Industry Insights
The Value Of 3D Printing Technology For Jig & Mould Manufacturing
Industry Insights Jul 27,2022 207

One of the main applications for 3D printing is the production of jigs and moulds. Industrial manufacturing (especially mass production) needs to consider the balance between speed and quality. 3D printing of jigs and moulds help to reduce costs, increase productivity, ensure accurate and repeatable assembly processes, reduce consumption, and improve worker safety.

The advantages of 3D printing in the manufacture of jigs and moulds：

Speed of Delivery

Speed doesn't just mean accelerate the manufacture process, or reducing the manufacture time. Speed also means gaining insights faster. Being able to evaluate jigs and moulds design efficiency can reduce production times by weeks, so that products can go to market as fast as possible.

Production Costs

3D printing delivers parts that are printed directly from the design file and are faithful to the CAD design, with no wasted material or time, resulting in lower production costs. When jigs and moulds need to be machined, 3D printing can speed up design iterations and ensure that the final design is a reasonable investment.

Performance Improvement

Performance Improvement

Additive manufacturing processes can produce complex shapes in jigs or moulds that are not achievable with conventional methods. To maximum using 3D printing, goals can be set around part performance and design to achieve these goals.

Complex surfaces and curves

Complex surfaces and curves

3D printed jigs and moulds can create complex surfaces and curves that are impossible to achieve with machining, from lightweight to application- or user-specific customization, to having intricate, finely detailed features.

Contact us to find out how Soon-Ser 3D can improve efficiency in jigs and moulds manufacturing:


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Why Sugar Plum Creative?

Simply put… Sugar Plum Creative merges art, storytelling, and your brand personality to create custom photography + social video content that speaks volumes. Breathe life into your visual content + brand narrative to connect and engage with your audience. Have an abstract idea or concept you’re not sure how to represent? That’s my jam!! We’ll …

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What is Visual Content?

Visual content is all the image-based collateral a business needs to market themselves, such as pictures, diagrams, charts, infographics, videos, memes and slide decks. As technical as that sounds, and as important as it is to communicate through branded visuals… it’s also a ton of fun to create! Great looking visuals can make the most …


FACT SHEET: The Biden Administration Announces New Humanitarian, Development, and Democracy Assistance to Ukraine and the Surrounding Region

March 24, 2022

The United States is proud to be the largest single donor of humanitarian, democracy, and human rights assistance to Ukraine, working closely with our European partners. We remain committed to ensuring those affected by President Putin’s war of aggression, especially vulnerable populations such as women, children, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons, and persons with disabilities, are able to access food, clean water, shelter, and medical care. In addition to assisting people in need within Ukraine, we are supporting the efforts of Ukraine’s neighbors and the European Union to welcome and host millions of refugees. And we will do our part to welcome Ukrainians to the United States.

Today, the United States is announcing that we are prepared to provide more than $1 billion in new funding towards humanitarian assistance for those affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine and its severe impacts around the world, including a marked rise in food insecurity, over the coming months. This funding will provide food, shelter, clean water, medical supplies and other forms of assistance. We are also announcing an additional $320 million in democracy and human rights funding to Ukraine and its neighbors. Since 2021, the United States has provided over $1.1 billion in economic, health, democracy and human rights, and humanitarian assistance to the Europe and Eurasia region.

In addition to our humanitarian assistance, the United States continues to support public health initiatives in Ukraine and the region to tamp down the spread of communicable diseases like polio, tuberculosis, and COVID, and to help ensure patients continue to have access to medical care. And we remain committed to defending and strengthening democratic governance, human rights, and the fight against corruption in Ukraine and its neighbors, as together we reject autocracy and aggression.

* Providing refuge to Displaced Ukrainians. While we expect many Ukrainians will choose to remain in Europe close to family and their homes in Ukraine, today, the United States is announcing plans to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression through the full range of legal pathways, including the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. In particular, we are working to expand and develop new programs with a focus on welcoming Ukrainians who have family members in the United States. The United States and the European Union are also coordinating closely to ensure that these efforts, and other forms of humanitarian admission or transfers, are complementary and provide much-needed support to Ukraine’s neighbors.

* Supporting humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. Today, the Biden Administration is announcing that we are prepared to provide more than $1 billion in new funding towards humanitarian assistance to support people within Ukraine and assist those affected by the global impacts of Russia’s war. This support builds on the 25-person humanitarian response team the United States has deployed to the region to assess needs, provide assistance, and coordinate closely with the United Nations, NGOs, and the Government of Ukraine, including the State Emergency Services of Ukraine. With the support of the United States and Allies and partners, the World Food Programme is working to reach 3.1 million people in Ukraine with ready-to-eat rations, canned goods, bread, wheat, flour, and oil. U.S.-funded humanitarian organizations in Ukraine are operating mobile medical teams and delivering emergency health supplies and medicine to public health care centers, enabling continued primary health services, trauma care, and vaccinations. In collective shelters in places like Mariupol or Lviv, humanitarian organizations are distributing blankets, water containers, and hygiene kits containing soap, toothpaste, diapers, and toilet paper to help thousands of internally displaced persons and mitigate the spread of disease. Mobile teams are also providing psychological support, ensuring especially vulnerable populations have access to services and are protected from risks, including gender-based violence, child-trafficking, and landmines.

* Helping those who have fled in the region. Since February 24, the United States has already provided more than $123 million to complement the work of neighboring countries and the European Union to receive and host millions of refugees, including $48 million in Poland, $30 million in Moldova, $10 million in Romania, $9 million in Hungary, and $4 million in the Slovak Republic. U.S.-funded humanitarian organizations are working in partnership with host governments to launch cash programs that provide refugees with temporary assistance for food, accommodations, and medical care until they can work or receive social support. In addition to counselling, legal aid, and mental health and psychological support, U.S. partners are providing health support for refugees including infection prevention and control, and sexual and reproductive health assistance, as well as providing safe drinking water, strengthening sanitation infrastructure, and providing refugees with basic household items and shelter materials. The U.S. has deployed refugee coordinators to the region to work with the governments of neighboring countries, the UN, and other humanitarian organizations, and donors. Additionally, the U.S. has allocated $5.5 million to facilitate the safe and orderly return of up to 20,000 third-country nationals to return home from Ukraine.

* Bolstering democracy and human rights in Ukraine and neighboring states. In line with President Biden’s commitment to support democracy and human rights globally, the United States is launching the European Democratic Resilience Initiative (EDRI), which is intended to provide at least $320 million in new funding to support societal resilience and defend human rights in Ukraine and neighboring countries. The EDRI is expected to support media freedom and counter disinformation, increase the safety and security of activists and vulnerable groups including LGBTQI+ persons, build resilience to strategic corruption and kleptocracy, strengthen democratic and anti-corruption institutions and the region’s rule of law, and support accountability for human rights abuses and violations of international law. Implementation of the EDRI will be closely coordinated with the European Union and other partners.

* Advancing accountability for Russian war crimes in Ukraine. An important component of EDRI will be support for efforts to document and preserve evidence of potential war crimes being committed in Ukraine. The United States is already supporting several such initiatives. New lines of effort, including the establishment of a conflict observatory, will gather information that can be shared with a range of accountability efforts at the national and international level designed to hold Russia accountable for its actions.

* Protecting children and other vulnerable populations. Russia’s unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine poses an immediate and growing threat to the lives and well-being of the country’s 7.5 million children who face attacks on schools, injuries from mines and explosives, and child trafficking. In response, in both Ukraine and surrounding countries, the United States has been supporting Children and Family Protection Support Hubs where professional case workers, mental health professionals, and legal aid providers are available to assist children, female heads of household, those with disabilities, older persons and other vulnerable populations. These centers offer safe spaces for psychosocial support, hygiene, health and nutrition; provide family tracing for unaccompanied children; as well as protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. With support to nine different organizations, the United States is also supporting 55 mobile protection teams to prevent family separation, mitigate gender-based violence, communicate the risks of mines and war remnants, and address the psychological effects of war.

* Strengthening public health. Since February 24, the U.S. government has rapidly accelerated support to the Ukrainian health system and systems in the region, on top of previously funded programs. Inside Ukraine, U.S. government partners are providing critical medical commodities, expanded immunization support to areas experiencing an influx of internally displaced persons, and supporting continuity of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS treatment services to ensure patients do not lose access to lifesaving treatments – including through procuring $6.1 million worth of antiretroviral drugs, re-purposing of mobile HIV testing vans, and expanded support to patients and home delivery of medicines. The U.S. government is also supporting the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization with technical assistance on issues such as immunization, outbreak response, blood safety, and overall emergency response coordination. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also supporting the Ministry of Health to consolidate medicine needs from over 5,000 public, private, and academic institutions in order to guide and prioritize humanitarian assistance efforts, while helping the Ministry of Health to shift and expand warehousing and medicines delivery capacity. The U.S. government is also working with the Public Health Center of Ukraine to roster all CDC-trained graduates of the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in-country and support relocation of critical public health equipment and personnel within Ukraine, to mitigate the impacts of the Russian invasion on public health infrastructure. These teams are augmenting the humanitarian response by monitoring the health conditions of the Ukraine population, including refugees and internally displaced persons with focus on COVID-19, HIV, TB, measles, polio, mental health, non-communicable diseases, and maternal and child health.

* Defending global food security. Russia’s war of aggression threatens to disrupt the supply of critical agricultural commodities from the Black Sea region, jeopardizing global food security, particularly for vulnerable populations in the Middle East and Africa. The United States, through the Feed the Future initiative and our nutrition commitments, will be providing over $11 billion over the next five years to address food security threats and malnutrition across the globe – with programming in many of the countries vulnerable to increases in food and fertilizer prices. Ongoing activities within the initiative that help buffer food systems against macroeconomic shocks like the Russian invasion of Ukraine include: increasing the productivity of smallholder farmers, including women, through access to improved agricultural technologies and inputs, financing, and markets; strengthening agricultural market systems by building a vibrant local private sector; and improving people’s access to higher quality diets and safer food for improved nutrition. Additionally, the United States will remain one of the top providers of humanitarian food and nutrition assistance globally, having contributed approximately $4.6 billion in humanitarian food and nutrition assistance in 2021.


The Superman Motion Picture Anthology

Format: Blu-Ray

Genre: Action

Location: Fi24xa

The Superman Motion Picture Anthology (2003)

This collection contains:

Superman: The Movie (1978)

Superman 2 (1980)

Picking up where “Superman: The Movie” left off, three criminals, General Zod (Terence Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas), and Non (Jack O’Halloran), from the planet Krypton are released from the Phantom Zone by a nuclear explosion in space. They descend upon Earth, where they can finally rule. Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) escapes from prison and is determined to destroy Superman by joining forces with the three criminals. Superman, meanwhile, is in love with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), who finds out who he is.

Superman 3 (1983)

Clark travels to Smallville for his high school Reunion and reconnects with his childhood sweetheart Lana Lang. Financial tycoon Ross hires computer programmer Gus Gorman to Take control of the coffee business by wiping out all the competition via Satellite. After Superman destroys their plan, Ross Makes Gus figure out how to find Kryptonite to eliminate Superman, but uses Tar as the missing element. It causes an unusual effect on Superman. Meanwhile, Gus gets the machine he wanted to be built that can do anything you want it to do.

Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (1987)

Superman does a lot in his newest adventure. Archvillain Lex Luthor, determined to make the world safe for nuclear arms merchants, creates a new being to challenge the Man of Steel: the radiation-charged Nuclear Man. The two super-powered foes clash in an explosive screen extravaganza that sees Superman save the Statue of Liberty, repulse a volcanic eruption of Mount Etna, rebuild the demolished Great Wall of China, and perform many more spectacular feats.

Superman Returns (2006)

Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel returns to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most beloved superheroes. While old enemies plot to render him powerless once and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman’s bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the ocean’s depths to the far reaches of outer space.


Can Agritech startups solve the agriculture and farming issues in India?

1002 min

The average agricultural output in India during the past 60 years has increased. That’s on top of the overall productivity increase. India’s green revolution mission, improved road and power generation infrastructure, increased the number of online agriculture store in India, agri-input and supply chain management, agri-process knowledge, and other changes have all contributed to this rise in agricultural output.

After India’s independence, the government made it a priority to increase food production to the point where there would be no need for imports. There is a significant void that needs to be addressed by the next generation of agriculturalists, despite the fact that both the central and state governments have launched numerous agricultural development programmes to boost the growth of the agricultural industry. Scientists developing new farm technology would benefit greatly from incorporating farmers’ traditional wisdom, experience, and expertise into their designs. Building relationships with farmers can be challenging since most extension agencies lack a thorough understanding of their clientele. There is a lack of practical understanding of their perspectives and tendencies, their needs and interests, and their strengths and shortcomings.

In order to achieve growth and agricultural development, this article presents several potential business prospects where startups in the form of agriculture companies in India might be formed. This would help the agricultural labourer, rural Indian citizens, farmers, as well as society as a whole. To maximise productivity and yield, farmers must employ effective inputs like fertilisers and agrochemicals. The bulk of the effort would go toward this. Based on this analysis, new ventures might be created to source and distribute agri-inputs to the sector’s target customer. Seeds, insecticides, fertilisers, and agrochemicals are all examples of agricultural inputs that research shows farmers still have trouble getting when they need them.

As a result, there is room for new ventures to explore areas like agri-market environment analysis, agricultural input segmentation, agri-product positioning, distribution channel design, and many others. Students majoring in farm science, agriculture biotechnology, or agriculture engineering may be inspired to help new businesses get off the ground. The goal of starting online agriculture store in India, doing their counselling, as well as providing assistance is to increase agricultural output by connecting farmers with specialists who can advise them on pest and disease prevention, crop protection, market fluctuations, crop prices, and animal health care.

Startups offering agribusiness counselling and guidance can tell their clients about the supply and demand for various inputs, as well as the rental and purchase options for agricultural machinery and other necessities. The village, block, or district-level counselling and advice centres may be established if students majoring in plant breeding, agronomy, agri-extension & communication, horticulture, post-harvest technology, as well as animal husbandry were equipped with ICT skills and encouraged to do so. It’s possible that in the future, these hubs may also offer soil testing, compost production, and plant nursery.

Farmers, Input management, food processing units, agri-produce traders, as well as retailers are all part of the agri-business sector’s supply and value chain, and they’re all responsible for meeting customers’ diverse needs in a timely and efficient manner. Subsistence farmers, high-tech agro-holdings, biotech boutiques, SMEs, and MNCs are all included in this sector’s vast array of businesses. The success of modern agriculture depends on the creation of a viable value chain that benefits farmers and all other participants.

Information about farmers’ landholdings and cropping patterns,agri-produce traders, various types and quality of farm produce, a timeline of quantity production, as well as proper supply chain management from farm to retail, could all be provided by startups.

Storage facilities in India play an important role in the country’s efforts to ensure food safety and expand its agricultural sector. There are currently three government agencies working to increase the nation’s massive storage and warehousing capacities.

India currently holds more than 90mn metric tonnes of agricultural storage space or warehouses for use by government entities. They control 41% of the capacity, with the rest belonging to individual business owners, cooperatives, farmers, and so on. Millions of dollars worth of farm produce are lost each year despite the best efforts of governmental and private warehousing organisations, as well as cold chain logistics services. There is an urgent need for new businesses on a regional scale to oversee the management of farm produce in order to reduce waste and spoilage. Aside from agriculture, industries like retail trade have also felt the necessity for warehouses in the previous two decades.

These days, warehouses aren’t just places to preserve things for later use; they’re also hubs for a variety of value-added operations that help reduce waste and keep costs down. Warehouses for agriculture companies in India are an integral aspect of the agricultural supply chain. However, the storage industry is local, disorganised, and fragmented, exactly like the agricultural market. Third-party logistic businesses, or public warehouses, are used by many small and medium-sized landowners. Warehouses like these are a great aid to farmers because they can store goods and even help with packing and shipping.

Entrepreneurship in agri-tourism could help our country’s rural and agricultural communities recover from their economic decline. Startups in the field of agritourism may in the future offer their customers the chance to harvest their own food at cost savings to both the consumer and the farmer. At the same time, a business of this type can teach curious tourists about farming techniques and climate-optimized plant varieties.

Lohri, Holi, Sankranti, Navaratra, Deepawali, Bihu, Navakalever, Dussera as well as Pongal are just a few examples of the many festivals that can be celebrated in rural areas. Branding can involve arranging trips that teach foreigners about Indian customs and agriculture. Guests are often invited to stay the night in order to give them a flavour of the rustic lifestyle common in several nations. Over the course of the agricultural life cycle, there is a great need for a surge in the number of new businesses dedicated to supporting farmers. The agriculture and related sectors receive a sizable portion of the central government’s current budget.

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How Do You Make a Decision When Every Option Looks Bad?

October 14, 20227 min read
In the face of a crisis, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard worked with his team to create a new solution. Here’s how other leaders can do the same, writes Wharton Dean Erika James.


Behind the Song: Majesty

One of the most important things to me in a song is its melody. This is probably why since childhood I've been attracted to the music of Tchaikovsky, Alan Menken (Disney), and John Williams. They are all men of melody, and when I was young, even if I couldn't remember all of the music, I always came away from their works with a tune in my pocket to take out and hum whenever I had a hunger to return to the story. The most important melody is usually repeated several times and represents the work as a whole; this melody is called the theme. Think of the famous waltz from Sleeping Beauty, "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid, and the main theme song from Star Wars. Like them or not, they are pretty hard to forget, and will usually conjure up the images of a dancing princess, a singing mermaid, and a lightsaber-wielding hero.

Though I am a long way off from being on the level of the composers listed above, I took my cue from these musical role models and developed melodic themes for each of the three parts of Kingdom (Messenger, Messiah, and Majesty). Each of the themes have their big moments in the songs of the same title, but they are also sprinkled in various ways throughout their pieces. This post will focus on the theme I wrote for Majesty.

As mentioned in my first post, I always do quite a bit of study on a Scripture passage before writing music about it. Out of the three passages, I would say that Revelation 11 was the most difficult for me to unpack. I had never studied Revelation in-depth before, and I really needed to get my head around what was going on with the two witnesses in order to reflect their story through music. I listened to several detailed sermons and did quite a bit of research. It was a rewarding experience and I came away in great awe with, as Romans puts it, "the kindness and severity of God." These two traits - kindness and severity - seem like polar opposites, but they find their height together in the character of God. This idea of kindness and severity is really what Kingdom is about as a whole.

When looking back through my Voice Memos and journal for this post, I realized how many different musical and lyrical ideas I waded through before landing on anything solid. Here is a recording that combines two snippets from my phone when I was finally getting to something that I would use in the final piece.

Below is just one journal page of lyrical ideas.

I had several pages like this, with dozens of different lyric ideas and combinations. I finally settled on these lyrics for the main Majesty chorus:

Majesty, King of kings

He will come in glory, judgment He will bring

Majesty, His kind severity

Will damn the proud destructor, reward the righteous saint

And wherever you are, no one escapes from Majesty

So wherever you are, repent and believe in Majesty

Below is audio from the very first performance of Majesty, with Chad Vitarelli singing the main chorus. (Chad actually went on to record this solo on the final recording as well.) With those last two lines, I intentionally used a minor chord, and then a major chord to represent the idea of kind severity. So, the line that goes, "and wherever you are, no one escapes from Majesty" ends with a minor chord. It's dark, because God's wrath is terrifying and very real for those who live apart from Him. But then the line that goes, "so wherever you are, repent and believe in Majesty" ends with a major chord. It is surprisingly happy! Repentance and belief in Jesus Christ is a joyous thing.

Now that I had developed the core theme for Majesty, I wove it through the entire piece. I think of all three pieces in Kingdom, Majesty is the one that utilizes the theme melody the most. I counted up nine different times it is used in the fourteen-minute piece. Below I list the places where it is used by referencing the track titles, then there is an audio recording that clips through these nine spots from the final recording featuring the arrangement by David Clydesdale.

  1. "Rebuilding the Temple" - The Majesty theme is briefly quoted at the end of the instrumental prelude.

  2. "Majesty" - The main Majesty theme with lyrics is first heard by the Witness who sings the pronouncement over the people left on earth.

  3. "Majesty" - The Witness repeats the theme after the people of Israel find his message familiar and ask for him to repeat it.

  4. "Majesty" - The Witness and Israel sing the theme together; Israel is finally listening and considering the message.

  5. "Death and Resurrection/Majesty (Reprise)" - The Majesty theme is intensified as the Witness sings it with a variation of lyrics right before he is killed by the Beast.

  6. "Death and Resurrection/Majesty (Reprise)" - The Majesty theme is repeated instrumentally to reflect the Witnesses' resurrection from the dead.

  7. "Death and Resurrection/Majesty (Reprise)" - Israel sings a reprise of the Majesty theme; it is the same melody but a variation of lyrics to represent the change her character has undergone throughout the story.

  8. "Death and Resurrection/Majesty (Reprise)" - The three characters (the Witness, the Beast, and Israel) join together to sing the Majesty theme in triumph. This represents that, in the end, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

  9. "Death and Resurrection/Majesty (Reprise)" - The first few notes of the Majesty theme are repeated several times at the very end, the finale of the entire work.

As a young composer, it was a really great exercise for me to work on developing these themes, and very rewarding to see them come to life through the production process. I hope you find the Majesty theme memorable, and that it reminds you of the kindness and severity of our awesome God.

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NASA Artemis I Takes Off!

If you stayed up late last night you may have seen the launch of the first part of the program known as NASA’s Artemis! At 1:47 am EST (Nov. 15, 2022) from the Space Launch System (SLS), which is the most powerful rocket in the entire world, the Orion spacecraft successfully launched on its way towards the moon. On this first part of the program, Artemis I, Orion doesn’t have a crew. It will actually travel about 40,000 miles PAST the moon and then come home.

This first flight is a test to see how the SLS and Orion work together during launch and how Orion does in deep space. If you have children that have attended our After School STEM program, we’ve learned about the SLS and built smaller models of our own, exploring how it has to be both strong enough to hold the spacecraft and handle liftoff but light enough to be mobile so it can be put into place. We’ve learned about the Artemis program and it’s eventual goal of seeing human exploration on Mars.

We’ll continue to explore themes related to the Artemis program as it unfolds along with other STEM activities Thursdays after school. Please note, this Thursday I am out of the office so there will be no After School STEM.

For some really great photos of the Artemis launch and of the program in general you can view NASA’s flickr here.


Mindanao’s best food delicacies to offer tourists

Best Food Delicacies to Try in Mindanao
Best Food Delicacies to Try in Mindanao | Photo from Unsplash

When compared to the cuisine of the other regions of the Philippines, Mindanao’s food has a highly distinctive flavor. The cuisine of Mindanao is famous for using coconut milk and various spices such as chili, onion, and ginger. These flavors are primarily influenced by the Spanish and Malay flavors of neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

Since there is a plentiful supply of fresh fish and tropical fruits, both ingredients are featured prominently in Mindanao’s cuisine. Most of the time, TV and mainstream media only feature dishes from Pampanga and other parts of Luzon and Visayas. Mindanao also deserves the spotlight when it comes to showcasing culinary expertise.

Make sure to try these delectable dishes from Mindanao!

Baked Tuna Photo from Kitchen Tricks
Baked Tuna Photo from Kitchen Tricks

General Santos City is called the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.” There isn’t a tourist coming to GenSan who doesn’t try at least one fresh tuna dish, fresh seafood, or another tuna-based delicacy while in General Santos. Tuna hotdogs, tuna longganisa, tuna tocino, and tuna chicharon are just some of the tuna-based cuisine items that this city is famous for making, in addition to fresh tuna.

Pastil is a dish from Maguindanao. The fact that it is just rice wrapped in banana leaf with chicken or beef adobo strips as a filler demonstrates that Mindanao cuisine focuses more on straightforward instructions for preparing dishes.

The meal is also prepared differently in Zamboanga, according to local tradition. Their pastel is like an empanada, except rather than using pork and veggies as fillings, they use pancit noodles, a type of rice noodles.

Chicken Piyanggang

Chicken Piyanggang Photo from Yummy PH
Chicken Piyanggang Photo from Yummy PH

The Chicken Piyanggang is a cuisine that originates from the Tausug tribe and its chicken recipe consists of chicken that has been braised in burnt coconut broth and meat that has been charred and a Maranao condiment called palapa, which includes ginger, chiles, and sakurab. The chicken is then sauteed in oil, garlic, onion, and marinade. Afterward, the chicken is grilled. Native chicken is best for this dish.

While the charred coconut brings out the chicken’s inherent sweetness, the spices fill the bird with robust flavors brought out further by the chicken. Some restaurants in Metro Davao, Zamboanga, Quiapo, and Manila serve their versions of this flavorful indigenous dish to highlight less well-known cuisine in the Philippines.

The Chicken Piyanggang is typically enjoyed by the Muslim community in certain regions, such as Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.

Cooking Curacha crabs Photo from Nolisoli
Cooking Curacha crabs Photo from Nolisoli

The name “curacha” comes from the Chavacano language and refers to a species of deep-sea crab that can typically be discovered in the waters of Sulu and Zamboanga City. Curacha is one of the most famous seafood delights found in Zamboanga, and it is a delicacy that is much sought after by both locals and tourists.

This bright orange crustacean is sometimes referred to as “red frog crab,” It is typically steamed or boiled before being served with a thick, sweet orange sauce made with coconut cream and secret spices. The recipe for this sauce was popularized by a local restaurant called Alavar Seafood Restaurant.

Curacha is a much softer and meatier crab than the usual ones bought in markets. The best curacha is served at the Alavar Seafood Restaurant, filled with their secret sauce.

The rendang is a meal that the Maranao people of the southern Philippines brought with them from Indonesia, their neighboring country. The Filipino preparation of the meal is a little bit different in terms of the methods used to prepare it to suit their preferences, and specific ingredients are replaced with components native to the Philippines.

Its delicious recipe consists of crushing the spices, then frying them, and then simmering the beef dish marinated in coconut milk. This is how rendang is made in the Maranao culture. The dish is sometimes referred to as a caramelized curry in some places. Rendang is a famous halal dish in the Bangsamoro region.

Satti Photo from Chef Nik's Food to Go
Satti Photo from Chef Nik’s Food to Go

Mindanao, notably Zamboanga, is known for its love of the breakfast meal known as Satti. It is essentially three small pieces of meat (beef and chicken liver) barbecued on a stick like a barbecue; nevertheless, it is served with rice balls swimming in a sweet spicy sauce.

People from Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan eat this dish as their breakfast or as comfort food during the rainy season. Some culinary experts say satti is the Filipino version of satay, Indonesian cuisine. The sauce is the secret behind satti’s taste, and you can find local satti houses all over Mindanao.

Durian a Famous Davao Local Fruit
Durian a Famous Davao Local Fruit

One of the most famous delicacies in Davao is the fruit called durian. This pungent-smelling tropical fruit is abundant in the city and is used in a wide variety of local specialties and food souvenirs. It is considered to be one of the unique fruits in the world.

If you go to the nearest coffee shop, you will most likely find durian-flavored coffee, cheesecake, and ice cream on the menu. At airport kiosks and souvenir shops, you may also get novelty durian candies, including candy bars, sticks, cubes, and preserves. These can be purchased as gifts for friends and family.

Sinuglaw Photo from Yummy PH
Sinuglaw Photo from Yummy PH

The word “sugba,” which means “to grill,” and “kinilaw,” which means “to cook by soaking in vinegar like a ceviche,” are both common ways of preparing food in the Visayas and Mindanao islands. These two methods combined to create the dish known as “sinuglaw.”

The famous appetizer known as sinuglaw combines barbecued pork (sinugba) and raw fish that has been marinated (kinilaw). The richness and smokiness of the grilled pork belly are tempered by the acidity of the fish that has been marinated. This meal is prevalent in many different places across Mindanao, including Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and many others.

How is Mindanaoan food different?

Because of the use of a wider variety of exotic spices, the cuisine of Mindanao is more similar in flavor to that of the Philippines’ Malay neighbors (including Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Thailand). This is in contrast to the cuisine of Luzon, which is highly inspired by Spanish cooking. In addition, most of their dishes frequently feature locally sourced ingredients.

Mindanao is the Philippines’Philippines’ second-largest island and home to a wealth of valuable resources. Typical staples consist of fried rice dish, corn, bananas, pineapples, and so forth. Luckily, Mindanao has an abundance of seafood, which can be used as a substitute for pork due to the island’s status as the country’s leading fishing producer.\

Where to live in Mindanao

Camella celebrating 45 Years of Real Estate Developments
Camella at 45 Years

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…Because I was born a girl – Release

I would like to firstly acknowledge that it was with the support of four men that the production of this song was made possible (the irony of which is not lost on me, I assure you). The lyrics are definitely not about pointing the finger at men, it is the challenging of a system that limits human potential and holds us all captive to a past system that is long overdue for change. I view the dismantling of this system as having as many benefits for men as women for that should be the point of equality.

What this song is about then is bringing into the general consciousness the fact that our societies are still predominately organised within the *realm of a patriarchal system of doing things. Women may have won equal rights in some places but we are yet to win equal treatment. Our modern version of the patriarchal system may sound different from the past, however this only acts to silence any challenge to its power. With the framing of deceptive language that creates an illusion of equality rather than a reality of equality.

We are confronted by this illusion everyday that passes and fails to break through the wall that is the gender pay gap. The patriarchal system still prevails in our laws even when they tell us women have equal rights, these laws are enforced in a way that makes sure we experience them from a position of disadvantage. Take for example the Shared Parental Responsibility amendment under the Family Law Act of 2006 in Australia, on the surface it declares itself as equal with words such as “shared”. In action though what these words do is deny the lived experiences of women, which tell us that for the majority of mothers when it comes to parenting they fulfil the bulk of the caring duties. This is an extremely important fact to note when deciding on parental rights but it becomes irrelevant with laws that aim to distract us away from the significance of caring duties. The implication of laws such as these is that they keep women in a position of subordination and at worst put their lives and lives of their children at risk.

So this song is referring to the realisation that the patriarchal system still exists within our culture and that it is a system that not only limits women’s opportunities but it is a system that is limiting human potential as a whole. It is very empowering to be able to recognise what you are up against because it provides the the opportunity to question it and ultimately challenge it.

Women hold the power to change the patriarchal system of doing things and this song is just as much about recognising that power. (Note: the realm of the patriarchal system within this context just means we organise our societies based mostly from the perspective of the lived experience of men, the consequence is the benefits are directed to a greater degree towards men compared to women whether consciously or unconsciously). Camille X


Fiverr expiration time

Fiverr is currently among the most popular online platforms where anyone can create a job. The platform has become a fantastic means for freelancers to make an adequate income while at the same time building a business on it. There are many new online freelancers who really make big money on Fiverr using very little effort. If you are a freelancer looking to start a profitable home business, this article will provide you the information you need on creating an effective Fiverr account and getting your first gig.

Fiverr utilizes two unique systems to ascertain how much a freelancer should cover a service. One system is known as Service Arbitrage, which basically means that in the event you purchase a service at two prices, the buyer will pay you only 1 cent for the next service. Service Arbitrage has been implemented on Fiverr because 2021 and has enabled many successful salespeople to build businesses. Below are a few examples of services which can be bought using Service Arbitrage: copywriting, SEO content writing, product creation and design, surveys, blogging, web development and a lot more.

If you are looking to find an excellent chance on Fiverr, you must take into consideration the following factors: customer feedback, design, keywords and website optimization. After doing this, you should begin considering the niche that you would like to tap into. For instance, in case you have a flair for art, you may look for gigs in the Design category. If you are searching for a virtual assistant, you can promote yourself in the social networking category. You can also sell web design, marketing and SEO content in the Blogging category.

Service arbitrage is great if you are able to find several different services you could turn into a gig. Another terrific process on fiverr would be to turn your creative services into a gig. For instance, if you’re an excellent designer, you can find many gigs that are linked to the design field and turn them into your own small business. This is a very good process for those who have a creative side of fiverr.

Last but not least, the best service on fiverr for entrepreneurs is a virtual assistant. You can discover many great virtual assistants on fiverr. They’re great at being an online assistant. For instance, they can help you search for customers on fiverr, provide SEO and social networking optimization, and create site advertisements. All of these services can be very rewarding, especially if you hire a virtual assistant that has a high rank in the search engines. If you decide to be a fiverr gig market employee, you should definitely consider hiring a virtual assistant to help you with your gig projects!


Why Video Insights Are Key to the Future of Market Research

Market research is changing as we know it. Qualitative research, while acknowledged by researchers and companies as a useful way to extract rich insights, was also known for its many limitations–including its lack of scalability. Collecting qualitative data used to be a long, complex and non-automatable process that required a lot of manual effort. But recent technological advancements have changed all that, with a boost from the pandemic.

Spurred by lockdowns and the shift to remote research, there has been greater interest and demand for new technologies that allow researchers to remotely collect in-depth face-to-face data. This includes video research. In this article, we’ll provide you an introduction to what it is, its benefits, and the reasons why you should explore it.

How do video insights work?

Video feedback can be captured in various ways. You could arrange an online video interview with relevant participants and record the session—or you can ask them to record a series of videos on their mobile devices, in their own time. In the past, it was usually necessary for companies to hire a camera crew to capture videos of participants at a specified location. At the time, this was considered an expensive and time-consuming ordeal.

Nowadays, video insights have an important place in mixed methods research (also known as hybrid research). Companies can now combine quantitative and qualitative methods more easily than ever before—like by integrating video questions into surveys, for example. This allows for a more complete and robust understanding of your participants.

It’s important to keep in mind that video insights are at their most valuable once you move beyond analyzing the words people say. This is because you have the unique opportunity to also examine how they talk about your brand (their tone, emotions, and sentiments) within the context of their natural environments.

What are the benefits of gathering feedback via video?

Collecting feedback via video has many benefits. From the researcher’s perspective, you get a personal and authentic glimpse into your customers’ lives, which could help you uncover unexpected pieces of information you may not have known otherwise. This is very important for companies that are trying to understand the behaviors and attitudes of people who belong to a specific culture, subculture, or demographic.

Another benefit of video feedback is the rich insights you may extract from it. Like all qualitative methods of market research, video research can reveal a great deal of information about how people think and feel about a certain topic through their body language and expressions. However, it’s especially useful when you need to understand experiences. This applies to all companies in industries that engage in some form of experiential marketing (like retail, foodservice, or hospitality).

Regardless of the industry you’re in, video content helps to bring your customers’ voices to life. It humanizes the data you have about them. You may choose to present a ‘showreel’ of video feedback to other members in your organization, which can help you achieve three things. Firstly, it can increase employee empathy (a key indicator of a successful customer-facing company). Secondly, it helps you combat data denial within your team—after all, showing customers’ faces when they raise issues about your product makes it harder for stakeholders to ignore. But most importantly, it allows you to produce a compelling case for change.

What kinds of research can benefit from video feedback?

Video feedback adds value to many types of market research. It is essential for video ethnography, which involves observing and interpreting how people do relevant activities in their everyday lives. It’s also extremely useful in more specific contexts, such as user testing and marketing effectiveness research.

But that’s not all. Video feedback enhances your focus group and in-depth interview findings—and it complements survey research (which has several applications, such as customer experience surveys, feedback surveys, and employee engagement surveys).

Who uses video research insights?

A growing number of global leading brands have chosen to incorporate video research insights into their market research activities: Samsung, Airbnb, and Toyota, to name a few. One great example of a brand that has leveraged video insights for maximum benefit is American fast-food chain Del Taco. When the company looked for ways to improve their menus, they delivered an engaging interactive survey experience. Customers were asked to play ‘agents’ tasked on a mobile mission, which involved going to a Del Taco restaurant and recording their experience of tasting some test menu items. As a result, the chain received 10 hours of rich feedback, which they used to shape important business decisions.

What does video feedback mean for data privacy?

Video feedback is an invaluable addition to market research, but it’s important to be aware of the implications it has for data privacy. Unlike text survey responses, videos are more likely to contain personally identifiable information, such as participants’ faces and voices. Video is also intimate in nature, as participants may record their responses in private domains such as their homes.

Because of this, companies should always obtain informed consent when conducting video research. Update your privacy policies to make sure you’re as transparent as possible about what kinds of personal data you will actually be processing. If you’re interested in using online tools to aid your research, choosing a GDPR-compliant platform will help you keep data secure (whether your company is based in the EU or not). Similar regulations to be aware of in the US include COPPA and HIPAA.

Video feedback: now available in CheckMarket

We’re delighted to announce that CheckMarket is now integrated with LivingLens, Medallia’s GDPR-compliant video intelligence platform that lets you capture, analyze, and share video insights at scale. No more listening to hours of recordings—this AI-powered tool automatically extracts and categorises meaningful data (such as words, emotions, objects, and sentiments), so you don’t have to. To see this feature in action, simply add a new Video Question Type to your CheckMarket surveys

Key takeaways

  • Video insights are becoming increasingly popular as more companies explore mixed methods research (i.e. using qualitative data to enhance existing quantitative data).
  • Video can be used as a primary research method for ethnography, but it can also supplement findings gathered from surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and more.
  • Video feedback offers three key benefits to market researchers: it’s authentic, it offers rich insights, and it helps you create compelling and impactful customer stories.
  • When conducting video research, it’s important that you are compliant with all the data privacy regulations that apply.

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I used to know that

Clouds & Calvin's Dad

Just for the record: Light in its natural state is white light, i.e., it comprises the seven wavelengths of the visible spectrum as it moves from infrared to ultraviolet (such wavelengths correspond to colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.) The sky and the clouds act as filters for white light. Regarding the clouds, its water droplets or ice crystals scatter the light uniformly, meaning that light is not separated, remaining white. I used to know that. By the way, a qualifying exam to be a dad would likely amount to human extinction.


Titus Whitelaw

Network and Systems Support Specialist

Born at a young age in the far away, exotic, swampy land of Inverness, FL, Titus moved to East Tennessee in 2002. Growing up as a small child, Titus envisioned himself becoming an astronaut/firefighter/crocodile hunter/space marine, but eventually he decided on pursuing a career in computers. Titus received an associate’s degree in Computer Science from Walter’s State and is currently furthering his certifications and computer skills at the Tennessee Technology Center in Morristown, TN.

Being a rather laid back and sarcastic individual, Titus spends his free time playing video games, solving puzzles, taking things apart, and attempting to put them back together, and overeating.

Interesting facts about Titus: He is left handed, and he can solve a Rubik’s cube in around 30 seconds


A prayer for kids with unbelieving families

Please pray for children in our programs who come from different religious backgrounds. It can be challenging—and sometimes dangerous—for them to accept Jesus. Pray they trust in God’s plan for their lives.


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Court Marriage - Online Marriage

Marriage | Marriage in Islam | Purpose of Marriage

What is the Marriage in Islam?

Marriage is very important in Islam. As matrimonial lawyers, running court-marriage site, we receive many queries about marriage, purpose of marriage and concept of marriage in Islam. We wish to reply to these all questions here.

Marriage is a central institution in Islam. According to the Qur’an, it is “half of one’s faith”. The most important factors in choosing a spouse are religious commitment and moral purity.

Marriage is an Important Part of Life in Islam

Marriage is an important part of life in Islam, and it is strongly encouraged. In Islam, marriage is a contract between a husband and wife. The marriage contract is usually performed by a religious official during the wedding ceremony.

Marriage is One of the Most Important Institutions in Islam

In Islam, marriage is one of the most important institutions that a person can enter. It doesn’t just provide for the sexual and emotional needs of the couple; it also provides a stable, loving environment for children to grow up in. Marriage is seen to continue the human race, and as a means to fulfill God’s commandment to “multiply.”

Marriage is Encouraged in Islam

Marriage has always been an institution that is encouraged in Islam, but there are some conditions. Islam prescribes those conditions in order to ensure that couples enter into it with the right intentions and understanding. For example, the consent of both parties is required before marriage can occur. Also, marriages must be conducted publicly so that there is no question about what has happened. Marriage cannot occur if it will result in financial hardship for either party; or can it occur under duress. In today’s world, this kind of legalistic approach also helps prevent things like forced marriages and child marriages from happening. Muslim weddings are typically very elaborate affairs, and they involve many rituals and traditions from around the world. Couples typically spend time preparing for the wedding ceremony beforehand so that they understand what is expected of them during the process.

Marriage is Highly Recommended in Islam

Marriage is highly recommended in Islam. Islamic marriage has a lot of benefits for the couple, their families, and society as a whole. Marriage is a universal institution that is upheld in many religions, including Islam. It’s considered one of the most sacred duties of all Muslims.

Marriage is Very Important in Islam

Marriage is very important in Islam. It allows its participants to live a life of companionship and intimacy in the eyes of God, and it gives them a chance to make the most out of their time here on Earth.

Marriage _ Marriage in Islam _ Purpose of Marriage

Marriage is the Most Important Element of Islamic Culture

Marriage is one of the most important elements of Islamic culture. The Prophet Muhammad said, “Marriage is half of the religion” (Sunan ibn-Majah 1756). To help Muslims make important decisions in their lives like marriage, it’s important that they understand what Islam says about it.

Islamic Marriage is a Sacred Contract

Islamic marriage is a sacred contract between a man and a woman, in which the man agrees to pay a financial compensation (dower) to the woman, and they become husband and wife. The dower is paid by the husband to the wife at the time of marriage, and it belongs exclusively to her. She can spend it however she pleases, without the need for her husband’s consent.

Purpose of Marriage in Islam

The purpose of marriage in Islam is to protect chastity, provide for children, and encourage love between two spouses. Marriage is important in Islam because it protects all parties involved from engaging in illicit sexual relations. Marriage is the most important part of a Muslim’s life. It is important for children to grow up in a family setting. It’s also important for Muslims who are looking for spouses to learn about the qualities their future partner should have and what kind of roles they should play within the

In addition to what was mentioned above, there are other things to consider as well. There are many different reasons for marriage in Islam. It could be for protection from sin or for companionship, among other things. It’s also important to note that both men and women have the right to initiate the marriage process and ask another person to marry them in this way.

Why Marriage is Important in Islam?

It’s easy to see why marriage is so important when you consider that one of the five pillars of Islam is the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. The goal of Hajj is to make you feel closer to God, and it’s believed that the more intimate your relationship with God, the more likely you are to earn His favor. Islam has always insisted on a strict code of conduct for its adherents, as well as tolerance towards people who don’t share their beliefs.

Marriage, As the Foundation of Society

Muslims believe that marriage is the foundation of society, and it is meant to last for a lifetime. A Muslim man may marry a Jewish or Christian woman, but this is not permissible for a Muslim woman. A Muslim woman may only marry a Muslim man.

Marriage has Religious, Emotional & Spiritual Significance

In Islam, marriage is more than just a social contract between you and your partner. It has religious, emotional, and spiritual significance. Marriage is one of the most important institutions established by Allah in the Qur’an; He says: “And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves so that you might find comfort in them” (30:21).

Marriage is an Integral part of Islam

Marriage is an integral part of Islam. It is highly encouraged in the Qur’an and in Hadith. Most importantly, however, it is a very important part of living life as a Muslim. Marriage is the only way to fulfill one’s sexual desires, and it helps bring families together.

Marriage is a Part of the Islamic Faith

Marriage is a very important part of the Islamic faith. It is strongly recommended that every Muslim get married, as it is easier to avoid temptations and sin when you are married. This is because marriage allows for intimacy between two people, which would otherwise be considered haram (forbidden) in Islam. However, if you feel like you cannot stay away from these temptations, then marriage might not be a good option for you at this time, and you should focus on your faith instead.

Every Muslim Man and Woman Should Marry

In Islam, every Muslim man and woman is required to marry if they are financially and physically able to do so. Marriage is an important part of being a practicing Muslim because it completes half of your religion. It also creates bonds between family members that provide mutual support, love, and compassion.

The Qur’an states: “And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy.” (Qur’an 30:21)

Mehar/Mahr in Islamic Marriage

In order to be married in Islam, the husband must pay a dower money (Mahr) to his wife. The dower money is given privately to the bride before the wedding ceremony. Additionally, a marriage contract must be signed by both partners that stipulates the dower amount and how it will be paid. The Mehar/Mahr can be any amount agreed upon by both parties but must not be so large as to put the husband under financial strain.

The Qur’an states: “And give unto the women their Mahr with a good heart”

Polygamy is Allowed in Islam with Some Restrictions

Islam allows polygamy under certain circumstances; however, monogamy is mostly practiced in Islamic society. Polygamy (having multiple wives) is allowed in Islam, though it should be noted that not all religious officials allow polygamy. Some countries have banned the practice of polygamy completely. Although the Qur’an allows men to have up to four wives at one time, most men choose only one wife, since they are required to provide financially for each wife.

A man who has more than one wife must treat them all equally and fairly. If he does not do this, then it becomes haram (forbidden). So, polygamy is allowed as long as the husband treats all his wives fairly and equally and spends his nights with each wife on alternate nights. In Islam, men are permitted to have up to four wives at any one time. This is why polygamy was widely practiced during the early days of Islam.

Though, Islam allows polygyny, but with the specific limitation that a man can have no more than four legal wives at any one time and an unlimited number of female slaves as concubines, with the requirement that the husband is equal and just in his treatment of all wives.

Marriage is very important in Islam, and polygamy is allowed but only to a limit of four wives. One thing to consider is that not all schools of thought in Islam allow polygamy. The Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi’i schools of thought say that a man can have up to four wives at once. However, the Hanbali school of thought states that a man can only have one wife at a time, or two if he can provide justice between them (Sunan ibn-Majah 1514).

There are many reasons why someone might want to enter a polygamous marriage, but it’s generally considered immoral by most Muslims because it violates the principles outlined above about monogamy and fidelity being.

For this reason, polygamy is permitted in Islam, and the rules are clearly laid out in the Quran: “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or that which your right hands possess.”

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“Ballet des Porcelaines” at MIT

“Ballet des Porcelaines” at MIT

A faraway island. An evil magician. A prince transformed into a teapot. A princess on a rescue mission.

When the first performance of the “Ballet des Porcelaines” was staged at the Chateau de Morville in 1739, the orientalist fairy tale seemed innocent enough. However, when the art historian Meredith Martin encountered the lost libretto in the archives of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, she recognized a troubling subtext hidden within the storytelling.

As an expert in the 18th century craze for rooms filled floor-to-ceiling with porcelain, Martin was well aware of the proto-colonial European quest to possess the secret of porcelain production, a technology closely guarded by Chinese artisans. The lighthearted divertissement of the “Ballet des Porcelaines” could be read as an allegory of extraction, a narrative of the European obsession with the elusive “white gold.”

What is the place of such a ballet in contemporary culture? Could the controversial subcurrents hold any relevance for a multiracial audience? Nothing survives of the original set design, costumes, or details of the performance, but Martin saw the potential of the score and the manuscript. To engage in a historically accurate reconstruction would risk reinforcing harmful racial stereotypes and exoticization of Asian cultures, but a creative re-imagining could critique and connect the present and the past. Martin proposed the idea to the choreographer and activist Phil Chan, who conceived of a re-staging of the ballet that would center Asian American experience and challenge the racial typecasting of the original performance.

Premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2021, the “Ballet des Porcelaines” has traveled to leading cultural institutions in the United States and Europe, and was recently staged at MIT with the support of a 2022 Visiting Artist Grant from the MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology (CAST).

“MIT might be known for its emphasis on STEM, but the arts, humanities, and social sciences are also central to our undergraduate curriculum,” says Jeffrey Ravel, a professor of history at MIT and a specialist in 18th century French theater and political culture. “Our students are primed for artistic events like these, and dance is extremely popular among the MIT community. Most importantly, the performance is part of our ongoing campus conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, investigating the historical context of the pervasive issues that affect cultural production today.”

Ethics and Innovation

In the 1739 performance of the “Ballet des Porcelaines,” the villain of the tale is identified as Chinese: an evil magician who transforms the inhabitants of the island into porcelain. It is the task of the princess to break the spell and bring the prince back to life, as though reverse-engineering the porcelain production process. Kristel Smentek, a professor in the Department of Architecture at MIT, whose work focuses on 18th century visual culture and European encounters with Asian art, collaborated with Ravel to stage a series of discussions and class visits related to the complex context of the performance. In a Q&A session hosted by MIT, Phil Chan shared his vision for the “Ballet des Porcelaines” and the driving force of his work as a cultural practitioner. “It’s about questioning how we can shift ballet from a Eurocentric art form. What does that look like, and how can this art form be bigger and for everybody — especially in our multiracial society, and in a diverse city like Boston.”

Chan is the co-founder of Final Bow for Yellowface, an organization dedicated to eliminating racist and offensive portrayals of Asians in contemporary ballet. He connected with Martin during a fellowship at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University, and both recognized a key paradox at the heart of the performance: The politically provocative subject matter was intertwined with the persistent mystery and allure of porcelain, as well as the beauty of ballet itself.

The staging of the “Ballet des Porcelaines” invites the audience to dwell in this paradox. Performed at MIT by members of the Oakland Ballet Company, led by artistic director Graham Lustig, the ballet casts Asian American dancers in the role of the prince and the princess, and re-imagines the Chinese magician as a European collector haunted by his obsession with porcelain. The choreography combines baroque and contemporary dance with Chinese classical and fan dancing, and the costumes — created by Korean-American artist and fashion designer Harriet Jung — are inspired by the Japanese Kakiemon and French Chantilly porcelain that was popular among 18th century European collectors. Dongsok Shin, a harpsichordist and early music specialist, serves as musical director alongside Leah Gale Nelson, and composer Sugar Vendil disrupts the sedate baroque score with experimental elements of breaking porcelain.

Critique and creativity

By bringing visiting artists to the MIT campus and integrating questions of criticality and creativity as part of the curriculum, CAST actively stimulates research and innovation. The “Ballet des Porcelaines” introduces controversial topics that are directly relevant to a community driven by the advancement of emerging technologies. At what point does the pursuit of technological discovery become potentially harmful, and how can the human instinct for beauty also be inclusive?

“When Europeans discovered the secret of hard-paste porcelain in the early 18th century, they made a lot of things in the chinoiserie style,” says Chan. “Stereotypical Asian figures appear on many a vase and jar, and there’s a history of associating the Asian community with objects and commodities. When you transform someone into an object, how does that take away their humanity? Where does that lead us in terms of seeing each other with greater nuance?”

Just as an algorithm cannot be free from human bias, so might a dance or a vase serve to propagate harmful and limiting assumptions; the task is both to critique and generously investigate what it means to create. Rather than turning away from a problematic past, the “Ballet des Porcelaines” seeks to deconstruct and reclaim a rich historical artifact, contributing to a process of continual cultural evolution. The goal, as Chan expresses it, is to support ways of making that are “deeply generative for the future.”

A full list of names of the “Ballet des Porcelaines” creators and performers can be found on the MIT CAST website.

A contemporary reinterpretation of an 18th century ballet reveals the fragility of orientalist fantasies.

Read More Over At MIT News

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• Deeper Dive: Highest-Cost Healthcare System

    What is the deadliest animal in the world? It isn’t sharks, lions, tigers, or bears (oh, my!), or even snakes or spiders. It is the lowly, blood-sucking mosquito. The Discovery Channel doesn’t feature an annual “Mosquito Week.” The world’s deadliest animal is boring, annoying, and seemingly everywhere.

    Healthcare is our economy’s mosquito. It is sucking an excess amount of blood, or money, from our economy. It threatens the economic health of the federal government, businesses, and families. Therefore, I refer to our high-cost healthcare situation as our health “costquito.” Sure, it sounds like a lunch special at a Mexican restaurant, but the challenge and threat of the costquito is very real and very serious.

    High Healthcare Cost in a Global Economy

    The United States has the highest-cost healthcare system among all economically developed nations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD). We spend 156 percent more per person than the OECD average.

    Think of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the total pie of the American economy. Healthcare has consumed an ever-increasing share of the country’s total economic pie. This excess expenditure puts pressure on employers for goods and services trying to compete in a global marketplace. Think of everything produced in the U.S. as having an 8.4 percent healthcare tariff. A tariff is an additional cost added to a product or service. Any good or service produced in the U.S. effectively has an 8.4 percent healthcare tariff. Therefore, in other countries, the cost to produce a good or provide a service is lower because the healthcare cost burden is lower.

    High Healthcare Cost as a Payroll Expense

    Employers who offer health insurance coverage for their employees have seen the healthcare component of total compensation to employers steadily increase. Employers look to shift responsibility to employees, and these employee/voters are increasingly looking to the government to make some type of aggressive healthcare cost intervention.

    • Shifting costs to the government by increasing public programs or subsidies doesn’t necessarily lower the total impact on the economy. It simply shifts it to increased taxes or an increasing deficit.
    • Shifting costs to employers by mandating coverage or contribution levels also doesn’t lower the total impact on the economy. Employers look at total compensation, which includes the cost of health benefits. A dollar of increase in health benefit spending is a dollar that could’ve been used in increasing wages. Health benefits are consuming an increasing share of total compensation, thereby suppressing direct wage increases.
    • Shifting costs to employees through increased per-paycheck contributions, higher deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits doesn’t lower the total impact on the economy. An increasing share of household disposable income is dedicated to healthcare expenditures.

    High healthcare cost isn’t just a problem for the federal government. It isn’t just a problem for the large employers who are mandated to offer health insurance to their full-time employees. It isn’t just a problem for the middle-class family trying to make sure there isn’t too much month at the end of the money. High healthcare cost is a problem that threatens federal government resilience, large-employer competitiveness, and individual household solvency. Simply smashing the costquito in its economically bloated state creates a potential bloody mess. The right answer to our healthcare reform question is one that lowers the cost for everyone by systematically decreasing the flow of money over time.

    With that said, tune in next week where we’ll take a look at just how complicated our healthcare system really is AND take a look at four common terms most Americans simply don’t understand but are faced with all the time. And, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to sign up for our “Insiders’ Club” where you’ll be notified when I release new information AND receive a FREE copy of my book “The Voter’s Guide to Healthcare: A non-partisan, candid, and relevant look at politics and healthcare in America” when it’s available.

    Published on: 07.10.19


Software Product Validation of Body Controller ECU’s using Intelligent Automation Methods
Eshwari A Madappa1, Varsha P Y2, Nectar Jinil3

1Eshwari A Madappa*, assistant professor, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Jss Science and technological University, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
2Varsha P Y, MTech, Automotive Electronics, Jss Science and technological University, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
3Nectar Jinil, Senior manager, Continental automotive component private limited, Bangalore, India.

Manuscript received on May 30, 2020. | Revised Manuscript received on June 08, 2020. | Manuscript published on June 30, 2020. | PP: 747-751 | Volume-9 Issue-5, June 2020. | Retrieval Number: E9831069520/2020©BEIESP | DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.E9831.069520
Open Access | Ethics and Policies | Cite | Mendeley

Abstract: In Continental the, Electronic Control Unit (ECU’s) software consists of 2 parts, the basic software which is the generic part and the application software which does the product specific functionality. The project specific functionality depends upon the product type, like Body domain controller, immobilizer etc. Before the ECU is going to mass production, the controller has to be validated i.e., software and hardware. The main reason is to ensure, that once the ECU is fitted to the vehicle and there is a recall for ECU, it involves additional cost to the organization. The validation of the software includes, checking of the micro controller input, outputs, peripheral drivers, the initialization of the drivers, the timing measurement of the different components. All the parameters are controlled by the generic and application specific modules, and can be configured via configuration tool, manual configuration etc. Since the SW modules are complex and huge, so its need to perform validation of the SW modules manually. This is time consuming process, as it involves checking many c file, configuration files etc. The proposal is to automate the process using Python programming, which interacts with the C code, configuration files, debugger, interacting with the ECU’s peripherals, components and validate the Software parameters before going for series production. In the proposed method the different steps can be automated for different micro-controllers i.e., Renesas RL78 and RH850 used in the ECU’s and different architecture i.e., AUTOSAR and NON-AUTOSAR will be considered and the results will be compared with the manual validation effort and accuracy.
Keywords: Automation, Validation, ECU’s


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Concrete Paving Stone Mix Aggregate Ratio

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What is cement, sand, aggregate ratios in concrete mixing

2018. 9. 12. Grade Mix ratio. M5 → 1:5:10 (Cement : sand: aggregate) M7.5 →1:4:8. M10 → 1:3:6. M15 → 1:2:4. M20 → 1:1.5:3. M25 → 1:1:2. 2. Design Mix Concrete: ( From M30 onwards we need to design the concrete mix) The concrete mix produced under quality control keeping in view the strength, durability, and workability is called the design Mix.

Concrete Mix Ratios for Making Bricks with Moulds

Assume the mix ratio required is 1:2:3 (one part cement to two parts sand to three parts stone six parts in total. (all mixes are printed on a pocket of cement). Now divide the six parts into 4500ml: 750ml x 1 = 750ml Cement 750ml x 2 = 1 500ml Sand 750ml x 3 = 2 250ml Stone

Concrete Mixing Ratios How To Make Concrete (Cement,

By measuring the cement, stone, and sand, you will have a consistent concrete mix throughout your entire project. 3000 psi concrete mix ratio. To produce a 3000 psi cubic yard of concrete (27 cubic feet) the concrete mixture ratio is: 517 pounds of cement

Concrete Mix Ratio: What Is It? What Is 1-2-3?And More.

A concrete mix ratio is usually expressed by a set of numbers separated by colons, as is the case with a 1:2:3 ratio. This tells the mixer that they need to add 1 part cement powder, 2 parts sand, and 3 parts aggregate in order to create the desired concrete

Concrete Mix Ratios (Cement, Sand, Gravel)

2021. 1. 26. Mortar Types and Uses. Typically used as the compound for joining masonry, stone or ceramic units together, mortar is made by combining cement, lime and sand. Mortar typically has a higher water to cement ratio when compared with concrete which allows greater workability and is required to form mortars bonding properties.

Concrete Mix Design Calculations (Pdf) Concrete Mix

2021. 4. 4. To increase the workability of concrete mix from 25 mm to 50-75 mm an increase in water content by +3% is to be made. The corrected water content for mix = 191.6 x 1.03 = 197.4 kg. As mentioned earlier to adjust fresh concrete properties the

Concrete Mix Formulas

(Domestic & Office floors, Reinforced concrete, Culverts, Footpaths, Driveways, Paving, Cobble stones, Stepping stones, Cladding tiles, Floor tiles, Coping stones, garden ornaments etc.) 33 liter (50 Kg Cement) 120 liter: 80 liter: 9.5mm to 13.2mm: Add enough water to produce a workable mix: 130 liter: 33 liter (50 Kg Cement) 120 liter: 120 liter: 19mm to 26.5mm

How to Mix Mortar for Paving Simply Paving

2019. 11. 28. While you can buy paving mortar mix and patio mortar mix in DIY shops, it is just as easy and more affordable to make it yourself. What’s more, you don’t need to hunt around specialist shops for your materials a lot of what you need will already be in your garden shed.

concrete paving stone mix aggregate ratio


Tattoo Removal: What to Consider Before Getting a Laser Treatment

Laser technology tattoo

Laser technology has continued to develop in the removal of tattoos. In the early years of laser technology, the best results were few and far between. Now there are a lot of laser removal devices that can ensure the customer gets the tattoo properly removed. These methods vary in their actions and the outcome of the treatment.

Due to the ample choices available on the market, it may be difficult to get the right info on what you need to consider. When considering getting your tattoo removed with a laser, you must have some questions answered. This will help you make an informed decision on the type of laser treatment(s) you may need. Here are the possible questions you may need answered when getting a tattoo removal service:

Which laser treatment is safer?

It is a fact that the much older laser models were known to cause some amount of tissue damage. This resulted in further skin complications. The safety of the treatment is one of the most considered factors when a person wishes to get a tattoo removed. This is important because an unsafe laser treatment may lead to complications. These complications could mean significant damage to the skin. Currently, the most widely accepted laser removal tool is the Q-switched laser model. This is due to its relative safety in removing tattoos. It is also the method with the least amount of side effects/complications. Also, complications from the laser treatment are easy to manage.

Is there any laser treatment that results in lesser pain?

The honest truth about laser tattoo removal is that they all cause a significant amount of pain. This means that all laser treatments are sure to cause some discomfort. However, there are some pain relief methods that can be applied in removing the tattoo to make the process bearable.

Can I get a cheaper treatment?

There are different laser treatments in use for tattoo removal. This means that there’ll naturally be of different prices. The price of the treatment is what you should take a look at when you want to get a tattoo removed. It is not a yardstick to become a cheapskate, as older methods may damage your skin. The prices of the more advanced machines with the latest speeds vary. It is also possible that you may have to pay more than five times the amount you used to get the tattoo.

Which laser treatment can give me the best result?

There is ample evidence on the internet which shows the quality of various laser treatments. These methods apply different speeds and wavelengths. This means that they’ll also have different outcomes. Some lasers work on a specific number of brighter colours. Others work on a number of dark colours. In tattoo removal clinics, there may be a combination of the lasers to effectively remove the tattoo ink.

Can I get a quick-healing laser treatment?

The laser technology currently available has varying speeds in peeling off the embedded ink and tissue. This means that the time may vary. Some laser tech requires only half a dozen or less visits to fully remove the ink. Some other speeds may need you visiting the removal clinic for more than a dozen occasions. This means that you have to find the best method which would make the wound from the tattoo removal heal faster.

When the answers to these questions are satisfactory, you can get on with the laser treatment. The procedures should be clearly explained to you. This gives you an understanding of what you are getting into. If you follow the after-treatment care prescriptions, your skin may not have any scar tissue.

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The Heavy Duty Work of Nursing - Richmond Personal Injury Lawyers

Nursing can be considered as one of the most stressful jobs to do. Most of the people often tend to give up nursing due to this reason. On the other hand, nurses have a higher possibility of getting subjected to a large number of frustrating injuries as well. Due to this reason, it has become important to have a clear understanding about the difficulties that the nurses go through and how to provide assistance to them after they encounter injuries. That’s where a work injury lawyer Richmond will be able to assist them with.

Nurses have to work for long shifts throughout the day. They cannot just work for 8 hours and go home like the other people. In some instances, the nurses will need to wake up and work throughout the entire night. This can subject them into a large number of injuries as well. In such instances, the legal assistance comes into their survival. A compensation lawyer can point out that the nurse is going through these injuries due to the nature of work that she had to do. As a result, necessary assistance will be provided to her as well.

Some of the patient handling activities is also in a position to lead the nurses towards injuries. However, these cases should be presented to the court with proper evidences. Otherwise, it will not be an easy task to obtain the claim that a person is entitled to receive. Needle sticks have also been identified as one of the biggest culprits behind the injuries that the nurses will have to suffer while they are working. The sharp medical instruments such as needles are being used by the nurses on a daily basis. If it can be proven that the nurse encounters an injury due to the result of a needle, there is a possibility for her to get compensation. The nurse just needs to get in touch with a Richmond workers compensation lawyer during such an instance.

From the recent studies, it has also been identified that violence is a major issue that the nurses have to face in their day to day work at hospitals. If a nurse becomes a victim of an injury due to violence, she will have to seek medical assistance and get the compensation by filing a case.

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2022 Fall Sun Outages Affecting Your TV Services and Here's Why

What are Sun Outages?

Twice a year, you may experience some degree of television interference due to "sun outages." Such outages are caused by a phenomenon called a “solar satellite interference." These brief outages occur when the sun is in a direct line behind a satellite transmitting cable signals. When the sun is aligned with a satellite, solar radiation, an energy the sun is emitting, interferes with the satellite’s signal and thus causes a brief signal outage.

When do sun outages happen and how long they last?

The solar interference will take place between October 5th and October 12th 2022

The exact time and duration will vary from channel to channel. This is due to channels being received off different satellites in the arc. Each satellite is affected at a different time as the sun moves across the satellite arc. The approximate times for signal loss will be between 1:00 pm and 5:30pm and will last for approximately five to fifteen minutes depending on the size of the dish.

What kind of outage/interference can I expect?

During the sun outage, you may experience a pixelated picture, picture freezes, or audio distortions for a brief period of time.

How can I tell if it's caused by a sun outage or something’s wrong with my cable?

The sun outage happens only during the day between 1:00pm and 5:30pm (no sun, no interference) and is brief, lasting for a few minutes—from 5 minutes, up to 15 minutes.

What should I do during a sun outage?

MTC apologizes for any inconvenience a sun outage may cause. However, solar satellite interference is out of our control. Please be patient and everything will get back to normal. If you have question about sun outages, please contact MTC toll-free at: 1-877-727-2288.

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The Mysterious Bookshop

Christopher Chambers - Scavenger - Signed

Signed copies available

Dickie Cornish, a Black streetwise survivor living in a homeless camp near D.C.’s Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, has been framed for the murder of two of his closest friends and is facing life in prison. Dickie crosses paths with wealthy ex-Homeland Security Secretary, Jamie Bracht, whot offers him a chance at a new life if Dickie can navigate an underground world to uncover a prize Bracht will stop at nothing to acquire.


• Jim Hostler

F - P, R, S, Get Off The Hamster Wheel!

In many cultures, I am assuming you don't need an explanation on the abbreviation of the "F" word found in the title of this post. And I am sure any uncertainty you may have I will soon eliminate.

Henry David Thoreau famously stated in Walden that “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Beginning several hundred years ago, the hamster wheels of the corporation were invented. This was the beginning of P - R - S: Processes, Replication, and Scaling. Also known as better, faster, and more. And unknowingly at the time, the beginning of people living lives of quite desperation. I'm reminded of Upton Sinclair's classic book, "The Jungle", depicting the conditions of Chicago stockyards. Human beings were, and still are, rewarded for their capacity to do. Do better. Do it faster. Do more. And if you can do it better, faster, and more of it, someday, if you're lucky, you can relax, chill, you will have arrived. You can now just be. What a dream come true that would be, if you could just be.

What a lie we have been fed. What unconsciousable atrocities have been committed in the reasoning of P - R - S. And how many people exist, lead lives of quiet desperation, because the system owns them? Being owned by the system has as many definitions as humans in the system. But the common thread of everyone trapped in the system is trapped on the carousel of P - R - S doing and believing there is no other way. Rather, P - R - S is the way.

We, human beings, are not designed to function like this, especially at the level P - R - S has become today. And no, this is not a judgment call. It is a call to awareness. Awareness in being human and living from and in a holistic manner in how we live life. This awareness begs two questions. First question, "what is missing?" Second question, "when is enough enough?"

What is missing is a holistic approach to life. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. We are spiritual: divine, infinite, a Creator, everyone and everything is an aspect of God expressing. You, me, us, are all part of the Oneness expressing. We are beings: the nature or essence of a person. We have a soul. We have dreams. We have intuition and from the heart, the ability to tap into infinite wisdom. We experience emotions, e-motion (energy in motion). The P - R - S ignores this domain of life! By definition, the P - R - S model is not holistic. Rather, quite the opposite, ignoring the true essence of who we are.

Inside of this knowing, is there any wonder why the world has never experienced more dis-ease (dis-ease, not at ease) than what we are experiencing today? Is there any wonder why plants, forests, animals, insects, oceans, our mother Earth, humans, are sick, becoming extinct, and dying? We are now over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID is a respiratory issue, world-wide. Respiratory is air, breathing, taking in life. Gaia is sick, not being able to breathe because of what the human species has and is doing to our environment. And humans too are getting sick because we are not taking in life, again, air.

When is enough enough? When is a nation's GDP enough? When is the race, the fight to be number one, enough? When is enough money, enough home(s), enough... fill in the blank... enough? We have become so empty on the inside, we are racing to "get" on the outside to cover the voids in our inner self. To get more. And that more isn't enough, well it was enough, but that was yesterday. I need more today, tomorrow, this month, this year.

The system is broken and we are in a crisis. Why are more people saying "F this hamster wheel of more Processes, Replication, and Scaling"? Or more likely the conversation is "F this, I am out of here!" More and more people are waking up to this awareness. And awareness is the first step on the path. But where do you go next?

Within. you go within. The first step in awareness is to take the infinite journey within. To find your true self. Get in touch with your true self. Follow your dreams. Listen to the "small still voice". Listen to your intuition, your hunches, your gut. Honor your history, your culture, your values. And especially open up to your heart wisdom. Our brain is designed to be a servant to the wisdom of our heart. We are not designed to let or allow the egoic mind be the one in control. This is beyond thinking. Heart wisdom is being open to the wisdom and guidance of the multiverse, to God, to your God-self.

From your inner sanctuary, you step into a whole, (holy, holistic) life. You create your life because you declare it into being. You now create a new future for yourself that calls you. Now you step back into the outer world by responding into it instead of being a slave to it.

What's possible? The heart wisdom is the gateway to infinite possibilities. All you have to do is get out of your way and listen... and then take your first step. Your first step into your new future that is calling you into it.

Blessings on your new journey.

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Today: Saturday, 3 December 2022 year

Another Afghan provincial capital falls to Taliban

Another Afghan provincial capital falls to Taliban

The Taliban demonstrates the tightening of the grip after the Unites States made the decision to leave the country.  The Taliban captured three more provincial capitals, including Taloqan city in northeastern Takhar province on Sunday.

The insurgents have snatched up five provincial capitals in Afghanistan since Friday in a lightning offensive that appears to have overwhelmed government forces. as they take their fight to the cities after seizing much of the countryside in recent months.

Taloqan, in northeastern Takhar province, became the third provincial capital to fall to the insurgents in one day, Aug 8th. The security forces have to retreat from the city afternoon after the government failed to send help. The city Taloqan is now fully in Taliban hands.

According to the local people, they saw the security forces and officials leaving the city in convoys of vehicles.

The Taliban envelops Aghanistan in total chaos

Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan in the north fell within hours of each other on Sunday, the authorities have confirmed.

“After some fierce fighting, the mujahideen, with the grace of God, captured the capital of Kunduz,” the Taliban said in a statement Sunday afternoon.

The Taliban fighters also captured Sar-e-Pul city, the government buildings and all the installations there, according to the insurgents. On Sunday evening, they wrote on Twitter that they had also taken Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province.

Parwina Azimi, a women’s rights activist in Sar-e-Pul, told AFP by phone that government officials and the remaining forces had retreated to an army barracks about three kilometres (two miles) from the city.

The Taliban had the compound “surrounded”, said Mohammad Hussein Mujahidzada, a member of the provincial council.