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1 Megabyte, 62 Games Cartridge for the Commodore 64/128 SX64, 27C801, BRAND NEW.
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Part of the Punit Collection (PuniKore) line of poseable PVC figures with fabric costumes, this is an appealing depiction of "ARIA The ORIGINATION" featuring Alice from the Orange Planet Company.
Alice is made into a super-deformed figure, and her clothes, facial expression are made into detail. Alice features movable joints in her body, allowing her to be displayed in a variety of poses. In addition, her soft, fabric outfit can be taken off as well.
Her optional item is the trademark of Undine - her huge oar with the number "18" printed.
These pictures were taken by MegaHouse or authorized person. Please visit manufacturer's home page in order to learn more. © 2008 Kozue Amano / Mag Garden - Aria Company. All rights reserved.


text:
module Azure::DataMigration::Mgmt::V2018_07_15_preview
  module Models
    #
    # Defines values for DataMigrationResultCode
    #
    module DataMigrationResultCode
      Initial = "Initial"
      Completed = "Completed"
      ObjectNotExistsInSource = "ObjectNotExistsInSource"
      ObjectNotExistsInTarget = "ObjectNotExistsInTarget"
      TargetObjectIsInaccessible = "TargetObjectIsInaccessible"
      FatalError = "FatalError"
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home » Library » Christ on the Silk Road The Evidences of Nestorian Christianity in Ancient China / Glen L. Thompson
Christ on the Silk Road The Evidences of Nestorian Christianity in Ancient China / Glen L. Thompson
Posted by admin on May 29, 2013 in Library | Comments Off on Christ on the Silk Road The Evidences of Nestorian Christianity in Ancient China / Glen L. Thompson
In 2001, the author, ecumenist, and BBC broadcaster Martin Palmer
announced the discovery of a seventh- or eighth-century Christian
pagoda in central China. Palmer's claims were reported in Christianity
Today and U.S. News and World Report.
I was teaching in Hong Kong that year and had been planning a ten-day
trip into China when I first heard the news. As a church historian, I
was intrigued. I was able to get a rough idea of the location and
added an extra day to my itinerary in the hope of visiting the site.
It lies about thirty miles southwest of the ancient Tang Dynasty
capital that today is called Xi'an, in the famous area of Lou Guan
Tai, now a national park.
The Da Qin Pagoda
Lou Guan Tai sits at the base of a pass leading westward through the
Qingling Mountains. Something about its location—its feng shui—made
the site revered as a spiritual place, and in the sixth century B.C.,
the scholar Laozi (or Lao-Tzu) is said to have settled there to pursue
the Tao after leaving the royal court in disgust at its worldliness.
Here he wrote Tao Te Ching, "The Book of the Way and Its Power,"
founding the philosophy known today as Taoism.
Lou Guan Tai later grew into an important Taoist center, and it was
just a mile or two to the west, either just inside or outside the
Taoist complex, that twelve centuries later the Da Qin monastery was
built by Christian monks. Only one tower of the monastery remains, a
seven-story pagoda that Palmer says was near to falling.
Since Palmer's announcement, repairs have been made, and the tower now
seems in rather good shape for a 1,300-year-old structure. It is
octagonal and looks exactly like other ancient Chinese pagodas. In a
Chinese book of 1563, the pagoda is clearly named and described, and
at that time had even more extensive ruins visible.
Palmer cites four strands of evidence that point to this as a
Christian structure: (1) Its name, Da Qin, links it with an earlier
Christian mission (more on this below); (2) the pagoda was cut into
the hillside so as to face east, whereas all Chinese temples face
north and south; (3) several lines of Syriac graffiti were found in or
near the structure; and (4) several pieces of Christian statuary were
found on the second and third floors of the pagoda. By the time of my
visit, the statuary had been moved for safekeeping until a new museum
could be built, so the description I give here is based solely on that
of Palmer and the photographs reproduced in his book.
The statue that dominated the second floor of the pagoda was a
10-foot-high and 5-foot-wide mountain scene. In the mountain was a
cave, and in the cave a remnant of a nativity scene. The only parts
surviving are a bent right leg and an extended left leg. Such a
posture, Palmer says, is unknown in Chinese art, but is common in
Eastern Orthodox renditions of Mary in nativity scenes.
The third-floor statue, 6 feet high and 4 feet wide, is also in poor
condition. The background here, however, can clearly be identified as
a city wall (with Chinese-style bell and drum towers). Also visible is
a tree with the remnants of a human figure seated beneath it. Palmer
has identified the scene as Jonah beneath the gourd tree outside
Nineveh.
Although these identifications should be accepted with much caution,
when its features are taken as a whole, there seems good reason to
identify the pagoda as an ancient Christian structure. It had, after
all, been identified as such—back in 1933. As Palmer admits in The
Jesus Sutras (2001), "the pagoda was believed by Saeki and other China
scholars who had visited the site in 1933 to be associated with the
early Christian Church." Indeed, Peter Yoshiro Saeki, a Japanese
religious scholar, had asked some local Chinese scholars to visit the
site, and they confirmed that it was the remnant of a Nestorian
building complex; they saw the same statuary Palmer discovered 65
years later.
Dr. Saeki, author of The Nestorian Documents and Relics in China
(1937), had long been on the trail of Christianity in China. Back in
1916, the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge published
his The Nestorian Monument, a book about a well-known Chinese
Nestorian stele.
When I visited the pagoda in 2001, I was also able to see this even
more important early Christian monument, the Nestorian Stele. These
two monuments, along with a third discovery, the Chinese equivalent of
the Dead Sea Scrolls, confirm that there was a significant Christian
presence in seventh- and eighth-century China. An examination of these
artifacts also highlights some of the problems missionaries encounter
when presenting the gospel to a new and alien culture.
The Nestorian Stele
In 1623 an ancient stele was discovered near Xi'an, just thirty miles
from the Christian pagoda. By 1625, the stele's inscriptions had been
published by the Jesuit Father Trigault. In the early twentieth
century the stele stood near a Buddhist temple, a mile outside the
western gate of Xi'an. In 1907 it was moved to its present location
among the Xi'an historical museum's famous collection of ancient
steles.
The tablet stands about eight feet high, is just over three feet wide,
and about a foot thick. It weighs nearly two tons. It contains 32
vertical lines with approximately 1,800 beautiful and well-preserved
Chinese characters. Setting this inscription apart from similar
ancient inscriptions are the words in its bottom margin—23 short lines
in ancient Syriac script. On the narrow sides of the stone are an
additional 70 lines in Chinese and Syriac.
Atop the stone is a heading of nine characters. Two characters— Da
Qin—mean "from the West" and could refer to anything arriving in China
from the West. In other documents from the period, they refer to the
Roman Empire, Palestine, or another Middle Eastern country. The
heading can be translated "The Monument That Commemorates the Spread
of the Western Religion of Light in China."
The stele dates itself to Sunday, February 4, 781, and was composed by
a Christian priest whose name is given in Chinese as Jingjing and in
Persian as Adam. He is a "priest of a Da Qin monastery," and "priest
and rural bishop and Papash of Chinestan." He is probably the same
Adam who is mentioned in one of the Christian manuscripts we will
mention later as translator of more than 30 Christian books into
Chinese.
The main text begins with an extended eulogy to "the One who is true
and firm, the Uncreated, the Origin of Origins . . . our Aloha
[Elohim], the Triune, the mysterious Person, the unbegotten and true
Lord." This long passage also describes "the Messiah," who in "his
true majesty appeared on earth as a man. . . . A virgin gave birth to
the Holy One in Da Qin. A bright star announced the blessed event."
It also states that "27 standard works of his sutras (or scriptures)
were preserved," a clear reference to the New Testament. "His law is
to bathe with water and with the Spirit and thus to cleanse from all
vain delusions and to purify men until they regain the purity of their
nature." "[His ministers] carry the cross with them as a sign, and
travel about wherever the sun shines and try to re-unite those that
are outside the kingdom." This religion is referred to as "The
Way"—"but its meritorious workings are shown so brilliantly that we .
. . call it by the name of 'the Luminous Religion'" (adaptation of
Saeki's translation).
The text then recounts the arrival of Christian missionaries at Xi'an,
the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. The mission team was led by "a
highly virtuous man named Alopen in the kingdom of Da Qin," who
"arrived in Xi'an in the ninth year of the period named Zhenguan"
(A.D. 635). "The Emperor dispatched his Minister of State, Fang
Xuanling, with an imperial guard, to the western suburb to meet the
visitor and conduct him to the palace. The sutras were translated in
the Imperial Library. [The Emperor] studied The Way in his own
Forbidden apartments, and being deeply convinced of its correctness
and truth, he gave special orders for its propagation."
The text then quotes the imperial decree about this new religion,
issued by the emperor in 638, which concludes, "This teaching is
helpful to all creatures and beneficial to all men; so let it have
free course throughout the Empire."
We are then told that a monastery was built in the capital, a portrait
of the emperor was hung in it, and 21 priests were ordained to serve
there. When the Emperor Tai Zong died, he was succeeded by Gao Zong
(650–683) who "allowed monasteries of the Luminous Religion to be
founded in every prefecture . . . and the law spread throughout the
ten provinces. . . . Monasteries were built in many cities while every
family enjoyed great blessings."
The text goes on to describe how, between 698 and 712, first Buddhists
in the East, then Taoists in the West slandered the new religion. But
Christian leaders rose up to strengthen the church; under Emperors
Xuan Zong (712–756), Su Zong (756–762) and Dai Zong (763–779) the
church again flourished with royal favor. This section of the text
then concludes with praise for the present emperor, De Zong (780–805).
The blessings of that time are then enumerated, closing with "all
these are the meritorious fruits of the power and working of our
Luminous Religion."
This is followed by a eulogy for the Christian dignitary who likely
paid for the stele, Yi Si. He is described as a highly decorated court
official and general in the Chinese army of the three emperors, but
also as a priest and rural bishop of Khumdan.
The last major part of the inscription is a lengthy poem honoring God
and the emperors who championed his church. The concluding lines give
the imperial date, name the ruling patriarch of the "Luminous
Communities of the East," and name the artist who inscribed the text
on the stele. The Syriac sections give a list of names of over 70
bishops, priests, and monks.
The story told in the inscription was so amazing that, after the
inscription's publication in the early seventeenth century, its
authenticity began to be questioned. Debate and study continued
periodically until, by the late nineteenth century, numerous scholars
had personally examined the stone and vouched for its authenticity.
However, it took a second great archaeological event to lay any final
doubts to rest—the discovery of the scrolls of Dunhuang.
The Scrolls from Dunhuang
In 1908 the French archaeologist and explorer Paul Pelliot came upon a
cave at Dunhuang, 800 miles northwest of Xi'an (1,350 miles due east
of Samarkand), that had been sealed in 1036. Inside was a treasure
trove of ancient art and manuscripts. While many of the precious
scrolls were taken to the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, others
found their way onto the black market. Among those that surfaced in
private collections during the following decades were a number of
Christian texts.
One set of four texts may have been authored by Alopen himself, the
leader of the mission journey in 635. The oldest of the texts is the
Jesus the Messiah sutra, purchased in 1922 by Dr. Takakusu. Prof.
Saeki dates the text between 635 and 638, declaring it the first
Nestorian sutra ever composed in China. A second manuscript contains
three other early sutras attributed to Alopen—a Discourse on
Monotheism, a Parable, Part 2, and a Lord of the Universe's Discourse
on Almsgiving. These were purchased in 1916 by another Japanese
collector, Mr. Tomeoka. All four of the documents were published in
1931 by the Kyoto Institute of the Oriental Culture Academy with an
introduction by Prof. Haneda, and dated to c. 641.
A second series of documents also supposedly came from the caves at
Dunhuang but are held to be of later date. A hymn, On the Adoration of
the Trinity, a work, On Mysterious Rest and Joy, and an excerpt of a
work, On the Origin of Origins, are usually dated to the late eighth
century, about the same time as the stele was erected. Two other
documents—a hymn, On Penetrating Reality and Taking Refuge in the Law,
and a second work, On the Origin of Origins—are now considered by most
scholars to be modern forgeries (the Dunhuang discoveries spawned an
active market for forgers). A final tenth-century work is entitled The
Book of Praise and seems to be equivalent to the diptychs and
triptychs used in the early Greek and Latin churches, a set series of
prayers and thanksgiving to God for various living and departed
Christian saints and leaders.
While additional archaeological evidence came to light in the early
twentieth century confirming that the Nestorian branch of Christianity
spread in many areas along the Silk Road, it was not widely noted by
scholars. Except for Dr. Saeki's excellent and thorough 1951 book in
English, the story of the Nestorian church in China fell into almost
total obscurity among English-speaking scholars until Martin Palmer
made his announcement of the Christian pagoda that still stands in
central China, not far from the Nestorian stele.
Christians on the Move
The dramatic story of the arrival of Alopen at the imperial court
captures the imagination, perhaps too easily. The church historian
immediately thinks of parallel stories in which the ruler is converted
and the people quickly follow—Abgar of Syria and Vladimir of Kiev,
among others. Is this what happened?
A closer look gives a slightly different picture. While Alopen
certainly played an important role in the spread of Christianity in
China, he was not the first to do so. Christian traders had
undoubtedly shared their faith in China in the first centuries of the
Church, since there is much evidence of trade between China and the
Roman Empire.
In 431 the Council of Ephesus excommunicated Nestorius together with
his followers for holding that there were two separate persons in the
incarnate Christ (one divine and the other human). Nestorius's
teachings, however, had a strong following in the East that gradually
coalesced into a separate "Church of the East." When the Western
church, with its imperial backing, began physically enforcing the
council's decisions, many Nestorians moved across the border into
Persia, where they soon dominated the growing church.
In 424 what was to become the Nestorian church had bishoprics as far
east as Merv (in what is now Turkmenistan). Back in Persia, by the
mid-sixth century the local magi and other leaders of Zoroastrianism
had gained enough political influence to begin a severe persecution of
Christians. About the same time, Monophysite Christians were steadily
gaining influence in Persia as well. By the early seventh century,
persecution became a normal part of life for all Persian Christians,
and many opted to leave. Since the West still did not allow freedom of
worship, and Islam was beginning to foment in the south, and the north
was barred by mountains, east was the natural direction to go.
Only occasionally do historical sources give us details of this
migration. One example is from a Chinese record of 578, telling how a
large Nestorian family from Mar Sagis emigrated from the western lands
to Lintao (Gansu Province). Another involves the upheaval caused by
fighting between the eastern Turks and the Chinese around 630. In the
aftermath, about 1.5 million people migrated into China, 10,000
families settling in Xi'an alone. These immigrants would have brought
their religion with them—Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and Nestorian
and Monophysite Christianity.
So the gospel did not first penetrate China with Alopen's mission. The
faith had spread through China at the grassroots level for some time
before. What Alopen did achieve, however, was bringing the visible
church and its organizational structure to China. Before his arrival,
Christians may have worshiped at home, may have had only limited
access to the sacraments, and probably had few if any trained clergy.
Alopen, under official patronage, was able to set up a series of
churches and monasteries that could provide what had been missing,
with the monasteries, as in the West, serving as theological schools.
Royal Patronage
Imperial patronage did not necessarily mean imperial conversion. The
Nestorian Stele commends Emperor Gao Zong for "giving the True
Religion (Christianity) the proper elegance and finish, causing
monasteries of the Luminous Religion to be founded in every
prefecture, and honoring Alopen as great Patron and Spiritual Lord of
the Empire." But we also know from other historical sources that in a
decree of 666, the same emperor honored Laozi with the title "Most
High Emperor of Mystic Origin" (placing him above even Buddha and
Confucius), ordering temples to be built to him, and ordering high
officials to study his writings.
Chinese tradition and culture did not make it necessary to choose one
religion over another. A wise person might well hedge his bets by
extolling and supporting several religions simultaneously. While the
royal patronage was real and was highly significant and useful, it was
not exclusive.
What imperial patronage did provide was legality and backing. The
statements about building churches and monasteries in every province
were not mere hyperbole. The geographical spread of surviving evidence
confirms that Christianity did spread significantly during this
period. Yet it probably never became more than one of the many
minority religions. The famous monk Kukai stayed from 804 to 806 in
the Buddhist monastery of Xi Ming in the Yining Ward of Xi'an, within
a few blocks of the Nestorian monastery, yet he never mentions the
Christians once in his 50-volume literary output.
Patronage also came at a price. The stele tells how the emperor had
Alopen's books translated in the Imperial Library. Was there a check
on the accuracy of the translation? Missionaries today would not trust
Buddhists to produce an accurate translation of the New Testament, but
that seems to be what happened at Xi'an.
Was the title "Great Patron and Spiritual Lord of the Empire"
conferred upon Alopen just an honorary title, or did it require
certain actions of its holder? Did he now have to attend court
functions and take part in traditional courtly religious observances?
The experience of Jesuit missionaries a millennium later would suggest
that some accommodation might have been required. Patronage by the
mighty is always a two-edged sword.
Syncretism & the Savior
When missionaries enter a new culture, they have to translate the Word
into a new language and dress it in local clothing without
compromising the gospel by fitting it to local customs and beliefs.
How well did Alopen and his successors walk this tightrope?
The stele begins with a summary confession of the doctrines of God,
the Trinity, creation, original sin, the Incarnation, and redemption.
Dauvillier comments: "The attributes of God—his eternity, being a
spirit, transcendence, infiniteness and impassibility, existing before
all, and being without end—these correspond to the most rigorous
Christian orthodoxy." Pelliot and others have noted that the actual
terminology used was popular among Taoists of the time, but Taoism has
no creation ex nihilo nor a personal God. In other words, familiar
terms were used to express new teaching. This is standard missionary
The sutras clearly do, however, interact with Buddhism and Taoism in a
way that some have seen as syncretistic. The Jesus-Messiah sutra says,
"All Buddhas as well as Kimnaras and the Superintending-Devas and
Arhans can see the Lord of Heaven, but no human being has ever seen
the Lord of Heaven" (verses 4–5). Or later, "All Buddhas flow and flux
. . . but the Lord of Heaven remains always in a place of comfortable
joy and peace" (13–14). The Discourse on the Oneness of the Ruler of
the Universe seems to inject a dualistic passage based either on the
Chinese concept of Yin and Yang or on Persian dualism. It also refers
to the Buddhist concepts of the "four elements" (4–5), the "five
attributes" (68), the "three wicked ways," rebirth, the Kalpa of
formation, and "the law of the myriad Kalpa" (210–213).
On the other hand, one repeatedly finds accurate statements of
Christian doctrine in these same documents. The Jesus-Messiah sutra
states that "the Messiah gave up his body to these wicked men to be
sacrificed for the sake of all mankind" (198). The Monotheism text
states that "all things are made by the one God" (5), and that "the
one Godhead begot the other one [Jesus] out of one and the same
substance" (42). In The Oneness of the Ruler of the Universe we read
that "when heaven and earth shall pass away . . . all the dead shall
rise again" (68), and that the Messiah "bore all the sins of mankind,
and for them he suffered the punishment himself; no meritorious deed
is necessary [for salvation]" (136–137). The Almsgiving text gives an
extensive description of Christ's death and resurrection and quotes
several complete verses from Isaiah 53. And the stele says "the true
Lord . . . took human form, and through him, salvation was made free
to all; the Sun arising, the darkness ending." This is far from the
wonderful "Taoist Christianity" that Palmer seeks to find in the
scrolls.
A Fruitful Path
The path of Christianity was not smooth even under the imperial
patronage of the seventh and eighth centuries. A resurgence of
pro-Buddhist ideologies in the ninth century led to growing problems
for Christians. An imperial edict of Emperor Wu Zong in 845 ordered
Christian monks and nuns to "return to their secular life and cease to
confuse our national customs and manners."
Christianity began to wane, but we do not know at what rate. The
Arabic writer Abu Sayd states that Christians were among the 120,000
people massacred at Canton (modern Guangzhou) in 878. As we have seen,
the Book of Praise sutra was composed in the tenth century, and when
manuscripts were being gathered for preservation in the cave at
Dunhuang in 1036, some Christian scrolls were still to be found and
thought worth preserving. (Someone also painted a Christian figure on
one of the cave walls.)
Farther north, near the present border of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan,
two Nestorian graveyards were discovered in 1885. Six hundred ten
Nestorian tombs with crosses and Syriac inscriptions were discovered
there, with dates ranging from 858 to 1342.
Saeki accumulates archaeological evidence from other parts of China as
well. The presence of an influential Nestorian church in late
thirteenth-century China is confirmed by numerous literary sources,
including the journal of Bar Sauma (a Nestorian monk from northern
China), the writings of the Western monk John of Montecorvino, and
those of Marco Polo. It is now clear that between the tenth and
fourteenth centuries, several Turkish tribes along the Silk Road and
in northern China became predominantly Nestorian Christian, but it is
uncertain whether this was due to the influence of Chinese
missionaries or new missionary endeavors from the Middle East.
This story, however, is more than an arcane piece for mission
historians. Martin Palmer, the most recent "discoverer" of
Christianity in ancient China, can be credited with bringing the
pagoda, and the forgotten story of early Chinese mission work, back to
our attention.
The pagoda, the stele, and the sutras remind us that Christianity is
not just a Western phenomenon. The Church spread eastward as well, and
took root and prospered there. Alopen, from the modern Chinese
viewpoint, might be viewed as one Asian coming to another. He did not
come in Western dress, nor did he carry all the imperialistic baggage
of more modern missionaries. To the extent this early history can be
known in China today, perhaps it can help Chinese take a second look
at Christianity and see that it is not just a "Western religion," but
really is universal.
Perhaps the teachings of the Nestorians clouded the gospel message,
but the texts suggest that they did not totally obscure it. In fact,
historians now believe that while the Church of the East continued to
honor Nestorius among its founding fathers, it did not follow his
Christology. This gives us even more reason to believe that many Tang
Dynasty Chinese came to faith in the one true God, and that many came
to know their Savior Jesus Christ.
We should never sell short the work of the Holy Spirit. It has been
said that the Chinese church today is the fastest growing church in
history. Perhaps the seeds sown along the Yellow River and Yangtze
River so long ago are even now bearing fruit.
• Malek, Roman, ed. The Chinese Face of Jesus Christ, vol. 1
(Monumenta Serica Monograph Series L/1). Sankt Augustin, Germany,
• Malek, Roman, ed. Jingjiao: The Church of the East in China and
Central Asia (Collectanea Serica). Sankt Augustin, Germany, 2006.
• Palmer, Martin. The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Scrolls of
Taoist Christianity. New York, 2001.
• Pelliot, Paul. Recherches sur les Chretiens d'Asie Centrale et
d'Extreme-Orient, 2.1: La Stele de Si-Ngan-Fou (Oeuvres Posthumes de
Paul Pelliot, Jean Dauvillier ed.). Paris, 1983.
• Pelliot, Paul. L'Inscription Nestorienne de Si-Ngan-Fou (Oeuvres
Posthumes, Antonio Forte ed.). Paris, 1996.
• Saeki, P. Y. The Nestorian Documents and Relics in China. Tokyo, 1951.
Still Lost
Since Martin Palmer's The Jesus Sutras gives a very slanted view of
the scrolls, it would seem a happy event that a second book on the
subject has appeared even more recently: The Lost Sutras of Jesus:
Unlocking the Ancient Wisdom of the Xian Monks (Ulysses Press,
2003/2006). But before rushing to find a copy, let's look a bit
closer.
The 140-page volume is divided into three parts. In the first 40
pages, "Wisdom from a Cave," we find a rather straightforward (if
fanciful) story of the discovery of the Dunhuang manuscripts, the
Nestorian Stele and the Da Qin Pagoda. This is followed by the heart
of the book—about 75 pages of topically organized excerpts from the
scrolls and stele in a new translation. The book concludes with "The
Soul of the Scrolls: Guidance for Today," 25 pages of spiritual
observations and applications for modern man.
Who is responsible for this attractive little volume? The cover gives
no author but says that the editors are Ray Rieger and Thomas Moore,
and the title page lists Jon Babcock as the translator. While the
volume does not specify which man was responsible for which part, it
appears that the two "editors" are responsible for everything except
the actual excerpts from the Sutras.
Ray Rieger is best known as the author of over a dozen guidebooks to
the islands of Hawaii and other American tourist destinations. He also
appears to be the driving force behind Ulysses Press, which began as
the publisher of Rieger's travel guides and then branched out into
works on alternative health, fitness, and spirituality. In the
Foreword Rieger calls himself "a lapsed Christian with a passion for
biblical history and Eastern thought."
Thomas Moore's website states that he is a Catholic who went to
seminary, but then left before ordination. After earning a Ph.D. in
religion from Syracuse University and doing a brief stint in academia,
he became a freelance psychotherapist, lecturer, musician, and author
of a bestseller entitled Care of the Soul. On his website he states,
"My theological work has to do with observing and reverencing the
awesome depth of the smallest and most ordinary of things."
And what about the man responsible "for capturing the passion and
poetry of the Sutras in a brilliant translation" (cited from the
Acknowledgments)? What are Jon Babcock's credentials for translating
Tang Dynasty Chinese texts? We are not told, and the volume never
mentions him again.
Untrustworthy Resource
The bottom line is that we have no reason to trust the qualifications
of any of these writers on a complicated subject that involves the
mastery of two ancient languages (Chinese and Syriac) and the history
of Nestorian Christianity, the Tang Dynasty, and Chinese Buddhism and
Taoism. The lapsed Christian with a passion for Eastern thought and
the author on psychotherapy appear neither qualified nor unbiased in
their approach to the subject. And although Moore still pays lip
service to his "birthright as a Catholic," his affinity for Eastern
religious practices is evident.
So the volume gives us what we should expect—an even less careful and
equally slanted presentation of the sutras as works that "combine
religions in a way that brings out the best in each of them and the
best in all of us" (from the Foreword).
This volume fits well in Ulysses Press's series of "spiritual" works.
These include books on the "Lost Words of Jesus" in the Gospel of
Thomas, the "Lost Gospel Q," and the parallel sayings of Jesus and
Buddha—all "edited" by Rieger along with names such as Marcus Borg and
Dominic Crossan. And don't miss the latest addition, Caesar's Messiah,
which proves that the four Gospels "were actually written under the
direction of first-century Roman emperors"! Alas, this is not a place
to look for any objective study of history, and especially for the
true story behind the Christians of Tang Dynasty China.
— Glen L. Thompson
Glen L. Thompson is Associate Professor of History at Wisconsin
Lutheran College. ?Christ on the Silk Road? is an updated version of
his presentation at the 2003 Evangelical Theological Society meeting
in Atlanta, Georgia.
Christ on the Silk Road
The Evidences of Nestorian Christianity in Ancient China /
Glen L. Thompson

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Greater Princeton Steinway Society
Helping young piano students succeed
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2020 Classical Competition
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Classical Winners
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The Steinway Society celebrates its sixteenth season. Over the past sixteen years we have presented outstanding pianists in more than 100 concerts and musicales.
October 9th, 2005, 4:00 PM – Christopher Falzone
Christopher Falzone, as an exceptional nineteen year old American pianist, has received national and international acclaim for piano performances and compositions: "The expressive and thoughtful Falzone…cast a spell over the crowd. His whispered dynamic bade the audience to lean closer. He spun beautifully crafted phrases while barely exceeding a mezzo-piano" (The Kalamazoo Gazette.) Recently, the Gilmore Young Artist's Award gave Christopher a $15,000 grant to further his musical career and educational development. Additional prizes include first place in the Bartok/Kabalevsky Piano Competition; the National MTNA Yamaha and Baldwin Competitions and a Best in Festival Award in the Virtuosi of the Year 2000 Music Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. In Tokyo, Japan he made both his orchestral and solo debuts. Recently, he has appeared with orchestras in California, Illinois, Minnesota and Virginia. As a chamber player, Christopher has been a member of several award-winning ensembles. His ensemble, the Orion Trio, received first prize in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Currently, Christopher attends Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia studying with Leon Fleisher and Claude Frank. His program will include compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Schumann and Shostakovich.
November 13, 2005, 4:00 PM – Junie Cho
Junie Cho has earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree following her studies at Indiana University, the Mannes College of Music and Manhattan School of Music. Her New York debut recital was in the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, in the Winners Series of the Artists International Presentations. A recent performance of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto with the Prime Symphony Orchestra in NYC was acclaimed asmajestically resonant with graceful melodies. As a founding member and principal pianist of the NY Contemporary Music Band, her numerous world performances and US premieres have included the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Merkin Hall benefit concert and a Composers' Roundtable concert at the Storm King Music Festival. Currently, Ms. Cho teaches at the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music in the Diploma Program. Her program will include compositions by Mozart, Chopin, Liszt and Scriabin.
January 15, 2006, 4:00 PM – Eliran Avni
Since making his debut with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta, Eilran Avni has performed throughout Europe, South America and the United States. He has made numerous recordings for several broadcasting systems in Europe and has appeared as a special guest on Israeli Television with The Israel Philharmonic. His numerous awards include the first prizes in both the Clarimont and Rachmaninoff Competitions and the annual scholarship from the Israel-America Foundation since 1989. A champion of chamber music, Eliran has been the featured artist on the Hindemith and Brahms Festivals in Germany. Born in Israel, Eliran began his musical training at the Tel Aviv Academy of Music. He received both his BM and MM degrees from The Juilliard School, while studying with Yoheved Kaplinsky, where he is currently completing his DMA dissertation, The Musician's Challenge: Emotion and Structure in Music. He has studied under Isaac Stern, Yo Yo Ma and Maria Curcio who describes Eliran's technique as formidable and brilliant. Eliran's program will include compositions by Scarlatti, Chopin and Dorman.
February 5, 2006, 4:00 PM – Tomoko Kanamaru, Satoshi Okamoto, Brad Hougham
Since the age of nine, Tomoko Kanamaru has performed as soloist as well as collaborative artist in Japan, US, Canada and Europe. CDs and radio recordings have enhanced her seasonal subscription concerts as soloist with the Savannah Symphony and the National Repertory Orchestras. The Corpus Christi International Competition chose Ms. Kanamaru twice for their Best Accompanist Award. She holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo and an Advanced Certificate in Piano Performance from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Yoheved Kaplinsky. Currently, she is Assistant Professor/Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at The College of New Jersey. She has co-edited more than 30 volumes of educational piano music published by the Yamaha Music Foundation
Satashi Okamoto joined the New York Philharmonic in September 2003. Prior to the appointment, he was an assistant principal double bassist in the San Antonio Symphony and a member of the New York City Ballet Orchestra. He received his bachelor's degree from Tokyo University of Fine Arts and his master's degree from the Juilliard School where he studied with Eugene Levinson. Mr. Okamoto was a winner of the Aspen Music FestivalÕs bass competition in 1993 and 1997; a finalist of the International Society of Bassist Solo Competition in 1997 and the Izuminomori International Double Bass Competition in 2001.
Brad Hougham, born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada, came to New York City in 1996. His degrees in Vocal Performance are from the University of Saskatchewan, The Mannes College of Music and The City University of New York. He has sung at the Metropolitan Opera for seven seasons and will return this season for Tannhauser. As a baritone soloist he has appeared at Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Hall and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Mr. Hougham has sung at The Aldeburgh Festival, Manhattan Opera Ensemble, Prairie Opera, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and has been featured as soloist on National Public Radio. Presently, he is a member of the voice faculty of The College of New Jersey and travels each summer to Spoleto, Italy where he teaches voice at the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium. The program will combine the expertise of collaborative artists with works by Mozart, R. Gliere and others.
March 12, 2006, 4:00 PM – Jae-Hyuck Cho
Born in South Korea, Mr. Cho came to the US in 1987. He received both his Bachelor and Master Degrees from the Juilliard School having studied with Herbert Stessin and Jerome Lowenthal. He is currently studying for the DMA degree with Nina Svetlanova at the Manhattan School of Music. The New York Times has praised Mr. Cho as having an "effortless, brilliant technique." His international performances have included programs at Carnegie's Weill Hall, The Lincoln Center, Seoul Arts Center, Hoam Art Hall of Korea and The Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory. Orchestral appearances have been with the New Jersey Symphony, San Angelo Symphony Orchestra of Texas, Lautus Chamber Orchestra of New York and the Art Chamber Orchestra of Korea. Upcoming performances will be with One World Symphony of NewYork, New Orleans Philharmonic as well as solo recitals and chamber concerts in Korea and the US. Competitive achievements include first prize in Maria Canals International Competition in Spain, Sorantin Young Artists Competition of Texas, a diploma in the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, New Jersey Chamber Music Society Award, Thomas Richner International Competition of New York and New Jersey Governor's Award. His program will include music by Beethoven, Liszt and Prokofiev.
June 18, 2006, 4:00 PM – Karen Walwyn.
After having received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the University of Miami and her Doctoral Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, Dr. Walwyn served on the faculties of the School of Music at the University of Michigan and at Southwest Missouri State University. Following her performance at the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported: "Walwyn was fearless throughout, managing every challenge with precise fingers and heroic command of textures." Other halls and institutions where Walwyn has given master classes and performances of her repertoire of African American 20th Century and European 19th Century Works have been at the L'Auditorio, and The Palau, Barcelona Spain; The Casino Hall in Tenerife, Canary Islands; The Salzburg College in Salzburg, Austria; Clark Atlanta University and the universities of Michigan, Indiana, Miami and Hawaii. Ms. Walwyn has joined the faculty of Howard University in Washington, D.C as professor of piano and is working on a new recording project: a collection of premiere works for piano by Adolphus Hailstork entitled, Walwyn Plays Hailstork, (Albany Records). Her program will include music by F. Chopin, S. Rachmaninoff, L. Bernofsky, W. Rossi, A. Beach and K. Walwyn.
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Telecom Namibia says the lucrative telephone directory tender for which three companies bade is yet to be awarded and at the same time denied claims that TDS Namibia, which has held the contract for more than 10 years now, is at an advantage against the other two companies that are also vying for the N$230 million tender. Adforce Namibia, Namibia Directory and Media Supplies and TDS Namibia Directory Operations are the three companies competing for the tender.
According to the Tender Bulletin, Adforce tendered for N$232,689,299.90; Namibia Directory and Media Services (N$263,231,738.66) while TDS tendered for N$260,612,588.
The tender is for the compilation, supply and delivery of the print directory and advertising space for a period of five years commencing 2017/18 up to and including 2021/22 directory as well as development and maintenance of the online directory and sale of the advertising space.
Responding to questions this week, Telecom's acting managing director Theo Klein said: "No, we have not concluded the award of the tender to any of the three bidders as yet. Still work in progress. We also want to further investigate and verify certain allegations made in the newspaper, first.
There are fears that the fact that TDS has held the contract for so long places them at an unfair advantage against the other bidders, Klein however brandished such talks.
"It is true that TDS had this contract for the past 10 years. That alone is by no means making them the preferred or favoured supplier, else we would not have published the tender.
We are constantly striving to get such services at the best quality and best price. Should the process confirm that TDS best fits the requirements of Telecom Namibia at the best price, we should accept it as such," he said.
"We would like to see 100% local companies rendering this service to TN, provided that such a company can provide the service, provide it at the right specification and quality standards and at the right price.
This is what the tender evaluation is mainly focusing on," Klein said.
Member of Parliament and secretary of the Swapo Party Youth League, Veikko Nekundi, in July wrote to the Minister of Information and Communication Technology Tjekero Tweya requesting him to probe the Telecom Namibia directory tender, alleging that there are some 'abnormalities'.
Telecom admitted that all three bidding companies submitted incomplete documentation after Nekundi alleged that weeks after the closing date of the tender and tenderers having submitted their closed bids.
"Telecom contacted the tenderers to submit their Good Standing Certificates, whereas such documents were to be submitted during the closing and submission of the tender documents," Nekundi said at the time.
"We had two choices, to disqualify all three tenderers and re-advertise the tender or to give all three tenders the opportunity to submit the outstanding supporting documents by a set due date.
We thought it fit, to give all three the chance to submit the outstanding supporting documents like company registration certificate, good standing certificate with the receiver of revenue," Klein said during an earlier interview.
Nekundi, in his letter to Tweya, in which he called for a probe, said the late calls for the documentation came despite Telecom spelling out the mandatory requirements, of which the submission of a Good Standing Certificate was one.
He said there are suspicions that one of the tenderers failed to submit their Good Standing Certificate.
"The said company is the preferred company by some of the persons dealing with the tender, thereby manipulation [is]at play despite the suspected company having failed to comply with the tender requirement," said Nekundi.
"I am further informed that the said situation prevailed five years or so ago, and it looks to repeat itself. In the context above, I hereby humbly request your good self to investigate these serious allegations and to intervene in order to ensure that all tenderers are fairly treated and that no manipulations take place. Further, that the tender not be cancelled as a manipulative mean," Nekundi said.
Telecom's procurement policy states that tenderers must be registered with the Registrar of Companies and they must provide a certificate of shareholding, registered for payment of Value Added Tax with the Commissioner for Inland Revenue, registered with the Social Security Commission and be in Good standing certificate with the Social Security Commission.
In 2012 Telecom formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the engagement of an advertising agent for the Telecom Namibia Print Directory with TDS Namibia (Pty) Limited.
TDS Namibia is a joint venture between Trudon and Ripanga Investment Holdings, a Namibian BEE entity with 25% equity in TDS Namibia.
As per the agreement, TDS Namibia serves as the advertising agency for the Telecom Namibia Print Directory responsible for its compilation, which includes the design, sales, marketing and production of the entire Telecom Namibia directory on the basis of information supplied by Telecom Namibia.
Media reports at the time revealed that TDS Directories Namibia was not in good standing with the Receiver of Revenue at the time of submitting the bid after failing to submit tax returns for 2010.
The company reportedly did also not submit its Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) return for 2012 as well as for 2007 and rather chose an even period payment system whereby their VAT payment has to be done at the end of every two months.
This is not the first time TDS Namibia is embroiled into good standing issues regarding the same tender.


text:
Tag: Passage Of Time
100 not out
German Shepherd Records
So let's be clear from the outset, this is shameful nepotism of the highest order, but I can't find anyone else willing to review it so I may as well take up the cudgels and have a go. Given I have a rather thorough inside perspective on this compilation, as I actually compiled it, I am in a position to be both honest and accurate, and perhaps somewhat effusive. If I am breaking some sort of record industry kayfabe by doing this so be it, but German Shepherd was set up to be doggedy (pun intended) independent, and to operate outside of the norms of the music biz, so in that spirit here goes.
Set up in February 2014 the label was originally intended as a vehicle for the work of co-owner Ian Moss, who had vast library of unreleased material he wanted to share with the world. Once word had got around about the endeavour other like minded souls expressed interest or were dragged into the inner circle of the label.
The manifesto is very simple, if the music that is offered to the label is sufficiently different and does not ape current trends and fads then it will probably find a home in the German Shepherd kennel.
21 months in and the chance to mark the milestone with some of the current and future artist on the label. Requests were sent out and a delightful pot-pourri of styles and genres emerged.
For German Shepherd virgins and, for those DJs who need accurate information(you know who you are), here's a run down of all the tracks and the artists.
Loop-aznavour – theremin toting Loop, also a member of the remarkable Adventures of Salvador. offers a single from earlier in 2015, a remarkable distiller of styles and influences Loop is a captivating live performer and a consummate songwriter. From – Bury, Greater Manchester.
Pearl Divers ; the first band I ever "discovered" in radio land they have been through many line-up changes since 2009 but always centre around leader Carl Lingard. The tune on the album is a radical -reworking/second cousin to the bands "I Love The Music" – mixing Barryesque chords with a cold war soundscape one could, and should, argue that this would be a far better Bond theme than the odious one being used for the latest movie. The band are currently working on an album. From – Eccles/Irlam, Greater Manchester.
The Get – we love this band. They are great live, they write memorable songs, and they have a unique, sometimes unashamedly ramshackle sound. From – Bournemouth, Leigh on Sea etc, down south somewhere
Bouquet of Dead Crows – some folk will have been surprised about this band being on German Shepherd, one of aims is not to be complacent around what we are about, dealing with any preconceptions of our mode of operation by throwing a curve ball in every now and then. On first hearing, Bouquet of Dead Crows are conventional rockers, on deeper exploration the nuances emerge, from Toni Cooper's excellent vocals, through the great rhythm section, to the multi-guitar talents of Neil Bruce. This is a band with a lot of depth. A single and cut from the new album "Of The Night" due out soon. From – Cambridge, east of Northampton.
Loop-aznavour
Poppycock – working with Una Baines and her collective of musicians is always a pleasure and she offered up a live recording of the band from The Crescent in Salford. Recorded by Jim "Jedi" Watts, thus perpetuating the "every other musician you meet in Manc-land used to be in The Fall" myth this lovely tune first appeared on Una's The Fates "Furia" album. From: Manchester.
Franco Bandini – the buzz about Franco's recent release of the label "2014 was a bad year" is increasing daily. Perhaps slightly less dark than the tracks on the EP this offering is from the same sessions and indicates his ability to create an epic sound. We predict great things. From – Atherton/Manchester.
IKMRAO – the two label owners don' t consider themselves to be musicians as such, they play with words and sounds and sometimes it comes out as music. Always making a point whenever they can this one has a much needed dig at the scenesters that hang around in clumps reeking of their own self-importance. From – Ashton Under Lyne/Eccles, Greater Manchester.
The Junta
Captain Black – once a member of the aforementioned Pearl Divers and the main writer behind the much missed Positronik, Captain "Jeff" Black is adept at creating perfect pop tunes, and this is a sublime example. From : Swindon/Manchester
The Junta – it's obligatory to say "aah yeah" or "shabba" at this point. Also once in Pearl Divers but now in Kit B, John "Monty" Montague brings an encyclopaedic knowledge of electronica into play for his tunes. Also a DJ on Salford City Radio Monty is a very busy chap. From : Salford, Greater Manchester.
Staggs – probably the most fascinating duo on the label in that they continually create tunes that both amaze and confound. Main vocal man Michael T Scott has a wonderfully acerbic outlook on the world at large. Music man Ridley is able re-invent well known sounds and turn them into something new. Staggs Disco is from one of their releases before they joined German Shepherd. Deserving of international acclaim I reckon. From – Newcastle Upon Tyne,
Passage of Time – sounds influenced by 1969 Miles Davis together with more contemporary electronic textures. The closest thing to jazz on the label. From – Eccles, Salford. Greater Manchester.
Rose Niland and Mark Corrin
Ion-Morph with three albums of the man's spoken word releases on the label it would have been remiss to exclude a performance. The featured tune is a reworking of an old song and a hearful paean to Manc-land. From – Ashton-Under-Lyne
Moff Skellington – a genius, an iconoclast and a dealer in optical creosote. Moff creates music which defies description other than to say it hangs precariously between The Residents, Tom Waits, Pere Ubu, The Fall and Hank Marvin. His wordplay is completely unique, the aural equivalent of Salvador Dali. As I may have said before, on many occasions, my crusade is to get him much more exposure and recognition. From – Abstercot
Rose Niland – we love Rose. She has a magical voice, she writes breathtaking tunes, and her words are memorable. Soulful, psychedelic and bluesy. From – Manchester
Monkeys In Love
The Electric Cheese – captivating alternative rock with a unique sound. This trio is gaining a growing reputation as a must see live act. From their first EP with the label. From – Chorley, Lancashire
West Coast Sick Line – Dusty Moonan, another genius, a man who can write memorable songs. The band has recently undergone a line-up change and the track on the compilation is an indication of things to come perhaps, a more powerful more rock oriented sound. New album "Europee" is imminent i.e. when they get out of the pub. From – Deganwy, North Wales
Monkeys In Love – a special band, they have been with the label from the start, helping and supporting. The track on the album is, dare I say it, one of their best yet. A remarkable live act and a lovely bunch of people. From – Manchester.
The track-listing
Loop-aznavour – Ed's Place
Pearl Divers – Smoking Gun
The Get – Say You Love Me
Bouquet of Dead Crows – Just A Little More
Poppycock – Ceaseless Effort
Franco Bandini – Side B
IKMRAO – Art
Captain Black – Lost All Sense
The Junta – Carnival 80
Staggs – Staggs Disco
Passage of Time – Round About Now
Ion-Morph – Manchester (Slight Return)
Moff Skellington – Potato Pickers
Rose Niland – 5 Times
The Electric Cheese – Gold Divers Under The Ice
West Coast Sick Line – Best Lost In Translation
Monkeys In Love – Installation Song #1
The album is a digital only release, is priced at £5, and all proceeds will go towards the Emmaus Homelessness Facility in Salford.
Bouquet of Dead Crows
Posted on October 28, 2015 by HalfEdgeMediaPosted in Album ReviewTagged Bouquet of Dead Crows, Captain Black, Franco Bandini, IKMRAO, Loop Aznavour, Moff Skellington, Monkeys in Love, Passage Of Time, Pearl Divers, Poppycock, Rose Niland, Staggs, The Electric Cheese, The Get, The Junta, West Coast Sick Line. Leave a comment
Fascinating Things : Issue 03
Ipecac Recordings are releasing Le Butcherettes' third album, A Raw Youth, this September.
Based in Guadalajara, Mexico, Le Butcherettes is the loud and vivacious brainchild of Teri Gender Bender (vocals and guitar), joined by drummer Chris Common (These Arms Are Snakes) and bassist Jamie Aaron. Last year's Cry Is For The Flies LP (co-released with friend, collaborator and producer Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's label Nadie Sound) was a superb collection of tracks featuring contributions from Henry Rollins and Shirley Manson.
"The focus of the album is the recurring conflict between minorities (the raw youths) and society: The oppressor and the oppressed," explains Gender Bender. The band recorded the album at RLP Studios (The Morgue Portable Disaster Unit) in El Paso, Texas, with Omar Rodriguez Lopez once again on production duties, as he has done for both previous Le Butcherettes' releases (2011's Sin, Sin, Sin and the aforementioned Cry Is For The Flies). You'll hopefully be able to hear tracks before the album's release in the coming weeks, as well as news of their tour plans for both North America and Europe, and details of the heady mix of characters who came together to create A Raw Youth (including the legends that are Iggy Pop and John Frusciante).
(Photo credit: Monica Lozano)
James Rooney is a singer/songwriter based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. James' audible creations sit firmly in the Indie Rock box and over the past decade, James has fronted several bands with highlights including airtime on Tom Robinson's BBC 6 Mixtape, international radio play and touring across the UK. James is now exploring the experience of being a solo artist with "As You Do" set for release June 22nd 2015.
Formed in early 2013 by guitarist Mik Davis, drummer John Bradford and bassist Neil Short, Monster Jaw draw on over 20 years of touring and recording experience between them. A dynamic three-piece, the band have evolved rapidly from raw garage grunge sounds to a more sculpted, atmospheric style of chorus-driven alternative indie rock. Monster Jaw deliver a very tight, thrilling and often dark stage show, with memorable songs and poetic lyrics. Noted for their intense stage presence and delivery, they have a dedicated international and UK following. Two commercial releases in 2014 – June's 'Get A Tattoo' EP and October's 'Losing All My Friends' EP – both met with critical acclaim from UK press, not to mention airplay and circulation on hundreds of radio stations worldwide, including the BBC. In 2015 – the band released a new set of songs titled 'Basement Sessions'. This is a project the band feel strongly is all about stripping things back to a pre-digital recording age, creating a warm, authentic sound by using a 25 year old Tascam chrome tape recorder. For this project MJ are currently studying the wonderful sounds and production skills of Steve Albini, Glyn Johns and Phil Spector. To add to their ever growing profile, MJ have played various major UK festivals, such as DV8 and Rebellion. They have also supported the following acts on their UK tours – Black Star Rider (Thin Lizzy), New Model Army, Stiff Little Fingers and Urban Voodoo Machine.
Agalloch bassist/Self Spiller mastermind, Jason W. Walton, has been creating surreal and otherworldly soundscapes for over twenty years. In the '90s he began working under the name Nothing and released four full-length albums and various EPs and singles. He performed live as Nothing in the Midwest and the West Coast before retiring the name in 2003. Since then, Walton remained busy with other musical endeavours knowing that a return to ambient noise was imminent.
In the summer of 2013, he began the song writing process again by collecting field recordings from places he would visit. He captured the din of humanity on the down-town Portland streets, the rush of ocean waves in Southern California, and the mysteriously comforting monologues emanating from an AM radio. During mid-2014, he manipulated and processed these sounds into disturbingly haunting pieces which would become the basis of his soon-to-be released Mara seven-inch
Walton decided to thematically compose these songs around his struggle with sleep paralysis — a phenomenon in which a person, either falling asleep or awakening, temporarily experiences an inability to move, speak, and react. While creating these tracks he deprived himself of sleep and recounted his episodes of sleep paralysis within the two tracks contained in Mara. During episodes of sleep paralysis, he sometimes feels like he has some kind of spiritual connection or "visit" from lost loved ones.
Shortly after track one, "Alp," was completed, Walton suddenly lost his stepfather. A few months later, shortly after track two, "Yakshi," was finished, his dear friend and former Metal Maniacs editor, Katherine Ludwig, passed away. Although these two songs are not about these people, they are dedicated to them making this an intensely personal work.
Mara was recorded at Earth in Sound Studios Portland, Oregon with vocals on "Yakshi" performed by Tanner Anderson (Obsequiae, Celestiial) and recorded at HammerHeart Brewing Company Lino Lakes, Minnesota. Mara was mastered by James Plotkin (OLD, Scorn, Khanate, Khlyst) with design and Layout by Agalloch's John Haughm. Mara will be unleashed on June 21st, 2015 via Red Orchard Records on limited edition (300) seven-inch black vinyl housed in a deluxe black arigato sleeve featuring silver debossed artwork. Preorders available through http://www.redorchardrecords.com. Each copy comes with a free download code.
Pittsburgh-based cult doom/death collective, Derketa – featuring alumni from Novembers Doom, Penance, Demonomacy, Cattle Decapitation and more — reissue their In Death We Meet full-length via Ibex Moon later this month.
In Death We Meet was initially mixed and mastered by Rickey Budway and released independently in 2012. Remixed by Grave's Ola Lindgren at Studio Soulless, In Death We Meet redux includes bonus track, "Darkness Fades Life," a cover of Sepultura's "Troops Of Doom," (both recorded and mixed by Matt Schor at The War Room) and thrusts forth a sound that sits at the very apex of devouring, coffin-toned grimness. "This is by far the heaviest sounding recording that Derketa has ever done," the band asserts. "The sound is massive, the harmonies and drum tones are enhanced… it's absolutely crushing."
In Death We Meet is released on CD via Ibex Moon Records with a wax edition featuring four additional live tracks to surface November 6th, 2015. Followers of Winter, early-era My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost and true old school brutality, should apply.
In a similar vein to the above Italian blackened hardcore/metal outfit, The Clearing Path , has completed its debut full-length album, Watershed Between Earth And Firmament, and is finalizing the details for its release this July.
Born from the ashes of ThySolace, the bands sole creator, one Gabriele Gramaglia, took the black metal and hardcore influences of that act into drastically more conceptual directions, in a more ambitious delivery, thriving on the influence of abstract hardcore/punk acts in the vein of Converge, Traged and His Hero Is Gone, and atmospheric/experimental black metal, citing the likes of Blut Aus Nord, Enslaved, Deathspell and Omega. Fully written, executed, recorded and mixed by Gramaglia, the first recording Watershed Between Earth And Firmament is a concept album about spiritual renaissance inspired by the beauty of mountainous landscapes of the Italian Alps north of the creator's homeland . Mastered by Marco Gervasio and fitted with custom artwork painted by Luca Devinu/Blessend,Watershed Between Earth And Firmament is a dense, thirty-minute release sure to catch the attention of fans of Celeste, Castevet, Krallice, Eleven As In Adversaries and the like. The album will see independent release on July 11th, at first digitally, with physical versions to follow.
Universal Road is the recent album released by Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and Mark Gardener (Ride). Their former bands' work ought to give hints as to where a collaboration between the pair might lead, but this remarkable new album has its own chemistry and is an unexpected treasure from these two well established artists. The pairing of Guthrie and Gardener might, at first glance, be expected to deliver a very particular brand of guitar-driven euphoria, however, Universal Road, defies expectations across ten tracks whose diversity is one of the album's great strengths.
This is a most harmonious collaboration, at times affirming – 'Yesterdays News', exuberant – 'Dice', reflective – 'Sometime', striking – 'Old Friend' and quietly epic – 'Blind'. Gardener's vocals have rarely sounded better than they do on Universal Road, his layered harmonies are a particular highlight. Guthrie's lush sound and alluring guitar arrangements and melodies are seamlessly interwoven throughout, deftly accentuating the emotional content of the songs. Effortlessly assured, poised and graceful, this is an album whose many charms unfold and reward over repeated listens.
At a time when fascination with the shoegaze movement of the late '80s and early '90s is enjoying a revival, whether it be through band reformations—including the reunion of Gardener's former band Ride—or adulatory documentaries—2014's Beautiful Noise—it can be easy to acquire a form of nostalgic tunnel vision. Guthrie and Gardener's Universal Road takes a fresh direction.
Pines are a Manchester/Salford based alternative psychedelic pop band, and they say of themselves – "We want to write music that reflects the lives of ourselves and the people we know. The experiences and frustrations we share as we make our way through our lives. The things that never tire to amaze us as humans are infinitely more interesting to us than fads or topical critiques on individual political figures. I want to talk about life. Our lives, the lives of our friends, we want to talk about love, about disappointment, hope, friends, religion, death, creativity, the 'search'. The search is important. Whatever you're searching for, perpetual restlessness can define a person's life, for better or for worse, that's what is at the heart of it. We are all running. Running towards something, or away from something."
The band was formed in late 2014 their first EP "Love Songs From Inside The Sun" is now available. Recorded in spare rooms using limited recording equipment and various different instruments/sound sources, this EP is the culmination of two years refining and building the sounds you hear below. The focus of the project has been to capture a true representation of the music that has inspired the group and the music that they want to hear.
The band are linked over to previously featured combo Moscow Transport sharing some members.
The drummer sent the link below. It's powerful and punky "Dream Pop" from Manchester. The band is called Hannah – it kicks off with a belting track and continues in that vein.
Epic indie/dream pop with a punky brashness that is most compelling just about sums it up and it comes highly recommended from me.
Billy Vincent's new album 'Stand On Me' hits the shelves on August 28th 2015.
Here's the promo gubbins. 'Stand On Me' tells 12 tales, some taller than others, and some absolutely honest and true. At times it's a heartbreaking, drunk in the blackness, fumbling for a lighter to burn your bridges record – but it's as blindly optimistic as it is dark. Co-writers and singers Billy Barratt and David Vincent had this to say about the new album, its title, and the songs therein…
"We thought it important to choose a title that represents the bigger part of the songs on the record, and 'Stand On Me' is one of those reassuring statements that if you're lucky, someone close to you might say to you when you feel like you're out of options, letting you know you can lean on them and it's all going to be alright".
"A lot of these songs are about that, not letting people you care about crumble and disappear with the rain, it's a positive thing and we wanted to embrace it".
This album, however, is not soft or mushy – it's as aggressive as it is sincere. It's Americana, dragged through South London… kicking and screaming. Recently signed to Swiss label Deepdive Records, this hard hitting, country-tinged record stretches further afield than the debut album 'She'.
Covering the UK, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, the band will support the release with tour dates in each region.
Lewisburg is the working moniker for London based singer-songwriter Ali Robertson.
Influenced by acts such as the Eels, Phosphorescent and Ryan Adams he began his musical project in the bars of Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the end of an 18 month around the world trip. Lewisburg subsequently gained radio coverage on LA station KCRW, from The Guardian's Paul Lester on 'Absolute' and his debut single 'El Celebro' premiered on UK news and entertainment site Neon Nettle.
An independent artist, he co-produces his material with Olly Betts of 'The Duke Spirit' and 'F.U.R.S'. His new single No Plateau is released next month and is available on all major download sites.
Horse Party formed in September 2012 when singing guitarists Ellie Langley and Seymour Quigley met drummer Shannon Hope at Seymour's 'Washing Machine' clubnights in their hometown of Bury St Edmunds. Inspired by East Anglia's quietly thriving DIY scene. The trio released a string of singles and EPs on their own Pure Deadly imprint. Summer 2014's debut album 'Cover Your Eyes' saw critical acclaim and airplay.
Horse Party's new single 'What I'd Do' will be released as a free download (via http://www.horsepartyparty.co.uk) on Friday 26th June 2015. The band will be cruising around the UK in a battered van throughout the Summer; live dates include supports with Slaves, Levellers and Basement Jaxx.
Emerging from the notorious melting pot of musical talent of Southend on Sea that was home to Danielle Dax, Scroobius Pip, Procol Harum and many more are Apachelux.
A meeting of the minds between Jay Wigmore and Louisa Strachan. Both hailing from the Nirvana generation, long-term stalwart indie drummer Jay met singer/songwriter Louisa at Southend's Village Green festival last year.
With influences as diverse as Maya Jane Coles to Royal Blood, War on Drugs to Roisin Murphy, Girls Aloud to Smashing Pumpkins, Apachelux's genre-straddling sound is bound up to a mission of creating 'dancefloor moments'…that euphoric feeling that makes you grin, jump, maybe even fall in love.
This Time is the debut single from Apachelux, a gorgeous slice of electronic pop music primed to create a dreamy slice of electronic pop, consciously coupling Louisa's tough but plaintive vocal and Jay's bittersweet analogue melodies. Alongside the original are remixes from wunderkind Larkebird with a disco-infused house rework that bumps in all the right places; and Spatial Awareness, with a moody, minimal remix for the late night floors.
The latest release from German Shepherd features lavbel stalwarts Ion Morph & Passage of Time in their first collaboration. The four track EP combines musical influences like John Barry, Kraftwerk, Steve Reich, Tim Blake and Giorgio Moroder to create a mystical and magical soundscape. It's called The Osterburg Variations.
Bourbon Street Beat's new single 'Crossing On a Bend' and b-side 'She's His Woman' showcase their signature sound perfectly.
Inspired by bands such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, as well as Rock'n'Roll legends like Elvis, Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash, each of these influences are apparent in technique and style yet reinterpreted to give Bourbon Street Beat an indie edge.
Iain Hammond (vocals and guitar), Joe Morrison-Hay (bass) and Andy Mackenzie (drums) met at university and formed the band in 2012. Their last EP 'Knuckles of Brass' earned them a strong following in Manchester with this release set to spread the word even further.
'Crossing on a Bend' was recorded at Blueprint Studios in Salford, engineered by Tim Thomas and mastered by Gary Hadfield.
Posted on June 19, 2015 November 17, 2015 by HalfEdgeMediaPosted in Band to Watch, Music Diary, New Releases, Podcast - Aural Delights, Preview, Ramblings, WebzineTagged Apachelux, Billy Vincent, Bourbon Street Beat, Derketa, Hannah, Horse Party, Ion Morph, James Rooney, Jason W Walton, Le Butcherettes, Lewisburg, Mark Gardener, Monster Jaw, Passage Of Time, Pines, Robin Guthrie, The Clearing Path. 2 Comments


text:
A girl with one leg and no arms finds freedom in pole dancing
Fifteen-year-old Francesca Cesarini was born with no hands and with only one leg. So her mother was more than a bit surprised when her daughter told her she wanted to be an acrobatic pole dancer.
"I don't know if maybe I saw it on social media first, or I dreamt it, I don't know. I just know that I (woke up and) went to her and I said that I wanted to do pole dance," Cesarini said.
Three years later, in 2021 she competed in the International Pole Sports Federation's virtual world pole and aerial championship.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, pole dancers from around the world submitted videos of their performances and were judged virtually. She was the only athlete to compete in the disability category and was awarded the gold medal.
Like many girls her age, Francesca wears braces on her teeth and a black plastic choker necklace. She likes to go to McDonalds, sings the latest pop song while walking with her best friend, and loves all things Harry Potter.
But she chose an increasingly popular sport that anyone would find difficult.
"It makes me feel free," she said in her family's apartment near Perugia in central Italy, where she practices at home and trains with her coach Elena Imbrogno in a local gym.
At a recent training session, as she hung upside down and twirled, Imbrogno told her to try it again but with her head just a bit straighter.
"There are some difficult elements (like) when you have to contort yourself or maybe you have to hold on with just an arm, a leg, or a foot. That's the difficult thing," she said.
She has one prosthetic leg, but when he she was about eight years old she decided to stop using artificial forearms because she found them inhibiting.
"She still doesn't want them," said her mother Valeria Mencaroni, 47.
"Francesca is a girl who knows what she wants. She wants to achieve certain goals," said her father Marco Cesarini, 57. "Francesca is like this, this is it. She has never had that limb, or hands, and so she does everything with what she has."
The Metal Barbie
Chloé Toscano: "I wish for a new left arm"


When I asked what you guys wanted to see for January, I got several requests for easy meals, meals for kids, and meals without a lot of prep. You guys must know I love cooking, and the I have a picky eater.
Dex, not Gus. Gus ate olives, vegan cheese, hummus, shredded chicken, and tomato for lunch the other day. That boy will eat any texture and any flavor profile. Dex on the other hand is so picky. He has some sensory stuff going on with food, so it's often trial and error with him. Bryan and I joke that he will eat anything that is crunchy.
Here are 5 meals that our whole family loves, that require little prep! Let me know if you try any of them!
1- Chicken Kale Burgers from Costco and roasted potatoes. We always have these burgers in our freezer, ready to pop into a pan. Grab some buns, and burger toppings and you are set. We also roast potatoes instead of frying fries. Just chop, coat with olive oil, salt and pepper and put them on a sheet pan in a 425 degree oven for about 20 minutes and you have a whole family friendly dinner.
2- My Memaw's chicken and rice- I love making this because it makes me remember eating it at my Memaw and Pawpaw's kitchen table so many times. This is our favorite comfort food, and it is super easy and everyone will eat it- even though it isn't crunchy! Just boil 3 chicken breasts in salted water. Once they are done, add in one cup of long grain rice and cook until it is done. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the chicken from the pot, and shred it. Put it back in the rice, and dinner is ready. Told you it was easy. Add a salad or a side of fruit and you have a yummy, warm, comforting meal.
3- My Mama's shepherd's pie- Another family favorite. Boil and mash some red potatoes. Brown 1 lb. of ground beef. Drain the beef and add one can of tomato soup and one can of drained, cut green beans (I use organic soup and beans). Mix together and put in a casserole dish. Top with the mashed potatoes and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until the top of the potatoes are browned. Add a salad or fruit and you are good to go!
4- Panko Chicken and Roasted Veggies- this is one of Dex's favorites. I buy chicken cutlets since they are already sliced thin, or you can slice chicken breasts into about 3 thin slices. Dip in one egg that has been beaten, then dip into panko breadcrumbs that have been salted and peppered. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook the chicken on both sides until crispy. It doesn't take long since the chicken is thinly sliced. I usually serve it with roasted veggies. We love the frozen roasted root veggies from Trader Joes, or I will roast butternut squash, carrots, and zucchini since those are the ones Dex likes.
5- Chicken tacos with rice. We love rice, and Dex especially loves Mexican rice. My best friend shared her mom's rice recipe with me, and I make it almost weekly. It is so good. I make it with crockpot chicken tacos. I use boneless skinless thighs because they make a better taco and are more budget friendly in my opinion. I put a package of chicken thighs, a packet of taco seasoning (or if I don't have one, I throw in chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper) along with a jar of salsa. We like green salsa. I just make sure it's not spicy for the boys. Put it on low and let it cook all day. Shred the chicken and serve with tortillas, lettuce, tomato, and hot sauce (or your favorite toppings) Serve with a side of rice.
Heat the olive oil in a deep saute pan. Add the rice and cook until the rice is golden and puffy. Add the onion and cook until translucent. Add the seasonings and continue to cook for another minute. Add the tomato sauce and stock. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook until the rice is tender, and enjoy!
I hope these recipes are helpful! These are some of my favorites that get Dex approval. I feel as though it is worth mentioning again that it is a HUGE accomplishment! We are always looking to add to our quick and easy and kid-friendly meals.


Hey guys, so yesterday I went to IMATS at the Vancouver Convention Center. I've been waiting for this all year! If you don't know what IMATS is, its an international Makeup Artist Trade Show. They have different companies with booths set up. They also have guest speakers, demonstrations, and much more. Its so crazy that my first post I did was on IMATS last year. So that means its been exactly a year since I started blogging. Time truly does fly by. So here are some pictures from the event as well as the things what I bought there.
Me and my girlfriend standing by the Curlique booth. They had these cute summer blow up beach balls. If you took a picture with them and hashtagged #Mybiglove you had a chance to win a $500 shopping spree at their store.
Ok.. now to what i bought.
Beauty Blenders, Velour Lashes, Nigel Lashes, Makeup Forever HD Foundation & Oribe Texturizing spray.
More lashes! These are by Velour Lashes. These are high quality handmade 100% Mink lashes. They look like eyelash extensions. They are long lasting, keep their shape and form and can be used up to 25 times. Where as synthetic lashes can be used around 5 times.
"Our 100% natural mink hair is free from any chemical processing or dyes. Velour mink is collected from free-range zoos and recycled during the shedding seasons, it's then sterilized to ensure it is completely safe for use."
Beauty Blender - Reusable sponge. This right here is a MUST HAVE. If you don't have it please go out and it get! This sponge makes your makeup look so flawless and perfect. You can use it wet or dry. I've been using the beauty blender for about 2 years now and I absolutely love it!! I got it from Sephora for $26. At IMATS they were discounted for 1 for $15. I also picked up this other amazing deal that you can see on the left. The Air.port which is a mesh travel pouch which stores and dries your beauty blender. It also came with 2 beauty blenders AND the Solid beauty blender cleanser. Ok so I paid $32 for ALL of this! That is a freakin' amazing deal if you ask me. Did I mention that the Solid cleanser is $20 at Sephora!
So this was at the Nigel Emporium booth incase you were wondering.
Makeup Forever HD Foundation - One of my all time favorite foundations. I have repurchased this a few times. Retails for $49 and I got it at IMATS for $33.
I need volume for my hair! I am interested in trying that spray! How does it work? Is it easy to use?
If I'm allergic to animal fur, should I steer clear of the mink eye lashes? Would they irritate my eyes?


text:
Q: Bash shell script to find Robots meta tag value I've found this bash script to check status of URLs from text file and print the destination URL when having redirections :
#!/bin/bash
while read url
do
    dt=$(date '+%H:%M:%S');
    urlstatus=$(curl -kH 'Cache-Control: no-cache' -o /dev/null --silent --head --write-out '%{http_code} %{redirect_url}' "$url" )
    echo "$url $urlstatus $dt" >> urlstatus.txt

done < $1

I'm not that good in bash : I'd like to add - for each url - the value of its Robots meta tag (if is exists)

A: Actually I'd really suggest a DOM parser (e.g. Nokogiri, hxselect, etc.),
but you can do this for instance (Handles lines starting with <meta and "extracts" the value of the robots' attribute content):
curl -s "$url" | sed -n '/\<meta/s/\<meta[[:space:]][[:space:]]*name="*robots"*[[:space:]][[:space:]]*content="*\([^"]*\)"*\>/\1/p'

This will print the value of the attribute or the empty string if not available.
Do you need a pure Bash solution? Or do you have sed?

A: You can add a line to extract the meta header for robots from the source code of the page and modify the line with echo to show its value:
#!/bin/bash
while read url
do
    dt=$(date '+%H:%M:%S');
    urlstatus=$(curl -kH 'Cache-Control: no-cache' -o /dev/null --silent --head --write-out '%{http_code} %{redirect_url}' "$url" )
    metarobotsheader=$(curl -kH 'Cache-Control: no-cache' --silent "$url" | grep -P -i "<meta.+robots" )
    echo "$url $urlstatus $dt $metarobotsheader" >> urlstatus.txt
done < $1

This example records the original line with the meta header for robots.
If you want to put a mark "-" when the page has no meta header for robots, you can change the metarobotsheader line, and put this one:
    metarobotsheader=$(curl -kH 'Cache-Control: no-cache' --silent "$url" | grep -P -i "<meta.+robots" || echo "-")

If you want to extract the exact value of the attribute, you can change that line:
    metarobotsheader="$(curl -kH 'Cache-Control: no-cache' --silent "$url" | grep -P -i "<meta.+robots" | perl -e '$line = <STDIN>; if ( $line =~ m#content=[\x27"]?(\w+)[\x27"]?#i) { print "$1"; } else {print "no_meta_robots";}')"

When the URL doesn't contain any meta header for robots, it will show no_meta_robots.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I'll first go through all the things that I've done, and what I'm seeing.
I boot the R.pi with the SSD plugged in via a SATA to USB 3.0 connection and the SD card removed.
I see the "power" indicator on the SATA/USB connector light up for 2 seconds during the check cycle of the R.pi, but it turns off immediately after and doesn't boot leaving me with a black screen.
And thats where I leave basically.
The only thing I can possibly think is that the USB to SATA 3 cable isn't compatible? But I honestly have no idea, I'm at a loss. I just ordered a new one to test this theory.
It's probably worth noting that I also flashed a 32 GB Lexar Flash Drive and it worked! So it confirms that the USB Boot options works, but there is a problem with the SSD's.
I'm skeptical about power consumption, but I'm really no expect in this area.
It looks like you are using a USB 3.0 device, no?
Well, the bad news is that raspberry pi (all models) dont support USB 3.0. If I remember right, USB 3.0 (among other things) uses more power that the pi provides. I might be wrong (Someone correct me if I am) but I am 99% sure that that is your issue.
You might be able to use a USB hub to power your drive, or get a different USB-SATA converter with a seperate power supply for your SSD.
If this is not the issue, that it could be that your SSD needs more time to boot. While this is unlikely, because SSD are fast, that could be it. You could try to get another USB-SATA cable but first you should try to ajust the period of time the pi will wait at boot.
Be sure to pay special attention to what Dmitry Grigoryev and Yorch said.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged usb boot-issues usb-power pi-3b+ raspbian-lite or ask your own question.
POE Switch to Power the PI?


Today I thought it would be fun to marry (pun intended) a couple of our previous themes of the week -- volcanos and 6-7-08 weddings. Like Taryn and Jessica, Kerry was also one of our 6-7-08 brides. For Kerry's wedding, her colors were periwinkle blue and a soft sage green and she fell in love with the tall unusual shaped white swirl/plumeria wedding cake on cakelava.com, a design previously featured on our blog back in June called "A Glimpse After the Cake" . She wanted the same shape with the handcrafted plumerias but wished to include a honu motif. Honu is a Hawaiian sea turtle, which many believe bring good luck. I know we do, especially when Rick and I are swimming at Kailua beach and they come up to us. It's magical! In Hawaii the Honu is often represented by a petroglyph design of a turtle, and for a wedding with a Hawaiian motif the honu is common to find on invitations. We thought the plumeria flower worked well with the honu/ocean motif that Rick used on the cake.
Kerry surprised her fiance with his own sculpted Groom's cake, representing both Hawaii and Newfoundland, where he was from. She thought it would be fun to do a volcano, with a puffin, commonly found in Newfoundland, and have the puffin sit on an iceberg. Well, it's cake and fantasy is allowed. The result is shown above.
Kerry put as much importance on the taste of the cake as the look and she carefully chose her flavors of Lemon Pucker and Local Kine Special for the wedding cake and our Chai Latte flavor for her volcano/puffin cake. You could say their wedding was a HOT, cool, and spicy affair.


English to Portuguese Translator for the oil and gas industry. 17 years working for Angola and Mozambique.
Translation experience in exploration and development operations in shallow waters, deep waters and pre-salt environment. Some examples of documents translated are listed below. For more details on experience on environmental documentation associated with the oil and gas industry refer to Environment.


A report calls for putting the district under mayoral control, shrinking its central office, and giving principals more say.
Over the past decade, my colleagues and I have sought many of the changes that The Mind Trust proposes. I have been elected by my colleagues to serve on many committees to offer teacher advice, ideas, requests and to challenge the status quo as ineffective or just plain wrong. My colleagues and I have been met with opposition more frequently than not.


12 * This file is a part of QXmpp library.
17 * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
35 // include the whole header.
37 // for an explanation.
The QXmppStanza class is the base class for all XMPP stanzas.
Represents an extended address as defined by XEP-0033: Extended Stanza Addressing.