text:
Prista Ultra RN 5W-30
Description and Application
Prista® Ultra RN is latest generation synthetic multigrade engine oil, especially designed for the modern Renault engines. Formulated with synthetic base components blended with an especial low SAPS additive composition ensuring compatibility with exhaust gas aftertreatment devices.
This is a catalyst compatible oil especially designed for the latest high performance engine makes and models calling for ACEA C4 oils exhibiting stable performance, ensuring improved fuel economy, low degree of wear and extending DPFs' and catalysts' life in the vehicles to meet the requirements of Euro 4, Euro 5 and Euro 6 emission standards. Prista® Ultra RN is especially designed for Renault engines demanding oils that have successfully passed LLR Engine Test according RN 0720 Specification.
• A special friction modifier ensures maximum wear protection
• Improved fuel economy
• Effective sludge and corrosion control
• Extends DPFs' and catalysts' life and maintains their efficiency
• Environmentally friendly


text:
Reflections on the challenges and opportunities for palliative care in Nepal
Palliative care in Nepal has been developing over the last 20 years, led by pioneering doctors and nurses who have gained experience in the specialty often whilst working overseas or who have had the opportunity to do clinical attachments abroad. Recently, in collaboration with international palliative care specialists, a national strategy has been developed and adopted to guide future development so that palliative care for all who need it can be provided. This article explores the faith- based context for palliative care and describes the particular issues Nepal faces and the work of Christian mission organisations in supporting palliative care development.
Copyright (c) 2017 Daniel Munday, Ruth Powys
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Christian Journal for Global Health applies the Creative Commons Attribution License to all articles that we publish. Under this license, authors retain ownership of copyright for their articles or they can transfer copyright to their institution, but authors allow anyone without permission to copy, distribute, transmit, and/or adapt articles, even for commercial purposes so long as the original authors and Christian Journal for Global Health are appropriately cited.Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

domain: medical


text:
Peter pan lace collar
Beige floral skirt
Braided tan belt
Beige and grey fuzzy socks
Tan ankle boots
This outfit was for me. I had nowhere special to go and no one particularly important to see. I dressed like this to reflect how happy and content I am. I’m in a good place despite it being less than 20 degrees outside. My skirt has flowers on it to remind me that one day soon the flowers will bloom again. All things that were once dead will come back to life.
I was featured on College Fashionista last week. I got to know the photographer, Melissa Martinez (photographer who took Ashley’s street style pictures) and was impressed with how easy she was to work with.
Here is a snippet of the feature:
The entire the photoshoot was a lot of fun. My attire was for the slightly breezy day, which is a rarity in the Syracuse Springtime. Below are some of my favorite photos from the shoot:
I’ve started playing around with mixing prints and patterns, so this outfit was a fun way for me integrate both into a grad school-appropriate outfit.
I’m grateful for the great God moments I’ve been having lately. He’s doing something great and I can’t wait to see it all unfold. #365grateful

domain: artistic


text:
More of the same
The San Francisco Chronicle on Friday announced another round of buyouts between now and the end of the year, with a goal of cutting 125 jobs. If the goal isn't met, layoffs are likely to follow.
From a Saturday brief: "Obviously, we're not the first newspaper to be affected by the continuing downturn in advertising," said Publisher, President and CEO Frank Vega. "We are hopeful that by opting for our employees to voluntarily sign up for buyouts we can avoid any type of layoffs going forward."
The Hearst-owned paper cut a quarter of its newsroom staff just last year and has gained a certain level of infamy as being the paper that loses a million dollars a week.

domain: news


CLEVELAND — Two Canadian men have been indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to sell carfentanil, fentanyl, heroin and other drugs over the internet then ship the drugs to locations around the world including in Northeast Ohio.
34-year-old Robert Mitrache of Chateauguay and 30-year-old Louis-Vincent Bourcier of Mercier are named in the 10-count indictment.
“It’s part of a larger operation we’ve had in the district for several years now called Operation Darkness Falls,” said US Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman.
“What we are doing is focusing on vendors on the dark net. Vendors who are selling all sorts of illegal substances,” said Herdman.
“We used a number of different techniques to identify where they were selling,” said Herdman.
Mitrache and Bourcier are already serving time in Canada.
“In this case, the two individuals who are running a vendor website called Pharmaphil,” said Herdman.
It was an online storefront, according to prosecutors, that was dealing drugs worldwide. Canadian police raided the clandestine lab putting it out of business. “There are a million doses of fentanyl and carfentanil they were responsible for selling,” said Herdman
“The charges against these defendants should make it abundantly clear that those who distribute deadly drugs via the darknet are not out of reach of law enforcement,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis.
“Battling the distribution of synthetic opioids in the U.S. is one for the Postal Inspection Service’s highest priorities,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke.
“These two defendants believed that by utilizing the dark web and sophisticated cyber techniques their dangerous, world wide drug dealing would go undetected by law enforcement. They were wrong,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith.


text:
Exam Feed Menus 11/15-11/17
Tuesday, November 15 at 9:15pm in the Dining Hall Grilled cheese Tomato soup Berry crisp Bagels Iced tea Lemonade Hot cocoa Hot cider Wednesday, November 16 at 9:15pm in the Dining Hall Chicken tenders (plain or with buffalo sauce) bbq sauce, sweet & sour sauce, honey mustard, ketchup, and...
Boyden Library’s Server Upgrade
The Boyden Library’s server will be upgraded on Sept. 13. There will be no access to the library’s online catalog. Databases and LibGuides will be available. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Think You Know Harry Potter?
Library Question of the Month for December: At the request of his daughter, this Deerfield Academy alumnus published J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series. Who is he? Be sure to drop off your answer in the Question of the Month Box located at the entrance of our library. From...
Deerfield Magazine Wins Gold
The Deerfield Communications Office was awarded a Gold CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) District I Communication Award for the past three issues of Deerfield Magazine. The magazine was recognized in the Independent Schools Magazine category; judging was based on overall design, content and writing, and use...

domain: library


text:
After an activist prodded him on national TV Monday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will posthumously award a key to the city to Luis Alvarez– the 9/11 first responder who succumbed to colon cancer just days after delivering a powerful plea to Congress to replenish the fund for other victims who worked at Ground Zero.
“This city can never repay its debt to Detective Lou Alvarez. It will be my honor to award him with a posthumous Key to the City as a symbol of our profound respect and gratitude for his service and sacrifice,” the mayor tweeted Monday.
The tribute comes just hours after John Feal, another advocate and first responder, went on CNN’s “New Day” and asked the mayor to “give Luis the key.”
“We got to remember and honor (Alvarez’s) legacy and not let his passing be in vain,” Feal said.
Alvarez, a retired NYPD bomb squad detective, died Saturday at age 53 from complications of colon cancer linked to the time he spent at Ground Zero.
He appeared recently with comedian Jon Stewart before a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing for an extension of the fund for cops, firefighters and other first responders who became ill after working at the World Trade Center site.


text:
Have you ever marveled at how some websites seem to know exactly what you’re looking for? This isn’t magic; it’s the power of dynamic websites. Unlike static pages, dynamic websites adjust content in real-time, responding to user interactions and preferences. This adaptability transforms a generic webpage into a personalized experience for each visitor.
Enter WordPress, not just a blogging platform, but a robust tool for crafting these responsive, user-focused sites. Renowned for its user-friendly interface, WordPress empowers creators to build dynamic websites without delving into the complex abyss of coding. It’s the go-to canvas where creativity meets functionality, allowing for the creation of websites that are not only visually appealing but also intelligent in their interaction with users. This synergy of WordPress with dynamic web design is a cornerstone in modern web development, catering to a world that craves personalization and efficiency.
- WordPress enables dynamic website creation, leveraging themes, plugins, custom post types, and fields.
- Focus on user engagement and interaction, with personalized, tailored content.
- Avoid technical jargon, maintain a clear, logical flow, and ensure content relevance and uniqueness.
2. Understanding Themes and Plugins in WordPress
In the realm of WordPress, themes and plugins are akin to the foundation and utilities of a building. Themes dictate the visual appearance and layout of a website, providing a framework that shapes the user’s visual experience. They are pivotal in creating a cohesive look and feel, allowing customization to reflect a brand’s identity. Browse through WordPress themes.
Plugins, on the other hand, are the functional backbone of a WordPress site. They extend and add versatility, ranging from SEO tools to e-commerce solutions. Plugins inject life into websites, making them interactive and feature-rich. Careful selection of these tools is crucial; compatibility, user reviews, and regular updates are key factors. Discover various WordPress plugins.
3. The Power of Custom Post Types and Custom Fields
Custom Post Types (CPT) in WordPress are the secret ingredients to bespoke content creation. They allow the differentiation of content beyond basic posts and pages, like adding products, portfolios, or testimonials. CPTs organize and present content uniquely, tailoring it to specific needs.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) complement CPTs by adding detailed, customized metadata. This duo empowers developers to craft intricate, content-rich sites that are both structured and engaging, making WordPress not just a CMS but a dynamic content creation powerhouse.
4. Utilizing Page Builders and CMS in WordPress
Page builders like Elementor and Toolset have revolutionized WordPress design, offering drag-and-drop interfaces for intuitive, code-free page creation. These tools simplify the process of building complex, dynamic websites, allowing users to focus on aesthetics and user experience. Elementor, for instance, provides a myriad of widgets for dynamic content integration, while Toolset specializes in advanced customizations.
Simultaneously, WordPress functions as a comprehensive CMS, managing content efficiently. It facilitates the organization, editing, and publishing of content, making website management accessible to all skill levels. The combination of user-friendly page builders and WordPress’s CMS capabilities creates a potent toolset for dynamic website creation.
5. Dynamic Website Examples and Their Features
Dynamic websites are interactive platforms that adapt to user interactions, providing a personalized experience. Each type of dynamic website has distinct features catering to specific needs:
i. Portfolio Sites
Portfolio sites, used extensively by creatives and freelancers, showcase work through client and project details. Elements might include the client’s name, project description, and materials used. A great tool for creating portfolio sites is WordPress, offering flexibility in design and content management.
ii. E-Commerce Sites
E-commerce sites feature product attributes like price, sizes, colors, and descriptions. WordPress integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, a powerful e-commerce plugin, offering a complete solution for online stores. More about WooCommerce can be found here.
iii. Online Course Sites
Online courses display structured content, including videos, lesson lists, and instructor profiles. WordPress’s compatibility with various Learning Management System (LMS) plugins makes it an ideal platform for creating these sites. For more information on LMS plugins, check WordPress LMS Plugins.
iv. Coupon Sites
Coupon sites, often used for affiliate marketing, need dynamic elements like affiliate links and user engagement tools. WordPress’s versatility allows for the integration of plugins that enhance user experience on coupon sites.
v. Review Sites
Review sites require components like author/director details, release dates, and ratings. WordPress, with its flexibility, allows for the creation of customized review formats, catering to various niches.
vi. Staff and Team Pages
Staff and team pages on websites display member profiles, roles, and department information. WordPress facilitates the creation of these pages with themes and plugins that showcase team information in an engaging way.
vii. Recipe Sites
Recipe sites include detailed information like portions, preparation times, and nutritional values. WordPress allows for the customization of recipe posts, integrating unique taxonomies and structured data for better search engine visibility.
viii. Real Estate Listings
Real estate listings on websites offer comprehensive property details, including square footage, number of bedrooms, and contact information. WordPress’s CPT capabilities are ideal for managing and displaying detailed real estate listings.
Classifieds feature various listing types, including job offers and event announcements. WordPress can be used to create customizable classified sections, providing users with a comprehensive and user-friendly experience.
x. Business Directories
Business directories list information like business types, locations, and ratings. WordPress excels in creating these directories, allowing for detailed and organized listings that benefit both businesses and consumers.
6. Creating a Personalized User Experience
In dynamic websites, personalization is key to user engagement. WordPress provides various tools and plugins to enhance personalization. Strategies include using user data to tailor content, leveraging AI for personalized recommendations, and utilizing responsive design for optimal viewing across devices. Plugins like Jetpack offer insights into user behavior, aiding in creating a more personalized experience. The goal is to create a website that not only attracts users but also keeps them engaged with personalized content and interactions.
7. Conclusion: Advantages of WordPress for Dynamic Websites
In conclusion, WordPress stands as a paramount tool in creating dynamic, user-centric websites. Its versatility in handling various content types, coupled with an extensive range of themes and plugins, makes it the ideal platform for personalized and interactive web experiences. From e-commerce to online portfolios, WordPress offers solutions that cater to diverse needs. Its user-friendly interface simplifies complex web development tasks, democratizing website creation.
By harnessing WordPress’s capabilities, developers and content creators alike can craft engaging, responsive websites that not only attract but also retain a dynamic and interactive user base. Explore more about Static Vs. Dynamic Sites for unveiling why WordPress Reigns as a Dynamic Website?
8. FAQ Section
Q: What makes WordPress a dynamic website?
WordPress is considered dynamic because it allows for content and layout changes in response to user interactions, using a combination of themes, plugins, and custom fields. These features enable personalized and interactive experiences.
Q: What is an example of a dynamic website?
An example of a dynamic website is an online store, where product listings and prices update in real time based on inventory or user preferences, often powered by WordPress and its e-commerce capabilities.
Q: What are the dynamic features of WordPress?
Dynamic features of WordPress include customizable themes, a variety of plugins, and the ability to create custom post types and fields. These elements allow for real-time content updates, user interaction, and personalization.
Q: Are WordPress pages dynamic?
Yes, WordPress pages can be dynamic. Through the use of themes, plugins, and custom coding, pages can change content and appearance based on user actions or other specified criteria, offering a dynamic user experience.

domain: design


text:
Little Keta was found wandering the streets of New York City: her homelessness, though, was the least of her problems. That was because the kitten was sadly suffering from a baseball-sized facial tumor. And since the cause of the gigantic growth was unknown, no one knew if the animal would survive her ordeal – or, indeed, if she would ever find her smile again.
Keta’s story began in October 2016, when Unwanted NYC Pets received a call about a cat who was in desperate need of help. The organization rescues and rehabilitates homeless animals and provides them with loving families; naturally, then, it was ready to help this particular little foundling however it could.
In this case, however, the call for assistance came from one of the city’s animal shelters, where a little kitten was thought to be on death’s door. Unfortunately, it seemed as if the odds were stacked against her before she had even reached her first birthday.

domain: pet


text:
Giannoulias Outraised by Opponent in Illinois U.S. Senate Race
Thursday, July 15, 2010; 12:00 AM
Giannoulias, the Illinois treasurer, collected slightly more than $900,000 during the quarter that ended June 30, with the bulk of the money donated in June, said Kathleen Strand, a campaign spokeswoman.
The campaign for Representative Mark Kirk, the Republican Senate candidate, said July 1 that he raised $2.3 million during the second quarter. Kirk had about $3.9 million in the bank for his Senate race at the end of the quarter, according to his campaign.
Giannoulias, 34, had about $1 million in the bank at the end of the quarter, Strand said.
Strand said Giannoulias lagged behind in fundraising because of a self-imposed pledge to reject contributions from corporate political action committees and federal lobbyists.
"Alexi is running for Senate to stand up against powerful corporate special interests that contributed to our country's economic meltdown," she said.
She said Giannoulias supports the financial-regulation bill headed toward passage in Congress later this week while Kirk, 50, voted against the measure in the House.
Besides Biden, others traveling to Chicago to spur contributions to help Giannoulias in the second quarter included U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina and David Plouffe, who was Obama's presidential campaign manager. David Axelrod, a senior adviser to the president, is scheduled to help Giannoulias raise money on July 25.
Giannoulias planned to hold an event in Chicago today to criticize Kirk for taking money from Wall Street, a criticism he also leveled in April when campaign contributions from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. employees started to come under scrutiny after the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a fraud lawsuit against the company.
"We are confident we are going to have the resources we need to compete," Strand said.
Kirk has taken $1.5 million from the securities and investment industry and its employees during his political career, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics.
Kirk's campaign said it raised $1 million in June -- its largest fundraising month -- during the time when he was dealing with questions about his service as a Navy reservist. At a June 29 news conference, Kirk apologized for exaggerations and said he had been "careless."
Giannoulias also faced challenges during the second quarter. Since April 23, he has dealt with the political fallout from closure by regulators of the Chicago bank that his family owned.
Broadway Bank had been operating since January under terms of a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. because of commercial real estate loan losses.
Losses associated with the bank meant Giannoulias paid no income taxes in 2009, according to a copy of his return that he released on July 2. His campaign said he would donate his $25,859 refund to charity.
On July 2, Giannoulias reported assets of between $7 million and $29 million on a disclosure form he released. Strand declined to say whether he planned to use any of his own money for the campaign.
Giannoulias raised $1.2 million during the first quarter of 2010. Kirk, a five-term House member from Chicago's northern suburbs, raised $2.2 million during that quarter.
The Senate seat is held by Democrat Roland Burris, who isn't seeking a full term. Republicans are trying to take advantage of ethical problems experienced by Illinois Democrats, including a public corruption trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich, who appointed Burris to complete Obama's term after the 2008 presidential election.

domain: politics


text:
Dating sims seattle single
After the episode's second one-lunch peace summit, their issues disappear, which is probably why producers had put off their storyline for so long and never tried to build it too much.There’s just wasn’t a well of vitriolic drama to drill.Watching it just leaves a gross taste in the mouth.(On the positive side, MTV did end the segment with a PSA about the mental health support website Halfof ) But the Bad Blood, Orlana and Jordan turns out to be incredibly easy to get past.After more club grinding, the pair snuggles on the couch and Mike shares his reoccurring dream of being terrorized by a witch (subconscious issues with women much, bro? It explains why the cast’s nights out seem so repetitive. Outside of time spent in parks, there have been three total outings that would qualify as exploring Seattle: watching Fourth of July fireworks from a boat on Lake Union, making a fire on Alki Beach, and visiting Woodland Park Zoo. How have they not had a meal at Sky City, the restaurant at the top of the Space Needle? Let’s just play pretend.) Seattle Monorail – I just have a feeling that the MTV producers could use their manipulative editing prowess to somehow turn a dull trip on the monorail into a fun and exciting adventure for the cast in a spit-shinning way that would make Lyle Lanley proud. Sure, your cousin Kassius is a garbage person, but he alone didn’t keep you from being a pro athlete.Heck, they haven’t even trekked to Seattle Center to take selfies with the landmark towering in the background. No one’s gone to Pike Place Market and seen fish being thrown around? Atlantic Crossing – There’s got to be at least one soccer fan watching English Premiere League games that can get to the bottom of this nonsense about the authenticity of Tyara’s accent. - Seriously, who spends months living on Captiol Hill and never goes to a concert? Fremont Troll – Because we must save Jordan from Mike by finding him a more fitting spiritual soul mate.Meanwhile, the episode builds up Jenn’s odd relationship with her boyfriend back home.
The graphic was made to look like a switchblade, which would be fine, but for some reason every time it popped up they added in sharpening knife sound effect. That fact becomes more evident with each passing week.In a “this is beyond a deus ex machina coincidence, MTV producers” moment, Anna happens to have her ear against the bookshelf and listens in on this conversation.Anna enters, and a yelling match between her and Peter ensues.While having lunch with Jenn and Kim, Orlana shares the story about how she once attempted suicide.Subsequently, Jordan wasn’t overly warm and empathetic when her friend shared the news of this low point.
Search for dating sims seattle single:
While dancing at 95 Slide, one of their favorite songs from high school comes on and they begin dancing.

domain: entertainment


text:
California – A wildfire in Kern County burned over 1,000 acres and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of residents within the affected area on Tuesday. The Kern Chapter deployed Disaster ActionTeam (DAT), opened a shelter and
partnered with another organization toprovide canteen services for the evacuees. The shelter closed hours later after
evacuation orders lifted.


a global leader in providing integrated property tax and records management software for state and local governments, today announced that Osceola County, Florida will now utilize GRM customCAMA integrated property tax software and related professional services to streamline its property recording process.
What does PTS stand for?
PTS stands for Property Tax Software
This definition appears somewhat frequently and is found in the following Acronym Finder categories:
- Information technology (IT) and computers
- Business, finance, etc.
See other definitions of PTS
We have 476 other meanings of PTS in our Acronym Attic
- Problem Tracking System
- Procurement Tracking System
- Product Test System
- Production Tracking System
- Professional Training System
- Professional Transcription Services (various locations)
- Progress Tracking System
- Project Tracking System
- Projectile Tracking System
- Property Tax Services (various locations)
Samples in periodicals archive:
By combining the functionality of its new real property tax module with the personal property tax functionality of PTMS, TCI "has created a versatile and affordable property tax software solution for both personal and real property tax management," the company said in an announcement.
Executive managing director Frank Liantonio said the firm has taken a three-pronged approach to providing property tax services integrating: * Web-enabled property tax software from ePropertyTax, Inc.
Manatron's GRM software and Sierra Systems' property tax consulting expertise provides a complete property tax software solution to government organizations.
is a global leader in providing integrated records management and property tax software for state and local governments.
The acquisition of AES by Tyler Technologies creates the largest provider of property tax software in the State of California," explained Carmen Guido, president of AES.
18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters recently released the latest version of its Internet-based ONESOURCE[R] Property Tax software.
The fund subsequently made an equity investment in Manatron, the country's leading provider of property tax software, to finance the company's acquisition of Software Techniques, a supplier of computer assisted mass appraisal (CAMA) software to government property appraisal districts.


Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated quintet OneRepublic release “Truth To Power” today, June 30th, on Mosley Music/Interscope Records. “Truth To Power” was written and produced by Ryan Tedder and T Bone Burnett and will be featured in the Paramount Pictures and Participant Media’s Film “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power,” which will be in theaters July 28th. “Truth To Power” is available for streaming and digital download via all participating digital retailers – http://smarturl.it/TruthToPower.
Watch the lyric video for “Truth To Power” HERE.
“Ten years later we are still talking about climate change,” says OneRepublic lead singer/songwriter Ryan Tedder. “Former Vice President Al Gore has again made a film that inspires one to get involved and do something for our planet. It was an honor to create a song with the legendary T Bone Burnett that speaks to the theme of this movie that the ‘truth’ leads to ‘power’ when it comes to standing up and helping to create change.”
Continue reading “OneRepublic Release “Truth To Power” Today”
When Vice President Al Gore and producer T Bone Burnett were looking for someone to write the title song for the Paramount Pictures/Participant Media film, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (which opens July 28), OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder wasn’t necessarily the obvious choice for the follow-up to the 2007 documentary about global warming.
With President Donald Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord, though, Oklahoma native Tedder felt the evangelical fervor of Gore’s message in the film and brought an extra urgency to “Truth to Power,” whose lyric video premieres today on Variety in advance of its release on Friday. Using the metaphor of earth as a jilted lover talking directly to its inhabitants, Tedder and Burnett turned the result into an old-school Pentecostal gospel rouser, a call-to-action every bit as urgent as a preacher delivering a fire-and-brimstone sermon to his congregation.
“I wanted to take a break from writing songs about myself,” says Tedder. “So I took the point-of-view of mother earth turning the tables on those who’d betray her.”
Continue reading “OneRepublic Release Truth to Power”
Truth To Power is a song by OneRepublic which is a soundtrack for An Inconvenient Sequel. It was released on June 30.
Taken on Dec. 16 2016. Cred: Manuel Lagos Cid/Paris Match/Getty Images
You may be seeing more of that when you hit the road with OneRepublic this summer!
Yeah! I’m beyond stoked for that, it’s going to be sick. I’ve never done a full band show in America and my first one is going to be supporting OneRepublic [Laughs]. We’ve done a lot of acoustic kind of stuff here, but I can’t wait to show people the whole production.
Ryan Tedder is one of the best in the world, in terms of singer-songwriters. I was told that they were fans of me and asked and I was like “Are you f–king kidding me?” It was a no-brainer. It’s weird about him saying that my voice is bonkers — I was fangirling over that for a good full week. Hopefully we’ll drag him on our tour bus while we’re there and get him to produce me a couple of songs.


text:
Bridgeport's Harding readies for fresh start
Published 10:37 pm, Sunday, January 23, 2011
BRIDGEPORT -- Warren Harding High School's fresh start is about to begin.
The school, which is in the hands of Global Partnership, a New York-based educational management firm, will be closed Thursday and Friday after the conclusion of mid-terms.
When the school reopens the following Monday for the start of the second semester, students will encounter a reconfigured school, where they will be grouped almost exclusively in small learning communities.
In doing so, several existing academies will be consolidated or eliminated. Under the new structure, there will be academies for ninth-graders; health sciences and aquaculture; law and public service; law and international studies, including international baccalaureate; and computers and technology.
With the new structure, students will spend most of their days within their own academies. There will also be common planning time in the new structure for teachers, said Joseph Garcia, a Global vice president.
The effort is part of Global's attempt to raise test scores, student attendance and graduation rates and at the same time reduce violence and suspensions. In 2010, less than 5 percent of students at Harding met the goals in math, reading, writing and science on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test. Last year, more than half of Harding students missed 19 days or more of school, while more than 2,000 discipline incidents were reported.
Global was hired over the summer and is working with a $2.1 million federal School Improvement Grant that dictated some of the changes. The first semester was spent developing the plan and laying the groundwork for it. The principal was changed, some teacher training has been done, and efforts have been made to improve the atmosphere.
The closure is necessary so that teachers can pack up and move their rooms to new locations, Garcia said. The school will also undergo some painting during the break.
In addition to establishing small learning communities, the school is creating a second shift, from 3 to 6 p.m., for 85 students who have less than half the credits they need to graduate.
A plan to institute a new school uniform policy, originally set to start in February, is now being delayed until the fall.
Parents were to learn about the changes at meetings that have been postponed three times because of the snow. A new meeting date has yet to be announced.
Contact Linda Lambeck at 203-330-6218 or email@example.com. Follow her at twitter.com/lclambeck


Renee Fleming To Help Kick Off Colorado Symphony's Next Season
One of the world's best-known opera singers will help the Colorado Symphony kick off its next season.
Soprano Renee Fleming -- who has appeared on countless opera stages, won Grammy awards and performed at the Super Bowl -- will sing at Boettcher Concert Hall on Sept. 9, 2017, the orchestra announced recently.
The performance will also celebrate conductor Brett Mitchell's first concert as music director of the Colorado Symphony. (He's serving as music director designate this season, and spoke with CPR Classical in September about his new job.)
Details on what Fleming will sing in Denver, as well as Colorado Symphony's full 2017-18 season schedule, will be announced later. Here are a few highlights of the current season.
Fleming is one of many opera superstars set to sing on the Met Opera's weekly broadcasts, which air Saturday mornings on CPR Classical. (View the 2016-17 season schedule.) Hear Fleming in the broadcast of "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss on May 13 at 11 a.m.
Watch a clip from Fleming's performance in the 2014 Met Opera production of "Rusalka" by Antonin Dvorak:
Hear The Opera Version of Stephen King's 'The Shining'
Stephen King’s “The Shining” is an all-time great Colorado ghost story. King wrote the 1977 novel after a stay at the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.
The plot is intense stuff. The ghosts at an isolated hotel haunt the winter caretaker and terrorize his family. The book inspired a 1980 Stanley Kubrick film and a 1997 miniseries filmed at the Stanley.
Earlier this year, Minnesota Opera debuted an opera based on the “The Shining.” Composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell created the adaptation.
Now you can hear the music and follow along with some excellent photos from the production at Classical Minnesota Public Radio. The stream is available through Nov. 30.
This past spring was a great time for American stories making their way to the opera stage. As “The Shining” debuted in Minnesota, Opera Colorado premiered Lori Laitman's "The Scarlet Letter." Check out our feature on the making of the “Scarlet Letter” opera.
Aztec Baroque? A Boulder Choral Director On Exploring A Unique Subgenre
A Boulder-based choral group explores an unusual chapter in the history of classical music this weekend.
Seicento Baroque Ensemble will perform Baroque music written by indigenous composers in Latin America in the 16th and 17th centuries. The program focuses on music by Aztec and Nahua composers from what’s now Mexico and El Salvador.
The pieces contain traditional chords and harmonies you’d associate with European Baroque music, but also incorporates rhythms from these composers’ native culture.
There’s a fascinating story behind the blend of cultures that created the music, and its rediscovery in recent decades.
Evanne Brown, the group’s founder and artistic director, spoke with CPR Classical about that history, learning to perform the unusual music and what makes it so exciting to sing. Click the play button to hear the conversation:
Seicento sings the music in three concerts this weekend: Friday in Denver, Saturday in Boulder and Sunday in Longmont.
Baroque Chamber Orchestra Opens Season With An Unusual 'Goldberg' Variations
The Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado opens its season this week with a concert that features chamber music arrangements of J.S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi.
The performance includes a chamber music arrangement of music from the “Goldberg” Variations, Bach’s keyboard masterpiece. Concerts are set for Thursday in North Denver, Friday in Grand Junction and Sunday in South Denver.
The orchestra’s 2016-17 season includes a February collaboration with the contemporary dance troupe Wonderbound, featuring music by Vivaldi and Giuseppe Tartini.
And in May, the ensemble will perform a program called “Mozart Among Friends,” featuring music interspersed with readings of Mozart’s letter.
A Look At Boulder Bach Festival's 2016-17 Season Schedule
The Boulder Bach Festival has unveiled its schedule for the upcoming season. Led by conductor and violinist Zachary Carrettin, the festival offers unusual takes on the music of J.S. Bach and other Baroque composers.
The 2016-17 schedule includes concerts in Boulder, Denver and Longmont. Some highlights:
Oct. 14 & 16: A “surround-sound” program, called Concertos and Chorales Contextualized, that places the audience in the middle of strings, singers and a cathedral organ.
Dec. 8 & 10: A program exploring music of the Viennese Baroque with harpsichord and other Baroque period instruments.
March 16, 17 & 18: Concerts exploring Spanish Baroque music featuring Richard Savino, a Grammy-winning guitarist and lute player who will perform on the theorbo, a period instrument.
May 21: A “greatest hits” concert featuring the festival’s chamber orchestra playing music by Bach, Vivaldi and Handel.
One of the highlights from last season was a series of concerts called “Venice on Fire.” It featured electrified instruments interpreting pieces by Italian Baroque composers. Check out this footage of the Venice on Fire musicians playing music by composer Barabara Strozzi in the CPR Performance Studio:
Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields Set For Two More Years At Bravo! Vail
The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields chamber orchestra will return to the Bravo! Vail music festival in 2017 and 2018.
The festival's organizers made the announcement Sunday night at Ford Amphitheater, during the last of the Academy's three concerts at Bravo! Vail for 2016. This was the first year the ensemble, and its music director Joshua Bell, have been in residence at the festival.
The English chamber orchestra performs around the world and is one of the most widely recorded groups in classical music. The Academy is the first international orchestra to be in residence at Bravo! Vail.
"Their music-making adds a fresh, vibrant, and essential artistic voice to our summer season,” Anne-Marie McDermott, the festival's artistic director, said in a press release. The Academy will play three concerts during each of their upcoming residencies.
Bravo! Vail also hosts three American orchestras each season: the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and Dallas Symphony.


While the government shutdown has ended, many federal workers who were furloughed during the shutdown continue to face financial difficulties.
If you or someone you know is in need of emergency food and resources, please review the programs that the Food Bank has available at sites throughout the county listed below.
Food Bank Programs and Services
The Food Bank offers many programs and services for those in need of emergency food assistance. CLICK HERE for a link to our Programs page. For more information about programs and services available in your area, please call the county’s social services hotline, 2-1-1, from your phone, and a 2-1-1 operator will be able to assist you.
Zip Code Food Locator
CLICK HERE for 2-1-1’s zip code-based food locator. Simply click on the link and enter your zip code. Once you do this, you will be given a list of the Food Bank’s food distribution partners in your area.
Diaper Bank Program
The Food Bank’s Diaper Bank Program provides diapers to families with infants and toddlers who are facing hardship.
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and our North County Food Bank chapter partner with 8 nonprofit organizations to distribute diapers throughout San Diego County.
Please note, each distribution hub location has different operating hours, and may have different eligibility criteria to receive diapers.
CLICK HERE for a list of diaper distribution hubs to find one in your area.
CalFresh (Food Stamps) Outreach Program
Income eligible individuals and families can get help buying healthy food through California’s CalFresh Program, formerly known as Food Stamps. CalFresh can help stretch food budgets and ensure that families are able to access healthier foods. Households that qualify for the program receive, on average, $200 per month for food benefits in California.
To see if you qualify, CLICK HERE for more information about the program.


text:
A knife-wielding man attacked three people in an apparently random assault on a downtown Seattle street early Tuesday — then stripped naked as he tried to evade cops, according to authorities and reports.
The unidentified suspect waved his blade at three men outside a Nordstrom clothing store near Sixth Avenue and Olive Way around 10 a.m. local time, the Seattle Police Department tweeted.
A traffic-camera image tweeted by a reporter for ABC Radio affiliate KOMO News shows cops crowded in the street around the downed suspect — who appears to be in the buff.
Cops said that the man was clothed when he attacked, but stripped down as he fled, adding that his “clothing and knife [were] recovered in the area.”
Three men were injured, though authorities wouldn’t immediately say whether all were stabbed.
Two of the victims, 77 and 75, were taken to an area hospital in stable condition, while the third, 55, declined medical attention.
“We do believe that this was an unprovoked and random attack, so it is very concerning for us,” said a police spokesman in a press briefing at the scene.
Charges are pending against the suspect, whose name was not immediately disclosed by police.


Frustrated tenants seek help from city to address leaking ceilings
Residents of apartment complex say owners haven't fixed problems
Tenants of a Portsmouth apartment complex are trying to force the building owner to fix roof problems they said were caused by a buildup of snow and ice dams.
Click to watch News 9's coverage.
Residents of Beechstone Apartments said they are frustrated by the situation and are circulating a petition to force the city to get actively involved.
Kathryn Stuart said she worries about mold that her infant sons might be exposed to after gallons of water came pouring through holes in her apartment ceiling about two weeks ago.
Her husband, who's an attorney, said he is fed up.
"Starting on Feb. 10, we had water leaking in our ceilings," Rob Stuart said. "We had musty odors, we've had mold in our apartment, and TGM Beechstone has been unresponsive. They said, 'We'll fix it in the spring when the leaks are done.'"
He said he's also worried for neighbors that he said have it much worse, with wet rugs and leaking ceilings forcing them to sleep in living rooms. Rob Stuart said he called the city on Feb. 13.
"They've said Beechstone would fix the issues. They said that Beechstone would clear the roofs, and since then, they still haven't," he said. "Building 18, where I live, there's still ice dams and snow on the roof, and there's still holes in my ceiling and large areas where mold could be growing, and it's not a safe environment."
Cleaning trucks and crews were on-site on Tuesday, but residents said it's too little, too late. City officials said they are tracking the problems.
"We have authority when there are genuine health and life types of issues, and we're treading on the borderline here," said Deputy City Manager Dave Allen.
On Monday, Rob Stuart delivered a signed petition to the city requesting that the building commission hold a public hearing on conditions. Tenants are asking that their units be returned to dry, safe, habitable conditions in a timely manner.
City officials said the formal process gives them a bit more authority in compelling the owners to take action.
"They have legitimate concerns," Allen said. "I believe they have close to 100 units that have some level of water damage in them."
TGM Beechstone did not return requests for comment by Monday evening.
The commission's meeting can't happen right away because there has to be time to notify all parties of the meeting.


Did Cydcoed grants for community woodland development deliver social and economic results?
Around £16 million in Cydcoed grants supported over 160 projects in Wales t o make use of woodland for community developments. Forest Research analysed whether the projects achieved their longer-term objectives: helping high capacity community groups to influence decisions about their locality; making woods deliver long-term local social, economic, and environmental benefits; and supporting individuals to play a positive role in their local community.
- Empowering – groups reported that having the remit and money to develop, manage and deliver on a project had been empowering
- Strong communities – 80% of groups thought their project had helped develop stronger ties within their community
- Quality of life – 84% of groups thought the community’s quality of life had improved
- Partnerships – working together was important to success where partnerships were negotiated and managed by the group
- Signiﬁcant contributions to the Welsh Assembly’s social and environmental justice agenda in Wales
- Community members are able and willing to participate in the local processes of decision-making and find it an empowering and cohesive experience
- More than half of interviewees said that involvement in Cydcoed had considerably improved their overall health and well-being, which is particularly important for projects in the South Wales Valleys where health deprivation is among the highest in Britain
Economic non-market beneﬁts to the wider community:
- Costs avoided to the education sector may exceed £107,000 per year
- Recreational beneﬁts may reach £15 million per year
- Costs avoided to the NHS may be as high as £815,000 per year
- Environmental beneﬁts are around £840,000 per year
Publications and presentations
- Report – An evaluation of Cydcoed
Funders and partners
Commissioned and funded by Forestry Commission Wales.
Completed in November 2008.


text:
YIELD: 6 People
ACTIVE TIME: 8 Minutes
TOTAL TIME: 4 hours to marinate
IngredientsYield: 6 servings
Cook Time: 8 minutes, plus 4 hours to marinate
5 pounds Korean-style kalbi short ribs (flanken-style cross-cut ribs)
1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 small plum tomatoes, quartered
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
¾ bunch fresh chives (about 1 cup)
4 heads garlic, cloves separated and peeled (about 1 cup peeled garlic cloves)
½ cup pickled jalapeños
One 1½-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped (about ½ cup)
1 cup fresh orange juice
½ cup apple cider vinegar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 2 to 3 limes) plus 1 lime cut into wedges
½ teaspoon ground
Preparation1. Place the ribs in a 9-inch-by-13-inch glass baking dish and season with 1 teaspoon of the salt and ½ teaspoon of the pepper.
2. In a blender, purée the tomatoes, onion, chives, garlic, jalapeños, ginger, orange juice, vinegar, brown sugar, canola oil, lime juice, cloves and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of both the salt and pepper. Pour 4 cups of the purée over the short ribs, reserving the rest of the marinade for serving. Turn the ribs to evenly coat all sides in the marinade. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight.
3. Heat a grill pan over high heat. Working in batches, cook the short ribs until deeply charred, about 4 minutes on each side. Remove the ribs from the grill and set aside to rest for 1 minute. Cut between the bones to make riblets. Serve with lime wedges and the remaining marinade.

domain: food


text:
Since November 22, 2019, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has identified one additional E. coli illness in Canada with a similar genetic fingerprint to illnesses reported in the ongoing United States (U.S.) E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce harvested in Salinas, California which has sickened at least 102 people in 23 states
As of December 6, 2019, there are two illnesses related to the U.S. outbreak that have been identified in Canada: Manitoba (1) and Alberta (1). These individuals became ill in mid-October and early November 2019. One individual was hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
PHAC has engaged federal and provincial public health partners and continues to work with U.S. health officials to determine the source of contamination affecting consumers.
Consumers are still advised to not eat, and retailers and food service establishments to not sell or serve, any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region in the U.S. Romaine lettuce harvested in Canada are not affected by this advice.

domain: biology


text:
Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Researchers have found how an antibiotic used to treat a debilitating gut infection stays put inside the body giving it time to effectively treat the problem, a discovery that will pave the way for the development of more effective antibiotic treatments to fight superbugs.
PE (pseudomembranous colitis) is a debilitating inflammation of the colon caused by infection with the microbe Clostridium difficile (andsometimesStaphylococcus aureus). The sugar- or carbohydrate-containing antibiotic known as vancomycin is taken by mouth to kill the infecting microbe.
To be effective, vancomycin needs to stay in the GI tract (gut) close to where it is needed and not be diluted away or lost through the lining of the gut and into the bloodstream. A multi-disciplinary team of scientists at the Universities of Nottingham and Leeds have now shown this ‘staying put’ mechanism is precisely what happens and that it can occur in an unexpected way.
Forming a formidable barrier
The research, published today in Scientific Reports shows that protein-carbohydrate molecules of the gut called mucins provide a formidable barrier helping to prevent the drug escaping using a unique mechanism of formation of large molecular complexes or clumps. The antibiotic and mucins join together to form a mucoadhesive complex, likely trapping the antibiotic within large complexes. It is the trapped vancomycin which the scientists believe may lead to delayed transit of the antibiotic leading to prolonged exposure of the antibiotic to the infectious C. difficile.
Vancomycin is a precious ‘last-line’ antibiotic in the clinician’s arsenal of therapies to fight several important pathogens including MRSA, pneumonia, as well as C. difficile. The clumping effect with gut mucins revealed in our study not only gives new information about what may happen when the antibiotic is given orally, but might also provide new insights into its behaviour when infused into patients suffering from other life-threatening infections.
The findings also fit with other studies which show that oral vancomycin produces high levels of vancomycin resistance amongst some gut bacteria (VRE), contributing to the generation of antimicrobial resistance (a serious concern); the clumping/ complexation phenomenon may therefore provide the first explanation of a mechanism by which this VRE generation occurs. But the benefits of taking oral vancomycin at the right time and when appropriate still outweigh any negative generation of antimicrobial resistance, and the study highlights that it is wise to take vancomycin when your GP advises it is good to do so.
The antibiotic vancomycin is a truly remarkable molecule – a drug with its own mucoadhesive or sticky property which slows its transit through the gut right down giving maximum therapeutic effect and minimizing unused vancomycin being returned to the environment. If scientists are going to win the fight against anti-microbial resistance, joint institutional and interdisciplinary approaches like this successful one are going to prove crucial.
Our academics can now be interviewed for broadcast via our Media Hub, which offers a Quicklink fixed camera and ISDN line facilities at Jubilee campus. For further information please contact a member of the Press Office on +44 (0)115 951 5798, email
For up to the minute media alerts,
follow us on Twitter
Notes to editors:
The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. Ranked 103rd out of more than 1,000 institutions globally and 18th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings 2022, the University’s state-of-the-art facilities and inclusive and
disability sport provision is reflected in its crowning as The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021 Sports University of the Year. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to
REF 2014. We have
six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, a pioneering collaboration which brings together the combined strength and civic missions of Nottingham’s two world-class universities and is working with local communities and partners to aid recovery and renewal following the COVID-19 pandemic.


text:
One of the most important goddesses of reconstructed Proto-Indo-European religion is the personification of dawn as a beautiful young woman. Her name is reconstructed as Hausōs (PIE *h₂ewsṓs- or *h₂ausōs-, an s-stem), besides numerous epithets.
The name *h₂ewsṓs is derived from a root *h₂wes / *au̯es “to shine”, thus translating to “the shining one”. Both the English word east and the Latin auster “south” are from a root cognate adjective *aws-t(e)ro-. Also cognate is aurum “gold”, from *awso-.
The name for “spring season”, *wes-r- is also from the same root. The dawn goddess was also the goddess of spring, involved in the mythology of the Indo-European new year, where the dawn goddess is liberated from imprisonment by a god (reflected in the Rigveda as Indra, in Greek mythology as Dionysus and Cronus).
Besides the name most amenable to reconstruction, *h₂ewsṓs, a number of epithets of the dawn goddess may be reconstructed with some certainty. Among these is *wenos- (also an s-stem), whence Sanskrit vanas “loveliness; desire”, used of Uṣas in the Rigveda, and the Latin name Venus and the Norse Vanir.
The name indicates that the goddess was imagined as a beautiful nubile woman, who also had aspects of a love goddess. As a consequence, the love goddess aspect was separated from the personification of dawn in a number of traditions, including Roman Venus vs. Aurora, and Greek Aphrodite vs. Eos. The Italic goddess Mater Matuta “Mother Morning” has been connected to Aurora by Roman authors (Lucretius, Priscianus).
The abduction and imprisonment of the dawn goddess, and her liberation by a heroic god slaying the dragon who imprisons her, is a central myth of Indo-European religion, reflected in numerous traditions. Most notably, it is the central myth of the Rigveda, a collection of hymns surrounding the Soma rituals dedicated to Indra in the new year celebrations of the early Indo-Aryans.
Aratta is a land that appears in Sumerian myths surrounding Enmerkar and Lugalbanda, two early and possibly mythical kings of Uruk also mentioned on the Sumerian king list.
Aratta is described in Sumerian literature as a fabulously wealthy place full of gold, silver, lapis lazuli and other precious materials, as well as the artisans to craft them. It is remote and difficult to reach, home to the goddess Inana, who transfers her allegiance from Aratta to Uruk, but is conquered by Enmerkar of Uruk.
The name is connected to the Indo-European root Ar- meaning “assemble/create” which is vastly used in names of or regarding the Sun, light, or fire, found in Ararat, Aryan, Arta etc. The names Armen and Arman, feminine Arminé, are common given names by Armenians. Armin is also a Persian given name, and is an ancient Zoroastrian given name, meaning Guardian of Aryan Land. Armin meanings in Urdu & English is Dweller Of The Garden Of Eden.
Urartu (Assyrian: māt Urarṭu; Babylonian: Urashtu), corresponding to the biblical Kingdom of Ararat or Kingdom of Van (Urartian: Biai, Biainili) was an Iron Age kingdom centred on Lake Van in the Armenian Highlands. Scholars believe that Urartu is an Akkadian variation of Ararat of the Old Testament. Indeed, Mount Ararat is located in ancient Urartian territory, approximately 120 km north of its former capital.
It has been suggested by early 20th century Armenologists that Old Persian Armina and the Greek Armenoi are continuations of an Assyrian toponym Armânum or Armanî. There are certain Bronze Age records identified with the toponym in both Mesopotamian and Egyptian sources.
The land of Arme-Shupria/Armani-Subartu was a Hurrian-speaking kingdom, known from Assyrian sources beginning in the 13th century BC, located in the Armenian Highland, to the southwest of Lake Van, bordering on Ararat proper. Scholars have linked the district in the area called Arme or Armani, to the name Armenia.
It is mentioned in Bronze Age literature from the 3rd millennium BC. The name also appears as Subari in the Amarna letters, and, in the form Šbr, in Ugarit.Subartu was apparently a polity in Northern Mesopotamia, at the upper Tigris.
Some scholars suggest that Subartu is an early name for Assyria proper on the Tigris and westward, although there are various other theories placing it sometimes a little farther to the east and/or north. Its precise location has not been identified.
From the point of view of the Akkadian Empire, Subartu marked the northern geographical horizon, just as Martu, Elam and Sumer marked “west”, “east” and “south”, respectively. The Sumerian mythological epic Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta lists the countries where the “languages are confused” as Subartu, Hamazi, Sumer, Uri-ki (Akkad), and the Martu land (the Amorites). Similarly, the earliest references to the “four quarters” by the kings of Akkad name Subartu as one of these quarters around Akkad, along with Martu, Elam, and Sumer.
Subartu may have been in the general sphere of influence of the Hurrians. There are various alternate theories associating the ancient Subartu with one or more modern cultures found in the region, including Armenian or Kurdish tribes. Together with Armani-Subartu (Hurri-Mitanni), Hayasa-Azzi and other populations of the region such as the Nairi fell under Urartian (Kingdom of Ararat) rule in the 9th century BC, and their descendants, according to most scholars, later contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Armenians.
In the old Armenian Nairi/Nayiri (Na-a-a ri = Nayiri or Nairi) means the land of the water. Egyptian sources call Mitanni “nhrn”, which is usually pronounced as Naharin/Naharina from the Assyro-Akkadian word for “river”, cf. Aram-Naharaim. According to one rabbinical Jewish tradition, the birthplace of Abraham (Ur) was also situated in Aram-Naharaim.
The Mitanni kingdom, another name given to Armenia, was referred to as the Maryannu, Nahrin or Mitanni by the Egyptians, the Hurri by the Hittites, and the Hanigalbat by the Assyrians. The different names seem to have referred to the same kingdom and were used interchangeably, according to Michael C. Astour.
The ethnicity of the people of Mitanni is difficult to ascertain. A treatise on the training of chariot horses by Kikkuli contains a number of Indo-Aryan glosses. Kammenhuber (1968) suggested that this vocabulary was derived from the still undivided Indo-Iranian language, but Mayrhofer (1974) has shown that specifically Indo-Aryan features are present.
The names of the Mitanni aristocracy frequently are of Indo-Aryan origin, but it is specifically their deities which show Indo-Aryan roots (Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Nasatya), though some think that they are more immediately related to the Kassites.
The first extant record of Indo-Aryan Mitra, in the form mi-it-ra-, is in the inscribed peace treaty of c. 1400 BC between Hittites and the Hurrian kingdom of the Mitanni in the area southeast of Lake Van in Asia Minor. There Mitra appears together with four other Indo-Aryan divinities as witnesses and keepers of the pact.
In Zoroastrianism, Mithra is a member of the trinity of ahuras, protectors of asha/arta, “truth” or “[that which is] right”. Mithra’s standard appellation is “of wide pastures” suggesting omnipresence. Mithra is “truth-speaking, … with a thousand ears, … with ten thousand eyes, high, with full knowledge, strong, sleepless, and ever awake.” As preserver of covenants, Mithra is also protector and keeper of all aspects of interpersonal relationships, such as friendship and love.
Related to his position as protector of truth, Mithra is a judge (ratu), ensuring that individuals who break promises or are not righteous (artavan) are not admitted to paradise. As also in Indo-Iranian tradition, Mithra is associated with (the divinity of) the sun but originally distinct from it. Mithra is closely associated with the feminine yazata Aredvi Sura Anahita, the hypostasis of knowledge.
The Mitanni warriors were called marya. Maryannu is an ancient word for the caste of chariot-mounted hereditary warrior nobility which existed in many of the societies of the Middle East during the Bronze Age. The term is attested in the Amarna letters written by Haapi. Robert Drews writes that the name ‘maryannu’ although plural takes the singular ‘marya’, which in Sanskrit means young warrior, and attaches a Hurrian suffix.
At the beginning of the Late Bronze Age most would have spoken either Hurrian or Aryan but by the end of the 14th century most of the Levant maryannu had Semitic names. Pharaoh Thutmose III of Egypt mention in the 33rd year of his reign (1446 BC) as the people of Ermenen, and says in their land “heaven rests upon its four pillars”.
The common people’s language, the Hurrian language, is neither Indo-European nor Semitic, but Proto-Indo-European. Hurrian is related to Urartian, the language of Urartu, both belonging to the Hurro-Urartian language family. A Hurrian passage in the Amarna letters – usually composed in Akkadian, the lingua franca of the day – indicates that the royal family of Mitanni was by then speaking Hurrian as well.
In the Hebrew Bible, the prophet Abraham is stated to have originally been from “Ur of the Chaldees” (Ur Kaśdim); if this city is to be identified with the ancient Sumerian city state of Ur, it would be within what would many centuries later become the Chaldean homeland south of the Euphrates, although it must be pointed out that the Chaldeans certainly did not exist in Mesopotamia (or anywhere else in historical record) at the time that Abraham is believed to have existed (circa 1800-1700 BC), arriving some eight or nine hundred years later. This fact casts serious doubt on the chronological accuracy and historicity of the Abrahamic story.
Şanlıurfa, often simply known as Urfa in daily language (Arabic Ar-Ruhā, Armenian Uṙha, Kurdish Riha, Syriac Urhoy, in ancient times Edessa, is a city in south-eastern Turkey, and the capital of Şanlıurfa Province. The city has been known by many names in history: Uṙha in Armenian, Urhai in Syriac, Ar-Ruhā in Arabic and Ορρα, Orrha in Greek.
The history of Şanlıurfa is recorded from the 4th century BC, but may date back at least to 9000 BC, when there is ample evidence for the surrounding sites at Duru, Harran and Nevali Cori. Within the further area of the city are three neolithic sites known: Göbekli Tepe, Gürcütepe and the city itself, where the life-sized limestone “Urfa statue” was found during an excavation in Balıklıgöl. The city was one of several in the upper Euphrates-Tigris basin, the fertile crescent where agriculture began.
According to Jewish and Muslim tradition, Urfa is Ur Kasdim, the hometown of Abraham. This identification was disputed by Leonard Woolley, the excavator of the Sumerian city of Ur in 1927 and scholars remain divided on the issue. Urfa is also one of several cities that have traditions associated with Job.
In 1914 Urfa was estimated to have 75,000 inhabitants: 45,000 Muslims, 25,000 Armenians and 5,000 Syriac/Assyrian Christians. There was also a Jewish presence in the town. During the First World War, Urfa was a site of the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides, beginning in August 1915. By the end of the war, the entire Christian population had been killed, had fled, or was in hiding.
On the other hand, Scholars such as Carl Ferdinand Friedrich Lehmann-Haupt (1910) believed that the people of Urartu called themselves Khaldini after their god Khaldi. His shrine was at Ardini (likely from Armenian Artin, meaning “sun rising” or to “awake”), also known as Muṣaṣir (Assyrian Mu-ṣa-ṣir and variants, including Mutsatsir, Akkadian for Exit of the Serpent/Snake ). He is portrayed as a man with or without a beard, standing on a lion. His wife was the goddess Arubani.
Chaldea, from Ancient Greek: Chaldaia; Akkadian: māt Kaldu/Kašdu; Hebrew: Kaśdim; Aramaic: Kaldo), also spelled Chaldaea, was a small Semitic nation which emerged between the late 10th and early 9th century BC, surviving until the mid 6th century BC, after which it disappeared, and the Chaldean tribes were absorbed into the native population of Babylonia. It was located in the marshy land of the far south eastern corner of Mesopotamia, and briefly came to rule Babylon.
The short-lived 11th dynasty of the Kings of Babylon (6th century BC) is conventionally known to historians as the Chaldean Dynasty, although the last ruler, Nabonidus and his son and regent Belshazzar, were known to be from Assyria. Though belonging to the same West Semitic ethnic group, and migrating from the same Levantine regions as the earlier arriving Arameans, they are to be differentiated from them; and the Assyrian king Sennacherib, for example, is careful in his inscriptions to distinguish them.
Arameans was a Northwest Semitic people who originated in what is now present-day western, southern and central Syria (Biblical Aram) during the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age. There are limited mention of Arameans in Mesopotamian inscriptions supplemented by a few later descriptive situations associated with Rebekah from Aram-Naharaim in the book of Genesis in the Bible, which lists Aram, the son of Shem, and grandson of Noah, as their forbear.
Shattiwaza became king of Mitanni, but after Suppililiuma had taken Carchemish and the land west of the Euphrates, that were governed by his son Piyashshili, Mitanni was restricted to the Khabur River and Balikh River valleys, and became more and more dependent on their allies in Hattarsus. Some scholars speak of a Hittite puppet kingdom, a buffer-state against the powerful Assyria.
Assyria under Ashur-uballit I began to infringe on Mitanni as well. Its vassal state of Nuzi east of the Tigris was conquered and destroyed. According to the Hittitologist Trevor R. Bryce, Mitanni (or Hanigalbat as it was known) was permanently lost to Assyria during the reign of Mursili III of the Hittites, who was defeated by the Assyrians in the process. Its loss was a major blow to Hittite prestige in the ancient world and undermined the young king’s authority over his kingdom.
In the time of Ashur-nirari III (ca. 1200 BC, the beginning Bronze Age collapse), the Phrygians and others invaded and destroyed the Hittite Empire, already weakened by defeats against Assyria. Some parts of Assyrian ruled Hanilgalbat was temporarily lost to the Phrygians also, however the Assyrians defeated the Phrygians and regained these colonies. The Hurrians still held Katmuhu and Paphu. In the transitional period to the Early Iron Age, Mitanni was settled by invading Semitic Aramaean tribes.
Within a few centuries of the fall of Washshukanni to Assyria, Mitanni became fully Assyrianized and linguistically Aramaized, and use of the Hurrian language began to be discouraged throughout the Neo-Assyrian Empire. However, Urartean, a dialect closely related to Hurrian seems to have survived in the new state of Urartu, in the mountainous areas to the north. In the 10th to 9th century BC inscriptions of Adad-nirari II and Shalmaneser III, Hanigalbat is still used as a geographical term.
The toponym A-ra-mu appears in an inscription at Ebla listing geographical names, and the term Armi, which is the Eblaite term for nearby Idlib (modern Aleppo), occurs frequently in the Ebla tablets (c. 2300 BC).
One of the annals of Naram-Sin of Akkad (c. 2250 BC) mentions that he captured “Dubul, the ensí of A-ra-me” (Arame is seemingly a genitive form), in the course of a campaign against Simurrum in the northern mountains. Other early references to a place or people of “Aram” have appeared at the archives of Mari (c. 1900 BC) and at Ugarit (c. 1300 BC).
There is little agreement concerning what, if any, relationship there was between these places, or if the Aramu were actually Arameans; the earliest undisputed mention of Arameans as a people appears in the inscriptions of Tiglath Pileser I (c. 1100 BC).
Nomadic pastoralists have long played a prominent role in the history and economy of the Middle East, but their numbers seem to vary according to climatic conditions and the force of neighbouring states inducing permanent settlement. The period of the Late Bronze Age seems to have coincided with increasing aridity, which weakened neighbouring states and induced transhumance pastoralists to spend longer and longer periods with their flocks.
Urban settlements in the Levant diminished in size, until eventually fully nomadic pastoralist lifestyles came to dominate much of the region. These highly mobile, competitive tribesmen with their sudden raids continually threatened long-distance trade and interfered with the collection of taxes and tribute. In the early 13th century BC, much of Israel came under Aramean rule for eight years according to the Biblical Book of Judges, until Othniel defeated the forces led by Chushan-Rishathaim, the King of Aram-Naharaim. Other entities mentioned in the Hebrew Bible include Aram Damascus and Aram Rehob.
The Arameans appear to be one of the Ahlamû. Ahlamû appears to be a generic term for a new wave of Semitic wanderers and nomads who appeared during the 13th century BC across the Near East and Egypt. The term appears equivalent to the Egyptian term Shasu (Shsw = wanderer), who replaced the outlaw ‘Apiru (cuneiform SA.GAZ) as the major source of instability in the Egyptian Levantine empire from the reign of Tutankhamun onwards, although the Shasu in relation to Egypt are generally believed to be Canaanite Semites.
They are first mentioned in the el-Amarna letters alluding to the Kassite king of Babylon. The presence of the Ahlamû are also attested during the Middle Assyrian Empire (1365-1020 BC), which ruled the lands in which the Ahlau arose, in Nippur and even at Dilmun (modern Bahrain).
Shalmaneser I (1274-1245 BC) of Assyria is recorded as having defeated Shattuara, King of the Mitanni and his Hittite and Ahlamû mercenaries. In the following century, the Ahlamû cut the road from Babylon to Hattusas, and Tukulti-Ninurta I (1244-1208 BC) of Assyria conquered Mari, Hanigalbat and Rapiqum on the Euphrates and “the mountain of the Ahlamû”, apparently the region of Jebel Bishri in northern Syria.
For the first time, an inscription of Tiglath-Pileser I (1115-1077 BC) refers to subjugating the “Ahlamû-Aramaeans” (Ahlame Armaia) and shortly after, the Ahlamû rapidly disappear from Assyrian annals, to be replaced by the Aramaeans (Aramu, Arimi).
This indicates that the Arameans had risen to dominance amongst the nomads, however it is possible that the two peoples had nothing in common, but operated in the same area. By the late 12th century BC the Arameans were firmly established in Syria, however they were conquered into the Middle Assyrian Empire, as had been the Amorites and Ahlamu before them.
The Middle Assyrian Empire, which had dominated the Near East and Asia Minor since the first half of the 14th century BC, began to shrink rapidly after the death of Ashur-bel-kala its last great ruler in 1056 BC, and the Assyrian withdrawal allowed the Arameans to gain independence and take firm control of what is today Syria during the late 11th century BC. It is from this point that Syria was called Aramea.
The Chaldeans originally spoke a West Semitic language similar to Aramaic, however they eventually adopted the Babylonian dialect of Akkadian, the same East Semitic language, save for slight peculiarities in sound and in characters, as Assyrian Akkadian.
When the Babylonian Empire was absorbed into the Persian Achaemenid Empire, the name “Chaldean” completely lost its meaning in reference a particular ethnicity, and came to be applied only to a socioeconomic class of astrologers and astronomers.
The actual Chaldean tribe had long ago became Akkadianized, adopting Assyro-Babylonian culture, religion, language and customs, blending into the majority native population, and they eventually wholly disappeared as a distinct race of people, much as other fellow preceding migrant peoples, such as the Amorites, Kassites, Suteans and Arameans of Babylonia had also done.
Mesopotamian religion refers to the religious beliefs and practices followed by the Sumerian and East Semitic Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian and later migrant Arameans and Chaldeans, living in Mesopotamia (a region encompassing modern Iraq, Kuwait, southeast Turkey and northeast Syria) that dominated the region for a period of 4200 years from the fourth millennium BCE throughout Mesopotamia to approximately the 10th century CE in Assyria.
In the early 6th century BC, the Urartian Kingdom was replaced by the Armenian Orontid dynasty. In the trilingual Behistun inscription, carved in 521 or 520 BC by the order of Darius the Great of Persia, the country referred to as Urartu in Assyrian is called Arminiya in Old Persian and Harminuia in Elamite.
Asha is the Avestan language term (corresponding to Vedic language ṛta) for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine. In the moral sphere, aša/arta represents what has been called “the decisive confessional concept of Zoroastrianism.” The opposite of Avestan aša is druj, “lie.”
Ishara (išḫara) is the Hittite word for “treaty, binding promise”, also personified as a goddess of the oath. Her astrological embodiment is the constellation Scorpio and she is called the mother of the Sebitti (the Seven Stars).
In Hurrian and Semitic traditions, Išḫara is a love goddess, often identified with Ishtar. She is identified as Ishwara in Sanskrit. Ishara was also worshipped within the Hurrian pantheon. She was worshipped with Teshub and Simegi at Alakh, and also at Ugarit, Emar and Chagar Bazar. She was associated with the underworld.
Her cult was of considerable importance in Ebla from the mid 3rd millennium, and by the end of the 3rd millennium. The Hurrian cult of Ishara as a love goddess also spread to Syria. Ishara was well known in Syria from the third millennium BC. While she was considered to belong to the entourage of Ishtar, she was invoked to heal the sick (Lebrun).
The word is attested as a loanword in the Assyrian Kültepe texts from the 19th century BC, and is as such the earliest attestation of a word of any Indo-European language. The name is from a PIE root *sh2ei “to bind (also magically)”, also in Greek himas “strap” and Old Norse / Old High German seil “rope”.
Possibly also cognate is soul, and Welsh Gwen-hwyfar (Irish Find-abair, from Proto-Celtic *windo-seibaro- “white ghost”, from a meaning “enchanted” of the extended root *sh2ei-bh-). ishar (or eshar), oblique ishan-, the Hittite for “blood” is probably derived from the same root, maybe from a notion of “bond” between blood-relations (c.f. Sanskrit bandhu). The verb ishiya “to bind, fetter”, “to oblige” is directly cognate to Sanskrit syati or Russian shyot with similar meanings.
The Indo-European etymology of the theonym has been called into question, since the goddess appears from as early as the mid 3rd millennium as one of the chief goddesses of Ebla, and her name appears as an element in theophoric names in Mesopotamia in the later 3rd millennium (Akkad period), and into the first (Assyria), as in Tukulti-apil-esharra (i.e., Tiglath-Pileser).
Variants of the name appear as Ašḫara (in a treaty of Naram-Sin of Akkad with Hita of Elam) and Ušḫara (in Ugarite texts). In Ebla, there were various logographic spellings involving the sign AMA “mother”. In Alalah, her name was written with the Akkadogram IŠTAR plus a phonetic complement -ra, as IŠTAR-ra.
Ushas, Sanskrit for “dawn”, is a Vedic deity, and consequently a Hindu deity as well. Sanskrit uṣas is an s-stem, i.e. the genitive case is uṣásas. It is from PIE *h₂ausos-, cognate to Greek Eos and Latin Aurora.
Ushas is an exalted goddess in the Rig Veda but less prominent in post-Rigvedic texts. She is often spoken of in the plural, “the Dawns.” She is portrayed as warding off evil spirits of the night, and as a beautifully adorned young woman riding in a golden chariot on her path across the sky. Due to her color she is often identified with the reddish cows, and both are released by Indra from the Vala cave at the beginning of time.
In the “family books” of the Rig Veda, Ushas is the divine daughter—a divó duhitâ —of Dyaus Pita (“Sky Father”). This is taken literally in the traditional genealogies of Hindu mythology.
In one recent Hindu interpretation, Sri Aurobindo in his Secret of the Veda, described Ushas as “the medium of the awakening, the activity and the growth of the other gods; she is the first condition of the Vedic realisation. By her increasing illumination the whole nature of man is clarified; through her [mankind] arrives at the Truth, through her he enjoys [Truth’s] beatitude.”
Ishvara is a concept in Hinduism, with a wide range of meanings that depends of the era and the school of Hinduism. In ancient texts of Indian philosophy, Ishvara means supreme soul, Brahman (Highest Reality), ruler, king or husband depending on the context. In medieval era texts, Ishvara means God, Supreme Being, personal god, or special Self depending on the school of Hinduism.
In Shaivism, Ishvara is synonymous with “Shiva”, as the “Supreme lord over other Gods” in the pluralistic sense, or as an Ishta-deva in pluralistic thought. In Vaishnavism, it is synonymous with Vishnu. In traditional Bhakti movements, Ishvara is one or more deities of an individual’s preference from Hinduism’s polytheistic canon of deities. In modern sectarian movements such as Arya Samaj and Brahmoism, Ishvara takes the form of a monotheistic God. In Yoga school of Hinduism, it is any “personal deity” or “spiritual inspiration”. In Advaita Vedanta school, Ishvara is a monistic Universal Absolute that connects and is the Oneness in everyone and everything.
The root of the word Ishvara comes from īś- (ईश, Ish) which means “capable of” and “owner, ruler, chief of”, ultimately cognate with English own (Germanic *aigana-, PIE *aik-). The second part of the word Ishvara is vara which means depending on context, “best, excellent, beautiful”, “choice, wish, blessing, boon, gift”, and “suitor, lover, one who solicits a girl in marriage”. The composite word, Ishvara literally means “owner of best, beautiful”, “ruler of choices, blessings, boons”, or “chief of suitor, lover”.
As a concept, Ishvara in ancient and medieval Sanskrit texts, variously means God, Supreme Being, Supreme Soul, lord, king or ruler, rich or wealthy man, god of love, deity Shiva, one of the Rudras, prince, husband and the number eleven.
The word Īśvara never appears in Rigveda. However, the verb īś- does appear in Rig veda, where the context suggests that the meaning of it is “capable of, able to”. It is absent in Samaveda, is rare is Atharvaveda, appears in Samhitas of Yajurveda. The contextual meaning, however as the ancient Indian grammarian Pāṇini explains, is neither god nor supreme being.
The word Īśvara appears in numerous ancient Dharmasutras. However, Patrick Olivelle states that there Ishvara does not mean God, but means Vedas. Deshpande states that Ishvara in Dharmasutras could alternatively mean king, with the context literally asserting that “the Dharmasutras are as important as Ishvara (the king) on matters of public importance”.
In Saivite traditions of Hinduism, the term is used as part of the compound “Maheshvara” (“great lord”) as a name for Shiva. In Mahayana Buddhism it is used as part of the compound “Avalokiteśvara” (“lord who hears the cries of the world”), the name of a bodhisattva revered for her compassion. When referring to divine as female, particularly in Shaktism, the feminine Īśvarī is sometimes used.
Ishtar is the East Semitic Akkadian, Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. She is the counterpart to the Sumerian Inanna, and is the cognate for the Northwest Semitic Aramean goddess Astarte.
Ishtar was the goddess of love, war, fertility, and sexuality. Ishtar was the daughter of Anu. Besides the lions on her gate, her symbol is an eight-pointed star. In the Babylonian pantheon, she “was the divine personification of the planet Venus”. Her cult may have involved sacred prostitution, though this is debatable. Guirand referred to her holy city Uruk as the “town of the sacred courtesans” and to her as the “courtesan of the gods”.
Like Ishtar, the Greek Aphrodite and the Aramean Northwestern Semitic Astarte were love goddesses. Donald A. Mackenzie, an early popularizer of mythology, draws a parallel between the love goddess Aphrodite and her “dying god” lover Adonis on one hand, and the love goddess Ishtar and her “dying god” lover Tammuz on the other. There are intriguing parallels in the Graeco-Roman myths of Orpheus and Persephone.
Some scholars have suggested that the myth of Adonis was derived in post-Homeric times by the Greeks indirectly from the Eastern Semites of Mesopotamia (Assyria and Babylonia), via the Aramean and Canaanite Western Semites, the Semitic title ‘Adon’, meaning ‘lord’, having been mistaken for a proper name. This theory, however, cannot be accepted without qualifications.
Joseph Campbell, a more recent scholar of comparative mythology, equates Ishtar, Inanna, and Aphrodite, and he draws a parallel between the Egyptian goddess Isis who nurses Horus, and the Assyrian-Babylonian goddess Ishtar who nurses the god Tammuz.
Osiris (alternatively Ausir, Asiri or Ausar, among other spellings), was an Egyptian god, usually identified as the god of the afterlife, the underworld and the dead. He was at times considered the oldest son of the earth god Geb, though other sources state his father is the sun-god Ra and the sky goddess Nut, as well as being brother and husband of Isis, with Horus being considered his posthumously begotten son.
Ashur (also, Assur, Aššur; written A-šur, also Aš-šùr, in Neo-Assyrian often shortened to Aš) is the head of the Assyrian pantheon. It is an East Semitic god, and the head of the Assyrian pantheon in Mesopotamian religion, worshipped mainly in the northern half of Mesopotamia, and parts of north-east Syria and south east Asia Minor which constituted old Assyria. He may have had a solar iconography.
Aššur was a deified form of the city of Assur, which dates from the mid 3rd millennium BC and was the capital of the Old Assyrian kingdom. As such, Ashur did not originally have a family, but as the cult came under southern Mesopotamian influence, he later came to be regarded as the Assyrian equivalent of Enlil, the chief god of Nippur.
Enlil was the most important god of the southern pantheon from the early 3rd millennium BC until Hammurabi founded an empire based in Babylon in the mid-18th century BC, after which Marduk replaced Enlil as the chief god in the south.
In the north, Ashur absorbed Enlil’s wife Ninlil (as the Assyrian goddess Mullissu) and his sons Ninurta and Zababa—this process began around the 14th century BC and continued down to the 7th century.
Assyria was also sometimes known as Subartu and Azuhinum prior to the rise of the city state of Ashur after which it was Aššūrāyu, and after its fall, from 605 BC through to the late 7th century AD variously as Athura and also referenced as Atouria according to Strabo, Syria (Greek), Assyria (Latin) and Assuristan.
In prehistoric times, the region that was to become known as Assyria (and Subartu) was home to a Neanderthal culture such as has been found at the Shanidar Cave. The earliest Neolithic sites in Assyria were the Jarmo culture c. 7100 BC and Tell Hassuna, the centre of the Hassuna culture, c. 6000 BC.
During the 3rd millennium BC, a very intimate cultural symbiosis developed between the Sumerians and the Semitic Akkadians throughout Mesopotamia, which included widespread bilingualism.
During this period, the Akkadian-speaking Semites of Mesopotamia came to rule an empire encompassing not only Mesopotamia itself but large swathes of Asia Minor, ancient Iran, Elam, the Arabian Peninsula, Canaan and Syria.
The influence of Sumerian (a language isolate, i.e. not related to any other language) on Akkadian (and vice versa) is evident in all areas, from lexical borrowing on a massive scale, to syntactic, morphological, and phonological convergence. This has prompted scholars to refer to Sumerian and Akkadian in the 3rd millennium BC as a sprachbund.
Akkadian gradually replaced Sumerian as the spoken language of Mesopotamia somewhere after the turn of the 3rd and the 2nd millennium BC (the exact dating being a matter of debate), but Sumerian continued to be used as a sacred, ceremonial, literary and scientific language in Mesopotamia until the 1st century AD.
During the Akkadian Empire (2334–2154 BC) the Assyrians, like all the Mesopotamian Semites (and also the Sumerians), became subject to the dynasty of the city state of Akkad, centered in central Mesopotamia.
The Akkadian Empire founded by Sargon the Great, claimed to encompass the surrounding “four quarters”. The region of Assyria, north of the seat of the empire in central Mesopotamia had also been known as Subartu by the Sumerians, and the name Azuhinum in Akkadian records also seems to refer to Assyria proper.
The cities of Assur (also spelled Ashur or Aššur) and Nineveh, together with a number of other towns and cities, existed since at least before the middle of the 3rd millennium BC (c. 2600 BC), although they appear to have been Sumerian-ruled administrative centres at this time, rather than independent states.
The city of Ashur, together with a number of other Assyrian cities, seem to have been established by 2600 BC, however it is likely that they were initially Sumerian dominated administrative centres. In c. the late 26th century BC, Eannatum of Lagash, then the dominant Sumerian ruler in Mesopotamia, mentions “smiting Subartu” (Subartu being the Sumerian name for Assyria). Similarly, in c. the early 25th century BC, Lugal-Anne-Mundu the king of the Sumerian state of Adab lists Subartu as paying tribute to him.
According to some Judaeo-Christian writers, the city of Ashur was founded by Ashur the son of Shem, who was deified by later generations as the city’s patron god. However, it is not among the cities said to have been founded by him in Genesis 10:11–12, and the far older Assyrian annals make no mention of the much later Judeo-Christian figures of Shem and Ashur.
Assyrian tradition lists an early Assyrian king named Ushpia as having dedicated the first temple to the god Ashur in the city in the 21st century BC. It is highly likely that the city was named in honour of its patron Assyrian god with the same name.
Assyria is named for its original capital, the ancient city of Aššur (a.k.a. Ashur) which dates to c. 2600 BC (located in what is now the Saladin Province of northern Iraq), originally one of a number of Akkadian city states in Mesopotamia.
The name Syria has since the Roman Empire’s era historically referred to the region of Syria. It is the Latinized from the original Indo-Anatolian and later Greek. Etymologically and historically, the name is accepted by majority mainstream academic opinion as having derived from Ασσυρία, Assuria/Assyria, from the Akkadian Aššur or Aššūrāyu, which is in fact located in Upper Mesopotamia (modern northern Iraq southeast Turkey and northeast Syria).
Majority mainstream scholarly opinion now strongly supports the already dominant position that ‘Syrian’ and Syriac indeed derived from ‘Assyrian’, and the 21st Century discovery of the Çineköy inscription seems to clearly confirm that Syria is ultimately derived from the Assyrian term.
Some 19th-century historians such as Ernest Renan had dismissed the etymological identity of the two toponyms. Various alternatives had been suggested, including derivation from Subartu (a term which most modern scholars in fact accept is itself an early name for Assyria, and which was located in northern Mesopotamia), the Hurrian toponym Śu-ri, or Ṣūr (the Phoenician name of Tyre). Syria is known as Ḫrw (Ḫuru, referring to the Hurrian occupants prior to the Aramaean invasion) in the Amarna Period Egypt, and as Ărām in Biblical Hebrew.
Majority and mainstream current academic opinion strongly favours that Syria originates from Assyria. A Hieroglyphic Luwian and Phoenician bilingual monumental inscription found in Çineköy, Turkey, (the Çineköy inscription) belonging to Urikki, vassal king of Que (i.e. Cilicia), dating to the eighth century BC, reference is made to the relationship between his kingdom and his Assyrian overlords. The Luwian inscription reads su-ra/i whereas the Phoenician translation reads ʾšr, i.e. ašur, which according to Robert Rollinger (2006) “settles the problem once and for all”.
Šauška or Shaushka (Hittite: Šauša, and later Šawuška) was a Hurrian goddess who was also adopted into the Hittite pantheon. She is known in detail because she became the patron goddess of the Hittite king Hattusili III (1420–1400 BC) following his marriage to Puduhepa, the daughter of the goddess’ high priest.
Shaushka is a goddess of fertility, war and healing. She is depicted in human form with wings, standing with a lion and accompanied by two attendants. She was considered equivalent to the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar and is sometimes identified using Ishtar’s name in Hittite cuneiform.

domain: history


text:
Latvia's Offer of Residency Lures Investors
Four months ahead of its planned euro-zone entry, Latvian lawmakers are debating whether to roll up a special welcome laid out three years ago for deep-pocketed investors from outside the European Union.
The Baltic nation of about two million people, which joined the EU only in 2004, was just beginning to recover from the economic crash of 2008-09 when it decided to try to attract investments by offering five-year residence permits in exchange.
Since 2010, the offer has pulled in nearly $1 billion worth of foreign investment in real estate and equities, according to Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. Real-estate investors must spend a minimum of 50,000 or 100,000 lats ($95,000-$191,000), depending on location, to get a permit. Those buying Latvian equities need to invest at least 25,000 lats.
But although supporters of the program say it benefits the small economy, nationalist politicians oppose it, claiming it is distorting the market and letting in too many foreigners—especially Russians.
The impending adoption of the euro has given them a chance to challenge it in Parliament because it is one of a laundry-list of fines, fees and other charges that need to be converted from amounts set in lats to the euro, which the country will adopt Jan. 1.
Nearly 7,000 people—75% of them Russian—have been approved for the permits, which come with the possibility of unlimited renewal. Others buyers have come from Ukraine, Kazakhstan and China.
The National Alliance, the smallest of three parties in the governing coalition, launched its attack last week, calling the "dramatic" influx "a modern colonization of Latvia." The phrase harks back to the state-sponsored migration of Russians and others to Latvia during the Soviet era.
"If during the [Soviet] occupation, colonization was organized by the stooges of an alien power, then today immigration is permitted by the parliament of independent Latvia," the party's statement said.
Latvia isn't the only EU country experimenting with offers of residency as an economic stimulus, although its deal seems to be the least expensive—and the most popular.
Spain's Parliament is expected before year-end to approve a program to award resident status to those who spend at least €500,000 ($646,700) for real estate or invest at least €2 million in its sovereign debt. Greece began a similar program in April for purchase of a property for €250,000 or more. It awarded its first permit in August.
Portugal, which set the bar at €400,000, has issued only a few dozen permits since it started in October. Ireland, after approving only nine applicants in the first year, lowered the property criteria in July by €50,000, to at least €450,000. But applicants there also have to invest €500,000 in a special five-year bond, which pays no interest.
Hungary's offer of permanent residence to non-EU nationals who buy at least €250,000 of a special-issue bond also has reportedly attracted little interest. The government has declined to comment on the number since it began last December.
Vija Gailite, the head of apartment and house sales at Latio, a Latvian real-estate brokerage, said the bulk of her customers were Russians seeking a house or apartment that would entitle them to a residence permit.
But she said she was getting more and more inquiries from Chinese people. Most were interested in areas outside the capital, both to save money and to live in a rural or semirural environment.
One of those was 32-year-old Weidong Chen, who moved in November with his wife and three children from Guandong province in China to Iecava, a rural town south of the capital Riga.
He said he wanted to get away from the pollution and noise in Chinese cities and to provide a less-stressful education for his two daughters and son. The two girls, 11 and 8 years old, already attend a Latvian school, he said.
Trained as a hotel manager, he currently makes a living importing and selling small handicraft items from China, but hopes to learn Latvian—he speaks halting English now—and find work or start a business.
Yet Gaidis Berzins, co-chairman of the National Alliance, said the government sees very little direct benefit from the investments, aside from a 2% stamp tax on all real-estate transactions. Application fees for the residence permits would have brought in at least 490,000 lats, or just under $1 million, since the program began.
"One cannot speak of an economic stimulus," Mr. Berzins said in an interview.
He also said checks on the source of funds used for real-estate purchases should be strengthened—a veiled reference to suspicions that tainted money from Russia and other former Soviet republics could be entering the country.
A spokesperson for the Migration Office said that Latvian security services were aware of the people who apply for residence permits, but said she could not discuss what procedures were used for reasons of security.
Dzintars Zakis, the parliamentary leader of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis' Unity Party, said in an interview that he expected the program would survive, but that the debate would be intense when Parliament reconvenes in early September.
The chairman of the Reform Party, the third coalition member, Edmunds Demiters, said he thought the program could be limited to investments in businesses, not real estate. The opposition Harmony Center, meanwhile, supports the permits but wants the government to do more to prevent foreigners, mainly Swedish companies, from buying up more forest land.
Mr. Zakis suggested a compromise could be reached, such as higher thresholds for real-estate purchases in more expensive areas, such as Riga and the upmarket suburb of Jurmala. "Fine-tuning is possible," he said.
The prime minister, who supports the program, said Aug. 20 that he expected objections to continuing the residence permits, but that it would not derail preparations for joining the euro.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
By JURIS KAZA


Schedule Advantages: When you talk to ACC coaches about the elimination of the conference's traditional double round-robin schedule, they either don't want to talk about it or express outright opposition to this byproduct of expansion. Last year was the first season of unbalanced schedules, and all things weren't exactly equal. For instance, the top two teams, North Carolina and Wake Forest, played each other only once, in Winston-Salem, N.C. Consequently, there was talk in the final week of the season that perhaps three ACC schools could earn No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. And this season, the top two teams, Duke and Boston College, play each other only once, in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Demise of the League: Don't believe the hype, or lack thereof. Sure, the ACC lost all those underclassmen to the NBA last season, including one player (UNC's Marvin Williams) who did not even start for his team, but the top two teams still feature four players as good as anyone in the country: Duke's Redick and Williams, Boston College's Craig Smith and Jared Dudley. The much-touted freshmen at Duke and North Carolina will impress and -- who knows? -- might even stick around for a few years. The expanded Big East will get all the headlines this season and could conceivably receive double the amount of NCAA tournament bids: eight to four. But there is a better than decent chance that the national champion will emerge from the ACC for the second consecutive season.