#step 2 in danial

[rocklain]

Ya'll I want to have that manly moment where I jus splash water on my face and growl at my mirror whilst busting out a badass soliloquoy

[teachernisha]

Week 4 (21 August - 25 August 2023)

MONDAY 21/08/23

Since today is the last day of examination week, the exams for the lower form which is form 1 and 2 for evening session. So far my duties for this examination week is taking care of the students at Ruang Siaga before they have to go into their class at 1:10pm. Then, I need to handing out exam papers and keeping an eyes during the examination.

TUESDAY 22/08/2023

Examination for lower form 1 and 2 has ended and mostly for teaching and learning sessions I just planned fun activity and casual tasks for my students 1 Arif. This is because I just want them to feel less pressure since they just done with their examination. However, I do asked my mentor Mrs Rossalyn, just to get the idea on what should I prepare or teach the class and based on her agreement, she just asked me to do a casual activity to them.

WEDNESDAY 23/08/23

Today is a Kokurikulum day which I have to go to school at 9:30 am for Unit Beruniform and Sports. I was assigned to Netball sport. So in the morning, I joined Ustazah Raudhah as she is the teacher of netball. We gathered the students and asked them to go to the school field. We asked them to warm-up and give a bit of examples on how to play netball. The students are mostly knows how to play since some of them already joined few matches before. Then at 11am, the students are asked to joined their Unit Uniform. I was assigned to PBSM. So, for today's activity thee students are asked to do marching as they will have to join a marching competition soon. For today, we just asked them to do simple steps and to be in staright one line. My friend, Danial lends a hands to help me conducting my students. Kokurikulum ended at 12pm and the students will be given time to rest and prepare themselves at Ruang Siaga before entering the class. For today teaching session, for 1 LP Aspirasi, I just give them simple activity on the whiteboard. Next, for my second class which is 1 Arif, I just continued the last topic that we haven't finished yet and continue the same activity together.

THURSDAY 24/08/23

On thursday, I do not have any class to teach however I do have some reliefs class. So for reliefs class, I just asked the students to do their work and stay in the class. Our school make a gotong royong together cooking bubur lambuk and give it to the whole people in school.

FRIDAY 25/08/23

Since today is the last day school before school holiday, I just prepare a simple class activity for my class which is 1 PL Aspirasi. I do have few reliefs class. Since it was the last day, the students are so excited to holiday and most of them do not really want to learn in the class so I just planned a game for them to join in the class. Since it was a last day, PAI teachers make a ceramah at surau for all the students form 1 and form 2.

[treatian]

The Chronicles of the Dark One:  The Dark Curse

Chapter 153:  What Never Happened

Rumpelstiltskin, if you've done your job right, your memories of the last few days are gone. Do not try to get them back, do not attempt to remember. You have taken them away for a reason, and not even that reason should be known to you. The following are a list of things you'll need to know in regard to your missing memories.

1) The downstairs will need to be cleaned up. You moved the couch and the table downstairs for Belle.

2) Regina will likely be angry the next time you see her. If she doesn't already know that Snow White has eluded her capture, and in this case, her execution, again, she will soon enough.

3) Snow White and Prince Charming have met and are well on their way to True Love. They'll need watching for a time to make sure everything goes as it should, but for now, the time is coming nearer for the Swan to be born and the curse to be cast. You are one step closer to your son.

4) Concerning Belle, you must immediately-

He'd found the letter sitting on his desk next to a bottle of ink and a quill that looked as though it had been hastily dropped before he could finish writing. The ink was still wet, indicating it hadn't been written long ago. Of course, if the letter was to be believed, the last instruction to himself would suggest that he, or whoever had written it, hadn't finished writing. Whoever had written it...he would have loved to discover it was a trick of some kind, that someone was trying trap him or get him to do something he'd regret. Then, he would be free to pursue what had happened that led up to finding that letter. Unfortunately, over the next several days, he saw evidence that the letter certainly was genuine. To begin with, the letter wasn't signed, but it was written in his own hand. It bore no traces of magic, and whoever had left it had access to his tower. Those signs alone pointed to himself as the letter's author.

Furthermore, the Great Room downstairs bore traces of the "cleaning" that was mentioned as "necessary" under item number one. The last time he'd seen it his wheel and a mirror had decorated it, now the couch that Belle had moved in her first few weeks as well as a small table with magical supplies, including his crystal ball, decorated it. Why? He didn't know. The letter hadn't stated, only that it had been for Belle. She showed no interest in starting a conversation around strangers or any odd incidents that had happened in the last few days, forcing him to assume that no one else had been in the castle to know about the Great Room change of arrangement.

After inspecting the Great Room and correcting the furniture, he also checked in on Regina, Snow, and David. David and Snow seemed no different than the last time he'd glimpsed them though perhaps a little more…weary? Distracted? He'd found David in Midas' castle looking out the window of his tower to the woods, and he'd found Snow in a tavern, sitting by the window, doing the exact same thing. There was no indication that they'd met, but there was also no indication that he'd see anything different. He'd needed them to meet; that didn't mean they had to be joined at the hip or writing love letters to one another after one meeting.

Instead, for confirmation, he'd gone to the only other clue that the letter had given him: Regina. Oh, angry she was. It appeared that in the last few days Snow had indeed eluded her capture along with some other prisoners. He listened as she paced back and forth in her room, the skirts of her black dress swishing and swaying with every turning stride. She'd thought she finally had her, been closer than she'd ever thought she was! She'd kidnapped a woman from the forest, one who knew where she was hiding but refused to tell her. She'd sent her back to the castle to be executed when she didn't talk along with three others. She'd attended the engagement ball for Prince James and Princess Abigail at Midas' castle, a pleasantry and expectation for royalty. While she'd been there, she'd received word that Snow was in the castle and sent her guards, but some woman, a princess she claimed though she could find no proof of that, helped her escaped. She'd taken the woman prisoner and put her on her own little death row as well, hoping she might talk. But it wasn't necessary. The next night Snow White broken into her tower and tried to use Black Fairy Dust on her. But of course, she wasn't surprised, she'd used her magic to steer clear of the dust and had her guards take her prisoner. She'd had them build a pyre right then and there so that she didn't escape, and she'd slept like a baby for all of one night thinking that Danial was finally avenged. But when the next morning came, she received word that two of her prisoners had escaped. And worse, that afternoon she was visited by some trolls that wanted reward money, they'd seen Snow White, attacked her and Prince James that very morning on the Troll bridge. She'd used her genie in the mirror to see that her enemy was alive and well and realized how she'd escaped into the night.

Talking to Regina answered nearly all his questions, even assured him that the False Prince and Princess had met. What it didn't do was explain the last line of his letter, the unfinished sentence.

4) Concerning Belle, you must immediately-

What?! What did he need to do immediately?! Did she need something? Had she done something? Did she know something?! Why hadn't he finished that line?! He hoped the woman might give him a hint, that when they saw each other she'd be bashful or upset, maybe angry or even remarkably happy! Anything that might give him a hint at what he needed to know! But she was normal. Completely and utterly normal. She delivered his meal to him on time, like always. They ate breakfast in silence. She did her chores, he did his work, they had tea and dinner, a bit of time together in the Great Hall before they went their separate ways and that was it. She asked nothing about the last few days. She didn't pry or distance herself. Her heart rate was normal. He didn't understand what he was supposed to do with her or why there was such urgency.

He wasn't sure what happened over the last few days, why he'd felt a need to give himself a memory potion to wipe it all away, or why he told himself not to explore it. But he knew that if there was one person in this realm he trusted it was himself. Confident that he'd written the letter, he decided to listen to his own remarks and let it all go. Unsettled as he felt about Belle, he had to believe that if the instruction was essential, he would have finished writing it down instead of leaving it blank. And, if it was important, then he had to believe with all his might that the issue would come back again. He just had to wait it out. And in the meantime…he had work to do.

The list of clients that King George had given him for the Golden Fairy-it wasn't her exact whereabouts, but it would have to do. He spent all of one day using his crystal ball, searching out each individual name until he got to one, in particular, that gave him pause.

Ella, an oddity. The Golden Fairy dealt with "clients" that appeared not to need a Fairy Godmother. Her godchildren were rich, upper class, and in most cases royal, but this girl…she was a maid. A real maid, not like the kind Belle was, who was well cared for and got away with everything. This girl dressed in rags, there were cinder marks on her face, sweat beaded on her forehead as she worked in front of the fire cooking dinner, a general look of misery about her. But she was kind. She fed mice what little she had, took care of animals, and talked to the stars. And all the while her golden hair…

Golden hair.

His vision! The original one, the one that he'd had when the Seer had given him the answer to everything! She'd been in it! In fact, now that he thought about it, she'd been in it twice!

"A precious debt from a woman of ash will find the boy of fire…" Those were the Seer's words followed by the face of a woman in rages with golden hair framing a face with soot…her face. She was the woman, the one in rags the one he needed to find Baelfire. And her fairy Godmother…how did she play into this?

Another vision gave him his answer, brief and uninformative as it was.

It was nighttime, he knew because the sky was dark. The woman was outside, she was sweeping when suddenly the golden fairy appeared before her. In her hand was a wand, a wand like he'd seen before in another vision. It was the sixth of the six wands. He watched as before his eyes as the fairy exploded into nothing and left standing in her place…was him.

"Cinderella," the Seer whispered into his head, a new name for the girl of ash, a new piece to the puzzle.

One step after another. Piece by piece. It was all falling into place. It was beginning to happen so fast he could hardly believe that what he'd been working on all this time was finally starting to pass. It was overwhelming. It was almost unbelievable. But he couldn't allow himself to be stopped by it. His memories of the last few days were locked away, he could feel right down to the marrow of his bones that it wasn't time to approach the Golden Fairy yet, and he hadn't a clue what he was supposed to do about Belle. With nothing else to do, he did the only thing he could think to do. He turned his attention back to something attainable, something he should be going after.

He wanted to find the boy from Clopin's latest group of immigrants. He had to get his hands on his book.

[astro-onechampionship]

3 Reasons Singaporean’s Cannot Miss ‘ONE on TNT I’

We’re just weeks away from the first of four ONE Championship events that will air live on U.S. prime-time television in April, but that doesn’t mean Singaporeans should miss all the action.

In fact, there are plenty of reasons to catch the first event – “ONE on TNT I” – on 8 April. Below, we present three of them.

#1 ONE World Champion Vs. World’s Greatest

ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes has long reigned over the division, and now the six-time ONE World Champion will meet his match in 12-time Flyweight World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.

The flyweight duo will meet in the main event of “ONE on TNT I” in a matchup that fans have clamored for ever since Johnson won the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship.

This fight will prove who is truly the greatest flyweight in history, as Moraes has yet to face a man of Johnson’s caliber, and "Mighty Mouse" has yet to challenge for a ONE World Title.

#2 ‘The Underground King’ Resurfaces

Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez had a rough welcome to ONE Championship, but the Philadelphia native will look to redeem himself against #2-ranked lightweight Iuri Lapicus in the evening’s co-main event.

The winner of their bout could very well challenge – or rematch in Lapicus’ case – reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee sometime in the future.

With that said, this clash will be a true test for both men. Lapicus will face one of the most experienced opponents of his career, while Alvarez will step into the Circle against a young and hungry rising star.

#3 Rodtang Returns To Muay Thai

Fans love when ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon steps into the ring, especially under Muay Thai rules.

Luckily for fans, the Thai is returning to “the art of eight limbs” after picking up a hard-fought split decision in ONE Super Series kickboxing against “Samingpri” Tagir Khalilov.

This time, however, he'll be facing another tough challenge in Danial “Mini T” Williams, who loves to bang like “The Iron Man.”

Download the ONE Super App, and be the first to know how you can watch “ONE on TNT I” on 8 April.

Read More From ONE Championship:

Demetrious Johnson Plans To Push The Pace, ‘Drown’ Adriano Moraes

5 Reasons To Get Excited For The ‘ONE On TNT’ Event Series

Eddie Alvarez Wants To Take Himself And ONE To New Heights

[nelliievance]

Healthy Gait For Healthy Aging, Part I

I previously wrote briefly about the importance of maintaining a good walking gait for healthy aging here and here. I promised to follow up on that in more detail, which I’m getting around to now. This took me a while because I had to do a lot of reading on the fascinating topic of biomechanics of gait [1] and how gait can degrade with aging [2, 3]. In this post I’ll go over the importance of healthy gait and the biomechanics of gait. In part II I’ll go over how gait can deteriorate due to one or more of aging, illness, or injury, and go over some exercises for maintaining gait. I will not go cover exercises for rehabilitating your gait if it is already impaired, I’ll leave that to professional therapists. But if you do already have an impaired gait I hope these couple of posts will inspire you to work on fixing it.

Degradation of gait is highly prevalent with aging, occurring in 35% of people over 70 [2]. We’ve all seen older folks with slow, shuffling gaits and short strides, which reduces the quality of life. Together with reduced balance with aging, this leads to major fall risks, leading to injuries like broken hips from which many never recover [3]. In addition, gait can degrade due to injuries and illnesses including arthritis, neurological disorders and strokes. Even when the original problem is corrected, such as through joint replacements, many people never recover a proper gait if they don’t do physical therapy exercises diligently enough.

Keeping up a vigorous walking program helps stave off gait degradation, but even that may not be enough because of age-related loss of strength. My Uncle Din was my fitness role model when I was growing up. My Mom and most of my Aunts and Uncles were pretty sedentary, but Uncle Din went for a brisk walk of at least an hour every day, rain or shine. This kept him vigorously healthy till pretty close to his passing at the age of 92. But by his 80s he was getting frail, and by his late 80s he was getting slower and his steps shorter. So even though he aged much better than people who are not active, he could have benefitted from throwing in some strength training and physical therapy.

The human upright walking gait is a miracle of evolution discussed in detail in Professor Danial Lieberman’s book Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding. Essentially, there are two parts to walking, the stance phase and the swing phase, that together make up two pendulums, one of which is inverted. The stance leg is the one whose foot is on the ground, while the swing leg is the other one. The stance leg is the inverted pendulum, pivoting about a point near the foot on the ground, while the swing leg is the conventional pendulum, pivoting about the hip. This is shown schematically in a figure from [4]:

The inverted pendulum motion of the stance leg.

The energy stored and released refers to the fact that our center of gravity raises in the first part of the stance phase, which takes work, but lowers back down in the second part, when we get the energy back. If you can notice this while walking it makes it feel more effortless. More on that below. Engineers are taught in dynamics class that inverted pendulums are unstable, and that is true in this case also. Picture what it is like to balance a broom handle upright with one end of it one your finger. The figure above is a side view, but the “pendulum”, your stance leg, can fall forward and back and side to side as well. Your body has to control that with muscle action, for example your hip muscles are controlling forward and back rotation about the hip (flexion/extension), side to side rotation (abduction/adduction), and rotation about the axis of the thigh bone (internal and external rotation).

This is already appearing tricky, but it’s oversimplified. For one it is only describing forward and backward motion, in a side view (the “sagittal plane”). More on that below. Also, your leg is not a broom stick, it flexes at the knee and ankle joints too. Here is a more detailed side view from [1]:

You can see some more details in this picture: the knee flexes at the beginning of the stance phase, and extends towards the end. The ankle “plantar-flexes” (points the top of your foot away from your leg) at the end of the stance phase, sometimes called “toe off”, which allows your calf muscles to contribute to propulsion.

https://www.teachpe.com/anatomy-physiology/planes-of-movement

I mentioned that a side view is not enough. There is also sideways motion, mostly at the hips but at the knees and ankle also (in the “frontal” plane). The ankles mostly plantar- and dorsi-flex (points the top of foot towards leg), but have to do a bit of sideways rotation also to adjust to uneven terrain. There are a lot of other fascinating details, described in [2].

To summarize, the muscles of the hips, knees, and ankles are used for propulsion, and other muscles, especially in the hip, are controlling rotation about three different axes. All of this has to be governed by your nervous system using balance cues. And toddlers make it look easy!

But as we are, this beautifully choreographed system can start to degrade. I’ll go over that, and what to do about it, in part II.

The final point about normal gait is that it can be enjoyable to notice some of the aspects I’ve described, like the contribution of the ankle during “toe off”, and the effortless feeling, which can almost feel like floating, during the latter part of the stance phases as the center of gravity is lowering. I used to get a very relaxing “effortless power” feeling from running, which I missed in the first few years after I had to give it up. But now I can get a similar feeling from walking.

References

Nordin, M, and Frankel, V, Basic Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal System, Walters Kluwer, 2012.

Osoba, M, et al, Balance and gait in the elderly: A contemporary review, Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2019.

Kerrigan, D, et al, Biomechanical gait alterations independent of speed in the healthy elderly: evidence for specific limiting impairments, Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998.

Lieberman, D, Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding, Pantheon, 2021

Healthy Gait For Healthy Aging, Part I published first on https://steroidsca.tumblr.com/

[a-pretty-nerd]

50 Shades of Devon: Part 2

Devon bostick x reader smut series

Concept: 50 Shades of grey…but with Devon Bostick

A/N: I know the last one wasn’t very fun, but it was more of a set up for this one! So I hope you enjoy this one a little more! As always, requests and feedback are greatly appreciated! ✌❤

Warnings: None…yet!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear lord, was your job exhausting. You were constantly running around set. Whether it was assisting cast, or crew. You three interns had your hands full. Danial, your coworker, is more or less constantly helping the crew members. Billy, is often found sucking up to your boss, Olivia. She’s practically her shadow. You, were most requested by the actors. Tom, Steven, Zoe, and Devon mostly. You assist the majority of the cast as well. Much of it is coffee runs, or getting people their scripts. This, however, gives many opportunities to ogle your newfound ‘office crush’.

Out of everyone, and I mean everyone. Devon treats you with the most respect. He’s not outwardly friendly, but he’s just. Nice. He’s the calmest person on set. Your favorite is watching him film a scene. He’s brilliant to watch. And he’s always so active in his work. You find him utterly adorable. Your heart jumps out of your chest when his eyes meet yours.

“Y/N, round up the others. We’ll need them soon.” Olivia orders. You nod, and walk over to where the majority of the others are socializing.

“Exscuse me. You guys are being called for.” You tell them, pointing behind you. A few shuffle off, passing you by. Tom is the last to walk by you.

“Wish me luck.” He winks. You’re not really sure how to react so you just manage to blurt out a:

“You don’t need it.” With an awkward smile as he smiles and walks away. Tom was nice and all, just…a bit full of himself. He flirted constantly. Whether it be Zoe, Billy, the makeup girls, anyone. He just, wasn’t your cup of tea you could say. You followd the group, and watched it all go down. As the director spoke with the small group, you watched Devon wonder off once he was dismissed. “Uh, can I get you anything?” You asked. His attention shifted between you, and his script until he focused on you.

“What was your name again?”

“Y/N.” You answered. He nodded.

“Right. Y/N. Yknow I might need a little help with some lines. If you aren’t too busy?”

“What do you need?” You smiled. He looked back at the group, just to make sure he wasn’t needed. He motioned for you to follow him outside. Into the parking lot where the trailers sat. People crawling in and out of them. You followd him to his trailer, where you sat down at the table.

“Uh, here. Sit across.” He pulled out a script from a bag sitting next to him and tossed it on the table so it slid in front of you.

“What’s this?”

“I have another film I’m working on. I need help with lines.” You flipped through the script. A thriller, romance, drama sort of deal. “Have you done any acting, Y/N?”

“Here and there. I’m no professional.”

“There’s no such thing. Um, lets start at page fourty? The top.” You nodded and flipped through as he started to recite the lines. You rushed to find his place. “What is wrong with you? Huh? What the actual, fuck, is wrong with you?” Suddenly he was in character. You found yourself stumbling to say the line back.

“O-Oh don’t act all innocent. You’re just as guilty.” You read, trying to add some kind of pizzazz to the words. Regardless of how out of the loop you were.

“Yeah I’m Guilty alright. Guilty of trusting you. Guilty of-” He leaned forward, peering into your eyes intently.

“Don’t you dare, Patt. I swear to god, if you…if you open your big mouth and say that word. I’m gonna lose it.”

“Guilty of loving you.” Devon’s deep brown eyes are losing themselves in yours. Either he’s an amazing actor. Or somethings just a little off. The small space is filled with something forgein. Incredible tension you’ve never felt before. But you can’t tell whether its Devon, or just, your own wishful thinking. You open your mouth to read the next line.

“Y/N!” A voice shouts, standing in the doorway. Olivia stands there with her clip board. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”

“Sorry!” You drop the script on the table, and stand up. Scurrying out of the small space to her.

“She’s fine, Olivia. She was helping me with some work. I asked for her assistance.” He stood, and put his hands in his pockets. Still calm, cool, and collected.

“Uh huh.” She sasses him, before pushing you back to work. Suddenly it becomes routine for you to help Devon with his lines during his breaks. This goes on for a few days. Each time you feel the same oddly strong tension. You try to break it with a joke or two between lines. Earning a smile from Devon. He’ll crack another in response, and so and so forth.

“So um, Devon.”

“Yes?”

“You’re always asking me for help with lines, but not once have you gotten a line wrong or been unsure.” You observe.

“What’s your point?” He asks with a smirk.

“So why have me go over lines with you?”

“Ooh questioning your superior’s motives. I could get you fired for that.” He jokes. You laugh. “Truthfully, it’s practice. I’m a little shy when it comes to my work. You seem like a safe subject to test on.” You give a fake gasp.

“The great Bostick? Shy?” He chuckles.

“I know. Shocking.” His eyes meet yours as his smile slowly subsides, but not completely. “You’re not bad yourself Y/N. With a little practice and coaching. You could be an actor yourself.” You shake your head.

“Flattery will get you nowhere.” You jest.

“I’m serious.” He looks at you strangly again. The tension swirls, as you lean against the couch you’re sitting on. You don’t know what to say, so you find yourself just staring at him. He shifts closer. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t want him. If you said you didn’t want to pull him close and kiss him without a care in the world.

“Hey Devon!” You hear Steven enter the trailer. He pauses when he sees just the two of you.

“Yeah?”

“A couple of us were going out to drinks after. You wanna come?” Devon considers this for a moment.

“Sure. Why not.” He nods his head with a smile. Steven nods to you next.

“What about you Y/N?”

“What?”

“You wanna tag along?”

“Oh. Uh. Sure.” He nods happily, and leaves the two of you.

“Where were we?” Devon turns back to you.

“Ummm. Page four.” Later that night, when all is said and done. You’re clocking out. Finding the small group of actors waiting in the parking lot. They shove you into an uber with a few others where you later arrive at some random bar you’ve never been to before. Zoe is chatting your ear off about something, you don’t care about. Practically all through the night she’s clinging on to you. Your only escape, is watching Devon socialize with Tom and Steven across the room. Your eyes meet at some point, and you dart yours away.

“Yknow the guys, they really like you Y/N.”

“What?”

“The guys. They think your cute.” Zoe says, a little on the tispy side herself. She then goes on to talk about her ex, and how this random guy wondering around keeps hitting on her. You, easily loose attention. You managed to exscuse yourself at some point. Somehow, you still feel lile you’re work. Only, you drink at this work. You step out of the bathroom, and start to walk down the hallway back to the bar. Before Devon turns the corner and catches you off gaurd.

“Oh, hey. I-” Suddenly you feel a hand on the back of your neck. His soft, plump lips capture yours in the moment as he presses himself against you. You’re pressed into the wall behind you, as you kiss back. Instinctively you move your hands up his slender form. His hands moving all over you. Your head is in the clouds in the passionate moment. Suddenly someone walks out of the bathroom and Devon pulls himself away. He quickly adjusts himself and acts as if nothing happened as they walk off.

“Sorry. I’m a little…”

“It’s fine. Perfectly fine.” He nods his head, runs his fingers through his hair. Licks his lips, and turns.

“Y/N.”

“Devon.” And he walks off. You see him a few days later at work. He doesn’t ask you for line help again.

[ourhaileydavies]

Juniper Publishers-Open Access Journal of Head Neck & Spine Surgery

Sequential Delivery of Growth Factors from Hydrolytically Degradable Silica-Based Nanoparticles for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Authored by Danial Barati

Abstract

Articular cartilage shows a very limited self-healing capability due to it's a vascular structure. It has been reported that sequential supplementation of various growth factors such as bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP-7), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-01) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) play critical roles in reconstruction of articular cartilage tissue. The objective of this work is to design a drug delivery system which facilitates the controlled sequential delivery growth factors to maximize the extent of chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and consequently reconstruction of damaged cartilage tissue. Surface-modified silica nanoaprticles (SNs) with short segments of lactide (L) and glycolide (G) units were used for grafting and timed-release of growth factors. It was shown that by changing the length of L and G units, the release rate of grafted bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the surface of SNs can be controlled. Nanoparticles with bigger G units showed faster release rate of BSA compared with shorter G units. Additionally, the presence of short LG segments did not significantly change the size distribution of SNs.

Introduction

Articular cartilage can resist a significant amount of mechanical stress and provide a lubricating surface for the gliding joints and a load-bearing matrix attached to the underlying bone [1] . However, due to its avascular nature and low metabolism, it has a very limited self-repair capability upon suffering a trauma [2] . The disease control and prevention center reported that nearly 27 million Americans suffer from joint pain and stiffness, loss of function and disability [3]. While various strategies such as transplantation of autogenous or allogenous chondrocytes, or the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are currently used for cartilage treatment, these strategies always suffer from inherent risks of an immune reaction, lack of suitable donor site, and more importantly they rarely restore the full function to the joint [4,5].

It has been demonstrated that different types of growth factors such as bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP-7), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) play critical roles in tissue engineering of articular cartilage to induce chondrogenic differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) [6-8]. However, the bioavailability and bioactivity of these growth factors are both time and concentration dependent [4,9,10]. Several studies have shown that the sequential supplementation of growth these factors is critical to prevent dedifferentiation of cells by first promoting proliferation with one specific growth factor, and then differentiation and expression of a desired phenotype with another [9,10]. A critical barrier to progress in this way is the lack of suitable delivery systems which work for precise controlled and orchestrated time-dependent delivery of multiple growth factors, although many studies have been conducted to control the delivery of growth factors for different tissue engineering applications. Accordingly, the main challenge of this work is to engineer a programmable delivery system to control the release rate of BMP-7, TGF-β1 and IGF-I growth factors and consequently maximize the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs.

To address this challenge, the idea is to engineer a silica based nanoparticle system containing short segments of biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid to control the release rate of grated proteins (Figure 1). We have chosen MSNs given their demonstrated biocompatibility, osteogenic potential[11] , and efficacy as drug delivery vehicles for sustained release of antibiotics [12] and anti-cancer drugs [13]. We envision that due to the hydrophilic nature of silica nanoparticles, bioactivity of the grafted proteins will be significantly enhanced over solid hydrophobic micro/nanoparticles such as poly lactic-co- glycolic acid (PLGA) which are currently used for drug delivery applications. Accordingly, we assume that the protein release rate can be tuned by type or length of the degradable segments. The novelty of this project is to design a low-cost hydrolytically degradable nanocarrier system which facilitates a programmable sequential delivery of multiple growth factors with a controlled timed-release to enhance chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs for cartilage tissue engineering applications.

Materials and Methods

Materials: Lactide (L) and glycolide (G) monomers with >99.5% purity (Ortec, Easley, SC) were dried under vacuum at 40°C for at least 12h before use. N, N/-disuccinimidyl carbonate (DSC) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were received from Novabiochem (EMD Biosciences, San Diego, CA) and Jackson Immuno Research (West Grove, PA), respectively. Hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (SN) was kindly donated by Evonik Corporation (New Jersy). All other reagents were purchased from Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis, MO).

Methods: To activate the silanol groups of SNs were activated by adding 1.5x10-4 mol triethyl amine (TEA) to 250mg of SN containing 3x10-4 mol SiOH groups in 70ml toluene as the solvent. In the next step, 6x10-4 mol of isopropyl alcohol was added to the mixture to continue the reaction for 2h at 50 °C. Then, the desired amount of L was added to the mixture along with 1ml tin (II) 2-ethylhexanoate as the reaction catalyst and the reaction was run for 6h. The lactide chain-extended silica was used as an initiator for chain extension with G monomer with a predetermined L to G ratio. The reaction was allowed to proceed for 6h at 50°C and the product was precipitated in ice-cold hexane to remove the unreacted monomers. In separate reactions, the mole ratio of L and G was changed from 100% (L100) to 75% (L75/G25) and 50% (L50/G50) while the total amount of L and G was kept fixed at 3x10-3 mol. The synthesized copolymer on SNs surface was functionalized with succinimide groups by reacting hydroxyl end-groups of the copolymer with DSC as we described previously [14]. The product was purified by dialysis against DI water and lyophilized.

To attach BSA on the surface of modified SNs, 10mg SNs was suspended in 0.5mL PBS by sonication for 1 min. Next, 0.5mL of the protein in PBS (20mg/mL for BSA) was added to the SNs suspension. The amine group of the protein was allowed to react with succinimide end-groups of LG in the surface of SNs under ambient conditions for 12h as we previously described (Figure 1) [15]. The protein grafted SNs were freeze-dried to obtain a free-flowing powder. To determine grafting efficiency, the protein grafted SNs were resuspended in PBS and centrifuged at 18,000 rcf for 10min and the supernatant was analyzed for total protein content with the ninhydrin reagent as we described previously [16]. Grafting efficiency was determined by dividing the amount of attached protein (total - free protein) by the initial amount in the grafting reaction.

Size distribution of the SNs was measured by dynamic light scattering with a Submicron Particle Sizer (Model 370, NICOMP, Santa Barbara, CA) as described previously [16,17]. For measurement of release kinetic, 1mg protein grafted SNs were incubated in 1mL PBS at 37°C as we previously described [15]. At each time point, the suspension was centrifuged at 18350 rcf for 10min, the supernatant was removed, the SNs were resuspended in 1mL fresh PBS and incubated until the next time point. The amount of BSA in the supernatant was measured with the ninhydrin reagent as described [16,18].

Results and Discussion

The calculated grafting efficiency of BSA to SNs based on the procedure explained in the method section was 52±9%. The effect of L and G segments on average diameter and size distribution of nanoparticles are shown in (Figure 2a). It can be observed the addition of short L and G parts in SNs does not significantly change the average diameter of particles. The particle sizes are between 120±12 and 165±15 for SN and SN- L100, respectively. Figure 2b reveals the effect of the length of L and G segments on release rate of BSA from nanoparticles. The results demonstrated that by increasing the length of lactide the release rate of BSA will decrease significantly. The cumulative release percentage of BSA is 51±5, 65±8 and 91±4 for L50/ G50, L75/G25 and L100, respectively, after 24 days. The average release rate of BSA from L50/G50, L75/G2 5 and L100 is 3.2, 2.4 and 2.1 wt%, respectively, during the first 24 days.

It has been reported that the release kinetic of BSA grafted to the PLG copolymer follows the degradation rate of the copolymer [19]. Additionally, it has been previously shown that the degradation kinetic of LG based micelles depends on the proximity of water molecules to L and G ester groups [20,21], which is dependent on hydrophobicity of the degradable units [19]. Therefore, the fraction of less hydrophobic G in LG segments has a profound effect on LG unit degradation and consequently the release rate of protein. As a result, by increasing the fraction of G, which is less hydrophobic than L, from 0 to 50%, the the average release rate of BSA increased from 2.1 wt% to 3.2 wt%.

Conclusion

It was shown that by surface modification of silica nanoparticles with short segments of lactide and glylcolide, the controlled release of growth factors can be achieved. Based on the release profile of BSA from surface modified silica nanopartilces, by increasing the ratio of glycolide segment from 0% to 50% with respect to lactide segment, the average release rate of BSA will increase from 2.1 wt% to 3.2 wt% per day. Some of the potential challenges of using nanoparticulate systems for drug delivery applications are the stability of the nanoparticles in aqueous environment, bioactivity of growth factors and controlling release mechanism of growth factors from nanoparticles. Therefore, further studies need to be done on the properties of surface modified nanoparticles as well as controlled release of target growth factors like of BMP-7, TGF-^1 and IGF-Iand their effect on chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs.

For more articles in Open access Journal of Head Neck & Spine Surgery | Juniper Publishers please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com/jhnss/index.php

[theundergroundarchives]

Rising Prodigy: The Early Success of Afiq Not Nice

Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, an 18-year-old rap personality known as Afiq Not Nice, found what most would call as success at a relatively young age. From having been a normal kid who indulges himself with FIFA online video game series inside the bedroom of his Wangsa Melawati home, to eventually being co-signed by a number of prominent platforms in the ever-evolving Malaysian hip hop circle; the future surely seems bright for this young star in the making. Writer Redza Remee talks to the rap personality who goes by the moniker of Afiq Not Nice, to which he speaks out about his influences who have inspired him whilst growing up, shares an insight about how his creative process looks like, and touches on the vulnerable subjects such as the pressures mounted on young people during their early age.

Words by Redza Remee

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A post shared by afiqnotnice (@afiqnotnice) on Sep 7, 2019 at 4:53am PDT

“Staying up ‘till 4 AM, just keep working on myself” - Afiq Not Nice in “Wonder”

The journey of Muhd Afiq Hisham, or better known with his stage name, Afiq Not Nice, getting into the music scene started in 2018 when he first began writing rap lyrics with his friend, Umar Danial. Consequently, this would lead the then-one-named Afiq collaborating with the latter in “Wonder”, an EDM-produced track by Rabbit Theft. Confiding his surrounding as having a significant influence in shaping his individuality, the Ampang-born rapper stays true to what’s been said when he spoke out the struggles and motivations as heard in his verses in “Wonder”.

Interesting enough to note, even behind the apparent humility that’s present in Afiq’s demeanour, the young star makes it clear that he is, indeed, a goal-driven individual who’s easily inspired and motivated by his close-knit peers who also happen to venture into the mutual creative path. Having been influenced not merely by just those mainstream, and established international acts such as Drake, Future and Kendrick Lamar, Afiq too, is surrounded by a tight-knit circle of realists that includes Apek G, Dame and Saucie J, who have been with him since his day one of venturing into the music pursuit. In certain occasions, they would be collaborating with one another as seen in “All Day” and “Five Stars” which have been produced by Saucie J.

For Afiq, moving forward towards the individual progression is made possible through his real life connections and friendships which he perceives as the positive “pressures”. He admits to being inspiringly moved to do the same thing whenever he sees one of his close artiste friends puts out a banger. He says, “I’d usually just write about anything that pops up naturally in my mind. Take it for “Five Stars”, not even going to lie, I wrote it when I were in the toilet, doing business. Honestly, I don’t think I would mind you quoting me on that.”

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A post shared by afiqnotnice (@afiqnotnice) on Apr 2, 2020 at 8:41am PDT

“I ain't stressed. Lowkey, and I got to meet with Joe, that's finesse.” - Afiq Not Nice in “All Day”

Despite he was only 17-year-old at the time of his debut, Afiq Not Nice stood first-in-line, ahead of his other creative peers, when the spotlight of attention was being diverted towards him when he made the guest appearance in Joe Flizzow’s 16 Baris (Season 2), alongside other established guests - K-Clique’s MK and QYO. He reminisces the buzzing sensation he experienced when he received the “golden mail” from the Mr. President’s team, who had invited him to star in the 11th episode of the ground-breaking cypher show, saying, “I was chilling in my bedroom, playing FIFA. Suddenly, I realized that I had received an email from the 16 Baris team and guess what? I was shaking. I even had to go to the bathroom and look at my own reflection in the mirror, trying to process everything that had just happened at the time. Honestly, I was totally unable to contain my excitement!”

Since his 16 Baris’ appearance, the then 17-year-old started to be opened with countless doors of opportunities including that of performing at one of Malaysian renowned hip hop live stages, Raising the Bar. He expresses his gratitude to the given platforms as well as the individuals including Jin Hackman and Sheldon who have responsibly put others onto his music. Being a start-up artiste at such a young age, he sees everything that he has experienced by far as a learning process.

Although the eagle eyes of Malaysian hip hop may have discovered his existence, Afiq, like most of other 18-year-olds, admits to being caught within the inescapable existential crisis. Putting aside his adopted persona of Afiq Not Nice, Afiq confesses that he’s in the midst of figuring himself out, as a person, and for his future direction. As someone who personally claims that he’s only starting up as a creative individual, he confesses to refusing to refer himself either as an artiste or a rapper as he feels like he is yet to properly take on his early steps of getting into the music industry. “I wouldn’t say music is a side thing for me, but a thing to propel me forward in the future. For now, I’m just a normal kid.”

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A post shared by afiqnotnice (@afiqnotnice) on Mar 7, 2020 at 2:23am PST

Being a young artiste comes with both praises and challenges, but as Afiq acknowledges, “It all depends on how you move your way,” explaining, “There’s this pressure these young artistes put upon themselves in order to get something quick. But let me tell you something, you don’t have to rush anything.” He reasons that life is a process, and that the future products should learn to trust the process instead of rushing themselves in putting out their discography. “Take it one day at a time, rather than thinking “Oh, it’s been a year, why haven’t I blown up yet?” Don’t stress yourself out. You’re still hella young.”

With a future that seems to be promising enough lying ahead of him, the young star in the making admits to having no ideas about how the visualization of his future is going to look like. He however, believes in giving his all to his desired pursuit. In Afiq’s words, “you get back the energy that you channel out.” 

Currently working on new music, Afiq Not Nice hints on his forthcoming release which is a 4-track extended play that will include the previously released singles “Five Stars” and “All Day”. While it’s still in the final process of mastering, Afiq shares his excitement of releasing the new project to his fans soon, saying that he’s totally into the songs that he’s going to put out this time around.

Watch Afiq Not Nice guesting in the second season of 16 Baris:

[sociotechnical]

Minutes - 22nd of December 2017

Trinity College Dublin – Social Computing CS3107 Minutes

 Week 7 – Wednesday 22nd November 2017

Week 6 Follow-Up - Behaviour and Social Computing

& Week 7 – Culture & Social Computing

 Location: C1.07 Lloyd Institute TCD

Time: 18:00 – 20:30

 Attendees             PJ Wall, Bill Gunning, Lukasz Szemis, Seamus Crowley, William McCann, John Murphy, Anne Marie Stokes, Paddy Slattery, Chi-Wing Chung, Tiaden Beyl, Conor Spillane, Gerard Carragher, Louise Vaughan, Tony Fitzgerald, Barry O’Neill, John Rogan, Danial Jabbar, Mathijs Wagemaker and Rowena Mc Keon

 Follow on from last week:

●        Discussion on how the internet allows a person to show the extreme version of themselves

●        Offline with society we have a structure we adhere to

o    Examples – dress sense in work, quietness in library, responsiveness, when boss is giving a presentation

●        PJ firmly believes that different environments have different rules that we are not even aware of, in the way we interact for example at home, work, social, etc. He talked about ontology and epistemology, which are both important elements of the philosophy of knowledge. If they often overlap, they have clear distinction: epistemology is about the way we know things when ontology is about what things are.

o    Example of Dublin Firemen trying to example a rescue operation from the Liffey, in class they find it hard to explain, but when out doing it, it’s natural

●        Online these rules do not exist

●        PJ believes the “Real Us” has layers, and you will expose different layers to the different people in your life, work, friends close loves ones

●        The extreme layer, inner layer is seen online – radicalisation due to the freedom to speak online

 Open Source Software:

●        What’s the motivation to develop OSS

o    Altruism, Belief, Validation of Peers, Monetary, Learning

●        Number 1 motivation is the person’s belief that this is the right thing to do

●        Richard Stallman and GNU – believes everyone should have access to free software

●        He’s different, he has the belief that the software should be free and the technical ability to make it happen

●        Known for wearing a “hailo” in his presentations as his belief is that strong

 People Believing in Themselves:

●        Mention on Project Champions – the people who believe in the project, will carry it forward and as such bring the team along with them

●        Examples of people with belief in themselves include Donald Trump, Richard Branson, nurses

 Motivation to Contribute to a Social Computing:

●        We are drawn into the platform with the technology we have available

●        Not even a conscience decision

●        Online examples

o    Politics.ie, boards.ie, FB, Twitter, Amazon

●        These platforms are now gamifying, likes, shares, retweets, honest reviews

●        Gives users validation when using the platform

 What Motivates People to Participate in Social Media:

●        Slide showing the difference values that lead people to look at contributing

o    Intrinsic – altruism, curiosity, achievement (Intrinsic motivators work the hardest as they have the belief)

o    Extrinsic – rewards, recognition, power

●        Mainly a mix of both sets of values for most people

●        6-Step plan, define goals, Stand out cookie clutter, Research, Integrate, Translate Brand, Track and Measure

 What is Culture:

●        While we bemoan the loss of regional variety to the spread of globalisation, it is unfair of us to impose our values on the needs of others. For example, the impact of McDonalds on local cafes weight against the local populations desire for such food.

●        Like the effects of globalisation, how does technology influence our Culture?

●        Look back at the 60’s & 70’s – a very sticky culture people were brought up in

●        Seamus gave an example of a cultural bond

●        Brexit - - created a cultural bond in the UK – the same in the USA with Trump

 How does Technology Influence Culture:

●        Search Engine technologies developed in the US have US characteristics embedded into the features

●        iPhones – mainly designed by white middle-class America males. The problem comes when the technology is implemented outside this design area, for example hard calloused fingers are not detected swiping the screen.

●        You can’t have any artefact, bag, phone, laptop which are culture free

●        New African smartphones to have African culture embedded into them - Verone Mankou – Head of VMK

 Social Computing Gives a Rise to Extremism:

●        Talked about 11/11 – Black Friday in China - singles day

●        $25 Billion of sales on the day

●        Over 80% of the transaction were from mobile

●        1/3 of the items bought will be returned because it is culturally acceptable to do so in China.

 Intermeshing of Virtual & Real Worlds:

●        Online dating example – easy, disposable, time saving

●        2nd Life example – people creating an online version of themselves

●        Exploring the idea of the Digital Bedroom for young people

o    Brought about by social media, mobiles and the internet

o    Friendships and peer-to-peer conversations held online

o    This brings a rise on the change to language

o    Their online relationships now have a major impact on their view of their offline selves

o    A bully, constrained in the physical world by social norms, finds that there is no such constraints in the virtual world.

 Vertical v Horizontal Platforms:

●        Old world vertical platforms

o    News on TV, Print, Radio

o    People had to look up to the above to get their news

●        Horizontal Platforms

o    People getting news from all sources

o    Good example the Uber Driver theft and how that went viral

o    It’s confusing moral standards in the younger generation

o    Why did it go viral? There’s the question, possibly, young good looking women, a short clip, doing something naughty, but the reaction on-line seems excessive especially when compared to the worldly issues that are also going on like Brexit, North Korea, etc.

●        If wise there is money to be made: eyeballs = money

●        Virtual Lift platform - Channel 4 Documentary

●        Intermeshing of real world v social virtual world

●        Friendships taking place more online - such interactions have major cultural interactions

 Presentation (15%) – What’s Needed Recap:

●        Can be found on slides but a few pointers:

o    Not all the group have to present, but PJ would prefer if we did

o    Exactly 20 minutes max on presentation then 10 on questions

o    First question will be from PJ, and it will be a nasty one

o    10 slides at a max, no walls of text

o    Be Clear, Articulate, have a good delivery & style

o    Be able to demonstrate a connect between the theory of what we are learning and the everyday use in the case study

 Case Study Analysis (25%)– What’s Needed Recap:

●        Can be found on slides but a few pointers

o    PJ to send out a template

o    Points 1 & 2 – no more than a page

o    Point 3 we have to nail

o    Point 4 is where the distinction marks are to be made

 Feedback on Platform (10%)– What’s Needed Recap:

●        Can be found on slides but a few pointers

o    Description

o    level of contributions

o    what was good and what was bad about it

o    what were the weaknesses and deficiencies

o     

Next Meeting/Class: Wednesday 29th of November 2017

Time: 18:00

Topic: Policy and social computing

[gravitascivics]

CORPORATIONS AS GOOD CITIZENS

If the US is a federated union, shouldn’t its entities – its individuals, organizations, associations, corporations – be arranged and directed to further the common good?  According to Danial J. Elazar,[1] federalism has its processes and those, in turn, call on behaviors and protocols that place the common good above private or individual interests. 

Yes, entities can pursue private or individual ambitions; unlike socialism, federalism identifies individual or private motivations as essential to economic growth, but those interests should, at least, not be antagonistic to the common welfare.  Belief in this view, a view that offers an ideal, was the dominant view among Americans in terms of governance and politics up till World War II.  Since then, another view has taken dominance.  That is the natural rights construct.  This blog has repeatedly made and has described this dynamic.  It has offered evidence to its veracity.  This posting offers some more.

          Before sharing that evidence, a point needs to be made:  such a change – from federalism to natural rights – does not happen overnight.  It usually, at least, takes decades.  Past postings have listed historical developments during US history that have led to this shift in American thinking and feeling. 

Some of those developments include the Western expansion, the corporatism of government structures and processes, and modern technology like TV and the computer.  Generally, those series of events have shifted government viability away from local governance and have heightened individualism, leading to harmful effects on federalist perspectives, structures, and plausibility. 

Also, the rightful rejection among many Americans to earlier biases of federalism, under its more parochial / traditional form, has proven to be harmful to any form of federalist sensibilities.  This latter shift, it has been argued in this blog, was needed to purify American federalism away from unjustly depriving all Americans, such as African Americans or a recently arrived immigrant group, from full membership in the nation’s federation.  Such policies diluted or stifled senses of partnership among citizens that is central to federalism.

But to give parochial / traditional federalism its due, it did introduce the basic concept of a nation being formed by an agreement – a compact.  That agreement was formed by its peoples’ representatives – the peoples of the various states – coming together and ironing out the US Constitution.  That compact identified important goals in its preamble and those who signed it, in the nation’s name, committed the nation to achieving those goals.  Essentially, that format, that process, and those goals were set to form a republican arrangement – a grand partnership.

The claim here is that by so doing, the extension of that partnership to include the deprived or cheated populations was baked into the formula of such an agreement. Yes, it called for sacrifice, like a bloody civil war, but the march was initiated and continues till today.  The old adage comes to mind:  “two steps forward, one step back,” but always towards inclusion.

And with that context, this posting wishes to describe one of those developments that steered Americans away from this ideal view of the nation:  away from partnership and toward radical individualism – but then, from time to time, reels it back.  This forth and back is seldom balanced.  Instead, it is often awkward, aggravating, and even disheartening.  But as one looks back, Americans can see real, meaningful progress.

This blog has hinted at this development.  Earlier on, in describing how American tort law shifted in the nineteenth century away from strict liability toward negligent liability, the courts, in opinion of some legal scholars, pushed the nation to an individualist perspective to protect the interests of corporations.  Probably the business interests most affected was the railroads.[2] 

Under strict liability, every time a train ran into someone or its engines, due to some spark, caused a fire or some movement of a train car caused an injury, strict liability set up the railroad companies to be subject to costly suits.  Relying on negligence as a necessary pre-condition for a railroad to be held liable, saved those companies millions of 1800s dollars.  Hence, negligent liability became the standard to protect those business interests.

But that shift did not end in the nineteenth century.  There have been certain court decisions in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries that continued this trend.  As a matter fact, those more recent decisions have addressed more directly what are the responsibilities of corporations to uphold the common good.  Identified as corporate ethics, this has become a scholarly subject of interest and various analyses have investigated what exactly are the responsibilities of corporations and to whom are they owed.

When one looks at specific related factors, this question becomes complex.  One can find in one case a party supporting corporate heads being given leeway as to their funding decisions – decisions that does not place shareholders’ profits as prominent – and those same parties feeling with another set of factors, that they should not have leeway.  Three cases provide varied factors that demonstrate these inconsistencies.  The cases are Dodge v. Ford Motor Company (1919), Shlensky v. Wrigley (1968), and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014).[3]

This posting limits its presentation to providing the basic facts of each of these cases.  The next posting will review the significance of each in determining how much a corporation can veer away from bolstering shareholder profits in its management decisions.  Running through these cases are two concerns:  corporate social responsibility and business judgement rule.  The reader is encouraged to think of these cases and see if he/she can “predict” how and why the courts decided each.

Most people have heard the story in their American history classes of how the founder of the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford, favored providing good salaries to his company’s workers so that they could turn around and buy Ford cars – or so the story goes.  Apparently, Ford did have a concern not only for his employees’ wages, but for other social activities that would benefit the public as well as the workers at his plants. 

To fund those activities, he decided to purposely use the company’s revenues toward those more socially defined goals.  In turn, those funds were diverted from dividend payments that would have gone to shareholders.  Some of the expenditures did go to improving production facilities, improving the quality of Ford vehicles, and for expanding production facilities.  This last factor exemplifies how some of the issues involved can be quite complex; are some of these expenditures just those involved with running automobile plants? 

In any event, the shareholders sued the company.  Through their court action, they sought higher dividends; that is, that profits should be the prominent concern of a corporation especially when compared to socially defined expenditures to improve society.  But also, such a priority should be maintained when management compares the interests of shareholders against those of workers.

Another factor is that Mr. Ford’s decisions on these expenditures was very uncommon; most corporations in the early twentieth century would routinely attempt to raise dividends – or at least be able to report higher profits – to attract more investment that was essential for expansion.  One should remember, this case sprang up during the nation’s industrialization period when a lot of investment was being made.

To top off their argument, the shareholders claimed in court that what Ford was doing in expending revenues on worker pay and other “social expenditures” were not proper and were illegal.  In their decision, the court not only set a precedent concerning shareholders’ rights, but also made an influential decision concerning how a corporation should be run vis-à-vis the freedom management should have in making business decisions.

In the Wrigley case, the question before the court looked at this sense of responsibility from a different angle.  The Wrigley Company (of gum fame) owned the Chicago Cubs baseball team and the stadium in which the team played its home games.  By the late sixties, every major league team and just about every field upon which baseball was played had lights so that teams could play at night.  But that did not include Wrigley Field – the home of the Cubs.

A group of shareholders wanted the team to start hosting night games to enjoy anticipated, increased revenues.  Of course, that called for appropriate lights and their mounting structures to be installed at Wrigley Field.  But ownership, responding to the wishes of the surrounding neighborhoods and their fears lights would lead to noisy nights and increased crimes, refused to install the lights.  The question is:  should the courts, in effect, necessitate the instillation of those lights?

And the final case reviewed here is Burwell v. Hobby Lobby.  In that case, the owners of the retail chain – a relatively small group of businesspeople – wanted to abide by their religious beliefs and refused to provide that portion of the Affordable Care Act that covered various types of contraception.  Women workers sued the company for this coverage as the act provided.

The next posting will share with the readers how each of these cases was decided and how their precedents affected corporate responsibilities regarding societal welfare.  But one lesson one can draw just from the information already given is that not everyone defines societal welfare in the same way. 

Ford saw it in its more commonsensical way – society seeking improvements to the secularly defined benefits of selected or identified individuals or constituents.  Wrigley defined it in terms of being a good neighbor.  And Hobby Lobby used religious beliefs – and those religions’ definitions of morality and ethics.  With a little bit of imagination one can visualize other bases for defining what’s good for society. 

For one thing, when this question occurs to most people, one assumes that question revolves on how some civic group believes a corporation can and should be a better “citizen,” but in each of these cases, it is management that is attempting to serve its view of the common good.  But federation theory – in its liberated form – does provide a nuanced but directed sense of what societal welfare means.

[1] Daniel J. Elazar, Exploring Federalism (Tuscaloosa, AL:  The University of Alabama Press, 1987).

[2] Edward K. Cheng, “Torts,” Law School for Everyone – a transcript book (Chantilly, VA:  The Teaching Company/The Great Courses, 2017) AND Robert Gutierrez, “Saving Huge Costs?”, Gravitas:  A Voice for Civics, September 21, 2018, accessed August 19, 2019, https://gravitascivics.blogspot.com/2018/09/saving-huge-costs.html .

[3] “Business Ethics:  Corporate Law and Corporate Responsibility,” BC Campus, n. d., accessed August 19, 2019, https://opentextbc.ca/businessethicsopenstax/chapter/corporate-law-and-corporate-responsibility/ .

[vixenofthemist]

I started watching Friends for the first time (I’m young ok) and I got a great idea for a sit-com with my fav hetalia girls! I want to draw a comic, but I’m so bad at drawing I figured I’ll talk about it first Orz

(Isabel belongs to @aph-belarusia so follow her!)

So Liliya (2p!belarus) and her two best friends Hayley and Isabel (2p!nyo!norway and nyo!portugal) are offered to get their rent on their apartment lessened if they upgrade their 2 bedroom apartment to a 5 bedroom and get 2 or more people to be their roommates and split the rent.

They ofc accept the offer cause this way Isabel can have her own room again and not have to share with Liliya, Liliya wants more roommates since she thinks it will be fun, and Hayley wants a bigger apartment and more roommates.

So the girls go looking for new roommates, and the first one comes unexpectedly at their front door with a police officer looking for Liliya. Turns out her aunts best friends daughter got in trouble with the law and is on probation of sorts, and Liliya was volunteered to be the person who keeps an eye on her cause she has a completely  clean record so they hope she’ll be a good influence on Natalia. And so the girls get their first new roommate who they legally have to let live with them, and because of the rules of the probation she has to share a room with Liliya which leaves the other 2 rooms to the other new roommates. (I know probation doesn’t work that way but its a sit-com I’m not trying to hard to match legality to reality) 

Liliya also gets the next roommate Yordana (nyo!bulgaria) who is her coworker at Eiffel cafe. Yordana is a sweet girl who just graduated from college (but the other girls don’t know this until later when the age difference in the roommates becomes a thing and Yordana is outed as the youngest) She got kicked out of the campus she was living in before since she graduated, and when the owner of Eiffel cafe Francine heard Liliya saying they needed a roommate, she mentioned Yordana needing a place and Liliya agreed to let her have a room. Isabel and Hayley both become fast friends with Yordana, since she’s a real easy person to get along with and is a really good cook. She has a habit of eating when she’s feeling sad, angry, hurt, or any negative emotion really, and she’s trying really hard to stop it but she can’t when food is so comforting!  

Isabel was visiting her brother (something she rarely does) and hears that one of his best friends Julchen was needing a new place to stay, and Isabel offers the last room at the apartment. Julchen soon moves in, and with all the rooms filled drama and comedy begin.

Liliya is the only one who can serve a new regular at the cafe who everyone else is scared of and is sure has a criminal record, but Liliya is confident he’s not such a bad person and befriends him, and the more she gets to know him the more she’s sure he’s not a horrible person. She also finds out he’s related to one of the roommates. 

Vasile isn’t sure what he thinks of his practical sister’s roommates and especially what he think of Liliya, but he sure finds a way to get involved in a lot of their shenanigans.

When Yordana first moves in, her step brother Vladimir comes to help her move, and he meets and falls for Natalia. Natalia confuses his attraction and flirting for pretty much anything but actual flirting. One time she thought he was trying to communicate to her in a weird form of subtle body sign language when really he was just having an allergic reaction to something which made him itch really badly, but he was trying to hide it from her since he didn’t want her to see the bad rashes he had and so was also trying to flirt with her as normal. And another time he leaned against any solid object in an attempt to look cool and chill, since he’s trying everything he knows to get Natalia’s attention, but she just thinks he has a weak knees. The group loves to remember fondly the time they were at a bar, and Natalia was able to tell that a guy was flirting with her and got his number, and then when asked about it Natalia famously said “I’m not blind, I know when someone is interested in me.” and then two minutes later mistook Vlad’s very drunk and very obvious and over the top flirting for him re-enacting a scene from a play they all watched recently.

It was a beautiful moment! For everyone but Vlad, he was just defeated.

At that same bar, Isabel met Lovino, who she used to babysit and is shocked to find out he’s grown into a really attractive adult. She spends the rest of the night trying to figure out how the hot man serving drinks at the bar is the same 7 year old who tripped over his own feet. 

Yordana also accidentally runs into famous model and actor Laurence (2p!norway) but she doesn’t recognize him as a celebrity and becomes his friend without knowing he’s famous. She just thought he looked like the model and she didn’t want to be rude and point it out! He’s also Hayley’s twin brother, who she has beef with since he got famous as a model while she didn’t. 

The closest thing I have to an actual story line is that after 2 or 3 months of living together, When they were all grocery shopping (minus Julchen who was working), photographer Daniel stops them and asks Isabel, Natalia, Liliya and Hayley to model for a huge photoshoot for a famous magazine. Yordana just awkwardly stood there while everyone else got invited to be a model and complemented on their beauty, and then Daniel left, without looking at Yordana once.

 It was a great self esteem booster for everyone else, Yordana? Not so much.

Nothing like being the one person not invited to model, it makes you feel real great about your looks! Yordana bought a lot of sweets after that, and when they got home she immediately popped open a tub of ice cream to help her be supportive of the other girls while also eating her emotions. Later her and Julchen bond over being the only girls not invited to model by Julchen’s ex-college crush Danial, who she doesn’t have feelings for shut up Yordana and eat your brownies!

I want to try and draw a comic so this is all I’ll write but oh my gosh I love this au so much I’m invested! 

[robgrayofficial]

GOOOD AFTERNOON PATRIOTS!Happy Saturday! This is u/ivaginaryfriend here to help kick off this Saturday recap style! But before we get started on that, just a reminder we have a MAGA rally coming up later on today in Elko, NV @ 2:00 OM ET!!!!As always, if you guys wanted to catch up on any past recaps, you can check them out here!Now, onto the recap!Sunday, October 14th:🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:NBC News has totally and purposely changed the point and meaning of my story about General Robert E Lee and General Ulysses Grant. Was actually a shoutout to warrior Grant and the great state in which he was born. As usual, dishonest reporting. Even mainstream media embarrassed!Princess Eugenie of York was a truly beautiful bride yesterday. She has been through so much, and has come out a total winner!Thank you!Thank you to NBC for the correction!I will be interviewed on “60 Minutes” tonight at 7:00 P.M., after NFL game. Enjoy!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Gay Pede Here That Loves Trump and The Second Amendment!!!Getting redpilledA page with 3.7 million followers on Instagram called “rap” posted this wonderful piece of education. After quickly amassing 100k likes it was taken down. Just imagine the incredibly positivity and change we’d see if we weren’t constantly being silenced. KEEP IT UP, PEDES! MAGA!STOP RACIAL DISCRIMINATION! RACE SHOULD NOT HURT ANY RACE IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS AT A JOB OR IN COLLEGE! WHITE, BLACK, ASIAN, LATINO! We should pick based on MERIT!🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:All I’m offering is the truth.Hahahahahah 😂When NPC meets Dragon EnergyMy kids asked me why my pumpkin looks so stupid this year.Monday, October 15th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Trump Delivers a Statement Upon DeparturePresident Trump and the First Lady Arrive at the Lynn Haven CommunityPresident Trump and Governor Rick Scott Deliver Remarks at Eglin Air Force Base🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:“The only way to shut down the Democrats new Mob Rule strategy is to stop them cold at the Ballot Box. The fight for America’s future is never over!” Ben ShapiroThe crowds at my Rallies are far bigger than they have ever been before, including the 2016 election. Never an empty seat in these large venues, many thousands of people watching screens outside. Enthusiasm & Spirit is through the roof. SOMETHING BIG IS HAPPENING - WATCH!Will be leaving for Florida and Georgia with the First Lady to tour the hurricane damage and visit with FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement. Maximum effort is taking place, everyone is working very hard. Worst hit in 50 years!Just spoke to the King of Saudi Arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened “to our Saudi Arabian citizen.” He said that they are working closely with Turkey to find answer. I am immediately sending our Secretary of State to meet with King!On our way to Florida and Georgia!Just arrived in Florida. Also thinking about our GREAT Alabama farmers and our many friends in North and South Carolina today. We are with you!(Retweeting The White House) Thank you to the law enforcement, first responders, and state, local, and Federal officials who are helping in recovery efforts following #HurricaneMichael.Open enrollment starts today on lower-priced Medicare Advantage plans so loved by our great seniors. Crazy Bernie and his band of Congressional Dems will outlaw these plans. Disaster!TOGETHER, WE WILL PREVAIL!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Cherokee Nation BTFO Warren's claims & DNA test, saying they are "inappropriate and wrong", "a mockery", "dishonoring" & "undermining Tribal interests"Elizabeth Warren's DNA Results Disqualify Her from Cherokee TribesJudge dismisses Stormy Daniels lawsuit against Trump. Has to pay his attorney fees! Good job Avenatti, you hack.President Trump Signs Bill Requiring Airports To Provide Spaces For Nursing Mothers. You know, because Trump Hates WomynHOLY SHIT!!!!!!! DONALD TRUMP OWNS ELIZABETH WARREN. SHE OWES THE COUNTRY AN APOLOGY. HAHAHHAHA🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Would you hang this in your house? Yes or Hell Yes?I bought an old Jeep, I call it Elizabeth Warren. Its all white but says its a CherokeeLesley Stahl asked President Trump if he will make a pledge to not shut down the Mueller investigation. Trump responded: “I don’t make pledges to anyone, and if I was going to make a pledge it wouldn’t be to you”. This man is a GODSEND."MY DNA TESTS ARE BACK, I'M 0.1953125% MEXICAN!!! TACO BOWLS FOR EVERYONE!Tuesday, October 16th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Individuals to Key Administration PostsPresident Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration PostsPresidential Memorandum on the Delegation of Authority under Section 1604(b) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019President Trump and Governor Scott Visit the FEMA Aid Distribution CenterPresident Trump and the First Lady Visit Florida and GeorgiaPresident Trump Delivers Remarks at the Georgia Operations CenterPresident Trump Delivers Remarks to Red Cross WorkersPresident Trump's Message on Medicare🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Pocahontas (the bad version), sometimes referred to as Elizabeth Warren, is getting slammed. She took a bogus DNA test and it showed that she may be 1/1024, far less than the average American. Now Cherokee Nation denies her, “DNA test is useless.” Even they don’t want her. Phony!Now that her claims of being of Indian heritage have turned out to be a scam and a lie, Elizabeth Warren should apologize for perpetrating this fraud against the American Public. Harvard called her “a person of color” (amazing con), and would not have taken her otherwise!Thank you to the Cherokee Nation for revealing that Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is a complete and total Fraud!“Op-Ed praises Trump Administrations efforts at the Border.” @FoxNews The Washington Examiner States, “Finally, the government has taken steps to stop releasing unaccompanied minors to criminals and traffickers.” This was done by the Obama Administration!The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!“8X more new manufacturing jobs now than with Obama.” @FoxNews @cvpayneFor the record, I have no financial interests in Saudi Arabia (or Russia, for that matter). Any suggestion that I have is just more FAKE NEWS (of which there is plenty)!Incredible number just out, 7,036,000 job openings. Astonishing - it’s all working! Stock Market up big on tremendous potential of USA. Also, Strong Profits. We are Number One in World, by far!“Federal Judge throws out Stormy Danials lawsuit versus Trump. Trump is entitled to full legal fees.” @FoxNews Great, now I can go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer in the Great State of Texas. She will confirm the letter she signed! She knows nothing about me, a total con!“Conflict between Glen Simpson’s testimony to another House Panel about his contact with Justice Department official Bruce Ohr. Ohr was used by Simpson and Steele as a Back Channel to get (FAKE) Dossier to FBI. Simpson pleading Fifth.” Catherine Herridge. Where is Jeff Sessions?Is it really possible that Bruce Ohr, whose wife Nellie was paid by Simpson and GPS Fusion for work done on the Fake Dossier, and who was used as a Pawn in this whole SCAM (WITCH HUNT), is still working for the Department of Justice????? Can this really be so?????REGISTER TO http://bit.ly/2HIbOFb ! #MAGA🇺🇸Just spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who totally denied any knowledge of what took place in their Turkish Consulate. He was with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo... ... ...during the call, and told me that he has already started, and will rapidly expand, a full and complete investigation into this matter. Answers will be forthcoming shortly.WOW, John James is making headway in Michigan. We are bringing jobs back to the State, and the People of Michigan appreciate it. Debbie Stabenow has been no help, if anything, a major hindrance. John James is a star, I hope the voters see it. Polls are tightening!(Retweeting Fox Business) TONIGHT: @POTUS talks 2020 election in an exclusive interview with @trish_regan. Don't miss the full interview on 'Trish Regan Primetime' at 8p ET on Fox Business Network.I will be interviewed tonight by Trish Regan on @FoxBusiness at 8:00 P.M., right after the great Lou Dobbs!We have today informed the countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador that if they allow their citizens, or others, to journey through their borders and up to the United States, with the intention of entering our country illegally, all payments made to them will STOP (END)!Anybody entering the United States illegally will be arrested and detained, prior to being sent back to their country!Elizabeth Warren is being hammered, even by the Left. Her false claim of Indian heritage is only selling to VERY LOW I.Q. individuals!Stock Market up 548 points today. Also, GREAT jobs numbers!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:9 Events in 6 Days!! President Trump (MT, AZ, NV, TX), VP Pence (OK, IA, WV), Donald Jr (MI, IN)President Trump reelection campaign has $100 million head start over DemocratsU.S. Is World’s Most Competitive Economy for First Time in a DecadeKeith Ellison's lead vanishing amid domestic abuse allegations🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:ROFLMAO! YES! MAGA!That Awkward Moment When Even FakeNews Drops YouDNA and Me - Find out if you're 1/1024th American Native too!Real Results! Jobs not Mobs!HAHA. #horseface is trending on Twitter. You know what to do.I'm thinking Trump knows exactly what he is doing...Wednesday, October 17th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration PostsPresident Trump Meets with Workers on “Cutting the Red Tape, Unleashing Economic Freedom”President Trump Presents the Medal of HonorVice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence Visit GeorgiaPresident Trump Hosts a Cabinet Meeting🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:“Trump could be the most honest president in modern history. When you look at the real barometer of presidential truthfulness, which is promise keeping, he is probably the most honest president in American history. He’s done exactly what he said he would do.” Marc Thiessen, WPostWatched the debate last night & Beto O’Rourke, who wants higher taxes and far more regulations, is not in the same league with Ted Cruz & what the great people of Texas stand for & want. Ted is strong on Crime, Border & 2nd A, loves our Military, Vets, Low Taxes. Beto is a Flake!Ted Cruz has done so much for Texas, including massive cuts in taxes and regulations - which has brought Texas to the best jobs numbers in the history of the state. He watches carefully over your 2nd Amendment. O’Rourke would blow it all! Ted has long had my Strong Endorsement!AP headline was very different from my quote and meaning in the story. They just can’t help themselves. FAKE NEWS!August job openings hit a record 7.14 million. Congratulations USA!“Network News gave Zero coverage to the Big Day the Stock Market had yesterday.” @foxandfriendsHard to believe that with thousands of people from South of the Border, walking unimpeded toward our country in the form of large Caravans, that the Democrats won’t approve legislation that will allow laws for the protection of our country. Great Midterm issue for Republicans!Republicans must make the horrendous, weak and outdated immigration laws, and the Border, a part of the Midterms!(Retweeting The GOP) TODAY is the LAST day to register to vote in Massachusetts and Wisconsin!(Retweeting The GOP) You can cast your ballot before Election Day in:➡️KS➡️NC➡️TN Get out and vote ➡️ http://gop.cm/6016r7aje“President Donald J. Trump is Following Through on His Promise to Cut Burdensome Red Tape and Unleash the American Economy”(Video)(Video)(Video)(Video)College educated women want safety, security and healthcare protections – very much along with financial and economic health for themselves and our Country. I supply all of this far better than any Democrat (for decades, actually). That’s why they will be voting for me!Congressman Neal Dunn (@DunnCampaign) of Florida has done an outstanding job at everything having to do with #MAGA. Now working hard on hurricane relief and rebuild. Strong on Crime, strong on Borders, loves our Military and our Vets. Neal has my highest Endorsement!LIVE from the White House: Sgt. Maj. John Canley becomes the 300th Marine to receive the Medal of Honor.This afternoon, it was my great honor to present @USMC Sergeant Major John Canley the Medal of Honor in the East Room of the @WhiteHouse!Ever since his vicious and totally false statements about Admiral Ron Jackson, the highly respected White House Doctor for Obama, Bush & me, Senator John Tester looks to be in big trouble in the Great State of Montana! He behaved worse than the Democrat Mob did with Justice K!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:State Department provided 'clearly false' statements to derail requests for Clinton docs, 'shocked' federal judge saysUS Treasury employee arrested on charges of leaking reports to mediaPresident Trump to withdraw from UPU treaty, ending the ridiculous US Postal Service subsidy of Chinese package shipments into the US! Chinese knockoffs BTFO! US business and trade wins again!!!Black lady is laying down some bombs.WOWWWEEE. This lady needs going to the top. She's savage. Link to tweet in comments.REAL Pocahontas decedent demands apology from Elizabeth Warren...WEW LADSU.S. Steel workers set to get biggest pay raise in yearsPRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: Texas US Senate Debate - Cruz vs O'Rourke - 10/16/18🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:"you can't do that, it's dehumanizing.... "HAHAHAHAHHAHA how many times do we see headlines like this?A Large Herd is approaching the USA Border. Take Shelter immediately.We're reaching satirical levels previously deemed impossibleThursday, October 18th:🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:I am watching the Democrat Party led (because they want Open Borders and existing weak laws) assault on our country by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, whose leaders are doing little to stop this large flow of people, INCLUDING MANY CRIMINALS, from entering Mexico to U.S..... ... ....In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught - and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!.. ... ....The assault on our country at our Southern Border, including the Criminal elements and DRUGS pouring in, is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA. Hopefully Mexico will stop this onslaught at their Northern Border. All Democrats fault for weak laws!Congressman @DaveBratVA7th is one of the hardest working, and smartest, people in Washington. He is strong on the Border, Crime, the Military, our Vets and the 2nd Amendment. He is a powerful vote for MAGA and loves the Great State of Virginia. Dave has my Total Endorsement!Secretary of State Mike Pompeo returned last night from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. I met with him this morning wherein the Saudi situation was discussed in great detail, including his meeting with... ... ...the Crown Prince. He is waiting for the results of the investigations being done by the Saudis and Turkey, and just gave a news conference to that effect..@StateDept @SecPompeo outside of the West Wing after our meeting this morning in the Oval Office...See you tonight Missoula, Montana! #MAGARally🇺🇸All Republicans support people with pre-existing conditions, and if they don’t, they will after I speak to them. I am in total support. Also, Democrats will destroy your Medicare, and I will keep it healthy and well!Can you believe this, and what Democrats are allowing to be done to our Country?Look forward to being there. Something’s happening! #MAGAThank you Mexico, we look forward to working with you!Prime Minister @AbeShinzo of Japan has been working with me to help balance out the one-sided Trade with Japan. These are some of the investments they are making in our Country - just the beginning!Will be landing soon. Looking forward to seeing our next Senator from Montana, Matt Rosendale. He will represent our Country well, far better than Jon Tester who will vote with Cryin’ Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi - never with us!The only thing keeping Tester alive is he has millions and millions of dollars from outside liberals and leftists, who couldn’t care less about our Country!Thank you Missoula, Montana. Get out and VOTE for @MattForMontana and @GregForMontana!! #MAGA🇺🇸 http://bit.ly/2Akiepn …Jon Tester says one thing to voters and does the EXACT OPPOSITE in Washington. Tester takes his orders form Pelosi & Schumer. Tester wants to raise your taxes, take away your 2A, open your borders, and deliver MOB RULE. Retire Tester & Elect America-First Patriot Matt Rosendale!#JobsNotMobs!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:US, Mexico agree on plan to handle migrant caravan from Central AmericaJason Chaffetz with the spice!Breaking: Rep Meadows after FBI lawyer James Baker's testimony today: "Rod Rosenstein should resign immediately".MEME WAR UPDATE: The left is creating accounts with pictures of believably-ok looking women and DM'ing to ask about the NPC thing. They are sending compliments and then asking you to connect with them via real (personal) accounts "just in case the NPC account gets deleted." This is likely DOXING.SUPREME COURT: First Amendment May Be Expanded – Supreme Court Takes Case That Could End Internet Censorship, Expand First Amendment – the case could force Facebook, and other companies, to protect users First Amendment rights!PRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: President Trump & Matt Rosendale - Missoula, MT - 10/18/2018WATCH PARTY: MISSOURI AND NORTH DAKOTA SENATE DEBATES 10/18/18🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:He is!BWAHAHAHAHA!!! BEAUTIFUL RED PILL ON R/ALL!I’ve been conservative for one year now. The_Donald helped me get my mind back to normal after 13 years of living in California, with brainwashing from Universities and Hollywood. Life is so much better not being consumed by leftwing propaganda that made me hate the rich and America. Love you pedes!Ridin' that Red Wave feels good.When you say anything remotely positive about Trump on /r/politicsFriday, October 19th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Trump Delivers a Statement Upon Departure#JobsNotMobsPresidential Memorandum on Promoting the Reliable Supply and Delivery of Water in the WestPresidential Proclamation on National Forest Products Week, 2018Presidential Proclamation on National Character Counts Week, 2018🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Congressman Andy Biggs is doing a great job for Arizona and our Country!When referring to the USA, I will always capitalize the word Country!Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was never given or shown a Transcript or Video of the Saudi Consulate event. FAKE NEWS!Beto O’Rourke is a total lightweight compared to Ted Cruz, and he comes nowhere near representing the values and desires of the people of the Great State of Texas. He will never be allowed to turn Texas into Venezuela!#JobsNotMobs!This is what it is all about for the Republican Party! #JobsNotMobsWOW - Mesa, Arizona! Look forward to joining everyone soon. Something’s happening!! #MAGA🇺🇸On my way - see you all shortly! http://bit.ly/2CwSrvQ was outside of the massive totally full hangar tonight in Mesa, Arizona! http://bit.ly/2HIbOFb #MAGA🇺🇸Beautiful evening in Mesa, Arizona with GREAT PATRIOTS - thank you! http://bit.ly/2HIbOFb #MAGARally🇺🇸replay: http://bit.ly/2AkieFT …[]()SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:ACOSTA CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣BREAKING! (Literally) Horde Of VIOLENT INVADERS Break Down Gate In Front Of Armed Police To FORCE Their Way Into Mexico!Beto O'Rourke supporters can't name anything he's done...Child Rape Gang Trial Which Saw Tommy Robinson Jailed Over Reporting Restrictions Sees 20 Abusers JailedScott Adams Predicts 'Greatest Turnout by Republicans, Maybe Ever' in MidtermsPRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: President Trump & Martha McSally Rally - Mesa, AZ - 10/19/18WATCH PARTY: WISCONSIN 1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT & GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE 8:30 ET & 9:00 ETWATCH PARTY: Massachusetts, Nevada, AND Wisconsin Senate Debates🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:SABO STRIKES AGAIN! MAD MAXINEJOBS NOT MOBS!We all won the lottery when this man became PresidentThe President of the United States just tweeted my artwork. Wow. Thank you everyone.Saturday, October 20th:🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:If the Democrats would stop being obstructionists and come together, we could write up and agree to new immigration laws in less than one hour. Look at the needless pain and suffering that they are causing. Look at the horrors taking place on the Border. Chuck & Nancy, call me!Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp will be a great governor. He has been successful at whatever he has done, and has prepared for this very difficult and complex job for many years. He has my Strong Endorsement. His opponent is totally unqualified. Would destroy a great state!Get out and Early Vote for Brian Kemp. He will be a GREAT GOVERNOR for the State of Georgia!Ron @RonDeSantisFL DeSantis is working hard. A great Congressman and top student at Harvard & Yale, Ron will be a record setting governor for Florida. Rick Scott gave him tremendous foundations to further build on. His opponent runs one of the worst & most corrupt cities in USA!Rick Scott is known as easily one of the best Governors in the USA. Florida is setting records in almost every category of success. Amazing achievement-the envy of the World. Ron DeSantis will build on this success. His incompetent opponent will destroy Florida - next Venezuela!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:77,000 Red Wave non Russian bots sign up for a Trump rally for Cruz. Venue only holds 18K. Red Partaaaay in the parking lot!!Mathematically Impossible!!!!This will never get old. Happy anniversary you glorious bastards!🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Thanks to Democrats, Republicans have a winning election slogan.No Mega Million winners? That's ok.TRUMP IS MAKING ELECTIONS GREAT AGAIN!WEEEEEEEEEEEW LAD!!!!!!! STILL NOT TIRED OF WINNING!Without further ado, some tunes to get you jamming through all this WINNING:Good For GreatYou're So Last SummerLessons LearnedMakeDamnSureGood Ol' Fashion NightmareSink, Florida, SinkMAGA ON PATRIOTS! #robgray

[hodldrgn-blog]

New Post has been published on https://cryptomoonity.com/crypto-week-in-review-bitcoin-gains-below-ichimoku-coinbase-kills-index-fund-adds-0x/

Crypto Week in Review : Bitcoin Gains Below Ichimoku, Coinbase Kills Index Fund, Adds 0x

Title: Crypto Week in Review : Bitcoin Gains Below Ichimoku, Coinbase Kills Index Fund, Adds 0x Video duration: 2:7 Views: 253 Likes: 18 Dislikes: 0 Publication date: 2018-10-15 00:05:07

Description: It’s Invest Diva’s Kiana Danial https://www.investdiva.com/ with News BTC and here’s a summary of what’s been going on in the cryptocurrency market in the past few days. Bitcoin has been trying to erase last Thursday’s sharp drop one step at a time, gaining around 1% per day in the past few days. But looking at BTC/USD daily chart, the price remains beautifully under the Ichimoku cloud, while being supported by the $6,000 psychological level. The future cloud remains bearish, signaling we could still see further drops in Bitcoin price. Looking at some headlines in the industry, San Fransisco-based exchange, Coinbase confirmed its shutting down its new crypto index fund due to lack of industrial interest. Instead, it’s shifting its focus to a new retail product. On the other hand, the exchange added a new cryptocurrency, 0x (ZRX) to its trading platform on Thursday, in addition to the existing cryptos including Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, and Litecoin. Meanwhile, Malta-based exchange, Binance decided to delist 4 cryptocurrencies, including Bytecoin (BCN), ChatCoin (CHAT), Iconomi (ICN), and Triggers (TRIG). Customers have until Nov. 12 to withdraw these coins and tokens from the crypto exchange. The week ahead may bring more volatility to the cryptocurrency market, so plan in advance, invest responsibly, and subscribe for more updates.

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[translationb-blog]

Aspects Of A Good Translation English Language Essay

Culture and its meaning in translations. Culture may be defined in many ways. When the study of translation is taken into account, it must be defined with an understanding of the correlation involving language, culture and religion. In view of the fact that culture is a useful device while dealing with problems of translation, numerous translation theorists make efforts to identify the expression "Culture". A good illustration of this is the work Primitive Culture and Religion in Primitive Culture by Sir Edward Burnett Tylor.

Tylor's work is divided into two volumes. In his first work, Primitive Culture (1871) forms well-known definition concerning the basis of modern understanding of the term "culture" in which he states that:"Culture… taken in its widest ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. In second volume, Religion in Primitive Culture, Taylor deals largely with his analysis of animism.

Animism is…( I tried to think of something and connect it but I'll have to leave it for now, maybe later on I'll use it)

Others researchers who perceive translation through culture are Kroeber and Kluckhohn (1952:167) for whom "culture is a product; is historical; includes ideas, patterns, and values; is selective; is learned; is based upon symbols; and is an abstraction from behaviour and objects of behavior"; Lee McKay (2002:86) adds that culture is said to be embedded in the semantics of a language; while Danial Bates and Fred Plog (1990:7) consider culture to be a system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviours, and artefacts that the members of society use to cope with their world and with one another, and that are transmitted from generation to generation…. Danial Bates and Fred Plog as a stepping-stone to language acquisition consider artifacts of culture such as cinema and television programming, these two types are viewed as the windows into the target culture along with target language.

It is tempting to suggest that the means of communication that passes on any culture is inevitably language.

In the view of Karamanian (IS3), three different aspects of human activity are expressed by the term culture and these are: the personal, the collective, and the expressive.

First aspect implies that individuals think and function as such; the collective describe the social context in which people function, the expressive in which society expresses itself.

We need to bear in mind that the process of translating cultural factor is a very demanding task as it covers concepts like history, religion, tradition, social life or everyday customs. It is widely acknowledged that these aspects are the main components of the translator's work which leads to the flawless translation. A good translator need to have an excellent comprehension of the real nature of the original message being brought over to the target language receptors. A good understanding of a hidden message in a given text is crucial in the process of translation and depends on the background knowledge of the translator whose main aim is to convert it into target language. Conveying the original message meaning in the given source culture is the true aim of the good translator.

Cultural differences between languages and the ways of dealing with them.

Traditional translation theories focus on verbal comparison between the source texts and their translations. As Mary Snell-Hornby puts it:

The text cannot be considered as a static specimen of language (an idea still dominant in practical translation classes), but essentially as the verbalized expression of an author's intention as understood by the translator as reader, who then recreates this whole for another readership in another culture.

(Mary Snell-Hornby 1988: 1-2)

Cultural Gaps.

It is widely acknowledged that specific cultural references and elements can cause problems a for the translators. When two cultures differ immensely, there is high probability that numerous concepts and words which may occur in one culture and in the language may not be found in the other. This will lead to the cultural gaps between the source and the target texts, which can only be solved to a certain point.

Dagut (1978: 49) says that cultural gaps are caused by 'community-specific' referents in one community and their absence in the other culture. Cultural objects, beliefs, customs and institutions are determined by the cultural history and traditions of the specific language community. A language community creates "designators" to symbolise referents which do not occur in the other language community. The resulting gaps are then (a) more, (b) more language specific, and (c) "more translation-resistant than the environmental type" (Dagut 1981: 52).

Type of the translation

Another aspect of a good translation is the type of translation. In regard to the formal boundaries of poetry, there is lesser focus on form than in mangas, however that does not denote the role of the content as an more important aspect. In fact, conveying the most subtle shades of meaning such as form and content in translation is a extremely difficult task. Generally, there is a tendency while translating mangas, to sacrifice the form for the sake of the content.

According to Gutt there is a problem of how far can translators progress with the interpretation of the source text and how vivid the description should be. Gutt states that translation should be „clear and natural in expression in the sense that it should not be unnecessarily difficult to understand" (Gutt 1991: 188)

Newmark (1988) compiles some guiding principles how to cope with different types of translation, which apply to the principle of relevance concerning audience with particular kinds of interests. These are:

„A technical translator has no right to create neologisms... whilst an advertiser or propaganda writer can use any linguistic resources he requires. Conventional metaphors and sayings... should always be conventionally translated... but unusual metaphors and comparisons should be reduced to their sense if the text has a mainly informative function... The appropriate equivalents for keywords... should be scrupulously repeated throughout a text in a philosophical text... In a non-literary text, there is a case for transcribing as well as translating any key-word of linguistic significance..."

(Newmark 1988: 15)

Chapter 2 Principles of translation.

2.1. Linguistic versus Cultural aspects in translation.

According to Savory different guidelines sometimes may deny each other in terms of rules and exceptions. This leaded Savory to create his own pair-wise contradictory principles of translation:

A translation must give the words of the original.

A translation must give the ideas of the original.

A translation should read like an original work.

A translation should read like a translation.

A translation should reflect the style of the original.

A translation should possess the style of the translator.

A translation should read as contemporary of te original.

A translation should read as a contemporary of the translator.

A translation may add to or omit from the original.

A translation may never add to or omit from the original.

A translation of verse should be in prose.

A translation of verse should be in verse.

(Savory 1968: 54)

Savoy claims that these paradoxes can be resolved through „reader-analysis", Different things are considered to be relevant for different readers.

On the other hand Victor Khairullin (1992: 155) implies that linguistic aspects are not the only one that are involved in the process of translation but also is culture. Victor Khairullin (1992: 155) states that:

„The process of translation is a creative kind of activity, based on both linguistic and culturological rules. Every language is unique. The language pattern of the world is accounted for by culturological peculiarities, i.e. peculiarities of ethnic, [and] social, norms and economic achievements of a nation in a certain stage of development. Culturology in a language pattern is essential, so some specialists tend to believe that in effect one does not translate language, one translates cultures."

(Khairullin 1992: 155)

Stylistic preferences.

The next aspect on the list is the time in which given work has been created.

This statement leads to the assumption that the constant changes that languages undergo call for continuous modifications in stylistic preferences.

"No two languages are identical, either in the meanings given to corresponding symbols or in the ways in which such symbols are arranged…"

(Nida 1964: 156).

Hence, a translation from one epoch can be rather objectionable at a present time. The matter of how accurate a translation should be to the original was and always will be arguable.

Ernst-August Gutt (1991) tries to give an answer to that problem by using the concept of optimal resemblance in interpretive translation. In his theory of relevance, he maintains his opinion that translation ought to express the significance of the source language in a manner that is „clear and natural in expression" to the target culture, but avoids „unnecessary processing effort" (Gutt 1991: 188). Therefore, the interpretation of the original text should give resemblance to guarantee sufficiently appropriate context to the audience. The way it is presented should not involve any further processing effort from the recipients.

When we think of translation in terms of making it as accurate to the source text as possible, we have to ask ourselves is it possible to preserve all the features of the original if not what qualities are consequential.

Levy (1969:103) states that if this kind of situation occurs „the translator has to decide which qualities of the original are the most important and which ones one could miss out.". As far as poetry is concerned, preservation of both the form and the content may be very difficult task, depending on the extent of similarities of translated languages. This situation may take place if the target language has ways of expressing the same denotations of words and of rhyming, but may not have words or expressions that carry out both conditions. Therefore, the decision is to be made by the translator, which properties to preserve.

These major aspects of a culture are crucial for translators. The good translation depends not only on the knowledge about the target culture but also on the translator's understanding of religious background of translated item. Translators should identify the translation throughout culture. They ought to realize that each language contains elements which are originated in its culture. Moreover, every text is anchored in a specific culture, and that it has its own proprieties of production and reception which may vary from culture to culture. Finding appropriate equivalence of a text while translating manga may depend on deep understanding/ knowledge of target culture. Translator who attempts to translate an original text from Japanese into English may not be able to satisfy the target audience. It is tempting to suggest that finding proper word is the key to achieve good translation. However if the translation from Japanese into English is taken into account it must be mentioned that some problems may occur due to cultural ambiguities.

Aimai.

Aimai - Ambiguities in Japanese Culture are of the greatest importance, because they may lead to mistranslation. Further reflections shows that Japanese are generally ambiguous, shockingly vague in their works such as mangas. The word aimai can be translated as: ambiguous, murky, vague, double-edged or foggy. The other meanings are: questionable, doubtful, shady or non-committal. It may look like Japanese may have some problems with expressing their feelings even in comics as it can be seen in many mangas, but on the other hand it can convey more than one idea which will only make it more attractive to the reader. When two similar terms such as ambiguity and vagueness appear we should distinct them according to their usage. Ambiguity is different from vagueness, which arises when the boundaries of meaning are indistinct. Ambiguity is context-dependent: the same linguistic item (be it a word, phrase, or sentence) may be ambiguous in one context and unambiguous in another context. For a word, ambiguity typically refers to an unclear choice between different definitions as may be found in a dictionary. The use of ambiguities happen that one would offer totally different idea.

1.5. Religion and its influence in mangas.

Religion is the second aspect leading to mistranslations.

The main dilemma in this field is the fact that translators often do not have any certainty of source text producer knowledge or intentions. Therefore, anything to do with biblical translations involve interpretation processes based on receivers' assumptions, rather than simple translation. What is more, dealing with religion aspects often involves rendering through old anonymous documents.

Moreover, it is important to consider the functions of both the source text and target text or reason for their creation. A useful tool at this point is Reiss and Vermeer Skopos Theory from 1984. Its main focus is aimed at the translation purpose which determines the translation methods and strategies. Because of the cultural aspect of religion, one cannot ignore target culture customs or knowledge connected with translation topics that incorporate religious elements - especially due to its delicate character which means that any translation may easily offend the audience by means of incompetence or ignorance. The main advantage of this theory is the possibility of translating one text in different ways, depending on the need (Reiss and Vermeer, 1984).

All in all, encountering any religious elements in the aspect of translation involves a deep insight in th culture environment of the subject so as to eliminate the possibility of misunderstanding. Furthermore, it is necessary to state the purpose of translation in order to fulfill requirements of source translation receivers.

Reference:

Aspects Of A Good Translation English Language Essay. (2017). UKEssays. Retrieved 27 December 2017, from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-language/aspects-of-a-good-translation-english-language-essay.php

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http://monthlybrands.com.pk/top-10-richest-pakistani-businessmen-2017/

These are the top 10 richest Pakistani businessmen in 2017

According to the leading international news channel Forbes, the total number of billionaires has increased from 1,810 to 2,043 in 2017, resulting to a 13% rise since last year. Their total net worth increased by 18%, totaling some $7.67 trillion.

Surprisingly, a few of our countrymen also feature in the Forbes’ list of the world’s most richest people. Here we take a look at the 10 Pakistani billionaires who are featured in the list, on the basis of their net worth.

10) Tariq Saigol

Net Worth: $850 Million

Sources of income: Kohinoor Textile Mills, Saigol Group, Pak Electron Limited, Saigol Motors, Sajeel Motors

Tariq Saigol is part of the influential, industrialist Saigol family. They migrated from Calcutta to Pakistan and started their industrial business in Faisalabad.

The owner of Kohinoor-Maple group, Tariq Saigol is one of the wealthiest people in Pakistan having net worth of $850 million approximately.

He also has major investments in Kohinoor Textile Mills, Pak Elektron Ltd, and Kohinoor Power Company along with other partners. He also owns Saigol and Sajeel Motors.

Although Tariq’s residence is in Lahore but most of his time is spent in foreign countries due to business.

9) Abdul Razzak Yaqoob

Net Worth: $1 Billion

Source of income: ARY Group

Abdul Razzak Yaqoob was born in Pakistan on 7 May 1944. He was one of richest people in the country with total value of his assets nearly $1 billion. Razzak, the owner of ARY Group of Companies, also undertook various social and philanthropy projects.

The lifetime head of the World Memon Organization, Abdul Razzak Yaqoob migrated to the place that could later become Pakistan in 1944. He moved to Dubai after 25 years to establish his business.

He passed away in London on 21 February 2014.

8) Danial Schon

Net Worth: $1 Billion

Source of income: Schon Group

Danial Schon is currently the President of Schon Properties, which is a part of the Schon Group that owns Pak-China Fertilizers, National Fibres, Schon Equities. Being a 2nd generation leader for the Schon Group, Danial Schon is also known as a top business leader in Pakistan.

He was the driving force in the growth of Schon Properties in Dubai, developing as much as over 8 million square feet in the city. Danial Schon has increased the Schon Properties property portfolio to $2 billion since its inception.

Danial Schon’s leadership was key in delivering Schon Business Park comprising of 1.6m sq ft of office/retail space in Dubai. Most recently Danial Schon has launched iSuites, a Hotel Apartments project close to the Dubai Expo 2020 site. His primary source of income is investments made in property and fertilizer companies through the Schon Group.

7) Malik Riaz Hussain

Net Worth: $1.1 Billion

Source of income: Bahria Town

Malik Riaz Hussain is a real estate contractor and founder of Bahria town, a true example of hard work that turned to fortune, making him one of wealthiest people in Pakistan. His estimated assets are of $1.1 billion reportedly.

He is a well known figure in Pakistan due to his philanthropy work as well. He has build a number of hospitals and houses for the deprived people of the country.

He expanded his real-estate company and developed gated communities in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad during the 2000s, developing them over a combined area of 45,000 square acres.

As of 2016, Bahria has 60,000 employees, making it one of the largest private sector employers in Pakistan.

6) Sadruddin Hashwani

Net Worth: $1.1 Billion

Source of income: Marriott Hotel, Pearl Continental Hotel, Orient Petroleum

The Chairman of Hashoo Group, Sadruddin Hashwani, was born on 19 February 1940. He’s a renowned businessman in Pakistan and has invested in a lot of successful businesses. Hashoo has stakes in almost every running industry in Pakistan such as travel, tourism, real-estate, pharmaceuticals, Information Technology, oil industry and gas.

His noticeable investment is in Marriott Hotels and Pearl Continental Hotel. He also owns Ocean Pakistan Limited, a prestigious Oil and Gas exploration and production company.

5) Nawaz Sharif

Net Worth: $1.4 Billion

Source of income: Iteffaq Group and Sharif Group

The Prime Minister of Pakistan and head of his own political party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Nawaz Sharif is one of most popularly known people in Pakistan.

The veteran politician and owner of Ittefaq Group, the leading steel producer in Pakistan, also holds investments in agriculture, sugar and transport. Reportedly, his net worth is up to $1.4 billion.

Born on 25 December, 1949, Nawaz Sharif stepped into politics in era of the former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He was nominated as Chief Minister of the Punjab in 1985.

4) Sir Anwar Pervez O.B.E

Net Worth: $1.67 Billion

Source of income: United Bank Limited and Bestway Group

Sir Anwar Pervez is the founder of Bestway Group in United Kingdom. The businessman started his first convenience store in London’s Earls Court in 1963.

This supporter of the Conservative Party in UK has several accolades under his belt. He has served as Deputy Chairman of United Bank Limited, Trustee of the Memorial Gates Trust and Patron-in-Chief of Bestway Foundation Pakistan.

Pervez, 80, has received numerous UK based awards following his support and successful business activities like EMMA Business Personality of the Year, Barclays Business & Commerce Excellence Award, Grocer Cup for Outstanding Business Achievement, Honored by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and GG2 Entrepreneur of the Year among others.

3) Asif Ali Zardari

Net Worth: $1.8 Billion

Source of income: Diversified, Agriculture, Politics and Government

The famous Pakistani politician and co-chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari belonged to land owned by Baloch tribes. He got famous after his marriage with former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto.

After Mrs. Bhutto’s assassination in 2007, he was elected as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013 and became the first ever democratic president to have completed his five-year tenure.

Along with his political career, he also has investments in agriculture sector for which he has been included in list of top richest people with a net worth of $1.8 billion.

2) Mian Muhammad Mansha

Net Worth: $2.6 Billion

Source of income: Nishat Group, MCB Ltd, Adamjee Group, Nishat Chunian Group

An industrialist and entrepreneur, Mian Muhammad Mansha is one of the richest billionaires in Pakistan with a net worth of nearly $2.5 billion. Some sources, however, put his net worth at five billion dollars.

Mansha is part of a wealthy Chinioti family. He is the owner of Muslim Commercial Bank, Nishat Group, Adamjee Group, Nishat Chunian power which also have stakes in transport industry.

Mian Muhammad Mansha has long term plans to enhance the operation of MCB on international basis. He has also started big budgeted infrastructure projects in Pakistan including seaports and energy production.

1) Shahid Khan

Net Worth: $8.6 Billion

Source of income: Flex – N – Gate, Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham F.C

The American based Shahid Khan is owner of various businesses such as Jacksonville Jaguars, English Premier League team Fulham F. C and automotives Flex-N-Gate in Urbana, Illinois.

Born on July 18, 1950, Khan is a charismatic personality who has received various USA awards and has net worth $8.6 billion approximately.

Shahid Khan is ranked at 349th wealthiest person in the world while his company grabbed 120th position worldwide in the list of biggest companies.