#DERA grants

[artisticdivasworld]

How to Upgrade Your Truck Without Breaking the Bank: A Guide for the Individual Trucker

The new EPA regulations are probably the last thing you want to hear about right now. It feels like every time we turn around, there’s another rule or restriction. And honestly, it’s frustrating! But before you throw your hands up in anger, let’s talk about how these changes could actually work in your favor and, more importantly, what options are out there to help you upgrade your trucks without…

[moopermoment]

a pile of dera’s drawings because i’m playing as them in dnd!

[coochiequeens]

First there was a protest against Femicide in Kenya that American news media barely covered. Now there was a protest in Honduras that was barely mentioned.

February 7, 2024

Dressed in black as a sign of mourning, about 300 women marched on Thursday in Tegucigalpa to the National Congress, on Honduran Women’s Day, to protest the increase in femicides.

“We come to demand that the lives of Honduran women be respected, that’s why we come to this National Congress,” an activist who covered her face and hair with black scarves said through a megaphone.

The police placed barriers around Congress as a new legislative period began with the attendance of President Xiomara Castro, but the protesters managed to jump over them and reach the lower part of the building.

“We are marching today against all violence, from domestic violence to femicide. We demand the approval of the Comprehensive Law against Violence that the president promised; we can’t wait,” said Sandra Deras.

According to the Women’s Rights Center, violence against women is on the rise in Honduras. In the first 15 days of 2024, at least 16 women were murdered (according to preliminary police reports there were 15).

According to the National Autonomous University of Honduras’ Violence Observatory, 380 femicides were registered in 2023, compared to 308 in 2022.

According to UN Women data, Honduras is the fifth country with the highest rate of femicides in the world, 6.47 per every 100,000 inhabitants, making it the most dangerous country for women in Latin America.

Congress established January 25 as Honduran Women’s Day because, on that date in 1955, women were granted the right to vote and participate in the country’s political life.

[whencyclopedia]

Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera, otherwise known as the 'Temple of the Pure Water Spring', is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. The site is famous for its impressive viewing platform, three-storey Koyasu pagoda and the medicinal pure waters of the Otowa Spring. Kiyomizu-dera is Kyoto's most popular tourist attraction, the Main Hall is an official National Treasure of Japan and the complex is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Foundation & Key Features

The Kiyomizu-dera temple is located on Mt. Otowa, part of the eastern hills on the outskirts of Kyoto. The temple belongs to the Buddhist Kita-Hosso sect and was founded in 778 CE by Enchin Shonin some 16 years before Heiankyo (the former name of Kyoto) was itself established as the new capital of Japan. Enchin Shonin was a priest from Nara, the capital of Japan from 710 to 784 CE, who claimed to have received a vision which directed him to the exact location of a spring, the Otowa spring which gives its name to the site. Even today, many visitors consider the waters of the spring to have magical properties and the three branches of it are each given a romantic association: health, longevity, and exam success. No wonder, then, that Kiyomizu is popular with both young and old, but if the reader visits in person and wishes to take the waters, remember that one should drink from one stream only, so choose wisely.

In 798 CE, the military leader of Japan, Sakanoue Tamuramaro, embellished the site with a large hall which was reassembled from its former position in the palace of Emperor Kammu (r. 781-806 CE). Kammu had decided to leave his old capital of Nara because of the overly strong influence the Buddhist monasteries had on the government there, and it was for this reason that the emperor permitted the building of new temples at Heiankyo only on the city's periphery. In any case, the southern monasteries continued to be influential and there was a particular and long-standing rivalry between the Kofukuji temple of Nara and the Kiyomizu-dera, the latter being, at least officially, a subsidiary of the former.

The temple complex is set in woodlands and entered via the monumental red and white Niomon Gate which, flanked by two massive statues of Buddhist guardian kings, was built in the 15th century CE. Next to it is the Sanjunoto pagoda. There is an additional gate at the west side of the estate, the Saimon Gate, which dates to the Momoyama Period (1568-1600 CE) and which is an official National Treasure of Japan. Within the wooded complex are the Hondo or Main Hall; a secondary hall similar in design to the Hondo, the Okunoin Hall; the Jishu Shrine and the Jeju-in garden which recreates famous landscape features mentioned in classic literature. Another hall, the Zuiguido Hall, is kept completely dark inside and is meant to represent the womb of Buddha's mother so that walking through it is a metaphor for one's spiritual rebirth.

One of the highlights of Kiyomizu-dera is the Koyasu, an impressive three-storey pagoda complete with spire, which was designed to house sacred texts and relics. Built between 1607 and 1633 CE, it is an excellent example of Momoyama architecture. The structure is another National Treasure of Japan and is particularly associated with granting trouble-free childbirth for those who visit it. Finally, Kiyomizu-dera is also the home of a famous statue of the bodhisattva of compassion Kannon (aka Kwannon or Guanyin in Chinese). The remarkable figure has ten heads, 1,000 arms, and is credited to Kiyomizu-dera's founder Enchin. Being classified as a 'hidden Buddha' or hibutsu, the figure is only displayed to the public every 33 years.

Continue reading...

[megyulmi]

➠ Shared worship of Bodhisattvas associated with Megumi and Yuuji’s domains:

Since we know that Megumi’s domain hand symbol is associated with Bodhisattva Kannon (Japanese manifestation of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara) and Yuuji’s domain hand symbol is associated with Bodhisattva Jizō (Japanese manifestation of Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha), I wanted to mention a few connections in their worship from the Japanese Buddhist tradition.

To note, Kannon and Jizō are two of the most venerated Bodhisattvas in Japanese Buddhism, who have distinct roles and attributes, yet a notable connection (similarity) between them, reflecting the intertwined nature of the compassionate qualities they embody.

Generally, both Kannon and Jizō are revered for their compassion. Kannon is known as the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, who hears the cries of beings in distress and offers aid. Jizō, similarly, is the protector of children, travellers, and souls in the afterlife, often depicted as a compassionate figure who aids those in suffering. Additionally, they are both seen as saviours and protectors. Kannon offers salvation and relief from suffering, often invoked in times of need. Jizō is believed to help souls in the six realms of existence, particularly in the realms of hell, where he provides comfort and aid to suffering beings.

Now, let’s delve deeper into the intertwined nature of their worship. In this post, I mentioned that the veneration day of Jizō is celebrated on the 18th and 24th days of every month. Traditionally, the 18th day of the month was assigned to Kannon. However, the veneration of Jizō on that day is mentioned in a Japanese version of the Jizō and Ten Kings sutra, the Bussetsu Jizō Bosatsu Hosshin In’nen Jūōkyō (仏説地蔵菩薩発心因縁十王経), a product of the late Heian period said to be based on the Chinese version, the Yü-hsiu-shih-wang-sheng-ch’i-ching (預修十王生七經). According to more contemporary writings, commoners, merchants and townsfolk often held meetings together in honour of them throughout the Muromachi and Edo periods on the same date. In addition to this point, Reigenki (地蔵菩薩霊験記, stories of Jizō compiled by Jitsuei of Mii-dera in the mid-Heian period) and Konjaku (今昔物語集, ‘Anthology of Tales Old and New’) describe many Jizō devotees in the Japanese tales as Lotus Sutra reciters; a further examination of which shows that Jizō is expected to function rather like Kannon, who is a Bodhisattva most closely related to the Lotus Sutra, through the merits and virtue of it. When one thinks of Lotus Sutra, one usually thinks of Kannon, but old recordings show that their worship was shared not only in the manner of date but in the text as well.

The main reason is that the Lotus Sutra itself declares that the sutra will be of special value in the degenerate age and people were seeking benefits in their present lives as well as deliverance in the future. In satisfying such needs, Kannon, closely related to the Lotus Sutra, was an ideal Bodhisattva who would appear in this life, grant the mundane wishes of devotees, and even deliver them into Amida’s Pure Land (a concept of a celestial realm of a buddha or bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism where Buddhists aspire to be reborn). As repeatedly described in the above-mentioned Jizō stories of Reigenki and Konjaku, Jizō would also appear in this present life and help ignorant sentient beings in the age of degeneration. He would guide his devotees so that they would not fall into hell, and he would even save those who had already fallen into the pit. These characteristics of Jizō as a saviour parallel those of Kannon. The merit of the Lotus Sutra and the ultimate goal of these two Bodhisattvas were to assist their devotees’ rebirth in Amida’s Pure Land. Thus it is not difficult to understand why the Jizō cult was so closely related to the Lotus Sutra, why it was so widely accepted by the Japanese, and why statues of Jizō and Kannon often flank Amida Buddha. That Jizō would protect reciters of the Lotus Sutra and function similarly to Kannon is an idea continually appearing in later setsuwa (説話, a Japanese literary genre, consisting of myths, legends, folktales, and anecdotes) collections, particularly from the Kamakura period.

Another detail that ties the two Bodhisattva together is found in the Shijū Hyaku Innenshū (私聚百因縁集) that specifically mentions a sutra called the Renge Sanmaikyō (蓮華三眛経) which states that Kannon had entrusted all sentient beings in the Six Realms to Jizō and that this Bodhisattva consequently had six different names, one for each of the Six Realms where he appears, remains, and saves sentient beings. It shows their cooperation to aid all sentient beings.

The same cooperation can be found in Mizuko rites (水子供養, a Japanese Buddhist ceremony for those who have had a miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion). While Bodhisattva Jizō, a saviour figure devoted to children, has been the dominant figure in these rites, Kannon has also been given a prominent place in a number of temples devoted to this practice, given the long history of identification of Kannon with the needs of mothers and children-both to care for spirits in the ‘other world’ and to comfort those in the world of the living who oftentimes are struggling with personal remorse, regret, and guilt.

Whether Akutami Gege had such shared attributes of compassion, salvation and protection of the two Bodhisattva in mind when creating the hand symbols for Megumi and Yuuji’s domains, we cannot know, but it is still significant to find that characters as closely intertwined as Yuuji and Megumi throughout the storyline have elements drawn from the figures who could be considered as closely intertwined despite their distinct individual roles.

[cinnabarsaga]

Some conceptual development on FERA.

The Federal Esoteric Research (and formerly Defence) Agency, are one of two antagonists in the Cinnabar Saga.

The Agency has its origins as a charter organisation during Lincoln’s presidency, tasked with researching the paranormal, and countering the confederacy’s efforts to wage unconventional warfare. After the war, the institute would loose prestige and power in obscurity. By the 1920’s, it had become a skeleton organisation, and failed to prevent a major accident from occurring in the midwest.

As a result of a congressional investigation, the Prohibition on magic was passed in a closed door session. Along with it’s passage was the authorisation act, establishing the Bureau of Cryptonomy. The BOC, alongside the Bureau of investigation, sought to stem the rising tide of organised crime. However, like the BOI, agents required local jurisdictions to carry out an arrest. Unarmed agents were dying at the hands of the mob, forcing congress to act, in 1933, granting both agencies greater police power.

During WWII, it was tasked with establishing a military command to counter the Nazi Occult movement. Many agents were conscripted into the US army Esoteric command, and fought against the forces of darkness on the ground. Far greater catastrophes were averted by their actions.

With the end of the war, and the rising threat posed by the new cold war against communism, the Kennedy administration, under secretary of Defense McNamara, reorganised the BOC, into the Defense Esoteric Research Agency, which alongside other defense reorganisation projects which created the Defense Intelligence Agency, and Defense Logistics Agency.

DERA would be tasked with countering the nth domain war-fighting capacity of the Soviet Union, as well as maintaining the veil of secrecy around magic, thaumaturgy, and esoterica; in addition to exploring cryptozoology, crypto-archeology, and it’s continuing mission of storing artefacts of power. Throughout the later half of the 20th century, it would expand in budget and capability as the lesser known intelligence & law enforcement community in America.

With the end of the cold war, its primary mission changed, and it dropped defense, becoming the “Federal Esoteric Research Agency” or FERA. While not explicitly a defense agency, it retained its law enforcement role, expanding after it’s departmental reshuffling into the Department of Homeland Security, in the wake of the 9-11 terror attacks.

In its current role, it has an expanded mission of antiterrorism, in addition to its original task of research, and enforcement of the expanded secrets act.

In order to maintain its secrecy, the agency is rarely addressed by its full name. Instead, it is often masquerading as the “Federal Emergency Response Agency,” “Federal Enviromental Remediation Agency,” or some variation of its acronym.

The agency itself recruits from a wide range of sources, from the FBI, CIA, Marines, NASA, NOAA, ivy league, and more. Internally the agency is divided between office, field, and archives. Field agents typically are law enforcement, or soldiers. Office is usually scientists, engineers, scholars, analysts. Archivist typically are scholars, and researchers.

[luke-r-gillespie]

May 26 - Kiyomizudera / Mindar at Kodaiji / Gion Tour

Freewriting

Today began like most, at 8 with a quiz. No breakfast bento today (earth shattering news, I know) and our class meeting was brief. We departed for Kiyomizu-dera by train and arrived after thirty minutes or so. As far as Buddhist Temples go, this one was pretty cool (my second favorite of the trip so far) and there was a lot to see and do.

The first thing we did at Kiyomizu-dera was walk through the temple's "womb" to become reborn. This entailed walking through a winding pitch black tunnel under the main temple by following a rope attached to the wall. At the end of the tunnel was a large rock that supposedly grants you a wish when you reach and touch it (the "womb" was actually a really fun experience, I didn't necessarily feel reborn though. The next section of the temple had a large singing bowl which I rang before praying to this section of the temple's kami. We observed the surrounding area of Kyoto from the hanging deck (famous for its nail-less construction) before moving onto the "Otawa Waterfall."

The Otawa Waterfall is not a waterfall but in fact three diverging streams of water, each of which corresponds to an unlabeled blessing from Kannon (goddess of mercy.) You are only supposed to drink from one of the three streams (although one of my classmates didn't seem to get the memo) or the goddess perceives you as greedy and grants you no blessing. This was a really fun experience and the cool water was refreshing after all the stairs!

After leaving the shrine, I briefly walked around Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka before grabbing lunch with some of the guys and Professor Smith! I had a margherita pizza (shocker) and some strawberry shaved ice while walking around afterwards as a sweet treat.

After lunch, we went to see Mindar, the "android" of the Buddhist goddess Kannon. The "android" gave a presentation on Buddhist ideals and its core teachings, accompanied by a cool light show and projected displays (however, the robot a little uncanny valley for my taste.) It was cool to learn about Buddhism and to see the contrast between the ancient Buddhist temple and this new Buddhist technological development.

After this presentation, we took a short walk to Gion where we walked around for a bit before attending a short Geisha performance. This area of Kyoto is not very tourist friendly (on account of inappropriate tourist behavior here in the past) and I definitely felt that in all the dirty looks that we received. After Gion, I returned to Stay SAKURA where I did laundry and relaxed before going out to dinner with Griffin (we got turned away from four different sushi restaurants before ending up back at McDonalds, at least we tried.) All in all, another eventful and fun day in Kyoto!

Academic Reflection

Todays first reading, derived from a Sekkyo-bushi meaning Sermon Ballads performance, was about the goddess of mercy, Kannon. This reading somewhat changed my pre-held perceptions of Kannon, as parts of this passage painted her as vindictive or even malicious (antonyms for mercy.) For example, Kannon acting to kill Shintokumaru's mother after she insulted the goddess or making lord Nobuyoshi's wife unable to bear children, on account of their actions from a previous life (destroying bird eggs.) To be fair, Kannon also showed mercy and kindness within the reading, such as when she provides Shintokumaru with the feather duster to cure his illness (which I felt was more in character.) I found it interesting to see both sides of Kannon within these excerpts. Kannon's influence can be felt all throughout Japan and I certainly felt it today at Kiyomizu-dera.

The second reading from today, an article titled “Enlightenment Geishas” was about the history of Geishas in Japan. More specifically, the Geisha "enlightenment" that has taken place in Japan in recent centuries. This "enlightenment" refers to the education of Geishas in traditional Japanese practices, marking a shift from being primarily sex workers, to being focused on family life and being productive mothers as well as members of Japanese society. At today's Geisha performance, this education in the arts and refinement was very evident. Both the performance and museum aspects of this excursion were extremely elegant and made me think of high society.

[opmythologyzine]

🌟 Mythical Zoan Showcase 🌟

It’s Sengoku’s birthday, so here’s a Mythical Zoan Showcase just for him! 🎂

Today, we have the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu. It has the power to transform the user into a Daibutsu, a giant gold Buddha.

Normally, there is a connection between the powers gained through eating the Devil Fruit and the mythical being it’s named after, but we really only see a visual change with Sengoku. However, that’s not to say the power it grants him is anything to scoff at. With enhanced strength and defense, our formal fleet admiral is a worthy adversary indeed. But those are not qualities of the Buddha himself.

“Daibutsu,” meaning “giant Buddha” in Japanese, is a term used to informally refer to giant statues of Buddha. Specifically in Japan, giant statues of Buddha are scattered across the country in different prefectures. Asuka-dera, regarded as one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, houses the oldest Daibutsu in the country’s history.

What a great way to include fascinating history into this beloved series!

~~~~~~~~~

⬇️ Legends of the Sea’s other socials!

📜 Carrd  |  📜 Twitter

[dailybees77]

Baba Ram Rahim Granted 20-Day Parole Amid Election Restrictions

This morning, spiritual leader Baba Ram Rahim, also known as MSG, reached his Barnawa Ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, after receiving a 20-day parole. The parole, granted by the Haryana government, comes with strict restrictions due to the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.

The decision to grant parole was made after the Haryana Chief Electoral Office reviewed the request in light of the Model Code of Conduct. Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal confirmed that the parole was approved, provided it complied with election-related regulations.

Parole Conditions and Restrictions

Due to the sensitive timing, Baba Ram Rahim's parole includes several restrictions:

No stay in Haryana: The Dera chief must remain outside Haryana throughout the parole to prevent any electoral influence, given his vast following in the state.

No public speeches: He is prohibited from making public speeches or statements that could impact public opinion during his leave.

No election involvement: Baba Ram Rahim is barred from participating in or endorsing any political activity or candidates.

Public Reactions and Opinions

The parole has sparked divided reactions. His followers celebrate his temporary release, seeing him as a humanitarian figure. In contrast, critics, particularly those involved in legal disputes with him, express concern over the timing of the parole.

FAQs on Parole and Furlough

Parole vs. Furlough: Parole is granted for specific reasons like emergencies or important ceremonies and can be given for up to 70 days per year. Furlough, on the other hand, is a leave granted without reason, usually to maintain social ties, and can last up to 20 days annually.

Timing of Parole Before Elections: Former jailer Sunil Sangwan dismissed claims that Baba Ram Rahim’s parole was linked to elections, explaining that the frequent elections in Haryana make such overlaps inevitable.

Baba Ram Rahim's Jail Life: According to Sangwan, Baba Ram Rahim follows jail rules diligently and does not demand special treatment, countering rumors of a luxurious prison stay.

[dpr-lahore-division]

With compliments from, the Directorate General of Public Relations,

Government of the Punjab, Lahore Ph. 99201390

 No.995

HANDOUT (A)

‘Maryam’s Maseehai:’ CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif Launches' Chief Minister’s Children's Heart Surgery Programme' to Save Lives of Children with Heart Diseases

Lahore, 16 September 2024:

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif officially launched ‘Chief Minister's Children's Heart Surgery Programme' for the free treatment and surgery of children with heart disease, during her visit to Lahore’s Children's Hospital Cardiac Surgery Ward. She distributed 'Child Surgery Cards' among the deserving patients under the Programme. She said,”The operation of a sick child will be done in a private hospital if there is no place in the government hospitals.” She inspected HDU and other departments of the hospital, and reviewed various facilities available in the cardiac surgery ward.

Madam Chief Minister inquired about the well-being of the young patients, gave them gifts and also played Ludo with them. She interacted with the children, and prayed,”May Allah grant you health, we all pray for you.” She also talked to the parents of the sick children, and inquired them about the availability of various facilities. She said,”It is my mission to free every citizen of Punjab, including children, from the system of queues and waiting.” She added,”The number of specialist surgeons and allied staff will be increased to multiply the capacity of pediatric heart surgery in government hospitals.”

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said,”In the first phase, pediatric heart surgery facility is being provided in 6 government and designated private hospitals including PIC and Children's Hospital Lahore, Multan's Children's and PIC, and Faisalabad and Rawalpindi Cardiology Institutes.” She added,”In the second phase, facilities for pediatric heart surgery will also be provided in the hospitals of Wazirabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Sargodha.” She also observed the dashboard developed to monitor the Programme.

Madam Chief Minister said,”I am extremely happy to launch the project as a mother, not as the Chief Minister.” She added,”I can understand the shock that mothers go through on the death of a child.”She also visited the 'play area' for children with heart diseases in the Children's Hospital Lahore, and reviewed various facilities available for them there.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said,”The provision of modern facilities of children's heart surgery is a sincere effort to wipe the tears of mothers and remove the diseases of young children.”She was briefed by the authorities concerned,”More than 5000 young children die every year due to lack of timely heart surgery.” Sha added,”In Pakistan's first treatment center for children, sick children from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces will also be treated.” She highlighted,”Children suffering from heart diseases will not have to wait for long.”

*****

[laurenetuttle]

Japan Day 7 (September 12, 2024)

Today was a lot of fun! It was our first full day in Kyoto. We woke up pretty early. Around 6 AM. We ate our 7-Eleven breakfast in our hotel room. We then left for the day around 7:30 AM. Our plan for the day was to see some of the cultural sites and Kyoto. Then later in the day we had a workshop scheduled. We took the train over to Fushimi Inarii. This site is also known as 1000 Torii gates. it’s very long pathway lined with vermilion gates. Written on the gates are the names of different Japanese companies that donated money in hopes of receiving good fortune for prosperity with their business. There are also several shrines and temples in the area as well. The path whines through a forest up a big hill overlooking Kyoto. It’s one of the most popular tourist spots in Kyoto, which is why we wanted to get there early in the day to avoid the crowds. We got there around 8 AM and there were definitely people there, but thankfully not hordes of crowds. We were able to take some pretty pictures and we also enjoyed the shade and the peace. Overall, I think today may have been the hottest day that we’ve experienced in Japan. We were sweating before even getting to this cultural site. Both of us were relying on our fans while we hiked up all the stairs along this path. The whole path is very long and goes up the side of a mountain. I had heard that the view from the top wasn’t necessarily worth all of the effort. So once we got about halfway, we decided to go back down. we decided to take another way down the mountain then we came up. Unfortunately, this other routes did not have any of the gates really on it. We saw a couple of shrines and maybe mausoleum as we walked down but none of the pretty gates. Near the bottom of the mountain, we decided to take a break and go into a café to get something cold to drink. We sat on the back patio of this café and enjoyed iced drinks as we overlooked a little river. It was rather beautiful and serene. I enjoyed an iced Matcha latte and Liz enjoyed an iced chocolate. We also enjoyed a chocolate banana muffin. As we were sitting there enjoying our break we also got to see a turtle. After our nice pitstop, we continued our walk and ended up at the beginning of the path through the gates. Because we didn’t get to walk down through the gates, we decided to walk back up a little bit and then turn around and walk back through the gates. At this point it was around 9:30 and there were tons of people. I was so thankful that we got there a lot earlier in the day.

After enough meandering in the area, we decided to take the train and then a bus over to a UNESCO world heritage site called Kiyomizu Dera temple. The bus stop was pretty far away from the temple so we had to walk up a rather large hill to get to the base of the complex. It was around this time that it started to get even more hot. So we kept having to take breaks and pop into different stores to get some relief with the air conditioning. about halfway up the hill we also stopped at a vending machine to get some cold drinks. What’s really nice about Japan as they have random vending machines literally everywhere. Most of the drinks are also only around a dollar. The street went up to the temple was lined with really adorable handcraft shops. So about every minute, we would take a break and pop into a shop. Once we got up to the temple complex, we were able to see a beautiful entrance gate, a pagoda style building, and lots of surrounding worship buildings. Unfortunately, we were very hot. So we took a break sitting on some steps for a little while and we fanned ourselves. we then continued up to the main temple area. There was a building to the left of the temple where we paid $.66 to go into an underground tunnel, which is said to have a rock that grants wishes. I was also hoping that this underground tunnel would be cold. We had to take our shoes off and we were told that it would be a pitch black tunnel. And they were not joking or exaggerating about. We took some stairs down and entered a tunnel where you could literally see absolutely nothing. We followed the edge of the wall and a rope guide as we very slowly took small steps forward. Liz was behind me and had her hand on me so that she could better navigate so she wouldn’t lose me. We eventually stumbled into an illuminated giant rock with a Japanese character on it. We made some wishes and then continued through the tunnel out the other end. It was definitely cooler in the tunnel, but I wouldn’t say cold. We then walked around the temple complex a little bit more, and we purchased tickets to go into the main hall and surrounding garden area. From the main hall, you could overlook a lot of Kyoto so it had some really great views. We were pretty miserable at this point. The heat was very oppressive and we were sweating bullets. we took a couple of breaks in the shade but continued walking around the UNESCO world heritage site and surrounding gardens. We saw another pretty pagoda building and then walked down the hill to the beginning of the complex again. We then decided to continue walking down this hill through these winding ancient streets of the neighborhood called Gion. It was an absolutely beautiful old neighborhood. Supposedly it’s where the geisha are. Then we didn’t see any in person. But we did see a lot of people who had rented kimonos to get dressed up and also wear wood sandals. The idea of wearing a with wood sandals sounded absolutely terrible in this in the weather. We wondered in and out of more handy craft shops trying to take in all the air conditioning. I bought myself a hand fan as well to supplement the airflow. At one point, we were really overheating and so we just went into the next café that had indoor seating to get a cold drink. Both of us enjoyed iced teas and sat inside for maybe about 45 minutes to try and cool off. I was so hot and sweaty that my face was stinging. And I was much too sweaty to even consider reapplying sunscreen. And we were honestly a little bit too hot to even consider eating much of a lunch. Lot of Japanese food is hot, which did not sound super appealing.

We wondered through the streets of Gion for a while. We did stop to pick up a potato croquette. It was surprisingly amazingly good. It was like deep-fried twice baked potatoes. After enjoying this little snack, we decided to head back to the hotel to try and cool off and relax for the afternoon. before going into the hotel, we stopped into the next-door 7-Eleven to pick up some ice cream sandwiches. Then we came inside the air-conditioning. Enjoyed our ice cream sandwiches and cooled off for about an hour. We then took the bus up a couple of streets to go to our jewelry making workshop at a store called Glanta. We sat in a workshop booth in the store and we picked out the size, metal, texture, and finish of the rings that we wanted to make. We both chose thin silver rings with two different texture patterns. We both heated up our rings and then polished them. We then hammered them to add the texture and make them the correct size. we then polish them so that they were both a shiny polish. After that, they took the rings from us to finish the polishing and engraving on the inside. The whole process took about an hour. And now we have some friendship rings! It was a unique experience. And now we have a cool souvenir. after the ring workshop, we had a couple blocks down the street to a dinner place that we picked out. We decided to try out a highly rated shabu shabu restaurant and it was absolutely delicious. It was a tiny restaurant where they made us takeoff our shoes at the entrance. There were only eight seats in the room that we were in. I’m not sure if there was additional seating on the floor above or not. we both got Wagyu beef shabu shabu. Our waiter spoke English and explained us the Japanese style for shabu shabu. He gave us a bunch of uncooked, Wagyu beef and vegetables for us to cook ourselves in a hot pot in front of us. We also had bowls filled with some sort of sauce and onions to dip the vegetables and meat and to eat. It was absolutely delicious. Afterwards, we were given some noodles to Cook and eat as well. At the end of it, they gave us some hot tea. It’s really interesting to be a restaurant without my shoes on. I had to use the restroom afterwards, and there were a pair of provided sandals so that you didn’t have to go into the restroom, barefoot. As we were leaving, they had lined up our sandals so that we could just easily step into them and walk out the restaurant. All the people there were so nice. In fact, everybody in Japan is really nice. When you enter in their establishment and also say thank you when you leave. After this delicious dinner, we decided to walk back to the hotel. We were pretty spent for the day. About halfway back it started to sprinkle. A couple of sprinkles weren’t too bad. But pouring about three blocks away from the hotel. Then we were running to the hotel we were getting drenched. we finally made it back to the hotel and are now airing out our smelly clothes because they are soaking wet. And we have both enjoyed a well-deserved shower. And we are having a calm evening and our pajamas enjoying the air conditioning. Despite the heat, we both really enjoyed the day. Both of our feet are taking a beating. I think because of the heat and the humidity combined with all the walking we’re doing is causing a lot of rubbing and sores. We are both using a lot of Band-Aids. The shoes we brought don’t ordinarily caused problems, but I think the heat and the humidity in the walking are making it not great. We are both looking forward to our journey home in a few days, go back to Southern California where it is not humid. But in the meantime, we are both looking forward to our adventure that we have planned for tomorrow.

[mishrasatty7]

Ram Rahim Parole Furlough HighCourt Chandigarh

Note: This story has not been edited by LegalSeva and is generated from a news syndicate feed.  ROHTAK: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, convicted in separate cases of rape and murder, walked out of a prison in Rohtak district of Haryana on Tuesday, after he was granted a 21-day furlough by the Haryana government. Ram Rahim has been granted seven paroles and three furloughs by the…

[bhaskarlive]

Dera Sacha Sauda chief gets 21-day furlough, 10th in four years

Ahead of the Assembly polls in Haryana, likely slated in October, rape convict and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is undergoing a 20-year sentence for raping two disciples, was granted a 21-day furlough on Tuesday, 10th time in four years.

After the parole, he will be staying in his sect’s Dera in Bagphat in Uttar Pradesh.

The last time Ram Rahim was granted a 50-day parole was in January.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[shuffy-rph]

Nitpicking pt. 1: If it's going to sound foreign...

I've decided to make my first target of this https://profiles.rphaven.com/Azure%20Dragon . Now for the most part, I do like the layout design and I could see this in a professionally made website. But here's where things break down for me:

The character appears based on the Japanese version of the Azure Dragon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azure_Dragon), but they threw in Chinese at the bottom.

The left side where it lists the Four Symbols doesn't need the Hiragana. It looks decorative at best, but it doesn't really add to anything. Anyone who could actually read Japanese would go "why did this person write the name twice?"

In addition, the names of the other Four Symbols seem randomly there. Granted it looks like they wanted to have a list to link to other profiles, but only one other got filled out.

There's a random shout out, for lack of a better term, to Kiyomizu-dera (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyomizu-dera). The Azure Dragon's only connection to the temple (from what my 5 minutes of Google University education is getting me) is it comes by to drink from the nearby waterfall. The temple's patron deity is Kannon (or in Chinese: Guanyin)

The traits splattered around randomly feel like just that, randomly splattered

Looking at the so-called "Baseball stats" on top, it starts to break down for me after "Serpent." I dunno, it just seems like without much other context it doesn't make sense. Well except for "Single", but on another point about that...

If you're going to put a partner status on a profile, you better be open to well, that kind of RP. However, I know the person behind this profile only really RPs with someone else. And does it even add to the overall character? No, not really. Unless I wanted a character to fall head over heels for them (which I don't), I don't really care about partner status.

So the tl;dr is the profile was made with random Japanese (and some Chinese for good measure) slapped on in an attempt to be decorative. I've also noticed I used "random" a lot, because at first glance, that's what it looks like. It's also really distracting to people who've spent maybe a year or two of formal study in Japanese.

[ashishaggarwalacubeventures]

Raising these outdated limits set back in 2017 to account for surging home rental costs and private vehicle ownership expenses would assist budgets. Additionally, improving monthly GST input credit timelines and processes would also benefit salaried taxpayers. Lastly, increasing employer PF contributions from 12% to 15% can secure employee retirement funds better,” said Ashish Aggarwal, Director, Acube Ventures

Read More: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/dera-sacha-sauda-chief-gurmeet-ram-rahim-singh-granted-parole-again-rape-murder-convict-rohtak-11705655105048.html

#AshishAggarwal #AshishAggarwalAcubeVentures #Ashish #Finance #RealEstate

[propertyaclmarts]

Where Spacious Dreams Take Flight: 1000 Gaj in Chhatarpur vs. 2000 Gaj in DLF?

For discerning investors seeking expansive plots in Delhi, two names consistently rise to the top: Chhatarpur and DLF. Both boast unique charms and offer distinct advantages when it comes to building your dream home. But with the choice between a 1000-gaj plot in Chhatarpur and a 2000-gaj plot in DLF, the decision becomes a captivating dance between space and location.

Chhatarpur: Where Serenity Meets Convenience:

Chhatarpur, nestled amidst verdant landscapes and historical charm, presents a compelling option for those seeking a blend of tranquility and convenience. 1000-gaj plots in Chhatarpur offer:

Serene Escape: Imagine waking up to the chirping of birds and the gentle breeze rustling through trees. Chhatarpur's proximity to nature provides a welcome respite from the city's hustle and bustle.

Personalized Haven: 1000 gaj allows for ample space to design your own sanctuary, whether it's a sprawling farmhouse or a contemporary bungalow.

Convenient Connectivity: Despite its serene setting, Chhatarpur offers easy access to major highways and commercial hubs, ensuring you're never far from the action.

Investment Potential: Chhatarpur's real estate market is on the rise, making a 1000-gaj plot a potentially lucrative investment.

However, consider that development in Chhatarpur is still ongoing, and amenities in close proximity might be limited.

DLF: Opulence and Exclusivity Redefined:

DLF, synonymous with luxury living, promises an unparalleled lifestyle. 2000-gaj plots in DLF offer:

Unmatched Opulence: Imagine pristine landscapes, world-class amenities, and top-notch security – DLF communities redefine luxury living.

Spacious Grandeur: 2000 gaj grants you the freedom to create a sprawling estate, complete with private gardens, swimming pools, and more.

Prestige and Legacy: Owning a plot in DLF comes with the cachet of being part of an established and prestigious community.

Investment Certainty: DLF's proven track record of appreciating property values makes a 2000-gaj plot a secure investment.

However, be aware that the premium location and amenities come at a higher price point compared to Chhatarpur.

The Decisive Dance: Aligning Your Dreams with Reality:

Ultimately, the choice between a 1000-gaj plot in Chhatarpur and a 2000-gaj plot in DLF boils down to a delicate balance between your aspirations and lifestyle:

For those seeking peace and nature's embrace: Chhatarpur's serene setting and personalized space offer a haven for the soul.

For those desiring grandeur and exclusivity: DLF's unparalleled opulence and spaciousness redefine luxury living.

For those prioritizing affordability: Chhatarpur's 1000-gaj plots offer a more accessible entry point into the world of spacious living.

For those seeking a secure investment: DLF's proven track record makes a 2000-gaj plot a potentially more secure investment.

No matter your choice, remember that both Chhatarpur and DLF offer the potential to create a magnificent abode that reflects your unique vision. So, listen to your heart, assess your priorities, and embark on a journey towards building your dream home in one of Delhi's most captivating landscapes.

For more information about small farm in Chhatarpur, small farm in ansal, small farm house in vasant kunj, small farm house in kapashera, resale farm house in dera mandi, please visit the – Property Hub Acl Marts.

Reference taken from here.