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Thursday, November 6 2014
Thursday, November 6th (early show)
Decibel and KEXP proudly present…
Erased Tapes, Berlin
with special guest
Thirsty Ear, Brooklyn
Doors at 7PM
925 E. Pike St, Seattle
ABOUT NILS FRAHM Nils Frahm had an early introduction to music. During his childhood he was taught to play piano. It was through this that Nils began to immerse himself in the styles of the classical pianists before him as well as contemporary composers.
Today Nils Frahm works as an accomplished composer and producer from his Berlin-based Durton Studio. His unconventional approach to an age-old instrument, played contemplatively and intimately, has won him many fans around the world. For a musician this early in his career, Frahm displays an incredibly developed sense of control and restraint in his work, catching the ear of many fans.
As the recognition continues to grow for his previous solo piano works 'Wintermusik' (2009) and 'The Bells' (2009), 2011 saw the release of his critically acclaimed record 'Felt'. The album was followed by the solo synthesiser EP 'Juno' and 'Screws' (2012) – a birthday gift to his fans he recorded while recovering from a thumb injury. Nils released his follow up to Juno titled 'Juno Reworked' (2013) with guest reworks by Luke Abbott and Clark.
Now Nils returns with his new album 'Spaces' expressing Frahm's love for experimentation and answering the call from his fans for a record that truly reflects what they have witnessed during his concerts.
Spaces is an ode to the joy of live performance. It expresses Frahm's love for experimentation and answers the call from his fans for a record that truly reflects what they have witnessed during his concerts. Breaking the convention of a traditional live album, Spaces was recorded over the course of two years in different locations and on various mediums, including old portable reel-to-reel recorders and cassette tape decks. These moments were later pieced together in his Durton Studio and referred to by Frahm as a collage of field recordings rather than a live album. It Includes surprise moments such as the sound of him banging a toilet brush on the piano strings to create a dub-sounding track. The decision to select takes that have people coughing and cell phones ringing show that his audience is an integral part of every performance. In his own words:
'What I love most about playing in front of people has something to do with a certain kind of energy exchange. The attention and appreciation of my audience feeds back into my playing. It really seems as if there is a true and equal give and take between performer and listener, making me aware of how much I depend on my audience. And since the audience is different every night, the music being played will differ too. Every space I performed in has its own magic and spirit.' – Nils Frahm
Spaces was mastered by the gifted hands of Mandy Parnell and was released in the form of a CD, 2xLP and Download on November 19, 2013 via Erased Tapes America. 2014 will see Nils Frahm tour the world in support of 'Spaces'.
Listenable and insane. That's the sound Dawn of Midi spent years shaping, culminating in their most mesmerizing work yet: Dysnomia.
In many ways, it's the first record that truly reflects the trio's critically acclaimed live show, a test of endurance and trust that involves bassist Aakaash Israni, pianist Amino Belyamani and percussionist Qasim Naqvi performing their compositions note-for-note without ever appearing the least bit predictable. If anything, Dawn of Midi's sets are as red-blooded and rhythmic as a seamlessly mixed DJ set, casting spells on crowds in the same way the group's favorite experimental and electronic acts have for decades.
Which explains why The New Yorker's music critic, Sasha Frere-Jones, wrote "an hour flew by in what seems like minutes" after witnessing their high-wire act last year, and Radiolab host Jad Abumrad added "[I've] seriously never seen anything like these guys."
Belyamani is quick to say that Dawn of Midi have followed their own internal logic since day one, largely thanks to the fact that they were friends first—playing late-night tennis matches in dimly lit parking lots well before they stepped into a studio or rehearsal space. As such, Belyamani admits its taken quite some time to shift from early improv sessions to the well-oiled machine that makes Dysnomia both a dizzying dance record and a deeply immersive living room listen.
"Playing a locked groove like we do on this record involves a lot of discipline and hard work," he explains. "You don't start out that way unless you're a group of folk musicians from the same village."
Forget being from the same village; Dawn of Midi's respective families aren't even from the same country. Belyamani was born in Morocco, where he "grew up in a culture where people do polyrhythms in their sleep." A stateside move didn't happen until he turned 18 and decided to study abroad at CalArts. Meanwhile, Israni relocated from India to Southern California when he was just four months old, and Naqvi's parents left Pakistan before he was born in Connecticut.
"Both my parents are major music fans," says Naqvi. "They love old Hindi songs from the black and white film era, and different kinds of traditional music from the South Asian subcontinent. So that stuff has definitely filtered through me somehow, but scales and rhythms from that part of the world are not something that are central to my musical thinking. At least not yet."
That's the thing about Dawn of Midi now that they're based in Brooklyn and touring open-minded markets worldwide: As carefully cultivated as their aesthetic is, it's also been known to incorporate, willfully and otherwise, such wildly divergent influences and interests as Aphex Twin, the Police, Can and Ms. Pac-Man. And when they really fall for a record—like they did with Dr. K. Gyasi after hearing his highlife hooks in Berlin—it quickly raises the bar of what they want from their own music.
Hence how Dysnomia ended up being recorded, mixed and mastered in its entirety twice. As Israni explains, "Late one night, I realized the record we had just made wasn't the quantum leap we needed, so we started over. Then it was another year and a half of rehearsing and composing before we could go in the studio again."
It shows. While the original version was semi-improvised like the trio's critically acclaimed debut (2010′s First), the final 46-minute cut is a brooding balancing act between a fascination with structure and a desire to create their own definition of dance music. Set aside an hour to experience the multi-movement title track in full and you'll hear what we mean, as a language only Dawn of Midi truly understands locks into one long, seemingly endless groove and mixer Rusty Santos (Animal Collective, Owen Pallett, DJ Rashad) makes sure every last high-wire hook hits you square in the chest, even the quiet parts.
"It's interesting with this piece," says Naqvi. "There's actual music in the silences. You could almost take the negative space and make something completely different with it."
"The spaces between the dialogues of the notes are filled in by the body of the listener," adds Israni, "and they complete the circuit, leaving one option—to dance."


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Image by Bosch Fawstin |
(Note: I'll probably do one or two more updates, so if your post isn't yet included, please post it as a comment or send it to me on twitter @rumpfshaker.)
Andrew was a creature of social media if there ever was one, and many people took to Twitter yesterday to share their memories of him. Accordingly, it seemed fitting to do one final post in his honor with a collection of tweets.
So, here is Andrew Breitbart, in 140 characters or less...
You wish to honor the man? Very well then: take up his sword, and fight as he did.
— Joshua Treviño (@jstrevino) March 1, 2012
One thing we can take comfort in - God's gonna have a great website now.
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) March 1, 2012
Rest in peace, brother.
— Larry O'Connor(@LarryOConnor) March 1, 2012
I just can't even believe this is real.
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) March 1, 2012
The people cheering that Andrew Breitbart is dead want to control your healthcare.
— Lee Doren (@LDoren) March 1, 2012
R.I.P. Andrew Breitbart. Warrior, patriot, brawler, damn good sport. Godspeed, Andrew.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 1, 2012
Today has made me more grateful than ever for this Twitter political madness & all of the people I've been lucky enough to meet.
— stephenkruiser (@stephenkruiser) March 2, 2012
Pretty sure that @AndrewBreitbart died on my birthday just so I'd think of him every year. :) #caring #GodIMissYouAlready
— stephenkruiser (@stephenkruiser) March 2, 2012
Andrew passed knowing that his life had purpose and meaning. How many trolls celebrating his death can say the same?
— Lachlan Markay (@LachlanMarkay) March 1, 2012
Today, some leftists will make nastier and more hateful comments about Andrew Breitbart than they'll ever make about Islamic terrorists.
— keder (@keder) March 1, 2012
Dear Left: I'm coming for you.
— Ben Howe (@Ben_Howe) March 2, 2012
The memorials today of Breitbart seemed more often about him than the memorials of Hitchens, which seemed more often about the authors.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) March 2, 2012
For the record, I'd still be okay with this being a hoax. The reality is just so sad.
— Breeanne Howe (@breeannehowe) March 1, 2012
There'll never be another conservative warrior exactly like Andrew, but there will be many more conservative warriors b/c of him. #Breitbart
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) March 1, 2012
Heh. Ted Kennedy is trending. "But but Breitbart was mean to the guy who drowned a woman and fled the scene!"
— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) March 1, 2012
I'll say this for the Breitbart haters: they sure have know u to how grammar bad do also speeling aarrors.
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) March 1, 2012
Lesson learned from @AndrewBreitbart's sudden death: Go all out, because you don't know when you'll go. #Breitbart
— Sean Hackbarth (@seanhackbarth) March 1, 2012
#AndrewBreitbart was as passionate about his family as he was about the movement. I will deeply miss our chats about our sons.
— Jacob Perry (@jacobperry) March 1, 2012
I rapped him for letting us down lately on the hair front. We had the same kind of hair. He called it problem hair. I suggested "Defiant."
— Ace of Spades (@AceofSpadesHQ) March 1, 2012
It's telling that the left saw Breitbart and his work as hateful. It wasn't. It was truthful. But that's the same thing to them.
— Brady Cremeens (@brady_cremeens) March 2, 2012
Are we clear on this guys or do we need another reason to get up every day and destroy Obama? No more in-fighting. #war
— Dina Fraioli (@DinaFraioli) March 1, 2012
Churchill. Chesterton. Reagan. Many quotes reminding us of Breitbart's merits, but by the gods, I'm gonna quote @50Cent.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 1, 2012
He who fears fate lives like a coward/You go against me, you'll be devoured. #hadto
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 1, 2012
Don't just say "I'm not racist." Bet a $100,000 and call THEM a racist. #fight #ThingsILearnedFromBreitbart
— Ben Howe (@Ben_Howe) March 2, 2012
I propose CPAC Blogger of the Year be renamed the "Andrew Breitbart Award for Excellence in Citizen Journalism." Can I get a second?
— Duane Lester (@Bodhi1) March 2, 2012
On it. RT @TeriChristoph: cc: @RGreggKeller RT @JonahNRO: Seems like a no-brainer that C-PAC should establish an Andrew Breitbart award.
— Gregg Keller (@RGreggKeller) March 1, 2012
Not just an employer, also a friend and mentor. Our fiercest warrior. He made you all swords. Use them. Keep his family in your prayers.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) March 1, 2012
So, progressives, you don't win this. You will lose because I and millions of others will drag our nominee over the finish line.
— Jimmie (@jimmiebjr) March 2, 2012
Today we morn, tonight we drink, tomorrow we continue to fight. Andrew may be gone, but his cause and his spirit live on in all of us. #tcot
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) March 1, 2012
A just God will ensure that Kim Jong-Il is serving Breitbart drinks, as Qaddafi shines his shoes.
— Joshua Treviño (@jstrevino) March 1, 2012
The left made all of @andrewbreitbart's most potent arguments.All @andrewbreitbart had to do was add two letters: "RT"
— Ace of Spades (@AceofSpadesHQ) March 1, 2012
Breitbart was only scared one time in his life. Then he realized it was just a mirror. #breitbartfacts
— PoliticalMath (@politicalmath) March 2, 2012
AB was playing chess and the left/media were his pawns.Like I said in this tweet AB Rt'ed: twitter.com/#!/AG_Conserva…
— AG (@AG_Conservative) March 2, 2012
To all who are @HatingBreitbart: #IamAndrewBreitbart, #HeisAndrewBreitbart, #SheisAndrewBreitbart. #WeareAndrewBreitbart. War.
— Emily Richardson (@txgril) March 2, 2012
I heard this morning that Andrew Breitbart is dead. But I say he is still alive.
— Loren Heal (@lheal) March 2, 2012
"My candle burns at both ends, It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends - It gives a lovely light." Sleep well Andrew
— warnerthuston (@warnerthuston) March 2, 2012
Life is short--go make more enemies. #IAmBreitbart
— April Gregory(@aprildgregory) March 2, 2012
I miss our friend. Not just my friend, but everyone's friend on the right. #redeye #IamBreitbart
— Kristina (@ORlibertygal) March 2, 2012

subset: commoncrawl


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#2 I don't drink alcohol, therefore I never get to enjoy $9.50 pitchers on campus.
#3 I'm celibate, so I never have to go to the Pit on Wednesdays to try and get laid. I also never use the AMS health plan to cover my birth control pills. Or cold medicine. Or antibiotics.
#4 My parents pay my tuition, so I don't care if there's a student society to lobby to the government about student loans, student aid, and shit like that.
#5 I'm graduating soon, so I don't care about the $108 million brand new awesome SUB that is going to be built.
#6 All the VFM blogs are stupid, and I don't like unicorns, therefore I don't care if unicorn hack blogs exist.
#7 I don't like cheap but good food on campus, and I especially hate blue chip cookies.
#8 I never use the cheap Whistler Lodge. Whistler is stupid.
#9 I'm super smart so I don't use the services, like free tutoring.
#10 Nobody reads The Ubyssey.
#11 I never get sick, so I never use the AMS health plan for prescriptions. I have perfect eyesight and teeth, too.
#12 I have no friends, so I'm not a member of any clubs that would benefit from a Club Benefits Fund.
#13 I hate getting drunk at outdoor concerts like Block Party and Welcome Back BBQ (and thus have never made out with Mike Duncan)
#14 I hate the earth. Screw a sustainability fee, worms are stupid.
#15 I never use my mother fucking U-Pass.
Oh, plus: I will never be sexually assaulted, and none of my friends will. Because I can totally control that, so there's no need for me to consult with the Sexual Assault Support Centre.
Yeah, so, there's probably at least one reason why you should vote for the "$5" increase. I'm going to go drink cheap beer now.
For more information on the referendum, check out our page here.


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Brush fires consumed nearly 750,000 acres across Southern California between October 21 and November 18, 2003. Burn scars and vegetation changes wrought by the fires are illustrated in these false-color images captured on October 17 (top) and November 18 (bottom) by the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR). The images were created by displaying red, near-infrared and green spectral band data from MISR's nadir (downward-looking) camera as red, green and blue, respectively. Living vegetation appears in shades of green and urban areas appear pale grey and pink. Recently burnt areas can be identified by their dramatic changes from vivid green to brown hues several weeks later. The locations of the largest fires are indicated by an annotated version of the November 18 image.
The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer observes the daylit Earth continuously and every 9 days views the entire Earth between 82 degrees north and 82 degrees south latitude. These data products were generated from a portion of the imagery acquired during Terra orbits 20379 and 20845. The panels cover an area of about 241 kilometers x 162 kilometers, and utilize data from blocks 63 to 64 within World Reference System-2 path 41.
MISR was built and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Office of Earth Science, Washington, DC. The Terra satellite is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology.


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"A man who does not think for himself does not think at all."
Libertarians, more commonly known as Lolbertarians or Libretards, are ashamed of the fact that the vast majority of the world's politicians today are fat, ugly fugly vampires nurturing themselves by sucking the free spirit out of the back bones of ordinary citizens through methods of merging government power with corporate power, growing the police state at an alarming rate, and bailing out multibillionaire bankers and Wall Street investors who would otherwise fail in a free market society.
Libertarians therefore do not want to continue pretending that our politicians are democratically elected leaders. As such, many American libertarians are currently trying to flee the growing fascistic elements of their corporate-controlled government and reckless military-industrial-complex-turned-police-state by making a mass exodus to locations as far away from the political power centers as possible (sometimes even leaving America for obscure and remote parts of the world such as rural Iceland) where only the raccoons will hear their loud cries for liberty, because by now they realize that hiding from Big Brother is the only real option left.
The essence of libertarianism is that governments should stop controlling people's lives and should instead let individuals take care of themselves as if they were actually grown-up adults and not babies sucking off the teat of the nanny state, constantly whining about their inability to cope in the modern world. More-or-less intelligent people with free will should be capable of making their own decisions about what products to buy and what sorts of lifestyles are worth endorsing through the free support (or withdrawal) of their dollars. This is in direct opposition to the current practice of the IRS taking Americans' dollars through force to pay for bailouts of wealthy people, or to pay for endless overseas wars which Americans neither support nor know anything about since they are too busy playing Farmville or watching football on 72" LCD screens anyway.
Libertarians believe that if you are dumb enough to shop at Wal-mart and fat enough to eat at McDonald's, then that is obviously your problem and not theirs. Those kinds of people can go die of a heart attack in their stained lazy-boy chairs with barbecue grease dribbling down their triple chin as their illiterate mongoloid children run around barefoot without the benefit of tax-payer funded health care or public schools, because obviously these sorts of people should not be encouraged to have any more children. Some people call this view elitist, but Libertarians just call it the bitter truth of reality.
Libertarians despise the government because the trolls that run it abuse their power while for some strange reason believe that the people running corporations are all descendents of Ghandi. Well, actually no, they couldn't give a shit about Ghandi either, as he was obviously just another fame whore bent on "saving the world" and thus winning all the awards and accolades that go along with being The Great Philosopher of World Peace, and thus was no morally different than a CEO who happens to derive his/her personal reward in the form of money that is freely offered by consumers who obviously find merit in the product or service being offered. Be it world peace or Pepsi, consumers shape the world they want through the goods or services they demand. At some point it appears that people started to desire Pepsi more than World Peace, though this is obviously not the fault of Pepsi.
Comparison with Classical Liberalism[edit | edit source]
Classical Liberalism and Libertarianism are often confused by Brits who want to take cheap shots at the foundations of American political philosophy, and who are in denial about history and the happy fact that Americans won their little Revolutionary War and are, duh, winning! Or at least were winning up until the last few decades before the state grew too big and the masses became dumbed-down because state education does not encourage people to think for themselves and be strong willed, free thinking individuals who remember where their country came from in the first place. As such, Brits often partake in a bit of sadistic glee in watching our national downfall unfold.
Classical Liberalism started as people attempting to free themselves from authority, which at that time meant the British Monarchy. As soon as a new old authority came along in the form of corporations the Federal Reserve (see Rothschilds), Classical Liberals realized that Americans were now going to be wage slaves no matter what economic policies the federal government enacted. People against Authority later changed their name to Libertarians once the idea of big government authoritarianism somehow became synonymous with being "progressive". Why this happened, the classical liberals will probably never know. Later, capitalists Republicans realized that Libertarianism protects the rights of individuals to property ownership and the free market system, though they paid little attention to the civil liberties aspect of libertarianism which is actually far more fundamental to the philosophy than economics. Anti-Authoritarians have since tried to use the word Anarchist to escape the capitalists Republicans finally, but the capitalists Republicans still trying to be one step ahead tried to use Anarcho-Capitialism, though the Libertarians called them out on that move too, and dubbed the term "neo-cons". In 2024 Capitalists will call themselves Socialists. hopefully be extinct once and for all. Along with Republicans.
It is common for libretards to purposefully confuse their ideology with that of Classical Liberalism, so that sane people possibly drawn to the latter would be dragged to join the former as well. So especially in everywhere except America, where this is not needed, since people buy Libretardianism anyway.
Description[edit | edit source]
The typical "modern libertarian" is an anti-government, beer-drinking, crack-smoking, gun-toting, bomb-making, orgy-participating, porn-loving, South Park-watching, straight, male, American "don't fuck with me" motherfucker who lives with his mom and hates the state. Cheap sex, deadly flavors of the evil weed known as pot, and the latest and greatest style of handguns being available in every convenience store wouldn't concern a libertarian in the least. Libertarians are also known for opposing those evil commies, prudish Christians, and Arab types who seek to tyrannize the world with economic and personal repression based on dumb religious values and compassion paid for with other people's money. This includes, in the U.S.: the Democrats, Republicans, Ron Paul, Rand Paul and the Quakers, and in Canada: the Liberals, NDP, Greens, and Mounted Rangers.
The only honest libertarian to live to date is Ron Fucking Swanson.
History[edit | edit source]
Libertarianism is believed to have started in early 1884 when founding fathers John Locke and Thomas Jefferson decided to spice up their liberal values in order to impress Ayn Rand with whom they both were in love. When Miss Rand chose to propose to L Ron Hubbard instead, the two gentlemen founded the libertarian principle Anything Goes, lost their marbles and tried to assassinate Mr. Hubbard, an attempt that failed when John Locke sneezed, being allergic to gun powder.
Child porn, other issues, and child porn[edit | edit source]
Libertarians oppose the Iraq War, the War on Drugs, the War on Poverty, the War on War, and most other wars. Because, to quote Lysander Spooner, "War is the health of the state," and Libertarians are about having the state be atrophied and diseased whenever possible. Therefore, ironically, they support the War on the State - which, they assure us, will be launched "any day now."
Likewise, Libertarians oppose the war on kiddie porn. For one thing, kiddie porn studios are capitalistic, consistently turning handsome profits, which is what America is supposed to be about, Constitutionally at least; and they consistently employ nubile Americans over swarthy, chubby foreigners, so it is an America-first stance. Further, the war on kiddie porn is the stuff of victimless crimes, which Libertarians oppose at every turn. The kid already having been exploited, one more copy of a video is not going to do anyone any additional harm.
Indeed, the Libertarian Party website for a long time had a section devoted to choice kiddie porn. This was removed abruptly when the party's interest in "unlimited consumer choice" gave way to the obvious benefit of posturing about "filthy paedo scum who should be strung up with the commies," Republicans leading the way for Libertarians, as happens more than a little.
Indeed, Libertarians, who often wear shoes made by 5-year-old Siberian enslaved orphans, have scant grounds to complain about films being made around 14-year-old Danes whom their own government doesn't see fit to protect. Not that we would want it to.
Political views[edit | edit source]
Contrary to popular belief, Libertarians don't support anything and are avid complainers. Mostly consisting of PO'ed Republicans, the party is often criticized by socialists/democrats/commies for support for the well-known evil capitalism and not putting in enough community service hours. Libertarians claim that capitalism is vilified wrongly, but no one listens. They scream and shout for full freedom to do as you will so long as it doesn't infringe on the ability for others to do as they please (it is important to note, getting ahead of smartass commies, that fucking up the economy and the environment and starving your workers does not count as infringement of anything!). This has prompted some badass positions such as the slogan "Your rights end where mine begin" and bringing back the "Don't tread on me" flag. In short, if you don't like capitalism and freedom, then move to China and be happy in squalor. In case you don't know, China is famous for strictly regulating and controlling private businesses, especially the production of toys and milk, and for maintaining ridiculously high wages for the workforce, especially for those spoiled 8-year-olds.
Other less popular views:
- The freedom to practice any cult, including worship of Athe as a non-religion and non-cult.
- The freedom to have sex in public, anytime, anywhere. Even with children.
- The freedom to masturbate on the Sabbath, while listening to Black Sabbath.
- The freedom to masturbate to any freaky goat-related (or goat-unrelated) porn you can find.
- The freedom to star gay websites condemning homosexuality while masturbating, like the Log Cabin Republicans.
- For some reason, a lot to do with the freedom of masturbation.
- The freedom to not hire someone on the basis of his race, sexual orientation, religion, or smoking habit.
- The freedom to acquire enormous sums of fiat money
- The freedom to acquire any number of weapons and hire any number of mercenaries, which, they sincerely promise, will not be used to oppress anybody else.
- The freedom to hunt and consume smurfs.
- The freedom of a free market economy at the same time as anarchy or minanarchy as a system of government. Unlike Modern Liberals and Conservatives who allow anyone to do whatever they want as long as it agrees with their political agenda, Libertarians allow everyone to do whatever the hell they want even if it disagrees with their political agenda, that is if libertarians had a political agenda. Libertarians are not that well organized, and often disagree as to what a political agenda might be, so they all agree not to have one.
The Libertarian Song[edit | edit source]
To honor the sacred Libertarian cause, industrial-metal pioneer Oscar Wilde and his partner in crime, the famous novelist Trent Reznor, wrote these immortal lyrics of protest, which have been set to a famously stirring melody.
When the Libertarians come to town
Everything will turn upside down
No one will wear a frown
When the Libertarians come to town
The government will shrink to naught
Your coffee will always be hot
And it will be the cheapest you've ever bought
When the Libertarians come to town
You won't have to pay income taxes
No need to worry about downsizers' axes
The best companies will send you faxes
When the Libertarians come to town
The invisible Hand of Nature will keep
Every business exec and veep
On the straight and narrow, and we all will reap
Peace and plenty when the Libertarians come to town
The free market will improve every school
Child geniuses will become the rule
Our learning will make every nation drool
When the Libertarians come to town
When the Libertarians to Washington come
The streets will clear of vandal and bum
Pimps and pushers will get to run
Safe and legal businesses for everyone
When the Libertarians come to town
Send in the Libertarians...
Send in the Libertarians...
Won't someone, please, send in the Libertarians...
How to spot a Libertarian?[edit | edit source]
A Libertarian can be one of two people. The type of Republican you never see, named Fat-Cats, or the type of Democrats you don't want to see, named Politically Active Hippies. All forty-nine party members are difficult to find. There are very specific instructions in order to catch one.
- You'll have to wait for the autumnal equinox, as Libertarians are known to fly south for the summer. Once the first leaves start to turn orange and fall from trees, they'll migrate back to their colder environments. Along this journey, the majestic Libertarian will find itself faced with all kinds of perils: Swimming upstream, crossing the street against the light, and the polar bear from Lost. These trials will quickly slough away the migratory layer of fat that the party member gained when it burst forth from its cocoon just prior to the equinox, requiring nourishment to maintain its million mile journey home.
- Supplies are as follows: A cardboard box, a plate, a wad of twenties, some pot, a stick, a length of rope, a square of cardboard, a sharpie pen, and a faux bush. Place the goods onto the plate, and prop the box up with the stick. With your sharpie, write on the square of cardboard "FREE MONEYZ + POT!!!!" and place it to the right of the box (your right, the box's left). Finally, set up the faux bush to the left of the box (your left, the box's right) and hide behind it with the rope securely tied to the stick.
- Now, wait. Eventually, a wandering Libertarian will poke its head out of its hole. Should the Libertarian see you, it will immediately grow to 50 times its size and... Shall we say the result will not be pretty? This is why you are hidden behind your bush! Lucky you! When the target scampers to the plate, quickly yank the stick and trap them in the box! Hurrah!
- But you're not finished yet, no sir. You merely have an Libertarian-in-a-box. The first thing you'll have to do is wait a little longer. Inside a box is not the natural habitat for the wild Libertarian. The domesticated breed is comfortable with this settings, certainly, but unless you're in The Czech Republic it will be impossible to find any calm and domesticated party members. This is why you've placed pot and cash in the box. S/he will use their natural ability to spit embers to ignite the twenties and smoke their new bounty. Hopefully this will calm the captured beast after a half hour or so.
- Signal your (somewhat) non-hostile intentions via interpretive dance. Do not worry that the Libertarian cannot see you, they will "see" the vibrations caused by your dance and smell the pheromones you produce. This will place them in a receptive state, but receptive to what is another matter. Will must then recite the Warrior's Prayer to gain their favor.
"Gods of war I call You. My sword is by my side.
I seek a life of honor, free from all false pride and taxes.
I will crack the whip with a bold mighty hail to reduce government regulations.
Cover me with death if I should ever fail to not spam the internet with Stefan Molyneux's shitty videos.
Glory, Majesty, Unity!
Hail! Hail! Hail!"
- Now you're ready. Gently lift the box and make a wish.
Libertarians and the Internet[edit | edit source]
It is a well-known fact that since most Libertarians are aspiring engineers and IT guys, they rule the comment sections of the internet. However, in real life, their unkempt appearance and breath that smells of stale coffee and halitosis means that they usually are not taken seriously.
However, it is mainly their anarchistic anti-regulatory fault that you get so much spam.
Libertarians and Charity[edit | edit source]
There is a train of thought that tends to regard Libertarians as a bunch of self-centred, tax-avoiding Scrooges , but this is far from the case. In 2008, for example, the Libertarian funded "Give A Shit For The Starving Africans" foundation managed to raise 333,000,000 cubic tonnes of pot brownies which was duly shipped to the poorer areas. Reactions to this display of generosity were very positive, especially among Libertarians, and proved that all that was needed to improve Africa was some charity, some gumption and a whole lot less government.


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Home for the Holidays: 4 Reasons to Buy During the Off-Season
Instead of decorating your home for the holidays, why not buy a new one? While winter is part of the off-season in real estate, many buyers find that it's the perfect time of year to buy the home of their dreams. After all, you'll have a lot more fun decorating a new home than your current one. Here are some reasons to consider buying real estate in the off-season:
Fewer Buyers
More people choose to move during the spring and summer months than at other times of the year; therefore, when you choose to buy in the winter, you have fewer people looking at properties. This ultimately means you'll be up against less competition as you search for your new home.
Low Figures Accepted
When you buy during the off-season, you may be surprised that people accept your low bid amount. People don't want to wait long to sell their house, and they'll often settle for less during the winter. Most sellers who list their home in the winter are motivated to sell. Since there are fewer purchases being made, you can also usually get home inspections done at a faster rate, and mortgage companies may speed through your paperwork.
Personalized Attention
Your real estate agent only has 24 hours in their day. During busy times, those hours must be divided among more clients. During slower periods, however, the agent can focus more on your needs and desires. This allows them to find you the perfect property without having to see properties that aren't suitable for your needs. Most experienced real estate agents can tell amazing stories of houses that they saw sell during winter at a low price because the seller didn't want to wait until the warmer months.
Winter Heating
Approximately 30 percent of home energy is spent on heating and cooling a home. When you buy in the winter, you can find where the cold drafts are in a prospective home, allowing you to insist that they are fixed before you buy the home. Alternatively, finding these drafts quickly and fixing them yourself allows you to save money quickly. Fixing a draft may be as simple as applying weatherstripping to a gap.
There are many reasons not to wait until spring to buy your home. Buying in the off-season when not as many people are looking often allows you to get a home that you want at a lower cost. Then, you can be singing "I'll be Home for Christmas" this year!
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Syllabus | Opinion [ OConnor ] | Dissent [ Stevens ] |
HTML version PDF version | HTML version PDF version | HTML version PDF version |
The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader.
See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U.S. 321, 337.
MURPHY v. UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC.
Respondent United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS), hired petitioner as a mechanic, a position that required him to drive commercial vehicles. To drive, he had to satisfy certain Department of Transportation (DOT) health certification requirements, including having no current clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure likely to interfere with his/her ability to operate a commercial vehicle safely. 49 CFR § 391.41(b)(6). Despite petitioners high blood pressure, he was erroneously granted certification and commenced work. After the error was discovered, respondent fired him on the belief that his blood pressure exceeded the DOTs requirements. Petitioner brought suit under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the District Court granted respondent summary judgment, and the Tenth Circuit affirmed. Citing its decision in Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 130 F.3d 893, 902, affd, ante, p. ___, that an individual claiming a disability under the ADA should be assessed with regard to any mitigating or corrective measures employed, the Court of Appeals held that petitioners hypertension is not a disability because his doctor testified that when medicated, petitioner functions normally in everyday activities. The court also affirmed the District Courts determi-nation that petitioner is not regarded as disabled under the ADA,
explaining that respondent did not terminate him on an unsubstantiated fear that he would suffer a heart attack or stroke, but because his blood pressure exceeded the DOTs requirements for commercial vehicle drivers.
1. Under the ADA, the determination whether petitioners impairment substantially limits one or more major life activities is made with reference to the mitigating measures he employs. Sutton, ante, p. ___. The Tenth Circuit concluded that, when medicated, petitioners high blood pressure does not substantially limit him in any major life activity. Because the question whether petitioner is disabled when taking medication is not before this Court, there is no occasion here to consider whether he is disabled due to limitations that persist despite his medication or the negative side effects of his medication. P. 4.
2. Petitioner is not regarded as disabled because of his high blood pressure. Under Sutton, ante, at ___, a person is regarded as disabled within the ADAs meaning if, among other things, a covered entity mistakenly believes that the persons actual, nonlimiting impairment substantially limits one or more major life activities. Here, respondent argues that it does not regard petitioner as substantially limited in the major life activity of working, but, rather, regards him as unqualified to work as a UPS mechanic because he is unable to obtain DOT health certification. When referring to the major life activity of working, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines substantially limits as significantly restricted in the ability to perform either a class of jobs or a broad range of jobs in various classes as compared to the average person having comparable training, skills and abilities. 29 CFR §1630(j)(3)(i). Thus, one must be regarded as precluded from more than a particular job. Assuming without deciding that the EEOC regulations are valid, the Court concludes that the evidence that petitioner is regarded as unable to meet the DOT regulations is not sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether he is regarded as unable to perform a class of jobs utilizing his skills. At most, petitioner has shown that he is regarded as unable to perform the job of mechanic only when that job requires driving a commercial motor vehiclea specific type of vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce. He has put forward no evidence that he is regarded as unable to perform any mechanic job that does not call for driving a commercial motor vehicle and thus does not require DOT certification. Indeed, it is undisputed that he is generally employable as a mechanic, and there is uncontroverted evidence that he could perform a number of mechanic jobs. Consequently, petitioner has failed to show that he is regarded as unable to perform a class of jobs. Rather, the undisputed record evidence demonstrates that petitioner is, at most, regarded as unable to perform only a particular job. This is insufficient, as a matter of law, to prove that petitioner is regarded as substantially limited in the major life activity of working. Pp. 48.


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How To Grow Catnip From Seed Indoors
How To Grow Catnip From Seed Indoors: Your primary mission in life as a cat owner (according to your cats!) is to spoil them every day.
Growing catnip inside is an easy way to give your cat the attention she craves. The second rule in the cat owner's Bible is to garden for your cat. Of course, the first guideline is to adore and adore all the time!
Catnip (Nepeta cataria), a mint family member, isn't simply for cats. It's a calming herb that tastes great in salads and savoury dishes and makes an excellent tea. Catnip is a mild sedative that works in the same way that chamomile does in humans.
Catnip, also known as catmint, is a perennial herb with unbranched leaves. It thrives in USDA winter hardiness zones 3-9 and makes a lovely container plant. Catmint blooms throughout the spring and summer and then dies in the winter.
The herb bears small, unnoticeable white blossoms. Catnip's growth, like mint's, is solely limited by the container in which it is placed. Plants grow into and out of the containers they are placed in.
Despite the fact that the plant is perennial, many individuals prefer to start a new plant every year to keep the growth under control. Growing catnip indoors is a simple project that all cat owners should consider. It will save you money and become your cat's favourite pet for a short period of time.
Cats rarely attack or damage growing plants until the leaves are crushed or stroked, releasing a chemical that draws them and causes catnip fever, which is all too prevalent. Most cats aren't interested in the plant when it's first sprouting.
Of course, some cats are so enamoured with the plant that they will lie on it for hours.
Why Do Cats Love Catnip?
Catnip is well-known among our feline pals due to the presence of nepetalactone. When catnip leaves are rubbed or crushed, the essential oil is released, and the perfume serves as a warning signal to all around cats – a mild case of catnip fever!
The cats go mad when they smell the perfume and scamper around the neighbourhood like crazy. When catnip is ingested, however, the effect is exactly the opposite. After taking catnip, cats typically roll about, become calmer, and frequently shut down. Some cats, on the other hand, have the opposite reaction and become wild or vicious.
Catnip does not have the same effect on all cats. The sensitivity of a cat to catnip is hereditary, with just 50-60% of cats reacting. Kittens do not react to catnip because sensitivity does not appear until later in life.
Cats do not develop the catnip trait until they are between 3 and 6 months old. When you initially start giving your cats catnip, watch them see where they fall on the catnip sensitivity spectrum.
The effects of catnip typically last 1 to 2 hours, with the first 10 to 15 minutes being the most potent. Some cats have been known to overeat, but this is unusual. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don't eat too much.
Catnip grows beautifully on a bright, sunny windowsill. Catnip requires little upkeep when grown indoors, making it a great houseplant for novices with a green thumb.
Don't forget to incorporate catnip in your herb garden in the window. It's an easy addition to any herb garden, both inside and out. This post will teach you how to make catnip so that you may make all of the cats in your house your best friends.
Indoors and outdoors, catnip has the same growing season. The plant's growth decreases throughout the winter months as it goes dormant.
Catnip seeds grow best when they are stacked before planting. This may appear to be a challenging task, but it is actually rather simple. Place the seeds in a bag or tray and place them in the freezer overnight.
The next day, place them in a water dish and leave them for 12-24 hours. This technique reduces the natural protective covering of the seed, allowing it to germinate more quickly and reliably.
This approach of nurturing allows plants to grow faster and more successfully.
Use a pot that is at least 8 inches deep and 8 inches wide to allow for catnip development. Make certain that the pot's bottom contains drainage holes. If your feline buddies get too excited and try to knock the container over, we strongly advise against using delicate containers (such as clay or ceramic).
Combine potting soil and water in a large mixing bowl until moist but not saturated.
Fill the container halfway with the potting soil mixture and press down lightly.
Sprinkle the catnip seeds on top of the dirt and gently press them in until lightly covered.
Place the pot or container in a warm, sunny, and well-lit location. The growth of luxuriant catnip necessitates the presence of light.
Keep the soil moist by spraying it with water every day, but don't get it too wet.
The seeds will sprout in 8 to 15 days.
After the seedlings have germinated, reduce watering to every 4-7 days. Continue this procedure until the seedlings are 1 to 2 inches tall and well-established in their pot.
Water the plant every 7-12 days once it has established itself, or when the top inch of soil becomes slightly dry.
When the catnip has reached a height of 6-8 inches, begin harvesting by pinching off the leaves for your cat.
It is good for removing flower buds since it promotes leaf growth and spares the plant from expending energy on blossom production. Allow the blossoms to bloom and then clip them off as soon as they fade so they don't go to seed if you want to enjoy them.
Reduce winter watering and allow the plant to go dormant.
Harvest from pots as needed during the growing season. This perennial plant will continue to grow if properly cared for.
Fresh and dried catnip are both popular among felines. You can get the plant's leaves directly from it for your pet. To release the cat-friendly aroma, crush the leaves between your fingers.
Dried catnip is also tasty. Use a dehydrator or line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the plant to dry in direct sunlight. Be prepared for a sudden influx of neighbourhood kittens if you dry catnip outside!
Dry catnip should be kept in a cool, dry area in an airtight container. Could you also put it in the fridge for optimum effect? The efficacy of the herb deteriorates over time. As a result, keep growing plants to replace your house's supply of catnip.
The most difficult component of growing catnip indoors is making sure the plants get enough light. Plants require approximately six hours of direct sunlight per day to grow.
If you detect blossoms on the plant, remove them. The leaves will benefit by growing faster as a result of this. It will be appreciated by your feline buddies!
Keep your plants well-watered. Watering frequency is controlled by the plant's location, however, the growing plant should be watered at least once a week. Watering can be done once the top layer of soil is completely dry.
The surface should be completely dry to the touch.
If you don't have a windowsill or a sunny place, use grow lights. Indoor gardening frequently demands the addition of additional light sources, especially during the winter months. T5 fluorescent plant lights, as well as energy-saving LED lights, are ideal alternatives.
If your plant becomes lean, you should trim it. Alternatively, please wait until the plant has flowered before removing it, leaving around 3′′ in the pot. New growth will appear in a few weeks.
Catmint is susceptible to root rot, so water sparingly and only in pots or containers with drainage holes. It is advisable to water insufficiently rather than excessively. Avoid getting the soil too wet, as root rot is the major cause.
Propagation of catnip plants.
A single plant can provide the basis of an entire catnip garden (Nepeta cataria). Catnip grows swiftly from cuttings and seeds. Your feline pals think this is a fantastic idea! Your cat desires a catnip-filled kitchen garden.
At the start of the season, remove a little portion of the plant's fresh sprout. To protect the plant, cut the stem using scissors.
Lightly bury the clipping in a pot or container filled with moist potting soil. You can start numerous new plants at once.
The plant, like all plants developed from seed, requires plenty of sunlight and regular hydration. Never, however, let the soil become too wet.
The catnip plants will be established whenever new growth appears and can be added to the watering routine of your existing plants.
Catnip isn't only for cats.
Tea – Catnip tastes great when prepared in a teapot. Fresh and dried leaves both work well.
Salad: Toss fresh catnip leaves into a green salad for a unique flavour twist.
Pesto: Try replacing some of the basil leaves in pesto with catnip leaves.
Roasted vegetables: Finely chop catnip leaves and toss them into a vegetable marinade.
Finally, think about it.
If you have cats, you must have a catnip plant in the kitchen or on the windowsill (your cat informed me!). Every cat owner should keep several pots of catnip on hand. Growing catnip is a certain way to enrich your cat's life, provide a unique culinary spice for people, and turn your home into a miniature garden.
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The only exception to the above is Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) whose main campus is located in Penang. USM came in at position 111th in 2004 but disappeared altogether from the Top 200 in the current year's list. The only media comment I've read made by the vice-chancellor of USM on October 30th was highlighted in the earlier post.
USM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Dzulkifli Abdul Razak was also interviewed by the Star, for the drop from 111th to "unranked". He hypothesized that "the addition of new criteria such as the employer survey could have contributed to the sharp drop in the university's position."As discussed many times on this blog, this argument is total nonsense. The real and only reason why USM was even in the Top 200 in the first place, is because the guys engaged by THES to compile the data, QS QuacquarelliSymmonds Limited, made a major boo boo with the USM data. Because QS were likely to have treated Chinese and Indian students as "foreign students", USM was ranked an incredible 4th most international university in the world. See blog post here for a more detailed explanation. As a result, the "size" of the foreign students contingent in USM results in a surprisingly respectable position of 111th in the world universities rankings table.
However, for some reason or other, which I find really really really difficult to believe, the academics and administrators at the university appears to be totally oblivious to the above factual reason behind the dramatic "fall" in rankings by USM. The figures and facts to arrive at the above conclusion are easily available, published by THES and do not require any complex mathematical calculations at all.
Why then, do I read today, that the USM Vice-Chancellor has chosen to engage "a London-based consultant to report on the reasons for USM being dropped from the list of the world's top 200 universities".
The consultant will submit its report at a meeting with USM administrators on Nov 21, said vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak.If I'm not wrong, the "consultant" engaged by USM is the same party that conducted the above survey i.e., QS QuacquarelliSymmonds. This is because, the UM Vice Chancellor was quoted earlier to have stated that UM is also setting up a meeting with QS around the same time to "discover" the reason behind the fall in rankings as well as to better understand the methodology.
He said the consultant was required to report in detail the criteria used by the newspaper to evaluate the top universities this year, after ranking USM at 111th spot last year.
I wish USM will just pay me the consultant fees and I'll provide the reason(s) for the "fall" in rankings. I'll even give a big discount, saving Malaysian tax payers some valuable cash. Heck, I've published the analysis here for free already!
It is interesting also to find out what type of feedback QS will be giving UM and USM, since QS is the party contracted by THES to conduct the survey. Wouldn't there be some sort of conflict of interest if QS takes $$$ from the Malaysian universities?
And so what if UM and USM managed to better understand the methodologies behind the rankings table? Would both universities then decide to adapt and change the way to run the university in accordance to the table's ranking criteria just to improve the university's ranking? That just sounds a little too silly, right?
Wouldn't it be better for both universities to just focus on improving the quality of academics and facilities at the universities? The rankings will then naturally improve if our academics produces enough quality research valued by the peers and published regularly in respected journals. I just hope that the university administrators and the education authorities will get the priorities right!


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Tobii Eye Tracking
• Intensify your racing experience with Tobii Eye Tracking. Keep an eye on the challenges ahead or look around to check the competition by controlling the in-game camera with your gaze. Focus on the race with Clean UI, displaying additional information only when you need it.
About the Game
Win the 2017 World Championship, break every record in the fastest ever F1 cars, and race some of the most iconic F1 cars of the last 30 years. With an even deeper ten year Career, more varied gameplay in the new 'Championships' mode, and a host of other new features, both online and offline, F1 2017 is the most complete and thrilling F1 videogame ever.
F1 2017 gives the player unprecedented access to not only the on-track excitement of F1, but also the off-track dealings and vehicle development that goes along with it. The acclaimed career mode is updated to include additional practice programmes to help the driver hone their skills, an expanded Research and Development tree to provide greater depth and control over the development of the car, and the ability to manage engines and gearboxes over the course of the season.
Along with some stunning new locations and compelling characters to interact with, these enhancements all combine to provide the most complete experience in the world of F1 yet.
- The expanded career mode allows players to make history as they hone their skills and develop their car over multiple seasons. Delve deeper than ever before into the new vehicle management features that require the player to balance resource to improve performance, keep the car reliable, and avoid punishing grid penalties.
- Manage the six key components which each make up a modern F1 power unit and work to develop team skills such as pit stop times, Research and Development speed and new part reliability.
- There are also new Practice Programmes to master and earn resource points from, 'Fuel Management' and 'Race Pace', and stunning new and updated career locations form the immersive back drop to the off-track negotiations. The classic cars also take centre stage in the enhanced career mode as you are invited to race them in the new 'invitational events'.
- Other enhancements to the career mode in the new game include the addition of female driver avatars for the first time, new helmet designs from community competition winners, the ability to change car number and helmet design during the season, and the much-requested option to assign the prestigious number 1 to your career car when you win the Driver's Championship.
- The game includes iconic F1 cars of the past from five historic teams – Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull Racing, Renault and Williams, which are available to race across a variety of game modes. The classic cars are also integrated into the career mode, and can be raced in both Single Class and Multi Class Races.
- There are also new 'invitational events' with a variety of exciting gameplay modes that include: Overtake, Pursuit, Checkpoint Challenge and Time Attack.
- Players will race online with a full grid of 20 cars in either public or private sessions, with two dedicated 'spectator' spots added too. With improved multiplayer matchmaking, new online stats and a levelling system, and all multiplayer session types will allow the option of racing either the 2017 cars or the classic cars. The 'Event mode' has also been expanded to feature across all three platforms, along with a new competitive scoring system.
NEW 'CHAMPIONSHIPS' MODE AND NEW GAMEPLAY TYPES
- A new 'Championship Mode' allows the player to experience some unique race events that follow different rules and structures from the official Championship, allowing players to experience new and varied content within a championship structure.
- A first for the franchise, as well as the 20 official circuits, there are four additional track variants added to the game: Britain Short, Japan Short, USA Short and Bahrain Short, whilst Monaco at Night has also been created in stunning fashion.
Tobii Eye Tracking Support:
• Intensify your racing experience with Tobii Eye Tracking. Keep an eye on the challenges ahead or look around to check the competition by controlling the in-game camera with your gaze. Focus on the race with Clean UI, displaying additional information only when you need it


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Welcome to the website of SDO-SportTiming. Here you can find results of all events that are timed by us.
On most circuits you can look at TV's in Pit- and Vip-boxes. These TV's show the results of the actual race. With "Live Timing" it is possible to see these results on your laptop, tablet or smartphone, but with a better resolution and with more details. All you need is to connect to the Internet.


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Hightide Capri
The Sol Mat is a multi-use full body mat suitable for outdoor use, is travel-friendly and ergonomically designed for women. The marine-grade outdoor foam has been contoured to allow a woman's chest to fit comfortably when lying face down. The Sol Mat also incorporates a waterfall pillow for additional support for relaxation or for reading.
- Dimensions — 24"W x 66"L (open); 12"D x 24"H (closed)
- Upholstered in two outdoor fabrics: one non-stretch material that covers the majority of the mat and an outdoor stretch fabric covering the chest contour. The stretch fabric is made from a natural biomass called Chitosan made from crab shells.
- Incorporates straps and hardware that allow it to be rolled up and easily transported.
- Light-weight, and water, fade and mildew resistant.
- The foam has been contoured with a pillow for additional head support.
- Some common areas of use for the Sol Mat Resort Collection are at the beach, poolside or on a boat. It can also be complimentary and placed on a chaise lounge to elevate comfort.


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The three sources of Tafsir
translated and compiled by Abdulilah Lahmami
The first source of Tafsir is the Qur'an by the Qur'an. The scholar of Tafsīr, Ash-Shinqīṭi (1426H. 1/8) said, The scholars have unanimously agreed that the most honourable and noble type of Tafsīr is the Tafsīr of the Qurān by the Qurān since there isnt anyone who knows the meaning of the Qurān (more) than Allāh. If this type of Tafsīr has this lofty status, then there is no doubt that it is part of a fundamental methodology in understanding the Qurān correctly. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) himself said to his wife Aisha radhiallaahu 'anha, if you see some people following the unclear (verses) then they are the ones that Allāh named; so be warned from them. [Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhāri 5/166]. This was referring to the attitude of those trying to cause strife and doubts by quoting unclear verses with their own deviated explanation. These are fundamental principles of Tafsīr so as to avoid translators incorrectly translating the Qurān.
The second source of Tafsīr is the speech of the Messenger of Allāh (peace be upon him). The Qurān is explained by the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) because he was responsible for conveying the message. He is the most knowledgeable person of what Allāh intends with His speech.
وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought (Holy Qurān, Chapter 16: 44). Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, The Sunnah explains the Qurān and shows what it means and explains it further the authentic Sunnah does not contradict the Book of Allāh but rather it agrees with it and affirms it, but it clarifies and shows further (its meaning) to those who fall short in understanding the Qurān, for the Qurān has subtle meanings that are obscure to many people and in it are topics mentioned in the general sense and the Sunnah explains it. (Majmu Fatāwa: 21/131). Imam Muhammad bin Idrīs ash-Shafī said, Whenever the Messenger of Allāh gave a ruling, then it was what he understood from the Qurān.
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِمَا أَرَاكَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَكُنْ لِلْخَائِنِينَ خَصِيمًا
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which Allah has shown you. And do not be for the deceitful an advocate. (Holy Qurān, Chapter 4:105).
وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought. (Holy Qurān Chapter 16: 44).
وَمَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muhammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe (Holy Qurān Chapter 16: 64). This is why the Messenger (peace be upon him) said Indeed I have been given the Qurān and that which is similar to it. , meaning the Sunnah (cited in Ahkām Al-Qurān (1/21).
An example where the Qurān is clearly explained by the Prophetic tradition (hadīth) is in the verse in chapter 10:26:
لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا الْحُسْنَى وَزِيَادَةٌ
Those who have done righteousness, for them will be the best reward (paradise) and something more. This something more has been explained to mean seeing His face based upon the authentic Prophetic tradition reported by Abu Musa and Ubay ibn Kab and recorded by Ibn Jarīr and Ibn Abi Hātim. Also At-Tabari recorded it from the hadīth of Kab bin Ujrah. There is also a hadīth in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (no.449) narrated by Ṣuhaib bin Sinān from the Prophet (peace be upon him). Within this latter hadīth is the statement of the narrator that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, then the covering will be removed and they will not have been given anything more beloved to them than looking at their Lord. This interpretation is in harmony with other verses in the Qurān that confirm the believers seeing Allāh on the Day of Judgement such as, Some faces that Day shall be radiant, Looking at their Lord (Allāh) [75:22-23:]. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:
When those deserving Paradise would enter it, the Blessed and the Exalted would ask: Do you wish Me to give you anything more? They would say: Have you not brightened our faces? Have you not made us enter Paradise and saved us from the Fire? He (the narrator) said: He (Allāh) would lift the veil, and of the things given to them, nothing would be dearer to them than the sight of their Lord, the Mighty and the Glorious. He then recited the verse: {For those who do good is the best reward and something more} in chapter 10:26. [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]
He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) also said: You will see your Lord with your eyes. [Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhāri]
The third source of Tafsīr is the consensus of the companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and successors, especially those who were known for their knowledge and understanding of Tafsīr because the Qurān was revealed in their language and in the time where the companions were prevalent. Imam Dhahabi said, "If you want to be justly balanced, then restrict yourself to the Qurānic and prophetic texts, then look to what the companions and their successors conveyed, the scholars of Tafsīr with regards these verses and what they narrated from the methodology of the pious predecessors. Either you speak with knowledge or you stay quiet upon patience."
Abu Abdulrahman al-Sulami said, those who used to teach us the Qurān such as Uthmān bin Affān, Abdullah bin Masud would say: when we learnt from the Prophet (peace be upon him) ten verses we would not go beyond them until we learnt what these verses entailed of knowledge and action. So we learnt the Qurān, knowledge and action altogether. Ibn Kathīr (1/7) wrote in the preface of his Tafsīr, If we are unable to find a suitable Tafsīr in the Qurān or in the Sunnah, we go to the opinions of the companions. For verily, they knew the Qurān better than anyone else due to their knowledge of the circumstances of its revelation, their complete and accurate understanding of it and their righteous deeds. Abdullah bin Masud radhiallaahu 'anhu said:
By the One whom none has the right to be worshipped but Him, no verse from the Book of Allāh (that has been revealed) except that I know whom it was revealed for and where it was sent down and if I knew that there was a place where there was a person who is more knowledgeable of the Book of Allāh than me, then I would go to them (At- Ṭabari (15/60) with an authentic chain of narration).
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) himself supplicated for his cousin Abdullah bin Abbas: O Allāh give him the understanding of this religion and teach him the understanding of this (Qurān) (Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhāri 75 and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2477).


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The much-talked about Miu Miu satin babydoll platforms of spring 2010. When I finally did get them, they were too big for me. Even with wooly socks! Oh well, my mom will fit into them.
My beloved Miu Miu dragonfly heels, with some tights from Urban Outfitters.
In love with the sparkly tights from American Apparel…especially in this color. Worn with suede & patent Biba heels from a few years ago.
These Pradas are my obsession! Worn with vintage Levi's and socks from Anthropologie.
I had so much fun shooting these, I think I'll do another socks & shoes post in the near future. For now I have to pack for a quick trip to New York.


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For sightseeing, casual clothing and good walking shoes are appropriate; most restaurants don't require formal attire. For beach vacations, bring lightweight sportswear, a bathing suit, a beach cover-up, a sun hat, and waterproof sunscreen that is at least SPF 30. A sarong or a light cotton blanket makes a handy beach towel, picnic blanket, and cushion for hard seats, among other things.
If you're going to coastal cities like Rio, Florianópolis, and Salvador in summer (December, January, and February), dress more informally and feel free to wear flip-flops (thongs) all day—and don't forget your sunglasses. Southeastern cities like São Paulo, Curitiba, and Porto Alegre, which have lower temperatures, tend to be more formal and more conservative when it comes to clothing (sometimes even Brazilians are shocked by the way people in Rio dress). In urban areas it's always a good idea to have some nice outfits for going out at night.
Travel in rain-forest areas requires long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, waterproof hiking boots (sneakers are less desirable, but work in a pinch), a hat, a light waterproof jacket, a bathing suit, and plenty of strong insect repellent. (Amazonian bugs tend to be oblivious to non-DEET or non-picaridin repellents.) Other useful items include a screw-top water container that you can fill with bottled water, a money pouch, a travel flashlight and extra batteries, a Swiss Army knife with a bottle opener, a medical kit, binoculars, a pocket calculator, spare camera batteries, and a high-capacity memory card.


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Tuesday, November 8, 2011
8 comments:
- Jade said...
Nope, no sir, them bunnehs are up to somethin' fur sure...If I were you, RG, I'd hide the car keys and the credit cards and change the passwords on the computer.
- November 9, 2011 at 1:30 AM
- SixBunnies said...
Racer is just interviewing. It's part of his detective work. :)
- November 9, 2011 at 5:35 AM
- RG said...
@Jade - I've done all that. I still am worried sick.
- November 9, 2011 at 6:54 AM
- The Fab Furs said...
Given that weather forecast, is it any wonder that The Bunns are contemplating a trip to Palm Springs? Batten down the hatches! All furs and two-feets indoors with supplies in case the power goes out! Brrr...
- November 9, 2011 at 7:39 AM
- SixBunnies said...
I sure hope you all are all snuggled in and well supplied! Wear your "furs" around! It's the only way to wear fur! Hug a bunny and hang one over your shoulder! They keep you quite warm if you don't mind bunny hair in your nose and eyes.
- November 9, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- rabbit hutches said...
guess you must be pulling your hare out with worry i know i would be.
- November 9, 2011 at 1:58 PM
- Clovie Boy said...
I love a good storm...
- November 9, 2011 at 7:45 PM
- Rabbit Hutches said...
No Don't even think about it those chaps are really sneaky
- November 10, 2011 at 10:23 AM


text: Embassy of South Africa in Kiev, Ukraine If you are associated with this Mission, please click here and update the Mission's page. If you are not associated with this Mission, but would like to report incorrect information on this page, please choose one of the following options. We will review it and update the listing. The mission is closed. The mission has moved. The mission is vacant. This is a duplicate listing. The mission information is incorrect. The mission is open. Additional Comment Your Full Name Your Email Back to: Embassy of South Africa in Kiev, Ukraine


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If you google "low testosterone" you'll see lots of ads for testosterone replacement. Some are from pharmaceutical companies that sell testosterone, others from obvious snake-oil salesmen.
Both types of ads list vague sets of symptoms, encourage you to believe that they are pathologic, and want to sell you something to make you better. For example, the pharmaceutical company Solvay gives you a handy guide for speaking to your doctor, and a quiz to see if you have "low T". The quiz asks some questions that may be useful, but also asks very general questions about your sense of well being, and includes this gem:
I don't feel sick, I just don't feel like myself anymore. Could I have Low T?
The ad then gives this advice:
Because Low T signs and symptoms may not be clear and apparent, they may seem to be a normal part of aging or assumed to be caused by other health conditions. But talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of Low T. And ask to get tested. All it takes is a simple blood test that can be done during a routine checkup. If you do have Low T, your doctor may recommend treatments that can help bring testosterone up to normal levels and keep them there.
If you have diabetes, you should ask your doctor for a Low T test. The Endocrine Society recommends that all men with type 2 diabetes have their testosterone levels checked. Patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes have an increased chance of also having Low T.
Let's step back for a moment. What is being claimed is that low testosterone levels in males is a common cause of certain symptoms, and that testosterone replacement therapy can alleviate these symptoms. To evaluate this claim from the perspective of science-based medicine, we need to ask specific questions.
- Is there a plausible connection between testosterone levels and certain symptoms?
- What is a normal testosterone level?
- Are there specific symptoms that correlate with lower levels?
- Does replacement therapy correct these symptoms?
Testosterone is an important hormone in males, and the effects of complete testosterone deprivation are easily observed. Castration has different effects on males depending on whether it is done before puberty or after. Given the effect of total androgen (testosterone) deprivation, it is plausible that partial deficiency may lead to physiologic problems.
Defining normal testosterone levels is problematic though. Most studies show a decline in testosterone levels with age. What is "normal" at 30 is not "normal" at 70. Does this decline correlate with symptoms?
The answer isn't clear. Studies have shown that low testosterone levels are associated with different symptoms at different ages. In older men with sexual dysfunction, low testosterone levels were associated with severe erectile dysfunction and decreased frequency of intercourse. In younger men, low testosterone levels were associated with a decrease in nocturnal erections and reduced libido. In the middle of the studied age range, there were no significant associations between testosterone levels and sexual symptoms. What this may tell us is that in older men, low levels of testosterone likely contribute to severe symptoms of sexual dysfunction.
The answer to question 2 is that normal testosterone levels vary with age, the type of test used, and the time of day the blood is drawn. Testosterone decreases with age, and this decrease correlates with certain symptoms. Because of these and other data, the recommendation of the Endocrine Society (the most comprehensive and authoritative source) is to restrict the diagnosis of testosterone deficiency to men who have consistent symptoms and an unequivocally low testosterone level.
Question 3 has a difficult answer. As we've seen, in certain age groups, certain sexual symptoms correlate well with low T levels. There are some weak associations between less specific symptoms and testosterone deficiency (symptoms such as fatigue, loss of vigor, depressed mood, decreased physical performance). Most of these less specific symptoms can be caused by a variety of problems or by none at all.
So, the data support a connection between certain symptoms and low testosterone levels. Can testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improve these symptoms?
The evidence is mixed. There seems to be good evidence that testosterone replacement improves libido, but has little effect on erectile dysfunction (especially in younger patients). There is a paucity of placebo-controlled studies of TRT, but non-placebo-controlled trials show some improvements in energy and sense of well-being.
Several medical conditions are correlated with low T. Obesity fairly strongly correlated with low testosterone levels, but there are no consistent data that show an improvement in obesity with TRT.
In sum, testosterone deficiency is a real problem that may affect a small but significant number of men. The symptoms most consistent with low T are sexual problems, especially with age. Replacement therapy seems to help with these symptoms in some men. The ads for testosterone replacement therapy are, in my opinion, very problematic, nearing the point of deception. They seem to link all manner of vague and common symptoms to low T, and imply that the use of their product is likely to fix these problems. These ads explicitly instruct patients to ask for testing that may not actually be required. They shift the focus from a careful, methodical analysis of a difficult problem to frank disease mongering, encouraging the pathologizing of what may be normal symptoms, and offering up a costly therapy that may be no better than placebo, but with additional risk.
Corona, G., Mannucci, E., Ricca, V., Lotti, F., Boddi, V., Bandini, E., Balercia, G., Forti, G., & Maggi, M. (2009). The age-related decline of testosterone is associated with different specific symptoms and signs in patients with sexual dysfunction International Journal of Andrology, 32 (6), 720-728 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2009.00952.x
Spetz, A., Palmefors, L., Skobe, R., Str??mstedt, M., Fredriksson, M., Theodorsson, E., & Hammar, M. (2007). Testosterone correlated to symptoms of partial androgen deficiency in aging men (PADAM) in an elderly Swedish population Menopause, PAP DOI: 10.1097/gme.0b013e318057786b
Allan, C., Forbes, E., Strauss, B., & McLachlan, R. (2008). Testosterone therapy increases sexual desire in ageing men with low–normal testosterone levels and symptoms of androgen deficiency International Journal of Impotence Research, 20 (4), 396-401 DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2008.22
Reyes-Vallejo, L., Lazarou, S., & Morgentaler, A. (2007). Subjective Sexual Response to Testosterone Replacement Therapy Based on Initial Serum Levels of Total Testosterone The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 4 (6), 1757-1762 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00381.x
Bhasin S, Cunningham GR, Hayes FJ, Matsumoto AM, Snyder PJ, Swerdloff RS, Montori VM, & Task Force, Endocrine Society (2010). Testosterone therapy in men with androgen deficiency syndromes: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 95 (6), 2536-59 PMID: 20525905
Araujo, A., Esche, G., Kupelian, V., O'Donnell, A., Travison, T., Williams, R., Clark, R., & McKinlay, J. (2007). Prevalence of Symptomatic Androgen Deficiency in Men Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 92 (11), 4241-4247 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2007-1245


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The Matterhorn is a tightly woven traditional flat weave rug. The chevron pattern is created with two different thread thicknesses on the warp, contrasting with the black warp threads, to create the rugs distinctive style.
Created by craftsmen, using artisan skills, we give back to support the development of these communities through our membership of Care & Fair.
The tightness of the weave creates a hardwearing and durable rug that is suitable for use in any area of the home. Our Tar colourway overall looks like a mid-grey rug with highlight details.
Our handwoven Chevron floor rug consists of 70% Wool and 30% Cotton, features full cotton backing and edging for improved longevity and wear.
1.6m x 2.3m + 2m x 3m + 3m x 4m
We recommend treating spots and spills immediately with warm water and paper towel. If the stain persists, contact a professional rug cleaner as soon as possible. Do not scrub rugs as it may cause permanent pile damage. Vacuum regularly with low suction power. Avoid direct sunlight. Regularly rotate your rug to ensure even wear. Use professional rug cleaners only. Shedding of fibres from new rugs is to be expected and will reduce with time.


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Are Inheritances Taxable?
Inheritances come in all sizes and shapes. People inherit financial accounts, real estate, jewelry and personal items. However, whatever kind of inheritance you have, you'll want to understand exactly what, if any, taxes might be due, advises the article "Will I Pay Taxes on My Inheritance" from Orange Town News. An inheritance might have an impact on Medicare premiums, or financial aid eligibility for a college age child. Let's look at the different assets and how they may impact a family's tax liability.
Bank Savings Accounts or CDs. As long as the cash inherited is not from a retirement account, there are no federal taxes due. The IRS does not impose a federal inheritance tax. However, there are some states, including Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, that do have an inheritance tax. Speak with an estate planning attorney about this tax.
Primary Residence or Other Real Estate. Inheriting a home is not a taxable event. However, once you take ownership and sell the home or other property, there will be taxes due on any gains. The value of the home or property is established on the day of death. If you inherit a home valued at death at $250, 000 and you sell it a year later for $275, 000, you'll have to declare a long-term capital gain and pay taxes on the $25, 000 gain. The cost-basis is determined, when you take ownership.
Life Insurance Proceeds. Life insurance proceeds are not taxable, nor are they reported as income by the beneficiaries. There are exceptions: if interest is earned, which can happen when receipt of the proceeds is delayed, that is reportable. The beneficiary will receive a Form 1099-INT and that interest is taxable by the state and federal tax agencies. If the proceeds from the life insurance policy are transferred to an individual as part of an arrangement before the insured's death, they are also fully taxable.
Retirement Accounts: 401(k) and IRA. Distributions from an inherited traditional IRA are taxable, just as they are for non-inherited IRAs. Distributions from an inherited Roth IRA are not taxable, unless the Roth was established within the past five years.
There are some changes coming to retirement accounts because of pending legislation, so it will be important to check on this with your estate planning attorney. Inherited 401(k) plans are or eventually will be taxable, but the tax rate depends upon the rules of the 401(k) plan. Many 401(k) plans require a lump-sum distribution upon the death of the owner. The surviving spouse is permitted to roll the 401(k) into an IRA, but if the beneficiary is not a spouse, they may have to take the lump-sum payment and pay the resulting taxes.
Stocks. Generally, when stocks or funds are sold, capital gains taxes are paid on any gains that occurred during the period of ownership. When stock is inherited, the cost basis is based on the fair market value of the stock or fund at the date of death.
Artwork and Jewelry. Collectibles, artwork, or jewelry that is inherited and sold, will incur a tax on the net gain of the sale. There is a 28% capital gains tax rate, compared to a 15% to 20% capital gains tax rate that applies to most capital assets. The value is based on the value at the date of death or the alternate valuation date. This asset class includes anything that is considered an item worth collecting: rare stamps, books, fine art, antiques and coin collections fall into this category.
Speak with an estate planning attorney before signing and accepting an inheritance, so you'll know what kind of tax liability comes with the inheritance. Take your time. Most people are advised to wait about a year before making any big financial decisions after a loss.
Reference: Orange Town News (May 29, 2019) "Will I Pay Taxes on My Inheritance"


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ASU, USGS project yields sharpest map of Mars' surface properties
A heat-sensing camera designed at Arizona State University has provided data to create the most detailed global map yet made of Martian surface properties.
The map uses data from the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), a nine-band visual and infrared camera on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter. A version of the map optimized for scientific researchers is available at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The new Mars map was developed by the Geological Survey's Robin Fergason at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, in collaboration with researchers at ASU's Mars Space Flight Facility. The work reflects the close ties between space exploration efforts at Arizona universities and the U.S. Geological Survey.
"We used more than 20,000 THEMIS nighttime temperature images to generate the highest resolution surface property map of Mars ever created," says Fergason, who earned her doctorate at ASU in 2006. "Now these data are freely available to researchers and the public alike."
Surface properties tell geologists about the physical nature of a planet or moon's surface. Is a particular area coated with dust, and if so, how thick is it likely to be? Where are the outcrops of bedrock? How loose are the sediments that fill this crater or that valley? A map of surface properties lets scientists begin to answer questions such as these.
Darker means cooler and dustier
The new map uses nighttime temperature images to derive the "thermal inertia" for areas of Mars, each the size of a football field. Thermal inertia is a calculated value that represents how fast a surface heats up and cools off. As day and night alternate on Mars, loose, fine-grain materials such as sand and dust change temperature quickly and thus have low values of thermal inertia. Bedrock represents the other end of the thermal inertia range: because it cools off slowly at night and warms up slowly by day, it has a high thermal inertia.
"Darker areas in the map are cooler at night, have a lower thermal inertia and likely contain fine particles, such as dust, silt or fine sand," Ferguson says. The brighter regions are warmer, she explains, and have surfaces with higher thermal inertia. These consist perhaps of coarser sand, surface crusts, rock fragments, bedrock or combinations of these materials.
The designer and principal investigator for the THEMIS camera is Philip Christensen, Regents' Professor of Geological Sciences in the School of Earth and Space Exploration, part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on the Tempe campus. (Four years ago, Christensen and ASU researchers used daytime THEMIS images to create a global Mars map depicting the planet's landforms, such as craters, volcanoes, outflow channels, landslides, lava flows and other features.)
"A tremendous amount of effort has gone into this great global product, which will serve engineers, scientists and the public for many years to come," Christensen says. "This map provides data not previously available, and it will enable regional and global studies of surface properties. I'm eager to use it to discover new insights into the recent surface history of Mars."
As Fergason notes, the map has an important practical side. "NASA used THEMIS images to find safe landing sites for the Mars Exploration Rovers in 2004, and for Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory rover, in 2012," she says. "THEMIS images are now helping NASA select a landing site for its next Mars rover in 2020."


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Carnival of Color
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A bouquet of outrageous beauty, our Carnival of Color Bouquet offers a playful collection of vibrant-toned flowers: orange lilies, lavender daisies, blue iris/purple asters, red gerberas, and so much more. This large and luxury arrangement is wrapped in eco-friendly and reusable burlap.
- Free Standard delivery if you order online
- Standard arrangement size – Approximately 15″ W x 22″ H
- 4 orange lilies, 5 red and yellow gerberas, 5 purple and yellow daisies, 3 purple iris, 4 red alstroemeria, accented with exotic greens and purple statice.
- The complimentary card is included
- Vase not included
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UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications Omar bin Sultan Al Olama is participating in the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) from 15th-18th June, 2022. In his address, Al Olama highlighted the depth and breadth of UAE-Russia relations, the importance of strengthening the ties towards economic cooperation in a way that achieves the development goals of the two countries and ensures a prosperous future for their peoples.
In the course of his participation, the Minister signed an agreement of intent to arrange for UAE participation at the SPIEF's next edition in 2023 as the forum's guest of honor, noting that the forum helps open up broader opportunities for bilateral trade, development, and investment. Al Olama met on the sidelines of the forum with a number of Russian ministers and officials, as well as delegations from the participating countries. They discussed the prospects of bolstering economic cooperation over the next period.
The UAE and the Eurasian Economic Commission, the permanent body of the Eurasian Economic Union, also signed an MoU on enhancing trade and economic cooperation between EEU member states and the UAE. Cooperation areas include customs, financial markets, transportation, the agro-industrial sector, industry, intellectual property, information and communication technology, as well as digital transformation of the economy.


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Photo by Laura Gerhart.
Ann Menebroker
by Mary Zeppa
Oh, a babe called Menebroker
has just turned three score and ten.
She is one delicious woman.
Manna flows out of her pen.
(from "Glory, Glory Menebroker!," to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," written by Mary Zeppa for Ann Menebroker's 70th birthday)
AND INDEED IT DID: manna, wisdom, wry and lively humor and the kind of plainly spoken home truths all too seldom set down in a poem. When Annie Menebroker died on July 9, our poetry community lost both a unique poetic voice and one of the warmest hearts it's ever been my pleasure to meet.
Full disclosure: we were friends. Friends–through thick, thin and everything in between–of nearly four decades. I often say that I was "not quite present at the creation" of the Sacramento Poetry Center. While Annie wasn't one of the original crew (who held readings in coffee shops and people's houses, who helped take-down-to-the-walls-and-create-anew our first "home" at Sierra 2), she got there before I did. And she'd been on the "poetry scene" for quite awhile before that. Annie and Joyce Odam met in a poetry class in the '60s. To quote Joyce's recent reminiscence in Medusa's Kitchen: "She is my 'original poet' friend. We were fledglings together."
By the time I met Annie (sometime in the 1970s), she was fully fledged: already both a widely published poet and an experienced editor and publisher. But so low-key and unassuming, so modest—Jane Blue once (if memory serves) called her "the most egoless poet I've ever met"—you'd never know it. We became fellow SPC volunteers and Board Members. Annie served as, among many other things, our Librarian. She also (with Doug Blazek and C. K. Dobbs) edited our first anthology (a much bigger deal in pre-computers-everywhere days) Landing Signals. She was with us when Robert Bly came (twice) to read. With us for our first conference (held at California State University, Sacramento) featuring William Stafford, Sandra McPherson and Dennis Schmitz. And she was with us (ah, the vagabond years) when we moved out of Sierra 2 and into a much less settled future.
Even after Annie left behind Board membership and active volunteering, she was a steady and supportive presence in our poetry (our arts) community. In the last decade, after her eight-plus years ago diagnosis with liver cancer, Annie was a wonder. She decided that if she was going to live, she was going to LIVE. And she was everywhere, taking it all (poetry, music, theater, art) in, cheering us all on.
Annie never stopped writing and publishing. In recent years (far as I know) she never "submitted". But plenty of people asked her for poems. A chapbook, intended to commemorate her eightieth birthday, arrived the week after her death. Now and again, she'd get up at an open mic. Once in a great while, she'd succumb to somebody's blandishments and take a brief spin as a featured reader.
Early in 2013, I persuaded Annie we should start taking regular walks in McKinley Park. First once, then twice, a week, for three years, we circled the park proper and the Garden and Arts, walking and talking, laughing and condoling, finishing it off with more talk on "our bench" facing the duck pond. We talked, no holds barred, about anything and everything. It enriched and deepened, beyond measure, our friendship. Each of us wrote poems about that park, those walks. Just before I left for a February-March writer's residency in Illinois, we celebrated our third anniversary with breakfast at Orphan and a victory lap. We were incredibly pleased with ourselves.
Like so many people in our community, I loved Annie very much. I'd like to say we had a special friendship. I imagine many people reading these words would say the same. And we'd all be right. Because, as Jane Blue so perfectly said, "Annie had a talent for friendship."
When our history is written,
there'll be more than one doyen
but there's only one Miss Ann.
(from "Glory, Glory Menebroker!," Mary Zeppa)
Reprinted with permission from Poetry Now, A Quarterly Publication of the Sacramento Poetry Center, poetrynowblog.wordpress.com.
Mary Zeppa is the author of My Body Tells Its Own Story. She is a singer, lyricist, poet, literary journalist, and a founding editor of The Tule Review. She has been active in the Sacramento Poetry Center since 1981.
— posted September 2016