Music Store in the Thug Life Vol.1 Album Release Day
Tupac Interview The Source Magazine [March, 1996]
Holla 2 'Pac
Daz Dillinger Speaks On Tupac, Thug life, Death Row [Urban City TV]
Big Syke – Thug Law: Thug Life Outlawz Chapter 2 (Compilation Album)