text:
\section{Numerical method to simulate a many-body state of free fermions}
\label{sec:freefermion}
In this section, the details of our method in simulating non-interacting fermions are provided. The method is described by assuming a lattice Hamiltonian, with no loss of generality, because the Hamiltonian in continuum can be mapped to a lattice Hamiltonian through discretization---the problem of our interest here has no fermion doubling issue.

Considering a lattice model, with its degrees of freedom described by creation/annihilation operators ($c_x$/$c_x^\dag$)---the subscript $x$ is the lattice-site index. For non-interacting fermions, the Hamiltonian takes a form of
\begin{equation}
H(t) = K + V(t),
\end{equation}
where  $K = \sum_{x x'} {\cal K} _{x x'} c_x ^\dag c_{x '} $ represents the time independent kinetic  tunnelling, and $V(t) = \sum_x {\cal V}_{xx'} (t) c_x ^\dag c_{x'} $ the time dependent potential. The matrix ${\cal V}$ is diagonal.
The time-evolving many-body state is described as
\begin{equation}
|\Psi (t) \rangle = \psi_1 ^\dag (t) \psi_2 ^\dag (t ) \ldots \psi_N ^\dag  (t) | 0\rangle,
\end{equation}
where $N$ is the total particle number of fermions, and the operators $\psi_{1, 2, \ldots N} $ are related to lattice operators by
\begin{equation}
\psi^\dag _j = \sum_x U_{x j} (t) c_x^\dag  .
\end{equation}
The $U$ matrix contains the single-particle wave function of each occupied orbital.
From the many-body schr\"odinger equation, $i\partial_t |\Psi (t) \rangle = H(t) | \Psi (t) \rangle$, the $U$ matrix satisfies the single-particle schr\"odinger equation,
$$i\partial_t U_{x j} (t) = \sum_{x'} \left[ {\cal K}_{xx'} + {\cal V}_{x x'} (t) \right] U_{x' j} (t) .$$

\begin{figure}[htp]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=160mm]{densityprofile.pdf}
\end{center}
\caption{The time evolution of density profile in quantum adiabatic doping of the 1d lattice. In the delocalized case ($V = 1E_R$), the density profile follows the instantaneous ground state of the system. In the localized case ($V = 8E_R$), it has a large memory retention of the initial state. The total adiabatic time is set to be $1000\hbar/E_R$ in this plot.  }
\label{fig:density}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[htp]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=100mm]{Overlap-OBC.pdf}
\end{center}
\caption{The resultant wave function overlap in the quantum adiabatic doping procedure with the open boundary condition. In this plot, the parameter used is the same as in Fig.~1(b) in main text. The only difference here is we use an open boundary condition. By comparison, it is evident that the qualitative feature of the fidelity  remains the same as in Fig.~1 where a periodic boundary condition is used, despite of their quantitative difference due to finite size effects.  }
\label{fig:OBC}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[htp]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=110mm]{sqrt2filling.pdf}
\end{center}
\caption{The resultant wave function overlap in the quantum adiabatic doping procedure with a filling factor of $\nu = 1/\sqrt{2}$. In this plot, the parameter used is the same as in Fig.~1(b). The only difference here is we choose a filling factor of $\nu = 1\sqrt{2}$. The results shown here is qualitatively similar to Fig.~1(b), where the filling factor is $(\sqrt{5}-1)/2$. This figure uses the same legend as given in Fig.~\ref{fig:OBC}.
}
\label{fig:sqrt2filling}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=100mm]{IPR2d.pdf}
\end{center}
\caption{The inverse participation ratio for the 2d lattice. The color in this plot index the inverse participation ratio (IPR). The `dashed' lines correspond to the adiabatic Hamiltonian path used in Fig.~2  (main text).   As compared to the 1d case, the dark region which corresponds to the delocalized phase becomes smaller. The finite-size artifact of the 2d case is larger than the 1d case in Fig.1(d) (main text), because the linear size we simulate in 2d is much smaller than 1d.}
\label{fig:IPR2d}
\end{figure}

In simulating the dynamics, we solve the time-dependent problem numerically by second-order Trotterization,
\begin{equation}
U (t+ \delta t) = e^{-i{\cal K} \delta t/2} e^{-i {\cal V} (t+\delta t/2) \delta t} e^{-i {\cal K} \delta t/2} U(t) +{\cal O} (\delta t ^3) .
\end{equation}
Note that the matrix ${\cal V}$ is diagonal, so the multiplication of  $e^{-i{\cal V} \delta t}$ on a vector can be implemented as multiplication of each element by a phase, which is numerically very efficient. The matrix ${\cal K} $ is non-diagonal, but can be diagonalized by a Fourier transformation. Then the multiplication of $e^{-i{\cal K} \delta t}$ can be efficiently carried out  by using Fast-Fourier-Transformation.
Regarding the initial condition, at time $t = 0$, the initial state in our adiabatic doping procedure is the instantaneous ground state of the Hamiltonian at time $t =0$.

The  energy of the dynamical state is defined with respect to the instantaneous Hamiltonian, which can be calculated according to
\begin{equation}
E(t) = \sum_{j=1}^N \sum_ {x x'} \left[ {\cal T}_{x x'} + {\cal V} _{x x'} (t)  \right] U_{x j} ^* (t) U_{x'j} (t) .
\end{equation}
The excitation energy of the adiabatic procedure  is defined to be energy of the final state subtracted by the ground state energy of the final Hamiltonian.
We also calculate the wave function overlap between the final state of the dynamical evolution and the ground state of the final Hamiltonian, defined as
\begin{equation}
{\rm Overlap} = |\langle \Psi_g |\Psi(t=T)\rangle| .
\label{eq:Fidelity}
\end{equation}
With the wave function of the occupied orbitals for $|\Psi_g\rangle$ stored as $U_{x j} ^{(g)}$, the wave function overlap reads as
\begin{equation}
{\rm Overlap} = |{\rm Det} [U^\dag  U^{(g)} ]|.
\end{equation}
For the spinful case, the two spin components can be further incorporated in a straightforward way.

\begin{figure}
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=160mm]{figS1.pdf}
\end{center}
\caption{
The convergence of the results of wave function overlap (Eq.~\eqref{eq:Fidelity}) and excitation energy in DMRG simulation. Here we choose the lattice depths  $V = V'=8E_R$
({\it see Eq. (2,3) in the main text}), the adiabatic time $T = 200 \hbar/E_R$, and $26000$ evolution Trotter-steps.
(a), the wave function overlap as a function of bond dimension $D$ with different interaction strengths. The relative error of the results between $D=120$ and $D=150$ is within $0.1\%$.
(b), the excitation energy (per particle) as a function of $D$. The relative error for the results between $D=120$ and $D=150$ is within $2.5\%$. In (b), $N$ is the total particle number, and $J$ is the single-particle tunneling amplitude in the final lattice.
Both the wave function overlap and the excitation energy have converged at large bond dimension.
(c,d), the comparison of DMRG results (red `solid' curve) with exact simulation (`dashed' line) for free fermions. We find quantitative agreement between the converged DMRG results and exact ones. }
\label{fig:DMRG}
\end{figure}

\section{Evolution of density profile in the quantum adiabatic doping}
In our simulation of free fermions in the quantum adiabatic doping, besides the final state fidelity and excitation energy, we also calculate the evolution of the density profile. The results are shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:density}. When the lattice is shallow ($V = E_R$), the density profile follows the instantaneous ground state evolution, and the confined atoms slowly migrate from original lattice sites to the final lattice sites, and eventually becomes evenly distributed in the final lattice. In contrast, for a strong lattice ($V = 8E_R$), the quantum tunneling from the original sites to the final sites is not efficient enough to make an even density profile when the adiabatic doping finishes.

\section{Robustness against different doping fraction and boundary conditions}
In optical lattice experiments, we typically do not have periodic boundary condition as used for the results of free fermions in the main text. To confirm our proposing  quantum adiabatic doping is adaptable, we check its robustness against the choice of boundary conditions.  From the results shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:OBC}, it is evident that for free fermions the quantum adiabatic doping remains efficient when the lattice is shallow, and becomes inefficient  in a strong lattice. The behavior of the fidelity is qualitatively the same as the case of periodic boundary condition as shown in Fig.~1 (see main text). We thus expect the physics presented in this work to be largely independent of the choice of boundary conditions.

To confirm the quantum adiabatic doping works for generic fillings, we provide the results for the filling factor $\nu = \sqrt{2}$, which can be asymptotically approached by using the Pell's number sequence. Despite the quantitative difference form the the choice of golden ratio, the generic feature---the efficiency (breakdown) at weak (strong) lattice---remains (see Fig.~\ref{fig:sqrt2filling}). We expect the physics in our quantum adiabatic doping to be generic for different filing factors.

\section{Inverse participation ratio for the 2d lattice}
Here we provide results of inverse participation ratio of the 2d lattice in the quantum adiabatic doping procedure (see Fig.~\ref{fig:IPR2d}).  It is evident that the breakdown of the quantum adiabatic doping for the 2d case at strong lattice is also due to localization physics as in the 1d case.
We thus expect the interaction restores the efficiency of the quantum adiabatic doping in two dimensions. In the study of many-body localization~\cite{basko2006problem}, it is expected that the localization phenomenon is less stable in higher dimensions according to the thermal bubble argument~\cite{2016_Choi_Bloch_MBL_Science,2017_Roeck_MBL_PRB,2018_Altman_arXiv,wahl2019signatures}.

\section{Details of density-matrix-renormalization-group simulation}

In this section, we provide the details of simulating interacting fermions with the density-matrix-renormalization-group (DMRG) method.
In the adiabatic evolution, we represent the dynamical state with a matrix product state of a  finite bond dimension $D$, and use the standard two-site procedure in simulating the quantum dynamics~\cite{schollwock2011density}.
The inital state of the adiabatic evolution is the band-insulator ground state of the initial lattice for the adiabatic evolution, which is also represented by a matrix-product state in the calculation.
To obtain the wave function overlap (see Eq.~\eqref{eq:Fidelity}) and excitation energy of the final quantum state at the end of the adiabatic evolution, the ground state of the final Hamiltonian is also calculated by the DMRG method.
The excitation energy is defined to be energy of the final state of the evolution subtracted by the ground state energy of the final Hamiltonian.
The results of wave function overlap and excitation energy are shown  in Fig.~\ref{fig:DMRG}.
We see convergence of these results with the bond dimension $D$ increased from $60$ upto $150$.
The relative error in excitation energy comparing $D=120$ and $D=150$ is within $2.5\%$ and for the wave function overlap it is within $0.1 \%$.
We also benchmark our DMRG simulation using the free fermion model with the exact results from the method described in the last section. With the bond dimension $D$ increased to $150$, we find quantitative agreement between the DMRG and the exact results (see Fig.~\ref{fig:DMRG}(c,d)), which justifies the correctness of the converged DMRG results.

\end{widetext}

\end{document}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


KUALA KRAI - After more than two days of unabated flooding, the churning waters in Kampung Manek Urai has submerged many homes and buildings.
A large number of vehicles were also swept away by strong currents, leaving some upside down and others crumpled against bridges.
Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah and Rantau Panjang were among the worst hit areas, with communications down and the authorities cut off from many places there these past few days.
This made it difficult for them to distribute aid and provide medical assistance, even by air because there were no suitable landing spots.
When the floodwaters started to recede last night, food and other supplies could finally be brought to the victims.
At the height of the flood, many residents took refuge in small boats while others sought safety on a nearby hill, Bukit Kajang.
Armed forces personnel Fazli Mohd Noor, 39, said they were stranded on the hill and could not be helped by the authorities.
"We used sticks that we found nearby and a zinc sheet to build a hut. Four families shared the shelter," he said yesterday.
At night, Mohd Fazli said, they fended off wild animals such as boars and were tormented by leeches all the time.
"It was a terrible experience but we stayed strong," he said.
He said that during this adversity, the people shared whatever food they had and shelter and these acts of kindness were heartwarming.
Noor Baizura Mohd Baharuddin, 20, said she ran from the flood with her 46-day-old baby boy and headed for the hill.
"I only had a blanket to cover him and we were drenched from head to toe. At that time, the water was already waist high," she said.
Noor Baizura said they drank rainwater until aid reached them.
Another villager, Siti Khadijah Mohd Noor, 36, and her son Mohd Amri Lokman Mahasan, six, spent their time looking for planks scattered at the scene.
She will use them to repair her house that was damaged by the floods.
"Only the base of my house is still standing," she said.
Another piece of good news - Sekolah Manek Urai was rumoured to have collapsed during the disaster but the school building was found intact.
S'pore NGO Relief.sg has made an urgent call for volunteers to head up north to participate in Kelantanese efforts to help schools receive their students in restored premises come Jan 11.
The start of the new school term - which had been postponed a week by the authorities because of the flood situation - is fast approaching, yet many affected schools remain deluged by mud and debris.
RSG is organising the school-cleaning mission under its From Singapore With Love initiative, partnering with Malaysian NGO Centre for Better Living's #OpsHarapan project.
The mission dates are Jan 8 to 12.
Planning for subsequent missions is in the pipeline.
The second wave of floods ravaging the country has worsened, sending 58,705 people in six states to evacuation centres as Wednesday morning.
A headcount showed that Kelantan had the most number of evacuees, at 24,765.
This was followed by Terengganu (21,606), Pahang (10,825), Perak (1,030), Sabah (336) and Perlis (143).
In Kelantan, the number of evacuees rose by 3,164 overnight from 21,601, forcing the opening of 18 more relief centres to take the total to 114 Wednesday.
The floods in the state have affected nine of the 10 districts, namely Gua Musang, Jeli, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah, Tumpat and Kota Baru.
Twenty-three roads in eight districts remain closed to traffic. Seventeen of these roads are closed to all vehicles and six, to light vehicles.
The floods in Kelantan have claimed four lives since Dec 16.
In Teregganu, 8,977 more people were evacuated overnight, raising to 21,606 the number of victims in the state.
Kemaman is the worst-affected district in Terengganu, with 12,699 evacuees.
Menteri Besar of Perak Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir (fourth from right) reviewing the situation in Kampung Labit.
The high-tide phenomenon has been blamed for the big number of evacuations, particularly along the coastal areas.
Authorities said the floods in Kelantan are the worst of the past decade after rain fell continuously for more than 12 hours Saturday, Dec 20.
The floods which have ravaged the east coast and displaced tens of thousands of people are set to worsen.
The department has for now issued a yellow stage alert for rainfall over Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor.
The yellow stage advisory is the lowest of the three-tier warnings.
Rises in sea levels are also expected at coastal areas of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and east Johor.


text:
Japan economy on track as stimulus spending eyed: Poll
http://str.sg/ZQEV
TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan's economy will remain on track as the government prepares a 5 trillion yen (S$63 billion) stimulus package to offset the drag from a sales tax increase scheduled for next April, a Reuters poll showed.
Economists expect the majority of the stimulus package to be spent on infrastructure and tax breaks for the corporate sector, the poll conducted Oct. 10-15 showed.
It also concluded that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government should take additional steps to ease regulations and encourage new markets for goods and services to lift the country's potential growth rate.
"Although details of some spending measures will be determined in December, we estimate these fiscal measures will largely offset the negative impact from the consumption tax hike," Nomura Securities economists said in a note to clients.
"We expect the policy focus to shift to the growth strategy, which the government will start to enact in the next Diet (parliamentary) session that convened on 15 October."
The world's third-largest economy is forecast to grow 2.8 percent in the fiscal year to March 2014, a Reuters poll of 26 economists showed. That was unchanged from last month's poll.
Growth is expected to slow to 0.9 percent in the following fiscal year as an increase in the sales tax in April to 8 percent from 5 percent will temporarily slow consumer spending.
By comparison, economists last month said growth would slow to 0.7 percent next fiscal year.
In fiscal 2015, the economy will grow 1.1 percent, slower than 1.5 percent growth predicted last month.
Japan's government earlier this month agreed the stimulus package, which will include tax breaks for home purchases and a small cut in the corporate tax rate.
However, the government still has to decide how to spend more than half of the money and will not announce final details until early December.
The increase in the sales tax, which is earmarked for welfare and healthcare spending, is the biggest effort in nearly two decades to contain a public debt that, at more than twice the nation's annual economic output, is the biggest in the world.
The government's decision to couple the tax hike with stimulus spending does not raise concerns about fiscal discipline, economists in the Reuters poll said.
However, the government still needs to cut welfare spending and avoid big cuts in the corporate tax rate to ensure there is progress in lowering the debt burden, some said.
The Japanese yen and its stock market have benefited from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's expansionary policies. Having lost as much as 18 percent by mid-May, the yen is currently down around 12 percent on the year, a boon for currency-sensitive exporters.
The Nikkei is expected to gain almost 50 percent this year, marking its biggest annual rise in more than four decades, a Reuters poll showed last week.
Still, the latest poll showed Japan needs more measures to boost its potential growth rate, as the Bank of Japan is trying to guide the economy out of deflation with monetary easing and achieve its 2 percent inflation target in the next two years.
The poll showed that Japan's core consumer prices were expected to rise 0.8 percent for the fiscal year starting April 2014 and 0.9 percent for fiscal 2015, excluding the effect of the expected sales tax hike.
That is little changed from last month's poll, showing economists still expect the BOJ will face difficulty in meeting its price target.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Kel-Prime is a non-toxic SEALING, BONDING, CURING and HARDENING agent. As a SEALANT it provides water retention for proper CURING/HYDRATION. As a BONDING agent it provides excellent bonding for plaster over CMU units, and greatly reduces rebound. As a CURING agent it "will cure the plaster in 24 hours". It helps the curing process in shotcrete, concrete, etcetera CMU units. Kel-Prime will HARDEN a soft plaster wall in 24 hours. Kel-Prime meets EPA LEEDS and CARBON FOOTPRINTING standards, and is NON-TOXIC and made in the USA. It is packaged in four-gallon cases, or in 55-gallon drums.


text:
Korean Government Approved A Blockchain-Based Securities Token Platform Deploying EQBR Holdings' 30-minutes STO Solution
SINGAPORE, Dec. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Dec. 21, 2022, the Financial Services Commission of Korea ("FSC", financial regulator in Republic of Korea) designated a blockchain-based fragmentized investment platform to be operated by APANDA Partners (hereinafter "APND) as an innovative financial services (so called, "Sandbox Approval"). In general, FSC has taken very conservative and prudent position in issuing Sandbox Approvals to blockchain-tech companies (in particular, after occurrence of many incidents in crypto-market) and APND went through FSC's intensive examination procedures for last 1 year, which is why this Sandbox Approval to blockchain-based fragmentized investment platform deserves attention from the financial markets.
As a background behind APND's successful acquisition of the Sandbox Approval, it is noteworthy that APND is a joint venture of the most ideal three parties as far as a real-estate related business is concerned. EQBR Holdings ("EQBR"), the largest shareholder is a start-up which developed amazing STO solution whereby anyone can complete offering of securities tokens including making and publishing overall applications (e.g., wallets, exchanges, etc.) within 30 minutes. IGIS Asset Management ("IGIS"), the nation's top real estate asset management company, has the best capability to source the high-quality assets to be tokenized and Shinhan Financial Group ("Shinhan"), the nation's largest financial group has the largest customer accounts and sales network. One can easily expect that the combination of the most advanced technology, the best pipeline and the largest sales network would be able to produce the synergy which has never been experienced before.
APND's business model is summarized as follows: APND acquires the high-quality assets (mainly real-property secured loans) located by IGIS and trusted it to Shinhan. Shinhan will issue and sell the beneficial certificates to customers, but actual trading will be done through tokens to be issued by APND. The individual investor may sell and purchase on the secondary market in form of blockchain based platform to be operated by APND.
JaeKun Jung, head of business at EQBR, said, "Under the Sandbox Approval, APND will be able to provide safe and profitable investment method to individual investors in an easy and transparent way, and to create the first example showing how Web 3.0 technology can innovate in the financial sector." And added, "EQBR has been developing Web 3.0 business solutions in Singapore and the United States as well since 2021. We will launch same services in cooperation with local partners in Southeastern Asia and US and strive to localize and standardize our STO services for those regions."
APND's new business is scheduled to begin within the first two quarters of 2023. The fragmentized investment market based on real estates or real estate secured loans is still in very early stage, but the future of it is bright. KASA Korea, a company which firstly received the Sandbox Approval for their real-estate fragmentized investment service in Korea carved out this market and their corporate value is evaluated by more than USD 10 million reflecting their future value. Further, new fragmentized investment schemes based on other various assets (luxuries, art works, meat, etc.) continue to appear in financial markets, indicating the possibility that the securities will be replaced by tokens in the future. In an anticipation of generalization of the fragmentization business, EQBR will unveil a "STO as a Service" at upcoming CES 2023 to be held in January 2023 in Las Vegas in order to enable anyone to easily launch and operate STO services on a subscription basis.
About EQBR Holdings:
Founded in 2020, EQBR has engaged with various businesses as an operator, investor and third-party solutions provider. EQBR's innovative blockchain engine called Equilibrium is the world's first commercially-viable blockchain. Since then, EQBR has developed several dApps on top of Equilibrium, including Whisper Messenger (a blockchain-based secure messenger), EQ Hub (a no-code developer tool) and now, My Flex (an NFT minting platform).
EQBR
To learn more, visit https://eqbr.com
Follow EQBR on Medium: https://medium.com/eqbr
Follow EQBR CES 2023: https://ces.eqbr.com/
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text:
Posted April 16, 2012 by Jeff Kloha in Blog 2192
A Book of Life
"In principio erat verbum . . ." Beautiful, majestic words that open John's Gospel. And, beautifully written in an insular hand in the late seventh century.
The British Library announced that it had raised 9 millions pounds ($13.2 million) to purchase the oldest intact book in the western world: A copy of the Gospel According to John written around AD 698 and in a state of near-perfect preservation. Here is a description from the library's website:
The St Cuthbert Gospel (formerly known as the Stonyhurst Gospel) is the oldest intact European book. Made in the late-7th century, the manuscript contains a copy of the Gospel of St John, and was apparently placed in the coffin of St Cuthbert (c. 635–687) when he was re-interred at Lindisfarne in 698. Cuthbert's coffin was subsequently removed to Durham, where it was opened in September 1104 on the occasion of the translation of his remains, and the book discovered inside:"Ewangelium Iohannis quod inuentum fuerat ad capud beati patris nostri Cuthberti in sepulcro iacens anno translacionis ipsius" (13th century note added on f. ii verso: "The Gospel of John which was found at the head of our blessed father Cuthbert lying in his tomb in the year of his translation"). . . An account of the miracles performed by St Cuthbert, composed at Durham in the 1120s or 1130s, records that when the outer lid of the coffin was raised in 1104, the monks saw "a book of the Gospels lying at the head of the board." During a sermon preached on the day of the translation, Ranulf Flambard, bishop of Durham (1099–1128), showed the people a Gospel of St John in miraculously perfect condition, which had a satchel-like container of red leather with a badly-frayed sling made of silken threads. According to Reginald of Durham, writing in the 1160s or 1170s, William FitzHerbert, archbishop of York (1141–1147, 1153–1154), was shown a manuscript, apparently the St Cuthbert Gospel, when visiting Cuthbert's tomb at Durham in 1153 or 1154.
St. Cuthbert was likely not covered in any of your church history classes. He was a monastic in the Irish tradition, perhaps of noble birth but living the life of itinerant evangelist, and later bishop, abbot, and finally hermit. He is associated with many of the ecclesial sites of northern England, including Ripon, York, Hexham, Lindisfarne (Holy Island), and finally his place of burial, Durham. I had a chance to visit all these places, many of which still have a rugged, medieval feel and architecture that, in some cases, goes back nearly to Cuthbert himself. A couple hundred years later, faithful monks carried his body from place to place for seven (of course) years, keeping it from marauding Vikings, until they built a shrine at Durham. This shrine became a major place of pilgrimage, resulting in enough people tossing in coins in hopes of a miracle that they could build a cathedral cool enough to be featured throughout the Harry Potter movies. The gorgeous Lindisfarne Gospels were probably created in his honour, and about 100 years after his death Lindisfarne Abbey itself became the first monastery raided by the cruel Norsemen. And now, a little Gospel book written to honour him was just purchased by the British Library for about $13.2 million. Quite a trail of monuments for someone that you've never heard of.
But back to the manuscript (the entire ms is online in full color). If you know anything about biblical manuscripts, you probably know about the Dead Sea Scrolls, maybe Codex Sinaiticus. But we don't actually know a whole lot about those manuscripts, like who made them or why they made them. We know exactly when and, it seems, why this copy of John was made: It was produced to be buried with a saint. In Cuthbert's shrine was also found, mostly intact, his wooden coffin with carvings of the apostles adorning it, a silk stole, and, if I remember right, a bishop's crozier (though that may not go back to the original burial). They are on display at Durham Cathedral (I couldn't find images online). Why produce a copy of the gospel only to bury it? Did the saint make the word holy, or did the word make the saint holy?
There are four, and only four, brief marginal notations in the ms.:
At John 5:21 "pro defunctis" ("For the dead"): "For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will."
At John 6:37 "pro defunctis" ("For the dead"):"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
At John 6:51 "de mortuorum" ("about the dead"): "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
At John 11:21 "de mortuorum" ("about the dead"): "Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
It seems that even in the seventh century, in the face of death, they turned to the Word — for resurrection.
Tags: Cuthbert, NT Manuscripts, resurrection
"Common Callings and Ordinary Virtues deserves a wide reading if for no other reason than to help those of us who live in an age of hyperbole and what is purported to be extraordinary and unprecedented events to be simple people who follow Christ in the everyday and who excel at being boring in the best possible way." Dr Joel Biermann from his review of COMMON CALLINGS AND ORDINARY VIRTUES: Christian Ethics for Everyday Life by Brent Waters.
Dr. Robert Kolb writes about the work of Dr. James Arne Nestingen and of their friendship.
Jeff Kloha


Once again it's a busy time at work and photographic opportunities are lacking during the week. Until I find time for a proper trip the weekends are my best bet. The last couple of days had great weather and decent light for a small road trip.


This lounging shirt dress was handmade in Madagascar of 100% Cotton and beautifully embroidered flying Bees throughout. It has slits on both sides for ease of movement and style. The sleeves can be folded cuff-like.


Indirect acidification, i.e., enhancement of semi-volatile aerosol components deposition associated with increased SO42- concentration has now been shown to occur in general air pollution, analyzing Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) monitoring data collected at six stations in Japan. This effect was firstly detected as a result of volcanic SO2 plumes (Satsumabayashi et al., 2004, Kajino et al., 2005). Results indicate that as SO42- concentration increases, NO3- in aerosol phase is expelled, increasing the HNO3 gas concentration. The deposition of HNO3 gas occurs at a high velocity, consequently accelerating the deposition of NO3- despite a constant total (gas plus aerosol) nitrate concentration. In western Japan, this indirect acidification is most influential from spring to autumn, when the Asian continental outflow carries sulfate-rich contaminated air masses, but is not pronounced in the air masses containing abundant sea-salt particles and related cation components in aerosols.


text:
define([], function () {
    var config = {};

    config.refreshTime = 15000;

    return config;
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Introduction: Afghan artist Meena Saifi مینه سیفی is a rising star in the world of international art. Born in Kabul, she and her family were forced by the Afghan civil war to flee to Pakistan in the 1990s. They eventually found safehaven in Rawalpindi, Islamabad.
Her father Asadullah Saifi, an artist himself, built a successful school there to educate his own children and those of other Afghan refugees. From an early age Meena helped her father build the school's curriculum, while continuing to draw and paint anything she could.
Still in a refugee status, the Saifi family was forced to relocate to Peshawar in 2004. Meena's talent was recognized there by the revered Afghan artist Ustad (Art Master) Qais Nawabi. Under his tutelage she quickly became his premier art student. At the age of sixteen Meena's first oil painting, "Dream," was sold at a record price to an art collector in Germany. The international art community began to take notice.
As her work evolved, Ustad Nawabi began referring to her respectfully as "Ustad Meena." (Art Master Meena). She held her first official art show in Peshawar in late 2007. At this show another of her paintings, "Baba Panjshiri" (Panjshir Grandfather) commanded great attention and was sold to an international art investor. Shortly afterward Meena was offered her first media interview, with Voice of America.
After that first show in Pakistan, Meena's reputation as an artist continued to climb. She held her first international art exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona in 2009, sponsored by the Pangean Orchestra. Her show received excellent reviews and another of her paintings, "Dhol" (Drum), was acquired by an influential art collector. Her reputation grew.
Since the 2009 Phoenix show, Meena's work has been featured in art exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Germany, France, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In May 2013 Meena was sponsored by the Fluxus Foundation - a global collective of artists, musicians and designers whose members have included John Cage, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Nam June Paik - to participate in the Whitney Museum of American Art's Annual Art Party in New York City.
The Whitney Art Party is one of New York City's largest annual gatherings of artists and Hollywood A-listers in the world of fine arts. This year's event was sponsored by Max Mara and was hosted by the Whitney Contemporaries.
Meena continues to work with and support many other art projects around the world, including the Pool Art Fair, Art Warning the World, The Kabul Art Project, and others.
Artist Meena Saifi مینه سیفیspeaks here in an exclusive Film Annex interview with Edward Zellem, دگروال ادوارد زالم the author of "Zarbul Masalha: 151 Afghan Dari Proverbs" and a U.S. Navy Captain.
Film Annex: Meena, it's great to speak with you. You're a rising star in the international art world, and your work is gaining more and more public attention. How did you begin as an artist?
How did I begin as an artist? It is hard for me to say. I feel as though I have always been one. Art comes from the heart, and it is a part of me.
The Afghan civil war in the 1990s was a dangerous and complicated time for all Afghans. Even artists and other people who wanted only peace were targets in the fighting. So my family and I fled from Kabul as refugees and we escaped to Pakistan.
After we eventually found safe haven in Rawalpindi, my father built and ran a school there. He named it Sufi Ashqari, صوفي عشقري after a great Afghan poet. My father was a graphic artist. Even when I was a very little girl in Rawalpindi, I helped him with his art projects.
MS: What inspires me? Everything. Love, peace, humanity. When birds are flying. A drop of rain. Smiling faces. The eyes of people, which can never lie. The pain and tears of women.
The poetry of Rumi, Hafez Shirazi, and Omar Khayyam inspires me. Many other great poets like Sufi Ashqari. I am especially fond of Ghazal, a great and ancient poetry style that expresses the pain of loss or separation, and the beauty of love in spite of that pain.
Music inspires me, of course. All types, both modern and very ancient. I enjoy Qawwali, which is a Sufi musical tradition that goes back more than 700 years.
The great happiness and sadness found in life inspires me. The Universe inspires me.
FA: What types of subjects and themes do you enjoy painting? Do you prefer working in oil, acrylic, pastel or watercolor? Do you have a favorite medium?
MS: I paint many things. I enjoy painting about freedom and peace. I especially enjoy painting about women's rights and women's empowerment, because I feel and believe that my art can become their voice.
I get lost when I work on these themes. I enter the universe of my imagination. It is very hard to describe that feeling. I have no words to describe that other world. It becomes just me and that world for a while.
I prefer watercolor because it comes very naturally to me. I enjoy it a lot when I drop colors on paper, and they surprise me and create a beautiful new color.
FA: Western art is generally classified by type or period, such as Impressionism, Dadaism, Realism, Cubism, and others. Does Afghan art have these types of categories? What is your favorite type of art? Who is your favorite artist?
MS: I can only speak of what I know about Afghan art history. I have read a lot of old books, especially old books of poetry. I like books that are designed with Minatory art, a very ancient style of kaleidoscopic design. In my opinion not enough academic research has been done on Afghan art history. A hundred books could be written on that topic.
My understanding is that oil painting did not exist in Afghanistan until two Afghan artists named Ghulam Maimangee and Abdullaraqgar Bhrezhna graduated from a German art school in 1919, and returned home. The King of Afghanistan at that time was King Amanullah, and he was very interested in art and modernization. King Amanullah even sent young Afghan teenagers to Europe specifically to learn the European art styles.
For centuries in Afghanistan before King Amanullah's time, the main type of "painting" was calligraphy and Persian miniature art. Most people then believed that these were the only two art forms allowed by Islam. When Ghulam came back from Germany, he built Afghanistan's first School of Arts to teach Afghans the art of painting in more styles. So less than a hundred years ago there were only three Afghan art masters in the modern sense: Ghulam, Brezhna, and a third great artist named Abdul Aziz. It's very interesting.
Today, the Taliban have been removed from power and Afghan artists are free to paint in all different styles. These range from the modern to the ancient, and many combinations of these. Afghan artists are very creative. But sometimes it is still hard for Afghan artists to promote their work there, because of the fear of being killed or other problems.
Personally, my favorite forms of Western art are Abstract art and Cubism. As for my favorite artist, all artists are my favorite artists. I enjoy everyone's art because it is painted with their deep emotions.
FA: It is well-known that the Taliban oppose the painting of living things. They even made it illegal when they were in power. They are against most types of art and music in general. What would you say to someone who says that you should not paint?
MS: First of all I would say that the universe that we live in is a work of art. We live in art. The beauty of nature around us, the high blue sky, starry nights, colorful rainbows, flowers all around, humans, animals, such beautiful creations. It's all art!
And the voice of rain, the singing of birds, the waves, even the sound of air is all music.
How lucky we are, to live in a work of art where the music always plays!
Art is a natural thing. It shouldn't matter whether you are a man or a woman either. But unfortunately sometimes society, closed minds, and life situations can build strong walls around an artist. That can be true anywhere. But an artist must be strong enough to break those walls down. I am a woman, and I was in a situation like that. But I chose art. That is the only window where my soul can get some air.
For those who say I should not paint, my answer is: you mean that I should not live.
FA: How can people see your artwork? Do you have more shows coming soon? What are your plans for the future?
MS: I have a website, www.meenasaifi.com. I have several upcoming shows in New York, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas. I also have accepted an invitation to participate in the Rumi Awards show, and am supporting that event any way I can. The Rumi Awards are great for the future of Afghanistan, and as I said earlier I have a great love for Rumi's poetry.
As for future plans, I have many projects underway. One of them is with two other artists, and we will have our exhibition soon. I'll be happy to talk about that with you when the time is right, hopefully soon.
FA: Meena jan, we would enjoy hearing an update about that exhibition in our next interview with you. As the Afghan Proverb says, Yaar zenda sohbat baqee. یار زنده صحبت باقی. (As long as the friendship lives, there will be more conversations).
Until then, one last question: Can art help the cause of peace in Afghanistan? If someone asked you to do one painting that would represent the future of Afghanistan, what would you paint?
MS: Yes, the arts can definitely help. I know in my heart that Afghan art can help bring peace to Afghanistan. Anyone who looks will see that Afghanistan's artists, musicians, poets, and filmmakers are working incredibly hard to send messages of peace through their art. This new generation of Afghan artists will help bring peace!


A number of citizens from different walks of life – social and cultural organizations, political parties, professional organizations, NGOs, trade unions, students and teachers have come together under the banner of Amn Tehreek (Peace Movement) to work towards a 1 point agenda – Peace.
The first step is to come together to raise the slogan of peace; to tell everyone around us, our state and the rest of the world that Pakistanis want peace and wish to live in harmony with themselves, their neighbours and the rest of the world.
The Peace Rally will begin from Regal Chowk, Mall Road to the Punjab Assembly Chowk.


Take your handmade goods to another level. After seeing the popularity of our Custom Leather Wallet CraftJam, we created a new Leather Accessory CraftJam. Make this class your next date night or simply an excuse to spend 2 hours being creative with your honey or favorite person!
In this CraftJam you get to make an earbud holder, a leather tassel and a monogrammed keychain; all of which cater to any gender. Don't consider yourself a DIYer? No problem! Absolute beginners are welcome to our Jams.
BYOB! Crafting is paired best with your favorite drink of choice.
The JamMaster for this CraftJam is Jing, a talented footwear and accessory designer.
Make an Adorable Embroidered Pendant - SOLD OUT!


The Mediterranean diet has been known for its numerous health benefits, which include: low cholesterol, low blood pressure and a healthy heart and it is considered a generally good diet for those who like to live a healthy life.
Previous published studies had already demonstrated that following a Mediterranean Diet was associated with a reduction in risk for Alzheimer's disease. This study is now showing that the more people "(…) adhere to the Mediterranean diet, the more protection you get for your brain" according to the lead research in the study publish in the Journal of Neurology.
Medical Port is committed to work with partners that do outstanding work in health areas that concern the population.
In Portugal, a pioneer in Neurology is Joaquim Ferreira, PhD, the founder of CNS Campus. Neurology diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease are areas were Professor Joaquim Ferreira's job is well known all over Europe. CNS Campus is located near Lisbon in the countryside near the beach. In addition to consultations, CNS offers rehabilitation programs (those can be long term or short term format) that help patients and their caregivers to cope with the disease and have a better life quality. If you would like to learn more about CNS Campus and Professor Joaquim Ferreira, click here.
It includes utilizing genmuine foods that not only taste fantastic but also ssist losing weight.


In our dining room can taste typical dishes, in the best tradition of the cuisine of Apulia, menus prepared and handled directly by the direct-farmer.
The vegetables are picked and processed by the owner directly and given to our guests.
To accompany the food, wines exclusively local, as Negroamaro, Salice Salentino Rosso DOC. and finally the Rosoli grandmother as well as liquor flavored (Walnut, myrtle, Centerbe, bay leaf, fennel, pomegranate and Nespolino, cordial with roses) of rural tradition.
Liquors that are prepared according to what the season offers. Winter is a good time for strawberries, spring for limoncello, the autumn for the myrtle and the summer to the liquor with basil, lemongrass, the Nespolino, all collected and put into fresh maceration before 24 hours.
The products that we need are not available in the farmhouse are purchased from other farms and farmhouse in our area of Apulia.


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Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
Glorious intelligence units
Outstanding intelligence officers
DI in the news
Russia's military aggression against Ukraine
Servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces who took part
in combat actions in Ukraine
The DIU "Oberih" songs
The 3rd Separate Special Forces Regiment
The 10th Separate Special Forces Brigade was established in the town of Staryi Krym in October 1962 according to the Directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR. The Order of Minister of Defence of the USSR designated October 4 as Brigade Day. The Brigade was awarded the Colours in April 1964.
In recognition of their merits in combat training an honorary title "Named after the 50th Anniversary of the October Revolution" was bestowed upon the 1st Special Forces Detachment of the 10th Separate Special Forces Brigade by Odessa military district commander.
During 1979 – 1987 the Brigade was awarded with the Red Challenge Banner of Military Council of Odessa military district many times, recorded in the Book of Honor of Military Council of Odessa military district and awarded with certificates of merit.
In addition to that in 1987 the reconnaissance group of Special Forces of the Brigade was acknowledged as the best in sniping fire in the Armed Forces of the USSR, and in 1990 the reconnaissance group of Special Forces of the 10th Separate Special Forces Brigade won the first place in the competition of special forces groups of the Armed Forces of the USSR.
The Afghan war of 1979-1989 was an ordeal for the personnel of the Brigade. Although the 10th Separate Special Forces Brigade was not reformed for the Soviet War in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Special Forces troops of the Brigade were part of separate detachments of Special Forces that were formed on the basis of other military units.
Volodymyr Pavlovych Kovtun
So, in 1985 about 30 servicemen of the 10th Separate Special Forces Brigade led by First Lieutenant V. P. Kovtun joined the 186th Separate Special Forces Detachment, which was formed on the basis of the 8th Separate Special Forces Brigade (Iziaslav, Khmelnytskyi region) and was later stationed in the Afghan settlement Shahjoy.
In 1987, the reconnaissance group of Special Forces lead by First Lieutenant V.P. Kovtun was the first to capture a sample of American Stinger MANPADS.
In addition to 186th Separate Special Forces Detachment servicemen of the Brigade demonstrated excellence in practically all Soviet Special Forces detachments deployed in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
The former commander of the 10th Separate Special Forces Brigade Colonel Yu. T. Starov who headed the 15th Special Forces Brigade in Afghanistan became a legendary figure of the Afghan war. Under his leadership, Afghanistan Order of the Red Banner of Military Valour and Honorary Red Banner were bestowed upon the 15th Special Forces Brigade.
Yury Timofeyevich Starov
When Ukraine gained independence, the 10th Separate Special Forces Brigade became subordinate to the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, and the personnel of the military unit pledged allegiance to Ukrainian people.
In June 1998, the 10th Separate Special Forces Brigade was converted into the 1st Separate Special Forces Regiment.
According to the results of 1999-2000 the 1st Separate Special Forces Regiment was acknowledged as one of the best units of the Operation Command South by the Commander of Operation Command South.
In September 2000 the 1st Separate Special Forces Regiment was renamed as the 3rd Separate Special Forces Regiment and in July 2003 it was relocated from the town of Stary Krym to the city of Kirovohrad.
During the years of independence the service members participated in international exercises and peacekeeping operations. In particular, members of the regiment competed in an international Special Forces Competition held in Slovakia for two consecutive years and returned to Kirovohrad with awards twice, winning prizes among teams from more than ten countries. In May 2015 the 3rd Separate Special Forces Regiment was inspected by the Commission of the Main Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and passed the review successfully.
Faithful to the glorious traditions the service members of the 3rd Separate Special Forces Regiment demonstrate commitment to excellence creating new pages in history of their unit.
© Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
Content licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International, unless otherwise specified.


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Two Americans detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport weeks apart with a single bullet in their luggage
in Crime, Foreigners, Personal, Thailand
Both men have expressed shock at being detained and claimed no knowledge of guns or ammunition. One is still in Thailand awaiting a court hearing in March while the other, a respected fire chief in Pennsylvania, was released and arrived home in the United States on Christmas Eve.
Two disturbing incidents just over three weeks apart at Suvarnabhumi Airport have seen two Americans visiting Thailand arrested by security at the international airport after a single bullet was found in their luggage. The latest American to be arrested is still stranded in Bangkok awaiting a court appearance after his family wired thousands of dollars to pay for a lawyer and bail him out while the first American arrested, a 30 years old veteran fire chief from Pennsylvania who is highly respected at home, was released and allowed to return to the United States for Christmas Eve but not before spending time in a Thai prison.
Michael Jones from Ohio (left and centre) seen with one of his children from a prior Christmas with his family. The 37-year-old had been celebrating his birthday in Thailand this month. He reportedly had a great holiday in the kingdom but was stunned on passing through Suvarnabhumi Airport to be arrested after a single bullet was found in his luggage. That was on the 16th of December. Just over 3-weeks earlier, on November 23rd, Michael Morra (inset right), a respected fire chief from Pennsylvania, in Thailand for business with General Electric, was arrested also at Suvarnabhumi Airport after a single bullet was found.
A 37-year-old American, on his first trip abroad, chose Thailand to celebrate his 37th birthday. After having enjoyed his holiday in the kingdom, he was heading home when disaster struck. Michael Jones is an African American man, the sole provider in his household, working full time and studying at the same time to build a better life for his family.
Arrested while passing through security at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the way home
At Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday the 16th December, he had checked in and was just passing through security at the airport when he was called aside.
The American was dumbfounded to hear from security officials at the airport that a single bullet had been discovered in his duffel bag and that consequently he was being detained.
Family in Ohio rescued him from prison
The American man immediately reached out to his family in affluent University Heights, Ohio for help. He was fortunate to have the full support of his parents Tanya Durden-Jones and Mike jones to assist him from there.
The older couple wired thousands of dollars to Thailand to pay for a lawyer and bail for their son who was released from custody at the airport and later went on to stay in a Bangkok hotel.
American worried about his visa and immigration status as he awaits his court hearing in March
Mr Jones is now awaiting a court hearing said to be sometime in March but is concerned of falling further afoul of Thai authorities as his visa expires in January and he currently does not have possession of his passport.
Michael Jones and his family have stressed that there is no reason why there would have been a bullet in his luggage as he was not carrying any guns or ammunition.
They simply cannot comprehend the situation. The current predicament has left Mr Jones having to suspend his education activities in the United States while missing Christmas with his family and his 16-year-old son's birthday.
Job is safe but he will not be paid
The American has been told by his employer that his job is safe but he will not be paid as he is not available for work.
His family also reports that his 16-year-old son, whose birthday is in January, is deeply disturbed by his father's detention in Bangkok.
'He had nothing, and when he tried to explain that to them, it's like you really can't challenge their authority there,' his mother Durden-Jones has told TV Station News 5 in Cleveland, Ohio. 'We understand what happened, we just don't understand why.'
The family in Ohio have described the experience so far as a nightmare and are thankful that they have the ability to assist Michael.
They are working closely with the US Embassy. 'If we did not do that, he can do 20 years for a single bullet in his duffel bag, so of course, that's what we did, because they have our son.'
2nd American to be arrested with a single bullet in his luggage just 23 days apart at Suvarnabhumi Airport
What makes this story even more troubling is that this is not a once-off occurrence. On November 23rd, another American of impeccable character was also stopped at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Michael Morra, an employee of General Electric is also a respected fire chief in the United States in Burgettstown, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr Morra is a highly respected US citizen with over 30 years of public service.
Nearly identical experience for the middle age and respected fire chief in the United States
His story is nearly identical to that of Michael Jones who was stopped at Suvarnabhumi Airport just over 3 weeks later and given the same staggering news.
The middle-aged American was stopped by airport security and told there was also a single bullet in his suitcase.
Flabbergasted – no connection with firearms
Mr Morra was flabbergasted at this as he too had no connection with guns or firearms in the course of his trip to Thailand. He was in the kingdom in connection with work for General Electric.
Nevertheless, the American man not only found himself facing charges but also ended up spending time in an overcrowded and unhygienic Thai prison with his passport confiscated.
He was told he would face trial in mid February 2020.
High profile US politicians took an interest in the case
Through the intercession of American lawmakers including Representative Joshua Kail of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the US embassy was involved in the matter and Mr Morra was released from prison on bail to the safety of Bangkok hotel.
This was followed by more US media coverage and the involvement of US Senator Pat Toomey, the junior senator from Pennsylvania as well as Representative Guy Reschenthaler from Pennsylvania who both made strong representations on behalf of the American.
He then subsequently appears to have been discharged from the ordeal altogether and allowed to travel home to the United States where he arrived on Christmas Eve in time to spend Christmas with his family.
US man found innocent after 13 months in Klong Prem prison held by immigration at airport
American on fraud charges in Thailand claims he was duped into acting as the scam's 'western face'
Americans held at Suvarnabhumi weeks apart for a single bullet
+ Two Americans detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport weeks apart with a single bullet found in their luggage. Michael Morra, a respected fire chief from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania allowed home for Christmas Eve while Michael Jones from Ohio is still stranded in Bangkok facing charges in March.https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2019/12/26/american-men-suvarnabhumi-airport-respected-michael-jones-morra-ohio-pennsylvania-bullet-luggage/James Morris reports from Bangkok
Posted by ThaiExaminer.com on Thursday, December 26, 2019


There is always something exciting happening at Hard Rock Cafe Warsaw! From local live music to special offers, our Event Calendar is a great way to get the insider scoop and first look at upcoming happenings.
Join us for our "Wednesdays Unplugged" Live Music series to unplug and relax just in the middle of a busy week!
Rock Radio on air straight from our studio gives you a unique chance to meet the biggest polish rockstars.


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Rampage and King Mo Run it Back on March 31 – Rematch Set
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. – (January 21, 2017) When MMA superstars "Rampage" Jackson (37-11) and "King Mo" (20-6, 1 NC) first met during the main event of Bellator 120, "Rampage" emerged with a heavily-disputed victory. Now, nearly three years later, the two Bellator veterans will meet again, this time fighting at heavyweight during the main event of Bellator 175: Rampage vs. King Mo 2 on Friday, March 31 – a card that will air live and free on SPIKE.
A four-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, "Rampage's" legendary career has seen him compete against some of the top names in the sport, generating a loyal army of fans along the way. Jackson is the proud owner of many epic highlight reel slams and knockouts that he has racked up throughout his battles with competitors like: Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, Kevin Randleman, Ricardo Arona, Marvin Eastman, and perhaps most-notably his trilogy with fellow Bellator warrior Wanderlei Silva.
When he's not beating people up in his MMA fights, Jackson's larger than life personality has earned him multiple film roles, where he's been able to beat people up on the big screen. Now, the 38-year-old returns to action for the fifth time under the Bellator MMA banner, where he looks to continue his undefeated record with the promotion and put an exclamation mark on his rivalry with the man who wears the crown.
Fresh off facing Mirko Cro Cop in Japan, "King Mo" will again fight at heavyweight and look to build off his success within the division following recent wins against Satoshi Ishii and Cheick Kongo. A winner in eight out of his last 10 fights, it will be interesting what fuels Lawal this time against Jackson. Will the 36-year-old look to claim heavyweight gold in 2017 and add to his championship collection that already includes a STRIKEFORCE belt? Or will the grudge that propelled these two men forward during their first meeting rear its ugly head again?
If you didn't see the first pairing between these two knockout artists, please watch their matchup here.
Ticket information, as well as a location for the event will be announced shortly.
Updated Bellator 175: Rampage vs. King Mo 2 Fight Card
Heavyweight Main Event: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (37-11) vs. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (20-6, 1 NC)
Eric Kowal
https://www.mymmanews.com
Founder of MyMMANews.com
– After writing for Ultimate MMA magazine and serving as the editor for U.S. Combat Sports, both of which went on hiatus, I decided to venture out on my own and enlist a staff of writers and photographers that could help me achieve my goal of telling stories that would otherwise go untold. We pride ourselves in taking a deeper look into the fighter, and understanding what makes them tick.
– #1 Dad, Marine Corps Veteran, 80's and 90's Pro Wrestling Fan, MMA Commentator, Beer Lover, and avid movie watcher. Seriously….. I watch a lot of movies.
Tags: king mo, Muhammad Lawal, quinton rampage jackson
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Magnetic reconnection is a physical process occurring in highly conducting plasmas in which the magnetic topology is rearranged and magnetic energy is converted to kinetic energy, thermal energy, and particle acceleration.  Magnetic reconnection occurs on timescales intermediate between slow resistive diffusion of the magnetic field and fast Alfvénic timescales.

The concept of magnetic reconnection was first introduced in 1950 in the PhD thesis of James Dungey to explain the coupling of mass, energy and momentum from the solar wind into Earth's magnetosphere
 and was published for the first time on the open literature in his seminal paper in 1961.

Fundamental principles

Magnetic reconnection is a breakdown of "ideal-magnetohydrodynamics" and so of "Alfvén's theorem" (also called the "frozen-in flux theorem") which applies to large-scale regions of a highly-conducting magnetoplasma, for which the Magnetic Reynolds Number is very large: this makes the convective term in the induction equation dominate in such regions. The frozen-in flux theorem states that in such regions the field moves with the plasma velocity (the mean of the ion and electron velocities, weighted by their mass). The reconnection breakdown of this theorem occurs in regions of large magnetic shear (by Ampére's law these are current sheets) which are regions of small width where the Magnetic Reynolds Number can become small enough to make the diffusion term in the induction equation dominate, meaning that the field diffuses through the plasma from regions of high field to regions of low field. In reconnection, the inflow and outflow regions both obey Alfvén's theorem and the diffusion region is a very small region at the centre of the current sheet where field lines diffuse together, merge and reconfigure such that they are transferred from the topology of the inflow regions (i.e., along the current sheet) to that of the outflow regions (i.e., threading the current sheet).  The rate of this magnetic flux transfer is the electric field associated with both the inflow and the outflow and is called the "reconnection rate".

The equivalence of magnetic shear and current can be seen from one of Maxwell's equations

In a plasma (ionised gas), for all but exceptionally high frequency phenomena, the second term on the right-hand side of this equation, the displacement current, is negligible compared to the effect of the free current  and this equation reduces to Ampére's law for free charges.  The displacement current is neglected in both the Parker-Sweet and Petschek theoretical treatments of reconnection, discussed below, and in the derivation of ideal MHD and Alfvén's theorem which is applied in those theories everywhere outside the small diffusion region.

The resistivity of the current layer allows magnetic flux from either side to diffuse through the current layer, cancelling outflux from the other side of the boundary.  However, the small spatial scale of the current sheet makes the Magnetic Reynolds Number small and so this alone can make the diffusion term dominate in the induction equation without the resistivity being enhanced. When the diffusing field lines from the two sites of the boundary touch they form the separatrices and so have both the topology of the inflow region (i.e. along the current sheet) and the outflow region (i.e., threading the current sheet). In magnetic reconnection the field lines evolve from the inflow topology through the separatrices topology to the outflow topology.    When this happens, the plasma is pulled out by Magnetic tension force acting on the reconfigured field lines and ejecting them along the current sheet.  The resulting drop in pressure pulls more plasma and magnetic flux into the central region, yielding a self-sustaining process. The importance of Dungey's concept of a localised breakdown of ideal-MHD is that the outflow along the current sheet prevents the build-up in plasma pressure that would otherwise choke off the inflow. In Parker-Sweet reconnection the outflow is only along a thin layer the centre of the current sheet and this limits the reconnection rate that can be achieved to low values. On the other hand, in Petschek reconnection the outflow region is much broader, being between shock fronts (now thought to be Alfvén waves) that stand in the inflow: this allows much faster escape of the plasma frozen-in on reconnected field lines and the reconnection rate can be much higher.

Dungey coined the term "reconnection" because he initially envisaged field lines of the inflow topology breaking and then joining together again in the outflow topology. However, this means that magnetic monopoles would exist, albeit for a very limited period, which would violate Maxwell's equation that the divergence of the field is zero. However, by considering the evolution through the separatrix topology, the need to invoke magnetic monopoles is avoided.  Global numerical MHD models of the magnetosphere, which use the equations of ideal MHD, still simulate magnetic reconnection even though it is a breakdown of ideal MHD. The reason is close to Dungey's original thoughts: at each time step of the numerical model the equations of ideal MHD are solved at each grid point of the simulation to evaluate the new field and plasma conditions. The magnetic field lines then have to be re-traced. The tracing algorithm makes errors at thin current sheets and joins field lines up by threading the current sheet where they were previously aligned with the current sheet. This is often called "numerical resistivity" and the simulations have predictive value because the error propagates according to a diffusion equation.

A current problem in plasma physics is that observed reconnection happens much faster than predicted by MHD in high Lundquist number plasmas (i.e. fast magnetic reconnection). Solar flares, for example, proceed 13–14 orders of magnitude faster than a naive calculation would suggest, and several orders of magnitude faster than current theoretical models that include turbulence and kinetic effects.  One possible mechanism to explain the discrepancy is that the electromagnetic turbulence in the boundary layer is sufficiently strong to scatter electrons, raising the plasma's local resistivity.  This would allow the magnetic flux to diffuse faster.

Properties

Physical interpretation
The qualitative description of the reconnection process is such that magnetic field lines from different magnetic domains (defined by the field line connectivity) are spliced to one another, changing their patterns of connectivity with respect to the sources.  It is a violation of an approximate conservation law in plasma physics, called Alfvén's theorem (also called "ideal MHD" of the "frozen-in flux theorem") and can concentrate mechanical or magnetic energy in both space and time. Solar flares, the largest explosions in the Solar System, may involve the reconnection of large systems of magnetic flux on the Sun, releasing, in minutes, energy that has been stored in the magnetic field over a period of hours to days.  Magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetosphere is one of the mechanisms responsible for the aurora, and it is important to the science of controlled nuclear fusion because it is one mechanism preventing magnetic confinement of the fusion fuel.

In an electrically conductive plasma, magnetic field lines are grouped into 'domains'— bundles of field lines that connect from a particular place to another particular place, and that are topologically distinct from other field lines nearby.  This topology is approximately preserved even when the magnetic field itself is strongly distorted by the presence of variable currents or motion of magnetic sources, because effects that might otherwise change the magnetic topology instead induce eddy currents in the plasma; the eddy currents have the effect of canceling out the topological change.

Types of reconnection
In two dimensions, the most common type of magnetic reconnection is separator reconnection, in which four separate magnetic domains exchange magnetic field lines.  Domains in a magnetic plasma are separated by separatrix surfaces: curved surfaces in space that divide different bundles of flux. Field lines on one side of the separatrix all terminate at a particular magnetic pole, while field lines on the other side all terminate at a different pole of similar sign.  Since each field line generally begins at a north magnetic pole and ends at a south magnetic pole, the most general way of dividing simple flux systems involves four domains separated by two separatrices: one separatrix surface divides the flux into two bundles, each of which shares a south pole, and the other separatrix surface divides the flux into two bundles, each of which shares a north pole.  The intersection of the separatrices forms a separator, a single line that is at the boundary of the four separate domains.  In separator reconnection, field lines enter the separator from two of the domains, and are spliced one to the other, exiting the separator in the other two domains (see the first figure).

In three dimensions, the geometry of the field lines become more complicated than the two-dimensional case and it is possible for reconnection to occur in regions where a separator does not exist, but with the field lines connected by steep gradients. These regions are known as quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs), and have been observed in theoretical configurations and solar flares.

Theoretical descriptions

Slow reconnection: Sweet–Parker model
The first theoretical framework of magnetic reconnection was established by Peter Sweet and Eugene Parker at a conference in 1956. Sweet pointed out that by pushing two plasmas with oppositely directed magnetic fields together, resistive diffusion is able to occur on a length scale much shorter than a typical equilibrium length scale. Parker was in attendance at this conference and developed scaling relations for this model during his return travel.

The Sweet–Parker model describes time-independent magnetic reconnection in the resistive MHD framework when the reconnecting magnetic fields are antiparallel (oppositely directed) and effects related to viscosity and compressibility are unimportant.  The initial velocity is simply an  velocity, so

where  is the out-of-plane electric field,  is the characteristic inflow velocity, and  is the characteristic upstream magnetic field strength.  By neglecting displacement current, the low-frequency Ampere's law, , gives the relation

where  is the current sheet half-thickness.  This relation uses that the magnetic field reverses over a distance of .  By matching the ideal electric field outside of the layer with the resistive electric field  inside the layer (using Ohm's law), we find that

where  is the magnetic diffusivity.  When the inflow density is comparable to the outflow density, conservation of mass yields the relationship

where  is the half-length of the current sheet and  is the outflow velocity.  The left and right hand sides of the above relation represent the mass flux into the layer and out of the layer, respectively.  Equating the upstream magnetic pressure with the downstream dynamic pressure gives

where  is the mass density of the plasma.  Solving for the outflow velocity then gives

where  is the Alfvén velocity.  With the above relations, the dimensionless reconnection rate  can then be written in two forms, the first in terms of  using the result earlier derived from Ohm's law, the second in terms of  from the conservation of mass as

Since the dimensionless Lundquist number  is given by

the two different expressions of  are multiplied by each other and then square-rooted, giving a simple relation between the reconnection rate  and the Lundquist number

Sweet–Parker reconnection allows for reconnection rates much faster than global diffusion, but is not able to explain the fast reconnection rates observed in solar flares, the Earth's magnetosphere, and laboratory plasmas.  Additionally, Sweet–Parker reconnection neglects three-dimensional effects, collisionless physics, time-dependent effects, viscosity, compressibility, and downstream pressure.  Numerical simulations of two-dimensional magnetic reconnection typically show agreement with this model.  Results from the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) of collisional reconnection show agreement with a generalized Sweet–Parker model which incorporates compressibility, downstream pressure and anomalous resistivity.

Fast reconnection: Petschek model

The fundamental reason that Petshek reconnection is faster than Parker-Sweet is that it broadens the outflow region and thereby removes some of the limitation caused by the build up in plasma pressure. The inflow velocity, and thus the reconnection rate, can only be very small if the outflow region is narrow.  In 1964, Harry Petschek proposed a mechanism where the inflow and outflow regions are separated by stationary slow mode shocks that stand in the inflows.  The aspect ratio of the diffusion region is then of order unity and the maximum reconnection rate becomes

This expression allows for fast reconnection and is almost independent of the Lundquist number. Theory and numerical simulations show that most of the actions of the shocks that were proposed by Petshek can be caried out by Alfvén waves and in particular rotational discontinuities (RDs). In cases of asymmetric plasma densities on the two sides of the current sheet (as at Earth's dayside magnetopause) the Alfvén wave that propagates into the inflow on higher-density side (in the case of the magnetopause the denser magnetosheath) has a lower propagation speed and so the field rotation increasingly becomes at that RD as the field line propagates away from the reconnection site: hence the magnetopause current sheet becomes increasingly concentrated in the outer, slower, RD.

Simulations of resistive MHD reconnection with uniform resistivity showed the development of elongated current sheets in agreement with the Sweet–Parker model rather than the Petschek model.  When a localized anomalously large resistivity is used, however, Petschek reconnection can be realized in resistive MHD simulations.  Because the use of an anomalous resistivity is only appropriate when the particle mean free path is large compared to the reconnection layer, it is likely that other collisionless effects become important before Petschek reconnection can be realized.

Anomalous resistivity and Bohm diffusion

In the Sweet–Parker model, the common assumption is that the magnetic diffusivity is constant. This can be estimated using the equation of motion for an electron with mass  and electric charge :

where  is the collision frequency. Since in the steady state, , then the above equation along with the definition of electric current, , where  is the electron number density, yields

Nevertheless, if the drift velocity of electrons exceeds the thermal velocity of plasma, a steady state cannot be achieved and magnetic diffusivity should be much larger than what is given in the above. This is called anomalous resistivity, , which can enhance the reconnection rate in the Sweet–Parker model by a factor of .

Another proposed mechanism is known as the Bohm diffusion across the magnetic field. This replaces the Ohmic resistivity with , however, its effect, similar to the anomalous resistivity, is still too small compared with the observations.

Stochastic reconnection

In stochastic reconnection, magnetic field has a small scale random component arising because of turbulence. For the turbulent flow in the reconnection region, a model for magnetohydrodynamic turbulence should be used such as the model developed by Goldreich and Sridhar in 1995. This stochastic model is independent of small scale physics such as resistive effects and depends only on turbulent effects. Roughly speaking, in stochastic model, turbulence brings initially distant magnetic field lines to small separations where they can reconnect locally (Sweet-Parker type reconnection) and separate again due to turbulent super-linear diffusion (Richardson diffusion ). For a current sheet of the length , the upper limit for reconnection velocity is given by

where . Here , and are turbulence injection length scale and velocity respectively and is the Alfvén velocity. This model has been successfully tested by numerical simulations.

Non-MHD process: Collisionless reconnection

On length scales shorter than the ion inertial length  (where  is the ion plasma frequency), ions decouple from electrons and the magnetic field becomes frozen into the electron fluid rather than the bulk plasma.  On these scales, the Hall effect becomes important.  Two-fluid simulations show the formation of an X-point geometry rather than the double Y-point geometry characteristic of resistive reconnection.  The electrons are then accelerated to very high speeds by Whistler waves.  Because the ions can move through a wider "bottleneck" near the current layer and because the electrons are moving much faster in Hall MHD than in standard MHD, reconnection may proceed more quickly.  Two-fluid/collisionless reconnection is particularly important in the Earth's magnetosphere.

Observations of magnetic reconnection in nature and the laboratory

Solar atmosphere

Magnetic reconnection occurs during solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and many other events in the solar atmosphere.  The observational evidence for solar flares includes observations of inflows/outflows, downflowing loops, and changes in the magnetic topology. In the past, observations of the solar atmosphere were done using remote imaging; consequently, the magnetic fields were inferred or extrapolated rather than observed directly. However, the first direct observations of solar magnetic reconnection were gathered in 2012 (and released in 2013) by the High Resolution Coronal Imager.

Earth's magnetosphere

Magnetic reconnection events that occur in the Earth's magnetosphere (in the dayside magnetopause and in the magnetotail) were for many years inferred because they uniquely explained many aspects of the large-scale behaviour of the magnetosphere and its dependence on the orientation of the near-Earth Interplanetary magnetic field. Subsequently, spacecraft such as Cluster II and the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. have made observations of sufficient resolution and in multiple locations to observe the process directly and in-situ. Cluster II is a four-spacecraft mission, with the four spacecraft arranged in a tetrahedron to separate the spatial and temporal changes as the suite flies through space.  It has observed numerous reconnection events in which the Earth's magnetic field reconnects with that of the Sun (i.e. the Interplanetary Magnetic Field). These include 'reverse reconnection' that causes sunward convection in the Earth's ionosphere near the polar cusps; 'dayside reconnection', which allows the transmission of particles and energy into the Earth's vicinity and 'tail reconnection', which causes auroral substorms by injecting particles deep into the magnetosphere and releasing the energy stored in the Earth's magnetotail.  The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, launched on 13 March 2015, improved the spatial and temporal resolution of the Cluster II results by having a tighter constellation of spacecraft. This led to a better understanding of the behavior of the electrical currents in the electron diffusion region.

On 26 February 2008, THEMIS probes were able to determine the triggering event for the onset of magnetospheric substorms. Two of the five probes, positioned approximately one third the distance to the Moon, measured events suggesting a magnetic reconnection event 96 seconds prior to auroral intensification. Dr. Vassilis Angelopoulos of the University of California, Los Angeles, who is the principal investigator for the THEMIS mission, claimed, "Our data show clearly and for the first time that magnetic reconnection is the trigger.".

Laboratory plasma experiments

Magnetic reconnection has also been observed in numerous laboratory experiments. For example, studies on the LArge Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA have observed and mapped quasi-separatrix layers near the magnetic reconnection region of a two flux rope system, while experiments on the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have confirmed many aspects of magnetic reconnection, including the Sweet–Parker model in regimes where the model is applicable. Analysis of the physics of helicity injection, used to create the initial plasma current in the NSTX spherical tokamak, led Dr. Fatima Ebrahimi to propose a plasma thruster that uses fast magnetic reconnection to accelerate plasma to produce thrust for space propulsion.

The confinement of plasma in devices such as tokamaks, spherical tokamaks, and reversed field pinches requires the presence of closed magnetic flux surfaces.  By changing the magnetic topology, magnetic reconnection degrades confinement by disrupting these closed flux surfaces, allowing the hot central plasma to mix with cooler plasma closer to the wall.

See also
 Current sheet
 Solar corona
 List of plasma (physics) articles

References

Further reading
 Eric Priest, Terry Forbes, Magnetic Reconnection, Cambridge University Press 2000,  , contents and sample chapter online
Discoveries about magnetic reconnection in space could unlock fusion power, Space.com, 6 February 2008
 Nasa MMS-SMART mission, The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, Solving Magnetospheric Acceleration, Reconnection, and Turbulence. Due for launch in 2014.
 Cluster spacecraft science results

External links
 Magnetism on the Sun
 Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX)

Plasma physics
Stellar phenomena
Solar phenomena
Articles containing video clips

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Richard Sherman Piles on Baker Mayfield for His 'College Sh*t.' Mayfield is Now Officially the Guy Everyone Loves to Hate
Jerry Thornton10/08/2019 2:08 PM
Source – When Baker Mayfield, the Cleveland Browns' brash second-year quarterback, refused to shake [Richard] Sherman's hand at midfield just before the coin toss that preceded Monday night's game at Levi's Stadium, it triggered him — and many of his Niners teammates — in a profound way. …
"What's amazing, and annoying, was him not shaking hands at the beginning," Sherman said. "That's some college s—. It's ridiculous. We're all trying to get psyched up, but shaking hands with your opponent — that's NFL etiquette. And when you pull bush league stuff, that's disrespectful to the game. And believe me, that's gonna get us fired up." …
"Respect the game," Sherman said, referencing Mayfield's pregame behavior. "You can have rivals, but pay your respect in that moment — especially when you're young.
"He hasn't earned anything in this league. How many games has he won? He's acting like he was the MVP last year. If (Patrick) Mahomes did that, it would be one thing. But he would never do that, because he has too much respect for the game.
"And when you see a guy who doesn't? You humble him every chance you get. Because eventually, he will have respect for the league — or he'll be out of it."
While not as expansive as Sherman, [DeForest] Buckner, a fourth-year defensive tackle playing at an All-Pro level, was similarly put off by Mayfield's refusal to shake his hand.
"That can rub a lot of people the wrong way," Buckner told NFL.com. "I guess it's part of his game. Oh well."
This confirms it. Last night was a total game-changer in the career of Baker Mayfield. If there's one thing America loves to do with its athletes is to fit them into a simple, easy-to-understand archetype. We don't have time to grasp their complexities or understand how they're flawed beings with the same human frailties we all suffer. We like to slap a label on them and fit them into our worldview as soon as possible.
It's all about keeping it simple. That's how we get The Well Spoken Solid Character Guy With Elite Talent Who's Perfect For a Huge Media Market (Saquon Barkley). The Dynamic Playmaker Who Can Do Impossible Things and Sell a Billion Jerseys and Be the Face of the League (Patrick Mahomes). And the obligatory Mercurial Unhinged Nutjob with Supreme Abilities Who Drives Everyone Around Him Insane (Odell Beckham Jr).
And so far, Baker Mayfield has more or less avoided being but into a box. Until now. Like so many who came before him, a game in prime time has defined him, probably forever. Until he sheds the label, he'll be Cocky Brash Guy Who Thinks He's Bigger Than the Game Before He's Won Anything That Everyone Loves to See Get Humbled. Richard Sherman and DeForest Buckner confirmed it with words the way Nick Bosa did with actions.
AND words.
So that's about as official as it gets. Once you get called out for disrespecting the game by veterans, you are that Guy Everyone Loves to Hate until further notice. Or until you win a ring, in which case they all have to kiss your ass, no matter how much they hate you. Yes, it's ironic this is coming from Sherman, who himself was once Cocky Brash Guy. But it works in a "takes one to know one" sort of way.
In the meantime, Mayfield can expect more of the same every time he plays because the NFL needs villains as much as the WWE does. And fair or unfair, right now he's it.
49ers+ 5 Tags


text:
Stronger Together: A Citrus Community
by Kayla Webb
For most, a spirit of community is something saved up for the holiday season. But for Sunkist Growers, gathering together around the citrus tree is an everyday affair. For the last 125 years, the core of the company has been dedicated to growing citrus the Sunkist way: together—one of the main reasons the company remains in the orange light.
While the allure of low-hanging fruit is enough for many, Sunkist has fostered a culture of branching out beyond citrus in order to turn over new leaves at every possible moment. This culture, combined with its rich history and collaborative values rooted in the principle, "We are stronger together," are what drives Sunkist forward today.
"It goes without saying that Sunkist is all about growing, which extends beyond our citrus," Christina Ward, Director of Communications, tells me. "We're united as a cooperative and as a global community. We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we were today. And, we do it with the warm-hearted, bright-eyed energy of California and Arizona."
As everyone in the industry knows, growers are the heart of produce companies. Without growers, soil would remain untilled, trees and crops unharvested, and consumers unhappy and produce-less. It is this produce-truth universally acknowledged, as well as the quality of California's and Arizona's citrus, that led Sunkist to unite the citrus community in the 19th century and what keeps Sunkist primed and prepped on the cusp of our industry's progress today.
"The cornerstone of our co-op is our growers. That's why we say, 'You can't spell citrus without us,'" Christina notes.
The company has believed in that notion since it first started in 1893. While citrus groves were thriving at the time, it wasn't until the Southern California Fruit Exchange, a regional organization tasked with marketing the growing citrus crop, that citrus growers banded together to create the foundations of the not-for-profit marketing cooperative (owned by and operated for California and Arizona citrus growers) we know today.
"We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we were today. And, we do it with the warm-hearted, bright-eyed energy of California and Arizona."
— Christina ward, director of communications, sunkist growers
By 1908, Sunkist was up, running, and working to brand the highest-quality oranges available to consumers. It was during this time that Sunkist also began its legacy as a marketing queen, producing one of the industry's first ad campaigns. While many know California as an oasis of palm trees and good vibes, Sunkist set out to paint a new picture of the Golden State, and one that included flourishing citrus groves and high-quality fruit. The canvas, you ask? The fruit itself! In 1926, Sunkist stamped its logo onto fresh oranges, becoming one of the first organizations ever to brand and advertise on a piece of fruit.
With the stateside market enjoying the bounties of California and Arizona-grown citrus, Sunkist set its sights on the international market. In 1960, the company began shipping freshly grown fruit to primary markets in Europe and Japan, enriching lives around the world with the deliciousness of citrus and its expansive list of varieties.
Today, the orange doesn't fall far from the tree, with Sunkist operating a global program that allows it to offer year-round citrus. Also, the company is still setting an industry precedent in marketing, traditional growing practices, stewardship of natural resources, and with its dedication to innovation. This nutrient-rich pulp of the company, so to speak, is how Sunkist continues growing-forth into tomorrow.
"Sunkist leads the citrus category," Christina says. "We are always strengthening our retail marketing programs and have been for the last 125 years to continue to push the envelope."
Specifically, Christina points to Sunkist's high-graphic secondary display bins that have expanded its packaging portfolio and its new in-store point-of-sale materials that highlight flavor profiles, nutritional benefits, and recipes—both of which have helped Sunkist build awareness, drive trial, increase sales, and overall hit milestone after milestone.
Of course, on top of all of this, there is still much that makes Sunkist stand out from the bunch, and when I ask Christina if she can divulge any details, she has an answer rearing and ready to go.
"We have a strong brand promise and a great story to tell," Christina shares. "Sunkist not only leverages both, but we also make a point to connect with our consumers of all ages, both on- and off-line. Digitally, we're providing more education and awareness through social media and on the web."
Growers and consumers are two halves of the same coin—or orange!—and Sunkist tends to its consumer-base just as much as its growers. For the last 125 years, Sunkist has cultivated its following, introducing the old and the new to top-quality citrus, as well as a community-oriented approach to fresh produce.
"Sunkist citrus has played a role in people's lives for 125 years and counting. We've been through a lot together. We've been there for the happy hours and not-so-happy hours. The 'We Were There' approach is a reminder that we're growing together," Christina says.
"THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR CO-OP IS OUR GROWERS. THAT'S WHY WE SAY, 'YOU CAN'T SPELL CITRUS WITHOUT US.'"
As autumn and winter blur together, the time for citrus is upon us again. Christina reveals that California citrus crops are up, with overall volume and Navel oranges expected to increase this year. So, while the holiday season brings on plenty of promotions, retailers and shoppers alike will be ditching the partridge for the pummelo tree—that's how excited Sunkist is for this year's citrus season.
"The growth of mandarins has been unprecedented. We're entering our second year of the branded Sunkist Delite® Mandarin program, and we continue to see an increase in the category's demand. We believe Sunkist Delite Mandarins are growing in popularity because they are a well-rounded snack: sweet, seedless, easy-to-peel, and perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle. By their very nature, mandarins are packed with flavor and vitamins, making it a win-win for the consumer. Not to mention, it has become a must-have variety in the produce department," Christina explains, noting just one variety of many the company is excited about.
Sunkist is also finding consumers are delighted with its specialty varieties, including sweet-tart pummelos; Texas Rio Star, Florida, Sweetie, and Melo Gold grapefruit; sweet, easy-to-peel Satsuma mandarins; and in the winter and spring, Minneola tangelos, royal and gold nugget variety mandarins, and Fairchild and Ojai pixie tangerines. Specialty lemons are also peaking in demand along with the category as a whole, creating more opportunities for seedless, pink variegated Zebra™ lemons, and Meyer lemons—a juicy, sweet, and less acidic mandarin/lemon hybrid—to shine beyond the produce aisle.
"We're seeing continued growth in specialty varieties, especially varieties like sweet, seedless, and low-acidity Cara Cara Navels, and savory, rich blood oranges. Research shows that once consumers taste these varieties, they love the unique flavor profiles and come back for more. It is for this very reason we incorporate education and consumer experience into our marketing program for specialty varieties," Christina says.
"Sunkist citrus has played a role in people's lives for 125 years and counting. We've been through a lot together."
In addition to specialty varieties, Sunkist has organics, lemons, limes, and grapefruit in its year-round arsenal, which Christina notes are also growing in demand thanks to their versatility.
The citrus category is not only one to watch, it is one to celebrate. With so much on the up and up, I ask Christina if she can give me a teaser for what's to come for Sunkist.
"I can't reveal too much, but continued growth is on the horizon for Sunkist. We're looking forward to the fruitful future ahead," she tells me.
Whether it is the holiday season or any ol' day, Sunkist is giving any and all a reason to sing, "O Citrus Tree," with their community—and beyond the holidays, maybe that is just what life is about.
Christina Ward
Sunkist® Growers
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unkist is an agricultural cooperative entirely owned by and operated for the California and Arizona citrus growers who make up its membership. When buying Sunkist® fruit, consumers are not only getting the Sunkist quality that they know and expect, but they're also supporting family farmers, which we feel is a worthy cause to lend your taste buds to.