I don't care one way or another about the Elizabeth Warren DNA kerfuffle; it's silliness bred of Trump's lunacy, not a serious political matter.

But—*but*—the blowback on Warren is useful as a reminder that facts, science, and really truth of any kind is now anathema to the GOP.

2/ If you're online trying to convince a Trumpist of *anything*—I mean *anything*—stop right now.

The Trumpists' reaction to Warren's DNA test—a cacophony of fact-free insanity about race and DNA and even just *the bare facts of what happened*—tells you you're wasting your time.

3/ I don't see the point in baiting Trumpists, or insulting them, or calling attention to their madness on a daily basis. These people are fundamentally unserious about truth, discourse, and anything resembling a community of ideas. So:

1) Ignore them—completely.
2) Vote—always.

4/ I don't always live up to that standard, but I'm *trying*. I'm *trying* to ignore as beneath dialogic significance those who say "most people" have Native American ancestry, or who can't read basic studies to understand Warren's DNA test, or who say Trump never made a bet, &c.

5/ Trump wants to call Warren "Pocahontas" because he's a racist, wants to appeal to racists, and his cult-like following so ignores *everything bad he does* that they think that, had she lied—she didn't—*this* (this!) would be worse than anything Trump has done.

*Process that*.

I want to talk about the editorial support you should expect from an agent who says they work editorially, &what you should not expect, too. (As always these are my opinions; others will think differently; you can take any opinion you encounter or burn it in a trash can.) #Thread

Most agent offer calls come with a discussion about editorial support and expectations on both sides. If an agent says they work editorially, both of you can talk about what you hope this will look like. This may include:

Rounds of overall revision to plot/character/structure/setting, or tightening to a genre guideline, based on an "edit letter."
Line edits/sidebar comments by your agent. I always stress these are suggestions to achieve a goal. How author arrives at that goal is up to to them, but

I should make it clear to you what the goal of the point is: heighten emotional moment, untangle complicated scene, drive a relationship, clarify stakes, etc. I may suggest HOW and you can use my suggestion or come up w/your own solution. As long as the goal is attained.

But I'll always be honest if the changes came up short, too. It's a conversation, a development, open-door for challenge.
I DO put foot down abt blatant "rookie mistakes." Or major arc problems,sensitivity issues. I don't do this to be obstinate;but you should stay flexible too.

Here’s how you weigh a baby giraffe.

(📸: @VirginiaZoo)

Here’s how you weigh a baby penguin.

(📸: @TNAquarium)

Here’s how you weigh a baby red panda.

(📸: @BinghamtonZoo)

Here’s how you weigh a baby aardvark.

(📽: @CincinnatiZoo)

Here’s how you weigh a baby cheetah.

(📸: @ZooSalzburg)

Advice to a friend dealing with their chaotic startup...

Startups are inherently chaotic. No chaos = no opportunity. Startups exist because there is uncertainty, and new things to learn. (1/7) #startup

During a period of rapid growth, all things (structures, processes, etc.) eventually break. Some chaos is self-inflicted, and too much chaos can cause collapse / chronic harm (2/7) #startup

Agility is solving today’s problem, while not limiting your ability to solve tomorrow’s problem. There’s always a temptation to solve tomorrow’s problems.

There are good ideas everywhere, and opportunities everywhere. So focus is hard (3/7) #startup

Startups require an almost supernatural level of focus. You have to focus, while knowing full well many things are broken, and need work. Nothing is truly repeatable or efficient at this point, even when we want it to be (4/7) #startup

And that’s hard...so we tend to load up on the good ideas.

Pursuing all the good ideas will leave you (and others) burnt out. Self-inflicted chaos (5/7) #startup

1) FL absentees, early voting:

*Dems as expected ("souls to the polls Sunday") had a good day and FINALLY take the early walk-in vote lead by 6,100 votes.

Rs total: 1,151,593
Ds total: 1,092,547

Rs +59,046 combined lead. This is very good for this point in the campaign.

2) At this point in 2016, Rs only led by 40,000. I could be mistaken but I think yesterday was the last day polls were open on Sunday, so the final "souls to the polls" Sunday.

3) As of yesterday, four red counties were yet to report. That would likely boost the lead back to 70k

4) I don't think the FL Rs in their wildest dreams expected to lead this late in the campaign.

5) Likewise in NV:
Clark (with its union "encouragement" for members turned out big yesterday and added net 6,000 voters.

However---big however---neither Washoe nor the rurals . . .

(5) contd. . . were open yesterday. My guesstimate is that would slice that number in half.

While this helped, the NV Ds are still looking at a significant--to potentially massive--shortfall from their 2016 numbers coming out of early voting.

6) Gotta make sure you compare days to days. Calendars and voting days differ.

@TalhaAhsanEsq It's a very good question, and a complicated one. For starters, the Islamic manuscript tradition is vast both in terms of timespan and geography. As Dr. Shamsy points out in his latest book, the Arabic manuscript tradition is the most vast of any language in the world.

Why are some things given more prioritisation for publication than others? Why are some aspects of the tradition more emphasised than others. There's no single cause behind it.

And there is not necessarily always a sinister motive behind the suppression of some things, but sometimes there is...

It is true that the Hanbalis and Ash'aris had a very contentious and at times acrimonious relationship for much of their history. In later centuries, a sort of truce was reached. Al-Zabidi has said similar in his sharh of Ihya about the identification of 3 groups as Ahl al-Sunna

It seems that these truce efforts also spawned a number of works seeking to mediate the Hanbali-Ash'ari dispute over the nature of Divine Speech, the most contentious of issues between the two camps. A couple of these have been recently published.

60 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BEARERS & WOMEN OF QURAN

A THREAD 🧵

1. The first matter that it befits her to employ is taqwa (fear) of Allah secretly and openly, by exercising caution (wara') with regards to the sources of his food, drink, dress and earnings.

2. She is perceptive about her time and the corruptions of its people, that she may beware of them regarding her religion.

3. She concentrates on her own situation, having the aspiration to reform whatever is corrupt in her affairs, guarding her tongue and choosing her words.

4. If she speaks,, she speaks with knowledge when she sees speech to be correct.

5. If she remains silent, she remains silent with knowledge when she sees silence to be correct.

6. She rarely delves into that which does not conern her.

7. She fears from her tongue things more severe than she fears from her enemy.

8. She imprisons her tongue the way she imprisons her enemy, so that she may be safe from its evil and bad consequences.

A thread.

Earnings Trades Simplified.

Earnings announcements are public announcements that display a company’s earnings, or lack thereof. As the earnings announcement gets closer, implied volatility tends to increase. After earnings are announced,...

1/n

the uncertainty of what will happen diminishes, and usually we see a rapid decrease in implied volatility because of it. Because of this phenomena, we tend to stick to premium selling strategies when it comes to earnings plays. We can take advantage...

2/n

of the implied volatility crush by selling premium prior to the announcement, and buying it back after the announcement.

Earnings trades are not for everyone, as they involve high amounts of uncertainty and random movements.

3/n

Why Trade Earnings -

-Increase number of occurrences, many trades available so increases of our probability of profit.

-High IV opportunities

-Short term Binary event leading to drastic volatility crush.

4/n

Factors to consider when placing earnings trade -

1. Expected Move
2. When to place trade
3. Historical Moves
4. Strategies based on market conditions

5/n

On 23 September 1984 the BBC broadcast the apocalypse: the story of nuclear war and its effects on the people of Sheffield. Filmed on a shoestring budget it still causes nightmares to this day.

This thread is not for the squeamish.

This the story of Threads...

In 1965 the BBC had filmed The War Game, a fictional docu-drama about a nuclear attack on Britain. However under pressure from the government the BBC withdrew it from screening. It was finally released in 1966 as a film in selected theatres.

For many years the withdrawal of The War Game had rankled many at the BBC. Surely it was a public broadcaster's duty to show the public what the reality of nuclear war would mean. Finally in 1982 they did so.

A Guide To Armageddon was a documentary for the BBC's peak-time science series Q.E.D. Produced by Mick Jackson it graphically depicted the effect of a one megaton explosion on London. It also explored how well people could survive such a blast if they were in a fallout shelter.

Jackson had carefully researched his subject and knew how under-prepared the UK was for nuclear war. The physical and psychological effects of atomic attack would catapult what was left of Britain back to a 14th century mode of living, a time when bubonic plague killed millions.

#DoYouKnow about Pallipadai (Memorial) Temple of Emperor Rajendra Chola I & his wife Veeramaadevi.

#Thread

This historically significant Chandramouleeswarar #Temple is in Brahmmadesam (Cheyyar) NearThiruvannamalai,TN

Restored by ASI.But no murthi,no worship & no festivals.

Treasure of inscriptions in walls of this temple belongs to Pallavas & Cholas period.About 77 valuable stone inscriptions are there in this temple that tells richness of the empire.Also mentions Rajendra Chola I died at Brahmadesam &it is recorded by his son Rajadhiraja Chola I

Initially this temple dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva was built in sand stone by Pallava King Vijaya Kampa Varman.Later it was converted to memorial temple in Chola period.Rajendra chola & his wife came to this place after his Ganges expedition but he suddenly he fell ill & died.

Rajendra chola I was one of the great emperor, he had powerful - mighty army ,naval force & had conquered many kingdoms in the Indian ocean.

Hope that we learn more about him & respect his memorial temple.Must Preserve and protect our temples.

All photos in this thread credit - to respective owners.
Source text - based on TamilNadu tourism blog and news article about this temple

திருநாங்கூர் 11 கருட சேவை விளக்கம்:

-------------------------------------------------
11 திவ்யதேச ௭ம்பெ௫மான்களையும் ஒரே இடத்திலே கருட சேவையில் ஆழ்வா௫டன் ஸேவிக்கலாம்.

பதினொரு பெருமாள்களையும் ஒருங்கே தரிசிக்கும் பெரும் பாக்கியம்!

குலந்தரும் செல்வம் தந்திடும் அடியார் படுதுயர் ஆயினவெல்லாம்
நிலந்தரம் செய்யும் நீள் விசும்பருளும் அருளோடு பெருநிலமளிக்கும்
வலந்தரும் மற்றும் தந்திடும் பெற்ற தாயினும்ஆயின செய்யும்
நலம் தரும் சொல்லை நான் கண்டு கொண்டேன் நாராயணா என்னும் நாமமே.

திருமடந்தை மண்மடந்தை யிருபாலும் திகழத்
தீவினைகள் போயகல அடியவர்கட் கென்றும்
அருள் நடந்து இவ் வேழுலகத் தவர்பணிய வானோர்
அமர்ந்தேத்த இருந்தவிடம்
என்று ஆழ்வார்களால் போற்றப்படும் திருநாங்கூர் திவ்ய தேசத்தில்

பெருமாளை பெரிய திருவடியான கருட வாகனத்தில் சேவித்தால்
மறு பிறவி கிடையாது என்பது ஐதீகம்..

நாகை மாவட்டம், சீர்காழி அடுத்த நாங்கூரில் 108 வைணவ தலங்களில்
11 கோயில்கள் ஒரே பகுதியில் அமைந்துள்ள கோயில்களில் ஆண்டுதோறும் கருட சேவை உற்சவம் விமரிசையாக நடைபெறும்.

Khutbah Topic By Sheikh Salaah Al Budair: 01/01/21

'Warning from Busying yourself with others Faults'

O Muslims:
People of intellect and sound mind protect and guard themselves from falsehood and their honor from anything which may harm it by following the path of virtue and good and avoiding what causes suspicion.

There is no virtue except for the one who protects his honor and tries to increase in good. I swear that there is no dishonor for a person in death, if he is not afflicted in life with what is shameful.

No one who is alive, even if he lives safely, will be more mortal than those in their graves. Every youth and every new thing will come to an end, and everyone will eventually return to Allah.

The believer does not accept to be an aim for the arrows of suspicion, or a target of backbiting, criticism and slander. He must cut off the causes of doubt and evil thoughts that may come to people.

In 1637, the Dutch Republic erupted into a speculative fever over an unlikely item...the tulip.

Tulip Mania has become a legend synonymous with market euphoria and bubbles. But is this tale all it's cracked up to be?

Who's up for a story?

👇👇👇

1/ The tulip is a spring-blooming flower native to the valleys of the Tien Shan Mountains in Central Asia.

It is believed to have been introduced to Europe in 1554, when an ambassador of the Holy Roman Emperor sent tulip bulbs and seeds to Vienna from the Ottoman Empire.

2/ Tulips gained in popularity as people were attracted to their rich color and ability to grow in sub-optimal conditions.

They soon became a coveted status symbol for the wealthy.

The Semper Augustus, with its colorful, flame-like streaks, was the most desired of them all.

3/ By the early 1600s, the Dutch Republic was entering a golden age.

Many financial innovations popped up during this time - the first stock exchange, for example.

But it was another financial innovation that would propel tulips into historical lore: the futures contract.

4/ As tulips grow slowly and may take several years to bloom, paper contracts were written that entitled the buyer to the future tulips.

These contracts were freely-traded.

So in addition to the physical market for tulip bulbs, a thriving paper market was established.

ANTARVEDI LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY, EAST GODAVARI DIST.(AP)

Located where Vasistha Godavari joins Bay of Bengal.

Present structure was built by Kapanati Krishnamma of Agnikula Kshatriya clan in 1823.

It is one of the oldest among 32 Narasimha Kshetras in AP.
@LostTemple7

Legend says that here Maharishi Vasishta prayed to Narasimha to end the demon Rakta Vilochana.

Narasimha created Maha Maya, also called Ashwaroodambika or Gurralakka to suck his blood as he got a boon from Brahma that blood falling from his body would produce another demon.

After his death, the stream of blood was let out by Maya to form a pond called Rakta Kulya.

Narasimha,then,washed Sudarshan Chakra at a place called Chakra Tirtha.

Brahma is said to have performed Yagna and installed Shiva Linga here. Hence the place was called Antarvedi.

Later Sri Rama prayed here and Arjun also visited here.

Panchamrita Abhishekam is done every day.
One can have Nijarupa Darshanam (main murti without any decorative shield) between 6.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m.

Anna Prasadam is very famous and distributed daily from 10:30 to 2 pm.

【DT挖掘机团队授權出品！】
【你们敢封DT的推，就别怪我们蚂蚁军团出手了】
【P4实验室前传！之 王岐山，高燕燕，王延轶关系解读！】
#CCPVirus
记者提问：王岐山，高燕燕，王延轶，有没有关系？
中共口交部：关门！放王毅！
王毅：一派胡言 ！~~~涂抹星子飞出1800米。。。

P4实验室前传2：
王毅肛门刚刚放出“一派胡言”这四个字，被正在秦城监狱里面想念大连金石滩模特学校美女赤裸身体的薄熙来听到了：薄熙来心中不禁大怒！麻辣隔壁！操你姥姥的王毅！老子的独家发明被你个孙子拿去用了？还尼玛的不给老子一分钱的专利费？！

P4实验室前传3：
平西王为何有此一怒而鸡毛冲裤衩。。。哦不，怒发冲冠一说呢？原来平西王下台之前最后一次接受采访的时候，有人问他说你儿子在国外开法拉利的钱是哪里来的？平西王大怒曰：一派胡言！【此处应有视频，但推特不让发，我R你八辈儿祖宗】

P4实验室前传4：
回正题！
王延轶，现任中国科学院武汉病毒研究所的所长！因P4实验室和武汉的非冠状病毒疫情逐渐浮出水面，在P4实验室的挖掘中，没详细说明，这里将和盘托出！
这位80后美女研究员，正厅级所长，它的老公叫：舒红兵。这位舒红兵和郭德银有什么关系？
#CCPVirus

P4实验室前传5：
在本次P4前传挖掘中，根据佛祖给我托的梦，挖挖王延轶是否和王岐山、高燕燕有关系。如不属实，纯属一派胡言。。。那个专利费就不用给薄熙来了，反正他也没注册！
关于高燕燕是谁，不做深度挖掘，大家自行搜索，其中所有的推理，均为挖掘机团队半睡眠状态下的臆想。
#CCPVirus

Dr. Anandibai Joshi

Upon her birth on 31 March 1865 she was named Yamuna, after the holy river. Her parents Gunputrao Amritaswar Joshee & Gungabai Joshee came from a long lineage of wealthy landlord family in Kalyan of Bombay Presidency, whose wealth was now waning.

Anandi was the sixth of 10 children, & had 4 brothers (only two of which survived) & five sisters. Her father was particularly fond of her, as she was a bright child with an inquisitive mind. Being an educated man himself, Ganpatrao assured that his daughter was taught Marathi.

As was common practice she was married at a tender age of 9, to Gopalrao Joshi, a 29 year old widower who worked as a postal clerk in the same city. After marriage her husband named her ‘Anandibai’ (which means ‘Joy of my heart’).

Gopalrao was man ahead of his times with reformist ideas & had married Anandibai on the condition that he would be allowed to educate his wife.

He even tried to enroll Anandi in a missionary school, but did not succeed. Despite being the supportive husband, Gopalrao had his flaws.

He was a strict teacher & would sometimes resort to beating if Anandi slacked in her studies.

Sri Ooraga Perumal (aka) Ooragathan, at Sri Ulagalandha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram, TN.
-------------------------------------------
Thiru Ooragam:
God Shriman Narayana, our Emperuman, has manifested in the shape of Adhiseshan, the 5 headed snake in this temple.

He is found in a seperate sannidhi next to Ulagalandha Perumal in Thiru Ooragam.
Ooragam' (reptile) signifies Snake and God Vishnu gave darshan to Mahabali as the Serpent God here.

Mahabali Chakravarthy, the grandson of Prahaladhan, did a very large yagam (or) homam to get the Devendra logam, which is called “Swargham”.

But, that lokam belongs to Indiran, who is the King of that Lokam.
Being a top-notch devotee of Sriman Narayanan, he was capitulated by means of temptation and decided to acquire the Devendra Lokam.

To make him understand and punish him, Sriman Narayanan took the Vaamana avatar (dwarf) and requested 3 feet of his land.