title: Gunship

text: It was the later and larger Lockheed AC-130 "Gunship II" that became the modern, post–World War II origin of the term gunship in military aviation. These heavily armed aircraft used a variety of weapon systems, including 7.62 mm GAU-2/A Miniguns, 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan six-barrel rotary cannons, 25 mm (0.984 in) GAU-12/U Equalizer five-barreled rotary cannons, 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II chain guns, 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors autocannons, and 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzers. The Douglas AC-47 Spooky, the Fairchild AC-119, and the AC-130 Spectre/Spooky, were vulnerable, and meant to operate only after achieving air superiority.


title: Gunship

text: Smaller gunship designs such as the Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker and the Helio AU-24 Stallion were also designed by the United States during the Vietnam War. These aircraft were meant to be cheap and easy to fly and maintain, and were to be given to friendly governments in Southeast Asia to assist with counter-insurgency operations, eventually seeing service with the Khmer National Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, and Republic of Vietnam Air Force as well as limited use by the United States Air Force.


title: Gunship

text: Renewed interest in the concept of gunships has resulted in the development of a gunship variant of the Alenia C-27J Spartan. Although the United States Air Force decided not to procure the AC-27J, other nations including Italy have chosen the aircraft for introduction. Additionally, in 2013 the US Air Force Special Operations Command reportedly tested a gunship version of the C-145A Skytruck armed with a GAU-18 twin-mount .50-calibre machine gun system.


title: Gunship

text: Early helicopter gunships also operated in the side-firing configuration, with an early example being the Aérospatiale Alouette III. During the Overseas wars in Africa in the 1960s, the Portuguese Air Force experimented with the installation of M2 Browning .50 caliber machine guns in a side-firing twin-mounting configuration in some of its Alouette III helicopters. Later, the .50 caliber machine guns were replaced by a MG 151 20mm cannon in a single mounting. These helicopters were known in Portuguese service as ""helicanhões" (heli-cannons) and were used in the escort of unarmed transport helicopters in air assault operations and in the fire support to the troops in the ground. The South African and Rhodesian air forces later used armed Alouette III in similar configurations as the Portuguese, respectively in the South African Border and Rhodesian Bush wars.


title: Gunship

text: During the Algerian War, the French operated Sikorsky H-34 "Pirate" armed with a German 20mm MG151 cannon and two .50 machine guns. During the early days of the Vietnam War, USMC H-34s were among the first helicopter gunships in theater, fitted with the Temporary Kit-1 (TK-1), comprising two M60C machine guns and two 19-shot 2.75 inch rocket pods. The operations were met with mixed enthusiasm, and the armed H-34s, known as "Stingers", were quickly phased out. The TK-1 kit would form the basis of the TK-2 kit used later on the UH-1E helicopters of the USMC.


title: Gunship

text: The U.S. Army also experimented with H-34 gunships armed with M2 .50 caliber machine-guns and 2.75-inch rockets. In September 1971, a CH-34 was armed with two M2 .50 caliber machine guns, four M1919 .30 caliber machine guns, forty 2.75-inch rockets, two 5-inch high velocity aerial rockets (HVAR), plus two additional .30 caliber machine guns in the left side aft windows and one .50 caliber machine gun in the right side cargo door. The result was the world's most heavily armed helicopter at the time.


title: Gunship

text: Also, during the Vietnam War, the ubiquitous Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters were modified into gunships by mounting the U.S. Helicopter Armament Subsystems—these were forward-firing weapons, such as machine guns, rockets, and autocannons, that began to appear in 1962–1963. Rotary-wing aircraft (helicopters) can use a variety of combat maneuvers to approach a target. In their case, the term "gunship" is synonymous with "heavily armed helicopter". Specifically, dedicated attack helicopters such as the Bell AH-1 Cobra also fit this meaning. In any case, the gunship armaments include machine guns, rockets, and missiles.


title: Gunship

text: The Soviet Mil Mi-24 (NATO code name: Hind) is a large, heavily armed and armored helicopter gunship and troop transport. It was introduced in the 1970s and operated by the pre-1991 Soviet Air Force and its successors post-1991, and more than 30 other nations. It was heavily armed with a reinforced fuselage, designed to withstand .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine gun fire. Its armored cockpits and titanium rotor head are able to withstand 20 mm cannon hits.


title: 2022 World Touring Car Cup

text: The 2022 World Touring Car Cup was the fifth and final season of the World Touring Car Cup and 18th overall of the series, which dates back to the 2005 World Touring Car Championship. The season began on 7 May at the Circuit de Pau-Ville and ended on 27 November in Jeddah Corniche Circuit, however multiple event cancellations due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ongoing quarantine restrictions in Asia. On 1st September 2022, the organiser announced the final version of the calendar, adding Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as final venues for the 2022 season.


title: 2022 World Touring Car Cup

text: The season was marred by issues with tyres as drivers suffered numerous tyre failures on several rounds. These led to the cancellation of the races at the Nürburgring and Cyan Racing withdrawing from the series midway through the year. Only nine drivers completed the full season.


title: 2022 World Touring Car Cup

text: On 14th October 2022, the organiser announced that after five seasons of running under the WTCR guise, the series will end in its current format following the conclusion of the current season, which had two rounds remaining in Bahrain (10–12 November) and Saudi Arabia (25–27 November).


title: 2022 World Touring Car Cup

text: The preliminary race calendar was published by the championship management on 26 November 2021. On 26 February 2022, WTCR Race of Russia was suspended due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 19 March 2022, the calendar was updated again with the cancellation of the Czech and Russian rounds. A further update was ratified on 14 April 2022, with the addition of two rounds at Vallelunga and Anneau du Rhin. Another update was made on 29 June 2022 by cancelling Asian rounds due to the logistical challenges and quarantine restrictions in Asia: An update was provided on 1 September 2022 by adding races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to host the final rounds of the championship.


title: 2022 World Touring Car Cup

text: The following rounds were cancelled due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and logistical challenges in Asia:


title: 2022 World Touring Car Cup

text: Compensation weight handicaps were given to the participating cars based on their best qualifying lap times in the previous two events, with 40 kg being the maximum penalty. Hyundai customer team BRC Racing Team was in particular noted to have gamed the system by intentionally performing worse than possible in qualifying to avoid being penalised.


title: Slashed zero

text: The slashed zero is a representation of the Arabic digit "0" (zero) with a slash through it. The slashed zero glyph is often used to distinguish the digit "zero" ("0") from the Latin script letter "O" anywhere that the distinction needs emphasis, particularly in encoding systems, scientific and engineering applications, computer programming (such as software development), and telecommunications. It thus helps to differentiate characters that would otherwise be homoglyphs. It was commonly used during the punch card era, when programs were typically written out by hand, to avoid ambiguity when the character was later typed on a card punch.


title: Slashed zero

text: The slashed zero is used in a number of fields in order to avoid confusion with the letter 'O'. It is used by computer programmers, in recording amateur radio call signs and in military radio, as logs of such contacts tend to contain both letters and numerals.


title: Slashed zero

text: The slashed zero was used on teleprinter circuits for weather applications. In this usage it was sometimes called communications zero.


title: Slashed zero

text: The slashed zero can be used in stoichiometry to avoid confusion with the symbol for oxygen (capital O).


title: Slashed zero

text: The slashed zero is also used in charting and documenting in the medical and healthcare fields to avoid confusion with the letter 'O'. It also denotes an absence of something (similar to the usage of an 'empty set' character), such as a sign or a symptom.


title: Slashed zero

text: Slashed zeroes can also be used on cheques in order to prevent fraud, for example: Changing a 0 to an 8.


title: Slashed zero

text: The slashed zero predates computers, and is known to have been used in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.


title: Slashed zero

text: In the days of the typewriter, there was no key for the slashed zero. Typists could generate it by first typing either an uppercase "O" or a zero and then backspace, followed by typing the slash key. The result would look very much like a slashed zero.


title: Slashed zero

text: It is used in many Baudot teleprinter applications, specifically the keytop and typepallet that combines "P" and slashed zero. Additionally, the slashed zero is used in many ASCII graphic sets descended from the default typewheel on the Teletype Model 33.


title: Slashed zero

text: The use of the slashed zero by many computer systems of the 1970s and 1980s inspired the 1980s space rock band Underground Zerø to use a heavy metal umlaut Scandinavian vowel "ø" in the band's name and as the band logo on all their album covers (see link below).


title: Slashed zero

text: Along with the Westminster, MICR, and OCR-A fonts, the slashed zero became one of the things associated with hacker culture in the 1980s. Some cartoons depicted computer users talking in binary code with 1s and 0s using a "slashed zero" for the 0.


title: Slashed zero

text: Slashed zeroes have been used in the Flash-based artwork of Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries, notably in their 2003 work, "Operation Nukorea". The reason for their use is unknown, but has been conjectured to be related to themes of 'negation, erasure, and absence'.


title: Slashed zero

text: In Unicode, slashed zero is considered a typographic variation of the Arabic digit zero , which is code point . Since nearly all software requires each base-10 digit to have only a single, unique semantic representation, Unicode defines no code point (other than ) for altering the visual appearance of zero. This means that the slashed zero glyph is displayed for only—"and then always"—when a font whose designer chose the option is active. Successful display on a particular local system depends on making sure that such a font is available there, either via the system's font files or via font embedding, and also ensuring it is selected.


title: Slashed zero

text: As an explicit visual representation, Unicode supports slashed zero only indirectly, not as a single-character code point, but as two characters are paired in a combining sequence. see Combining solidus below.


title: Slashed zero

text: Unicode 9.0 introduced another method to create a short diagonal stroked form by adding the Variation Selector 1 after the zero, on this browser it produces .


title: Slashed zero

text: In most typographic designs, the slash of a slashed zero usually does not extend past the ellipse. Compare this to the Scandinavian vowel "Ø", the "empty set" symbol "∅" and the diameter symbol ⌀.


title: Slashed zero

text: A convention common on early line printers left zero unornamented but added a tail or hook to the letter-O so that it resembled an inverted Q (like U+213A ℺) or cursive capital letter-O (formula_1).


title: Slashed zero

text: In the Fixedsys typeface, the numeral 0 has two internal barbs along the lines of the slash. This appears much like a white "S" within the black borders of the zero.


title: Slashed zero

text: In the FE-Schrift typeface, used on German car license plates, the zero is rectangular and has an "insinuated" slash: a diagonal crack just beneath the top right curve.


title: Slashed zero

text: The zero with a dot in the center seems to have originated as an option on IBM 3270 display controllers. The dotted zero may appear similar to the Greek letter theta (particularly capital theta, Θ), but the two have different glyphs. In raster fonts, the theta usually has a horizontal line connecting, or nearly touching, the sides of an O; while the dotted zero simply has a dot in the middle. However, on a low-definition display, such a form can be confused with a numeral 8. In some fonts the IPA letter for a bilabial click (ʘ) looks similar to the dotted zero.


title: Slashed zero

text: Alternatively, the dot can become a vertical trace, for example by adding a "combining short vertical line overlay" codice_1. It may be coded as codice_2 giving 0⃓.


title: Slashed zero

text: IBM (and a few other early mainframe makers) used a convention in which the letter O had a slash and the digit 0 did not. This is even more problematic for Danes, Faroese, and Norwegians because it means two of their letters—the O and slashed O (Ø)—are visually similar.


title: Slashed zero

text: This was later flipped and most mainframe chain or band printers used the opposite convention (letter O printed as is, and digit zero printed with a slash Ø). This was the de facto standard from 1970s to 1990s. However current use of network laser printers that use PC style fonts caused the demise of the slashed zero in most companies – only a few configured laser printers to use Ø.


title: Slashed zero

text: Unicode supports combining characters, which overlay the preceding character to create a composite glyph. This can be used to obtain a crude typographic approximation where the slash is contained within the zero. It is treated literally as "a zero that is slashed", and it is coded as two characters: a standard zero followed by either "combining short solidus overlay" or "combining long solidus overlay" .


title: Slashed zero

text: Using the "short solidus overlay" after a standard zero character is coded as and produces the following: .


title: Slashed zero

text: Some Burroughs/Unisys equipment displays a zero with a "reversed" slash, similar to the no symbol,  ⃠.


title: Sloviansk

text: Sloviansk ( ; or ; prior to 1784 – Tor) is a city in the Kramatorsk district of the Donetsk region of Ukraine, the administrative center of the Slovyansk urban community. The city lies in the north of the region, in the valley of the Kazennyi Torets river. As of July 2022, the population of the city was around 24,000.


title: Sloviansk

text: Sloviansk was one of the focal points in the early stages of the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine as it was the first city to be seized by Russia-backed military troops. It was retaken by Ukrainian forces in July 2014. Sloviansk has a population of .


title: Sloviansk

text: The history of Sloviansk dates back to 1645 when Russian Tsar Alexei Romanov founded a border fortress named Tor against the Crimean attacks and slave raids on the southern suburbs of modern Ukraine and Russia.


title: Sloviansk

text: In 1676, a fortress named Tor was built at the confluence of the Kazenyy Torets and Sukhyy Torets River, where they form the Torets River, a tributary of Donets River. Shortly thereafter, the town of Tor grew up next to the fortress.


title: Sloviansk

text: As several salt lakes were located close by, the town became a producer of salt. During the sixteenth century, salt production was the principal local industry. During the eighteenth century, it became unprofitable and salt production ceased in 1782.


title: Sloviansk

text: In 1784, the city was renamed Sloviansk. It became a part of the Kharkov Governorate of the Russian Empire in 1797. A resort was established on the shores of Lake Ropne in 1832.


title: Sloviansk

text: The city was occupied by the Germans on 28 October 1941. In December 1941, the SS Einsatzkommando 4b executed more than a thousand Jews who lived in Sloviansk. The Red Army temporarily expelled the Nazi occupiers on 17 February 1943. Germans retook it on 1 March 1943. The Red Army retook Sloviansk on 6 September 1943.


title: Sloviansk

text: On 12 April 2014, during the ongoing crisis following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, masked men in army fatigues and bulletproof vests armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles captured the executive committee building, the police department, and the SBU office in Sloviansk. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov described the gunmen as "terrorists" and vowed to use the Ukrainian special forces to retake the building.


title: Sloviansk

text: On 13 April 2014, there were reports of fighting between the gunmen and Ukrainian troops, with casualties on both sides. The BBC's David Stern described the pro-Russian forces as carrying Russian weapons and resembling the soldiers that took over Crimean installations at the start of the 2014 Crimean crisis.


title: Sloviansk

text: On 29 May 2014, a helicopter carrying fourteen army soldiers, including General Serhiy Kulchytskiy – the head of combat and special training for Ukraine's National Guard, crashed after being shot down by militants near Sloviansk. Ukraine's outgoing President Olexander Turchynov described the downing as a "terrorist attack," and blamed pro-Russian militants.


title: Sloviansk

text: Sloviansk was held by Russian-backed separatists until 5 July 2014. When pressed by the Ukrainian army they retreated from Sloviansk and pulled back to Donetsk city.


title: Sloviansk

text: During the 2022 Invasion of Ukraine, Sloviansk is a pivotal city on the eastern front, as part of a second phase of the war, following the Russian retreat from Kyiv. Russian forces seized the strategic town of Izyum and used it as a staging post to attack Slovyansk, to the south. The town of Slovyansk is thought to be critical to Moscow’s objective of capturing all of eastern Ukraine due to its west-central location in the Donbas "pocket" of remaining Ukrainian forces. On 4 July, "The Guardian" reported that after the fall of the Luhansk oblast, that Russian invasion troops would continue their invasion into the adjacent Donetsk oblast to attack the cities of Sloviansk and Bakhmut.


title: Sloviansk

text: In early September 2022, Ukraine began a major counteroffensive, regaining several settlements in the Kharkiv region. This relieved the pressure on Sloviansk with the fall of Lyman to Ukrainian forces on October 1, 2022.


title: Sloviansk

text: Sloviansk is an important health resort, providing spa treatments and mud baths using mud from the bottom of salt lakes located nearby.


title: Sloviansk

text: Sloviansk served as the administrative center of the Sloviansk Raion (district) until its abolition on 18 July 2020, though it did not belong to the raion.


title: Sloviansk

text: Sloviansk is a nexus of a number of railways and roads. There are three railway stations currently in use, one defunct. Three railway lines leave the city in directions of Lozova, Lyman and Kramatorsk.


title: Sloviansk

text: Ukrainian international highway goes by the edge of Sloviansk. The national highway N-20 leaves from the city toward Mariupol. The local population is served by a trolleybus network consisting of two permanent routes and one summer route. Marshrutkas are widely used.


title: Bryan Konietzko

text: Bryan Konietzko is an American animator, writer, producer and musician. He is best known, together with Michael Dante DiMartino, as the co-creator and executive producer of the animated series "" and "The Legend of Korra".


title: Bryan Konietzko

text: Konietzko has worked as a character designer at Film Roman for "Family Guy" and as assistant director for "Mission Hill" and "King of the Hill". He was a storyboard artist and art director for the Nickelodeon animated series "Invader Zim".


title: Bryan Konietzko

text: Between 2001 and 2014, Konietzko, together with Michael Dante DiMartino, was mainly occupied with writing and producing the animated series "" and its sequel "The Legend of Korra" for Nickelodeon. Konietzko's and DiMartino's long-standing creative partnership is collectively referred to as "Bryke" by fans, in reference to "shipping" naming conventions.


title: Bryan Konietzko

text: As of 2015, Konietzko was working on writing and illustrating a sci-fi graphic novel series, "Threadworlds", that is to be published by First Second Books, but there is no release date.


title: Bryan Konietzko

text: Konietzko is also active in photography and has a band, Ginormous, with which he has released several albums. These include "Our Ancestors' Intense Love Affair" and "At Night, Under Artificial Light".


title: Bryan Konietzko

text: In September 2018, Netflix announced that Konietzko and DiMartino would serve as executive producers and showrunners for the live-action series based on "Avatar: The Last Airbender", to be released in 2022. On August 12, 2020, Konietzko and DiMartino revealed on social media that they had both departed the show, due to creative differences with the Netflix team.


title: Bryan Konietzko

text: In February 2021, ViacomCBS (the parent company of Nickelodeon) announced its formation of Avatar Studios, a division of Nickelodeon centered on developing newer animated series and movies set in the same universe as "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Legend of Korra". Konietzko and DiMartino will jointly lead the studio as co-chief creative officers reporting to Nickelodeon Animation Studio president, Ramsey Ann Naito. The first project will be an animated theatrical film which is set to start production later in 2021.


title: Bryan Konietzko

text: Konietzko graduated from Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia, a suburb north of Atlanta. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Satya Narayana Goenka (ISO 15919: "Satyanārāyaṇ Goyankā"; ; 29 January 1924 – 29 September 2013) was an Indian teacher of Vipassanā meditation. Born in Burma to an Indian business family, he moved to India in 1969 and started teaching meditation. His teaching emphasized that the Buddha's path to liberation was non-sectarian, universal, and scientific in character. He became an influential teacher and played an important role in establishing non-commercial Vipassana meditation centers globally. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2012, an award given for distinguished service of high order.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Born on 29 January 1924 in Burma (now Myanmar) to Indian parents from the Marwari ethnic group, Goenka grew up in a conservative Hindu household. He was a successful businessman, when in 1955 he started experiencing severe, debilitating migraines. Unable to find medical relief, and on the suggestion of a friend, he met with the Vipassana teacher Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Though initially reluctant, Ba Khin took him on as a student. Goenka subsequently trained under him for 14 years.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: In 1969, Goenka was authorised to teach by Sayagyi U Ba Khin, who died in 1971. He left his business to his family and moved to India, where he started the first Vipassana meditation centre at Kusum Nagar in Hyderabad. Seven years later, in 1976, he opened his first meditation centre, Dhamma Giri, in Igatpuri near Nashik, Maharashtra. He taught meditation on his own until 1982, and then started training assistant teachers. He established the Vipassana Research Institute at Dhamma Giri in 1985.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: From the start, he taught 10-day intensive meditation retreats, and by 1988 had taught numerous people, including several thousand Westerners.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Today, Vipassana courses, in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, are held at 341 locations in 94 countries, of which about 202 are permanent Vipassana meditation centres. There are such centres in the Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and 78 centres in India.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: In 2000, Goenka laid the foundation of the 325 ft. high Global Vipassana Pagoda, near Gorai Beach, in Mumbai, which opened in 2009, and has relics of Buddha and a meditation hall. It was built as a tribute to his teacher, who in turn wanted to pay back the debt to India, the land of origin of Vipassana. However, unlike his protégé, U Ba Khin was unable to acquire a passport, and thus had been unable to travel to India in person.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Goenka was an invited speaker at the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders on 29 August 2000 at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations headquarters in New York City.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Goenka was also an orator, and a prolific writer and poet. He wrote in English and Hindi. He travelled widely and lectured to audiences worldwide including at the World Economic Forum, Davos. For four months in 2002, he undertook the "Meditation Now Tour of North America".


title: S. N. Goenka

text: He was conferred the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in India for social work on the occasion of India's 63rd Republic Day in 2012.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: He died on 29 September 2013, at his home in Mumbai. He was survived by his wife Elaichi Devi Goenka, also a prominent meditation teacher, and six sons.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Goenka trained about 1300 assistant teachers to conduct courses using his recordings, and about 120,000 people attend them each year. Upon Goenka's death, Jack Kornfield, noted American author on Buddhism wrote, "In every generation, there are a few visionary and profound masters who hold high the lamp of the Dharma to illuminate the world. Like the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, Ven. S.N. Goenka was one of the great world masters of our time. [He] was an inspiration and teacher for Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg, Ram Dass, Daniel Goleman, and many other western spiritual leaders." Jay Michaelson wrote in a "Huffington Post" article titled, "The Man who Taught the World to Meditate", "He was a core teacher for the first generation of 'insight' meditation teachers to have an impact in the United States."


title: S. N. Goenka

text: The technique that Goenka taught is claimed to represent a tradition that is traced back to the Buddha. There is no requirement to convert to any religious belief system. Goenka explained that, "The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the way to liberation — which is universal" and presented his teachings as non-sectarian and open to people of all faiths or no faith. "Liberation" in this context means freedom from impurities of mind and, as a result of the process of cultivating a pure mind, freedom from suffering. Goenka described Vipassana meditation as an experiential scientific practice, in which one observes the constantly changing nature of the mind and body at the deepest level, through which one gains a profound self-knowledge that leads to a truly happy and peaceful life.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Courses start with observation of natural (i.e. not controlled) breath, which allows the mind to become concentrated, a practice called Anapana. This concentration prepares one for the Vipassana practice itself which, in this tradition, involves observing bodily sensations with equanimity and becoming progressively more aware of the interconnection between mind and body.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Given that teachings of Vipassana in the Burmese traditions are derived from the Abhidhamma Pitaka (which, according to Theravadin commentarial tradition and Goenka, was expounded by the Buddha to Sariputta), and although some Burmese teachers advocate that Vipassana and Abhidhamma study cannot be separated, Goenka invites students to consider the theoretical aspects of his teachings, advising, though, that the important aspect of the technique is its practice. Students are free to accept his theoretical background or to reject any part of it that they find objectionable.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: The Vipassana Meditation Centres that Goenka helped to establish throughout the world offer 10-day courses that provide a thorough and guided introduction to the practice of Vipassana meditation. There are no charges for either the course or for the lodging and boarding during the course. These courses are supported by voluntary donations of people who want to contribute for future courses. Only donations made at the end of the course go towards paying for future new students.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: The organisation of the centres are decentralized and self-sufficient and may be run by volunteers of varying experience, which may account for differences in attitudes and experiences. In an effort to provide a more uniform experience in all of the centres, all public instruction during the retreat is given by audio and video tapes of Goenka. When asked about problems related to growth and expansion, Goenka stated:


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Students practising Goenka's Vipassana technique at the meditation centres are asked to agree to refrain from practising any other religious or meditative practices for the duration of the course. Concerning practices of other religions, Goenka stated: "Understand. The names of many practices are all words of pure Dhamma, of Vipassana. But today the essence is lost; it is just a lifeless shell that people perform. And that has no benefit."


title: S. N. Goenka

text: One of Goenka's wishes was fulfilled in November 2008 when the construction of the Global Vipassana Pagoda was completed on the outskirts of Mumbai. He hoped that this monument will act as a bridge between different communities, different sects, different countries and different races to make the world a more harmonious and peaceful place.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: The Pagoda contains the world's largest pillar-less stone dome structure and is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world wanting to learn more about it and Vipassana meditation. Architecturally, this building is by far the largest single-span stone dome in the world, twice as big as the Basilica of St. Peter at the Vatican. At its centre is a circular meditation hall, 280 feet in diameter, which has a seating capacity of 8,000. At 325 feet height, it is almost as tall as a 30-story building. Approximately 2.5 million tons of stone was used in the construction.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: In a 1997 article titled "Why the Grand Vipassana Pagoda?", Goenka explained that the Pagoda would house relics said to be from Buddha, which he said actually help people:


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Goenka believed that theory and practice should go hand-in-hand and accordingly he established a Vipassana Research Institute to investigate and publish literature on Vipassana and its effects. The Vipassana Research Institute focuses on two main areas: translation and publication of the Pali texts, and research into the application of Vipassana in daily life.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: Goenka was able to bring Vipassana meditation into prisons, first in India, and then in other countries. The organisation estimates that as many as 10,000 prisoners, as well as many members of the police and military, have attended the 10-day courses.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: "Doing Time, Doing Vipassana" is a 1997 documentary about the introduction of S. N. Goenka's 10-day Vipassana classes at Tihar Jail in 1993 by then Inspector General of Prisons in New Delhi, Kiran Bedi. Bedi had her guards trained in Vipassana first, and then she had Goenka give his initial class to 1,000 prisoners.


title: S. N. Goenka

text: "The Dhamma Brothers" is a documentary film released in 2007 about a prison Vipassana meditation program at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama. The film concentrates on four inmates, all convicted of murder. It also includes interviews of guards, prison officials, and local residents, and includes re-enactments of the inmates' crimes.


title: Barry McGuire

text: Barry McGuire (born October 15, 1935) is an American singer-songwriter primarily known for his 1965 hit "Eve of Destruction". Later he would pioneer as a singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian music.


title: Barry McGuire

text: McGuire was born in Oklahoma City and his family moved to California when he was two years old. After working as a commercial fisherman, and then going on to become a journeyman pipe fitter, McGuire got a job singing in a bar. In 1961, he released his first single called "The Tree", which was not a hit.


title: Barry McGuire

text: He formed a duo with Barry Kane (d. 2013) called Barry & Barry. They performed original folk songs at The Ice House, a small folk club in Pasadena, California before moving on to The Troubadour in Hollywood in the spring of 1962. There they joined The New Christy Minstrels, a large folk group, and McGuire later sang lead vocals on their novelty single "Three Wheels on My Wagon".


title: Barry McGuire

text: They continued to perform their separate duo act there as well as performing with The New Christy Minstrels. Under Horizon Records, they cut their first and only album as Barry & Barry, titled "Here And Now", which contained songs such as "Gold Wedding Ring", "Land Of Odin", the single "Another Man", "Summer's Over", "You Know My Name", "Bull 'Gine Run", and "Far Side of the Hill". It also included "If I Had A Hammer", released three months after the release of the same song by folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary.


title: Barry McGuire

text: In 1963, McGuire, along with Randy Sparks (the founder of The New Christy Minstrels), co-wrote and sang lead vocal on the Christys' first and biggest hit single: Green, Green. He left the Christys in January 1965, after recording the album "Cowboys and Indians", although, on the 1965 album "Chim Chim Cher-ee", he sang on the title cut.


title: Barry McGuire

text: As a solo folk rock singer in the 1960s, he was best known for his hit "Eve of Destruction", and "Sins of a Family", both written by P.F. Sloan. McGuire's other chart successes were "Child of Our Times" and "Cloudy Summer Afternoon (Raindrops)" (penned by Travis Edmonson of the 1960s folk-duo, Bud & Travis). "Eve of Destruction" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The album, "Eve of Destruction", peaked at No. 37 on the "Billboard" 200 album chart during the week ending September 25, 1965. That same week the single went to No. 1 on both the "Cashbox" and "Billboard" Hot 100 chart. McGuire was never again to break into the Top 40. The song knocked "Help!" by The Beatles out of the top spot on the chart. According to McGuire, "Eve of Destruction" was recorded in one take on a Thursday morning (from words scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper) and then he got a call from the record company at 7:00 the next Monday morning, telling him to turn on the radio – his song was playing. The recording includes an "ahhh" where McGuire could not read the words. The Temptations referenced McGuire's song "Eve of Destruction" in their song "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)".


title: Barry McGuire

text: The album "This Precious Time" was released in February 1966, his second with Dunhill Records. It includes a version of "California Dreamin with The Mamas & the Papas singing backing vocals. McGuire is mentioned several times in The Mamas & the Papas hit "Creeque Alley". Frank Zappa wrote McGuire's name in the sleeve of his "Freak Out!" album (1966) as one of his musical influences.


title: Barry McGuire

text: McGuire appeared in the 1967 movie "The President's Analyst" with James Coburn as the character "Old Wrangler"(leader of a band which completely comprised the Los Angeles group Clear Light, who were between lead vocalists) and in "Werewolves on Wheels" in 1971. He also starred for a year in the Broadway musical "Hair" in 1968.


title: Barry McGuire

text: McGuire became a born-again Christian in 1971 after a brief encounter with evangelist Arthur Blessitt in October 1970. In 1973, he joined the Myrrh label and released the album "Seeds". This album is also notable for the backing vocals provided by the family trio that would become known as the 2nd Chapter of Acts. In 1974, McGuire released his second Jesus music album "Lighten Up", which included a remake of "Eve of Destruction". He toured with 2nd Chapter of Acts and "A Band Called David", and in 1975 this collaborative effort resulted in the double live album "To the Bride".


title: Barry McGuire

text: In 1976, he left Myrrh, joining former Myrrh executive Billy Ray Hearn's new label, Sparrow Records. He recorded seven albums on Sparrow, the best known of which is "Cosmic Cowboy", released in 1978 in which the title track hit No. 1 on the CCM Magazine's Contemporary charts and stayed there for 35 weeks. That year he also released a top-selling children's album "Bullfrogs and Butterflies" (part of the Agapeland series) for Sparrow's subsidiary label, Birdwing.


title: Barry McGuire

text: In 1978, he toured England, Scotland, and Wales with the Jimmy Owens' musical "The Witness", in which he played the part of the apostle Peter, a part he also played on the studio recording of "The Witness".


title: Barry McGuire

text: In 1985 McGuire was featured on the contemporary musical recording, "The Scroll", performing the character of Jesus. The musical was composed by Canadian singer, songwriter, Bruce Stacey and was recorded with the National Philharmonic in England. The musical also featured other contemporary Christian artists of the day. The Scroll was released on Light Records and was featured at three world exhibitions as a major multi-media presentation.


title: Barry McGuire

text: In the 1980s, after his final album "Pilgrim", McGuire left the music industry, and settled for a time in New Zealand with his wife, Mari. He wrote music, performed and hosted the videos for several years for Gospel Light Publishing's Vacation Bible School Programs. He returned to the United States in the 1990s, teaming up with Terry Talbot and recording as Talbot McGuire. The duo released four albums between 1996 and 2000.


title: Barry McGuire

text: In 1990, he published a novel co-written with Logan White. A paperback, "In the Midst of Wolves", told a story about a group of bikers who come to know God. He did a brief stint with The New Mamas and the Papas in 1997–1998.


title: Barry McGuire

text: As of 2006, he undertook engagements which include a few songs and talks on a mixture of topics, by both McGuire and his wife. The McGuires reside in Fresno, California, but also spend part of every year in New Zealand.


title: Barry McGuire

text: On March 12, 2008, McGuire appeared on the Australian music comedy/game show, "Spicks and Specks", performing an updated version of "Eve of Destruction", with new lines such as, "You're old enough to kill / you just started voting" and "... can live for ten years in space". The reference to "Red China" was also removed. In 2009, McGuire released "Eve 2012", where the text had been modified to reflect contemporary problems (mostly environmental problems) rather than the problems of the 1960s.


title: Barry McGuire

text: In 2008, McGuire teamed up with former member of the Byrds, John York, for a live tour called "Trippin' the '60s", which McGuire describes as "taking the songs and the truth that was in those songs from the 1960s and bringing them into the present moment... It's not a cover pack, it's us singing songs that we sung with a lot of our friends that aren't around anymore to sing them."


title: Barry McGuire

text: In 2013, McGuire appeared in the documentary film 'The Byrd Who Flew Alone', produced by Four Suns Productions. The film was about Gene Clark, one of the original Byrds, who was a friend of McGuire's for many years.


title: Sion Sono

text: Sion Sono was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1961. At the age of 17, he ran away from home, and joined a cult, which inspired his 2008 film "Love Exposure". Sono started his career working as a poet before taking his first steps in film directing, making a series of short films on Super 8 as a student.


title: Sion Sono

text: After receiving a fellowship with the PIA, Sono made his first feature-length 16 mm film in 1990, "Bicycle Sighs" ("Jitensha Toiki"), a coming-of-age tale about two underachievers in perfectionist Japan. Sono co-wrote, directed, and starred in the film. In 1990, Sono moved to San Francisco, and was admitted to University of California, Berkeley; however, he never attended class, or learned English, instead spending his time watching B-movies and porno movies. After returning to Japan, he wrote and directed his second feature film, "The Room" ("Heya") (1992), a bizarre tale about a serial killer looking for a room in a bleak, doomed Tokyo district. It participated in the Sundance Film Festival. "The Room" also toured on 49 festivals worldwide, including the Berlin Film Festival and the Rotterdam Film Festival. In the following years, Sono directed works such as the drama "I Am Keiko" (1997), the faux-documentary "Utsushimi" (2000), and the pink film "Teachers of Sexual Play: Modelling Vessels with the Female Body" (2000).


title: Sion Sono

text: In 2001, Sono wrote and directed the horror film "Suicide Club", his breakthrough feature, which follows a series of interconnected mass suicides. The film was very successful, gaining considerable notoriety in film festivals (including winning the Prize for "Most Ground-Breaking Film" at the 2003 Fantasia Film Festival), and developing a significant cult following over the years, even spawning a manga adaptation, as well as a written by Sono himself. In 2005, Sono released "Noriko's Dinner Table", a prequel to "Suicide Club", which also received acclaim. The film received special mention at the 40th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.


title: Sion Sono

text: In 2005, Sono also released three other films: "Into a Dream" ("Yume no Naka e"), a coming-of-age tale about the life of a theatre group member, "Hazard", a crime film shot in New York City, (which was wide released in 2006) and "Strange Circus", where Sono worked not only as director and writer, but also as composer and cinematographer. In 2006, he wrote and directed the drama film "Balloon Club, Afterwards". In 2007, he wrote and directed the horror film "".


title: Sion Sono

text: In 2008, Sono directed and wrote the 237 minutes-long epic "Love Exposure", which is widely considered his most acclaimed and popular work to date. The film won the Caligari Film Award and the FIPRESCI Prize at Berlin International Film Festival, as well as the Best Asian Film award at the Fantasia Film Festival. Almost a decade later, Sono would release an extended mini-series version of the film titled, "Love Exposure: The TV-Show". "Love Exposure" was the first film in Sono's thematic "Hate" trilogy. In 2009, Sono directed the dramas "Be Sure To Share" and "Make The Last Wish".


title: Sion Sono

text: "Love Exposure" was followed by the second and third installments, "Cold Fish", released in 2010, and "Guilty of Romance", released in 2011; both were acclaimed, and gained him the Best Director awards at the Yokohama Film Festival and the Hochi Film Awards. 2011 saw Sono be recognized in the United States with his work being highlighted in the cinema series "Sion Sono: The New Poet" presented at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City.


title: Sion Sono

text: In 2011 and 2012 respectively, Sono released two drama films inspired by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and Tohoku Earthquake: "Himizu" and "The Land of Hope." The films were praised for their simplicity and seriousness compared to Sono's other works, and "Himizu" won the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. In 2012, Sono edited and released the film "Bad Film" using footage from the production of a massive unreleased underground film he shot in 1995 starring the performance collective Tokyo GAGAGA.


title: Sion Sono

text: In 2013, he directed the action-drama "Why Don't You Play in Hell?", which was an international success, winning the People's Choice Award in the Midnight Madness section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, and being distributed by the American company Drafthouse Films. In 2014, he directed "Tokyo Tribe", a hip-hop musical adaptation of the manga of the same name. In 2015, five films directed by Sono were released: "Shinjuku Swan", an action yakuza film, "Love & Peace", a tokusatsu fantasy drama, "Tag", an action horror film which was named Best Film of the year at the Fantasia Film Festival and the Fancine Malaga, "The Whispering Star", a science fiction film which won the NETPAC Award at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, and "The Virgin Psychics", an adaptation of the science fiction comedy manga series "All Esper Dayo!" by Kiminori Wakasugi.


title: Sion Sono

text: In 2016, Sono was one of the directors chosen by Nikkatsu for its Roman Porno Reboot project, which asked five Japanese filmmakers to make a film that abided by the same rules as the studio's popular softcore pornography films released in the 1970s. Sono's film, the surrealist "Antiporno", was praised for its feminist exploration of sexuality. In 2017, Sono directed a sequel to "Shinjuku Swan", "Shinjuku Swan II". In the same year, he wrote and directed a 9-part horror mini-series titled "Tokyo Vampire Hotel", which was produced and released to streaming by Amazon. A special feature-length cut of the show running 2 hours and 22 minutes was shown at various festivals. Also he made a cameo appearance in Meisekimu Genshi's short film "Ami. exe".


title: Sion Sono

text: In 2018, it was announced that Sono was working on his first overseas production and English-language debut, a film titled "Prisoners of the Ghostland", starring Nicolas Cage, which was described by Cage as "the wildest movie I've ever made." In 2019, Sono was hospitalized and underwent emergency surgery following a heart attack, temporarily halting pre-production on the film.


title: Sion Sono

text: In 2019, Netflix released "The Forest of Love", a crime film written, directed and co-edited by Sono, inspired by the murders of Japanese serial killer Futoshi Matsunaga. An extended, mini-series version of the film, titled "The Forest of Love: Deep Cut" was also released. In 2020, Sono wrote, directed and edited the film "Red Post on Escher Street", which followed a film director's efforts to complete a film, and won the People's Choice Award at the Montreal Festival of New Cinema.


title: Sion Sono

text: Sono co-wrote the 2022 film "Moshikashite, Hyūhyū", credited under the pseudonym "Takayuki Yamamoto" to obscure his involvement.


title: Sion Sono

text: In "The Hollywood Reporter", Clarence Tsui writes that Sono has "established himself as one of the most idiosyncratic artists of his generation". Often considered a provocateur, Mike Hale of "The New York Times" argues that he is "the most recognizable, if not the most universally celebrated, director in Japan", which Sono himself explains by stating (in Hale's words) that Japanese critics generally "reserve their approval for work that doesn’t 'embarrass' the nation." The director has said, "I do think an international audience understands my work more." Sono is considered an auteur, with his style being characterized by features such as grotesque violence, extreme eroticism, philosophical references, surreal imagery, and complex narratives. Sono's portrayal of women has been a subject of discussion, with some considering his works misogynist, and others claiming they are feminist. Common themes in his works include sex, cinema, cynicism, and modern Japanese society. Sono's work has often been described as belonging to, or being inspired by, the ero guro nansensu genre.


title: Sion Sono

text: On April 4, 2022, women's magazine "Shūkan Josei" reported allegations by two actresses and rumors inside the Japanese film industry that Sono has sexually harassed and made unwanted advances towards actresses for years. On April 5, in a video he posted on YouTube, actor Tak Sakaguchi, who has appeared in Sono's films, identified himself as the actor merely identified as "T" in the "Shūkan Josei" article, and confirmed he organized the drinking party that led to Sono allegedly assaulting one of the accusing actresses. On April 6, "Shūkan Bunshun" reported that producer Haruo Umekawa, who produced Sono's "Love Exposure" and "Himizu", has allegedly pressured actresses for sexual favors in exchange for being cast in his films. In a statement released on April 13, 2022, actress Kiko Mizuhara said she had heard widespread rumors about Sono's sexual conduct and had been warned by a fellow actor when she was offered a role in his film. On May 18, 2022, Sono sued the publisher of "Shūkan Josei" for damages, saying the article contained inaccuracies.


title: Sion Sono

text: Sono has director and writer credits for two episodes and acted in one episode of the 2006 comedy television mini-series "Jikō Keisatsu" ("Prescription Police") and wrote one episode of the 2007 series "Kaette Kita Jikō keisatsu" ("Before Prescription Police"). He directed, wrote, and acted in an episode of the 2013 series "Minna! ESPer Dayo!" and directed its 2015 television special continuation "All Esper Dayo! SP". Sono directed and wrote the 2017 Amazon original mini-series "Tokyo Vampire Hotel".


title: Non, je ne regrette rien

text: "Non, je ne regrette rien" (, Piaf's pronunciation , meaning "No, I do not regret anything") is a French song composed in 1956 by Charles Dumont, with lyrics by Michel Vaucaire. Édith Piaf's 1960 recording spent seven weeks atop the French Singles & Airplay Reviews chart.


title: Non, je ne regrette rien

text: The song's composer, Charles Dumont, states in the book "Édith Piaf, Opinions publiques", by Bernard Marchois (TF1 Editions 1995), that Michel Vaucaire's original title was "Non, je ne trouverai rien" (No, I will not find anything) and that the song was meant for the French singer Rosalie Dubois. However, thinking of Piaf, he changed the title to "Non, je ne regrette rien" (No, I Regret Nothing).


title: Non, je ne regrette rien

text: According to journalist Jean Noli, in his book "Édith" (Éditions Stock 1973), when Dumont and Vaucaire visited Piaf's home at Boulevard Lannes in Paris, on 24 October 1960, she received them in a very impolite and unfriendly manner. Dumont had tried to offer Piaf his compositions on several occasions, but she disliked them and had refused them. On that day she was furious that her housekeeper Danielle had arranged a meeting with the two men without informing her, so she let them wait an hour in her living room before she appeared. She told them she would listen to one song only. Dumont sang "Non, je ne regrette rien", to which Piaf reacted extremely positively, saying "This is the song I have been waiting for. It will be my biggest success! I want it for my coming performance at L'Olympia!"


title: Non, je ne regrette rien

text: Piaf dedicated her recording of the song to the Foreign Legion. At the time of the recording, France was engaged in a military conflict, the Algerian War (1954–1962), and the 1st REP (1st Foreign Parachute Regiment)—which backed the failed 1961 putsch against president Charles de Gaulle and the civilian leadership of Algeria—adopted the song when their resistance was broken. The leadership of the Regiment was arrested and tried but the non-commissioned officers, corporals and Legionnaires were assigned to other Foreign Legion formations. They left the barracks singing the song, which has now become part of the Foreign Legion heritage and is sung when they are on parade.


title: John Edward

text: John Edward McGee Jr. (born October 19, 1969) is an American television personality, author and a self-proclaimed psychic medium.


title: John Edward

text: After writing his first book on the subject in 1998, Edward became a well-known (and controversial) figure in the United States with his shows broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel premiering in July 2000 along with broadcasting on We TV since May 2006.


title: John Edward

text: Edward (born in Glen Cove, New York) is the only son of an Irish-American police officer and an Italian-American working mother. The religion he was raised practicing was Roman Catholic. Although Edward later stopped practicing that faith, he has been quoted as saying that he has never stopped feeling connected to God and still feels closely connected to his Catholic roots. Edward was quoted saying, "This is something that is driven by a belief in God. It's the energy from that force that I think allows us to create "this" energy."


title: John Edward

text: According to Edward, when he was 15 and "a huge doubter" (in psychic abilities), he was read by a New Jersey woman who convinced him that he could become a medium.


title: John Edward

text: "She told me things that there is no way she could have known. And the first part of the reading was that this was the path that I was supposed to be on and that I was supposed to be a teacher and help people and – I thought she was nuts." Speaking of the same encounter in a 2002 interview, Edward said, "She told me I would one day become internationally known for my psychic abilities through lectures, books, radio and TV. I thought she was full of it until she started to tell me things no one in my life knew about... The details were unbelievable."


title: John Edward

text: Later, Edward worked as a phlebotomist while pursuing a degree in health care administration at Long Island University. He met his wife, Sandra McGee, when he was a student in a dance studio, and he became a ballroom dancing instructor. He and his wife had their first child, Justin, on September 25, 2002, and their second child, Olivia, on January 25, 2007.


title: John Edward

text: Edward published his first book, "One Last Time", in 1998. His related appearance on "Larry King Live" later in the year prompted enough phone calls to overload the show's switchboard. The next year, Edward had a show of his own.


title: John Edward

text: From 2001 to 2004, Edward was the producer and host of the show "Crossing Over with John Edward", which has been syndicated and was broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States and on Living TV in the UK. In "Crossing Over", Edward gave psychic readings to audience members.


title: John Edward

text: Readings in "Crossing Over" involve Edward questioning audience members with what is presented as information being supposedly "communicated" by deceased friends and relatives. Edward says he receives images and clues from "the other side" which the audience must try to interpret. The audience is not supposed to supply Edward with any prior information about themselves, their family or whom they are trying to connect with "on the other side", aside from questionnaires filled out prior to taping. Audience members respond to Edward's statements and questions, adding any details they feel are appropriate. The show often employs a split screen, the view of a reading without sound on one half of the screen while on the other half the subjects of the reading are shown in a later interview as they discuss their experiences. A voiceover by Edward is also implemented at times, sharing further insights.


title: John Edward

text: In other instances, Edward conducted private sessions away from the studio audience. The subjects of these segments later spoke in greater detail about the situation that led to their reading with Edward and the effect the reading had on their lives. Periodically, segments revisit people who have previously appeared on the show.


title: John Edward

text: Shortly after the September 11 attacks, Edward began filming at least one special in which he met with some relatives of the victims, with the intention of communicating with those who were killed. According to Edward's autobiography, he did not know that the producers had chosen the victims' families to appear on the show. The trade magazine "Broadcasting & Cable" sent a story, "'Psychic' Plans WTC Victims Show", on the daily subscription-fax sent to news media and TV station executives on October 25, 2001.


title: John Edward

text: Steve Rosenberg, president of domestic television at Studios USA, the company that distributes Edward's program, had tentatively scheduled the program(s) to be broadcast during the November sweeps period, but news of the taping sparked a national outcry. Both the Sci Fi Channel and the "Crossing Over with John Edward" production office were flooded with phone calls and e-mails, some expressing outrage at the exploitation of the national tragedy, others at what they perceived as extreme tastelessness in search of ratings. Rosenberg initially ignored the criticism, insisting the programming would go on as scheduled, but within hours he terminated his plans.


title: John Edward

text: Edward's next show, "John Edward Cross Country", was broadcast on from March 2006 to late 2008. In each episode, after a reading, Edward is filmed visiting the person or people whose reading was televised, along with their families, to see how the experience had changed their lives.


title: John Edward

text: During the first season of "Cross Country", Edward traveled across the US, giving readings to large audiences in public venues. In subsequent seasons, the show has been broadcast from a set similar to that used for "Crossing Over".


title: John Edward

text: Edward's tours outside the USA have included performances in Canada, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. In response to the announcement of his 2019 Australian tour, "The Sydney Morning Herald" published an article by Peter FitzSimons which called Edward a fraud.


title: John Edward

text: Critics of Edward assert that he performs the mentalist techniques of hot reading and cold reading, in which one respectively uses prior knowledge or a wide array of quick and sometimes general guesses to create the impression of psychic ability. Choosing the first reading from a two-hour tape of edited shows as a sample, illusionist and skeptic James Randi found that just 3 of 23 statements made by Edward were confirmed as correct by the audience member being read, and the three statements that were correct were also trivial and nondescript.


title: John Edward

text: In October 2007, Edward appeared on "Headline Prime", hosted by Glenn Beck. When asked if he would take "the Amazing Randi's" challenge, Edward responded, "It's funny. I was on "Larry King Live" once, and they asked me the same question. And I made a joke [then], and I'll say the same thing here: why would I allow myself to be tested by somebody who's got an adjective as a first name?" Beck simply allowed Edward to continue, ignoring the challenge.


title: John Edward

text: In another incident, Edward was said to have used foreknowledge to hot read in an interview on the television show "Dateline". James Underdown of the Independent Investigative Group (IIG) attended a "Crossing Over" show in November 2002 and said "there were no indications of anyone I saw collecting information... none of his readings contained the kind of specific information that would raise an eyebrow of suspicion. ... John Edward was a bad cold reader. He, too, struggled to get hits, and in one attempt shot off nearly 40 guesses before finding any significant targets."


title: John Edward

text: Underdown also claimed that Edward's apparent accuracy on television may be inflated by the editing process. After watching the broadcast version of the show he had attended and recorded, Underdown attributed a great deal of Edward's accuracy on television to editing and wrote, "Edward's editor fine-tuned many of the dead-ends out of a reading riddled with misses." In 2002, Edward said, "People are in the studio for eight hours, and we have to edit the show for time, not content. We don't try to hide the 'misses'."


title: John Edward

text: In a 2019 segment of "Last Week Tonight", Edward and other prominent TV psychics were featured. Several clips of Edward attempting cold reading and failing to get "hits" were included, as well as a clip of Edward telling an audience member, "I can only tell you what they're showing me, and if he's calling your mother a bitch, I'm gonna pass that on." John Oliver criticized the predatory nature of the psychic industry, as well as the media for promoting psychics, because this convinces viewers that psychic powers are real, and so enables neighborhood psychics to prey on grieving families. Oliver said "...when psychic abilities are presented as authentic, it emboldens a vast underworld of unscrupulous vultures, more than happy to make money by offering an open line to the afterlife, as well as many other bullshit services."


title: John Edward

text: Edward has appeared or been mentioned in many television shows, including ABC's "20/20", "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch," "The Crier Report", "Dateline", "The Early Show", "Entertainment Tonight", "Family Guy", "Fox and Friends", "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", "Larry King Live", the HBO Special "Life After Life: America Undercover", "Live with Regis & Kelly", "Maury", "Oprah", "", "The 7pm Project", "The Tony Danza Show", "The View", "Smallville", "The Wayne Brady Show", "Will & Grace", "Keeping up with the Kardashians", "Kourtney and Kim Take New York" and "Dr. Phil". as well as in the "Law and Order" season 14 episode "Compassion".


title: John Edward

text: The adult animated TV series "South Park" featured Edward in the episode "The Biggest Douche in the Universe". The series' co-creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, credit James Randi for Stan's explanation of cold reading.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), also known as dibutylhydroxytoluene, is a lipophilic organic compound, chemically a derivative of phenol, that is useful for its antioxidant properties. BHT is widely used to prevent free radical-mediated oxidation in fluids (e.g. fuels, oils) and other materials, and the regulations overseen by the U.S. F.D.A.—which considers BHT to be "generally recognized as safe"—allow small amounts to be added to foods. Despite this, and the earlier determination by the National Cancer Institute that BHT was noncarcinogenic in an animal model, societal concerns over its broad use have been expressed. BHT has also been postulated as an antiviral drug, but as of March 2020, use of BHT as a drug is not supported by the scientific literature and it has not been approved by any drug regulatory agency for use as an antiviral.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: Phytoplankton, including the green algae "Botryococcus braunii", as well as three different cyanobacteria ("Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii", "Microcystis aeruginosa" and "Oscillatoria" sp.) are capable of producing BHT as a natural product. The fruit lychee also produces BHT in its pericarp. Several fungi (for example "Aspergillus conicus") living in olives produce BHT.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: The chemical synthesis of BHT in industry has involved the reaction of "p"-cresol (4-methylphenol) with isobutylene (2-methylpropene), catalyzed by sulfuric acid:


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: Alternatively, BHT has been prepared from 2,6-di-"tert"-butylphenol by hydroxymethylation or aminomethylation followed by hydrogenolysis.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: The species behaves as a synthetic analog of vitamin E, primarily acting as a terminating agent that suppresses autoxidation, a process whereby unsaturated (usually) organic compounds are attacked by atmospheric oxygen. BHT stops this autocatalytic reaction by converting peroxy radicals to hydroperoxides. It effects this function by donating a hydrogen atom:


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: where R is alkyl or aryl, and where ArOH is BHT or related phenolic antioxidants. Each BHT consumes two peroxy radicals.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: BHT is listed by the NIH Hazardous Substances Data Bank under several categories in catalogues and databases, such as food additive, household product ingredient, industrial additive, personal care product/cosmetic ingredient, pesticide ingredient, plastic/rubber ingredient and medical/veterinary/research.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: BHT is primarily used as an antioxidant food additive. In the United States, it is classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) based on a National Cancer Institute study from 1979 in rats and mice. It is approved for use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration: For example, 21 CFR § 137.350(a)(4) allows BHT up to 0.0033% by weight in "enriched rice", while 9 CFR § 381.147](f)(1) allows up to 0.01% in poultry "by fat content". It is permitted in the European Union under E321.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: BHT is used as a preservative ingredient in some foods. With this usage BHT maintains freshness or prevents spoilage; it may be used to decrease the rate at which the texture, color, or flavor of food changes.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: Some food companies have voluntarily eliminated BHT from their products or have announced that they were going to phase it out.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: BHT is also used as an antioxidant in products such as metalworking fluids, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, rubber, transformer oils, and embalming fluid. In the petroleum industry, where BHT is known as the fuel additive AO-29, it is used in hydraulic fluids, turbine and gear oils, and jet fuels. BHT is also used to prevent peroxide formation in organic ethers and other solvents and laboratory chemicals. It is added to certain monomers as a polymerisation inhibitor to facilitate their safe storage. Some additive products contain BHT as their primary ingredient, while others contain the chemical merely as a component of their formulation, sometimes alongside butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: Like many closely related phenol antioxidants, BHT has low acute toxicity (e.g., the desmethyl analog of BHT, 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, has an of >9 g/kg). The US Food and Drug Administration classifies BHT as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food preservative when used according in an approved manner. In 1979, the National Cancer Institute determined that BHT was noncarcinogenic in a mouse model.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: Nevertheless, the World Health Organization discussed a possible link between BHT and cancer risk in 1986, and some primary research studies in the 1970s–1990s reported both potential for increased risk and potential for decreased risk in the area of oncology. Because of this uncertainty, the Center for Science in the Public Interest puts BHT in its "caution" column and recommends avoiding it.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: Based on various, disparate primary research reports, BHT has been suggested to have anti-viral activity, and the reports divide into various study types. First, there are studies that describe virus inactivation—where treatment with the chemical results in disrupted or otherwise inactivated virus particles. The action of BHT in these is akin to the action of many other organic compounds, e.g., quaternary ammonium compounds, phenolics, and detergents, which disrupt viruses by insertion of the chemical into the virus membrane, coat, or other structure, which are established methods of viral disinfection secondary to methods of chemical oxidation and UV irradiation. In addition, there is a report of BHT use, topically against genital herpes lesions, a report of inhibitory activity "in vitro" against pseudorabies (in cell culture), and two studies, in veterinary contexts, of use of BHT to attempt to protect against virus exposure (pseudorabies in mouse and swine, and Newcastle in chickens). The relevance of other reports, regarding influenza in mice, is not easily discerned. Notably, this series of primary research reports does not support a general conclusion of independent confirmation of the original research results, nor are there critical reviews appearing thereafter, in secondary sources, for the various host-virus systems studied with BHT.


title: Butylated hydroxytoluene

text: Hence, at present, the results do not present a scientific consensus in favour of the conclusion of the general antiviral potential of BHT when dosed in humans. Moreover, as of March 2020, no guidance from any of the internationally recognized associations of infectious disease specialists had advocated use of BHT products as an antiviral therapy or prophylactic.


title: Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution

text: The Twenty-first Amendment (Amendment XXI) to the United States Constitution repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which had mandated nationwide prohibition on alcohol. The Twenty-first Amendment was proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933, and was ratified by the requisite number of states on December 5, 1933. It is unique among the 27 amendments of the U.S. Constitution for being the only one to repeal a prior amendment, as well as being the only amendment to have been ratified by state ratifying conventions.


text: The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919, the result of years of advocacy by the temperance movement. The subsequent enactment of the Volstead Act established federal enforcement of the nationwide prohibition on alcohol. As many Americans continued to drink despite the amendment, Prohibition gave rise to a profitable black market for alcohol, fueling the rise of organized crime. Throughout the 1920s, Americans increasingly came to see Prohibition as unenforceable, and a movement to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment grew until the Twenty-first Amendment was ratified in 1933.


text: Section 1 of the Twenty-first Amendment expressly repeals the Eighteenth Amendment. Section2 bans the importation of alcohol into states and territories that have laws prohibiting the importation or consumption of alcohol. Several states continued to be "dry states" in the years after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, but in 1966 the last dry state (Mississippi) legalized the consumption of alcohol. Nonetheless, several states continue to closely regulate the distribution of alcohol. Many states delegate their power to ban the importation of alcohol to counties and municipalities, and there are numerous dry communities throughout the United States. Section2 has occasionally arisen as an issue in Supreme Court cases that touch on the Commerce Clause.


text: The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution had ushered in a period known as Prohibition, during which the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages was illegal. The enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919 was the crowning achievement of the temperance movement, but it soon proved highly unpopular. Crime rates soared under Prohibition as gangsters, such as Chicago's Al Capone, became rich from a profitable, often violent, black market for alcohol. The federal government was incapable of stemming the tide: enforcement of the Volstead Act proved to be a nearly impossible task and corruption was rife among law enforcement agencies. In 1932, wealthy industrialist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. stated in a letter:


text: As more and more Americans opposed the Eighteenth Amendment, a political movement grew for its repeal. However, repeal was complicated by grassroots politics. Although the U.S. Constitution provides two methods for ratifying constitutional amendments, only one method had been used up until that time: ratification by the state legislatures of three-fourths of the states. However, the wisdom of the day was that the lawmakers of many states were either beholden to or simply fearful of the temperance lobby.


text: The proposed amendment was adopted on December 5, 1933. It is the only amendment to have been ratified by state ratifying conventions, specifically selected for the purpose. All other amendments have been ratified by state legislatures. It is also the only amendment that was approved for the explicit purpose of repealing a previously existing amendment to the Constitution.


text: The Twenty-first Amendment ending national prohibition also became effective on December 5, 1933. The Acting Secretary of State William Phillips certified the amendment as having been passed by the required three-fourths of the states just 17 minutes after the passage of the amendment by the Utah convention. President Roosevelt then issued a proclamation following the passage and certification of the amendment which stated in part the following: "I trust in the good sense of the American people that they will not bring upon themselves the curse of excessive use of intoxicating liquors to the detriment of health, morals and social integrity. The objective we seek through a national policy is the education of every citizen towards a greater temperance throughout the nation." The end of prohibition was thought to be responsible for the creation of a half million jobs.


text: The amendment was officially added to the U.S. Constitution on December 5, 1933, when Utah's state convention unanimously ratified the amendment.


text: The amendment was unanimously rejected by South Carolina's state convention on December 4, 1933. On November 7, 1933, North Carolina held a vote, and approximately 70% of its voters rejected holding a convention to consider the amendment.


text: This has been interpreted to give states essentially absolute control over alcoholic beverages, and many U.S. states still remained "dry" (with state prohibition of alcohol) long after its ratification.


text: Mississippi was the last state to remain entirely dry. In August 1966, 19 of Mississippi's counties voted to legalize alcohol. Kansas continued to prohibit public bars until 1987. Many states now delegate the authority over alcohol granted to them by this Amendment to their municipalities or counties (or both).


text: Section 2 has been the source of every Supreme Court ruling directly addressing Twenty-first Amendment issues.


text: Early rulings suggested that Section2 enabled states to legislate with exceptionally broad constitutional powers. In "State Board of Equalization v. Young's Market Co.", the Supreme Court recognized that "Prior to the Twenty-first Amendment it would obviously have been unconstitutional" for a state to require a license and fee to import beer anywhere within its borders. First, the Court held that Section2 abrogated the right to import intoxicating liquors free of a direct burden on interstate commerce, which otherwise would have been unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause before passage of the Twenty-first Amendment. In its second holding, the Court rejected an equal protection claim because "A classification recognized by the Twenty-first Amendment cannot be deemed forbidden by the Fourteenth." Over time, the Court has significantly curtailed this initial interpretation.


text: In "Craig v. Boren" (1976), the Supreme Court found that analysis under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment had not been affected by the passage of the Twenty-first Amendment. Although the Court did not specify whether the Twenty-first Amendment could provide an exception to any other constitutional protections outside of the Commerce Clause, it acknowledged "the relevance of the Twenty-first Amendment to other constitutional provisions becomes increasingly doubtful". Likewise, it has been held that Section2 of the Twenty-first Amendment does not affect the Supremacy Clause or the Establishment Clause. "Larkin v. Grendel's Den, Inc.", 459 U.S. 116, 122, n. 5 (1982). However, the "Craig v. Boren" Court did distinguish two characteristics of state laws permitted by the Amendment, which otherwise might have run afoul of the Constitution. The constitutional issues in each centered or touched upon:(1) ""importation of intoxicants", a regulatory area where the State's authority under the Twenty-first Amendment is transparently clear"; and (2) ""purely economic matters" that traditionally merit only the mildest review under the Fourteenth Amendment". As to the Dormant Commerce Clause in particular, the Court clarified that, while not a "pro tanto" repeal, the Twenty-First Amendment nonetheless "primarily created an exception to the normal operation of the Commerce Clause".


text: In "South Dakota v. Dole" (1987), the Supreme Court upheld the withholding of some federal highway funds to South Dakota, because beer with an alcohol content below a specified percentage could be lawfully sold to adults under the age of 21 within the state. In a 7–2 majority opinion by Chief Justice Rehnquist, the Court held that the offer of benefits is not coercion that inappropriately invades state sovereignty. The Twenty-first Amendment could not constitute an "independent constitutional bar" to the spending power granted to Congress under Article I, section 8, clause 1 of the Constitution. Justice Brennan, author of the majority opinion in "Craig v. Boren", provided a brief but notable dissent based solely on Section 2. Justice O'Connor also dissented, arguing that "the regulation of the age of the purchasers of liquor, just as the regulation of the price at which liquor may be sold, falls squarely within the scope of those powers reserved to the States by the Twenty-first Amendment."


text: In "44 Liquormart, Inc. v. Rhode Island" (1996), the Court held states cannot use the Twenty-first Amendment to abridge freedom of speech protections under the First Amendment. Rhode Island imposed a law that prohibited advertisements disclosing the retail prices of alcoholic beverages sold to the public. In declaring the law unconstitutional, the Court reiterated that "although the Twenty-first Amendment limits the effect of the Dormant Commerce Clause on a State's regulatory power over the delivery or use of intoxicating beverages within its borders, the Amendment does not license the States to ignore their obligations under other provisions of the Constitution".


text: Most recently, however, "Granholm v. Heald" (2005) held that the Twenty-first Amendment does not overrule the Dormant Commerce Clause with respect to alcohol sales, and therefore states must treat in-state and out-of-state wineries equally. The Court criticized its earliest rulings on the issue, (including "State Board of Equalization v. Young's Market Co.") and promulgated its most limited interpretation to date:


text: In a lengthy dissent, Justice Thomas argued that the plain meaning of Section2 removed "any doubt regarding its broad scope, the Amendment simplified the language of the Webb-Kenyon Act and made it clear that States could regulate importation destined for in-state delivery free of negative Commerce Clause restraints". In his historical account, Justice Thomas argued the early precedent provided by "State Board of Equalization v. Young's Market Co." was indeed correct, and furthered the original intent of the Twenty-first Amendment to provide a constitutional guarantee authorizing state regulation that might conflict with the Dormant Commerce Clause (similar to the Webb–Kenyon Act).


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The (Akkadian Cuneiform: , also spelled "Enuma Elish") is the Babylonian creation myth (named after its opening words). It was recovered by English archaeologist Austen Henry Layard in 1849 (in fragmentary form) in the ruined Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh (Mosul, Iraq). A form of the myth was first published by English Assyriologist George Smith in 1876; active research and further excavations led to near completion of the texts and improved translation.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The "Enūma Eliš" has about a thousand lines and is recorded in Akkadian on seven clay tablets, each holding between 115 and 170 lines of Sumero-Akkadian cuneiform script. Most of Tablet V has never been recovered, but, aside from this lacuna, the text is almost complete.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: This epic is one of the most important sources revealing the Babylonian worldview. Over the seven tablets, it describes the creation of the world, a battle between gods focused on the supremacy of Marduk, the creation of man destined for the service of the Mesopotamian deities, and it ends with a long passage praising Marduk. Its primary original purpose is unknown, although a version is known to have been used for certain festivals. There may also have been a political element to the myth, centered on the legitimization or primacy of Mesopotamia over Assyria. Some later versions replace Marduk with the Assyrian primary god Ashur.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The "Enūma Eliš" exists in various copies from Babylon and Assyria. The version from the archaeological Library of Ashurbanipal dates to the 7th century BCE. The composition of the text probably dates to the late 2nd millennium BCE, or even earlier, to the time of Hammurabi during the Old Babylonian Period (1900–1600 BCE). Some elements of the myth are attested by illustrations that date to, at least, as early as the Kassite era (roughly 16th–12th centuries BCE).


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Before the tablets were discovered, substantial elements of the myth had survived via the writings of Berossus, a 3rd-century BCE Babylonian writer and priest of Bel (Marduk). These were preserved in Alexander Polyhistor's book on Chaldean History, which was reproduced by Eusebius in Book 1 of his "Chronicon". In it are described the primeval state of an abyssal darkness and water, the two primeval beings existing therein, said to be of a twofold principle. The description then relates the creation of further beings, partly human but with variants of wings, animal heads and bodies, and some with both sex organs. (Berossus states images of these are to be found at the temple of Bel in Babylon.) The text also describes a female being leading over them, named as Omoroca (Chaldean: "Thalatth"), and her slaying by Bel, who cut her in half, forming Heaven of one part and Earth of the other – this, Berossus claims to have been an allegory. The text also describes the beheading of a god, and the mixing of the god's blood with the Earth's soil, leading to the creation of men (people). Finally, there is also reference to Bel's creation of the stars, Sun, Moon, and planets. Berossus also gave an account of the sage Oannes, a sort of fish-man hybrid, who appeared from the sea and taught people all manner of knowledge, including writing, lawmaking, construction, mathematics, and agriculture; Berossus presented the account of creation in the form of a speech given by the Oannes. The neo-platonist Damascius also gave a short version of the Babylonian cosmological view, which closely matches the "Enūma Eliš".


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Clay tablets containing inscriptions relating to analogues of biblical stories were discovered by A.H. Layard, Hormuzd Rassam, and George Smith in the ruins of the Palace and Library of Ashur-bani-pal (668626 BCE) during excavations at the mound of Kuyunjik, Nineveh (near Mosul) between 1848 and 1876. Smith worked through Rassam's find of ~20,000 fragments from 1852, and identified references to the kings Shalmaneser II, Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, and other rulers mentioned in the Bible – furthermore he discovered versions of a Babylonian deluge myth (see Gilgamesh flood myth), as well as creation myths.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: On examination it became clear that the Assyrian myths were drawn from or similar to the Babylonian ones. Additionally Sir Henry Rawlinson had noted similarities between Biblical accounts of creation and the geography of Babylonia; he suggested that biblical creation stories might have their origin in that area. A link was found on a tablet labelled K 63 at the British Museum's collection by Smith, as well as similar text on other tablets. Smith then began searching the collection for textual similarities between the two myths, and found several references to a deluge myth with an 'Izdubar' (literal translation of cuneiform for Gilgamesh). Smith's publication of his work led to an expedition to Assyria funded by "The Daily Telegraph" – there he found further tablets describing the deluge as well as fragmentary accounts of creation, a text on a war between good and evil 'gods', and a Fall of man myth. A second expedition by Smith brought back further creation legend fragments. By 1875 he had returned and began publishing accounts of these discoveries in the Daily Telegraph from 4 March 1875.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Smith envisioned that the creation myth, including a part describing the fall of man must have originally spanned at least nine or ten tablets. He also identified tablets that in part were closer with Borussus' account. Some of Smith's early correspondences, such as references to the stories of the temptation of Eve, to the Tower of Babel, and to instructions given from God (Yahweh) to Adam and Eve, were later held to be erroneous.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The connection with the Bible stories brought a great deal of additional attention to the tablets – in addition to Smith's early scholarship on the tablets, early translation work included that done by E. Schrader, A.H. Sayce, and Jules Oppert. In 1890 P. Jensen published a translation and commentary "Die Kosmologie der Babylonier" , followed by an updated translation in his 1900 "Mythen und Epen" ; in 1895 Prof. Zimmern of Leipzig gave a translation of all known fragments, , shortly followed by a translation by Friedrich Delitzsch, as well as contributions by several other authors.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: In 1898, the trustees of the British Museum ordered publication of a collection of all the Assyrian and Babylonian creation texts held by them, a work which was undertaken by L.W. King. King concluded that the creation myth as known in Nineveh was originally contained on seven tablets. This collection was published 1901 as ""Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum" (Part XIII)" . King published his own translations and notes in two volumes with additional material 1902 as "The Seven Tablets of Creation, or the Babylonian and Assyrian Legends concerning the creation of the world and of mankind" . By then additional fragments of tablet six had been found, concerning the creation of man – here Marduk was found to have made man from his blood combined with bone, which brought comparison with Genesis 2:23 ("This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man") where the creation of woman required the use of a man's bone.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: New material contributing to the fourth and sixth tablets also further corroborated other elements of Berossus' account. The seventh tablet added by King was a praise of Marduk, using around fifty titles over more than one hundred lines of cuneiform. Thus King's composition of the "Enūma Eliš" consisted of five parts – the birth of gods, legend of Ea and Apsu, Tiamat primeval serpent myth, account of creation, and finally a hymn to Marduk using his many titles. Importantly, tablets, both Assyrian and Babylonian, when possessing colophons had the number of the tablet inscribed.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Further expeditions by German researchers uncovered further tablet fragments (specifically tablet 1, 6, and 7) during the period 1902–1914 – these works replaced Marduk with the Assyrian god Ashur; additional important sources for tablets 1 and 6, and tablet 7 were discovered by expeditions in 1924–25, and 1928–29 respectively. The Ashur texts uncovered by the Germans necessitated some corrections – it was Kingu not Marduk who was killed and whose blood made men. These discoveries were further supplemented by purchases from antiquity dealers – as a result by the mid 20th century most of the text of the work was known, with the exception of tablet 5. These further discoveries were complemented by a stream of publications and translations in the early 20th century.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: In the 21st century, the text remains a subject of active research, analysis, and discussion. Significant publications include: "The Standard Babylonian Creation Myth Enūma Eliš" ; "Das Babylonische Weltschöpfungsepos Enuma Elis" ; "Babylonian Creation Myths" ; "enūma eliš: Weg zu einer globalen Weltordnung" ; and other works still.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: King's set of tablets were no older than the 7th century BCE, being from the library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh. However, King proposed that the tablets were copies of earlier Babylonian works, since they primarily glorified Marduk (of Babylon), and not the Assyrians' favored god Ashur. King also proposed that sculptures found at the temple of Ninib at Nimrud depicted Marduk fighting Tiamat, thus dating the dragon legend to at least the reign of Ashurnasirpal II (883–859 BCE), two centuries earlier than Ashurbanipal's library.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The evidence that this represents Marduk and Tiamat is weak, as is the evidence for most posited depictions of the epic. Nonetheless, most scholars now ascribe an even earlier date to the epic's composition. Legends of Tiamat and her monsters existed much earlier, as far as the Kassite ruler Agum I, ~17th C. BCE.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: It has been suggested that the myth, or at least the promotion of Marduk in it, dates to the ascendancy of the First Babylonian dynasty (1894–1595 BCE), during the same period that Marduk became a national god. A similar promotion of Marduk is seen in the first lines of the Code of Hammurabi (c. 1754 BCE).


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Numerous copies of the tablets exist – even by 1902 fragments of four copies of the first tablet were known, as well as extracts, possibly examples of 'handwriting practice'. Tablets from the library of Ashur-bani-pal tended to be well written on fine clay, whereas the Neo-Babylonian tablets were often less well written and made, though fine examples existed. All tablets, both Assyrian and Babylonian had the text in lines, not columns, and the form of the text was generally identical between both.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: A tablet at the British Museum (No 93014.), known as the "bilingual" version of the creation legend describes the creation of man, and animals (by Marduk with the aid of Aruru), as well as the creation of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, of land and plants, as well as the first houses and cities.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The epic itself does not rhyme, and has no meter – it is composed of couplets, usually written on the same line, occasionally forming quatrains. The title "Enūma Eliš", meaning "when on high", is the incipit.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The following per-tablet summary is based on the translation in "Akkadian Myths and Epics" (E.A. Speiser), in "Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament "


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The tale begins before creation, when only the primordial entities Apsu and Tiamat existed, co-mingled together. There were no other things or gods, nor had any destinies been foretold. Then from the mixture of Apsu and Tiamat two gods issued – Lahmu and Lahamu; next Anshar and Kishar were created. From Anshar came firstly the god Anu, and from Anu, came Nudimmud (also known as Ea).


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The commotion of these new gods disturbed and disgusted Tiamat, and Apsu could not calm them. Apsu called Mummu to speak with Tiamat, and he proposed to destroy the new gods, but Tiamat was reluctant to destroy what they had made. Mummu advised Apsu to destroy them, and he embraced Mummu. The new gods heard of this and were worried – Ea however crafted a spell to lull Apsu to sleep.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Mummu sought to wake Apsu but could not – Ea took Apsu's halo and wore it himself, slew Apsu, and chained Mummu. Apsu became the dwelling place of Ea, together with his wife Damkina. Within the heart of Apsu, Ea and Damkina created Marduk. The splendor of Marduk exceeded Ea and the other gods, and Ea called him "My son, the Sun!". Anu created the four winds.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Other gods taunted Tiamat: 'When your consort (Apsu) was slain you did nothing', and complained of the wearisome wind. Tiamat then made monsters to battle the other gods, eleven chimeric creatures with weapons, with the god Kingu chief of the war party and her new consort. She gave Kingu the 'Tablet of Destinies', making his command unchallengeable.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Ea heard of Tiamat's plan to fight and avenge Apsu. He spoke to his grandfather Anshar, telling that many gods had gone to Tiamat's cause, and that she had created eleven monstrous creatures fit for war, and made Kingu their leader, wielding the 'Tablet of Destinies'. Anshar was troubled and told Anu to go to appease Tiamat, but he was too weak to face her and turned back. Anshar became more worried, thinking no god could resist Tiamat.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Finally, Anshar proposed Marduk as their champion. Marduk was brought forth, and asked what god he must fightto which Anshar replied that it was not a god but the goddess Tiamat. Marduk confidently predicted his victory, but exacted their promise to proclaim him supreme god, with authority over even Anshar.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Anshar spoke to Gaga, who advised him to fetch Lahmu and Lahamu and tell them of Tiamat's war plans, and of Marduk's demand for overlordship if he defeats her. Lahmu and Lahamu and other Igigi (heavenly gods) were distressed, but drank together, becoming drowsy, and finally approving the compact with Marduk.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Marduk was also given a sceptre and vestments, as well as weapons to fight Tiamat – bow, quiver, mace, and bolts of lightning, together with the four winds – his body was aflame.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Using the four winds Marduk trapped Tiamat. Adding a whirlwind, a cyclone, and Imhullu ("the Evil Wind"), together the seven winds stirred up Tiamat. In his war chariot drawn by four creatures he advanced. He challenged Tiamat, stating she had unrightfully made Kingu her consort, accusing her of being the source of the trouble. Enraged, Tiamat joined Marduk in single combat.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Marduk used a net, a gift from Anu, to entangle Tiamat; Tiamat attempted to swallow Marduk, but 'the Evil Wind' filled her mouth. With the winds swirling within her she became distended – Marduk then shot his arrow, hitting her heart – she was slain. The other gods attempted to flee but, Marduk captured them, broke their weapons, and netted them. Her eleven monsters were also captured and chained; whilst Kingu was taken to Uggae (the Angel of Death), the 'Tablet of Destinies' taken from him. Marduk then smashed Tiamat's head with the mace, while her blood was carried off by the North Wind.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Marduk then split Tiamat's remains in two – from one half he made the sky – in it he made places for Anu, Enlil, and Ea.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Marduk made likenesses of the gods in the constellations, and defined the days of the year from them. He created night and day, and the moon also. He created clouds and rain, and their water made the Tigris and Euphrates. He gave the 'Tablet of Destinies' to Anu.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Marduk then spoke to Ea – saying he would use his own blood to create man – and that man would serve the gods. Ea advised one of the gods be chosen as a sacrifice – the Igigi advised that Kingu be chosen – his blood was then used to create man.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Marduk then divided the gods into "above" and "below" – three hundred in the heavens, six hundred on earth. The gods then proposed to build a throne or shrine for him – Marduk told them to construct Babylon. The gods then spent a year making bricks – they built the Esagila (Temple to Marduk) to a great height, making it a place for Marduk, Ea, and Enlil.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: A banquet was then held, with fifty of the great gods taking seats. Anu praising Enlil's bow and then Marduk.


title: Enūma Eliš

text: Tablets Smith examined also contained attributions on the rear of the tablet – the first tablet contained eight lines of a colophon – Smith's reconstruction and translation of this states :


title: Enūma Eliš

text: The "Enūma Eliš" is the primary source for Mesopotamian cosmology. According to Heidel its main purpose was as a praise of Marduk, and was important in making that Babylonian god head of the entire pantheon, through his deeds in defeating Tiamat, and in creation of the universe. Heidel also considers the text to have a political as well as religious message; that is, the promotion to primacy of a Babylonian god to better justify any Babylonian influence over the whole Mesopotamian region. The text as a whole contains many words which are Sumerian in origin, including the names of Tiamat's monsters, Marduk's wind, and the name for man used is the Sumerian "lullu"; however the chief god in the epic is the Babylonian Marduk, and not the Sumerian Enlil.