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800th URS of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer
Fairs Recommended Temples Uncategorized
The sight of lacs of devout pilgrims of all castes, creeds and religions from all parts of India, Asian countries and Africa converging at the shrine of the great Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in centrally located Ajmer town of Rajasthan, is indeed awesome. The occasion is the annual Urs, the death anniversary of the Khwaja in the Islami month of Rajjab. Nobody knows the exact date on which the saint left his body for the heavenly abode. For undisturbed prayer and meditation, he had confined himself in his small cell. On the sixth day when the disciples broke open the door they learnt about his death. So Urs is celebrated for six days.
The son of Syed Giasuddin Ahmed Hasan and Bibi Mahenoor, Moinuddin was born at an Iranian village Sanjar in Seestan province in 1143 AD. After his birth, the family moved to Khursan. When Moinuddin was 13, his father died leaving for him a small garden and a flour mill run by water. Influenced by saint Ibrahim Kandozi, he sold off this property and distributed the money among the poor. He made a deep study of the Quran under the guidance of his spiritual mentor Hisamuddin Bukhari. He went to Harat and became a disciple of a Sufi saint Usman Haruni Chisti.
Since his early years, Moinuddin was very kind at heart. Whenever he saw a hungry child cry, he would point towards his mother thus giving a hint that she should feed it. When he grew up one day Moinuddin was ordered by a divine voice to go to India and spread the message of Sufism there.
Khwaja travelled to Ajmer on camel back. He reached Anasagar lake and asked his campanions to tie their camels and rest for the night. During his prayer he felt that he had arrived at the place where his Peer had sent him. A cave in a hillock near the lake became his abode. Khwaja liked the place which later on came to be known as Khwaja Saheb Ka Chilla. It was here that the great Sufi saint spent the major part of his stay in this town before moving on to a spacious compound at the foot of Taragarh hill on which is located the fort of Prithviraj Chauhan. The Chilla is still considered to be a highly sacred place by the devotees who visit it in large number on the way to Dargah. Here too, all the ceremonies are performed in the traditional way during the annual Urs as also on other occasions.
Khwaja followed the parting advice of his guru Usman Haruni who had asked him to live the life of a 'fakir' as he had donned the clothes of a 'fakir'. He should be kind to the poor and the destitute, keep away from sins and be balanced in adversity and sorrow.
In addition to his original name Moinuddin Hasan Chisti, Khwaja Saheb is known by various other names which symbolise his inherent saintly qualities.
The most popular one of them is Gareeb Nawaz meaning one who is kind to the poor. Not only the rich but the poorest of the poor find great solace at the Dargah and that is why they crowd the shrine not only during Urs but through out the year. It was this class of people with whom Khwaja spent his whole life in a simple and austere manner and gave the message of Sufism and 'bhakti'. Like an honest comman man, Khwaja never sought the company of or favours from the royalty or the rich.
It is said that when Khwaja saw that the tradition of 'bhajans' and 'kirtan' were popular among Hindus, he decided to adopt 'qawwali' to generate greater devotion. He made it a point to ensure that the time of these 'qawwalies' never clashed with that of 'aarti' in the temples.
A week before the commencement of the Urs, there is the tradition of hoisting a flag on the 75 ft. high Buland Darwaza. To offer this flag brought by the Gauri family of Bhilwara, people walk from the Dargah guest house to Nizam Gate and then on to Buland Darwaza with a party of 'qawwals'. This ceremony is a call to the devotees to get ready for the big event and marks the beginning of hustle and bustle in the shrine and its vicinity.
From the first day, the time of services at the shrine changes. The Jannati Darwaza is opened for the pilgrims who have a belief that passing through it would earn them a place in heaven (Jannat). For the next six days the service of
'gusal' inside the shrine is performed by 'Khudams' and nobody is allowed to enter it at that time.
In the Dargah premises at various places are held 'mehfils' in the honour of the saint. The 'shahi mehfil' presided over by Dargah Diwan in 'mehfilkhana' takes place every day from 10 pm to 4 am. All these 'qawwali' sessions are a great attraction for the pilgrims from outside as well as the localities. At the time of the sixth 'Qul' devotees wash the outer walls of the shrine and take away this water with them as 'tabarruk'. Just after the completion of sixth Fatah, starts the Qul 'mehfil'. With this the Jannati Darwaza is closed and all the services in the shrine begin to be performed according to the normal schedule.
A great attraction of the Urs fair is the visit of a class-by-itself set of pilgrims called Kalandar who come here not for the fulfilment of any desire of their own or their family, but to keep up the old tradition of their ancestors. Their prayer to the Khwaja is for the health, peace and prosperity of every citizen of the country. They are always in search for opportunities to serve humanity and also enthuse others to do so. By no means, they are beggars. The Kalandars love to spend their lives in serving at big and small dargah all over the country. They give up all wordly relations and only then are initiated into their sect. Their participation in various ceremonies during Urs adds colour to the festival.
Irrespective of caste, creed and religion, people of all ranks from the common man to kings, maharajas, nababs and badshahs have been coming to the door steps of the Khwaja to pay their homage. Emperor Akbar visited the Dargah in 1570 after the birth of his Salim. As also a number of times in the later years. During his stay in Ajmer from 1613 to 1616 Emperor Jahangir paid homage at the shrine quite often Queen Victoria Mary herself paid obesience here in 1911. Man Singh Kachchawa of Jaipur would get down his horse, walk to the shrine and feed the poor before taking his own meal. Guru Nanak had also visited Dargah.
All through the ages, devotees from different walks of life ranging from politicians to poets, artisans to actors, garmers to film-makerss, consider it their privilege to pay honmage at the sanctum sanctorum.
Fatehsagar
अजमेर में ख्वाजा साहब का उर्स


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Tradeshift links up with Danish ECA for supply chain finance model
Fintech	/ 11-05-20 / by Maddy White
Supply chain disruption prompts surge in profit warnings by UK companies
CapBay bags US$7mn investment to grow Islamic SCF arm
HSBC revamps Walmart sustainable SCF programme with science-based targets
LiquidX launches paperless trade finance asset distribution solution
Global ecommerce platform Tradeshift is working with Eksport Kredit Fonden (EKF), the Danish export credit agency, to ease liquidity pressures on businesses triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic through a technology-driven supply chain finance model.
Under the programme, banks will be encouraged to offer "favourable" credit lines to large organisations in Denmark, with the finance earmarked to pay their suppliers. EKF will underwrite lines of credit to companies that generate at least 20% of their revenue from export activities.
"One of the biggest challenges with the current situation is liquidity in the SME sector, I don't think it has come as a surprise to anyone. It's a real problem," Mikkel Hippe Brun, co-founder and senior vice-president for Asia Pacific at Tradeshift, tells GTR. "We also have a capacity problem in our banking system to process all of these credit and loan applications from businesses."
By targeting the 250 largest buyers in Denmark, Tradeshift, which was founded in the Scandinavian country in 2010, claims that up to US$55bn in working capital can be made available to these companies' suppliers from June this year to June 2021.
The programme relies on accessing invoice data exchanged between buyers and sellers to build up an accurate picture of existing invoice liquidity that is eligible for finance. Tradeshift will help businesses deliver visibility into these transactions to enable the system to launch and scale. Firms that rely on paper-based invoices are not able to access the solution.
The model has taken six weeks to develop, having been based on a previous solution that saw Tradeshift work with EKF on a cross-border programme, says Brun.
Tradeshift estimates that the cost of releasing this capital in interest rates is around US$200mn. "Essentially, the idea is to work with the biggest companies, the largest buyers in Denmark, give them government-guaranteed loans and have the government pick up the interest rate that would be needed to pay for these loans to release the liquidity into the economy."
However, who foots the interest bill is still being discussed by authorities. "Right now, there is a political debate about whether government will pick up the entire bill for this. We're hopeful that will happen. These are discussions that are underway right now in the Danish government."
The alternative is that suppliers give a "very small" discount to offset the financing costs, which Brun adds "is definitely not the preferred model".
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Brun says that one of the pressing challenges trade businesses face is capital not being deployed fast enough, and, even when it does flow quickly, it is being designated to keep companies afloat and not necessarily pay their suppliers. "Everyone is sort of hoarding liquidity. They're delaying payments to their own suppliers and companies will even be asking for immediate payments on their own deliveries. It's a very toxic environment.
"It's instinctive behavior in a situation of crisis. Firms are stepping on the brakes, reducing costs and delaying payments, but in doing so, it creates a tidal wave down the supply chain, where suppliers need to step even harder on their brakes. We need companies to accelerate payments to their suppliers," he says.
While the programme is currently only available in Denmark, Tradeshift says it is in discussions with a number of governments across the world that are considering it as a way to make capital available to smaller businesses. "We are in talks, through our partners, with institutions in Spain, South Africa and the Middle East."
Tags: EKF, Mikkel Hippe Brun, Supply Chain Finance, Tradeshift

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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July 27, 2019 June 29, 2020 By Bella LuciaTagged: Adventure travel, Australia, New Zealand, Road trip, Story time, Travel
Gather round my friends, grab your sticks and your marshmallows and huddle yourselves close to the glowing embers of my curious travel anecdotes because it's story time. In this episode I thought I'd share with you some of my escapades over the last eighteen months – the weird ones where things went off-piste, because nothing makes for a boring story quite like 'and then we arrived safely at our destination'. Besides, we like to keep it real over here on Bella's Odyssey, and that means embracing the unexpected mishaps in life and then laughing at them together because in life I'd rather be laughing than not laughing.
I'm all about the adventure. 'Maximum adventure' is what I like to say. But I wasn't always this way. I used to find it hard to go with the flow and allow deviation from The Plan and be okay in complete uncertainty. However, I learned early on in my overseas experiment that nothing ever turns out how I expect it to and being flexible and adaptable is the only way to thrive in the travel wilderness. I realised that there's absolutely no point in clinging on to your own imagined perception of the future with two metal hook arms like the T-1000 in Terminator 2. I do have a reputation for being quite laid back – a trait that I think has done me well in many situations – but it took me a while to feel as laid back on the inside as I seemed to other people on the outside. Nonetheless, adventures keep things interesting, strengthen character, and add to your tool belt of life, which is what travel is all about. So let's dive in.
Very nearly running out of petrol is surprisingly easy to do in places like Australia and New Zealand where petrol stations are sometimes a hundred kilometres or more apart and trying to estimate fuel efficiency on rural roads is like trying to measure the circumference of the earth with a cactus and number dyslexia. Two of the times I've been in this predicament friends were at the wheel, but one time I was in driving alone in Australia on a road I'd driven many times before, up a rainforesty mountain range. My fuel situation was good when I left the town I was visiting, but a combination of the steep ascent and having the air-con on was enough to burn through my petrol faster than the Apollo 11 spacecraft. I sobered out of my complacency like someone caught Facebook stalking an ex and quickly turned off the A/C and, for some reason, the radio. My face was instantly dripping with sweat from the stress, it was 36 degrees outside or some preposterously hot temperature in summer and with the A/C off I descended into the human equivalent of a Louisiana bayou. I wondered if there was a way to coast up hills. I hoped the needle would rise to a less alarming place on the fuel gauge once I reached level ground at the top of the range, but it really didn't and I still had 60 kilometres to go. I've never seen a fuel gauge dip below the final red 'empty' line into the nothingness beneath before or since. I made it to the petrol station, though how I will never understand. That car was such a legend.
My best friend and I did an epic road trip through New Zealand for three-ish weeks at the end of last year, but early on in the trip our exhaust split open and then broke into two completely separate pieces. It was amusing for a while as we pretended our 1991 Toyota Estima had a beefy V8 engine but quickly became embarrassing, especially driving through small towns where people like to look at things for longer than is really necessary. Being a resourceful couple, we attempted to solve the problem DIY-style with exhaust putty and some wire we found, which was about as effective as fixing it with porridge. Shout out to Murray's muffler services in Blenheim for fixing it for us, although I still think we could've fixed it ourselves with the proper tools and somewhere that wasn't a gravelly car park.
In another car-related incident, I had a blowout while driving 100 kph on a rural Australian road. As a self-sufficient individual I'm well-rehearsed at changing car wheels and had the spare on in no time, which was good because of the five or so cars that drove past no one stopped to help or see if I was okay. I assume it's because I looked like I knew what I was doing. I'll take it as a compliment.
I had an impressive blowout while driving 100 kph in Australia
I fixed it in a jiffy
I went for a leisurely stroll one sunny Sunday morning that turned into shoes-off knee-deep wading through a freezing river six times because it was winter, it had been raining a lot and the regular stepping stones and crossing points were very much submerged under flood water. We lost the trail at one point. After trudging for a couple of hours barefoot through mud and increasingly sketchy crossings we gave up and turned back. The moral of the story is that walks in New Zealand are way gnarlier than in other countries and also don't trust your friends with directions.
Another time I swam in the sea on my own during a storm as it was getting dark, which was a terrible idea now I think of it. I was having a YOLO moment where I felt the urge to do something whacky and exhilarating, but despite the profound and amusing 'what the actual f*@k am I doing' moment I had while bobbing around in the waves like a stubborn cork, I wouldn't recommend the experience to anyone. Actually, maybe I would. But probably not, for, y'know, health and safety reasons.
Don't swim on your own during a storm as it's getting dark, however funny it may seem at the time
I've experienced a few peculiar living arrangements over the last year and a half; one time I lived in a literal garden shed in a garden. It was supposed to be a summerhouse, but it wasn't finished and while it had electricity, that was where the luxuries ended. It didn't have running water, upon opening the door to the bathroom you were presented with the outside world and, most alarmingly, it had a basket ball-sized hole in one wall. I actually enjoyed being in the garden on my own, it was very peaceful for a big city like Auckland and I liked listening to the insects at night. What I didn't like was the insects helping themselves to my abode like a teenager back from uni and I had to constantly battle spiders, crickets, weird tiny cockroach-looking things, ants and one time a giant centipede. I would go on a rampage with my trusty can of Raid, probably taking a few minutes off my own life in the process because I don't know what god-awful chemicals they put in that stuff but it kills things in a deeply disturbing fashion. I didn't get the giant centipede, though, because it looked like it had made a genuine mistake and was trying to find the way out. I managed to bundle it up in a plastic bag and put it outside. I kid you not, this thing was 30 cm long; look it up if you don't believe me.
I also lived on a farm in rural Australia in a shipping container. Before you ask, no it didn't have windows, but it had a glass door at the front. It was extremely cold, which is something people don't believe about Australia. I was there over winter and it was between minus five and minus eleven every night for more than a month. At the farm one day in late spring I scared the crap out of myself as well as the snake slithering across a patch of open ground by getting within a few inches of its face while bopping along on the quad bike. I don't know what kind of snake it was, besides a somewhat disgruntled one, but it was short and black and I didn't want to hang around to investigate. That very same afternoon I was out checking the cows in a paddock at the edge of the property and saw a shiny, moving something in the near distance. I drove over to have a cautious look, still a bit freaked out from the earlier serpent encounter. Turns out, it was a brown; the second most venomous snake in the world.
The view out my shipping container and my nosey neighbour
Finally, and this will be the last anecdote for this episode, while in New Zealand's Northland myself and two friends walked the gruelling Cape Brett track, which offers stunning views of the Bay of Islands but if you were to look at a side view of the topography next to a seismograph of a magnitude 7 earthquake they would look identical. I don't think you've experienced steep hills until you've been to New Zealand. It also was a relentlessly hot day and we definitely didn't pack enough water. And because we're ambitious (read 'not sane') we did a two-day trek in one day, walking to the lighthouse and back instead of staying overnight like most (sane) people. We smashed the 32-kilometre walk in ten hours or something but when we got back the onsite food cart at our campsite was closed. We didn't have enough petrol to get to the nearest store and the petrol station was also closed because it's Northland. We were counting on the food cart for our dinner so hadn't bought stuff for our evening meal. The only food we had left was one dry wrap, three bits of bread, seven small salad leaves, some aioli, cereal and milk, some coffee, and one cereal bar between three people. What ensued was probably the most hilarious dinner I've ever had. I laughed so much at the absurdity of my two friends, both hungry blokes, they won't mind me saying, carefully sharing out scraps between them. I had cereal for dinner, which, as you will already know, actually isn't unusual for me.
The Cape Brett track was hard but worth it
Packing your sense of humour is absolutely essential for any expedition. Full time living overseas and travelling is not for everyone, and I'm not saying that to make myself seem more important or better in some way; it's just the reality. Things go tits-up. Like, a lot. It's part of the fun. Tackling problems builds character, resilience, and it's rewarding in that you feel like you've achieved something. It's also more fun to live life so that it makes a funny story later. Or, at least, that's how I like to live my life. So that's why I'm all about the maximum adventure. Within reason, though, of course.
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Best of Bella's Odyssey →


Variance:"the averge size of the squared deviates in a data-set.It's a measure of the variability of a data-set that is not affected by sample size."
no, it just means it does not reveal info about the sample size.
For example the average only tells you what the mean value is. It doesn't tell you how many values there are but it does tell you if you add them up and divide by the number of elements you will get that number.


"Penguin Love" – animation chosen to Animatricks!
I am proud to say that Penguin Love by Nelly Sääksjärvi, the animation that I made the music and sounds to, has been chosen to Animatricks competition and screening in Bio Rex. The screenings are on Saturday 26.4. time 18.30 & Sunday 27.4. time 13.30.
Buy your ticket now and see you there!!
Info and Tickets >> HERE!!
‹ Watch me evaluating headphones!


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News Update!!: Highlands Ranch, CO: Identity released on the Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy who was shot and killed in shooting at the Copper Canyon apartments.
The identity of the Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy who was shot and killed in shooting at the Copper Canyon apartments has been released to the news media.
** Picture from NBC News: **
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has identified the fallen deputy as Zackari Parrish.
Zackari Parrish was a father of 2 children, was married, and had only worked at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for 7 months after transferring from Castle Rock Police Department.
A shooting has occurred at the Copper Canyon apartments, located at 3304 East County Line Road, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
At about 5:15am MST on Sunday, December 31st, 2017, deputies responded to some kind of a disturbance in the Copper Canyon Apartments when a gunman opened fire, hitting 6 deputies and 2 civilians.
**Copper Canyon OIS Update**- Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance resulting in shots fired. 5 deputies shot by suspect. 1 deputy confirmed deceased. 2 civilians also shot by suspect. Suspect shot & believed to be dead & no longer a threat. #CopperCanyonOIS
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a deputy was shot and killed in the shooting and the injured deputies and civilians were taken to hospitals.
DCSO Motorcade for our fallen Deputy #CopperCanyonOIS https://t.co/uU618Xw1qp
** Video from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office: **
** Live Broadcast from NBC affiliate KUSA Channel 9: **
Procession for the deceased deputy will take place soon from Littleton Hospital.
According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the gunman was shot and is believed to be dead and is "no longer a threat."
My heart breaks for all of those affected by the terrible tragedy in Douglas County. Jaime and I are praying for the citizens and Deputies injured at the scene, and our hearts go out to the family of the Deputy who was fatally wounded.
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) December 31, 2017
Our law enforcement officers work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe and today all of Colorado stands with our law enforcement community.
Colorado's Republican Senator Cory Gardner released the following statement regarding today's shooting saying, "My heart breaks for all of those affected by the terrible tragedy in Douglas County. Jaime and I are praying for the citizens and Deputies injured at the scene, and our hearts go out to the family of the Deputy who was fatally wounded. Our law enforcement officers work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe and today all of Colorado stands with our law enforcement community."
My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement – God Bless them all! #LESM
United States of America President Donald Trump posted a tweet regarding today's shooting saying, "My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement – God Bless them all! #LESM".
** ZachNews sends our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the family and friends of Zackari Parrish. **
Previous Breaking News!!: Highlands Ranch, CO: Shooting at the Copper Canyon apartments leaves a Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy dead, several people injured, and a gunman was shot and killed.
Next Mohave Valley, AZ: ZachNews and Drew's News Welcomes In New Year 2018 Live!!


During Tuesday's lecture about Sampling, Dr. Katz had a subheading of "Buying of Informaion" on his outline. What was this part about?
-- hyo kim (hkimscil@rci.rutgers.edu), February 23, 2000.
impress him... not me (I am already impressed!).
Sorry, I spelt a word wrong. It's "Buying of Information". Thanx.
-- D.V. (bostitch@onebox.com), February 23, 2000.


I'm heading out on a weekend-long road trip with my beau tomorrow and I've got to be honest—instead of thinking about the fancy condo waitin' for us (there's a fireplace!) or all the fun things we'll do and see, I've been busy daydreaming about the thrifts we'll be hitting on the way! It's a cheap, addictive thrill, exploring out-of-town thrift stores. But in order to maximize your time and not miss any gems, there's a fair amount of preparation to do before you hit the road. Since this topic's fresh on my mind, tonight I thought I'd quickly share a few do's and don'ts for thriftcation planning.
♥ Ask around. Before I embark on any significant thrifting trip, I ask friends and acquaintances familiar with my destination for their suggestions. Don't know anyone where you're headed? That's what Twitter is for! Another trick: Once you're shopping around a small town thrift, ask an employee if there are any other stores in the area. More often than not, they'll have great suggestions for you.
♥ Do map out your route. Look to see what towns are on the way, and then look up to see what stores are easy to access from the highway. I have three must-stop-spots between Minneapolis and my hometown that are within a painless five minutes of I-94. It just seems silly not to pop in when they're right there!
♥ Do update your apps. My most recent happy app discovery is the FREE Craigslist app. You can find details about the other iPhone apps I rely on when I'm out thrifting here.
♥ Do keep your eyes open. Tons of estate sales, flea markets, garage sales and thrift store listings never find their way to the great world wide web. Gas-station signs, church bulletin boards, fliers on a telephone pole, ads in a community newspaper, sandwich board signs—look out for them all!
♥ Don't blow your budget just because you're out of town. It's easy to lose your head when you're on the road, trust me, I know. Avoid buyer's remorse by staying true to your normal high standards for quality.
♥ Don't ignore who you're thrifting with. My boyfriend has a saintly level of patience when it comes to my thrifting addiction, but even the most heaven-sent companions have their limits. Don't wear your partner in crime out or you might not have a buddy for your next trip!
I hope these dos and don'ts come in handy the next time you set out to plan a road trip. As for me, I'd better sign off so I can finish packing…our 5 a.m. departure time is going to roll around before I know it. I hope y'all have beautiful weekends!
This entry was posted in How-Tos and tagged road trip, thrift-store shopping, thrifting by highplainsthrifter. Bookmark the permalink.


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Vocal Meditation ist eine Technik zur Hypnoseeinleitung und hypnotherapeutischen Nutzung.
Für Kinder wird die Vocal meditation auch als Zauberwort-Meditation bezeichnet.

Dabei werden Klänge, in diesem Fall selbst ausgesuchte Vokale, benutzt. Auf diese fokussiert der Klient und gerät so  in eine Trance. Die Unterweisung erfolgt ritualisiert, um einen Rapport zum Therapeuten herzustellen.
Diese Technik eignet sich bei Probanden, die auditiv besonders ansprechbar sind (auditives Repräsentationssystem). Ebenso ist sie geeignet bei ängstlichen oder jugendlichen Klienten, weil diese Form einer Hypnoseinduktion permissiv (zulassend) und unautoritär erscheint. Besondere Anforderungen an die Konzentration bestehen nicht. Vorteilhaft ist auch, dass dem Klienten keine Theorie erklärt werden muss, sondern eine Trance schnell eintritt.
Es besteht eine Analogie zur Mantra-Meditation, die allerdings spirituell und nicht therapeutisch verwendet wird.

Wie alle Methoden von Hypnotherapie sollte Hypnose nur von Fachleuten angewandt werden.

Weblinks
 Vocal Meditation – Aufsatz von Rüdiger Mende (PDF; 203 kB)
 Hypnose-Aufsätze von Dirk Revenstorf u. a., MEG Tübingen

Allgemeine Psychologie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


OpenFM Po Polsku Classic is a web based internet radio station from Katowice, OPEN.FM the most popular Internet radio in Poland. In our music we ... See more are few. Find your rhythm and enjoy the best music on the net. 24 hours a day all absolutely free.


Watch Mix: Meisei Story Episodes Online at Animegg.org. Mix: Meisei Story is available in High Definition only through Animegg.org. Choose an episode below and start watching Mix: Meisei Story in Subbed & Dubbed HD now.


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10 Slithery Surprises about Snake-Handling Churches
10 James Bond Theme Songs That Never Were
10 Incredible Facts Revealed by King Richard III's Skeleton
The Ten Best Space Battles in Sci-Fi History
10 Crazy Things Nature Does with Mucus
Top 10 Times Lovable Celebrities Lost Their Cool
10 Books Bound in Human Skin
10 Puzzling Tales of Astronauts on Lunar and Planetary Missions
10 Times Potential Crime Evidence Was Found at a Thrift Store
Top Ten Wildest Animal Attacks of 2022
Humans | April 16, 2016
10 Badass People Who Did Crazy Things For Science
by Paul Jongko
fact checked by Micah Duke
Scientists take different risks all the time. Some alienate their families and friends by working late hours, while others risk their very lives by exposing themselves to deadly chemicals and lethal pathogens. Some risks are reasonable, especially if an important discovery is at stake, but there are those that make you question a scientist's intelligence and even sanity.
10James Logan
In 2012, Dr. James Logan, a disease expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, did an unthinkable experiment that would make many of us cringe in horror: He infected himself with hookworms. Logan then swallowed a pill camera to record the behavior of the disgusting parasites inside his gut. Hookworms are found on feces, and humans and animals normally acquire them by stepping on contaminated soil. But for the sake of the experiment, Logan had his team inject the hookworms directly into his skin.
Logan's seemingly lunatic action was not random. He willingly infected himself with intestinal parasites so that he could understand the link between food allergies and hookworms, and also to learn how these parasites are "able to get through . . . tough [human] skin." Previous research has suggested that hookworms can alleviate and perhaps even cure the symptoms of food allergies. Coincidentally, Logan has a food allergy that makes him sick after eating bread.
As the hookworms reached maturity, they started to damage and cause inflammation on Logan's intestines. The doctor experienced stomach pain, but he was also able to eat bread sticks and pizza without experiencing any symptoms. Logan's bizarre experiment eventually ended and he took albendazole, an anti-worming drug, to get rid of the intestinal parasites.
9Michael Smith
In 2015, Michael Smith of Cornell University, won the Ig Nobel Prize for physiology after he subjected himself to an awfully painful "why-would-you-do-that-to-yourself" experiment. He had honeybees sting 25 different locations on his body, including his penis and testicles. The reason why Smith subjected himself to such unnecessary suffering is that he wanted to know which body part experiences the most pain caused by a bee sting. His crazy experiment lasted for weeks.
The result: Smith got stung 200 times and he discovered that the three most painful places to get stung by a bee are the penis, nostril, and the upper lip. Of the three body parts, Smith claimed that the nostril is "the worst place for a bee to attack," which is quite surprising since the penis seems to be the most likely candidate for that distinction.
Smith conducted his insane research in 2012, but it was only in 2015 that he received the Ig Nobel Prize for physiology. This silly award, "which honor[s] humorous scientific achievement[s]," is a parody of the Nobel Prize. Though it's a spoof, Ig Nobel Prize awards are given by actual Nobel laureates. For winning the Ig Nobel Prize for physiology, Michael Smith received a Zimbabwean 10 trillion dollar bill. Unfortunately, this jaw-dropping amount is only equivalent to a couple US dollars.
8Brian Crandall And Peter Stahl
In a study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, Peter Stahl and Brian Crandall described an experiment so bizarre and disgusting it will make you want to throw up. One of these anthropologists from State University of New York in Binghamton swallowed a parboiled shrew. Unfortunately, Crandall and Stahl refused to disclose which of them was the unlucky volunteer. The rodent used for this crazy experiment was a northern short-tailed shrew, and it was captured not far from the university. Excluding the tail, the shrew was 90 millimeters (3.5 in) long.
Crandall and Stahl skinned, disemboweled, and then parboiled the rodent for two minutes before one of them swallowed it. The anthropologists did this wacky experiment to discover the effects of human digestion on "small insectivore skeleton[s]."
Three days after the experiment, feces from the volunteer swallower was collected and analyzed. The results surprised the anthropologists. Though the shrew was strictly swallowed, many of the bones disappeared. Crandall and Stahl hoped that the results of their experiment would help archaeologists understand the connection between unearthed animal bones and the people who ate them.
7Regine Gries
Bedbugs are a growing problem, especially in major cities across the globe. But thanks to the work of a dedicated, eccentric female scientist, our centuries-long battle with these stubborn pests might finally come to an end. Regine Gries is a biologist at Simon Fraser University who developed a pheromone-based "chemical lure capable of enticing bedbugs away from our mattresses—and our flesh—and into traps." But in order to test and perfect her chemical lure, Gries had to make a big sacrifice: Every Saturday, she would roll up her sleeves and have thousands of bedbugs bite her arms.
Initially, Gries and her students fed the bedbugs chicken blood from a nearby slaughterhouse. But the chickens were medicated, and their contaminated blood caused many of the bedbugs to die. After this failed experiment, Gries tried guinea pigs. However, there was a problem. Bedbugs couldn't suck properly through the rodents' fur. They had to be sedated and shaved before every single feeding. Eventually, Gries gave up on using animals and decided to do the experiment on herself.
Gries likened the feeling of being bitten by thousands of bedbugs to that of mosquito bites. Interestingly, on another project, Gries had a mosquito colony feast on her body. To date, this eccentric biologist has been bitten by bedbugs at least 200,000 times.
6Anatoli Brouchkov
Russian scientist injects himself with 3,5-mn-yr-old 'immortality' bacteria to 'extend life'
The search for the fountain of youth is over, or at least that was the claim of a Russian scientist. Anatoli Brouchkov, the head of the Geocryology Department at Moscow State University, stated that a 3.5 million-year-old bacteria (and not a spring) might hold the key to eternal life. To test his theory, Brouchkov turned himself into a human guinea pig and injected the bacteria into his body. The ludicrous scientist claimed that after he injected the bacteria, he "started to work longer" and that he has "never had a flu for the last two years."
Before injecting the bacteria, named Bacillus F, Brouchkov first tested it on fruit flies and mice. After several successful experiments, he then tried it on himself. The positive result from his animal experiments wasn't the only factor that convinced Brouchkov to inject the bacteria in his body. The longevity of the Yakut people also persuaded him that Bacillus F do not pose any threat to human health. These 3.5 million-year-old bacteria live in the permafrost. As the permafrost thaws, traces of Bacillus F are released into the environment, specifically into the drinking water of the Yakut population. Brouchkov theorizes that the longevity of the Yakut people can be attributed to their exposure to this ancient bacteria.
5Pradeep Seth
HIV is no longer the death sentence it was during the 1980s. People with the disease are able to live normal, healthy lives as long as they take HIV medication. Though HIV is now a manageable chronic disease (for those who can afford and access treatment), scientists still want to develop a vaccine so that it can be completely eradicated. One of those scientists is Dr. Pradeep Seth of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. Seth is so passionate about discovering an HIV vaccine that he did something foolish and unethical, but brave. In 2003, he injected himself with a candidate HIV vaccine, which he had developed himself.
Before injecting the HIV vaccine, Seth first tried it on monkeys and mice. The results were encouraging, leading Seth to try the vaccine on himself "to see how the human body would react to it." Though the microbiologist's crazy action was motivated by scientific curiosity and a passion to discover a cure that could save millions of lives, the scientific community and government officials criticized him. They called his seemingly reckless experiment foolish and unethical. One of his colleagues even accused him of letting his emotions and bravado drive his actions. Thankfully, the vaccine Seth injected on himself did not contain HIV.
4Jose Delgado
What would you do if a raging bull was charging toward you? Unless you're a trained torero or matador, you would most likely run like you've never run before. But Jose Delgado was different. He had never been in a bullfight until he bravely faced an angry bull running toward him at full speed. Luckily, he survived. But why would he do such a thing? Well, for science. Jose Delgado was a brilliant neurophysiologist who worked at Yale University from 1946 to 1974 and was the first to experiment on animal brain implants.
Jose Delgado was fascinated with animal neural anatomies. He wanted to control their emotions and actions. After many years of experimentation, he invented several sophisticated devices, one of which is called a stimoceiver. A stimoceiver is a "pacemaker-like device that could electrically stimulate a certain area of the brain when triggered by a remote electrical receiver." This device allowed Delgado to control an animal's movements and emotional state simply by flipping a switch.
To demonstrate the power of his stimoceiver, Delgado conducted an experiment that could have easily cost him his life: He implanted a stimoceiver in a bull and had the animal charge toward him at full speed. Delgado stood calmly while the angry bull was running toward him. He flipped a switch and the raging animal suddenly stopped, then awkwardly trotted away.
Delgado had hoped that his work on brain-machine connection would be used to treat mental illnesses like depression and schizophrenia. However, because of some ethical concerns from the public, Delgado's work was never really used by the medical community.
3Phil Kennedy
During the late 1990s, Phil Kennedy and Roy Bakay made headlines across the globe when they introduced the world's first ever cyborg. The famed cyborg was Johnny Ray, a Vietnam veteran and drywall contractor who had suffered a stroke, leaving him paralyzed and bedridden. Kennedy and Bakay implanted electrodes inside Ray's brain, specifically in his primary motor cortex (a region in the brain responsible for basic voluntary movements). Ray was soon able to type letters on the computer and control the cursor just by using his brain.
Kennedy's work on hacking the human brain didn't end with Ray. In 2014, he decided to experiment on a healthy, fully functioning brain . . . his own. Since implanting electrodes on humans is illegal in the US, Kennedy flew to Belize and paid Dr. Joel Cervantes $30,000 to implant the electrodes for him. The surgery was successful, but it almost cost Kennedy his mind. For the first few days, the renowned neurologist couldn't speak, his writing was unreadable, and he couldn't recognize everyday objects. Thankfully, all the side effects of the surgery were temporary, and Kennedy's mental capabilities went back to normal.
Kennedy's experiments weren't over yet. He flew back to Belize to have a second operation. This time, he asked Cervantes to implant a radio transceiver and power coil. Unfortunately, "the incision in his scalp never fully closed over the bulky mound of . . . electronics." On January 13, 2015, Kennedy had a local surgeon remove the power coil and transceiver. The doctor, however, did not remove the electrodes implanted in Kennedy's primary motor cortex.
2The Waorani Tribe
Many of us would wince at the thought of snakes, and some would even scream at the sight of one. But the Waorani people living in the Amazonian forest of Ecuador treat snakes as if they're tiny insects. They're not the kind of snakes you would find in a pet shop, either. They're green anacondas, which can grow as long as 9 meters (29 ft) and weigh as much as 250 kilograms (550 lb).
The Waorani were only introduced to the outside world in 1956 and consider their tribe "to be the bravest indigenous group in the Amazon." As proof of that statement, young Waorani boys are required to track and capture green anacondas using only their bare hands before they can be considered real men. Taking advantage of this unique ability, Renata Leite Pitman—a wildlife vet and research associate with the Center for Tropical Conservation—has partnered with the Waorani to study green anacondas.
After catching the green anacondas, the Waorani would take blood samples to analyze the level of contaminants within the snakes' bodies, and then insert transmitters so Pitman could track their movements. Little is known about the green anaconda. That is why Pitman is hopeful that, with the help of the Waorani tribe, the scientific community will learn more about the snake's life, and more importantly, understand "the levels of pollution to which the [Ecuadorian] forest is being subjected."
1Tim Friede
A man named Tim Friede doesn't seem to fear the carnivorous reptiles, either. In fact, he's taken his snake obsession to a deadly level. Over the course of 16 years, he has injected himself with venom from some of the world's deadliest snakes such as the black mamba, Papau New Guinea taipans, and the western diamondback rattlesnake. Before you label Friede as mentally deranged, you should know that he's doing this crazy experiment for a noble cause. He wants to build a natural immunity to the world's deadliest snakes, and he hopes that scientists will use his blood to develop vaccines for future snakebites.
Though Friede's intention is somewhat honorable, he has been greatly criticized by the scientific and medical communities. They believe that his quest for self-immunization is foolish and that he will eventually pay the price in the form of infections, allergies, organ failure, and even death. Friede's snake obsession has not cost him his life, but it has led him to lose his family. His ex-wife, Beth Friede, has stated, "Me and the kids never came in first, sometimes not even second. The snakes were always first." As for Tim, he will not stop "until the vaccine is in the field" or until he dies.
When not busy working with MeBook—an app that transforms your Facebook into an actual printed book—Paul spends his time writing interesting stuff and creating piano covers.
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Paul Jongko
Paul Jongko is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about history, science, mysteries, and society. When not writing, he spends his time managing MeBook.com and improving his piano, calisthenics, and capoeira skills.
Read More: Twitter MeBook
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What's the Value of a Major TV Awards Event Sponsorship?
What's the value of sponsoring an awards television event over buying single ads? A leading cable television network needed the answer. Did companies sponsoring the show with an integrated ad package benefit more than those purchasing single ads? Did the sponsorship impact brand metrics more?
In order to best answer the business concerns, Phoenix MI designed a multi-platform approach for information gathering.
This included obtaining pre-event, during-event and post-event "reads"; across mobile, in-person and online platforms. By integrating platforms and measuring across time periods we were able to understand both initial and longer term performance.
Our client was able to quantitatively show their current and future advertisers that the show sponsorship package demonstrated a greater lift on recall, affinity, fit, and impact on future behavior when compared with individual ad purchases. Additionally, important insight was gained about the target audience that will deliver ongoing benefit to advertisers.


This jacket is easy to mix and match for a smart or everyday look. The optical illusion watch-effect embroidery on the cuff adds a fun touch to the piece.
Jersey is a supple and stretchy fabric. It is a comfortable material for a casual-chic look.


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2021 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Disney has announced that the 2021 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will start on July 15th. Featuring many returning favorites from Canada, Greece, Germany and more. There are many family-oriented events to partake in including Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak which will send you on a scavenger hunt to find Remy statuettes that are
'Frozen Ever After' Temporarily Closing for Refurb in November
The Disney refurbishment calendar is showing the the popular attraction/ride "Frozen Ever After" that is located in the Norway Pavillion in Epcot is scheduled to be shut down on November 2, 2020 for a minor refurbishment. The attraction is scheduled to reopen to guests on November 7. If your children (or you) need to get
Spaceship Earth Attraction in Epcot Closing for Refurb.
Disney announced this week that the Spaceship Earth attraction in Epcot will be closing for refurbishment. The ride, which is in what has become affectionately known as the Epcot Ball, will be closing on May 26, 2020. This will be the attraction's fourth refurbishment. This time will be the largest update that the ride has
Regal Eagle Smokehouse Finally Opening?
Rumors are swirling around this morning that the Regal Eagle Smokehouse located in the American Adventure at EPCOT will be opening soon. WDW News Today reported that on Google the listing for the restaurant is showing that it will be open on Sunday, February 9th at 11:30am… I did the Google search for Regal Eagle
Disney World Reducing Bus Service to Resorts
Disney World has reduced its bus transportation from Resorts that are on the Disney Skyliner to the Parks that are connected. Reports are showing that buses are running once an HOUR to Hollywood Studios and Epcot from Pop Century/Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach and Riviera.
Regal Eagle Menu Released
After a long wait, Disney has released the Menu and Pricing for the new Regal Eagle Smokehous in Epcot. Regal Eagle Smokehous is located in Epcot across from the Amphitheater and where the American Adventure show is currently located. Now all we need from Disney is when the restaurant is going to open…
Major Changes Coming to Epcot
In life, change is inevitable. The same goes for the Theme Parks in Walt Disney World in Florida. In case you haven't noticed, Epcot has been, well, stagnant over the past 10 years or so. Yes, there was a new film for the "Soarin" ride and transforming Malestrom to the Frozen Ever After Ride, but
Good-Bye Illuminations
Good-bye "Illuminations – Refections of Earth". Originally debuting on January 30, 1988, "Illuminations – Refections of Earth" has run continuously at Disney's Epcot Theme Park for 31 years. That run will be coming to an end on August, 30, 2019. With major changes coming to the Epcot Park, a new, temporary, night-time show will begin
Worker Dies in Accident in Epcot
A construction worker lost his life as the result of a fall in the backstage area of the France pavilion in Epcot. George Grimes succumbed to his injuries as a result of this accident. Grimes worked for SunBelt Rentals, that are contracted for the work he was doing. Disney has not released a comment about the
Disney is testing Gondola System
The infrastructure of the new Disney Gondola System is complete and the gondolas are being added to the cables. Pictures have surfaced show that Castmember training and testing is now underway. The new system will connect Pop Century/Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach Resort to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Although no start of operation have been
Epcot International Festival of Arts 2018
The 2nd annual "Epcot International Festival of Arts" opened today (January 12, 2018) at Disney's Epcot. The festival includes Art Galleries, Performances, Food Kiosks and more. This year's festival focuses more on Disney Art more than last year. The "Epcot International Festival of Arts" runs from today through February 19, 2018. Disney Broadway Series Performances will
Pieces Break Off of Blue Monorail
Monorail service at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and loop resorts was suspended on June 16, 2017 after a piece of Monorail Blue broke or fell off of the tram causing it to spark and slow to a halt. The train had just left the Epcot Station and was heading toward the Magic Kingdom when this
Is Ellen's Energy Adventure Closing?
Rumors are swirling that "Ellen's Energy Adventure" in Disney World's Epcot is getting ready to close. Reports are that permits have been submitted with the Reedy Creek Improvement for work to be done on the wetlands and canal that are currently behind the building that houses "Ellen's Energy Adventure". Ellen's Energy Adventure is currently a


Dozens of us cruising sailors have experienced problems with the black cable jackets on VHF and SSB radio microphones from ICOM. I, along with many other cruisers, have discovered our cables are mysteriously disintegrating!
Dozens of us cruising sailors have experienced problems with the black cable jackets on VHF and SSB radio microphones from ICOM. I, along with many other cruisers, have discovered our cables are mysteriously disintegrating! When we contact ICOM, we are repeatedly told this is unusual and that the frayed microphone cables are most likely due to something in the immediate area that is reacting with the compound used in the cable jackets.
What can we do to get our fraying cables replaced without buying expensive new microphones?
I regularly conduct Coast Guard Auxiliary radio classes and have been surprised to see that my own SSB mic cable has split open in several spots. This is a serious problem, as marine VHF and long-range SSB radios are our direct link to rescue agencies throughout the world, and a frayed cable jacket can easily lead to broken wires. Being unable to make a Mayday call due to a mic cord failure can potentially be life threatening.
I am pleased to report that ICOM is now replacing all damaged mic cords that are sent to them and that they have improved the material they use in the cable jackets. This includes white cords that are still structurally fine but have prematurely yellowed over time. So dig out your instruction manual, get the company's address and don't sail away until you get this problem resolved.
who specializes in radio communications.


Get vibration feedback when your call is connected, the app is automatically activated after installation and every time you reboot your phone. You can configure the intensity or deactivate the app in the Settings applet. With this app you will no... Read more... Type: Commercial.


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Texas sheriff exonerates wife in jet-ski murder
Published October 6, 2010 at 1:00am
David and Tiffany Hartley
The Texas sheriff investigating the jet-ski murder of a U.S. citizen on a border lake blames the incident on the Mexican drug cartels, insisting his probe exonerates the wife from any foul play in the incident.
"Mexico is not cooperating with the investigation to find the body of David Michael Hartley," Texas Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo "Sigi" Gonzalez Jr. told WND in an exclusive interview.
According to a Texas Department of Public Safety advisory dated Oct. 1, Hartley, a 30-year old American citizen, was believed killed by Mexican pirates last Thursday on Falcon Lake south of Laredo, Texas, on the Mexican border, as he and his wife, Tiffany, were on jet skis.
"The incident happened on the Mexican side of the lake and we are at the mercy of the Mexican government to get involved," Gonzalez said. "So far, Mexico has refused to do conduct any meaningful rescue or recovery efforts."
Two boatloads of armed men began shooting at the couple, striking David Hartley in the head, according to his wife.
The men continued shooting at Tiffany, 29, when she entered U.S. waters. She managed to escape and return to shore on the U.S. side.
Marco Antonio Guerrero Carrizales, the district attorney for the Miguel Aleman Province adjoining Falcon Lake on the Mexican side, has questioned whether Tiffany Hartley was involved in foul play.
Gonzalez completely rules out foul play on the part of Mrs. Hartley.
"A local witness saw Tiffany Hartley escaping on her jet-ski to the Texas side of the lake," he said. "She came in at high speed and was being pursued by armed men in a Mexican fishing boat that that the witness clearly observed."
Gonzalez said the witness was a long-standing member of the Zapata community who was well known to him and regarded as highly credible.
He said the statement of the witness was recorded in the police file but his name was being withheld from the public to protect his privacy.
"The testimony of this witness dispels any idea Mrs. Hartley was involved in any wrongdoing regarding the murder of her husband," he said firmly. "She called in a 911 phone call to our office at around 2:20 p.m. on the day of the incident, immediately after she got to shore, and her statements to my office confirm what the local witness observed."
RELATED: Farmers having hard time replacing migrants
Gonzales confirmed to WND that he had interviewed Mrs. Hartley himself.
He attributed the failure to recover David Hartley's jet ski and his body to the unwillingness of Mexico to cooperate
"The drug cartels operate from an island on the Mexican side of the lake," Gonzalez explained.
"Mexican law enforcement authorities do not control the lake – the pirates do," he said. "Tons of illegal drugs are warehoused on that island by the drug cartels for smuggling into the United States, and the pirates are well armed."
He said the pirates are used to guide Mexican drug cartel operatives smuggling drugs to the U.S. side of the lake.
Gonzalez told WND his investigation indicated the Hartleys had jet-skied over to the Mexican side of the lake to photograph an old church that is visible on the lake bank near the Old Guerrero area in Mexico.
"Mr. Hartley was a history buff," he explained, "and they wanted to photograph the church at Old Guerrero.
Hartley worked in the oil industry, and they had just moved to McAllen, Texas, about five months ago."
Gonzalez told WND his investigation revealed that this week Hartley and his wife were planning to move back to Colorado where he planned to take a job with Calfrac, an energy company based in Alberta, Canada.
Gonzalez said the jet-ski incident was the fifth violent incident involving Falcon Lake pirates in recent months.
According to a Falcon Lake advisory published by the Texas Department of Public Safety on Oct. 1, the previous incidents reported were:
April 30: Four heavily armed men boarded two boats near the Old Guerrero area demanding money. The bandits were given $200 in cash and tried to follow the U.S. boats as they sped back to U.S. waters. The bandits stopped once they reached the U.S. boundary.
May 6: Two armed men approach a boat near Marker 14 on the north side of Salado Island on top of the ruins at Old Guerrero. The men demanded money, which the fishermen gave them.
May 16: Five armed men boarded a boat on the U.S. side of the lake near marker 7. Investigators have no further information on the incident.
Aug. 31: Falcon Lake pirates, using a small boat marked "Game Wardin" using duct-taped letters to possibly mimic Texas Parks and Wildlife vessels operating in Texas waters, attempted to stop a Texas fisherman. The fisherman's knowledge of previous Texas DPS warnings about Falcon Lake and the misspelling of the word "Warden" alerted the him that something was wrong, and he outran the Mexican vessel to safety.
"Fisherman are still advised to stay as far away as possible from any of the Argos-type fishing boats typically used as fishing vessels by Mexican fisherman," the Texas DPS warning alerted. "The robbers are believed to be members of a drug trafficking organization or members of an enforcer group linked to a drug trafficking organization who are heavily armed and using AK-47s or AR-15 rifles to threaten their victims."
Gonzalez said Mexican fishing licenses are sold in Zapata County to U.S. citizens that want to game fish on the Mexican side of Falcon Lake.
Still, he warned of the danger in doing so.
"Mexico has taken no steps to control the pirates," he said. "Mexican law enforcement authorities have routinely ignored our requests for assistance."
Texas Park and Wildlife Division Game Wardens and Texas DPS officers, including the Texas Rangers, have been at Falcon Lake since Thursday, assisting the Zapata County Sheriff's Office with the investigation of the jet-ski murder.
TPWD has deployed two 21-foot boats on the lake to search for David Hartley's body and his jet ski.
The Texas DPS has deployed its SWAT team, one of its helicopters and its riverboat to assist.
Still, Gonzalez is not confidant U.S. law enforcement will make any progress investigating the case.
"The incident occurred on the Mexican side of the lake, and truly we are at the mercy of the Mexican government," he said.
Following David Hartley's murder, Texas law enforcement agencies are telling boaters on Falcon Lake to stay on the U.S. side.
Tags: INVASION USA


The two story foyer gives this home an immediate spacious feeling. Flowing off the foyer is the formal living room topped by a vaulted ceiling. Pocket doors between the family room and living room add privacy. A fireplace framed by windows highlight the family room. The family room, dinette and kitchen are in an open format for a more spacious and airy feeling. The efficient island kitchen features a built-in pantry and a snack bar. The elegant formal dining room is enhanced by a bayed window. The secluded master suite is tucked into the right rear corner. Double doors provide the entry into the suite which is highlighted by a master bath and direct access into the study/office. On the second floor three additional bedrooms share the full bath in the hall.


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Facebook and Samsung Plan to Make Virtual Reality Social: MWC
Virtual reality video is a immersive way to experience games and remote places, but can it also be social? Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg believes so. Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance at Samsung's Mobile World Congress press event in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday, giving his vision for the future of VR.
"Pretty soon we're going to live in a world where everyone has the power to share and experience whole scenes as if you're just there, right there in person," Zuckerberg said. VR is "the most social platform" he added, saying that viewers have now watched more than 1 million hours of VR video with the Samsung Gear VR.
Facebook has been bullish on VR since it paid $1.9 billion to acquire Oculus in March 2014. In a blog post the day before the Samsung event, Facebook announced that it will soon bring its 360 video streaming technology to the Samsung Gear VR headset. Rather than streaming an entire 360-degree video in high-resolution, 360 video delivers only the section that the viewer can see in high-res. By doing so, Facebook is able to quadruple VR resolution over much smaller bandwidth. The technology will appear in the Gear VR in a few weeks.
The post also announced that Facebook has created a Social VR team to explore the future of social interactions in virtual reality. It will work with the Oculus team to create tomorrow's social VR platform.
At MWC, Samsung unveiled the Gear 360, a baseball-shaped video camera that captures 360-degree images. It includes two 15-megapixel CMOS sensors, and can capture 3,840x1,920 VR video at 30 fps. It should go on sale sometime in Q2.
Zuckerberg's appearance proved a major disruption to the Samsung press event, where the company unveiled the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phones. Tech journalists rushed to get pictures of the Facebook CEO, and seemed more interested in photographing him that hearing what he had to say. Details for the Samsung phones had been leaked ahead of time, but Zuckerberg's appearance was a true surprise.
MWC 19: 5G Operators Promise the Moon But Won't Shoulder the Cost
"Don't get short-term greedy to kill the long-term goose," mobile operators warn governments. They want governments to ease up on regulations and spectrum costs.
MWC 2019 Preview: Manufacturers Look Beyond the Handset
Mobile World Congress starts next week, and it won't be all about the phone. 5G, driverless cars, and the internet of things will bring a whole new world of cellular connectivity.
24% of U.S. Adults Use Social Media to Comment on TV Shows
However, only 9% do so regularly, finds Ring Digital, suggesting that multitasking while watching TV isn't a popular activity.
Facebook Makes Live API Available, Intros First Camera Partner
Look for broadcasters to begin streaming live video to Facebook, as the social network opened up its API for third-party hardware and software developers.
Facebook Expanding Live Video Sharing to Android This Week
Members in over 30 countries can now share live video via Facebook, a number that will expand in the coming weeks, the company said.
Is Virtual Reality Streaming Ready for Primetime?
Virtual reality is poised to revolutionize many industries including live video streaming. Join us as we cover the techology and possibilities of it opening the door to new markets.
YouTube, NYT, Associated Press, and WSJ Create VR Experiences
Viewers will have a lot more virtual reality to choose from, thanks to several high-profile releases. NY Times subscribers are getting free Google Cardboard.
Streaming Video Meets Virtual Reality with Samsung Gear VR
What could convince average consumers that they need a virtual reality headset? The ability to create their own personal Netflix theater.


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require_relative '../../test_helper'

class TestPlaceholdit < Test::Unit::TestCase
  def setup
    @tester = Faker::Placeholdit
  end

  def test_placeholdit
    assert !@tester.image.match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)(png?)})[1].nil?
  end

  def test_avatar_with_custom_size
    assert @tester.image(size: '3x3').match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/+(\d+x\d+)})[1] == '3x3'
  end

  def test_avatar_with_incorrect_size
    assert_raise ArgumentError do
      @tester.image(size: '300x300s')
    end
  end

  def test_avatar_with_supported_format
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg').match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)(jpg?)})
  end

  def test_avatar_with_incorrect_format
    assert_raise ArgumentError do
      @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'wrong_format')
    end
  end

  def test_avatar_background_with_correct_six_char_hex
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'ffffff').match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)(jpg?)/ffffff})
  end

  def test_avatar_background_with_correct_three_char_hex
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'fff').match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)(jpg?)/fff})
  end

  def test_avatar_background_with_random_color
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: :random).match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)(jpg?)/[a-f0-9]{6}})
  end

  def test_avatar_background_with_wrong_six_char_hex
    assert_raise ArgumentError do
      @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'fffffz')
    end
  end

  def test_avatar_background_with_wrong_hex
    assert_raise ArgumentError do
      @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'ffff4')
    end
  end

  def test_avatar_background_with_wrong_three_char_hex
    assert_raise ArgumentError do
      @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'ffz')
    end
  end

  def test_avatar_font_color_with_correct_six_char_hex
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'ffffff', text_color: '000000').match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)(jpg?)/ffffff/000000})
  end

  def test_avatar_font_color_with_correct_three_char_hex
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'fff', text_color: '000').match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)(jpg?)/fff})
  end

  def test_avatar_font_color_with_random_color
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'fff', text_color: :random).match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)(jpg?)/fff/[a-f0-9]{6}})
  end

  def test_avatar_font_color_with_wrong_six_char_hex
    assert_raise ArgumentError do
      @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'ffffff', text_color: '900F0z')
    end
  end

  def test_avatar_font_color_with_wrong_hex
    assert_raise ArgumentError do
      @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'ffffff', text_color: 'x9')
    end
  end

  def test_avatar_font_color_with_wrong_three_char_hex
    assert_raise ArgumentError do
      @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'ffffff', text_color: '00p')
    end
  end

  def test_text_not_present
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'fff', text_color: '000').match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/[^\\?]+$})
  end

  def test_text_present
    assert @tester.image(size: '300x300', format: 'jpg', background_color: 'fff', text_color: '000', text: 'hello').match(%r{https://via\.placeholder\.com/(.+)\?text=hello})
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
This Day in History: June 22
in Trending, U.S.
Tesla, GM, Lucid, Alibaba, and A lot more Stock Marketplace Movers
President Franklin Roosevelt signs the G.I.Bill of Rights, which provides broad benefits for veterans of World War II. (Getty)
On this day, June 22 …
1944: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more popularly known as the GI Bill of Rights.
Also on this day:
1981: Mark David Chapman pleads guilty to killing John Lennon.
1992: The U.S. Supreme Court, in R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, unanimously rules that "hate crime" laws that banned cross burning and similar expressions of racial bias violated free speech rights.
Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrives for an appeal hearing at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Oct. 29, 2015.
(AP)
2012: Ex-Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is convicted by a jury in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, on 45 counts of sexually assaulting 10 boys over 15 years. (Sandusky is appealing a 30- to-60-year state prison sentence.)


text:
Agriculture, Egypt, And Us
by Mordechai Ben Attar | Jun 15, 2015 |
The mitzva of bikkurim (bringing one's first fruits to the Mikdash) is commonly understood as intended to express gratitude to Hashem for the successful yield He granted to His nation dwelling in His land. The Sefer Hachinuch writes this explicitly in mitzva 91.
Indeed, several halachot concerning this mitzva may very well reflect this underlying theme. Halacha states that one does not bring bikkurim from "the dates in the mountains, from the fruits in the valleys or from olives with oil that are not the choicest" (Bikkurim 1:3). In other words, one does not bring as bikkurim fruits of low quality. When we want to express thanks to Hashem for His kindness, we should present high-quality fruits that represent the high quality of the yield.
This is also one of the three reasons why one should not bring bikkurim after Chanukah, as these fruits constitute the low-quality leftovers, rather than the "reishit" – the first and best fruits, as required by the Torah. Furthermore, halacha requires (Bikkurim 1:6) decorating the bikkurim with other fruits, meaning, that one add other beautiful fruits in the bikkurim basket. This, too, supports the theory that bikkurim serves as an expression of thanksgiving, praising Hashem for the bountiful yield.
We have historical testimony (in Masechet Bikkurim) from that time period that "the wealthy ones would bring their bikkurim in baskets of silver and gold." The wealthier farmers sought to add a further dimension to the beautification of their gift, to enhance their expression of gratitude to Hashem.
However, the Torah in Parashat Ki-Tavo informs us that a farmer bringing bikkurim must recite a text that begins with, "Arami oveid avi" – a reference to Avraham Avinu – and continues with the story of Benei Yisrael's slavery in Egypt and ultimate redemption. What connection does this account have to the mitzva of bikkurim? Would it not have been more appropriate for the farmer to recite a text containing details of his agricultural work in the field and his sense of satisfaction over his successful produce?
The Rambam provides the following answer. When a farmer feels a sense of pride for his luscious fruits, this pride can result in his forgetting about the Master who gave them to him. Therefore, the Rambam explains, the farmer must recite this text so that he is reminded of who brought him to this point, by delivering him from Egypt, from slavery, and leading him into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land that produced for him his successful yield. Accordingly, it appears that no inherent connection exists between the account of Avraham Avinu and the story of the Egyptian bondage, and bikkurim. This account is intended merely to bring to mind at this time of joy the earlier periods of sorrow, with a clear educational purpose. In order to reinforce one's faith and deepen his sense of gratitude, he must recall at his most joyous moments the times of hardship that have passed.
However, a closer look into the mitzva of bikkurim might bring us to a different approach to understanding its underlying reason. By bringing bikkurim, we thank Hashem not only for the quality fruits He has given us, but also, and primarily, for giving us the land and bringing us into it. We express our gratitude for the fact that we live in Eretz Yisrael, till the land and enjoy its fruit.
A quick review of the bikkurim section in Parashat Ki-Tavo reveals that it makes repeated reference to the land, Hashem's giving us the land, our entry into the land, and God's promise concerning the land. For example: "that you will bring from your land"; "that Hashem your God gives you"; "for I have entered the land that Hashem has promised to our forefathers to give to us" and so on. These are the key words of the parasha, and they indicate that the mitzva of bikkurim, though it requires bringing fruits to the Mikdash and brings blessing onto the fruits of the trees, expresses our gratitude not only for the produce, but also, and perhaps primarily, for the good land that Hashem has sworn to our forefathers to give to our people.


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One month passed in the blink of an eye and now you find yourself with a yoga teacher certification, adding another string to your bow. Freshly out of the cocoon, it's now time to spread your wings and fly by yourself, but you feel a bit lost, you are not to sure where to go, where to start?
First of all, congratulations, completing a 200-hour yoga teacher training is a true accomplishment and comes with great satisfaction, kind of a bliss feeling. You've spent long hours of practicing and absorbing lots of new information, crossing boundaries and go beyond limits you thought you had.
So now that the training has come to an end and it's time to go back home, what's the next step ?
Before jumping right into your routine and taking many actions to find teaching opportunities, I would suggest you to take a few days for reflexion. Yoga teacher training can be a powerful and transformative experience. Try to observe how you feel, did anything changed inside of you? Have a moment to process your emotions and integrate what you learned. By creating this inner space, think reflect on your intentions. Do you want to teach, are you ready to take this beautiful challenge?
Think about getting a liability insurance. It will protect from any lawsuits filed against you. Most studios ask for it as their own insurance generally don't extend to cover the teachers. This insurance will protect you wherever you teach, in the park, in a studio, in a private home, etc.
Second thing you should look for is to register with the Yoga Alliance. This step is not mandatory, but well recommended. It is required for most studios in big cities will and once you are registred, you become part of a professional network and it will surely give you some credibility.
A good idea is to create a yoga resume. It is a little detail that shows your professionalism and it is a helping hand for the studios who want to see your qualifications.
This is a must. The yoga journey is a life long process, you can always go deeper. Your personal practice should never suffer from your teaching schedule. You are a student before being a teacher, be curious, explore different styles and try new teachers. Learning from many people will give you different perspectives, it will boost your teaching inspiration, it will help you find your specific style, your own color. Every time you rise on your mat, you get a new opportunity to learn.
As soon as possible, find the opportunity to practice your teaching skills. The longer you wait, the more you will forget and there's a risk to loose confidence and motivation. Yes, you need to step out of that comfort zone, it will possibly feel stressful in the beginning, but the growing opportunity is totally worth it. A good way to put your knowledge into practice is to set-up classes for your family, friends or coworkers. You can also offer free class in a local park or look for some organisms when you can volunteer by offering your classes. Teach as much as you can, you will make some mistakes but use them as a guide to improve yourself. Not only it will build your confidence, but it will give you meaningful and valuable experience.
Keep yourself up to date and continually renew your knowledge. Take some workshops, find some online courses, become an expert in a specific style or with a particular customer market, such as pregnant women, children, senior, etc. Find your voice and never stop learning, we have the chance to be in an era where the yoga knowledge is becoming more and more accessible, take advantage of it.
From this precious immersion into a yoga teacher training, you will surely create a strong connection with yourself, with your inner being. Reaching such a state of mind is a profound experience and you should be able to carry it home with you. Whenever things seem to fall into pieces, remember that all that force and all the answers are within you. All the tools you've learn during the course are there to help you and guide your way. Breath in the process and find your center !
These steps will guide you and soften your entry in this yoga teaching market. And most importantly, for some concrete action, get on the substitutes lists in different yoga studios, establish some professional contact with studio owners and other yogis, show them your interest for teaching, hand out some resumes, market yourself with a business card or a website, have a social presence in the digital world. Be patient, be focused and all will eventualy come.
What is Yoga at Gyan Yog Breath?


text:
Home Industry News DOE Enforces Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products
DOE Enforces Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a Proposed Rule Making and Public Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 30, in Washington, D.C., regarding its Energy Conservation program and is now accepting comments to the proposed changes.
In January, the DOE began aggressively enforcing a federal law requiring manufacturers of water closets, urinals, faucets and showerheads that are governed by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 to provide documentation certifying that their models meet the applicable water conservation standards. Failure to comply could result in fines totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Many manufacturers are not aware of the requirements of the law or how to obtain testing and certification through the DOE. Information on the latest rules, enforcement actions and other information can be obtained by going to the DOE Enforcement Website.
These procedures allow for a third party testing agency, such as IAPMO R&T Lab, to submit test reports on the manufacturer's behalf. The compliance statement, however, must be signed and submitted by the manufacturer.
Testing can be performed at one of IAPMO R&T Lab's facilities — in either Ontario, Calif., or in Guangzhou, China — or an engineer can be sent to the manufacturer's facility for more convenient on-site testing.
For more information on the DOE requirements and IAPMO R&T Lab's services, contact Donna Estrada at (909) 472-4134 or donna.estrada@iapmortl.org.
IAPMO R&T Laboratory is an independent testing, research, and technical service agency for the plumbing and mechanical industries. IAPMO R&T Laboratory is part of The IAPMO Group's family of companies.
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text:
CNN - US Politics
Larry Kudlow gives 'hats off to Ms. AOC'
National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow gave "high marks" to an unlikely figure during an interview with Fox News on Thursday: New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Kudlow praised the liberal hero for challenging Federal Reserve Board of Governors Chairman Jay Powell on the Phillips Curve during a congressional hearing. The Phillips Curve is a long-held economic theory which suggests that low unemployment pushes wages up faster, which in turn accelerates inflation.
Ocasio-Cortez said the long-held theory "is no longer describing what is happening in today's economy," and Powell agreed.
Kudlow gave Ocasio-Cortez a "hats off to Ms. AOC" for her question, saying she "kind of nailed that."
"I want to note in the hearings yesterday with Fed Chairman Jay Powell, it was Ms. AOC asked him about the Phillips Curve. Why is rising growth and employment and low unemployment bad? Why does that cause inflation and higher interest rates? And Jay Powell said, 'Well you're right. That thing hasn't worked in decades.' Now, I got to give her high marks for that. She got that out of chairman," Kudlow said.
"By the way that is my position. That has been the President's position," he added. "Strong growth doesn't cause higher inflation and interest rates. Looks like the Fed is going to cut their rates."
While Kudlow and Ocasio-Cortez may agree on the Phillips Curve, they disagree in other areas of economic policy, such as the government's role in helping the poor, raising the minimum wage, as well as her support for the Green New Deal, which she says would be a boon for jobs and the Trump administration says would be economically unfeasible.
Kudlow added during his Fox interview that "nobody in life is all good or all bad," saying he hopes the two can sit down and "talk about supply-side economics very soon."
Kudlow and Ocasio-Cortez aren't the only ones to question whether the Phillips Curve still holds. Inflation has remained tame even as the unemployment rate hovers at a 50-year low. There are a number of reasons why economists think that relationship has broken down: The rise of e-commerce keeps prices in check, for example, while globalization and automation have limited workers' power to bargain for higher wages.
For the White House, tossing the Phillips Curve in the dustbin of history is convenient because it strengthens the case for cutting rates. Both of the people Trump said he would nominate to the Fed board, Judy Shelton and Christopher Waller, have publicly cast doubt on the principle's validity.
Kudlow's embrace of Ocasio-Cortez also comes amid strain between her House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and more moderate members of the Democratic Party.
Earlier this week, Pelosi made an impassioned plea to her caucus for party unity as tensions among the progressive and moderate fractions have been at a high.
But in an interview with The New York Times posted last Saturday, Pelosi knocked four liberal members of her caucus who had voted against the House border supplemental package before the July Fourth recess, including Ocasio-Cortez.
In response, Ocasio-Cortez suggested that Pelosi was singling out the four women, who are women of color.
"It's really just pointing out the pattern, right? We're not talking about just progressives, it's signaling out four individuals," Ocasio-Cortez told CNN's Manu Raju on Thursday. "And knowing the media environment that we're operating in, knowing the amount of death threats that we get, knowing the amount of concentration detention, I think it's just worth asking why."
Ocasio-Cortez said she doesn't think Pelosi is racist.
The economic director's praise for the freshman congresswoman also comes amid contention between the White House and Powell over plans to increase interest rates.
In recent months, President Donald Trump has insisted he has the right to fire Powell, even though the Federal Reserve has a longstanding history of independence from the executive branch. Despite the President's threat, Kudlow has repeatedly said that the White House is not planning to remove Powell.