Happiness Measurability and Interpersonal Comparability

Simple ways to improve the accuracy and interpersonal and intertemporal comparability of happiness measurement include using happiness instead of life satisfaction (or other concepts), pinning down the dividing line of the zero amount of net happiness, using an interpersonally valid unit based on the just perceivable increment of happiness, and the complementary use of this method for small samples and the traditional methods for large samples.

Can the Fe K-alpha Line Reliably Predict Supernova Remnant Progenitors?

The centroid energy of the Fe Kα line has been used to identify the progenitors of supernova remnants (SNRs). These investigations generally considered the energy of the centroid derived from the spectrum of the entire remnant. Here we use XMM-Newton data to investigate the Fe Kα centroid in 6 SNRs: 3C 397, N132D, W49B, DEM L71, 1E 0102.2-7219, and Kes 73. In Kes 73 and 1E 0102.2-7219, we fail to detect any Fe Kα emission. We report a tentative first detection of Fe Kα emission in SNR DEM L71 with a centroid energy consistent with its Type Ia designation. In the remaining remnants, the spatial and spectral sensitivity is sufficient to investigate spatial variations of the Fe Kα centroid. We find in N132D and W49B that the centroids in different regions are consistent with those derived from the overall spectrum, although not necessarily with the remnant type identified via other means. However, in SNR 3C 397, we find statistically significant variation in the centroid of up to 100 eV, aligning with the variation in the density structure around the remnant. These variations span the intermediate space between centroid energies signifying core-collapse (CC) and Type Ia remnants. Shifting the dividing line downwards by 50 eV can place all the centroids in the CC region, but contradicts the remnant type obtained via other means. Our results show that caution must be used when employing the Fe Kα centroid of the entire remnant as the sole diagnostic for typing a remnant.

Racing the nation: towards a theory of reproductive racism

In this challenging article, the author marries the notion of reproduction, both biological and social, to new forms of political and popular racism in Europe wherein the family and breeding to keep the nation white and ‘native’ are now centre stage. Whilst certain women’s reproductive capacities are being incentivised for nationalist ends, this goes alongside a rollback in reproductive rights as well as a series of exclusions aimed at those marked as demographic threats – migrants, Muslims and, increasingly, LGBTQ people. She demonstrates how migrant women, who are vilified as breeders who could threaten the purity of the nation, are essential to maintain the traditional nuclear family under capitalism, through caring for the young and old, but simultaneously denied their rights as workers and mothers. The focus on reproduction is now a key dividing line in European racism; something that feminists and anti-racists should now address. This, she argues is more than a matter of intersectionality, but a new racist avatar which she terms reproductive racism.

Durable Homelessness: From Negotiations to Emulation

In recent decades, Sweden has seen extensive change in its housing policy, with emphasis shifting from “good housing for all” to marketisation and the supposed benefits of private ownership (Bengtsson, 2013; Grander, 2018). Consequently, Swedish society is now facing increasing homelessness rates, including whole new groups of social service clients due to housing shortages and people’s difficulties accessing the housing market. This article examines the complexities emerging from diverging institutional frames and points specifically to a dividing line between those who can access housing independently and those who need support from the social services. The article describes how such a categorical division/dividing line is institutionalised in the organisation of the social services’ work with homelessness and points to causes and effects of this situation. The case study is based on interviews and documents. The interviewees are staff from the municipal social services and the municipal public housing company. Our theoretical point of departure is Tilly’s (1999) “categorical inequality,” using exploitation, opportunity hoarding, emulation, and adaptation to explain how homelessness is (created and) maintained in our case study. The results show the dependency of social services on external actors and demonstrate the problematic consequences both for those referred to social services and for the practical work within them, including a requirement to stringently control clients. The results further show how it is possible for the social services to maintain collaboration with (public) housing companies at the same time as the most vulnerable clients are permanently denied housing.

At the Games

Hundreds of fragmentary glass cups preserve labeled representations of the empire’s leading sports stars, especially charioteers and gladiators. This mold-blown glassware illustrates how imagery common on popular terracotta plaques and lamps was adapted for upright translucent vessel walls. Comparing scenes reveals an important difference: whereas chariots are shown racing around the track’s monument-filled dividing line, gladiators compete without any indication of setting. When the cups are glimpsed at a utilitarian angle (45 degrees), they represent the events as they appeared from inclined stands and conjure the visual experience of spectacular entertainment. Most examples have been documented in the northwest provinces; in funerary, religious, and domestic contexts; and in places that did necessarily possess sports venues. Previously considered tools of Romanization or mementoes brought home from games, they were more likely commodities that found success in a competitive market for tableware by offering virtual experiences of the games in miniature.

Sistem Negara dalam Pemikiran Ali Abdur Raziq

The idea of ​​the state system in the Islamic intellectual realm has always been a long discussion. One of the most popular figures was Ali Abdur Raziq. He is categorized as part of a group that separates religion and state. This article aims to re-explore the archeology of knowladge on the state system in Islam as an effort to review the level of secularization in his thinking whit content analisys and philosophical approach. Ali Abdur Raziq was an influential scholar in Egypt. It became controversial when the book Islam wa Ushul al-Hukm was published. There have been many objections from scholars on the book and some have provided additional information by reconstructing their thoughts. In this study it was found that Abdur Raziq's thoughts on the state system were the result of his efforts to understand the text about the state system which according to him was not contained in the Al-Qur'an or hadith. A country with a caliphate system is a historical product that is currently developing in its time. Therefore, the present does not have to apply the caliphate system. Abdur Raziq argued that there is a need to separate religious and state affairs because religion has sacred values ​​and politics contains more profane matters. From the analysis of the contextualization of his secular thought, Abdur Raziq did not intend to separate religion and nagera with a clear dividing line, but religion remains a moral benchmark for the rulers and the state continues to take care of several things that are considered according to the mission of that religion, such as general welfare, peace. , justice as taught the prophet and apostles. Abstrak Pemikiran tentang sistem negara dalam khazanah intelektual Islam selalu menjadi permbahasan panjang. Satu di antara tokoh yang cukup populer ialah Ali Abdur Raziq. Ia kategorikan sebagai bagian dari kelompok yang memisahkan agama dan negara. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menggali kembali arkeologi pemikirannya tentang sistem negara dalam Islam sebagai upaya meninjau tingkat sekulerisasi dalam pemikirannya menggunakan metode konten analisi dan pendekatan filosofis. Ali Abdur Raziq merupakan cendekiawan yang cukup berpengaruh di Mesir. Ia menjadi kontroversial ketika buku Islam wa Ushul al-Hukm terbit. Telah banyak sanggahan dari cendekiawan atas buku itu dan ada juga memberikan keterangan tambahan dengan merekonstruksi pemikirannya. Dalam kajian ini ditemukan bahwa pemikiran Abdur Raziq tentang sistem negara merupakan hasil upayanya memahami teks tentang sistem negara yang menurutnya tidak termaktub di dalam Al-Qur’an maupun hadis. Negara dengan sistem khilafah merupakan produk sejarah yang memang sedang berkembang di masanya. Sebab itu, masa kini tidaklah harus menerapkan sistem khilafah. Abdur Raziq berpendapat perlunya pemisahan urusan agama dan negara karena agama memiliki nilai yang sakral dan politik itu lebih banyak memuat hal profan. Dari analisa terhadap kontekstualisasi pemikiran sekulernya itu, Abdur Raziq tidaklah berniat memisahkan agama dan nagera dengan garis pemisah yang jelas, melainkan agama tetap menjadi patokan moral dalam bagi penguasa dan negara tetap mengurusi beberapa hal yang dianggap sesuai misi agama itu juga, seperti kesejahteraan umum, perdamaian, keadilan sebagaimana telah diajarkan nabi dan rasul.

Diplomatic Immunity Ratione Materiae and Crimes in International Law

Diplomatic immunity ratione materiae covers not official acts in general but merely acts performed in the exercise of diplomatic functions. Consequently, crimes in international law cannot be protected by this immunity because Article 3(1) of the Vienne Convention on Diplomatic Relations (vcdr) in general should accord with international law, although certain functions under the Article do not contain a ‘legal’ element. Further, diplomatic immunity ratione materiae cannot be upheld for jus cogens violations because Article 3(1) must not contradict a jus cogens prohibition. The dividing line between the procedural rule of immunity and the substantive rule of jus cogens is blurred by the fact that the scope of diplomatic immunity ratione materiae essentially hinges upon the contents a substantive treaty provision setting out diplomatic functions.