Yunus Yakoub Islam (born 1963) is a UK-based Muslim, short story writer, blogger, poet, and cyber-activist.
Born Julian Hoare, he changed his surname to Anderson in 1982, prior to marrying his then girlfriend, Julie Harte. He discovered anarchism in the 1980s through the works of the punk band Crass, but later distanced himself from the anti-religious punk scene to explore academic learning, eventually converting to Islam in 1991. He now describes his politics as "postcolonial anarcho-pacifist" and is the author of the Muslim Anarchist Charter.
Yakoub has written for the Muslim World Book Review, Q-News, Alt.Muslim and Muslim Wake Up. He is an erratic correspondent to national newspapers, and his letters have been published in The Times, The Guardian and Sunday Telegraph. He campaigns against Islamophobia in both traditional and contemporary media, and is the author of "The Voyage in: Second Life Islamophobia", in S Sayyid & Abdoolkarim Vakil (Editors) (Hurst and Co, 2010).
Yakoub's son and youngest child was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in 1995. In 2002, Yakoub resigned his post as an SEN Teacher (autism) in order to become his son's primary care-giver. He is currently writing a series of Muslim Steampunk short stories provisional entitled The Muslim Age of Steam. The stories aim to provide a platform for his Muslim Anarchist standpoint, and combine premodern Islamicate Science, futuristic science fiction, and Victorian steampunk themes.
Since 2004, Yakoub Islam has owned and managed a multi-purpose website currently known as The Tasneem Project. From 2006, this website has incorporated a microsite devoted to raising awareness about Islamophobia in the media, called The Daily Terror. In March 2010, research carried out by David Stevens of Nottingham University on behalf of the Home Office Research Information and Communications Unit (RICU) identified The Daily Terror as one of the top 10 "pro-Islamic" British blogs - despite The Daily Terror not being regarded as a blog anywhere outside David Steven's research, and one blog was authored by US-based American politics professor.
Born Julian Hoare, he changed his surname to Anderson in 1982, prior to marrying his then girlfriend, Julie Harte. He discovered anarchism in the 1980s through the works of the punk band Crass, but later distanced himself from the anti-religious punk scene to explore academic learning, eventually converting to Islam in 1991. He now describes his politics as "postcolonial anarcho-pacifist" and is the author of the Muslim Anarchist Charter.
Yakoub has written for the Muslim World Book Review, Q-News, Alt.Muslim and Muslim Wake Up. He is an erratic correspondent to national newspapers, and his letters have been published in The Times, The Guardian and Sunday Telegraph. He campaigns against Islamophobia in both traditional and contemporary media, and is the author of "The Voyage in: Second Life Islamophobia", in S Sayyid & Abdoolkarim Vakil (Editors) (Hurst and Co, 2010).
Yakoub's son and youngest child was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in 1995. In 2002, Yakoub resigned his post as an SEN Teacher (autism) in order to become his son's primary care-giver. He is currently writing a series of Muslim Steampunk short stories provisional entitled The Muslim Age of Steam. The stories aim to provide a platform for his Muslim Anarchist standpoint, and combine premodern Islamicate Science, futuristic science fiction, and Victorian steampunk themes.
Since 2004, Yakoub Islam has owned and managed a multi-purpose website currently known as The Tasneem Project. From 2006, this website has incorporated a microsite devoted to raising awareness about Islamophobia in the media, called The Daily Terror. In March 2010, research carried out by David Stevens of Nottingham University on behalf of the Home Office Research Information and Communications Unit (RICU) identified The Daily Terror as one of the top 10 "pro-Islamic" British blogs - despite The Daily Terror not being regarded as a blog anywhere outside David Steven's research, and one blog was authored by US-based American politics professor.
Dirk Reynders (Bilzen) is a belgian visual communication theorist, lecturer, writer, researcher and culture critic. He lives in Antwerp.
Biography
Dirk Reynders graduated from the Free University of Brussels (V.U.B.) as Doctor in Communication Sciences, option Visual Communication. In addition to this doctor degree in Media and Communication Studies with a focus on Visual Culture, he studied Film Studies and Visual Culture at the University of Antwerp, Queer Studies at The University of Manchester and Fashion photography at The University of Arts London. The research he is carrying out contributes to a renewed and modern view on social visual culture, more specifically the paradox between realism (representation) and formalism (aestheticism), a topic that enhances a better understanding of the role that images play in functional or expressive resistance within gender and the male body. His research interest are: performance studies, media, advertising, photography, fashion, trends and gender and queer studies. At the moment he is part time working as a lecturer ‘Media Studies and Photo theory’ at the Maastricht Academy of Visual Arts (Zuyd University). He is also part time lecturer at the Media, Arts & Design Faculty (Catholic University College) teaching courses related to Visual Communication and photography and researcher at The Free University of Brussels (VUB). Finally he is also a guest professor at Saint Lukas Antwerp (KdG) teaching Media Experiency and Contemporary Visual Culture, guest lecturer at The Royal Academy of Arts Antwerp teaching visual culture and guest professor at the University of California researching male studies and visual culture.
Memberships
Dirk Reynders is member of the Centre for Studies on Media and Culture (CeMeSo) at the Free University of Brussels (V.U.B) doing international research in visual communication and male studies and also a member of the research group Image and Word at LUCA school of Arts. He is also member of several GLBT research communities in Europe and the USA.
Publications
* REYNDERS (D.). Kunstgeschiedenis kan opwindend zijn. In: Ex Animo, ABKM, 2008, Maastricht, pp. 42-47
* REYNDERS (D.), SWINNEN (J.). Les 400 Coups. In: Anatomie van de film, VDFC, april 2005, Brussel.
* REYNDERS (D.). De paradox van WJT Mitchell: het beeld van terrorisme. In: Algemene Sinema (AS) Magazine, MUKHA Antwerpen, pp. 40-52.
* REYNDERS (D.). Striptechniek, fotografie, performance. In: Faktor, 2012.
Media
Dirk Reynders is quoted in several national and international media like magazines, newspapers, radioshows and television about his expertise in visual communication and male studies in fashion, advertising, commercials, videoclips, photos, films and design.
Biography
Dirk Reynders graduated from the Free University of Brussels (V.U.B.) as Doctor in Communication Sciences, option Visual Communication. In addition to this doctor degree in Media and Communication Studies with a focus on Visual Culture, he studied Film Studies and Visual Culture at the University of Antwerp, Queer Studies at The University of Manchester and Fashion photography at The University of Arts London. The research he is carrying out contributes to a renewed and modern view on social visual culture, more specifically the paradox between realism (representation) and formalism (aestheticism), a topic that enhances a better understanding of the role that images play in functional or expressive resistance within gender and the male body. His research interest are: performance studies, media, advertising, photography, fashion, trends and gender and queer studies. At the moment he is part time working as a lecturer ‘Media Studies and Photo theory’ at the Maastricht Academy of Visual Arts (Zuyd University). He is also part time lecturer at the Media, Arts & Design Faculty (Catholic University College) teaching courses related to Visual Communication and photography and researcher at The Free University of Brussels (VUB). Finally he is also a guest professor at Saint Lukas Antwerp (KdG) teaching Media Experiency and Contemporary Visual Culture, guest lecturer at The Royal Academy of Arts Antwerp teaching visual culture and guest professor at the University of California researching male studies and visual culture.
Memberships
Dirk Reynders is member of the Centre for Studies on Media and Culture (CeMeSo) at the Free University of Brussels (V.U.B) doing international research in visual communication and male studies and also a member of the research group Image and Word at LUCA school of Arts. He is also member of several GLBT research communities in Europe and the USA.
Publications
* REYNDERS (D.). Kunstgeschiedenis kan opwindend zijn. In: Ex Animo, ABKM, 2008, Maastricht, pp. 42-47
* REYNDERS (D.), SWINNEN (J.). Les 400 Coups. In: Anatomie van de film, VDFC, april 2005, Brussel.
* REYNDERS (D.). De paradox van WJT Mitchell: het beeld van terrorisme. In: Algemene Sinema (AS) Magazine, MUKHA Antwerpen, pp. 40-52.
* REYNDERS (D.). Striptechniek, fotografie, performance. In: Faktor, 2012.
Media
Dirk Reynders is quoted in several national and international media like magazines, newspapers, radioshows and television about his expertise in visual communication and male studies in fashion, advertising, commercials, videoclips, photos, films and design.
is a female mecha from the Great Mazinger anime and manga series, created by Go Nagai. She plays the traditional role of the lady robot that helps the mazinger robot fight the enemy. She was named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty.
History
The robot was created by Dr. Kenzo Kabuto (son of Juzo Kabuto and father of Koji and Shiro Kabuto). When the Mikenese Armies prove too strong for Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger enters the scene and Venus is his companion in battle, together with Boss Borot. Despite the improvement Venus represents compared to Aphrodite A and Diana A, and being quite capable in combat, she usually suffers more damage than Great Mazinger, as was the case with Aphrodite and Diana compared to Mazinger. She appears from the first to the last chapter of the Great Mazinger TV series, when Mazinger and Diana return to help them defeat the enemy. She is also featured in some of the OVAs, including the Mazinkaiser ones. In this case, there are two versions of her, one of them is more stylized (piloted by Sayaka Yumi after Aphrodite A is destroyed) and the other one (piloted by Jun) is more similar to the classic one.
The first Mazinkaiser Venus is infected with a virus by Drago Ω1, a mechanical beast, in one of the OVAs and mutates into a Medusa version, becoming evil and attacking Mazinkaiser and the institute. In this state, Venus operates without pilot and has several snakes coming out of her head, but instead of heads they only have a big eye that fires beams. Eventually, she has to be destroyed since she can't be turned back to her former self.
The second Venus, more similar to the classical one, appears briefly in the Mazinkaiser vs. The Great General of Darkness OVA, defending the city of Sidney from the Warrior Beasts and General Ardias, but is defeated and torn to pieces by him.
Venus A also appears in , this version of her looks to be a cross between her Mazinkaiser and Mazinger Angels versions.
Pilot
The pilot of Venus is Jun Hono, an orphan girl raised by Kenzo Kabuto. Because of her origins (half Japanese, half black) she feels rejected as a child and carries these issues as an adult. Just like Tetsuya, with whom she has a love-hate relationship mostly because of his bad temper, she is educated to be a mecha pilot. She controls the robot thanks to the Queen Star, a flying vehicle that connects to Venus through the back of her head.
Weapons
Venus is substantially more powerful than either Aphrodite or Diana, though her power could be compared to Minerva X's (if she had been built of Alloy Z as originally intended). Aside from being made of a special alloy, Venus has the following characteristics:
* Breast missiles
* Photon beams, like Mazinger's ones
* Venus Scrander (similar to Mazinger's, it was a separate machine that could be attached to Venus' body and allowed her to fly)
* Finger missiles
* ability to use Thunder Break with her own fingers once Great Mazinger has collect the necessary electric charge
Machine Specifications
* Height: 20 meters
* Weight: 23 tons
* Running Speed: 300 kilometers/hour
History
The robot was created by Dr. Kenzo Kabuto (son of Juzo Kabuto and father of Koji and Shiro Kabuto). When the Mikenese Armies prove too strong for Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger enters the scene and Venus is his companion in battle, together with Boss Borot. Despite the improvement Venus represents compared to Aphrodite A and Diana A, and being quite capable in combat, she usually suffers more damage than Great Mazinger, as was the case with Aphrodite and Diana compared to Mazinger. She appears from the first to the last chapter of the Great Mazinger TV series, when Mazinger and Diana return to help them defeat the enemy. She is also featured in some of the OVAs, including the Mazinkaiser ones. In this case, there are two versions of her, one of them is more stylized (piloted by Sayaka Yumi after Aphrodite A is destroyed) and the other one (piloted by Jun) is more similar to the classic one.
The first Mazinkaiser Venus is infected with a virus by Drago Ω1, a mechanical beast, in one of the OVAs and mutates into a Medusa version, becoming evil and attacking Mazinkaiser and the institute. In this state, Venus operates without pilot and has several snakes coming out of her head, but instead of heads they only have a big eye that fires beams. Eventually, she has to be destroyed since she can't be turned back to her former self.
The second Venus, more similar to the classical one, appears briefly in the Mazinkaiser vs. The Great General of Darkness OVA, defending the city of Sidney from the Warrior Beasts and General Ardias, but is defeated and torn to pieces by him.
Venus A also appears in , this version of her looks to be a cross between her Mazinkaiser and Mazinger Angels versions.
Pilot
The pilot of Venus is Jun Hono, an orphan girl raised by Kenzo Kabuto. Because of her origins (half Japanese, half black) she feels rejected as a child and carries these issues as an adult. Just like Tetsuya, with whom she has a love-hate relationship mostly because of his bad temper, she is educated to be a mecha pilot. She controls the robot thanks to the Queen Star, a flying vehicle that connects to Venus through the back of her head.
Weapons
Venus is substantially more powerful than either Aphrodite or Diana, though her power could be compared to Minerva X's (if she had been built of Alloy Z as originally intended). Aside from being made of a special alloy, Venus has the following characteristics:
* Breast missiles
* Photon beams, like Mazinger's ones
* Venus Scrander (similar to Mazinger's, it was a separate machine that could be attached to Venus' body and allowed her to fly)
* Finger missiles
* ability to use Thunder Break with her own fingers once Great Mazinger has collect the necessary electric charge
Machine Specifications
* Height: 20 meters
* Weight: 23 tons
* Running Speed: 300 kilometers/hour
Angelo Sasso was a heavy metal drummer credited for playing the drums on two Running Wild albums, Victory and The Brotherhood. It was suspected that a drum machine was used in recording these two albums and that "Angelo Sasso" is simply a fictional person used to cover this up. This was denied by Running Wild's guitarist Rolf Kasparek, who claimed that "Angelo Sasso" is actually a pseudonym of a friend of his, who didn't want to be credited under his real name.
"Angelo Sasso" became a running joke in the German metal community, with other bands crediting their drums to "Angelo Sasso" where drum machines were used.
According to Kasparek, Angelo Sasso died of a heart attack in 2007.
"Angelo Sasso" became a running joke in the German metal community, with other bands crediting their drums to "Angelo Sasso" where drum machines were used.
According to Kasparek, Angelo Sasso died of a heart attack in 2007.